Angie 3.0 Featuring My Aunt Kim

Hi Friends!  With just a few hours until my sparklegemawesome 30th birthday, I thought I would drop in and do a quick post before I started poppin champagne like I won a championship game. The following advice comes from one of the most influential women in my life, my Aunt Kim.  The following email exchange happened between us.  I hope it makes you as happy as it makes me.

Wearing: Skirt: H&M (this skirt will be remixed very soon).  Shoes: Dolce Vita. Shirt: Pika 88.  Vest: Levi's, thrifted.

 "Hi Aunt Kim.  My 30th is coming up in a few weeks ( I am really sorry, if that made you feel old just then, it makes me feel old too).  I am going a special feature on my blog by reaching out to people I love and respect and asking for any advice or things that I should look forward to by turning 30.  I was wondering if you would be willing to give me any advice that I could feature.  Obviously, you have taught me some of my best life lessons and have helped to mold me into the woman I am today.  Any words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated, so that I don't have to subsist on tequila and xanax for the next 45 days."

" Ang,

You asked me for some advice on turning 30.

For the most part I think I'm best at giving advice in the moment rather than circumspectly.

I don't like to think about it because then I feel like I'm some wisdom filled woman telling people how to live there lives, I am not.

There is a rule Johnny and Jada will tell you I set for them when they were young. It was more of a rule than advice I would like to think.

NEVER GET MARRIED BEFORE YOU TURN 30! Why you ask?

Well I believe the first two decades of your life are about growing up, living with your family, Mom, Dad, sister, brothers, just being a kid, playing and enjoying life, getting thru 12 years of school, making friends, etc. etc.

The next decade is about moving away from all of that, going to another 4 years of school, being on your own for the first time in life and just discovering who you are, what you want to do, where you want to reside, the seek and discovery decade.

But the next decade is the most important one to me, my favorite decade.

 

Welcome to who you are. This is the decade where it all comes together.

The last 3 decades you were forming and shaping your life and now this is where the mold

dries.

This is when you know who you are, hopefully who you want to spend the rest of your life with, this is where you feel concrete and stable, this is where all you worked for finally takes shape. This decade is about confidence and putting the plan for the rest of your life to  work.

This, in my opinion is the best decade to get married and have a family. That's why I tell my kids to wait for this time to do those things. You need the past three decades for yourself, to grow and perfect who you will be at 30. In your 20's you can't know this yet.

Angie I love the person you molded yourself into. A beautiful, confident,independent and I know when the time comes (in this decade) an amazing wife and mother. I have loved watching your journey and I am so proud to call you my Niece, my friend.Enjoy your 30's, there is so much to look forward to, watch and see."

A humongous thank you goes to my Aunt Kim for this.  She has always been one of my biggest fans and supporters through everything.  She is also one person that undoubtedly I would trust my life in her hands...even if it does involve a tequila shot or few. 

Signing off as 30-eve for the last time.

Angie