Tag Archives: birthdays

27

It’s my birthday today. I’m having a hard time with 27–it just sounds so much *older* than 26. It has been a very eventful year, to say the least. I’m in a new apartment in a new city. I had new challenges, like telling #fatcat we were moving and knitting a new stitch for a baby blanket. Just like last year and the year before, here’s some things I’ve learned.

  1. how to reupholster
  2. I apparently have a thing for scary/gruesome/horror everything. One of my favorite books this year was NOS4A2 and TV shows was Hannibal (what I haven’t learned is what this means about my psyche)
  3. how to move halfway across the country (though Lord knows I’m no expert)
  4. a little bit of effort (or a lot!) to improve your space is totally worth it
  5. be open to everything. I have a lot more fun when I try to like something instead of try to hate it
  6. how to draw the human figure
  7. #fatcat can bounce back from a big, scary event like a champ (for instance, a very long time trapped in a U-Haul)
  8. how to knit a baby blanket
  9. balancing your time is really, really hard, and I’m afraid this struggle is just beginning
  10. it apparently takes me a while to get my bearings in a new place–I am still lost in Chicago most of the time
  11. how to make a podcast
  12. that I still completely and totally love connecting with new and interesting people on Twitter, who I may never meet in real life
  13. comic books are awesome (especially Sandman and Saga)
  14. I like pumpkin pie and sweet potato pie and probably all pies of that texture (you know what I mean, right?), but I’m not really crazy about other kinds of pie. I know, life is a mystery
  15. I’m a gossip, and I’m not sorry about it (celebrities, the royal family, and regular people are all up for discussion at any time)
  16. I love being an editor and have a long list of grammar pet peeves–but when I’m off the clock I couldn’t care less
  17. sometimes doing small things makes you feel better about the big things

Apparently this was a year of doing things, big and small. It’s been a fantastic year, and I had a great time celebrating with some friends over the weekend. Here’s to the next one!

26

cake

I turn 26 today. That is my actual birthday cheesecake that my family got to celebrate with me while we were on vacation. This year has been wonderful. I feel like I’ve grown a lot this year and I’m so happy with where it’s taken me. I am comfortable and happy with who I am. And I stay that way as long as I don’t start comparing my life to everyone else’s on Facebook. (As a result, I hardly ever look at my newsfeed, so please tell me things in real life if you want me to know them.)

But that’s not the point. Staying in the moment and enjoying the process of getting where you’re going has been the point for me this year. Some things I’ve learned:

  1. The Wire, Buffy, Breaking Bad, Mad Men, and The Sopranos later, I realized I have spent hundreds of hours watching television shows. And I love it. Battlestar Galactica and Deadwood are next.
  2. Make lists. Make ten thousand. Don’t be afraid to write things down you’ve already done so you can cross them off.
  3. This year has been the happiest year of my life (well, at least in the top 3).
  4. Surround yourself with beautiful things and beautiful people. Remember that the things don’t matter, but the people do.
  5. Get rid of clutter. In your knickknacks, in relationships, in the words you use in emails.
  6. Go to book club. You’ll like it.
  7. If it almost fits, do yourself a favor and don’t buy it. (I’m pretty sure I listed this before. It takes time to sink in.)
  8. I have experienced a lot of niceness on the Internet, even though I know there’s a lot of meanness out there. And I’m grateful for that.
  9. #fatcat is better than your cat. Sorry I’m not sorry.
  10. Drink more water.
  11. Did you guys know on an iPhone you can text gifs? I find this hilarious.
  12. I really don’t care how anyone pronounces “gif.”
  13. Accept that you will never be a morning person.
  14. Invest in a good dry shampoo (right now I’m using Oscar Blandi).
  15. I used to be too cool for high SPF. I have thankfully changed my ways.
  16. Being a maid of honor is super fun. But maybe just because the bride is one of my favorite people on the planet.
  17. Project life has been a really fun way to document the greatness of 2013 so far. I’d like to keep it up.
  18. I have a thing for avocados.
  19. I’ve been trying to keep a good attitude. Sometimes I am still a brat. I need to keep working on this one.
  20. I am so, so thankful for my family. They are fun, supportive, lovely people and we are growing by one this year!
  21. Ask for what you want. I have been consistently surprised at how often this works out.
  22. My friends are the best. Like, the best. I know this because I was nervous about planning a bachelorette weekend and each one of them told me I was a good planner in a subtle but coordinated kindness attack. I appreciate that and I appreciate you guys.
  23. I will never get the number of things I’ve learned to match up with how many years I am turning. See last year’s list here.