I can't believe it's not chocolate!!!!

I can't believe it's not chocolate!!!

Way back in 1964, the fabulous Italians created a creamy, sweet, hazelnutty spread. It hit the market as an instant success and has increased in popularity ever since. This spread is better known as Nutella.

(cred) 

((Can we talk about this picture for a moment, and how

the sheer drippy-ness makes my OCD want to cry?))

Fast forward 51 years--

It recently occurred to both the hubs and myself that neither of us had ever tried Nutella. There was no particular reason behind not trying it, we just hadn't gotten around to it. We aren't really huge chocolate people (unless you count Snickers and Kit-Kats as chocolate...then that's a different story) and we just assumed that it tasted sweet and bitter and chocolate-y, so we had no interest in trying it. For whatever reason, when I was in line at the store the other day, I noticed one of the Nutella-to-go snack packs and decided why the hell not?! It was like $2.00, so if we hated it we could always toss it. Hubs laughed at me when I got in the car---another one of my bright ideas, right? Welllllll......one bite of the creamy goodness and we realized what we had been missing all this time!! First of all, the texture was like heaven. Smooth and silky and wonderful! And the taste!! Ok, so you know how melted chocolate looks so delicious, and then you eat a spoonful and it is so unbelievably bitter and chocolate-y that you instantly regret it? (No, only me?..) Anyway, Nutella literally tastes exactly like melted chocolate, but without the weird bitter sweetness. I was shoving spoonfuls fingerfulls of the spread in my mouth at alarming speeds, each bite as tasty as the last!! How had I not tried this before?!? And why had I not bought 17 to-go packs?!?! And even crazier---did hubs try something new and ENJOY it?!?!?! This was a momentous occasion for the record books!

Most of you are probably reading this post thinking "Seriously, this chick is crazy for waiting so long to try this!! Does she live under a rock?!?" While this may be true, you should also know that I still haven't seen ET or Scarface, I didn't kiss a boy until I was like 15, and I've never parked in a handicapped spot. Like, ever. Let's just say I'm a little behind the times.

I haven't been to the grocery store since expanding my taste horizons, but you bet your sweet ass we will be picking up some Nutella on our next trip...and maybe Cheetos...because, obviously...

On turning THIRTY!

On turning THIRTY!!!!!!

My blog was going really well for awhile, and then I got lazy. I'm really not sure exactly how this happened, but I have a general idea. You see, I changed positions at work a few months back, leaving me with much less time for slacking off (#hashtagworkinggirlprobs). When I get home after work, this bright red screen keeps appearing in my living room and I don't know how to stop it! (insert Netflix emoji here). So when you think about it, it's technically not my fault that I haven't written a post in 8 months. Blame = shifted.

I figured it was about time to log back on to the ole' blog not because I received several requests for a new post (which I have by the way, and it makes me SOOOOO happy that people are actually still reading this thing!), and not because I have run out of shows on Netflix (which is also true, and also sucks royally). Today's post is being written because this coming Friday marks a milestone in my life! This milestone is crazy and sad and depressing and million other negative things, but a milestone nonetheless. This Friday is my 30th birthday!!!!!

30!!! 

THIRTY!!!! 

The big 3-0!!! 

That means that tomorrow is officially my last full day in my twenties! No more blaming my stupid mistakes on being a kid. No more using age as an excuse to not do this or not say that. As of Friday I will officially be a big girl. And you know what? It sucks ass. I have known for quite some time that this day was coming (for about 29 years now) but it is still hitting me like a ton of bricks. And there is absolutely nothing I can do about it! So instead of spending the ENTIRE post complaining about all of the goals that I have not accomplished (a big thanks to my desolate uterus for that one), I am going to instead list the amazing things that HAVE happened so far in my life. Because if we are being honest, the past 30 years have been pretty kick ass.

1. I am married to my best friend ♥ 6 years ago I was lucky enough to meet the most amazing man in the world, and for some crazy reason he picked me as his wife! I couldn't imagine a better person to be my husband, and he reminds me every day why I love him so much!

2. I have the best family a person could ever ask for. Between my parents, siblings, in-laws and nieces & nephews, I couldn't have lucked out any more! They seriously kick ass and you should probably definitely be jealous.

3. I have had the honor of meeting and getting to know all of my grandparents. For some people this may not seem like a huge accomplishment, but personally spending time with the 4 people that had a hand in creating you? That is an amazing feeling!

4. I have the 2 best fur-babies ever, who have made me a momma despite my baron reproductive system! I may not be able to bring them to the mall, or family gatherings, or pretty much anywhere where there will be humans/breakables/food/clean floors, but they are pretty damn awesome to have around!

Cj & Casper

5. I know that I already mentioned my nieces and nephews, but those 10 little rugrats need their own number. Those babies make me happier than anything, and number 11 will be no exception! (That's right--another niece/nephew on the way!!) 

6. I may not live in a mansion or drive a Ferrari, but the hubs and I have made a pretty great life for ourselves. Our quaint little house filled with 1 too many pictures and a million nick nacks is perfect, and the small town we have nestled ourselves into is an amazing place to live!

7. We are going to Europe next year!!!! That's right, next October we will be jetting off to Ireland to kiss the Blarney Stone, take in the beauty of the Cliffs of Moher and frolic through the lush countryside!!! I may not make it there before 30 but damnit I am looking forward to every minute of it!

(cred)

8. I have had my heart broken countless times, and I have broken a few hearts along the way. I have made mistakes, cried a million tears and carry regret deep inside. But every experience has been a life lesson, and every day that passes is a reflection of the last 30 years. So in the words of my hubs, age is a number that I have earned, and I will try my very best to embrace it!


.....Here's to thirty and thriving!!!.....