I Love Being a Girl: Dressing Up & Birthday Dinners

This time of year, there is so much to dress up for, and I love dressing up!

Most of all, I love dressing up for my Annual Elegant Birthday Dinner....it's so much fun!

Shaving my legs, getting lotioned up, doing my hair and make up extra special (more than I do on a regular day), and slipping into an ultra chic, ultra gorgeous dress. Usually, I wear one that my Grandma made me (I got one every year 'till I turned 18) and this year is no different. Actually, especially because of the absence of my Grandma--that is the reason I'm wearing a dress she made me--to keep her a part of my special birthday celebration. I'm so incredibly, tremendously grateful for 26 birthdays WITH her, and she will remain a part of each one from here on out. The great part of not being a kid anymore is that I'm done growing, so tonight--I'm recycling my 18th Birthday Dress which is Green Silk. I'm wearing a red evening bag with it to make it look more Christmas-y--after all, I was born just two days before Christmas! I'm also wearing gorgeous black fancy sling back heels that Colin was sweet enough to buy me. Oh my goodness, they're so beautiful I want to frame them and hang them on the wall--but first, of course, I'm wearing them! LOL! He was so super sweet to get those for me, they're the perfect (Early) Birthday Present! Thank you, Colin! :)

Anyway, even though dressing up can be a hassle, and I'm SO glad I don't have to do it every day--it is SO FUN to do it occasionally. There's something so special and powerful and beautiful about being a girl--especially when you put in all the effort to look exceptionally beautiful! It's totally worth it!

I love looking fantastic and knowing it--I don't always look fantastic, but sometimes, when I try really hard, I do! I think any woman does. There's not a lot of women I know that aren't beautiful already, but when they TRY, we are some gorgeous creatures us WOMEN! :) We rock!

I got to thinking today, my birthday is NOT just about ME. Okay, it's a lot about me--but more importantly, it's about the Power of God and every single person who got to another birthday! It's about each person who shaped me, helped me, encouraged me, inspired me and yes, even slighted me--because I learned--and continue to learn--from each and everyone of them. Going into 27, I feel like a better, more joyful, calmer person than I was going into 26 and I can feel the influence of each person who got me here. It's pretty amazing actually, the stellar support system and awesome people I have in my life! I am so blessed! I would not be celebrating birthday #27 without any of them--so to all of out there--THANK YOU, you know who you are!

On another note, I asked my mother today when she started my whole Elegant Birthday Dinner tradition and she said around my 3rd birthday. I said "why?" She told me "Well, I knew it would be a present you'd really like, could pick it out all by yourself and you'd enjoy the dinner. Plus, I wouldn't have to cook." I then asked "So, did you think that you'd totally screw yourself for the rest of my life because of the money these dinners cost?" She said "Well, no, I mean, yeah, there've been some pretty expensive ones, but you never ask for too much the rest of the year and you're my daughter, so it doesn't matter. I like making you feel like the special person you are around your birthday, you deserve it." How sweet is that?!

I'm glad my mom always let me choose where I would have that Birthday Dinner and it really is a tradition now, one that I love, honor and respect!

On that note, I have a dinner to get too! I hope it's a great time and great food! It is sure to be great company!

Thank you Lord, for making a girl, giving me self-confidance, gratitude, gorgeous dresses, the best family and people in my life, lots of food and a warm home and bed to get into. Thank You for Christmas Trees, Your Peace, Patience and Mercy. Thank You for lunch with Sarah yesterday, the shoes Colin go me and Christmas Carols too! Thanks also for the spectacular memories of Christmases and Birthdays past--they truly hold a special place in my heart, and always will!

Here's to new memories to be had....Merry Christmas everyone!

Peace Begins With (in) Me--remember that!

In Light N' Love,
-Sarah Liz :)

*P.S. I wrote the above BEFORE the dinner and now I'm home FROM the dinner! This year I picked 'Moni Ami Gabi' at the Paris Casino Las Vegas! Great choice! It was spectacular! I looked beautiful and so did everyone with me! Yay! My dinner was delicious! Appetizer: Warm Baked Brie w/ Honey & Hazelnuts was out of this world beyond good! Warm Olives w/ Roasted Garlic & Orange Zest--savory & delicious! And Trout w/ Lemon, Capers & a perfectly cooked, delicately flavored Orzo pasta w/ Peas & Spinach & Leeks--Yum! All of it was delicious and wonderful! I feel so blessed I was able to have a birthday dinner so fantastic! The company, the food, the ambience--it was all superb. And my mom's bday card to me made me cry. All and all, it was fantastic! Another successful birthday dinner! Happy 27th Birthday to me! -SL :)