bucket list

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35 Before 35

I did ok this last month. I have some things I definitely need to stick to more, but hey I am not getting graded. And the point is to enjoy life, and I am doing that!

1. Crochet something else besides blankets or scarves at least once a year (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)

2. Do a photography challenge

  • Getting this done. I am really excited about some of the pictures I have planned in the upcoming months for George. Here are some we did this last month.

10624061_10100714230648421_5740041739372248923_o 10930138_10100705771989641_5867148138262561497_o3. Visit 5 cities I have never been to before (5/5)

4. Tour at least one of the distilleries in the KY/TN area

  • I really need to change this to winery, brewery or distillery.

5. Send at least 5 snail mail a month

6. Become a “professional” photographer

7. Run at least 10 races (any distance) (1/10)

  • I have a site bookmarked with Missouri races. Right now there are not any close by that fit into my schedule for the upcoming month. Hopefully in April I will be able to find something.

8. Go camping with Tom

9. Pay for the car behind me in a drive through

10. See Tyrone Wells live as many times as possible

  • He just released his tour dates, and unfortunately he is going to be no where near me. He is playing in Minneapolis and Iowa City on my birthday weekend, which would make for an awesome 30th birthday. I just don’t know about the drive commitment.

11. Tour Fort Defiance here in Clarksville

12. Water ski with my dad

13. Do a 5K with my mom

14. Take a swing dance class with Tom

15. Read at least one fun book a month and one professional development book every three months

  • I am doing good with the professional books but not so much my own personal books. I wrote about my rut recently. When I started this I never thought I would be doing better at reading professional books. I am hoping to make a turn around.

16. Take a pottery or stained glass class

  • I think I may take one at the college I work at since I can take classes for free. I just have to see when it fits into my schedule and how that would go with work.

17. Do one new recipe each month

  • Meal planning really keeps me up with this one. We try to do a big meal on either Saturday or Sunday so we can use as left overs for lunch the first of the week.
  • Crockpot Chicken Ranch Tacos. These were pretty delicious.
  • Baked Parmesan Zucchini. These were more work than it was worth. Good, but not anything special. Plus, it is now after almost 8 years that Tom tells me he doesn’t like zucchini…
  • Crescent Chicken.  This takes a lot of prep time, but it was totally worth it. These are really filling so we had enough for several more meals for the both of us.
  • Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Wings. We made these for the Super Bowl. They did not come out like the picture on the website but they were still pretty tasty.
  • Stuffed Pepper Casserole. This was good and made leftovers for dayssss. The only thing about this that I would note is that I suck at making rice so it was actually better as a leftover because the rice got more cooked. I have no idea why, but I cannot for the life of me make rice the way you are supposed to.

18. See both a Clemson and UCM football game live

19. Find a place to volunteer on a regular basis

20. Go hiking

  • The weather was so nice this weekend, and it made me really excited about outdoor opportunities.

21. Ride in a hot air balloon

22. Go to at least 20 “new to me” restaurants. (19/20)

  • We went to Freddy’s Steakburger. This is a chain that is just like Steak and Shake. It was good, but we don’t eat a lot of grease so we didn’t feel so good afterwards because that is pretty much all we ate.
  • I also went to Pickleman’s, which is a local deli. It was really good! We will be going back!

23. Stay at a bed and breakfast

24. Spend a day without electronics (phone, t.v. and computer)

25. Have a Kentucky Derby themed 30th birthday party.

  • Tom is taking charge of this, so I honestly don’t care about the theme. (not because he is planning it but because all I really care about is having fun with friends and family.)

26. Explore Nashville while we live here

27. Watch at least 10 movies that I have not seen before that won Best Picture at the Oscars and at least 20 documentaries (not necessarily Oscar winning) Movies (2/10); Documentaries (7/20)

28. Sew an item of clothing from scratch

29. Do a personal devotional/bible study on my own

30. Be a mascot for an event

31. Go on our honeymoon (preferably somewhere tropical)

32. Host an annual NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game party

33. Go on a mission trip

34. Be on a recreation volleyball team

35. Become a mom

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35 Before 35 Update

1. Crochet something else besides blankets or scarves at least once a year (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)

2. Do a photography challenge

  • Keeping steady with this one. I have been struggling to get them uploaded, but I have been taking them! The task of uploading and doing minor editing is a little daunting because there are several hundred (maybe a thousand) at this point…
  • Here are just a couple from the last month:

