My 35th birthday wish list
Tuesday, May 06, 2025I love birthdays! I always have. It's such a fun thing to celebrate, both for myself and others that I care about. Each year, I try t...
I love birthdays! I always have. It's such a fun thing to celebrate, both for myself and others that I care about. Each year, I try to highlight my birthday wish list - often things I've been wanting but just can't bring myself to purchase for whatever reason. I feel like my list really shrinks from year to year. I want less stuff, but what I do want is usually fairly practical, and I'm always here for experiential gifts - things that may make life a bit more enjoyable. So, without further ado, here is my thirty-fifth birthday wish list.
A new Apple Watch band. I have one I really like, but I had one like this in the past that I thought felt really fashion forward and less sporty that the one I currently wear. I have the Series 8, 45mm watch, for reference.
Another new thing I need, a case for my Tandem t:slim x2 insulin pump. Mine is broken and uncomfortable to wear. I like that this one comes in fun colors and has a space to wind up the tubing - so practical!
This item's been on my list for a while: a trunk space cover insert for my 2019 Prius. This covers up the trunk space for more car privacy, and to protect said items from sun damage.
What's up next is a little trickier, and more silly than practical. I really want a fun "mom" vinyl car decal. There are so many options - overstimulated moms club, cool moms club, anti-social moms club, tired moms club, the more traditional cool mom, or the Mean Girls-esque "I'm not like a regular mom, I'm a cool mom." My big requests here - I like shades of pink, white, or holographic for these decals, and the space I want to put it is around 5 inches in height, so it should be small enough to fit there.
I'm annoyed that Air Forces 1s have gotten more expensive. They chilled out for a while, but thanks to inflation, everything is super pricey these days. My current AF1s, I got on super sale, but I've about worn out the heel as much as I wear them. I love these Nike Air Force 1 Shadow styles - they're a bit more stacked and a little more like a platform sole. I prefer a sneaker like this that's all leather, because they're great in all kinds of weather. I'm in a women's size 10 in sneakers. I also wouldn't say no to matching adult Sambas in black with the kids version (size 5). I love to match with my tiny twin.
I love a comfy-yet-cute outfit. If I have to go to work, let me feel like I’m wearing pajamas. This plisse set from Shop Taby is so cute! I wear a size XL/1X.
I’m pretty minimalist when it comes to jewelry, but I do like to have a few meaningful pieces that I wear regularly. I’ve been wanting a tennis bracelet for a while, but that can be a pricey piece. I’d love to replace diamonds for citrine (Baby O’s birthstone), and if it can’t be solid gold, sterling silver is best (I say no to any type of plating). I like the box clasp on this sideways oval citrine tennis bracelet or this oval citrine tennis bracelet (both in sterling silver). This paperclip chain bracelet is also a cute alternative. My wrist is right around 7 inches, so anything between 7-7.5 should be a good fit.
Another piece of jewelry I’d really love is a solid gold chain anklet. I’m not too picky here. This is another cute one. There are lots of options, as long as it’s at least 10 inches, solid gold, and not too dainty (I wouldn’t want it to break too easily).
My last request jewelry-wise is for flatback earrings for my upper cartilage in my ear. I like these solid gold flatback earrings from Musemond. I like the 20g 6.5 post length, one earring with a 2mm stone and one with a 3mm.I want these in different sizes because they’re side-by-side on my ear, so they’d be purchased as two singles instead of as a pair.
*Sidenote: I also have been wearing a broken wedding band for several years. My fingers had swelled up pretty badly and I had to get the ring cut off. I just never got around to fixing it. I did go in for a quote to one shop and they told me they had to send the rings off first, which I felt funky about, so I didn't follow through. I do prefer an in-house jeweler, which is harder to come by these days. So long story short - I'd also be interested in getting my ring fixed.
Next up is a bit of a shift in direction - electronics. I really want a hard drive to store photos. I don’t know exactly how much storage I would need as a mom who takes a thousand pictures of her kid every month, but I figured I should start with 1TB. I found both a Samsung and a LaCie option that seem to be big favorites for photographers. I like that they’re both more “rugged” and won’t easily be damaged. I just really want to make sure I have these photos forever, just in case they get lost somewhere in the big scary cloud.
For home wares, I’d love a hall tree for our entryway. There’s currently a shoe rack there, but the hall tree would also provide a place for bags and jackets instead of the dining room table and chairs, where everything seems to collect and pile up.
Another home item that just seems really neat and useful is a stove-top spice shelf. This goes directly on the top of the stove to provide additional storage space (and off the countertop!).
The most broad wish on this list is more books to add to my collection of first-edition Goosebumps books. I have 19 of the 62 books released between 1992-1997. I'm very particular in wanting the first editions because the newer ones are slightly different sizes, with really ugly covers. You can check this within the first couple of pages of each book. The list of the ones I have (and don't have) can be found here.
Another wish in terms of practicality - a new phone case for my iPhone 13 Pro Max. These are less custom than I'd like because, somehow, the 13 is now an older model. But my current case has broken (specifically around the camera), so a new case would come in handy right about now.
The last physical wish on this list is an extra long water hose. I actually really like the one we have now because it shrinks up when not in use, and I'd like a similar option. I just need at least 200 feet, so the hose can reach the back of our house, since we somehow only have a spigot in the front. I'd love to spend time with Baby O in an inflatable pool this summer, but only in the backyard, and we need a hose that will reach the pool.
I'd also love a gift card to Framebridge to add some additional prints to our hallway upstairs.
Non-tangible gifts
What I've come to find I enjoy and want more of each year are experiences. These are some of my favorite types of gifts, because even though they aren't tangible, they're so heavily needed.
Something that's been gaining traction lately is the head spa. I just think of how good it feels to get a massage, but also I recall how incredible lice checks felt back in the day - the teacher would just kind of move your hair around with a pencil, and it was so relaxing. I'd love to go in for a head spa massage and a facial. A couple of hours of relaxation are very much needed.
In the same realm, and general bodily area, I would love to get a lash lift and tint. I don't often wear makeup anymore, and when I do, it's kind of uncomfortable - especially around the eyes. A lash lift and tint would let me look and feel put together for several weeks without having to really do much of anything. I'd really like that.
Next up - a new tattoo! It's been years honestly, but more importantly, I want to add a tattoo in honor of O, my greatest accomplishment and the most incredible human. I'd love to add a little work of art to my body in honor of my big (and getting bigger every day) work of art that my body created.
Speaking of O - last year for my birthday, I asked for family pictures. They turned out great, and I absolutely adored getting those more tangible pieces of life in that moment. I would love for this to be an annual tradition, and I'd love to get more family pictures this year!
Lastly, something I want so badly and haven't had the chance to do yet, is an animal encounter at the Georgia Aquarium. I would love so much to get to interact with the sea lions, but I'd settle for really any of the encounters.
Alright, so there's my list. Things I'm really interested in as I enter my next year of life. The things that may add joy, comfort, or convenience to my life. What would you add to your birthday wish list this year?
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