30 Before Thirty
I will turn thirty on September 22, 2010.
That gives me a little more than six months to do all of the things on this list…
- Visit The Modern Wing of The Art Institute of Chicago.
Dye my hair red.(Done!)- Finish redesigning my Smart & Lovely portfolio.
- Launch my decorating service.
Stop drinking soda.(Done!)Lose 20 pounds. (Not drinking soda should help.)(Done!)- Repaint my office.
- Sew a dress for Eleanor.
- Clean out the basement. (It’s getting scary down there.)
- Donate some of our books to the library.
- Cook Pad Thai from scratch.
Organize the catch-all closet in my office.(Done!)Get good at applying liquid eyeliner.(Done!)- Print the bajillion photos I have stored on my computer and put them in albums.
Alphabetize our CDs and finish putting them into sleeves.(Done!)- Landscape the front of the house.
- Make an origami crane.
- Visit The Farnsworth House by Mies van der Rohe.
- Learn how to use my camera in manual mode.
Find my perfect shade of lipstick.(Done!)- Decide for good whether I want a tattoo or not.
- Pay off my credit card.
- Make a video montage of Eleanor’s first year.
- Have a date night with Brandon at least twice a month.
Grow tomatoes.(Done!)Have an adorable family photo taken.(Done!)- Sing along perfectly to “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”.
Take Eleanor to the Shedd Aquarium.(Done!)Reduce (or eliminate) my reliance on paper towels.(Done!)- Paint all of the trim in our house.
(I’m crossing them off the list as I complete them.)
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great list, nicole. i used to make one of these lists each year. don’t know why i stopped. i think you just inspired me to start again (although i might have to wait… i turn 31 in 23 days… not sure i can do 31 things before then!)
thie is a serious list! but if any taskmaser can do it, its you!
good luck.
ps. 30 is really good, in case you were wondering.
I’m looking forward to 30!
Love your list! I’m turning 40 this year… might have to come up with a motivating 40 for myself!
I just had to laugh at number 27. Not even Michael Stipe can sing all those words without help. I was about 10 rows back at at REM concert once and when he got to that song, he pulled out a little sheet of paper, unfolded it and explained that he sometimes forgets the words.
My 30th birthday is exactly 10 days before yours! I don’t have a list, but looks like I better get going if there’s only 6 months. For now let’s enjoy being in our 20’s for the last time!
This is a great list! I love that you have little odd things on it like “cook pad thai from scratch” and “sing along perfectly to “it’s the end of the world as we know it” (I love that song btw!)
I think you have inspired me to make a 20 before 20 list (I’ll be 20 next January) :)
Good luck achieving your goals!
Love the list! There are a few things on there I would like to do. Stop drinking soda for one! :) We stopped using paper towels and instead used baby wash cloths for a long time. They seemed to be the perfect size. We had an over abundance of them after my kids were out of the baby stage.
Good idea! Those washcloths are a great size.
I say it’s totally doable :) I’m turning 31 in 89 days, not sure if I could pull this off!
That is a lofty list, but there are som seriously fun things on there!! Have fun!!
That’s an awesome list! You can do it!!
This list would terrify me! But I know you can do it!
Ps. I have a friend who is a wizard at taking family photos, because her full-time gig is teaching fourth grade! I’m happy to send you her info if you’d like. Don’t want to be too spammy by posting it here.
What a list! You’re definitely going to be my inspiration. I, too, am looking 30 in the face and think this would be a great way to ensure I get the most out of what little is left of our twenties. Best of luck to you!!!
I had no idea you took your photos in auto-mode! They’re always so lovely! But I suppose you have a good eye, and that’s probably why :)
wow, that’s quite the list! hope you’ll update here often to let us know how you’re doing on it. did i know that our birthdays are only one day apart? mine is the 23rd!
Revlon liquid eyeliner is the best and a great price for learning. I have used it for years in Blackest Black (there are a variety of colors but being a child of the eighties I cannot seem to stray from Black eyeliner!!). You can use one hand and don’t even need to pull at your lid once you get the hang of it!! Good luck with the list! I hit the thirty mark two years ago and it has proven to be the best decade yet!! Next on my list: babies..whoops think my husband just hit the floor!!
I was reading this on FB and thinking the whole time, “hmm, this girl is practically copying Nicole’s entire life!” Then I realized it was you!!
You will be amazed at how much you can lose just by ditching the soda. I lost 20 just going to diet. Of course now Im trying to get off that :)
Wow. What a list. Turning 30 was hard enough- I don’t think I could have tacked on a list to it too.
By the way, being 30 is easy and great. I highly recommend it.
We have the same birthday!! Birthday twins!
Good luck with your list!
Awesome list! Perfect mix of “quirky” and “practical,” if you know what I mean. I have no doubt you’ll accomplish all of those things… can can’t wait to see you with red hair and the “perfect” lipstick! :)
That is quite the list. I’m currently painting my trim right now, and it’s the never-ending process. Good luck.
PS – We are birthday twins. :)
I love this list, I need to make one of these! Perhaps we need to take your family photo at Farnsworth :) We have been there, it really is beautiful. Just cross your fingers for no floods this year!! Seriously, would be awesome.
I know – I had to check the website to see if they would be open this year. I remember reading about them having to shut down for a while to repair flooding damage.
A photo at Farnsworth… sounds pretty awesome!
You certainly are quite a gal for still being under 30!!! I just turned 30 in December and I can honestly say that this has been my best year yet! I wish you the best :) What a great list! I am slowly working through my list of 31 things before turning 31 :) It’s been fun!
I turn 30 on September 19th 2010! Fortunately, our house turns 100 this year and we’re having a dual b-day party so I won’t feel so old. =)
Our house turned 100 this year too!
I recommend checking out Aveda for the lipstick. I am not much of a lipstick girl, but I have 3 Aveda lipsticks that I love (Fossil, Sutra, and Sheer Roseleaf). I’m pretty pleased that I’m hitting one of my life to-do’s this year (also my 30th), which is to living in another country. I think having these lists is fun, as long as you don’t give yourself a hard time if you don’t get to them all.
Great list!
My 30th is exactly 6 months before yours. I never did come up with a 30 Before 30 list. I wonder what I can get done in 21 days.