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3. Visit 5 cities I have never been to before (5/5)

4. Tour at least one of the distilleries in the KY/TN area

5. Send at least 5 snail mail a month

6. Become a “professional” photographer

7. Run at least 10 races (any distance) (1/10)

8. Go camping with Tom

9. Pay for the car behind me in a drive through

10. See Tyrone Wells live as many times as possible

11. Tour Fort Defiance here in Clarksville

12. Water ski with my dad

13. Do a 5K with my mom

14. Take a swing dance class with Tom

15. Read at least one fun book a month and one professional development book every three months

16. Take a pottery or stained glass class

17. Do one new recipe each month

  • Since I was living with my in-laws this month and in transit, I did not do this. I give myself some slack though since a couple months ago I went hog wild with new recipes.

18. See both a Clemson and UCM football game live

  • I didn’t, but I did watch Clemson beat South Carolina for the first time since 2008, which was a game I did see in person.

19. Find a place to volunteer on a regular basis

  • I did find a place to put my crochet skills to good use. Now I just have to make things…

20. Go hiking

21. Ride in a hot air balloon

22. Go to at least 20 “new to me” restaurants. (17/20)

  • I went to Cafe Berlin here in Columbia with a friend of mine. It was a cute little place. My grilled cheese was a little too fancy for my taste, plus a “meal” did not come with sides. I probably will go back though to test out some other things, especially since it is within walking distance of my office.

23. Stay at a bed and breakfast

24. Spend a day without electronics (phone, t.v. and computer)

25. Have a Kentucky Derby themed 30th birthday party.

26. Explore Nashville while we live here

27. Watch at least 10 movies that I have not seen before that won Best Picture at the Oscars and at least 20 documentaries (not necessarily Oscar winning) Movies (2/10); Documentaries (7/20)

28. Sew an item of clothing from scratch

29. Do a personal devotional/bible study on my own

  • I downloaded the She Reads Truth app for my phone. It is a daily devotional series. I am thinking of doing a review of it. So far I am liking it.

30. Be a mascot for an event

31. Go on our honeymoon (preferably somewhere tropical)

32. Host an annual NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game party

33. Go on a mission trip

34. Be on a recreation volleyball team

  • I am trying to convince my student workers to do an office team next semester. Hopefully we can muster up enough to play.

35. Become a mom

So I didn’t do so hot this month, but who cares. I moved and started a new job. So I think that counts for something!

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Another 35 Before 35 Update

Man October went fast. I did manage to knock some things off my list.

1. Crochet something else besides blankets or scarves at least once a year (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)

  • Maybe I should stop finding new projects now, and wait until next year to do some more. I did a couple this month with the dinosaur hat and bearded beanie. I definitely have done my way through projects that are not straight lines this year.

2. Do a photography challenge

  • I am still on par with this. I have been experimenting a lot with different ways to set up backdrops without a proper studio. So some are not great as I figure out angles and work to manipulate light, but I am learning! I already showed some pics from his Halloween shoot, but here are some others of my challenge to get out the DSLR to capture George at least once a week.

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This was our attempt at a fall shoot. These are some of the very few pictures where he wasn’t throwing a fit or eating the blanket.

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3. Visit 5 cities I have never been to before (5/5)

4. Tour at least one of the distilleries in the KY/TN area

  • Well, this one I completely failed on since we made the move back to MO this past week. Maybe I will change it to explore the wineries of Missouri.

5. Send at least 5 snail mail a month

  • This is the first month that I didn’t complete this. I think I got 3 or 4 out. Whoops.

6. Become a “professional” photographer

  • I took some photos of some good friends of ours before I left Clarksville. I am hoping once we get settled here I will be able to really branch out here in Missouri. Here is one of my favorites.

Glinn Photography

7. Run at least 10 races (any distance) (1/10)

8. Go camping with Tom

9. Pay for the car behind me in a drive through

10. See Tyrone Wells live as many times as possible

11. Tour Fort Defiance here in Clarksville

12. Water ski with my dad

13. Do a 5K with my mom

14. Take a swing dance class with Tom

15. Read at least one fun book a month and one professional development book every three months

  • I really think I need to give up on this book. It is holding me down…

16. Take a pottery or stained glass class

  • Anyone in mid-Missouri know a good place to do either of these?

