Get a new car- CHECK!

Sigggghhhh. Well, I think most of us have set aside this here bucket list and have tried to simply keep up with life....myself included. I only realized today that I had inadvertantly completed one of my items on my bucket list! Yay me. I should be proud-I'm really not-just happy I'm not driving around in a car that makes me look like I should have a boutenniere and/or a tassle hanging from the rearview mirror. I finally got a new car! And I "heart" it. I only had to trade my old car in-fondly known as "Cricket" and there's my down payment! Bam. Super easy. I do have to say though, there is a LOT of anxiety that accompanies buying a car. As "they" were running my credit, "they" were all sitting in a room and to my imagination hovering over one computer laughing at my ridiculous credit score. Apparently it wasn't bad though-the salesman even said "good" thank lord. Credit cards will make my bucket list for 40?? Anyways, I got a great new car pictured above-a Volkswagen Tiguan...gotta love those German cars-hopefully I can still eat like a normal 29 year old girl and not a homeless orphan with first time ever car payments. I'll miss Cricket though-me and the girls had some GOOOOD memories in that! One being driving to South Padre Island and back on Spring Break Junior year of college. We dodged hicks, pervy truckers, coyotes, and most importantly-cops. I'll miss that car-but...someone is turning 30 in a year and it's time to act like a big girl. :)

Suzi Item #8-CHECK!

Well, I suppose I'll be the first to write about my progress with my Bucket List. I know not everyone has posted their list because we are busy, busy girls, but I wanted to update my list so I can mentally move to another item to check off! Now this may just seem like a bragging board to some people, but I don't care-I acheived something and am proud of it :)

So I'm so happy to write that I feel like I've definitely accomplished item #8 on my list which was to make a difference in the writing curriculum in my school district. A couple of months ago I was asked to present to the principals in the school district about a new "way" of teaching writing to kids. (Why they thought I was an expert on this, who knows!) I was very honored, but didn't really realize that my presentation would truly have an impact on the staff of our district and affect the way they teach writing. I wasn't aware that so many people weren't practicing or using, or even knew of this new way of teaching!

I gave my first presentation to the principals and in front of the superintendent and in front the assistant superintendent. Trust me, I was practically pissing my pants. But, I got really nice comments from lots of people afterwards and I was so excited. The assistant superintendent even sent a really nice thank you card which I added below. You can't read it really, but it's nice :) Brag, brag, brag huh? :) I gave my school presentation today which I've attached some pictures of. It was a lot more informal, hence the jeans. I also must say, after looking at these pictures, I may add Bucket List #11: Become more photogenic. Jesus I look god-awful in those, BUT I had to present some proof!

So, there we go, I'm proud of myself and I'm excited to hear about how the presentations went at other schools as the principals had to present my presentation to their staff! We'll see...

Lindsey's List

Poster: Lindsey Martin

Taking on thirty. Here we go...

Volunteer at PAWS: I am completely and utterly obsessed with dogs. Particularly with my own dog, Pressley, who I adopted from PAWS. I NEED to give back to these wonderful fur balls that have given me and so many others so much happiness.

Get a “gig”: like actually get paid to sing with a band. Many of you know that I like to tell people how very talented I am…eh hem…."from one musician to another…" I like to pimp myself to any band that I see…I tell them I am a "triple threat" Singing, guitar and piano, but something always stops me from taking that last step.

Record a demo: I will have to do this in order to get my “gig”. Plus, my grandparents have been begging me to do this for years. I have been playing around with Garage Band on my Mac and think I can get this done on my own.

Finally make a decision as to whether or not I want to go to design school and do it: I have applied to Harrington School of Design twice, sat down with students, worked out a financial plan, etc... It is time to make some decisions.

Learn how to sew: Unlike Widner, I have actually have made an outfit and worn it out (notice I did not say sewed an outfit). My outfit consisted of a piece of material that I tied around myself….it was very fashion forward – trust me. I would like to learn how to sew so I can alter my own clothes. Also, my mom made all of my costumes for the plays I was in when I was young and I would love to be able to do that for my kids someday.

Clean out ALL of my belongings: get to the point where everything I own has a place: I have already started working on this and it takes WAAAYYY longer than you would expect….especially when you take three steps back after the holidays….seriously mom, I know I have the very unique color, brown, in my house but I do not need a giant brown pillow with swirls embossed on it from Pier1!!!

Go to the gym at least 4 times a week for six months straight: Man – this will probably start exactly six month before my 30th birthday – I have come to the realization that I HATE working out with every ounce of my being. I do not buy that “you’ll have more energy”, “you’ll feel better”, “it becomes addicting:”….no I won’t and no it doesn’t! I have tried to make this “lifestyle” change several times over the last few years without any luck….this is my last push.

