Never Let The Facts Get In The Way Of A Good Story: Totally 25!

I'M 25 YEARS OLD!!

Wow. I never thought that day would get here. Don't ask me why, but in my mind, 25 is the perfect age. When I was younger, I always saw myself in a New York City apartment working as some big advertising exec by the time I hit 25. Obviously THAT didn't happen. I also saw myself becoming insanely successful right out of college, but the economy kind of threw that one for a loop. Okay, I blame the economy, but truthfully...college exhausted me. Once I got offered my job after graduation, I settled in and became content. I realized that only the truly unhappy chase after the next bigger and better thing, never satisfied. I also suppose I matured a bit and started to understand that success doesn't necessarily mean having "things" to show for it (spoken like a true poor person eh?)

I got to celebrate the big day in the Big Apple with a few of my close girlfriends and my wonderful cousin and grade school friend who doubled as our tour guides. We opted out of doing the usual touristy New York thing and opted for what I called the "Nitty Gritty New York" experience. We got just that as we ventured by bus into the heart of lower Manhattan. Stopping for a delicious bite at a quaint French bistro filled with candles and decorative pillows and then making our way to a dark and sketchy hookah bar. I was thrilled to get away from the tourist traps and the bright lights of Time Square and just see "Nitty Gritty New York" for what it really was, beautiful. I could live there, I really could, but on the upper east side :) The following day we did the tourist thing and finished up or visit with a trip to Broadway to see The Lion King (AMAZING!!!) Then, we piled back in the car and buckled up for a 5 hour drive home; bringing us back to Virginia just shy of being awake for 24 hours straight.

I'm trying not to build on these ridiculous expectations for myself in this new year. The only thing certain is death and taxes. I will just fly by the seat of my pants for the rest of it and hope that I don't crash. Enjoy the pictures :)

<3