17. Do one new recipe each month

18. See both a Clemson and UCM football game live

19. Find a place to volunteer on a regular basis

20. Go hiking

21. Ride in a hot air balloon

22. Go to at least 20 “new to me” restaurants. (17/20)

  • I went to Five Points Pizza in Nashville with my best friend while she was visiting. They have great food!

23. Stay at a bed and breakfast

24. Spend a day without electronics (phone, t.v. and computer)

25. Have a Kentucky Derby themed 3oth birthday party.

26. Explore Nashville while we live here

  • While I didn’t do as much as I would have liked, I did explore some during the year and a half I was there. I met up with a friend of mine before I left for coffee up by Vandy. It is always interesting to see a different university. Does taking George to a cardiac specialist in Nashville count as seeing more of Nashville?

27. Watch at least 10 movies that I have not seen before that won Best Picture at the Oscars and at least 20 documentaries (not necessarily Oscar winning) Movies (2/10); Documentaries (7/20)

28. Sew an item of clothing from scratch

29. Do a personal devotional/bible study on my own

30. Be a mascot for an event

31. Go on our honeymoon (preferably somewhere tropical)

32. Host an annual NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game party

33. Go on a mission trip

34. Be on a recreation volleyball team

35. Become a mom

Well I am not doing too bad at the monthly stuff, but I really need to work on the bigger items. Here’s to another month of trying.

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35 Before 35 Update

The last month really seems like it flew by. I think I did pretty good this month on my list.

1. Crochet something else besides blankets or scarves at least once a year

  • I made a tie and hat for a photo prop. It was my first successful attempt at a hat!

2. Do a photography challenge

  • My challenge is to get my DSLR out at least once a week to photograph George in some way. I have been successful so far! Here are a couple shots.

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3. Visit 5 cities I have never been to before (5/5)

4. Tour at least one of the distilleries in the KY/TN area

5. Send at least 5 snail mail a month

  • I am pretty proud of myself that I have kept up with this each month. And let’s talk about how expensive stamps have gotten!

6. Become a “professional” photographer

  • I have some shoots coming up with some friends of ours that I could not be more excited to help capture!

7. Run at least 10 races (any distance) (1/10)

  • I am thinking of doing one over Thanksgiving. I just got cleared to go back to my normal workouts this week. Passed that 6 week post-partum check up like a boss. Anyone want to do a 5k with me?

8. Go camping with Tom

9. Pay for the car behind me in a drive through

  • We haven’t eaten out at all this month, so there is that..

10. See Tyrone Wells live as many times as possible

11. Tour Fort Defiance here in Clarksville

12. Water ski with my dad

13. Do a 5K with my mom

14. Take a swing dance class with Tom

15. Read at least one fun book a month and one professional development book every three months

  • Work in progress. I am making gains in both areas. Slow and steady.

16. Take a pottery or stained glass class

17. Do one new recipe each month

  • I totally rocked this one this month! I have decided crockpots will be the thing I buy for wedding gifts. Seriously the best kitchen invention ever. (Ok maybe a tie with the Kitchenaid) Here are the recipes I tried out this month and whether we thought it was a hit or miss.
    • Pesto Ranch Crockpot Chicken-We loved this! It was super duper easy too. Lot of left overs!
    • Pumpkin Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies-I loved these! (And they have helped with my breastfeeding, just saying) Tom thought they were too fancy and lacked the appropriate icing.
    • Meatloaf-This recipe was perfect, and fairly easy. Another must keep in my cooking repertoire.
    • Corn Mac and Cheese-another crockpot win and stupid easy. Tom says this is the best mac and cheese he has ever tasted! Yes! It also makes a ton so there were lots of yummy left overs.
    • Chicken Teriyaki-Great recipe for us to put in that didn’t have cheese. (Pretty much every meal finds cheese, so I have really tried finding recipes that don’t.)
    • Garlic Asparagus-Almost always our vegetable ends up being peas, so again I am trying to get us to branch out. This is a easy, quick, and yummy recipe!
    • Pot Roast-We used deer meat for this and actually made this on two separate occasions. It was perfect to get in the fall mood!
  • I am really loving meal planning. I find it is helping me get more creative in the kitchen instead of having the same chicken dish or hamburger helper each night. Any recipes you recommend? I like easy…

18. See both a Clemson and UCM football game live

19. Find a place to volunteer on a regular basis

20. Go hiking

21. Ride in a hot air balloon

22. Go to at least 20 “new to me” restaurants. (16/20)

23. Stay at a bed and breakfast

24. Spend a day without electronics (phone, t.v. and computer)

25. Have a Kentucky Derby themed 30th birthday party.

26. Explore Nashville while we live here

  • We are wanting to make a trip to the zoo sometime soon, but we are still trying to figure out the best “out of the house” schedule for George. I feel really limited since we are breastfeeding.

