Friday, November 5, 2010

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!
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rina, one of my bffs and my favorite eating buddy:
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my gorgeous sister. seriously. no make-up, not feeling well, and still, so gorgeous:
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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. :)
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and me and amy, kate's actual mommy. love her, too. :)
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i wore this necklace in honor of the big 3-0.
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(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...:(

36 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday! Welcome to your 30's...I'm sure it will be a great decade for you.

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  2. Happy Birthday (and cute necklace!).

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  3. Happy birthday Grace! I hope you have a great day! Hey, at least you aren't 37...

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  4. Happy Birthday! It is weird to realize you've reached the age that your younger self thought was so old. Especially when you don't feel old!

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  5. Happy happy birthday! Wow, I'm impressed by the flight down from NYC just for your party! Happy 30th! 30 was a good age for me - it's when we got miss Olive :)

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  6. Happy Birthday! That story about your graduation is hilarious!

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  7. Happy Birthday beautiful friend!
    I hope I hit 30 as gracefully as you. (And as pretty!)

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  8. Happy 30th! I hope it is a wonderful decade for you. All in all, I've liked the 30s so far. And you're right, thank goodness 16 isn't the pinnacle of one's life. I also thought that it would be, but now I'm really glad that it wasn't! Especially because 16 was nowhere near as awesome as adulthood.

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  9. You are about to get the best (belated) birthday present ever!
    And being in your thirties is great!

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  10. Happy Birthday! you're definately right about 30 being the new 20!

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  11. Happy Birthday, Grace! AND, 30's are AMAZING!

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  12. My friend and I thought 30 seemed old, it was strange becoming 30. Oh well. Actually we went to Famous Dave's for my 30th as well (just the 4 of us, so not terribly exciting, but still nice).

    Love the monkey costume! Kate is adorable!!!

    Here's the thing about 30 - if you're happy with where you are in life, it's a celebration!

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  13. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! glad you had a fun time celebrating!

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  14. Happy Birthday!

    Even though I've been 31 for 6 months, I still have trouble beleiving I'm in my 30s - its not that I mind, I just pictured it as an age where I'd be so grown-up.

    I hope this is a wonderful decade of your life!

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  15. Happy birthday, Grace! 30 will be a great year for you because you'll be bringing home Choi Boy! It sounds like you had a really fun birthday--I love the pictures and your necklace! So cute!

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  16. Happy Birthday! Your 30's will be just fabulous...I have no doubt! And even though you have a ways to go, from a gal who knows firsthand.. the 40's aren't too shabby either. :)
    Love that necklace by the way!

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  17. Happy Birthday!!! The cupcake necklace Is Super Cute!

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  18. Happy Birthday, Grace!!! Hope you've had a fabulous day!

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  19. Happy happy birthday. This is going to be the best year!!! I love your mom :)

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  20. Happy birthday! If it helps, my 30s have been am amazing improvement over my 20s. :)

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  21. Happy Birthday!!! I agree with Min, my 30s have blown my 20s out of the water... you'll love them.

    PS - I squealed with delight when I read the Jenna Rink quote. love that movie!

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  22. Bonne Anniversaire! Love your blog and pray everyday that Choi Boy gets home soon. Love the necklace!

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  23. Happy Birthday, Grace!
    I thought the 30's were way better than the 20's. More confidence, more yourself, more everything.
    And...just wait...your 40's rock too.
    Take it from someone who knows.

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  24. Happy Birthday!!!!! I hear your 30s are some of the best years of your life..I hope it's true because I will be there before I know it!

    Enjoy every moment :)

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  25. Happy Happy Birthday! The big 3-0! I'm sure your 30s will be the most memorable! Thinking of you!

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  26. Happy birthday! I predict much love & happiness in your third decade!

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  27. Happy (belated) birthday! I remember 30 sneaking up on me, too, like WHAT just happened?! But it's true, your thirties are the BEST. I only have 3 more years of them until my next big milestone but I'm in denial about that. And what better present for your 30th than CHOI BOY?!!!

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  28. Happy belated birthday, Grace!!! 30 crept up on me too, but I actually love my thirties and so will you. This will be the greatest year for you!!

    p.s. your sister AND YOU are GORGEOUS!!!

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  29. thanks for your comment girl. ya i was just thinking this morn at church that using that video could be a great way to do announcement thingy. thanks for suggestion. hope you are continuing to celebrate your birthday this weekend! enjoy!

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  30. Grace my friend, you HAVE to tell me your secret. You seriously look like you're in your young 20's. Happy, happy Birthday! I would LOVE to be 30 again, heck I'd love to be 35 again! Enjoy and I KNOW that this is going to be an awesome year for you!

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  31. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! 30 is definitely the new 20 ;)

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  32. Happy (belated) Birthday! I remember 30 as being a great year! The early 30s are all good... but wait until you hit 34... then things go down hill ;)

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  33. I'm glad you had a happy happy birthday :)
    xoxoxoxo!
    I love that our birthdays are a weekish apart.

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