Sarah-Allen Preston Designs

Yesterday was my birthday! I’m 37! 🥳 I remember when my mom turned 37. Which I know isn’t that impressive because I was 12 at the time and that was just like 10 years ago… right?

In all seriousness, I don’t feel 37. My oldest always tells me that I act 18 or 45. (45 when I’m in “work mode”.) I just feel like me, and I’ve never been able to say that with the clear confidence that I can say it with today. I feel like me.

Thank God for the obstacles that got me to this place.

I still have obstacles. Sometimes my brain decides to reroute me toward them, for no discernible reason. This birthday eve I was hit with a case of… why me? It doesn’t happen very often, but I felt like everything was suddenly heavy and no one was there to help me, as I wrangled three boys from a late soccer game to dinner, and into the bath, and then had to get everyone prepped and packed for the week and begin my own scheduling, clear email, and etc.

I didn’t feel like celebrating anything, and I felt like no one was supporting me.

I woke up at 3am on Monday. My first thought began to creep in “well, isn’t this just…”. I stopped. Nope. Not the vibe, SAP. Enjoy it. Soak in this moment and day because you CAN.

I mediated. For basically 3 hours 🤣 and when I opened my eyes the whole world was back to normal.

I had 2 little blondie boys snuggling all over me. “Mom? Yes? I love you.” All 3 of the boys rushed out to the kitchen to make me breakfast in bed à la Bluey, and I might be biased but it was honestly AMAZING and I never want to forget that scene and feeling.

I got to spend my morning working with friends, and my team created a video for my birthday that had me sobbing for HOURS. If you saw me crying in my car yesterday… yeah, you did.

I have never been more grateful and fulfilled for all of the messages I received.

I spent the evening with friends at the most amazing party, and took a long bath when I got home.

Honestly, 18, 37, and/or 45 year old me is so happy that I can stop and smell all these roses. I said it last year and I’ll say it again… can it get any better?!

✨I have been feeling SO incredibly humbled by the opportunity to work with the badass women on our team lately, as well as the amazing partners and investors, that are drawn to our company and its mission of connecting and celebrating. Everyone has a range of talents and experiences, but we all share a singular purpose: to bring more joy into the world by celebrating the life moments that deserve silver confetti, and also the moments that we describe as “silver linings”.

Silver linings aren’t a hostess gift or new baby bundle. Silver lining moments are when a friend has a child in the hospital (🙋🏼‍♀️), or someone is quietly ending their marriage (also 🙋🏼‍♀️).

Silver lining moments are the times that you don’t personally want to relive, but you look back, stronger, and realize that your community — whatever that looks like to you — was there for you.

Silver linings bring out the relationships and connections and support that give life a deeper meaning, and in retrospect, deserve a little celebration.

I am so inspired to build afloat and our place in the world for both kinds of celebrations, silver confetti (because YES fun and happy things!) as well as silver linings and couldn’t be more energized by everyone who has been drawn to afloat to do the same.

Our purpose and platform is going to make the world a better, happier, more celebratory, and connected place.

🥂Cheers to that.

☀️June☀️

P🎉A🎈R🎁T🪩Y time!