That’s a good list, but I think all those things are very “doable” if you just carve out the time.
PS – Giving up sodas will definitely help with the weight loss, plus, you’ll feel so much better!
That is a great list. I’ve been working on the no soda thing for awhile. I have no will power.
I find it so funny that a) Eleanor’s birthday is exactly one month after my daughter’s. I like to compare them! And b) now I see that your birthday is exactly one day before mine. Though I’m a year older! :)
What a great list! Pad Thai is surprisingly easy… I tackled it for the first time just a few months ago. One of my all time favorites!
Getting rid of the paper towels ins’t too hard. I bought a bunch of small towels at Costco and I rewash them. I have my cute kitchen towels and then my paper towel replacement towels.
Hey, I turn 30 on Sept 24th. :) Well, actually I will be turning 29 for the 2nd time. ;)
I made a list like this about a month ago. I haven’t been brave enough to post it yet. Maybe I will.
I gave up soda in Nov. I was hoping for a dramatic weight drop, which i haven’t seen. I have lost about a lb a week since then… so it all adds up in the end. Whether that is from giving up sodas I don’t know. Just don’t expect a sudden drop of weight. It was easier then I thought it would be.
Great List!! I am always inspired when I read other’s to do lists. This week I am painting the trim in my house and the doors as well.
30 for 30 I LOVE IT!
I’m actually turning 30 on the 26th of September and I love this idea!
As for the losing weight – if you haven’t tried Weight Watchers you should! I lost almost 30 lbs on the program while eating ice cream. Who can beat that?
I’ve been making paper cranes since I was a kid, and now that I’m a teacher, I’ve taught a lot of students how to do it. And I must say, the paper/written instructions aren’t really helpful. But this Wiki (with photos AND a video!) isn’t a bad option… http://www.wikihow.com/Fold-a-Paper-Crane
Good luck with the list!
Thank you – I’ll follow those instructions.
Great List!!! It shows so much of your personality; I love the range!
I highly recommend getting a cherry tomato plant. For years I would get one in the spring and put it on my deck. You just get a large pot, one of those cage thingys to support the height of the plant and it does the rest! Keep it watered and give it lots of light and you’ll get to pick away at these beautifully delicious baby tomatoes. I have anything but a green thumb and I was able to pull it off!
I wish I had written a 30 before 30, but I got so sidetracked with wedding planning (I got married a month before turning 30) that I never got around to it. A few of those you could knock off in a flash!
I wish I had done this!! I am getting ready to turn 32 in a few months! Maybe I can do 33 things before I turn 33 and I will have a whole year to do those!!?? I better get started on the list!!!
Love your site- and your list.
How about Clinique’s “almost lipstick” in black honey? So many people swear by it. It is REALLY REALLY awesome.
http://www.sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P122751&cm_mmc=us_search-_-GoogleBase-_-P122751-_-70680&_requestid=42976&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=70680
I’ve always heard good things about that color, but I’ve never tried it. I’ll have to give it a go!
It’s amazing. Looks horrible in the tube but great on everyone. It was my wedding lip color.
i’m turning thirty in august…
but i didn’t make a list…
should i…???
do i need too….???
Excellent list. Now comes to the hard part… making a point to stick to it! Obviously you will succeed because you’re amazing- but I say figure out which tasks are on-going and which are experiential. That way you can enjoy the process without feeling bogged down. Maybe you wouldn’t but I know I always have a running list of what to do next. When I figure out practical ways to achieve my goals then I enjoy the process more. xo
Great list! I think that just writing things down is great motivation… that is why I did this:
http://fascinating-kate.blogspot.com/2010/02/during-my-25th-year.html
Can’t wait to hear about your progress :)
We have a few list items in common. :)
I’m pretty certain that you can check off #26; that eyeglasses-and-argyle picture is the cutest family photo I’ve ever seen in my life!!
Also, the secret to eyeliner is NOT using a pen or pencil.
I wear contact lenses AND I’m a spaz, and there’s only one way to do this successfully: Get yourself a pot of creme/gel-based liner (I like clinique & bobbi brown). Then get yourself a narrow eyeliner brush. Your artist’s instincts will take over.
I did #27 in high school, but now any attempt at repeating it sounds like that scene from Tommy Boy. “Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn, world serves its blah blah bleeds, mumble… mumble… mumble…”
Good luck with the list!
-John
I loved reading your list! I turned 30 last July and decided to get my one and only tattoo: a small hot pink heart with a sewing needle running through it. (it’s my logo that my husband designed for me 5 years ago). It’s just to the right of my right hip bone so no one can see it even if i’m wearing a bathing suit. It was a little memorable gift to myself about why i love being creative and why I love my husband. Haven’t regretted it yet! Good luck!
I am EXACTLY 10 years older than you. Also married, with a daughter (now 4). If you want some advise from an old lady who’s been around the block and shares your birthday, don’t get the tattoo. Just, don’t.
i just realized that today marks 6 months before i turn 40! should i do a 40 things before i’m 40 list? sounds daunting.
and i agree with betty. as another soon-to-be 40 year old with a 4 year old daughter, i also advise against the tattoo.
I like your list! We’re trying to wean off of paper towels as well. Not completely off them yet, but getting there. I turned all my bathroom and kitchen towels that were getting less soft, or worn, or stained, cut them in half, and used those for rags. (Then I got to go shopping for new towels!). The thing that really helped break the paper towel habit was to then have a convenient place to put the dirty rags after wiping something up. I used an old cloth tote bag, hung on door, that I could throw in the laundry with them. (I actually have two of these bags, so that I still have one in use when the other is in the wash.).
Hmm…maybe that was too much info on my rag system?
No, I’m so glad you mentioned it because I never thought of that! We’ve just been tossing bibs and towels on the counter and it’s been driving me nuts. That’s a genius idea!
Gosh, I turn 30 in exactly 180 days. I should make a list like this too! Although I’ve never been great at crossing items off to-do lists, so maybe I shouldn’t.
Great idea!
The only I’d say is: you don’t need to lose weight. i think you look gorgeous the way you are. But hey, I am a woman too and always tell myself I need to lose 20 pounds…lol
good luck with all the ticking off your list! :)
Thanks. I’m happy with the way I look, but this is a health goal for me, not just a ‘look better’ goal.
