30, Flirty, and Thriving

I turned 30 years old a couple of weeks ago. At first, I wasn't really looking forward to it. Despite the encouragement from well-wishers telling me, "30 is the new 20," "30 is just a number," and other positive statements, I lacked the oh-mi-gosh-my-birthday-is-coming-up-I-can't-wait excitement that I felt when I was younger. In the weeks leading up to my birthday, I even hesitated to make solid plans to celebrate, thinking that if I didn't make plans, maybe it wouldn't happen and I would keep being 29 (note to all, that doesn't work). Long story short -- too late -- leading up to my birthday I felt like this:

I really don't know why I was slightly freaking out. Maybe it was those thoughts in my head (thanks to the small minority in society that still thinks this way) telling me that if I was turning 30 I should be married with 2.5 kids instead of being single and living at home with my mom. Or maybe because I couldn't think of what exactly to do for my birthday. Being the overachiever that I am, I felt that I needed to do something REEEEEAAALLY epic for my 30th (where's Tori Spelling to be my party planner when I need her?!). Caribbean cruise, trip to Paris, surfing in Hawaii, time-traveling....all of them were out. If I were a different person, I'd probably get a tattoo or pierce something not on my face....but yeah, that wasn't going to happen.

What ended up happening was pretty cool - and further evidence that you never stop learning, no matter how old you get. In an appropriately-timed life lesson, despite my stressing to come up with the perfect celebration plans, my 30th turned out to be serendipitously amazing mostly on its own. Reiterating that life doesn't turn out how you plan - it turns out better. Here are just a few of the highlights, and, in my opinion, things that make for a pretty spectacular 30th birthday.

Flowers

The Friday before my birthday, I came home to a box of flowers from my bestest friend, Darcy.

She spoils me, 'cause, as she says, "Someone has to!"

Treats


The next day, this bundle of sweets was waiting on my doorstep from Joy, Joe, and Ruby.

The dialog bubble cookie came that way - how perfect is that?! Since all of my friends really are characters. ;)

Yeah, the contents of that basket are gone already.

Sparkles


A week before my birthday, my cousin and his wife were in town, and while we were doing some window shopping, I found a store that had a tiara section. My cousin's wife said that she thought I needed a tiara for my 30th, I agreed. This was their gift to me, and I used it well - I pretty much wore it all weekend. :)

The surest way to get excited for your birthday? Buy a tiara.

My mom surprised me with some more sparkles for my birthday that nearly brought me to tears and caused me to shake a little bit.

Diamond hug & kiss? Yes, please!

Hugh Jackman


Along with the beautiful necklace and other girly goodies, Mom also surprised me with my favorite leading man.

Obviously, I didn't get Hugh in the flesh, but, technically, I got Hugh - in the form of this

And this

Awesome musical number
My dad and I had a day of Disney fun to celebrate my birthday, including dinner at Germany, where we got to be a part of this.




So, to everyone that is nervous about an upcoming birthday, take heart. It turns out that all of my anxieties about it were all for nothing - it was actually one of the best birthdays ever. I am the luckiest girl in the world - and now, "30, flirty, and thriving."