Well, this is the last day of my 20s. (Meaning I turn 30 tomorrow, in case that wasn't apparent enough 😉) These past few weeks of my 20s have been so fun-filled (hence the lack of LunaVida posts 😳). Two of my best friends since grade school flew to San Diego to celebrate us all entering a new decade together. Then my mom visited from Ohio right after, and we went up to LA for a tour de vegan food. This past weekend, Matt and I took a road trip with the dogs up to a cabin in Big Bear for my birthday. And today, on the final day of my 29th year, I began a brand new job. Today is the last day of my 20s but the first day of working for my dream organization (!!!).

People have been asking me in the months leading up to March 19th, "Aren't you scared to be turning 30?" Honestly, I'm not nervous at all. Oddly enough, this lack of negative emotions has shocked me for the past few weeks leading up to today, because all your life you grow up with people telling you how terrifying the "Dirty Thirty" bday is. I just haven't experienced that anxiety of aging at all yet though. (Minus the wrinkles and white hairs that have popped up. Those? Those have been a bummer.).
I just feel lucky. Really, really, really lucky to be right where I am. Living in San Diego in a teensy tiny house by the beach with Matt and our four [nonhuman] babies. Working from home for one of my very favorite animal protection organizations, The Humane League. Being able to do the exact work I've dreamt of doing since I was a kid, which has always been to work for animals. Planning a trip to Europe this summer to see two of our best friends get married in Santorini. Having healthy and loving relationships with friends and family (and, as of last month, a brand new niece too!). Simply getting the opportunity to do all of these things so early on in life. The very things that I grew up fantasizing about one day happening, but never being quite sure of the path it'd take to get there.
If I am being 100% truthful though, it was far from an easy journey the past decade. That said, however, I'm fortunate enough to finally be exactly where I imagined I'd be at 30. Reaching this place took a lot of risks and years of hard work. I say this not to be boastful, but because as I've become an adult I've realized it is okay to be proud of your accomplishments. We all work so hard to get where we want to be and, just like we'd congratulate our friends' on their successes, we should be proud of our own too!
It takes a lot of dedication and some real fearlessness to get what we really want out of our lives. And at times, for me personally at least, this meant I even had to accept that by defying people's [outdated] expectations of a "typical" 30-year-old (ya know the one - married, with a mortgage for a house in the suburbs that has 2+ guest bedrooms, and pregnant with my second child), some people just simply will never understand the choices we make. Again, that is okay. Just like the whole "white-picket-fence-American-Dream" lifestyle that many grow up hearing about is a great goal to have in life, so is the flip side.
(Side note: If you didn't already know, Matt and I met when we were 18. Over the past 11+ years together, I can't even begin to count the number of times people have told Matt and me how we have chosen to live our lives together isn't acceptable/appropriate/sustainable. Just because we don't have a "traditional" lifestyle or plan to have a wedding ceremony doesn't mean we aren't in a deeply loving, committed, supportive, lifelong partnership. Throughout all of our years together, we have never let public opinion sway us. And for that, I am so grateful. I never forget how fortunate I am to have a strong partner in Matt who is always on the same page at the end of the day, despite what some may say about relationships like ours. And while many people may judge our choices, we also have many family members and friends who are very understanding of Matt and I deciding not to get married and have kids. We do, however, know lots of other couples and single people who are also constantly plagued by the same extremely personal questions about marriage and having kids -- and that sh*t really needs to stop. It's time we let people make their own life decisions without always feeling the need to include our input. End of rant. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk 😜)
Whew. I seemingly got way off topic there! But it all comes back to this one vital theme I've learned throughout my 20s: It is okay not to want the same things that "everyone else" seems to want. Because truth be told, the most important expectations we need to live up to are our own -- not the standards set by our friends, partners, moms, dads, grandparents, in-laws, neighbors, etc. After all, when we are on our death beds do we really want to look back and regret never having made our own decisions because we were too afraid of what others may have said? No thanks. I want to go out knowing that even though I fell (and will most certainly continue to fall) on my face hundreds of times trying, at least I didn't give up on the life I always dreamed of.
Here's to the best that's still to come.

