A while back, I put up a list of 30 things to do before I turn 30.

I updated it after running my half marathon but with less than 6 months to go before I turn 30, I wanted to see where I was at


1.)Be content in what I have instead of always wanting more (I don't think this one will ever be crossed off completely. It will always be a work in progress)

2.) Learn to fight fair.

3.) Create and stick to a budget (Still working on sticking to that budget!!!)

4.)Pay off at least one credit card completely (soooo close! It still feels great to know my student loans are payed off!)

5.) Work on reconnecting with the people in my life (Working on this one as well!!! I have had some really great conversations with some really great friends lately!)

6.) Stick to couponing and meal planning *(this one is still a work in progress but I am getting better!)

7.) Eat healthier I have been eating so many more fruits and veggies and drinking almost nothing but water!

8.) Try at least 1 brand new food a month *(So far I have tried Edamame, Yellow Tomatoes, and GU Chomps. (Ok so the last one is a stretch, but it was still new and they are really gross)

9.) Live life to the fullest (Never going to cross this off because there is always something more!!!)

10.) Remember that I am not old and stop spending my weekends vegged out in front
of the TV! *(My weekends have been SO Crazy! I have not had one free weekend since I made the list!

11.) Run a half marathon

12.) Join a book club (Anyone interested???)

13.)Get a tattoo (this one probably isn't going to happen anytime soon!)

14.) Learn to fish (Little cold right now to be out fishing :-p)

15.) Stop sweating the small stuff (Always going to have to work on this!)

16.)Take the train to Hermann *(this one has been changed, only because our Oktoberfest plans were cancelled, not by us!)

17.)Go to a spa for the first time

18.)Use only reusable bags at the store (or at least recycle to plastic ones if
I forget)

19.) Read at least 30 new books with 10 of them being off my list of books to read
before I die (I am about halfway there!)

20.)Spend the night in a haunted house or go on a ghost tour

21.) Buy a bike and actually use it

22.) Mail out Christmas cards

23.) plan a trip to somewhere that will require a passport (the trip doesn't have
to been taken before my bday but at least planned)

24.)Exercise 6 days a week (Umm, that is so not happening!)

25.)Show Travis a Michigan winter (Not sure about this one! We are going to Kentucky in February and that is going to eat up all of my vacation time!)\

26.)Learn to crochet (I still can't get the hang of it!)

27.) Get caught up on my scrapbooks (slowly working on it)

28.)Learn to sew for real (um, anyone want to teach me?)

29.) Have money in a savings account *(started an online account where $ is deposited every week!)

30.) Have dinner with friends at least once a month!

Happy Anniversary!

I love this guy!



In fact, I love him so much that 2 years ago, I married him!!!


Happy Anniversary baby, I Love you!!!!

30 Before 30, updated!

* In August I put up this original list. Some of my goals are ongoing so I can't cross them off. I did get to cross of a major one this weekend (see number 11)!!!


A few days ago, Jamie
put up a list of things she wants to accomplish in her 30's. That got me thinking because I had made a similar list when I turned 20. Now, almost 10 years later, I don't remember a thing that I said that I wanted to do, other than start a family. That list was saved on a computer that bit the dust long ago and I don't have a clue what my 20 year old self would have said. So I decided to make a list of 30 things that I want to accomplish in the last year of my 20's. Ok so it is more like the last 9 months at this point. Don't remind me! I have a lot to accomplish
So here goes...




1.)Be content in what I have instead of always wanting more

2.) Learn to fight fair.

3.) Create and stick to a budget

4.)Pay off at least one credit card completely

5.) Work on reconnecting with the people in my life

6.) Stick to couponing and meal planning *(this one is still a work in progress but I am getting better!)

7.) Eat healthier

8.) Try at least 1 brand new food a month *(So far I have tried Edamame, Yellow Tomatoes, and GU Chomps. (Ok so the last one is a stretch, but it was still new and they are really gross)

9.) Live life to the fullest

10.) Remember that I am not old and stop spending my weekends vegged out in front
of the TV! *(My weekends have been SO Crazy! I have not had one free weekend since I made the list!

