lessons.

Posted on | May 31, 2010 | 26 Comments

this post is brought to you by my new, shiny, chocolate brown sony vaio laptop. ::SWOON::  you guys? this is huge. i have been blogging from a giant, clunky, slow, hooked into the wall by at least 6 cords at all times, ANCIENT desktop. yes, we have been straight chillin’ in the year 2k for like, way longer than any humans should. i had hilarious visions of showing up to a BLOGGING CONFERENCE without a COMPUTER or better yet, rolling my giant PC around on a cart all “snort, where can i plug in my power strip” and then people would be all “i KNEW she wasn’t a legit blogger”. but now? NOW I MUSN’T WORRY! my gorgeous, lovely, flat out AMAZING husband took me to pick out my very own, 2010, blogger-approved (as in, it can GO places) laptop. it’s everything i imagined and more. i prolly won’t shut up about it any time soon.

so here i sit, in my living room, with some wine, leftover cupcake, blogging comfortably. i turned 29 today, and besides the obvious kick ace gift, am feeling amazing. we celebrated for 3 days and i could not have asked for a better weekend. dinner with friends, shopping with my husband, bbq with family…every last second was perfection. for me, birthdays are important (it’s all about ME!), but i’m pretty easy to please. all i really ever want is good times with friends and good food. my weekend has been full of both (maybe a little too full of the latter – enter new jogging (or maybe it’s yogging) stroller i bought myself yesterday). the people i love and care about gathered around me (both physically and technologically!) and made me feel loved. and the older i get? the more i get that i deserve that.

i enjoy looking back each year at what i was doing/where i was the previous birthday. each year i take comfort in knowing i am stronger, smarter, more comfortable in my own skin than i was the last. this birthday was huge for me. i joke i’m turning 29 for the first of many times. but 30 does not scare me. it just means i will be stronger, smarter and more comfortable in my own skin than i am at this moment. and that is a comforting thought.

i have learned that i am a great mother. i have learned that i need to buy more dresses. i have learned that red lipstick is a necessity. i have learned that i fall more in love with my husband with each year, and appreciate my mom more every day. i have learned that i will never forget the way i felt when Harper was born, because my mom still remembers the way she felt when i was born. i’ve learned that friends aren’t exclusive to “real life”. i’ve learned that each time my daughter does something new and cute, it’s the best and cutest thing every time. i’ve learned how important it is to keep the friends who love you most the closest. i’ve learned i am wonderful and worthy.

what a wonderful bunch of gifts.

Comments

  • http://thewifeychronicles.wordpress.com Ashley G.

    I’m so happy you had an awesome birthday!
    Today was also my hubs birthday.

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  • Alyssa

    Pics of the new laptop?

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  • Alyssa

    And ps: happy birthday of course!!

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  • http://twitter.com/momgoes2college katy

    omgosh, you are hotsauce! happy birthday gorgeous!

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  • http://www.jennytalia.com JENNY TALIA

    Cupcakes, wine & a new laptop….that does indeed sound like the BEST birthday ever
    Oh, & very few of us can wear red lipstick well – you are one that can!
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

    JT
    x

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  • http://mrsnightowl.blogspot.com mercedes

    Happy Birthday!!! What a wonderful weekend! And, yes..those are truly wonderful gifts! My hubs bought me a laptop for my birthday this year too! (someones been given the men the low-down this year!) hugs!

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  • http://www.aboutallthingslife.com kerri

    yay for the laptop! i made the change in december as well. (my desktop was like 20 years old) sounds as though you had a wonderful day!! here is to a great year ahead…cheers!

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  • http://charminglychandler.com/ Alena

    How exciting!! I’m glad you had such an awesome birthday!!

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  • http://www.mybottlesup.com nic @mybottlesup

    love this!!! i turned 29 on may 3rd and related to this post in a very cool way. i’m looking forward to 30 and beyond… so glad you had a terrific birthday… and many more!

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  • http://www.threepugsandababy.com Jennifer @ three pugs & a baby

    Happy birthday!

    Enjoy the new Vaio. Sounds amazing! You’ve totally got street cred, now!

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  • http://crymesyndicate.blogspot.com/ Margaret

    Man, I cannot pull off the red lipstick look for the life of me, but you look wicked awesome there!

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  • http://www.law-momma.com Law Momma

    I love this post. And I am coveting your birthday gifts/lessons learned! :) Happy birthday again!

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  • http://www.sweetchloelight.blogspot.com Danielle

    GORGEOUS picture of you! Do you have a super talented photographer in your entourage at all times or something?

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  • http://thechroniclesofcorbin.blogspot.com/ Jill

    good for you! and happy happy happy birthday! [one day late of course!]

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  • http://mrsforeste.blogspot.com Mrs.Foreste

    Yay for a new computer! I’m trying to get Hubbs to get me a new one too. Mine is from ’05 & doesn’t even allow me to purchase any photo editing programs because it’s not new enough. Boo.

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  • http://mrsforeste.blogspot.com Mrs.Foreste

    And Happy birthday! I meant to include that in the above post, but I focused too much on my debbie downer self :)

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  • http://laurenfromtexas.com Lauren From Texas

    I think I’m going to start calling you Maggie from her on out.

    Because this?

    http://images.teamsugar.com/getty/2009/01/11/GYI0056471473_xxlarge.jpg

    IS YOU.

    Happy belated birthday & I’m so glad it was happy. <3

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  • http://www.themcglothinfamily.blogspot.com Gini

    Happy Birthday Mandy! And I am so jealous of your new computer. I want a new one so bad! I want one with a webcam so I can see my babe at home when I travel for work. And I went to install a photo printer that someone gave us and my computer didn’t have enough memory :( Hopefully my bonus will get me one soon. Until then, I will just be jealous. But not to worry, I’ll still come visit you despite my longing for your computer!

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  • bobbi

    A laptop!!! Hooray :) Who took your beautiful photo? Just fabulous.

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  • http://prettyswellblog.com Suzanne from pretty*swell

    Happy birthday, mama!! Glad to hear your weekend was full of fabulousness. You deserve it! Can’t wait to meet you — and your shiny new laptop — at BlogHer!

    xo

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  • http://www.gjmoorhead.blogspot.com Gina

    Such a beautiful momma who deserves it all! Happy happy, pretty lady!

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  • thenextmartha

    Whoot! And you forgot to mention how damn hot you looked too!

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  • http://nicelyjoy.tumblr.com Joy

    Ahh, how FUN! So jealous, red heads in red lipstick…bad combo!

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  • Kristyn

    Hey! Your Birthday is the same as my daughter’s birthday! She turned one!
    Happy Birthday! It really is the best day :)
    Cheers!

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  • http://www.unlikelymama.net Amber

    Damn, my laptop is really too big to tote around the conference. Guess I’ll have to steal Peter’s netbook. God I had typing on the tiny thing. So jealous of your new computer!
    Amber´s last [type] ..Imma Diva, Imma Imma Imma Diva

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  • http://mrspriss.com Mrs. Priss

    SUCH a gorgeous picture of you! I could never pull off red lipstick like that. NEVER.
    Mrs. Priss´s last [type] ..New Pretty Hair Things in the Shop

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