You may not have heard that 30 is the new 20, but it's totally true. Okay, lies, it's not. So says my back that aches a lot more these days or my waist that looks nothing like my waist at 20 or those rogue (and annoying) gray hairs I sometimes find. But, still, being 30 is far better than never being 30 and I had a really wonderful birthday this year.
I'm finally getting around to writing about it, even though it was over a week ago, you lucky readers you!
So, last week on my actual birthday I woke up to, well, an incredible note in my inbox. My Lush writers had given me a really generous cash gift, so I could finally purchase those investment jeans I've been talking about (for years). I couldn't believe it and still can't, truth be told. The gesture stunned me and the love I felt from that wonderful group on my birthday was unmatched. I wish I could bottle that feeling and feel it every day.
(Jonna was worried I'd spend the dough on something like bills, so she emailed me "I WANT RECEIPTS OR I WILL PUNCH YOU." I'm sorry but that's the best email I've ever gotten. I'm saving it forever. When I told Mike she sent that, he said, "I love Jonna." Yep, yep, me too.)
At work, my lovely coworker and friend left a donut and flowers on my desk and then a bunch of other coworkers took me to a delicious Mexican food lunch. A long lunch with dessert. That'll make a work day better, am I right?
I was met at home by cupcakes.
And an iPhone!
(You can't see the iPhone but the iPhone took the picture of the cupcakes, which . . . is really meta. NOTHING WS META AT 20! Take that 20!)
I also got to sit on the couch with champagne while Mike handled bedtime all on his own. I'm sorry, but that might have been the highlight of the week as moms everywhere can understand.
This past Saturday, we had a raging party, my last for a long while, but before it, Mike and I went to one of our fanciest dinners yet (at Grace in Fort Worth). We saved up for this dinner for a while, and I promised myself I wouldn't feel guilty because if you can't treat yourself to a nice dinner on your 30th birthday, WHEN CAN YOU? We loved it and had a great time.
A Bosc pear cocktail that was delicious!
Crab cake! One of the best I've ever had.
The party was a lot of fun, and it was my birthday so I forced my guests to play Cranium. Be warned if you ever come to one of my future birthday parties. CRANIUM IS HOW I ROLL.
I also loved that for the couple hours that Kyle was at the party with us, he passed out his Toy Story stickers to every single guest and every single guest humored him and took them and put them all over their shirts. I have such good friends. Although, when I asked Kyle why he wasn't wearing any stickers, he looked at me very matter-of-factly and said, "I don't want any stickers right now." Well then.
Because this birthday recap post is very food- and drink-photo heavy, how about a picture of Kristie and me.
In all honesty, 30 is a gift, and I feel lucky to be this age and with the family, friends, job, and life I have. I know that 30 isn't a given as no age is, and I'm grateful for it. I'm also so grateful for how special the day and weekend turned out to be.
Until 31, my friends!
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To celerate my birthday, I hosted a "will run for champagne" shirt giveaway, if you remember, and we have a winner!
Congrats Jen! I'll be in touch pronto.
(FYI: if you loved the shirt enough to buy one, we're placing another order this week, so order away!)