30 While 30

Evelyn does the exact same thing to me when I read Green Eggs and Ham. It's genetic. 

So I turned 30 about a week ago, and because you all know I love a good list and goal-setting session, I decided to play the "30 While 30" game and see what I can get done this year. I had a list of things I wanted to get done before turning 30, mostly because I always had 30 in my mind as some sort of moment when the switch flips and I'm officially an adult. I wanted to get married, to be finished having kids, graduate and get a real career, have a house and a car and all that. And I checked those things off the list. I feel like the switch flipped, in a good way though. Those milestones are met. I'm free to work, play, love, and pay back the life-crushing debt incurred by getting that sparkly PhD (a decision I made in my 20s, when I was just a crazy kid).

So I give you, in no particular order, the list of 30 things I'll do to celebrate this year:

1. Earn my mom of the year badge by hosting an elaborate birthday party for the kiddos
2. Get published again
3. Lose 30 lbs. 
4. Get some pants tailored to fit right
5. Successfully bake yeast bread from scratch
6. Dress up for Halloween
7. Write and mail a hand-written note to someone at least once a month
8. Pull an awesome prank
9. Complete my first triathlon (this one)
10. Watch a sunrise
11. Spend a weekend away with just Jonathan
12. Donate blood
13. Paint a picture
14. Go 30 days without buying anything new (except for food)
15. Participate in a research study
16. Do something big and spontaneous
17. Swim in the sea
18. Visit that church I've wanted to visit forever
19. Organize the garage and purge stuff in the garage, closets, and attic (take to Goodwill)
20. Join and complete my goals with the Durham County Library summer reading program
21. Get a mani/pedi with a friend
22. Sleep for 8 uninterrupted hours, at least once
23. Take my first ride in a hot air balloon
24. Install flooring
25. Send someone homemade cookies
26. Learn to do simple makeup
27. Climb a mountain
28. Go to a live play
29. Go to Durham Bulls game
30. Take a vacation day, go somewhere awesome, and do something awesome, all by myself