..Birthdays

June 15, 2012

Warning: This one's kinda serious, peeps. And it's long which I know is a blogger no-no, but today is my birthday and I'm breaking the rules (I wont judge you if you skip right to the pictures).

Sometimes I look in the mirror and am surprised by who I see looking back at me.  I honestly feel the same as I did when I was 19, so when I see tired eyes, tiny lines that were not there before when I smile, and a few  grays sprouting up (Honestly, WTF?) I get startled.  I know it sounds crazy, but I just assumed I would stay young and beautiful forever...don't you guys?

Today is my 26th birthday, which even as I type this gives me a pang of "ummm...why did you just admit that on the internet..."  It's one that I have mixed emotions about for many reasons, which mainly consist of the following:

1. I totally feel like by 26 you're in your "upper twenties" and should have yo shiz together (and I don't as far as husbands, home-ownership, career choices, and babies go).

2. My body seems to be aging behind my back, which is totally uncool (basically I just don't want to get older in general, duh).

3. Sometimes I have meltdowns where I begin to reminisce about my glory days, convince myself that I've already "peaked," then cry as I slather 13 kinds of wrinkle cream all over my face. 

4. It's been really hard trying to figure out how to accept that it's all okay and life is still fabulous.  When I sit back and think about it, nothing is changing all that drastically, and I'm still me.

I'm still going to make silly nicknames for everyone and everything, talk in weird voices at my pets, try to prank Mike on a daily basis (he got me good twice this week but he WILL pay), jam out to Britney Spears while I'm getting ready for a night out, do tequila shots when I know I shouldn't, worry more about the outfits I have planned for a trip more than the actual trip, keep my hair long, spend way too much on shoes when I should probably put it into my 401k or some crap, dress up for Halloween, cry to my boyfriend when I get lost, have dance parties at every chance I get, and eat leftover cupcakes for breakfast sometimes.   That's just me, that won't change, and it's okay.

25 was a good year.  It was the year in which I started this blog.  I kicked it off right with good friends and Mexican food, and the rest of the time was filled with trips to the beach, bachelorette parites, sibling beer pong on the 4th of July, bridal showers, trips to NY, 25th anniversaries, animal costumes and animals in costumes,  visits from family, old friends moving close by, Vegas, a couple friends got hitched, and I met some great people though this here blog. Below are some of my favorite moments from 25. 26 has a hard act to follow, but I'm hopeful that it will come up with some fabulous surprises.  
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47 comments

  1. What great photos! Looks like you've had lots of fun and lived life. I cracked up laughing @ #3 because I know what you mean!

    xo

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  2. happy birthday erin! 26 was a good year for me -- hope you feel the same way! : )

    http://allthingsprettyandlittle.blogspot.com/

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  3. Great photos lady. I feel the same exact way! It's tough growing up and no one ever told us about our bodies changing and the gray hair! Happy Birthday, I'm sure 26 will be even more fabulous xo

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  4. Happy Birthday! Girl, you are SO YOUNG!! Don't fret! Life is just starting to get good. I promise (and I know....because I'm almost uh...38!! GASP! I still feel 24 lol!)

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  5. happy birthday!!! these are great pics and looks like 25 was a great year!! I agree with you that sometime about being in your "upper" twenties seems old, but you will have another fabulous year ahead of you!!

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  6. Omg- You've made my morning, you're so funny. I literally busted out laughing reading this. But I totally agree with everything you said. Happy Birthday again!!!!

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  7. Happy birthday, Erin! You're still so young and have so many fabulous things ahead of you (take it from someone who is in her LATE 20s).

    -Sharon
    The Tiny Heart

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  8. It was a great year! Love you Erin!

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  9. 1. I want a nickname
    2. You are beyond gorgeous and fabulous
    3. Happy birthday (again)

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  10. I recently found your blog and love it! Your post today was total deja vu for me; I felt the same way when I turned 25 last year. Just know that every year gets better, plus you always have fond memories of years past. And in between the occasional melt-down about getting older, you'll realize that you are managing to still have a lot of fun. Happy birthday!

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  11. what a beautiful and honest post... getting older isn't easy, but I like to think that we are all just getting better and more fabulous with age! I am so happy that I "met" you online this year, and I can't wait to continue following along with your journey!
    I think your summary of yourself above proves that you do in fact have your "shiz" together... you know yourself, know what you want, and have wonderful-ness in your future!
    most of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
    xx
    Here&Now
    shoes > 401k all day erry-day

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  12. Happy birthday!!! And I read the post, I didn't scroll down to the photos!

