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Thirty Before Thirty

June 15, 2011 By Amy @ Positively Splendid

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So….It’s T-minus one month and counting (give or take) before I hit a very big milestone in my adult life.

The Big. Three. Oh!

Wow.ย 

Despite my ever-increasing patch of grey and the fact that pregnancy-induced sciatica has reduced me to walking like a woman three times my age, I really am feeling okay with this. Much better than I ever dreamed I would.

Really!

I have been so immensely blessed to have thirty wonderful trips around the sun.

Nearly eight of those have been spent married to the love of my life.

Five of those have been spent relishing the life-altering privilege that is being a mother.

And all of those have been spent bestowed with an outpouring of blessings I could never rightfully deserve, the immensity of which I could never adequately convey.

I posted quite some time ago about a project I wanted to pursue as I approached my thirtieth, something known as a Thirty Before Thirty list. About a week ago, I lay awake kicking myself for having waited too long to actually follow through on that goal. After all, one month isn’t long enough to do much of anything grand.

No time to write a book.
Or travel to an exotic locale.
Or go skydiving.ย 
(Admittedly, that last one would have been out anyway, considering my current pregnant state. ๐Ÿ˜‰

As I was ruminating over why I had let my Thirty Before Thirty opportunity pass me by, I had a sudden epiphany:

The things that have made my life so far the most grand haven’t been, in and of themselves, grand at all. They have been everyday kernels of beauty that I have picked up along the path of my journey and tucked gently into the pocket of my heart.

Watching a beautiful sunset.
Eating a delectable meal.
Spending time with those I love best.

And so, my Thirty Before Thirty list will, indeed, come to fruition. And it will be filled with everyday, ordinary items like these. Things that to any other person might seem mundane or boring, but to me, constitute the fiber of who I have become over the course of the last thirty years, and who I hope to be once thirty more have come to pass.

Over the course of the next few weeks, I plan to share snippets of my Thirty Before Thirty experience with all of you each Wednesday. I have much to accomplish, but I am eager to get started!

My Thirty Before Thirty

1. Go on a date night with my hubby.
2. Cook something with an ingredient I’ve never used before.
3. Treat myself to a manicure and pedicure.
4. Write letters to those I love.
5. Update our framed photos.
6. Spend a day totally unplugged from the internet.
7. Finish organizing my craft closet.
8.ย Do something special with Jack, just the two of us.
9. Do something special with Charlotte.
10. Do something special with Cecily.
11. Buy an outfit for the new baby.
12. Buy lunch for a stranger in a drive-through.
13. Watch fireworks.
14. Eat breakfast in bed.
15. Read a book.
16. Relish a New Mexico sunset.
17. Get my house professionally cleaned.
18. Call my grandparents.
19. Learn to use my serger.
20. Can some of my hubby’s salsa.
21. Buy something on Craig’s List.
22. Paint my hutch.
23. Make s’mores.
24. Run through the sprinklers.
25. Try a new type of cuisine.
26. Buy a new camera.
27. Enroll in a photography class.
28. Surprise a friend by picking up her kids to watch for the morning.
29. Take an afternoon to go thrifting.
30. Eat the hottest hot wings I can find.

Thank you so much for sharing this journey with me!

Photobucket

Amy @ Positively Splendid
Amy @ Positively Splendid

Having grown up in a home brimming with sewing notions and paintbrushes, Amy has a deep love for all things creative. On any given day, you’ll find her knee-deep in her latest creative endeavor, with projects ranging from sewing and crafts to home decor and kid-friendly ideas. Amy believes that everyone, regardless of skill level or experience, possesses the ability to create something beautiful, and Positively Splendid was born of her passion for helping others harness their innate creative potential.

EVEN MORE GREAT IDEAS JUST FOR YOU!

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Filed Under: Personal Tagged With: 30 before 30, Life

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Comments

  1. Kat says

    June 15, 2011 at 11:05 am

    What a great list and definitely looks do-able within a month!

    Hope your sciatica gets better soon. Another blog I follow, she had that bad with her pregnancy and she used The Miracle Ball: Pregnancy one.

  2. Sugar_Tart says

    June 15, 2011 at 11:38 am

    I think you can fit it all in, or at least make a darn good dent!

    Thanks for reminding me to dig out my bucket list though, I try to cross a few things off each year. (and end up adding 10 more ;D)

  3. Jennifer says

    June 15, 2011 at 11:54 am

    I think your list is wonderful. I create a list every summer with the kids but I never have created one for me. Thanks for the inspiration.
    Jennifer
    http://www.bigdandme.com

  4. brlracincwgrl says

    June 15, 2011 at 1:00 pm

    What a wonderful list! :). I’ve been meaning to do one of these for myself, I think I will!

