Adult Lady | Lifestyle

So browsing through my twitter feed last night I stumbled upon many tweets from COSMOPOLITAN US. If you follow them you probably already know they tweet out the WAZOO! I always catch myself clicking the link to their website to read the story that caught my eye and tonight I loved what I read so much that I decided to share it with all of you. :) You know, helping a sister out. So below is 17 things every woman should know before her late 20's >>

You've got this adult lady thing down PAT.

1. How to pack. You no longer bring 15 suitcases when you go on an overnight, because you've streamlined your process. You know that you don't need 15 bikinis and 12 pairs of heels when you're spending the weekend with grandma in Tucson. You know what travels well, and you take just what you need. 

2. Stick with a career path, even if it's hard at the beginning. This might not be THE one and only career you'll ever have, but it's the one and only one you are fully committed to right now. You can always go to med school in your 40s if this doesn't work out, but you're not giving up and getting at part time job at Starbucks if things get tough at work. In fact, you like tough.

3. Quit a job if you hate it. But you know the difference between tough and "my boss is a fucking psycho and this is not where I need to be." You have know how to listen to your gut, check in with your head, and make the right decision. Besides, you're such a brilliant badass, you know you'll find your calling. 

4. Dress according to what YOU think looks good, not what other people think looks good. When you're younger, there's basically one kind of way to be attractive but when you get older, lots of different people are attractive and you've figured out your very own look, and it makes the world a beautiful, diverse place. You have a look, and a routine, and it feels GOOD to not be covered in glitter everyday. (Uh, you still wear glitter, just only on the weekends. And sometimes during the week.)

5. How to throw a dinner party. No more pizza in front of the TV EVERY time your friends come over. You have a real apartment and you now throw legit dinner parties. That means shopping, prepping, cooking, entertaining, the whole nine yards. Cleaning up, too. I know. Being an adult has a price. You are a grown ass woman and though you might not have cloth napkins because you're not 100, you can throw down a mean spread. (Veggie and gluten-free options included, because you're the most thoughtful of hosts.)

6. How to fearlessly ask for what you want. Whether it's for a salary bump or the birthday present you've been dreaming of, you aren't afraid to put your needs first. You might not always get what you want — ice cream socials every Friday! A pet pig named Harold! A reasonable pay increase! — but you aren't afraid to use your voice to try. 

7. Save money. Maybe you don't have a financial planner (yet), but you know the different typed of IRAs and you contribute the max to your 401K. Hey, you even have a little money left over each month, and can lend some to your little sister to buy new heels or a play station or whatever. (Plus, you're smart enough to know you're never getting that money back.) 

8. How to say no. You know what you want and need and perhaps most importantly, you know your own limitations. You don't need an elaborate excuse to get out of something, you can just say no. You no longer do things out of guilt or obligation, you do things because you WANT to. (Unless it's your mom. Sorry; she pushed you out of her vagina, so you'll do what she says. Most of the time.) Also, you know when to say when. And not only about booze, but also when it comes to friendships, relationships, French fries, etc. 

9. How to get what you want in bed. You've tried pretty much everything, and you know what you like. You know you like having your boyfriend dress up like Austin Powers and tickle you from behind with a feather duster, and you own it. Kudos. (Also, you're not afraid to backseat drive a dude to your lady pearl, because you ain't got time for him to fumble around down there for an hour.)

10. That the body you have... is the body you have Love it, treat it well, and dress it in clothes that make it look and feel amazing. 

11. Whether or not you want kids. If you're single, this is something you're gonna want to discuss with the new dude you're dating fairly quickly. If you're in a relationship, well. You already know this. (For example, I don't want kids, but I'll totally babysit yours.)

12. How to get home when you're drunk. You know when you're gonna drink and you know if you're gonna drink too much. You have a plan that doesn't involve falling asleep in a puddle of your own Boone's Strawberry Hill- and Cheetos-flavored vomit. 

13. That you're a different person now than you were at 19. And that's a good thing. Don't you hate it when someone is like, "oh you think THAT now? I remember 10 years ago you said this!" It's like, yeah. Maybe you wanted to marry Sugar Ray in 2004, but that doesn't mean you want to marry Sugar Ray in 2014. People change, and that's a good thing. (Unless you're still into Sugar Ray! Listen, you just want to fly, and there's nothing wrong with that.)

14. No matter how close you get with a guy, never neglect your closest most solid friends. Your core group is solid as a rock, and you know these people would walk through fire (or at least through New Orleans during Mardi Gras) to bring you ice cream after a bad date. 

15. When to make a dentist appointment. And your mom doesn't even have to tell you to! (Most of the time.)

16. Eat dessert if you feel like it. You know slice of cake isn't going to kill you — uh, in fact, it might prolong your life because happiness is like magic. Plus, that ganache is hella fancy and you need it. As Oscar Wilde said: "Everything in moderation, including moderation." 

17. You should no longer give a shit about what the mean girls think. Mean girls exist in the world long after high school, and they are always a nightmare to deal with. However, as you get older and more secure, you can blow off the bullshit and just do your own thing. Consider it your late 20s superpower: Not giving a F*CK.

>>>>> See... so worth clicking on! Follow Laura on twitter @mrpenguino

                                                                xo, Erica