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  13. First, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I had my 26th birthday this year as well, and I felt the EXACT same way (actually kind of weirdly similar). It’s an odd year where you’re not young but you’re not old. When I was 16 I thought I would be married or engaged, in my own home, and have my shit together as well - but, I definitely took a different path. I’m single, renting a too expensive apt in NYC, and slowly but surely getting it together. To each their own, but I am really, really happy. I hope you have a wonderful 26th year and continue to take the tequila shots :)

    xo Julia, everything-pretty.com

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  14. Happy Birthday! 25 might be a hard act to follow but as long as your doing what makes you happy it will all work out :)

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  15. Happy birthday! I used to feel that way about birthdays in my late 20's, but you know what? It gets better and better every year! You have so many exciting things ahead of you - keep that in mind when you get bummed. I remember thinking that nothing was going to be better than high school and then I went to college. I remember thinking nothing was going to be better than college, then I moved to Vegas in my mid 20's...and so on. Just stay happy and true to yourself...and use lots of wrinkle cream & drink tons of water and no one will ever know how old you are unless you tell them! Stay fabulous!

    www.classywithakick.com

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  16. Happy birthday Erin! I really loved this post and totally feel the same way. I have stared in the mirror and then bought myself a $20 bottle of anti wrinkle cream and flipped out when I found 1 random gray hair. To be honest, I think my life has only gotten better as I age. I think you are pretty fabulous and are perfectly fine where you are in your life. Enjoy your weekend!

    xo, Yi-chia
    Always Maylee

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  17. Happy Birthday Erin! I'm sure 26 will be even better than 25! Hope you have a great weekend love!

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  18. Happy happy birthday Erin! 26 is a great "number" so don't worry! I have my best memories from that age!
    Loved your honesty and the pictures. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

    xoxo Dina Leandro from http://spikesandstuds.blogspot.se/

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  19. First off, Happy Birthday! And secondly, I totally feel ya! I'm turning 25 in August and basically feel like my life is over. How did this happen? Wasn't I just celebrating my 16th birthday?! I think time is just flying because we are having so much fun. I'm sure 26 will be very good to you!

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  20. I celebrated my birthday 5days ago, and until now, I don't wanna admit my age yet! LOL. :)) Happy Birthday Sweetheart. It's good to know that you're Gemini, too! :D

    Mutzii

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  21. 1. Happy BIRTHDAYYYY!!!!
    2. nothing wrong with a long blog post. In my opinion, they're better.
    3. I feel strange about getting older, too. I'm 24 and have high expectations for husbands homes and babies. When I'm 27 and have none of that, I'll probably have to give myself a few pep talks, so I see where your feelings come from. But we have to remind ourselves how young we are in theory.
    4. Blogging introduced me to older women, 33 year olds, 38 year olds, etc, who were all gorgeous, fun, thin and happy. It gave me a lot of hope for aging. (www.kellehampton.com <---- coolest 34 year old ever).

    XO Jenna

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  22. Happy birthday dear, did you not get the memo? 26 is the new 21 :) I turned 30 this year and I have two kids but I still feel like I'm in my twenties. Age is just a number.

    xx http://camomeetscouture.blogspot.com

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  23. Happy Birthday to you, Erin, may all your dreams come true!

    http://glamourxkills.blogspot.com

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  24. Happy Birthday! You are beautiful! And don't worry, every emotion you just described about getting older, having your shiz together, worrying that you "peaked," I have the same feelings everyday! It's hard, but people keep telling me I don't realize how young I am - and neither do you! You're only 26, you still got plenty of time girl!

    Oh and I talk to my pets in silly voices too! :)

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  25. great blog girlie, so happy i found it! wanna follow each other? xx

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  26. I know what you mean Er :) but we still have a lot of years ahead of us and many more amazing memories to make! Think about it... getting married, raising our kids together and watching them do silly things like we did.... it's gonna be awesome. I love you so much! And I'll be back in your hood this summer. Hope you have a fantastic week. You're the best. <3

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  27. Girl! I still do all of those things and I will turn 31 this year! I remember 28-29 being toughest for me. It's especially hard for some reason working with teenagers (every year I get older, but they stay 15). However, now I am totally over it and have no probably admitting my age. You are young and you don't ever have to have everything figured out :)

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  28. Happy Birthday!

