I started my new job last Wednesday…a mere 24 hours later after my last shift at my old one.  You know how most people give themselves some time in between a new job and and old job?!  Not me.  Nope just push through.  I assured myself I would be fine.  And I was. Fast forward to Friday, September 3rd.  My 30th birthday.  With my free drink coupon from Starbucks in hand, I stopped on the way to pick up a Venti (hey, it’s was my birthday, calories do not count) Toffee Mocha.  Toffee Mocha is my new favorite drink.  Which is good because I don’t care for Pumpkin Spice Lattes.

Photo from Starbucks.com

WHAT?!

I know, SHOCKER.  I’m sorry, the only time I like pumpkin is in pie form.  So thankfully since I have to wait to enjoy my Peppermint Mocha in the red cup until after Thanksgiving, Starbucks has appeased me with the Toffee Mocha.  And yes, I know I can get the Peppermint Mocha year round all you Starbucks  know it alls BUT I cannot get it in the red cup okay?!  Thanks

So I was wide awake, so excited about turning 30, had a beautiful ride up to work.  It was going to be an awesome day…

And it was…and after I picked up our party trays at Earthfare and my cupcakes from Mom and Son Bistro…I headed home.

The PM commute wasn’t nearly as beautiful since I was sharing the road with the crazies trying to get out of town for the weekend…

Came home, nearly slept through dinner and two glasses of champagne and was in bed by 10…

Spent Saturday doing school work and prepping for birthday celebration on Sunday.  My dad came into town and we went to a Mexican place for dinner.  Complete with fried ice cream and a serenade.

Family gathered back at home so I could open my presents from my parents.  My darling mother graciously replaced a lost diamond stud earring.  The original pair was given to me 6 years ago when I graduated from college and I recently lost one.

And my daddy gave me…

Photo from Tiffany.com

The Tiffany “bean” necklace.  My nickname growing up was Adrienne Bean so he thought this was fitting.  Alos, since the bean symbolizes the origin of all things and I have some new things going on in my life, the timing couldn’t of been more perfect.

My older brother got me this:

If you love guacamole as much as I do, you need a mortar and pestle

The party on Sunday was awesome and I am so lucky to have wonderful friends and family.

The remaining gifts were:

Handmade candle holders from my friend Maloree:

A bookmark from my friend Heather by Moxie Jewelry Designs

Plenty of vino!

A gift certificate to Sensibilities Day Spa from Chrissie and Chris

Open, Andre Agassi’s Autobiography…

Two dozen roses from family friend, Rick.

And plenty of love, laughter and well wishes!

I love being 30 so far, can’t wait to see what is in store!

Well patience is a virtue, a virtue is a grace, put them both together and make a pretty face.

Thank you my friend CF for reminding me of this.  It is a great quote.

In other news…

I accepted a job as a preschool teacher last Friday!  It’s full time and I couldn’t be more thrilled or nervous!

I was supposed to teach 13 year olds not 3 years olds but life has a way of changing the plan.

Happy Wednesday Loves!

How thrilled I was to wake up to this:

I know very dreary and gloomy but it’s been so hot here, we need the rain and the overcast temperatures.  Life is going to change for me in a few weeks and I’m very excited about.  I just have some things to work through before I can announce it to the world.

I expect turning 30 to be a great year.  My twenties were not easy so I’m happy to kiss them goodbye.  Way too many growing pains to count, I’m sure I’ll have more of those but I need a little break.  People keep asking me if I have any thirty-year goals, I want to achieve.  I’ve been thinking about this and have compiled a list.

1)  Be more spontaneous.  I’ve struggled with this since the age of 15.  I like my plans and I like sticking to them.  However, that’s not always a good thing.

2) Fall in LOVE.  I’ve never been n love and really I’ve never had a boyfriend.  Please don’t act so shocked, I am a very guarded person and have had lots of chances but have shied away.

3) Be content with who I am.  I operate differently then a lot of people.  I am highly intuitive and sometimes people just don’t get that or think I’m weird.  All that causes me to be self-conscious.

4) Learning the word “No”.  I get taken advantage of quite often because of that “yes” word.  No more.

5) Honor my relationships more.  I am pretty good friend but I get slack sometimes.  I’ve seen a lot of people go pretty quickly out of my life but the ones who are sticking are amazing people.

6) Publish a chapbook or some sort of book.  I’m a writer and I want to be known for it.

Those of you who are turning 30 or have turned 30, how did you feel about it?

Have a beautiful day!

We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. ~Joseph Campbell

Hello friends!  This statement really rings true for me.  So much of my plan hasn’t happened and more and more I am trying to be okay with that.  With my 30th birthday on the horizon, (September 3rd for those of you keeping track) I am working everyday to see the gift in things.  I have so many people that love and champion for me everyday.  For that I am grateful.

What keeps you going when life throws you a curve ball?