Get something for my home from each trip I take: I have been looking around my apartment and have noticed that it is filled with fake “souvenirs” from Crate and Barrel, CB2, etc… I want to fill my home with stories of the places I have been and adventures I have had. I wish I had started this one a long time ago.

Partake in another Alzheimer’s Association walk: This organization is near and dear to my heart. My grandmother has severe Alzheimer's and I want to do everything I can to help her, others with Alzheimer’s and future generations.

Live in the now: I pulled this one from Stacy’s list because I think it is so important and something I really need to work on. I am always future- thinking, which is great when trying to accomplish goals, but I need to enjoy the present and what my life has to offer today, this minute. Thanks Stacy, for bringing this to light for me.

Take an Eagle Clinic: Need I say more?

Joey's List

Poster: Joey

The good part of procrastinating posting my blog... having time to let thoughts naturally generate over the last couple weeks. The downside- some of my ideas may sound a little familiar to you by now! But this just further supports that great minds think alike!!

Here it is.... in absolutely no particular order!

(Anything highlighted in red has now been completed)

1. Skydive- As a kid, no roller coaster was ever scary enough for me. I could never figure out what was wrong with me when all the other kids would unload off rides squealing in excitement, claiming it was the pinnacle of their lives. I would always be secretly let down inside and tell myself that one day- I was going to jump off a plane.

2. Attend Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah- Skiing, movies, apres, celebrities, hot tubs - the perfect storm for a good time.

3. Become an art teacher- I am a closeted creative person with a love for art. Ever since I embarked on becoming an educator, my long-term goal has been to become an art teacher one day. Now with grad school and tenure under my belt, I can begin working on making it to my final destination.

I've requested one year off of my teaching job to go to go back to art school. I figured instead of doing this here in freezing Chicago for a year, I would do it in a place I have always dreamt of living- Los Angeles. On Aug. 1st, I will be leaving my lovely home to head out west to take art classes at UCLA and of course, enjoy some fun in the sun. After the one year of school, I will be qualified to teach art in elementary school.

4. Buy a random person something- Pay for a neighboring table’s dinner, buy a coffee for the next person in line at Starbuck’s, etc. I want to do something just to make a random stranger happier for a moment in their day. Now, I just have to figure out a way to do it that won’t make me look like a creep or like I’m trying to get laid.

5. Eat frog legs- or something else disgusting. Cow balls, pig’s feet, a giraffe’s ear, who knows!?... I have always been such a wuss about eating something even slightly exotic on an animal’s body. As if eating chicken boobs my entire life isn’t weird… I need to grow up in this department and just take it down like a sophisticated diner. No eyeballs though- many of you know how I feel about them!

Ate a duck's heart at the Publican on June 1, 2010.

6. Get closer to my brother- Family. You can’t choose them, yet you’re stuck with them your whole life. I grew up with an older brother close in age with me who felt much more like my fraternal twin. We looked like clones and my mom even gave us matching bowl haircuts throughout the majority of our early existence that made us look like Greek ‘Children of the Corn’. Our childhood memories are endless and hysterical. Due to a couple of foggy disagreements and different lifestyles we’ve grown so far apart that we now act more like strangers than people who came out of the same uterus. I miss him and want him back in my life now more than ever.

7. Go on a set-up date- I have always been wildly opposed to set-up dates. Perhaps it’s the heightened expectations of the potential matchmakers, or gasp!- the awful dread I would feel afterwards if I wasn’t really into the person. The whole idea always gave me the heebie-jeebies...yet something always sounds so wholesome and idyllic about it when happy couples mention that that was how they met. I think I’m finally ready to give it a try.

Went on a date with my cousin's fiance's client's friend (say that 3 times fast)... A nice guy, just not for me. This experience just further proved to me that nothing can compare to the excitement of meeting someone new naturally, the way it's meant to be.

8. Actually say hello to a celebrity- I love celebrity crap as much as I hate to admit it- I just can’t help myself. After years of having a love/hate relationship with US Weekly, I’ve finally accepted it as one of my few guilty pleasures in life. Every time I have actually rubbed elbows with a celebrity and had a chance to meet one, however, I get so star-stuck and run away from them as if they are covered in Anthrax. Next time I see a celebrity I want to have the courage to just say hello and shake their hand like a normal person- and not act like a raging 12-year-old on speed.

