I’ve been checking off many of my list items in the last few weeks but haven’t gotten a chance to post about them. My most favorite by far was this one. One of my old high school friends (who I do not see nearly often enough) is Anoushka Shankar. And she just happens to be pretty darn fabulous. She came to San Diego on a tour of her new record Traveller (UH-MAZ-ING) and she emailed to see if any of our friends wanted to come and see her play (um, let me think, YES!)

Allison, Jenny and I had a ladies night date to see the show and it was so fantastic! Photography wasn’t allowed inside the show and it was late when we got out so I didn’t feel like stopping to take pictures of the theater… but I did get one measly instagram snapshot of my ticket.

It was an amazing show and I’m so happy that I was able to check off this list item with such a special outing!

Hooray! We finally saw a movie. Ben and I were brainstorming tonight and as best as we can remember, the last movie we saw in theaters was The King’s Speech (which was a great movie by the way, highly recommend if you haven’t seen it) which we saw in Los Angeles, before we moved and before we had Edie. Yes. We need to get out more. I know.

We ended up doing what we always do, which is waiting until the last minute to decide whether we’re going to try to do a dinner date or a movie date… frantically waffling between should we or shouldn’t we try to go (will Edie wake up while we’re gone, will we get an SOS call like our last dinner date?) and whether or not it’s worth it. Tonight the movie won, and since it was an early (7:10) showing we were *fairly* certain we could make it back before she woke up, even if she did have an early wake-up night. We saw Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, which until today I didn’t even know existed (and definitely wouldn’t have picked based on its name but lucky for us Ben reads the synopses of even the ones with horrible titles). But it was cute. And WE SAW A MOVIE! Hooray! I am so excited I think we might just have to see another one… you know… before next year 🙂

One more list item, check! Actually, I have another one that’s done as well but not quite blogged… I made the kids matching outfits for Easter. Cuteness overload! I will hopefully get those photos up soon.

I’m not sure why I put this one on the list… I have been getting my toenails painted once a month or so since Edie was born as a treat to myself, during the newborn phase it was an easy way to make myself feel a little more put together when I hadn’t showered in days or had a spit-up stained shirt on. And I always always pick some sort of shade of pink or purple, even with a rainbow of color options at my disposal. I guess I put this on the list because I finally decided “why not?” Part of me feels like a 12 year old with this color on, part of me kind of likes it. I’m not convinced that I’ll do it again but now at least I’ve tried it.

Paul and Amelia noticed instantly “Mommy your toes are yellow” “Why are your toes yellow?” “Your toes are usually pink”… these observations/questions lasted an entire day and started up again this morning. I think I rocked their world just a bit by stepping outside my norm.

One more item on my list complete! Only 27 to go.

I will turn 30 years old this summer. It’s a weird idea because if 30 is a stage of life I feel like I’ve been there forever – having three kids, a dog, two cars and a home of our own makes me feel decidedly 30ish. But if 30 is a feeling of being mature and accomplished I think I am still firmly rooted in my 20s (or teens). I still feel like a kid playing “grown up” most days. I saw the 30 by 30 idea on a few of my favorite blogs and have been meaning to post my list for ages but keep forgetting. Today I finally decided it was time to start. If I can’t get to all of these by my birthday I won’t beat myself up about it… but I’d like to at least try. They aren’t my grand life ambitions but more things I always want to do but don’t make time for. I’d like to get to as many of these as possible in the next 5 months or so. So without further ado, my 30 by 30 list. A lot of these are actually things that I have done at one time or another but haven’t done lately.

1 try surfing – I’m going to need to enlist the help of one of my surfing friends for this one
2 learn a song on my guitar – I actually used to know a couple but haven’t played since highschool. My guitar will certainly need a good dusting and tuning as well
3 plant an avocado tree – now that we have a yard I want to take advantage of it. I would love to grow tasty food at home. Done!
4 run on the beach – I used to do this often but haven’t in over a year and I miss it
5 do yoga outdoors – I practice yoga 4 times a week but always in dimly lit sweaty rooms. I’d like to try it al fresco
6 host an outdoor dinner party – so many ideas for this one… lots of twinkle lights will be involved
7 wear an out of the ordinary nail polish color – just because Done!
8 take a swimming lesson – I can swim but poorly. I’d like to be faster so that I might someday be able to race in a triathlon
9 go for a hike on the trails near the house – there are lots of great hiking spots 5 minutes from our house and we’ve never tried them. Done!
10 go for a bike ride – another thing I used to do often but haven’t lately.
11 find and drink a picon bierre – my favorite drink when we lived in Paris. I’ve never found them in the US
12 go see live music being played – we haven’t been to a concert in probably close to 5 years. I’d like to see one Done!
13 shop at our local farmers market – another right near our house but we never make it there list item
14 see a movie – I can’t even remember the last one we saw. Done!
15 join a book club – adult conversation and an excuse to sit down and read a book every once in a while? Yes please!
16 have a girls night out – maybe some wine and a dinner where I don’t have to refill anyone’s milk glass. Sounds lovely
17 go visit San Francisco – it’s been way too long and I’m so excited to see Chris and Tara’s new apartment
18 send someone an unexpected gift – just because
19 finish and donate a blanket to project Linus – Paul and Amelia got blankets from them in the NICU. I have been working on a blanket for 2 years now. Done!
20 sew myself an item of clothing – I haven’t made myself anything in over a year
21 run in a race – hopefully a 5k. Done!
22 reupholster a chair – we currently have two chairs that we’ve been meaning to reupholster. I even have the fabric but just haven’t done it
23 write a short story – I’ve been meaning to write more but haven’t (other than blogging) in ages. I’d like to start
24 be photographed with my sister – we don’t have any photos together since Allison’s wedding.
25 sew matching outfits for the kids – maybe for Easter? I’m dreaming of sun dresses Done!
26 volunteer somewhere – I would love to take the kids to volunteer with me but they’re probably a bit too young. I really want to find a regular volunteer activity to make part of my weekly routine
27 do couch to 5k – since I’m so out of practice I’ll probably need to do this to work up to numbers 4 and 21
28 take the kids to fly kites in the park – they LOVE watching kites but we’ve never tried it ourselves. Done!
29 take the kids on a train ride – since trains are one of Paul’s favorite things we really should take one sometime soon
30 build a deck outside our house – our backyard needs a lot of work. Ben and I have been talking about doing this ourselves and I’m excited to try it

To finish all of these by my birthday I’ll need to do 6 every month. Wish me luck.