Keeping Calm & Carrying On

Reflecting on the 20's

Today I'm 30 years old. It was so sweet to wake up to a text message exactly at 7:30am from my mother, "Happy 30th Birthday. You were born at 7:30am. Love u!

I know I haven't been around this blog too much as of recent. This time of year is always incredibly hectic at Bella Blvd. Add the everydays of life and Christmas to the mix and it's very hard for me to keep up. But, today, although I don't have any photos to share, I want to reflect on my 20s.

I'm not exactly sure what to expect from this new "decade" of my life. My 20s have been the best, most awesome years so far and I'm a bit scared to expect anything greater for my future. Not sure if that makes sense...but when I think about my 20s I've accomplished, travels, and made some of the most amazing friends. 

IN MY TWENTIES...

I had the best birthday (21 years old) I've ever had. It definitely goes down in my records.

IN MY TWENTIES...

I reconnected with Steven and we started dating, for real.

IN MY TWENTIES...

I traveled and studied abroad during college. This adventure led to one of the most valued friendships I have today, my bestie Morgie was my roommate in Italia and the rest is history.

IN MY TWENTIES...

I graduated from college, with honors.

IN MY TWENTIES...

my boyfriend gave up everything and moved to Texas with me for my very first job in Dallas

IN MY TWENTIES...

I experienced love and the true meaning of it.

IN MY TWENTIES...

I started my own company. Blood, sweat and tears. I have never worked so many hours in my entire life. I have never loved some "THING" more than I love my career. 

IN  MY TWENTIES...

I became an Auntie two more times, and a Godmother one more time.

IN MY TWENTIES...

I have traveled the world both for work and for love. From Brazil to Italy, Texas, Puerto Rico, Arizona, Croatia, Turkey, Greece, and so much more. Travel has become a part of who I am and what I love.

IN MY TWENTIES...

I married the love of my life and the man of my dreams.

I am truly blessed in so many ways and I'm just not exactly sure what God has in store for the rest of my life, but if I died today, at 30, I would be eternally grateful for this life and all the wonderful people in it. IN MY TWENTIES my family endured an incredibly tragic and heart breaking loss, and have come out of it as a strong clan of believers with rock hard faith. I know that no matter what God will bring me through it. I'm looking forward to an evening celebrating with my love, and a weekend celebrating with my friends. While I'm leary of the 30s I'm confident I'll survive :)

A Little Bit of This & That

 

Sometimes I take a break from only using Bella and enjoy some mixing and matching of other products with my designs too. For this layout I wanted to create my own color combination, seeing that the photograph is mostly neutral with lots of black and gray. I used the pop of purple in Madelyn's winter hat to inspire my starting point.

 

The layout has a lot of random different embellishments and sticker letters too, including Doodlebug, Bella Blvd and Crochet Hearts, die-cuts, washi tapes, stickers & a Teresa Collins stick pin too :)

 

I just loved this Christmas Card photo of my nieces and nephew back in 2011 that I had to make a page for my albums.

 

Has is snowed where you live yet? We haven't had any decent snowfall, but I'm sure it will come anyday now. December is notorious around here for old man winter blowing in with a few storms and the frigid cold. 

Twelve.

(Photo Credit)

Happy Twelfth birthday Madelyn Grace! You are beautiful, smart, organized, athletic, artistic and perfect the way you are. Lucky for us we got to spend the weekend together, and I hope today is full of happy surprises (some chickens maybe!), chocolate sweets and birthday treats!

I love you so very much.