ANDDDDDD I’M OFFICIALLY THE BIRTHDAY GIRL 😀 *puts crown on head*
I cannot believe I’m 24. And not because I feel like I’m getting old or anything. It’s mostly because I can’t believe the life I have. And on my 24th birthday, I’m more appreciative of the cards I was dealt than ever before. I guess as you get older, you start to realize what really is important.
In the last year I’ve learned a few things:
Family….don’t forget to love them every day. My family has been through a lot in the last few months, and I know we’re stronger than ever. Whenever I leave or call my parents or sister, I never forget to tell them I love them. They’re the ones who are always looking out for me and are the first people I want to share my successes (and failures) with. Life is so, so, so short – too short, to forget about your family.
If you give people a chance, they might surprise you. Let’s just say when I first met my boyfriend, I wasn’t too crazy about him (Sorry, babe), and was in the middle of an ugly situation with a different guy I was dating. But when he asked me out for drinks on a Wednesday night in August, for whatever reason, I agreed to go. And it was probably one of the best nights ever – minus the severe hangover at work the next day 😉 Without getting too mushy, the past year has been eye-opening and one of the best years yet – largely in part to him. He’s made me a better person, keeps me laughing non-stop, and one of the best people I know. Anyone who knows Matt knows how good-hearted he is, how contagious his laugh is, and how loyal he is to his family and friends. How he ended up with me is beyond me….but I’m suuuure thankful things worked out this way.
Your friends are so important. I’ve had the same group of best friends for 10 years. Whenever I say that number, I’m always in shock. We’ve been through the awkward years, the fights, the break ups, the college years, and transitioning into adulthood and they’re still my best friends. I have such a love for my girlfriends – it would kill me if they weren’t in my life. And then, through this crazy blogging community, I’ve met so many amazing people whom I consider my friends (even if I don’t know them IRL). But there are two girls who are always there for me to tell me if my outfit looks awful, fix my hair during a shoot, or listen to me vent over a glass of champs: Allie and Mollie. I’m so happy blogging brought us together (well, reconnected Allie and I – we met while working at Kate Spade in DC!), and I consider them two of my besties!
Work hard, play harder. I’m still so young. So, while setting myself up for a successful future (hellooooo 401k) is imperative, it’s also really important that I live it up while I’m still young. I live in one of the greatest cities in the world that has everything to offer. You better believe I’m going to take advantage of that.
Love what you do. You’ve all heard me say a million times just how much I love my job. I truly feel like I chose the right career path, and it’s been so fun learning the ins and outs of the fashion industry and becoming an integral part of my team. And then there’s this blog. Or my other full-time job. But it’s so much fun. I wrote a while back that I hate the saying, “If you love what you do you’ll never have to work a day in your life,” and I still hate it. I love working hard. I love knowing that when I wake up, I’m going to have a lot to get done – for both my day job and for Pink Champagne Problems. I love that I’ve connected with so many amazing people and brands from all over the world. I love that I have this space on the Internet that’s completely mine. I love what I do.
So there you have it, a few things I learned from 23 to 24. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to eat junk all day and prep for my traditional birthday ride with Mantas (that may or may not end with tequila shots).
WHAT I’M WEARING:
DRESS
SHOES
BAG
SUNGLASSES
