Officially 27

Every year my parents come visit me around my birthday.  And the exchange while planning the date has lately become this:
Mom:  We'll have to watch the weather though.  If the weather's bad, we won't be able to come.
Me (always a bit selfishly):  I didn't choose to be born in January.
While it is true, I would rather have a summer bday, I did choose to live in Chicago.  I'm sure if I lived south, my parents would have no issue getting to me.  So I'm going to take some blame here...but I'll probably still say the same sentence next year...
My parents haven't missed a year yet.

you can call this my prime color outfit, i will not be offended

2..7!  Get it?  I like it.  It's a once a decade kind-of thing.

I was a bit concerned about turning the big 27 for some reason this year, but now that it's here, I'm pretty a-ok with it.  Although it is interesting how my perspective of time has changed.
Me and Dad walking by the Swatch store:
Me:  Dado, this is where you bought my Swatch for me.  Remember?
Dad:  Well, no.  That was a long time ago.
Me:  No it wasn't!!!  ...  9 years.
Both:  laughter

Mom & Dad gave me a new scorebook, wrapped in newspaper, how I like it
Yep, I read the comics after unwrapping

that many candles can start a fire
or make you feel old
but they sure are beautiful

yep, i blew them all out with one breath...barely

this cake was delicious
grandma never lets me down

If this weekend was any sign of how this year is going to go, it should be pretty spectacular!  This weekend I felt so special (and spoiled)!  One thing I wanted to do was have a photo shoot at the lake.  And I took off my coat, against my parents' wishes, because as I said, "I hate that all winter, any photo I'm in, you only see my coat."  Then it was warmer than freezing so I had a lovely run along the lake before yoga.  Thank you, weather.  Running is when I have the clearest thoughts and I'm thankful for it.

Mom even wrote me a message ;)

Here we go.  Top 5 of 26:
-European cruise with the fam
-concerts.  Seriously, I'm loving concerts.  Special shout out to LouFest
-Cardinals.  Last season was lovely and I'm super happy I got to go to a NLCS game with Dad!
-my scrapbook.  I'm really so happy I started scrapbooking again.
-letting myself shine through a bit again.  This one is a bit complicated.  I kind-of feel like once I started working a 9-5 job, I sort-of started pushing who I am back a bit to try to fit in the mold.  This year, I feel like I started opening myself up again to who I am and finding the balance.  Be true to yo'self.  =)
-teaching myself things.  Not allowing myself to feel like I'm too old to learn or try new things.
-I'm really proud of how far I've come in yoga this year!
-New Year's Eve.  Pretty sure that was a once in a lifetime experience.

What is that...8?  Oh well, it's my game, I can break my rules.

I actually really love this photo of my parents

I decided to give myself a present this year...
So my favorite Luna bar is Toasted Nutz and Cranberry.  I haven't been able to find them in stores for months, maybe even a year.  For my birthday, I splurged and purchased a box online.  It was not cheap, but I vow to enjoy each and every one of them!

"It is only by risking ourselves from one hour to another that we live at all." -William James