30

The big birthday has arrived - today I turn 30 and will celebrate the passing of another decade of life. I've gone from dreading 30 to being afraid of 30 (embarrassingly) to being excited for 30 over the course of the last year.

Even though I told myself I'd use that 30 before 30 list to focus on things in my control, over the past year my mind still gravitated towards the things that are not in my control. However, I am getting closer to accepting that not everything is going to work out according to the time line in my mind.

So today, I am letting go of focusing on the words that don't define me (girlfriend, wife, and mother) and am celebrating the words that do. In the past 10 years, I graduated from college. I bought my first condo on my own. I became an aunt to 4 adorable nephews. I got my MBA. I ran 2 marathons. I started a blog and have met some fabulous fellow bloggers - and have plans to meet more in 2011! Most recently, I started a job that I can actually say I love! It helps to list the great things that have happened in my 20s - it reminds me how fortunate I am and how many great memories I will carry with me into my 30s.

I learned many valuable lessons in my 20s. I learned how to love and be kinder to myself. I learned that being in a relation does not necessarily = happiness. I learned that you can be more lonely in the wrong relationship than you will be when you are single. I learned that I have to make myself happy before I can be happy with someone else.

So here's to a new decade! I can't wait to see what milestones and lessons the next 10 years will hold!

And what better way to start it than with a fabulous trip to Paris! I fly out on Friday - the countdown has begun!!

(Source)

What lessons did you learn in your 20s?

30 Before 30 Update

It's been awhile since I've re-visited this 30 before 30 list... Truth be told, I haven't accomplished a whole lot. BUT, I accomplished more than I would have had I not made this list so I still consider it a success. Here it is... I crossed off things that have been accomplished... items I am on track to accomplish are in green... items I am not on track to accomplish are in red... items that aren't feasible are in italics..

Health:
1. Work my way up to being able to do 20 real push-ups. I can only do 'girl' ones currently.
2. Run my 2nd full marathon (will be running this marathon!)
3. Join a local running club (tried this & did not care for running with others)
4. Go one month without eating out
5. Get a body fat assessment done, most likely in the 'Bod Pod'
6. Run a 5k in 27 minutes (PR is 30 minutes)

Cooking:
7. Learn how to roast a chicken
8. Make one new recipe/month
9. Host a dinner party
10. Find a cooking class/seminar to attend
11. Go to a knife skills class (at Kitchen Window)

Finances:
12. List or rent out my condo on or before my 30th birthday
13. Set up a living will
14. Put at least $1,000/month in savings

Faith:
15. Join the women's group at my church
16. Spend 1 hour in the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel each month
17. Go to a Cathedral Young Adults event

Crafting/Cultural:
18. Learn how to knit socks
19. Learn to crochet
20. See a ballet or opera production (I will go to one in Paris on 2/15 so I am going to count this as it's close to my birthday!)
21. Do something with the photos from my France trip

Miscellaneous:
22. Meet a blogger friend in real life!
23. Send one piece of snail mail/month
24. Buy a new set of dishes
25. Read 3 classic novels (I read The Bell Jar, I Capture the Castle, and A Christmas Carol)
26. Make over my blog
27. Do a hair workshop with my best friend Brooke.
28. Visit my grandma at least once every 3 months.
29. Climb Inspiration Peak in the fall when the leaves are changing
30. Visit the Duluth, MN area

I have accomplished or am on track to accomplish 13 out of the 30 goals. I am actually ok with this. Sure, I wish I was on track to accomplish more but had I not made this list, some of those goals wouldn't have been accomplished so I still consider this list a success.

Between now and my 30th birthday (or maybe on my 30th birthday) I want to Learn how to roast a chicken. I might need to enlist the help of my mom or brother... we'll see. Or maybe I will just figure it out on my own!

Chop Chop Bo-Bop

Greetings and happy Friday everyone! It was a fun, hectic, rainy week for me. I am so glad the weekend is here! I have a good mix of relaxation + fun planes - and I have my last double digit long run before the marathon (12 miles on Sunday). It's single digits going forward until the marathon!

One activity I am really looking forward to is a knife skills class that I will be taking at Cooks of Crocus Hill, a local cooking store that hosts classes. They have a special event on Saturday so classes are only $10 which is quite the steal! I will be going to the clases, "Chop Chop Bo-Bop" where we'll learn some chopping techniques while making salsa. There will be 30 minutes of instruction and then 30 minutes of hand-on practice. Taking a knife skills class is actually on my 30 before 30 list so I am excited to cross something else off the list!

I've had people tell me that they get nervous when they watch me chop things - specifically one of my ex-boyfriends. He said he felt like we were always moments away from a trip to the emergency room. I have never cut myself while slicing and dicing, but I do know I have some room for improvement! I am sure I'll have a full report on the class next week at some point!

Have you taken any cooking classes? Do you think you have good knife skills?

30 Before 30 Update

Earlier this month, I hit the half way mark of my 29th birthday. Holy cannasta, those 6 months went by really dang fast!