Great list! I will be turning 30 in 11 months and I’ve decided that I’ve got a lot of growing up to do before it happens. I’m terrified of driving, but I’m going to get my license. I’ve finally figured out something I’d like to do and think I’ll be good at so I’m going to start the ball rolling by enrolling in community college in the fall. I just got my second tattoo for my 29th birthday (so I’d say I’m in support of you getting one, ha). All of my doctor’s are now taking my new health insurance so I just this afternoon made all the calls to get a full health workup done. Woohoo for motivation!
P.S. Used to dye my hair red too. Go for it.
I like your list and that it has several realistic goals. I wanted to be married by 30, but am pretty happy I waited ’til 32 ;)
i think your list is totally doable. some of the things you have already done… take an adorable family photo… :*) not sure how you feel about mary kay products but i might be able to help with the finding your perfect shade of lipstick.. http://www.marykay.com/sharibryant (that’s me) has an awesome virtual makeover program and you can upload your own picture to see how the lipstick would look on you, not the model. i love reading your blog and following along with your ideas and inspirations. you’ll do great with the list! im not ambitious enough to do a 45 before 45, although i am a little jealous of your list. :*)
I love your list. I’m trying to give up soda too. My replacements are seltzer water with a lemon slice, iced tea, and red wine.
“Thumbs up” to the homemade Pad Thai – yum yum!
Great list–a good balance of ambitiousness and achievability (is that a word?)
I wanted to have kids before 30 (I had two by 29) and live in a different country (I lived in three countries on two continents). Staring down 40 this fall, I’m not sure I did as much in this last 10 years as in the previous, but I feel okay about that!
Personally, 30 was no big deal, 35 was harder (it puts you in the 35-44 year old demographic category!)
An ambitious list but I like it! You can do it!
love this! you can do it!
Forget the list. Enjoy life. Don’t stress yourself out. You’re great the way you are. How’s that for going against the grain — but I mean it!
Great list. I, too, turn 30 this year, but in a mere 3 months!
As for this one:
29. Reduce (or eliminate) my reliance on paper towels.
Late last year we went to Target and bought a big stack of shop towels. They sit folded, in a stack, right where our paper towel holder used to sit (I’m sure you’d find some cute basket to put them in). Anyway, we use them for everything that we used a paper towel for. They go in a bucket under the sink once used. Now, every-other day, when I wash my cloth diapers, they get washed. It has saved us money AND I feel loads better about not wasting so many paper towels!
GL!
Another good idea – thanks!
Love the list! I need to give up soda too. It is so hard!
I am also going to dye my hair red.
I second the Clinque Black Honey lipstick. It is awesome. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone that it looks bad on…
Finding the perfect shade of lipstick is on my 30-before-30 list too!
#29 made me smile. I ran out of paper towels this morning and freaked out. Had to run to Target as soon as I dropped my oldest off at preschool. I turn 30 in April (gasp!! I tell everyone I am “twenty-faux”), and I wish I’d thought of a list….
Hey! I am exactly 10 days older than you!
Wow, that’s pretty sobering.
You are awesome for making a list…so fun!
However, seriously, don’t get the tattoo. Just say no. Really. No.
This such an inspiring list! You have inspired me to do one for my upcoming birthday of 32. Welcome to the dirty thirties come this fall!!!
Hey there, love your blog and I look foward to watching you accomplish the list over the next few months – you can do it! :)
I taught my sisters and my mum how to do liquid eyeliner, its not so bad once you get the hang of it. The trick is to line the eye further down than you think you need to: if your eye is shut and you can see the line you’ve drawn its too far up and you have a horrible gap between the liner and the lashes when you open your eye. You need to draw it so that it almost feels like you’re drawing it onto your eyelashes, but it will actually be exactly where it needs to be when your eye is open. Also if you’re keen on ‘cat eyes’, do the lining part with your eye shut, then open your eye and draw just the little ‘flick’ part so its where it needs to be when your eye is open. I hope that makes sense :)
Good luck!!
Though making a fun “to do” list is definitely an excellent way of staying focused and productive – I agree with Tracy that overall it’s more about the journey and not so much about the destination. Did you laugh today? Hug your favorite people? Shrug off small disappointments? Lend a hand to someone needing help? Savor the beauty of whatever season is outside your window?
Don’t mean to sound like some sappy inspirational speaker but as someone who has celebrated her 30th, 40th and even 50th birthday (gasp!) – it’s what I’ve learned and how I try to live each day.
And Tracy is also right that you’re great just the way you are – and all the rest of you are perfect too!
Wow, that is quite a list. Good luck!
That seems like a really great list! Everyone I know who stopped drinking soda lost AT LEAST 15 pounds. So, as you predicted, that will definitely scratch 2 things off your list! :)
in my opinion the best eye liner-YSL EASY LINER FOR EYES
Automatic Eyeliner. So easy to use it looks like a professional applied it.
My 39th is November 12 of this year, and I’m about a third of the way through. I need to get cracking on some of my items. Your item 11 is the same as my item 19, so I’m totally swiping your recipe link!
Shoot. 30th. Not 39th. Sorry – apparently I cannot type.
When I first saw you were making this list I thought “ugh, I could never do that”. But after reading I’m quite inspired. I’m already 30 (31 in two weeks!) But it’s never bad to have goals. I think I’ve gotten pretty swept up in day-to-day life & have put any goal setting on the back burner. So thanks for this little push today : ) All yours sound lovely & totally doable! xoxo
Just from reading your blog for awhile now I don’t doubt for a second that you can’t reach your goals! Trust me though as a girl in her 30’s they’ve been the best years yet!
Hello lovely Nicole! I am awarding the Sunshine Blog award to you! Visit my blog for more info http://tiedwithabouw.blogspot.com/2010/03/sunshine-blog-award.html xo
sounds like a fun challenge. I did one of those 101 things in 1001 days… i have till September… and so far… i’m clearly not going to make it. I put it up and forgot about it. I think I need a more manageable sized list. Good Luck! I can’t wait to hear about your progress!
Number 29…
Try Norwex Antibac cloths.
I went from going through a roll of paper towel per month to buying one package per year.
AND I rarely use any chemicals. :)
Love your list. I should make one. I turn 30 in June AHHHH! Ha ha! 30 is the new 20 right!?
