30 Things to Do While I'm 30

Number 7: The Everglades

2012-02-05T07:36:00.000-08:00

By accomplishing number 7 on my list, I made a wonderful discovery about South Florida: Sawgrass Recreational Park in Weston, FL. I found a Groupon for $20 for two tickets into the park (usually $22 each). A ticket gains you access to their wildlife exhibit as well as a 30 minute airboat tour of the Everglades. The best part is that all Florida residents get a free annual pass with just one paid entrance! This means from now until the end of the year, we get to go back as often as we want--pretty cool bonus!

The airboat tour was so much fun! Our captain (Captain Bob) was extremely knowledgeable and entertaining. I learned so much on this 30 minute ride through the Everglades. He also knew exactly where to go for gator sightings. In addition to gators, Captain Bob showed us indigenous birds, amphibians, trees, and plants. Here are some tidbits that I learned:

-Sawgrass is the tall grass that grows in the swamp of the everglades. It is appropriately named because it has tiny fibers growing on it that actually look like the teeth on a saw and it will cut you just as quick.

-The melaleuca tree that grows all over the Everglades was originally imported in by Henry Flagler in hopes to dry up the Everglades. The trees drink an insane amount of water each day, but they still did not succeed in drying up the Everglades. When Flagler realized the swamp wasn't going anywhere, he tried to have the trees cut down. That is when they discovered that when you cut into the tree, the inside is basically one giant seed pod that explodes and sends seeds everywhere. Now the trees grow all over.

-Alligators live to be over 100 years old and they can jump really far.

Oh, one other totally cool thing about this day: I got to hold a baby alligator! It was so cool!!! The skin was softer than I expected. Is it bad to say it felt like an alligator skinned boot with a heart beating under it? I really enjoyed holding it. I kinda want one as a pet now!

Number 18: The Fish

2012-02-05T07:22:00.001-08:00

A big thank you to my friend Erin Sisco for helping me with number 18 on my list!! In my lifetime, I had only had some fried fish sandwiches, a handful of fried shrimp, and some authentic fish and chips in London. I really want to like fish, but I really don't. That's why I added this item to my list. Erin insisted that the best fish around would come from McCormick and Schmick's at Cityplace. So, one Wednesday afternoon, a few girls from work and I took a long seafood lunch break. I let Erin pick my order for me, and I'm so glad she did! I had Sole that was parmesean crusted and pan seared, topped with capers and lemon butter, with a side of butternut squash orzo and steamed veggies. It. Was. Phenomenal. I don't know if this is going to start a loving relationship between myself and fish, but it has certainly introduced me to a great restaurant that knows their fish. McCormick and Schmick's Sole Parmesean: Try it!!

Number 21: The Outfit

2012-01-22T12:52:00.000-08:00

I find it very difficult to shop for myself. I love the act of shopping...going from store to store, trying on a zillion different outfits, etc. So much fun! But when it comes to actually purchasing, that's where I fall short. My mind runs through the list of things I could and should be spending money on instead, and I end up not buying it. Or, if there is some extra cash to spare, I end up deciding I'd rather buy something for Tobin or someone else instead. That is why it was actually quite difficult for me to accomplish number 21 on my list. As it is, I needed Tobin's help to do it. I had a gift card to JC Penney and I found this dress, which was on clearance, but I still couldn't fight the urge to buy something more practical with my gift card, like a much needed set of glasses or some other household item we need. But Tobin convinced me that the dress looked great and I should get it. I still wasn't quite sure the dress looked that great, but I did buy into his reasoning for buying it: that I would need something nice to wear on our cruise. :)

I am begrudgingly posting a picture of the dress. The dress is pretty and I think I look good in it in person, but I hate the way I look in pictures. But I don't feel that I can post a blog entry about a dress and not post the picture.

Number 2: The Dance

2012-01-22T08:49:00.000-08:00

I had more fun with this one than I ever dreamed possible! Not only did I learn a choreographed dance to "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", I performed it as part of a flash mob!!

