My birthday was during the week last week and my coworkers showered me with happy birthdays and a cubicle full of black balloons. I also celebrated with friends and family at a party last weekend. I truly felt so loved and am so excited to enter my forties.
So now here we are, on the road to 50! That means it’s time to wrap up the last few things I accomplished on my 40 by 40 list since last month.
17. Post on Making Megan at least once a month
I did that. There’s not a ton to add here, but it was fun to write regularly, relive the things on my list I had accomplished recently, and get feedback from readers.
22. Complete an embroidery project
This was so much fun! I bought this adorable kit from a seller on Etsy and it came with everything I needed, including the pattern stenciled on the fabric for me. Was mine as cute as the one shown? Of course not! But I had a lot of fun learning and watching videos to learn the stitches and seeing everything come together. I’ll definitely try some more patterns to up my skills!
31. Eat vegan for the week
Y’all. Not for the faint of heart or the lover of meats. I am very glad I tried this out because I found a few new recipes that I loved and will be in the normal rotation and it was also a big challenge for me! I did get to break in my new air fryer with veggies and tofu, so that was a great addition to the week. To know me is to know I love cheese, and that is what I missed the most.
39. Make a 40 accomplishments list: done and coming soon!
40. Make a 50 by 50 list: done and coming soon!
I gotta say, I am really freaking proud of all I was able to get done in just a few short years in the middle of a pandemic. Here’s a quick look at what didn’t get done.
1. Write 40 thank you notes to people who have made a big difference in my life: this one is in progress, and that’s ok!
7. Hip thrust 250 pounds: I’ll get there someday but not yet, and that’s ok!
9. Write a short story: I started this one a few times but couldn’t get the words out, and that’s ok!
11. Finish organizing my home office: It’s still kind of a junk room, and that’s ok!
18. Walk or bike the entire MKT Trail: I left this until winter for some reason and it didn’t get done, and that’s ok!
21. Organize my books: Hahahahaha, this one makes me laugh, and that’s ok!
23. Go to Amish country with Julie: We had a date planned and then there was a family emergency, and that’s ok!
25. Relearn Spanish: I’ve made huge progress with Duolingo but I’m not where I want to be yet, and that’s ok!
30. Volunteer at the Raptor Rehabilitation Project: I tried to sign up multiple times and they never answered, and that’s ok!
36. Reconnect with someone I lost touch with: I couldn’t think of anyone I actually wanted to reconnect with, and that’s ok!
Ok, that’s 30/40 complete. Considering the timing and whatnot, I’ll take it! I’m so proud of myself for trying new things, going to new places, and setting goals to meet. I’m so excited to share my 40 accomplishments and 50 by 50 lists in the next couple of weeks, and I’m also thrilled to have the whole ten years to get them done! I hope you’ll come along with me and make your own lists…I will cheer you on every step of the way.
Somehow, I’m at less than 50 days until I turn 40 years old. I also can’t believe it’s been less than three years since, in the thick of a pandemic, I put to paper 40 things I wanted to accomplish before this rapidly approaching date. While I’ve definitely had to accept there are a few things on the list I’m simply not going to get done, I’m also going to keep celebrating as I check things off! So let’s check in on what’s been done recently…
8. Sleep Under the Stars
One of my favorite places in the Columbia area is Cooper’s Landing. It’s right on the Missouri River and hosts food trucks and musicians. It’s also home to the best sunsets in mid-Missouri. Cooper’s also has glamping tents.
If you know me, you know I’m an indoorsy gal. Have I camped? Yes. Is it my jam? It is not. so the idea of glamping in one of my favorite places seemed like the perfect way to check this off the list. It ended up being a fabulous evening of music, a fire I built myself (thanks, Girl Scouts!), forgotten marshmallows (no s’mores for me), a shockingly comfortable bed, and the sound of rain hitting the roof of the tent as I drifted off. So, while I can’t say I did a roughing-it campout and the stars were hidden behind the clouds, it still definitely met the task. If you’re a bit indoorsy like me, check out the glamping at Cooper’s…I’ll even meet you there for sunset.