Love the list!
You can learn to grow tomatoes this weekend at Navy Pier.
http://www.chicagoflower.com/seminars.cfm
Can’t wait to see them at the end of the summer. Mmmmm….
What a fun list! I recommend Avon’s Mark makeup line for the perfect eyeliner to practice with it. It’s called “On the Edge” it’s only $6 and the little wand is so small that you can make a really thin line with minor mistakes. Good luck on crossing them all off!
THat is an awesome list! I’ve written a list of 32 things to do this year (I turn 32 this month). Maybe if I published it, I would get it done!
I love that your list spans all aspects of your life.
And please share tips on painting on the trim in your house. I dream of doing that, but am so worried about taking on more than I can handle.
we share the same birthday :O)
I can help you with the tomatoes – I have grown many a tomato my love!
I just finished my 30 before 30 list! It was so much fun!
Have a fabulous time crossing things off!
Great idea – I’ve been meaning to do a 30 before 30 list too – I guess I better get started on the list so I will have time to do the things ON the list
This list is adorable!
so many of these are on my list as well…making pad thai from scratch…growing tomatos and paying of cc debt just to name a few! it’s fun to set goals. I am doing a fun little give away on my blog, if you have a cupcake recipe you would like to share please pop on over and check it out! or feel free to just share your favorite cupcake : )
I’ve done homemade pad thai before and it is one of the best things out there.
It cooks surprisingly quickly, so while you’re making it, it helps if you put the things that have to go into the wok first as the closest to the wok and the last to go in as the farthest away. you’ll also wind up with a lot of sauces you might not use for anything else, unless you normally use a lot of fish sauce.
six months is plenty of time. Go for it!
FABULOUS list! I love the idea of a 30 before Thirty… it’s much less overwhelming than my 101 things. Yikes, need to get a move on it.
Can’t wait to see the red hair!
So ambitious, good for you! Can’t wait to see you with red hair and Eleanor’s new dress! But hold off on the tattoo–trust me! Good luck!
I love this list! I’m thinking this could be an every year sort of thing of things one hopes to accomplish that year of their life!
That’s quite a list young lady ;)
For the eyeliner I recommend youtube. There are tons of tutorials. That’s how I learned to put on fake eyelashes!
I just started using liquid eyeliner very close to my lash line. I used the Elf Marker type pen ($1 from Target) and it works great!
Good luck!
Good for you! I have one as well, and I’ve got 2 years to go. I blog about it when I cross one off. It keeps me motivated! Good luck!
This is seriouly the most serious to do list I have ever seen, and to be honest, everything (but dyeing my hair red, i did that once, it was not a good idea lol) sounds like something i wanna do some day, like growing tomatoes or cooking something you really love from scratch or print pictures (good luck with that!). BUt I gotta say, the most dificult one is going to be Get good at applying liquid eyeliner, that it’s almost imposible!!!!!Love this post, love this post, love this post. Cant wait to see more!
Okay so I tried to grow tomatoes this year (I’m in the southern hemisphere). Bought a baby roma tomato plant for $9 and got exactly three tomatoes from it. Then the plant died, or at least, it looked mostly dead. I declared that it was “dead to me” which is what I do with most of the potted plants I try to grow. Try being the operative word. My boyfriend rescued the tomato plant from my scorned indifference and has been nursing it back to health in our laundry tub (he thinks it’s too hot outside for it) though there’s no sign of any new tomatoes growing, just little leaves. It’s still dead to me though.
Hey Nicole,
This is a great list! Good luck on getting it accomplished!
For the makeup tips, go see my amazing friend Karen at the Chanel counter at Lord & Taylor Oak Brook. She is a fabulous makeup artist (she has done makeup for lots of society weddings, as well as being a Jeff-award winning costume designer) and will help you find your _perfect_ shade of lipstick, and also help you learn how to do liquid eyeliner perfectly. She is totally amazing, really friendly, and not sales-y at all (she won’t bully you into purchasing anything). I always feel and look great after a visit to her makeup playroom!
I love your website and I follow it all the time. I have never commented before but I had to tell you that I loved this post. Glad I am not the only one who keeps lists of the serious and whimsical. Keep up the great work!
If you want to lose 20 lbs. Weight watchers is the way to go! I do it online (no meetings) and it really does work!
I think on your actual birthday, you should make a list of 30 things you’ve already done by 30! I did this… because I didn’t accomplish half of the things on my life list…. and I felt a whole lot better!! I realized, hey, I HAVE done a ton of stuff!
This is SCARILY similar to my list! ha
Great list!!
Great list! And thanks for the inspiration! I’m turning 40 in June and have already been working towards the goal of being in the best shape of my life – it’s time to add a few more things to that list.
Hi Nicole,
I just wanted to be your 100th commenter! Good luck with Smart and Lovely- I’m sure it will be fantastic. Your list is great!!
i love this!! i have a list as well, though mine is a to-do before i have kids! any suggestions??
best of luck to you. ns
For the soda I came to the realization after my honeymoon in Italy it is the carbonation for me and not so much the taste. I drank a ton of fizzy water there :) So now I do store brand fizzy water with lemon and lime, the only ingredients are water, CO2 and lemon and lime juice. I did see the soda stream demo’ed at BJ’s and I think I want one for my birthday. Sure I recycle all the cans of fizzy water but I would like to stop buying them all together. I still have an occasional ginger ale or coke but the fizzy water generally will satisfy me.
Here’s a video from a makeup artist I love on how to apply the liquid eyeliner:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVWUmGT_suI
Here is a how to wiki with good basic tips regarding application:
http://www.wikihow.com/Apply-Liquid-Eyeliner
Good luck on your quest! I turn 30 this friday! It’s scary and awesome all at the same time. :)
I *LOVE* 30 years old. I came to US one say after my 30 b-day, 7 years ago! I should work in my list of things I want to do before 38!
Awesome list! I turn 30 in 26 days, maybe I’ll have to make a shorter list ;)
For me, the key to liquid eyeliner is removing the excess. My eyes are pretty small, so I prefer it really thin and close to my lashes. I paint on as nicely as I can (which is still somewhat messy) and then use a Q tip to even it out. Works like a charm.
Oh my! I turn 20 just 10 days before you, September 12 2010 and I totally have a 30 before 30 list going! Lists are fun.
