Day 6: Blue Hair

Today, I got my hair cut and colored...BLUE!!! Well not, ALL blue.  And it's actually not even my hair.... okay, let me explain:

For YEARS I've been dying to get a fun colored peek-a-boo highlight in my hair.  Problem is, I always talk myself out of it because I worry that I wouldn't be able to hide it well enough for auditions, and that if/when I ever book jobs, I'd have to get it dyed back.  I don't really want to spend the time and money on something that could end up being so short lived.


So today, I took a short cut!  Call it "cheating" if you will, but I call it fun!  After my fabulous haircut by the lovely and talented Sheila (at Salon Rootz), she taught me how and where to put in my blue extensions, so that I can have this great "blue hair don't care" look whenever I want... but still take it out so that it won't jeopardize my chances of booking!

And... I LOVE IT!!! I am usually not a fan of anything "fake."  (For example, it drives me nuts when a shirt is patterned on the front and then solid colored in the back.  And "white chocolate" isn't chocolate, it's an imposter. You get the gist.)  But in this case, I'm making an exception because it's the only way I could have some fun with my hair.

So I'm going to just carry on with the advise of my little sister, "You do you!" and the wise words of my mother, "I do what I want!" (:  It was such a small "task" but a really great excuse to do something that I've been wanting to do for a while, just for me!

Which leaves me with a question for myself... kind of a common theme among these 30 tasks so far... do I really need an excuse to do these things I've been wanting to do all this time?  What has been holding me back for so long?

I have 24 more days to discover my answer.

Day 5: Raincheck- Hot Air Balloon Rideb

Today started with what I thought would be an easy-breezy challenge: letting Joey pick out my outfit, and wearing whatever she chose, in public.  This girl has a thing for dressing to the nines, so it had potential to be pretty fancy (re: embarrassing). 

But guess what?  My little fire-cracker did NOT want to pick out my outfit today.  She was all about it when I asked her at breakfast, but then I just couldn’t get her to care!  Sure, I could’ve forbidden her to watch TV until she picked out my clothes (and we tried) but then she grabbed a shirt out of the nearest laundry basket and said “Here mom, just wear this!”  We tried to persuade her in every way possible, but she eventually asked K, “Why can’t mommy just pick out her own clothes?!?

FAIL. 

She just didn’t give a flying you-know-what, and I couldn’t make her.  I wasn’t about to wear the top she picked and call it a challenge- it was one of my favorites so I wear it all the time anyway! 

So I went about my day, having no clue what I’d be able to pull off- if anything.  I scrolled down to the very bottom of my list and noticed one of my favorites- go on a Hot Air Balloon ride- that I've been ignoring because, well, it's winter.  So, I had to take a step back and consider a few things: first of which, I'm the mommy to two very beautiful and VERY busy young babes.  A raincheck wouldn't be the worst idea, especially if it allowed me to move on with my day, spend my precious time letting the little rascals play in the bath before bed, and sing them to sleep!  And second... I REALLY want to go up in a Hot Air Balloon!  Like, REEEAAAALLLLLLYYYYYYY BAD!  But that just couldn't happen in the chilly days of February, so the only chance I had was a Raincheck!  I have no fear of heights, and I experience "flying" dreams all the time, so to bring that to life would just be unreal.  So what better excuse could I come up with to ask for a ride, but trying to experience 30 ADVENTURES to welcome in my 30's?!?!  As soon as I saw the situation in this light, it made perfect sense. 

 Next came the hard part.

I don’t know WHY it’s so hard for me to ask for things, but it is.  I just HATE the thought of inconveniencing people, or putting them in an uncomfortable position where they need/want to say no, but feel bad.  But on the other hand, I couldn't start skipping days THIS early in the game, it's only day 5!  No, I had to push myself out of my comfort zone and ask for something a bit... selfish!  

So, I messaged a friend of mine from church who is a hot air balloon pilot!  And as you already guessed from the straight-forward title of this post, she agreed that we could work something out!  (AHHHHHH!!!! OMG OMG OMG I CANNOT BELIEVE IT!!!!) I have to assume that when you’re a hot air balloon pilot, everyone you talk to throws their name in the hat for a ride, so I am just BEYOND excited right now that she would be willing to help ME out with my challenge, and treat me to a bird’s eye view, regardless of where I might fall on that list!  Of course, we’ll have to make arrangements, and it will have to be weather-pending, but just the thought that I’ll likely get to experience something so thrilling is enough to make my day today! 

 Looks like my 30’s will be something to look forward too, after all!

Day 4- Work Out With a Personal Trainer

There once was a time when life was simple.  The days began at 10am (or whenever I couldn’t lie in bed any longer because I had to get up to pee) and I was in charge of exactly one person.  I was responsible for buying, making, ordering, or mooching my meals.  I was responsible for my laundry and homework.  There came a day when I traded in my homework for a job and student loans to pay, but the nights were still sleepful and the days included something called “free time.”  It was during this seemingly fictional “free time” that I would go to the gym and work out.

This was many moons ago. 