12. Do Yoga Every Day for a Week
In addition to being indoorsy, I’m also not what you would call a super flexible lady. I’ve always been intrigued by yoga and the combination of strength and flexibility it takes to do it well. So for a full week, I did a different short yoga session. I tried first thing in the morning. I tried right after work. I tried right before bed. And y’all…I’m not good at yoga. I didn’t expect to be good but whew! There’s for sure a reason they call it a practice. I’m glad I stuck with it and there may come a time when I give it another try, but I want it to be something I look forward to before I really fold it into my routine. But I did it. Namaste.
27. Learn a New Card Game
We played a lot of cards growing up. My dad’s cousin taught me the basics of Black Jack when I was about three. That along with poker, war, spit (speed), gin rummy and more was always a fun way to be together. At my first job, we played a game called Egyptian Rat Screw to pass the time and in college, my suitemate Kelly taught us how to play Nerts. Since then, I haven’t really learned a new card game.
One of the first cold afternoons of the fall, I spent a few hours online learning to play…spades. I like the simplicity of the game mixed with a bit of strategy to earn you and your teammate the most points per hand. After reading some basic rules and watching a bunch of videos on YouTube, I played countless online games of spades and had a blast. I’m certainly not an expert, but I love learning something new and had a great time learning the rules and the strategies.
With those three complete, I’m really getting things checked off! Like I said, there are going to be a few that just don’t get done for various reasons. But! I also have another one getting checked off this weekend (I’m going to finish that 5K I barely trained for dangit) and have actually already finished tasks 39 and 40, but I will be sharing those closer to my actual 40th.
Above all, thanks for reading and get out there and make your own lists!
A few years back I took myself (my favorite travel companion) on a trip to explore Utah’s Mighty Five National Parks and the Grand Canyon in Arizona. My 11-day trip was outstanding and I started with about 24 hours at Zion National Park. It was one of the single most beautiful places I’ve ever been. At the end of my trip, I wished I’d been able to spend more time exploring and vowed to return, so I made sure it was on the 40 by 40 list.
I was finally ready to schedule my return trip while I was planning for my 2022 travel. My first trip to Zion was in April, so I decided to switch it up to an October visit this time around. I was not disappointed. The weather was nice and warm during the day and fall crisp at night.
Additionally, there’s only one place to stay within Zion itself, so I stayed at a cute inn called the Bumbleberry in the adjoining town of Springdale. It’s absolutely the way I would go again. The rooms were great, people were so kind, I was right by a park shuttle stop and I was also within walking distance of shops, restaurants, the grocery store and an ice cream shop (don’t ask me how I know that last one).
Despite some rental car difficulties and other minor issues, I had the most wonderful time. I slept in each day and still managed to get in all the hiking and scenic routes I hoped to check off my list. My favorite trail was the Riverside Walk, an easy hike back into the canyons ending where the famous Narrows Trail starts. The trail meanders along the Virgin River and I love me a trail that sits next to a moving body of water.
I also liked the fall trip for the smaller crowds and the slowly changing fall colors. If you haven’t been to Zion, I cannot recommend it enough. I’m not usually a repeat visitor to places and I’m already wanting to go back.
This trip brings me to 19 of 40 tasks complete! I have a lot of things in the works and just a few months to go…let’s do this!
It’s so hard to believe that I’m at under 150 days to complete the rest of my 40 by 40 list! For all that I’ve accomplished, there’s still a lot to do. So, I did what came naturally. I made a whole list/calendar plan to get me to the finish line.
As of this blog, I’ll have 19/40 of the things on the list completed, which is fantastic! But that still leaves over half to go, which feels daunting. So here’s an update on what’s still to go and a couple of little changes I made because I can…because it’s my list.
My last travel-related item on the list is traveling back to Zion National Park. Located just a couple of hours from Las Vegas in Utah, it is one of the most stunning places I’ve ever been. This first time I visited, I was only able to stay about a day and a half, but when I return in mid-October I’ll be able to get lots more exploring and hiking done. I’m also so excited to see what the park looks like in the fall.
During my planning marathon, my biggest focus was to plan out the build-up to my remaining tasks that are physical in nature…doing another 5K and hip thrusting 250 pounds. Both of these will require additional training and planning, so my handy-dandy calendar and a few apps will help guide the way. I also found a very fun-looking 5K in early December, so that’s my target for getting back up to speed…well, to Megan speed anyway (she does not run fast).
