Here's to 25!

Fair warning dolls, this post is about to get a little bit sappy. 

If you follow my Instagram, than you know I recently celebrated my 25th birthday. It was an amazing day filled with love, family, friends and of course a cocktail or two. As I was on my way home from dinner, I really began to think about what all I have learned in my 25 years of life and this is what I came up with.

1. Family is everything
I've always known this, but only seeing them a handful of times after moving to the west coast makes me realize it even more.

2. Take nothing for granted
self explanatory

3. You don't need a million friends, just a handful of true friends
True friends are hard to come by. I'd rather have my Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte than a bunch of girls who hang out with me just to "hang out"

4. Follow your dreams
Only you can create them and only you can achieve them

5. Not everything will happen the way you want
My life plan of being married and having kids before I'm 30 sounded great at 21, but all of that happening in the next 5 years seems a little rushed/scary now

6. Stop comparing yourself to everyone else
It's unnecessary. We need to support each other rather than compare who has the better shoes

7. Cocktails make everything better
No seriously, they just do.

8. Thank you cards are essential
They don't take long to write and mean more in the long run than an email or text

9. You won't and shouldn't have it all figured out ... and that's ok
I love my job, my boyfriend is great and that's all that matters right now. I have no idea where I will be in 6 months or a year and I'm ok with that

10. Fast food is the devil
Coming from a girl who eats this all the time is a tad hypocritical, but seriously french fries and chicken nugget impersonations hardly count as "food"

11. Anti-wrinkle cream is the best
My crows feet, under eye circles and smile lines seem to have came out of nowhere. These creams are a joke to a lot of people, but I swear by them

12. Connections get you everywhere
It's a dog eat dog world out there and who you know and how powerful their connections are will attribute to your success. It's a harsh statement but it's the truth

13. Big Risks = Big Rewards
Things don't come to those who wait. You have to step out of your comfort zone a time or two to really make an impact in your life

14. Movie Nights > Raging Nightclubs
Girls nights and Vegas getaways are great every now and then but I would much rather be cuddled on the couch with pizza and Netflix than go out most weekends

15. There's no such thing as too many shoes
Need I say more?

16. Caffeine is a MUST
Coffee, energy drinks, diet coke you name it. I know I'm not the only mid-twenty girl who needs this on the daily

17. There is a difference in love and being in love
I've been in love twice and I love deep tissue massages. You get it right?

18. Everything happens for a reason
People come and go, jobs change and certain life moments make a a major impact.

19. Spoil yourself now and then
Nice bottles of wine, jewelry and mani/pedi's go a long way when I treat myself

20. It's ok to shut the world out 
Turn off all of your electronics and just get away from the chaos. My inner peace of mind thanks me every time

21. Good guys DO exist
Peel back a couple of layers and realize that all men aren't douchebags.

22. Nice things are worth investing in
Save the weekly trip to Forever 21 and start buying some genuine, quality pieces. I know my future closet will thank me

23. Sometime's you just need a good cry
We're at the point where everyone is getting engaged and having babies. Sometimes we need to shed some tears of joy or "why hasn't this happened to me yet" tears

24. You're more like you're mother every day
Things come out of my mouth and I instantly look around to see where my mother is hiding

25. Travel, Travel, Travel!
I'm young with no strings attached, time to start crossing locations off the bucket list!

What life lessons have you learned along the way?

xo, Paige