It's been a little crazy over here at GJ HQ, trying to get settled back in from my two months away from the shop. I've been re-organizing, weeding through, and prioritizing all of my new vintage, and I am excited to report that there will be some new stuff listed in the shop next week!
My birthday was yesterday, and to be honest, I was feeling a little bit bummed about it. My best friend Panda was out of town, and birthdays just aren't the same without her. (Especially when I'm single, hahaha!) I had a small writing assignment due in my English Composition class (Yeah, I know, I'm in school now, it's weird and I kind of hate it!), and I even wrote about my woes of my impending 27th:
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Tomorrow is my birthday, and I've never felt more bummed out about it. I was raised primarily by my mother, and I'm an only child. I remember my birthdays always being the biggest deal ever, and I was smothered with love, attention, and presents. She even went so far to buy a "Birthday Ideas" book, and would let me choose each year which type of birthday party I wanted to have. I was the envy of every girl at school, and my parties were the talk of the town.
I remember the "Backwards Birthday!" most vividly. I picked out my favorite party dress, and put it on backwards. All of my girlfriends were instructed to go into the bathroom and do the same after they arrived. We ate the cake first (with backwards letters saying "Happy Birthday Amanda!" written on it), and then our lunch. I remember being so psyched to get to open the presents before their attached birthday cards. I've always loved anything where I can be the center of attention, and my birthday has always been the epitome of that.
I'll be 27 tomorrow, and I go back and forth as to whether I feel like an adult or not. I live alone, I pay all of my bills myself, I own two cats, I run my own business. There are times when I feel really excited about who I am, and what I'm doing in this world. But I question my adulthood when I think about how upset I'll be tomorrow morning when I wake up, and there is no one to greet me and excitedly sing the "Happy Birthday!" song. I'm feeling sorry for myself, a real bummer of a birthday girl.
I remember the "Backwards Birthday!" most vividly. I picked out my favorite party dress, and put it on backwards. All of my girlfriends were instructed to go into the bathroom and do the same after they arrived. We ate the cake first (with backwards letters saying "Happy Birthday Amanda!" written on it), and then our lunch. I remember being so psyched to get to open the presents before their attached birthday cards. I've always loved anything where I can be the center of attention, and my birthday has always been the epitome of that.
I'll be 27 tomorrow, and I go back and forth as to whether I feel like an adult or not. I live alone, I pay all of my bills myself, I own two cats, I run my own business. There are times when I feel really excited about who I am, and what I'm doing in this world. But I question my adulthood when I think about how upset I'll be tomorrow morning when I wake up, and there is no one to greet me and excitedly sing the "Happy Birthday!" song. I'm feeling sorry for myself, a real bummer of a birthday girl.
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So there it is. "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to" sort of thing. I'm single and lonely and feeling sorry for myself. Woe is me. I even said to my cats on the eve of my birthday, before getting into bed, "Retha, Char, I know you both don't understand the concept of birthdays, but can you please just cuddle with me extra hard tonight?"
But hot damn, I had it all wrong. So, so wrong. One of my dearest friends Sophie showed up at my door at 9am on her motorcycle. She drove me to the ocean where we lied lazily on the beach all day, and even attempted surfing! I have never been on a motorcycle OR a surf board so it was a wonderful day of firsts. Sophie is truly one of the most incredible and inspiring women I know, and just being around her makes me feel more motivated and excited about the possibilities in my life. She's moving out to the west coast next week and I don't know what I'm going to do without her.
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| Sophie and me, and her vintage 1970s Honda. |
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| My first time in a wet suit. |
I went home with the hugest smile on my face, so grateful for my day. I made myself a delicious dinner that included a salad with goat cheese, croutons, and broccoli, and a steamed vegetable plate of mushrooms, sweet potatoes, carrots, and corn on the cob. Then I got a text from my awesome friend Kate Sullivan-Jones, and she brought me to a crazy gay dance bar where there was a drag queen contest! It was SO MUCH FUN. The winning drag queen was called Lickity Split. (I know, awesome, right?!) My night ended with me dancing provocatively (well, maybe not, but I was trying! Hahaha!) in a cage with my friend, Ehren.
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| PARTY! |
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| Sean, Ehren's boyfriend, snapped this of us during our shining moment. Hilarious! |
A day of firsts, for sure. I am really grateful to everyone who thought of me and wished me a happy birthday, and I'm excited about my 27th year - I think it'll be even better and bigger than this last one.
It's gonna be a good year.
xo,
mandy
I want an outfit snapshot from the GAY BAR! It's funny that although I was away, we were both hanging out with drag queens. Sort of like An American Tail.
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