When I was young, 40 sounded so old, but it turns out, it doesn’t seem so old after all! Of course, I could be biased, because after all, I did just turn 40 this past sunday! So, happy birthday to me! So for my 40th birthday, I went about town and did a little birthday photoshoot with my photographer sister!

A lot of you might not know this about me, but, I’m a person that doesn’t act my age. In fact, I’m pretty immature. I love pranking people (just ask my brother-in-law Allen), I love making stupid jokes, I snort when I laugh, and I’m always finding ways to make things fun, not to mention, if I had a reality tv show, I’d be in some serious trouble. In truth, I don’t like to take life too seriously and life is always better when you’re laughing!

Yet still, I can’t believe I’m officially 40! Time really flies by in a blink of an eye. If you were to tell me when I was 21 years old, that at 40, I’d be happily married with 3 kids and a golden retriever, I’d tell you, “I believe that.” Because for me, I’ve always wanted to be married and to become a mom. Doug on the other hand, would tell you that he never planned to have kids in his future…and um how’s that working out for him?

All jokes aside, when I think about my life as it is now, I can’t help but think about that song by Zac Brown Band called Homegrown. In case you didn’t already know, it goes a little something like this:

I got some good friends that live down the street

Got a good lookin’ woman with her arms ’round me

Here in a small town where it feels like home

I’ve got everything I need (homegrown) and nothin’ that I don’t (homegrown)

Everything I need (homegrown) and nothin’ that I don’t (homegrown)

This is how I feel. I’ve got everything I need and I couldn’t be happier. I have a beautiful healthy family and I want nothing more. To me, I’ve lived through plenty of highs and the lowest of lows, and I feel content in knowing that life has so much to offer. I am starting a brand new career at 40 years old and I’m not afraid of what the future holds. I started this blog one month ago and I’ve learned so much about myself already! It’s also so new to me, but I really wanted to commemorate it with this birthday photoshoot. Thank you so much for letting me share my life with you guys. 

I can’t necessarily say I’ve accomplished a lot in my 40 years of living, but I can say I’ve gone through a lot of experiences. At 20 years old, my dad passed away and almost overnight, I had to be the primary caretaker of my family. My mom, newly widowed at the time, had to manage 5 successful restaurants on her own. At 22, I traveled to Hong Kong to compete in Miss Hong Kong 2002. It was my dad’s dream to have me compete – not for fame – but to simply gain some life experience. Back then, I was also a bit of a tomboy – never really ladylike and always interested in boyish things. And looking back, my dad was absolutely right. It was undeniably one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I had learned so much from living and working in Hong Kong. I had made lifelong friends, 3 of which ended up becoming my bridesmaids. At 23, I came home, finished my college degree at UC Davis, and helped take over the family business. It wasn’t the most glamorous of jobs, but I was proud of the work I did everyday. I knew I was doing everything I could to uphold my dad’s legacy and it taught me so much about what it means to run a business. At 31, I married my best friend and embarked on the best possible journey of my life. At 35, I had my first baby, and popped out a few more to follow. Now at 40, doing a birthday photoshoot and I’m starting all over again I could not be more thrilled!

All in all, I think what I’m thankful most for is my support system. My mom and sisters are my whole world. For the longest time, it was just the 4 of us. And now my house can barely host a Christmas dinner! Me and Doug built a wonderful life together where our friends and family can come hangout, play, and eat dinner together. At 40, I feel like the possibilities are endless. I feel healthier, more confident, stronger,  and happier than ever before. I have so many things I want to do – travel the world, snuggle my kids until they make me stop, cuddle with Doug, and have more goals that I want to accomplish. 

I am one lucky girl and “I’ve got everything I need (homegrown) and nothin’ that I don’t (homegrown)” – Zac Brown Band. 

Thank you to my family, my mom, my sisters, my husband, my kids, and my in-laws!  You guys have been the most amazing people to me and you guys have always been so supportive. Thank you for loving me for who I am. My dream is to live every day to the fullest, explore the world with my family in a cute little trailer, and show them what this wonderful world is made of. If you made it this far, thanks for reading and checking out my birthday photoshoot!

Love,

Tiffany