CZ Design

50 Things at 50

50 Things at 50

goshorty
Well, it happened. I’m 50 years old.

For the past year, I’ve been searching to find a red polyester pantsuit so I could recreate my own interpretation of the following video clip:


Unfortunately, I never found the suit, so instead, to celebrate my birthday I present a list of 50 Things I’m Grateful For. They are in no particular order.

  1. Coffee.
  2. Being an ex-smoker.
  3. Therapy.
  4. That Dan has stuck around this long.
  5. Kiehl’s Lip Balm No. 01 in the pot.
  6. This song by Joe Jackson. (Hell, BOTH are superb.)
  7. Meeting Christine Teel in my University of Texas-Arlington French class because she would eventually introduce me to Dan less than two years later and we all know how that turned out. (Thanks, Piggie!)
  8. That I’ve had no major illnesses thus far in my life, nor has anyone close to me
  9. Things made with potatoes (chips, fries, mashers… you get the idea.)
  10. Aidan…a remarkable creature. I’m so grateful to be her mother.
  11. That I figured out the short hair thing early in life.
  12. Stevie (my Subaru Forester). I know I won’t technically own her for another 4 years and 10 months, but she still makes me smile every time I walk into my garage.
  13. Jeggings.
  14. FaceTime.
  15. Tara. Always and forever.
  16. Having a home that I can afford to live in.
  17. Apple technology of all manner.
  18. What I get to do to make a living.
  19. Air conditioning.
  20. Soft blankets from Costco.
  21. Ideas for making stuff that sometimes seem to come out of nowhere.
  22. That most days, nothing requires me to wear a bra.
  23. Morning smoothies.
  24. Afternoon tea.
  25. Molly (she doesn’t read my blog, at least I don’t think she does, but she knows why she’s special to me, and boy do I have a GREAT story to share later this week all about her. And me.)
  26. That I can have conversations about real things with my son and leave my judgments and ideas out of them. (Most of the time.)
  27. Again, therapy.
  28. That I get to watch Cole play ultimate and music, though not necessarily at the same time.
  29. Ali. You are the shizz and I love you.
  30. Any appetizer that uses goat cheese.
  31. The fact that the Earth moves around the Sun in such a way as to create Fall and Spring.
  32. The opportunity to make changes in my life for the better.
  33. Goldfish and wine.
  34. That Aidan is having a fantastic sophomore year of college.
  35. My well worn Merrell shoes that look hideous but feel heavenly on my feet.
  36. The 80s.
  37. The 90s.
  38. Whatever the remaining decades are called.
  39. Blog readers.
  40. Amy. You are also the shizz and I also love you.
  41. Making new friends as a grown up. (Hi Dave and Colleen!)
  42. LA CROIX WATER.
  43. The fact that I can walk into a room and have water that comes out of a tap that is safe to drink.
  44. Cheese and wine. (It’s a subtle distinction from the Goldfish, I know.)
  45. Margie, who I don’t see nearly enough but I adore her.
  46. Oh my God, I almost forgot Tim and Mark. They both make me smile on a regular basis.
  47. Crock pots.
  48. The internet.
  49. That I keep getting to wake up every day.
  50. This life. All of it.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to do whatever the hell I feel like doing, within reason.

I’m 50.

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Diana says

    Glad to hear you are willing to tell your age. I am as well (I have 12 years on you in one week), as I feel the alternative is not so good. Happy Birthday and Congratulations!

    Reply

  8. Barb says

    Happy Birthday Cathy! I turn 50 in 10 days. We are like fine wine, get better with age. Love your list, awesome idea. Enjoy your day!

    Reply

  9. Lynn says

    Happy Birthday Cathy! I hope your special day is as wonderful as you are. You are honest and real…love that about you. Enjoy your day!

    Reply

  11. Fiona says

    Hope you have a Fantastic Birthday. Love your list… I read “Crack pots” instead of Crock pots, and I would have loved you if you had said both 🙂

    Reply

  15. Kimberly O. says

    Happy Birthday!! I hope you have a fabulous day!! (And I would have guessed maybe 40-something if someone had asked.) Embrace the age and own it!!!

    Isn’t it funny when you think back to what you considered “old” when you were in high school or younger? I remember thinking 25 was old!! Now that I’m 47, 50 looks pretty darn good. I kind of like telling people how old I am. I typically get a stunned look and then they say, I thought you were 30-something. 😀

    Reply

  17. Rebecca says

    Happy Birthday, Cathy! I have loved reading your blog for that last few years and I just think you are the the coolest! I hope you have a beautiful Day!!