It has been at least four years since I’ve made any lasting attempt to work out.  (Well, besides a brief Zumba class which was great, but just couldn’t keep up with it for many reasons.)  Now my life is busier, crazier, more hectic, AND more beautiful than I EVER could have imagined!  Being responsible for three human beings (and a fourth on weekends- shout out to my hubs! lol) is a lot of work, and more often than not, I find that I have put myself on the bottom of the priority list.  Anyone else?  I’m guessing I’m not alone.

I don’t know why I waited so long, but it felt great to get back to it!  The problem was, I couldn’t go back to my old work-out routines, and my go-to cardio machines won’t help me reach my goals anymore.  That’s where my personal trainer comes in!  Enter Tom Cahalan, Future Mayor of Medina: Because every town needs a little TLC!

   

Tom helped me come up with a plan that will get me to where I want be- a healthier me!  I always just assumed I should be doing cardio, cardio and more cardio, but Tom gave me a weight lifting plan (yes, weight lifting, as in picking up dumb-bells and doing stuff with them… ME!!!) to build strength and tone, and he showed me the key ab and back machines and how to use them.  THEN he pushed me to my limit when I was ready to give up, and he added weights when he suspected I was going too easy on myself.  It was AWESOME, though!  Now I know what to do and where to start the next time I walk in there.  I’m also hoping to start going once or twice a week!  It felt great last night to crawl into bed and feel a little bit sore- it meant that I DID something that day!  Next up would be adding in a leg routine, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself just yet!

 

^ Am I this big of a dork in person, or does it just come across in pictures?  

No wait, don't answer that...

Before this challenge, I had never even considered coming up with a personal “work out” plan.  But every single person is so different, so why WOULDN’T we all need our own routines?  Why WOULDN’T we want to tailor to our own individual goals?  It makes so much sense when you stop to think about it.  If you’re someone who hates working out or doesn’t see or feel the results you want, or if you just don’t know where to start, I would HIGHLY recommend setting up a few appointments with a personal trainer!  They will be able to get you on track to where you need to be, and help you learn your limits so that you can PUSH them!

I’m going to be pretty busy pushing all sorts of limits this month, but if, by March, I can make it a habit of working out once or twice a week…. I’ll be in good shape! ;)

Day 3- Pay for Someone Else’s Meal

I have been hearing more and more stories every day of people “Paying It Forward,” and I think it’s absolutely wonderful.  I ALWAYS try be kind and generous, and to look for everyday opportunities to help shelter the homeless, clothe the needy, and feed the hungry.  And from time to time, I’ve found myself in a restaurant, looking around at the other customers, and wondering if anyone there is in need, or could use a little help.  But I never made the decision to actually do it- to pay for someone else’s meal.  In part, because it’s tough to choose just one table, and the other part is because you really don’t know how much their bill is going to be!  That’s totally besides the point, but unless you’re a millionaire, it’s something that you might have to keep in mind!

Well today, I decided to make a difference in someone else’s day.  My family and I went out to breakfast this morning at Eat’n Park.  (Which, by the way, shouldn’t it be Park’n Eat since you have to PARK before you can go in and EAT?  Makes no sense….)  ANYWAY, It was nothing fancy, but they have a pretty decent breakfast buffet, and anything that involves a shorter wait time when you’re dining with a 3 and a 1 year old is a BIG win!  

I was hoping we’d see a family to pay it forward to, because life just gets expensive with kids!  There was actually only one other family there at the time we sat down; everyone else must’ve been there for the senior’s special. ;)  I realized that the OTHER difficult part of all this was that, while this act-of-kindness can be anonymous to whoever’s bill you’re paying, you have to tell the servers!  For someone who typically prefers quiet, unnoticed good deeds, it felt a little weird.  But to my delight, the waitress was very helpful, quick and quiet about it, which was PERFECT.  I didn’t want the pat-on-the-back “oh how nice of you” and I didn’t get it!  Watching the family (by means of quick glances) as the waitress informed them that their bill was taken care of was a bit… anti-climatic.  The wife and two of the children had already left, and the dad and third child stayed back to pay.  All we saw was a quick conversation, and then the dad got up and looked around as he walked out.  I hope I was misreading his face as he left, but he looked a little… embarrassed.  

Ugh… I felt awful. 

I have to take a step back and realize that if I were out to eat with my family and someone paid for our meal, I’d probably cry and then smile and wave and everyone in the restaurant, just in case it was that person who blessed us.  That’s just me.  But then afterwards, I might wonder… do I look like I couldn’t afford my meal?  Is there something about my family and I that makes us look like we need help?  And for a proud father who probably CAN support and feed his family, maybe that was just a punch in the gut. 

Honestly, I don’t know what I expected to happen.  I didn’t want them to know it was us, but a part of me wanted to tell him that I wasn’t trying to judge them, I just wanted to spread a little sunshine.  Couldn’t do that, without making it seem like I wanted to be thanked. 