I also made a couple of small changes to items on my list. My desire to buy a bike and ride to Katfish Katy’s felt like it could be downgraded to just buying my damn bike because a.) Katfish Katy’s is closed and b.) I also have a full bike or walk of the MKT trail on my list. I also changed hosting a game night to holding a Winter Solstice party. Frankly, it just sounds like more fun and it accomplishes the same goal of having awesome people I love spending time in my home.
It’s both exciting and scary to be heading closer and closer to 40. I’ve knocked some of those fears aside by already starting to pull together my 50 by 50 list (that concept just seems bananas to me), and I can’t wait to share it with you once it’s ready. Until then, I shall be consulting my calendar and plowing ahead. Let’s go!
Last month, I covered what I’ve completed on my list that was close to home. For this month, I’m going to catch you up on tasks that took me out of CoMo to check off. Let’s go!
13. Get A Tattoo
I have wanted to get a tattoo forever, but I never knew what I wanted, where I wanted it, etc., and the permanence scared me. But I was finally ready. Despite lots of waffling over placement, font, and words, my bestie Jenn reminded me that the song lyric I’d been wanting forever was the way to go and that the rest would come. She was correct.
Another thing I wanted from my tattoo experience was to have it done by a woman who works at a woman-owned shop and I thought it would be fun to do it on a visit to Dallas to see my sister. I found the amazing Alden Mills and decided she was who I wanted to go with. I managed to snag an appointment in July and from there I got to stew in my anxiety until it was time to get inked.
Alden was incredible. I told her I was feeling indecisive about the font and she jammed out something perfect in about five minutes. The tattoo itself also took about that long and I haven’t regretted it for one moment since. And yes what they say is true…now I want more.
24. Spend a Long Weekend at The Elms
A place I had always heard about was The Elms in Excelsior Springs. The hotel is over 100 years old and is known for its outstanding spa and for being haunted. Perfect.
I took the scenic route over to Excelsior Springs and enjoyed a long weekend that included a haunted tour, a morning at the spa, some great food, and lots of relaxation and napping. It’s always fun to visit somewhere you’ve always heard about and even better to have it exceed your expectations. I’ll definitely be back!
26. Visit the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha
This final item allowed me to not only check an item off my 40 by 40 list, but it also meant I got to color in a new state on the map! Somehow, I’d never made it to Nebraska, so I was extra excited about this one. I planned out a long weekend that allowed me to get in not only the zoo but to do a little more exploring as well.
During my time in Omaha, I had some incredible food and got to visit Ted & Wally’s Ice Cream (on the recommendation of Sara), and it was perfection. I also got to see Wicked again after seeing it in New York in 2009. It was even more moving than I remember and feels all the more prescient now.
My day at the zoo was a full one! I got there as the gates were opened and was immediately impressed. The zoo is constructed in such a way that you don’t miss anything, which I love, and the exhibits were so well done. While nothing can live up to my very favorite St. Louis Zoo, the Henry Doorly Zoo was definitely worth the trip. Overall, Omaha was a fantastic trip and I’d love to go back.
So there are the travel-related 40 by 40 items I’ve checked off over the past few months. We’re heading into the home stretch and I hope you’ll keep coming along for the ride.
As promised, I am back to recap some of my recent 40 by 40 List accomplishments! All of these were things that were done close to home.
4. Redo My Front Yard
This was one of the tasks I was most excited about when I put it on my list. Aside from the occasional seasonal flowers, I hadn’t changed anything in my front yard since I moved into my house over eight years ago. Mostly because I didn’t want to have it landscaped and then accidentally kill everything.
Then last spring, the horrible tree in my front yard had the good sense to blow over in a storm. The only downside to this development was that the afternoon sun now had clearance to blaze through my living room windows. So, it was finally time to track down someone to spruce up my front yard.
After plenty of research, I decided on Mill Creek Landscaping, and it was a fantastic decision. When Julie came out to see my current yard, we chatted for a few minutes and I told her I needed something low maintenance and that I’d like the beds extended around the walkway up to my front door. Within a few days, she had drawn up a plan that was absolutely PERFECT. Lots of variety, lots of purple and lots of easy plants. It makes the front of my house look so much more inviting and I loved working with them.