I learned about the flash mob when visiting the website for the Date Night Challenge. They had posted the video of the dance moves on Facebook for anyone who wanted to learn it. It only took me about 45 minutes to get it down pat, so I decided to go join them. I almost didn't go through with it. My insecurities were flaring and I was scared to go do something like this by myself, but Tobin gave me a lot of encouragement, so go I did. It was so much fun and I'm so glad I did it!

Here's the video! Unfortunately, I'm not in it. The camera man was stuck on one side and couldn't get over to the other side where I was dancing because the crowd watching us was so big, he couldn't get through! But I was there dancing it up!

Number 17: The Gift

2012-01-22T08:36:00.000-08:00

I had a different handmade gift in mind when I added this item to my 30 Things list, but since I'm not sure I'll get to make that gift before my next birthday, I'm going to use my Christmas ornaments as proof that I have completed this item on my list.

I made ornaments for my friends this year, as I have in the past, and keeping up with tradition, they were beach themed. I painted a beach scene on a piece of wood and cut out little flip flops to stick in the sand. I made one ornament for each family, and I had a pair of flip flops for each member of the family with the family member's name written on them. On the back, I scrawled, "Warm Christmas Wishes" and attached a tropical Christmas ribbon with which to hang the ornament.

Unfortunately, I did not take a picture of the final outcome! But I do have a picture of it almost done, so here it is. They are missing the names and the ribbon, but you get the idea.

Number 5: The Office

2012-01-22T08:05:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Netflix and Hulu, I have now watched every episode of The Office. To everyone who promised I would love it: you were right! This show is hillarious--or at least it was before the Michael Scott character left. My favorite part of the show is the practical jokes that go on between Dwight and Jim.

While watching all of the seasons of The Office (of which the second is my favorite), I have compiled some of my favorite quotes to share with you:

Jim Halpert: Because right now, this is a job. If I advance any higher, this would be my career. And if this were my career, I'd have to throw myself in front of a train.

Michael Scott: Would I rather be feared or loved? Um... Easy, both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me.

Michael Scott: You may look around, and see two groups here. White collar, blue collar. But I don't see it that way. You know why not? Because I am collar-blind.

Dwight Schrute: Why tip someone for a job I'm capable of doing myself? I can deliver food. I can drive a taxi. I can, and do, cut my own hair. I did, however, tip my urologist. Because, I am unable to pulverize my own kidney stones.

Michael Scott: Well apparently in the medicine community, negative means good. Which makes absolutely no sense. In the real world community, you- that would be chaos.

Ryan: Kelly and I both agreed that we would both have fun, and I'm learning that fun for Kelly is getting married and having babies. Immediately. With me.

Michael Scott: Wikipedia is the best thing ever. Anyone in the world can write anything they want about any subject. So you know you are getting the best possible information.

Dwight Scrute: Whenever I'm about to do something, I think "Would an idiot do that?"
And if they would, I do not do that thing.

And to finish, here is my favorite exchange between Dwight and Jim:

Dwight Schrute: Welcome to the Hotel Hell. Check-in time in now, check-out time is never.
Jim Halpert: Does my room have cable?
Dwight Schrute: No. And the sheets are made of fire.
Jim Halpert: Can I change rooms?
Dwight Schrute: Sorry we're all booked up. Hell convention in town.
Jim Halpert: Can I have a late check-out?
Dwight Schrute: I'll have to talk to the manager.
Jim Halpert: You're not the manager, even in your own fantasy?
Dwight Schrute: I'm the owner.. the co-owner. With Satan!
Jim Halpert: Okay, just so I understand it. In your wildest fantasy, you are in hell and you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
Dwight Schrute: But I haven't told you my salary yet.
Jim Halpert: Go.
Dwight Schrute: Eighty thousand dollars.

Number 12: The Job Description

2011-11-10T07:54:00.000-08:00

I spent some time brainstorming about what I love, and put it into a job description. Now it's time to start networking! So if you ever come across a job that involves some kind of social work, writing, baking, Facebooking, and organizing...I'm your girl. :)

My Ideal Job Description
Type: Full-time
Date Available: Immediate
Status: Open until filled

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide services that help change people’s lives for the good.
• Write regular blog entries/newsletters.
• Bake scrumptious treats to be enjoyed by everyone.
• Plan special events.
• Utilize social networking sites to communicate with consumers.
• Organize things, anything that needs to be organized.

