When's the last time you felt really good about the way you looked?

Heya! Sorry for the late post. I went out last night, slept until 11, hit up the gym and now here I am on the couch watching Precious and munching on kettle corn with Liza. I'm proud of myself for not letting a pounding headache keep me in bed all day, but I'm feeling quite lazy at the moment. This pic should give you a pretty good idea of how I felt when I woke up this am. 

I have no idea what I'm doing or why my wallet is in my lap. And the plate of chicken fingers next to me? Didn't touch 'em. Yessss. Believe dat. An.Y.way. I know I'm always so self-deprecating on the blog and that it annoys the shit out of some of you, so today I'm going to give myself a pat on the back. 

I felt really good about the way I looked last night. There, I said it. I liked my outfit and *gasp* even my hair. I felt comfortable in my own skin and wasn't looking around the bar wishing I was wearing what she had on. And usually I'm the one giving out compliments, but this time, I was on the receiving end. It was a nice feeling. A guy even told me I looked like Lea Michele from Glee. I can't say I love the girl, but who doesn't love being compared to a celebrity? 

So go on, brag about yourself: When's the last time you felt this way? What made you feel special?

Put a lid on it would ya?

I have a theory that all-around confident, secure people do less talking and more listening. I've had several conversations with people who just could not stop talking about themselves, and I felt were trying to prove something to me the entire time. Geeze, isn't that exhausting? It's like even when the conversation is about you, it's not—they find a way to revert everything back to themselves. People like that suck.

If you're the best blogger out there, then that's great honey, but a.) No, you're not. b.) Shut the hell up and let your work do the talking. I have the same sentiments towards people who talk about how smart they are, and analyze to death how smart or stupid they think others are. Being smart isn't getting you laid (well, unless you're Steve Wozniak maybe), so again, shut the hell up. 

The thing I despise the most is people who broadcast how happy they are in their relationship. Of course, telling a friend or family member that you have a wonderful boyfriend or girlfriend is totally normal, but that's not what I'm talking about. Does anyone watch The Housewives of Orange County? That new chick (I'm blanking on her name) is allllways telling anyone who will listen that her husband is her soulmate/love of her life/best thing that's ever happened to her, etc etc. Ok, so I do believe in soulmates, and I've met mine, but I have never ever once acted like this. In the almost four years I've been with my boyfriend, I haven't even put up a profile pic on Facebook with him in it! (I'm not hating on people who do, but you get my point). 

These kinds of people are so transparent. It's obvious that they're trying to convince others, and themselves, of how great their lives are. Don't get me wrong though, I'm sure I ramble on and on about myself sometimes, too. (Friends, stop nodding your heads in agreement!)

Do you guys know the kind of person I'm talking about, or am I just going off on a tangent here? Any stories to share on this one?

How do you feel about where you are at this point in your life?

I celebrated my 29th birthday last night the best way I possibly could have--with pizza, a Dairy Queen ice cream cake (my favorite), Miller Lite and family. Surprisingly, I'm not too freaked out about getting older. I'm certainly not a spring chicken anymore, but I'm excited about all the things I have yet to experience.

With that being said, I'm not exactly where I had imagined I'd be at this point in my life. (Who is, though?) I never really thought I'd be married with kids at 29, but I did assume I'd be more financially stable and a few steps closer to landing my dream job--whatever that is. Honestly, sometimes I feel like a big ol' loser. La-who-za-herrr, as Ace Venture says.

But, I know I'm not a loser. (Right? Riiiight?!) One thing I've learned since I lost my job is that no matter where you are in life, it's all about confidence. I used to be so insecure when people asked me what I did for a living, that I could never give a straight answer. I'd ramble on and on with the hopes that something that came out of my mouth sounded midly impressive. I always felt like I needed to explain myself, but I no longer feel that way. I've learned to focus on the future, and to tell people about my dreams and ideas instead of dwelling on the past.

Delivery is also important. When I say, "I started a blog and I LOVE it!" people can see my passion for it. I think that's more respectable than someone who makes six figures, but doesn't even enjoy what he does. (At least that's what I'm choosing to tell myself). One thing I learned from a woman I used to work with is that you gotta "fake it to make it." She was so confident (or at least she knew how to pretend to be), and she made everything she did sound amaaazing. She even knew how to make writing a note on a Post-It sound important! It was unreal. The more you believe in yourself, the more others will, too.

So I guess the moral of this post is that it's not where you are, but where you're going. I have moments where I forget that, but I think it's a good way to think. What about you: How do you feel about where you are at this point in your life?