Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Things I Love: Half Birthdays

Today I turned 29 & a half.
AND A HALF.
And let me tell you, that half matters. The past 6 months have been a whirlwind (Tornado? HURRICANE?).
And I've gone through probably the biggest life change I have had thus far. My 29th birthday on June 14th marked a year since I sick with pneumonia.
During the two months that I spent in & out of the hospital, I began to reflect on why I was so unhappy with my life and I began to make some changes.
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I decided I didn't want to be a teacher anymore. And I took a leap of faith that I could propel my blog into something more then a hobby.
I grew a pair (Mom, just Urban dictionary it) and started going to every party, event and meet up I heard about.
It might look easy, but it's hard to do. Going blindly into an event, party or situation is scary, and I'll be the first to tell you that.
{You don't even know how many times I got back in my car, drove away, and FORCED myself to go back and go inside}.
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But I did it, and it paid off.
A year later I go to parties and events several times a week, and I couldn't be more gracious and excited about EVERY single one I attend.
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And I am MORE then grateful & blessed with all the new friendships I've made, all the reconnecting I've done with old friends & all the relationships that have grown stronger these past months.
I have met some AMAZING people these past six months, and it's been unreal.
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I'm looking forward to my next 6 months and you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be celebrating every SINGLE last day that I have in my Twenties.
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It was a decade in my life that shaped and changed me into the woman (a Grown Ass one, obvi) that I am today.
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I hope you're living the life you love, and if you're not, try to make some changes.
Big & small.
Loving your life is an amazing way to feel, trust me, I haven't always felt this way.
Don't be afraid.
Time to start party planning, my birthday party is going to be a doozy!!
Photobooth's are going to be necessary, duh.

33 comments:

  1. Happy half birthday from a long-time lurker (that wasn't meant to sound creepy). I love your blog for many reasons, not least of which is that you're always so funny, gracious, humble, and inspiring. And THIS --> "You don't even know how times I got back in my car, drove away, and FORCED myself to go back and go inside}." The fact that you don't always paint your life as sunshine & rainbows like many bloggers makes you so real & relatable. And did I mention inspiring? As that famous quote goes (paraphrased), courage is not the absence of fear, but doing something despite fear. :)

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  2. happy half bday! i can't believe i turn 35 in 10 days!!! gulp.

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  3. that means the world to me, thank you Jen!!

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  4. omg lYNN!! I miss you!!! Rock 25 out lady!!

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  5. Really? You're intimidated about parties sometimes - YOU?!?! I can't believe it! That said, it makes me feel slightly better about the fact that I nearly have a panic attack before walking into some events alone! It's NOT easy - you couldn't be more right! But, you make party hopping look easy; it should be your job, really!

    And, I feel like a broken record, but looking at your life and really considering what makes you happy and what doesn't isn't as easy as people think. Acknowledging you're unhappy is one thing; changing it is completely different! You should be proud of yourself, lady!

    I heart you - did you know? :) Can't wait to see you tonight!

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  6. I HEART YOU SO MUCH SANTINA!! Um my nickname used to SKIDDISH KITTEN! I was SHY!

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  7. Amber, I'm so happy to hear that you're doing so well. I can't even tell you how many times I've walked into an event or party I was invited to ("as a blogger") on my own, and just felt like a complete twit. Next time, I'll be channeling my inner Amber. ;)

    Happy 29.5!

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  8. Happy 1/2 birthday! At least you have 6 months... I only have 33 days! Yikes! Can you believe G turns seven this saturday?!?!
    Turning 30 is kinda scary, and my life is not exactly what I thought it would be like, but I am doing what I want to do and with the peole I want to be with, so I guess I just need to sit back and enjoy the journey! We are on our way :)
    Miss you.

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  9. REBECCA! Miss you so much! Want to plan a phone date? I'd love to catch up, maybe tomorrow or friday? LOVE YOU!

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  10. I'll call grace for sure on her bday, email me your #

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  11. happy 1/2 bday!

    wtfwhatthefashion.blogspot.com/

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  12. Happy 1/2 Birthday Amber! i hope the next 6 months are even better!

    xo
    Margot

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  13. Happy half birthday! Best advice I got - don't spend the last 6 months of your 20's worried about your 30's, they'll be here quickly enough.

