my 30 in 30 {personal goals}

This month, something extraordinary happened. And when I say extraordinary, I mean life-changing!!

Yes, I turned the dreaded 3-0!

At first, I was really intimidated by this birthday, but as it drew closer, I started to get excited about it. I kept hearing women around me say that 30 was a liberating year for them, and that they felt confident and more secure than ever. And that’s when I made the decision to choose to enjoy this year.

Because I want this year to be full of personal growth and fun memories, I’ve created a list of 30 things that I would like to accomplish, my “30 in 30,” you could say. If you know me personally, please read over these, and help hold me accountable to crossing these off of my list! I want to look back on this year and feel excited about what I’ve accomplished!

So here goes. I’m putting this out there. I’ll keep you updated on my progress, and hopefully, I’ll have some fun stories (and photos) along the way!

(Things that are completed or in-progress will be highlighted in purple!)

1. Run at least 2 5ks and improve time from last year {On the calendar- Joplin Memorial Run May 19}
2. Get my ears pierced again
3. Go to a movie by myself {May 25, Hunger Games}
4. Travel for a weekend by myself, taking my camera, guitar, and journal for company
5. Go to as many live concerts as possible (at least 10), and photograph them all. I love concert lighting! {ATTENDED: 1. Rock & Worship Roadshow Feb. 16; 2. Kelly Clarkson Mar. 14; UPCOMING: 3. Switchfoot May 4}
6. Take guitar lessons and eventually play for worship at church {Taking lessons with Miss Kacey Dotson at the Conservatory of the Ozarks in Springfield}
7. Go to a photography workshop {Signed up for the Sal Cincotta Senior workship in St. Louis in April}
8. Write and complete a song
9. Actually make a project that I’ve pinned on Pinterest!
10. Journal several times weekly, even about the small things {so far, so good…}
11. No more Mountain Dew!! {MD sober since December 29, 2011!}
12. Go to an art museum
13. Send encouraging cards & letters at least once per week
14. Budget for one massage per month! {Two down, 10 to go! Can’t wait!}
15. Pay off remaining credit card debt
16. Keep a list of all the books I read this year
17. Early morning gym time at least 3 times per week
18. Lose 20 lbs
19. Go on a date with someone who does not have a mullet, is not missing teeth, and who does not have an angry wife (since those are the ones who pursue me…) haha
20. Channel my inner Picasso and do an oil painting
21. Cook a new recipe once per month
22. Record a video for YouTube (photography and/or music related)
23. Take as many self-portraits as I can. (I’m only 30 once! One day I’ll need to remember what it looked like.) ha
24. Learn to tread water without dying
25. No more girlie pushups!
26. Organize, print, and put albums together of my personal photos
27. Go to a theater performance
28. Go to an orchestra performance
29. Go on a picnic
30. Watch some classic movies from the AFI’s greatest American movies list

And since no post is complete without some photos, here are some pictures recently taken of me by my good friend from Tiffany Kelley Photography.  Here’s to 30 and Flirty!

~Jen