    Reply

  18. Theresa says

    Happy Birthday Cathy!! Your blog is amazing! I have pulled away from the blog world but I can’t give yours up. LOVE reading your posts. Hope you have a wonderful day. CHEERS

    Reply

  20. Cheryl says

    Happy Birthday – here is a goat cheese appetizer that is amazing!

    Rosemary Cheese with Fig Preserves

    1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
    1 (3-ounce) log goat cheese, softened
    1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
    2 teaspoons honey
    1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
    3/4 cup fig preserves
    Garnish: fresh rosemary sprigs
    Crackers, toasted French bread slices, or bagel chips

    Preparation
    Process first 5 ingredients in a food processor until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides.

    Spoon cheese mixture into a lightly greased 1 1/2-cup mold lined with plastic wrap. Cover and chill 2 hours.

    Invert chilled cheese mixture onto a serving dish; discard plastic wrap. Spoon fig preserves over cheese. Garnish, if desired. Serve with crackers, toasted French bread slices, or bagel chips.

    ** I get my fig preserves at Cost Plus World Market

    Reply

      • Cheryl says

        Also forgot to mention – I don’t use a food processor…I just stir it all up together really well and roll it into a tight log in plastic wrap and chill. So much easier than the way listed. Enjoy!

        Reply

  25. Laura says

    Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, dear Cathy, Happy Birthday to you! Honored that we blog readers made the list. 🙂

    Reply

  26. Audrey says

    Happy 50th Cathy! I turned 40 late last year and you are great role model for where I want to be in 10 years. You are comfortable in your own skin and I love that about you. Enjoy this day and I hope you can make it a special one.

    Reply

  28. Kelly E says

    Happy 50th Cathy! I just turned 50 in September and life is good. Can’t complain and think I might have to scrap a page on 50 things I’m grateful for. Great idea!! Hope you have a wonderful day — you deserve to do whatever you want.

    Reply

  29. JulieC says

    Happy Birthday!!! Cheers to you and me (45 this past Sunday) and to hoping I look half as awesome as you at 50!

    Reply

  32. cyranoscrap says

    Happy 50th Birthday, Cathy! I love your grateful list. What’s even better is the photo at the very top. Looking good for 50! May you have a wonderful coming year!

    Reply

  34. Glenda Thorne says

    Happy Birthday to an amazing, inspiring and funny young 50 year old. Been there, done that and I have never minded telling anyone my age( 63 on the 22nd).
    I loved my 50th year as we celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary, our daughter married a wonderful man and happy that menopause was finally done! I’m so glad that my daughter introduced me to you many years ago through the Internet. Love your list and enjoy every day.

    Reply

  44. Sharon says

    Happy 50th Birthday Cathy! You are definitely on my 50 list and I couldn’t imagine doing what I do with my kids, scrapbooking, my friends and my life generally without your design, your honesty and for real-ness, and your unbeknownst to you influence you have had on me these past 11 years I have followed you. You rock! Hope you have had the best day.

    Reply

  45. Karen says

    63 this month – I am so doing a list this year! Thanks for that. Happy Birthday Cathy – old friend. LOL My husband asked me if I actually knew you the other day – apparently I have retold your stories um….often and he was puzzled how I could feel like I knew you when we had never met. The magic of blogging I suppose. Funny thing is when he asked me, I had to stop and think whether I had met you at some convention or another….nope don’t think so. But thank you for making me laugh almost every day. Glad to be on this funny journey with you adding your spice. I will have some wine and goldfish in your honor!!!

    Reply

  46. AbbyPimentel says

    Hoping you have an amazing 50th Birthday – it’s so refreshing to hear someone embracing their birthday and seeing all the good there is. ENJOY!! 😀

    Reply

  47. Deb says

    Happy birthday! Love your positive attitude and that fabulous list.
    I will be 50 in 6 months and this is the first time I am dreading it. Not sure why but after reading this positive post, I need to change my attitude.

    Reply

  48. bdaiss says

    Happy birthday my interweb friend! May today be the end of a glorious 1/2 century and the start of another rockin’-rollin’-hang-on-to-your-hats 1/2 century of awesome life!

    I never did understand women who didn’t want to say how old they were…unless you were 19 trying to sneak into a bar. 🙂

    Reply

  52. Marianne says

    There is absolutely no shame in growing old. It is a privilege denied to many.

    Happy Birthday Cathy! I hope this year brings more of all the things you love!!!

    Reply

  55. Sandy says

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY Cathy!! I Love your list! We are in good company because I just turned 45 a few days ago, and I too am not a gal who is afraid to tell my age. It has never bothered me- it is what it is! And I too wrote about my arrival at being 45 so I thought I’d share it with you.

    http://sandy-sandyslittlecorner.blogspot.com/2016/03/so-this-is-being-45.html

    I hope you can appreciate it. Its a little different, but a reflection nonetheless. However, I will remember to make my own gratitude list when I arrive at 50. Such a great idea!

