So close! And yet...

30 things was actually pretty hard to achieve this year...especially since I left about 75% of those things for the last three months of my 20's.  That being said, I'm actually really proud of the things that I did accomplish.  I had so much fun this year doing a bunch of those things that I keep saying "someday" about.  But I did fail to accomplish EVERYTHING.  And here is why...

1.  Run a race-  I hate running.  Like really, really hate it.  I put this on the list for motivation.  My Dad ran the Chicago Marathon last year and runs races all the time, so I was hoping that maybe a little of that would rub off on me.  But nope.  No running.  No races. I hate it.

2. Get a tatoo- NOPE. No. No way.  What was I thinking?  Not only am I afraid of needles, but I have trouble committing to a polish color at the nail salon.  In what world would I be able to commit to a picture on my body FOREVER and have it inserted into my skin with a needle over and over again!  Nope. No. No way.

3. Buy one really great piece of art- I have been looking all year. Searching for that piece that I HAVE to have.  And I found it.  In New York City.  As we walked out of the Met, there were a bunch of street artists with NY skylines and touristy stuff, except for one little stand that had a ton of really dark and grim abstract paintings, except for one that was soooo beautiful and vibrant that I instantly LOVED it.  It was one of those works of art that I could have looked at for the rest of my life.  But the timing was awful.  The logistics just got me.  We still had a whole day of activities so I would have had to carry it around all day, I don't know how I would have gotten in on the plane, so I would have had to pay to ship it, plus I had to negotiate the price way down which just made me feel so guilty.  So I talked myself out of it.  And now I keep comparing everything else I see to that painting and I can't get it out of my head. So that's my sad story about that.

4. Be able to do 5 pull ups- Ha. Hahahahhahahahaha. Ohhhhh...ha.

5. Write a Song on the Piano- I just didn't wanna.  It never happened, and in all honesty, I didn't really try.  But if you are patient, then maybe this year.  Maybe.

6. Learn how to play poker- I don't quite remember why I put this on the list. For some reason I think it would be a good life skill to have.  I don't have to be brilliant at it, but at least knowing the rules and what a flush is would be nice.  But crazily enough, this year I didn't find myself in some sort of life and death situation where I needed the life skill of poker.  So I guess I'll be ok.

Jo! Your one beauty

Sometimes you get bored and restless and have some sort of  breakdown impulse to make a big change.  So you talk your roommate into cutting your hair.

I don't know why, but I felt like I was drowning in it.  Everyday was this exhausting routine of brushing and combing and trying to make it look presentable and then just throwing it up in a messy bun because it would get caught in bags, bra straps, and armpits.  It once got stuck in the car door of my uber on a windy day and even between my bed frame and the wall.   And uhhhhh...it was EVERYWHERE.

But also because a part of me sort of became curious of who I was without my hair.  I'm pretty sure I'm not the only women out there that feels this way, but my hair is a defining characteristic of who I am.  Silly, right?  A co-worker was trying to jog the memory of someone who had met me briefly and described me as "Whitney...you know...the one with the pretty hair."

The past few years have been so amazing in so many ways but also really disappointing and tough.  It's been full of challenges and heartbreak and, I know this probably sounds so ridiculous, but its like my hair was just hanging on to all of it.

New Hair=New Start?  I dunno.

So I just did it.  Well, actually Diana did it.  I called Mom (who has given me every haircut of my entire life except 3 random trims) and asked if she would fix it next time I saw her, just in case it turned out to be a complete disaster.

And then we went for it.

And after the first few seconds of shock wore off...I felt so good!!!!  So light, so relieved,  and so ME!  It's not a pixie cut and I didn't dye it purple or anything too drastic.  Just 15 inches of dead life gone. 

Bring it Next Decade

Yesterday was my Birthday, and what could have been a day of mourning for the passing of my twenties, was actually a huge welcome celebration for my thirties.  That's right...Bring it next decade! 

                             

My morning was laid back with church, cupcakes, and lots of balloons.  The afternoon however, was pretty crazy and intense, because I went SKYDIVING!

Skydiving has been on my to-do list for years and it finally happened.  

This Chick was a good enough friend to come with me!

We drove 90 minutes to the middle of nowhere, signed in, took a short class, and an hour later we were hopping on our plane.

The "Getting Ready" area

Since it was my birthday, I got to do something pretty special.  I got to FLY THE AIRPLANE!!!

