Thirty Before 30: Done!

Okay, so with all the birthday/Christmas/out of town company going on, I got a bit behind on my posts. So instead of posting per item this is just going to be a very long post summing up everything I did. So, I apologize in advance.

 

THE List:

 

1: Meet Dave Brown (local weatherman, there is a story behind this I will explain after I accomplish this)

Okay, so I promised you a story and here it is: When I was little I LOVED Dave Brown. I would bang on my high chair and get so excited when he would come on. My mom said one time we were eating at Red Lobster and Dave walked by. My mom thought I was going to jump out of my high chair when I saw him. Needless to say, I'm a lifelong fan. So, my mom e-mailed him and explained this and not only did I get to meet him, I got a personal tour of the studio from him and got to watch the 5:00 news live in the studio.

 

2: Learn a song on the guitar

I mentioned this in an earlier post, here. That's as far as I got. I learned how to play "Walk the Line." I have to say this was extremely frustrating. I play the clarinet, I'm used to both hands doing the same thing. So doing two different things at once (even though I am normally quite the multi-tasker), this proved to be quite difficult. I think I'll let C be the guitar player in the house.

3: Take ballroom dance lessons

Okay, this didn't get done. I do know of a place where we can go and take them for free. I have taken swing lessons with my brother so it's not like I've NEVER done it. Maybe in January. Not that I need to defend myself, but I did come up with this list 3 months beforehand AND my birthday is a week before Christmas. This does add some extra stress.

4: Decide what I want to do with my life

I have explored lots of options and I have decided what I want to do with my life is where God puts me. Right now, he has me in a good job for a great company. I am thankful that I have a job and not a lot of financial stress.

5: Be actively involved in a charity

http://www.jenniferhwilson.blogspot.com/2012/11/thirty-before-30-5.html

 

6: Try a new food that is something so bizarre it will make people go WHAT?!

 

7: Do at least one touristy thing in Memphis I've never done

Yeah, I've pretty much done everything. The zoo, The Peabody, Graceland, Sun Studios, Pink Palace, Beale Street, etc. I've done it. I was going to go to Stax but again, I ran out of time.

8: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

http://www.jenniferhwilson.blogspot.com/2012/11/thirty-before-30-6.html

9: Write a letter to the editor

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention earlier. There are things on this list I put on here and later thought, why? I don't read the paper. I don't know why I put this on the list. But, keep on reading. There are a few things I did that weren't on the list.

10: Ice skate at Rockefeller Center

Same as #9. I hate iceskating. It's cold. It makes my ankles hurt. BUT I did go to Rockefellar Center. So, it counts. And now I can't find the picture. Ugh. But here's a picture of us at the ice rink in Central Park.

 

11: Make a gourmet meal

My sweet friend Tilly came over and I made her pasta alla carbonara. Recipe found here.

Aside from the noodles being a little too soft, it turned out pretty yummy!

12: Go to Graceland 2

http://www.jenniferhwilson.blogspot.com/2012/12/thirty-before-30-12.html

13: Paint a picture

http://www.jenniferhwilson.blogspot.com/2012/10/thirty-before-30-13.html

14: Floss regularly accomplished Sept.

15: Regular work-out schedule

I go to Memphis Adventure Bootcamp. It is a great work out. Although I've let the holidays make my workouts a little less than consistent, this is the most deidcated I've ever been to a fitness program. I've been going over a year now and it is awesome. It's anything you would ever do with a personal trainer but less expensive! No treadmills! I absolutely love it.

16: Play a team sport started playing on a kickball team the beginning of September

http://www.jenniferhwilson.blogspot.com/2012/09/thirty-before-30-16.html

17: Put $30 on black.

Did this while my mom and Shawna were in town. I obviously can't take pictures in the casino. But I do have a pic of what else we did that night.

 

Yes, we also went to the Herman's Hermits concert and met Peter Noone.

18: Watch the sunrise

Saw it in NYC before the parade started and on the way to Nashville one morning for a meeting.

 

19: kiss my husband in the rain (like in The Notebook)

20: Learn to can like my mama

http://www.jenniferhwilson.blogspot.com/2012/09/thirty-before-30-mark-one-off-list.html

21: Successfully learn to play tennis

http://www.jenniferhwilson.blogspot.com/2012/11/thirty-before-30-21.html

22: Drive a bad @$$ car

http://www.jenniferhwilson.blogspot.com/2012/12/thirty-before-30-22.html

23: Be able to fit into designer jeans I got for a steal!

I haven't tried them on yet, but I know the answer to this. However, I did a 14 day fat flush with bootcamp and saw amazing results. I know if I keep it up I WILL fir into them. I'm feeling pretty good about it.

24: Go without make-up

http://www.jenniferhwilson.blogspot.com/2012/10/thirty-before-30-24.html 

25: Ride my bike to work

I don't know why I put this on the list, except that I live a 2 minute's drive from my office. I'm in sales so I need my car daily. I literally put 100 miles on my car daily. Fridays are office days, but who am I kidding? I can't carry my Starbucks, purse and work satchel on my bike until I get a basket. Maybe someday I'll do this.

 

26: Volunteer in political election

http://www.jenniferhwilson.blogspot.com/2012/11/thirty-before-30-26.html

27: Learn to drive a stick

http://www.jenniferhwilson.blogspot.com/2012/11/thirty-before-30-27.html

28: Get my handgun carry permit

This is an 8 hour class. I have had no spare days lately. But one of my friends from boot camp and I are determined to do this in January.

 

29: Celebrate my birthday in style!

http://www.jenniferhwilson.blogspot.com/2012/12/thirty-before-30-29.html

30: Think of all the wonderful blessings God's given me in the first 30 years and wait in anticipation for all the wonderful blessings to come!

