Cupcakes and Cappuccino

Holy Crap, it’s my 27th birthday…

Now closer, much closer to 30, I am officially in denial of my recent additional year. Not that there is anything wrong with 30 in the least, but it’s one of those moments where I picture what I was thinking when I was 18, sitting in my dorm room, crafting up all the goals I would have accomplished by now. I have spent 25, and 26 on Eleventh & Sixteenth, and now you know a little bit more into my life and accomplishments with each post. However, 26 was probably my most trying year ever. I wouldn’t change it for the world, but it certainly wanted to kick me while I was down. Again, this isn’t a poor me, my life is so hard pitty speech, but at some point we all wake up and realize that this is real life and everything doesn’t have sprinkles and sugar-free splenda covering up the truth.

Hitting a major cruise control button on my life at the beginning of 26 I was happy, I was content on where things were going and all of a sudden everything was about to change for me. I would find out the true meaning of cancer, family, financial struggle, and trust. Four things you can’t hide with a band-aid or ignore, but the real life struggles of growth, wisdom and change. It’s in these moments you realize whats important: family, happiness and self worth. Three things I cannot stress enough to twenty-somethings everywhere looking for their dream jobs and true loves.

I realize in society today we are all plagued with the notion that ’30 is the new 20!’ (watch this Ted Talk, it changed my life) and everyone encourages us all to live in the moment and take in all these experiences until we in-fact have to become serious about our lives. Honestly, I couldn’t disagree with this motion more. Your twenties are years of complete growth, finding your strengths, your voice, your wants, needs and skills. It is the prime time in our lives to accomplish everything we thought we would do back in our teenage years when we barely had enough freedom to drive a car. This is why my 27th birthday is such a struggle for me to choke up and admit… I am 27, and I have only done so much. Granted, I am extremely proud of myself for doing everything that these 27 years have allowed me, but if anything its given me that much more fuel to accomplish more.

What I wrote, a year ago today still rings true:

“The truth is, we can only ever act on how far we’ve come in life. I hope that with each year I continue to learn more, but wake up every day with as much excitement to live, as I did the day before. Life will never pass you by, unless you miss the opportunity and sit back to watch it pass.” 

27, I am coming for you…

Shirt Dress (Used as a shirt): Forever21, Skirt: Forever21, Hat: Catarzi (similar here & here), Rings: H&M, Shoes: Saint Laurent, Bag: c/o Little Mistress UK, Lips: NARS ‘Red Square.’

Photos: Haley Nord