My 35th Birthday Celebration

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Birthday Celebration Success!

Sunday was my birthday, and yes, I turned 35 years old! Usually, we don’t plan anything for my birthday until the last minute. I’m not sure why it always ends up that way, but somehow, it always ends up being a very special and fun time! This year, all I wanted to do was take a girl’s trip for my birthday. I haven’t been able to keep up with my loved girlfriends since we are on the road so much. That trip is not happening until later in the year!

So, this year’s celebration started with just me and my husband, going to stay at a hotel 20 minutes from home and going out to dinner at my favorite sushi restaurant in the world, Uchi! Somehow, in a very organic way, all of a sudden, we had 5 couples coming. We didn’t even plan for it, but it happened, and what a blessing!

We sat there for hours, just laughing and telling stories …

When the stories make you laugh so hard that the camera can’t even focus!!!

They did run out of my favorite dessert, the Peanut Butter Semi-Fredo, so I guess I will just have to go back for that! It is the perfect mix of flavors and textures like no other!!! My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Tyson, you owe me one of those!!! At the end of the dinner, I was so happy and satisfied that I turned to the girls and said, “I am good … I am good to go back to the hotel and have a quiet night!”

Trust me, once I have had a little tequila in me is usually not what I would say. Normally, I would want to keep the good times going! Well, half of the table didn’t like what I said very well at all, and replied with “No f*#%* way, we are going out dancing!!! We are celebrating you!” I said “okay”… and knew I would regret it tomorrow! But let’s do it!

My girlfriend called a friend, who called someone else, and BOOM we somehow had a table at a gay club to go dancing. I said, “Okay” let’s do it. But, the ONLY thing I do NOT want to do is dance to techno music! I really didn’t want to do that! Well, my friend got on the phone again, because she’s awesome, and asked all the important questions. She said that there would be no techno music, just 80’s music with the lyrics up on a screen. I’m sitting there thinking, 80’s music is fun!! Full song lyrics, plus no techno music, let’s do it!!

We pulled up in front of the nightclub, to a crowd of very young people, and walked inside to realize that the only kind of music they played was techno! Yep, the only thing I didn’t want to hear on my night! I must admit, right at that moment, I was like, let’s leave. Then I saw the other couples, and the thought of jumping around from bar to bar was not attractive either! To make a very long story short, we ended up staying and figured out a way to get into the grove. We danced the whole time, even when we couldn’t truly find the beat!! We also broke a sweat (and a few bottles) in between! Lol!!

We left there about 2 a.m. and ended up at the bar of our favorite hotel, listening to our favorite music, drinking our favorite drinks, and philosophizing about life! It was just a group like no one else! Thank you, Liz and Bobby, for making us feel at home, away from home!!!

Then, the next day, we had to be up early for kids’ stuff. We were to spend the rest of the day and night with our family at my mother-in-law’s house, where she had balloons, cake, gifts, and a cookout! It was so simple yet so damn special!! Then, on Sunday, we rushed out to church and had lunch at my favorite Brazilian food truck. Boteco, my mouth is watering as I write!

That night, we celebrated my dear friend Bill’s birthday at Franklyn’s BBQ. Well, he and his wife Tracey need a whole write-up themselves! They have been such a fundamental part of me feeling at home in Austin, and being a business student of Bill’s, I just love them!

Well, what can I say folks? By the time we were heading home on Sunday night after all of the food I had during the weekend, the drinks, and the lack of sleep, I was falling asleep in the car with a big smile on my face!! This is what I have learned from my 35th birthday weekend this year:

• When I don’t plan as much, somehow things turn out more fun and less stressful

• I am officially getting older, and it’s obvious by the fact that I don’t know any of the hot underground places to go dance anymore! Luckily, my friends are still up for going dancing all the time, and they always know where to go!

• If you going to a place for your favorite dessert, you may as well order it first thing and ask them to hold it for you! ‍♀️

• Always double-check on people’s definitions of ’80s music!

• Don’t let folks with their damn phones annoy you …

• Never have kids’ plan the next morning

• One night out … at least 3 days to recover!!! ♀

• AND MOST IMPORTANT! All we want from our birthdays, I think I can speak for all of us here, is to feel loved by your friends and feel wanted by your lover! Let’s not get caught up in how fancy this or that should be, how many people there are, or where it is! It’s all about having those around you that you can celebrate with anywhere and start your ‘new year’ in a beautiful, blessed way!

I am just grateful!!!!

Wait … I still have the girl’s trip coming up … this birthday celebration is going to be a never-ending one!!!