My view on my birthday morning along the Santa Barbara pier. The Sun returned after days of glorious rains, the bright blue sky went on for miles & the ocean breeze filled my lungs. Couldn’t have felt more alive!

Its a lil crazy to think that I’m 40. I oddly haven’t had any trouble swallowing the actual number this year, but it still feels kind of abstract. I can remember as a child when my parents hit their 40’s & I couldn’t imagine being that old & yet now I feel so young.

I’m very excited for this new chapter. There’s been a lot of change swirling about & I can’t wait to see what unfolds! Seems to be lots of goodness…

Since it’s a new year, and the last blog title didn’t fit anymore, I figured it was time to jazz up the new blog, get a new host, a new title & a new style ~ a fresh start for 40!

Twirling Skirts is about enjoying life, being in the moment ~ if you feel like ‘twirling’, then twirl! For me, this year is a year of embracing who I am, without worry of the judgement of others. Come along on the ride as I continue my search for love & discover me in the process

To start this off ~ here’s my TOP 40 for 40

1. Wear RED lipstick
2. Star gaze (at actual stars in the sky)
3. Smile at strangers
4. Take a wine class
5. Less pants, more dresses
6. Be open to possibilities
7. Visit Portland
8. Laugh daily
9. Dance in the rain (probably possible while doing #7)
10. See ART, in any form, each month
11. Put my toes in the sand more often
12. Write more
13. Enjoy nature, go for more hikes
14. Let miracles happen
15. Picnic with friends
16. Dance!
17. Read a book a month
18. Make time for doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
19. Send out pretty cards for no reason other than I’m thinking of you
20. Enjoy good chocolate
21. Hug more often
22. Talk more, text less
23. Date fearlessly
24. Take a cooking class
25. Get out on a boat, its been way too long!
26. Keep my body in motion
27. Share
28. See more live music
29. Try learning French (again)
30. Believe in love
31. Have faith in God’s plan for me
32. Enjoy being in my ‘feminine’
33. Get out of the country, again its been way too long
34. Trust
35. Kiss passionately
36. State my needs
37. Adopt/rescue a dog
38. Attend a retreat (yoga, writing, anything) somewhere tranquil
39. Hold hands
40. Enjoy delicious things, guilt-free

Let the adventures begin!!  xo

Gorgeous blooms out on my hotel patio. Everything felt so clean & fresh after the storm. If even for one night, I had the dream ~ being able to be outdoors while at “home”

Everywhere I walked I saw beauty!

Just brilliant! Art, wine, music…all within block of each other. My kind of hiking!

One of the stops on my ‘trek’, a converted tire shop with the most delicious wines, cool tunes, along with beautiful photos and art on their walls ~ Oreana Winery is a fave