30 in year 30

So, my 30th birthday has come and gone. Mr. Hand(some) and I went to Dallas, TX to see my very best friend Ms. Pickel and her hubs. It was all very fun - highlights including going to the Dallas Arboretum, visiting Austin, TX, spending quite some time in a dueling piano bar, riding in a pedi-cab, and seeing friends and psuedo-family (translation, Ms. Pickel's parents and sister).  My birthday weekend was AH-MAZING. Period.

Dallas Arboretum - check out those pumpkins!

Why, hello? Come to Austin often?

Legit.

My only milestone **wah-wah** was that I had hoped to accomplish some things before the big 3-0 dropped.  Now, I was able to check some things off this infamous list...

Watched the Godfather...Parts I, II, and III

"An offer you can't refuse."

Learned to crochet

My fingers were bloody stubs, but I did it!

Found and bought a vintage Coke carrier

And you can have one too - above photo links to an Etsy store selling these gems!

However, my accomplishments left me feeling underwhelmed.  Thus, I began a new list....wait for it...

My 30 in year 30!

So, with much consideration and feedback from Mr. Hand(some), I have developed and committed to the following list, to be completed by October 12, 2014.

1. Give a handmade Christmas
2. Sew a quilt
3. Volunteer with Girls on the Run
4. Send out holiday cards, before the holidays
5. Learn how to tie a tie
6. Make a significant donation to the Gamma Phi Beta Foundation
7. Write a thank you letter each month
8. Journal daily
9. Get my LCSW
10. Buy a house
11. Take a class
12. Read A People's History of the United States, Howard Zinn
13. Go to a movie at midnight
14. Donate monthly to Goodwill
15. Sell something on Etsy
16. Write a crochet pattern
17. Blog 1x week
18. Surpass 6,000 Pinterest followers
19. Lose 30 lbs.
20. Make jam or preserves
21. Bake gluten free something or other
22. Reupholster a piece of furniture
23. Learn to play a song on the harmonica
24. Do the "first on the first" with Mr. Hand(some) - translation, trying a new eatery on the 1st of each month
25. Visit a state or national park
26. Complete 30 Pinterest projects/tips/tricks
27. Get professional photos taken of Zoey
28. Scrapbook our wedding photos
29. Visit my family
30. Take a vacation with Mr. Hand(some)

So, as I embark on list completion and continued life fulfillment, I'll be describing in more detail why I chose these particular tasks and experiences to work towards in year 30 of this beautiful thing called life.  

Keeping things artsy, fartsy, fancy & free,
Autumn

Oh the possibilities...Wal-Mart Personalized Gift Wrap

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Why, hello there. Well, I'm as happy as a clam with my latest find.  The other day I was at Wal-Mart. I will admit going to Wal-Mart makes me feel dirty...it feels like I'm cheating on Target.  

However, I had won a $50 Wal-Mart gift card at our apartment complex pool party and I was ready to do some shopping.  

Of course, I went in for one thing (which I somehow left without) and ended up coming out with many other things.  Weird.

While perusing the aisles, my attention was caught by a section in the gift wrap aisle.  What is this? All sorts of little things?! And personalization? Heart.

So you can purchase a bag (which has a handy little window in the front), select your insert into the window (think letters, numbers, sayings, etc.), and pick out your fancy tissue paper.  So, this is all great. 

 {Wal-Mart Personalized Gift Wrap Display}

Now...I'm not quite sure which brand these little pretties are a part of...let me get back to you on this.

Reasons why I am in love with this product:

1. Personalized gift bags. Cute.

2. Umm....the million other crafty things you can do with the inserts.

Each of the inserts broke the bank at 27 cents....a piece.  I snapped up the letters A, H, N, an ampersand, a few little sayings, and numbers. My mind has been blown since then...just considering all of the wonderful possibilities for these little wonders.  Framed monograms? Homemade cards? Personalizing anything other than gift bags? Scrapbook layouts? Smashbook? 

Needless to say, you can expect a post in the near future highlighting my latest creations with the inserts used to personalize gift packaging.  

Always artsyfartsyfancyfree,

Autumn