30 Things at 30

Today I turn 30, and it feels like a milestone. To capture the moment, here's a snapshot of my life right now.

  1. I still love to travel.
  2. My two main travel dreams right now are to 1) go to Asia and buy cute stickers and 2) do a giant USA road trip.
  3. I am emotionally addicted to tea. The caffeine has little effect on me, but the ritual of preparing the tea tray and the glorious smell are something I have a hard time living without.
  4. Lately I’ve been focusing on seeing smaller. I want to notice what’s beautiful in the moment.
  5. One way I try to engage #4 is through photography. I love taking photos on my phone. It’s so easy and I really cherish looking back at these photos.
  6. 2015-04-02 04.11.57 1.jpg
  7. A long term goal that I’ve been working on is walking more. I sit a lot (doing the things I love), so I’ve been making an effort to move around frequently throughout the day. My Fitbit has helped with this, as has listening to audiobooks and podcasts.
  8. Reading has always been my favorite thing to do; currently I’m really enjoying memoirs, learning from people who can share their story well.
  9. The book An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor is the most personally influential thing I’ve read in a while.
  10. My favorite movies these days are slice of life style; the less plot the better.
  11. I’m real keen on my capsule wardrobe. For one thing, it’s the first time I’ve gone out and purchased clothes as an adult. For another thing the planning and considering involved in keeping it small has really helped me to find a personal style that makes me excited every day to get dressed.
  12. 2015-05-26 07.17.41 1
  13. My favorite outfit right now is a floral tank top, black jogger-style pants, and a drapey cardigan.
  14. Pinterest has been a big help in finding my style. And not just for clothes. It’s helped me to identify what I love in my home, and in scrapbooking, and in determining what creative thing I want to try next. By paying attention to themes in what I’m constantly pinning, I’ve learned a lot about myself.
  15. I am obsessed with white. Followed by black, then gray, then pink, then--surprisingly--blue. Also polka dots. And stripes. And obnoxious floral patterns.
  16. It took 30 years, but I’m finally comfortable with my hair and have several hair styles I can do quickly and easily and look like I know what I’m doing. This is not a small accomplishment.
  17. Also, another great feature of being 30 is that my skin is settling down and sometimes I even look at my face and think, “skin is looking good.” Never thought I’d see that day either.
  18. 2015-04-04 09.14.58 1.jpg
  19. In trade for the skin though I’ve given up some (a lot) of my hair to gray. I’m not sure how I feel about this. I never thought I’d be a gray-haired person at 30. Life is surprising like that.
  20. I’m currently excited that after years of trying to be a journaler, I’ve finally stumbled on something that I actually enjoy. I’ve been making little daily notes in a planner and then amusing myself making it cute. It usually feels like the greatest thing I’ve ever done, plus stickers.
  21. After years of doing strictly digital scrapbooking, I’m starting to enjoy doing some tangible smaller projects.
  22. 2015-03-25 05.55.04 1.jpg
  23. Every day I’m 100% surprised that my job is to get up and make stuff. I am surprised both that this is a possible thing someone could do for her livelihood and also that I can actually make stuff. I spent a lot of time being all logical and doing math. I’m still trying to figure out what happened.
  24. I love pandas.
  25. I love having fresh flowers around the house. It’s a quick trick to making me feel enthused about my surroundings, regardless of other details that might be bothering me.
  26. Self-serve frozen yogurt has become my number one favorite thing to eat.
  27. I’m still not a vegetable enthusiast, but I certainly eat more than I used to. My favorites are carrots and broccoli. I also don’t mind spinach.
  28. In the winter I enjoy making soups. And I always enjoy baking cookies.
  29. IMG_1364.jpg
  30. I love living in Oregon. The giant trees speak to me in a special way.
  31. Also, I love cool weather. I always want to be able to wear a sweater.
  32. But not too cold, because I also only wear sandals.
  33. The Oregon Coast is one of my favorite places ever. I love the combination of the beach, the trees, and the hills.
  34. 2015-04-19 06.05.55 2.jpg
  35. My biggest dream is to have a dog. However, that also requires being a little more settled than I’m currently willing to be.
  36. I also dream about traveling more, owning a house, and having more creative skills that don’t rely on a computer (drawing, painting, etc). I’m excited to see what the next decade of my life holds!
Tags: 

Recent Comments

katherine rose
katherine rose Sat, 06/13/2015 - 11:17

Happy (belated) birthday! Nice post to read, also. Oregon is beautiful according to your photo. I need to put it on my Places-I-Have-To-Visit list!

