Umm, wow!! My 38th birthday, friends!!! Wow is such a simple word, but, really, that’s the only way I can describe it right now!!

Do you ever try to put your age in context? It can be a VERY eye-opening exercise, believe me!! For example, it just hit me recently that I’m now older than the characters on Thirtysomething. Remember that show? It followed a group of — you guessed it! — thirtysomethings as they navigated work, relationships and raising children in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Basically, they were the OGs when it came to work-life balance — that much-analyzed, abstract, does-it-even-exist? concept that people will probably still be struggling with in a thousand years.

But, anyway, back to my age and my birthday. How on Earth did that ever happen? How have I surpassed the age of those fictional characters? I mean, I used to watch that show with my mom, who actually was a thirtysomething at the time, and I remember thinking, “Whoa! Those people are such ‘adults’ and they’ve got their lives all figured out!”

I also often wondered what my life would look like during that exciting decade. Would I have everything figured out too? Would I face the same problems and struggles as Hope and company? My young mind seemed to think that everyone’s life followed the same trajectory and that we all experience the same things on the same timetable. Looking back, that now seems incredibly naive, doesn’t it? But it’s still something I find myself struggling with sometimes. As much as I hate to admit it, I still get caught up in the comparison game, where I look at my thirtysomething peers and wonder why I’m “not like them“; never mind the fact that I can’t even define what “not like” even means. So maybe it’s more like a feeling? A feeling that I’m somehow behind everyone else on this life journey and I’m just forever trying to catch up, you know?

OK, that’s about as philosophical as I want to get on my 38th birthday! I took that selfie of myself in Central Park while we were in NYC last week and I noticed that it’s the first time I’ve worn a polo shirt in a loooooong time!! It felt great to wear one of my trademark garments again…remember Polo Shirt Season??

Speaking of NYC, I’ll be sharing tons of photos from our trip this week! Each day of vacation gets its own post because this was the first time I’d been on vacation in nearly a decade and the ENTIRE wonderful experience deserves to be documented to the fullest! Here’s to living life on your terms, even if it doesn’t follow the same path as everyone else!! xoxo

P.S. My last TEN birthdays: 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 35th, 36th and 37th!!

It’s my absolute favorite person’s birthday today!! Extra special, double sweet HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Ms. Bear!! She’s battling a nasty cold today, but we all know a little virus doesn’t stand a chance against her big spirit!!!

And speaking of her indomitable spirit, it wouldn’t quite be her happy birthday without sharing one of the many life lessons she’s taught me! I’ve been saving these photos for a couple years now, and today is the perfect day to share the story that goes along with them. It’s, obviously, a classic Ms. Bear story, although she is so humble that she’d never admit that!

Anyway, these photos were taken several years ago. We usually keep that fake plant on our staircase that leads to the basement. It’s actually the only fake plant we’ve ever owned; I often wonder why my mom has such an attachment to this particular piece of plastic, but then I remember that we probably got it right after we moved into this house, which was shortly after my father died. A symbol of her grief, perhaps? How the leaves billow and bow, but never fall all the way to the ground? That describes her during the worst of the grief. Hurting, but not broken. Struggling, but still, somehow, surviving.

But, back to these photos. I’ve even forgotten why the plant was in the kitchen — probably because we just had the carpet cleaned. So there’s my mom, fiddling with the leaves. Again. She has a tendency to work her magic and rearrange the leaves when the plant starts to look sad — AKA, a bit on the droopy side.

“What are you doing?” I asked. “You know we can just buy another plant, right?”

She continued her fiddling and arranging. At this point, her entire body was practically obscured by those green leaves!

“Oh, no! That’s not necessary! This one just needs a little fixing.”

Well, a little fixing she did! A few minutes later, the plant was back to its former glory, sitting in its usual spot on the stairs.

And while it took a little bit for the message to sink in, I finally realized something: That’s exactly what Ms. Bear does. Or, more precisely, what she doesn’t do. She doesn’t give up on people. Ever. Or, in this case, our fake plant. When things look desperate or even impossible, she doesn’t just throw her hands up in the air and say, “Oh, well. That’s that!” She’s never been that type of person. Who is she, then? She’s a helper, a listener, a comforter, a friend, a cheerleader, an adviser, a confidante.

I love her more than anything and am so thankful for her!!! I hope that I can be all those things for her. Whoever is that person to you, make sure you give them a big hug today and tell them just how much you appreciate them! I’m sure they’ll appreciate it! Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s time to get the birthday girl to SIT DOWN and watch Gibbs — that’s NCIS for those not hip to the show’s characters. Happy birthday, sweet Bear… xoxo

Serious question: Do I look older?? I mean, I have been 37 years old for a whole 11 days, after all. Are the ravages of time starting to show yet? Why would I be so worried, you might ask? Oh, because, well, let’s just say that I was quite the party animal during my Birthday Break and the birthday merriment was turned up to 100 ALL THE TIME!!!

