enjoying life

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35 Before 35 in August

While this past month was a busy one with school starting and George’s birthday, I managed to get things marked off the list!

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

  • FINISHED! I am still not a perfect photographer, but I definitely know that I am made some vast improvements over the past year with getting my camera out at least once a week. An added bonus is having pictures documenting George’s first year. I managed to keep up with the challenge of taking weekly photos of him! Here are some of the last pictures that I haven’t shared yet.

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  • I don’t think I will still get it out each week because that was somewhat of a challenge, but I think I still want to do at least once a month. I do want to challenge myself to get IN FRONT of my camera a little more this year. I have hardly any pictures of me and George.

3. Visit 5 cities I have never been to before (7/5)

4. Tour at least one a 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) (4/10)

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

  • We went to the lake at the beginning of August to visit my dad and step-mom at their new condo down there. I was able to get up on the skis quite a bit. It was awesome! George wasn’t as fond of the lake as I was, and I am hoping that changes since I love the water. But at least he was stinking cute!

11880655_10100873879760321_2749529868809197657_n13. 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 have a lot of books on the docket. I have been doing a good job reading at least a few pages each day.

16. Take a pottery or stained glass class

17. Do one new recipe each month

  • I did two this month.
  • Chicken Noodle Casserole-This is ok. It makes a lot, but it wasn’t our favorite recipe. Tom thought it was too spicy, which isn’t saying a lot on the scale of spicy fyi. Since he didn’t really like it though, I probably won’t make it again.
  • I had found a Salisbury steak recipe on Pinterest but the link is broken when I went to make it. I had already bought those ingredients so I made the actual recipe up from other salisbury steak recipes. I modeled it mostly off this one. I used 1/4 tsp of onion powder instead of an onion, and french onion soup instead of beef gravy. This was SOOOOO delicious! It is super quick and easy to make too. I am always in the search of recipes that take less than 30 minutes and aren’t pasta, so this was a huge win! So yummy! Tom and George thought it was great too!

18. See both a Clemson and UCM football game live

  • I don’t think it will happen this year, but I am excited that it’s back in action! I starting to teach George the cheers!

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. (28/20)

  • While I was in Iowa, we went to Zombie Burger in Des Moines. Pretty delicious! I had a pretty straight forward bleu cheese burger, but they have some really creative sandwiches like one with a mac and cheese bun.

23. Stay at a bed and breakfast

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

25. Do something unique and new for my birthdays

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)

  • Well the plan to go somewhere for our 5th anniversary next year I don’t think will work. It really isn’t practical right now to do something big and extravagant with just purchasing a house. So we have started a savings bank just for this to start putting away each month to make it more practical down the road. I’ll keep dreaming about beaches and fruity drinks in the meantime.

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

  • Little man is one! And his first word was “mama!”

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Update on 35 before 35 List

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

  • I am so happy that I have kept up with this challenge. I definitely look through George’s glamor shots at least once a week.

10986631_10100815026243241_7997510599652566390_n 11147200_10100820647822551_3540801449250203664_n 11391230_10100820647563071_1345863995608218967_n11147118_10100821415813491_1836440668357920271_n3. Visit 5 cities I have never been to before (7/5)

4. Tour at least one a 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) (3/10)

  • I did the Go Girl! 5K.

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

  • With my schedule, it can be really hard to read a lot. I have a hard time reading without falling asleep, and not because it is boring. #momprobs My friend Ellen shared that her goal is to just read every day. That can be one page or one whole book. I really loved this idea, so that is my new goal. I just want to crack open a book and read for fun every day. I am trying to find little ways to incorporate little spurts of reading throughout my day.

16. Take a pottery or stained glass class

17. Do one new recipe each month

  • We tried this Shrimp Alfredo Pasta Bake. It was not our favorite. It was super spicy and the cheese came out clumpy. I apparently cannot perfect the alfredo consistency after one try. It does make a lot, but it is not good reheated.

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. (23/20)

23. Stay at a bed and breakfast

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

25. Do something unique and new for my birthdays

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

  • My plans didn’t work out as I had hoped. I am going to have to start over on my search for a volleyball team.

35. Become a mom

  • I had a big mom moment last night. George started officially crawling. It was sooo exciting! He has been trying so hard for the past month, but last night was the first time he got everything going. Instagram refused to upload the video so I had to resort to other measures of documenting. Also I am not sorry that I fill my feed with George.

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One More Year Down Before 35

I feel like I did pretty good this month!

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 up with this still! I am not the best with uploading, but I getting them in the camera at least. I have a couple weeks from this month I need to get on my computer…
  • Anyway, here are some of my favs from this month with George. 10628507_10100774441814761_2693607534163314279_n 10922778_10100789952146931_1066274173963122543_n 11156171_10100774411809891_3745940581022824246_n

3. Visit 5 cities I have never been to before (7/5)

  • We went to Rocheport, MO this weekend for my birthday. Booming metropolis of 239 people. If you want high priced antiques, you must stop here. Seriously though, it was such a cute little place to get away.

