9.26.2008

34 Before 35

My list penned on Suann’s letterpress

A while back I extolled getting older, and inspired by the brilliant Hula Seventy decided to create a list of the 34 things I wanted to do before I turned 35 as a celebration of this sort of milestone birthday.

Shortly after, I met the incomparably cool Amy in SF and discovered that we both turn 35 in early December. So we committed to doing this list thing together and keeping each other honest about actually sticking to it. And because Amy is so much smarter and cooler than me, she came up with the idea of inviting…everyone…to join in!

To paraphrase Amy a bit, these lists are meant to be realistic and in the spirit of being good to yourself…not some sort of giant "bucket list" over the course of a life. Simple things. Small things. Meaningful things. What do you want to do before you're 25 or 43 or 55? Next month? Next year? Inspire us please!
  • Share with us by linking to doobleh-vay and simple lovely and posting your own list.
  • Leave us a comment that you’re participating too.
  • We’ll pick one each day next week to share with the world. (And perhaps a little prize at the end too?)

34 Things I Want to Do Before I'm 35
  1. Take a cooking class at Central Market
  2. Make a chocolate cake from scratch
  3. Get business cards unrelated to my actual job
  4. Buy conversational French CDs
  5. Listen to said CDs on my work commute
  6. Go on a “dressy date” with Bryan
  7. Make “no knead” bread
  8. Make Lynne’s Sugar Loom
  9. Completely clean out my closet
  10. Put anything I haven’t worn in a year on eBay (see above)
  11. Take Audrey to see the nutcracker
  12. Take a bikram yoga class
  13. Buy bikes
  14. Go on a Sunday family bike ride (see above)
  15. Go on a family picnic
  16. Take Audrey to lunch at the Neiman Marcus Mermaid Bar
  17. Take the girls to the library
  18. Go the pumpkin patch at the arboretum
  19. Make a piece of art
  20. Print photos from this year + put in an album
  21. Take girls to the Dallas Museum of Art
  22. Pretty up my office – hang wallpaper, get new desk drawer knobs
  23. Perfect a pancake mix, make a big batch
  24. Take a half day and sneak off to the movies alone
  25. Make a diorama
  26. Get personalized stationary for the girls' thank you notes
  27. Master homemade lasagna
  28. Make a Blurb book
  29. Redo my inspiration board
  30. Get fresh flowers once a week
  31. Send three friends a gift for no reason
  32. Take Millie to hear live music
  33. Roast a chicken
  34. Take the girls on a surprise overnight trip
  35. Make a plan to simplify and really enjoy the holidays…and stick to it

60 comments:

mary s. said...

Love this! I will start working on mine...

karey m. said...

a beautiful list for a beautiful girl. xoxo.

camiropa said...

Hi fellow Texan-

I posted my Bucket List on my blog earlier, maybe July... however, have not made any motion to do anything on it (perhaps because I don't feel like I'm going to 'kick the bucket' anytime soon? I like this list of yours better, it has a tangible End in Sight... the upcoming birthday (I, too, will turn 35)...

Will bookmark you and keep reading: from your list, we seen to have a lot in common!

Best Wishes!

Helen said...

I feel like I baby because my next birthday will be my 21st, but it is a milestone birthday! Both your lists have inspired me so I think I will do a 20 before 21, it will be a big year for me as I graduate university and become an 'adult'...if I ever will!

traphic signs said...

i think this is a fab idea... so many things to do though.

i am not sure where to begin!
can be on the family bikeride to do?! this will motivate me to get the bike i want too!!

~e

Jackie said...

I'm on it! 27 things before I turn 28.

jora said...

Love this idea! I turn 35 in December too...I'll get working on my list. :)

P said...

I want to be passionate about what I do for a living before I turn 35.

I have a great and incredibly easy no-knead bread recipe for you! http://www.whatpossessedme.com/search?q=no+knead+bread

Whatever Dee-Dee wants said...

I have always made these kind of lists, I love that other people do them too. I did mine for my last birthday in May. So far the list is coming along.
Good luck to you on your list!

Julia said...

I'm starting my list. right. now!

What a great, great idea!

Suzanne said...

Holy mackeral - what a great idea... I'll be starting on my 32 before I'm 33 right away!

P.S. a couple might similar to yours... I really like the "dressy date" idea {with my own Brian} and I really need to brush up on my french if I want to keep my plan to go to Paris next year :)

Lacey Jane said...

What a wonderful list! Very inspiring- gotta think of mine now.

(PS. I really enjoy your blog- not sure if I've commented before- but, i LOVE your decorative tastes.)

*shannon said...

What is a blurb book?

Connie said...

I love this idea! I did a 101 things in 1001 days list a while back but that is too many things. this is much more manageable!

Mary said...

What a fabulous idea! I will be turning 35 in March. Gotta start working on my list!

Sabina said...

This is a great idea -- thanks for posting it!!

Happy Friday!!

Suzanne : : S.HOPtalk said...

I'm so doing this. Great idea!

amy turn sharp said...

yeah! It looks like a lot of cool folks are gonna join us on our journey! I am thrilled! xo

Anonymous said...

this is a GREAT list + a GREAT idea you two. love it. i need to do this. my problem is sticking to it. thanks for the inspiration. xo.

Travel Turtle said...

I made one on my website. Here's a link directly to it:
Travel Turtle's 31 things to do before 32.

SimplyGrove said...

I love this!! What a great idea:) Happy friday to you:)

Bryssy said...

I am getting to work on this!

Kristin said...

Oooh. My list is already made. Thanks for the idea.

Liz said...

