Happy 29

29

There are so many things flitting through my mind about turning 29. What I want to accomplish, what I’ve done in the last year, life so far… but this morning as I sit in my new favorite dress, all I really want to talk about is pretty clothes. Specifically, the aforementioned new favorite dress.

I had been eyeing this fruit-and-nut print 1950’s dress from Thriftology 101 for a while. At least six months, if not more! Its colors and pattern were so gorgeous, but for some reason I simply put it on my wishlist, and hoped perhaps it would be a birthday present. Fast-forward to now, when I knew my husband wasn’t going to get it for me, so I bought it for myself.

And I am so glad I did. It is the perfect birthday outfit, the perfect shirtwaist dress, the perfect print. It’s even better than I had hoped it would be! Donning this beauty for my 29th birthday made the day even brighter!

On Growing Older

I feel like thirty is an age many people dread as they grow closer to the age. It’s the age when women seem to start lying about how old they are, when you’re considered a real adult, when “middle age” is just a few more years away. In the culture of eternal youth, in which we are constantly chasing a young appearance, young mannerisms, young clothing, I seem to be one of the odd ones, who looks forward to age and wisdom and establishment in getting older.

I am excited to be older. I can’t wait for thirty! Sure, I have the beginnings of wrinkles around my eyes now, and I don’t have the body I had at 22, but I feel as though I’m so much more confident in so many ways now. I’m happily married, I have two crazy and wonderful kids, I have my dream wardrobe, and I have grown so much in my talents and abilities as a photographer, a writer, and a blogger.

And of course it has to be said: the older I get, the less I feel like I’m really aging. In my head, I stopped somewhere around 25. As they say, you’re only as old as you feel, right?     

I really would not want to remain the person I was ten years ago.

For one, I was so unsure of myself then, and so insecure about so many things. For two, I didn’t have the wardrobe I have now, ha! And for three… there’s just something comfortable about this age. Something secure and undemanding. I’m not constantly trying to be someone that other people want me to be. I can be myself, and if people don’t like it… that’s fine with me. While I certainly would prefer that everyone like me, I don’t need everyone to like me the way I did ten years ago. 

Wishes For The Future

This next year, my biggest goal is to finish writing a novel, any novel, and get it published. I don’t want to turn thirty without ever having done the thing I’ve worked towards for almost fifteen years. Of course there are other things I’d like to accomplish, but that is what I am going to focus all of my spare energy on.

I know I could self-publish. It’s been suggested to me so many times. But there’s something about pursuing a traditional publishing company that feels so much more legitimate to me, so I think that’s what I’ll try, once I have a novel worth submitting. As in, once I’ve actually finished writing something. Ha!

Thank you, everyone who has made my birthday so far a wonderful day! My parents, who brought both breakfast and lunch, Beth at Thriftology101, who sent me an apron after she found out today was my birthday (and from whom I bought this dress!), Sara Lily, who sent an amazing apple-print dress and whose friendship is irreplaceable, Hannah, from whom I just opened a box of adorable goodies (a strawberry purse!!!), and so many others.

29 is going to be a wonderful year!

Dress, 1960’s vintage from Thriftology101 | Shoes, belt, and bracelet, thrifted | earrings, grandma’s | flower crown, Crescent Creations Events

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