A college acquaintance of mine recently wrote a blog post on My Sparkly Life about 30 things she wants to do in her 30th year of life. It got me thinking: I'm about 11 months away from turning the big 3-0, and there are so many changes I hope to make in my life by then. I couldn't think of 30, and mine are a little more vague, but here are a few of the things to do/make happen before I turn 30:

• Honor commitments to my family and friends, big or small. If I say I'm going to come to your housewarming party, baby shower, or girl's night, I will be there.


• Be on time. Anyone who knows me knows I'm AWFUL at being on time. I can't pinpoint why I am so bad at this, but I reaaallly want to change this. What better time than before 30?


• Find a partner who is deserving and accepting of my love-someone who isn't scared by it and will run away. This may be the toughest challenge in the year, but I refuse to get discouraged!


• Find my passion and make it a career. I know it's possible to find a job I love, because I know many people who have. I need to dig deep to find that passion, and be willing to take the steps to get there. I have an idea, so that's a good start!


• Work on my professional development-Join a professional association and network with people. Learn new transferable skills.


• Volunteer more. I was really passionate about volunteering for a while, and then I got lazy. I thought my sleep and my "me" time were more important than helping others in need. Not so anymore!


• Pay off my credit card debt. This seems lofty now, but I know I can make it happen if I put my mind to it.


• Save up and buy a new car. Everyone knows I feel like I'm going to die in the 'Bu one of these days. Probably not the best thought when in your main mode of transportation! I'd love to feel safe in my car, and in one that doesn't suck my wallet dry.


• Find my own place. While I wish I could afford a house (or know where I want to settle down, for that matter), I know renting will be the way I go for now. So I want to find a place I can truly make a home.


• Work on controlling my stress. I hate being known as high strung, but that's just who I am! It'll be hard to break a habit I've had for 29 years, but I sure am going to try!


• Cook more at home. This one is self explanatory. :)


• Make my health a priority. Exercise more, and make better food choices. Focus on every form of health-physical, mental, emotional.


• Go on a girl's trip with my best friends to reconnect. Vegas, here we come?


• Decide whether I want to go back to school for my MBA or not. If so-go for it and apply!


• Take more risks. I feel like I had naivete on my side in my early 20's, so I was much more spontaneous (Also known as being fearless and dumb. Ha.) I don't have anything tying me down right now, so it's the perfect time to do things that scare me! Get my first tattoo? Sky dive? Take an impromptu road trip across the country? Who knows!

The idea of 30 is still pretty scary to me. But if I do even 1/3 of the things on this list, I think I'll freak out a little less. To my friends who are already 30 or over, any tips on how to handle this milestone birthday?

I want to start this post with a few disclaimers:

1.) It is going to get very deep and personal, so if that will make you uncomfortable, please stop reading. In the same sense, it is very cathartic for me and something I felt needed posting.

2.) I am telling this story from my perspective. I may not get all the facts or lingo completely correct, but it is how I remember it.

3.) This is going to be a long post.

Feel free to read on!

Angela and I were attached at the hip since birth. While I've heard of twins who hate each other, we were the opposite of that. We were best friends, partners in crime, little terrors to keep our parents on their toes. We had our own language, inside jokes, and lots and lots of laughs. Our friends knew we were a packaged deal and wouldn't go anywhere without the other. Angela was the more outgoing twin, and I was the shy one. (Hard to believe, right?) Unfortunately, this would all change in 6th grade.

Angela started experiencing blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting that year. At one point, the eye doctor gave her glasses to help with her vision. (If only it were a simple fix like that.) She had a slew of other tests and MRI scans. The summer of '96, my family went to the 4th of July parade and drove to Milwaukee right after to go to the Children's Hospital. At one point, my parents took me into the hallway to tell me she would have to stay at the hospital for a few weeks. Even the thought of being separated for weeks had me in tears. I had no clue how serious the situation was, and how everyone's life would change.

Angela had a malignant brain tumor. She had cancer. How does a 12 year old wrap their head around that?? She had an initial operation to put a shunt in her head to drain some of the excess brain fluid and relieve the pressure. She then had the main operation to remove the brain tumor. It was a terrifying moment, but I don't think anyone thought death was an option. They WILL remove the tumor. She WILL survive. She had to have chemo and radiation, and pretty much spent the summer that year at the hospital. I remember how excited we all were when she finally got to come home.

The road to recovery wasn't easy for anyone in our family, but Angela maintained the most positive attitude she could. I fully believe that she has been in remission since and is here today because of that attitude. It may have been a hard thing for a 12 year old to grasp, but I don't think death was ever an option to her either. She's had to adjust to a few side effects, including loss of balance and short term memory loss. She's had to endure people staring at her because her hair never fully grew back and you can see the scar on the back of her head. She has her moments of sadness, as anyone would, but she ultimately tries to live life like anyone else. She has her own apartment, works at a grocery store in Sheboygan, and volunteers with the Red Cross. She's funny, honest, and selfless. She's always worried about other people, and what she can do for them. It's amazing.

I will always admire Angela for dealing with something I could never imagine. For bouncing back and embracing her second chance at life. She will always be my best friend, and she will always be my hero.

Favorite Show That Is Back
Awkward on MTV

Favorite Lyric Video
"Hero"-Family of the Year

Favorite Jam
"Can't Hold Us"-Macklemore
I'm totally sipping the Macklemore kool-aid right now. This song pumps me up every time I hear it. Don't hate.

Favorite Funny
Pitch Perfect. Fat Amy. 'Nuff said.

Favorite GIF
I'm tooting my own horn, because I made this, but my God does it make me laugh!

GIFSoup