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Cheers To Being 25

December 5, 2016 /
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I think I am having a quarter-life crisis! Yesterday was my 5th 21st birthday and I think I am having a hard time knowing I turned 25 haha I wish I could stay forever young! However, this 25th birthday celebration has been a very special birthday, filled with excursions that were on my bucket list! I have to thank this wonderful guy in my life Thomas, thank you for the endless surprises over the weekend. I really appreciate all that you’ve done ❤️ you are the best
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Now let me start by telling you guys about this photo shoot and what I did to celebrate my birthday. I hope you guys have been following along on my snap (freckles1204) and instastory over the weekend to celebrate my birthday with me! If you did, thank you guys! Thanks everyone for the lovely messages, texts and calls wishing me a wonderful birthday. I feel so loved and blessed.
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Every year for my birthday, I have always had a photo shoot with balloons, and of course a new birthday dress! Funny story with the balloons for the past years, I would always get as many balloons as my age when I lived in Virginia. And of course back home, the weather was pretty cold and windy around December! Half of my balloons either blew away, popped and/or disappear out of nowhere. I was pretty devastated lol they weren’t cheap! So this year, since I believe this turning 25 years old is a milestone, I thought roses would be a more elegant and suitable prop to use.
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Every year for my birthday, I have always had a photo shoot with balloons, and of course a new birthday dress! Funny story with the balloons for the past years, I would always get as many balloons as my age when I lived in Virginia. And of course back home, the weather was pretty cold and windy around December! Half of my balloons either blew away, popped and/or disappear out of nowhere. I was pretty devastated lol they weren’t cheap! So this year, since I believe this turning 25 years old is a milestone, I thought roses would be a more elegant and suitable prop to use.
photo-nov-25-7-15-47-am photo-nov-25-7-13-00-amI am always looking for places to do photo shoots in California so my manager was the one who suggested to go to The Mission Inn Hotel Resort & Spa in Riverside. I looked it up online and was instantly able to have an image in my head of how I want this shoot to look for my birthday including the type of dress I wanted.
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The hotel is rustic and elegant, and it made me feel like I was in Spain because of the beautiful architecture and flowers/vines all wrapped up on the balcony! I immediately knew I want a long simple solid colored dress with an open back that would go really well with the architecture. After browsing for hours, I came across this dress on Lulus and omg, I had to have it!
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It was meant to be! I usually wear red for my birthday, so choosing this emerald dress with beautiful lace details on the front and back was not the tradition, but I didn’t care because this dress was exactly what I needed. To add an elegant vibe to this outfit and the scenery, roses were perfect with the look. To complete this outfit I wore very little jewelry and gold heels to be somewhat festive. Less is more 🙂
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When I arrived at the hotel, they were having a holiday event so everything was blocked off 🙁 but I didn’t let that stop my plans! I was determined and was able to get inside to snap some beautiful pictures before security asked if I had a wrist band to be there. I had the opportunity to be a rebel for a little bit! I’m glad I made this vision come to life to share it with you guys.
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Now let’s dive into the celebration and exciting adventures! I was in for a full surprise! I did not know where I was going this weekend until I got to the destination. I am so bad with geography and I still consider myself a tourist in California, so I had no idea where I was until I pulled up my map! Haha I had the pleasure of staying at the Temecula Creek Inn the day before my birthday, no partying this year because I act like a grandma everyday so this Inn was perfect for me lol I hung out with an older crowd.
photo-nov-25-7-18-29-am photo-nov-25-7-20-23-amThe golf course was right outside my room. I learned to play golf at their driving range. I’m not pro enough to be on their course lol so driving range was a great place to start. It was so much fun! After the driving range, I practiced my putting skills before heading off to go wine tasting!
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I have never been wine tasting so you can imagine how excited I was! The winery I was at was so beautiful with the fire pits, lights, and holiday decor! Funny thing at the winery, I saw someone celebrating their birthday as well and she was carrying “21” balloons, but she told me she was turning 30 and the balloons were to make her feel better! Hah! I felt her pain!
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After wine tasting, I ate dinner at the Inn’s newly renovated restaurant Cork Fire Kitchen, and of course had more wine, pan-fried soba noodles, jerk chicken with cheddar polenta, and freshly baked apple cobbler with homemade vanilla ice cream! It was so great that after the delicious meal, I was able to walk back to the room in less than 5 minutes! How convenient?
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On my actual birthday, I was told I had to get up at 4 am to go to a winery tour. I was wondering who goes to a wine tour that early but who am I to judge! I knew nothing about wine so I just went with it. 5am on my birthday, I found myself at a winery. The host started asking us to get on a scale and advise her of our weight.  I went with it and wondered what my weight had to do with a winery tour. I was so confused but everyone else did it so I went along. Tom told me that there’s a weight restriction for the truck taking us around for the tour. We were given papers and oh boy, as I sat down I started reading the title “Hot Air Balloon Release of Liability” my god, it was so early that it took me at least 10 seconds to realize that I am going on a hot air ballon and this isn’t a winery tour.
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My reaction was priceless because I started laughing and all I could say was “what?!” 😂 I wasn’t sure if I was too excited or nervous! Everyone else in the room knew they were going on a hot air balloon ride, and here I was thinking I’ll be sitting in a truck around a winery looking at grape vines. I have never felt so surprised and left out at the same time lmao.
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Nonetheless, the ride was so peaceful and amazing with great company and an awesome pilot. The view was just beautiful! I died of happiness inside that this was something on my bucket list for the longest time and it finally happened during sunrise!
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After the ride, I went for a jog around the golf course back at the Inn and went for a swim before checking out! My excursion continued heading to Palm Springs for Thai Food and off to nap the rest of the afternoon away! (I was supposed to go to Joshua Tree for star gazing but as you can see my old self fell asleep until dinner time). As a tradition I have kept for many years, I went to Cheesecake Factory to get my favorite cake (Red Velvet) & ice cream to end this birthday celebration. Cheers to being 25!
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This weekend has been so much fun that for a second I forgot I turned 25! I guess it isn’t too bad being 25 when you are still young at heart! Thank you for all your love and support! Thank you to those who took the time to wish me a happy birthday and especially Tom for making my birthday a memorial one. Stay tuned because I am going to make a Vlog of my birthday celebration and I cannot wait to show you all the amazing footage! I will also have a blog post on this too! My creative juice is flowing!
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But for now enjoy these pictures! I’m so happy it came out great! I was able to capture the sunset so you can tell that the pictures gradually turn golden as you keep scrolling down. This is why we call it golden hours for a reason!
Shop My Look
I’ve also provided some of my other favorites backless dresses along with the dress I am wearing from Lulus. Enjoy shopping!
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Love you guys!
Linh

