No. 24 - Attend a Yankee game in NYC

No. 16 - Have Breakfast at Tiffany's

My family and I recently visited New York City, and we started our last day of sightseeing by having breakfast at Tiffany's! We stopped by Starbucks and picked up a few Everything bagels, cream cheese, a frappuccino for Keith and a strawberry lemonade blend for me, and made our way to 5th Avenue! The kiddos ate breakfast in their stroller, and we took pictures and enjoyed the view. It was a dreary morning, but I loved reliving a Holly Golightly moment. :)

No. 15 - Learn to Play Tennis, No. 30 - Further My Education

#15 - Learn to Play Tennis

I have no idea why I never wrote about tackling number 15 on my 30 Before 30 list, but on my birthday (in January!) my husband taught me how to play tennis! It was a pretty cold day, but we were determined to play for a little while. I wasn't very good, but we did manage to play a decent set. I'd say that my biggest challenge on the court was controlling the ball. I would hit it so hard that it would fly way out of the court area and we spent a considerable amount of time searching for the tennis balls! 

Overall, I really enjoyed playing, but unfortunately haven't played since. I'm hoping that as my kiddos get older I will have more time to work on perfecting my tennis skills. :) 

January 2013, taking a break from my tennis lesson

*****

#30 - Further My Education

On October 26th, I began my first semester of graduate school at The University of Cincinnati! I was accepted to their Criminal Justice distant learning program and am currently wrapping up my second class. While UC seems like a great on-campus school, I am highly disappointed with their online CRJU program. I feel like I'm paying for a degree but I'm not learning anything. The classes are large and I never have contact with the professor, but instead a facilitator. Also, in my current class I've only had two assignments -- a midterm paper and final paper. I know that I shouldn't be complaining, but I want more! So, I will be leaving UC and heading to another online program at Liberty University. 

I was accepted to Liberty's Master of Business Administration program with an emphasis on Criminal Justice and will begin in January. I took a semester at Liberty for my undergraduate studies and I think this is going to be a great fit. Plus, my new major is definitely going to make me more marketable in the workplace. While my ultimate goal is to be an attorney, this educational route works best for my family at the moment. :) 

Graduation!!!

* Hello, blog readers and friends. Before I start this post, I'd like to comment about my previous post. You know, the one where I declared that my family's NYC trip was absolutely going to happen? Yeah...I need to remember that I do not control everything. Particulary, the excruciating back pain that filled my 28 week pregnant (at the time) body the week before our trip. Needless to say, the trip was postponed. Please note that I am getting pretty tired of writing about pending trips that end up not happening, so in the future, I will not be posting about travel plans until the day they happen.*

This past weekend, my family and I made the 6ish hour drive from our home in Charleston, South Carolina to Virginia Beach, Virginia so that I could attend my college's graduation ceremony. We left on Thursday morning and arrived to gorgeous 70 and sunny weather. The ceremony wasn't until Saturday morning, so we had plenty of time to relax, recoup from the drive, and spend time together. During this time, we visited campus for the first time, had dinner with my in-laws, and I was treated to a much needed mani/pedi.

 My school!

Come Saturday morning at 5:45am, I was wide awake and prepared to face the day. Technically, I had already finished my studies in December 2012 and actually already had my diploma at home. But, there is just something about wearing that silly cap and large gown that makes a person rejoice. It made the last 6 years (yes, six) of my studies come to life.

While the ceremony was quite lovely, the weather was not. It was around 50 degrees and misting non-stop. You know, the kind of mist that gets you soaking wet but doesn't show up on the forecast? Yep, our outdoor ceremony was a bit damp. 

But it didn't matter.

It didn't matter that I was 32 weeks pregnant, cold, and wet.

It didn't matter that so many times I wanted to quit. That over the course of my studies I was beat down and exhausted and just plain ready for a break.

What mattered was that my husband, son, mother-in-law, and father-in-law were on campus, watching me graduate. 

What mattered was that my Louisiana family was in numerous locations (Baton Rouge, Houston, TX, and Mississippi), watching me graduate via the live video feed. 

