Numbers 8 and 17

Can you believe it's February!? I can't. Seems like 2013 is flying by just as quickly as every other year. I'm happy to report that I'm ready to knock two more items off of my 30 Before 30 list!

#8: Reconnect with an old friend. 

Truthfully, I'm happy to report that I've reconnected with a couple of old friends, but there's one friend in particular whom I am so happy to have spent some time with recently. My very first year teaching, I worked at a charter school called Octavio Paz (An UNO Charter School). My "supervisor/mentor" was a beautiful, young (about my age!) lady named Carrie. She spent hours with me in my classroom modeling lessons, listening to me cry, giving me feedback and helping me wade through my first year in that heart-wrenching place. When I decided to move on from UNO and got a job in another district, Carrie was the first one I told. She was beyond thrilled for me, knowing UNO was not a perfect match for me. On the last day of school, we held our school staff party at my house and Carrie asked if we could go downstairs so she could tell me something in private. She said she couldn't let everyone know right now, but she wanted me to know that she had just accepted a job at the SAME district I would be teaching at the following year. We would be teaching together again!

Carrie and I worked at different schools in Glenview, but we were both third grade teachers so we met often at district meetings, we collaborated on several committees together and we developed a really wonderful friendship. When I left my job last year after Campbell was born, Carrie and I lost touch. The reality is, when you have a baby, you realize quickly who your real friends are. And, you have to put in a lot more effort to stay connected with the non-mom ones. I tried and tried, but ultimately, I failed at making that effort with many people, but I knew in the end, the "good and important" ones would be there when I tried again.  And, just a few weeks ago, Carrie and I started chatting and realized we hadn't seen each other in person in about a year and decided it was time to put that to an end. So, on a snowy Sunday morning we met at Starbucks. I told Rick I'd be home in about an hour to take over Mommy duties. Two hours later, I called him to apologize because the time had gotten away from us. Carrie and I had so much catching up to do and it literally felt like we hadn't missed a beat. I know she's one of those friends who will always be there ready to pick up where we left off, and it is so comforting to know there are still people surrounding me like that. That's what true friendship is.




#17: Eat oysters

I'm not sure why I put this on my list other than because I've always found oysters to be intriguing and I feel like I've become way more adventurous with my culinary choices since dating Rick. I always have wanted to try oysters, but seemed to chicken out when the time came. Well, the time came and I conquered.

Allie and Hart treated us to a wonderful dinner at Epic last weekend, and the waiter was boasting about the freshness of their oysters and Rick gave me that look and says, "wanna knock it off your list!?" I got nervous like a teenager getting ready for prom, but I nodded and we did it. In fact, not only did I eat an oyster, I ate two. I didn't think it tasted like much, to be honest, but I didn't hate them. I'd definitely try them again.

Thanks to my wonderful mother-in-law, I'm almost ready to complete #11, and Rick has given me his official list to help me accomplish #21. I've modified #10 for reasons I'll explain later (and because it's my list... I can do what I want). I just ordered parts of #4, and I'm experimenting with recipes for #16. So, basically I'm killing it!

Here's what the list looks like as of today!

1. Go an entire week without straightening my hair
2. Go to a movie by myself
3. Read a book from high school that I never actually read
4. Wear a bikini for the first time. EVER.
5. Get involved in a new organization
6. Get my eyebrows threaded
7. Pay for someone's meal anonymously
8. Reconnect with an old friend
9. Go unplugged for an entire day (no internet or TV)
10. Climb a rock wall*
11. Dress up and have drinks/dinner at the Drake Hotel
12. Visit the Holocaust Museum in Skokie, IL
13. Sing karaoke in public
14. Go to a Chicago landmark I haven't visited
15. Surprise someone
16. Submit a recipe for the Pillsbury bake off
17. Eat oysters
18. Visit somewhere new (city, state or country)
19. Organize something I've been neglecting
20. Try a new class at the gym
21. Watch 5 movies on Rick's Must-See List
22. Take Cam on a special mommy-son date
23. Go camping
24. Learn about a relative/ancestor I don't know much about
25. Grow an herb garden
26. Take a class to pursue an interest
27. Attend a new Summer Chicago festival
28. Get a spray tan
29. Ride the ferris wheel at Navy Pier
30. Let go of insecurities and be truly content with who I am

A Special Wish

Well, call me crazy but it's time to knock off another item on my 30 Before 30 list. So here's the story:

Some days, I miss working with my students. Some days, I miss my internships I held in college for organizations that helped sick children and made impacts in our world far beyond a classroom. But, I really love being at home with my baby and have no desire to split my time between him and a job. So my craving for making an impact in the world and my desire to continue being Campbell's primary caregiver poses a bit of a challenge.

