30

Well, it really did happen. Today I turned 30 years old. Or 30 years young, depending on how you want to look at it. Me? I still feel young, so we are going to go with that. I have so many thoughts and feelings over this 'entering a new decade in my life thing', so many wonderful things I want to remember and record about today, and so many of my peeps I would like to thank (you all know how to make a girl feel loved!), but all of those things will have to wait. Because being 30 years young is hard work, and this Mama is ready to go crawl in to bed next to Boss, kiss his sweet cheek, and tell this world goodnight.  I am so thankful for another day, another year, more chapters in this book called life. And I am ready to see where my journey will lead next. Thank you for walking with me.

'Hood Shots

Number 22 on my 30 Before 30 list was to improve on my photography skills. Photography is kind of a little hobby of mine. Not because I am any good, but because I love bright pops of color, and well, because I love preserving memories for a lifetime, whether through pictures or the written word. I have asked Boss for a new camera lens for my birthday, and we shall see if he delivers. (Boss, in case you are reading this, take note.) In the meantime, I have been reading up on all things photography and practicing with my (old) neighbor and (current) friend's fancy camera and lens. Tonight I took a little walk around our yard and neighborhood at dusk and captured whatever caught my eye. It was fun! And if you ask me, the world is always better when you see it in color.

Scenes From Amish Country

Hello, Little Red Barn

Hello, Horse and Buggy

Hello, Sweet Kate

Hello, Baby Goats

Hello, Inn at the Amish Door

Hello, Sweet Horse Looking at Me

Hello, Farm With Golden Fields

Hello, Sweet Sisters

Hello, Buggy Parked Outside Dollar General

Hello, Brown Fuzzy Baby Cow

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Mama, Kate, and Emma

This morning, my mom, my girls, and I left on a little road trippin' adventure in honor of my upcoming 30th birthday. Remember my 30 Before 30 list? On there I listed that I wanted to take a little trip with my own mama before I turned 30, and I was kind enough to invite my little girls to come along. A three generation trip, if you will. Our destination? Ohio's Amish Country. Also known as one of my happy places. Little girls in simple dresses and kapp's, small boys riding bicycles, the clippity clop of horse hooves, sleek black buggies.... all of it makes my heart feel happy. We reached Holmes County around two this afternoon and checked in at our Inn. It's gorgeous! It has a grand central staircase to die for. This afternoon we hit the shops in Berlin. I fell in love with a $128 dress, but decided that Boss might not feel like that was really in our budget. I tried to convince the girls that eating might not be necessary over the next two days, and told them how good Mama would look in that dress, and wouldn't they rather starve in the name of mama looking stylish? Oddly enough, they declined. Turns out they are  rather fond of eating. Who knew? So after we shopped, we took my little food lovers to Cindy's Diner for some yummy grub. It did not disappoint. And then it was back to the Inn for swimming. Well, the girls swam and I soaked away 29 years of stress in the hot tub :). And now I have decided to join in with my Amish neighbors and go to bed with the sun. Good night, all!






The One About Cupcakes




Photo by Kristin Szabo (aka The Cupcake Lady)

So, as most of you know by now, I turn the BIG 30 next Saturday. And while most of the time I feel as though I am in the midst of a mini aging life crisis, today I decided that there is one pretty cool thing about growing older. And because I am feeling generous, I have decided to share with all of you lovely people what that one pretty cool thing about aging is. Your welcome (in advance). So here goes. The one pretty cool thing about aging is that the older I get, the smarter I get. It's true! I am most definitely not the brightest crayon in the box. Remember a few months ago when we had the opportunity to vote for who we wanted to be the presidential candidate running for the Republican party in the coming election? (See? It just took me five minutes to figure out how to word that last sentence without sounding like a complete idiot. Not the brightest, I tell you.) Anyway, the night before we were to vote, Boss asked me who I was going to vote for. And you know what I told him? I told him that after much thought, I had decided that I was going to vote for Phil Phillips. Say what? Boss was confused. Phil Phillips, I told him again. That's who I was going to vote for. And then understanding dawned on Boss' face and he rolled his eyes and walked away. You see, while Boss' brain is on important, grown up stuff, my brain tends to focus on the really important things of life like American Idol. Imagine my disappointment when Phil's name was not on the ballot the next day. And that, my friends, is just one example of my usual non smartness. 

But the good news is that I am definitely seeing an improvement with age, because today I was so smart that I actually discovered the answer to all of the worlds problems! I really did! And because I am still feeling generous, I am going to share the answer to all of the world's problems with you today, too. Are you ready for it? The answer to all of the worlds problems is......drum roll please..... cupcakes! That's right. I thought long and hard about this, and there wasn't one single problem in the world that I could come up with in which cupcakes wouldn't have made things better. Woman feeling hormonal? Eat a cupcake. Girl gets dumped? Eat a cupcake. Got fired from your job? Cupcakes it is. Get in a fight with your spouse? Cupcakes. Children driving you insane? You got it. More cupcakes. I even came up with my own saying. A Cupcake a Day Takes Your Problems Away!  And it's true. Cupcakes really do make everything better. One bite of sweet, creamy goodness, and you can't help but smile. Clouds part, the sun shines, and birds start chirping. And that my friends, is the magic of cupcakes.

Today's cupcake of the day was a Vanilla Chai Cupcake with Cinnamon Buttercream Icing, prepared by my super talented friend, Kristin. I usually call her The Cupcake Lady, but I am considering changing her name to The Cupcake Queen. Because her cupcakes are seriously that good. Especially her icing. Kristin can whip butter and powdered sugar like no body's business. Some of us keep telling her that she needs to ditch her job with numbers (accounting? Kristin, are you an accountant?), and go into the cupcake industry full time. Because it is a scientific fact (since lunchtime today) that her cupcakes make people happy, and goodness knows the world needs more happy people. And the world needs more Vanilla Chai Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream Icing. So if you are in the area and you are in need of a delicious cupcake, ask me for Kristin's number and I just might consider sharing her with you. For a finder's fee, of course. And if you are far away, then I want to encourage you to search high and low, far and wide for your very own cupcake lady. And when you find her? Treat her right, and perhaps she will reward you with cupcakes, solving all of your life's problems.

Okay lovely people, I believe that is all of the wisdom I have to impart upon you tonight. Sweet Dreams! (Get it? Sweet Dreams? Oh gracious, I crack myself up!)