Twenty-Eight Things I've Learned in Twenty-Eight Years

Yesterday was my 28th birthday. Twenty. Eight. I say that over and over and it still doesn't get any farther away from thirty, as hard as I try. If I'm being really honest, though, I wouldn't turn around and do these birthdays all over again even if I was given the chance. What I thought was wisdom at sixteen (ha!) doesn't even hold a light to what I have experienced in my twenties. There were good times, bad times, worse times, and then good times again, and through it all (every up and every down) I somehow found myself. Today I'm sharing a list of twenty-eight things that I've learned over the last twenty-eight years - you know, because I'm so wise now ;)

(Outfit details: Tunic, JANE.COM | Vest, BOUTIQUE | Leggings, BELK | Shoes, TJ MAXX | Bag, FOREVER 21 Necklaces, J. CREW & TJ MAXX | Watch, MICHAEL KORS | Rings, PANDORA & MARC JACOBS)

Twenty-eight things I've learned in twenty-eight years. . .

one // All the basic life lessons? Yea, we really did learn those in kindergarten.

two // Stop putting off "taking care of your body." Listen to what's it's telling you and make changes.

three // Never go to bed without washing off your makeup.

four // Being happy literally takes less effort than being sad. Just tell yourself "I'm alive, today is a good day."

five // The 90s really were the best of times.

six // Every day I say things that my mother would say. And every day I become more okay with it.

seven // Having a dance party, having a full-on concert in your house will drastically improve your mood.

eight // There will always be people who call me Julia and it will forever kill me.

nine // Never underestimate the power of good eyebrows. And learn how to do them yourself.

ten // I promise your three-day trip won't be ruined if you don't pack enough clothes for ten days.

eleven // Don't worry so much about the numbers. Worry about the relationships and be satisfied.

twelve // Wear what you want and screw the rest. 

thirteen // While we're on the topic, don't worry about size on the tag either.

fourteen // Save money. Start a retirement plan. Live like you're twenty, think like you're sixty. 

fifteen // See your doctor and dentist regularly.

sixteen // When you find a hairdresser who just gets you, hold on and don't let go.

seventeen // It's okay to sit on your couch every now and then eating strawberries and Nutella with a spoon and binge-watching Netflix.

eighteen // Don't sweat the small stuff. No, really, don't. In a couple of days, it won't even matter.

nineteen // The big dream wedding isn't all it's cracked up to be.

twenty // Know who "your people" are and tell them how much you love them.

twenty-one // When your dad teaches you how to check your oil, pay attention.

twenty-two // Being judgmental will never pay off.

twenty-three // Going to a counselor is okay and sometimes so very necessary. Never suffer in silence.

twenty-four // Never settle.

twenty-five // Red lipstick really can change the game completely.

twenty-six // Snow days can make or break your week sometimes. Like right now.

twenty-seven // Quality over quantity.

twenty-eight // Thirty really doesn't look so bad.

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