Today I turn the big 35. Sometimes I find it hard to believe that I am officially mid thirties and 5 years from 40 -wowza. I remember at one time thinking that was so old. 40 used to be over the hill. Now I donโt feel that way at all. Most days I still feel like a teenager at heart. 35 is the new 25 right??
My thirties have been my favorite years yet. I have grown so much as a person and become truly happy with who I am. The quote โthe less you care the happier you will beโ is so true. Not everyone will like you and that is ok, as long as you are confident and secure in yourself, that is what is important.
I have learned that it is not important to have a ton of friends but more important to have handful of real friends you can truly count on. My girlfriends brighten my life and empower me so much. I donโt know what I would do without them.
My thirties have taught me marriage is hard and anyone who tells you it is easy is wrong. It takes work, but like anything else in life you get out of it what you put in. The things you work the hardest for are the most valuable and treasured things in your life. My love for Matt grows each year.
My thirties have taught me kids are both the hardest and most rewarding thing you will do with your life. They have also taught me true unconditional love. My kids are my life simple as that but it is also important to remember to carve out and make time just for you. Nurturing your soul and spending time alone is a good thing.
My thirties have taught me to be nice and smile you never what battles someone else is fighting. It is always better to be kind. Equally important is not to judge for the same reasons. We all are doing the best we can in our own paths of our lives. We should encourage and support each other.
My thirties have taught me the grass is always greener. Someone will always have more than you do and that is life and that will never change. You have to be thankful for what you have because you have more than most people.
My thirties have taught me the power of prayer and trusting God. I have grown in my faith these last few years especially since having children and that makes all things in life easier.
My thirties have made me appreciate my parents in a whole new way. I respect them as parents and now I consider them among my best friends, in fact more often than not I choose to hang out with them instead of my friends. I am thankful for our close knit family because family is everything. I hope Sterling and Frances Moon grow up and love me and want to spend as much time with me as I do my parents. They are a huge inspiration to me.
Most importantly my thirties have taught me to laugh and enjoy life. Also that attitude can make or break you. โThe happiest people donโt have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything.โ
In Honor of my 35th birthday I thought it would be fun to share 35 things you probably donโt know about me.
1) I am addicted to the TV show Buying Alaska. I donโt know what it is but I love seeing people look at properties with no running water and outhouses. Matt and I look forward to watching it every week.
2) I never leave home without a glass of water. I take one with me everywhere.
3) I hate brushing my teeth, I despise the taste of toothpaste
4) I have never walked the Cooper River Bridge nor do I even care to. I think I would get to the middle and have an anxiety attack about being stuck up that high.
5) When I eat pizza I like to eat all the cheese and toppings off and leave the bread. It drives Matt crazy.
6) I love box mac and cheese. I know it is so processed and gross but I love it.
7) I like drinking my cocktails out of tiny vintage glasses. When I travel I always search for small vintage glasses. I hate a drink in a really large glass.
8) I am weird about meat. I hate pork tenderloin and steak but love bacon and ground beef. I also love chicken liver.
9) In high school I kept a calendar and wrote down my outfits everyday so I never repeated the same exact outfit. I have had a strong love for fashion my whole life.
10) I can not sleep late. I am up and out of bed even if my kids are still sleeping.
11) I have been coloring my hair since I was 12. I am obsessed with having my hair super blonde. I have also had pretty much every hair color from almost black, to red highlights and I feel most comfortable and myself with blonde hair.
12) I am scared of sharks and will not go in the ocean past my knees
13) I love magazines and always have to buy the newest issues. I get so excited when I am grocery shopping and see a fresh new magazine. Sadly they usually just sit around forever because I rarely have time to read them these days.
14) I hate to fly. My two upcoming trips have me stressing out already about flying. Like break out in sweats, heart palpitations scared to fly. Alcohol helps:)
15) I make my bed every single day.
16) I put hot sauce on everything. I always think food needs more flavor.
17) I am sad to admit but I am bored with the Housewives now. I used to love that show and now it is just too much drama and arguing. I am over it. Does that mean I am growing up and maturing??
18) My three drinks of choice would be white wine, vodka on the rocks with fresh lemon, or good tequila. I hate mixers and prefer to drink my drinks straight.
19) I was originally accepted to NC State and had said yes. I had a room mate lined up my very best friend from high school and deposit paid. I was then accepted to UNC โ Chapel Hill second round later around May. I immediately ditched my plans at NC State. I choose Chapel Hill and to room with a girl I didnโt know that well instead of my best friend but something in my heart told me to go to UNC. I took a chance and I am glad I did.
20) Matt and I have been together 14 years this year. We dated 6 years before he proposed.
21) I donโt like cats- at all.
22) I used to want to be a tornado chaser.
23) If I could have any job in the world I would choose to be a fashion stylist- ala Rachel Zoe.
24) I am a total book worm. I love to read and collect books especially cookbooks and coffee table books. I take the kids to the library once a week in hopes they will love books too.
25) I love salads. Like truly I get excited about salads. They are my favorite thing to make.
26) Buying good groceries and having good food in the house is one of my favorite indulgences.
27) My male crushes these days consist of Anderson Cooper, Adam Levine, Zac Efron- and so random I have kind of been crushing on Nick Jonas lately (I blame the music)
28) I have one eye with blond eyelashes and one eye with black eyelashes
29) Right after college I went to Real Estate School. I even worked for a year as an assistant to a realtor and then decided that was not the field for me. I then worked as an architectural rep for 6 years til I had Sterling. The economy took a bad turn right before I had Sterling, especially the construction field and I was laid off the week before I had him.
