Ruthie's 30 before Crazy...guest Ruthie Wilson

Hey J's,

    Again I just wanted to say Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for including all of us in your challenge this year!!  I'm not calling it my "30 Before 30 Bucket List," because that ship sailed 4 years ago. But I'm calling it my "30 before Crazy List."   With a 4 year old and a 19 month old these are things that I need to do, to remember that I am more than just a Mom.  Before I go Crazy. Not to say that being a Mom is not still most important, but my baby is now getting old enough, that I can stop feeling guilty about stealing back a little bit of time for myself. This was just the push I needed to clear out my head of all the little things that my brain has been nagging me about and write them down on paper. Where I can see them. Read them. Remember them. Do them!!  Plus adding in a few things that I've always wanted to do, along with a few fun challenges for myself and myself and friends. It should be a fun year!!! 

    Before kids!!

                                     Today doing dishes with my boys!! (and boy do I need this)

Ruthie's 30 Before Crazy List
30 things I will do this year
Many of which to help me break out of the frumpy mom of 2 young kids stage

1. Wear make-up at least 3 days a week
2. Find and buy 4 pairs of jeans (new or used) that I love and give me “good butt days,” for under $20 each
3. Once again buy some underwear that doesn't come in a six pack
4. Try dying my hair
5. Get back into jogging
6. Go to a Dermatologist
7. Run a 5k
8. Take the time for myself to have a weekly bubble bath
9. Take a spa day with friends
10. Start having a date night with my husband once a month
11. Send my husband off and welcome him home with a real and good kiss each day
12. Find a new favorite sushi place to call “our sushi place”
13. Experience an Indian restaurant
14. Go swimming with my boys at least 2 times a week this summer
15. Learn to snowboard
16. Enter some of my photos into the County Fair this year
17. Teach my boys how to sing 2 new songs each month
18. Help my boys do a customized good deed for everyone over 70 in our hall
19. learn to BBQ
20. Paint our front door Red
21. Paint the Cabinet in our bathroom black
22. Mow and trim the grass myself at least half the time this summer
23. Clean out and reorganize all closets, cabinets and drawers (not all at the same time-baby steps!)
24. Throw an awesome Friendship Party for my boys
25. Challenge myself to putting on a fancy dinner party for 6, where I set and decorate the table using nothing but Dollar Store items (in hopes you won't be able to tell!)
26. Figure out what to do with Kale and Chard, so I can grow them in our garden this year and feed them to my family.
27. Learn how to make apple cider with the apples from our tree—both regular and hard (why not?)
28. Make a Chicken pot pie from scratch
29. Go shopping on Market St. in SF
30. Stomp grapes at the Italian Days in Reno this year

My frist up-date is that so far I have Jogged / walked every day this year!!!  We are looking forward to coming down for your 5K. And in case any of you need a little help getting ready for that, have you heard of the app for your phone "C25K" ? (aka couch to 5K in 5 weeks.)  I believe it gives us just enough time. It's fun and easy to use and can be used along with your music playlist to really keep you motivated! 

And if any of you have husbands that are trying to get in shape as well, they may feel more at home with the idea after reading my husbands new blog Men's Fatness-the Challenge of 2 Fat Dads.   It's about his challenge he and another brother are doing to get in shape. It can be found at www.mensfatness.blogspot.com   Or just go there if you feel like you need a laugh!

Thanks again you guys,     
With Love, Ruthie Wilson