7 Things I’ve Learnt About Going On A Night Out In My Thirties
It might not happen as much these days and its certainly moved on from Saturday nights out clubbing in my twenties, but I still so look forward to nights out with friends – its just all a bit different now…
1. Getting a date is a military operation
When the suggestion of a night out comes through on What’s App, the group instantly lights up with yes’s and dancing GIFS. Yet the collective bubble of excitement about where to go and what to wear, soon gets burst when we try to find a date. Babysitters, work or travel headaches – nothing quite kills the buzz like middle aged mum logistics.
2. Having the right underwear matters
It really matters! the further I’ve got through my thirties the more scaffolding I needed. And if it all gets a bit much, chucking away over zealus control pants in a pub loo when drunk and feeling like I cant breathe, is perfectly acceptable too.
3. Make-up is personal
Despite the tired eyes and laughter lines, I feel way more confident in my own skin the older I’ve got and I think that’s partly down to figuring out what suits me. Ridiculously, I went into my twenties with a very similar make up bag to all my friends, not mattering we all had very different faces!
I’m not sure Heather & Coffee Shimmer ever really suited any of us to be honest! But in youth as with most things, my confidence often came from being the same as everyone else.
I’m all about layering these days – serums, creams, powders and lotions, they all work as my confidence armour. Do they really work? or am I bordering on Barbara Cartland by the time I’m ready? – probably the latter, but they make me feel good so I’m going with it.
4. Old friends with old stories are a tonic for the soul
There’s no better feeling than sitting round a table with women you’ve known forever retelling the same stories and laughing at the same silly jokes that have been said time and time again for years – It just never gets old.
With no time or need for small talk, we’ve all got so much going on, we almost need an agenda to get through all the life, work and home woes and wins in one evening. Yet, equally the night so often gets easily highjacked in another direction -the merits of Botox, whether David Beckham is still as hot, or where to go on a fantasy holiday together we will never take, are all popular curve balls that can take up an evening.
5. It doesn’t really matter where we go
Its more about the people I’m with. We barely take a breath talking, let alone look up, there’s so much to catch up on, I’m not that bothered where I am or what I’m sitting on – just so long as there is something to sit on, that is. I’m definitely over the standing up all night in heels phase.
6. One night out, equals two days recovery
If I’ve really gone for it on a night out – and by that I mean guzzled down two glasses of wine in minutes at the over excitement of being out out followed by bad choices about the amount of spirits I can handle for the rest of the evening – I’m in trouble the next day. As the drinks rack up (And my eye makeup slides down!) I always think I can handle more booze than I really can.
Its no longer a hungover morning that follows, I feel rough all day. Not only that but waking up on day two is not much better, I won’t feel sick anymore, but the spring in my step is replaced with a slower, fuzzier me, with post booze blues that can last till bedtime.
Finally lets end with with what most of my Saturday nights really look like, because lets face it, although going out is great, in reality its not that often…
7. Staying in also isn’t a bad thing
Every weekend without fail in my twenty’s was all about Saturday nights out. Buying a new top (probably from Jane Norman or Kookai if I was feeling flash) then a big night out in town. This then morphed into meals, or house parties with friends as we entered our late twenties, all followed by Sunday hangovers and TV marathons.
When I was younger, I felt bad for the people that said they’d had a quiet weekend, when I went into work on a Monday. Now the thought of strictly, wine and a nice meal at home in my comfys – oh so middle aged and oh so lovely.
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