So It Begins: My Final Year As a 20-something

Today is my 29th birthday.

I started this blog when I was 22. Back then, there were several bloggers I read who were in their late 20s, and I remember thinking that they weren’t old — but they were older than me, and at times I wondered what my life would be like when I reached 29.

Well, here I am. I’m certainly different than I was seven years ago, and for that I am thankful. There are a few things I wish I would have accomplished by now that I haven’t, but truthfully, for the most part, I’m happy with who I am.

This is what being 29 means to me:

I like where I live. I’m healthy. I have great friends and family. I’m debt-free. I’m not stressed-out. I own a car, and I have fun gadgets, like a laptop and an iPhone.

I went to New York City a few weeks ago, and Jacksonville before that. I’ll be flying to Chicago next month to attend my third BlogHer conference. I’m planning my first-ever trip to Idaho and Montana to visit my aunt and check out some national parks.

I have over three weeks of vacation time saved up at work that need to be used. This fall, I’ll be a bridesmaid in my little sister’s wedding. I’ve also been known to to whip up a mean batch of red velvet cupcakes from scratch.

Those things sound pretty great to me. I feel like my life is better now than it was when I was 22, and I hope it continues to get better.

I’m pretty positive it will.

Posted on June 9, 2009 at 6:31 am, filed under About Me. Bookmark this entry.
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46 Comments



  1. Happy Birthday Zan!

    sassymonkey
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 6:40 am #

  2. Happy Birthday, Zandria!

    Malnurtured Snay
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 6:43 am #

  3. Happy BIRTHDAY!!!!

    zipcode
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 6:48 am #

  4. Happy happy bday, Zan!

    Lemmonex
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 7:26 am #

  5. Happy B-Day! Enjoy your last year of your twenties!

    Tyler
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 7:43 am #

  6. Happy birthday, Zan! I hope you have fun plans in store!

    RA
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 8:01 am #

  7. Happy birthday!

    classic jen
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 8:09 am #

  8. Happy Birthday!!! I completely agree that (my) life is better now than at 22. And I’m sure it just gets better and better. :-)

    Holly
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 8:09 am #

  9. As a 22 year old in the process of figuring herself out, this gives me hope.

    Happy Birthday, Zandria.

    Cammy
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 8:19 am #

  10. Happy Birthday Zandria! You’re LIVING your life – and that right there is pretty sweet and wonderful.

    Lance
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 8:40 am #

  11. happy birthday! hope you have a fun day!

    anOCgirl
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 8:47 am #

  12. Have a fabulous birthday! :)

    FatFighterTV
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 8:49 am #

  13. It does sound like a nice life. Continue to enjoy it, and have a happy birthday.

    Barry Leiba
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 9:14 am #

  14. Happy birthday, Zan! Or “Grattis pÃ¥ födelsedagen” as I’d say in Swedish!

    It makes me happy to see that you are happy with you life as it is. And that you wouldn’t change it for being 22 again. And I’m sure your life will only get better. :)

    Anna
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 9:27 am #

  15. Happy birthday Zandria!!! Hope you have a great day

    Titania
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 9:28 am #

  16. Happy birthday! Yes, 29 was much better than 22. Enjoy it!

    merrymishaps
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 9:55 am #

  17. Happy Birthday! Have fun tonight!

    [F]oxymoron
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 10:20 am #

  18. Happy birthday! It sounds like you have grown, matured, and view life differently–all those things your parents hope for ;-)

    Hope you have a fun day celebrating!

    Tiptoe
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 10:26 am #

  19. Happy Birthday Zan..wishing you many more years of happiness and prosperity, peace and love

    rambler
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 10:30 am #

  20. 29 today! I really look forward to being in my 30’s. I’m halfway through my 20’s now – just turned 26 – and I’m finding that every year I love more than the last. I’d never want to be 21 again.

    Happy birthday. I’m glad you have such a positive outlook on getting older. I wish I saw more people say ‘yay!’ than ‘OMG I’m so old’.

    Jaime
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 10:53 am #

  21. Happy Birthday! I’m glad that your happier or more fullfilled now than when you were 22!

    Kat
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 11:13 am #

  22. Life sounds pretty great!

    Happy Birthday. :)

    Can’t wait until BlogHer, hooray!!!

    lizriz
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 11:18 am #

  23. yay! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

    Alison
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 11:19 am #

  24. Happy birthday, Zan! Will you be visiting Yellowstone?

    geeky
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 11:38 am #

  25. Happy Birthday! It sounds like you’re really LIVING your life.

    Sagan
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 12:33 pm #

  26. Happy birthday zan!

    Brian
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 12:43 pm #

  27. Happy Birthday! I love your attitude, what a healthy way of thinking!

    I look forward to seeing you again next month in Chicago.

    (PS: today is my hubby’s bday too, so it is definitely a good day!) :)

    workout mommy
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 1:36 pm #

  28. Happy Birthday!! Hope your day is full of happy things!!!

    Habbala
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 1:51 pm #

  29. Happy Birthday, Zan! With your fabulous positive attitude your future will be as terrific as your present.

    Maria
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 1:54 pm #

  30. Happy Birthday Zandria!

    charlotte
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 2:32 pm #

  31. Happy birthday, Kiddo! Many happy more!

    LA Cochran
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 2:48 pm #

  32. One thing I’ve noticed about you is as follows; I only see you from time to time. Each time I do, you’re more attractive both in terms of appearance and personality. You’re the rare woman that improves with age.

    Hau’oli la hanau!

    DefenseEngineer
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 4:04 pm #

  33. “Go, cat, go!”

    (from BS Shoes)

    Ron
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 4:49 pm #

  34. Happy birthday Zandria!

    sparklytosingle
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 5:36 pm #

  35. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! :)

    Chris
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 7:09 pm #

  36. Dear Zandria. Happy birthday. May the last year of your 30s be absolutely fantastic!

    Little Miss Moi
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 7:13 pm #

  37. Happy Birthday!!
    ~K

    Kel
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 7:23 pm #

  38. I’ll be turning 30 in a few months so I can definitely relate. You’re doing very well! Debt-free; I really wish I could say the same for myself :)

    Robin
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 8:15 pm #

  39. Hope you have/had a great birthday!

    Surfergrrl
    Posted June 9, 2009 at 10:07 pm #

  40. Happy Birthday! I don’t know what part of Montana you’ll visit, but the part I’ve been to is absolutely beautiful. Hope you have a great year!

    Patricia
    Posted June 10, 2009 at 6:18 am #

  41. (Belated) Happy Birthday!

    f.B
    Posted June 10, 2009 at 10:50 am #

  42. happy birthday! And thanks for the reminder — I too am grateful for my life and how great it is but sometimes forget the good stuff in all the little stresses.

    Leah
    Posted June 10, 2009 at 3:04 pm #

  43. hope you had a most fabulous birthday!!

    katelin
    Posted June 10, 2009 at 3:09 pm #

  44. Happy Birthday again!! I’m glad you had a wonderful day and you being happy makes me happy! :)

    Dana
    Posted June 10, 2009 at 6:07 pm #

  45. A late happy birthday to you! Enjoy 29, but I think your 30s are better so don’t worry!

    kazzles
    Posted June 12, 2009 at 6:51 am #

  46. What a nice comment from Defense Engineer.

    Love you my old sissy!

    Elissa
    Posted July 2, 2009 at 9:30 pm #

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