35 Years

Turning 35

Ten years ago, the thought of turning 25 shook me to my core. I remembered telling my good friends that I couldn’t even fathom the thought of turning 26, 27 and so on and that it depressed me. Some people call it quarter-life crisis. Looking back, I now call it “throwing a 25-year-old tanty”.

I turn 35 today.

I look at young ladies in their 20s complaining about how old they are and that their life is going to end when they hit their 30s, and all I want to tell them is this: the 30s is going to be one of the times of your life whether you believe it or not. The independence, the things you can achieve, the things you can do … life is not over, honey. It’s only just begun.

Do pardon my French but most of my 20s sucked donkey balls. I was still living at home then (I wasn’t allowed to leave) and I didn’t know what the hell I was doing most of the time. I worked in a field I barely knew anything of and to this day, it still surprises me how I sailed through that unscathed. My skin appeared dull and lacklustre, my originally thick brows were tweezed from 2 fluffy caterpillars to 2 scrawny millipedes. My hair went from black to red to orange. I didn’t have that many friends and I thought life was horrible because I used to have many friends.

Oh Tine-in-your-20s, how young you were then.

I love my 30s. Some call it the prime of their lives and I couldn’t agree more. My skin actually looks good now that I’ve learned a lot more about it over the years. I’m doing what I’ve always loved doing: creating for a living. I still don’t have heaps of friends but I’ve learned that when you have a solid few whom you know you can absolutely count on in good times and bad, that’s all you need. I’ve learned that it’s okay to let go of some friends whom you know you no longer have things in common with and don’t even see often, and that you don’t have to feel bad about it.

Truth be told, there are times when I do feel old. When children these days call me “auntie” when I used to call my parents’ friends “aunties” and “uncles”, when young people give me their seats on the train and bus even though I don’t need them, when I go to clothes shops and frown at the loud music reverberating through the store … oh yes, I do feel rather old then. But you know something? I like it. As long as it doesn’t hinder what I want to do, call me auntie any time.

I’ve also learned that even after so many years of trying, I still hate baked beans. Not even going to bother anymore because I’m not wasting anymore calories on those blasted beans when there are good cake and coffee to be had.

Of course, things are not always as smooth-sailing as they seem and I’ve had my own difficulties and demons to face. But I’ve learned that I too can be strong in the face of adversity, something I couldn’t do 10 years ago.

So yeah, turning 35? It’s really not bad. Not bad at all. 🙂

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40 comments… add one
  1. Tracy

    Wishing you a very Happy Birthday! Hope you had an amazing day!
    Tracy recently posted..Why I’m the Anti-Hoarder: Beauty EditionMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Thanks Tracy! I had not just an amazing day; I had an amazing weekend! 😀

  2. Sandie

    Happy Birthday to you! Turning 35 is a great age! You are so right about being able to do things that you want to do when you want to. I have 9 years on you and I feel like the past few years have been some of the best.

    1. Tine

      Thanks Sandie! Oh I know! You know what? For the first time ever, I’m actually looking forward to entering my 40s!

  3. Sukie

    Wishing you a very Happy Birthday, Tine!! Here’s to many more happy years of BA! =D
    Sukie recently posted..Wedding Wednesday – You’ve said YES, now what?My Profile

    1. Tine

      Thanks Sukie! 🙂 x

  4. Claire

    Happy Birthday Tine!
    I hope you have a wonderful day celebrating it with Tim, Janey and your family and friends.
    Just wanted to add, I think you look amazing, I would have never have guessed, you don’t look a day over 25!!
    I am a decade older than you and I can say, the thirties are amazing, I felt more confident in my 30′ and 40’s than I ever did in my 20’s. Birthdays are to be celebrated any any age! Have a good one xx

    1. Tine

      Aww thanks Claire! After being ma’am-ed so many times for the past few years, what you said is such a breath of fresh air! 😛

      OMG I know what you mean! I definitely feel more confident now than I did in my 20s. Heck, I don’t even know who I was back then. 😛

  5. Asha

    Aww…happy birthday baby! And I agree with Claire when she said you don’t look a day over 25! I always say I remember the past fondly but I have no actual nostalgia for it, my 20’s were great and now I’m 30 I know my 30’s will be too! We grow into ourselves everyday every year.

    Have a blast with Tim, Janey and all your loved ones! Have a birthday cupcake (or 10!) here’s wishing everyday henceforth is as awesome as this one promises to be! Much love and many more hugs!

    1. Tine

      Hahaha aww thanks Asha! I ended up with a birthday creme brulee. Same thing, just as delicious. 😛 *hugs*

      PS: The 30s ROCK!

