Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my birthday. I love my birthday, I always have. I sort of wish it were appropriate for adults to wear shirts that say "It's my Birthday!" so the people at storytime or Trader Joe's know and will say something nice to you. I guess that's the benefit of Facebook telling all your friends it's your birthday - it's like getting 60 birthday cards in the mail!

I initially found this photo of a b-day cake and thought "That's too many candles
for MY cake" - but then I counted them and discovered there are only
25 candles. I think I think I'm younger than I am...

Anyway, I got this idea from my friend Dara (who also has a birthday this week) and I knew I wanted to do it, too. (Though, admittedly, my New Year's Resolutions are not getting looking like they'll make it in the next 7 weeks...). She made a list of things she wants to do in the next year that equal the number of years in her age.

Since I'm 33 today, I am making a list of 33 things I want to do this year. Some are selfish, some are selfless, some are big, some are small. Some are meaningful like The Birthday Project. Some are all about me and no one else.

1. Volunteer at Feed My Starving Children - at least twice.
2. Host a Christmas Cookie exchange.
3. Run a 5K, a 7K, a 10K, and a "longer than 10K" race (maybe a 10 mile or 1/2 marathon?).
4. Read at least 6 books for fun.
5. Make a family cookbook.
6. Take the kids to Wisconsin.
7. Get a pedicure.
8. Swim in a lake (with the kids).
9. Take a family vacation - that doesn't involve going to or staying at a relative's home.
10. Crochet a blanket (you'll remember that was a New Year's Resolution from last year, whoops, didn't get there...).
11. Reconnect (ie: see in person) some old friends who I've not seen much since B&H were born
12. Paint my bedroom.
13. Take a sewing class.
14. Go to Lake Minnetonka.
15. Try Zumba at least once.
16. Pay off one of my student loans
17. Send real paper cards to my immediate family members for their birthdays.
18. Sleep in (past 8:00) just once.
19. Stay up late (past 11:00) just once.
20. Go to a movie in the theater.
21. Go to a concert.
22. Go to a play or musical.
23. Leave a treat and thank you note for the mailman.
24. Take the kids on an airplane (Yikes! This is crazy!)
25. Take the Jeopardy online quiz again.
26. Go sledding (with the kids).
27. Learn a bit of basic graphic design.
28. Shovel my neighbor's sidewalk for no reason.
29. Wear pajamas all day.
30. Spend an entire day sitting at a coffee shop reading (without kids).
31. Go on a Girl's Weekend with my friends.
32. Donate blood.
33. Pay for someone's coffee who is behind me in line.

Wow. I better get started!

***
What is on your list this year?