Shakespeare Festival, Packing, and Moving... Did I Mention We Were Moving?

While Josh and I were in CA on our Impromptu Vacation, we found out that Josh got a job in Colorado. Yeah! He only had a few days to get over to CO, so we had to leave CA immediately. We drove all the way back to Cedar and then got to spend the night playing with Brodee.

[Wrestling with dad]

[Watching the Olympics] 

The next day Josh packed up the Suburban and then drove to Denver where he started his new job a few days later.

Josh and I decided that I should hang back in Cedar so I could give my official two-weeks notice at my work, give notice on our apartment, and pack up the apartment.

During this time I have kept super busy packing.

[Stacking everything in the front room]

[Modeling my pimp hat that will be going to DI]

[Why do we have so many boots?!]

[More stuff!] 

But I found time to go to the Shakespeare Festival and see Titus Andronicus, The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Les Miserables. 

[Titus Andronicus]

[The Merry Wives of Windsor]

[Les Miserables]

I'm one of those people who doesn't really like to be alone long term, but I have no problem going to dinner, or the movies, or plays by myself. And I had a great time hanging out with senior citizens at the matinee shows : )

30 Before 30

I always have a hard time on my birthday. I use it as a day to beat myself up by evaluating my life.

I got really sad this year. I only had one person call me (thanks Emily!) and I actually used the phrase “I’m 27 and I’ve accomplished NOTHING!”… I’m sure the 7-hour-long drive home and being stressed out of my mind didn’t help the situation either…

So I’m going to make a list. 30 things I want to do before I’m 30.

Here we go!

(1) Accept a marriage proposal   DONE 08.2013

(2) Move to another state   DONE 09.2012

(3) Do a Triathlon

(4) Have a sushi night at home  DONE 06.2013

(5) Take a dance class    PLANNING - HONEYMOON 11.2015

(6) Pay for someone’s meal behind me in a drive through    DONE 02.2015

(7) Read “The Count of Monte Cristo”    DONE 03.2015

(8) See the Northern Lights

(9) Apply to Grad School (again)   DONE 04.2013

(10) Do a “doors off” helicopter ride in Hawaii   DONE 06.2013

(11) Relearn how to play the piano

(12) Go on a vacation with my girlfriends   DONE 10.2014

(13) Start learning Spanish    DONE 08.2015

(14) Have a spa day    DONE 05.2014

(15) Go to a continent that I haven’t been to before (South America, Australia, or Antarctica)    PLANNING - HONEYMOON 11.2015

(16) Read “Les Miserables”   DONE 07.2013

(17) See “O” in Las Vegas    DONE 10.2014

(18) Get rid of my snowboard and boots    DONE - (AFTER 30TH) 10.2015

(19) Go to a National Park that I haven’t been to before   DONE 05.2013

(20) Make new friends   DONE 09.2012

(21) See the Gettysburg Battlefield

(22) Learn more about finances and investing   DONE 07.2013

(23) See another Broadway show

(24) Dress up and go to a 5 Star Restaurant    DONE - (AFTER 30TH) 10.2015

(25) See another one of the newly appointed 7 Wonders of the World (Taj Mahal, Christ the Redeemer, Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu, or Petra) or one of the 13 finalists (Alhambra, Angkor Wat, Kiyomizu-dera, Moai, Neuschwanstein, Red Square, Sydney Opera House, or Timbuktu)    PLANNING - HONEYMOON 11.2015

(26) Visit my family in Omaha   DONE 11.2012

(27) Bungee jump or skydive

(28) See the Cahokia Mounds    DONE - (AFTER 30TH) 10.2015

(29) Tailgate and see a game at Lambeau Field  DONE 12.2012

(30) Forgive and love    

I’m hoping that if I finish this list then I won’t be so depressed on my 30^th birthday.

*Deep breath*

**UPDATE: The ones in red I was not able to complete before my 30th birthday so I added them to my 40 Before 40 List. The ones in yellow I have not done yet but I will be doing them by the end of 2015 so I will not be adding them to my 40 Before 40 List.**

Bye-Bye Beanie Babies

When I was a kid, I (with the help of my mom) collected Beanie Babies. I loved them! I loved putting them in their own cases and putting them up on my shelf over my bed. I loved checking their names off of the official Beanie Babies list when I got a new one. I loved waiting in line for HOURS just to buy one!

It was a fun hobby that ended with Beanies no longer being collector items. As a result I have decided to donate my collection to Beanies for Babies.

I (with the help of Josh) went through all my boxes and made an inventory. I picked out a few that I am going to keep and the rest of them (350 total) were sent to children who will love them just as much as I did.

[Typing up an inventory]

[In my SUV, getting ready to be shipped off]

Josh told me that his Grandma collects Elephant things so I kept Peanut and I am sending it to her in Wisconsin.

I was sad to see them go but I know that it is for a good cause!

Impromptu Vacation

Ever since my parents moved to Balboa Island they have been telling Josh and me to come and visit them. Work was busy and money was tight so we kept putting the potential trip off. Then my work hit a “lull”, so Josh and I decided to go and visit my family in CA! The timing was perfect because we would be there over my birthday AND Ryan, Missy, and baby Brady would be there too!

[Dad, Brady, and Mom]

[Brady]

[Ryan and Brady]

 It was a very nice and relaxing week.

We went on a boat ride around the harbor with my Grandparents (complete with Sprinkles Cupcakes!)

[Josh]

[The boat]

[Missy, Brady, and Ryan]

[The Captain and First Mate]

[Brady and Mom]

[Sweet guy with a jet pack]

[Me and Josh]

  

We went to a childhood friends wedding reception where I ran into some high school friends

We watched A LOT of the Olympics

We went on walks around the Island to get Balboa Bars (YUM!)

We went to the Orange County Fair and got a fried Reses Peanut Butter Cup!

We went to Crab Cooker with Ryan and Missy

I had lunch with Missy, Brady, Tiersha, Desiree, Ethan, and Ellie at Islands

I had a birthday lunch at BJs with Missy, Ryan, Brady, Josh, my mom, and my Aunt Myrna (complete with Pizookies!)

We had a BBQ at my parents house with some old high school friends

And we went to dinner at Mastros with my family for my and my mom’s birthday! The food was so amazing and the dessert was to die for!

AND When I got back home I had this treasure waiting for me!

Thanks Emily!

I guess my parents were right about how much fun visiting the Island was! Thanks for such a fun week!