how the heck did this happen?

when i was little, i thought sixteen was the pinacle of one's life. i blame this on molly ringwald and the little mermaid -- "but, daddy, i'm SIXTEEN!". (hi. what's with the crazy ridiculous bad messages this movie sends to kids?)

if sixteen was the peak (and THANK GOODNESS it wasn't), then surely thirty was OLD. like, middle aged old. and boy, did it seem faaaaarrrrrr away.

well, my friends, the day has come. and, jeepers, i don't know how it got here so fast! today is the day then, according to my 9 year-old self, that i am officially old.

i know, i know, that's not really true. and many of you are likely groaning and telling me to shut up.

i know i'm not old. i don't feel old. 30 is the new 20, right? in fact, i totally believe in jenna rink's mantra -- "thirty, flirty, and thriving!" well, maybe not so much the "flirty" part. :) but even though i don't feel old (and i know i'm not), 30 just has an air of finality to it doesn't it?

like, in a there's-no-way-around-it-you're-a-full-fledged-grown-up-and-you-better-have-your-life-together kinda way, you know?

but, whatevs, i'm happy and excited for what the beginning of my fourth decade will bring...y'all know what i'm going to be wishing for, right? ;)

we had a small celebration on sunday with some close friends and family. low-key, famous d*ve's, and lots of laughs. :) my kinda fun.

the only pics i have are lame, posed pics of me and some of my pals...i promise, there *were* boys there, but my gal pals are loads prettier and more picture-worthy. :)

since it was halloween, kate came in her monkey costume! love her. my mom is a totally baby-hijacker and stole kate from her parents' arms the moment they walked in. at my grad school graduation, i looked up while i was waiting to receive my diploma and saw my mom holding a stranger's baby. like it was a totally normal thing to ask a stranger if you can hold their child. luckily, kate's parents think it's hilarious that my mom makes a beeline for her every time. actually, confession: so do i. how could you not? look at that face!


rina, one of my bffs and my favorite eating buddy:


my gorgeous sister. seriously. no make-up, not feeling well, and still, so gorgeous:


my cousin, april, flew down from nyc just for me! she was here for a mere 3 hours before hopping back on a plane. that's why she's awesome. :)


and me and amy, kate's actual mommy. love her, too. :)


i wore this necklace in honor of the big 3-0.

(sorry for the splotches. apparently, my decolletage gets stage fright.) my sister gave it to me for christmas a few years ago and i love it! except, since the charm is totally solid metal, it hurts when it hits my chest as i walk. but it's super cute, right?

thanks for celebrating with me!

oh, and p.s. a lot of you asked where my friends got that monkey growth chart. it was from target several years ago, so unforch, i don't think it's available anymore...:(