The year I got pregnant with my son I decided printing digital prints was an exercise in futility so I decided to make a photo book at the end of every year instead. I HIGHLY recommend it. It’s so fun to go over the past year and pick your favorite shots. Plus, I leave it on my coffee table and all my family members love it. I did my last one through blurb.com and they have great prices. I’ve only done it the past two years but I can’t wait to see them all lined up on a shelf one day!
Just a thought :)
Also you inspired me to make my own list!
http://nicholasandsarah.blogspot.com/2010/03/on-lists.html
i can’t beleive you’re not yet 30! now i’m even more impressed with you!! and what a fun list. i think i’ll create one for my 40th this Fall!
That list is sooooo funny (and long LOL) I love it.
Good luck with all of that ;) I think you will do it all…
xo
I love your little flag graphic, and the list is fantastic! Nothing like giving yourself some accountability :)
No wonder I feel like I never accomplish anything of signficance. I don’t have a list like that. You have inspired me to create one. Thanks! I like your list. It has some really worthy ideas and some super fun ones too, to help make the process of actually accomplishing things not be an arduous one.
By the way, I think your first 29.5 years have been amazingly well spent (from what I can tell from your Lovely blog anyway). You are so good at everything you do, and seem to be filled with lots of motivation and determination. Here’s to the next segment of your life…including and beyond the next 6 months!
jbhat
Oh my gosh, I just discovered your blog and I think I’m in love with it. Love, love, love the way you’ve combined your mid-century items with light and whimsical colors! Of all the homes I’ve seen on blogs, this is by far the one that most speaks to my personal style. Which you wouldn’t know, from looking at my blog. . . but my home is a work in progress.
Ok, so I’m gushing. Sorry.
Love your list, too. Wish I’d made one before turning 31 this January. Maybe a 31 before 32 is in order!
PS: Have you tried creme eyeliner? I got some on a whim and have been addicted ever since. It applies perfectly with a little angled brush.
Love this list! I am also turning 30 this year and many of the items on your list, I have on mine. Great inspiration for knocking them off the list! :)
I had promblems with the eyeliner too. But for this Christmas, I get this one from MAC:
http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/spp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT151&PRODUCT_ID=4253
It is very easy to use and your work will never get smudged :).
Oh this is great and I think that it all seems very reasonable:) I can help you with your camera if you like, I am good like that.
xo,
Miss B
Even easier way to get a liquid eyeliner look – the MAC gel eyeliner in a pot, and a tiny angled brush.
http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/spp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CAT151&PRODUCT_ID=898
MAC’s Fluidline eyeliner in a pot works really well! You’re good with a brush, so it should be really easy for you. I switched to it years ago and will never use anything else.
Sheesh – that’s a great list! I only have 2 months before my 34th birthday. I better get crackin’ on my own list.
P.S. I’ve loved my 30’s. I’m sure you will too.
I love your list but what’s the rush? Why make 30 such a deadline for all of those things? It seems like a lot of pressure!
30 is totally the new 20! I love your list, you’ve got some great goals. I could help you with #11. I <3 making Pad Thai.
I love a lot of your items. I am visiting Chicago this week for work and looked up all the free museum days before I came, so you can DEFINTELY get those accomplished and for FREE! I read through some comments regarding paper towels. Ask your local deli for used salad tubs. Deli’s don’t make all of their salads from scratch and the ones they buy come in great heavy duty reusable buckets that fit right under your sink. So I throw all my rags there before taking them up to the laundry. I increased my towel collection by finding amazing vintage tea towels at thrift stores. The linen ones are my favorite.
Great list. I just turned 31, so I guess I have a few years before I have to think up a “40 before I’m 40″ list! We’re trying to wean ourselves off of paper towels too. It is hard to do completely, but it helped to stick the paper towels out in the garage. That way, if I really need to clean up something disgusting, I’ll go out and get them. Otherwise, I just grab a rag from the kitchen drawer. Those cheap dishrags from Target and Walmart work wonderfully. We go through several a day, but they don’t increase the laundry much and they’re inexpensive.
Great list. I can’t believe how put-together your home & life are at the tender age of 29. So you decided to pull the trigger and paint your trim? I’ve been wanting to do the same to our 100-year-old craftsman house, but have been daunted by all the prepwork. And now I’m having baby #4 6 months before I turn 40, so it doesn’t look likely to happen any time soon! Oh well, life is long.
Nicole, I haven’t read all of the comments so I don’t know if anyone else has said something similar, but I think that should be your 30 before 31 list! That’s a heck of a lot of things to do in less than one year! :-)
And I too want to learn to cook Pad Thai from scratch.
Hei Nicole,
That is a very nice list! Good luck with it. You can start to make that paper crane right now and you’ll have 29 more things to do: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3582/3337667939_33a3f7af03.jpg it’s sooo simple :)
I love your list. You have inspired me to get one going. It seems like time goes by so fast.
You have a beautiful blog!
September 22 is my birthday too! It’s also the day the plane crashed on “Lost”. Important to know, right? :)
Great list! It’s the perfect combination of practical things with fun, quirky little bits of fun! Good luck with accomplishing everything!
I agree with the comment that Revlon liquid is the easiest to learn with. I use Black Shimmer for a little extra bling!
Knit washcloths are great for replacing papertowels. They are also a great way to use up the ends of yarn skeins!
My two cents:
NO tatty
DITTO!!!
I love the variety of your list. My 30’s were my favorite decade so far (although life doesn’t end at 40 either!) Now that my kids are getting older I’m so glad I don’t have a faded tattoo to explain to them, like my husband does! Most of my old lady friends these days wish they had never gotten them.
Love your list and TOTALLY share your desire to paint the trim. I just wrote about it here: http://www.simple-e-design.com/2010/02/choosing-the-right-white-for-trim/ Can’t wait to see how yours turns out! Best wishes on accomplishing everything! Lisa
yayyyy birthday lists are my favorite :D
re #29 – i like this one! i stopped using paper towels about a year or so ago. now i just use rags (made from old clothes; tshirts work pretty well). i fold them up and keep them under the kitchen sink, then just throw them in a bucket in the laundry and wash them all together. it’s really very easy and feels good!
