Happy Weekend!

It's April 23rd, and it's Friday, hooraay! That means in exactly 6 months, I'm going to turn 30 (eeeeek!).  I can't say I'm exactly where I thought I'd be at this stage in my life, but I also can't say that I don't love where I am right now. And that's a really good thing.

I struggled with actually posting this post, because I was unsure how personal I wanted to get on this blog. But then, I decided, what the hell-- it’s my blog, it might as well be personal. That being said, I’ve come up with a list of 30 things I want to do before I’m 30. These goals aren’t blowin’ the doors off the barn, people--I only have 6 months--but they are things I’d really like to accomplish. I think sometimes we get so bogged down in the big picture stuff--I want a fabulous house right now, I want a fabulous career right now-- it can be easy to forget that a big, big journey always starts with the first step.

So without further ado:

30 Things I Want to Do Before I'm 30
1.   Take one good photo per week
2.   Complete at least one furniture redesign project (ideally more than one!)
3.   Commit to doing Yoga twice a week
4.   Teach L. Belle 3 new tricks
5.   Just keep blogging
6.   Find a volunteer position
7.   Spend time thinking about how I want to spend my time, and make a plan
8.   Try to sell one of my photos
9.   Try to sell one of my furniture redesigns
10. Start to learn to use Photoshop
11. Take a calligraphy class
12. Take a floral arranging class
13. Eat more fruits and veggies

14. Stain our Morrocan side table and 3-drawer dresser

15. Bake bread, from scratch

16. Make curry…like the paste

17. Bake a cheesecake

18. Teach L. Belle to walk like a well-behaved wonder dog on the leash

19. Plant an indoor herb garden

20. Plan meals out before I head to the store

21. Floss more (this one's for Jana!)

22. Make sure Mr. J knows that I love him, everyday

23. Be better about keeping in touch with my friends and family

24. Set up my new house, and make it lovely
25. Clear all my photos off the computer, save to CDs and file

26. Declutter my life of stuff I don't need or want

27. Sell my crappy furniture on Craigslist to make room for more good stuff
28. Give the heave ho to old and unflattering clothing

29. Put my wedding photos in an album

30. Put photos from our Peru trip in an album

Are you still with me?  It's not the most exciting list, but you gotta start somewhere, right?  What about you all?  Any big milestones coming up?  It doesn't have to be in advance of a nice, round number like 3-0 (dear god!), but what are you all looking to accomplish in the next 6 months, 1 year, or more?  It's not much, I know, but just thinking about goals and saying them out loud can be really powerful.

Aloha!

Mr. J and I have been out for the past few days, snorkeling here, laying on the beach and just generally relaxing.

Ahhh, vacation.  Just got back today, and now back to reality.  Stay tuned for more blogging!

xoxo.

Warm Up

Ok here goes. I’m jumping in. For the past year or so, I’ve been a voracious consumer of just about all of the design blog content on the interwebs. Now, it’s time to pay my dues. Play my part. Er. Start my own blog.

Honesty is the best policy so here it is: I’m nervous. I've always thought I had a good eye, I've always thought I could do this, but it's scary to actually try. And while we’re being really honest: I want you all to like me…to REEEAAALLYYY like me. What can I say? I am a middle child afterall.

My goal is simple and personal. I want to create more meaning in my life. I am taking baby steps here, but I am hoping that the best way to find fulfillment is to think about what makes you truly happy, what speaks to your heart, and what makes it sing. Then the hard part is figuring out a way to just DO that one thing. Everyday.

What speaks to my heart and makes it sing is design: making the best of what you have and making it lovely. Making a home, making room for family and love. Fixing, creating, and doing so that life gets just a little bit better. I am turning the page on what makes my life dark and stormy and I am starting a new chapter. I’m hoping I’ll learn, I’m hoping I’ll grow, and I’m hoping to find my meaning. Thanks for coming with me.