Next March I’ll be 32 and I’ve realized the last few years have been incredibly enlightening. I’ve learned a lot about myself. I’m accepted a lot about myself.

So here are 30 things that, over the years, have become simple but absolute Ali-truths. Some of them aren’t surprising, but others… I figured I’d outgrow but never did. Either way, I’m taking advantage of NaBloPoMo to put them down.

1. I can not wear cheap shoes, no matter how cute they are.
2. I can’t stay out drinking until 2am and rally the next morning to get to work at 8am.
3. I will never, ever, ever fold or hang my laundry as soon as it comes out of the drier.
4. I can’t say no to a 3-legged cat, no matter what she wants. It’s just impossible.
5. I’m not afraid to tell people that I love them.
6. But I’m never going to be comfortable opening gifts in front of the person who gave them to me.
7. A hot bath will fix just about anything.
8. I like to open a beer after a long day at work but I never seem to finish it.
9. Speaking of spirits, I’m just not the kind of girl who drinks wine at home.
10. The older I get, the less I sound like Patsy and the more I sound like Eddy.
11. Oil changes. Yes, they’re required as often as recommended and no, I will never feel comfortable getting one.
12. I just can’t have enough lingerie.
13. Styles come back, so don’t give away good pieces just because a trend has passed.
14. The lyrics to Baby Got Back will always be a part of me.
15. There is no good place to put a once-great, formally-loved, currently out-of-date and never-to-be-used-again Cell Phone.
16. It takes at least three solid weeks of working out before I really *want* to work out.
17. Milk will never quench my thirst, but Chocolate Milk will!
18. Yes I CAN spend an entire day in bed, reading a book. I don’t ever need to change out of my pajamas, brush my teeth, or see the light of day.
19. I actually like to cook, a LOT. It was the ‘trying to learn from my mom’ part that I hated.
20. Handmade soaps with clove oil and/or ginger are *the.* *best.*
21. Wait to start cooking until friends come over. The kitchen is the best place to hang-out and catch-up, and doubley so if you all work together to make delicious food.
22. Above ground pools = Tadpolls. Tadpolls = Frogs. I hate frogs, therefore I hate above ground pools.
23. I genuinely love getting snail mail.
24. I have to stop collecting knickknacks.
25. The smell of leather is intoxicating.
26. I talk to myself when I’m driving. Out loud.
27. I get lost far, far too easily and there’s a good chance I would have ended up in another state if not for my phone’s GPS.
28. Chlorox wipes were sent here from God’s own cleaning supply cabinet.
29. The feeling of freshly shaven legs on clean linen sheets will never get old.
30. Even though I’ve figured a lot out, I know there’s a whole lot left to learn.