Just for this... I'm adding India to my 30 before 30 list (now which to eliminate? Uhhhh)

ANJUNA BEACH IN GOA, INDIA.

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/01/23/travel/20100124_WHY_slideshow_27.html

Photo: Amiran White for The New York Times

I may need an intervention... I'm taking this 'my own apt needs my own decor' idea to all new levels

Wall decal for bedroom (which is morphing into a rather whimsically woody theme... I find that generally... rooms 'tell' you what they will look like as you slowly procure things over time. This is the best way, in a very hippish philosophy, to really make sure you've created a room that not only you enjoy, but that the room just naturally seems it should look that way anyway. You just helped it along. Does that make sense? Burn some incense and inhale deeply for 20 minutes and it will.)

10 assorted goldon frames... oooooo the possiblities (also for the bedroom)

And don't worry everyone. I'm going to get ambitious with ye old camera and take a 'before' and 'after' pic once I get all these items (see paintings below) in hand and hung. Squee!

Items lovingly purchased from UrbanOutfitters They've got some seriously rad schtuff.

30 before 30 : I've got everywhere to go!

I got this little idea from my clever friend ‘heidikins.’ You remember heidikins.  The very heidikins that introduced me to the lovely VNSA booksale and also the same heidikins whom I doubted when she suggested we needed many an empty carry-on and a 4:30am wake-up call for said book sale. Reiterate: clever heidikins.
So, she told me of this list ’30 before 30’ she was making and I immediatly asked permission to copy-cat. Clearly, as indicated by the title, '30 before 30' means there are 30 somethings (recipes? First dates (please, Lord, no)?, lbs? ) to be had, lost, or experienced before the age of 30. As Americans… or humans really… not sure why I would exclusively attribute this to Americans, we tend to utilize age as a timetable for accomplishing particular life goals. “I will retire by age 40! I will be a home-owner by 35! I will have run a marathon by 28!” And so forth.

This age-defined timeline in which 30 somethings must be accomplished is, “30 new places to visit by age 30.” Naturally, the 7-11 on 4500 south does not count… I’m taking travel my friends! Destinations! 30 of them before I’m 30 (which nauseatingly, is only 4 years away… 3 years 8 months to be exact… I think I puked a little in my mouth just then)! Genius right? And quite a hefty goal (should've thought of this last year) – but one I’m going to set because first, it seems like a fine goal to set and traveling is on my top 'how to make life good' list and second, Oprah says if you want to make something happen, you need to set a goal and  then write. It. Down! Or at least that sounds like something Oprah would probably say… I cannot prove she’s actually said it.

Moving right along…

I’ve picked a lot of these places in ‘clumps’ – meaning areas I can visit in one trip rather than a bunch of separate trips – which makes no sense. I mean 30 separate trips before 30? That’s just crazy talk! Pricey crazy talk.

Thus with no further ado, I’d like to present… determinedly… my list of:

30 Places to Visit before 30 (in no particular order)

1. Thailand
2. Vietnam
3. Cambodia (you better believe I’m counting those 3 as separate places in one trip! That's a huge undertaking!)

4. New Zealand
5. Australia (best New Years fireworks in the WORLD!)

6. France (yes so I’ve been to Paris… but we’ll go other places in the France too so it counts)
7. Greece (childhood fantasty)
8. Turkey (since I was jipped out of it two years ago)


9. Maine
10. Boston
11. Washington DC

12. Seattle (not Forks… shudder)
13. Portland/Astoria (Goonies never say die!)

14. Hawaii

15. South Carolina – Charleston

16. New York City
17. Canada (Niagra Falls par-tic-u-lar-ly)

18. Escalante National Park

19. Mexico – somewhere

20. Chicago
21. Nauvoo – Church trip!

22. Grand Canyon

23. Havasupi, AZ

24. Bear Lake, UT (it’s true I’ve never been)

25. Lake Powell (again.. truth)

26. Yellowstone
27. Island Park, ID

28. Italy – (just Italy... for I plan on taking this one with a man... ambition!)

29. The Bahamas

30. Florida (particularly the new Harry Potter theme park in Orlando. Awesome!)

So there you have it! I can tell you that numbers 1-4, 15-17, will likely be checked off this year. That’s right! Getting two major international travels already checked off. I’d say I’m off to a good start. Oh… and slight disclaimer… you should know that 30 by 30 means I get my 30th year to polish off the list. It’s when I turn 31 and there are still danglers that I fail. So… make note. Year 30 counts.

