{Part Deux.}

This weekend was definitely the most celebrating I've ever done for a single birthday. In my book, a summer birthday was always the worst. It usually meant celebrating was a minimum since friends and even family were too wrapped up in vacations and other adventures. But I'm glad I was able to enjoy the big twenty-first birthday with everyone important to me!

FRIDAY.
It all started with a two hour Bonefish dinner. Kathryn and I caught up on our summer fun and ranted about the shenanigans known as work. Even though we see each other during the week, it doesn't give us much time for quality conversations. The food was extremely delicious and my Cosmo was a great choice!

Drinks // Cosmo & Pomegranate Martini

Dinner // Bang Bang Shrimp

Dessert // Brownie & Ice Cream

SATURDAY.
A waffle brunch and two old friends. I traveled on down to UVa's campus, weaving between the jay walkers and confusing streets. My sense of direction is usually decent but I definitely got lost TWICE! Considering I was sans GPS and smartphone, I don't think that's half bad. I met up with the girls at Becca's "Wash House" and we walked to Fry's Spring Station. The food was quickly devoured but we continued to loiter for another two hours. We caught up with each other's lives and discussed future plans. Even a decade later, we're still able to put aside our busy lives in separate parts of Virginia to get together.

Leanne, myself, and Becca at Fry's Spring Station.

Then I was Harrisonburg bound. Boyfriend and I cooked a very yummy Mexican-themed dinner. Turkey tacos, quesadillas, Mexican rice, and Inca cola. The tacos were definitely the best, but I could have passed on the rice and cola. Michael and I decided that the Inca cola tasted exactly like the butterscotch Dum Dums we all used to eat when we were younger. No thank you. And the rice wasn't awful, but it was nothing like the rice you get at actual Mexican restaurants. Oh well. Lesson learned to skip that next time. 

SUNDAY.
"Oh, Romeo. Oh, Romeo. Wherefore art thou, Romeo?" My parents, boyfriend, and I traveled to Staunton to enjoy American Shakespeare Center's matinee show of Romeo & Juliet. Before seating was opened we wandered their downtown. Michael and I took our sweet time, peeking through the shop windows and even stumbled upon a "Before I die, I want to..." display. Of course, I wanted to jot my own down. "Before I die, I want to travel the world."

With a ring of a bell, the doors opened. We took our "Lord's Chairs" and relished the pre-show performance. All of the actors sung modern and older songs while audience members visited the snack and drink bar. I chose to sip on a cabernet throughout the first act. Overall the modern, yet classic tale was very entertaining. Iron Man, Captain America, and the Hulk made an appearance. Let your imagination run, will you?

We closed out our Staunton adventure with an early dinner at Mill Street Grill. Turkey burger and margarita, perf!

Dress & Earrings // Kohls

Satchel // American Eagle

Watch // Timex

How did you spend your twenty-first birthday? Was it classy or full of shambles? 

{Growing Up.}

For most of the week, my house has been under construction. Well, before you start imagining holes in the roof and cranes parked in our front yard, we are actually in the midst of replacing all six front windows. Severe water damage and poor original framework has caused this project to take precedence. My room and my parents' have been in complete disarray. You can just imagine how distressed I've been.

Well, as I hit the week long reset button, I came across quite a lot of memories. Letters from middle school. Photobooth pictures with friends. Packets from church events. High school graduation cap and gown. Hand decorated shirts. Old toys. I decided to condense these memories into one box. Everything had to fit in that one box, and boy is it full.

As we enter the lives of twenty-somethings, we hit a strange moment of nostalgia. Our childhood was just long enough ago to subtly forget those late night conversations and inside jokes, but with one simple reminder we are able to recognize again the emotion behind every word and every smile. Here are just a few of my other findings.

SASSAFRAS BOX.
One summer I received a box that portrayed a solid representation of my friendship with Victoria. "It was always a dream of mine to meet Ron. I just wasn't expecting him to stalk me." I'm not too sure what was physically inside the box, but I vaguely remember joke birthday gifts, perhaps a boa and a toy car? Eh, those items might be somewhere around my room or more realistically sitting in a donation center. However, several years later and it's container has been tucked away under my bed waiting for it to be found again.

GINGER SANTA HAT.
Every December in high school was spent at the local Santa's Workshop. We created crafts, helped kids "shop" for their families, and wrapped gifts. My senior year, BETA Club overestimated the number of participating families, so our supplies were in surplus. Santa hats were decorated for every member to serve as a name tag, including me. There were two fellows who were very persistent in calling me "Ginger." So persistent that, that was the name labeled on mine. Stumbling upon this hat made me appreciate the time we spent there helping those kids make their Christmas just a little more special. It also made me wonder what these boys are up to now. I haven't really spoken to either of them in at least two or three years. It's truly sad how you can easily drift away from your friends that you spent every day with in school.

2005 LOST & FOUND PACKET. 
Although I don't remember this specific church event, it definitely made me think about my time spent at Eagle Eyrie and Roanoke College. In sixth grade, thanks to Victoria, I attended my first Virginia Synod ELCA event. And a decade later, I'm still attending. But instead of being a participant, I'm a leader. The circle that has incurred is just incredible. I have truly grown up through this organization and series of events. I honestly wish I could lead more so I could witness the same thing among the new generation of participants. But life gets in the way sometimes. Classes. Projects. Club events. Work.

Reset complete. Plus a new design.

{Twenty-one.}

It's official. Twenty-one years old. I'm all around legal. I can drink alcohol at a bar, gamble in a casino, purchase a gun, and rent a car. I'm indisputably an adult now.

The one time when it's socially acceptable to drink the day and night away, I chose to celebrate a little differently. There was still raging music and hardcore dancing, but I was surrounded by children instead. Yep, that's right, I had to work yesterday. My co-workers and campers honored my birthday with a Harlem Shake flash mob and the classic singing of "Happy Birthday."

At 5:30 p.m. I quickly clocked out and drove home to enjoy a shish kabob dinner with my family and boyfriend. Chicken and shrimp, yum. We also popped open a bottle of White Zinfandel that was previously purchased for my college graduation. They probably don't technically go together: classy wine with barbecue-style foods? Eh, oh well. I embraced the little alcohol drinking I could on this very busy work day.

I was later greeted with a double layer lemon cake covered in cream cheese frosting. Very delicious. Presents closed out my evening and I think the best had to be a wine glass from my lovely roommate Kathryn.

Of course, I was appreciative of all my gifts. My little brother splurged and surprised me with a big girl watch. No more Mickey Mouse hands! Next semester I get to strut my fancy Timex around at practicum and my Graduate Assistantship. Michael, my boyfriend, also spoiled me with a nautical OBX-inspired poster, a wine journal, red and white wine (playing) cards, and a Vera Bradley coin purse.

Today was only part of my birthday shenanigans. Since I work every day throughout the week, I can only do the real celebrating on the weekends, but this is one of the few birthdays you can't necessarily observe early. So next weekend you can expect the real shambles. But not really, haha.

On another, but related note, it looks like I share a birthday with a royal! My dad actually joked all weekend about the Duchess going into labor on my birthday; looks like he was right! However, he, like the rest of the world, was wrong about the gender. Happy Birthday Prince baby!