Oh yeah. I turned 30.

My birthday was back in March, but somehow I forgot to blog about it. Probably because I'm so old now. Or because there was a tornado complete with hail, high winds, and threatened power outages that day. Seriously. Work was even let out early. After last April's tornados, Alabama doesn't (and shouldn't) take tornado warnings lightly.

photo credit

Because of those tornado warnings, Phil and I had to cut our birthday date short and just grab a quick dinner. Thanks to some sweet (and courageous) friends, we had free babysitting AND a free dinner at Brio. About 40 minutes into our meal, we heard what sounded like the percussion section of a band serenading us, but in a matter of seconds, the noise started pounding so loud that we couldn't hear each other talk. We looked out the window to see hail the size of softballs in the street and were thankful we had parked in a parking deck. Quite the birthday display...and the end of our dinner.


So, here's why I'm excited about being 30:
Thirty is having enough behind you to be confident in your own skin but enough ahead of you to still be excited about the future. Thirty is old enough to be taken seriously but young enough to still get carded every now and then. Thirty is established, but no where near "arrived" (if there is such a thing).

Remember my 30 before 30 goals? Yep. Most of them happened. But several of them didn't. I still haven't sung karaoke. Or snorkled. Or finished typing my grandfather's WWII letters. Or changed a tire. BUT, here's the thing. In my 20's, I would have berated myself for not finishing the list. Now, in my 30's, I'm learning to be okay with doing what I can, but leaving space for being human, for being imperfect. So I didn't accomplish all my goals. Big whoop. Since I was the one who made them in the first place, I'm pretty sure I can a) change them, b) extend the deadline, or c) choose not to do them all. No one cares (except me if I let myself).


For me, 30 is all about the freedom to be imperfect, to make mistakes, to give life all I've got and be okay if it's not enough sometimes. It's also about living thankfully. Think of all the things I have done that weren't on the list, like giving birth to Moo or starting (and somewhat maintaining) the Kitchen Challenge. So much to be grateful for that I can't even anticipate.

Sitting at the top of a new decade, the view is pretty nice. 

30 before 30 update

It's been 6 months since I made my 30 before 30 list, so it's time for a little update:

1. Read through the Bible (or at least be in the process of doing so). In progress. I'm still in Exodus, but am only a couple of chapters away from Leviticus and I've taken lots of detours along the way. I'm okay with it.
2. Publish something I've written. Hoping to get on this sometime this summer.
3. Take another big trip with Phil Done...sort of. Probably won't happen with Phil, but I did go to Boston with my Aunt in April, so I'm counting that. :)
4. Work up the guts to sing karaoke in public. Not counting on this happening, but we'll see...
5. Journal weekly. Hasn't been weekly, but has been regularly, so I'll take it.
6. Plant a vegetable garden in our back yard. Done. See the updated picture. I ate raw green beans and cherry tomatoes this week! Still waiting on the peppers & cucumbers to come in. 
7. Roll my own sushi. Done. 
8. Finish typing my grandfather's WWII letters to my grandmother. Also in the plans for the summer.
9. Learn to change a tire. Not yet.
10. Donate platelets. Not gonna happen for a while since I'm preggo. 
11. Find some new teenage girls to invest in since all mine are graduating this year. Done. Have some amazing girls from Samford that I get to hang out with about once a month!
12. Take more pictures. Working on this. Still a struggle...
13.  Invest in a bookshelf for our bedroom. Done. 



Our new reading nook!

14. Volunteer. Done. Helped with VBS this summer. Not that I'm done for the year, but it's a start!
15. Go to a Broadway show (doesn't have to be in NYC) Hoping to see Les Miserables (my favorite!) when it comes to Bham this fall!
16. Actually use my yoga videos. Um...yeah. Hasn't happened. Should probably get on that.
17. Shop at Whole Foods from time to time. Not yet.
18. Try at least 4 new restaurants in Birmingham. Done. 
19. Invest in at least one more piece of art crafted by a friend or family member. Hoping to make this happen at Christmastime...
20. Snorkel. Another one that probably won't happen. Oh well. 
21. Get a massage. Or two. Not yet.
22. Dance at wedding reception (call me crazy, but I hate dancing in public). Done! I slow danced with my 12-year-old brother at my other brother's wedding. Taught him the box step and he was a natural! I have to admit that dancing was his idea, though. :)
23. Watch a sunset. Or two. Sad that I have to put that on a list. Done. Phil and I spontaneously pulled over at a lookout with our takeout food in hand last weekend. A little taste of heaven. 
24. Play volleyball. Not yet.
25. Go camping again with Phil. Not yet.
26. Ride my bike. Not yet. 
27. Help a stranger. Not that I remember.
28. Write a letter to someone who has greatly influenced your life who has no idea the impact they've had. Not yet.
29. Cook a five-course dinner using all new recipes. Not yet, but several of you have offered to do this with me, so let's get going!



Thank you, Craigslist!

30. Paint our bedroom a color I like. Done. Changed this one. I decided I was fine with the color, but have been doing a little makeover on the room. Added a bookshelf & chair for a reading nook, moved around some furniture, and hung some pictures. Love it!

So, lots still in the works, but it's nice to have some of them checked off! Let me know if you want to join me for any of them!

Ousted.

Remember that 30 before 30 list? Well, I really tried to make it realistic, but I'm thinking that "learning to snow ski" might not actually happen before March 2012. Don't get me wrong--I hope it does, but the chances are pretty slim considering where we live and how little off time we have.

SO, I'm in the market for a replacement goal. And I need your help.

What should I add to my 30 before 30 list that's more realistic? If anyone gives me an idea that I actually use, I'll write a blog all about YOU (don't worry--I'll write about only the good stuff!).

Let those suggestions fly!

30 before 30 List

Inspired by a new year and the fact that I'll turn 30 in 14 months, I've decided to list 30 things I'd like to accomplish before age 30. Here goes (in no particular order):

1. Publish something I've written.
2. Read through the Bible (or at least be in the process of doing so).
3. Take another big trip with Phil 
4. Work up the guts to sing karaoke in public.
5. Journal weekly.
6. Plant a vegetable garden in our back yard.
7. Roll my own sushi.
8. Finish typing my grandfather's WWII letters to my grandmother.
9. Learn to change a tire.
10. Donate platelets.
11. Find some new teenage girls to invest in since all mine are graduating this year.
12. Take more pictures.
13. Invest in a bookshelf for our bedroom.
14. Volunteer.
15. Go to a Broadway show (doesn't have to be in NYC)
16. Actually use my yoga videos.
17. Shop at Whole Foods from time to time.
18. Try at least 4 new restaurants in Birmingham.
19. Invest in at least one more piece of art crafted by a friend or family member.
20. Snorkel.
21. Get a massage. Or two.
22. Dance at wedding reception (call me crazy, but I hate dancing in public).
23. Watch a sunset. Or two. Sad that I have to put that on a list.
24. Play volleyball.
25. Go camping again with Phil.
26. Ride my bike.
27. Help a stranger.
28. Learn to snow ski.
29. Cook a five-course dinner using all new recipes.
30. Paint our bedroom a color I like.

Items that I almost put on the list out of guilt/obligation but didn't because I don't actually want to do them:

• Run a marathon
• Learn to sew
• Make homemade pasta
• Sky dive
• Eat vegetarian/vegan for any amount of time

Consider this 30 before 30 list a little preview of some of my blog topics for the coming year. Happy New Year!