Happy Howlidays

'Tis the season for rushing to the mailbox to grab all the Christmas cards!  Like a knock down, drag out fight to the mailbox...

I started mailing Christmas cards as a part of my 30 by 30 list and haven't looked back!  I really look forward to sending our card out to friends and family, almost as much as I do getting cards.

Typically I spend a week or so stressing about what pictures to use, but this year I knew it was going to be best to wait since we just added Haddie to the family.  So while we were down for Thanksgiving, my photography-inclined sister-in-law snapped a bunch of pictures.  Then I tweaked them in PicMonkey and uploaded them to Shutterfly to create the masterpiece you see before you...

  

 Happy Howlidays!!

Dear Self #blogtober14

Dear Self-

So you’re a scoche over 40?  Huh.  What a strange thing to think about.  These last couple months of 30 haven’t been a huge ordeal like some people make it, so hopefully 40 is the same!  I sit here trying to think of what to say to you, but all I can come up with is questions to ask the person I’ve become.  There’s a lot of things I’m really curious about!  Some are pretty heavy others, not so much.  

So tell me:

Did Matt and I change our minds and have kids or did we stick with the “we’re responsible adults aware of our priorities”?  Priorities which don’t included having children.

Are we still living in our first house or have be found/built our forever home?

Have I been to Greece yet?  

Please, oh please tell me our families are still in good health?

Have I taken that cake decorating class or learned to water ski yet?  

Are people still spinning out about GMOs and food labels?  Maybe after 10 more years people are listening to fact-based research and giving Dr.Oz the finger.

Who are my ‘people’?  Times and people change.  Am I still leaning on my core friends or is there someone new?  

Did Megan marry a good man?  One that will love and treat her right?  

Have the Cubs won a World Series?

 

Linking up with Helene and Taylor.

Five Faves From My 30 By 30

In lieu of rehashing what I didn't get accomplished in my 30 by 30 quest, because that's sorta depressing and it's Friday so I don't want to be depressing...today I've selected five of my favorite things that I DID complete! 

In no particular order my five faves are:

27.  Complete my master's degree!  One of the perks of my current job was having the opportunity to go back to school for FREE and get my MS.  There was a short pause in the process, due to some downsizing, but everything worked out in the end.

8.  Go on our honeymoon {finally}.  We had to put it off after the wedding because of the 'short pause' mentioned above.  Thankfully, it also panned out and we had a great time in Ocho Rios.

1.  Mail Christmas cards.  I officially LOVE selecting the pictures and template for our {now annual} Christmas card.  I'm so glad I put this one on the list because I know I'll enjoy it for years to come!

26.  Learn how to drive a stick shift.  Are you thinking, "Wait?  What?  You grew up on a farm.  How is that possible?"

Well here's the scoop.  Yes, I grew up on a farm.  I can drive a tractor, combine or an automatic grain truck, but I never learned to drive a stick in all my years on the farm.  That's not to say that my dad didn't try to teach me!  There were many times we'd set off down the gravel road for a lesson for it to only end in yelling and tears!  If you want to believe the tears were from my dad, go ahead!  He can take it.

The story of me learning to drive a stick shift goes like this... I bought a manual transmission Jetta without knowing it was a manual!  And I finally learned how to drive a stick.  I firmly believe I was successful in the venture only because my dad nor my husband were the one teaching me!

9.  Go to Disneyland.  It was MAGICAL! 

Lets quickly go back to the stuff that wasn't completed on my list.  Back in January, I summarized five items on my list that I wasn't sure I'd be completing before my birthday.  And wouldn't you know it, I was right.  There are certainly a few others on my list that didn't get completed {I'm looking at you, learn to water ski} but, I'm in the process of completing my 101 in 1001 and some of those items will be carrying over to the next list.

Stay tuned for updates!

Do you have a 30 by 30, 101 in 1001 or some other sort of 'life list' of things you want to complete?  If so, I'd love to hear about some of your goals!  

Linking up with Karli, Amy and Amanda. 

Another Weekend. Another Adventure.

Have you noticed a trend?