5. Reread Harry Potter
Not too much to say about checking off this task, but it is always lovely to return to this world and feel the embrace of characters you love. It’s imperfect, parts of it haven’t aged well, and it’s devastating to learn the author is rather awful, but I hope it still brings good to the people who need it.
34. Buy a Bike
So this is an item I changed on my list. The task was originally to buy a bike and ride it to Katfish Katy’s. Bad news. Katfish Katy’s is closed. That info combined with the fact that I have an adventure planned to walk or bike the entire MKT Trail meant that I decided to cull this item back to simply buying a bike.
When I was a kid, we rode our bikes all over the place. Our neighborhood was full of hills and a park you could tear through on your bike to get to the other side. But to be honest, I hadn’t ridden a bike (except for a spin bike a few times) since my first year of college. But after my friend Sara raved about her new bike, I knew it was time to go shopping.
I headed down to CycleX and within about 30 minutes, I was leaving with a shiny new bike and helmet. I can freely admit that I haven’t ridden it as much as I would like, but I do love knowing I can hop on it anytime and cruise around my neighborhood again.
37. Clean Out All the Things Still at My Mom’s House
Now, this was a fun one! For many years my mom has been asking me to come clean out the many possessions I still had boxed up in her basement. I promised her it would get done because I had it on this list, so I took an afternoon off work and we got to it!
My mom had already pulled together the 20 or so boxes still at her house. When we opened the first, we were greeted with all of my school papers. All of them. From preschool to high school. That box definitely took the longest to sort through but was likely also the source of some of our most hilarious finds, including an essay I wrote about my sister when she was five.
Other notable discoveries in our day included: my snow globe collection, my rock collection, middle school notes from friends, the boa I wore on my 21st birthday and so much more. I was definitely in a ruthless mood, so I managed to pare things down to one file box and one box of books to leave at Mom’s (she has better temperature control) and one box of photos and one box of randomness coming back to my house. It was a blast to go through everything and I know Mom is happy to have it out of her house. Check it off the list!
Those are my recent “On the Home Front” tasks from my 40 by 40 list. Next month, I’ll catch you up on my travel-related accomplishments.
It might seem too early to think about it, but as I approach 40, retirement (or at least saving for it) has entered my mind more than ever before. The only problem? I know zero things about money, investing, projecting for retirement, etc. Hence number 15 on my 40 by 40 list. I needed an expert who I trust to look at all of my confusing funds and make recommendations for me.
Enter the Edward Jones matching quiz. This super fun quiz helped match me up with the perfect advisor for my needs, wants and distance from retirement. I won’t go through the whole appointment, but my advisor, Sabrina, is amazing, kind, funny and super smart. So now she helps me decide what to do with my money so when I’m ready to retire I can go on vacations and stuff. The process was great and I can move toward 40 feeling more confident about my future.
Also on the 40 by 40 front, I’m in progress on a few other things as well. I’ve restarted Harry Potter (#5), have an appointment with a landscaper to redo my front yard (#4), have started by 50 by 50 list (#40) and am pulling together dates for all of my remaining travel-related items (#s 3, 24 & 26). Can’t wait to keep you posted!
This past November, I decided to take my first-ever weeklong staycation. The week after Thanksgiving, I spent the entire week relaxing, puttering around my house and checking a few fun things off the 40 by 40 list. So here’s what got checked off during my glorious time off…
I had always heard of and seen photos of Elephant Rocks State Park and marveled that I’d never been even though I’m only a few hours away. So, on the Thursday of my week off, I took the scenic route just over three hours away to check it out. The rocks themselves aren’t visible from the entrance, but there’s an easy one-mile trail through the park that takes you around the rocks and has a spur to climb to the top, which has some really incredible views. The park is on the site of a former quarry, so there are also great interpretive signs along the trail. I’m so happy this was on my list and that I was able to find a warm day in December to make my visit.
16. Make Pasta From Scratch
This task has long been on my list of new things I wanted to try. I’m a huge fan of all cooking shows and have seen countless chefs throw together beautiful pasta dough that looks easy and delicious. I researched a number of recipes and decided to give it a go.
Now, I must say, the pasta was not as easy and beautiful as those TV chefs made it out to be. While it is truly just a mix of flour and eggs, I think I got a little carried away working the dough together and combined it all a little fast. I also had to use a wine bottle as a rolling pin (improv!), so I couldn’t get the dough as thin as would have been best.