  6. Paris B

    Oh Tine, your life is truly beginning! Speaking from experience, the 30’s brings independence and confidence to be yourself. The 40’s is when you’ll build on that confidence so trust me, like cheese and wine life only gets better 😀 Happy birthday love, and may you have the best day and year to come <3
    Paris B recently posted..Travel Tips: You don’t need to buy new skincare to keep skin plumped, hydrated and radiant in cold, dry airMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Thanks love. I can’t wait! 😀

  7. Ling @TheBestBeautyBlog

    Happy birthday Tine!!!! So glad to hear that you’re enjoying your thirties!!! It’s something for me to look forward to seeing as I’m forever 21 😛
    Ling @TheBestBeautyBlog recently posted..Skincare Review : L’Occitane Aromachologie Revitalizing Body ScrubMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Thanks Ling! Hahahaha you do look forever 21! 😉

  8. Nanograpes

    Hello Tine,

    Happy birthday! Been reading your blog for a while, and what has pushed me to comment finally is that you seem to have said everything I feel about growing old(er)! (In manga life I would’ve clasped your hand earnestly) Yes, life is really just beginning in your thirties. Enjoy!

    1. Tine

      Thank you! Aww I’m so glad you finally commented! *clasp your hands back earnestly*

      PS: I love your name!

  9. Joanna Funk

    Happy Birthday Tine. Your blogging is addictive to read for sure, congrats on that. And aging only gets better. Take care of your skin and health – as you clearly do! And take it from me, I’m in my 50s and having a blast. Reading your blog is a great way to keep in touch with what’s out there, beauty-wise. Enjoy your birthday x
    Joanna Funk recently posted..Orchestra rehearsal: awesome band and a touch of greatnessMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Thanks for your kind words Joanna! x

  10. Kat Ness

    Happy birthday Tine!!! You’ve achieved so much and it’s good to see you enjoying what you are doing! I’m turning 26 next week! I feel old already haha.
    Kat Ness recently posted..Mini Priceline HaulMy Profile

    1. Tine

      26? You spring chicken you. 😛

  11. Poohkie

    A very happy birthday to you Tine! Lots of love from me and keep up the great work.

    1. Tine

      Thanks lovely! 🙂 x

  12. gio

    Happy birthday Tine! Hope you had a wonderful day!
    gio recently posted..Chanel Le Blanc Brightening Concentrate: An Innovative Way To Reduce Dark Spots?My Profile

    1. Tine

      Thanks Gio! I did! 🙂 x

  13. Natasha

    Happy Birthday!!!! The best is yet to come!

    Hope you have a wonderful day and continue celebrating all month!
    Natasha recently posted..Break Up with Your Makeup, 2015!My Profile

    1. Tine

      Thanks Natasha! I plan to! 😀

  14. Robert

    Happy Birthday Tine! It seems like life brings surprises, and you never know what’ll happen in the future. Hmm, life is mysterious in its ways isn’t it.

    1. Tine

      Thanks Robert. I agree; I’m looking forward to those mysteries. 🙂

  15. Andrea @ Sublime Finds

    Love this post Tine! Makes so much sense to me too – I turned thirty earlier this year and have been surprised to find the comfort in growing surer of yourself and what makes you tick. Getting older truly does have the benefit of getting wiser and that’s pretty rad x
    Andrea @ Sublime Finds recently posted..Tights, Pants, Leggings, Jeggings and Treggings: EXPLAINED!My Profile

    1. Tine

      Thanks Andrea. I read your birthday post and I absolutely loved it. The experience of getting older and all the cool stuff we can do now that we couldn’t do when we were in our 20s … so worth it!

  16. Christina @ Hair Romance

    Happy birthday Tine! Hope this year is amazing and that all your dreams come true xx
    Christina @ Hair Romance recently posted..3 ways to use hair oilsMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Thanks lovely! 😀 x

  17. Rachel

    A belated happy birthday Tine! All the best for the upcoming year.

    PS. Keep up the wonderful work you’re doing for BA – it’s one of my favourite beauty blogs!

    1. Tine

      Thanks Rachel! I’m so glad you enjoy it! 🙂

  18. Beauty Box

    Happy birthday Tine! Looking fabulous there! I agree – my 20s sucked even though I was way thinner lololol! I didn’t have a clue what I was doing and I def came into my own in my 30s.
    Beauty Box recently posted..Lancome Spring 2015 My French PaletteMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Thanks Yu Ming! Oh yeah same here! Heck, I was over 10kg lighter too! But I love me now more than I loved me back then. 🙂

  19. Rosalind

    Happy Birthday Tine! 🙂 Thank you for this inspiring post. Hope I will as wise as you are when I am in my 30s, although, I really do wish to remain 18 or 21 years old forever :p Growing up still feels kind of scary with uncertain future to me.

    1. Tine

      Thanks Rosalind! I’m not even close to wise; just a littler wiser compared to when I was in my 20s. 🙂

  20. Joyce (bronzerbunny)

    Happy belated birthday! 🙂 This is very encouraging hehe. I had quite the panic the summer I turned 25, and I definitely am feeling “old” even though it is silly since I turned 28 earlier this month. Maybe we’re all just prone to panic in our 20s, LOL!
    Joyce (bronzerbunny) recently posted..#bbwedding: The Diptyque DuoMy Profile

    1. Tine

      Thanks Joyce! Haha I know what you mean and I definitely felt that way when I went past my mid 20s. And then I hit the 30s and it was like, HELL YEAH THIS IS EVEN BETTER. 😀

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