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. 

Thirty and Thriving

Today I'm saying good bye to my twenties. I'm not a mess over being 30, not by a long shot!  I feel better about who I am and what I'm doing now than I ever have. 

That's not to say the last 10 years haven't been good to me, because they have! 

Over the past decade I:

met and married my husband,

made some amazing girlfriends,had some awesome adventures and

rode some great horses

 and of course I can't forget Miss Bella!

I don't think that's too shabby and I'm anxious to see what the next couple years has in store!  Hopefully it will be more of the same!

Ten Favorite Things v.3

Today I'm joining up with Brianna at Endlessly Beloved for her Ten Favorite Things link up.  This months topic is travel.  I love going new places and seeing new things so I'm splitting my ten into five places I've been and loved and five places I really want to go!  If you've got any insight (must eat restaurants, exceptional hotels, or travel tips) on the five I've not been to I'd love it if you'd share them with me!

Ten Favorite Things About: Travel, the places I've loved...

one: Fort Collins, Colorado
Matt, Bella and I road tripped from our home in Illinois to Fort Collins to visit my friend Allis and her family.  I was won over by the scenery, hiking, the overall cleanliness of the town, bike paths and all. the. BREWERIES!  I'd give just about anything for an Odell Easy Street Wheat right about now!!  I'm headed back to visit again in July and can't wait!

two: Disneyland and Disney California Adventure
I felt like such a kid exploring all things Disney when I went to California this winter to visit friends.  And if it's okay to be a big kid anywhere, I'd guess Disney would be that place! 

three: Europe.  Specifically Germany and France.
My friend Kira lived in German several years ago and I had the opportunity to visit her.  We had a lot of fun traipsing around Europe!  I fell head over heels for Polish pottery, spätzle and French champagne.

four: San Juan, Puerto Rico 
I still get warm fuzzies when I think about my recent trip to San Juan!  It was such a wonderful time filled with sun, sand, drinks and amazing food!  I'd head back in a heartbeat...

five: Savannah, Georgia
I've been to Savannah on two occasions (once for St. Patrick's Day and once just for giggles) and would be up for another trip.  Who wants to go?  Things I love to do: stroll the cobblestone streets down by the water, drive out to Tybee and hit up Jen's and Friends for Happy Hour!

And the places I know I'd love...
six: Santorini, Greece
I've been dropping not so subtle hints to Matt that I REALLY want to go here in the near future and he's been purposely ignoring me!  Santorini looks incredibly beautiful in every. single. photo I've ever seen and I really want to experience it in real life! 

seven: Texas
Austin.  Dallas/Fort Worth.  Houston.  Amen. 

eight: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
WWOHP or bust.  I can't tell you how many times I re-read this series of books or seen the movies.  I'm DESPERATE to experience everything that this attraction at Universal has to offer!  Too bad I can't apparate and just be there!

nine: Napa Valley, California
Wine country.  Need I say more?

ten: Scotland
My ancestors on my Dad's side are originally from Scotland and the family castle, Foulis Castle is still standing and available for touring.  It would be so neat to fly over and check out some of my family history!

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!

Tuesday Tea

Good morning!!

No tea, or coffee for that matter, for this girl today!  Although, I firmly believe that a Mimosa or Bloody Mary is an acceptable morning beverage, just maybe not on a workday....

Today I'm linking up with a few bloggers (Jenni, Khala, Samantha & Reneé) who've 'met' through the Friday link up I do every week, but this one is all about sharing what's going on with you right now!  Thanks to them for creating another outlet to meet new bloggers!

Well today I hit the ground running and haven't had time for much more than some homemade granola and milk for breakfast.  I'm just hoping to make it through the day without a face-plant into my keyboard.  I'm pretty much flat exhausted from all the fun I had this weekend at Disneyland, but I believe in the "Pay to Play" mindset, so here I am... with a smile on my face no less!

In short, Disneyland (and Disney California Adventure) was AMAZING!!  

If I ignore the ridiculous calamity that was my flight out to California, the weekend couldn't have gone better.  The company, hotel, weather, rides... so on and so forth were outstanding!!!  I will be doing a complete post about my adventures at the parks, but here are a few teaser photos...

I'm not a First Timer anymore!

My 'sis' and I at Sleeping Beauty's castle.

Mulan, she's my favorite Princess!

Cars Land was FABULOUS! 

I brought home another horse, but this one eats and poops WAY less!

Thanks again to the Tuesday Tea link-up hosts and thanks to you for stopping in for a visit! 

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:

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Fireworks at Sleeping Beauty's Castle.  

FIVE:

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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!