What mattered was that my daughter, who was extremely active that morning, would be carried in my womb and cross the stage with me when my name was announced.

What mattered was that in this moment, all of those exhausting days were over. I had accomplished something that seemed impossible.

It's hard to describe the emotions I felt on this wonderful day. There was so much happiness present and I am just extremely grateful. I am beyond proud to be a Regent University graduate. The Christian education I received has shaped me into the person that I am today. The discipline I learned from being an online student is absolutely invaluable. The many professors and classmates that I have worked with have challenged me and helped me grow. And while I am sad that this chapter is finally over, I am excited to see what the future holds. Praise God for all of His blessings!

No. 5 - Graduate From College

On December 15th, I submitted the final assignment of my undergraduate career. :) Last week, I received an email confirming that I have met all of the requirements and will be receiving my diploma shortly. I have earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice. :D

It took me six long years, but I finally finished my undergraduate journey at Regent University. During this time, I became engaged, got married, was pregnant, had a baby, am pregnant, and moved six times. I've grown so much over these years and my life is drastically different from 2007.

 March 2007 - Feels like a lifetime ago!

I have so many mixed emotions about completing my undergraduate studies. Of course, I'm so very excited to wrap everything up and to finally have a college degree. More than anything, I am thankful that I found what it is I am passionate about and the field that I am called to be in. But at the same time I am truly sad. I loved taking classes, and these past two years allowed me to dive into my criminal justice curriculum. I miss the challenges, the papers, the interaction with my professors and classmates, but most of all I just miss learning.

With my sweet son turning one in a month and a half, and my precious daughter arriving in this world in June, I am definitely in a different season of learning. And I love it. While I miss school, I know that my educational journey is not over. Until then, I'm embracing this time with my amazing husband and son, and awaiting Arabella's arrival.

In May, my family and I are heading to Virginia Beach so that I can participate in Regent's commencement ceremony. I will finally get to wear that cap and gown, meet fellow classmates and professors, and have a very surreal moment that I have been waiting for since 2007. :)

The New and Improved 30 Before 30

After spending a good bit of time thinking about what I want to get out of my 30 Before 30 list, I am ready to make a few final changes. The whole point in creating this list was to make turning 30 years old less daunting, while also accomplishing things that I've always wanted to do. I previously mentioned that a change in perspective (due to becoming a mother) has made me question The List. 

I've been asking myself if certain things must be accomplished before I turn 30 years old, how will these items impact my family, and am I being selfish in wanting these things. To answer, yes, I need to make some adjustments to items that aren't kid friendly. Yes, a couple of items fall under the "life list" instead of the Before 30 list. And the selfish part? I do feel a little guilty for still wanting to accomplish these things, but I've realized that they are necessary in order to prevent the loss of myself. My world revolves around Gavin (as it should), but it's okay to have some "me time", too.

The items I've decided that need to be replaced are:

11. Visit the Grand Canyon
16. Visit at least one sponsor child 
17. Spend the day with beluga whales

26. Visit at least 5 museums

30. Get accepted to law school

Now, let me explain...

#11 - Visit the Grand Canyon. This is something that I definitely want to see in my lifetime, but I also want Gavin to be able to see it and remember seeing it. This needs to be a family trip when Gav is old enough to appreciate the sights, and this will not be before I turn 30 as Gav will only be 3 years old.

#16 - Visit at least one sponsor child. Currently, Keith and I sponsor 4 children through Compassion. Wilkemberg lives in Brazil, Luz in Columbia, Michael in Bangladesh, and Ester in Tanzania. I adore these children with all of my heart and want to meet each of them. However, I called Compassion to inquire about bringing Gavin with us and they told me he needs to be at least 12 years old. He's not even a year old yet. I can't imagine traveling out of the USA for weeks at a time without Gavin, so I'm removing this from the list. If something changes and I am able to meet my sweet sponsor kids soon, then fantastic. It just won't be on the 30 Before 30 list. 

