Birthday Blessings

It's been three weeks and I am still struggling to put into words how epic my birthday extravaganza was!!!! Except that a few of my favorite people were out of town and couldn't be there this was the best party weekend I could have asked for. We ate many great meals together, shared tons of hearty laughs, drank tasty beverages, danced some old and new dances, tubed down the Dan River, attempted to watch a drive-in movie, and went to church together. It made my heart most happy to see all my different friend groups intermingle and get to know each other. If there is something you like or don't like about me, aside from my family, I probably learned it from one of the people at my birthday celebration. I had friends there who I'd just met a month ago and others who I've known for 20 years.

Going to church together on bday weekend and during JIPster reunion weekend was really powerful. My faith is what keeps me grounded, optimistic, honest, loyal, and wise. People may not have realized it but the sermons we listened to about "power of agreement" and "relinquishing control" will ultimately show up again in daily conversations or advice sessions among friends.

I can't say enough how special 25 has proven to be. I am blessed in so many ways and I hope that I never forget it. If you had anything to do with my celebration (even toasting from a distance) please know how grateful I am to have you in my life.


Someone asked me to update my wish list to showcase how amazing my friends are. If it's scratched that means I got it.

1. When Harry Met Sally
2. Notting Hill
3. Shallow Hall (I once owned it but it disappeared)
4. Lady Antebellum self titled album
5. Rainbow flip flops (it took me a while to warm up to these)
6. Electronic Catchphrase (I once owned it but it disappeared)
7. either of Martina McBride's greatest hits albums (shameful I know)
8. device to connect my Creative Zen mp3 player to my car radio
9. a small portable radio (since I'm constantly trying to win free stuff you'd think I'd be on top of this)
10. Glee: The Complete Third Season
11. Martina McBride White Christmas album w/extra tracks
12. someone to take me accessories shopping
13. OrigAudio Volcano Portable Speakers http://amzn.to/MUwuTT (saw these on Shark Tank two years ago and am still impressed)
14. Where We Belong [novel] by Emily Giffin
15. dark gray nail polish
16. husband...yes that too but I was actually talking about the pillow
17. [monogrammed] duffel bag
18. a purple shirt with my initial on it, size Large, like this one http://store.awkwardblackgirl.com/product/a-is-for-awkward 
19. subscription to Country Weekly [on my Nook] or People Magazine Country Edition
20. an amazing and easy to follow vegetarian cookbook for a meat-lover like me
21. GRE test prep books
22. GMAT test prep books :)
23. cd holder for the 50 cds I tote around every time I travel
24. Live Like That cd by Sidewalk Prophets 
25. MEET & GREET WITH CARRIE UNDERWOOD! there is no guarantee but a couple clicks on this contest page between now and July 12th might let me meet Carrie in Raleigh next month http://bit.ly/MpIPCY

*I got really really close to getting to meet Carrie in NYC on 8/16/12 but it didn't work out. Keep praying for me :)

These are things I can't "own" but always seem to be running out of:
sushi and Japanese teppanyaki
Ben & Jerry's half  baked ice cream
"Crumbs"cupcake
Betty Crocker rainbow chip cake with Betty Crocker rainbow chip icing

I kinda posted this list as wishful thinking and never with the intent to brag or seem greedy. Honestly, I never thought I'd actually get more than two things off this list. It's more than scratching something off but each item represents a sacrifice that someone made. I don't know all the details but I think a Purple Hippopotamus had something to do with this list actually coming to fruition...so a heartfelt thank YOU for that.

The best is yet to come (and since that's the case I can only imagine how much better it gets),
~Adwoa

p.s.- now that I'm recouped from bday blogging (using the tumblr) I've got a lot of posts coming