birthday photoshoot | talk 30 to me

my 30th birthday photoshoot

life won’t sparkle unless you do✨so throw yourself a birthday photoshoot!

Happy Birthday to myself. And congrats because I made it this far!

I had a mini birthday photoshoot ! In true Andie style to celebrate my recent 30th birthday. It was actually on Dec 10. Yes I am now 3 decades old now 😅I would have posted this blog earlier but apparently once you reach this age, you actually get tired 😂💀 jk jk. But in all honesty, Instagram & social media in general has taken a backseat the past few months. But I want to take the time to acknowledge the major growth I have experienced.

is this the age of wisdom?

Don’t let the images from my birthday photoshoot fool you. This year will always be remembered as the turning point in my life (for better or worse). So many new changes occurred😬. A new job, new industry, an engagement, new friends and most impactful, losing old friendships. All these major changes are a part of my new life & are helping shape the “new” me. Whatever that means 😂. I won’t lie, I’m still the same.

Working in a new position and changing industries mid-year was a big change for me. For many of you who don’t know, I worked in Tech and Gaming for a very long time, almost 5 years. Wild I know. But as I tried to grow my career I realized, I needed change to grow as a person. I switched industries and gained a new position within banking and finance. A huge change. Trust me, I know! Now I barely have time for things like a birthday photoshoot like this. But I’m still working in the same field which I love, marketing and social media strategy.

I was once told, whenever we get complacent, we stop growing. Our growth must be continuous and we always have to challenge ourselves. I have not regretted leaving my previous job. Well maybe for the exception of the amazing FREE health care I had — PIH you were the best! But I do truly believe we grow when we are placed outside our comfort zone. Switching industries has also taught me how to disconnect from social media. WHAA? why would you do that? Well, when your career is in social media, it gets tiring. I can confidently say, I know when and how to unplug and enjoy the simple non-social media life.

to all the friends that come and go.

This birthday photoshoot has to be my favorite from 2019. As I take a look at these photos and reminisce 2019, I realize I learned and grew so much! For one, I never knew nurturing friendships is a lot harder as you grow older. And I for one, do not make nearly as much effort as I used to back in my early 20’s. Nowadays I barely make an effort for social media – birthday photoshoot let alone friends. This honestly comes from a long line of failed and heavily one-sides friendships; it’s heartbreaking. Everyone in life talks openly about their failed love life and terrible one night stands but not nearly enough speak on the best friend who knows you inside and out yet is now a complete stranger. Ouch.

I really do believe that friends come and go. Some are here to stay and others are in your life to teach and help you grow. 2019 has been a year of clarity for me. As I hit this milestone and enter the new year, I’m honestly the same but I feel rejuvenated. It must be the new age and new decade combo😋 but it feels like a brand new chapter has begun.

Since we are in the topic of friends, I want to take the time to thank my good friend Vickie ❤️ She is the lovely soul who helped me take this my amazing birthday photoshoot concept to beautiful end result! I actually wasn’t even going to have my mini birthday photoshoot, but she insisted. Honestly, they came out better than I expected. It reminded me of the days we would come to work with photoshoot ideas and execute them during our lunch hour. Or when Vickie would help me when I had product campaigns; she always got the right angles😻. A true friend! Thank you Vickie!!

and then there was a ring.

Did I mention I got engaged this year!? Are you tired of hearing me say this already? Haha. Well don’t worry, our wedding date is slowly approaching and I am slowly freaking the fuck out. But no worries, I try to keep it together😅. My favorite thing to do lately has been looking back on the last 6 months. I can truly say, there is no better match for me than JD. Did you see? He let me include him in a photoshoot! Not my birthday photoshoot, he was too busy playing Call of Duty, but my Philz Coffee photoshoot. I can get real sappy so let’s save that for the future wedding blogs. Lol.

ending the year on a high note.

All in all, 2019 was very good to me despite the many painful changes and heartaches I bared. My life experiences aren’t something I would ever trade. They have helped shape who I am as a person today.

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