30 Before 30: Q2 Progress Update
As I’ve shared previously, I’m working towards completing a list of 30 things before I turn 30.
I can’t believe I’m already halfway through the challenge – which means I’m halfway through my 29th year! Eek! I’m definitely making progress, but need to start seriously checking things off the list in Q3 … if anyone wants to help with any let me know!
Start a new adventure.I’ve worked for Walmart for 6.5 years, as my first job out of college. I’ve officially accepted a position at Clorox, and couldn’t be more excited/anxious/thrilled to start this new adventure.- Make a complex meal 100% from scratch.
Hike Pinnacle Mountain + eat a Hubcap burger at Cotham’s.Unfortunately, I didn’t get to eat at Cotham’s since the original location burned down last year. However, I did hike Pinnacle – and it was a doozy! The challenge was worth it, as the views were stunning, and we’re already planning another hike up in the Fall.- Successfully do a one-armed push-up.
See a critically acclaimed show.This one makes me so happy because I’ve been dying to see this show and Mom got me tickets for my 29th birthday for our trip to Chicago. It was AMAZING. Absolutely go see it if you get the chance.
- Volunteer 30 hours. (13 hours complete!) This quarter included great, hot, sweaty, challenging Habitat work.
- Buy all my friends a round, randomly.
Play video games with Husband for a night, complete with pizza + beer.This was so fun! We played Mario Kart (he schooled me), tennis (both won) and a fighting game (which we also both won, to Husband’s chagrin). I definitely need to get in Husband’s world and do this more often!- Intentionally choose to stay by myself one night in a hotel. Obviously I’ve stayed by myself before, but for work or when husband was away – not intentionally.
- Learn a song on the guitar.
- Be in a play.
- Learn to play blackjack.
- Make a signature cocktail.
- Make a YouTube video that gets over 1k views.
- Start my book. This is one husband has been pushing me to do for years.
Win at least 1 trivia night.This one was totally out of the blue, but glad it happened the way it did. We won the poolside Hollywood Trivia on our family vacation in Mexico. Go Team Guacamole!- Write 30 handwritten letters. (22 complete!)
- Take a dance class.
- Go to a movie solo. Does it count that I tried to do this? I went to Mamma Mia 2, bought my ticket, got my popcorn and then partially into the movie it stopped working and they gave us our money back …
Ride 300 miles.Maybe this one didn’t take as along as anticipated, but it’s still checked off the list and I’m proud!- Dye my hair pink. Again, something I’ve always wanted to do. It could just be a few strands, and it could wash out after a day. Either way, I think 29 is the best time to do it.
- Do 5 things that scare me. (1. Leave my comfort zone job of 6.5 years. Trust me – it’s scary. 2. Ride a snowmobile)
- Give an amount of money that is significant to me and is significant to someone in need, but do it in such a way no one would ever know it was me who gave it and expect nothing in return.
- Travel to a state I’ve never been to.
- Take a personal day, for no reason at all.
Challenge myself with a new hobby.I didn’t realize it at first, but this is totally the Peloton! Since I didn’t grow up in sports or really sticking with an exercise routine, riding consistently has been a huge challenge for me and totally feels like a new hobby! We even chose to ride while on vacation – something I never thought I’d do, ha!
See someone in concert I’ve been dying to see.Taylor Swift – check. Taking Back Sunday (our favorite band from high school) – check AND Beyonce/Jay-Z coming up next month. I think I can officially check this one off the list.- Find an artist whose perspective of the world I appreciate and buy a piece of his or her work.
Take a spontaneous trip.Someone could probably fight me on this, but it’s my blog so I’ll do what I want – our NYC trip was totally spontaneous for me. No, it wasn’t a pick-up-and-go trip, but our friend Mark called, said he was having his 30th birthday party in NYC and did we want to go? I never turn down a trip to New York, so we said yes, but not planning something like that several months out is my kind of spontaneity!!
- Plan a huge 30th birthday bash.
- BONUS: Read 30 books. (16 complete!)
xo xo
Next quarterly update: Nov. 1 !
Weekend Picturebook: Chicago
T H U R S D A Y
[First stop: Eataly then shopping!]
