more than 30 (also known as the one with the contest) (and in some circles known as the birthday post)
today, i turn 31. i loved turning 30 last year. simply loved waving good-bye to my 20s. was glad to let them be part of the past. i kind of want to stay 30 for another year though. it just feels like such a good age. i like answering that question, "how old are you?" and saying with a huge smile, "30." i think i like being an even age. and to be the beginning of a decade feels empowering. but today, i take a big step right into that decade.
last night, i was thinking about how excited i was to turn 16. how i didn't fall asleep and that at midnight i saw that my mom was still up reading, so i went into my parents' room and opened the presents my grandparents had sent. it was a pretty cool moment. my grandmother was always sending me "the latest thing" she had found. this time, it was these stretchy, metal bracelets (think almost slinky-like but rectangular). i did not realize that they were actually something you were supposed to put on the outside of your long-sleeve shirt, at the wrists, and then push up the sleeves - they were supposed to hold the sleeves in place. an odd invention that didn't seem to take off (do any of you know what i mean?). well, i thought they were just funky bracelets and put them on and when they went from being "stretched out" to resting against my skin, every single one of my arm hairs in that area of my skin was grabbed up in between the little slinky-like coils. holy crap. it hurt but it was so funny. my mom and i were cracking up until we were crying; trying to be quiet as my dad was sleeping. we had no idea what they were for. i think my grandparents also sent me a mug they bought in hershey, pa that had all the different hershey chocolates on it. and then, they sent a pretty nice-sized savings bond that they gave to all the grandchildren when they turned 16. i am sure that there was also a pair or two of super soft socks as that was something my grandma always gave me at birthdays and christmas. i guess the best part of the memory though is just thinking about sitting on the floor next to my mom's side of the bed and being in that moment with her. and, i think some hershey's chocolate was consumed as well...so fun.
lately, i have noticed several bloggers hosting little giveaways on their birthdays, so i decided i would like to join in on the fun...
a few weeks ago, i mentioned that jon helped me to count buttons. well, we were counting all these buttons:
we found this jar filled with them at an antique shop in portland. see that blue one? well, i had to have the whole jar after seeing that blue one (and the red one...oh and that green one...).
anyway, i thought it might be fun (and a bit silly i know), if i held a "guess how many buttons are in the jar" contest here in the comments. here's a hint: there are a lot more than 30 buttons in that jar, but there are not more than 10,000. oh and it took us several hours to count them (though we were nicely arranging them by color and other subcategories like "liz's favorites" and "ones that look like flowers").
just leave your guess in the comments. the person who is closest will receive a surprise of something i have made here in the little room and some other goodies (including, you guessed it, some of those buttons)!
i am going to go ahead and leave the guessing open until sunday evening, so jump on in with your guess! (though, i suppose i should have the rule that you only get one guess, so make it a good one.)
and thanks for making this last year, the year i was 30, such a good one with your friendship, support, words of wisdom, and all that good stuff. you all are just the best...
this is me
Reader Comments (47)
Happy, Happy birthday. I love so many of those buttons... little ones, shiny ones, pearly ones... Ooooh.
4872...no, 4886... no, 4912. Yes, that's my final guess. 4912.
Happy Belated Birthday Liz!!!!!!
I love the jar of buttons-I could almost hear your voice reading this post:)
My guess is 1423
much love
XOXOXO
happy birthday to one of my bloggie and life heroes. i admire you, your spirit and your journey. may this year be even more incredible than the last...you deserve it, darling.
xo
my guess is 773
Hey girl, happy birthday~!
My guess
1,228 buttons in all their gloriousness.
I guess 921. I have a button collection, too. And there is a man in my town who has such a large button collection that he said if his house ever blew up, it would rain buttons on the whole city for three days. ;)
Happy birthday first time here and I have arrived with perfect timing. My guess is 2727. Kool Idea!
Well, Happy Birthday Liz!
I think my favorite age as of late, was 35. (And it wasn't THAT long ago! . . .)
I'm going to guess 787.
I hope you get a chance to get out and really celebrate this weekend. xo, Tonia
ok...
i'm not really
*just*
posting
trying to win...
what i really wanted to say
is happy happy birthday!
but i will take a stab
at the guess while i am here...
heehee.
131.
how 'bout that?
:)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I'll take a wild guess and go with 1533--lucky numbers for me ;)
I moved into my thirties about a year before you did...aren't they wonderful???
Love,
D.
I forgot to guess the number of buttons yesterday so my guess will be 1111 since 11 is my favorite number. xo
Yes! I remember those kind of stretchy bracelets! And I recall having groovy 80's belts made in the same style. Uggghhh!
My guess is 673 buttons.
Happy Birthday :-)
Hope you had a lovely birthday!
I'm just gonna go with 983 haha
Oh, happy birthday, Liz! I am so sorry to be late with the best wishes but they are meant with lots of love all the same!
I am going to guess... 463 buttons!
xo
Happy Birthday, Liz! And thank you for the bit of birthday fun for us to play with.
1391 buttons.
happy birthday.
3124 buttons.
happy happy birthday. 31 is a really good year so far for me...I imagine yours will be wonderful, too!
Here's my guess: 1726
and I guess that in the pile of "liz's favorites" there were 97.
belated happy birthday!
My guess is 3004!
Happy, Happy Birthday!
I am IN LOVE with Buttons too! I can't get enough. What a great find that jar of buttons...I would have bought it too!
My guess is...
833
:)
XO,
Melba
Hmmmm Is it like the price is right, were out if we go over?? lol,I'll be safe and guess 930.
Happy Cake Day...
steph b
I am SO GLAD you were born, Liz.
Bless you, dear light soul.
love,
Leonie
p.s. my guess is 722.
xoxoxo
699?
And HBTY!
Argh! I missed this one! Oh well... neat to read about it anyway.
HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!! Do I have your mailing address? I'd love to send you a little birthday happy. Would you mind sending it along to me, that is, if you are willing to receive belated birthday gifts. Ha! ;)
P.S. Your birthday is on my parent's wedding anniversary. They celebrated 43 years this year. :)