So, This is 35 Years Old

35 Things I Love (and Don’t Love) About This Stage of Life 

and Turning 35 Years Old  

1. My kids. They’re loud, busy, and I’m tired, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
2. Being neither too young nor too old.
3. I’ve got some life experience under my belt. Not as much as some, but more than others.
4. Coffee and wine GIVE ME LIFE (for two different reasons).
5. My parents are my best friends.
6. Plans for the future. My husband and I look ahead, talk about, and plan for retirement and all the fun that goes along with it.
7. Acne solutions + anti-wrinkle cream at the same time.
8. Confidence. I’m able to confidently be me. Usually.
9. Accepting perfect imperfection.
10. Willingness to try new things. I’m not afraid of learning, doing, or tasting new things.
11. Ability to say no when it’s necessary.
12. Being Santa.
13. Enjoying experiences with my kids: movies, books, games, sports, travel – you name it!
14. Boldness. I thoughtfully use discretion and boldly speak my convictions.
15. Marriage. It’s broken in, worn out, bruised, scarred, patched, polished, and better than new.
16. Never-ending cooking, cleaning, and laundry.
17. Becoming a better version of ME.
18. Realizing that life is too short.
19. Permanent birth control solutions are on the table. Anyone on the market for a thoroughly used uterus?
20. The inability to stay awake for an entire movie on the couch.
21. My parents (and in-laws) are still young.
22. Having friends of all ages. It doesn’t matter if you’re 23 or 87. Let’s hang out!
23. Girlfriends. There’s no need to pretend like we have it together or figured out. We laugh at ourselves and each other and it’s just. so. freeing.
24. Desperately needing a boob-job.
25. Aches and pains. Sometimes my neck will hurt for 3 days because I looked slightly to the left without warming up first.
26. Everything that really matters is FREE. Having my happy, healthy family under my roof at night is heaven. Hearing my children laughing together is the purest joy.
27. Feeling 25 and acting 65.
28. Caring about things I didn’t before, and not caring about things I did before.
29. Letting little things go and appreciating little things more.
30. Finally being a good cook.
31. Desperately needing a break from the kids but missing them when they’re gone.
32. Being completely exhausted but having a mind too full to sleep.
33. Little league.
34. Getting excited over practical things like new appliances.
35. Being really and truly needed.