Still, while the dough may not have been perfect, once I cooked it and tossed it with some garlic, butter, lemon zest and black pepper, it was darn tasty, albeit a bit tough. Is the photo above of my past? Heck no. Will I make it again? Absolutely.
29. Watch Casablanca
While I dined on my homemade pasta (it sounds so fancy!), I sat down to watch a true classic that I had somehow never seen. After watching it, I can now see how it’s stood the test of time. The characters, the setting, the story…all lovely. It was the perfect pair with my noodles and will for sure be a repeat view.
The week off was exactly what I needed to recharge, get ready for the end of 2021 and to realize that I have only a year (now less!) to finish up my list. Time to get planning and get going!
38. Try acupuncture, cryotherapy or floating (or all three!)
Self-care is one of those terms that’s thrown about a lot and means something a little different for everyone. To me, it just means taking the time to do something for you. It doesn’t have to be deep or cleansing or anything like that…watching Schitt’s Creek is self-care, dangit! So is reading a romance novel, taking a nap, doing yoga and whatever else makes you feel at peace with yourself for a bit.
While self-care can be as simple as listening to your favorite 80s hits on the drive home, I’m always interested in trying out new ways to relax, heal and clear my mind. Enter the above item from my 40 by 40 list. Acupuncture, cryotherapy and floating are all available here in CoMo, so I did my research and found some spots. I decided to just try cryotherapy and floating (for now!) and somehow ended up with my appointments on back-to-back days.
First, I headed to Element Cryotherapy. This spot has been open for a few years and says:
Our non-invasive and painless cold therapy improves your wellbeing through decreased inflammation, increased performance, rapid muscle recovery, mood/mental clarity, weight loss, and pain relief.
The young lady (yes, I’m now old enough to use the term young lady) who I worked with was outstanding. She got me checked in, waiver signed and back to the cryo room. So how do you receive this cryotherapy, you ask? Well, it involves climbing into this:
Am I going to the moon? No. I am intentionally letting someone freeze me.
But first, there is some preparation. You start by getting nekkie. Next, you get to don some wonderful fluffy slippers and wool mittens because your fingers and toes can’t handle what you’re about to go through. Last, you pull on your robe (or in my case hold it in front of you like a weird towel) and shuffle to the above metal tube thing. The incredibly kind person assisting holds the door open and you hop in (I needed a stool) and then they raise you up so just your head is sticking out of the top. I was going to ask her to take a photo of me but I figured she had been through enough. I handed her my robe and we were off!
At that point, it starts getting really cold, really fast. A seasoned user of cryotherapy typically goes for three minutes to temps of -250 degrees. As a rookie, I made it for two minutes and got down to about -225 degrees. I climbed out of the chamber and shuffled back to the changing room. I felt like a damn champion.
Verdict: All told, I was in and out of Element in about 15 minutes. They make the process super easy and comfortable. I can’t say that I felt instant effects, but I can absolutely see how for muscle recovery, inflammation and pain, this would be outstanding. I was surface cold all the way home but never felt like I was deep, shivering cold. I did notice later that evening that there was a noticeable energy boost that I do attribute to the cryo because I’m usually not exactly bouncing around on a Thursday evening.
Would I try it again: I had to think about it for a few days, but yes! I can especially see it being useful if you’re training for something specific or if you’re experiencing some body aches. If you’re experiencing joint or muscle pain in one part of your body, they can even do targeted cold therapy for those areas. Plus, the experience is overall fun and makes you feel like you accomplished something getting so freaking cold.
The next day, I was super psyched for my appointment at Clarity Float Spa. I was excited about this as a chance to unplug and sink into my feelings for an hour. One of my biggest pre-concerns was claustrophobia, so I had reserved the “Dream Cabin” as opposed to the “Pod” option. Why floating? Clarity says on their site:
Floating has been clinically proven to provide a wide range of health benefits and relieve many ailments — especially stress, muscle tension, and pain. One study conducted in 2018 demonstrated floating regularly to be an effective method to relieve anxiety and depression, accompanied by “significant increases in serenity, relaxation, happiness and overall well-being.”
