It’s Friday! And, it happens to the my close childhood friend, Michael’s, 30th birthday! Michael and I have been great friends since we were eight years old on the Florida Aquatics Swim Team. We survived middle school together, graduated high school together, moved north to attend college in North Carolina close by and continue to take adventures in countless cities and wacky destinations. There are few people who I share so many wild memories with – dancing in London, Asian karaoke and Swedish street fairs in Chicago, jumping from San Fransisco to Napa and discovering ghost towns between Denver and Breckenridge. That doesn’t even begin to describe the decibel of laughter or mayhem.

It goes without saying, that I’m sad not to be in Lake Tahoe celebrating the big 3-0 with Michael but I’m sending a giant “Cheers!” from North Carolina to the slopes. But, if I were in Lake Tahoe celebrating with Michael, I’d make him a Pink Paloma with his favorite grapefruit juice (see photo above!) And, I’d play Paloma Faith’s ‘Stone Cold Sober’ as a warm-up to the festivities.

Happy Birthday Michael. Cheers – To making better mistakes in our 30s! Love you. 

30th Birthday Pink Paloma by Apartment Therapy The Kitchn 

• 2 ounces of silver tequila
• 1/3 cup pink grapefruit juice, freshly squeezed (about half a 4- inch pink grapefruit)
• Wedges of lime
• 3 ounces pink grapefruit Perrier
• Coarse salt, optional

Use one lime wedge to run around the edge of the glass. Dip into a shallow plate with salt if you want a salted rim. If not skip this step.

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add the tequila and the pink grapefruit juice. Shake until chilled.

Strain into the salt rimmed glass. Squeeze the lime from a wedge into the drink and stir. Top with soda, and serve with an additional lime wedge for garnish.