Cotton Candy!!!!

One of my more whimsical Bucket List items has been accomplished: item #27 get a full size Pink Cotton Candy Machine.


Technically, my husband ordered it for me as a surprise, but hey--that counts! :D


The machine arrived somewhat early in the morning (as far as the schedule for when my deliveries arrive) and it was a total surprise to open my door to the delivery man sliding this extra large box to my door. 


I pushed it into my living room and opened it up, ecstatic but also a tad dismayed knowing I was on my own putting it together. If you know me well, you are aware that I am *not* handy. Sure, I have my little pink tool bag with my pink hammer and all that jazz, but hammering some nails in a wall and unscrewing battery plates is the extent of my talent.


I can do this, I thought. Heck, I even posted a fb pic with that caption:
"I can do this"


This is good for me, I thought. I am 30 years old, for crying out loud, what kind of adult am I if I can't put my own Cotton Candy Machine together? (yes, even I get the irony there)

Once I got past the fact that the only instructions were a simple line drawing illustration IKEA style(not a fan!) and actually looked at my tool and what the parts were, assembly was a breeze! Next up, pouring the sugar in the drum and making cotton candy! Wooo Hooo!

I made several cones for my daughter and I, and it was awesome! So far I have only made the standard Cherry(pink) and Blue Raspberry(uh....blue) but on the way are some other fun flavors I ordered from an Organic company called Nature's Flavors that I can not wait to try and post my review. Life is Good.

Brilliancy

Brilliancy is something that I do not yet have in Chess. Oh my.....I did not realize what an involved game Chess is. Or perhaps I did, and that is why I set a goal to learn to play and win? ;)


I played my first game of Chess the other night, or rather, I attempted to play. You know how when you get a new board game and open it up, read the directions and then start to play, since you can learn the game as you go along? Whoopsies, Chess is not like that! The game ended with me being delighted but confused and resigned feeling all at once, and reaching across the board and scooping up my opponent's pieces. Yes, I did that. And I laughed.


Back to square one, I need to really buckle down and learn about the game and the rules, moves, the glossary, etc. This is what I signed myself up for, and I am excited.


For the terms, I will be doing the old standby--flash cards! Does anyone have any tips for learning terms, rules, moves, anything else?


To make things a little more diverse, I have three DvD's on the way for some entertainment:
Chess: In Concert-a fun musical
The Chess Players-what looks to be a beautiful and entertaining Indian movie
and of course, the classic
Searching for Bobby Fischer

It is almost Time!

 It is almost my Birthday--less than a month to go until October 17th. I have been controlling myself from starting on my endeavors since I think it would be technically cheating if I started to much before my Birthday.

I have started on one item. I am now officially an Affiliated Agent of Secret Agent L. Making me....Affiliated Agent RR. Secret Agent L(or SAL) can sometimes be swamped with e-mails, so I was worried the approval reply may take a while. Luckily, it did not, so now I am just sitting on my hands waiting to do some great secret missions to brighten people's day.

Luckily, we are moving next month from Alaska to Arizona, which makes it somewhat easy for me to not cheat. ;) My French books and lesson guides are all packed away in the moving trailer, as are my dress patterns and sewing machine, and many of the other items I simply can not do in Alaska anyway. Alaska isn't known for their shark cages. = ) Alaska does have surfing, however, and I may be coming back to do some surfing in Kodiak with friends that live there.

For my Birthday I am taking a trip to Chicago, and will be attempting to accomplish a couple of my list items while there. Chicago. What a glorious city. I was born there, a little trivia tidbit that makes me proud. During my school years, I lived in one of the suburbs, so I think that makes me lucky-I always have double the great areas to go visit when I go home. (And double the fantastic people)

I am still 100% optimistic about completing my list, and greatly looking forward to it. Aaaaand am so excited about sharing each adventure! Yes, some of the items are going to be a challenge. Any that are not completed at the end of the year of being 30 will go directly to the next list-31 Things to Accomplish While I am 31!

30 Things to Accomplish While I am 30

I admit that for the last decade (or perhaps even longer) I have looked forward to turning 30. That's right-looked forward to it. I will Relish my next decade....and especially this next year. An entire year of being a Mature 30.

To me...Life Is Beautiful. Life does not begin or end at any particular age...not at 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and beyond. Life just is...and I believe you should live it to the fullest for as long as you are Blessed with it. That, perhaps, is the secret to the much coveted 'Youth'. Never stop Living.

In Celebration of Life, and turning 30, I got the grand idea to do a Bucket List. My Bucket List consists of 30 things to Accomplish in the next Year.

Here is the list:


1)Smoking Hot, Healthy, Muscular Body = ) (P90X, Hip Hop Abs, and Turbo Jam)

2)Become Certified Yoga Teacher

3)Get Passport

4)Sew Three Vintage Style Dresses (I love the 50's/60's Era and would like to Celebrate myself and the Era by making some beautiful dresses)

5)Attend Beach Body Summit(A once a year Event held in L.A. for Beach Body Coaches-Motivational and Fun!)

6)Become an Affiliated Agent of Secret Agent L (A type of Pay it Forward, Good Karma, Just Because thing)

7)Meet Hugh Hefner (Does this even need an Explanation? One of the best, most influential Entrepreneurs, Magazine Editors, and Philanthropists of our Time, I have always wanted to meet him, shake his hand, and share a few words)

8) Get Married by Elvis in Vegas (Technically, this would be a Vow Renewal, but how FUN!)

9)Be fluent in French

10)Learn to play Piano

11)Buy a Baby Grand (Might as well make the Full Commitment, Right?)

12)Go for a hot air balloon ride (Hot Air Balloons seem so Beautiful and Romantic. I am also terrified of heights. It will be an adventure)

13)Do a Ghost Tour (It just seems like a fun thing to do)

14)Take a Wilton Cake Decorating Course (I LOVE Baking, but my decorating skills are subpar)

15)Do a few photo shoots, both behind and in front of the camera (Art.....Amazing)

16) Go in a Shark Cage(I am terrified of Sharks)

17)Learn to Golf (Always wanted to!)

18)Donate Blood (Also terrified to do this)

19)Make a bottle of Absinthe(Novel idea.)

20)Learn to play Chess. And Win.

21)See Casablanca(I know....I can not Believe I have gone this far and still have not seen it!)

22)Visit the Grand Canyon(I hear it is a must See)

23)Make Berry Cordial (Divine)

24)See Holly Madison in Peepshow

25)Spend an entire day in matching family pajamas, eating vegan doritos, ice cream, pie, and chips n dip, and having a movie marathon(I have the hardest time doing nothing)

26)Scottsdale Spa getaway week

27) Get a full size Pink Cotton Candy Machine (Yum! Have to make my Inner Child happy)

28) Get a stamp in my new passport = )

29) Buy Long Board, Start Surfing Again

30) Record a song. Just for Fun. (Or maybe an Album. Again-just for fun. I have Zero career ambition in the Music Industry.)