30 before 30 update

It's always on my mind. I'm a goal-oriented person, and I want to accomplish everything I set out to do. Here's a little update on where I stand with my list, if, for nothing else, to help myself be accountable.

1. Pay off a student loan [making headway!]
2. Learn how to do my eye makeup [March 2013]
3. Go to Alaska [will have to wait until Josh is done with school]
4. Catch a fish [attempted at Josh's class reunion last year; still have yet to catch anything]
5. Learn how to ski [does watching the winter Olympics count?]
6. Make a quilt [April 2013] [I made another one this past weekend for an upcoming baby shower]
7. Sip wine in Sonoma [on the summer agenda; may combine with a Seattle work trip]
8. Visit all five Great Lakes [Ontario, Huron, Erie, and Michigan in May 2012] [hope to see Superior on our way back from my Maine roadtrip...see #15]
9. Sail on a sailboat [on the summer agenda]
10. Learn how to play chess [Josh might have to spend his entire spring break next month trying to help me]
11. Read Pride & Prejudice [I opened the book...and I'm on page 5]
12. Go to a zoo [September 2012]
13. Run a 5K [October 2012]
14. Run a 10K [signed up for the Drake Relays 10K in April]
15. Eat lobster in Maine [a roadtrip for summer 2014 is planned; i have an amazing itinerary mapped out] 
16. Build a sandcastle [April 2013]
17. Drive down the California coast [it's on the top of my list...see #7]
18. Try paddle boarding [summer 2014?]
19. Build a snowman [May 2013]
20. Donate 10” of hair to Locks of Love [plan on donating 8" of hair to Pantene this summer]
21. Venture to the bottom of the Grand Canyon [how many trips can I plan in 2014...]
22. Learn how to square dance [Emily, the next time we're together, you're going to show me]
23. Grow a garden [May 2012]
24. Wear size 27 J.Crew jeans [this happened, but I forgot to post about it]
25. Visit Yellow Stone [see #21]
26. Go zip lining [maybe at the Iowa State Fair this summer?]
27. Be in more than one place at once [June 2012]
28. Ride a day of RAGBRAI [might be able to do the Forest City to Mason City route on July 23]
29. Enter a contest at the Iowa State Fair [gluten-free dessert or a sewing project? can't decide yet]
30. Spend the day helping someone else [volunteered with Rebuilding Together back in October, but forgot to post about it; I was changing jobs that week]

embracing being 28

Josh's ten year class reunion is this weekend, and I think I'm finally coming to grips with the fact that I also graduated from high school ten years ago.  And, that the girls who were freshmen at Kappa last year were born in the year I graduated from kindergarten.  I also had a moment last week, while meeting with the officer I advise at Kappa, where I was talking about things that were obviously before her time...and I realized it only when she gave me the nicest, blank look.  Shoot.  I wonder how long I'd lost her...

So, here's to being 28 and relating far too much with these buzzfeed posts: 30 Signs You're Almost 30 and Life in Your Early 20s v. Your Late 20s.

October 2003 - our first photo together

On the to do list: accomplish more on my 30 before 30 list...

I Built A Snowman on May 3

On May 3, the Des Moines area received 3.4 inches of snow.  What the heck?  I guess it was a good thing, though, because it allowed me time to cross off one more thing on my 30 before 30 list: make a snowman.

Sophie was confused.  They mowed the lawn three days ago.

Not my best shoe selection

Sophie is so helpful at snowman making

Frosty the Snowman

Michigan Getaway

Back in April, a few friends from college met up in Sawyer, Michigan, for the weekend.  Both the company and the general area were fabulous.  Here are a few photos from the weekend.  The most important one, mind you, is the photo of a completed sandcastle.  It was my first time making one and number 16 on my 30 before 30 list.  Thanks, Michaun, for always being willing to help me cross things off my list (we worked on number eight of 30 last summer).  You're the best.  And thanks for being so photogenic.

No get-together is complete without food

I Made a Quilt

I've wanted to make a quilt for a long time, but I've never had the real motivation to actually complete one.  Here's the somewhat long story of how the quilt came to be.  Check off number 6 on my 30 before 30 list.  Done and done.

The quilt on the bed with a mini blanket

Front and back of the quilt

Started the project at 9:30 pm; finished at 2:00 am

About a month two months ago, Emily asked if I'd make some minky changing pads for her baby.  I purchased two yards of red, one yard of white, and two yards of green minky fabric from Jo-Ann Fabric to make the changing pads (the white was a remnant and sold at 75% off).  Since I had no idea how much fabric it would take to make the changing pad covers, I figured what I had would work and I'd go from there.  Thanks to my sister (and a few google searches with patterns), the changing pad covers turned out perfectly (we added a strip of elastic sewn between the long lengths in the center of the pad for extra slip-resistance).  The changing pads took about one yard each to make.  With the leftover fabric (and three yards total of flannel fabric), I pieced together the quilt as I went along.  Without any planning at all, the quilt folds in half lengthwise to fit perfectly in the crib.  The little white ties were a last-minute finishing touch that also ensures the quilt stays flat.  I love how both the quilt and changing pads turned out and really hope Emily does, too.