    xo,

    Coral @ keepinupwithcoral.blogspot.com

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  29. I totally know how you feel..i'm turning 25 this year and feel the same way! I thought by now i would have a career and all my shit together but everything doesn't always work out that way. BUT we are still young and have lots more amazing years ahead of us!! Happy birthday!! Hope you have great weekend, go do some tequila shots! : )

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  30. I totally know how you feel..i'm turning 25 this year and feel the same way! I thought by now i would have a career and all my shit together but everything doesn't always work out that way. BUT we are still young and have lots more amazing years ahead of us!! Happy birthday!! Hope you have great weekend, go do some tequila shots! : )

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  31. I can 100% relate to how you feel. I turn 26 in July and am dreading the day when I have to tell people I am 26. It is closer to 30 than 20 and that just freaks me out. And while I am married and own a house, I still feel like I don't have my shiz together. I don't even know what I really want to be when I grow up. But celebrating your 25th year is a great idea and something I will have to do too! Happy Birthday!!!

    Hannah Tattoos and Pearls

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  32. Happy birthday girl- it only gets better :)

    XO
    www.pearlsandpaws.blogspot.com

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  33. Happy Birthday Erin!! Looks like you had lots of fun. Love the pictures! Thanks for the comment on my blog!

    Marisa
    http://brokewithdesignertaste.blogspot.com/

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  34. Even though it was long, such a fun post! Happy Happy Birthday!!! 26 is nothing! I will be 28 this year and it makes me want to throw up and gag and ugh all at the same time! Have a great weekend celebrating!

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  35. Happy FREAKIN' Birthday!! And girl, call me when you turn 34!!! It sucks!! You are still so young!!! Enjoy every last minute of your twenties!! Oh, if I could bring them back!!! But, take some advice from "Grandma", age is JUST a number!!! It's all about how you feel inside! I am typing this after I have had about 3 vodkas and diet ginger ales!!! Love you, girl!!

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  36. happy birthday lovelyy!!

    thanks for stopping by. and those amazing comments.

    xx

    selvia

    http://www.am2pmchic.com/

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  37. Happy Birthday!! It looks like you've had a completely fabulous year, so here's to a repeat for 26!! :) I hope you had a really wonderful day! And you should definitely keep doing all those things you enjoy no matter how old you are (and you're really not old at all at 26 :) )

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  38. Happy Belated Birthday ! I totally get where you're coming from, I feel the same way as I get older things I planned are falling apart or not happening accordingly and it's frustrating and scary but hang in there, it gets better :)

    Love your blog btw, I skimmed through it and you've got awesome style. I'm definitely following you.

    xoxo,
    Iqra

    masaladiary.blogspot.com

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  39. Michelle WalshSunday, June 17, 2012

    Yay! I made the blog in the 4th of July picture! That was a really fun day. I hope your birthday was fabulous!! And don't be too scared of 26, it's a great year. The scary thing is that I'm almost 27!!

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  40. Glad you had a happy birthday! The best years are still to come! <3 your blog!

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  41. 26 is pretty grand. Enjoy it! :)

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  42. Happy belated BDAY!!! I must tell you that I felt like you when I hit 25. Life was crazy and I thought I should have been farther along. As your senior (whoa I sound like I'm one foot from a retirement home!) but I'm telling you the years ahead are so much fun. You may not believe me now but you will. My 30th was an awesome year. It was the year of me!! Then at 31 I got in engaged...one of the best years of my life and at 32 I got married. I just want to tell you to take a every day at a time and enjoy every minute (as you already do I'm sure). But don't let the number freak you out. I was 26 just about 27 when I met my future husband and things started to click into place. Oh and I'm still not completely settled...I think some people are just like that...and I kind of like being one of those oddballs! :-)

    Jayme @ Her Late Night Cravings

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  43. I absolutely love this post. My birthday coming up and I'm already feeling the exact same way you were. I'm glad I'm not the only one!! lol

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  44. I know I'm super late on this but Happy Birthday!! I feel like all of us - everyone, not just us bloggers - spend too much time comparing where we are in life to others. So you're 26, not married & don't own a home or have babies. So what? I'm 31 & the only thing I've checked off is marriage (which I didn't do until I was 27). I say age is just a number & it's all about how you FEEL. My hubby turns 39 this year & he has more energy & is more full of life than anyone I've ever met. I don't know how he does it sometimes but no one can ever guess how old he is because he has such a great aura about him. You are FABULOUS & don't you forget it!!

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  45. i love the beanie babies costume!! absolutely genious!!
    really cute post :)

    xx,
    kim
    thecoattaileffect.blogspot.com

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xx E.