Becoming a homeowner, which still feels like a dream, has opened my eyes to a lot of new purchases, ones I thought I would never be making, and has put a real value on the meaning of a dollar. Owning a home is something that everyone strives for and works towards.  It is why people go to school or work everyday, continuing down the path that their families before them have laid. There exists a common day theme or the American routine traveling down life’s path and it goes something like this:

Boyfriend –> Fiancé –> Dog –> Marriage –> House –> Children (or more dogs)

So yeah, I have broken every single rule when it comes to being a true American Girl and following the typical American routine. But really, are you surprised at all? Now, I will be the first to admit that sitting there at age 5, playing with Barbie and Ken, I totally saw myself as Barbie in her mini mansion, convertible, and with a handsome husband by her side. I mean, isn’t it Barbie and Ken who initially laid that foundation for the American routine? Blame the bitch who has it all. Even at age 5, I imaged that this is how my life would all work out and those thoughts continued well into my early twenties. However, as I have grown up, I said:

F you Barbie, this not how I am doing things

Life is all about opportunities and I truly believe it is the opportunities we are given as Americans that allow us to define our own American routine. I was given the opportunity to shake my American routine up a little bit by being able to add another dog to my family and being able purchase my very own home.  All at the age of 28. I took complete advantage of those opportunities, and made something into my everything. This is my American routine:

Florida Apartment –> Dog –> Two Master Degrees –> NY Apartment –> Bye bye boyfriend –> Another dog –> New job –> My first home

Right now, Barbie is scratching her head saying, “This isn’t right. Where’s Ken? Where’s the big sparkly ring? How is this girl doing all of this without a Ken in her life?” Now I wish I could say what Barbie is thinking isn’t what everyone else was thinking when I told them my plans.

So are you and your boyfriend getting the house? Did you get engaged? Is it just you living in that house by yourself?

Those were some of the more “polite” comments I received when telling people I was buying my very first home on my own. Those responses alone can certainly knock a girl down when she is feeling on top of the world for creating a life for herself.

We all must face the reality and the reality is, is that we do not hear a lot of stories like mine.  I have made the decision to face reality and accept my reality for what is it and what it is not. I have made the decisions to take advantage of every opportunity that I have been given. I have accepted that my Ken is off somewhere either stuck in a traffic jam or working late at the office. And that is OK, because right now I am doing me and honestly I don’t have the time to wait for my Ken to show up on his big white horse or in his big white Bugatti. Just saying! I have dreams and goals and I know the kind of life I want to live. And if Ken fits into all of that then great, but this American Girl is riding solo… and riding dirtayy xo