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40 Comments

  • Marcy

    December 10, 2016 at 12:05 pm

    Cheers for your 25th b-day babe!! You looks absolutely gorgeous in this pictures and with time you will get prettier like the wine= said by a 29th years old hahaha

    Have a great one!!!
    xo
    Marcy

  • Jenn Hanft

    December 9, 2016 at 5:57 am

    Aw girl sounds like your 25th was a special one!! Happy belated! It’s so amazing that you got to go on a hot air balloon and it was a total surprise! You look gorgeous in your gown and I totally agree that roses was the perfect addition instead of balloons 🙂

    XO Jenn

  • Yasmin

    December 7, 2016 at 10:16 pm

    Wow sounds like an amazing birthday! And I love the gorgeous green gown you chose. Roses are a great option, especially if you kept popping balloons before. The flowers are a nice nod to your growing maturity.

    xx Yasmin
    Bangles & Bungalows

  • Kusum

    December 6, 2016 at 7:55 pm

    Happy birthday again, lovely! Your 25 seems amazing with so many surprises and celebrations. I adore that green dress on you, you look gorgeous. The lace details and the back of the dress are amazing. I am so glad you chose red roses over balloons cuz they really add a lot of to your pictures and I am sure to your day as well 🙂
    Here’s to 25!!!
    xx, Kusum

  • Kusum

    December 6, 2016 at 7:51 pm

    Happy birthday again, lovely! Your 25 seems amazing with so many surprises and celebrations. I adore that green dress on you, you look gorgeous. The lace details and the back of the dress are amazing. I am so glad you chose red roses over balloons cuz they really add a lot of to your pictures and I am sure to your day as well 🙂
    Here’s to 25!!!
    xx, Kusum | http://www.sveeteskapes.com

