I’m super excited to make the last year of my 20′s full of accomplishments and fun. Without further adieu, my 30 by 30 list 
Fitness
- climb Mount Washington (I plan on joining a few of my co-workers for this charitable climb next year… it will be just a few weeks before my 30th. So excited!!) – didn’t properly train for it so Adam and I did a small hike in Maine instead. It was awesome and we plan on doing lots of hikes this summer!
- try a CrossFit class – tried a class on 7/13 – loved it!
- do a 100 pushups challenge
Food
- make marshmallows – Update on 6/28: done!
- make croissants
- make really good (crusty) sourdough bread
- make gnocchi – Update on 7/7: done!
- make the perfect omelet – working on it…
- make french macarons – made them with Shannon – check out her recaps of lavendar macarons with honey vanilla mascarpone and red velvet macarons. They were reaallly good and not that hard to make!
- make spaetzle – done
- make cinnamon buns – done (sort of)
- make challah bread – Update on 6/26: first thing done!
- add 5 go-to meals to my repertoire – Update on 10/3: so far I’ve got Mario Batali’s chicken thighs on the grill, Batali’s grilled calamari with chickpea salad, and pepperoni pizza monkey bread (<– does this count as a meal? It’s definitely a new go-to for parties!), slow carb meatballs, chicken saltimbocca.
- add 5 go-to baked goods to my repertoire -Update on 8/29: summer fruit cobbler. Sad progress in this department!
- make 5 new legit cocktails – #1: apple cider rumtini. No luck here either – I did try but I’m no mixologist!
- cook 25 Russian meals (and blog about them on Russian Bites) – update on 10/3: so far I’ve made beef stroganoff, ponchiki, savory profiteroles, blini, layered jello cake, vareniki, chocolate covered sirki, kugelis, chocolate “potato” truffles, and otbivnii (chicken fried pork).
- try every restaurant on Boston’s 2011 munch madness list (out of 64 restaurants, I haven’t been to 31). Mmm, what a tasty challenge Update on 9/30: so far tried East by Northeast, Foundry on Elm, Sportello, Towne, Canary Square, The Gallows, Upstairs on the Square, The Butcher Shop, Erbaluce, Deuxave, Rendezvous, O Ya (my dad took me there – amazing!!), Cutty’s.
- make a monthly special dinner (a little more indulgent) – I pretty much did this as part of hosting people over for dinner (#16)
- have people over for dinner at least 12 times *Already have 2 down… made margarita chicken tacos with strawberry salsa for some friends a few weeks ago and last night had my parents over for dinner and made (homemade) fresh papardelle with clams, white wine, garlic and tomatoes. I even have proof!
Both the actual pasta and the clam dish recipe came from Jamie Oliver’s The Naked Chef Takes Off
. I am seriously obsessed with his cookbooks lately! Update on 6/13: dinner #3 done! and dinner #4 on 7/10, dinner #5 of incredible Italian dinner for parents, vegan dinner #6 of chili and carrot cake, dinner #7 for Erin + Pete – Cook’s Illustrated mac & cheese (with ham and peas) and cherry pirog (recipe to come!), dinner #8: taco night with neighbors; #9: Hanukkah dinner for my parents (I even made jelly donuts from scratch!). I’m doing well!
; #10: miracle berry sweetened dinner; #11: Spanish tapas night; #12: chicken saltimbocca with Steph and Ted
Photography
- build a lightbox – I did 1 step better… I created a mini photo-studio!
- read photography book + manual – meh, boring – never got to it!
- get comfortable using tripod – no luck. i still hate using it. maybe one day…
Other
- get my gmail inbox to zero emails for at least one day
- volunteer at least 12 times – 5 classes done as assistant volunteer at Cooking Matters program + ongoing chef instructor with Cooking Matters. I’ve also volunteered at Boston Rescue Mission.
- send a random care package to a friend (at least 4)
- launch the Healthy and Sane addition (CHANGE of plans: launch my new business!!!) – done! I’m the found of Satisfied Cravings now!
- finish all the little projects around the house, incl. decorative details – lots done including a fun food photo collage project, new walk-in closet, pictures, etc. It looks put together now
- Take at least 3 day trips – we did a Glouchester/Rockland trip in the summer, 2 more TBD.
- make a vision board (or envelope) – My boards on Pinterest!
- organize recipe binders – working on it…
So excited to get started! I’ll keep you guys posted, especially on the food-related challenges
My husband and I tried climbing Mt Washington when we were in the White Mountains last summer.
http://gamereviewwiki.com/bikinibirthday/2010/07/new-hampshire-hikes-and-eats/
Unfortunately the weather ended up being too dangerous for us to climb. But we did climb Mt Lafayette!
Sounds like such a fun trip. I’m even more excited now… hopefully I survive
What a great list! I love the variety.
i laughed out loud at the gmail one… i think i’m in the same boat as you
Yeah, 269 emails at the time of this comment… I swear I got it down to like 20 just a few months ago. ick
Love this list and all VERY achievable!
Great list! Love that you have so many fun food goals:-) Can’t wait to see what the Healthy and Sane Addition is!
I’m hoping it’s just a few months away!!
I like the idea of adding go-to meals and baked goods to your repertoire. That’s something I also need to do. This is a great list.
Ok I think this is the ONE thing making me look forward to my 29th bday in Nov! We have a lot of similar wishes
Brian and I did Mt Wash. a few years ago…fun, but challenging, going down was harder in my opinion. I really want to try crossfit too so let me know if you want a friend to tag along!
I’ve had croissants on my list to bake for YEARS! STILL haven’t done it!
If you need dinner party guests just let me know
Party guests are always good. We should totally set something up
I’m down too : )
Mt. Washington is a lot of fun!