Minky changing pad cover - harder to make than it looks

Makeup (Almost) Mastered

I've been attempting to master my makeup for the past year - primarily my eye makeup.  It always feels like a hassel, but I want to want to love doing it.  I have a co-worker who inspires me to be a pro at makeup application.  She's fabulous.  I aspire to have her skills one day...

Anyway, I'm me.  I'm not flashy and I don't typically do anything fancy with my makeup.  Keep it simple, right?

I've had a few sessions with wonderful Patrick from Vanity & Glamour over the past year or so, but today I think I'm feeling good enough about my eye makeup to cross that off my 30 before 30 list.  I have to admit, starting with eye primer helps a lot.

The Color Run

On Saturday, I participated in The Color Run in Des Moines.  There were two waves of races - one at 1 PM, and another at 4 PM - with a total of approximately 27,000 participants (and 600 volunteers) according to the Des Moines Register.  Gena and Luke drove down from Minneapolis, and Kari drove down from Ames, and we all ran together (well, we walked and talked a lot, too).  We arrived around noon for the 1 PM race, and ended up being in the first wave of the race (there were about 13 waves).  I had a blast.  I would love to do it again.

Check number13 off my 30 before 30 list!  And then Gena found this other fun run, The Glo Run.  I think it sounds super fun to run at night with a glow-in-the-dark shirt and three other pieces of glow swag.  Sign me up!

Baby Fever

I haven't caught the baby fever that seems to be sweeping my friends (yet), however I have an appreciation for babies.  I think Jessica's Baby J is super cool (she's like a miniature Jessica), and Heather's sweet Baby T melts my heart (just scroll down to see some adorable pictures).  I had the pleasure of spending Sunday through Wednesday in St. Louis with Heather and her family.  I miss having Heather living less than five minutes from my house, so spending any amount of time with her is always special.  In the past few months, I can't believe how much Baby T has grown and developed.  He can crawl like crazy now (I'm pretty sure he'll be a track star), and pulls himself up on whatever he can grab (furniture, people, etc.).  Here are just a few pictures from my STL adventure (including a trip to the zoo - scratch number 12 off my 30 before 30 list!).  I can't wait to go back and visit again.  STL is actually quite lovely in the fall. 

Happy baby pulled himself up on the sofa.

Baby with bunny ears

STL Zoo

 

He makes the cutest faces!

Sweet Alison loves to cuddle up on the sofa (especially during nap time).

Seriously, you can't help but love this little guy!

Alison missed me very much!

Group photos are hard with kids and dogs.  Lesson learned.

Sweet Baby T

I kept having to back up to take this photo since Baby T kept speeding up his crawl.

Nothing Compares to the Iowa State Fair

On Sunday, Jessica and I went to the fair. I love the fair. I've gone every year since I moved to Iowa (except for last year). When I moved here, I didn't realize the fair was such a big deal to the state, as well as to everyone who lives in the Des Moines area. I grew up in North Dakota...with a population of 600,000...and I never attended a state fair there. Did anyone?

Anyway, since I was too busy to go to the fair last year, I was determined to go this year (I needed to do research for my 30 before 30 goals - hopefully 6 and 29 I can cross of next year!). A few months back, I bought Rascal Flatts tickets for Jessica and I. The concert was at the grandstand at the fair on the last day of the fair, so I knew I'd be able to attend this year's fair at least once. Sure enough, I attended once. It was both our first experiences at the grandstand. We had terrible tickets (section YZ, row 19, seats 5 &6). It was about as far away from the stage as it could have been. Before the concert started, Jessica and I walked around, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells (all good and bad). They are below.  Also, I should note that finding g-free food at the fair wan't too bad.  Since Jessica knows where every vendor is (I'm pretty sure going to the fair multiple times every year for the past 27 years has helped her with that skill), I just suggested foods I wanted, and she took me there.  I had lemonade, porkchop on a stick, and we shared her cup of watermelon.  It was all delicious!

Fresh lemonade at the fair is the best!

933 pounds of pumpkin

The famous butter cow is a staple sight to see.

Pork chop on a stick

Some of the quilts on display

Rascal Flatts concert ticket

The view of the grandstand and Midway from our seats

When Jessica and I were sitting in the wrong seats...

