25

Last Thursday was my birthday. I turned 25 years old. A quarter of a century old. My mom is kind of struggling with it. 10 was a big one too I guess.

It was a great birthday compared to how it could have gone. We've had a small crisis with the family biz and the whole no dairy thing made me stabby because that meant no birthday cake. Well, The crisis took a turn for the better and the no dairy restrictions were lifted. I'll talk more about that later this week. Then Thursday evening Danny's mom threw me a small birthday party. She told me she was going to make me dinner, but kept the fact that she invited my mom, brother and his girlfriend over too. It was nice and I felt pretty special. I also put a ton of parmesan cheese on my spaghetti just because I could.

birthday breakfast with my main men

Over the last week I've been thinking about how I want to spend my 25th year. Last year I wrote a letter to my 24 year old self about how 23 was a big year and to keep building on it. For the most part, I lived out those wishes. The going has gotten tough again and I haven't ran off to Mexico or been sent to the loony bin yet. So, that's a win in my book. Instead of writing myself a letter this year, I'm making a list of personal goals that I'm hoping 25 year me can work on.

1. Stop blaming myself - I tend to bare the weight of the world on my shoulders. Every one is counting on me. At least in my head. I tend to forget that I have a husband by my side, a mom that is always in my corner and a brother who also runs this business. The day my dad died, I felt it was my responsibility to take care of everyone and everything. Why? I have no idea. It's probably because I'm the oldest child. Who knows really.

2. Don't discount compliments - I've done this forever and its a really bad habit. I like receiving compliments, but I don't always take them well. Again, I have no idea why I do this. Someone could say, "You look like you've lost weight" and I will almost immediately follow with "Oh these jeans haven't been washed for about 2 weeks so they look big" Just take the damn compliment Erin.

3. Spend more time with my friends - Mostly my friends here in town. Rachael, my oldest friend, lives on the other side of town and I see her maybe 3 times a month. That's pathetic. I'm always complaining about how I never get to hang out with my friends because they live so far away. I'm mostly referring to Andrea and Shelby because they are in Ohio and Texas (well, Shelby will be back in Indiana within a couple weeks) I've got 2 of my best friends living in the same damn town as me. I need to start making more plans with them. Rachael and I have started having weekly lunches again (except last week because she was leaving on vacation and I had Tuck's dr appt) so that's been nice. Hopefully we can keep it up.

4. Be nice to myself - not just mentally with the compliment and blaming myself thing. But I need to treat my body better. Get more pedicures, eat right, go get that massage that my mother-in-law bought me 9 months ago, use that gift certificate to the spa that Danny got me a few weeks ago just because. I'm not getting any younger and I want to be as healthy as possible for Tucker and the future little Summers babies.

5. Water my own grass - I don't believe in the "grass is greener on the other side" thing. I do, however, believe the grass is greener where you water it. I've got great things in my life that people would love to have. Yes my house is small, but with some organization and (hopefully) a room addition, it'll be perfect. My job may suck sometimes, but there are people in their 40's that would kill for the flexibility and freedom that I have.

If I can improve in those areas, getting older won't be so bad!