One of the surprises that I didn't mention yet about my birthday was this...

...my favorite photographer, the amazing Mark Tucker, documented a part of my 30th birthday at Sulphur Creek Farms today. Such an incredible afternoon of stomping through creeks, running through fields and swinging on giant swings. I thought I'd be very nervous, but I was surprisingly comfortable...and totally willing to wade into this pond for this shot. This is just a preview of our afternoon. I feel so lucky that Mark was willing to do this, and that I'll always have these images of what I was like at thirty. I have a ton more to say about my day, but mom and I are exhausted. More posts tomorrow.

Hello, September 21st...

I made myself stay up until midnight, so I could feel the very last minute of my twenties slide into the very first minute of my thirties. (If we are going to get really technical about this, I suppose that won't officially happen until 10:35 am.) Honestly though, it felt good. It definitely felt like a relief.

This is completely unrelated, but I just bought a Shark floor steamer today. My friends bought one last week and told me how great it was. Holy smokes! I think this thing may have changed my life. It uses a LOT less water than mopping and actually disinfects the floor with the hot steam...without chemicals! You can use it on carpet too. Oh gosh. Wait. I think I just got old...just right in those few sentences. Did I just get overly excited about a household cleaning appliance!?! Haha. Yikes.

thirty years ago tomorrow....

I kind of feel like maybe my parents gave me a lot of benadryl or something before this photo was taken. That or I'm thinking, "Jeesh, Mom! Could you guys have picked a more inappropriate place for the candle on my Paddington Bear cake?"

“But listen to me. For one moment
quit being sad. Hear blessings
dropping their blossoms
around you.”
― Rumi

The last day of my twenties...

Today was the last day of my twenties. It was filled with lots of uninteresting errands. I managed to squeeze in a quick nap at one point, which was lovely.

The most exciting thing that happened today....My sweet friend, Dara, told me she had two amazing seats for the Ray Lamontagne concert tomorrow that she can't use, so it looks like mom and I are going to dinner and a concert! I had thought of taking a trip, but didn't have enough money. I'm kind of glad I didn't though, because I'm really excited to spend the day with the woman who worked so hard to bring me into the world exactly thirty years ago. It seems very appropriate.

I've been so surprised by how many people have read this blog over the past twelve weeks, and how many people have sent me private emails of support/lovely thoughts about it....even some from complete strangers. I've also recently received some frantic messages from people asking that the blog not end on my birthday. While that is so incredibly flattering, I am not sure how I feel about that quite yet. It definitely started out a temporary project, and I want to try to honor the spirit of that, I think. Anyhow, I have decided to definitely continue posting through the beginning of next week. There are some pretty special things coming up (going to keep a few blog surprises up my ole virtual sleeve). Birthday festivities are stretching out through Monday of next week, and then I'll post a final blog post once I feel like I've fully arrived at thirty.

For now, it is time to put on that dance mix and get this house cleaned up before my mom gets here in the morning! More later tonight...

My horoscope for 9/20....

"You must understand that anything leaving your life at this particular time is only that which you truly do not need. Let it go! Persevere with strength and optimism and strive to become the best you possibly can. Only then will you have fulfilled the requirements of this time in your life."

Two More Days....

Planted some small rose bushes this spring. This one hadn't been looking good at all, and I figured it was going to die soon. I wasn't paying attention and planted it in a high traffic dog path in the yard. Let's just say it gets lots of yellow rain. I'm not sure when roses normally bloom, but neither bush has produced any roses yet. Then this morning, BAM....a pretty little red birthday rose. So beautiful.