30 (be)fore 30

Today I am 25 -a whole quarter-century! Yikes. It's funny your perception of adult-hood when you're younger - I remember thinking that by the time I was 25 I would surely be making millions, traveling the world, and living a life similar to a character in Sex & the City. Perception (and ignorance) is funny, isn't it?

While my current reality is far from my 16-year old dreams, I feel fortune to be celebrating another year of life today. My first 25 years brought a lot of new beginnings and a few endings, but I am most thankful for the roller coaster that is life - it's far from easy, but isn't it beautiful how all events, however big or small, good or bad, seem to shape us and teach us who we are?

In celebration of my quarter-century birthday, I've compiled a list of 30 things (both significant & insignificant) that I'd love to accomplish before the next milestone age...30. (double yikes!)

1. Learn Italian.

2. Travel to Italy.

3. Host Thanksgiving and/or Christmas for my family.

4. Visit the Grand Canyon.

5. Buy a home.

6. Throw a themed party, turn it into an annual celebration.

7. Plant a garden.

8. Complete the Contentment Challenge.

9. Find a signature scent.

10. Attend the olympics (I'm thinking Rio!)

11. Develop a respectable taste in wine, then visit Napa Valley.

12. Join or start a club (I'm think book or brunch).

13. Learn to appreciate the winter & cloudy days.

14. Take photography classes. 

15. Get my motorcycle licensee and finally ride my scooter.

16. Visit Disneyland.

17. Spend a weekend at a cabin without cell phone or internet service.

18. Go vegan (or at least try for a month).

19. Visit Maine in the summer. Indulge in multiple lobster rolls.

20. Figure out how to cook an egg so that it actually looks edible.

21. Travel to at least one new city every year.
22. Learn how to (successfully) make my husband's grandmother's famous German Chocolate Cake.
23. Know what it means to be so content in who I am that I don't worry about what other's may think.
24. Find a balance between spending time online & reading a book.
25. Learn how to reupholster and repaint furniture without it looking like a 5th grade art project.
26. See Jay-Z and Kanye West in concert (judge all you want, I love 'em).
27. Go to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.
28. Try one new restaurant every month.
29. Attend a music festival (any recommendations? I'm thinking Lollapoolza).
30. Stop being hesitant to share my faith boldly and confidently with others.