    Have a great day!

  5. Samantha says

    June 15, 2011 at 1:18 pm

    Can’t wait for the skipping through sprinklers! I only wish I didn’t live in such a cold/wet country so I could join you! xx

  6. Jenay Hale says

    June 15, 2011 at 1:26 pm

    Love the list!

  7. Amy says

    June 15, 2011 at 1:50 pm

    I suggest for your new ingredient try using Garam Masala, an Indian spice, to make homemade Chicken tikka masala. You will LOVE! Good luck making the post of the rest of 29!

  8. faith @ life as a yates says

    June 15, 2011 at 2:21 pm

    What a great list! I wish I did something like this when I hit mine last September! Maybe I can do a 31 before 31? Lol doesn’t sound as cool hehe.

    Looking forward to reading about you knocking out this list one by one!

  9. Kelli @ RTSM says

    June 15, 2011 at 2:22 pm

    I love your list! I so want to get my house professionally cleaned:) And are you headed to New Mexico soon…how fun! We just made our first Craig’s list purchase yesterday and it was a big one:)

  10. ellie g says

    June 15, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    Yay! I love this idea, Amy. And I love that it’s “doable”. I think the drive-thru one is my favorite. That’s something my hubs would totally do. Can’t wait to see you accomplish these!

  11. mary kathryn @ mathews family happenings says

    June 15, 2011 at 3:31 pm

    oh Amy, what a wondeful list you’ve got! Good luck with it! I just did this same thing myself (only it was a 31 by 31…ha)

    http://mathewsfamilyhappenings.blogspot.com/p/31-by-31.html

    Hope you’re having a great day!

  12. Jen @ My Own Road says

    June 15, 2011 at 3:53 pm

    What a great idea!! And it’s true, the things you truly treasure tend to be those small, everyday occurrences. I might have to make a list of my own!

  13. Terri Sue says

    June 15, 2011 at 3:53 pm

    dear amy,
    having turned 53 this year i wish i had thought to do something like this every year. what a blessing you are. i have had a pedicure on my wish list for 5 years now and still my husband hasn’t gotten it in his head that i REALLY want one. my daughter and 4 year old granddaughter each had one a couple of weeks ago. they were able to paint tiny little daisies on her big toes. i gushed and gushed. my husband? what a big waste of money. you go for it!

  14. Michele {The Scrap Shoppe} says

    June 15, 2011 at 4:02 pm

    Love your new list, Amy! Its very down to earth and totally doable. Just as it should be! Call me when you get to #29. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  15. ginger @ literally inspired says

    June 15, 2011 at 4:57 pm

    I love your list! It if is filled with meaningful and special things to do! I hope you get to all of them (and write about it of course). I am at the 6 month mark until the big 3-0. I need start thinking about my list soon.

  16. Amy says

    June 15, 2011 at 5:23 pm

    Hi Amy,
    As I read your post, I realize how much we have in common. I turn 30 on 7/17, have been married 8 years, have 3 kids, and am expecting #4 in October…oh, and my name is Amy too!! Your list looks fabulous and I’d jump right in and follow suit, except that I’ve been confined to bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy!! Have fun preparing for your 30th and keep posting about the things you do on your list. That way I can live vicariously through you!! Congratulations on #4 and your 30th! Both big accomplishments.
    Oh–and about gray hair, I found my first recently and when I told my hubby, he said “Aren’t you glad you’ve lived long enough to get them.” That changed my perspective ๐Ÿ™‚

  17. The Prudent Homemaker says

    June 15, 2011 at 10:41 pm

    Creative Live has free online web photography classes (you can buy them afterwards if you want, but they are free if you watch live). They have several coming up. You just have to sign up for them on their site.

    I vote for cardamom for your ingredient!

  18. Cha Cha says

    June 15, 2011 at 11:39 pm

    All I can say is PERFECTION, love your view on life-love you.

    You are an inspiration,
    Cha Cha

  19. Jennwith4 says

    June 16, 2011 at 5:28 am

    Love the updated list! I’ve got a few months left to work on my list. ๐Ÿ™‚

  20. Nancy says

    June 23, 2011 at 2:27 am

    Wonderful idea! I am also turning 30 soon, and I also have a baby on the way! In fact, it is quite possible that the baby and I might share a birthday! In any case, I have felt like something’s missing from life, even though I’m totally busy with my toddler. This is it! I need my own 30 before 30. I am not going to read your actual list, because I want mine to really be mine. When I post about mine, I will link back to you. Great idea! Thanks for sharing!

  21. Nancy says

    June 23, 2011 at 2:28 am

    P.S. You can find us at thekellynewlyweds.blogspot.com ๐Ÿ™‚

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