Upgrading Melissa

I stumbled upon the cutest blog the other day:   www.sofiasjournal.com.  I feel like so many blogs have just one focus, be it food, or fashion, and so on.  But this one kind of covers a wide variety of topics, all of which interest me, and I like that. 

However, reading her blog gave me an idea.  There’s a section on her site called 30 Before 30, and it’s a list of things she hopes to accomplish before she hits the age of 30. It kind of goes along with the theme of my site, and I like it…so much, in fact, that I decided to do one of my own.  Unfortunately, I’m a bit closer to 30 than Sofia (sigh), so my list will have to cover 35 things I need to do before 35.  How depressing…  ;) 

My list is long, and there are a lot of BIG goals on there.  But I figure, if you’re gonna have goals, why not set your sights high, right?

Here goes:

Before 35, I want to…

1.)    Finish my novel.  I’m determined to have a completed manuscript ready to send out by my 30^th birthday.  Just yesterday I realized that that’s only 4 months from now (AHHH!), so I really need to get a move on.  But don’t worry…I have a story, and about 130 pages of content, so I think I can do it!

2.)    Start and maintain a blog for my freelance business.

3.)    Learn to make my own bread (I can make pizza crust…why not bread?)

4.)    Become organized in all aspects of my life.  I’ve improved on this skill in my 20s, so I can only think that in the next few years, I’ll have tackled it!

5.)    Find a job that allows me to telecommute full-time.  I know (for a fact) that Des Moines, IA won’t be the last place we move, and I’m ready to establish myself with a great company. 

*I wrote part of this post a few months ago, and now LOOK…I can already cross this one off my list.  Yay!  (In case you missed it, here’s the post about my new telecommuting job.)

6.)    Settle into a workout routine (as opposed to the sporadic bursts of motivation I have).

7.)    Improve my memory because mine is the WORST.

8.)    Travel to Italy and Greece!

9.)     Visit the wineries in Napa Valley. 

What an amazing trip…I can’t wait to go back (maybe before I’m 35)?!  ;)

10.)  Figure out which type of dog I am least allergic to…and then get that dog and teach him fun tricks. (One would think that would be easy, since I’ll be working for a DOG TRAINER…AMIRIGHT?!)

11.)  Organize my pictures, put them in albums, and scan them so that I have digital copies.  Do the same with my mom’s pictures, since she has about a million of them, and some of them are old and hold a lot of sentimental value.

12.)  Read or re-read some of the classic novels.

13.)  Improve on my geography skills (they’re downright embarrassing).

14.)  Learn to control my temper.  While I don’t go crazy and scream and yell, I do a lot of huffing and puffing and eye rolling, and that’s a habit I need to break.

15.)  Become more patient.  This kind of goes along with #14.

16.)  Take photos of Milwaukee (that actually needs to happen in the next few weeks.  Frowny face).

This picture is from Jenn & Jeremy’s trip to Milwaukee.  We went on a Margarita booze cruise tour of Milwaukee, and it was so much fun (even though it was a little chilly)!

17.)  Watch all of the Godfather movies.  Yes, I know, it’s a sin that I have not seen them.  And Brad owns them.

18.) See David Gray in concert.

19.) Get Lasik eye surgery.

20.) Invent something (dream big, right?)

21.) Buy a house with a kitchen that doesn’t make me swear each time I open a cupboard.  *Look!  Here’s another one I can cross off!  Woohoo…only 33 to go!

22.)  Have babies (or at least one).  :) 

23.) Plant a garden with tomatoes and fresh herbs. 

24.)  Plant a lilac tree somewhere in my yard.

25.) Write a bestselling series of novels (yes, still dreaming big).

26.) Learn about the various herbs, and how to use them to add flavor while cooking.

27.) Buy a wok and learn to stir fry like the guys at Hibachi restaurants (minus the tricks…except maybe the onion volcano…that’s my favorite).

28.)  Train myself to breathe with my diaphragm (those of you who know me, know I lose my voice every time I have too much fun, and my bad breathing habit is one of the main causes of that).

29.) Read the book about football that Brad bought me when we started dating…almost 6 years ago! 

30.) Get in the habit of removing my nail polish before it chips completely off (I type this as I examine my extremely chipped nail polish).

31.) Learn to sew…at least just the basics.

32.) Visit Denver to see Brian and Sara.  Visit Boston to see Lizzy & Juan.  Visit New York to see Mary.  Visit Key West to see Allison, & Tuscaloosa to see Shelton.  Take road trips to see friends…and cities I’ve never seen.

33.)  Learn to crochet.  I have the most amazing pattern that I simply MUST use.

34.)  Floss every day (I’m the WORST at flossing).

I need a visit from the “Tooth Officer!”  ;)

35.)  Become more confident and learn to stand up for myself.

What about you?  What are some of your goals?  And who wants to teach me to crochet?  ;)