Friday, January 21, 2011

30!

So, my 30th birthday is finally here.  If you recall, I set a list of 30 goals for myself for the year.  Want to see how I did? 


1.   Take a photography class.  Done!  I took a 5 hour introductory class in November at Peace Camera and had a great time.  I took a photography class in high school, and this was the perfect refresher course.  I definitely want to get more into photography and take some more classes.  My super-awesome brother-in-law, Bryan, got us a Christmas present in the form of a Sony a390, which I love and takes fantastic photos.  I can't wait to delve into photography a bit more.

2.  Go to Seattle with the hubby.  Done!  Chris and I went in April and LOOOOOVED it.  We ate and drank and ate and drank and ate and drank some more and had a fantastic time (and we even saw a burlesque show!).  Here's proof we were there (taken at the Space Needle):




3.  Sell the house.  Done!  On March 26 we sold our old house.  It was a totally successful and gratifying experience, but also extremely stressful and honestly, it's something I'd be happy not ever having to do again.

4.  Run a 5k.  Yeah...about that.  Didn't happen.  In fact I accomplished NONE of my physical goals this year.  But that's okay.  I'm not going to beat myself up over it.

5.  Visit Las Vegas for a weekend.  Didn't happen.  Kinda lost interest in it.  Plus I went to Napa with 16 of my college girlfriends to celebrate our 30th birthdays back in October, and between that trip, our trip to Seattle and a trip to San Diego for my brother's wedding, the travel budget was kind of blown for the year.  All three of my trips were absolutely amazing and if it meant skipping Vegas to do those three trips, I'd gladly do it again.

6.  Learn to crochet.  Didn't happen.  I realized that I have enough craft projects and hobbies and didn't need to add one that I was kinda ho-hum about just for the sake of learning how to do it.

7.  Watch all the Star Wars movies.  Done!  I watched the 3 original movies and haven't watched the newer 3 yet.  I will someday though.

8.  Do 5 unassisted consecutive pull ups.  Ha!  Not happenin' any time soon.  I need to lose some weight and get myself back in shape before I can do this again.  It can be done though.  I've done it before and I'll do it again.

9.  Learn Photoshop.  I'm considering this done.  I'm using Elements and there's still a LOT more to learn, but I've figured out a number of things and I'm on a roll.

10.  Lose 10 pounds.  Or gain 8???  UGH.

11.  Start volunteering.  Done!  I'm going to be working with my sorority to help a new chapter get started at NC State.  (Yes, I was in a sorority and no, you may NOT roll your eyes at me!)  I swear, if they make me hold hands and sing songs, I'm out.

12.  Start a vegetable garden.  Um.  Technically done.  I mean, I started a vegetable garden, but it's not my fault that nothing happened.  As in NADA.  I didn't have a single plant sprout.  Sigh.  I'll try again this spring though.

13.  See the North Carolina symphony.  I'm calling it DONE.  It wasn't the full-blown symphony (which I still want to do someday), but for Christmas, my mom got us tickets to see a chamber ensemble play at a local restaurant this past Sunday night.  We got a chance to try a new restaurant and experience some incredible live music. 

14.  Watch "The Sound of Music."  DONE!  Last night!  (Way to procrastinate!)

15.  Watch "Gone with the Wind."  Didn't happen.

16.  Learn to make poached eggs.  Done!  It was kind of ridiculously easy, actually.

17.  Read one book per month.  Done!  I read more this year than I have in ages, thanks to my nook!

18.  Read "The Hobbit."   Not done.  Kinda forgot about it and just never got on it.

19.  Learn to make a souffle.  Not done.

20.  Learn to paint my nails properly.  Done.  The trick is this little thing called patience.  I hope to learn more about it in my thirties.

21.  Learn to play chess.  Done!  I'm terrible at it, but I at least know how to play.  My 8 year old nephew taught me the basics and kicked my ass the whole time.

22.  Learn to play poker.  Oops.  Not done.

23.  Buy a new (to us) house.  Done!  Wheeee! 

24.  Refinish a piece of furniture.  Done!  I did two in fact: my red desk and turqoise nightstand.

25.  Go to a concert.  Done!  We saw Lyle Lovett in August and he was amazing.  One of the best concerts I'd ever been to in fact.  Except for the man with the exceptionally large head who sat in front of us.  (I realize that this goal makes it sound as if I had never gone to a concert before and that is most definitely not the case.  I just wanted to make plans to see a concert this past year, since we don't really do that enough.)

26.  Blog at least once a week.  Didn't start the year on a good note with that, but I ended the year blogging every day.  Sweet!  Half credit.

27.  Build a chicken coop.  Not done.  Kind of lost interest for now. I mean, I'd love to do it, but this wasn't the right year for it. We've been busy getting the rest of the house in order and we've both been gone too much. Maybe next year.

28.  Stop biting my nails once and for all.  Done!  The temptation is there, but I haven't bitten them in awhile now.  FINALLY.  I've only been working on this for thirty damn years.

29.  Pay off my car.  Done!  I made my final car payment in May--28 months early! Go me!!!

30.  Learn my credit score.  Done!  Well, I went to my bank yesterday and signed up to get my credit report and score mailed to me.  I had gone online to a few sites, but I never felt 100% confident that I wasn't going to get scammed, so I went to the bank.  I should have the report and score in a few days.

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So, for those of you keeping track (like me), I accomplished 19.5 out of 30.  Not a spectacular score, but whatever--I had a spectacular year and that's what counts. 

The purpose for a lot of these goals was for me as a total home-body to get out of the house and experience some stuff and I definitely did that.  I think if there's anything I've learned it's this:  say yes to things.  Participate in life and the community.  Do fun stuff.  I mean, it's fun to have a pretty house and cute clothes and all that, but it's more fun to create memories with my friends and family and my husband.

I'm really looking forward to my thirties.  I think they're going to be awesome.  My twenties were spectacular:  I studied abroad, graduated, got married, and started an adult life (and had all the ups and downs that come with "growing up").  I have no idea what my thirties might bring for me, but I'm excited for this decade nonetheless.  I plan to do another list of goals to accomplish before my 31st and I'll hopefully share next week.

4 comments:

Scott said...

Happy Birthday!

Sleepwalker said...

Wonderful. I think you will find your 30's and 40's to be even more deeply satisfying. I know my 40's have been the best years of my life so far. Keep working on (or revising!) that list.

Sheri said...

30's ROCK!!!! You did a great job on your list!

Jaime said...
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