  • Danielle

    December 6, 2016 at 5:01 pm

    Happy belated lady! First off, I totally had a quarter life crisis at 25, and I just turned 29, so now I’m having a quarter + 4 year life crisis! What a stunning spot that you chose to shoot. Love how you went with roses this time around, as they looked so gorg with your emerald lace dress! Sounds like you had a blast celebrating!!

    xx, Danielle | Pineapple & Prosecco

  • Bryanna

    December 6, 2016 at 3:15 am

    My birthday was on the 1st! We are almost birthday twins 🙂 Looks like you had such an amazing weekend. I completely feel you on the never growing up deal. Some people call me Peter Pan haha. I’m so glad you had such an amazing birthday, though!

    xoxo Bryanna | Coming in Clutch

  • Bryanna

    December 6, 2016 at 3:13 am

    It was my birthday on the 1st! Happy almost birthday twins 🙂 Looks like you had such an amazing birthday. I completely feel you though on how you never want to grow up. Some people call me Peter Pan haha. I’m so glad you had such an amazing fifth 21st birthday, though!

    xoxo Bryanna | Coming in Clutch

  • Stefanie

    December 6, 2016 at 12:42 am

    haha I know what you mean girl! I turned 30 this year and i’m still trying to understand how that happened! I guess I’m a real adult now lol. I love your dress and hope you had a wonderful birthday 🙂

  • Christine Kong

    December 6, 2016 at 12:13 am

    What an incredible birthday celebration filled with so many new traditions and adventures! I love this emerald green dress as it is also so fitting for the holidays. The hotel is stunning and the perfect location for your birthday shoot. I haven’t been in an hot air balloon before but it is definitely something I would like to do. Sounds like you had an amazing birthday babe! Xoxo, Christine

  • Josie

    December 6, 2016 at 12:02 am

    Happy ! Birthday dear! What an amazing way to spend a bday! A hot air balloon ride! Talk about a rad way to celebrate!

    Love your dress and I hope this day was perfect to you!

  • Miki

    December 5, 2016 at 9:36 pm

    Happy belated birthday! You look lovely girl. I was at the Mission Inn for brunch about 1-2 months ago and did a quick shoot there. It is a lovely place. I hope you ended up having their Champagne Brunch as a birthday celebration. That’s what they’re known for. 🙂

    Xo,
    Miki

  • Lauren

    December 5, 2016 at 8:18 pm

    Happy birthday! It sounds like you had a wonderful day! I can’t believe how gorgeous these photos are, and I’m obsessed with the green dress on you 🙂

  • Sharon Wu

    December 5, 2016 at 6:52 pm

    Happy birthday again twin!! Hope your day was as amazing as you are. These photos are so gorgeous! Tom did a fantastic job photographing as always. I’m swooning over that hunter green dress — how beautiful! xo, sharon

  • Thomas Falkenstedt

    December 5, 2016 at 3:31 pm

    What an incredible birthday you had sweetie and I’m in awe over the wonderful celebrations and surprises Thomas (at first I was like, hey that’s me, haha) had in mind for you! I would have been scared to death to enter that hot air balloon, but it’s still on my bucket list and some day I will overcome my huge fear for it!! 🙂
    There are so many things I want to comment here, but like you said, as long as you’re young at heart, the age shown in your passport doesn’t count! And 25 is the best age to be honest. You’ll have the time of your life from now on (like you already didn’t, haha).
    Lots of love and once again: Happy Birthday, Linh!

    xoxo
    Thomas

  • Stephanie

    December 5, 2016 at 2:06 pm

    Omg Linh, it sounds like you had the absolute best birthday ever! Ah if every birthday could be that perfect, I’d want to turn 25 every year haha! Hope this year is as wonderful as your weekend was. You look absolutely radiant in these photos, m’dear!

    Stephanie // SheSawStyle.com

  • Bernice

    December 5, 2016 at 11:55 am

    Happy birthday Linh! You still look eternally flawless even on your 5th 21st haha sucks about the balloons but the red roses photo shoot is simply classy! Hope you were spoiled rotten xx