9. Take a scrap-booking class- So nerdy, but I love crafty stuff. I bought a pretty scrapbook five years ago and lots of that cutesy detailing as a way to get the ball rolling… Haven’t touched it since.

10. Go on a mission- Every time I have attended church they mention these amazing missions people go on to help the poor, the uneducated, female victims of human trafficking. Organized service isn’t typically my thing- but lately I have been thinking that there has to be more I can do with my life than sit on the couch watching re-runs of Jersey Shore and the Kardashians and planning my next manicure or vacation. I want to go on a mission for about a week or so and help out someone who is struggling in a less fortunate corner of the world.

Elizabeth's List

Poster: Elizabeth

Approaching thirty makes you really look back…High School, college, studying abroad, countless adventures, great experiences with some stumbling blocks that have helped shape us along the way. It’s been seven years since we graduated college. Since then we have gone through so much together. We have had a blast together living in the city, celebrating every birthday, and sharing every story, traveling all over for bachelorette parties or even just for fun. We have watched our friends get great jobs, fall in love, get married, have babies and buy houses. Oppositely, we have also watched one another’s hearts break numerous times over lost loves, lost jobs, lost family members or even feeling lost inside in general. I believe sharing these joys and moments of vulnerability have helped shape us but more than anything, have also created long lasting bonds with one another.

The word THIRTY also makes you look forward and we tend to think about all the big things we want in life. Whatever stage in the journey we’re at in achieving those things, we all have so much to be proud of. I have never seen such a wonderful group of ladies that really never settle for less than they want, always strive for more in life and aren’t afraid to admit that they want to change and better themselves. You truly are all amazing! I am so excited that Widner put this together because it’s so easy to forget about all the little things we want and all the things we have forgotten we wanted to do. So what a great excuse to share another bundle of experiences with each other?

I was in Miami celebrating the holidays when I received word of the bucket list. It dawned on me that I would be turning 30 in one year and seven months…I figured I had plenty of time to accomplish ten things that I have always wanted to do. Then suddenly, I realized that within that year and seven months, while we are all trying to check things off our lists, my whole life would be changing as well. As of July 2010, my new home would be Miami FL. So much panic came over me when I realized how soon that was and how many things I have always wanted to do here! Don’t get me wrong, I am so excited to embark on this new stage of my life, but there are a lot of special people and things I am leaving behind. Thanks to Sarah, I have a little fire under my ass to take the initiative to do some of these things and to enjoy sharing more funny and amazing moments with all of you.

1. Go Sky diving- I’m absolutely terrified…but would LOVE to know that I could be brave enough to get the thrill that everyone talks about

2. Do a mission trip- my spiritual journey has been monumental in my life the past few years. I NEED to give back to others the love that God has shown me by spreading his word to those who have never been touched

3. Travel within the U.S.- I have spent sooo much time traveling abroad but cannot say I have been to many places within the US. I really want to see some new places I have never discovered. A few that I would hope to hit are California, Texas, Boston or Wash DC

4. Spend more time with my family…quality time! On the way home from Miami, my parents told me that I am the spark in their lives and they are heartbroken about me leaving. They stressed how much they want to have time with me before I go. But my Mom was clever and specified that she wants more than just the times that I stop at home to eat dinner or pee really quickly before heading home. I think I can sacrifice a few Friday or Saturday nights with Mommy and Daddy!

5. Fill my new home in Miami with pictures and memories of friends and family- I have always been so jealous of all those people out there that have all these beautiful photographs of their memories all around their house. I have great pics, but have never done anything more than post them on Face book. I have to grow up and have something interesting for my guests to be entertained by while visiting my house besides vodka red bull.

6. Plan a trip back to Spain and see Paris for the first time- I keep saying I want to head back to Granada where I studied abroad and have yet to do that. In addition, I have never been to Paris…I HAVE to get there before I turn 30.

7. Get signed up for either my reading specialist certificate or masters in school social work- I just got my Masters in teaching and want to enjoy that accomplishment for a while but I know that by 30 I will be itching to reach my next goal professionally. I want to at least decide whether its Social Work or Reading that I want to master next.

8. See more musicals, visit every museum and go to anything cultural that this wonderful city I have been living in for the past 28 years has to offer.

9. Take Salsa lessons…and cooking lessons too! I have to say I am a great Salsa dancer and a BAD cook. Lets just say I really relate to Amelia Bedelia…its tough! Anyhow, I would love to learn more tricky moves in Salsa and I just plain love it. As for cooking, I just need help in general!!!