05091519274. Tour at least one winery, brewery, or distillery

  • Tom and I dined at Les Bourgeois (winery if you couldn’t guess) this last weekend for my birthday. Unfortunately, I did not find a wine that I liked. Tator tots on the other hand…

05091514235. Send at least 5 snail mail a month

6. Become a “professional” photographer

  • I have a session planned almost every weekend this month, so I think it may be safe to say this has happened? What!?!
  • This picture just gets me every time I look at this cutie!

11179951_803892836365053_8269059357151761110_n7. Run at least 10 races (any distance) (2/10)

  • I did the March of Dimes event this month. I have a few other races planned!

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

18. See both a Clemson and UCM football game live

19. Find a place to volunteer on a regular basis

  • I started volunteering with Girls on the Run this weekend actually. I am really excited to see what more I can do for this organization. It’s a really awesome and unique organization that empowers young girls early on. It was a great way to start out my birthday festivities this weekend.

20. Go hiking

  • We had full intentions of doing this for our Mother’s Day tradition, but it rained most of the day Sunday causing us to just do a stroll around the neighborhood. Another day soon hopefully!

21. Ride in a hot air balloon

22. Go to at least 20 “new to me” restaurants. (23/20)

23. Stay at a bed and breakfast

  • Best birthday idea ever! Tom and I left George with my mom for the night, and we booked a room at a B&B near our town. It was just perfect. It was a quaint little town that was just the kind of down to earth weekend I wanted to celebrate my birthday. It was also the first time I had left George with someone else over night. Tom and I really haven’t been out intentionally without George since he was born, so it was so nice to have that quality and peaceful time to reconnect after everything that has gone down over the past month. Bed and Breakfasts are just as amazing as I always thought they were! Its so much more homey than a hotel, but you are getting that feel of a vacation all at the same time. AND THE FOOD WAS AMAZING! It was by far the best breakfast I have ever had in my life. Happy Mother’s Day to me! Also who doesn’t love homemade cookies whenever you want all day? So delish! I am fairly certain between the two of us we ate a dozen of these dream cookies.

050915162924. Spend a day without electronics (phone, t.v. and computer)

25. Do something unique and new for my birthdays

  • Bed and Breakfast it is!

050915154626. 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

  • I have been trying to do this but every time I have gotten a babysitter and gone to play, they aren’t playing. Whomp whomp. Hopefully here soon.

35. Become a mom

  • I had my first harsh mom judgement comment (from a stranger) this past week. I guess it’s good that it took 8 months for someone to have a negative opinion?!? The internet can be brutal when people think they can weigh in on your parental decisions. We also celebrated our first out of womb Mother’s Day. I am so happy to be George’s mom, even if we don’t follow the instruction manuals. Oh wait, babies don’t come with those….
  • I just love him so much.

IMG_2180 (1024x683)I checked a lot of things off! Go me and my 30 year old self!

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35 before 35 Update

This last month is honestly a blur, so let’s see how I did.

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

  • I successfully made another hat. These are some of my favorite pictures of George to date too! You can click here to see more.

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2. Do a photography challenge

  • I am steadily keeping up with this! I have some things coming up that I am going to try shooting in different ways and forcing myself to change different settings. Plus I am so ready to be shooting outside again!
  • I often find myself looking through his album now that we have 6 months worth of photos to see how he has changed, but also how some of my photography has changed.
  • Do you have any suggestions of things I should capture with George or techniques I should try?

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

4. Tour at least one a winery, brewery, or distillery

5. Send at least 5 snail mail a month

6. Become a “professional” photographer

  • I have some potential clients with inquiries so hopefully they come to fruition.
  • I was blessed to be part of a charity event this Friday where I was the photographer. It is an organization that helps homeless children with a variety of things. There is an art auction every year, and this is my second year being a part of it.

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

  • I am signed up for a 10K in September, but I need to find some 5Ks to hit up. None around here seem to fit into my schedule.

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 started a new book for both of these this month. I am really struggling finding the time to read, and when I do, I fall asleep with in minutes. Even when I read at my desk during lunch, while I am pumping. Something needs to change lol.

16. Take a pottery or stained glass class

17. Do one new recipe each month

  • I am going to share it later this week, but I made pumpkin brownies yesterday.

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. (21/20)

  • I went to two this month, both here in Columbia. I went to Casablanca with a friend from college who I haven’t seen in probably a good 9 years. It is a Greek restaurant in town that is REALLY GOOD, and pretty nicely priced. Their staff was really nice too. I then went to my first Thai place last week with a friend (who randomly knew Tom growing up, worked with me at Iowa State, and now we are both working at CC.). I will admit that I played it safe and had a stir fry, but it was still pretty good. The service was less than desirable, but hey when you are busy sometimes your emotions get the best of you.

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

30. Be a mascot for an event

31. Go on our honeymoon (preferably somewhere tropical)

  • I finally got Tom to agree to go on a honeymoon cruise for our 5 year anniversary next year. Is it too early to plan?

32. Host an annual NCAA Basketball Tournament Championship game party

  • I doubt this will happen this year. We just have too much going on right now to get this organized in the next couple weeks. Plus I will be out of town the week before for a wedding and will be heading up to KC that weekend to help with going through my Grandma’s things. My introvert emotions can’t handle having people over after all that. I know when to say no. Hopefully next year we will be a little more settled. (Or does that never happen?)

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

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.