27. Watch at least 10 movies that I have not seen before that won Best Picture at the Oscars and at least 20 documentaries (not necessarily Oscar winning) Movies (2/10); Documentaries (7/20)

  • I watched Argo which won Best Picture in 2013.
  • I watched two documentaries.
    • Schooled which is about college athletes and the price tag of collegiate sports. Great watch, and so many discussion topics! I could see this being used in any higher education curriculum and Student Affairs professional development round table.
    • Happy which is about just that-happiness. It interviews people from around the world and describes different levels of happiness. Happiness research is fairly new, so it was really interesting to see a positive spin from psychologists. I also liked that it compared different cultures.

28. Sew an item of clothing from scratch

29. Do a personal devotional/bible study on my own

30. Be a mascot for an event

31. Go on our honeymoon (preferably somewhere tropical)

32. Host an annual NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game party

33. Go on a mission trip

34. Be on a recreation volleyball team

35. Become a mom

Ok, maybe I just thought I did really good because of all the recipes…Until next month.

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35 Before 35 Update

Here we are, another month passed. I didn’t do too bad considering I was on bedrest for most of the month and had a baby, which coincidentally checks one of the list.

1. Crochet something else besides blankets or scarves at least once a year

  • I made a tie and beanie for George to do some pictures with. The beanie is bigger than his whole head, but the tie worked well!

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The last one makes my heart giddy.

2. Do a photography challenge

  • My goal is to do at least one mini session with George each week for a year. I have done well so far! Granted it has only been two weeks, but you have to start somewhere. It will be fun to practice different techniques and props with him and not worry about messing it up for a client. I intend to try different angles, locations, lighting, equipment, or props each time to stretch what I can do with a camera. Also selfishly, this challenge will document the growth of the most adorable little boy.

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3. Visit 5 cities I have never been to before (5/5)

4. Tour at least one of the distilleries in the KY/TN area

5. Send at least 5 snail mail a month

  • Done.

6. Become a “professional” photographer

  • Now that George has made it out into the world, I am hoping to get back into things with this.

7. Run at least 10 races (any distance) (1/10)

8. Go camping with Tom

9. Pay for the car behind me in a drive through

10. See Tyrone Wells live as many times as possible

11. Tour Fort Defiance here in Clarksville

12. Water ski with my dad

13. Do a 5K with my mom

14. Take a swing dance class with Tom

15. Read at least one fun book a month and one professional development book every three months

  • Unfortunately, I keep picking books that aren’t that great so I stall out. I swear I am working on it.

16. Take a pottery or stained glass class

17. Do one new recipe each month

  • I really rocked this out this month. I made a taco casserole, sloppy joes, and I even made up my own crockpot recipe of chicken and broccoli mac and cheese.

18. See both a Clemson and UCM football game live

19. Find a place to volunteer on a regular basis

20. Go hiking

21. Ride in a hot air balloon

22. Go to at least 20 “new to me” restaurants. (16/20)

23. Stay at a bed and breakfast

24. Spend a day without electronics (phone, t.v. and computer)

25. Have a Kentucky Derby themed 30th birthday party.

26. Explore Nashville while we live here

27. Watch at least 10 movies that I have not seen before that won Best Picture at the Oscars and at least 20 documentaries (not necessarily Oscar winning) Movies (1/10); Documentaries (5/20)

28. Sew an item of clothing from scratch

29. Do a personal devotional/bible study on my own

30. Be a mascot for an event

31. Go on our honeymoon (preferably somewhere tropical)

32. Host an annual NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game party

33. Go on a mission trip

34. Be on a recreation volleyball team

35. Become a mom

  • What I am a mom?!? We made a pretty cute kid.

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