Gianvito Rossi Lace Up Sandals | Green Pleated Dress | Pink Aviators | Michele Watch | X Ring | Niceties & Nuptials Boutique Rose Gold CZ Necklace
H E L L O 25! I can’t believe I am officially a quarter of a century old…boy how time flies. As I write this post, I can’t help but think back to all that I have been through + accomplished the last 25 years…
From graduating high school a year early to working full time before even graduating college to starting my own blog and digital marketing consulting business to kicking ass in my career to moving cross country from NY to LA + creating a home and life for myself that I absolutely LOVE…these past 25 years have truly turned me in to the woman I am today ♥
They say with age comes wisdom so rather than just writing a celebratory post talking about my pre-birthday celebration in Palm Springs last weekend (where I hunted down the ever so insta-famous ‘Pink Door‘) I decided to take a look back at all I have learned leading up to turning 25!
Before I dig in to 25 things I learned now that I am 25, let me break down this birthday look!
I am not entirely sure where I snagged this green pleated dress but I found a similar style HERE.
My lace up sandals are from Gianvito Rossi (these were such an incredible deal btw…you can snag them on sale HERE).
Because I am so matchy matchy…the sunnies had to match the shoes haha 😉
Can’t celebrate my birthday without a little b-day BLING! Niceties & Nuptials sent me this gorgeous rose gold and CZ necklace that looks so expensive I had multiple people ask if it was a real diamond…now that is something that puts a smile on my face 😉
P.S. you can shop this piece + more from Niceties & Nuptials by using this code at checkout to get 10% off of ANYTHING on www.nandnb.com:
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The piece is honestly just stunning…I love it to wear for work or play and even layer with other pieces need be.
I got a little ahead of myself and they do say the best gifts are the gifts you give yourself…so Happy Birthday to me haha I decided I needed to upgrade my watch game + until I hustle even more to get a Rolex, a Michele watch will do for now 😉 Similar styles below (along with my favorite X Ring from Amazon).
Now to the most important part of any birthday…reflecting back on how you got here!
Here it is…
25 Things I’ve Learned By 25
1.Be Yourself – Ever since I was little I was so consumed with ‘fitting in‘ + being popular…since becoming an adult my priorities have completely changed. I feel confident in the skin I am in + I am perfectly content spending my weekends eating popcorn and watching Dateline without having FOMO about not being at the hottest club or on some vacation…once you are happy with yourself, everything else just falls into place.
2.Hustle Hustle Hustle – Ok, this has been my mentality since I was 14 when I got my first job scooping popcorn at a local movie theater (do you see a common trend here? I LOVE popcorn haha :p). Hustling never ends, in order to achieve success you have to bust your ass to get there…nothing in life is handed to you + if it is well I can assure you the experience isn’t nearly as thrilling.
3.Plan Ahead – Whether it’s what you are going to wear to work the next day, where you want to be in 5 years, what outfits you want to shoot…Planning Ahead is KEY! My friends make fun of me but nothing puts me more at ease than having a plan of action, maybe it’s a neurotic tendency of mine but having a sense of organization allows for a more streamlined approach for anything you are looking to do.
4.Dress for Success – No matter where you are off to, put yourself together! You never know who you may run into…whether it’s a potential client, employer or boo…dressing in a way that shows off your personality but also looking like you are ready to accomplish anything instills a sense of confidence to you + those around ya!
5.Go Nude – Ok…not literally but I honestly feel every woman should have nude pumps and nude ankle strap heels in their closet. Whether they are for work or play…they match with everything and are an easy no-brainer. I keep a pair of each in my car for last minute meetings or date nights!
6.Don’t Forget to Laugh – My basic motto in life…Laugh! I tend to do this all the time anyways, but no matter how stressful of a day you are having, a little laughing will do you some good…my goal is to come up with a workout that comes from laughing haha Can you imagine that?! Plus you have to laugh at yourself every once in a while…if you can’t laugh at yourself who can? :p
7.Don’t Forget to Smile – This is pretty similar to my point above but once again, you never know who is around and having a smiley demeanor really goes a long way and shows you as open to meeting and talking to new people. Plus when you smile the world smiles back with ya!
8.Go With Your Gut – Basically trust your instincts. My mom has been preaching this to me for years + always said my ‘vibe’ meter was off however I think with older age comes a better ability to seed through and get an accurate vibe on people + situations. This is crucial in business.
9.It’s Good to Be A Kid – Ok, so I know I am an adult, but I am totally guilty of having my childish moments every now + then (ICYMI, I am obsessed with Minions). Letting out your inner child gives you the chance to relax after a stressful day + keep your sanity haha
10.Save Up – I am guilty of knowing I need to do this but having an issue doing so haha My mom is a Jewish accountant + has been preaching for years that saving is key…I think this year is the year that I will begin to listen to that more, in order to get the things you want, you have to save!
11.Keep Learning – I have always been a fan of continuing education or learning more about the industry I am in. Whether it is attending conferences or watching videos online, I love to learn about every aspect of the field I am in so I can better kick ass at work!
12.Be Social – In person not just online! Although I work on digital marketing strategy + accounts, it is still so important to connect with those contacts in person, not sure online via e-mail. Having that in person connection helps!
13.Engage with Others – Whether it’s online (responding to comments etc) or engaging with others while you are out to dinner etc, living in the moment + engaging with the world around you is super important.
14.Take Care of Yourself – If you don’t take care of yourself, no one else will. Whether it’s eating healthy, working out or pampering yourself…you must care for YOU!