11.) Run a half marathon

12.) Join a book club

13.)Get a tattoo

14.) Learn to fish

15.) Stop sweating the small stuff

16.)Take the train to Hermann *(this one has been changed, only because our Oktoberfest plans were cancelled, not by us!)

17.)Go to a spa for the first time

18.)Use only reusable bags at the store (or at least recycle to plastic ones if
I forget)

19.) Read at least 30 new books with 10 of them being off my list of books to read
before I die

20.)Spend the night in a haunted house or go on a ghost tour

21.) Buy a bike and actually use it

22.) Mail out Christmas cards

23.) plan a trip to somewhere that will require a passport (the trip doesn't have
to been taken before my bday but at least planned)

24.)Exercise 6 days a week

25.)Show Travis a Michigan winter

26.)Learn to crochet

27.) Get caught up on my scrapbooks

28.)Learn to sew for real

29.) Have money in a savings account *(started an online account where $ is deposited every week!)

30.) Have dinner with friends at least once a month!

Like I said, I don't know what my list 10 years ago said, but I am pretty sure that paying of debt and coupons weren't mentioned!

If anyone sees anything on this list that you would like to help me with, feel free to jump on the 30 before Kathy is 30 bandwagon!

photo courtesy of google images

Did you know??

Did you know that the Cardinals are in the World Series????


Did you know that this girl has tickets to the game tonight????


Did you know that this girl is friends with the most amazing person!


Did you know that this girl is super excited!!!!!



Let's go Cardinals!!!!

Forest Park Balloon Glow

This was one of my favorite things to see every year as a kid! It feels so magical!

Pumpkin Days

9/11 Memorial

I didn't do a post on 9/11 because, honestly, I didn't know what to say. I can remember exactly where I was for every moment of that day. I wasn't sure if I really wanted to verbalize the feelings I had on that day. Then I saw the 9/11 memorial at the Grand Basin on Art Hill. I sat in the grass and cried for at least 20 minutes. Seeing those 3,000 flags put that number into a tangible vision. It was beautiful and haunting and I know that my pictures don't do it justice. WE REMEMBER 9-11.

It's that time of year again!

Heidi and Liz got married!

Travis and I travelled to Chicago for the wedding of my cousin Heidi and Liz. Travis had never been before and I love Chicago so I was really excited! The wedding was adorable (totally Heidi) and the reception was awesome. The cotton candy machine was really cool. We also discovered Carol's bar (thank you Ashley)! It was an awesome hole in the wall, country western bar. Great burgers and cold beer! We spent Sunday at Navy Pier before heading home. What a fun weekend! Congrats Heidi and Liz!

Yum...

I am always looking for cheap and easy, but still delicious recipes. I found this one from disneyfamily.com

Tortellini with Edamame and smoked sausage:

Hands on time:30 minutes
Ready in:30 Minutes
Yield: 6 servings

1 pound frozen cheese tortellini
1 cup shelled Edamame (I found it in the frozen vegetables)
1 cup diced red pepper
1 pound smoked sausage
1/2 cup of Italian dressing (I added a little more)

1.) Set 6 quarts of salted water to a boil
2.) chop red pepper and slice sausage into 1/4 inch thick rounds
3.) Stir fry red pepper and sausage together (about 5 minutes)
4.) Add tortellini to water and cook for 5 minutes
5.) Add edamame to water and boil for another 2 minutes. Drain edamame and
tortellini well.
6.) Toss everything together with Italian dressing and heat through one final time.

I added a little Parmesan cheese to the top.

Not only was this a good dish, but I had never had edamame before. One of the things on my 30 before 30 list was to try new foods.

She was.....

Beautiful...


Amazing...


generous...


loved...

Pure Michigan

Have you ever seen those Michigan tourism commercials? They make me a little wistful everytime I see one. My Aunt and Uncle and 3 cousins live in Manistee and it is seriously one of my favorite places. While the winters get a little too frigid for my taste, I love a good weekend of skiing. The summers are what really get me though! The weather is so beautiful. I love spending time with my family. Here is a glimpse into my little Michigan Summer