I thought it was time for a little update on my 30 Before 30 list. And honestly, I sort of forgot what all is on this list! I have crossed out the things I have accomplished. There are some things that are no longer feasible for various reasons, so those are now in italics. I obviously can't cross off the "once a month" or "once a quarter" challenges until the end of the year. If I am on track, they are in green... if I am not on track, they are in red...


Health:
1. Work my way up to being able to do 20 real push-ups. I can only do 'girl' ones currently.
2. Run my 2nd full marathon (will be running this marathon!)
3. Join a local running club
4. Go one month without eating out
5. Get a body fat assessment done, most likely in the 'Bod Pod'
6. Run a 5k in 27 minutes (PR is 30 minutes)

Cooking:
7. Learn how to roast a chicken
8. Make one new recipe/month
9. Host a dinner party
10. Find a cooking class/seminar to attend
11. Go to a knife skills class (at Kitchen Window)

Finances:
12. List or rent out my condo on or before my 30th birthday
13. Set up a living will
14. Put at least $1,000/month in savings

Faith:
15. Join the womens group at my church
16. Spend 1 hour in the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel each month
17. Go to a Cathedral Young Adults event

Crafting/Cultural:
18. Learn how to knit socks
19. Learn to crochet
20. See a ballet or opera production
21. Do something with the photos from my France trip

Miscellaneous:
22. Meet a blogger friend in real life!
23. Send one piece of snail mail/month
24. Buy a new set of dishes
25. Read 3 classic novels
26. Make over my blog
27. Do a hair workshop with my best friend Brooke.
28. Visit my grandma at least once every 3 months.
29. Climb Inspiration Peak in the fall when the leaves are changing
30. Visit the Duluth, MN area


I have completed 5 things and am on track to cross off 3 monthly/quarterly goals. Out of 30.

Ufda.

I have my work cut out for me... But I will say - the first couple of months of my 29th year were some of the toughest I've experienced... So I think surviving them is an accomplishment in and of itself! And if I don't get it all done by February 6th 2011, then so be it!

If you set resolutions or other goals this year, have you kept them?

30 before 30!

Tomorrow I will turn 29.

29. Still trying to get my head around that.

So how will I be celebrating? I am having some friends over for a little Mexican Fiesta! I'm having a taco bar and everyone is bringing something to share. We'll cap off the night by playing games while enjoying some cervezas & wine!! I have yet to buy a single ingredient for this little fiesta, which is so unlike me, but I have honestly been swamped lately so the shopping will have to occur tonight or Saturday morning.

I can't believe I am starting the last year of my 20's tomorrow. I know this year is going to fly by and before I know it, I'll be posting about my 30th birthday. Life is moving too fast lately and I feel like I can't quite catch my breath. I now understand what my mom meant when she told me she wished she was bored when I would complain about being bored as a child.

I am kind of nervous about turning 30. I know it's a year away, but in my mind, I always envisioned that I'd be in a certain place by the time I turned 30 - namely, in a house with a fantastic husband, and possibly 1-2 kids.

Well, that's not going to happen. I am not going to be married by the time I turn 30 and that's ok. It's out of my control.

So instead of focusing on something that is out of my control, I want to spend the next 365 days focusing on things that I can control.

Hence, the '30 Before 30' list which I've alluded to in past posts! So without further ado, here it is!

Health:
1. Work my way up to being able to do 20 real push-ups. I can only do 'girl' ones currently.
2. Run my 2nd full marathon (will be running this marathon!)
3. Join a local running club
4. Go one month without eating out
5. Get a body fat assessment done, most likely in the 'Bod Pod'
6. Run a 5k in 27 minutes (PR is 30 minutes)

Cooking:
7. Learn how to roast a chicken (will need my aunt, mom, or brother's help with this)
8. Make one new recipe/month
9. Host a dinner party
10. Find a cooking class/seminar to attend - most likely at Kitchen Window
11. Go to a knife skills class (at Kitchen Window)

Finances:
12. List or rent out my condo on or before my 30th birthday
13. Set up a living will
14. Put at least $1,000/month in savings

Faith:
15. Join the womens group at my church
16. Spend 1 hour in the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel each month
17. Go to a Cathedral Young Adults event

Crafting/Cultural:
18. Learn how to knit socks
19. Spend a week with my Grandma and learn to crochet
20. See a ballet or opera production
21. Do something with the photos from my France trip (most likely a photo book for my coffee table)

Miscellaneous:
22. Visit a blogger friend in real life! (will accomplish this when I run the marathon with Amber and Lauren, but want to do an additional blogger meet-up!)
23. Send one piece of snail mail/month
24. Buy a new set of dishes - I hate the post-college cheep ones I have!
25. Read 3 classic novels
26. Make over my blog - especially the header. I am going to need help with this!!
27. Do a hair workshop with my best friend Brooke. I suck at doing my own hair. She is awesome. I hope she can teach me how to do my own hair!
28. Visit my grandma at least once every 3 months
29. Climb Inspiration Peak in the fall when the leaves are changing
30. Visit the Duluth, MN area - possibly I will tag along with my aunt & uncle on one of their camping trips?

So there you have it! I will keep you updated on my progress!

If you put together a list like this, what would you include?