Additional Requirements:

• Requires traveling short distances throughout the day.
• Requires ability to work in a variety of settings, such as home, office, and offsite locations.
• Requires a focus on the Lord, as everything listed above is done for his glory.

Number 24: Halloween

2011-10-31T16:07:00.001-07:00

I'll admit, I did not put any effort whatsoever into number 24. It's got me a tad bit depressed, actually. See, I love dressing up in costume. I love coming up with the perfect idea and then creating my costume from scratch. One year I went as a mouse, and Tobin went as a keyboard. Another year I was a goth. Oh, and one year Tobin and I were both stick people. Our costume was made out of those glowsticks and when it was dark outside, that's all you could see coming at you. (That was the most fun costume I've worn to date in my book). Halloween costumes have been important in my family for as long as I can remember. My mom used to hand sew our costumes every year to ensure that we had original and creative costumes. I have carried that creativity and attention to detail into adulthood.

And that is why my store bought Frankenstein mask from the dollar bin at Target is a bit of a disgrace. But the fact of the matter is, I didn't put any effort into a costume because I didn't have anywhere to go. We still have only managed to make a handful of friends here in Florida and so we did not gain an invite to any Halloween parties this year. In addition, we do not get Trick-Or-Treaters here, so there was no point in dressing up for the kids either. So, sad though it is, the above is my costume for this year, and I honestly only did it so that I could scratch this item off of my list. Not my best effort, but it's done anyway!

Number 23: The Fall Activities

2011-10-31T16:05:00.000-07:00

Well, my Fall activity day turned out to be a Fall activity week. Instead of squeezing all of my fun Fall activities into one single day, I did one activity a day during the week my mom was here visiting me. I love Fall. Fall is my favorite season of all, and it's one of the top things I miss most living in Florida. I miss the crisp, cool weather and the crunch of leaves under my feet. I miss the beautifuly colored trees and the smell of bonfires in the air. Hayrides, corn mazes, and pumpkin carving--all of these things fill the Autumn days with fun.

While the hayride and corn maze was rendered impossible due to a tropical rain storm, I was able to squeeze in some other great Fall activities. We visited a pumpkin patch and picked out pumpkins, which we carved. We made caramel apples (and dipped them in chocolate chips, which I might add is a fabulous way to eat them). I decorated the house for Fall. Even in Florida, Fall activities are fun and exciting! Here are some pictures of the festivities.

Number 28: The Scripture

2011-10-11T07:04:00.000-07:00

The task of memorizing an entire chapter of scripture was difficult to begin because I could not decide on which chapter to memorize. First, I didn’t want pick a chapter that was too short and make it too easy on myself. Second, I didn’t want to pick a Psalm just because many of those are used in worship songs and again I didn’t want it to be too easy. I also, of course, didn’t want to pick anything too long or difficult—I mean, I do want to succeed here. So I landed on Matthew 6. At thirty four verses, this chapter would not be considered too short, nor too long. On top of that, I already had about ten of the verses committed to memory over the years of Sunday school and Bible studies, so I had a good head start on it. Plus, the last few verses about not worrying are ones that the Lord brings to mind often. So here is Matthew 6 (NIV) written from memory. You’ll have to take my word for it that I’m not cheating. If you see me, feel free to put me on the spot and have me recite it for you. I’m up for the challenge.

Matthew 6

Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets like the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be done in secret. And then you’re father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, shut the door, and pray to your father who is unseen. And then your father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like the pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray:

Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For if you forgive man when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive man their sin, your father will not forgive your sin.

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show that they are fasting. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face so that it will not be obvious to anyone that you are fasting, but only to your father who is unseen. Then your father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. If your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If, then, the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

Man cannot serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Therefore, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and your body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you why worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. And yet I tell you that Solomon in all his splendor was not dressed like one of these. If this is how God clothes the grass of the fields, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore, do not worry saying “What shall we eat”, “What shall we drink”, or “What shall we wear?” for the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Number 4: The Story

2011-10-06T09:24:00.001-07:00

My friend gave me some writing prompts one day to cure my boredom. This story is what came out of that.