Carole Nordyke
Carole Nordyke Fri, 06/12/2015 - 09:05

Wishing you a belated happy, happy, happy birthday, Marisa. You are so sweet and so inspiring and I hope your day was as sweet as you are. I am definitely reaching a milestone this week. I will turn 70 on Wed., June 17th. I look back and wonder where all the years have gone and how they could have passed so swiftly.

Lizanne Killian
Lizanne Killian Wed, 06/10/2015 - 13:44

Happy belated birthday, Marisa!

Mary Treusch
Mary Treusch Tue, 06/09/2015 - 21:58

This is LOVELY. Happy Birthday

Pat Sierra
Pat Sierra Tue, 06/09/2015 - 03:24

Happy Birthday for yesterday. Wow!!!! Marisa I wish I new myself as well as you do when I was your age. It has taken me many years more to know myself. I love the things you love especially Pinterest I am crazy about anything creative and Pinterest is full of it. i live in South Africa we have Five Roses tea here, you may have it there, it is such a lovely fragrant tea.
Thank you for sharing. :-)

Kat Gagliano
Kat Gagliano Mon, 06/08/2015 - 04:56

Happy Birthday Marisa! What a fun post you shared. You seem to be very happy at 30 and that is a great accomplishment. Keep up what you are doing it looks like it is working great. Thanks for what you do here. I know I don't visit often, but do love it. :)

Therese Schmidt
Therese Schmidt Sun, 06/07/2015 - 19:38

Happy Birthday, Marisa! I hope this next year (and decade) will be one of your most awesome ever! Sincerely, a fellow Pinterest-panda-tree-and-dog-lover. :)

Betsy Bush
Betsy Bush Sun, 06/07/2015 - 17:54

Happy Birthday, Marisa! How nice to get to know you more!

elaine nowak
elaine nowak Sun, 06/07/2015 - 17:09

Happy Birthday!!

Kathie Gray
Kathie Gray Sun, 06/07/2015 - 14:24

Happy Birthday. I'm sure the next decade and beyond will see you continue on your amazing life adventure and hopefully you will keep sharing it with us all.

Penny Weir
Penny Weir Sun, 06/07/2015 - 10:42

Happy Birthday! Fun post.

Belinda Mac
Belinda Mac Sat, 06/06/2015 - 21:12

Happy Birthday

Julie Ostrander
Julie Ostrander Sat, 06/06/2015 - 11:52

Happy birthday

Violet Irisovna
Violet Irisovna Fri, 06/05/2015 - 11:19

Happy birthday!!! What a wonderful post. Thanks so much for spending the last few of your 30 establishing and nurturing this amazing community we all enjoy so much. And I'm inspired by #14 - I'm so not there yet! Maybe I'll try to make it a goal to reach by 40 :)

trudette de Jongh
trudette de Jongh Fri, 06/05/2015 - 07:59

Happy Birthday Marisa, and thanks for sharing such a wonderfull Blogpost !

Lórien Rezende
Lórien Rezende Fri, 06/05/2015 - 06:17

Happy Birthday Marisa! Enjoy yourself. I love reading to your list. Thanks for being such an amazing person.

Bethlyn Bechtel
Bethlyn Bechtel Fri, 06/05/2015 - 05:34

Happy Birthday! My 30th was back in March, but I didn't think of writing up a list like this....I should :D Thanks for the inspiration...AGAIN. Like I said before (or tried to, anyway), we are very different...and that's GREAT...but I love that we have enough things in common that I feel like we connect a tiny bit. (in a friend kind of way.....please don't think me freaky or something...) I hope I can eventually return the favor and give you inspiration, although I'm sure that's a ways away LOL
EITHER WAY................HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I hope you have an awesome day and that the next several decades are as fulfilling as the previous ones :)

"Sincerest wishes come your way
On this very special Day
May this Birthday Ever be
Enshrined upon your Memory."

--From the book, "New Shoes" by Noel Streatfeild

poki Sawyer
poki Sawyer Fri, 06/05/2015 - 04:50

Impressive list! (Keep thinking ... there will be more milestones in your future!)

Paddy Wolf
Paddy Wolf Fri, 06/05/2015 - 00:37

happy birthday and here's to another 30!!
by the looks of it, here at PS, we're gonna be the coolest bunch of 30-something gray haired scrappin' ladies around! :D

Randi Synnøve Larssen
Randi Synnøve Larssen Fri, 06/05/2015 - 00:25

Happy birtday! It`s a beautiful list. Have a nice day.

Kim Legerdemain
Kim Legerdemain Thu, 06/04/2015 - 17:13

Happy birthday! You made a beautiful list.

