It's happened - I am officially 30 years old. (Thirty, flirty, and thriving to be precise.) I had the best birthday - my Mom took me on a surprise trip to Aspen, CO, where we:
- Ate delicious food
- Shopped 'til we dropped
- Hiked multiple local sites (including the Ute Trail and Maroon Bells)
- Went Whitewater Rafting (SO FUN Y'ALL)
- SUMMITED A 14ER!
Now that I'm actually 30, and now that I've accomplished some more on my #30Before30 #30During30 List, I figured I'd provide a quick update so y'all can see how I'm doing!
Realistically speaking, I don't think I'll get to everything on this list, and honestly, some of my priorities have changed in the 2 years since I wrote this list. But it's such a nice tracker of all the wonderful blessings I have in my life - family, friends, travel, and amazing experiences.
Original List Here
First Update Here
Cassidy's 30 During 30 List: The Officially Thirty Update
ACCOMPLISHED: 15/30
1.
Travel to London - Completed Summer '17. To date, the BEST FREAKING TRIP OF MY LIFE.
3.
Visit a state I’ve never been to before -
Completed June '18. I traveled to Boise, ID this summer to marry one of my best friends, my grad school roommate Ashlie, and her lovely husband Chris. SUCH a fun trip, and I may or may not have fallen in love with Boise!
4.
Take an off-the-grid (NO EMAIL) vacation - Completed Summer '17 (my Europe trip).
6.
Hike a 14er - Completed July '18! This one wasn't planned, but was a wonderful happenstance - while on my 30th birthday trip to Aspen, my Mom met a random fellow traveler at our hotel who had summited several 14ers, and who let her know that one of the easiest ones, Mount Bierstadt, was on the way back to Denver from Aspen. So Mom and I dedicated a day (it took us 7 hours to hike the 7-mile round trip) to summiting this 14,065' peak. It's one of the hardest things I've ever done - I got heat exhaustion on the way down - but dang if it wasn't one of the COOLEST THINGS I'VE EVER DONE TOO!
8.
Backpack on the Appalachian Trail - Completed Summer '17 (day-hiked 2 sections near Bland, VA with my mom!)
9.
Plan an amazing 30th Birthday Celebration/Trip - Completed July '18. I ended up having less control over this one - as mentioned before, my Mom took me on a surprise trip to Aspen, CO! I knew we were going on a trip, but not the destination. Mom dropped a couple of (very obscure) hints in the month prior, but I didn't find out until the morning of that we were off to Aspen (
where the beer flows like wine and where the beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano). We had such a good time!
10.
Pay off half of total principal student loan balance - This is basically done (as of August '18), so I'm calling it a win. As of next month, I will be halfway done paying off my principal loan balance! AND, to make it even sweeter, I am currently DONE with payments to one of the three companies which hold my loans. The weight is slowly lifting!
12.
Run a half-marathon - Completed x2! March '17 (Skidaway Island Half) & November '17 (Outer Banks Southern Fried Half)
16.
Schedule regular doctor/dentist check-ups - Completed December '17 - Doctor. Dentist. Optometrist. AND counselor. I adulted so hard, y'all.
17.
Complete a Whole 30/28-day Paleo (or similar) Challenge - Completed
with great success as of February '18. I'll be starting another one in mid-August, to get back on track for the school year (and to look cute before my brother's wedding!).
18.
Learn how to water-ski - Completed July '18. Okay, this one is cheating, but it's my list, so I don't care. I am changing this one, because I don't realistically think I will have a chance to learn how to water-ski in the next year. But you know what I have done TWICE this year? Go whitewater rafting - once at the U.S. National Whitewater Center here in Charlotte, and once on my birthday in Colorado. So even though it's not
exactly the same thing (ok fine, it's nowhere close to the same thing), I'm still gonna mark this one as completed. (My list, my rules.)
19.
Try 30 new recipes - Completed during Whole 30 as of February '18.
20.
Learn calligraphy - Completed August '17; I took a hand-lettering class locally. SO MUCH FUN.
28.
Volunteer with Girls on the Run - Completed as of May '18. I finally got to sign up to be a 5K volunteer, and LOVED getting to cheer on all the girls as they completed their race. It was so thrilling to watch a giant group of girls feel empowered and have fun while being healthy. I'll definitely keep volunteering at the biannual races here in Charlotte!
29.
Solidify & stay constant with volunteering role(s) with Gamma Phi Beta - Currently completed - I've finally taken my role down to just one: President of our Charlotte Alumnae Chapter. Although I still want to accomplish so much more in the role, we've had a few social events this year, and I have a wonderful group of local sisters who are engaged and excited to network with each other. It feels good to have nailed this one down.
IN PROGRESS/CONFIRMED TO HAPPEN: 1/30
25.
See Beyonce in concert (if she tours) - As you may or may not know, The Carters are currently on their On the Run II Tour, and EMILY JOYNTON AND I ARE SEEING THE QUEEN ON JULY 30 IN PHILADELPHIA! Words CANNOT express how psyched I am for this show (and visiting dear Emily, of course - love you, girl).
TOTAL: 16/30
Over halfway there, y'all!