Her prompts: a story about a girl and YOUR personal TOP 3 Fears (vomit, losing a loved one, spiders). Also include these 4 elements: elephant, tree, a leaf and a window.

So here you have it...

Chelsea’s Day Off

Chelsea Monroe did NOT want to go to school. She could hear her mother’s high heels click against the tile, making her way down the hall to Chelsea’s room. Chelsea had to think fast. There wasn’t much time. She pinched her cheeks hard until they turned bright red, ran her fingers through her hair so that it stuck up all over the place, and mustered up a tear or two behind her eyelids. Just as Chelsea’s mom began to inch open the bedroom door, Chelsea dove under the covers and gave a small groan.

“Chelsea?” her mother asked, “It’s time to leave for school, honey. What are you still doing in bed?”

Chelsea groaned a little louder this time and slowly pulled the covers down, revealing her teary eyes and rosy cheeks.

“Oh, are you not feeling good, baby?” her mother asked, placing her cool hands on Chelsea’s cheeks.

Chelsea shook her head and groaned again. “I feel like I’m going to puke,” she said in a barely audible voice. She felt a twinge of guilt at lying to her mother, but Chelsea pushed the guilt aside.

Chelsea’s mother examined her daughter closely; as Chelsea put on the most pathetic sick face she could muster. “Well,” her mother said, “I suppose I can keep you home from school today. You do look a little flushed and your eyes are watery.”

“Okay, Mom.” Chelsea croaked in her pathetic sickly sounding voice, “But will you stay home with me? To take care of me?” This was, of course, part of the scheme. Chelsea knew very well that her mother would not be able to stay home with her. In fact, if Chelsea had thought her mother would stay home with her, she would not have asked.

Chelsea’s mom hesitated briefly at her daughter’s request. It broke her heart to have to leave her baby girl at home alone when she was sick. But at twelve years old, Chelsea was old enough to stay home alone and Chelsea’s mother could not take time off work on such short notice. “I’m sorry, but I have to go to work, sweetie. I will call to check on you throughout the day. You’ll be okay,” she said.

With that, Chelsea’s mother kissed her daughter’s forehead, tucked the covers around her, and left.

Chelsea waited until she heard her mother lock the front door, then she let a huge grin cross her face and threw back her covers in victory. She crossed her bedroom floor, stepping over books, clothes, and hair accessories, to the window that looked out onto the street. She saw her mother’s car back out the driveway and then make its way down the street. Chelsea watched until she could no longer see the car, and then began dancing around the room.

Chelsea made her way to the kitchen for breakfast. Out of habit, she began to reach for the organic yogurt in the fridge, but she stopped herself. “What am I doing,” Chelsea thought to herself, “Today is my day off! I don’t have to eat mom’s health food!” She rummaged around in the fridge, shoving things this way and that, until she found what she was looking for. Chelsea brought the platter to the kitchen counter. There in front of her were two double fudge brownies leftover from her cousin’s birthday party last weekend.

“Breakfast!” Chelsea shouted. She grabbed a fork and got ready to dig in. Just then, she spotted something on the counter that made her scream at the top of her lungs.

“SPIDER!” Chelsea screamed, “EW! SPIDER!” Chelsea Monroe did NOT like spiders.

Chelsea ran to the hallway closet, grabbed the first tennis shoe she could put her hands on, and ran back to the kitchen. She raised the shoe high above her head, ready to smash it down on the ugly brown spider, when suddenly she realized the spider was no longer there! Panicked, she turned to the right and the left. She looked at every inch of the counter and the floor, but she could not find the spider. The hair on her arms stood on end. She knew the spider was still in the room. She could sense it.

“Are you looking for me?” a male voice with a British accent called out.

Startled, Chelsea froze in place. Was she hearing things? “He—Hello?” she asked timidly to the seemingly empty kitchen.

“Over here!” she heard in reply. The voice sounded like it was coming from her breakfast of brownies. She inched her way over to the plate, and slowly lowered her face to inspect the brownies up close. That’s when she saw him. The brown spider was sitting on top of her brownie, shoving chocolate crumbs into his mouth with one leg and waving hello with another. She gasped and jumped backwards in fright.