30) I have never had a spray tan.
31) I have traveled out of the country once, when I was 21 I went to Germany and Austria. In all likelihood I will probably never travel out of the country again because the 8 hour flight about did me in. However I am glad I got to experience a different culture and part of the world. I thank my parents for doing that for me and making me board the plane even though I was hysterically crying:)
32) I think about my grandmother (who Frances was named after) and grandfather everyday. They were such a huge part in my life and I miss them dearly. I swear often times there are signs they are nearby and watching over us.
33) I donโt like medicine. I never take medicine unless I am really sick. I donโt even take Tylenol for headaches. I hate taking any sort of pills.
34) I wash my face every night, this is one step I never skip
35 ) Birthday wishes. Truth.
Cheers to 35 Friends.
Happy Birthday
As a 52 year old I say this with much authority 40's are hands down better than your 30'sโฆsee what you have to look forward to! Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday!!! Hope it's a great one!
Happy birthday Natalie! Welcome to the club! I love salads AND cats.
Happy birthday!!!
Happy birthday! I have never nor do I ever want to walk the cooper river bridge. Next time that I am in charleston, we can NOT walk it together!
Happy happy birthday! I loved reading your list of 35 things. I didn't remember that you went to Carolina. (I went to Duke โ sorry!) The thought of walking the Cooper River bridge (or any similar thing) stresses me out too. You would be an awesome stylist. (Of course, you're an awesome mom!!)
Ditto on 2, 9, 17, 21, 26, 27 (we are cougars with all those youngins), 30 (everybody I have ever met has had a spray tan, how have we avoided? I'm kind of skerred) and 33. Are we twins? Also, I love that you still call it the Cooper River Bridge, I do too and people always correct me to "Ravenel." Sorrrrrrrry. I like to think of myself as fancy old Charleston.
Son of a send that post before your done gunโฆ. of course I meant to end that with- HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! You are one of the sweetest bloggers around and I have no doubt we'd be great friends. Hope you have a great day!! xo โ Mic
Happy Birthday, Natalie! I too have been really appreciating my 30sโlet's see if I still say that in a few years Loved your list.
I don't love to fly either- I recently used my Young Living oils and made a roller ball of peace and calming and lavender. I put them on my wrists and behind my ears before I got on the plane and I felt much calmer!! Good luck!!
We have a few of the "weird" things in common โ I am the SAME way about meat! My husband doesn't get it. I also don't take medicine usually and hate pills tooโฆbut hey, you know what, I hardly get sick! Coincidence? I think not. Happy 35th!
Love this, Happy Birthday! Turned 35 last month, and have to agree it's not so bad.
Happy Birthday! We should all be so lucky to be 35!
Happy Birthday, Natalie!
happy birthday!! xo jillian โ cornflake dreams
First of all Happy Birthday!!! And second โ I am SO glad to hear that there is another person on the planet that despises the taste of toothpaste!!!
Happy Birthday! I'm turning 46 in less than a month and I can't handle it. 35 was such a great year for me! I finally met my husband.
You should try a spray tan. It's like an instant mood uplifter!
happy birthdayyy! have loved getting to know you better through the years through this blog Enjoy your day! and PS getting over housewives too- never thought the day would come, maybe we are maturing hahahha
Happy Birthday!! Loved your list, we have a lot in common. When I was 35 I had a 2 and a 5 year old, girl/boy like you. And now at 42 I agree it just gets better and better!! And I care much less about what others think too.
Happy Birthday!! Loved your list, we have a lot in common. When I was 35 I had a 2 and a 5 year old, girl/boy like you. And now at 42 I agree it just gets better and better!! And I care much less about what others think too.
Happy Birthday!
I love these posts and getting to know you better! I'll be waiting for you on the other side of your flight!! Can't waitโฆand happiest of birthdays, pretty girl! 35 is amazing!!
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday! I'm with paperjunk-lc, 40's are hands down better than 30's, and my 50's aren't so bad either. Love having grown up children whom I can do grown up things with! I'm with you on the cocktailsโno mixers for me, either. Love reading your 35 "things" list. I hope you have a wonderful birthday! xoxo
Happy Birthday, Natalie! I love your blog. I subscribe to quite a few blogs, but there are only two that I make sure that I read each day. Yours is one of those. You have such a great outlook on life and it is so apparent that you have a heart of gold. Keep up the great work! Enjoy your lovely family on your special day.
Happy Birthday pretty girl! Thank you for your blog and sharing with us! It's reassuring, because I have two kids also and stay home with them and have similar interests as you. Hope you have a fabulous Birthday and enjoy celebrating the rest of the week! May all your wishes come true! Xo
Beautifully written and said! I hope your day has been amazing!
Happy Birthday, I hope you have had an amazing day!! Xo, Stephanie
Happy Birthday! I always enjoy reading your blog. Thanks for sharing!
Happy happy birthday!!!!! Hope it was fantastic!!! Hahah in High School I would make sure I wouldn't repeat the same pair of shoes for an entire week!!! Loved the post!
love this post. It is very inspiring for this in the 30 club. Alive the 35 things about you. a new Follower her.e