Birthday Bash 2011

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Grabbed those ADORABLE sayings from pinterest. (LOVE IT!)

So as everyone knows, I decided to celebrate my birthday over the 8th of October.

Opening weekend of Keeneland. Weather was perfect.

I was beyond excited.

Friday all my Western KY girls were coming in.

My LEX girls were figuring out last touches to their outfits.

My brother was premixing some of the Breakfast.

I had some unexpected personal drama during the day and was so READY to let loose!

Friday the girls started running a little late.

So I ran some last minute errands and FINALLY found my outfit.

Tanned. Saw an old friend.

Then came home to wait for them to arrive!!

Just the sound of them banging up the stairs made me beyond excited!

They were finally here and I could finally let it all out.

Please don't think I don't have AMAZING friends in LEX because I do.

Katie, Becca, Ashton, Susanna and Thurman are SO good to me.

They drag me out of the house, wipe my tears, listen to me bitch, make me laugh,

deal with my shopping habits and always include me!!

I would NEVER trade any of them!

But my Western KY girls KNOW me, the REAL me.

Inside & Out

The type of friends that you don't have to say how you feel because they already know.

And between work, my Nana, and stupid drama I was at a breaking point.

I am SOO glad they got to come up here!

SATURDAY

The Itinerary went like this:

9:15 Get up

11:00 AM Breakfast

12:00 Leave for Keeneland

4:30 Leave Keeneland to come home and change

6:00 Dinner reservation on Sal's Patio

Then down to Drakes and OUT!

(Keep in mind that was the planned itinerary):

9:45 We all Finally Got up

11:20 Arrived at Micah's

11:25 First Mimosa

12:30 Left for Keeneland

5:00 Left Keeneland

6:10 Arrive at Sal's

So YEAH, of course we were running a little BEHIND.

But you have to LOVE  that.

That is just how we are!

Breakfast was awesome!

The brother made breakfast casserole, fruit, and whole wheat toast.

Of course with mimosas!

Keeneland was great. It was beautiful.

The club house tickets were amazing and I was so thankful!

After seeing General Admission I would have been miserable!

I won $6.55 on a race!

But didn't even break even!

Alison, Rachel, Me, Lauren



Me & Lauren



Rachel and Me



We actually arrived to dinner before I thought we would..

It helps just having to change and freshen up.

I made the reservation for 12 people and we actually ran out of chairs.

I felt bad everyone couldn't sit with us.

But the group there made my birthday!

Dinner was one of my favorite times during the day!!

Me and Alison

Katie J & Me

We headed to Drakes.

Where we had a good time but decided to migrate downtown.

Tin Roof is always my favorite.

So we stopped there, had some shots and dances!!

I  met up with an old good friend, which is always nice!

We then rode the TROLLEY (which I am sad we didn't take photos)

Got off and walked to Wildcat Saloon.

I had a GREAT time!

Katie & Becca in the back. Rachel, Lauren & Me @ Drakes

Me & Brother

Rachel, Lauren & Me @ Tin Roof

Having my friends around was great!

We had so many laughs, cries and wonderful memories!

I am truly blessed!

Thanks to all of you who came out!!!

XOXOXOXO

#BLESSINGS & #MOTIVATION

The last couple of weeks while in the process of finding myself, realizing who my friends are and organizing my priorities, I have also become so humble. The main reason I am not sure of, but I just feel like God is giving me a good shaking and showing me who is boss. Am I going through any major life trial? NO, but I am fighting demons of my own.

I have so MANY things to be thankful for. I am blessed beyond any measure and way more blessed than what I deserve. God's love is truly unconditional and forgiving. Just as discussed with the best friend, my life isn't great, I have family issues to work through, my mother and now my grandmother have a permanent illness, I come from a broken home and I am 23 and trying to make it on my own. My biggest fear is failure and as many times as I say it is not an option, it still haunts my mind. But I put my trust and belief in something much bigger than any broken home, illness or failure.

I attended the "Get Motivated" seminar today in downtown LEX. Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. But I heard so many inspiring quotes and stories that not only did it bring me back to my knees and thank my good Lord but it also inspired me to make something with what I have. A couple of the quotes I want to share with you:

"Everyone needs four things in their life: Someone to LOVE, Something to HOPE for, Someone to BELIEVE in, and Something TO DO!"

"Don't let what you don't have stop you from using what you do have to make something happen"

"You have two choices in life: stay down when something knocks you down or get up and keep fighting!!"

"Isn't it crazy how people that were born with everything do nothing and people that were born nothing turn it into everything"

Just reading some of these again give me chills. Today they continually discussed the importance of knowing your goals and reaching for them. In order to maintain where you are it doesn't mean doing nothing because then you will fall back from where you currently are. You got to always strive for more. Successful people aren't always the smartest they just saw an opportunity and decided to take action and making something happen!!

I am not sure if it because I am in sales or what, but after today I am promising, envisioning and going to be better, at everything! I am going to give more of myself and worry less about me. This week with Junior League I had the opportunity to visit a volunteer space that we have. It is called MASH and if you are in the LEX area and not familiar, check it out. It is powerful! Youth today are tomorrows leaders! God placed me in that group on purpose. It humbled me, pushed me down to my level and made me want to start volunteering tomorrow. When God calls my number he will not even have to refresh his memory about what all I have done to show his Glory. I am getting busy today!

Hope all you readers realize how lucky YOU are!!
Have a blessed day tomorrow!!! XOXOXO