“Don’t be afraid!” the spider said in a friendly voice, “I’m just very hungry and when I saw you take these brownies out of the fridge, I knew this was exactly what I was craving. You don’t mind if I share, do you?”

Chelsea had never in her life been asked to share her breakfast with a spider. She suddenly no longer wanted the brownies. “Th—that’s okay. You can have them. I—I’ll just have my yogurt.”

“Very well then,” the spider said, “but could I ask you one favor, love? Would you mind putting down that tennis shoe? You’re putting me on edge a bit.”

Chelsea glanced at the shoe that she held in her hand, still poised to strike. She slowly lowered her arm and let the shoe drop to the floor. Then she pulled her yogurt out of the fridge and began to eat it. “S-so…you’re a spider. A-and. You…talk?”

The spider jumped off the brownie onto the counter, took a bow, and said, “Martin Emery, pleasure to meet you!”

“Chelsea. Chelsea Monroe. But…I still don’t understand. Spiders don’t talk.”

Martin gave Chelsea a puzzled look and said, “Have you tried listening?”

Chelsea had indeed never tried to listen to a spider. It never occurred to her that a spider might have something to say. She took a long look at Martin with his eight legs and tiny brown body. Chelsea Monroe usually did not like spiders, but she was willing to see what her new friend had to say.

“Okay, Martin,” Chelsea said, “What would you like to talk about?”

Martin’s face fell and he sat down on the counter sullenly. “These days I haven’t felt much like talking,” he said, “On account of I can’t find my wife. Oh, how I miss my Lucy. But I don’t know where she is! It all happened three days ago…

Lucy and I were out in the park, enjoying a bit of sunshine. She was napping under a big oak tree and I was getting a little exercise, spinning my web through the leaves. All of a sudden, a strong wind came out of the East and I found myself blowing away from the tree. I held onto my web for dear life as the wind blew me farther and farther away. I could see my Lucy, sleeping so soundly under the tree, getting smaller and smaller in the distance. By the time the wind died down, I found myself gently set upon a dandelion in a field of grass. I was so far away that I could not even see the top of the oak tree. The wind had spun me around on my web and made me dizzy. I wasn’t even sure which direction to go. I set out to the West, hoping I was going the right way, but I never found the oak tree again. I’ve been looking for my Lucy ever since.”

Martin finished his tale, wiping a tear from his eye. Chelsea was close to tears as well and she was suddenly filled with love and compassion for this poor spider that she had intended to smash with her tennis shoe.

“Martin,” Chelsea said with determination, “I will help you find Lucy. Together, we will find your wife.”

“Would you? Would you really? I would appreciate that so much.” Martin said, a smile beginning to play on the corner of his lips.

“I know just where to start!” Chelsea exclaimed with determination. “There is a park down the street with a big oak tree near the playground. If it’s the same oak tree, maybe your Lucy is waiting there for you!”

With that, Chelsea scooped up Martin in the palm of her hand, slipped on her tennis shoes, and off they went. The park was at the end of Chelsea’s street. Since it was a school day, there was no one in sight. Martin crawled up her arm and perched on her shoulder to get a better view. As she entered the park gate, she heard Martin exclaim in her ear, “That’s it, Chelsea! That oak tree is where I last saw my Lucy!”

Chelsea picked up her pace and hurried over to the tree. She began looking carefully along the bark of the tree, hoping to see a female spider sitting there. As she was inspecting the tree, Martin gave a deep sigh. “She’s not here.” Martin said quietly.

“How do you know, Martin?” Chelsea asked, “This is a big tree. Lucy could be up on the highest branch for all we know. You have to keep looking!”

Martin smiled a sad little smile. “She would not be up in the tree, Chelsea. If she were here, I would see her. I would know.” He turned in circles and looked around the park. “In fact, she is not here at all. She is nowhere in this park. My Lucy is gone.” A tear trickled down Martin’s cheek.

Refusing to give up, Chelsea marched on. “She has to be here, Martin! Lucy would not leave you.” Chelsea marched through the park, along the bike path. She marched up the hill and down the hill. She marched past the soccer pitch and marched past the baseball field. She kept walking and walking, all the while asking Martin, “Is she here? Do you see her?”