I imagined emerging from the float refreshed, rested, content with the deep thinking I had achieved. Instead, here’s what happened…
Upon arrival (again, an extremely nice young lady was my guide), I got checked in, waived and shown around the room containing my Dream Cabin. You shower both before and after floating, which was delightful under the rain shower showerhead the room was rocking. Once again, somehow, my self-care attempt had involved me being nekkie. I was ready. I climbed into my glowing cabin…
Where all my dreams were waiting?
First, it’s important to note that the reason you float in a float spa is that the water is packed with salt. Like, a thousand pounds of salt. Second, you must know that the water is shallow. Less than a foot deep. So you climb in and kinda slide down into this shallow pool of very salty water. The first effect? You find any open cuts or scrapes on your person. They are immediately identified for you via contact with said water. However, once that first shock leaves, the water is right about at your skin temperature and the cabin is large, with a door you can leave propped open.
I decided to go full tilt to begin. I pulled that door closed behind me, I laid back, and I turned the lights off. This was perhaps a mistake. I was trying to adjust to the whole concept of floating AND telling myself I needed to be relaxing and it all kind of clashed. The nice thing about floating is you can change things up with the lights, the door and your location. So, for a few minutes, I hopped out of the spa, gathered my thoughts and set up my phone to play a podcast while I got used to being in the float space. This was definitely a helpful step. After about 20 minutes of listening, I turned it back off and spent the rest of my time floating with the light on, door propped. I will admit to getting out of the float spa about ten minutes before my float was set to end.
Verdict: I still don’t think I’ve completely decided if I liked floating or not. In anticipating the float, it felt like it would be simple, but it felt…complicated? It’s definitely something you have to get used to, and that maybe feels like it’s taking away from the whole self-care and relaxing concept. I did enjoy it more as a settled in, but there was more of a “learning curve” than I expected. However, that night, I think the magnesium I absorbed did its job because I passed out and slept like a rock and woke up feeling more refreshed than I have in quite some time.
Would I try it again: The jury is still kind of out of this one, but I do feel like I should give floating another try. If I do go again, there are a few things I’ll do differently. First, I will use the provided earplugs. I don’t love the feeling of water in my ears (and I knew this!), but I still eschewed them. I also will wear clothes that will be easier to get back into after the post-spa shower. I had on something that basically sucked the relaxation out of me as I struggled back into it while still kinda wet and in a very humid room. Plus, I feel like now that I know what to expect, I would likely spend another session more relaxed than I did this one.
So that’s a recap of my attempt to find new self-care options. I likely will stick with my naps, books and kitty snuggling for the most part, but it’s always fun to branch out and try something you haven’t had the chance to experience. Now it’s your turn to tell me…what’s your favorite form of self-care?
Somehow it’s been nearly a year since I wrote out a list of things I wanted to accomplish by the time I turn forty (in January 2023). Considering the year in which I was trying to accomplish some of these things was 2020, I’m pretty happy with my progress so far. I checked off six things and made some progress toward others. 2021 is setting up to be wildly busy at my work for the next few months, but I’m still laying the foundation for a few of the things I want to do next…
-I’ve nearly finished my list of people for item #1 – Write 40 Thank You letters to people who have made a big difference in my life. Up next, getting them written while also avoiding hand cramps.
-After many months off of lifting due to the risk of COVID, I’m fully vaccinated and returning to my trainer starting next week. My quest for #7 – Hip thrust 250 pounds can resume!
–Item #9 – Write a short story – is a thing on the list that has had me flummoxed as to how I should start. BUT! In my last post, I talked about newsletters I’ve been loving. One I didn’t mention is Craft Talk from Jami Attenberg. I’m a fairly recent subscriber, so I didn’t know that each year she does something called #1000WordsofSummer wherein you write 1,000 words a day for two weeks. This year’s challenge is at the end of May through early June and I’m totally in.
–#13 – Get a tattoo – is one I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. I have it mentally down to a few designs but that’s all so far.
-I was so sad when Katfish Katy’s (a key part of item #34 – Buy a bike and ride to Katfish Katy’s) closed down after last season. But I should not have despaired…it’s now under new ownership! I already have the bike, now I just have to get these legs ready for the trek.
It’s shaping up to be a great summer and I’m ready to keep planning and making things happen. What are you wanting to accomplish this summer?
