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Thirty Before Thirty

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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. 

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. 
(Admittedly, that last one would have been out anyway, considering my current pregnant state. 😉

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. 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!

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Comments

  1. Kat says

    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

    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)

  5. Samantha says

    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

  7. Amy says

    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

    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

    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

    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!

  13. Terri Sue says

    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!

  15. ginger @ literally inspired says

    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

    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 🙂

  17. The Prudent Homemaker says

    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!

  20. Nancy says

    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!