30 before 30: Attend the Temple Once a Month

This has been a big blessing in my life, as I've taken the time to go to the temple once a month. I'm so blessed to be near so many temples, because I know there are a lot of people in the world who can only hope to attend once in their lives. This is something I'm definitely going to continue to do.

30 before 30: Buy an Awesome Comic Con costume

I've always wanted to buy a cosplay for comic con instead of cobbling one together, but they can be kind of expensive. I decided that my reward for finishing my program would be buying a costume.

I really wanted to be a princess, but it was hard to find something just right. I thought about nearly all of them, but they took wigs, or the dresses wouldn't be as modest as I like. I finally settled on Rapunzel--she turns brunette at the end, so I wouldn't need a wig, and her dress is modest.

So excited to wear this to Salt Lake FanX in September!

30 before 30: Begin the Process of Buying a Home

This last month I started the process of buying a home. I talked to a mortgage lender and a realtor. However, it's a competitive market right now and out of about 10 homes I have wanted to look at, I have only been able to actually see 1 because with a day they have already gone under contract.

There is a lot I don't know about the whole process. It's kind of "scary exciting" when I think of it.

The fortunate thing is that I can take my time to find the place that is right for me and where I am supposed to be. Which, because it's been hard getting a house, is good to remember.

30 Before 30: Go Back to England

So this hasn't happened yet and won't until a couple of weeks after I turn 30, but it's all planned! Bro and I are going to England at the end of April. We have our plane tickets and booked an AirBnB. I'm so excited to go back and see some of my favorite things and experience things I didn't an opportunity to when I was there 10 years ago.

30 Before 30: Apply to Grad School Again

Several years ago, I applied to grad school and was brokenhearted when I didn't get in. Now, I work at a university, so I get a good chunk of my tuition paid for by work, which I have to admit is a huge incentive to me getting my master's through there.

I just finished filling out my application and I will be starting May or June on my Master's of Education degree in Instructional Design.

It's a little scary, but I'm pretty excited to finally be able to say I have a master's degree (well, that I'm working toward one).

30 Before 30: Have a Handmade Christmas

This Christmas I gave my family, and some friends, paintings I had done throughout the year. You'll remember that I just started painting about a year ago and have since switched to acrylics as my preferred medium, but have dabbled in watercolors a little too.

My favorite moment was when Kid K (age 3.5) opened her present and said, "It's my favorite picture!"

(D'awwwww!!)

I don't have photos available of every painting, but here are a few:

Lighthouse for Bro-in-law

Ornaments I painted for Sis

Baby B's fairy

Whale for my roommate, The Bomb

Kid K's "favorite picture"

30 Before 30: Make a Video and Post it to YouTube

So, this seems like a silly little thing, but it was something I kind of wanted to do. At first, I thought that I would make some big video and learn editing or whatever, but this is what happened instead!

You can find the video here.