40 before 40

I was over ambitious in the early 2010s and wasn't able to accomplish my 30 before 30, so it became 40 before 40!!!

As I turn 30 at the end of 2012 I decided to create a list of thirty things to do before the big day. It started because I am running a mini-marathon this year so I decided to think of other things to accomplish before the big 3-0. Below is my list and I hope to provide updates as the items get checked off.

30 before 30 40 before 40

1. Run a mini-marathon
• Finished my 2nd Mini in May 2013 via the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon.
2. Develop a budget and stick to it for 6 months
• I'll count this as accomplished because we are focused on savings rather than large amounts of debt (thanks to accomplishing #11)
3. Master driving a manual vehicle
4. Write thank you notes to five memorable teachers - 3 down, 2 to go
5. Go vegetarian for one week, one month then decided if it is a lifestyle change
6. Get below 140 pounds (ideally I don't want to be lying anymore on my license which says 130, oops)
• Accomplished in 2018 thanks to eating more vegetables and working out with Beach Body!
7. Try canning vegetables from our garden
8. Get a tattoo
9. Attend a youth group event that impacts someone's life
10. Purchase a $1000 CD
• Purchased 2x $500 in each of the boy's names.
11. Pay off one student loan
• ALL Paid OFF thanks to hard work and teaching for 5+ years in a Title One School
12. Drive a car that costs more than $50,000
• Accomplished in April 2012
13. Read 30 40 books - 40 down
• Updated to 40 before 40 - 35 read as of March 2018
14. Go white-water rafting in West Virginia
15. Visit one of Nate's family members, somewhere we haven't been before
16. Go to Mardi Gras
17. Trace our family trees back to the 1700s
18. Go for a road trip that involves driving through 4 states
19. Do something that scares me
20. Attend an MLB game - preferably an Atlanta Braves game
21. Ride a motorcycle
22. Sing karaoke in a random bar
• Butchered a George Michael song at Sonny's Birthday Party!
23. Attend a wedding in another country
24. Become a Mom
• Accomplished July 2012 and repeated September 2014
25. Figure out a way to visit Asia, Africa, and South America
26. Visit New York City
27. Visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
28. Frolic in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of one of the original 13 colonies
29. Find a second job that brings in substantial income
30. Go fishing, catch my own fish, and remove it from the hook
31. Travel to England with the Boys
• Took them to visit Nan and Aunty Greta in Nov 2017.
32. Experience Disney World with the Boys
33. Visit another NFL Stadium - after seeing Lambeau Field (July 2018), I want to see another historic stadium!!!
• October 2018 - Attended a Pittsburgh Steelers game
34. Visit the Louisville Science Center
35. Cross 10 Bands off my Bucket List
1. Mumford & Sons
2. The Lumineers
3. Kings of Leon
4. Modest Mouse
5. Nathaniel Ratelieff & the Night Sweats
6. Jack Johnson
36. Visit XX States
1. Arizona = Work Conference, Feb 2014
2. Florida = Work Conference, April 2016
3. Washington = Rachel's Bridal Shower, Feb 2017
4. Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois = Girls Kayaking Trip, July 2018
5. Pennsylvania - Pittsburgh Steelers Game, October 2018
37. Experience breweries in 5 different states
• Milwaukee, WI - Lakefront Brewery
• Pittsburgh, PA - The Church Brew Works