I have approximately 13 hours left in my 20's. I am sad to see a decade of some of my best and worst years fade away. Best because I have grown tremendously. Worst because I have walked through crazy tragedy. But that's what life is Triumph and Tragedy. Today I ran a 5k. My first one! It was a goal I had & I achieved it! I feel so proud of myself! My life is such a blessing. I am so blessed with family and friends who love, support, and cherish me. My Life Is Full. I love it.
It's funny when I think about being 20, and looking towards 30 seemed so far away. It's not- it sneaks up on you! Some of the greatest things I've learned in the last 30 years:
Fight hard.
Love hard.
Have no regrets.
Listen.
Honor people with your time.
Be spontaneous.
TRAVEL!
Set goals and work hard to achieve them.
Say yes at least one time when you want to say no.
Be kind to a stranger- it might get you out of a sticky situation.
LAUGH- LOUDLY!
Take photos.
Forgive and forget.
You have to walk before you can run.
I've learned so much in such a short time. I look forward to what the next 30 years holds! It is an exciting time!
Age breeds wisdom & this I know-the best is yet to come!
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Thursday, October 4, 2012
The Summer That I Became a Girl
There is a cool breeze floating through the atmosphere. It calls to me. I am so excited about fall. Not only is my birthday on the quickly approaching horizon. I just love how cozy and homey the fall is. Everybody wants to hang out and have football parties and be together.
I have begun digging out my fall and winter clothing. I have a severe affinity to scarves, jackets, leggings, and boots. It is like an entire new wardrobe that I had forgotten about emerges from it's hiding in the dark corners of my closet.
This particular fall wardrobe swap makes me a bit sad. You see, this summer I became a girl. NOT in the gender sense, but in the love of dresses, skirts, and heels sense. The funny part of this is that my entire life I have envied my two younger sisters. They are tall and beautiful and models. I am not so tall, but equally as beautiful. I have been scared to embrace my curves and my wild unruly hair and I had no time to wear makeup or learn to walk in heels without hurting myself.
This year something changed. In March I started perusing the racks and racks of cute spring clothing and thinking to myself, "You can pull off this super cute drop waist dress." That particular dress wasn't as cute as I'd hoped it to be, but several of the fifteen others I tried did work.
One dress after another and I became a bit obsessed.
I am going to be honest. I am not a small girl. I'm curvaceous and have my fair share of BAD hair days and my thighs touch when I walk and it's annoying. BUT I'm comfortable in my body and being comfortable in your body is the first step in a lot of things, the most important being-building up your self confidence. I once had a friend ask me how I had become so confident of myself. I will say this: I know what I am capable of, I know what I like and what I don't, I like being in control, and I know what I am worth. Those things coupled with a genuine love of myself, not conceit, give me a really solid foundation of self worth. I just don't compromise for less than I am worth.
ANYWAY back to the dresses. I found several staple dresses that I loved. Then came the shoes. I live near the coast, so most of the year is spent in open-toed shoes and sandals. One day while on the phone with my best friend complaining of my need for heels but my ever present fear of breaking my neck, she suggested the wearing of wedges. That weekend yielded a fantastic find at the local goodwill, and I fell in love!
That one dress lead to about twenty in different variations. Lacey, cotton, short, edgy, long, dressy, vintage and casual. Those heels lead to several pairs of wedges, some kitten heeled pumps, and some super tall heels for the girls night out! I had transformed from the casual GAP poster girl to the girl who embraced the InStyle and Vogue fashion pages.
The former sixth grader who wore white jeans and a white esprit t-shirt to picture day and effectively looked like the abominable snowman; wearing heels and dresses and makeup and curling my hair and LOVING it!
I loved that people noticed. I loved that I felt comfortable. I loved the complete deviation from my normal jeans and t-shirt uniform. I loved the absolute femininity. It was an amazing summer.
It is amazing and I fully intend on carrying this love of myself and fashion into the fall with me, because what you love, you can't leave behind.
I have begun digging out my fall and winter clothing. I have a severe affinity to scarves, jackets, leggings, and boots. It is like an entire new wardrobe that I had forgotten about emerges from it's hiding in the dark corners of my closet.
This particular fall wardrobe swap makes me a bit sad. You see, this summer I became a girl. NOT in the gender sense, but in the love of dresses, skirts, and heels sense. The funny part of this is that my entire life I have envied my two younger sisters. They are tall and beautiful and models. I am not so tall, but equally as beautiful. I have been scared to embrace my curves and my wild unruly hair and I had no time to wear makeup or learn to walk in heels without hurting myself.
This year something changed. In March I started perusing the racks and racks of cute spring clothing and thinking to myself, "You can pull off this super cute drop waist dress." That particular dress wasn't as cute as I'd hoped it to be, but several of the fifteen others I tried did work.
One dress after another and I became a bit obsessed.
I am going to be honest. I am not a small girl. I'm curvaceous and have my fair share of BAD hair days and my thighs touch when I walk and it's annoying. BUT I'm comfortable in my body and being comfortable in your body is the first step in a lot of things, the most important being-building up your self confidence. I once had a friend ask me how I had become so confident of myself. I will say this: I know what I am capable of, I know what I like and what I don't, I like being in control, and I know what I am worth. Those things coupled with a genuine love of myself, not conceit, give me a really solid foundation of self worth. I just don't compromise for less than I am worth.
ANYWAY back to the dresses. I found several staple dresses that I loved. Then came the shoes. I live near the coast, so most of the year is spent in open-toed shoes and sandals. One day while on the phone with my best friend complaining of my need for heels but my ever present fear of breaking my neck, she suggested the wearing of wedges. That weekend yielded a fantastic find at the local goodwill, and I fell in love!
That one dress lead to about twenty in different variations. Lacey, cotton, short, edgy, long, dressy, vintage and casual. Those heels lead to several pairs of wedges, some kitten heeled pumps, and some super tall heels for the girls night out! I had transformed from the casual GAP poster girl to the girl who embraced the InStyle and Vogue fashion pages.
The former sixth grader who wore white jeans and a white esprit t-shirt to picture day and effectively looked like the abominable snowman; wearing heels and dresses and makeup and curling my hair and LOVING it!
I loved that people noticed. I loved that I felt comfortable. I loved the complete deviation from my normal jeans and t-shirt uniform. I loved the absolute femininity. It was an amazing summer.
It is amazing and I fully intend on carrying this love of myself and fashion into the fall with me, because what you love, you can't leave behind.
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