What? You don’t believe me? Well, just check out this photographic proof. As the young people say, I’ve got receipts — a whole bunch of them, in fact, and they all have one big thing in common: They tell the story of my debauchery, my undoing, my fondness for getting down with my bad self and watching…musical TV shows of the ’90s. Yup, buckle up! Things are about to get really real — and, of course, really wild…

You might remember my Big City Shenanigans last year, where I got to experience the thrill of dinosaurs up close and take a sunny stroll along Lake Michigan with my two favorite people! While that little getaway was super fun, I just felt like having a quiet birthday this year. We decided to stay close to home, and, honestly, I wouldn’t have wanted to spend it any other way. We played some games, watched some NCIS (how amazing is that show?) and just enjoyed a nice family celebration all the way around.

It’s become somewhat of a tradition to have my mom snap a photo of me opening my birthday merriment gifts. I’m in love with this angel figure that my sister got me; in fact, I even named her Angelique and added her to my collection of angels, but more on my collections in an upcoming blog post!

Also, see that pan of deliciousness? Janelle asked me what she could make for my special birthday merriment dessert and I was dying for her classic Rice Krispie treats! Her secret ingredients to give them an extra kick of sweet flavor? Almond and sprinkles!! They’re gooey and oh-so-scrumptious! We finished the pan in about a week! And now I’m craving them AGAIN!!

And Ms. Bear’s meatloaf?!?!? Where do I even begin??? She makes the very best, most delicious meatloaf in all the universe, so there was no doubt that I wanted that for my birthday dinner. In typical Ms. Bear fashion, she made so much that we still have quite a bit left in the freezer, which is obviously fine by me!!! I’d eat it every day, if you ask me!!!

Wondering what I meant when I opened this post with a nod to ’90s musical TV shows??? Two words: KIDS INCORPORATED. I was beyond obsessed with this show as a kid, so when I found all the episodes on YouTube, it was all I could do not to bust out the shoulder pads and leg warmers! I’m almost done with season one and am psyched to relive my childhood for EIGHT more seasons of toe-tapping song and dance!!

But the very best moment of my Birthday Break this year? Whitney and Stella are finally, at long last, getting a bit more fond of each other. Here they actually sitting next to each other on the bed. That’s HUGE and such a big step for both of them!!! It made us all so happy to see!!

Thanks, too, for all the sweet birthday wishes, friends!! I appreciate you coming on this journey with me and can’t wait to see what my 37th year will bring!!

I closed out my day of birthday merriment by reading all your sweet messages!! Thank you for being such a powerful force in my life!! I hope you know how much I appreciate your love and support. As trying as some moments have been this year, I still feel surrounded by love, light and happiness. No dark clouds can dim that light.

I’m ready for ya, 37. Let’s do this… xoxo

Oh, hi there, my 37th birthday!! So nice of you to drop in again!

It’s honestly hard to believe that I’ve taken another trip around the sun already.

12 months. 52 weeks. 365 days. 8,760 hours. 525,600 minutes. And 4 seasons.

And, wow, what an eventful trip it’s been!! My 36th year was one of ups and downs, of personal and professional wins and losses, of heartbreak and healing. I’ve certainly felt like I was on a roller coaster of emotions at times and I’m most certainly NOT naive when it comes to said emotional roller coaster, either. Trust me, I know it’s going to continue throughout all the years of my life. If you look at life like that — that every year you go around on that roller coaster is another year that you’re LIVING — well, then, I suppose that I should be pretty grateful for those ups and downs, huh?

Part of me isn’t too sure how to feel about my birthday this year, actually. I mean, 37 just feels like it’s going to be an odd age. I’ve reached that dreaded point in my 30s where I can no longer say “I’m in my mid-30s.” I’m officially in my late 30s! Yikes! Although, perhaps I can get away with saying “Oh, little old me? I’m in my late mid-30s“? That has a very nice ring to it, if you ask me!

I took the above selfie last week, while I was sitting outside and enjoying the classic Portillo’s jazz music and waiting for friends to arrive. How appropriate that Toy Story’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” came on! It reminded me that I have such wonderful people around me. As trying as some moments have been this year, I still feel surrounded by love, light and happiness. No dark clouds (or haters…) can dim that light.

Thank you, friends, for being such a powerful force in my life!! I hope you know how much I appreciate your love and support. As I’ve said before, we make a pretty amazingly awesome team, don’t you think?!?!?

I’m taking my classic Birthday Break next week and I can’t wait to rendezvous back here on Monday, August 13th! Coming up that week: Birthday photos, a new guest post from Ms. Bear on what she learned this summer and…MY NEW DIGS!!!! Curious about that last one?? You’ll see!!! I’m always on Twitter and Facebook so come by and say hello!!! Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a hearty dinner of my mom’s meatloaf and a delicious dessert of my sister’s delicious Rice Krispies treats calling my name!!! xoxo

P.S. My last NINE birthdays: 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 35th and 36th!!!

[Bottom photo via We Heart It]