When I was younger, I was bullied by other female classmates.  Not physically but verbally.  With one whisper in the ear of the few “friends” I did have, I was instantly blacklisted from the lunch table, being invited over after school, some birthday parties.  I say “some” because I was still invited to some parties but only because “my mom made me.”  I don’t know why I was the target but I was shy, I kept my head down and I never said anything back.  My third grade teacher who was amazing tried her best to intervene because she understood what was happening.  (Mrs. Koptish, Hilltop Elementary, Wyoming, OH)  As young as I was a part of me didn’t feel worthy enough to be there.  I had zero self confidence.  I spent 3 years with these classmates before everything took it’s toll.  I stared faking sick and when I did go to school, I would greet my mother at her car with tears falling down my face.  By that time my confidence along with my grades were blown.  My mother made a phone call to a friend who worked in the office at a small Montessori school.

That school saved me, (The New School, Cincinnati, OH)

By the time I reentered the public school sector at 13, I was ready to conquer girl world.  I certainly wasn’t the most popular but I was myself; the most important person you can be.

It gives me great hope that another young woman with a similar story to mine is trying to do something about it.  Meet Rachel Simmons, author of Odd Girl Out and The Curse of the Good Girl.  Simmons and her Girls Leadership Institute are profiled in the Sunday Style’s section of the New York Times.

“Staffed by teachers and school counselors, the program, Ms. Simmons said, is “targeted at where girls at this age begin to falter, like self-awareness and self-expression.”

During two-week, age-based sessions here on the manicured campus of Miss Hall’s School, girls ages 11 to 17 attend morning workshops with names like “Reputations” and “Ending Blame.” In “Self-Defeating Habits,” when a girl uses phrases like “I kind of,” or “I don’t know if this is right but,” the others blow on kiddie siren whistles. The effect is playful, not humiliating, enduring but not punitive.

There is a “no fat talk day” and also a daily shout-out to appetite. “Food, Good!” the girls chant as they sit down to breakfast.”

I encourage you all to read the full article.

Please share your thoughts…

Have a beautiful Monday!

WITH LIFE!

People are just about my favorite part of this thing called life. I love having conversations with people, hanging out with people, meeting new people, championing for people and having people do the same for me.

I turn 30 in less than a month and life certainly where I thought it would be but that’s okay.

I love when people challenge me hence the question posed to me yesterday:

“Adrienne, you’re turning 30, what do you want to do?”

insert cricket noise here

Okay fine, it didn’t take me that long to answer but it was a challenging question. There are many things I want to do and there are many things that I thought would be completed by this point in my life. I don’t have full time job and while it isn’t bringing the financial security I desire, it has brought a lot of time to explore things.

But I think it’s time to end this exploratory trip. I’ve applied for many full time jobs and have been told how great I am however it never seems to work out at the end. The good news is that I have a lot of people championing for me including a new connection I met yesterday. The difficult news is that I have to continue the honor the voluntary things I do and welcome in things that will generate a livable income for me. So please wish me luck:)

It’s tough to fit all my talents into one full time job…or maybe two part time jobs:)

Have a beautiful weekend!

I’ve talked about this before; how I struggle to live in the present.  I am constantly making and trying to follow plans along with relying on past milestones or mistakes to make decisions.  This is all perfectly logical and fine.  However, as I’m sure most of you know, not always the case.  I am trying more to be spontaneous and to live in the now.  Life can surprise you and sometimes you just have to deal. Imagine my delight when I attended a brunch on Saturday and my favor was this:

Perfect in every way; I now carry it with me everywhere.

A few weeks back, one of the managers where I work lost his partner suddenly.  I had only met him once but found him to be funny and a delight to be around.  I was heartbroken to learn of this news.  I respect T wholeheartedly and watching someone begin the grieving process is hard.  I attended the gathering at their favorite watering hole this evening and felt so honored to be there.  People who are grieving need a lot of love and support.  Also a big lesson to all of us to live in the now as you may never know when life may throw a curve ball.

Have a beautiful Monday!

I’m jealous, of all my tweeps and blogger friends who are at BlogHer 2010 right now. I hope to go sometime but the time and dough just isn’t available.

But I have to give it to BlogHer. What a great way to celebrate women and their blogs! Even though I am throwing a pity party with some of my other blogger friends, I can’t wait to read about the amazing time some of my favorite bloggers are having.

So to The Dirty Martini Diaries, Mojito Maven, ThetaMom, Blue Eyed Bride, I hope you are having a blast!

Hello Loves.

Yes, I’m still here even though my lack of posts this week tells you the opposite.

A little thing called real life has gotten in the way this week.  I am making some personal changes and that takes time away from blogging.

Nothing too major but a real lesson in making more time for me to pursue things that I have gifts for.

It has been really hot here as well, and we finally got some rain yesterday.

I hope you all have a great and beautiful weekend and I hope to be on my regular blogging schedule next week!

Christmas is my favorite holiday of all!  In honor of a belated Christmas in July, I decided to focus my Pink & Green Thursday on some favorite Pink & Green Christmas items I found:)