Turns out, we were 15 seats closer to the stage than we originally thought!

Rascal Flatts performing live!

Next weekend, I'm going up to Minnesota for Cassie's wedding (I can't believe it's already here!), and I plan to hit up the Minnesota State Fair while I'm there. We'll see how it compares...

Drive-In Movie Theater

I've always been enthralled with the idea of drive-ins.  To be honest, I'm a little surprised it didn't make it on my 30 before 30 list.  Anyway, on Saturday, Josh and I are planning our first date since he started law school.  Since I have a baby shower in Des Moines Saturday morning, and then the Rascal Flatts concert on Sunday at the Iowa State Fair, we decided to try our first "meet-in-the-middle" date night.  I heard about the drive-in movie theater in Newton a while back, but always thought driving an hour to watch a movie was quite ridiculous (since there is a movie theater five minutes from my house, why would I drive any further than that?).  Well, the hour drive for a movie is actually perfect since it's right in the middle for both Josh and I to drive.  Plus, the main feature is The Bourne Legacy, a movie we wanted to see together anyway.  Then, upon completing further research, I discovered the Pizza Ranch in Newton has a gluten-free menu.  It looks like we'll be having g-free pizza and a drive-in movie on Saturday.  Knowing I have this to look forward to, will hopefully make this week a little more manageable...

Pizza Ranch's g-free menu, part 1

Pizza Ranch's g-free menu, part 2

Also, I feel it's important for me to put aside my preconceived ideas of Pizza Ranch being grungy small-town Midwest (read: outdated) restaurants that didn't stand a chance (I've been questioning the opening of a new Pizza Ranch in Ankeny since I learned about it).  I was wrong.  Pizza Ranch isn't hokey...and since they offer a g-free menu, I'm pretty sure - unless the g-free menu is awful - I'll be frequenting their establishments often.

Summer Reads

When I finished graduate school two years ago, I was sure I'd have oodles of free time to read.  So far...I haven't really done much.  However, I have a stack of books at home that I'm going to read before I buy any new books.  I have an addiction.  If only I was a speed reader.  So, below are some of the books (and magazines) I plan to read (in addition to Pride and Prejudice, which is on my 30 before 30 list).

1. The Art of Racing In The Rain (makes me think Sophie will come back as a human) 

2. 50 Shades of Grey (guilty pleasure)

3. 50 Shades Darker (another guilty pleasure)

4. Imagine (a book that makes me think of all the great reads from grad school) 

5. Skinny Bitch (for healthy eating)

I should make a note, that these are the only books I can recall at the moment that are sitting on my nightstand.  I know I have two stacks...and this is about 40% representable of them.

Then, I'd also like to commit to actually reading the magazines I get in the mail.  I'm really going to make an effort to stay on top of these and read each issue I receive this summer.

1. Better Homes & Gardens

2. Real Simple

3. Fitness

Also, yesterday I updated my magazine subscriptions.  I'm looking forward to checking out my new monthly issues of Midwest Living and Eating Well.  Maybe this will help me discover more to love in the Midwest and broaden my gluten-free menus.

Speaking of the Midwest, I found this shirt on a trip to see Heather in St. Louis, and I can't stop thinking about it.  Maybe she'll bring one up for me on her next trip to Des Moines (subtle hint, I know...I would probably feel comfortable in a size medium...in case you're reading this).

Indiana Roadtrip

After what seemed like the longest week I've had in a while, Josh and I headed out to Indiana after work yesterday.  To catch you up, when we were on our way back from New York a couple of weeks ago, Josh test drove a car in Indiana and really liked it.  So, that's where we were headed after work last night.  We drove about five hours, and then stayed at a Holiday Inn in Joliet, Illinois.  The hotel was at least 20 years old...and it smelled like the boxes my grandma used to send me when I was little (stale smoke).  It's funny how certain smells and memories stick with you.

Anyway, this morning Josh and I drove out to Middlebury, Indiana, and picked up his car.  Then, we turned right around and drove home.  We stopped once for gas, once at Subway for Josh, and one final stop at the Williamsburg Outlet Mall.  Other than that, we were on the road all day.

Josh's car - a 2007 Mazda Speed 6

I did the math.  In 24 hours, we drove more than 900 miles, drove through 3 states, stayed at 1 crappy hotel, and finally made it home with Josh's car.  It only took two cross-country trips to get his car...  So, after spending the last 24 hours getting Josh his car, I'm crossing one off my 30 before 30 list:  Spend a day helping someone else.  So, here is my updated list.