#17 - Spend the day with beluga whales. This would be really cool to do one day, but I'm going to remove it from the list as it isn't something that I consider a worthwhile need-to-do-before-30 item. So off it goes.

#26 - Visit at least 5 museums. I love museums and want to visit as many as possible in my lifetime, but having to commit to visiting 5 with an infant and eventually a toddler will be quite complicated (and basically asking for chaos). So, instead of dreading #26, I've decided to remove it.

#30 - Get accepted to law school. This is one that needs more than a few lines of explaining, but for now I'll just say that my new perspective has made me question the timing of law school right now for my family. In June I attempted to study for the LSAT, but I just didn't have the time. And if I don't have the time for the LSAT, I won't have the time for law school. This decision is very important to me, and I'll be writing later with more of my thoughts.

So, those are the items that are being removed. I'm happy that some are going and a bit sad about the others. But, it's for the best and I'm excited about the 5 that I'm adding. 

The new #11 - Take an aerial skills class. This new item is a fun one and not extremely time consuming, so it's perfect for my schedule. I've always wanted to take a trapeze class (that's on the life list), but I think that this will be a nice alternative on my 30 Before 30. I can take this class here in Charleston and I'm excited to learn how to be an aerial acrobat. :)

The new #16 -Have breakfast at Tiffany's. Oh, Audrey. Is there anyone who exudes grace and poise like she does? Doubtful. Breakfast at Tiffany's is one of my favorite Audrey movies (right behind Roman Holiday and Sabrina) and I would love to spend a morning strolling NYC with my two favorite guys and have breakfast Tiffany's.

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The new #17 - Start our adoption paperwork. This new item is truly the most dear to my heart. Keith and I have always had the desire to expand our family by having children and also adopting children, and I am anxiously waiting the moment that we begin the adoption process. To me, this isn't just an item on my 30 Before 30...this is the chance to change a child's life, and for our life to be changed in return. To love them and protect them and teach them about God. My greatest accomplishment in this life has been becoming a mother, and I can't wait to expand our brood. We desire to adopt internationally and know the process is a long one, so Keith and I have both agreed to begin the process before January 2016. AH! :D

The new #26 - Get published (even if it's self-published). If you guys only knew all of the ideas I have roaming around in this head of mine. I am itching to write my first novel, but I just have to get over the fear that it won't be good enough, and more importantly, that it's already been done. I've never particularly dreamed of having a book published, but if what I write does get publish then I would be thrilled. Mostly though, I'm writing for me, because I have to get it out! 

The new #30 - Further my education. Instead of focusing on getting accepted to law school, I'd like to weigh my options and see what is best for my family. Do I still feel called to fight injustices? Absolutely! I have already been provisionally accepted to a local Criminal Justice Graduate Program (YAY!) and could begin taking courses online and on-campus as soon as January 2013. I will be meeting with an academic advisor soon and will make a decision shortly after. All I know is that it's been a long, hard road for me to earn my bachelor's, and now that I'm almost there, I don't want to stop.

The New 30 Before 30 List

1. Ride in a hot air balloon
2. Fly a plane
3. Learn to speak Italian
4. Go sailing/learn to sail
5. Graduate from college
6. Go to Italy!!!
7. Pay off debt (excluding student loans)
8. Run a marathon
9. Read the whole Bible
10. Go on a mission trip
11. Take an aerial skills class
12. Meet my weight loss goal
13. Learn to play the piano
14. Go skydiving
15. Learn to play tennis
16. Have breakfast at Tiffany's
17. Start our adoption paperwork
18. Take a dance class
19. Learn to surf  (again)
20. Go snowboarding or skiing
21. Go to a Hillsong concert
22. Go horseback riding
23. Walk the Brooklyn Bridge
24. Attend a Yankee game in NYC
25. Volunteer regularly at a nursing home
26. Get published (even if it's self-published)
27. Go on a cruise
28. Learn how to shoot a gun properly
29. Do an anonymous pay it forward
30. Further my education

There you have it -- my new complete, final 30 Before 30 List! Do you have a bucket list? If so, please send me your link! I'd love to follow your journey.

