Photo of the Week : July 31 - Aug 7

Fillmoreish

Photo of the Week : Jul 24-31

Viva Las Vegas!

The Big 3-0

Anyone who knows me well knows that I felt some anxiety about my recent birthday. Dreaded it, actually. Which is sad considering how much I love birthdays. But 3-0 is kind of a big deal, you know? And sometimes feels even more so when you’re single. (Don't worry -- this isn't a "oohhh why am I still single" rant.)

I generally avoid talking about the “woes” of single hood on my blog because I’d rather not have it become all about that. But in an effort to not have it become all about that I’ve inadvertently left out a very big part of my life. The part where I’m a 30 year old girl who happens to be single and sometimes it can really suck.

In a place where so many people get married at such a young age, it’s all too easy to feel out of place when you haven’t done the same. Sure – you don’t have to coordinate your schedule with anyone else’s or you can go on impromptu trips because you don’t have to find a babysitter (which, don’t get me wrong, IS really great). But in the end you can also feel pretty left behind. You can feel inadequate. You sometimes worry that you’re doing something wrong. But push all of those insecurities aside and you suddenly realize that you’re not alone in feeling that way – married or single. In talking with different people over the years it's always amazed me how so many of those feelings are often the same. Someone who faces infertility feels a hole from something good that they can’t seem to have. Someone who has health problems feels disappointment and frustration over not being able to do some of the things they love. Someone who is struggling in their marriage feels lonely and uncertain about the future. The situational details are different – and some things definitely deeper than others -- but often the feelings are similar.

This all may sound trite to some. But it’s been an awesome lesson for me to learn for myself. No matter your marital status, we can call relate more than we think. Which makes me wonder -- why in the world can we be so critical/judgmental of one another at times? It just seems to be a waste of opportunity and energy.

I may not be very happy about my big 3-0, but I do know that amid the frustration and disappointment I may feel, life really is full of good stuff if we're looking. There are a lot of things that I love and a lot of things that I’m super excited to bring to the table when I do get married and have a family of my own. So I guess as far as the number 30 goes I’m not too bad off. And I'm grateful for the things I'm learning.

But I’m still telling people I’m 27. (Kidding … sort of)

So what did we do to celebrate my 27th birthday? All sorts of goodness. Family, friends, and calories = a good birthday in my book.

And that's not all. My birthday "activity" of choice is a good one this year: the Celine Dion show in Las Vegas. I've always loved Celine (despite some of her apparent cheese) and she'll always be a favorite choice for my shower singing tunes. I can't wait to hear some of this on Saturday!

Photo of the Week : July 17-24

Got lots of time with these two little chicks this weekend!

Photo of the Week : July 10-17

Maybe airplaneing is the new planking.

Photo of the Week : July 3 - July 10

The many sides of our sweet Aubree ... no prompting necessary.

Kids these days ....

This ad made me laugh:

I love how she says that she read the majority of an article online. Isn't it sad that our attention spans are shortening so quickly? Maybe I'll join a book club in an effort to combat that. 

Related: I saw online today that some public schools will be permanently replacing cursive writing with keyboard proficiency. As someone who loves a beautifully HANDwritten word, this makes me very sad! When I have children you better believe I'll have them practice penmanship. They may not love it, but they'll at least be able to whip out a lovely handwritten note if they ever wanted to (and I hope they do).

I'm all about the awesome things that the internet and technology can provide us -- I think it's pretty exciting, actually. But can't things like social skills and penmanship still exist in that world? I sure hope so.

I suddenly feel like I'm 95 years old, chewing out the neighbor kids for cutting across my lawn. Whoopsy.

Photo of the Week : June 26 - July 3

Season Ocho

So You Think You Can Dance started! Big smiles all around! We’ve opted out of DVR for the last year, and watching it day-of rarely happens, so thank goodness for being able to catch shows online. It’s funny that I love this show so much considering I certainly DON’T think I can dance. I took ballet when I was younger but who-knows-what happened and that was that. Watching these dancers make me wish I was that coordinated and swirly and graceful … with a KILLER core.

I don’t have season favorites yet. Although I’m strongly considering Sasha after this dance:

But see then there’s Tadd who’s awesome. Or Melanie who’s adorable. Or cute Robert. Too many choices this early on, so I’ll wait a little before I choose favorites. This new season has gotten me searching for old dances that I love. I know I’ve posted this before, but it’s still my favorite:

Or this at a close second! (skip to 0:51 to just see the dance):

Maybe I love watching so much because I’m a planner and on the show everything is choreographed and very well thought out. Life likes to constantly pull me out of planning mode but at least for a few hours a week everything can still be safe and planned. Phew :)

Or buy me a pet firefly.

I consider floating lanterns one of the most beautiful things ever. Yes, ever. To see something like this clip below is definitely on my bucket list. How pretty/ethereal would this be for a wedding? Or to commemorate the birthday of your daughter who was kidnapped by a sneaky witch who wants to stay young forever? Either way, count me in.

Photo of the Week : June 19-26

Handstands in the park. We've still got it!

It's taken me until now to realize that I'm a bona fide summer girl.

Photo of the Week : June 12-19

Well, as far as sunsets go I guess this one's okay.

Photo of the Week : June 5-12

I finally saw some of the flooding happening up north. No bueno.

Photo of the Week : May 29 - June 5

Curlie-Q

A very Happy Birthday to my little sis Karlee, aka Curlie, aka Smalls (from now on), aka the girl who still doesn't get the fact that any pictures she secretly takes of herself on my camera are free game. 

Haaaappy Birthday!

And maybe just one more for the road. I mean, we're here anyway, right?