[The most AMAZING dinner at Girl and The Goat – oysters, goat empanadas + fall off the bone pork shank. Seriously a meal I’ll never forget.]
[We would highly recommend the architectural boat tour – even though we were freezing our booties off! Good thing there was plenty of coffee + baileys.]
[Cliché touristy things: pictures in front of the Bean, chicago dog + Art Institute]
[Cindy’s Rooftop was perfection – and boy do we have a story to share. Ha!]
[HAMILTON! finally! 100% lived up to (or possibly beyond) the hype]
S A T U R D A Y 
[SNL exhibit at the Broadcast Museum was too cool – we could have easily spent all day in there!]
[Walk along the beach + a drink at The Drake – not exactly beach volleyball weather to us Southerners!]
[PIZZA, obviously]
[almost time for TAYLOR ….. !!!]
but first, a little history …
[T.Swift in LA, 2010]
[T.Swift in Nashville, 2013 – 2ND ROW. Don’t even ask how we got those seats.]
[T.Swift in Chicago, 2018!]
and yes, we’re wearing matching touristy sweatshirts because, again, it was freezing
[I swear I’m still on a high from this show. 2 hours of pure adrenaline, singing at the top of my lungs, dancing to my heart’s content. Best part was when she came to the second stage right next to us!!!]
[and then it started pouring, but we were okay with it because, Taylor, duh]
[and then we had to walk 3 miles home, in the pouring rain, couldn’t get an uber, and I was so over it… BUT THE CONCERT WAS AMAZING]
S U N D A Y
[Ended the weekend on a perfect note – brunch at The Hampton Social. Pictured: Frosé, lobster bisque + crab and avocado – all delish!]
What a perfect mother-daughter weekend. I couldn’t have asked for anything more!
xo xo
13 Reasons Taylor Swift’s New Album 1989 is Everything
1989 has officially been out for two weeks now, and there hasn’t been a day I haven’t listened to it. You could say I’m obsessed, which is nothing new, but this has just fueled the fire.
Mom and I have been to two Taylor Swift concerts, Fearless in LA in 2010 and Red in Nashville in 2013. When Taylor releases her tour dates, Mom and I each pick 3 cities we want to go to and if 1 of our picks matches that’s where we go. So, as you can tell, I’m anxiously awaiting her tour date release, but until then … here are 13 reasons why 1989 is everything.
1. The title of the album is not only Taylor’s birth year, but also my birth year. We’re obviously meant to be besties.
2. There’s not a single song on the album I dislike or skip when playing the album through. Unheard of.
3. She is now officially a pop artist, and a country artist, and an anything she wants to be artist. She’s Taylor Swift.
4. My favorite song changes every other day. Currently “Blank Space.”
5. “Wildest Dreams” is reminiscent of Lana Del Ray in an ethereal way. It’s just so lovely and makes me want to swoon.
6. Not all of the songs are about boys (which Husband likes to tease doesn’t exist) namely “Welcome to New York”, which is about her love of the big apple. Can I go to NYC now and sing this through the streets, please?
7. She has retained her lyrical style even though her musical style has changed completely.
8. “Shake It Off” will forever be a great dance song (past, present and future – see second video below!)
9. I’ve never liked Harry Styles or Katy Perry and this just gives me even more grounds to dislike them.
10. “Welcome to New York” is the perfect opener and “Clean” is the perfect ending to the album. It just all fits.
11. The “move the furniture so we could dance” line from “Out of the Woods” reminds me of “we’re dancing around the kitchen in the refrigerator light” section of Red’s “All Too Well” – one of my favorite songs from that album.
12. At least once a day, I sing “You got that James Dean daydream look in your eye, and I got that red lip classic thing that you like” and pretend that I always wear red lip stick and my husband looks like James Dean.
13. That each of her albums continue to make me love her more and more and more. Hats off, Tay.
And now, a video for your viewing pleasure – the newly released “Blank Space” music video. ❤
xo xo, your favorite swiftie
{Alderman Music Tour} Part 2: Nashville
Yesterday I shared highlights from the first part of our vacation in Denver. Now for the last leg of the tour – Part 2: Nashville.
