The Dirty Thirties: An Event with Abra Next Thursday

Jun 7, 2018

I don’t know about you, but I felt so confident in my 20s. ย Even when things weren’t going perfectly, I felt like everything would fall into place. ย Now, at 36, I am plagued by uncertainty and trepidation. ย Decisions feel so much bigger. ย And I thought I was the only one…

Then, I started sharing my feelings with my friends, I realized that many women in their 30s are overwhelmed by questions about what comes next. ย But if you Google about navigating life in your 30s, 7 out of the first ten results discuss how hard it is to be single in your 30s. ย As if being in a couple is all women should be focusing on in their 30s.

That’s why I decided to create a new column on the blog and a speaker series called The Dirty Thirties. ย The column will discuss the challenges of being in the “middle years” of your career, how personal relationships change in your 30s, and more. ย Because whether you’re in your early, middle, or late 30s, you’re probably confronting life changes you never anticipated.

 

I am elated that Hitha Palepu from Hitha on the Go is headed to D.C. to join me for our first The Dirty Thirties event. ย She is such an accomplished, stylish, and kind person. ย I can’t wait for you ladies to meet her.

The event will be at the MM LaFleur store on K Street, and is free to attend. ย We’ll have some light reception snacks courtesy of the fine ladies at MM LaFleur. ย We’ll have a a great discussion and audience Q&A, and a bit of networking after.

RSVP on the MM website, here.

Since these events are just starting (I hope there will be many more, even in other cities), we chose a small intimate venue that holds 50 or so. ย So if you don’t score an invite to this event, look out for another one later this summer probably just before August recess or just after. ย And if you’d like the event to come to your city, leave a comment, and I’ll start getting a list together.

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  1. SAm says:

    I love this idea! I just wish I wasn’t so far away. I’m in the mid-west (Tulsa, OK), but I’d be more than willing to drive to OKC, KC, DFW, or Little Rock for an event like this. I know plenty of ladies in those cities who would love to, and benefit, from attending.

  2. Midwest gal says:

    Please consider coming to Milwaukee! I promise that you’ll love it.

  3. MOnica T says:

    Very COOL! I love this idea, as someone who is 36 and feeling mid-career, but post-matrimony, post-baby and wondering if I just keep doing what I’ve been doing for the last 16 years for the next 30 (???) and accepting that nothing ever just falls magically in to place, I’m really excited to see what comes from this.

  4. Tina says:

    Would love an event like this in Boston!

  5. Pam says:

    So excited you will be here in DC! I went to the rsvp link but I canโ€™t find the date. Just the times! What day will it be? Thanks! Would love to meet you

  6. Kimberly Blanton-Day says:

    This type of an event would be well received in Dallas!

  7. Mo says:

    Denver, please. Even if MM LaFleur did just have a pop-up. We’d like them back!

  8. Meghan says:

    Please add Phoenix/Scottsdale to your list (although you would be wise to avoid it here in the summer). We started a Young Political Professionals HH crew here since nothing like that existed, and I know they’d love to participate!

  9. Alison says:

    Would love this in Seattle!

  10. Kelly says:

    I’ll second the request for Milwaukee! But I could totally make it to Chicago (@Midwest Gal — we can carpool!) or Twin Cities if you’re looking for something a little bigger.

    PS The MM.LaFleur Chicago store is AMAZING. Love what they did with the storefront space.

  11. Jules says:

    LOVE LOVE LOVE.
    Could you consider livestreaming on FB or other platforms? I live on an entirely different land mass than the US but would 100% be interested in the content. Thanks!

  12. Jen says:

    Spokane, Seattle or Portland, please!

  13. Renata says:

    I am thrilled that you are coming to DC and sad to miss the event this time around. I’ll be in Iceland that week. Is this a first of several planned events?

  14. Jessica says:

    Come to Chicago! We even have an MM LaFleur!

  15. Hillary says:

    Love that you’re having this! I just moved from DC a few months ago so I’m sad to miss it. I’d travel from Grand Rapids, MI to Chicago if you had an event there!

  16. Wanda says:

    Wow! Congrats! This is fantastic. I would love to attend. Not only to meet you (you’re such an inspiration!) but to also meet and network with so many smart, successful, kind women. If your FB group is indicative of the kind of women who will attend this event it’s sure to be a wonderful evening. Unfortunately I’m not in DC but I’ll put in a request for you to visit NYC. If you were to host an event in NYC I’d do everything in my power to grab a ticket. Congratulations again. I’m so grateful you chose to do this and continue to inspire us. In less than a month I will no longer be a member of the Dirty Thirties club (sigh…40’s here we go) but that’s okay, right?

  17. Chandra says:

    Ditto for Phoenix/Scottsdale!

