I am 34 years old. I can only say that for six more days. If anyone tries to say I’m 35 before next Tuesday I will kick him in the shins. Last week Lee said something about how my 36th birthday was coming up. I beat him for it.
The same day my mom sent me a text and said, “Hey, wouldn’t it be fun to do a big spa trip when you turn 40 and I turn 65?” There were a few things wrong with that text – first, I AM ONLY 34! Can we not discuss 40 yet?
Please?
Also, I will only be 38 when she turns 65! *throws hands up in exasperation*
So, yeah. I’m about to officially be in my mid-thirties. An argument could probably be made for the fact that 34 is technically already the mid-thirties, but that’s not a conversation any of us need to have at this point. Because I don’t want to talk about it.
Crystal clear?
Now I can say there are some perks to aging, one of them being the benefit of laughing at pictures of yourself in years past. Enough time has gone by now for old pictures of me to be wildly hysterical, mainly because I grew up in the ’80’s and, you know…it was the ’80’s. So to commemorate me getting old(er), here are a few pictures from ages past and bygone styles.
You’re welcome.
1985: The partial mullet.
1986: The Very Loud Button-Down
1987: Denim on Denim and feathered bangs.
1988: Units belt, High tops with layered socks, Esprit Bag, Side Ponytail. I was ROCKING 5th grade.
1989: I discovered the crimping iron. Oh yes I did…
I blame this photo on a number of things: My parents, Jazz Dance and the ’80’s.
1991-ish with remnants of the ’80’s clinging on.
1992: The year of the Coolats (sp?), AKA 7th Grade, AKA The year I grew into my nose…
1995: Calming down a bit in the fashion department. Thankfully for all of us I couldn’t find any pictures from 9th grade, which was a particularly tragic year of fashion for me. Think Sun-In meets short shorts meets way too much make up.
I’m also missing several pictures that document those years when I fondly (read: obsessively) wore over-sized flannel shirts. I also had a deep love for overalls my senior year of high school, but then we all did. Don’t act like you didn’t wear them, too…
1999: Rocking the short overalls and a hottie on my arm.
And, of course, there were about 6 years there when I wore babies. I actually miss those years…
My current fashion of choice is yoga pants. I’m kind of kidding and kind of serious. I really love yoga pants. But I don’t want to get completely lost in the hole of my mid-thirties so I try to lose the yoga pants whenever possible and upgrade to something super fashionable…like a skort. And if I’m feeling particularly ambitious, I might even put on a pair of skinny jeans.
But then I spend the day feeling like I’m slowly suffocating to death.
My kids are going to have a field day making fun of me some day…
Here’s to many more years of fashion, both good and bad.
I don’t get all the jokes about yoga pants. You can wear them for dress up evenings out… Can’t you?
Sure you can, Wendy. You sure, sure can.
(Imagine me patting your hand gently as I say these words…)
Ok, so after reading the first part I was only going to say, “Shut up.” Because I’m turning 42 yo. But then you made the peace offering of that pic with the Units belt and side ponytail held up by The Scrunchy That Ate Manhattan and I just had a wonderful morning laugh. Thank you.
You were jealous of my style, weren’t you? It’s okay. You can admit it…
I LOVED my overall shorts and would still be wearing them if I could get away with it! 🙂 I am MUCH older than you and trust me, it’s not so bad!
BTW…
We pretty much made the decision last night to go on a Compassion trip to visit our child in February. It will be our empty nest celebration trip and take 2 things off our bucket list! SUPER excited!
That’s so COOL, Karen! I would love to do another trip someday with my family in tow. I’m excited for you! 🙂
Remember how you used to laugh hysterically at my pictures?
Well, bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!
And I guess I bought those outfits for you. Hmm
I can find pictures from 9th grade for you,! You used to leave home with very little make up on, then paint your clown face on at school! Probably not your best year!
The picture of you with feathered bangs looks a lot like Sloan!
S’ok. No need to search for those 9th grade photos. They can stay in the box.
Yes, a couple of times I see Sloan in those pics. He has my nose. 🙂
I live in my yoga pants, and I was totally okay with that (because they make my butt look awesome), but then I noticed my teenager wearing a pair that did the same. I now have to rethink the yoga pants. I might even have to make an effort to wear real clothes. Ugh.
Alright spill it. What yoga pants are you wearing that make your butt look awesome?! Because I could totally benefit from a pair of those. 🙂
NEWSFLASH! Vonita Hill is NOT aging and here’s the proof via Kelli Stuart: “Now I can say there are some perks to aging, one of them being the benefit of laughing at pictures of yourself in years past.” Well…I have NOT reached that point so therefore, I’m still young and immature. I’ll take it!
Actually, my inability to look back and enjoy pictures is because I was a TEENAGER in the 80’s that that’s a whole different ball game, you 34 year old baby! Think FLASHDANCE meets CHARLIES ANGLES meets DAISY DUKE … well, you get THE PICTURE? Everthing has been burned. 🙂
Seriously, I love and miss you, friend. Give a squeeze to your family.
Has EVERY picture been burned? Really?!
Because we would all really love to see one. Trust me, what I’m imagining HAS to be more hilarious than real life. 🙂
And I miss you, too! We are coming to town this summer. I expect a hug or two.