{30 before 30}

i love lists...perhaps even more than chocolate. that's how you know i mean business.

if you are facebook savvy, read blogs, or subscribe to a good magazine (or maybe you're just familiar with a little daydreaming at your desk) you've seen all types of lists...just little declarations of somebody's current ambitions.  

new year's resolution lists

15 must-see movies lists

bucket lists

"100 things you didn't know about me" lists

etc...

well over a year ago, my friend suggested creating a {30 before 30} list. it sounded simple enough, maybe even fun...and heck, age 30 wasn't too far away! yes, i realize there is no "prize" for completing everything on my list...just the sweet satisfaction of crossing off these items one at a time. so let me just tell you, i filled out a quick 1-10 and stared at my computer for a solid six months. 30 seemed like a daunting number. i added a few lines here or there. it wasn't until today when i found the ambition to really polish this baby until it was golden. suddenly, 30 didn't seem like enough space for all my quirky ideas. i needed a few extra slots so i could add important things, such as: "discover the secret to chicago-style pizza" and "stretch every.single.day so you can do the splits again!" or "always send hand-written cards."

but here it is...the "i'm not looking back and over-thinking this any more" list of 30 things i want to accomplish before i hit the big 3-0. i'd encourage everyone to do this (adjust the age, if needed). it feels great to know where you want to go!

{30 before 30}

1. start a small side business…

photography, greeting cards, cooking…the sky is the limit!  

(ummm check and mark, please!)

2. own a home…

complete with lots of character and charm, a hammock, and an insane vegetable garden. 

watch out martha, here i come!

3. brush up on my french skills

4. move to a new state!…

indiana has been fun, but we're long overdue for a change of scenery!

5. get married to my best friend…

wait, i thought andrea was married already? i should really clarify this one to say my best “male” friend.

6. go to class VI and zip-line on their “canopy tour”

7. learn how to sew…

preferably acquire a sewing machine to assist with this task! (gosh, that would make a great christmas present, right? hint-hint)

8. spend a few months in another country/countries

9. relearn how to play the piano and guitar

10. catch up and keep up on printing my personal digital photos

11. take a cooking class

there must be a better way to mince onions by hand!

12. record my thoughts better (video, journal, more personal photos, etc…)…

so our future kids realize we were decently cool 20 years from now.

13. invite god to be a bigger part of my daily life…

maybe lure him in with some cheese and wine?

14. perfect the electric slide, cha cha slide, and every other cliché wedding dance known to man (preferably before my own wedding!)...

just realized i have roughly 7 months to accomplish this one! yikes!

15. adopt a dog…

or three. we’re going to need a big yard, babe!

16. start watching the oscar-winning “best picture” movies

17. stay active!…

doesn’t everyone put “participate in a marathon/triathlon” here? i’ve accomplished two mini marathons (working on a third this april). i’d love to do longer distances, but i’m satisfied if i just keep my butt in gear!

18. meet hanson…

(c'mon, i really owe this one to my 12-year-old self) 

19. learn how to make a “balloon arch”…

may i suggest a google image search if you are completely clueless here?

20. figure out how to do a really great *wink* without looking completely creepy

21. attend the albuquerque international balloon fiesta

22. stop biting my fingernails once and for all…

for the record, i was horrible for doing this as a kid. i barely do it now, but still…it’s just plain gross!

23. have a slumber party with my favorite friends...

complete with biore strips, girl-talk and cool ranch doritos.

24. take a road trip…

i really love traveling - so touring the “badlands” and driving the california coast sounds lovely.

25. go camping…

which would involve me finally using the tent kody gave me as a christmas gift 5 or 6 years ago! whoops! i love to camp…just never find the time to pull myself away from daily life and enjoy bonfires, fishing and s’mores often enough.

26. continue doing the “12 good deeds of christmas”…

in 2010, i prompted my co-workers to participate by doing one good deed for each of the traditional “12 days.” we opened doors for strangers, brought stranded shopping carts inside from the parking lot during snow storms, paid for the people in the starbucks drive-thru and took donations to a local animal shelter. i loooved doing this and can’t wait to make it an annual event!

27. continue recording my family history…

i started uncovering things about my family, joined ancestry.com and then the fantastic show “who do you think you are?” aired on nbc…i’m hooked. i would love for this task to be closely related with #8.

28. capture one candid photo of my entire family

29. catalog all my favorite recipes…

including recipes i adapt from can you stay for dinner, the novice chef and my original creations.

30. become a better “reader”…

all those dusty books are begging to be read!