30 before 30

1. Pay off a student loan
2. Learn how to do my eye makeup
3. Go to Alaska
4. Catch a fish
5. Go skiing
6. Make a quilt
7. Sip wine in Sonoma
8. Visit all five Great Lakes {In May 2012, I visited four of the five Great Lakes.  I hope to get Superior in this fall, perhaps on a 50th birthday trip with my mom?!}
9. Sail on a sailboat
10. Learn how to play chess
11. Read Pride & Prejudice
12. Go to a zoo {I'm hoping to go to the St. Louis or Omaha zoo with Heather and Baby T.}
13. Run a 5K {I'm signed up to run the Color Run in October with Kari, Gena and Luke!}
14. Run a 10K
15. Eat lobster in Maine {I may have a photo shoot there this summer...}
16. Build a sandcastle {Hopefully this happens when Emily and I go to Michigan this summer.}
17. Drive down the California coast
18. Try paddle boarding
19. Build a snowman
20. Donate 10" of hair to Locks of Love {I'm growing it out now!}
21. Venture to the bottom of the Grand Canyon {Michaun and I hope to go in September when we visit Las Vegas for my sister's wedding.}
22. Learn how to square dance
23. Grow a garden {Done in May 2012!  Already enjoying the fruits of my labor!}
24. Wear my size 27 J.Crew jeans
25. Visit Yellowstone National Park
26. Go ziplining
27. Be in more than one place at once {Done in May 2012 standing on the International Boundary Line dividing the US and Canada.}
28. Ride a day of RAGBRAI
29. Enter a contest at the Iowa State Fair
30. Spend a day helping someone else {Done today!}

New York Roadtrip

Last week, Josh and I flew to Buffalo, New York, to buy Josh a car (I mentioned it here).  The car didn't work out, but we managed to have a pretty fun time in spite of the disappointment.  More than 18 hours on the road, and more than 1,000 miles later, here's our adventure.

The first day was an adventure.  We arrived a little before noon, and then had the afternoon to spend exploring Buffalo and get up to Niagara Falls.  The Falls were simply amazing.  I've never seen something quite so beautiful in my life...and I don't even like things outside.  That's saying something.  God knew what he was doing when he made this! We walked around the whole park, then ventured over to Canada for a couple of hours.  On our drive back to our hotel, we stopped at Duff's Famous Wings in Amherst.  The Buffalo wings were delicious...not breaded and perfectly spicy.

On, he second day, Friday, we did the car thing in the morning, and then kept our rental car.  We drove from Buffalo, New York, up Lake Ontario and ended up having an amazing late lunch at Baranga's at the Beach in Hamilton, Ontario.  The restaurant, oddly enough, was like being at a Mexican resort.  The stucco building, fresh food, and light beaches along the water felt like the resort Josh and I spent our honeymoon in Mexico.  On a whim, we decided to head up to Toronto, just to say we'd done it.  Then, we drove to Sarnia, Ontario, to see Lake Huron.  After a couple pictures, we hopped back in the car and drove to our hotel near the Detroit airport.

The third day, Saturday, consisted of lots of driving.  We drove from Detroit to Lake Erie for a couple of pictures, and then passed through Toledo (again, just to say we'd done it) on our way to have lunch with my family in Elkhart, Indiana.  After lunch, Josh test drove another car, and then we drove to Chicago to meet Rod and Michaun.  We went to dinner with our Chicago tour guides (aka:  Rod and Michaun), and then walked around Millennium Park.  It was so fun to see the park at night which was very different from when I saw it on a morning walk in April.

The fourth day, Sunday, was filled with lots of sun and outdoor Chicago activities.  After brunch, we went on an architectural boat tour along the Chicago River.  I learned so much about Chicago history and architecture, like Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer was created by Montgomery Ward in Chicago in 1939.  I guess I thought he has been around since Santa...but that's probably just my sheltered childhood coming through.  Once the boat tour was over, Rod and Michaun took me to Lake Michigan to check it off my 30 before 30 list.  We quickly freshened up, and then went to dinner at Chop House.

By the fifth day, Monday and Memorial Day, Josh and I were exhausted, but not too tired to see two more cars before we left Chicago.  Once we returned the rental car at the Des Moines airport and drove home, it was close to 5 PM.  So, from Thursday at 5 AM to Sunday at 5 PM, we logged more miles, experiences, lakes, and memories than I could have ever imagined.  It's a good life I have...  Thanks for being a part of it!

Niagara Falls, New York

I'm in two places at once!

Duff's Famous Buffalo Wings | Amherst, New York

Baranga's at the Beach | Hamilton, Ontario

Lake Huron | Sarnia, Ontario

Rod & Michaun at Buckingham Fountain | Chicago

In front of Buckingham Fountain | Chicago

Chicago Skyline

Chicago River Architectural Boat Tour

Lake Michigan | Chicago