Long Term Goals and Growing Up

I suppose I've always been a goal maker.  And furthermore, I've always believed that if you set your sights on a certain goal, you can get it.  It may take longer than you want, but you can definitely get there.  That's why I started making my annual birthday lists of things I want to accomplish over the course of the year.  

 In previous years, this list has helped me stay on track with not only extremely important goals, but also goals that are meant to remind me to live in the moment and not take life so seriously.   For various reasons, I've gotten a bit off track with my goals this year.  And I'm not exactly sure why.  Maybe it's because I put a few lofty ones on there that weren't really all that realistic.  Maybe it's because I was presented with completely exciting (though time consuming) opportunities that I just didn't expect.  But regardless of the reason, I have a bunch of tasks that need to happen before the year is out!  

Here's my 30 before 30 list as it stands now...I crossed off a couple items that I know I am not going to be able to complete and actually don't have the ambition to complete anymore.  I don't think that's a bad thing though.  Ambitions change sometimes, and that's good!  

My 30 Things Before 30 List

1.  Learn to sew, properly
2.  Make something with paint sample cards
3.  Do some volunteer work
4.  Read 5 books
5.  Have a craft weekend with friends and family
6.  Take a course in something new that I'm interested in
7.  Start a dance company
8.  Get started on a masters program
9.  Submit something to a real magazine
10.  Dye my hair a fun color
11.  See a new place
12.  Do some scrapbooking
13.  Start a home design journal / look-book
14.  write 3 poems
15.  work out a new blogging schedule
16.  go to the dentist
17.  Do a major cleaning of my clothes and closet (aka get rid of a lot!)
18.  Make lots of new Desolation Dance Videos
19.  Meet one of my blog friends in person
20. Organize my digital photos
21. Buy and start using a tripod
22.  Roll down a grassy hill like I did as a child
23.  Get all of my stuff out of my parents house (hopefully)
24.  Ride a bike at the beach with the boy
25.  Learn to play an instrument (I'm thinking the ukelele)
26.  Wear more lipstick in fun colors
27.  Reconnect with an old friend
28.  See at least 1 concert
29.  Try to overcome 1 of my fears
30.  Make it a habit to look for the goodness around me, rather than focusing on the negative

If you have any suggestions or ideas on how I can accomplish any of the above before December 23rd, let me know!  

Ukulele Love!

One of the goals on my 30 things to do before I turn 30 is:

#25. Learn to play an instrument

And my friends, I am totally tackling this goal!  When thinking about all the instruments out there, one stood out as something fun, super cool, with a great sound and minimal complications: The Ukulele!  It's perfect.  It's small.  There are only 4 strings and I'd be able play all my favorite Uke songs from the 20's.  It seems likely that, even though I have never played an instrument before, this is one I could master before I turn 30.

And so, the boy and I bought this little beauty last weekend!

Isn't it cute?  I already know how to play Radiohead's "No Surprises" and most of the "Irish Rover."  As I get better I hope to post some of my playing right here on this blog! 

And as added inspiration, here are two ukulele artists that have been on constant rotation in my Spotify, Zee Avi and Sophie Madeleine.



 

Made this Monday - Paint Swatches Wall Art

Hello Lovelies!  I hope you all had a splendid New Year's Eve and Day.  We've just been taking it easy over here.  The boy's been playing a lot of X-Box and I've been doing a lot of reading!  (Yep, I said reading!) 

But in my New Year's down time I also managed to create a project from my list of things to do before I turn 30 - create something from paint sample swatches! And here she is:

Hanging colorfully above the blackboard in our kitchen! I think it fills the space so nicely and was so easy to make!  I got the inspiration from here and during a lunch break last week walked over to Home Depot to collect paint swatches.  I was a little concerened someone would ask what I was up to because I was choosing so many, in so many bright colors, but no one did.  I walked out of there with a lovely array of paint sample cards, and the best part?  Their free! 

Then to make, I simply layered the cards in the order I liked over a piece of card stock fashioned to fit the size of the frame.  Once I had the design I wanted I went back and attached the cards to the paper with double sided tape. 

Finally, I cut basic block letters out of white copy paper, outlined them with a colorful sharpie and attached them with double sided tape to the design.  And there you have it! 

It's so nice to already have completed a project from my list....It makes me feel like the year is already off to a productive start! 

30 things before 30

As promised, I have comprised another to-do list for the coming year.  It's kind of nice that my birthday coincides with new year's, as it helps with the whole resolution / goal making, plus it makes me feel like I am not the only one motivated with new goals....Strength in numbers I always say!

So here it is, a list of things I want to do in this last year of my twenties....

1.  Learn to sew, properly
2.  Make something with paint sample cards
3.  Do some volunteer work
4.  Read 5 books
5.  Have a craft weekend with friends and family
6.  Take a course in something new that I'm interested in
7.  Start a dance company
8.  Get started on a masters program
9.  Submit something to a real magazine
10.  Dye my hair a fun color
11.  See a new place
12.  Do some scrapbooking
13.  Start a home design journal / look-book
14.  write 3 poems
15.  work out a new blogging schedule
16.  go to the dentist
17.  Do a major cleaning of my clothes and closet (aka get rid of a lot!)
18.  Make lots of new Desolation Dance Videos
19.  Meet one of my blog friends in person
20. Organize my digital photos
21. Buy and start using a tripod
22.  Roll down a grassy hill like I did as a child
23.  Get all of my stuff out of my parents house (hopefully)
24.  Ride a bike at the beach with the boy
25.  Learn to play an instrument (I'm thinking the ukelele)
26.  Wear more lipstick in fun colors
27.  Reconnect with an old friend
28.  See at least 1 concert
29.  Try to overcome 1 of my fears
30.  Make it a habit to look for the goodness around me, rather than focusing on the negative

Some are hold overs from last year's list - things I didn't accomplish, and some are really ambitious (see 7 & 8) but most are just fun things to motivate me and keep me busy, as always, through the year.  And I have to make the last one cheesy, I just can't help myself! 

So c'mon 2012!  Show me whatcha got!!!!