Forty
The day has arrived. As of 9 am this morning, I have joined the club. I am forty.
Wow. That feels really weird to say. I mean I know I rarely get carded anymore, being in my pajamas on Saturday nights by 10 pm (Ok. 7pm. Who am I kidding?) is perfectly wonderful, and I have three kids, but forty still doesn’t seem real.
However, as I’ve gotten older, I’m learning to embrace each year and be more thankful. No need to hide my age, even though I will probably always hide those grey hairs.
So, in honor of my 40th birthday, here are 40 random facts/likes/words about yours truly.
Forty Things
1. I’m a Virgo.
2. I consider chocolate a food group.
3. My hair was white blonde as a kid. It’s gotten darker and darker with each of my pregnancies, and now is naturally dark brown.
4. I’ve had Red, Burgundy, Brown, Black, and Green hair, in addition to my blonde streaks I have right now. One of those was for Halloween.
5. I also love wearing wigs, and have a ton of them.
6. I love all things Hello Kitty and Paul Frank.
7. I’ve lived in 5 different States.
8. My undergrad degree is in Dance (BFA) from the University of Arizona (Go Wildcats!)
9. My graduate Degree is in Business (MBA) from Marquette (Go Golden Eagles!)
10. Target is one of my favorite stores, and I was a manager there for a short while.
11. I got rid of every pair of Khaki pants and every red shirt I owned after I quit. (dress code)
12. I collect Itty Bittys, those dogs from Victoria’s Secret, and Peanuts stuff.
13. I can french braid and do a cartwheel.
14. I’ve never baked a cake from scratch.
15. I’ve never really baked anything from scratch.
16. I am not a cheap date. (High alcohol tolerance. Hello! I live in WI.)
17. The Lemonheads are one of my all time favorite bands.
18. I’ve met the lead singer a couple of times, as he usually watches his opening bands with the audience.
19. I love going to music concerts, dance shows, and theater performances.
20. I’m going to a concert tonight for my birthday.
21. I’ve thrown my husband 2 surprise birthday parties.
22. I love party planning.
23. I don’t always love the actual party. I get stressed out.
24. Green is one of my favorite colors.
25. I also like Orange, Grey, and Blue, but I own mostly Black clothes.
26. I’m a #BoyMom, but a #GirlAunt (4 beautiful nieces!)
27. I love TV. My So Called Life, Felicity, and Gilmore Girls are all-time favorites.
28. I got to be an extra on the set of Felicity, and also on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the old 90210, Charmed, and Melrose Place.
29. I read a lot of Chicklit, and love reading in general. I’m even in a bookclub.
30. The Shopaholic Series is one of my favorites, but also love Bridget Jones Diary.
31. Growing up, we had a cat named Popcorn, and then one named Barney.
32. As an adult, I had a cat named Lola, but learned I was allergic after thinking I had a horrible never-ending cold.
33. I used to hate coffee and was addicted to Diet Coke.
34. I drink at least a cup of coffee every day now, and no more soda for me.
35. Me and my boys all have one syllable, unique names. I’m hoping they like theirs as much as I’ve always liked mine.
36. I wish they still made cassette tapes and videotapes. I also miss regular phones.
37. I didn’t get a cell phone until I was in my mid-twenties.
38. I didn’t get my first cavity until I was over 30.
39. Now, I’ve had a few, plus a root canal. Darn pregnancies.
40. This past year, I completed the Whole30, published a piece on the Huffington Post, and got back to my high school weight, but my biggest accomplishment is my three sweet boys.
Well, if you made it to the end, that is birthday present enough. Actually, there’s one more thing you can get me. Just click on that pink button below, and then vote for me as a Top Mommy Blog. You readers/friends/bloggers are the best! Thank you!
Happy birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Being an extra sounds like fun – how did you end up doing that?
Thank you! I lived in LA for a while, and it was pretty easy to get work 🙂
Happy Birthday, Shann! And welcome to the forties! You know I embrace them already and you will, too! Have a wonderful day with your beautiful family!
Loved reading all 40 facts!
Hugs xxx
Thank you so much Chrissy!
Happy Birthday! It’s been fun getting to know you better! I didn’t get my first cavity til I was 28 and then I had several… going to get one filled this afternoon, lol. Also I absolutely love the names of your boys!
