I'm celebrating by posting some ridiculous photos of myself to my blog (see above) and visiting The Strip Club for dinner.

Don't forget about this guy! I'll be emailing the winner this morning.
The giveaway has closed, but all ads are still 75% off today with the code HAPPYBIRTHDAY.

I'm turning 25 in two weeks.

I love a good birthday as much as the next person, but I've never been one to make a big big deal about celebrating too much. This year feels different. It's a little inconvenient that my family and friends are a plane flight away, but I still want to celebrate. Because there are so many things to be thankful for. I'll be 25--a quarter of a century! After a long year of distance, Rob and I are living in the same apartment again. I just bought an incredibly expensive ticket to Alt Summit and I intend to make the most of every minute of that conference. Oh yeah, and did I mention that I'm getting married in May?

I have some stuff planned for my 25th year.

So, in celebration of all that's going on in my life these coming months and with gratitude to you, who have made this blogging thing such a pleasure, from now until September 4th (my birthday), all ad spots are 75% off. (Get it? Because I'm turning 25, ads are only 25% of their full price. Yeah--math.) Just use the code HAPPYBIRTHDAY.

Today is my brother's birthday. He's 22!

Sean, you're the best brother and a wonderful friend. I couldn't have asked for a better sibling in life.
And as always, I'm just really proud of you. You are strong and smart and loving and good.

Happy birthday, brother! I love you so much.

[via PDPeterson Photo]

Today is that wonderful fiancé of mine's birthday.

I'm so lucky that the man of my dreams and the love of my life are the same person, 
and that I get to marry him in just ten months.

Happy birthday, Rob! I love you so much.

Happy birthday, Mom. I love you.

Today is this wonderful woman's 90th birthday. 

She is my dear friend Patrick's grandmother, and she is so special.

Nana, you are amazing and everyone loves you so much. 

I'm sorry that I couldn't be there to celebrate with you all this weekend!

Thank you for being like a grandmother to me.

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday to such a wonderful father.
I love you, Dad!
It's been such a fantastic five months of being home with you and Mom.

See you after work! As always, I love being your daughter.

He's back at school doing cross-country things before his senior year of college kicks off next week. It feels like only yesterday that he was graduating from high school and I was just home for the summer. I remember my senior year and 21st birthday like it was fewer than three years ago--how everything is special and legendary. It's one of the best. 

Happy birthday, Sean. You are a light in my life and I love you so much.

I am so thankful for the handful of birthdays we've spent together. Here's to many, many more!

Happy birthday, Rob. I love you.

(Send him a birthday tweet!)

I don't recall a single care,

Just greenery and humid air.

Then Labor Day came and went,

And we shed what was left of our summer skin.

--Death Cab for Cutie

Happy Labor Day

Come on, Fall.