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  14. Happy 1/2 birthday Amber (June babies are the best)

    I love reading your blog and I can't wait to read what happens in the next 6 months!

    xoxo
    Stacey

    http://fiveminutestyle.blogspot.com/

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  15. happy half bday amber dear!!! i know you have had a crazy year, i admire you so much for your honesty and sharing your journey with us! and your amazing outfits of course :) im sad we never got to meet up but i am sure one day we will :)

    xoxo!
    pam

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  16. Happy half birthday my dear!!! I also celebrate half birthdays and just had mine last month! Hope to see you about and about soon!

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  17. Happy half bday Amber! This post made me so happy because I feel like you really have such a great positive outlook on life. Currently, I'm going through a tough time. I mean, I'm engaged and I'm overjoyed about that but as far as work goes...I really want to do what you did and quit my job and be a full time blogger! I feel like that's impossible though, I feel silly for even thinking it. I just am so uninspired with my work. My mom is also going through something, and that gets me down. Thanks for reminding me that life has its ups and downs. It will be ok!

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  18. Yay! Cheers to a half birthday and the success of the blog. You totally deserve it!

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  19. Happy Half Birthday, darling! So glad to have met you at one of the many events we've been at! SF better watch out! The bloggers are coming out in full effect :)

    xoxo,
    http://pancakeSTACKER.blogspot.com

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  20. Way to be girl! I love seeing how positive and fun you are on Twitter and I reallllly need to start going to some local events!! See you at one SOON, makin it happen!

    :-) Amanda

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  21. Amber, I'm glad you grew a pair and did those scary things. Making changes in life are difficult and there are always times you want to run away. I'm proud of all the things you've done and how you aren't quitting. Awesome job!

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  22. Congrats to you!! I got my dream job and am where I'm at in my dream career now simply because I spent ALL my time after getting laid off going to every event and meetup, much like you. It also changed my life! But that was in Seattle and it took me two years to conquer the community there, and now that I'm in SF, I'm finding it overwhelming to start over from scratch and enter the community here. This post is some of the OOMPH I need, so thank you for that!
    P.S. I was recommended to read your blog from Kate at Undeniable Style! xoxo

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  23. You always have so much fun and I love it and the fact that you celebrate your 1/2 birthday...you go girl! Hope it was an oh so happy one!

    Liesl :)

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  24. Amber, I love this post. Turning 30 this year upcoming year too, and really focusing on finding ways to expand my horizon. I STILL have the exact same feeling about events and meetups...I'm (surprisingly?!) not super social, but I would have never imagined that about you. Looking forward to kickin' it soonish!

    xo,
    kate
    undeniable style

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  25. Happy Half Birthday! You look like you're definitely living it up, which is awesome

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  26. Happy 29 and 1/2! If you didn't blog about your age, I would have guessed you were only 21.5!

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  27. Good for you for making changes even when it was scary. And good for you for writing about it... there's so much shiny happy on blogs that it's important to remember it's not always like that. We all have stuff. Looking forward to seeing you at the next party!!

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  28. Wow, what a great story! I haven't had anything dramatic happen, but I am so tired of my stale life as well! I would love to make my blog my career, but I don't think I have your courage... yet. Keep it up, it will pay off!! I just found your blog and I am an instant fan :)

    http://www.mythriftychic.com/

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  29. Love this post! Thanks so much for sharing! Would love to get your opinion on my recent blog post: Gift guide for fashionable travelers:
    http://boundforadventure.wordpress.com/2011/12/21/traveler-gift-guide-part-iii-the-fashionable-traveler/
    Thanks again and I love your blog!
    ~Maia

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  30. Honored to be included in this beautiful post! Meeting you this year has been so awesome. <3 you!

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  31. Love this post! I have had similar feelings this year and I too have done something bold about it. Thanks for sharing! I think I will plan to attend as many events as possible too in 2012! It will open up many doors I am sure. Cheers!

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