Fill in the Blank Friday!

Click here to play along!

1. I am tired. Very, very tired. Gav is only waking up once a night and I get anywhere from 6-8 hours of sleep, but I'm just exhausted. I don't sleep during the day when he does, and I've never seen the underneath of my eyes look so dark! Any advice for some good eye cream?

2. I have always liked writing, although I never thought I was good at it (I'm definitely my worst critic). In second grade, I wrote a story about a talking leaf on one of President Clinton's jogs, and I won an award at my elementary school for it. That was the first time I felt good enough and it was awesome. :)

3. I hope to accomplish everything that is on my 30 Before 30 List with my family.

4. I can finally announce that my brother and sister-in-law are pregnant!!! Stephen and Ivey are some of our best friends and we could not be happier for them! Gav will be 11 months older than their little one and we just can't wait to raise our kids together! :)

5. I dream of changing the world. I know it's cliche, but I sincerely want to do my best to impact this world that we live in. I am only one person, but since when did that stop anyone? Specifically, I want to help lower the number of children currently living on the street in the Philippines (well, that and stop human trafficking and poverty). There are more than 250,000 currently living there, but my God is a BIG God, and I can do all through Him.

6. The way to my heart is with quality time and having a positive attitude. 

7. I am passionate about fighting injustices. When I changed my major 2 years ago to Criminal Justice, I wondered if I'd made a mistake. But honestly, this was the best decision I could have made. I love learning about the justice system and I know that this is where I'm called to be. I'm often extremely conflicted by news stories and am excited to one day become a part of this field.

Miscellany on a Rainy Monday

Good morning, readers! I sincerely hope that you guys are doing well. :) Life over here is a bit hectic, but I am adoring this season that my family and I are currently in. As you guys know, time goes by way too fast, and nothing proves this more than my sweet little boy. This week he will be 4 months old and I just can't believe it. He is pure joy. :) I'll be writing his 4 month update soon (hopefully!) but until then I wanted to share a few things:

     ~ Gavin is officially a roller! :) On Friday, June 22nd Gavin rolled over all by himself, and hasn't stopped since! Whether he's getting his diaper changed or drinking a bottle, this kid is trying to flip over. Lol it's the cutest thing I've seen so far. He's even doing a little army crawl and I know he'll be crawling before we know it. AH! Oh time, please slow down just a little. 

 Gav right after his first roll. :D

     ~ Last week, Gavin and I joined our sweet friends Melissa and Ivey (Ive's also my sis-in-law) downtown for lunch and a stroll at Battery Park. It was a beautiful day and we had such a great time. With each trip downtown I am falling more and more in love with Charleston. :)

View from our table at Fleet Landing

 Group shot!

Napping at the Battery

Me and my sweet boy

Gav and Aunt Melissa

:)

And here's a little miscellany...

* Last night, I watched Lady and the Tramp for the first time. Not sure how I missed this one when I was a kid, but I'm glad I've finally seen it. What a sweet little movie! I can't wait (well, I can but you know what I mean) until Gav is old enough to watch movies with us. I'm anxious to see his reaction to movies that Keith and I love. 

* This weekend, if the weather allows, I am finally going to learn how to play tennis! I've been wanting to learn how to play for years now and I can't wait to get out there. The hubs has already taught me the rules and point system, so all that's left is actually going out and playing. Yay! Here's to a good experience, a great workout, and scratching #15 off of The List.

*Speaking of The List, I've been doing a lot of thinking and I have finally decided on what's get kicked off and what new items I'll be adding. More on that later...  

* And finally, I am very excited to share that the time has come -- I am studying for the October LSAT!!! I've mentioned numerous times before about my intentions on studying, but I've finally begun! I'm enrolled in Blueprint's LSAT prep course and I am loving it. Seriously. I never thought I'd enjoy studying for this beast of a test, but I do! Better yet, I am dramatically improving and feel confident in my ability to rock this test. And I've only completed the first lesson. :) I'm really looking forward to the rest of my lessons and am anxiously waiting for Test Day (103 days from now, but who's counting?). 