[These photos were taken off the side of a highway in the middle of nowhere during our road trip from Denver last summer. Matt and I simply couldn't drive safely while simultaneously trying to enjoy the view of this post-storm sunset. Sometimes ya just have to pull over and get out of the car on the side of a desolate road.]

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Thanks for reading and supporting this little blog o' mine. On to the next ten years 😊

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Spring It On | Cardigan + T-Shirt Dress + Ankle Boots [& oNecklace Giveaway!]

Whoa. Let me start off by apologizing for the huge lapse in time since my last post. Life happened and I got way behind on LunaVida. During the past three weeks of absence though, I did turn 29 years old! It's pretty crazy to think that was my last birthday of my 20s. Matt and I celebrated by going to our favorite sanctuary, Farm Animal Refuge, and hanging out with the sweet, rescued babes. (Check out some of the photos of the cuties here!) It was a dream come true as far as birthdays come. I'm grateful for the work they're doing - and for another year on this here planet.
What better way to show this gratitude than with a giveaway for you guys? Thanks to oNecklace, you can enter to win a beautiful bracelet. Scroll down to the end of this post for your chance to win!

Teal open-front cardigan (also seen here, here & here): Nordstrom Rack

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Hye Park and Lune gray and white striped t-shirt dress (also seen here): c/o Shopbop

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Carlos by Carlos Santana nude ankle booties (also seen here, here & here): Famous Footwear

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24K gold customized Roman numeral bangle: c/o oNecklace

This little beauty is the bracelet you can win!

Various gold rings: c/o Happiness Boutique, Shoppe California, and Blue Sunflowers

Black "Ruby" oversized sunglasses (also seen here, here & here): via DIFF Charitable Eyewear

24K gold initial bar necklace (also seen here, here & here): c/o oNecklace

Black crossbody bag (also seen here, here & here): Target

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May the odds be ever in your favor.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Rompin' & Rollin' | Jacket + Romper + Espadrille Wedges

Happy Friday Eve! We've nearly made it to the weekend, people. Although, I will say that the weekdays seem to be flying by just as quickly as the weekends usually do. Does anyone else feel like that? My mom always told me that each year you get older, the faster time flies. I never really knew what she meant... that is until I reached my mid-20s. Now I can say with 100% certainty that she is very correct indeed. I feel like 2017 just began, but we've surpassed the halfway point already - HOW?! Just another lesson in needing to live in the present and all those things our yoga teachers tell us, right? (Namaste.)

Olive green military jacket (also seen here, here & here): Old Navy

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Blue floral print romper with open back (also seen here): c/o TOBI

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Brown ankle strap espadrille wedges (also seen here, here & here): Gap

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24K gold monogram ring (also seen here, here & here): c/o oNecklace

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Gold bracelet: Target

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Today is my little Luna's birthday and this weekend is Matt's birthday! I want to wish my boo thangs (don't worry, I don't really call them that... often) a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I am so very grateful for you both and for our life together 😘
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Don't forget to enter the SOAK slides giveaway before it ends!

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Knot-Tee: Cardigan + T-Shirt + Ripped Jeans + Slip-ons + Crossbody Bag

Today was my first full day as a 28 year old. March 19th not only marked my 28th year around the sun, but it also indicated the beginning of my entrance in to the "Undoubtedly Nearly 30 Club." When you're 27, you're not really sure if you are considered "mid-20s" or "late-20s." Well, one good thing about turning 28 is that you now know for sure that you are "almost 30 years old." And that means it's time for those of us in this exclusive club to make some major life changes. For me, I chose to start with huge personal changes to really start the year off on the right foot: I changed my hair part, for one (and yes, don't get me started on how pissed I am that you didn't notice.) (Joking.) (Kinda.) And, secondly, I finally grew a pair and started mixing prints, which you can see in today's post. If you like it, hooray! If you don't, that's cool too. (I also decided to be a lot tougher in my "late 20s.")

