25th Birthday Blog Bash Day 5: Birthday Weekend Playlist [iTunes Giveaway]

Today's birthday topic would really be better if I was still in college and celebrated my birthday with a weekend of drunken nights out dancing. However, I'd still like to grace you with a super-duper playlist to celebrate. Just in case, ya know, you do go out to dance and get drunk tonight. By all means, have fun and drink one for me. I've also included a few of my favorites that maybe aren't party songs. But when I get drunk, in addition to being overly friendly and wanting to hug people, I also apparently like to have deep and meaningful conversations. Therefore, I've chosen some deep and meaningful songs too. Not really, but you get my drift.

Really I just wanted to Back That Azz Up with Whitney.




If you don't already own all those songs, first off, why not? But have no fear because today I am giving one of you $25 to iTunes to purchase all those guilty pleasure songs you are missing out on.
.....
Or, fine, normal music you might be into....

Terms & Conditions: The Cliffnotes Version

- Only open to U.S. residents.

- Must reply to e-mail within 48 hours to claim prize or it will be given to someone else.

- If you are not honest with your entries, all of your entries will be deleted. Honesty's the best policy!

- Each giveaway will be open for 3 days, so get your entries in!

I'd also like to say a huge THANK YOU to the ladies who helped me with this week of celebrating. When I first came up with the idea of this Birthday Blog Bash, I really wasn't holding my breath or expecting it to be as big of a success as it turned into. Like I've said before, the generosity of bloggers always floors me and I am so glad to be a part of this wonderful community. THANK YOU SO SO MUCH! *end acceptance speech & cue music*



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25th Birthday Blog Bash Day 4: Birthdays of Years Gone By [Sephora Giveaway]

What's the number one thing in a mom's mind as they approach their kid turning 1? THE BIRTHDAY PARTY! Duh!

I never had any elaborate birthday celebration. Maybe I'll save that for my 30th. But I thought I would share some birthday party memories with you.

Whenever a kid in my family's birthday came around (until they were 18), we always celebrated by going over to their house that night to open presents and eat cake. Every. Year. No wonder we all looked forward to our birthday so much!

1st birthday with my cousins

One.

Two.

2nd birthday with my aunt. "GIVE ME MY DAMN CAKE!"

My Grandma always made our cakes. Minnie Mouse, Big Bird, Pocahontas, Barbie. She had a pan for every little kid's fantasy! 

Third. I am adorable, I know.

One of my most vivid birthday memories from that townhouse above is getting this Rollerskater Barbie from my Grandma. I went into the kitchen to play with it with my brother. I don't remember the exact details, but I do know it ended with my brother ripping the Barbie's head off and me in tears. 

Four. Look at that hair!

Five. You know McKayla Maroney's "not impressed" face? Well, this is mine. And boy, am I bejeweled or what?!

Six. AKA my boy cut year.

I loved my sixth birthday because when it was your birthday in Kindergarten, you were the "special person" that day and your name was mentioned in the note at the beginning of the day. You also got to take home that note. It was proudly posted in the living room that night when everyone came over.

When I turned eight, I had my first party with friends. I invited a bunch of girls over to my basement and we played game. It was definitely one of my favorite parties. I can't find any group pictures though!

 Posing for pictures since age eight.

I distinctly remember that was Alex Mack playing on the TV and I loved that Teacher Barbie set.

For my ninth birthday, three of my friends came with me to Shakee's (remember those?) and we got our faces painted.

I had a literal dance party for my tenth birthday. We went to this old elementary school and someone taught us a bunch of dances. Looking back, it was very strange. Fun at the time though!

The next party I had wasn't until my Sweet Sixteen!! I went cosmic bowling, took a limo ride, and there was a dance at my high school.

I always loved college birthdays the most!

For my 19th, I watched the season finale of The Bachelor with a bunch of floormates (remember the season where Brad rejected both woman? We were furious.), ate cake, & opened presents.

My 20th, I had a group birthday party with my best friend's cousin, who was turning 21. We all went out to the bars and danced, played darts, & (shh!) I had my first alcoholic drink (outside of the house).

Get this: for my 21st, I hung out with my BFF in her dorm with some friends, watched a movie, and drank two bottles of wine. YES!

Although, my BFF's birthday is five days before mine, so I may or may not have went out to the bar with her on her actual birthday and celebrated.

That, despite how it may look, is not milk.

For my 22nd, I went out to dinner with my housemates, came home and watched a movie, and had cake! Again though, my BFF had a party at her house & we definitely had our share of fun...

