Thug Kitchen

Coming up to my 30th birthday I decided to update my bucket list, or "30 before 30" list and turn it into a 40 before 40 list. One of my goals is to cook my way through an entire cookbook. Seems easy right?
Wrongo.
Why? Here are the problems. I am a super picky eater, especially when it comes to meats. For example, I don't like pork products at all (yes, this includes bacon). Don't judge. Finding a cookbook without pork recipes isn't so easy, mmmkay. Unless...unless you find a vegan cookbook.
Here's the second problem...I'm not a vegan. Tofu? No thanks. However, what if you take a vegan cookbook and change the recipes to include meats? Well, that's what I am doing. Before I reveal the cookbook, let me discuss the last problem and why this goal is on my 40 before 40 list.
I don't cook. I don't hate cooking, but I'm not that great at it. And I have a hard time thinking of good recipes. 
There you have it. The issues. Now the cookbook:
Thug Kitchen. Yup. Full of vegan recipes and swear words. With my potty mouth and complete lack of cooking skill, this shit should be interesting.

30 Before 30 (Revamped List)

I turned 29 in March. Twenty-friggin-nine. Which means I will be turning the dirty 30 next year. I'm really not excited about this. I have read multiple articles and books where women discuss their thirties being the best years- you have your life together more so than in your twenties. I mean, I would like to think in less than year I will have my crap together more so than I do now but I'm not so sure. Anyways, I made a "30 before 30" list (see the blog post here) last March. It needs a little revising however, as some of my goals have changed. Here's the list with the changed goals in bold next to the old one:
1. Lose 100 lbs (unrealistic with less than a year to do this...) Lose 50 lbs 2. Run a 5K 3. Pay off 1/2 our debt (unrealistic...student loans...yikes) Pay off 1/2 our credit debt 4. Have $10,000 in savings (Might be unrealistic...going to try to get as close as possible!) 5. Finish Grad School (Yeah, I won't be graduating until December 2015...so I will be 30...It just won't be before I turn 30) 6. Find a teaching job 7. Go on a honeymoon 8. Finish our bathroom 9. Learn to cook (Better) (I've learned one new recipe...does that count?) 10. Run a successful home (what does this mean?) Revamp a piece of old furniture 11. Write a book (kind over this...writing books...not my thing) Do the color run (5k) 12. Take a sewing class Landscape the front yard 13. Take a photography class 14. Visit Las Vegas 15. Own a DSLR camera 16. Buy a bicycle 17. Learn to french braid 18. Attend a blogging conference (Don't care to anymore...) Attend a nursing conference out of state 19. Gym...3x's/week habit 20. Get another tattoo 21. Get pregnant (discussed with the husband...going to wait to try until he is done with nursing school so, before I'm 32?) Landscape the backyard...or at least pull out all the dead trees and shrubs! 22. Have family pictures taken 23. Sell 100 items on Etsy (Closed my Etsy shop...so nope!) Get a new front door. Mine is ugly. 24. Learn new make-up techniques 25. Buy an expensive purse 26. Take a 2 week vacation 27. Have a boudoir picture session 28. Learn another language 29. Buy a piece of jewelry from Tiffany's 30. Be happy and comfortable!

Day #230: 30 Before 30

I have seen a lot of bloggers post lists of 30 things they want to accomplish before they turn 30. Since my 28th birthday is looming (March 26...eeek!) I figured it would be a good time to do the same thing. I figure 2 years is long enough to accomplish most, if not all of the list?
Here is my 30 Things Before 30 list:

What is (or was) on your list?

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Day #64: Bucket List

What do you want to do before you "kick the bucket"? I think everyone has a list of things they want to do before they die, me included. Back in 2007, I made a list of 100 things I wanted to do before I died and that it was I now call my "bucket list". People will here me reference it from time to time, for example in regards to flash mobs ("That's on my bucket list!") however, I am sure most people didn't realize that I actually have a bucket list. I have included mine here. 

The idea to post my bucket list was actually inspired while trying to find picks for the "Oh, how Pinteresting" link-up I participate in on Wednesdays. I have a pin board called "Bucket List". Here are some of my pins:

Done! June 2, 2012

I think this was inspired while watching Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Cecelia Ann...nice ring to it?

My husband has done this. I am jealous.

I would rock this show.

This will happen. Oh yes, it will happen!

So there you have it...a little more insight into my life and my aspirations! What is on your bucket list?

Until tomorrow, 

Big, beautiful & broke... Chelsea