30 Before 30 - A Different Perspective

When I originally created my 30 Before 30 list in January 2011, I was just turning 25 years old. Keith and I had not even been married for one year and it was just me and him. No pets and no thoughts of having a baby anytime soon. Fast-forward a year and a half and a lot has changed! More than anything, my outlook on life (and thus this list) has vastly shifted. 

So what's changed? Everything! On February 29th my son entered this world, and becoming a mother has been indescribable. Truly. I never dreamed that it would impact me this way. Sure, I knew that my life would change, but I had no idea how much. I knew that I would love this little boy more than anything, but I could never have prepared myself for this precious life. Gavin is my sunshine. :) I'm in awe of the unconditional love that I feel for my son. Further, knowing that God feels this way about me completely blows my mind. I know I sound all hunky dory, but I'm being completely honest. Does is stink (literally) when Gav pukes all over me or has a diaper blowout? Yes, absolutely. But none of the stinky stuff matters, because he is perfect to me.

This week I have been thinking about the to-do list that I've created for myself. As I thought of all of the tasks, I began to ask the following questions:

* Must these items need to be accomplished before I turn 30 years old, or is this a lifetime goal?

* How will certain items impact my family?

* Am I being selfish by wanting to do these things?

* Can any of these tasks be replaced by things that are more relevant and won't become outdated?

In August 2011 I made a few changes to The List, and I think it's time to make a few more. This time though, I will keep the above questions in mind so that this will be the last update to the 30 tasks. It's crazy how much my priorities have changed and I'm excited to make one last revision. 

I'll be back soon with my updated list, and what I'll be tackling this year!

What do you guys think? Am I breaking all of the rules by making a second change to my list? Any suggestions on what I should add that is baby/toddler friendly?

2011's 30 Before 30 Update

At the beginning of the year, I embarked on a journey to accomplish 30 things before I turn 30 years old. I created this list on my 25th birthday, and then revised it mid-year. With 2011 coming to an end, I wanted to talk about what I accomplished, what I'm working on, and what the "tentative" plan is for 2012. (Although, sometimes I don't know why I bother making plans when I know all too well that things will definitely may change)

First up: Accomplishments/Attempts 

#4 - Go sailing/learn to sail

I will sadly say that this is all that I've accomplished in 2011. Sailing was such a fun experience and I am so happy that we were able to do this. Keith and I did attempt to scratch #2 (fly a plane) off in January, but thanks to the windy weather we were forced to reschedule.

Then there was that whole New York City trip that was planned for September that would have knocked off #23 (walk the Brooklyn Bridge) and #24 (attend a Yankee game in NYC), but that trip was postponed. :( 

I did have the best of intentions of taking 4 items off this year, but as it turns out that didn't happen. Instead of pouting about it, I am hopeful that 2012 will be different. Here's my little plan as of now.

2012 Plan

#9 - Read the whole Bible. I've already started my reading plan and hope to finish by the end of November 2012. I am currently working my way through a Beth Moore Bible Study, and want to do more next year. If anything these studies should only enrich my growth during this time. :) 

#10 - Go on a mission trip. As I may have mentioned in yesterday's post, I will be going to the Philippines! I'll spill the details as I find them out. :))))

#2 - Fly a plane. Keith and I will once again attempt to fly a plane on my birthday, January 7th. I will be 31 weeks pregnant, but I've already received approval from my doctor and the flight company! I am SO excited about this and can't wait to finally get up in the air! (I feel like singing "Anything you can do I do betterrrr...in heels....and pregnant!!! Bahahah, joking of course)

#12 - Meet my weight loss goal. Before becoming pregnant, I was that girl who had a good 5-10 pounds to lose before being "happy" with myself. (Remember my Weekly Health Updates?) Once Gavin is here I will have much more to lose, and I am claiming that I will accomplish this in 2012. With a little luck and a lot of discipline, I am confident that I will reach this goal. This past summer Keith and I purchased the Insanity workout, and that is what I'm going to do.

