The list of 40 things to do before I turn 40! The final list is here!

Well here is the long awaited list. Here are the 40 things I'm going to do before I turn 40. The big day is September 26, 2011 so I have a good nine months (plus a little more) to get these 40 things done!

As I complete each thing, I'll blog about it, and when applicable I'll show photos. I'll have the list in my sidebar and cross off the list as I get it finished!

And because I'm a tad obsessive-compulsive (okay more than a tad. And we could say anal- retentive) I have one thing I can cross off already- get highlights! I needed to start on the right foot and on the plus side.

Since it's my list and my rules, I've decided I can combine things when I want. I can also change the list as needed (hey, my blog, my birthday, my rules). For example, I can dye a streak of pink in my hair but I have to do it over a period of time when I won't be in school because it's against policy. I might only have it in for 2 weeks and then color over it but I'll still count it. I also want to get my nose pierced but Daddy-O said as long as I live with him, absolutely not. I don't have an exact reason as to why I "can't" but his house, his rules (I remember my mom made him sleep on the couch when he got his ear pierced so the no nose thing is interesting. *A-Hem* Just an observation!) . And I like having shelter, food, electricity, Internet, so no nose ring. BUT if I move out before the BIG BIRTHDAY the nose ring will happen, something on the list will be bumped, hence the concept of changing it! Ditto moving to Europe, winning the lottery, etc.

The cool thing is that I've never done these 40 things. I tried to come up with stuff that I could afford, that I wanted to do, that interested me, that was realistic and were also affordable. I also wanted to keep it as things I've never done. I might have done a variation but not "exactly" as it's listed to accomplish here.

I also wanted to be realistic. I would love to put "Win the lottery" on here but that's out of my control, same as "Marry Johnny Depp", "Win an Oscar" and "be as thin as Julia Roberts." All of these are out of my control and not realistic. Like in magic, you can't control the free will of others!

This is certainly not a Bucket List, of sorts. That would have LOTS of travel involved which also involves LOTS of money and time, neither of which I have much of right now. But it's a nice list of goals to say I've done before I turned 40.

It's funny because as I spoke with friends and family as I complied, it was pretty cool to hear all the stuff I've already done. people would make suggestions and it was fun to say "did that" or "checked it off already", etc. (That will be a post sometime- a list of suggestions that I've already done!)

I'm also going to give myself permission to not get them all done. If I don't then I don't. It's something to strive for. I have 257 days, counting today, to get them all done.

I hope my friends and family will be part of the fun; be my partners in crime of sorts! I also wish Bragger lived closer because I see that our lists are quite similar and we could take names and kick butt! And thanks to Bragger for our conversations about our lists (she's doing 50 before 50!)!

Thank you to everyone who made suggestions. I appreciate it. What I appreciate even more is how much you all really "know" me. You recommended things that are so completely "me". Thank you! Please don't be offended if I didn't pick your ideas- it was probably either because I did it or because it was out of affordability.

So without further ado, here's the list!!!!!!

1. Dye a streak of pink in my hair.
2. Get highlights in my hair
3. Lose 10 pounds
4. Give a make over (facial, pedi, mani) to a friend
5. Bake cookies to send to troops rather than eat them all myself!
6. Make a Baked Alaska
7. Cook an exotic dish or a fix a food I've never prepared before
8. Make homemade bread 2 or 3 times
9. Eat at a restaurant I've never been to before
10. Plant an herb garden, and then use the herbs when cooking
11. Tour a vineyard
12. Drive part of Route 66
13. Take a day hike, or part of a day hike, on a portion of the Appalachia Trail
14. Take a mini-road trip to somewhere I've never been
15. Meet one of my blogging buddies
16. Get a globe, give it a spin, and blindfolded, pick a place and then learn all about it!
17. Join a monthly book club with my friend who keeps inviting me
18. Read a book by a Russian author (the English translation)
19. Leave a couple books around with inscriptions that they're free to those who find them
20. Read 7 books that are considered "classics"
21. Subscribe to a new magazine and actually read it before the next issue arrives
22. Take a day to do nothing but lay around in my jammies, reading my back issues of 2010 fashion magazines, and eating junk food
23. Mail a postcard to "Post Secrets"
24. Memorize poems that make me laugh or feel good
25. Buy a CD by an artist I've never heard before and listen to the entire thing
26. Learn to play an instrument or re-learn one I already know how to play
27. Learn to juggle
28. Take ballroom dancing lessons
29. Take a zumba class
30. Take a pottery class
31. Take a spinning class
32. Take a jewelry making class
33. Take a yoga class
34. Try to learn a craft I've never done before
35. Perform a random act of kindness
36. Volunteer at a charitable/ not for profit organization
37. Make a list of 40 things that are wonderful about turning 40
38. Re-arrange/ re-decorate my bedroom
39. Attend synagogue
40. Watch a classic Christmas film I've never seen like White Christmas, It's a Wonderful Life, or A Christmas Story

Maggie

40 for 40

I have to say that "great minds think alike." I'm completely not kidding. This is the weirdest irony. It's like a giant "jinx, you owe me a Coke" moments. I've been playing around, writing a post about doing 40 things before I turned 40. I was going to post it this week, beg readers for ideas after they read the "rules/limits" publish the list on the Monday after Thanksgiving (Nov 29) and start on the list Dec. 1. BUT, guess what? BRAGGER already posted a list asking for suggestions from readers of 50 things she should do before she's 50. Now I feel like a big, plagiarizing, copycat.

