Forthy Before the Big 4-0 Update

I have to admit I haven't really been focusing on my Big 4-0 list! I'm still reading Anna Karenina, that book is rough, and only about 40% through the book. Remember why I started reading it in the first place? Fashion!! Banana Republic did an entire collection around the book. Oh, and the romantic link between Anna and Vronsky. There are some really great parts, and just when I am getting into it, the next section is about stuff I could care less about....like who cares about farming and sectioning off the land to give to Muzhiks. Let's get to the romance because that's what I thought the book focused on the most. It doesn't....

 

My mom got me a Fassage for my birthday but I haven't scheduled it yet. It sounds amazing. A facial plus massage! I need to get that scheduled and that will take care of number 25. I have really tried to focus on number 39, spend more time with girlfriends. We had a girls night back in December. Four of us headed to the Melting Pot for a little Girl's Night indulgence! It was a fabulous evening. I had lunch with my girlfriend Carolyn back in January and had sushi and drinks with Julie last Thursday. It has been so nice to just have a glass wine, food and girl talk!

 

I'm dying to travel! Number two and three go hand in hand and I truly hope to schedule a trip to NY in September. Now, how can I head to NY and still take McKinley with me? I'm thinking my mom should go too! She can be the nanny, like Rachel Zoe's sister Pam, and we can have fun in the city when time allows. My dad could go too and take some amazing photos for his new venture in life...

A lot of the things on my list are really spring and summer related. I'm so looking forward to Old Man Winter disappearing for a while. We are so over the confines of our house. We want to get out, explore the town, breath in fresh air and sunshine and sport bare legs! My dad and I talk all the time about number 19! I have created a playlist in my head but we just need to sit down and rehearse. Oh, and figure out how to actually perform in public!

At the rate I'm going, I'm pretty sure I might secure 10 items on the list! I am, however, saving like mad for number one!!! We will make that happen. I guess I need to get on the passports for myself and McKinley. (That would take care of number 34.) The trip of a lifetime is still possible! I won't let that one go! And the gonadal ride at the Venetian doesn't count!

Want to see the full list? Check it out here!

Forty Before the Big 4-0

I turned 39 last weekend and I honestly can't believe it. I mean, when I was younger 40 sounded so old! My parents were old! And poor McKinley will definitely know that his parents are really old! However, I have decided 40 is not that old! If anything, I think 40 is the new 30. Who's with me? 

My 39th Birthday

As I look back on my last 38 years, and I don't want to sound terribly conceited, but I've done a lot of things. I've traveled the country, seen the Red Woods, been to Mexico and Jamaica so I can officially say I've been out of the country, I've moved A LOT, had several ear piercings that have since closed up, graduated from college, learned how to drive a stick shift and drove one for years. I learned to swim and was a lifeguard for five years. I've seen the ocean on both coasts.
 

With my Great Grandfather in 1974

Christmas in 1974 and 1976

 

Estes Park,  CO in 1984

 

Me and My Dad

My 18th Birthday. Elizabeth turned one!

   I've attended a few, okay numerous concerts in my day. I've seen Michael Jackson, U2 twice, The Eagles, The Police, Garth Brooks, Jimmy Buffett, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Elton John and most recently Madonna. I have performed with some extremely talented friends around the metro in several Community Theater productions and I've been honored to play some amazing roles. I got married and will celebrate 10 years with my hubby tomorrow! Oh, and I gave birth! 

November 9, 2002

Me and McKinley April 6, 2011

 The list goes on, but there are plenty of things I haven't done. Hence the 40 before 40. This was a hard list to compile. Some may sound superficial and some are just things I've always wanted to do. They may not sound life changing, or significant in anyway, but that's okay. Again, they are just things that I would like to experience in my life so why not get a jump on them!

I will blog about my forty items over the course of the year and I will try to incorporate the fashion side of my blog as well. I hope you follow along.

My list of "Forty Before the Big 4-0"!

1) Travel to Italy with my family. This may not be accomplished by the time I turn 40, but should be planned and booked for travel in 2014!

2) Attend a Blogger Conference. Preferably, the Lucky FABB conference.

3) Attend New York Fashion Week in the Fall

4) Go to the San Diego Zoo

5) Attend a Cardinal game at the new Busch Stadium 

(Overall bucket list is to attend all major league baseball stadiums.)

6) Can homemade Apple Butter

7) Make homemade bread

8) Make a pie crust from scratch

9) Learn to crochet and actually make something

10) Learn to use my sewing machine

11) Learn to make a pattern

12) Design my own piece of clothing and sew it

13) Get back in the gym

14) Lose remaining baby weight

15) Go to the St. Louis Zoo

16) Attend a roller derby

17) Finish my fifth beer tour at Old Chicago

18) Make pasta from scratch

19) Perform with my parents in a public setting

20) Attend Synagog with Joel

21) Attend a hockey game

22) Style one person for an event and blog about it

23) Refrain from using the F word so much

24) Eat at Town Topic - during the day

25) Get a facial

26) Get a spray tan - a real one 

(Not the kind Julie and I got during West Side Story)

27) Make a will

28) Correspond more by written mail

29) Ride a bike - again

30) Go to Powell Gardens

31) Take a ballet class to see if I've still got it

32) Read Anna Karenina

33) Read the newspaper more

34) Get a passport - See #1

35) Try caviar

36) Drink a martini at a fancy bar

37) Drink a glass of Dom Perignon

38) Plant a garden

39) Spend more time with girlfriends

40) Perform in a show 

That's it. Not sure if I can accomplish everything on the list but I am certainly going to try! I hope you stick around to take this journey with me. Should be fun...