#5 - Graduate from college. The original date was May 2012, but due to a few class not being available until the fall (and Gavin arriving smack dab in the middle of the semester) I am going part-time in the spring and will finish in December 2012. BUT, I won't be attending commencement until May 2013, so this one might not be "technically" scratched off until I walk across that stage in 2013. Not sure how I feel about scratching this off before I wear that cap and gown...we shall see.

# 17 - Spend the day with Beluga Whales. This attraction is only available at the Atlanta Aquarium, and since I don't know how long we'll be living in ATL I figure I need to knock this one out during 2012. 

#30 - Get accepted to law school. That's right -- I am going to be taking the LSAT in June and then applying to school at the end of the year. A few of the schools I'm interested in have rolling admissions, so I anticipate hearing back from them by the end of 2012. Holy. moly. AH!

So, that's the plan! Hopefully I will be much more successful in 2012 than I was in 2011 in completing these tasks. I know that I will have a newborn/infant in tow for most of the year, and these 7 things will definitely make life a bit more interesting. :)

Any list makers out there? Any x before x-ers? How are you guys doing in accomplishing your goals? I'd love to hear about it!

Happy Monday, Miscellany Monday!

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*Hi ladies! :) I am SO happy to finally be blogging and not feeling like I'm forcing the words and fighting through exhaustion. Woop woop! I'll be 12 weeks pregnant on Wednesday and each day I feel like I'm getting more and more energy back! I am so thankful to have not experienced any morning sickness and am truly enjoying being pregnant. Keith and I have scheduled our gender determination appointment for the end of September and we seriously cannot wait to find out what Baby Christmas is!!! :D

* This week, Keith and I are booking one of the trips that I have listed on my 30 Before 30 list! I don't want to spill the beans before everything is booked, but I'll be back in a few days with the details! :)

* Today is the first day of classes for the hubs and me, and while we are glad to be back we're hoping for what will feel like a short and sweet semester. Our last two classes in the Spring felt like they just kept dragging on and on and on...so fingers crossed! :) I had originally enrolled in 16 hours, but thanks to some newly discovered information about my college career I decided to drop biology this go round, so I'm now back to 12 hours. (I'll update on this semi-fiasco situation soon.)

* Is it just me, or has anyone else been listening to Christmas?

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I usually listen to a little bit here and there throughout the year, but wow. Lately it's all I've been wanting to jam to! I know it's a bit early, but I have definitely been bitten by the Christmas bug. Even before I married a Christmas, I have always been this way and always loved Christmas music. Now that I'm Lindsey Christmas, it's just a that much sweeter. :)

My current fave. I literally could have posted 20 videos, but this one wins. :)

I get goosebumps every time I hear that song. Fall on your knees, oh hear the angel voices. Oh niiiiight, divine, oh night divine when Christ was born... *sigh* 

This is quite a random post, but hey it's Monday! I hope you lovelies have a wonderful day! :)

Updating My 30 Before 30

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It's been almost seven months since I've created my 30 Before 30 list, and I have only scratched one thing off. Now this really isn't that big of a deal since I've given myself 5 years to complete 30 tasks, however I do not want to waste any time tackling these wonderful experiences. I also don't want to procrastinate and end up with 20 things left in my last couple of years. 

So what's the plan?

Well, for starters I am going to revise this list. I know, I know this is technically against the rules, but as I've been reading over my list there are a few things missing and a few existing things that make a wonder what in the world was I thinking, and well this list needs to be a reflection of me. So, here's what we're going to change up!

#13 was learn to sew and is now learn to play the piano. While I want to learn how to do both of these things, I have a much stronger desire to learn how to play the piano. Since this isn't a 31 before 30 list, I am choosing to alter #13 on my list. 

