26 Things That Have Happened to Me Since Turning 26

19 Feb 26 Things That Have Happened to Me Since Turning 26

Last, wait, two Wednesdays ago, I turned 26. It was such an unexpectedly good day. Like, so good. I’m thankful for all of the birthday wishes, you all made me feel so special. Can I just say, 26 is amazing? I feel like a such lady. I feel comfortable in my skin in a way that I’ve never known before. If this is what age does, I’m all for it. Because I miss you and want to catch up, let’s talk some of the things that made 26 amazing, shall we?

1. The first time I told someone I was 26, I was on the train and this little boy, whispered to me that I was cute and wanted to know if he could have my number. Is this game by the way?? I told him I was too old for him–he’s 19–and his response was you’re 26?? But you’re so small!

2. I covered the American Express Skybox for Glam.com. Best time, ever.

3. Speaking of the Skybox, Lottie Oakley, ex-associate publisher at Vogue, told me that I have a really nice way about me. And not to lose it.

4. I saw the most gorgeous apartment ever, and the cutest girl lives there, I hope she likes me because I want to live there, too.

5. On my birthday, my job had a day of beauty to prep for Fashion Week, and there was cake involved.

6. Last weekend, I was um, in a club, with my friends screaming along with Jay-Z’s and Alicia Keys “Empire State of Mind.” Best feeling, ever.

7. I was referred to a as a fashion journalist. It’s the little things, yall, the little things.

8. I attended the Heart Truth fashion show. June Ambrose sat two rows ahead of me and is as flawless as I imagined.

9. I screamed a little when Gabby Douglas walked in the Heart Truth show, Kelly Osbourne, too. Kris, Kendell and Kylie Jenner walked. Kendell is so pretty!

10. I attended a dinner for a French hair company in a french restaurant. I was seated between editors at Refinery29 and InStyle magazine. I pinched myself the whole time.

11. I took the tram, all by myself.

12. Street style photographers outside of Lincoln Center asked to take my picture, even Vogue Italia. Like, what? Is this life? p.s. I’m on Essence.com‘s round-up, too.

13. I realized the amazing network of people that I have in my life. I sent out an email saying that I was looking for apartments and the response was overwhelming.

14. My friends, Arianna and Serena, are truly like my sisters. Not that I ever doubted this long into our friendship but like, we’re cemented together now.

15. I miss my blog. I miss blogging.

16. I’ve turned into that girl who charges her phone wherever she can, restaurants, outlets in stores, I carry the charger with me.

17. My computer died. I gave it to my brother to fix, he’s really good, like really good with computers but in the meantime my mom let me bring her brand new computer back with me. When I tell yall teamwork makes the dream work?

18. I hitched a ride to lunch with Lauren Messina, who was blogging about her NYFW experience with American Express, who was chauffeured to and from shows in a Mercedes Benz. I like her style.

19. I was featured as Julep’s Look of the Week. See here.

20. I refuse to stop wearing dresses and shorts because it’s cold. I’ve just started wearing socks and leggings under my tights.

21. Hallie of Corals and Cognacs told me that I was glowing, I could be. I’m in love with life right now.

22. I was supposed to go to the Donna Karan show on Monday and I missed it because the cab driver couldn’t find the address. I was so excited, she always has such a New York themed show.

23. Okay, so not to sound like a creeper, but I saw this girl, a lady actually, at the train station yesterday, I saw the same lady at the Red Truth show and I’ve admired her from a far for quite some time. That was one of those signs that I’m on the right path.

24. I knocked on the door of a bus stopped at a red light for an older man who had a walker and the bus didn’t stop for him, the bus driver still didn’t open his doors. What kind of person is mean to old people??

25. I had my hair cut fixed by Aveeno celebrity hair stylist Patrick Melville, who was in charge of creating the hair-dos the models wore during Monika Chiang’s–C.Wonder’s founder, Tory Burch’s ex-husband’s current girlfriend’s runway show. Whew, can you keep up? I was nervous but it looks so light and bouncy! He really knew his stuff  and even told me I had “good” hair.

26. I know that I might sounded like I was having a pity party earlier. But I wasn’t, I was letting myself admit that I was scared. So I can move on. Besides, like Hushpuppy’s mom said in Beasts of the Southern Wild, “don’t nobody like no pity-party-havin’-*ss woman.”

Amen, Mama Hushpuppy! I know that this is where I’m supposed to be, because the dream feels too big. Besides, I have too much to be thankful for–these 26 things, to be exact.