Things to Do Before I'm 30

So I'm 22 years old and getting married in about three weeks. I feel I'm stepping into a new stage of my life, where I have to 'act' like an adult more and work harder in school and work. I can't depend on my parents anymore. I have to be independent. But most importantly, I want to make goals for myself.

I'm currently watching the episode of Friends where it's Rachel's 30th birthday and it flashbacks to everyone else's 30th birthdays. Phoebe on her 30th has a list of things she wanted to do before she was 30.  So here's my list of things I want to do before I'm 30.

1. I'd like to graduate. It's been a long (slightly painful) journey so far and I sadly have a few more years left, but I know I can graduate if I really set my mind to it. I'm going to graduate as soon as I can, definitely before I'm thirty. 
2. I want to start having kids before I'm 30. I'd like to start having kids after I graduate. I kind of want them now... but I know myself, and if I had kids now I would never graduate. So in this case, these goals are in order. 
3. I want to teach high school. Again, this is sort of in order. I obviously can't start teaching until after I graduate, but teaching is something I really want to do and I really think I could be a great teacher and really make a difference in my student's lives. I want to help high school students. I want to be a teacher. 
4. I want to become a good cook. I'm not saying I want to be a great cook. Good is fine enough for me. I just don't want Chris to continually be expected to be the cook in our relationship (because he currently is).
5. I want to throw a party. Like a Superbowl party, or a surprise party, or a bridal shower, or a soccer party (for my soccer loving fiance). I just want to throw a party that people enjoy. 
6. I want to learn to sew. I know how to sew on buttons, use a sewing machine and mend things, but I want to be able to sew the things I've pinned on my Pinterest page. 
7. I want to travel outside the United States. Preferably to Scotland with Christopher because he is so in love with that place. But I just want to experience a new place. I've never been outside the US before and it's just something I'd really like to accomplish before I'm thirty. 
8. I want to run a 5k. Maybe. I just want to be able to do it with Chris, who told me he wants to run a marathon. There is no way I'm running a marathon, but I 5k I'll maybe do. 
9. I'd like to have a fit and healthy body. This is a life-long goal. I want a healthy body at all times. I want to always be at my ideal weight because it makes me feel good and healthy. 
10. I want to choreograph as much as I can. Teaching dance is something I'm incredibly passionate about. It feels as if it's a need. I need to teach dance. It's a necessity to keep me happy. I know I can do it. I know that I would love it. I will teach dance and I will choreograph as many dances as I can. 

The Secret to a Happy Marriage

So I had a wonderful bridal shower yesterday hosted by my wonderful friend Lindsay! She did a fabulous job and everything was beautiful! I'm so blessed to have such a fun and happy person like Lindsay in my life. She is always so excited about life and I love it! Thank you Lindsay for the beautiful shower! And thank you for being one of my beautiful bridesmaids!

So at my shower we played a game where all the guests had to fill out a card like this:

(Photo credits)

My guests had to give advice on the secrets of a happy marriage using the letters in the word 'couple'. Here are the secrets: 

Courtship

On going laughter

Unity

Prayer

Love

Ecstatically happy 

Love, Anna

Cuddle (a lot)

Only have eyes for each other

Understanding

Politeness

Laugh together

Enjoy being together

Love, Cherene

Colorful

Options

Under

Pillows

Laying

Epiphany

Love, Tracie

Conversation

Openness

Undying love

Passion

Loyalty

Excitement

Love, Lindsay

Cleanliness

Octopus

Unicorn

Pandas

Lots of love

Egg Salad

Love, Camille

Creativity

Of

Ugly

Places,

Leaving

Excited

Love Michelle

Basically my friends are awesome. :) 

Thank you Lauren and Michelle!!!

I want to publicly thank two of my most favorite people in the world!!!! (not including Chris, my parents or my adorable brother) Michelle is my beautiful, fabulous (single) sister who is incredible and perfect in every way. Lauren has been my best friend for practically my whole life and she is my favorite person; my sister, my cousin, my friend.

Michelle and Lauren last weekend threw me a beautiful bridal shower. It was so wonderful! We ate breakfast food, played games and I got to open gifts! I loved my bridal shower, I love Lauren and Michelle and I'm so happy to have such wonderful friends in my life!

My Biggest Advice to Brides-to-Be

I'm getting married in 22 days. Three weeks from tomorrow. Less than a month. It's so soon!! And if there is one major thing I've learned from wedding planning it's this: Don't underestimate the time and energy it takes to get your invitations done. 

I was very blessed to work with a very talented company for my invitations. Beautiful Wedding Announcements is located in Riverton, Utah. They are a very well trained, well oiled company that continues to run smoothly and beautifully. They do a wonderful job and for a wonderful price as well. You can read my full review on my other blog, Everything Is for Love.

However, I had issues with my photographer, which meant I didn't get pictures in until a week ago and I didn't get everything finalized until Wednesday (my fault, not Beautiful Wedding Announcements'). But due to their fabulous work, I was able to receive my invitations on Thursday, the very next day.

I ordered 400 invitations (yeah, I'm surprised I needed that much too). I have been working all day long to get them addressed, stamped and licked to send to the post office tonight. Yet, despite my efforts, I was only able to get about half done to send to the post office.

So what went wrong?

Here is my greatest advice to brides-to-be: Send more time on your invitations. Don't expect to be able to finish them in one day by yourself. Get help. Get the addresses early. Get your future-in-laws and the fiance to cooperate better and give you addresses sooner. Don't be scrambling the day you want them out to still find addresses. Don't underestimate the time in takes. Even if you're just printing labels, it still takes forever to place them on the envelopes, especially by yourself. Get everything prepared before you receive your invitations. Get your invitations from Beautiful Wedding Announcements, they'll do a wonderful job for a fantastic price! ;) 

My goodness, what a relief to half the majority done! People had started asking my parents if I was still getting married. But if those people ever read this blog or saw my Facebook, they would know I'm obsessed with this guy! We're definitely getting married in 22 days and we are beyond excited!!! :)