That's right!  I sat in the co-pilot seat, the pilot let go and gave me complete control for quite a while actually.  I'll admit, it wasn't the smoothest ride but it was SUCH an amazing feeling.  I couldn't believe that I got to experience what it felt like to be in control of a plane!  I took us from 6,000 ft in the air to 13,000.  And then it was our turn to jump.  

I'm pretty sure this picture was taken after Diana exclaimed that she hated me ;)

You have to lean your head back for the fall....

and there she goooooes

Bye Diana.

My turn!

The feeling right before you jump out of a plane is sort of weird.  It's a combination of excitement and disbelief.  Like, "Is this really my life right now?" 

AHHHHHHHHHH!

Hey there!

My mouth was open the whole time from laughing/smiling/screaming...I'm so glad I didn't swallow a bug!

 What I really loved about this place was that I got to be (sorta) in control.  I pulled the parachute and even got to fly us around under the canopy.  I steered and did all the tricks!

I couldn't stop looking down, it was so pretty

But looking at the horizon will take your breath away.

Even though I was the last to jump, Diana landed after me.  She landed, got her parachute off, and we ran and hugged each other!  Best time ever.

Seriously, you guys gotta try it!  Everyone.  Everyone go skydiving right now!!!

After that rush, we had the whole car ride home to calm down.  Then I face timed with my family, ate some more cupcakes, and called it a successful day. 

Seriously, aren't they the best!

My favorite!

 Good start Thirties...good start.

P.S.  Wanna take a look at all the cool stuff I got to do this year?  I almost finished my 30 things list! I'm giving myself my "birthday month" to finish up a few things.  I'm almost there!

 P.P.S Okay, you guys get one picture of what most of the pictures turned out like.  When you are traveling at 120 miles per hour, it's hard to keep your cheeks in check. ;)

And that's all I have to say about that

Not So Much With the Greatest of Ease

Everyday, I take Winston for a walk through the park to the lake, and on that little walk, we pass this.

A flying trapeze.
And we pause to watch people fly through the air and I think, "I could probably do that.  It doesn't look that hard."

So I finally signed up to put my strength and ego to the test. 

And it didn't go so well.

The instruction on the very first night went something like this:

"Tonight, you are going to jump off of the platform, hook your legs on the bar, look as far back as possible, arch your back, tuck your legs, then flip off of the bar.  Later someone will catch you.  Listen to the instructor yelling at you.  But don't think about it."

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Did you get that last part?  Yeah, me neither.  I'm a thinker.  An overthinker.  So my first few times were a little rough.  I was anticipating the instructions being yelled, so usually I would let go too soon.  And timing is EVERYTHING!

Not even close on this try

I was pretty much the least graceful person ever, getting my foot caught in the rope and stuck on the bar and falling on my head quite a lot.

Look, I'm FLYING!

I mean FALLING

But after a few tries, I started getting the hang of it.  I'm no circus performer, but the tricks were successful at least!  I just have trouble with the being caught part. 

I took three classes and have one left.  But I'm kind of hooked now.  It's all super addicting: the rush of jumping, the challenge of making your body do things 30 feet in the air, and that final feeling of accomplishment, even when you fail.  I'll for sure be back next summer.

The ONE time I made the catch!

One day left to accomplish 7 more things.  Will it happen!? 

Master Chef

Guys, I have mastered a little something I like to call...chicken.

Okay, so maybe it's not the most complicated thing to cook.  But when I burn toast and make mushy mac and cheese, it's a HUGE deal. 

I made Chicken Florentine.  Well, sorta chicken Florentine.  Here is the recipe if you are so inclined.  I however change a few things.

First of all...why would anyone use frozen spinach when you could use fresh spinach.  Second of all...why would anyone use fresh spinach when you can use pasta.   Any type of pasta will do, but I prefer angel hair.

So, I follow this recipe, but I add mushrooms, because they are yummy.  I put the spinach on the side,  like in salad form, and then put the chicken over angel hair pasta.  And IT'S GOOD! Especially because the sauce is what cooks the chicken, so it's super tender and juicy.

Except, mine turns out brown, not white.  So it's not that appealing when you look at it.    

            

And mine..

            

         

Picture on Pinterest

But it certainly is tasty!  And that's what counts.  CHECK!