You’ve climbed it? Any tips?
Healthy and Sane addition?! Sounds exciting!
These goals sound great!
Yes, too early to reveal anything but I’m super excited about it! I think you will be too
I love the idea of a 30 by 30 list (and as mine is 6 months away I might want to get on that
)
Also, looks like there will be some yummy food posts coming! I can’t wait
Maybe do just 15 since you have half the time? I like fun goals
Love this! Can’t wait to see the progress you make on this. Also, I love the pic of you in the corner — I have that same apron!! <3
I love the list! You’ve inspired me to go make my own
For your gnocchi, check out 101 cookbooks “How to make gnocchi like an Italian grandmother” recipe 
Ooh, thanks for the tip! I had some random Cooking Light recipe but I’m sure Heidi’s tips are a lot better. She’s so talented!
Sounds like a good list of goals! I like the go to baked goods. It’s nice to try new recipes, but it’s also nice to have some favorite basics on hand.
Exactly! I feel like I’m constantly trying new things and never had good stand-bys. It’s time to start building my “portfolio”
We would be happy to come over for dinner anytime to help you reach your goal
Hehe, Adam and I were just saying it’s been a while since we hung out. I’ll keep your offer in mind
LOVE THIS LIST!! I need to do this too. We are getting old, haha
I am in for dinner!!!!!
Hooray for this list! I’m looking forward to seeing you check things off this list!
Such a fun list! Cant wait to read about your adventures as you check them off!
this is awesome, good for you!!
Great list! Couple of thoughts, if you need anyone to send care packages too, I volunteer for a great group called Baking Gals where we send care packages to troops stationed overseas. It’s so much fun!!!
Also, have you ever considered a recipe organization program? I have a recipe binder too but I find that having a program is SO much easier since I am on the computer so often anyway. I have MacGourmet (which is awesome because it can sinc up with an iPhone) but I know there are a lot of other programs out there. the best part is that it’s super easy to cut and past recipes from most websites.
Both fantastic suggestions. Thanks! Btw, what do you do with hard copy recipes? Scan them? Not a bad idea now that I think about it…
For the hard copy ones, I either type them in or I look to see if they are somewhere online and copy them that way. (i.e. Usually if I pull it out of Cooking Light it’s also on the website & most programs make it really easy to paste it in.)
It’s a HUGE time savor especially because if I choose to feature it on the blog it is easy to cut & paste.
Got it. Thanks!
Great idea to have a 30 by 30 list! Look forward to seeing you accomplish your goals
I second the recommendation for MacGourmet, BTW.
Oh Elina, I absolutely love your list of 30, how inspiring! I especially love the “having more people over for dinner.” It’s so much fun to cook dinner and socialize with friends and I too wish I did it more often.
Your Gmail comment made me laugh… I never delete anything so I’d NEVER be able to do that, let me know if you do haha!
Keep up the great work lady, you’ve got a lot of great dreams going for you!
Hehe, well gmail archives things so I’m supposed to only leave things in my inbox if there is something left for me to do there (like get back on a comment, etc.). I have 289 emails in there right now… better start checking things off
marshmallows and macaroons are on my list, too! baking date?
YES! Your place? (You have better lighting
)
love your list! i hope you keep us updated on your progress!
[...] a chance to eat at East by Northeast – a sustainable Chinese tapas place, which happens to be on my 30 by 30 list. The place was adorable but the lighting was not good for pictures so Adam and I happily enjoyed a [...]
Such a fun list, can’t wait to see all your progress
Get your Gmail inbox to zero for a day? I used to struggle more with this one, but now I use filters and labels extensively. So even though I may have lots of emails to address still, my inbox can usually be tidied up and gotten to 0 if I put in the work, hehe.
Wow, you’re my hero
Do it! Even if the goal isn’t to get to zero, it makes handling emails so much less of a hassle. Filter newsletters into their own folder, blog comments into another, emails from mom or dad get their own, etc. It takes a little bit of effort to set up (I didn’t do it all at once, but gradually as I ran across lots of emails of the same variety), but it cuts down on time so much more later, and can really get me to focus when I sit down to tackle emails. I don’t feel nearly as overwhelmed every time I open my account either, ha. Gotta love Gmail for efficiency!
Thanks for the little pep talk, lol. I’m totally going to do that!! Sounds amazing!
[...] challah bread Today is kind of special. It marks the day I crossed off the very first thing off my 30 by 30 list (over a month after my birthday… I better pick up the pace, [...]
Love this!
I see your French macaron goal…I have a recipe on my site for a 1/2 dozen French macarons. It’s a little less intimidating than regular recipes that call for tons of ingredients. I have a plain mac w/ Nutella and a chocolate mac with orange buttercream. Enjoy
[...] by 30: making gnocchi There is a good amount of non-food related items on my 30 by 30 list but it’s pretty clear from my recaps so far where my heart is. I’ve made challah bread and [...]
[...] Adam and I were hungry for a dinner out. The restaurant was rightthere and also happened to be on my 30 by 30 list so we decided to go for it! [Not so coincidently, I read Daisy’s super positive review that very [...]
[...] Adam and I were hungry for a dinner out. The restaurant was rightthere and also happened to be on my 30 by 30 list so we decided to go for it! [Not so coincidently, I read Daisy’s super positive review that very [...]
[...] – Just 4 more cocktails to cross off a 30-by-30 item! I better get [...]
[...] may remember that volunteering was one of my 30 by 30 goals. I was really excited when I learned about this program because it combined my passion for healthy [...]
[...] practicing the layout with a hand held camera and then busting out the tripod. It’s still one of my 30 by 30 goals to master that beast (which has been collecting dust). One of these days for [...]