10. Learn about my Greek descendents- I think when someone asks me what nationality I am, we all knows what the answer is…CUBAN. I am so proud of it and I love knowing the whole history about my family. However, I don’t know a darn thing about where my father’s family comes from. All I know and like to say is that I am SPARTAN (its fun) and I know a few words in Greek. I am OBSESSED with this country and I truly feel it’s a sign that I need to find out some history that my Dad never bothered to do.

11. Eagle Camp or Competition? (Per Widner’s request) Ok, Ok…I guess this list wouldn’t be enough without some sort of act of humiliation (But I secretly love that God mismatched me and created me into a human with a white brain, a Latina body and moves of a sista!!) I will do this only if I can count it as 11 and make it all about having fun with my girlfriends.

Stacy's List

Poster: Stacy

1. Be Present. Set clear boundaries between work and play, and pay full attention to the setting that I’m in, when I’m in it. Since the nature of the bucket list is to maximize the use of our precious time, I need to prove that I understand the worth of time by employing it well. First, there’s a time and place for everything. There’s a time for work, and there’s a time for relaxation. I need to put the blackberry away when I’m with my family and friends, and likewise, stop checking facebook and gmail 100 times a day on my blackberry when I’m in the field. In short, give the present 100%. Be present.

2. Practice one Random Act of Kindness a day. Buy the person behind me’s coffee at Dunkin Donuts on the way to work. Resist the urge to honk my horn at the annoying drivers(well, this might be just considered “normal” to most people, but to me, I actually feel like I am doing a huge kindness when I just let it go. Call in to the manager when a store employee or waiter has been particularly helpful or kind to me. (Just happened the other day at Macy's!) These things will "pay it forward" and I am SURE that it will make a difference in this world if you factor in how many different people we encounter on a daily basis. And considering that I have about a year and 9 months until I'm 30, that will add up to a lot of acts of kindness and a lot of people.

3. Become fluent in Spanish. I spend so much time in La Villita, Pilsen, and Cicero as the encompass a major part of my territory for work…I’m constantly picking up little sayings, some slang(some arguably mildly inappropriate) but nonetheless, I feel that all of the office staff and physicians appreciate that I strive to understand and practice their native tongue. But I want to take it to the next level. I’ve come this far, so it’s time to finish it off.

4. Conduct a thorough Ethnic Dine Around. Explore and experience all the fine establishments that our wonderful city of Chicago, the melting pot, has to offer. This includes, but is not limited to, Greektown, Chinatown, Devon Ave(Indian food), Pilsen/Little Village, South side(Soul food), Skokie/Lincolnwood Jewish food, Andersonville Swedish, Urkranian Village Polish....the list goes on.

5. Visit a fortune teller/psychic. This is actually the one that scares the shit out of me the most. So there-that’s it. No turning back now.

6. Embrace my inner nerd with my Dad. Visit the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago History Museum, and Museum of Surgical Science, IMAX, etc. with my dad. Treat him to dinner after each day of exploring and bond :) We share interests in these things, I know it would make him and me SO happy, and in our busy lives, it's one of those things we always talk about but it never happens. Well, I've decided it's up to me to make it happen. It's really important to me.

7. Travel to visit all my friends/loved ones that live long distance. Destinations include Grand Rapids Michigan(Lorelei), San Antonio Texas(Brandi), New York City(Dana), and Del Rey Beach Florida(Gary). The people that I would be visiting in these places mean the world to me, and I want to make sure that I take the time to experience what they are experience during their times living there. Plus the kids(Sophie, Sloane, Arianna, Cy, and baby to come) get older as time goes by, and I want to make sure they all know their Auntie Stacy :)

8. Take a cooking class series. When we look at turning 30, and our 20’s slowly shrink back into our rear view mirror, I realize that having a family and being an actual grown up isn’t all that far away. As I am a perfectionist, I want to not just learn how to do something, but I want to become awesome at it. Therefore, I am assuming one measly cooking class isn’t going to do the job. What can I say, I was inspired by Julie and Julia. So I’m warming up my cast iron La Crueset pot—and getting ready to BRING IT.

9. Take a belly dancing class. I always am in awe of those ladies that come up and dance with us at the Lebanese restaurants and confidently swing their hips and roll their bellies. I am always pushed by all you guys to get up with her, and I always refuse. Well, maybe it’s time to take the class, and consummate my graduation by a command performance at our favorite Lebanese restaurant on Wells.

10. Donate all my old clothes to Center for Abused Women shelter. I have an abundance of clothing that I have been waiting to go through and give to charity, sell to Plato’s closet, donate to the Salvation army, or more accurately, just continue to store in the basement. Well, while my clothes would undoubtedly be useful in all those capacities, if I have to choose where I would like to help most, my heart goes out to these women.