Girl, you got this! That’s a great list!!!!!!!!
I too am contemplating a tattoo. (I’m bout yo age) when I told my husband this he rolled his eyes… I think it’s 1/3 life crisis on my part. Either going to get a tattoo or cut all my hair off…
we expect a post 30 update on your progress!
what a great list!
about the eyeliner thing..when i first started using liquid eyeliner, i could never get it close to the lash line without making a complete mess or looking slightly deranged. so what i started out by doing is drawing a line with a pencil eyeliner and using it as a guide for the liquid, so that i could see where i shouldn’t go over with the liquid. it also means if you don’t get it perfect up to the lash line, it’s still filled in with pencil.
hope this helps you!
xo
Love number 27… :)
I just turned 30 in October, the week my son was born!
2 things – I use Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner – I have for years and I love it. It takes some practice but the applicator on this particular brand (Almay also makes one that is not too bad) is not as flimsy, giving you more control when applying.
Secondly, I have two little tattoos and I am considering a third. I think that if you want it, you should go for it! They are fun and I figure when I am old and they fade, I will be old and faded myself so we will all be aging together (me and the ink!) and they will remind me of the times I got them and make me smile.
wowww, Pad thai is my local favorite food and easy to do :)
if you were in Bangkok, you’ll see Pad Thai will belong with many delicious things such as ‘Hoi Tod’ (fried mussel with strach).
many cookers will serve it with big shrimp and omlette. maybe pack Pad Thai by lotus leaf. because it’ll be nice smelling and look amazing ! it call ‘Pad Thai Hor BaiBua’ :)
hope you’ll enjoy with cooking it !
Great list from creative to practical pursuits. And good luck on the soda thing – that would be nearly impossible for me! It’s my one addiction, well, save shopping :)
Wow, you better get a move on :)
Not to add to your list of things to do, but maybe you could do another post on how to apply eye liner and put in all of the helpful comments in this thread—there are so many here!
I would like to refer back to it myself. ;)
I recommend Norwex cloths for cleaning as well.
If you want an easy, reliable Pad Thai recipe, let me know. I have one created by a friend that pulls from multiple recipes to make one out of easily available ingredients that’s still super delicious and authentic tasting. My hubby doesn’t cook, but this is one dish he makes for me. I can email you a pdf if you are interested.
Good luck!
I kicked soda out last year & don’t regret a second of it. For me, cutting it out came in stages. First I started with replacing soda with tea (Trader Joes bottled Pomegranate tea was my drink of choice, it does have quite a bit of sugar in it not to mention more caffeine) however, I did this for as long as I wasn’t “missing” soda anymore.
The 2nd stage was cutting back the tea, and introducing sparkling water (Also from Trader Joes or Pellegrino) until I was completely used to exclusively drinking sparkling water all the time. Now, if I’m out for lunch once every few weeks I’ll fill a fountain soda cup about halfway, but am surprised on how jittery & buzzed I feel to have a few sips of soda. So many restaurants offer bottles of pellegrino, and I don’t have to give up that bubbly fizzy feeling that I always craved from a soda.
Hope this helps you. I know you can beat it!
Oh man! I have a list like this in my head. I turn 30 next year and I will definitely be making some goals like this. Good luck to ya!
Blue Lily Photography is coming to Chicago in July. You can go to their blog and see the dates that they have available. We have already snagged up one slot. They are the ones that took the now famous portrait of NIenie and her family in the orchard.
As far as sewing a dress, I highly recommend the Oliver + S patterns. Darling, darling, darling. And the instructions are unsurpassed.
As long as you don’t expect perfect pad thai… I have a dear friend whose mother is Thai. She told me it took her over a decade to cook pad thai that her kids describe as good as grandma’s.
Great list, and enjoy working on it. After seeing your lovely home and beautiful work, I’m shocked that you are so young!
I know you can do it!!! I can be of much help but I did look up some things that may or may not be of any help.
As far as trying to limit your usage of paper towels – i found these adorable kitchen towels at Retroplanet.com: http://www.retroplanet.com/CTGY/Vintage_Style_Towels
(theres a few there that remind me of you, because your kitchen has a slight retro vibe.)
They are reusable so you can just wash them every few days, and after awhile you get used to not having paper towels at all. :) Also because you are so gifted in the art of crafting you might like these: http://www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2009/1/24/mollys-sketchbook-quick-dish-towels.html
As far as lipstick goes I think you would look fabulous with red lips: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/184-3750325-1974769?asin=B001BQ05CA&AFID=Froogle_df&LNM=|B001BQ05CA&CPNG=&ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001
I know it’s a bit impractical for every day wear – so I
found a shade closer to nude I think you would look great in for casual wear: http://www.amazon.com/Avon-Glazewear-Diamonds-Lipstick-Silvertone/dp/B001JEFZR4
You have the lips to pull off any color – so please do. :)
Okay lastly – you want to stop drinking soda. That was the hardest thing I ever did – I drank SOO much Pepsi. I eventually started weening myself of and drinking tea. Because I did that i started to feel much better and I lost 10 pounds!!! So that will help you lose weight as well. (even though i think you look great) I drink Oolong, and Jasmine Green Tea because they taste the best to me, and they do wonders for your skin, immunity, and insides. :)
I hope that helps a little. Best of luck to you. I’m sure most of us will be with you through the journey.
Bravo! Life is what you make it, sister. You will have such an amazing sense of accomplishment when you complete this list! Whenever you have a doubt about tackling it, just think “why shouldn’t I be able to do this? it’s just life! there’s plenty of time to do everything I want!” :)
a few thoughts…
5. Stop drinking soda. And get creative while you’re at it, there’s so much to explore and you may find that perfect non-alcoholic party cocktail while you’re at it (let Stevia or Splenda be your friend too): http://www.marthastewart.com/non-alcoholic-drink
8. Sew a dress for Eleanor. Both you and Eleanor will love this dress forever.
9. Clean out the basement. (It’s getting scary down there.) Just think, “if I get ‘hit by the bus’ tomorrow, would I want friends or family to have do this instead of me?” Probably not. Pick a weekend, get a dust mask and some good gloves, set up the stereo and dive in.
14. Print the bajillion photos I have stored on my computer and put them in albums. Don’t feel bad if this one is not done by your birthday! It took a lifetime to make all those photos, it may take many hours over several months to accomplish this project in a way that satisfies your every creative urge and need.