I'm not real big on sticking around home, especially during the summer!  There's just too many fun things going on to be cooped up in the house.  And summer provides the perfect backdrop for things like traveling, horse shows, and day drinking!  Pepper in some gal pals and I'm a happy camper.

Speaking of day drinking, isn't Little Big Town's song the perfect summer anthem?

Tomorrow I'm on the road again.  Five of my girlfriends and I are heading down to Carbondale to partake in some college reminiscing and wine trailing! 

The wineries of southern Illinois really came to life while I was in college at SIU.  Some are quaint and homey, others are quite grand!  In college (if I remember right... but with all the wine some of the memories are a bit hazy) I spent at least one day a week parked on a patio with a bottle of wine or pitcher of sangria.  Since graduating, Matt and I try to go down at least once a year! 

Technically, I may go more than Matt...

 

We've rented a cabin smack in the middle of all the winery goodness and I have created what may be the. perfect. itinerary!  And it just so happens to be the weekend before I celebrate the THREE-OH! 

Yep, I'll be "thirty, flirty and thriving" come Monday!  Name that movie.  

Okay, I'm off to work knock out a few more items from my 30 BY 30 list before I run out of time...

Have a great weekend!! 








 

Disney-A Trip in Photos

Disneyland was pretty epic!  It really exceeded all of my expectations!

I stayed with some family friends at the Disneyland Hotel, which is quite literally a hop, skip and a jump from the two parks.  It made it so convenient because we were up pretty early to take advantage of the early entry on Saturday and Sunday.  Never in a million years would I have guessed a room full of women would have willingly and with smiles on our faces, talked seriously about getting up at 5:30am to get showered and ready to go.  This is vacation right!?!?  A Disney vacation is unlike any other I've ever experienced!  Leaving LA, I boarded the plane quite literally at the brink of exhaustion!

Saturday we spent most of our day at Disneyland taking pictures and checking out the attractions.  Since we took advantage of the early entry, we were actually done riding all the big rides (Indian Jones, Jungle Cruise, Space Mountain and Pirates) by 10:30am.  We also enjoyed the Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Tea Cups, Winnie the Pooh, Autopia, and the Haunted Mansion! 

I was the only first timer, so the other four did a great job of telling me all about the park itself, the hidden gems and the little known facts!  My favorite ride at Disneyland, hands down, was Indian Jones Adventure!  The kid ride that I enjoyed the most was Peter Pan's Flight!  If you can't act like a kid at Disney, where can you?

Just hanging with the Princesses.  No big deal.

I enjoyed my Dole Whip while watching the fireworks.  Both were AHH-mazing!

Sunday morning we hit the ground running, literally!  After busting through the gates of Disney California Adventure at 7:01am, we hot footed it to Radiator Springs... er, Cars Land!  Hands down, bar none, without question... I hope I'm making myself VERY clear... this was my FAVORITE place we visited at Disney!!  I loved every freakin' inch it!  It was quite literally like stepping through your TV screen during the movie Cars.  I've had a special attachment to Cars since I had to opportunity in 2006, as a camp counselor at Victory Junction Gang Camp, to go to the movie premiere at Charlotte Motor Speedway.  Working at VJGC that summer was simply one of the best things I've ever done and going to a movie premiere was just a wonderful perk!

Every last detail from the movie is brought to life on Rt. 66 in Radiator Springs!

After being drug out of leaving Cars Land we ventured deeper into DCA.  At that point in the morning, the lines were practically nonexistent!  We walked right on Ariel's Undersea Adventure and rode California Screamin' twice in a matter of 15 minutes.  The only ride we had to wait in line for was Toy Story Midway Mania and it was totally worth it!  Kelsey and I also rode Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.  Never. Again.  The sudden and unexpected drops had me as close to a panic attack as I'd ever experienced!

 

 Mr. Potato Head was out front entertaining the crowd.  And I totally bought a Bullseye pillow pet!

 We finally tracked down Mickey Mouse!

This trip was one for the books!  It was a whirlwind of excitement and fun for sure.  And now that I have my own embroidered MM ears, I have a perfect excuse to come back again for another visit.  Not to mention several of the classic rides (Thunder Mountain, It's a Small World and Splash Mountain) were closed.

I'm off to update my 30 by 30 list!  Check, check, check it off!