15.Stand Your Ground – With all of the political turmoil happening it would be easy for me to keep quiet or refrain from speaking my mind considering it feels like the world is against me haha (perks of being conservative I assume), but part of being a strong woman is sticking to your guns + voicing your opinion whether in business or in personal life.
16.Always Be Networking – No matter what career you are in, continuing to network + socialize with those in your field is a great way to gain more knowledge about what you do + share ideas with like minded people. I LOVE meeting other social managers + influencers because we support each other in our endeavors!
17.Treat Yourself – Kind of similar to my ‘take care of yourself’ but I am a firm believer in if you work hard, you should play hard…my version of play just happens to be shopping haha! The best gifts are the gifts you give yourself because the story + blood, sweats + tears behind getting that treat makes that treat so much sweeter 😉
18.Be Strong + Independent – While I love having supportive friends, family + the occasional boo every now and then, my parents have pushed me ever since I was a little girl to be a Strong, Independent woman + to never rely on a man or anyone else for anything! I think this is SO important. When you support yourself + don’t have to answer to anyone, it makes life that much better + it makes you fully appreciate all that you have to offer when it comes to a relationship.
19.Be Frugal – While I like to buy nice things, having a Jewish accountant mother has taught me the art of sales + coupons. I am totally that girl who gets price adjustments, waits for a good sale + price matches across the internet and I am PROUD of it! I think when you are younger you are embarrassed by using coupons or only purchasing things when they are on sale, but if there is anything I have learned in life is that those who have money have it because they don’t spend all of it. Spend smarter 😉 New slogan, I need to follow this more haha!
20.Do What You Love – When you love what you do in life, everything falls into place. While I could make more money being a lawyer or working in the medical field, I am truly passionate about what I do each + every day which makes the hard work worth while. I have done a lot of soul searching over the past couple years + anytime I have doubts I remember how thrilled I get after a successful digital campaign or brand collaboration etc. Working crazy hours + maintaining this blog isn’t easy but I am passionate about it – that’s what matters.
21.Cherish Every Moment – When I was younger I was completely guilty of being unappreciative of certain things. Whether it was the moments I spend with my family or the opportunities I have received, it’s important to cherish every little moment. Everyone now says the little things thrill me – hearing that thrills me! Minions, popcorn, puppies all make me smile, light heartedness is hard to have in this day + age so I cherish those moments when I can!
22.Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For Help – Sometimes you can’t do it all. I try to be super woman, but I breakdown at least once a week…crying, venting etc. You need to have people you can emotionally count on in life to be there to pick you up when you are down or simply give you a pep talk. I was in a deep depression over the summer, I was trying to find my next step in my career , I was heart broken + I was questioning every aspect of my life. After exploring all of my medical options, I just realized the support of my family + my friends really cured me, while it’s a constant battle, every single day gets better and it comes and gos like waves of the ocean 😉
P.S. Props to my best gal pal Samantha…literally she has been my rock through everything + is such a kind hearted person who helps me each and everyday. Strong women supporting each other makes me one happy camper. Fun Fact…I had a full on breakdown during this shoot where I popped my balloon (no joke I am a toddler) haha + I began crying because I was so stressed over things not going according to the plan in my head…Samantha calmed me down + helped me pull it together, that’s what a strong friendship is all about!
Another group of ladies that help me be kick ass everyday, my coworkers! I have worked at various companies over the years and dealt with catty girls, cliques etc but what truly makes me smile is have a boss lady CEO who truly cares about me (she included me in her family’s Thanksgiving dinner when I had nowhere to go) + the gals on my marketing team who help me achieve my goals each + everyday…shoutout to Becca + Paige #Bad BitchesOnly They make everyday #VeryGood (apparently that is my catch phrase at the office haha)
And I can’t forget my blogger babes – one of the reasons I began blogging was to have a group of friends + colleagues who I have amazing qualities in common with! I love that we live in a day + age where women truly kick ass in business – Shoutout to my supportive LA gals who support me at every company + follow my journey each + every day: Sheryl, An, Sydne, Kier, Kristi, Rossana, Deniz, Ashley (my birthday twin), Natalie, Samantha, Solang, Alva + more! Thank you ladies for always supporting me + most importantly supporting each other!
23.Overcome Your Obstacles – I have been through it ALL. Breakups, career changes, moving away, etc+ I still strive to be the best me I can be every single day! Nothing is an obstacle unless you truly make it one, that’s my philosophy!
24.Take Chances – No one ever said life is easy. Everyday you have to decide on playing it safe or taking a chance…I always opt for taking a chance. While I write this I am thinking about all of the ‘chances’ I have taken + opportunities I may have missed if I decided to play it safe + let me tell ya…it would have been a shit ton! What if I never moved to LA because I was afraid of not having family here, what if I never left certain companies for fear of not finding something as good, what if I never took chances with dating….a lot of what ifs I will never have to think about because I turned those What Ifs into I Am Doing!
25.NEVER SETTLE…EVER – Last but not least my favorite motto ever in life…NEVER SETTLE! Whether it’s with dating, your career or beyond, settling is never an option, you should always strive to do the best you can do, be the best person you can be + not stop till you reach every single goal you have set for yourself! You only live once, but if you do it right…once is enough…never go to sleep with regrets, or resentment – strive to do more, be more + have more (emotionally, physically, etc)!
Happy Birthday to Me!
*See my previous birthday posts below*
Turning 23 ‘A Birthday Celebration in Celebration’ | Turning 24 ‘Up In The Hills’
Shop The Look
Gianvito Rossi Lace Up Sandals | Green Pleated Dress | Pink Aviators | Michele Watch | X Ring | Niceties & Nuptials Boutique Rose Gold CZ Necklace
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