A couple of weeks ago, I was feeling totally depressed about turning 37. People would ask me what I’m doing for my birthday, and I would say, ‘Ugh, nothing. What’s to celebrate?’ I know, what a misery-guts. But I had it in my head that 37 just sounded old. (Sorry to any readers over 37 – no offence :-P)

Anyhoo, Friday 5pm came at work and the weekend was here, and it was like my birthday week had started. I actually felt a bit excited for my birthday on Tuesday, and suddenly thought, why am I depressed about turning 37? It’s not as if I haven’t done anything I wanted to do by this age.

I booked a hair appointment for first thing in the morning on my birthday. My husband had taken the day off, so I left him and Tyler at home and walked into town by myself. Ahh the freedom, it felt great! Don’t get me wrong, I love having Tyler, but it was nice to do something for myself for once.

I got my hair cut and styled at Roi-el Hair & Beauty in Queensmere, which was very relaxing. And that was when I really noticed, having to look at myself in the mirror, that I do look like a pregnant lady – that bump! I paid for the haircut with birthday money from my mother-in-law, and then had a wander around the clothes shops, trying on dresses. Unfortunately nothing fits nicely!

I decided I wanted to walk around with helium balloons, totally inspired by Fritha at Tigerlilly Quinn – if she can walk around with balloons when it’s not even her birthday, then I can ON my birthday. I chose pink spotty ones and got them blown up with by this chap at Partiz in the Observatory. He was like, when’s the party, when’s the baby shower? I said, ‘There’s no party – it’s my birthday and I just want to walk around with balloons!’ It was funny. Anyway, nobody batted an eyelid when I walked home with them, the zombies of Slough at 10.30 in the morning!

We had a family lunch at the Red Lion in our neighbouring village of Stoke Poges, bringing my balloons with me. It’s lovely there, I totally recommend it, and even though it’s 5 minutes from Slough, you really feel as though you’re in the countryside.

The rest of the day was great too, my best friend sent me flowers, and Tyler and I made salted caramel cupcakes to take into work the next day. My parents and siblings bought me a sewing machine – can’t wait to start making things now! My mum also cooked me a birthday dinner feast. My work colleagues took me out to Wahaca (I do like tacos :-D) and at the weekend I saw Zoolander 2 with my siblings, followed by a shopping trip. It was the best, as I hadn’t been to the cinema in AGES! The movie was just my sort of thing too, stupid funny haha.

So I’m totally cool with being 37 now. After all, I’m married to the most loveliest husband, I’ve got my little boy and have my second on the way, we’ve bought our home, and we live near my family who I love. Career-wise, I never wanted to be a manager, I’ve had my dream jobs in the past and now am easing down. I’m ready to start my mummy life for real when Tyler starts school and I’ll have to do the school-run and all that stuff. Hopefully I’ll make some mum friends around here then. Travel-wise, I’ve been to Hawaii – what more could I want! We always planned to go back with our future children for our 10-year anniversary, and I can’t believe that’s only in 3 years time! Health-wise, I am glad to have got to 37 pretty healthy. I have a friend at work who has survived a brain tumour, and she really is an inspiration to staying positive, to enjoy life and be grateful to be alive!

With all that in mind, I promise to never be depressed about my age ever again! Being 37 is great 😀

Sabrina x