Black and white Aztec print oversized open-front cardigan (also seen here): The Blue Door Boutique

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Pink t-shirt (also seen here, here & here): J.Crew

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Light wash ripped skinny jeans (also seen here, here & here): Target

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Black and white polka dot slip-on sneakers (also seen here & here): American Eagle

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Cognac belt (also seen here, here & here): Gap

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Black crossbody bag (also seen here, here & here): Target

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24K gold bar "A" initial necklace (also seen here, here & here): c/o oNecklace

Gold geometric triangle necklace (also seen here, here & here): c/o StyleLately

Love Tatum gold chevron ring: Shoppe California

Totally kidding about the above. I'm from the Midwest - I could never be so rude! But seriously. I hope you can accept the New & Hopefully Improved Allie Version 28.0 😉 
(You'd better.)
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What changes did you make (or do you plan on making, if you are still a youngin') when you officially reached DUN... DUN... DUNNNN... "your late 20s"?

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Neutral Party: Cargo Jacket + Cropped Top + Skinny Jeans + Sandals

Hello and happy spring, ladies (and the approximately 7 gents who read this -- shout out to you guys, BTW)! Big news, people: I am officially 27 years old. I celebrated birthday #21 (+ 6) this past weekend, and it was so much fun. It included seeing Whitney Cummings perform, a 90s hip hop dance party, and brunch with friends. I couldn't have asked for a better way to ring in my 27th year. (Which, by the way... when did I actually become 27? ...That's only 3 years from 30, in case you aren't good at math.)

Olive green military jacket (also seen here & here): Old Navy

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Use promo code "YOURFAVES" for 30% off your OldNavy.com order for a limited time!

Madewell printed cropped tank with open back detail: c/o Shopbop

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Hudson dark wash skinny jeans: c/o Shopbop

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Report nude strappy heeled sandals (also seen here, here & here): Famous Footwear

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Save 15% at FamousFootwear.com with coupon code "EGGCELLENT" through 3/27!

Brown belt: Gap

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Silver cuff bracelet: Souvenir from Santorini, Greece

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If you're 27 or older, I have a question for you: did you honestly wake up feeling more "adult" on the morning of your 27th birthday? Because I am not going to lie to you - I seriously did! Most birthdays you don't really feel any different (except for your 21st birthday, in which you feel nothing because of, well, you know, the massive consumption of alcohol). But 27, man... I just feel so much like a real human adult from that point on. I felt like an internal switch turned on. I mean, I was ready to begin stopping my constant spending of all my money on burritos every day and was so ready freakin' amped to increase the percentage that I contribute to my 401K... Ya know what I mean, fellow 27+ friends? (Totally kidding, of course -- there is no greater way to spend one's money than on burritos. Don't ever let anyone tell you differently.)

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Spring Has Sprung: Sweatshirt + Cutoff Shorts + Slip-Ons

Hey there! This is my first post written since I turned yet another year older. Thursday was my birthday, and I turned the ripe, old age of 26. Remember when you were in grade school and you had teachers who were 26? Yeah... You totally thought they were super old. Don't deny it. I mean, I'm pretty sure we all thought anything over 17 was ancient. Thankfully, I still feel relatively young (despite the creaking joints and poppin' bones that are starting to occur more and more these days). Plus, with each passing year life just keeps getting peachier and peachier, ya know what I'm sayin'?

White & pink floral printed sweatshirt: American Eagle

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Free shipping on AE.com for a limited time!

Gap light wash cutoff denim shorts (also seen here, here & here): DIY'ed

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Use promo code "SWEET" for up to 35% off your Gap.com purchase through 3/23!

Floral printed slip-ons: American Eagle

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Use coupon code "THANKYOU" for 30% off your OldNavy.com purchase until 3/22!

Black & bamboo wayfarer unisex sunglasses (also seen here): c/o Polette $19.99

I'm forever grateful for all of the opportunities that my 25th year of life brought me. Just in the last year we adopted Kingsley and Ollie into our family, took our trip to Italy and Greece, made the most amazing friends here in Phoenix, my sister and niece were in AZ for the past few months... I could go on listing for what seems like an eternity. 25 really is quite a year to top... but I have faith that 26 can do it ;)

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