20. Find my perfect shade of lipstick. I’m 35 and have been looking for the perfect lipstick for 20 years. What I have found is that the combination of 2 or 3 shades is usually the perfect match!
21. Decide for good whether I want a tattoo or not. My tattoo of our solar system was designed by my husband and sits between my shoulder blades. The fact that it is something that I love (“outer spaaaace!”) created by someone that I love (hubby) and that it’s not always visible to me have made my tattoo something personal and intimate and fun. If you decide to get a tattoo, choose something that you will always admire in some way (like a bird symbolizing freedom and mobility, etc.)
22. Pay off my credit card. This is doable and worth the effort. Stash cash in a jar in your house if it makes it easier to accumulate the funds for paying down the debt.
24. Have a date night with Brandon at least twice a month. This is quite possibly the most important thing on your list! There’s nothing quite so special in this life as relationships with people who REALLY KNOW us and actually love us anyway.
27. Sing along perfectly to “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”.
SING IT ANYWAY! even if you don’t know the words. :)
[...] did it! One item from my 30 Before Thirty list down, 29 to [...]
I turn 30 this September too! This totally inspires me to make a “30 before 30″ list! Awesome!
We share the same birthday, Nicole! I’m just one year younger, so this coming september will be 29 for me. I think your to-do list before 30 is a great idea, and I must remember to create one for the last year of my 20’s.
I see you’ve already got a recipe in mind (from the venerable AB, one of my faves), but if you’re interested I have a killer (and so far, foolproof!) pad thai recipe that I’d be glad to share with you. It’s not hard to do, but you MUST, MUST, MUST have good mise en place, and a big nonstick skillet. Pad thai ingredients lists tend to be pretty long too, but luckily it works great as refrigerator velcro.
You can do it!
[...] March 5, 2010 at 11:23 am (Craig, Lou, The Higher Nest, WeFo) Nicole’s post over at Making it Lovely inspired me to create this list. I’ve never made one before. I [...]
[...] Making it Lovely – 30 before 30: Nicole from Making it Lovely turns 30 this year. She came up with a ambitious but doable list of the things she wants to accomplish before the big day. I’m also turning 30 this year…maybe a project for me to start? [...]
[...] *really* wish I had created a list of 30 things to do before turning 30 like this from Making it Lovely or this from Oh Happy Day! (two of my fav blogs by the way). I’m not going to give myself [...]
I’m right there with you sister…well, soon enough, I’ll be 30 in June of next year. I think I need a list now! Hmmm…where to begin? Thanks for the inspiration!
Love the list, I need to touch mine up some. I’m in the middle of 3 hour drive back from Chicago to Indianapolis in a driving rain storm, my husband is driving and I’m surfing my favorite blogs (yours is one of tops). We where in Chicago for the weekend for a little fun and to visit our son at SAIC, he is lucky enough to be in his junior year at this amazing school. I noticed that one of your before “30″ list is to tour the new Modern Wing at the school. They are so proud of it staff and student, if you would like a personnal tour please let me know he would be so happy to show it off to someone who truely gets ART. I’m the only one in the family who wants to see it for the 90th time and still loves it. Marie
Great list! I can help with a couple of items – a couple of years ago I was watching Martha Stewart, she was featuring how her daughter Alexis changed the way she did a couple of things at home in order to go “green” – she used cloth towels instead of paper and simply kept a basket in the kitchen to collect all the dirty ones and then do laundry. I decided to do this as well, I buy the cheap washcloths at the store, usually 10 for $2 or so, and I use them for everything from cleaning, drying, washing – even as napkins (for myself, not company). It has worked out well – not completely off of paper towels but using way less than I used to. As for the liquid eyeliner, I always loved it but didn’t think I could do it, specially on my rush out the door for work. One day I decided to see if somebody had posted a video to youtube about it and that’s when I discovered Make Up by Tiffany – she does a great job at explaining and I’ve been able to do it without a mess ever since. Revlon is the way to go, and Walgreens always has a sale of buy one get two. Good luck on your list!
Great list! You and I share the same birthday, although I’ll be 36 this year… 30 seems like a lifetime away :)
To get out of the habit of using so many paper towels, I started by limiting how many rolls we could use monthly. By telling myself that we would only use one roll a month (if they run out before the month is over, tough luck!), I’ve found myself reaching for other options than the paper towel first.
Great List! Here’s an even better idea for the photos though… make digital scrapbooks!
My absolute favorite in both style options, layout and book quality is shutterfly. They are hands down the best. Also they let you store unlimited high quality pictures for free.
I’ve ordered over 10 and they are seriously amazing. Also just and FYI they do a 20 – 30% off sales several times a year.
Cheers and good luck!
Jillian
Hey we have the exact same birthday…year and all. How funny!
I came across you blog, I love it! It’s crazy as we share the same birthday and first name… But you blog is so inspiring and I have decided to start my own list of 26!
Thanks for the great ideas.
great list! it inspired me to make my own! http://madeinmemphistn.blogspot.com/2010/03/30×30_15.html
This is one of the best lists I’ve ever seen. I’ve also tried to really reduce paper towels and I use the really cute 50cent white towels at Ikea with the red stripes. They wash really well and I have drawers full of them. I also want to let you know that my husband and I do date nights at home sometimes. After baby goes down, one of us goes for the dinner, we sit and eat in front of the fire and play games, etc. It’s fun if you can’t get a sitter often. We usually get a sitter once per month or so. Just an idea. Excited to see you checking these things off of your list.
Here’s an opportunity to knock off #1 and #17 at the same time!
http://www.artic.edu/aic/calendar/event?EventID=7264&EventType=3
I can do #27. And my hint from this side: it’s all about putting the breathing in the right place. :)
[...] I read Nicole’s 30 Before 30, I started thinking about what a list of my own might look like, so I drafted a post and have been [...]
[...] saw this on Making It Lovely a while back, and I kept meaning to put one together for myself. (Item #31 – stop [...]
Just found your blog – it is lovely indeed!
Here is a fantastic step-by-step recipe for truly authentic, delicious Pad Thai – I’ve made it several times this way and it is as great as you would find in good Thai restaurants. It’s a bit or work – mostly prep – but totally worth it!
http://www.chezpim.com/blogs/2007/01/pad_thai_for_be.html
Love the hair, btw!
