Happy Birthday to Me + a 30 before 30 Update

Today is my birthday, and I've officially hit a milestone...I'm 30! Ironically, I haven't had too many qualms about the whole last year of my 20s thing. Age has always been just a number to me. Maybe it's because I've always been told that I'm mature for my age. Maybe it's because my friends and I had a very very very tame decade. Maybe it's because my husband is eight years older than me. Whatever it is, I've always just sort of watched birthdays come and go (with pomp and circumstance, of course). 

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I have to admit though, a few days ago the age set in for me. I hate to say the whole cliche "I thought I would have accomplished more by 30" thing because that is certainly not the case. I don't like when people say that because you're simply not being grateful for the time you have had. In my 20s, I received not one, not two, but three degrees. I got married. I traveled abroad. I watched my siblings morph into people I actually liked. I made some huge professional strides. I published my writing. I learned to love food...maybe a little too much of that. 

But the one thing I wish I had done is taken a few more risks in my 20s. Magazines usually tell you that's the time to do it. Unfortunately, I missed that boat, but fortunately for me, I recognize it now, and I am ready to take a few. It's time. 

Two years ago, I created a 30 before 30 checklist of things I wanted to accomplish before today came. I didn't quite get all of them done, but I am pretty impressed with the things that I did accomplish...as well as the things that I'm no longer interested in doing at all. I love the change that we experience as people without even realizing it. Life is cool like that, y'all. For all the things that aren't crossed out, I plan to take care of them eventually. I need something to look forward to!

Professional

Finish my specialist degree
Present at a Regional or National Conference
Become Google certified (no longer interested)

Blogging

Take a photography class

Get a professional headshot
 Take a photoshop class
Consistently blog 5 times/week (no longer interested)
Attend a blog conference
Meet & have a drink, coffee, meal, or activity with 5 bloggers (I've met so so many more!)
Partner with a brand I love

Style
Speak with and learn from a personal stylist
Find a red lipstick
Invest in one, timeless, quality bag
Add three of the classics to my wardrobe (guides here, here, & here)  
 

Personal 

Decorate a room from start to finish by myself

Take a cooking class

Attend a foreign film

Bake a Southern Living Christmas Cake

Visit 5 new destinations

Buy a piece of real art (Hunter helped with this)

Learn how to play tennis

Have my writing published in at least two publications

Go to see a movie alone

Learn how to bake a pie, crust to finish

Go to the ballet 

Plan a dinner party

Go on a girls weekend trip with my best friends

Host a holiday meal

Pay for someone else's toll (how have I still not done this?!)

Put $10 in savings for every goal accomplished (or this?!)