Hey! Guess what? I’m twenty-seven now! Sunday was my birthday, and I celebrated all weekend. I saw “Inside Out” in the theater (which I recommend for all ages!), I ate a ton of delicious food including sushi, pizza, and diner breakfast. A bunch of my friends came out to dinner and we took over an entire room, where we sang “Total Eclipse Of The Heart” in lieu of  the”Happy Birthday” song as I blew out the non-existent candle on my birthday cheesecake that Judy then ate because I was stuffed to the gills. It poured rain, and I looked like a wet rat as I entered my favorite bar where the bouncer gave me a towel and took a selfie with me, then we danced to music from our adolescence in a mostly empty establishment.

Sunday night, I headed to the Fillmore in Silver Spring to see my favorite band, Against Me! The show was incredible, and I actually have a whole post written about it, so stay tuned. Let’s just say that my hair was more soaked through than the singers from how much I was dancing, I was crying from the pure beauty of everything in that moment (my favorite band, with my favorite person on my birthday), and then I turn around to Joe tapping me on the shoulder. He shows me his phone screen that reads “2,000“. You guys had given me my birthday wish.

I’m really grateful for everything that’s happened to me this weekend, and this year. My whole life, really. The three weeks leading up to my birthday were kind of difficult, and although I’m still generally having a little trouble coming around to the idea that I’m three years away from thirty, I know that I’m doing a good job. It might not be the best job, it might not even be the best I know I can do, but it’s good enough for right now. I will continue to try, to love, and to find and share joy, and that’s my plan right now. 

1. Pretty decorations at a Lebanese restaurant

2. Birthday tiara, ribbons, and candle necklace

3. Finding a random tomato in a (non-tomato) tree

4. Everyone coming out to celebrate my birthday

5. The amazing presents my friends gave me (just some of them here)

6. Buying an excessive amount of novelty straws at 7-11

7. Hot air balloon flying around my neck (gift from Ashley)

8. Handmade jellyfish barrette (gift from Janice)

9. Having actual film memories

10. Beautiful chandeliers at the Fillmore

Are we friends on Instagram? If you follow me today, I’ll like 5 of your photos! I hope you’re having a great week.

What’s on your happy list this week?