Wow! What a Year! {The List}

My 31st birthday is tomorrow, so I figured that this would be a perfect time to revisit THE LIST and the progress I've made on it this past year. July 1st was also our anniversary of arriving in Louisiana, so it's an opportune time for reflection all away around.

I've made really good progress on my list. All in one year I've moved south, bought a new home, gotten a promotion (THE SHELF), and learned a lot about myself. I think I'm in love with being in my 30s and this has been possibly the best year yet!

As I look at the list today, there are things that definitely need revising. #11, #19, #20 are things that I no longer have any desire to do. Writing is the furthest thing from my mind right now, wearing red lipstick is just not who I am, and going to MI (up North or otherwise) gives me a headache. In the next few weeks I'm going to be revising this list so that it reflects who I am now.

35 before 35


1. own my own home (again)



2. spend my anniversary on a beach



3. finish my masters degree (DONE DONE DONE DONE!!!!!)



4. get THE SHELF



5. put THE SHELF in an office of my own



6. relocate to the South



7. decorate my living room



8. have a real dinner party



9. learn to French braid (Still room for improvement on this one ;)



10. make Thanksgiving dinner (Wasn't Thanksgiving, but I did make Damon a "Christmas" dinner, so I think this counts)



11. finish that third novel



12. take my kids to Disney World



13. go out on New Years Eve



14. celebrate homecoming at TSU



15. “Would Ya Like it” in the rain



16. Have date night once a week



17. Visit Washington DC



18. have a picnic with wine and cheese



19. wear red lipstick



20. go Up North



21. grow a plant



22. make a cake for a loved one’s birthday



23. restore a piece of furniture



24. attend a Broadway play (does not have to be in NY, although that’s a bonus)



25. get rid of all unnecessary debt



26. eat healthier



27. answer the question, “What’s wrong?” honestly, the first time.



28. institute a new family tradition



29. take a cooking class



30. Find the perfect school for Cameron



31. Learn to let go



32. Invest in great pics of the kids



33. Learn a new language



34. Renew my wedding vows



35.

We have been in our home a little over two weeks now and WE LOVE IT!

And although it occured to us AFTER we moved in that we don't have linen closets and the builders gave us sooo many problems with our sod, things have been going relatively smoothly. I was in full indoor decor mode when our SUV broke down and we had to get a new car.

Needless to say I have put the breaks on buying stuff for the house for a few weeks.

Since I posted last we visited Detroit... both Cameron and Evan took private swim lessons with one of the kinder teachers from my school, and we're just working on enjoying our summer before we are required to return to the daily grind. Pretty soon DJ will be starting his first season in tackle football, too.