25 things about turning 25…

iPhone snapshot of Heather Ahrens and I last night after a birthday dinner at Shari (one of my favorite local restaurants).

Thank you to everyone who left me sweet birthday comments here on the blog, on twitter, facebook, and texts. I honestly could not believe how many of you took time out of your busy days to send me an uplifting memo and congratulations. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten as many “Happy Birthdays” as I did this year. Which is pretty exciting as I view turning 25 as one of those milestone birthdays. The one you’ve waited for ever since turning 21. The last big one before 30. (And you better bet that I’m gonna be making a big deal out of turning 30! I’m already excited for it.) The birthday that finally takes you out of the college-age group and puts you in the strange no mans land between quasi-adult and actual adult. I’m pretty fond of it, to be completely honest. And even though I’ve only been it for 2 days now I think it’s safe to say that it’s my favorite age I’ve ever been.

Since it’s my birthday weekend (which means I pretty much get to be a spoiled brat for 3 days) I decided to make a list (you know how much I adore lists) of my favorite 25 things about turning 25. For your amusement, of course. You know how I love you all!

1. 25 is a solid number. Not a wimpy one like 23 or 13 or any number with the number 3 in it. 3′s just seem a bit flimsy to me. I don’t think a 3 could hold up well in a fight, or in court, or when left out of the fridge for too long. 25 though, you don’t wanna mess with 25. 25 is grounded, it’s a solid unit… 1/2 of some things and 1/4 of some others. And it just might know jiu-jitsu… you can never be too sure.

2. I can finally rent a car. Scoff if you will but with how much I enjoy traveling (and have to for our job) this issue can be a frustration. But not longer my friends! Plus I think my car insurance goes down now. Because apparently I’m a much better driver today than I was 2 days ago. MAGICAL!

3. After 25 years, I really feel the most like myself that I’ve ever felt. In high school I was a collage of things I thought I should be or was expected to be. In college I was trying with everything in me to be everyone except who I truly was. But now, I’ve given in and made friends with my quirks, let my inner desires and dreams go free, and allowed myself to not be a cookie cutter copy of what I thought was good. Hello sweet liberation!

4. This past year brought so much growth into my life. Personally, spiritually, emotionally, in my business. I don’t think there’s an area of me that didn’t grow this year. I love who it has helped me to be. I was an extremely close-minded person for a very long time and I am so grateful to say that I am not any longer.

5. I’ve decided that it’s okay to be quirky. (And by quirky I mean crazy.) Nate jokingly describes me as being able to “bring the crazy full force” and it’s true. I’m a bit crazy some of the time. But, as much as it can be annoying to those that are the closest to me, it’s also what makes me incredibly sensitive to situations, empathetic, a dreamer, and a perfectionist. I doubt I’d have been able to accomplish half the things that we have without a bit of crazy quirky driving the bus sometimes.

6. People can stop knocking me over at weddings (and generally in any large crowds) now. At least I’m hoping that turning 25 will somehow magically make me more visible (or sturdy).

7. I feel free of the grips of college-age stereotyping. At 25, it’s perfectly reasonable to spend money on nice furniture, to enjoy reading about real estate, and to maybe upgrade to first class every now and then. At 25 I shouldn’t feel guilty about wanting the sofa from Anthropolige instead of the one from ikea or Target. (Ramon noodles excluded. Because if you chop up fresh veggies it totally counts as a legitimate dinner!)

8. The desire to buy, fix up, and redecorate an older, charming, cottage-y house has overcome me. This may be due to my addiction to blogs like Young House Love and Design Sponge and not my birthday but who can really know for sure?

9. I am not everything to everyone. I shouldn’t be. I cannot be. (This realization was fairly epic.)

10. I am ___________ enough. (Epic realization #2) Ps…. so are you!

11. In these last few months, as Nate and I dream-stormed for 2010 we both came to the realization that this is our business. We can make it whatever the hell we want it to be. And that is absolutely thrilling. We are so excited for 2010 and the little tweaks we’ll be making to make our business even more unique.

12. I have made peace with the fact that I am (in no particular order) a perfectionist, a slight hypochondriac, easily jealous, affected greatly by what others say, an INFP, a words of affirmation/quality time person, and an introvert. I can stop trying to act like I’m not. Thank God.

13. At 25 I feel less awkward about my love for kitchens, cooking, baking, food blogs, Williams-Sonoma, and other traditionally granny-like things.

14. At 25 I’ve learned that a well-placed curse word is not necessarily showing a lack of vocabulary, but is showing an astute linguistic knowledge that sometimes situations can only be described as sh*tty. I can still be a lady.

15. 25 is an age at which, while I continually get carded, the waiters and waitresses stop giving me that “Aw, it’s cute that you can drink now” stare when I order the Ultimate Mudslide at Fridays. Yes I’m aware that it’s pretty much a gigantic milkshake. Stop judging me waiters!

16. I was able to celebrate my birthday with a very small group of people which is really my favorite way of being out with people. This is one of the first times I’ve actually just stuck to my guns and did what I really wanted.

17. I feel very much like a citizen of the world which I LOVE. I feel like the world is my home. And I pretty much sound like  a hippy. Oh well.

18. I understand why investing in good shoes and good sheets and good tires is important and worthwhile.

19. I’m much less ashamed now than I used to be about the fact that I love to read mom blogs and daydream about my future children. Hey I’m 25 now. It’s legitimate planning at this point. ;)

20. I can run farther than I think, work harder than I think, be more creative than I think, push through longer than I think and love deeper than I think. It’s mind of matter 90% of the time.

21. At 25 I understand that you can really never have too many pairs of shoes, bits of chocolate, movies on DVD, favorite blogs, or backup hard drives.

22. I’ve been out of high school for 7 years now. I’m secretly happy (not so secretly anymore) that my small private school doesn’t host 10 year reunions. Did I say that? What? Who? I mean really though, we have Facebook. Maybe by the 20th I’ll feel differently. (Or at least have copious amounts of photos of my kids to show off.)

23.  I’m not so sure about the turning 26 thing. 6′s are just as bad as 3′s in my mind. It’s just a double 3. Ew.

24. Luckily, 25 is still young enough to get overly excited about Christmas trees, ice cream, fireworks, and new Disney movies.

25. So far I’m quarter-life crisis free. Someone knock on wood for me. ;)