Thirty, Flirty and Thriving

(Above title is a quote from one of my favorite movies- anyone else a fan like me?)

So my 30th birthday has come and gone and I have to say it was one of the best birthday/birthday weekends I can remember.

 On Saturday morning I got 30 roses from parents.

Saturday evening a friend took me out for dinner, drinks and a little dancing.  At the restaurant they brought out different desserts with candles on them and champagne- it was very nice!  I didn't take a picture of that though, which I can't believe... but I'll still remember it.

Sunday afternoon I celebrated with my family.  My dad made my favorite meal and we all went over to my aunt's house to eat. Spencer got a little cranky when she found out mac n' cheese wasn't on the birthday menu!

 

Yes, that's 30 candles!

 And yes, I did blow out every single one of them!  I haven't missed a year yet :)  Isn't that just the cutest picture of me, ever? ha!

My mom ordered me cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake- of TLC's DC Cupcake- and they were SO good.  Definitely the best cupcake I've ever had, so all the hype is must be true because they were amazing.

I couldn't have asked for a better birthday and I'm just so grateful for everything.  I really am a lucky, lucky girl

Twenty-Something Pictures

One picture each year 

20

21

22

 

23

24

                                   25                                                                      26

27

28

29

30 Twenty-Something Things

Thirty things that happened in my twenties. 

(in chronological order, starting at age 20)

1.  Became a sister in Kappa Kappa Gamma
2.  My Papa died
3.  Studied abroad in Italy
4.  Worked as a Bev Cart Girl at a snobby country club
5.  Had my heart broken
6.  Cruised the Caribbean
7.  Fell madly in love
8.  Studied endlessly for the LSAT
9.  Graduated from William & Mary
10.  Got my first real adult job
11.  Was accepted into law school
12.  Went to Miami with my Kappas and pretended I was British
13.  Started my first year of law school
14.  My Mema died
15.  My died was diagnosed with cancer
16.  Became very depressed
17.  Got pregnant
18.  Dropped out of law school
19.  Had a crisis of faith
20.  My other two Grandparents died
21.  Survived
22.  Had a baby
23.  Became Spencer's mama
24.  Shifted ideologies
25.  Went back to school
26.  Found my way back to an evolved faith
27.  Got into nursing school
28.  Went to Mexico
29.  Started nursing school
30.  Became complete

Not to be trite, but it really was the best of times and the worst of times. But here is what I know- in my twenties I became me. Everything that happened, good, bad and terrible, helped me to get to this place I am now. And while my life isn't perfect, I'm truly happy with the person I've become.  I'm happy with how life is turning out in ways I didn't expect or plan on.

Of course the defining moment of the last decade was my Spencer and I give her all the credit for shaping me into someone better than what I was.

I am me because of her.

A New Decade

I turn 30 tomorrow.  The whole decade of being in my 20's is about to be over and I'm just so shocked at how fast it all went by.  How could I have turned 20 a decade ago?

This is me on my 20th birthday.  I remember the party my friends had for me like it was yesterday.  (how old-timer does that sound?!)

So one decade later... I thought I needed to take one last picture on the last day of my 29th year. Um, yes, I know I'm being just a little dramatic.

I kinda can't believe how much of a baby I looked liked when I turned twenty.  So that's a decade worth of change... I don't think I'm looking forward to seeing the difference between 30 and 40 though, ha!