We move in two weeks. SAY WHAT? I know. Every time I think about the fact that, in two short weeks, I will no longer live in Texas, I get really nervous. I’ve never not lived in Texas (double negative compliments of my English degree, y’all), and I’m not sure I know how to do it. Do I play the obnoxious Texas girl card and refuse to admit I actually like where I live, choosing instead to constantly talk about how great it is “back home”? Or do I avoid mentioning my home land and try to blend in as much as possible? WHAT DO I DO?
While I’m deciding that, I thought a list was in order. I’m basically a professional list-maker; I make lists of my lists. Creating lists helps me form plans and stay on task while keeping me calm. Even if some of the things on my lists never get crossed off, they help me prioritize. Through lists, I can tell what’s truly important for me to accomplish, and what isn’t as important as I had originally thought.
Two years ago, I put together a 95 in 1095. Please don’t read too much into it. Apparently being totally annoying was my thing. However, one of my goals for 2012 was to go through that list, pull out what was still significant to me, and make a new list with a new deadline.
Notice the absence of numbering of each item. This is simply a to-do list, with a deadline, because who gets anything done without a deadline? Speaking of which, my deadline is the scary age of 30, which will take place on March 5th, 2016. Coincidentally (or not), Michael should be through or close to the finish line of his Ph.D. An alternate title for this list might be: Surviving and Thriving in Louisiana.
Note: The absence of numbering gives me the freedom to add or remove items as they become more or less critical to me. Probably not very legal as far as life lists go, but it’s pretty unrealistic to think that A) I won’t think of anything else to add before 2016, and B) I’ll still want to finish all of these things after almost 4 years. We shall see.
| To-Do before Thirty |
// Organize
>> Get my wedding dress preserved.
>> Create an organization system for my printed photographs.
>> Create an organization system for my recipes.
>> Create an organization system for my music (iTunes).
>> Create an organization system for my digital photos.
>> Clean up my blog categories.
// Style
>> Closet Overhaul: Determine, Clean, Make, Shop
>> Buy a classic Little Black Dress.
>> Find the perfect pair of COMFORTABLE black heels.
// Enjoy
>> Spend an entire weekend without a phone or computer.
>> Send (or take) flowers to someone.
>> Attend or host an awesome Halloween and/or costume party.
>> Watch the Star Wars trilogy with Michael.
>> Sing Karaoke.
>> Follow a season of basketball with (for) my husband.
>> (Miraculously) learn to dance.
// Create
>> Make a headboard for our bed.
>> Host a “Craft Night.”
>> Sew an outfit.
>> Alter an outfit.
>> Grow a garden.
>> Have a baby.
// Write
>> Send each of my close family and friends a handwritten letter.
>> Write a poem for my husband.
>> Have more pieces published.
>> Revamp my blog design.
// Eat
>> Make my own jam.
>> Make my own pickles.
>> Host a holiday meal.
>> Make Julia Child’s Boeuf Bourguignon.
>> Learn to grill.
>> Cook duck or lobster.
>> Go to one of the Food Network celebrity’s restaurants.
>> Eat Chinese takeout from boxes with chopsticks in my living room (like in the movies).
>> Take cooking lessons with my husband.
>> Make homemade bread from scratch.
>> Host a fancy dinner party.
>> Host a tea party.
// Fit
>> Run a half marathon.
>> Get to my goal weight.
// Photography
>> Do a boudoir photo shoot for my husband.
>> Put together a wedding album.
>> Put together a honeymoon album.
>> Get a DSLR camera.
>> Take a photography class.
// Accomplish
>> Graduate with my master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling.
>> Become a part of the community in my new city.
That’s it (for now). Wish me luck. Here goes nothing!
Katie says:
I love lists. I seriously wish that list making was a career cause I’d totally do that.
Learning to dance sounds like so much fun. I would die to take ballroom dancing lessons. I’m just not sure I could talk anyone into going with me.
As for making your own pickles, this has nothing to do with making your totally own like growing cucumbers or anything, but we have this recipe for Jalepeno pickles and they are sooo good. If you ever want the recipe just holler :)
Sarah says:
Dude, I still wonder about how much I talk about “back home”. Up until 3 years ago, I’ve always lived in Virginia. When I go to conferences and they ask where I’m from, I end up being semi obnoxious with “Wellllll, I *live* in Houston, but I’m FROM Virginia..”. The day I gave up my Virginia driver’s license was not a fun one. There’s always a struggle, you’ll always have a bit of homesickness, but learning to love (and even put down some roots!) in a new place is a great life experience.
Kelly says:
As someone who is from Connecticut and moved to Washington state for my husband’s job, I can tell you from experience not many people want to be around the girl who puts down where they’re from all the time. I missed my family and knowing where everything was and the general way of life so much it’s all I could talk or think about. I missed some great opportunities to make friends because I couldn’t move on with my life. I would say to try and find everything you love about Louisiana and don’t let missing home hold you back. It’s not forever (unless you want it to be!) Now 5 years later, we’re back in Connecticut and you know what? I find myself missing things about Washington all the time!
Kathleen says:
Anything goes in a life list! And thirty is really not that scary, I promise! :)
Jen says:
Love this!! And now I’m in the mood to revamp my list – thanks!!
CookinwVictoria says:
Making jam is so much fun! A friend and I went and picked 20 lbs of strawberries in an hour and made the most delicious jam! :) You will enjoy it a lot!
And the SCARIEST part of cooking lobster is putting them in the pot lol my first lobstah was a MONSTER! He was ridiculous compared to his friend we cooked lol Just make sure you have a very wide and deep pot, not like the pots you get from your wedding, wider.
Erin @ The Speckled Palate says:
Woohoo! I love this list and all the things you’ve added to it. :) And I can definitely help you knock off some of the things on this list while we are both living here in Louisiana. (I’m thinking the jam making thing would be a perfect summer activity, as would the karaoke-ing. LOVE THAT!)
Jill says:
This is a good list. There were some of these things I too need(ed) to accomplish. The hardest thing for me in life has been…where you can–delegate!! I did this with my wedding dress or else it’d still be gross. I gave it to my mother in law, asked her to do it, and she gave me the bill. Done :)
Julea Zawlocki says:
I LOVE the last one on create!
Mary says:
Like they aren’t going to know your from Texas without you telling them? Come on.
Katherine Price says:
I am totally up for doing any or all of these things with you! Except make a baby… cant help you there ;) but the half marathon, tea party, shopping, organizing anything, craft making, cooking, COUNT ME IN!!! I feel like you’re already far away and you haven’t even moved yet… *choke back tears* no, seriously. I cried the last time I left your house BECAUSE I KNEW IT WOULD BE THE LAST TIME I LEFT YOUR HOUSE IN TEXAS WITH YOU LIVING IN IT FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT TWO YEARS!!! CHOKING!!!
(this probably should have been sent as a text or something more private so I don’t look so crazy)
alycia says:
awesome list! i recently made a Life List and it was important to me to put attainable things on there so i wouldn’t feel defeated if i never get to do them. i like your list for similar reasons :) good luck!
Honeycutt says:
why run a half when you could run a full marathon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiB_9RwZejk