Enjoy! xo
{dinner night 1: family-style good ol’ southern cooking}
{honky tonkin’ at Robert’s Western World}
{enjoyed delicious lunch + coffee at T.Swift’s favorite coffeehouse in Hillsoboro Village}
{pretending like we were in Greece at the full-scale parthenon replica}
{the BEST sandwich followed by the BEST ice cream – YUM!}
{great live show at Two Old Hippies}
{brunch – the best meal of the day}
{tour of the historic Ryman Auditorium}
{TAYLOR SWIFT – IN SECOND ROW SEATS !! I was literally dying. Greatest show ever!}
life lately + blogging hiatus
Life lately has been busy, busy, busy. Along with moving and getting settled in I’ve had some big projects going on at work that have been taking up a lot of time (hint, hint: follow @Walmart on Instagram). I’ve had hardly any time to blog and when I have had the time, spending more time on a computer did not sound appealing.
Other than moving and working, see a few life lately highlights below.
{Jersey Boys at the WAC}
{Sidecars at Club Frisco}
{several evenings in downtown Bentonville, pictured – Tusk & Trotter}
{Calling the Hogs with these fun guys}
Saturday we head off on our next adventure to Denver and Nashville. One day while drinking mimosas on a patio, husband and I dreamed a dream that we could see his favorite band (The National) in concert and mine (Taylor Swift) in the same week, despite the shows being across country. That dream has officially turned into reality.
We will see The National at the breathtaking Red Rocks Amphitheater outside of Denver and spend a few days in the city with my cousin and her husband. We then head to Nashville where we will meet up with my parents, and Mom and I will see T. Swift (for the second time because she’s amaaaaaazing). I am BEYOND excited and so ready for a week-long vacation.
21st birthday trip – Taylor Swift in LA!
See you in a few weeks! xo
Pop Candy {Destiny’s Child Reunion, Blue Ivy’s First Birthday, Kimye Baby Bump}
I wrote my first Pop Candy post this summer {Pre-Weekend Pop Candy} sharing the latest pop culture and entertainment news I’ve been enjoying lately. So I thought it was time to re-visit. What IS going on in the world of celebs these days??
Destiny’s Child to release new song Nuclear + new album with past recordings, oh my GOSH how exciting. This song better live up to some oldies like Survivor and Bootylicious. But wait, there’s more – HOT off the press: Destiny’s Child will reunite at Super Bowl halftime. This is almost as exciting as the Spice Girls reunion at the Olympics. {Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams}
Speaking of Beyonce, her little one turned 1 year old a few days ago! How cute is this pic with daddy and Blue Ivy?! Fun fact: Jay-Z rents a luxurious basement suite at the Barclays Center for $1 million/year so they can watch the Brooklyn Nets without worrying about little Blue. {Jay-Z, Blue Ivy Carter}
Oscar nominations were announced yesterday, and I’m THRILLED to report Quvenzhane Wallis as the youngest Oscar nominee ever! The 9-year-old was nominated for Best Actress in Beasts of a Southern Wild, as I predicted in my post {Top 10 Movies of 2012} a few weeks ago … {Quvenzhane Wallis}
Speaking of youngins, thank GOODNESS T-Swift is over this 18-year-old punk. Supposedly she’s already in the recording studio writing about it. Funny tweet I saw for a song name: “You’re Just Not My Style.” {Taylor Swift, Harry Styles}
Okay, okay, I know this is fairly old news, but honestly I’m still fascinated/intrigued by it for whatever reason. And these photos were just released of the pair in Paris where you can actually see Kim’s baby bump for the first time. {Kim Kardashian, Kanye West}
xo xo
life lately
Aside from my NYC travels, which you can read about here, here’s what else has been happening in my life lately.
{wearing this // pants Anthropologie, shoes Target}
{winning this. #tswiftobsessed}
{cuddling with this}
{enjoying an evening of this}
{dying over this White Elephant gift}
{loving this new lunchbox from Target + Neiman Marcus, Tory Burch}
xo xo
five things
A few {almost} midweek perk-me-ups:
{RED released Monday. I can never get enough Taylor.}
{simply adorable}
{already dreaming of another summer vaca}
{but first, dreaming of Christmas parties}
{so.funny.}
m.davis xoxo 