 

I have thought on this a lot lately. Someone told me that your thirties are better than your twenties because you stop comparing yourself to others. The older I get the more I've stopped doing this. I'm so thankful for all I have that I find myself less and less wanting what others have and instead thanking our heavenly Father for what I do have. I also know it is not my place to question why others have things that I don't or vice versa, but just to trust in Him. There are things I know I can change (like I can work out and stay healthy and fit) and others I cannot. (I will probably never be a size 0). The first 30 years have been great and I know my next thirty year (cue Tim McGraw) will be even better!

 

And lastly, at least I didn't handle 30 like this:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42THoVO97Bo

 

Thirty Before 30: #29

#29: Celebrate in style.

Check.
No one can argue this one. My sweet hubby threw me a "Roaring Twenties" party. As in I left my roaring twenties and turned 30. I won't make you wait, see pics below!

 

My sweet hubby who threw me a fabulous party!

My best friend, who's husband flew her in as her Christmas present.

The evening was full of surprises as my mom showed up as a pro-prohibitionist.

My sweet friends Tilly and Kate.

My friend Julie, who is also my hair stylist.

Our friend Samantha who even pregnant looked amazing.

Carrot cake birthday cake

 Raiford's Disco where we ended up

It's ok, I was dancing to "Stayin' Alive."

Nothing says celebrate in style like your mom on the pole.

Thirty Before 30: #12

#12: Go to Graceland Too
Graceland Too is a house in Holly Springs, Mississippi owned by a guy who is beyond obsessed with The King. Don't get me wrong, I am a true Memphian and lover of Elvis but this guy is over the top. I really can't explain it, you just have to experience it. It only costs $5 and after you've been 3 times you have a lifetime membership and can go for free. This is quite the deal considering the real Graceland is about $70. The kicker is you can go any time of day any day of the year. I wouldn't call him a hoarder because it's organized. But, it is a lot of stuff. The house is painted blue right now for Blue Christmas. Okay, enough talking, er typing. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

 

 

Paul McLeod, the man who the house belongs to

"Rudoph" He has a lightbulb in his nose

Paul and his wife back in the day.
Needles to say he's no longer married.

 

This was definitely an experience! I will admit when we first got to the house I told Christopher this is how horror movies start.

Thirty Before 30: # 22

# 22: Drive a bad @$$ car.

We have this dear friend, Jay Carlson. He was Christopher's mentor growing up. He owns 4 Porsches. (pronounced por-sha I was told if I drive it I have to pronounce it correctly) Jay was going to let me drive "Stickers," his Porsche racecar. Unfortuantely, it had rained and that car has no tread on the tires so that wouldn't have been good. So, I got to drive "Blackie." Good thing I completed # 27! I had a GOOD time!

Me with Jay

Thirty Before 30: # 6

#6: Try a food so bizarre people will go WHAT?!

 

Okay, so I have eaten a lot of weird foods. I was never a picky eater as a child because my parents let me try everything. I loved calamari by age 8. Mushrooms were my favorite before I could walk. I have had yak, quail, buffalo, elk, gator, frog legs. So, I wanted to find something really bizarre. I googled "bizarre foods New York" and stumbled upon this. I had no idea there is a show called bizarre foods. On Andrew Zimmerman's website I found an episode whre he went to Congee Bowery. I saw the food Andrew tried and I knew it was what I had to eat for number 6.

Are you ready for it????

Here it is.....

 

 

 

 

JELLYFISH

That's right and below is the video to prove it.

 



If you can't hear it, I said it reminded me of un-fried calamari and it was sweet and spicy. It was actually really good. And yes, I made C and his parents try it as well.

And while we were at it, I decided to try something else weird:

 

Shark fin and crab soup.
It was really yummy!

Side note: my lips were so chapped the whole time we were there. That is why they are bright red.

 

So, according to my friends Lish and Dan who have lived in the city. We went to a very good restaurant and it's Cantonese. I knew it was authentic when we were the only non-Asians there. Eventually some other people showed up but I could tell they were New Yorkers. I was proud of myself for picking a non-touristy restaurant.

 

Remember that episode of Friends where Monica gets stung by the jellyfish? My brother reminded me of this and asked what would happen if it had still been alive when I ate and had gotten stung. EEWW!!! GROSS!!!!

 

Thirty Before 30: #8

#8: Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

I didn't post on Thursday because I was too busy in NYC for the parade! I took so many pictures there are too many to post. In a nutshell, we had a really great place to stand. We did get there at 7am and the parade started at 9. Keep in mind that's where it starts so, we didn't really see it until 9:30. It got over after 11:30. That's A LOT of standing. However, it was totally worth it and wasn't too cold.

Here I am at the parade. That's the very end of it with the Macy's "Believe" balloons.

Spiderman!

Trace Atkins

(there were lots of other celebrities there including Whoopie Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Carly Rae Jeppsen, Neon Trees and Don McLean)

What we were all waiting for.... SANTA!!!

The "crew"

left to right front row: C's mom, my mom, my dad back row: C, his dad, me, my lil bro

(I have no idea why I have that weird expression on my face)

 

 



Thirty Before 30 #: 27

#27: Learn to drive a stick.

Last Friday, I had to ride with a colleague over to see a client. His Camry happens to be a manual. BINGO! Turns out, I remembered everything I had learned years ago and pretty much already knew how to drive one.

This is me driving the Camry in the parking lot. Apparently, his check engine light was on the next time he drove it. Surely, this is a coincidence!



Okay, so I think I am ready to complete #22 as most bad @$$ cars are stick shifts.