So what about you? Any "x before age y" formula’s you’d like to share? Mm?

All children… except one… grow up. And I’m not that one.

This weekend my long-time roomie (read "on and off for 5-6 years” roomie) moved out. And she didn’t just move out – she moved to SOUTH CAROLINA! Yep… when Nik moves, she moves with determination! Why South Carolina? That’s how much she hates my guts. Just kidding! It’s not like we decided it was time to separate the roomie-ship that had been ours to enjoy the last handful of years (hey… when you find a good one you stick with her), but rather, it was time for Nik to explore some life options she’d been thinking about for a long time, and this required her moving across the country. Sometimes that’s what it requires, ya know? Sometimes.

That said, I have now been officially living ‘alone’ (suddenly posting this on a website for rapists and stalkers to see doesn’t seem like my best idea)… with my huge tiger of a man-eating CAT (redeemed) for the last two days. And… truth be told I prefer it this way. It’s a true sign of ‘getting old’ when the only roomie you want is either covered in fur or your spouse (which really, could fall under both categories..ew). That’s the point I’ve hit in my growings up, I do not care to have a roomie even at the expense of DOUBLING my rent. I’d rather have the rent than the roomie which means I’m EITHER old or just crabby… which comes with oldness… so now I’m old and crabby. Get off my lawn you kids! Git!

I’ve debated the ‘roommate’ scenario in my head – picturing another roomie that’s not Nikelle sharing our rather smallish apt, and it makes me feel like putting my head in a vice or running a razor over my tongue… backwards. The freedom that comes with having your very own space is well… intoxicating… and liberating. Not that I’ve ever had a desire to run around my very own place naked – but now that fact that I COULD makes me feel so autonomous! This also means I’ve hit a point in my professional career that allows me to consider living alone in a 2 bedroom downtown urban (I add urban to make it seem hip… really it’s like 35 years old or something…) apartment by myself( with my face-slashing overly-protective cat); which is kind of… cool. Right? I’m always looking for ways to up my cool level. I think I’ve just jumped up a couple because of this. I mean… next step is buying a house and that scares me to death. Who buys a house? Couples, young professionals, old folks, families, ADULTS! Can I be getting that close to house-purchasing? I guess I can. Whoa.

WELL! Naturally to celebrate this new step into adultness (cool adultness thanks), first things first! I moved directly into Nik’s bedroom which houses a much bigger closet than mine, and have begun to envision my former bedroom as my new ‘office’ and ‘cat lounge.’ It’s only a cat lounge because I’ve moved her little bed (which she never uses) into the closet in that room and moved all my stuff out. See that cat? You have your room… I have mine. I also bought a variety of items for my now ‘newly’ acquired space and freedom that include but aren’t limited to: a bookshelf for my room (for my new/old newly purchased 37 books), a DVD player (as Nik took hers), some décor that includes mirrors and a variety of paintings (seen below), a new lamp, a new comforter and sheets (yes this was needed!), and picture frames. I also found a great desk at IKEA I will be adding to the loot this weekend and of course, over the upcoming weeks I will be visiting many a Ross and TJ Max for particular items to personalize my very own space. Mine… my own… my precious.

I’m sure all of this seems well and good until ya know… the first of the month rolls around and rent is blazingly on the radar at double the amount I’m used to paying. That’s where a back shelf plan B has been formulating. Nik and I’s contract is up in April – THUS – I get 2 months – 2 MONTHS – to see how paying for new adulthood fits into my budget. Truth be told I’d rather spend money on plane tickets than rent – but since I refuse to enter the world of roomies again – the only other option I have is downsizing. Truly - $675 for a downtown 2 bedroom is a sweetness deal – but $550 for a small 1 bedroom around the same location isn’t bad either… and $100 more towards that ticket to visit Nik in Charleston, or Australia in December, or New York in the Fall. Hm.

There you have it! I am officially banning ‘roomies’ in my living situation until I marry one and happily living on my own with a bedroom, office, and giant 150lb cat! And even when I marry (you see my optimism there? WHEN) then I may require he have his own ‘man-cave’ away from me so I can have my own ‘craft-room’ (where there will not be crafts… but books and a loungey arm chair and cat) away from him. Self-discovery moment: Andrea likes her space. Yes she does. And she’s willing to pay for it… mostly.

Living Room

 

Bedroom 

Office

My protective cat. Good kitty!

I've made a terrible life choice... it seems. Stupid grad school!

An Olympic Crush

Bode Miller

Right? Mmmm.

I love Anna Sui. I do.

Begin loving her too, here