Finally, after quite some time, Chelsea and Martin heard music. There, at the outskirts of the park, a small traveling circus was set up. When Martin saw this, he got excited. “Go that way, Chelsea! To the circus! My Lucy might be there! She just might be there!”

Chelsea ran toward the circus. She saw a man and a woman practicing on a trapeze. She saw a clown putting on his makeup. She saw a lion in a cage, two horses running circles, and an elephant drinking water.

“THERE SHE IS!” Martin exclaimed, “LUCY! LUCY!”

Chelsea followed Martin’s gaze and started walking toward the animal pen. She did not know how Martin could spot his wife from so far a distance. When she reached the edge of the animal pen, she still could not see any spiders.

Just then, Martin hopped off of Chelsea’s shoulder, onto the wooden post of the animal pen, and then right onto the trunk of the elephant. “LUCY! My Lucy, I thought I had lost you!” he exclaimed.

The elephant’s eyes began to water and she wiggled her ears excitedly. Then, without warning, she gave a loud toot of her horn that sounded distinctly like the word, “Martin!”

Chelsea started at the pair with confusion. “Y-You mean Lucy is…an elephant??”

Martin looked at Chelsea with a grin on his face. “Well of course she is! My beautiful Lucy is an elephant. Thank you for helping me find her. Thank you, Chelsea Monroe!”

For a moment, Chelsea thought about asking more questions about this odd couple. Until today, she didn’t know that spiders could talk, much less marry elephants. Chelsea kept her questions to herself, deciding that the world is full of mysteries she will never know the answers to. It was with a mixture of sadness and relief that Chelsea said her goodbyes to her new friends Martin and Lucy. She then walked back to her house by herself.

As she walked in the front door, she heard the phone ringing. The clock above the fireplace told her it was just after ten o’clock. “Hello?” she answered the phone.

“Hi honey, it’s mom! How are you feeling? Are you any better? What have you been doing this morning?” Chelsea’s mother asked on the other end of the line.

“Hi, mom. I talked with a spider and took him to the traveling circus to find his missing wife, who is an elephant.” Chelsea answered.

Chelsea’s mother paused before saying, “Honey, you must be running fever. Should I come home?”

“No, mom,” Chelsea said with a smile, “I’m feeling much better. I think I will be able to go back to school tomorrow for sure.”

With that, Chelsea hung up the phone and went into the kitchen. She picked up a fork and began eating what was left of the fudge brownies. It was only ten o’clock. She wondered what the rest of her day off had in store for her.

Number 14: The Party

2011-08-16T13:36:00.000-07:00

I almost completely missed the fact that I have completed this item on my list. I don’t know how I could have forgotten given the fact that when I put this on my list, I was specifically thinking about this particular party. With the help of my good friend Lizzie (you may know her as Sarah Fangmann, as that’s her actual name), my friends and I celebrated our collective thirtieth birthday in July when I went home to Cincinnati.

The theme: XXX. Get your mind out of the gutter, I’m not talking about porn. I’m talking about the number THIRTY (XXX in Roman numerals). Lizzie and I hosted the Triple X Olympics for our group of friends. We had four main Olympic events, each of which was comprised of three Minute-To-Win-It inspired games. My favorite game of the day by far was the game in which players had to race to get an orange across the finish line—using only a banana hanging from a string that was tied around their waist! I must say, my friends can move their hips!! Points were awarded for all games and we closed the night with an awards ceremony, in which we handed out medals and trophies. (My favorite was the Booby Prize given to the person with the least amount of points. It was a big bra that said, “We all beat you!” which everyone who scored more points signed).

The day was filled with fun and laughter. The games were fun, the food was great, the pool was perfect, and the company was the best! I definitely miss living in Cincinnati and hosting parties on a more regular basis. This party will go down as a favorite!

Number 26: The Concert

2011-08-07T07:50:00.001-07:00

Last night, Tobin and I drove to Miami to see Hillsong with some friends. It was awesome! Thousands of people from different denominations, races, economical backgrounds, etc. joined together under one roof to worship one God. There are really no words to describe the feeling. After weeks--months even--of overwhelming stress, this was a great way to bring my focus back to what is really important. I have gotten so caught up in the troubles of this world and my negative emotions surrounding those troubles that I had forgotten the most important fact: that through Jesus, I have victory over the trouble!