Five on Friday v.4

This week is coming to a close, which means it's time to link up with Natasha, Christina, April and Darci for another 5 on Friday post!

I've had a good week, but today I'm focusing on five of the things I'm looking forward to this weekend when I'm at Disney-freakin'-land!  Yes, you read that right!!  Words (nor exclamation points!) can't begin to describe how excited I am about going!!!!

ONE:

I'm so excited to see these two lovely ladies!  This trip wouldn't be possible without them!  I've known Kelsey and Laura for years, they're like family!  We all used to show paint horses together back in the day.  I couldn't actually pin down a date, but they've been a part of my life forever!  Laura invited me to come along to visit Kels in LA and said that magical phrase,

 "We're going to Disneyland!"  

Which means not only do I get to visit with them, but I will check Disney off my 30 by 30 list!

TWO:

 It's true.  

I haven't really lived.  

Yet!

THREE:

Source

 Those coveted ears will finally be mine!  The big decision will be to stay with the traditional Mickey ears or go for something more contemporary??  

Decisions, decisions.

FOUR:

Source

Fireworks at Sleeping Beauty's Castle.  

FIVE:

Source

Take it all in!

Trade some pins.  Get pictures with some characters.  Soak up all the details around the park that Disney Imagineers put so much effort in to.  Take a minute and reflect on what an amazing experience this opportunity is!

Have you been to Disneyland in California before?  What are the must dos (or must eats!) or don'ts at the parks?  Please tell!

Cheers and happy weekend!


 

My 30 x 30 List

Almost a year and a half ago, I was inspired to start a 30 x 30 list by Elizabeth.  I originally created my list as a document, printed it off and hung it on our refrigerator, but with the creation of The Purple Front Door I've add a tab for it here too!  The list is broke down into multiple categories: Personal, Travel, Health and Fitness, Financial, Creativity, Smarts and Make a House a Home.  Since starting, I've accomplished a respectable number, in my opinion anyways!  Here are the one's I have successfully completed, as well as the date.

1. Mail Christmas Cards, CHECK! 12-18-11

8. Take a honeymoon with Matt, CHECK! 4-4-12 thru 4-9-12

15. Run a 5K, CHECK! 4-29-11

19. Sew on a button, CHECK! 12-16-11

23. Learn how to knit, CHECK!  

25. Start a book club, CHECK! 2-20-11  

26. Learn how to drive a stick shift, CHECK! 5-6-12

29. Get horses to the farm, CHECK! 5-7-11

This weekend I accomplished #26, Learn how to drive a stick shift!  As a kid growing up on the farm I never learned how to drive a stick, nope never did!  Once or twice my dad tried to teach both my sister and I and it usually ended up with someone upset, crying or walking home instead of getting back in the truck... sometimes a combination of the three!  Anytime learning got brought back up my anxiety would rise and I'd come up with ANY excuse not to learn.  

Fast forward to March 2012, I had just turned in my leased Pontiac G6 and was left to drive our GMC Sierra.  Well gas prices what they are, Matt and I began exploring options for a work car for me.  Our friends, have a 2002 VW Jetta sitting in their garage that doesn't get driven... perfect solution to the problem of the gas guzzling truck, right?  

 Wrong!  It has a manual transmission! Houston we have a problem.... I didn't immediately recognize the transmission issue, Matt actually called me and said, "That Jetta is a stick.  Are you going to be able to drive it?"  Ugh.  I had no idea!  

 I went back and forth with this in my head, do we keep looking?  Do I buck up and try to learn?  

This past Saturday before the Cinco de Mayo/Kentucky Derby party I went out with Dennis, the current owner, and had a lesson.  Things went surprisingly well!  I only managed to kill it a few times and more importantly no tears or angry outbursts.  It was actually kind of fun!  So that night I drove the car to our party and then from there back to our house, all by myself!  Winning!  

Yesterday, Matt and I went out for a drive in it and he had me practicing hill starts and other tricky situations I might get myself in...  Amazingly enough, we didn't get in one fight the whole time! 

Okay, so what about you?  Do you know how to drive a stick shift?  Are you terrified to learn or are you a seasoned professional?