[...] 28 on my 30 Before Thirty list: done. And we had a lovely day! Life, Parenthood | Related [...]
What a super list! I turn 29 on Friday – I think this may call for a 30 before 30 list of my own…
Love the list! I think it is a great idea to put some challenges out there for yourself & maybe I’ll give this a shot.
For #14 I recently started getting my photos done into books. I really loved the photo books by Picaboo & by Pixable. These would make it a lot easier to get this crossed off your list.
#22 is an incredible goal! Hubby and I just paid our CC’s off and it feels awesome.
Good luck with finishing these!
I am a list maker/lover so it was great to see what you had on yours. I had the same struggle with getting a tattoo too and then I decided that if I couldn’t decide then that was my answer because something like that needs to be ALL or nothing and I was always wandering around in the middle. I’m 47 now and very content to have an un-inked body.
So, now that you have perfected your liquid eyeliner technique, any tips on how I can do the same? I just switched over from pencil and I’m having the toughest time with it! :p
Oh I’m turning 30 a few days after you, on the 25th Sept! I have a massive list though – I think it will be an achievement to get it down to 30 items! I’m going to start a note thread on Facebook about this – hope you don’t mind me borrowing the idea . . . ?
[...] of Making it Lovely, has a great list of 30 things to do before she turns 30. She’s already done a few and the list is [...]
[...] was one of the items on my 30 Before Thirty list. We’ve lived here for three years now, and the front has been a bit bare the whole time. [...]
[...] but I also feel like there are so many things I want to do before I turn 30. I recently saw this 30 Before Thirty list compiled by Making it Lovely and am completely inspired. What a great [...]
[...] twenty pounds was number six on my 30 Before Thirty list. Following through with number five (stop drinking soda) certainly helped, so that’s two [...]
[...] finished another item from my 30 Before Thirty List: find my perfect shade of [...]
First, my thirties were my best!
Second, regarding #19, this book from the magazine Arizona Highways is a great resource for using your DSLR:
http://www.amazon.com/Arizona-Highways-Photography-Guide-Collection/dp/1932082840/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277757378&sr=1-1
They have photography workshops that are fabulous and this books acts as a companion.
[...] is my birthday…and this got me thinking about a post I’ve read on the Making it Lovely blog. I’m coming up with a list of 25 things [...]
[...] 30, 2010 One of my favorite design blogs, Making It Lovely, posted her 30 Before Thirty List earlier this spring, and it inspired me to write my own. Nicole (of MIL) only gave herself 6 [...]
Where is “learn how to swim”? Maybe you can put that on your 40 Before Forty list. You totally need that Anthropologie swimsuit, and so do I!
We have the same birthday! Good luck with your list; you’re an inspiration.
[...] item has been crossed off of my 30 Before Thirty list! Number 26: Have an adorable family photo [...]
You’ve got a ways to go!!! Get busy!!!
I love your list and am hijacking it. Probably won’t be able to finish it, but trying should be fun.
:-)
[...] may not make it back out for a few hours… at least. This is item #12 on my 30 Before Thirty list: organize the catch-all closet in my office. Don’t you love how you can’t even see [...]
wow, what a cool idea. i’m 30 in a month, so i would need to do 30 things in 30 days!
[...] am Tags: 30before30, goals I’ve seen this idea floating around blogland, most recently on Making it Lovely, and did my best to ignore it. After all, I have eleven months of blissful ignoring left to me; why [...]
I have a Pad Thai recipe… very very good. From a recipe book called “reBar” – famous now all over but located near me on little Vancouver Island. If you like to experiment with yummy food that’s a little different… try this book :)
loving your 30 before 30 posts. Very inspiring :)
(copy and paste link?)
http://www.amazon.com/Rebar-Audrey-Alsterburg-Wanda-Urbanowicz/dp/0968862306/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279743034&sr=8-1
oh, come on, get on youtube and make that paper crane already! :)
I need to do #22, #11 sounds delicious. Great list!
[...] July 2010 by sara one of the blogs i read, making it lovely, created a 30 before 30 list, consisting (as the name obviously implies) of a list of 30 things she wanted to accomplish by the [...]
[...] item off the 30 Before Thirty list: 25. Grow tomatoes. [...]
I recently learned how to make a paper crane. I started with a larger size and perfected the folding, so I started making 1 inch suqares of paper to make mini cranes. Too cute! I’ll show pictures on my blog soon. Make sure you use thin enough paper, too. Anything thicker than average printer paper won’t work… Good luck!
Great list! How did you come up with it all? I just turned 29 and would love to make my own! My #1 is to see Italy, and we’re booking that for the Spring, so I couldn’t be more thrilled!
The easiest toddler dress is a reversible sleeveless one pattern piece dress from Simplicity. I made some for my daughter 28 years ago. It is Simplicity 8537. I found it again at vintageinterestnmore.ecrater.com. You can do it in about two hours or less. skip the matching pants. You don’t have to do All the work yourself on your list. You could trade something in your inventory for a person to help you clean out the basement. I’ll bet someone could show you how to make a crane at an Asian restaurant near you. It is not very hard. Start singing and video it for us so we can see you.
I’ll be 65 (time does fly, I still remember the 60’s very well) in 16 months. I don’t think I could do 65 different things. Maybe 15? I’ve already done so many things, most of what I have left to do is clean up.
Here is an idea for #8: http://www.prudentbaby.com/2010/07/diy-pillowcase-dress-part-2-with-bias.html
Super cute and super easy. Good luck with your list.
Such a great list!
I might be able to help you with #19 :-). I always get people asking if I can help them learn to shoot in manual, and I did a little blog post on the subject a while back. You’re welcome to read and use it if it helps you. And you can always email me with questions! :)
Here is the post: http://espanaphotography.com/blog/2009/08/21/beach-day-shooting-in-manual/
I would suggest getting a blurb book instead of printing pictures into photo albums. I did it with our wedding and vacation photos and left the books on the coffee table and we (and our visitors) actually look at them.
Wow!!! I just turned 29 and turning 30 was not making me very… excited!!! But with a list like that I might change my mind! Thanks for the idea!