Culture #6: Attend a Musical Event

I'm starting off this year at full speed. I'm not even one week in, and here I am, blogging once per week (Writing #3), I've already ran this week (Running #2), and I've already accomplished Culture #6: Attend a Musical Event.

I actually didn't think I'd get this one accomplished until summer which is also known as "festival season" in Chicago, but on my birthday, my mother and sister and I went to see The Nutcracker. Even though this is a ballet, not a musical, music is so integral to the production that I'm counting it as a musical event.

This is one of my favorite holiday events, and I was so excited to share it with my mom and sister. Amazingly, this was the first time Mom had ever seen it, so I was happy to be a part of that for her.

The Chicago Joffrey Ballet dance company is one of the best, and their holiday performance is one of their best, so it was an all-around great experience.

For my Chicago friends, it's playing through Dec. 28th, so you still have time to get your tickets!!

Auditorium Theater

They don't let you take photography.
This is as close as it gets to sharing the dancers.

The three of us!

30 in 30

Some people make bucket lists for things they want to accomplish before they are thirty. I missed that boat. So here's my list of 30 things I want to do this year, while I'm thirty. The clock starts this Saturday, December 13th, when I begin my thirtieth year on this planet. Check back as I make progress, and join in along the way!!

Running/Health

1. Complete my first half marathon
2. Run once per week
3. Run 500 miles
4. Race for free (charity, pacesetter, ambassador)
5. Race in another city, any distance
6. Climb a mountain
7. Go on a really long bike ride 

Writing/Reading

1. Devour the newspaper every Sunday (coffee required)
2. Read 12 books (any suggestions?)
3. Update blog weekly
4. Get something published (article, book, guest post)

Giving Back

1. Donate or volunteer monthly to a cause I feel passionate about (start a non-profit?)
2. Inspire someone to better him/herself

Relationships

1. Go somewhere, anywhere with Karl 
2. Teach my nieces something 
3. Correspond regularly with my grandparents
4. Run a 5K with my mom and sister
5. Talk to my dad once a month (or more)
6. Never miss a mani/pedi date with the girls
7. Show thankfulness, even for small things

Culture/Travel/Arts

1. Acquire one piece of art that I love
2. Visit the Chicago Institute of Art 12 times 
3. Sell, or give as a gift, one piece of self-made art
4. Fly First Class
5. Visit 5 new cities, send a postcard from each
6. Attend a musical event (festival, concert, musical, opera) ✓ 12/13/14
7. Learn something completely new 
8. Cook one really spectacular meal, share with Karl
9. Splurge on a once-in-a-lifetime restaurant experience