I don’t even know where to start with this post. To be frank, it’s one I never…not even in my wildest dreams…thought I would be writing.

My photo went viral.

VIRAL.

I’m not even sure what that actually means, or if there’s a technical definition for it–if there’s a certain number of views or shares or likes, or a specific reach on Facebook that classifies one’s media as having gone viral, but I’m pretty sure I’m there.

And it’s crazy. In SO many ways. I’m just me…a mom of two, who works full-time and runs a photography business on the side. I’m just a friend who, late at night on a Thursday, after the kids were in bed and asleep, took off to my studio with a beer and my camera, and set up a 9 foot roll of seamless paper, drenched the place in glitter, and laughed my ass off with good friends. Fast forward 5 days, and my work has been featured on Scary Mommy, TheStir/CafeMom, Huffington Post, Fox News, and on air with our local ABC (Twin Cities Live) channel.

But, if there’s any takeaway from this shoot, I want it to be this: Celebrate You. Always. There’s nothing selfish about taking one day of the year and remembering how great it is that YOU are alive. And if that means smashing some cake and throwing back a glass of bubbly, then by all means! Bring some friends, laugh, and enjoy another year of life–you’re never too young or too old.

And to Serina, my dear friend, THANK YOU. Thank you for going on this wild ride with me and totally being easy going about that fact that your beautiful face has just been plastered all over the internet…all over the world 😉