I debated whether or not to give it a whirl & I decided what the heck! And I also emailed Bragger who gave me the green light to go forth and blog. (this isn't the first time she and I have had similar, tandem post topics. I swear you read enough of a person and you can become one with the blogger portion of their brain) And I'm going to mention Bragger frequently in this post because she did it so well the first time and... well, why should I recreate the wheel?

I want to do 40 new things that I haven't done before, before I turn 40 next Sept. 26. I'm scared for turning 40, and not really looking forward to it, hate the horridness that is that number, but I have to do it; turning 40 is better than the alternative. In an effort to not dwell on the old part, I've decided to try and do 40 things I've not done before.

I would love help from you. Please give me some suggestions! This is not a contest and there are no prizes if I do something you suggested. And while there are no RULES to your suggestions, there are some guidelines because, as Bragger put it, these suggestions should be "reasonable" (Bragger). Guidelines are as follows (you know I love to bullet things!):

• Affordability. I don't make much over minimum wage an hour so money is an issue. I don't have a ton of money and sponsors so I need to keep costs for these things reasonable and affordable. If you want to give me a suggestion and then provide all the funding, I would seriously consider that, but until that happens, please keep costs to a minimum.

• I can't quit my job or take lots of time off to do stuff. Please keep "time" in mind when suggesting. (Though if someone would like to fund a summer in Italy, we could certainly work that out!!!)


• The 40 things don't have to be adventurous, death-defying acts (Bragger). I don't do heights and I don't do scary. If you've read here long enough, and if you read my "old" blog, then you really do know I will not parachute out of a plane, ride a roller coaster, bungee jumping or any of that scary crappola. Not this girl.


• "It has to be something I have some control over, so it would be a waste to put 'win the lottery' as one of the 40 things" (Bragger). As would get married. Or publish a book.


• "I would prefer that items on the list not turn into lifetime commitments" (Bragger) like having a baby or getting a pet or getting married.


• Nothing that would be considered ridiculous or stupid. Silly is okay but stupid-- uh, no. Like get married or have a baby or touch spiders.


• It cannot include things that have pain associated with them, like another tattoo. I also cannot get anything pierced because Daddy-O said I would be moving out (If I do move out before 9/26/11 I cam totally getting my nose pierced, though) if I came home with a piercing. OUT- not even threatened me with the Shed but OUT.


• I also hope that you will take what you know about me into consideration and suggest things that are "Maggie Like".

I'm sure there are other "guidelines" I could suggest. Right now, though, these are the ones that sound reasonable and make the most sense. I was talking to Mac and Princess the other night about this concept and they helped me start the list. Now, I edited what they said because some of it is stuff I already did (like learn to belly dance- I took classes on this, thank you very much) and stuff that was not affordable (go to all Disney Theme Parks, including Disneyland and EuroDisney) or was ridiculous... or inappropriate. Here are the ideas they suggested.

1. cook dinner every night for one month (Mac's idea, which was followed by cackling, hysterical, rolling on the floor laughter, and punctuated by a snide snort)
   
2. take a zumba class
   
3. take ballroom dancing lessons
   
4. learn to juggle
   
5. read a book by a Russian author (in the English translation)
   
6. take a mini-road trip to somewhere I've never been
   
7. give someone else a makeover (facial, style hair, give a mani- and a pedi-)
   
8. Leave a couple books around in public places with inscriptions that they're free to those who find them
   
9. Mail a postcard to "Post Secrets"
   
10. bake cookies to send to troops, and then send them (rather than eat them all myself)
    
11. make a Baked Alaska
12. get highlights in my hair
13. take a pottery class
14. make bread once a month
    

Just because I have this started list doesn't mean that all 12 of these things will make the final cut. I want YOUR ideas and YOUR suggestions. So, please please please- feedback is wanted!

I can't wait to hear what you suggest!

Maggie

Work Cited: Bragger. "I Need Your Help." Bragger. Blogspot, 2 Nov. 2010. Web. 21 Nov. 2010.

An aside: if you haven't already and would like to vote for my blog as one of the best of 2010, I would appreciate it! Please and thank you! And go here to vote!