twenty five

I spent my early twenties celebrating my birthdays in typical bar star fashion. My 21st birthday was a trip Vegas with two of my very best friends. It felt like a right of passage and I spent the birthdays to follow celebrating in similar style. I've now officially crossed into my mid twenties and the shots of tequila are fewer and far between. In fact it near makes me cringe thinking about the days where I would refuse to take them with salt and lime-- and would force the people with me to also partake in putting their big girl panties on and throwing back straight shots of the awful stuff. I spent my early twenties feeling a tad hard core and frequently channeled my inner "rock star".

I like to think as I enter my mid twenties I'm still a bit hard core, just hard core in an entirely different way. At 25, I've spent years being driven. I made it through college, grad school, a CPA certification and landed a great "big girl job". At 25, I've owned my independence. Last year I purchased my first home, 12 hours away from "home". At 25, I'd now like to set the cruise control and bask in life a bit. It's time to focus a little less on "achieving" and "doing" and focus a little more on just "being".

Below is a perfect example of what 25 looks like. My birthday dinner this year consisted of staying home and cooking; pineapple turkey burgers with pepperjack cheese, homemade mac & cheese, easy bruschetta from my Brilliant Eats Kidney Cookbook and a pear cider to top it all off.

25 feels like a milestone -- possibly the bridge between young immature early twenties and real adulthood. 25 feels tiring -- reflecting on 25 years of life; man I've done, felt and seen a lot. I've traveled to amazing places around the world, I've made amazing lifelong friends, I've loved, I've lost, I have hurt and been hurt. 25 feels satisfying -- I've made it this far, great memories, a few regrets and baggage in tow, and I'm ready for the road ahead.

Cheers to 25 years!

Sincerely,
Chardonnay

What's in my glass...

Stepping away from the wine for a glass of Blue Bee Apple Cider. Now this isn't really me being adventurous-- it definitely tastes more like a sparkling glass of wine. Blue Bee Cider is Virginia's first 'urban cidery' and is located in the heart of downtown Richmond's Old Manchester District. This new Richmond business was featured in the Richmond magazine several months back and after hosting a work event here, I am totally hooked. This particular cider is 'Argon 1904', check out the link if you want a glass too --> Blue Bee Cider. Cheers!