Krissy Collette
Krissy Collette Thu, 06/04/2015 - 15:46

Happy birthday! You made a very beautiful list!

Mollie Peoples
Mollie Peoples Thu, 06/04/2015 - 14:17

Happy Birthday!
I turned 30 last December, and I found it to be a lot different than I imagined it would be. When I was 12, I thought 30 was SUPER old, and practically the beginning of the end. Now, though I, too, have (a lot of) gray hairs, I feel a beautiful balance of having a rather young body with a more seasoned mind. It's a nice feeling.

Marcela Cocco
Marcela Cocco Thu, 06/04/2015 - 14:14

Happy Birthday!!

Megan Pawlik
Megan Pawlik Thu, 06/04/2015 - 14:00

Happy Birthday! I turned the big 30 this year too. Best wishes! To 30 and beyond.

Brenda Hollingsworth
Brenda Hollingsworth Thu, 06/04/2015 - 12:48

Happy Birthday!

Julie Cowan
Julie Cowan Thu, 06/04/2015 - 12:11

A very happy birthday to you Marisa! I love your 30 at 30 idea. Our 30th wedding anniversary is coming up and we're throwing a party. May have to steal the idea for entertaining the crowd. This could be fun....

Ania Archer
Ania Archer Thu, 06/04/2015 - 09:20

Happy Birthday! I wish I had thought of that when I turned 30 :) I think everyone here would agree with me that you are an amazing person and we are all thankful for creating this awesome community. Have an amazing day!

Sharilynn Marie
Sharilynn Marie Thu, 06/04/2015 - 09:14

Happy happy birthday Marisa! I loved reading all these little details about you and your life. I hope you have a wonderful day! :)

Sharon-Dewi Stolp
Sharon-Dewi Stolp Thu, 06/04/2015 - 09:00

Happy Birthday Marisa!!! Have a fabulous and festive day today! Xx

BethAnn Shepherd
BethAnn Shepherd Thu, 06/04/2015 - 08:16

Happy Birthday, Marisa! What a wonderful 'time capsule' post. And I totally get the mathmatical type brain doing the crafty, creative thing. I like to think scrapbooking is a perfect meld of the two, science(=shapes, measuring), etc. with art(=pattern, color, design).
Have a blessed and beautiful day!

Melanie Colantuno
Melanie Colantuno Thu, 06/04/2015 - 08:01

Happy 30th Birthday to you!!! Enjoy!!!

Emily Silverman
Emily Silverman Thu, 06/04/2015 - 07:48

Happy Birthday!!

Marlyn Ramirez
Marlyn Ramirez Thu, 06/04/2015 - 06:55

happy birthday, Marisa! love your crocodile bracelet

Amanda Lopez
Amanda Lopez Thu, 06/04/2015 - 06:45

Happy Birthday! Thank you for sharing. :)

Daniela Moraes
Daniela Moraes Thu, 06/04/2015 - 06:42

Happy Birthday Marisa! I wish you 30 more years of adventures, travelling, scrapbooking and loveliness to you, cheers!

Kerry Jordan
Kerry Jordan Thu, 06/04/2015 - 06:40

Happy Birthday!

Theresa Granny
Theresa Granny Thu, 06/04/2015 - 06:29

Happy Birthday, Marisa!

Melanie Nutile
Melanie Nutile Thu, 06/04/2015 - 05:08

Happy Birthday, Marisa! I thought turning 30 was going to feel so much different then it did. Now, I'm almost halfway to 40 and that feels so much scarier to me! Enjoy your day!!

Beverly Turner
Beverly Turner Thu, 06/04/2015 - 04:06

Marisa, My birthday is today also. Wow, an honor to share a birthday with you. Happy Birthday!

Vicki Iseminger
Vicki Iseminger Thu, 06/04/2015 - 03:46

Happy birthday!

Beatrice Loren
Beatrice Loren Thu, 06/04/2015 - 03:34

Happy birthday Marisa. Very thoughtful blog post. Have a wonderful day.

Elif Şahin
Elif Şahin Thu, 06/04/2015 - 03:25

Happy birthday!! I wish you a more settled life so you can have a dog, having cute little creatures around is really beautiful! *heart*

Melo Vrijhof
Melo Vrijhof Thu, 06/04/2015 - 02:38

Happy birthday Marisa! It's wonderful to read what 30 things are important to you know and it is good to know you are feeling comfortable with yourself and where you are in your life right now. Have a lovely day! ((Hugs))

Toni Randall
Toni Randall Thu, 06/04/2015 - 02:07

Happy Birthday. Hope you have a wonderful time.