#17 was watch 155 of IMDB's top 250 movies and is now spend the day with beluga whales. To be able to watch these 155 movies in 5 years I would have to watch 31 movies a year. While these movies are ones that I truly must watch at some point, it is a very daunting task. And I want this list to be something fun that helps me reach the big 3-0...and for me, swimming with/learning about sweet beluga whales is a perfect replacement. Keith and I have visited the Atlanta Aquarium twice this year and each time I have been completely captivated by these creatures. I can even meet these guys here in Atlanta thanks to a new program offered here in ATL! :) So, that's that.

#30 was get accepted/graduate from law school and is now get accepted to law school. When I created this list the plan was to enroll in law school in 2012 and graduate by 2015 or by 30 years old. I had already postponed law school before I found out that I was pregnant, but now that we're expecting I will most likely postpone for at least one more year. So, the focus now is to get accepted to law school before I turn 30 years old.

What do you guys think? Did I chop my list up too much? Are these replacements/adjustments acceptable? I'll be back soon with my timeline of how I am going to accomplish everything by my 30th birthday! :) 

It's Monday Y'all!

Got my dreams, got my life, got my love
Got my friends, got the sunshine above
Why am I making this hard on myself?
When there's so many beautiful reasons I have to be happy.

* I know I'm a little late, but I finally watched Black Swan! I've been wanting to see this for the longest time, especially since it's on my movie list, but I have to say that I'm a bit indifferent. Yes, it was a good movie and I liked it, but it was severely "messed up" on so many levels. I don't want to give anything away, so I wont say too much. I'm a romcom type of girl and this just wasn't up my alley. I do see why Natalie Portman won the Academy Award for Best Actress...wow was she great! 

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* We've had our kittens, Torre and Abigail, for a little over a week now and I think they are finally starting to feel comfortable in our home. So comfortable in fact that one of them decided to jump into the toilet! Usually we have all bathroom doors closed, but apparently we forgot to shut one. All of a sudden we heard a big splash, and out walked a soaked kitty. :) I am hoping this does not happen often. 

* I found this picture the other day on We Heart It and just fell in love.

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Isn't it lovely?

* Thank you guys for the support I received on yesterday's post! It was my first health update and I am just so encouraged by all of you! :)

* Last week I was craving pasta salad, so I began to just throw a bunch of ingredients together. To my surprise it turned out great! This may already be a recipe somewhere, but here's the recipe to what I did.

1 - Box of Tri-Color Rotini Pasta

1 - Large cucumber, diced
4 - Roma tomatoes, diced
3/4 cup - Feta Cheese crumbles
1/2 cup - pepperonis, diced
3/4 cup - Fat Free Italian Dressing
Salt and Tony's to taste 

- Boil noodles until cooked. Rinse with cold water, set aside.
- Combine all ingredients into bowl with noodles.
- Chill for about an hour.

That's it!!! It was so easy and was so delicious! The only really unhealthy thing in this recipe is the noodles, but in moderation it's perfect. :)

Happy Monday darlings!

No. 4 - Go Sailing/Learn to Sail

On Saturday, I crossed #4, go sailing/learn to sail, off of my 30 Before 30 List!

In honor of our one year anniversary my husband and I signed up for a private Intro to Sailing course at a local sailing school. We met our instructor at the marina, and sailed from 2pm to 5pm. To say that we had a good time would be a huge understatement. Keith and I literally had the time of our lives on our little sailboat! From the start, our instructor had us backing our boat away from dock and we I literally steered the boat about 90% of the time. It was fantastic! 

Our boat

Our instructor Toby and the hubs

 

Me steering the boat!

Keith and Toby

Our sail

 

View of Charleston from our sailboat

Our view. :)

I love sailing!!

We went under the Ravenel Bride :)

Overall, I would absolutely rate this experience a 10! Our instructor was awesome, it was a gorgeous day, and we really loved being on the sailboat. Sailing is definitely my thing, and Keith and I are thinking about enrolling in a certification class. It feels great to scratch the first item off of my list, and I'm excited to tackle the next 29 things. :)

**Today is my husband's first day at his new job! If you can, please say a little prayer for him. He is a bit nervous/anxious/excited for this new journey. Thanks guys!