Jesus says, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." ~John 16:33

Number 3: The Bread

2011-07-30T18:16:00.001-07:00

Every Christmas, my friend Brian bakes this amazing bread. I don't quite know how to describe it other than to say it is the tastiest bread I ever did have. I've often wanted to ask him for the recipe, but I always hesitate because baking bread intimidates me. For some reason, it just seems like baking bread takes a special touch that I'm not confident I have. I have baked all kinds of things from cakes, cookies, and brownies to chicken, biscuits, and casseroles. But I have never attempted bread. Before today, that is.

I am proud to report that I only had one tiny snafu during the whole process! At first, I was using all purpose flour instead of bread flour. Seeing as how I never baked bread before, I think that is an allowable mistake. And I caught it just after I mixed all the dry ingredients together, so I didn't have to re-do much of my work. (Major props to my husband, Tobin, for running out to the store to get me the right kind of flour!)

Oh, and just so you know: if you don't have a 4" circle cutter like the recipe calls for, a large pumpkin shaped halloween cookie cutter substitutes quite nicely. Sure, it doesn't come out perfectly round, but it worked for me! Just make sure to pinch off the stem part...

Without further ado, here is the picture of my finished bread--which I'm happy to report tastes EXACTLY like it does when Brian makes it, which is delicious--followed by the recipe. Enjoy!

Parker House Herb Loaves

4 cups bread flour
2 (1/4 oz) envelopes rapid-rise yeast
2 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp garlic salt
1 1/4 cups milk
1/3 cup butter
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 Tbsp chopped fresh oregano
2 Tbsp choppped fresh basil
2 Tbsp minced onion

Combine 1 cup flour, yeast, sugar, and garlic salt in a large mixing bowl, stir well.

Combine milk and 1/3 cup butter in a saucepan, cook over medium-low heat until mixture reaches 120 degrees, stirring often.

Gradually add hot milk mixture to flour mixture, stirring well. Add eggs, beat at low speed with an electric mixer until blended. Beat 2 minutes at medium speed. Gradually stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough.

Turn dough onto a well-floured surface, and knead until smooth and elastic (about 6-8 mins). Shape into a ball. Place in a well-greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, 30 mins or until doubled in bulk.

Meanwhile, combine 1/2 cup softened butter, herbs, and onion; stir well. Set aside.

Punch dough down; turn out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead lightly 4 or 5 times. divide dough in half. Roll half of dough to 1/4" thickness, cut with a 4" round cutter.

Spread 2 tsp herb butter on tops of dough rounds; fold in half, bringing bottom within 1/4" fo top half, allowing herb butter to peak through top. Place half-moons upright next to each other on a greased baking sheet.

Repeat procedure with remaining dough and herb butter, making a second loaf. Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from drafts, 20 mins or until doubled in bulk.

Bake at 375 for 14 minutes or until lightly browned. Brush loaves with remaining herb butter. Yield: 2 loaves.

Number 25: The Surprise

2011-07-05T08:09:00.000-07:00

I love surprises! I love planning surprises. I love hearing stories about surprises. I love being surprised. So accomplishing Number 25, to plan a surprise for someone, was fun for me to the extreme!

My friend Daniela and I were supposed to go on a week and a half road trip together when both of our husbands were out of town. For scheduling reasons, that did not work out. Then we were going to do a one night getaway. For financial reasons, that did not work out either. So what we were left with was a day at home in Palm Beach County--just like any other day. I decided to turn this into my surprise day to add some excitement!

I took her on a scavenger hunt around town to all the places that mean something to us and at each location, we played a game that we normally play together, only each game had a more extreme twist. I gave her a series of cards with ryhming clues about where she was to go next. The locations included: Chapel by the Lake, the parking spot by the Narnia pole, my house, my chriopractor's office, Longhorn Steakhouse, and her place. Writing the rhymes was fun, but my favorite part was making the games! Daniela and I like to play hangman, tic tac toe, and the question game to pass the time. On the Surprise day, we played all of those games, but an extreme version of them. The games included...