I've been researching and thinking and throwing ideas out to Rick constantly over the last couple of months. I even secured a website domain name to start my own non-profit one night, just to wake up the next morning and cancel it because I realized I'm crazy for thinking I can start an organization and raise my child in the same manner I'm doing now. I'm a dreamer.

After a lot of research and reaching out to various groups, I finally have joined a non-profit organization called A Special Wish Foundation (Chicago Chapter). I went to my first meeting last night and immediately was welcomed by the small, completely volunteer-run group. I was hoping I wouldn't feel like just one of a mass, sitting on the sidelines listening to a head honcho lead a meeting. And I was so pleased when I arrived at the little bar where the group met and everyone introduced themselves to me and told me about their history and goals. They shared a few stories of recent wishes that had been granted, and then presented a couple of kids whose wishes needed granting. One of the guys asked if I wanted to help him grant a wish for an eighteen year old boy who has cerebral palsy and various seizure disorders and is confined to a wheelchair. He wants to go to Disney World. I immediately said yes, and will be meeting this young man and his family next week to start the planning!

I feel so energized and excited about this. It's a well established national organization but its Chicago chapter is intimate and completely volunteer run, which means everyone wants to be there. It's small enough that you get to dive right in and do good work, but large enough that I'm not overwhelmed with taking on too much more responsibility in my already chaotic life. And, it's the exact kind of work I was looking for -- I get to work hands-on with some really special children.

So, farewell #5. I couldn't be more thrilled to cross you off!

5. Get involved in a new organization

Nature Museum

Cam and I took a field trip to the Nature Museum yesterday. We were inspired by my friend Rachel who recently told me about this gem and boy was it fun. First of all, it was convenient -- ten minute drive, free street parking, and free admission for kids under 3 ($9 for adults!).

We spent about an hour and a half exploring the different exhibits and Cam practiced walking running around in his shoes, which I think are too big and he kept tripping. I ned to get him measured! By no means do I think he absorbed any of the cool information I recited to him (did you know that only a handful of scorpions actually carry venom that can be harmful to humans!?!? I don't have to be frightened any more!) But I do think the experience was perfect for this age.


He played with various textures and water and listened to the different sounds of insects and bugs.

He spent a good five minutes just pushing the buttons on the insect wall.

He climbed and crawled through "beaver tunnels."

They have a butterfly exhibit in which hundreds of various butterflies fly around a greenroom. You can go inside and literally surround yourselves with butterflies. We went it... and boy was it HOT! Humid and hot are not my favorite, so we didn't stay too long, and I didn't capture any pictures, but Cam was in awe of the little creatures. He kept trying to grab them and thought it was hysterical when they would fly by him and try to land on us. What a cool experience. Can't wait to go back!

And, I get to check something off of my 30 Before 30 list because I consider this a Chicago landmark I have never visited before!

#14. Go to a Chicago landmark I haven't visited (CHECK!)

#19

At the beginning of the year, I posted my not-so-traditional resolutions list of thirty things I want to accomplish in the next year (before the big 3-0!) Call me an overachiever, but I'm ready to cross one off my list!

#19. Organize something I've been neglecting. 

I consider myself a pretty organized person. My house is typically tidy and if a closet gets too unruly or the pantry is exploding with boxes of cereal and crackers, I spend a quick twenty minutes every now and again cleaning it up. I have a serious problem walking into a Container Store and not walking out empty handed.

But, the car is another story. I take full responsibility for caring for the car because I use it most. While I'll ask Rick to fill the washer fluid or check a tire, I'm the one who schedules maintenance check ups, gets it washed, and gets the oil changed. I'm also the one who throws piles of clothes in the trunk to take to a donation site and leaves them in there for weeks. I hoard toys for Cam in the car and collect reusable shopping bags which have been known to fill the entire trunk.

So, the car became the easy target for item number 19 on my list. Earlier this week, Cam and I went over to Rachel's to play with little Colin and organize our #26Acts collection for The Night Ministry. (Check out Rachel's post about what we collected! And, thank you to Sara, Allie, Anne and Mom for the incredibly generous donations you all made toward this fun project. You won't believe what I was able to bring over to Rachel's because of all your generosity!)

