Never Say Never

Hello + Happy Tuesday! Tomorrow is my 30th birthday (eek), so I thought I would put together a fun little post of twenty things I never thought I would do by the end of my 20's! It was kind of fun to reflect on what life was like in 2003 when I turned 20. Just a few fun facts about life 10 years ago: Facebook did not exist (it launched in Feb 2004); I thought I was cool because I learned some [very simple] code on how to see who clicked on my AIM links; I was ecstatic the day I upgraded my Nokia cell phone for a StarTac flip phone; I still had an undeclared major and was contributing to IU's title of #1 Party School; Gas was only $1.20; I religiously watched Jessica Simpson's reality show, 'The Newly Weds'; Madonna kissed Brittany at the VMAs, Angelina kissed her brother and Brad was still kissing Jen!! Crazy!! Anyway, hope you enjoy my list below! I truly believe, you should never say never! 

Twenty things I never thought I would do by the end of my 20's:

1. {Move to Philadelphia}. Seriously, who does that? But... best decision of my life to leave Ohio when I did. If I had delayed moving by even a week, I probably would have never met {Alejandro}! Timing is everything. I am so happy I trusted my instincts on that move while everyone around me thought I was absolutely crazy for not going to NYC!

2. Love someone as ridiculously much as I love Alejandro! If you had met my boyfriends from the majority of my twenties, you would understand why I never thought true love was even possible! Oh, and I have to throw it out there... never imagined dating a guy named Alejandro! ;)

3. Admit that my mom [and dad] did, in fact, always know best. In my 30's, I will remind them of that more often. I think they would appreciate that!

4. Appreciate the little things. I'm the girl who would take a hand-written note over a gift any day! It's the little things that count and make every day a little more special.

5. Wear [short] shorts to work. Or flip-flops. Or cropped shirts. All the same, right? On the flip side to that, never imagined planning out my "post 30" wardrobe! Apparently cut off shorts are not acceptable after 30? Shoot... what am I going to wear this summer? ;)

6. Feel most comfortable in the least amount of makeup. This has also allowed me to cut down my "get ready" time by half! I used to own every color of mac eyeshadow ever made -- now all I wear is mascara and lip gloss and occasionally use {this}... the best stuff ever made in the world!

7. Be able to live without a tan. Or... lather up in SPF 30 every time I go in the sun. I spent every day of my early 20's tanning - I wouldn't dare walk into a tanning salon now. Wait, do those still exist? 

8. Turn into a decent cook. Still not often... but when I do, I have people who can vouch - "it's delish"! I think Alejandro would say I need to do this more often in my 30's! But, I'm spoiled with all of his yummy meals he makes me!

9. Love, love, love green juice! Actually just a year ago I looked at it and gagged in my mouth. Now, I try to drink it often!

10. Prefer flats to heels. If you saw my shoe collection in my early 20's... there was no such thing as a flat riding boot or the perfect sandal.  Just hundreds of heels taking over my closet. Not exaggerating about that hundred... it was absurd!

11. Participate in a Mud Run! Yup, {Warrior Dash 2011} - so fun!

12. Have fun without going out to the bars! Actually the thought of going to the bars makes me cringe - can't we just go to a cute tapas restaurant and eat yummy food and drink a bottle of wine instead?! Who am I kidding, I prefer a night in any Friday night! Yup, I'm old.

13. Go to bed before 10pm. In my early 20's... actually pretty much my entire life, I couldn't even attempt to go to bed before midnight. My mind wouldn't stop and I felt like there was always so much to do. Now, I love putting the day away and heading to bed around 9pm!

14. Appreciate a good bottle of wine and prefer red wine to white. In college I drank Franzia. In my mid-twenties, I thought a $6 bottle of Riesling was real wine. Enough said.

15. Forget everything I learned in high school! For real - I can't remember anything! Calculus? Don’t know. Physics? What’s that? Great Gatsby? Read it once, someone dies. How to cite sources? Ask the internet. Seriously, I dread the day I have to help my future children with basic homework... I forgot it all.

16. Turn my photography into a side business. I have loved taking photos from when I was very little and I would line up my dolls and stuffed animals for a photo shoot! In 2011, I started {Ashley Gale Photography} and focus on lifestyle portraits, specifically kiddos!

17. Be able to carry my life in my the palm of my hand! When I turned 20, I think I just got text on my phone! Maybe? Maybe it was later! Picture messaging came around age 25... and I finally got an iPhone when I turned 27! Good or bad, my phone has my life stored in it and I don't know how I lived without it!

18. Appreciate a budget! I didn't get on the savings bandwagon right out of college. Thinking back... did I really need that $150 shirt or that $400 bag or a new dress for every.single.occasion? No, not at all. Today I don't go a week without looking at my budget [some would say I am borderline psycho when it comes to my budget] ... and while I still love to shop and treat myself to the [more than] occasional splurge, I know what my short and long term saving goals are and am successfully sticking to my plan!

19. Have a blog with over 1,000 'official' followers and thousands of hits daily! Seriously, you guys are the best!! xxoo. 

20. Fully understand the meaning of "if you want to make God laugh - tell him your plans"! I used to plan every detail of my life, but nothing has ever worked out to plan (thank goodness too)! I have finally, finally learned to just let go and enjoy whatever my future throws my way... I think this is going to make my 30's even more fun than my 20's! )

And... if I had to give advice to my 22 year old self I would say: Travel to a different country once a year... you are at an age where nothing is holding you back! Spend less on the impulses; Buy more classic pieces. Let your sister borrow your clothes. Stay calm, worry less -- everything always works out how it is supposed to! It's ok to not have it all figured out! Patience truly is a virtue and good things come to those to wait (and to those who work really hard... so keep on kicking ass)! Always challenge the status quo! And... Keep on Smiling! :)

{image} - I thought this image was most appropriate because when I first saw it after NYFW, I thought "never"... now I kinda love the looks!