A 3D tic tac toe board, on which you could make three in a row in the usual ways (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) as well as up, down, and accross the three boards. It was challenging fun!

Sidwalk Chalk hangman where there were three phrases, each with its own man waiting to hang, played simlutaneously.

Blindfolded sculpting...this was to replace blindfolded baking because I just didn't have the ingredients to bake something. We sculpted things out of play-doh while blindfolded. The outcome was ridiculous.

The Q Game. I took our traditional question game (in which we basically just ask each other questions back and forth) and made it into a card game. This was my favorite one to make. Maybe I'll patent it one day...best not write about the playing cards I made up so no one steals my idea!

The day culminated in a good old fashioned sleepover--a rare event for the married woman. I don't know about Daniela, but I know that I had a blast both preparing the surprise and executing it. Success!

Number 10: The Wedding

2011-06-08T08:52:00.000-07:00

On June 4th, I successfully completed item #10 on my list: pull off my first job as a wedding baker. I feel honored to have been able to participate in my friend Erin's special day by providing the cupcakes and top tier cake for her wedding. Baking cake for a wedding was never something I thought I would do. Baking has always been a hobby of mine, but I never even imagined it would be possible that someone would actually pay me to do it!

I must say, the experience was stressful! I put a lot of pressure on myself to make everything perfect. (Note that the pressure was coming from me and not from the bride!). After hours of mixing and beating and piping, I was feeling like I had bitten off more than I could chew. But on Saturday when I delivered those cakes and saw the smile on Erin's face, I was elated. If my baked goods can make people smile like that, I would go through hours more mixing and beating and piping just to make it happen.

Here are some pics from the finished product. The cake was white chocolate flavor with raspberry filling and a cream cheese frosting.

Number 16: The Massage

2011-05-31T06:18:00.000-07:00

Reading through my list of things to do while I'm 30, there was one clear winner that stood out as my first task to accomplish: the massage. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I'm considering making it a requirement upon completing the other 29 items on the list. I would like to thank Ricardo at Massage Envy for knowing how to rub a girl the right way.

The massage was an awesome way to end a great three day weekend. On Friday, I was not in the best of moods. I had been in a funk all week long. Homesickness, frustration with myself, and a little depression had begun to rule my heart last week. I refused to talk to anyone if I could help it. I even told Tobin (my husband) on Friday night, "Just don't talk to me. I'm going to bed early. I will wake up tomorrow and be in a better mood." Honestly, I wasn't sure that was a promise I could keep. But it turns out I did wake up in a better mood! "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning." (Lamentations 3:22-23)

So after a weekend of checking things off my daily to-do list, making good food, meeting new friends, and a little shopping spree, the massage was the final cherry on top of my long weekend sundae.

Birthday!

2011-05-16T15:22:00.000-07:00

And so it begins. I’m thirty! I’ve been psyching myself up for this day for a while now—or at least trying to psych myself up. I must say that this day is bothering me a lot more than I’d care to admit. I am experiencing a wave of emotions that range from optimistic to depressed. It’s not that I think 30 is old. The age itself is not what’s getting to me. When I stop and realize how quickly my life has flown by, that’s when the anxiety creeps in. The fleetingness of this life is a reality I’m faced with today. Thinking about how quickly the past ten years have flown by makes me anxious about the next ten years. My life is slipping by so quickly it makes my head spin...and I hear it only goes faster as more time goes by!

Part of the reason I made this list and this blog is to help myself make the most of my life. I don’t want my days to slide by in ho-hum monotony. I want to have fun. I want to try new things. I want to keep on top of things that are important. Mostly, I want to LIVE my life. I may not be able to control how fast my days go by, but I can at least make sure I’m doing things that make them meaningful.

I will be updating this blog on a regular basis as I scratch things off my list, and I hope you will come along for the ride. I welcome your comments and feedback, and I’d love to hear what kinds of things would be on your list!

Here’s to being 30!

COMING SOON!

2011-03-14T07:42:00.000-07:00

I turn 30 on May 16th, 2011. That is when my adventure (and this blog) will begin.