23rd birthday = Went out for dinner with my sister, aunt, and mom. Went over to some of my nursing classmates apartment and hung out while pigging out on food and drinking.

24th birthday = I had community nursing clinical bright & early at 8am that morning, but, by golly, I made sure I looked cute! I baked chocolate chip bars for my nursing class, ordered in pizza, and watched Dancing with the Stars.

Man, the more these birthdays go on, the older I feel my definition of "party" is!

If I had a birthday party for my 25th, I would choose to have a makeover/spa day with girlfriends. Spending the day getting pampered along with some wine sounds wonderful!

Today, I'm giving you the chance to win a $25 giftcard to Sephora so you can buy some things to pamper yourself!

Terms & Conditions: The Cliffnotes Version

- Only open to U.S. residents.

- Must reply to e-mail within 48 hours to claim prize or it will be given to someone else.

- If you are not honest with your entries, all of your entries will be deleted. Honesty's the best policy!

- Each giveaway will be open for 3 days, so get your entries in!

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25th Birthday Blog Bash Day 3: 30 Goals Before 30 [Amazon Giveaway]

I've never really been one to get into writing down a list of goals or something like 101 in 1001. However, being that I just turned 25 and it's hit me like a truck that I'll be 30 in just 5 years (oh boy!), I thought I would come up with thirty things I would ideally like to accomplish before I turn 30. Not necessarily things I need to get done, but something that I can look at and be like, "Yes, that's what I would like to do".

 image found here

1. Land my first nursing job & hone my craft.

2. Change my hair dramatically.

3. Take at least one trip to Nashville.

4. Become a pediatric or NICU nurse.

5. Meet Mr. Right. 

6. Go on a girl's weekend with my besties at least once a year.

7. Find a home, apartment, or townhome of my own.

8. Save $1000 

9. Pay off a big chunk of my student loans

10. Go on a blate. (blog + date, duh)

11. Develop some semblance of a healthy lifestyle.

12. Become an official advocate for domestic violence/sexual assault.

13. Get floor seats to a concert.

14. Finally decide if I want to go back to school for my Master's.

15. Fly in an airplane.

16. Take more pictures.

17. Read at least eight new books each year.

18. Participate in an event to raise awareness for an organization or topic I support.

19. Sign up for a walk/run that benefits a charity.

20. Learn how to perfect curls in my hair.

21. Do at least ten things that make me step outside my comfort zone.

22. Grow my blog (in whatever context that means to me).

23. Keep a jar of happy moments and quotes throughout the year and open it on New Year's Eve.

24. Adopt a shelter pet.

25. Attend Luther College homecoming as often as possible with friends.

26. Treat myself to a spa day or shopping spree.

27. Get a celebrity reply on Twitter.

28. Try a new recipe each month.

29. Attend my ten year high school reunion.

30. Make an effort to do at least one thing that makes me happy each day.

Today, what makes me happy is giving one of you the chance to win $25 to Amazon. Maybe you can use it to help complete one of your goals!

Terms & Conditions: The Cliffnotes Version

- Only open to U.S. residents.

- Must reply to e-mail within 48 hours to claim prize or it will be given to someone else.

- If you are not honest with your entries, all of your entries will be deleted. Honesty's the best policy!

- Each giveaway will be open for 3 days, so get your entries in!



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25th Birthday Blog Bash Day 2: My 24th Year [Starbucks Giveaway]

Y'all, I am officially 25! What?!

When did I get to be a quarter-of-a-century old? Jeez!

To be honest, sometimes I still feel 21. Not that I'm complaining.

To welcome myself to 25, I thought I'd take a look back on the best moments of my 24th year. AKA a photo dump of wonderful memories.

Finishing college/Christmas Nursing Party/Fingerpainting while being a nanny/Hitting 100 followers in December/Down by the Riverside/New Years Eve/Day drinking/Community Nursing/Nannying/Dean's List/Puppy cuddles/Rose/Becoming an RN/NCLEX prep classes/Too cool for school/Christmas at Luther

Little Big Town/New hair/Renaissance/Thanksgiving Hair/Halloween brownies while being a nanny/Nights out/Diploma/Selfies

And what better way to celebrate the beginning of my 25th year than to reward one of you lovely readers with $25 to Starbucks.

Because, let's face it, I am literally addicted to Starbucks. Instagram proof:

Terms & Conditions: The Cliffnotes Version

- Only open to U.S. residents.

- Must reply to e-mail within 48 hours to claim prize or it will be given to someone else.

- If you are not honest with your entries, all of your entries will be deleted. Honesty's the best policy!

- Each giveaway will be open for 3 days, so get your entries in!

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