My trunk was full to the top of stuff to drop off, so finally emptying it out led me to the conclusion it was time to organize the car. The boys checked out all the goods...

photo courtesy of Rachel Friedman

So, on Wednesday, while Cam napped, I took the monitor outside with me as the sun was shining and the crisp 54 degree day breezed by. (Is it Spring!? I'm so confused by this weather!) I brought items inside that belonged in the house, put all the garbage in the trash and even vacuumed out the crumbs and leaves. All the grocery bags are tucked neatly inside a larger one and our little umbrella stroller is the only occupant of the trunk at this time. High five to me.

I'm going to cross this one off the list because that's why I love lists most. Crossing things off. Putting a big check next to a task. It's gratifying in the most inexplicable way.

1. Go an entire week without straightening my hair
2. Go to a movie by myself
3. Read a book from high school that I never actually read
4. Wear a bikini for the first time. EVER.
5. Get involved in a new organization
6. Get my eyebrows threaded
7. Pay for someone's meal anonymously
8. Reconnect with an old friend
9. Go unplugged for an entire day (no internet or TV)
10. Try snowboarding
11. Dress up and have drinks/dinner at the Drake Hotel
12. Visit the Holocaust Museum in Skokie, IL
13. Sing karaoke in public
14. Go to a Chicago landmark I haven't visited
15. Surprise someone
16. Submit a recipe for the Pillsbury bake off
17. Eat oysters
18. Visit somewhere new (city, state or country)
19. Organize something I've been neglecting
20. Try a new class at the gym
21. Watch 5 movies on Rick's Must-See List
22. Take Cam on a special mommy-son date
23. Go camping
24. Learn about a relative/ancestor I don't know much about
25. Grow an herb garden
26. Take a class to pursue an interest
27. Attend a new Summer Chicago festival
28. Get a spray tan
29. Ride the ferris wheel at Navy Pier
30. Let go of insecurities and be truly content with who I am

But, I think I'm going to keep this goal and try to do it monthly. Pick something I've been neglecting (oh guest room...) and spend twenty minutes organizing it.

One down... twenty-nine to go!

My Not So Traditional Resolutions

A new year means a fresh start, a clean slate. That's what we all love about it, right? A chance to forgive ourselves for our mistakes of last year and look forward to new memories and opportunities for growth.

I hate new year's resolutions for so many reasons but mostly because they are usually abstract or unattainable or I'm not held accountable for them and fail to stick with them. I am usually hesitant to go out of my comfort zone, I tend to find excuses to get out of achieving my resolutions and in the end I just feel bad about myself. So, instead, I have a new idea for my "resolution" this year...

In a couple of weeks, I will turn 29 years old. Kind of hard to believe I'm almost thirty. I used to think thirty was so old. What did I know!?! I've caught wind of people who are making "30 Before 30" lists, and as a way of marking my last year in my twenties, I thought it would be a great idea to make my own list. Call it a bucket list or thirty resolutions, but I'm excited about it and think this will be a fun way for me to accomplish some important things.

It has taken me a long time to come up with this list. It's a combination of things I've been wanting to do, things that I need to do, and things I should do to break out of my comfort zone. To be honest, some of these things truly frighten me (#4!!). But, I'm excited and feeling empowered and ready to tackle this year with everything I got.

Here's what I hope to accomplish by the time I turn thirty (January 2014):

1. Go an entire week without straightening my hair
2. Go to a movie by myself
3. Read a book from high school that I never actually read
4. Wear a bikini for the first time. EVER.
5. Get involved in a new organization
6. Get my eyebrows threaded
7. Pay for someone's meal anonymously
8. Reconnect with an old friend
9. Go unplugged for an entire day (no internet or TV)
10. Try snowboarding
11. Dress up and have drinks/dinner at the Drake Hotel
12. Visit the Holocaust Museum in Skokie, IL
13. Sing karaoke in public
14. Go to a Chicago landmark I haven't visited
15. Surprise someone
16. Submit a recipe for the Pillsbury bake off
17. Eat oysters
18. Visit somewhere new (city, state or country)
19. Organize something I've been neglecting
20. Try a new class at the gym
21. Watch 5 movies on Rick's Must-See List
22. Take Cam on a special mommy-son date
23. Go camping
24. Learn about a relative/ancestor I don't know much about
25. Grow an herb garden
26. Take a class to pursue an interest
27. Attend a new Summer Chicago festival
28. Get a spray tan
29. Ride the ferris wheel at Navy Pier
30. Let go of insecurities and be truly content with who I am

I'll expect my friends and family to help me achieve these, so don't be surprised if I call you and ask you to join me on an adventure. And, as a means of holding myself accountable, I'll be sharing my progress so you can watch me cross off my items one by one!

Happy 2013!!