  18. Anna says:

    I came to the realization a few days ago that, assuming I retire at a normal age (64), I have as many years left in my career as I have been alive on this planet (32). Sometimes I feel like I’m so far behind, haven’t accomplished enough compared to my peers, or that it’s too late to change course, but to think that 32 years ago I was an infant, the next 32 years seems like an infinitely long amount of time.

  19. Jennifer says:

    San Francisco!

  20. CW says:

    I love this idea (seconding Boston) but AH I can’t stand the phrase “dirty thirties.”

  21. HMs says:

    Los Angeles!

  22. Sarah says:

    Love this idea and definitely jealous I don’t live in DC. Hitha is also one of my favorite bloggers.

  23. Claudia says:

    What a terrific event- really excited you are continuing the virtual dialogues in person. I love the idea of live-streaming. I should note I am well past my thirties and enjoy this blog and its community both for fashion, style and career discussions. Letโ€™s build a community of support and championing one another!!

  24. jodi schulz says:

    I have an odd question….is early 40ish okay agewise for this event?

  25. Kate says:

    Love this! I wish I could attend, but I’m in Chicago. Any chance you could live stream it on Facebook?

  26. Samantha Flick says:

    Ditto the NYC recommendation!

  27. Emily says:

    Yes! Please add a stop in Philly to your list!

  28. Liz says:

    St. Louis! If it were perfect timing I might be able to do KC or Chicago for an event!

  29. Tristan says:

    Can this event be recorded and posted on your site for others to experience after? I’m all the way over in Las Vegas.

  30. Barbara says:

    I am thrilled to meet you finally!! I have been reading your blog since I was senior in college (21)…and this year I turned 30. You have been a voice that has echoed in my ear throughout grad school and the first few cities/jobs. I cannot wait to thank you in person Abra!

  31. Allana says:

    Seconding (third-ing?)Seattle as a location!

    It seems like we are constantly told that our 30s is when our life falls into place, personally and professionally, and we reap all the benefits of the labors of our 20s. As a 35-year-old (as of today, happy birthday to me!), my contemporaneous friends and I find ourselves wondering, how is that supposed to happen exactly? And when?

  32. MM says:

    So excited for this and thrilled to get the chance to meet you, Abra!

  33. IRMCK says:

    Seconding San Francisco!

  34. I just put myself on the waitlist for it, hope I make it in! If you’re ever interested in people speaking on the issue of being single in your mid to late 30s, I’m your gal. I’m working on a series called the Modern Single and am a huge proponent of modeling different kinds of lives for women, so people can realize there’s ways to live that are good beyond the traditional ending of marriage or marriage + kids. Good luck at the event!

  35. Beth says:

    Just signed up for the waitlist! Hope I can be there ๐Ÿ˜‰

  36. AB says:

    California please!! Another reader from your first year. I promise to bring 49 friends!

  37. Mercedes says:

    Iโ€™m going to add Detroit to this list! Donโ€™t laugh – downtown Detroit is happening right now. ๐Ÿ™‚

  38. Liz says:

    Seconding Philadelphia! Would love to see you and the speaker series there.

  39. Orla says:

    Oh no!! Am out of town until the 18th!! As a longtime reader am a little devastated at missing this! Will keep my eyes peeled for the next one! ๐Ÿ™‚ Enjoy ladies!

  40. Amy W. says:

    Richmond, Virginia!

  41. Sarah says:

    Would somewhere down south be possible? Perhaps Charlotte, NC or Charleston, SC? These cities have growing populations of 20s-30s professionals that are relocating and this type of conversation would be hugely beneficial and relevant to these women (myself included- who just relocated to Charleston from DC).

  42. Beth says:

    This may be a silly question, but I initially signed up for the waitlist last week and just got an email today saying “thanks for your RSVP” which indicated I was attending. Does this mean I’m off the waitlist and on the list of attendees?

    Just wanted to check so I don’t show up and awkwardly find out I didn’t get in ๐Ÿ˜‰

    • Belle says:

      I would go with yes, but maybe email them? I’m on a plane in two minutes or I would sort it out for you. If you show up and someone tries to toss you, just have them get me.

  43. Beth says:

    @Belle – Iโ€™ll email them just to double-check. Thanks for the reassurance, and Iโ€™m really looking forward to tomorrow!

  44. GF says:

    Come to NYC!

  45. cHELLE says:

    I feel like saying “please come to NYC!” is a bit lame but…please come to NYC! Or Stamford, CT if perchance there are other Fairfield County followers tired of having to trek into the city for everything.

  46. Wendy says:

    Long-time reader here who would love it if you came Seattle! Pretty please. Would definitely come!

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