This is so weird. I came to you from Amy's blog (I posted my list before reading yours) and I see that we share three items! I swear I didn't copy you. I'm new to your blog but so far I find you lovely indeed! Can't wait to explore more.

Joanna Goddard said...

fabulous, i am loving this!!!

Melissa de la Fuente said...

Oh, I love this idea so much....you have a lovely, lovely list. I particularly love number 6, 11,24,30,31 and 34. Those sound fantastic!
xo
Melissa

Suz said...

Such a great idea!
I've posted my list here - thanks for the inspiration!

http://stuffsuzlikes.blogspot.com/2008/09/30-before-31.html

Kathleen said...

this is so inspiring...i just wrote up my 22 before 23...including the Blurb book which i hadn't heard of before...

thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

oh, what a great list. i totally need to do this. i love that all of your things are so do-able and not big vague ideals. very inspiring!!

Anonymous said...

i am so inspired...here's mine (i gave myself till august though):
modern eve

Joslyn said...

Excellent!!! I love that we're all doing this together. I can't wait to see all your lists.
xo

loveology said...

I just want to say your blog is beyond gorgeous!
I am so glad i found it..i'll definitely be back very soon!

Thanks for all the beautiful inspiration!

Mila.

Reg said...

such a great idea!

Here's my list:
before my next birthday

Bryssy said...

My list will be published on Monday on my blog. Thanks for this - it was harder but better than I thought I could do!

Leigh said...

I think this is a wonderful idea and would love to start a list of my own! Thank you for the idea and I look forward to reading all the other lists out there!

www.leighphotography.typepad.com

Lynne said...

I've made my list: here's the link

http://teaforjoy.blogspot.com/2008/09/list-love-20-things-to-do-before-my.html

I'm having a career break but the credit crunch is forcing me back to work - this is the list of things I'd still like to do before that happens.

Great idea!

Elan Morgan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Elan Morgan said...

I've made my list!
http://www.schmutzie.com/2008/09/thirty-five-things-i-want-to-accomplish.html

Wind and Windows said...

I started a blog to participate! What a great idea. :)

http://windandwindows.blogspot.com/

Brilliant Asylum said...

Great idea. I will get started on mine.

Nicola said...

Lovely list. I wrote mine a few weeks ago - so far I've crossed off one thing - Start a blog :) All the best with your list

Mrs.French said...

Fantastic! I need to think about this one for a bit...

Shelly Kneupper Tucker said...

This is a wonderful idea. Thanks for thinking of it. I posted after reading Schmutzie's list. Here is mine :
http://thiseclecticlife.com/2008/09/28/making-a-list-and-checking-it-twice/

Shelly from thiseclecticlife.com

Shelly Kneupper Tucker said...

Sorry. That sooo didn't work. I can never figure out Blogger comment boxes. This is mine

Shelly at This Eclectic Life

Mary said...

Here's mine!

http://mwazloves.blogspot.com/2008/09/34-things-to-do-before-turning-35.html

Tiffany said...

I'm always so inspired by your posts. Here's my contribution!:

http://theothertiffany.blogspot.com/

Michelle said...

Wow girl, you rocked it with that list! I love it, so many of the things on here involve your girls, so sweet!

Miss Jo said...

i love lists, particularly ones that are attainable and fun! i am going to start working on 30 before 30!

jojo

Rowena said...

I love lists. I have one before I'm forty, but that's in 2 years and a couple months.

I want to do one for 38... on November 19th. I'm going to have to link back when I post it on my blog.

BTW, love your list. I crossed roasting a chicken off my big list this year. It was very easy and came out really well. My first.

*shannon said...

The Blurb books are great! The possiblities are endless - I'll probably make some photo books for the grandmas though. (good way to get bonus points with the mother in law!)

I finally finished my list!

http://heyshannonrae.blogspot.com/2008/09/24-things-to-do-before-turning-25.html

I can't wait to start tackling our goals - especially getting a massage! :)

Jackie said...

Finally finished:
http://sweetiepiepumpkinnoodle.blogspot.com/2008/09/27-before-28.html

Citygirl.em said...

Hi... I posted my 45 before 48 list on my blog and linked to both of your blogs...please stop by and see my list.

Emily

Jessica said...

i never knew there were so many things i wanted to do!

http://hotgingerlove.blogspot.com/

Jessica said...

i never knew there were so many things i wanted to do!

http://hotgingerlove.blogspot.com/

Good + Happy Day said...

My birthday in on October 16th, so I have had to keep my list simple and honest. Thank you for this inspired idea! I've posted my list on my blog:

http://goodhappyday.blogspot.com/

Best wishes,

Patricia

Angélique said...

Hey, I was inspired by Andrea too!
I already posted my list while ago (may).
See my blog if your interested.
i like that you're doing this!

MA said...

I wasn't too sure I wanted to make my list public...but since it is my birthday today...I thought it is a nice way for me to start my year of 29. Thank you, I enjoyed reading those lists this week!

Frau Haselmayer said...

It took me quite some time to make the list but I did it: http://www.marionhearts.com/2008/10/29-things-before-30.html

Thanks for the idea! It was really a good exercise to think about the things I want to get done within the next week...

Rose said...

Better late than never :) Love this list.

http://roseeckford.typepad.com/rose_eckford/2008/10/24-before-25.html

Good luck > Although sounds like you are well organised :)

tarable said...

I recently found your blog & am really enjoying it. I was struck by this post & was moved to action. I'm a little late to the party, but I posted a list of my own.

http://www.thewell-roundedwoman.com/2008/10/only-352-days-to-get-these-done.html