Don't Tell Me My Business, Devil Woman

Okay...so I came across this article not long ago and at first I was all "Oh, no! Let me run to my closet and make sure I've thrown out all my glitter pants!". Ok, not really. But it got me thinking about why this woman decided to write this particular article. Not "Things you might want to reconsider after thirty" or maybe putting a list of things you should wear. No, instead someone decided to take certain articles of clothing and ban them to women who have metamorphosed into old crones the day after the great and destructive 3-0 birthday. 
Here is the list of over thirty commandments. Thou Shalt Not Wear:

1. Scrunchies
2. Abercrombie & Fitch
3. Platform flip flops
4. Glitter eyeshadow
5. Cheap bras
6. Old sneakers
7. Booty shorts
8. American Eagle
9. Crop tops
10. Overalls
11. Mini skirts
12. Short dresses
13. Tube tops
14. Furry anything
15. Furry boots
16. Hoop earrings
17. Non-matching socks
18. Oversized sunglasses
19. Sparkly pants, unless it’s New Year’s Eve
20. Leopard print

Okay, I'm going to argue here that 1-5, 7, 9, 11-13 are no-go's for everyone...seriously. Booty shorts? Uh, no. Crop tops? Yuck. If your argument is because you think that once you turn thirty  you somehow  turn flabby overnight, well then that's a load of BS.  I don't think it's wise to tell a group of people what they can and cannot wear. 

Old Sneakers AND hoops earrings

Your clothes, your style...it's part of your identity and to tell someone that just because they've reached a certain age means that they should change a part of who they are, is ridiculous. IF they want to use that time to reinvent themselves, then more power to them...but that's not up to some twenty-something to decide. I'm tired of hipsters thinking they know more than people who are older than them...like somehow the generations that came before them are unenlightened or even, dare I say...stupid. That we need a twenty year old to inform us when we look ridiculous. Here's a little hint: we don't care what you think. 

Most of us are aware of what we should or shouldn't wear based on our body types and what we feel comfortable in. Those who don't have a clue now didn't have a clue when they were twenty, either...it's not the age...it's the person.

Here are some samples of the things that were banned by the above article that prove women over thirty actually can wear them.

After 30 by babyruth30 featuring a lace top

Meadow Rue lace top
anthropologie.com

Paige Denim stretch jeans
$170 - avenue32.com

Fix You

I'm sitting here, looking at my Facebook wall...looking at all the pictures, all the memories. The crazy, funny, happy, lovely things my kids and my husband did...all the great times we've had over the past year
When the song Fix you comes on Pandora.

When you try your best, but you don't succeed

When you get what you want, but not what you need

When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep

Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face

When you lose something you can't replace

When you love someone, but it goes to waste

Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you

This song has special meaning to me. It's one that I would listen to over and over again after my miscarriages.
My heart is so full of gratitude right now. Filled with so much joy. Pure joy. The kind that wraps your heart in warmth but still manages to tug at it a little with sadness.
We've come a long way.
I have my treasures.
And they are worth it.
Every frustration. Every scream. Every tear.
Every loss.

My Whole Life

My husband is a lot of things, but emotional is not one of them. He's not a romantic. He's not one to sit down after a long day and talk until the early hours of the morning.
It was a little bit hard to get used to in the beginning of our marriage, but I've accepted it now, and I'm fine with it.
So imagine my surprise to his response when I casually mentioned something that, quite honestly had such a small impact on me that I forgot to say anything until later that night.
You see, on our way home from church-it was just me, and the kids, Joel had to stay after-I was stopped at a 4 way stop sign and there was a silver truck to my left. While I was waiting for him to go, I noticed that the car coming from in front of me wasn't slowing down. I knew he was going to run the stop sign and the truck to my left wasn't paying attention. The thought to honk my horn came and left without me doing anything.
Tires squealed, smoke rose, the little red car hit the tail end of the big silver truck. And there I sat. Untouched.
I recounted this story to Joel, expecting him to say what he did.
"Did you stop?"
"Yes. I gave her my name and number just in case. But it wasn't serious. Everyone was fine. Just a little dent."
And then I looked over to him as he knelt down, about to say his nightly prayer, and he quietly said,"Thank you for paying attention."
I smiled and gave him a wave of the hand in an 'it's nothing' sort of way, but then he continued saying that he really appreciated that I was paying attention because his whole life was there, in my car.

I sure do love this man of mine.