With a Bang

This weekend was many things - a drive down to la that included surprise birthday cupcakes and my first "wife" card, a night of celebrating Blane's new job, another night of celebrating 30 with Keith Urban and my nearest and dearest, a tiny bit of moving, and some time hanging with the family.

Come on Josh, "throw your hands in the air and wave 'em like you just don't care"  

Just kidding. No pressure. =p

I'm still recovering from this weekend. It was that epic.
Who says 30 is boring? =)

Not A Better Beginning

Josh surprised me with a birthday dinner in the city! I was shocked because usually I know about stuff like that. You can imagine how excited I was when we pulled up next to Nopa. You may have remembered, they were #1 on my places to eat in SF. I ruled them out because I had been trying to get a reservation and wasn't able to. I found out that my BIL pulled his food network card and got us a reservation! I felt like royalty! When we walked up to the front desk the lady looked at me and said, "Happy Birthday". I felt so special. 

We sat on the balcony and had a great view of the restaurant. It was perfect because we were able to spy on all the other tables to see what they ordered. 

The right

 The left

 To start, warm goat cheese, flavor bright plums and crostini. Oh man the combo was tdf.

 My entree's side - grilled figs, peppers, frisée and mustard seed vinaigrette to accompany...

.. a pork chop! That's right! Feeling a little edgy and ordered me some pork! Yee haw. I guess it was good. haha Josh said it was the best pork chop he's ever tasted. He ordered the burger. Apparently it tasted "beefier". Not sure what that means or why that's such a good thing. :p

 At the end of the night our waiter came up with our receipt and said that someone had anonymously paid for our meal. We were shocked. No one has ever done that for us before. I immediately assumed it was Aimee but I was wrong. Apparently it was my Bil! Bil's kinda like his dad. Stingy to a fault but super generous to those he loves. I guess that means I'm "IN". That deserves another Yee haw. Maybe another one. Yee haw!

And to top off the night, here's Josh giving his leftovers to "Joe" (well, that's what his homemade nametag said).  Isn't he amazing?

It was a great night. SF was crisp and bustling. The food was amazing. The company great. And the special touches from Bil made the night one I will never forget. I couldn't have asked for a better beginning. 30's, let's go!

In this Moment

My outside

 My inside

 Josh for me

Artwork

The Wish List

Well, here it is. The highly anticipated yearly birthday wish list. :p Most realistic some totally not. I need to say it - if you actually know me please don't feel obligated to buy me something off this list. I mean, any gift will do really. :o just kidding! In no particular order, except the last few-

NUMBER 1
I can close my eyes and see two of these beauties gleaming in the dark on either side of our bed.

NUMBER 2
This, this, and this font. Each deliciously magnificent. So our Christmas cards will look that much better, rightly so.

NUMBER 3
Ever since I saw Kate wearing them I haven't stopped scouring retailers looking for the right ones for me. Finally found it! Of course it was at my all time favorite store. No surprise there. =)

NUMBER 4
Logged as one of my Etsy favorites, this artist did these prints that are T.D.F. I want them I need them I gotta have them. (And yes, that was meant to sound as crazy as it did.)

NUMBER 5
Roar!

NUMBER 6
Over and over again it has been rated as the best a girl could get. Call me vain but I'm dying to know if it lives up to its name.

NUMBER 7
At this price who wouldn't?

NUMBER 8
Any of these. I don't discriminate.

NUMBER 9
And this with the marble. It's gotta have the marble.

NUMBER 10
Something we both want.

And The Winning Lotto Ticket. Hey, don't judge. A girl can dream right?

That's all folks! Maybe closer to Christmas I'll put one together for Josh. Although it would probably only have one or two things on it. That guy... Ainsi va la vie!

The Misconception of 30

I googled "turning 30" for the heck of it. I mainly found a bunch of people trying to convince themselves that the "thirties are the new twenties" Huh? That doesn't even make sense. I think my beef with the thirties is there's some cultural idea planted in my brain that you should have perfected it in your twenties. That's all well and good for those who have pulled it all together. I kinda feel like I'm barely getting it all together. Here's where I'm at:

1. I'm just beginning to define my style, identify my design aesthetic, solidify my beliefs, understand my faults, and see my strengths. Before I would like everything and nothing all at the same time. I would vacillate between this and that. Some things are still hard but for the most part I know what I like.

2. I've begun to realistically think long term. People will tell you that I'm always focused on the future but this time I can actually do it. It's exciting to think about moving, buying a house, and having kids. 

3. I love being married. It is settling and wonderful. I'm learning so much about what it means to love someone. In return I feel safely tucked in the arms of my husband. That is freeing and life giving. 