    Have an amazing day!!! 🙂

    I truly with y

    Reply

  56. Sandy says

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY Cathy!! I Love your list! We are in good company because I just turned 45 a few days ago, and I too am not a gal who is afraid to tell my age. It has never bothered me- it is what it is! And I too wrote about my arrival at being 45 so I thought I’d share it with you.

    http://sandy-sandyslittlecorner.blogspot.com/2016/03/so-this-is-being-45.html

    I hope you can appreciate it. Its a little different, but a reflection nonetheless. However, I will remember to make my own gratitude list when I arrive at 50. Such a great idea!

    Have an amazing day!!!

    Reply

  59. Melissa Jones says

    oh my goodness… i love love love you <3 and my sister {ahem} turned the big five zero last month… grace and ease you are the epitome 🙂 I wanna send you a big ole box of bazzill white op 8.5 x 11 but alas I am at hoarding status with that… big mwah from me to you, welcome to the 5's

    Reply

  60. Karen says

    Happy Birthday to my March/Pisces/Scrapbbooking Friend that I admire/have never met/ but consider a “friend”. I always tell my DH, my friend Cathy said the funniest thing today……

    Just so you know – I turned 55 on 3/1 – good head space makes it painless.

    Happy Birthday Friend! Keep on trucking and making me laugh!

    Reply

  61. Sonja Akins says

    I remember 50. I turned 60 last month. So when you’re my age, I’ll be 70. (I’m grateful for math. And grammar.) Let’s enjoy our next decades, Cathy! Salut!

    Reply

  62. Lisa L says

    Happy Birthday, Cathy! You have a month and a day on me. Thanks for the inspiration on how to celebrate!

    Reply

  66. Jenny B. says

    Awesome. I just turned 40, and I always thought people who were bothered by their age were being silly. Now, I understand. My husband just turned 40 also (we’re 2 weeks apart), and he’s embracing it by growing a beard, dressing more dapper (dapperly?), and learning to whittle. Isn’t there an old saying… something like, “Men get character; women get wrinkles.” Sigh… ANYWAY… You are awesome. #38 cracked me up. Seriously, what ARE they called? #46 made me smile because I pictured you on stage with your Oscar trying to get all your thank-yous in as the orchestra was pressuring you off stage. 🙂 Fun. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

    Reply

  68. Kirsten J says

    Happy belated – my list would include gratitude for overtime pay, but then again work takes up so much time I miss giving timely birthday wishes. Excellent list!

    Reply

  69. Jenell says

    Happy Birthday, Cathy! I would love to be in your neck of the woods celebrating this birthday with you. You are such a good friend (even though we have never met). 🙂
    I hope you have a great day and a great year of wonderful 50-ness!

    Reply

  70. KnitterPam says

    Happy 50th Birthday, Cathy! I’m not far behind you. Loved your list. Would absolutely love to have seen you in that red jumpsuit. But you can punch and kick and punch anyway. Thank you for sharing your life with us online.

    Reply

  71. Lida says

    Happy birthday! 50 is just another beginning of a new chapter and the fun begins!
    I looked up shizz, I guess it’s slang. Since you applied it to your friends it must be good.

    I got to do a list!

    Reply

  72. heidig says

    #22 made me giggle. I wish I could do that daily but I don’t think it fits into the dress code for a law firm. Damn!

    Reply

  74. Ruth Gauss says

    I’m looking forward to making my list of 50 things I’m thankful for in a little over a year. Happy birthday to you, even if I did get distracted for much too long watching Joe Jackson on YouTube…oh, look, there’s a squirrel…

    Reply

  77. Tracy Rogers says

    HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY Cathy from Melbourne, Australia!! What a great list!

    Just wanted to share something with you – when I turned 50 3yrs ago I celebrated it by doing “50 Ways to Celebrate my 50th” over the whole year! I didn’t want a party where you hardly get time to chat to everyone – instead I had several small intimate lunches and dinners with the special people in my life. And then I did a skydive, climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, walked with a tiger for an hour around DreamWorld, got gel nails, did a hot air balloon flight, saw Barry Gibb in concert….you get the idea!

    I adore your blog – continue to embrace life with much gusto! Hugs, Tracy x

    Reply

  79. Mark of "Tim and Mark" says

    Wait, Why is Tim listed first? Alphabetical by last name?
    Is it based on geography?
    What criteria was used?

    Reply

  81. Karen says

    Happy Bday Cathy!!! I would love to see you recreate that video!!! It would be a crack up! Cheers to many more!

    Reply

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