#12

#12 tackle old photos 

Some 4.5 years after I ordered them, 2007 & 2008 photos are officially, 100% printed, organized and saved for posterity in 4 different albums.

Photos, consider yourselves tackled.

The First/Last item on the list

#1 make a recipe from the Pioneer Woman

Not just any recipe. I've made multiple Pioneer Woman recipes; but this one looked like everything I want in a meal...namely because it's mexican food. And I <3 Mexican food. Like nobody's business. I might should have been born in Mexico, or at the very least, California or Texas.

Blog readers, meet, "My Brother's Chicken Tacos."

Fried chicken tacos? What's not to love?

I was hesitant to do this particular recipe because she mentions it's messy and best done in a group. Yeah, well, my "group" is a bunch of little people and hot oil isn't exactly my idea of kid-friendly cooking. So...solo it was.

chicken & green chilies

fry babies fry!

And it was a piece of cake.

Totally easy to do on your own.

My one tip, really make sure they are good and golden brown so you get that fantastic crunch factor. Also, I totally agree with the Pioneer Lady, they are not at all greasy.

They are delicious.

Mr. 30x30 ate seconds. He never eats seconds.

YUM.

#1 make a recipe from the Pioneer Woman

The Good, Bad, & the Ugly: Progress, Failures & Procrastination

*PROGRESS*

 #3, #12

#3 get current on "currently reading" books 

I didn't notice until after I shared this photo of my stash, 

to be continued...

but every one of my not-quite-finished-novels, are NON-FICTION. Isn't that interesting? Okay, boring maybe, but given my addiction to self-help books, it's not exactly astounding that all these titles fall into my favorite category.

I decided to wait until  I'd finished all the books in my favorite fiction series before embarking on my quest to completion. That means I waited until January and then I got cracking.


Searching for God Knows What  by Donald Miller, resumed on page 66...and completed in less than a week.

Financial Peace: Restoring Financial Hope to You and Your Family  by Dave Ramsey, resumed on page 190...finished in one evening.

The Highly Sensitive Child by Elaine N. Aron Ph.D., honestly, this one shouldn't have even counted, my book mark was still on the roman numeral pages of the intro! But whatever, it made the list and I read it in 8 days.

The Busy Mom's Guide to a Happy, Organized Home: Fast Solutions to Hundreds of Everyday Dilemmas by Kathy Peel, picked up in January with 80 pages remaining. Read here and there (mostly waiting for the  last few minutes on the oven timer) and had it finished by early February.

The remaining four titles, I actually did read more of...just didn't finish. But I will...eventually.

#12 tackle old photos


I started this? Remember? Fingers crossed, just maybe, maybe, I'll finish in the next 36 hours...

*FAIL*

 #7, #10, #20

#7 10th anniversary trip AND #20 pay off the van


This duo truly goes hand in hand. Thanks to financial failure in my past, we had to use the money we intended for the above to meet a more pressing need (um, hello, judgement). 
It seemed ridiculous and frivolous to go on a trip when we had bigger financial needs, so while I can't redeem our 10th anniversary (trip for our 15th maybe?), our van WILL be payed off no later than next March. So there. Done BEFORE I turn 31...do I get half credit? ;)


#10 get within 15 lbs of ideal weight

I'm no better, and sadly, slightly worse, than where I started. I made a bit of progress back in November, and kept it off until February. Then, not so much. What I know about myself, I eat when I am not in control. I double the portions, purge, and just fall into the abyss of tasty goodness when I feel defeated.

My two reasons for feeling out of control are:

1. medical crisis
2. financial upset

Anything else and I can push ahead and at least maintain my weight. But throw one of those two bad boys in the mix and I give up. Thus, when the financial drama flared in February/March and our little guy had medical  issues in May/June; I gained weight.

I will reach this goal. I must. Or there will be no 40 by 40.

*PROCRASTINATION*

 #14, #21, #25

#14 get a complete physical 
See #10.


#21 take a non-traditional family photo
See #10.


#25 go to the dentist


pro·cras·ti·nate (pr-krst-nt, pr-)

v. pro·cras·ti·nat·ed, pro·cras·ti·nat·ing, pro·cras·ti·nates

v.intr.

To put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness.

v.tr.

To postpone or delay needlessly.

#29

#29 make master packing list for trips


Whew, for someone who LOVES lists, I've never been one to write out legitimate packing lists (think scribbles on a notepad the day before we leave...). SO, I needed to do this one for my sanity.  
I took notes from a frequently- found- camping friend; okay, I took her list and modified the heck out of it to suit our needs. I printed this list twice, made multiple changes/additions and finally...the ultimate camping list for our family is born.

draft two

I posted this one all by itself because I totally forgot to include it in the last post  ,as the culmination of all my thirty years, I thought, let's try something totally new to ring in the new decade.

We're going camping.

In a tent.

With six kids (the oldest boy is at the beach for the week).

And my siblings.

I'm stoked.

and a little nervous.

But, mostly stoked.

Tidying up Loose Ends aka the (nearly) final pre-birthday round up

How's that for a title?

Alright, a few of my list items just lacked a certain lack luster blogging quality. I mean, do you really want to see screen shots of my search efforts for a replacement mixer part? That's what I thought.

#27 do something about my mixer


The something I did turned out to be multiple searches to find my two replacement parts only to realize I do just fine without them. I mean, why waste money on something I don't actually need and isn't any fun anyway right? Exactly.


#23 make final decision on amazing grace tattoo 


Decision made.


I've decided to just let it go. At thirty, do I really want to wear two wrist bands to work to cover up my body art? Nah. Sorry Mom; I'll just have to remember you without permanent ink.


#4 update email address


This one was a total drag. I always hated the nondescript this-is-my-name email addresses. Until I realized that silly, way-too-much-information-for-the-checkout clerk/teacher/child's best friend's mom style email addy didn't really work long term either. 


SO, when I became the proud owner of one oh so fabulous iPhone this spring, I jumped on the chance to create my own email via apple. And now, thanks to the advice of my sister, I just forwarded all my old email to the new address. Grown up-ish email address, done.


#11 find fun & funky pillows for downstairs couches


Pillow hunting should truly be a national past time. This took me forever and I'm still not certain I actually achieved it, but it is most certainly NOT from lack of trying on my part! My first purchases ended up on my front porch, my second purchase worked so-so, until we got new couches spur of the moment like...last weekend!

I tried people, I really tried.


#17 define my style
#18 learn how to create (and execute) a polished look


While I had hoped (perhaps dreamed) of achieving this powerful duo while wearing a drastically smaller size and minus one double chin (see #10), it didn't happen.


Correction, defining my style happened.


Learning how to create (and yes, even execute) a polished look, happened.


Getting withing 15 pounds of my ideal weight? Epic fail.


But back to the good stuff.


It all started with a little book, 


Good Girls Don’t Have to Dress Bad: A Style Guide for Every Woman by Shari Braendel


that taught me everything I needed to know and more about my clothes and accessories. 


However, the make-up, hair and skin care thing really threw me. I had to call in reinforcements...and I may or may not have quizzed every woman I know about her hair care routine. Sorry about that.


Lucky girl that I am, my reinforcements happen to also be generous and as part of my 30th birthday, they arranged a little sit down with a make-up guru. 

I should add, it took significant product experimentation to learn how to create both "curly" and straight styles on my hair. Tip, crank up the heat on your flat iron if you want to really make it work.

While it's certain I won't be stopped for my fashion achievements, it's also pretty safe to say I can pull off a decent grown up look now days. TLC's What Not to Wear...I think I've eluded you, for now. Score.