celebrate the ones you love

Friday the 13th was specifically spectacular because I got to spend the day celebrating the love of my life. Jamey turned the big twenty-five on Friday, and we both had to work.

 I still wanted him to feel special, regardless of working. 

I wanted to share a few of the ways I celebrated Jamey on his birthday, 

while sticking to a very, very minimal budget. 

The night before his birthday, when he went to bed, I went into the bathroom and posted 25 reasons why I loved him on our bathroom mirror. I had spent part of my lunch break last week writing out all of these reasons. I used scrap paper (free) and a sharpie (free). 

I had a lot of fun thinking of all the different reasons why I loved him. 

Some were serious, some not so serious. 

twenty-five reasons why I love my husband

When he woke up he immediately went to the bathroom and saw what I had done. 

I know he felt so loved and appreciated to wake up and read all of these little love notes.

I also made him a card. I love to make cards! I hate buying them, because they are overly expensive and making them is so much more fun! At times, I feel elementary, but I know Jamey loves getting them. I bought him his favorite cologne "Very Sexy" from Victoria Secret. He ran out of it a long time ago, so I had already planned to purchase it for his birthday present. 

Needless to say, his birthday morning was off to a good start!

Handmade cards > store bought cards

On our way to work, we stopped for breakfast burritos (his idea). Working on your birthday is never fun, but we made the most of it! We spent our lunch break together, and we were excited because by that point we were almost through our day! I made him a candy bouquet (he loves candy!) and I made a special delivery to him in the afternoon. I made three "tickets" of options of things to do that evening. I placed those in the bouquet and gave it to him.

I knew he'd like having the option to choose what we did! 

He was so excited when I delivered this to him! My man loves his candy :)

Option #1: Titanic Exhibit 

He recently watched Titanic for the first time, and ever since he has been intrigued by the history of it. When I heard that this exhibit was coming to Buena Park (a nearby city), 

I thought it would be a perfect way to celebrate his birthday!

Option #2: "Grease" - the musical

Jamey's favorite movie is Grease. He absolutely loves it, and everyone who knows him knows this. I knew that he had never been to a musical before, 

so this would be such a fun and exciting event for his birthday!

Option #3: "Ghosts" - a play

Jamey also loves scary movies. I, personally, am not the biggest fan of them, but I sacrifice for him. We've never been to a play together, and with it being titled "Ghosts", 
and being on Friday the 13th, I figured he would be intrigued by this option. 

He ended up choosing Option #3. The play was in Long Beach, so we headed there right after having dinner at his favorite Mexican restaurant. Jamey also ended up finding discounted tickets, so it only cost us a total of $26! We had a great time. 
It was fun doing something out of the ordinary!

The intimate setting right before the play started

Celebrating Jamey's life meant so much to me. 

Now that we are married, all I want is to do is make him happy and to feel loved, 

especially on his birthday.

Whether today is your loved one's birthday or not, make sure you celebrate them. 

Celebrate their life, celebrate your love.

I married up, that's for sure. What a stud!

XO

Brenda 

On Being Twenty-Five

25.

On July 9th of this year, I gracefully turned the daunting age of twenty-five. I'll be honest, I was not looking forward to this age at all. Not only is it completely discouraging to no longer be able to say you are in your "early twenties", but somehow you feel you are obligated to have all of your i's dotted and t's crossed. It's an interesting age, twenty-five, but aside from the few additional gray hairs, and lack of constant energy, I'd be as bold to say that twenty-five has been the best year yet, and I'm banking on continuing this way.

I am grateful to have such beautiful people in my life. I know that it is because of them that I am able to look twenty-five in the face and embrace it. I am no longer afraid of being older, and I am actually really looking forward to aging (not in the wrinkly kind of way though, I could definitely go without that). Growing old is such a beautiful concept, especially when you find contentment with those who you'll be growing old with.

I was talking with my best friend tonight, and I mentioned how I never blog anymore, and that makes me sad. I have complete control over how much I write, and I don't have a crazy busy schedule, so why do I let blogging sit on the back burner? She brought up a great point, my life is pretty consistent right now. I have a boyfriend who I am madly in love with, great community of friends and an awesome job. It almost is more difficult to consistently document my life when it's pretty great.

My point to all of this is, one, to actually write a blog entry, but also because I want to share in the sunshine, and not just in the rain. I suppose I just never want to come across as someone who claims to have it all together, and rubs their blessings in everyone's faces. But, that is not my motive in writing, nor will it ever be.

So here's to being the beautiful age of 25, and here's to beautiful seasons of joy, and here's to life & all that comes with it.

I hope you're all well!

XO,

Brenda