birthday goals

28 Things Before I'm 28!

Hello Lovelies,

I hope you are all having a wonderful day! Today, I turn 27. This year, I really thought hard about my list of things I want to accomplish before this time next year. I think I did so horribly last year on my list because I didn't make a plan for how to achieve them. This year, theses are being printed out and posted. No more out of sight out of mind. Here goes the list!

Learn Dutch: This is my number one priority this year. I know, I say this every year, but this year there will be no other distractions.
Learn to Sew: I really really want to learn to sew. Really really! Someone teach me please?
Ride my Bike to Work: My new job participates in the National Bike Program, which means that I can get a brand new bike for very cheap. It would take me 40 minutes each way, which is less time than the bus takes.
Grow my Blog: Just be a blogger in general. What kind of posts do you like? What do you want to see from me?
Be a More Active Commenter: I am such a blog creeper, its time to start connecting with my favs!
Organize More Blogger Brunches: Ladies it has been too long!
Become a Better Photographer: We just bought our first DSLR and now, we want to learn how to use it. And, I want there to be more photos here in each post.
Take Care of my Health: It is time to get serious about my health, especially since there might be a chance there might be babies in the not so distance future.
Start Exercising: There is a gym less than a 2 minute walk from my flat. I need to at least check it out.
Try a New Sport: I promised my doctor I would.
Write More Letters. This is one of the reasons why I love the Snail Mail Collective. I can't wait to introduce you guys to my partner this month!
Be a Better Godmother: Being far away from my family is the only thing I hate about living abroad. I'm going to make more of an effort to have regular skype dates with my godbabies!
Skype More with Friends: I miss you guys! Thanks for still making the effort to be my friend even though I live so very far away.
Become a Better Cook: We have been stuck in a rut. I want to try new recipes and different cuisines from around the world.
Do More Online Courses: Just because I'm not in college anymore doesn't mean I don't want to learn.
Save 1/3 from Each Paycheck: Just because I am making more money doesn't mean I need to go on a spending spree. This is a mistake soo many of us make.
Finally Put Pen to Paper on 1 of the 3 Novels Floating in my Head:
Go on More Dates: Hooray for having the same days off as your love!
Develop a Personal Style: I am the queen of t-shirts and jeans, which is great if you are in college, not to cute when you are now 3 years shy of 30.
Keep the House Company Ready at All Times: I hate hate hate cleaning, but I do love how relaxed and inspiring a clean house can be. I also want to have dinner parties.
Hang More Photos: We have lived here almost two years and there is no art on the walls! No wonder I don't feel like this place is super cozy and welcoming.
Explore more of the Netherlands: I have more weekend time off to go and explore some places a slightly longer train ride away from Utrecht.
Take Full Advantage of my Vacation Days: One of the best things about working in Europe, the amount on vacation days you get!
Dance in my Kitchen: Because it makes me happy!
Watch Every Episode of Gilmore Girls, Again: Even though I love living in Europe, I really wish that Star's Hollow existed.
Appreciate the Magic of Everyday Life: It is easy to appreciate the big events in your life, but appreciating the little things in life can go a long way towards making you happy.
Accomplish my List this Year: Last year, I lost focus on what I wanted. This year, I am going to check back on my list to remind myself what I wanted to accomplish.
Be Happy!

Whew, 28 things is a lot of stuff! Think I can do it?

Tell me, what do you want to accomplish this year? How do you keep yourself motivated?

Until next time,

Tags:

Section:

American in Europe

27 Things Before I'm 27 Revisited!

My 27th birthday is in a week! As is my tradition, last year I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish before this birthday. I'm not sure how much I accomplished this year, the list kind of took the back seat. All I can do is make better decisions about what to add to this weeks list.

~~Get Top Marks this year in my HBO Program.~~This is no longer an issue because I decided not to continue with the program, but with the exception of spanish, I did pretty well for myself.
Pass the Staatsexamen or NT2, with this I will get a diploma stating that Nederlands is my official second language! Dutch took the back burner this year with my degree program, and having to learn spanish. I am going to recommit myself to learning.
Read more classics! I read a few classics, but not enough to cross it of my list.
Try 3 New Sports. Nope, not even one, unless you count running in dunes playing laser tag!
Learn to love my bike. I ride it more than last year, and now I am getting a new one!
~~Leave The Netherlands this year.~~ I made it to Berlin, and in 10 days, I will be flying to the US.
Go to more Festivals. I forgot about this one! I still haven't been to a concert!
Work Hard. With going to my degree classes fulltime, my dutch classes part time, my job part time, and wanting to start a more vigorous exercise program. My new motto is going to have to be Work Hard to Play Hard. I worked really really hard this year. Next year I may have to take it easy.
Run in a race this year. Nope, exercise was not high up on my list.
Write a novel. Again, school and work took over.
~~Be more socialable. I have friends, but sometimes I am too much of a hermit, and I get really intimidated in large groups of other women.~~I even started a blogger brunch to make new friends!
~~Stop Comparing my Life to Others.~~ I've mostly done this, you should too, it is the best thing I've ever done!
Do more art.
Learn to Meditate.
Practice my cartwheels.
~~Furnish the Kitchen. I have dreams of a crockpot and immersion blender.~~ I've done all of this including a new fridge and stove!
Learn to sew.
~~Join more clubs. Really, I should put attend more club meetings also.~~ Or start new ones!
~~Be more organized~~ Still need to work on this at home but I'm working on it!
~~Make meal plans.~~ Do this, it makes your life sooo much easier!
Spend more time in the Southern and Eastern parts of The Netherlands. I haven't gone exploring there yet. Still haven't been, no weekends off. Until now, I'm going to start exploring when we come back from the States.
~~Become a morning person.~~It wasn't easy when you worked until midnight, but I managed to wake up in the AM hours, so I think that counts.
Continue to grow my blog. Oh little blog, we have so much work to do on you.
Continue to save for retirement. Bad, Kaitlin.
~~Eat more veggies!~~ Turns out I like most of them, who knew?
~~Keep better in touch with friends and family in The States~~I'm going to see you very soon!
~~Do what I say I am going to do and honor my commitments.~~