So here’s what I’m left with:  I have to just offer it up- my feelings of guilt and self-doubt about what I did today- and pray that it helped them somehow.  Maybe it could have been a few smiles and laughs in the car, and a “I can’t believe we got a free breakfast” conversation on the way home.  Maybe they really WERE struggling financially, and every little bit helps.  Or maybe it’s a tough lesson on pride.  But I did what I did so that I could “pay it forward,” and I won’t stop doing things like this just because of an un-known ending.  In the future, I might begin to focus my attention more on people who I know need help, instead of random acts of kindness.  I will definitely continue to pray each day that God presents me with opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and to help others in whatever ways I’m able to.  Again, not for the glory of it, but just because that’s what I think we’re here for- to help, serve, and love each other. 

And fortunately, I have proof:

"And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’"

Matthew 25:40

Day 2- Visit the Medina Antique Mall

A simple task for day 2, but something I’ve always wanted to check out!  I remember shopping in this building maybe 20 years ago with my mom when it was “Finest,” but I’ve always been curious about it since it became an Antique Mall!  The verdict?  It was pretty cool!  I have a decent appreciation for old things… errr… antiques, and the history that goes with them.  Walking down the first aisle, we saw a ton of pretty cool items… daggers, jewelry, WWI relics, old toys,... everything!  We were a little offended to find out that some of our favorite movies had become “antiques,” (possibly because they were on VHS?) but we’ll get over it. 

It was great to find something inside, fun, and free to do with the fam.  We barely even explored a quarter of their 52,000 square foot facility in the time we had, so I would definitely love to head back there sometime!  Of course we had to tell J ahead of time not to touch anything (and T slept in my arms THE ENTIRE TIME!), but even at age 3, she was really interested in everything!  She liked seeing the old Barbies, toys, and instruments, and to my surprise, she even asked questions about things, and listened to our answers. 

I don’t think she would’ve lasted more than an hour, but I think we’ll head back on a rainy day with a little prepared scavenger hunt!  She loves taking pictures, and I think she would love a challenge of:  find something yellow, find something you could sit on, find Mickey Mouse, etc… That would buy me some time to browse and enjoy.  I just really appreciated seeing old things that my grandparents had, and things I’ve seen in pictures but never in person.  Oh and that JEWELRY?!?! Holy smokes.  Beautiful.  I would buy antique jewelry over Jared’s in a heartbeat.  It was stunning.  (Wish I had pics of the jewels but my hands were full!  K took the pics for me!)  

The most challenging part was that the store is organized by seller.  The cabinets/booths are rented out, and each seller keeps all their goods together, so there isn’t one particular section for clothes, furniture, kitchen items, etc.  It was pretty random, but that made it even more fun when we found something cool!

And don’t worry- I didn’t make it out of there with out a souvenir!  I can’t resist a fancy little tea cup! Now I can sip on my tea, old school style, while I write my blog posts this month!

Welcoming my 30's

Hey there!  Welcome to my adventure!

My name is Emily and I am 29 and 11/12-ths years old.  I will be 30 in exactly 30 days.  Which, after today, gives me 29 days left of being 29.  That’s it, then my twenties will be a thing-of-the-past!  Done, over, gone.  Never comin’ back.

But at least I’m not freaking out about it, right?!?!  I mean, people turn 30 everyday, so what’s the big deal?!?!

Well the big deal is that this time it’s happening to ME!  And I sure WAS freaking out, once I realized that the ever-looming milestone birthday just kept creeping closer and closer.  But, thanks to the example of a great friend (or two!), I have decided to welcome in the next decade of my life with open arms and a full calendar.  I’m challenging myself to a “30 by 30” adventure; starting today, I will do one new thing each day until my birthday.  These tasks will always be something I’ve never done before, some big & some small, some & easy some hard, but they’ll all be “thirty-some adventures” that will add up to one big adventure.  It’s a way for me to celebrate me, and my 30^th birthday.  And hopefully, if I like blogging, the adventures will continue well into my thirties, and “thirty-some adventures” will take on a whole new meaning!

I also need to address the “Why are you doing this?/I don’t get it..” questions that I’ve been asked a handful of times already.  I’m doing this for me.  I’m doing this because, even though it might seem like I’m just being dramatic about getting old, because 30’s not really old yet, it feels like it to the “me” that still feels like I’m 23 24  24½.  So this isn’t meant to be a “Oh-my-gosh-I’m-SO-freaking-old” pity party, OR a “look-at-me-I’m-super-young-and-still-energetic” explain-a-brag.  It’s simply a way for me to be excited about the next phase of my life, and to be excited for all that’s in store.  And MOST of all, to remind myself (and anyone reading along!) that you’re NEVER too old (or too young) to try new things and to make TODAY the biggest adventure yet, simply because it’s the one happening right now. (Shout out to my grandpa, who told me on his 94^th Christmas that THAT one was his favorite because it was the one happening right then and there…)

So thanks for being here and reading this, and following me while I go on this grand adventure!  I’m so excited to challenge myself each day, to step out of my comfort zone once or twice, and to hopefully spread some smiles while I’m at it!

Much love,

Emily

Stay in touch- I’d love to hear your comments, feedback, or ideas on new adventures!