40!
A scary birthday made not so scary by some home run gifts
On February 26 I turned 40. Which, on the one hand, AAAAAAAAAHHAHHHHAHHAHHAHHHAHHHAHHHAHHHHHHHAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAHHHHHHHHAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHAHHHHHH MORTALITY AHHHHHHHAAAAAHHHHHAAAAA! I’M RUNNING OUT OF TIME AAAAAAAHHHHHHAHHAAAHHAAAAA!
But on the other hand, I feel like I was always meant to be 40. Now it’s finally acceptable for me to say things like “I will not be going to that concert unless there’s ample seating” and “I think I’ll have some sleepy time tea and watch the Rick Steves Copenhagen episode again.” 40 is who I’ve always been on the inside, and now I finally have an outside to match.
My grandma once told me that getting old wasn’t fun, but that she wasn’t willing to relive any era of her life. And at first I thought, bleak. But now, about a decade after she said that, I think I get it. Because I’m happier being 40 than I was being 30, and was happier being 30 than I was being 20, despite the increasing aches and pains. Because I know myself better now. And I’m lucky to be surrounded by people who know me, and see me and love me. At least I think they see me and love me, because they gave me the perfect gifts.
I am so obsessed with the items I received for my birthday that I have to tell you about all of them.
Is it weird to link to and possibly earn commissions on items others have given me? Probably! Did I text each giver and ask if they thought it was weird! I did! Did they all say it was fine, and in fact, they were flattered? They did! And do I think these are all wonderful gifts at different price levels that you could give the ancient 40-year-olds in your life to district them from their middle-aged-ness? I do! So here we go! I guess!
In no particular order:
This was my daughter’s idea. What inspired her was my constant complaining about shoulder pain, which I want to think is from exercising too intensely, but I think is actually from terrible posture.
I’ve been using it to address the shoulder pain and all over body soreness and it’s been helping immensely.
My dream lego set, the Shopping Street.
There’s nothing I love more than a lego set that takes days, weeks, or even months to build, and no lego set I love more than one that tells lots of little stories on multiple levels. Give me an intricate build, a good audio book, and some evening free time and I’m on a cloud. My youngest also “gave” me a vending machine lego set and then insisted on building it with me so I don’t really think it counts, but it was fun.
The Alex Mill monogrammed Perfect Weekday Tote, which I have taken a horrendous photo of because I like mine better than the one featured on the website.
I’ve never been so happy to have a 3-letter name.
The veggie patch candles from Maison Balzac
They sit on my entryway table because I want them to be the first thing people see when they walk into my home. That celery???? Are you kidding me????
Staud beaded bag
A perfect statement piece for the spring and summer. I’ve already worn it at every possible opportunity because I’m dressing for the weather I want, not the weather I have.
SIGNED copy Reign of Dragoness. Kind of.
We played this game with some friends on New Years Eve. I was hesitant because the visuals felt Dungeons and Dragonsy to me, and I’m not about that life. But the game was soooooo fun and I’m so glad to own it and so confused by Grandpa Beck’s decision to sign the plastic wrapping on the game and not the actual game itself.
Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream recipe book
I had a scoop of oatmeal cookie ice cream from Morgenstern’s in NYC that numbers among the greatest things I’ve ever eaten and I cannot wait to make it and all the other recipes in this book. There’s a charred banana recipe! CHARRED BANANA!
Like writing with butter. Speaking of butter…
Fits perfectly with my butter collection which includes a key chain, hat and Christmas ornament. The gift also came with some cherry salt and pepper shakers, the exact version of which I cannot find online but love very much, and the most delicious strawberry gummy candies I’ve ever had from Jolleys in SLC.
Is it a coincidence that pilates princesses and mental patients both wear grippy socks? Probably not! Regardless, I love these, and love the fact that I now have more than one pair so I don’t have to wash the same two socks after every class.
And the flared leggings
Not to brag, but I got complimented on my outfit by the cool pilates instructor, whom I’ve been trying to impress for a full year now.
I apply this before I use my eyelash curler and I cannot believe the difference it makes for the curl and thickness of my lashes. I will need to have it all the time moving forward, unfortunately.
And last, but certainly not least, my friend had stationery made featuring some mean comments from a Deseret News article I wrote.
The perfect gift.
They’re all perfect gifts. From perfect people.
40’s not so bad. I think, when you’re surrounded by the best.