*There are affiliate ads throughout this post. If you click them and purchase, I get a tiny kickback.
Like many, embracing my 30s was not an easy task for me! I decided a long time ago that I was staying 29 forever, but time just keeps passing! This past weekend was my birthday and I somehow turned 35. My 30s have acually been pretty amazing so far, so I’ve decided to throw my 20s to the wind and embrace this new, exciting, adventurous, possibly even BEST time of my life?
To celebrate life in my 30s (now that they’re halfway over! EEK!), I’ve compiled a list of what makes these years the BEST years!
Travel
My mother is a total travel junkie when she’s not too busy running our family business. My dad loves to explore. We never were deprived of vacations as children. Our family took road trips to Yellowstone and Gatlinburg, went to New Mexico and Vegas, took an Alaskan cruise, even a girls” only trip to Maui. I’ve been blessed in the vacation department. Don’t get me wrong, I know just how spoiled lucky I am, but I just could never see the appeal of leaving all my friends and all my stuff to go somewhere totally random.
Until I hit my 30s and realized that HOLY CRAP! Traveling is so much fun! Whether sticking within a couple hours of home or boarding a plane to head across the country, I am now smitten with discovering new and exciting places. Hole in the wall places and lesser known attractions are my favorite things to hunt down and explore. Give me a small museum, hidden speakeasy, graffiti alley, or quiet sidewalk cafe any day (or everyday, please!).
Lucky for me, I am married to a man who loves a spontaneous adventure just as much as I do! Now if I could just convince him that he loves to fly…
No Mo’ Drama
I used to say that those who posted on social media about how much they “hated drama”, probably were always in the midst of it, and probably actually loving it! I have a multitude of 20 something Facebook friends, family and acquaintances who are continuously airing all their “cheatin’ baby daddy” or “[she was my best friend last week, but]that bitch be trippin’!” issues for the world to see.
Don’t get me wrong, I am a LOUD MOUTH. If I think it, those closest to me are going to hear it! But the “OMG! You’ll never believe this shit….” phone calls and texts are most definitely reserved for my best friends and mom.
Clearly I’m a highly opinionated lady, but overall it’s nice to be a spectator of dramatics these days. In my 30s I’ve learned to embrace the people I love and fake smile in the grocery store to the people I don’t, bless their hearts.
Parents Just Might Understand
Parents become more than family. They become friends, and in my case they also become the best neighbors ever! Mom, if you’re reading, please keep breathing and do your best to avoid another heart attack, okay?
It’s a very rare occurrence for me to have the urge to strangle my mom these days. This was NOT the case even just a decade ago. We’ve always been relatively close, but the slamming of doors and me storming out in tears was a pretty regular thing. Dare I say we might be way too much alike. Holy shit! Am I turning into her?!
In all seriousness, though, my mother has become one of my best friends in my 30s. These days she’s the first person I call with news (or those OMG moments mentioned above), she’s the one person I know will drop everything to help me if I’m having a bad health day. The boys pick her as their favorite babysitter every time. Lord knows there has never been a better shopping partner in crime–I tolerate her purse obsession while she happily suffers through my need for random junk. We make a pretty good duo!
Let’s not forget my dad. This man would do anything for his children–even though we are adults now. No, really, I mean ANYTHING. I’m talking big things like dropping his entire life to build his newly divorced daughter a house in his own backyard kind of thing! He is always willing to lend a hand to anyone, whether it be something huge (like construction), or just making my kids laugh by throwing them in the lake. Speaking of making people laugh, you should hear his cow impression. He’s a pretty good guy, my Pa.
Just Who Do Ya Think You Are?
My husband and I both had previous marriages. We both married in our early 20s, and neither of us regret that time with our previous spouses. While we both 100% believe that marriage should be forever, we also both agree that our divorces might have been the best thing to happen to us. Mr. Pennington says everyone deserves a “practice marriage” in their 20s; a “Get Out of Jail Free” card, if you will. While not sad to see those days end, they definitely were formative years of our lives.
My 20s were a time of mass confusion, looking back. I got married, had a baby, graduated college, was diagnosed with a chronic health condition, had another baby, began my life as a career woman, and in the end of that decade got divorced. I changed as a person as I met different people and had different experiences, all of which formed who I am today. The person I am today was still hiding inside, worried if my views were “cool enough” a decade ago. The same goes for Mr. Pennington. People who knew him just 5 years ago (when he really was 29) wouldn’t believe the transformation. 
Livin’ the [ever changing] Dream
In my brief stent in my 30s I’ve really discovered who I am and what I love. I am a total wannabe hippie who hates vaccines, boxed food, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. I love being a nerd who shamelessly collects coffee mugs and is addicted to books and tattoos. I’m hooked on alternative medicine and natural living. Writing, educating others, traveling, shooting my super cute pistol, just relaxing with some wine or a cup of black coffee (because you know, when I woke up on July 16th I was 35 and decided I actually love black coffee! #adulting), having a quiet evening with my husband, and enjoying watching my children grow and learn are what my life is all about!
My 30s, in all honesty, are all about living out my dreams every single day. I’m so glad I decided to embrace them!
XoXo
Jessica
What do you love about being in your 30s? If you’re not there yet, just wait! Great things are on the horizon!
Enjoy your thirties! This is a wonderful time in a woman’s life and I do believe that the thirties is where we learn who we are and what we want out of life. I didn’t get married until I turned 33 and it has been awesome! I do need to say the forties are also wonderful!