Lexi's List

Poster: Lexi

I just read an article in the trib about how to make your New Year's resolutions stick. Although this list is not essentially meant to be a list of resolutions, two of the steps that the article mentioned is "Use the Buddy System" and "Tell Other People." Props to Widner for bringing us all down with her. jk. Regardless, here goes nothing, in no particular order.

1. Get into grad school. I have wanted to do this for years now and it's about f-ing time that it happens.

2. Throw another fundraiser. Thank you to all of you that supported me last year. I'm not sure if I will choose the same cause, but I'll figure that out later. Please let me know if there is a cause that is close to your heart and I may consider giving a portion to that. Last year, I raised $750, therefore I would like to raise $1000 this year!

3. Run a half marathon (maybe in a different state)

4. Do yoga once a week or once every other week! This is something that I truly enjoy and I want to take the time to do it.

5. Take a trip to a place where I have never been before, preferably out of the county. This will hopefully happen before I start my masters program (admission pending). Maybe even a volunteer trip...preferably for 3 weeks. no one weeker this time.

6. Become less of a procrastinator...If I say I'm going to do something, just do it and don't wait until the last minute. This will be a major life change for me, but it bothers me and I need to get on the stick.

7. Start budgeting my finances better. Create a system that works for myself. Let me know if you guys have any ideas, or let me know what works well for you.

8. Network and continue to build relationships with people in the social work field and work on all of my relationships with friends and family.

9. Throw a dinner party for friends and cook a full on meal.

I can't think of number 10 right now, but I'll come back when I'm there. I don't want to force anything at the moment. Here's to being inspired and to being 29!

Katie's List

Poster: Katie

1. Run a half marathon. I ran a 10K last year and it wasn’t as bad as I thought so I think I can do this. There is an annual half marathon in Des Moines in June that I plan on running with my uncle. I don’t care about my time, but my goal is to run the whole thing.

2. Complete three courses towards my CPCU designation. CPCU stands for Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter….it’s an insurance thing. There are eight courses I need to complete in order to get this designation and I’ve completed one so far.

3. Become a mentor through the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls. This is a long-term residential home for troubled kids just a couple blocks from where I live. I would love to become a friend to one of these kids.

4. Fire a gun. Sue’s pictures from Texas inspired me.

5. Go zip-lining. Not sure where or how yet, but I think this would be really cool.

6. Visit Brandi in Peoria. Brandi is my best friend from high school. She moved to Peoria over a year ago with her husband and son. I keep saying I’m going to visit and feel guilty that I haven’t yet.

7. Visit Salon Jimare. I worked at this hair salon through high school and over college summers. My sister worked there as well. The owner was like a second mother to us. It’s ridiculous that I haven’t been back to visit in years.

8. Go to a cooking class. Nothing special, I just want to go to a class to learn basics.

9. Take my grandma to an Oprah show. She always talks about how much she would love to go and now that Oprah is leaving, I don’t have much time. I’ll probably need Shannon’s help with this one.

10. Go to a Billy Joel/Elton John concert.

K-town's List

Poster: Kristen
"Here's looking at you, dirty Thirty."

Ok ladies, no intro fr me, but I did find a new york minute to write a few things down.

1. Paint a masterpiece. (Thank God art appreciation is arbitrary.)

2. Get out of the country again. Always said I'd move back to Spain, but this will have to suffice.

3. Take a girls trip anywhere . I mean we really need to have more sleepovers n more silliness. It's really hard to be serious in a room full of people in pajamas.

4. Take a dance class. Something comparable to salsa. My boyfriend won't admit it, but he knows they make you smile.

5. Go hang-gliding. I've done skydive Chicago (which is really over a cornfield and like staring at a map), Canyon-swing in Switzerland (thought I might die), Parasailing (yawn), but hang-gliding is the only thing I've ever really wanted to bc they always make it look so darn pretty in the ads.

6. Win an award. Preferably in some kind of creative field.

7. Get out of credit card debt. - 2010 baby, this is my year!

8. Volunteer/Habitat for Humanity - Yeah i think I could build a house.

9. Conquer a Mountain. A physical one, not a mental one. [side note - this entry was gonna be: get my 20-yr old body back, but not sure that's humanly possible, even if I lived at the gym so guess I'll get over it. Besides it sounds much cooler to say you tackled Mt. Whatever than saying you went to the gym a bunch.]

10. Jump off a cliff - bc it's such a rush! (preferably into water)