4. I realize you have to make more of an effort to pull yourself together. I have to try harder to stay in shape and wake up earlier to put some order to my face. We should do that, you know girls.

5. Discipline: In every way - finances, friends, relationship with God, holding my tongue, and restraining the emotions that can run so wild. Sucks at the time but it's nice at the end because before you know it you're stronger, smarter, settled, and better in many ways. 

I realize that nothing here is exciting and fun to read but I think that's the point. When you get older the stuff doesn't sound as fun but now I know that the rewards are greater. Being labeled "old" isn't so terrible. Those people have no idea how wonderful it is to be in this stage of life. Right now everything I've dreamed about as a little girl is either happening or at the tips of my fingertips.  It's not just in my journal anymore. It's real. It's real. I can hardly believe it myself. Josh thinks that my thirties are going to be my best ever. Crossing my fingers, that's what I'm thinking too. 

Coming up - my Birthday Wish List. Can you guess what's on it? :p

The Roaring 20's

This week is a big week. You may be thinking October signals the beginnings of fall, family get-to-togethers, celebrations, holiday, creamed corn, time off from work, sweaters, and gift shopping. And it does. But this week alone is reserved for something momentous only to me. Why you ask? Because you see this week leads up to the day I say adios to my twenties and step into the big 3 and 0.

The twenties are a chaotic time in life. It's the only decade where you are faced with a lot of change in a short period of time - moving out, college, graduating, jobs, dating, marriage, and maybe even kids. That's a lot of adjusting! When I was in my twenties I would have benefited from a little well meaning guidance. Because older = smarter (or so they say) here's my advice for whomever to learn whatever.

MY SURVIVAL GUIDE TO THE 20's
1. Dye your hair. Because you can. And wear whatever you want because you don't have to worry about a 9-5 dress code and your professional ambitions. Live it up because soon you'll be regretting that you never "let go" enough because you were worried what that girl who you'll never see again thinks.

2. Savor the sweet taste of freedom without the financial responsibilities. Man, I can close my eyes and daydream about life in college - living off my parents dime and just having fun. When all I had to worry about was that guy I was into and if I had studied enough for that class. And you think these worries are legitimate. Oh, the days of real worrylessness...

3. See the world. Take as many trips and vacations as you can. DO things that aren't in your everyday. You know why? Because all too soon you learn how limited "vacation days" can mean. See the world so you can develop and identify why you are who you are. You know, the world makes you less judgmental and more open-minded. Go for it.

4. Boyfriends. My advice? Go get some. Although this sounds sarcastic I'm actually being serious. Dating really helps to identify what traits we actually value. Don't take it so serious, and just go have dinner! Even if it's terrible, it's worth it. Think of it like this - one hour of painful conversation and a failed date probably helped you rule out something you don't want in the guy you end up marrying.  I would not have dated someone like Josh if I hadn't dated the guy before him. Trust me, you'll thank me down the line.

5. You can now drive alone, buy a lotto ticket, and buy a drink. Hello freedom! All ways of identifying your limits and clarifying your values. Do it with a purpose and then establish a moral code to live by.

6. Take the time to explore different mediums of culture. Our parents raised us in a culture that they felt most comfortable in but there are so many different others. Small town, big town...go to galleries, museums, shows, operas, libraries, famous places, historical monuments.  You don't want to be stuck in the one your parents put you in just to realize too late you like something else better.

7.  Because I wasn't...be less judgmental of others and focus on being a better person yourself.

8. Invest in a best friend. Learn to open yourself up to a few people, develop trust, be vulnerable. Real friendships - the kind you call in the middle of the night to talk about that thing that bothers you. The kind where you'll sit for hours together in a room doing absolutely nothing. The kind where you share your deepest secrets. The kind that you fight with. The kind that will stick by you through the thick and thin. Invaluable.

9. Second to last, I wish I had someone older to gently guide me along the way. It might have saved me from a lot of mistakes.

10. And if you have an inkling of the love of Jesus - take the time to figure out why He is so amazing. I knew it but I didn't live by it all the time and looking back, my path would have been more direct and less of a tug between my way and His if I hadn't been subconsciously swayed by others. There are many ways in this life but truly He is the Way, the Truth, and the Light.

What's your advice for the 20's? 
"Move out because you don't want the first person you live with to be your wife." - Josh
"Learn your personal hygiene - find what make-up, skincare, and shaving methods work for you." - Anonymous
"Go on a mission." - Aimee
"Develop some spiritual disciplines." - Aimee

Bare with me this week. In my aging state, I'm in a contemplative mood. :p

Saw this on Pinterest this morning. 

What a way to start my day. <3

Hope your Saturday is as beautiful as mine is turning out to be.