Ugh. Cavities are the worst. And thank you! 🙂
Happy happy happy birthday, Shann! I hope you have a fun night and an amazing year! And chocolate totally counts as its own food group. 🙂
Thank you so much Samantha!
Hey! Happy Birthday birthday twin! And I also believe chocolate is its own food group. 😉
Awesome! Hope you had a great birthday too!
Okay first, happy birthday, sweet friend 🙂 you don’t need me to tell you but dayum, girl–looking good! 40 is the new 40. Or 30. Or whatever the hell we make it. I’m right there behind you. I hope you have a great time at the show tonight and love that you mentioned the lemonheads, a bans I haven’t thought about in way too long!
Xoxo and happy happy!
Thank you so much Charlotte. You are too sweet.
Happy birthday to you!! On the dress code thing–I once had an all-black dress code….and in the years since, I’ve never been able to wear all-black again. I have to have at least some color now, we couldn’t even have colored accessories. So yeah, I can understand your reaction after no longer working at Target, haha!
Yes! Dress codes are the worst!
Happy Birthday!!! And oh em gee. I love your kids names! I also seek out “unique but not too weird” type names for my kids. I was cursed with a Top 3 Most Common name for my age group and have never not shared a class or job with another Amanda. lol. Also sounds like you had quite the accomplishing year. I would LOVE to get back to high school weight after baby 3!
Awe. Thank you so much. It took me a long time, but it’s finally off and is staying off 🙂
Happy Birthday Shann! It was fun to read all those facts about you. I turned 30 last year and it kind of seemed like a big deal until I actually got to my birthday and now I’ve just embraced it. I hope you have fun at your concert!
Agreed. Yes, it was awesome!
What a lovely post. I’m so with you on the chocolate being a food group. Happy belated birthday wishes.
Loved getting to know more about you! Happy 40th!
xoxo, Jenny
Thank you!
Nice way to introduce yourself. This was the first time on your blog. I learned a lot about you. Out of 40 things we didn’t know, you probably have 40 new blog ideas.
Never even thought about that…thanks!
Gilmore girls is one of my all time favorite shows!!! GREAT choice!
You look great at 40! I’m 42 and don’t feel 40 at all. And yes, it’s just a number! Enjoyed reading your 40 fun facts too.
Thank you!
Oh wow. #11 had me laughing and we share commonality with #24. Congrats to an awesome 40, you look fabulous. Take care.
Thank you so much!
Happy birthday! Loved reading all of these facts about you! Have a great time celebrating at the concert tonight 🙂
Thank you Rachel!
Happy birthday, I agree with you chocolate is a food group!
Happy Birthday! Age is just a state of mind that is why I will forever be 30 something….I loved your list and voted for your blog! I hope it was a great concert and you partied like a rockstar!
Awe. Thank you so much Sheila! The concert was awesome!!! 🙂
Happy birthday! I loved making mix tapes and exchanging them with friends. There was something fantastic about the actual tape and the excitement of going home and listening to it. It’s just not the same with MP3s! I hope you have a great birthday!
Totally agree. Thank you!
Aw love this!! Such a cute post xx, gracie
snappedbygracie.com
Happy Birthday! You look great and that dress is gorgeous!
Happy Happy Birthday. I love to dance too. I love all these fun facts about you.
Thank you!
I love this post idea! So fun to learn more about the woman behind the blog!
Omg. No seriously. I never had a cavity till after thirty. Still don’t actually, my favorite show was MSCL I have read anything on why they cancelled, I HAVE A HIGH ALCOHOL TOLERANCE (Canadian!) my husband is from WI. We are a good match. Ok there were more but just wanted you to know now I understand why we hang on each other’s blogs so much!
That is awesome Heather!!!! We’ll have to have lots of drinks together some day! 🙂
I hope you had a great birthday!
Thank you! I did!
If i look as good as you when Im 40 I will be grateful! You look fab and I agree, chocolate is a food group.
Awe. Thank you so much…too sweet.
Happy birthday beautiful mama. I was a dancer also and I love your tv show choices. I hope this birthday was one for the books!
This is such a great post! I’m totally with you on the baking. I’m barely able to bake from a box! haha. I also love party planning. Though, the party itself is stressful I would much rather be the party thrower than a party attender. I did Whole30, too (unfortunately, gained all my weight back… and then some… when I got off) and I published on HuffPost, too. 🙂 Happy Belated Birthday!