My 30 Things List: Part 2

Today we'll continue on with my 30 things list of the items I think every woman should have/know by the time she's 30.  (In case you missed the explanation of this project or Part 1, just click here).

 Here are my next 5 items.

Every woman should know...

How to dance without caring what anyone thinks.

We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.  ~Friedrich Nietzsche

I'm a horrible dancer.  Wait, let me clarify.  I'll dance you under the table if you are talking two-step, waltz, polka, or cotton-eyed joe.  This country girl knows her business there.  But if you are talking the cool kids, MTV-style, booty shaking dancing, I'm just embarrassing.  And when I was younger, I'd just sit on the side and watch the cool kids.

San Francisco - August 2011

But now, you best believe I'll be out there gettin' down with everyone else.  Because when you sit on the sides, you miss all the fun.  Life's too short to be missing fun if you ask me.  So by the time you're 30, you need to know how to get out there and shake it.  If you're having a good time, no one will even notice you have zero rhythm and look like a white female version of Carlton Banks.  (Oh, wait, that's just me.)

Brett-Brett and Mrs. Texas' Wedding - June 2012

Her limit, be it alcohol, sun, or late nights.

“You got to know your limits. Once is enough, but you got to learn. A little caution never hurt anyone. A good woodsman has only one scar on him. No more, no less." ~ Haruki Murakami

You might remember that I started this list while laying on a beach in Costa Rica.  And getting a massive sunburn.  In not so fun places.  Which is why this baby made the list!  But I honestly do believe in knowing your limits.

Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica - May 2012

A woman of 30 has to know her limits.  And once she knows them, she'll realize that knowledge is a gift that 21 year olds just don't have.  That's why you see them skipping class on Friday after a party on Thursday night or throwing up in the bar bathroom.  They haven't yet figured out what their limits are (or maybe even that they have them).

By the time you're 30, you should have this knowledge.  If you wind up laying on the bathroom floor if you take more than one shot, then don't take more than one shot.  If you are super white and pasty and burn on the beach unless you put sun screen on once an hour, put sunscreen on once an hour (but be sure you get it all the way up to your swim suit because that will get you...trust me!).  Find your limits, and enjoy what knowing these limits allows you to avoid!

How to manage her money.

“Too many people spend money they earned..to buy things they don't want..to impress people that they don't like.” ~Will Rogers

I'm cheap.  I'll admit it.  This girl would rather put money into savings then spend it on shiny things.  So I honestly know a thing or two about this topic.  It really comes down to 5 words:  Spend Less Than You Make.  It's that simple.  Money comes in.  Money goes out.  The first has to be more than the second.  It's simple math.

Oh, one more thing.  Some of that money that comes in better be put into a savings account of some sort.  And you have to do that every month.  I mean EVERY month.  Even when you have a trip you really want to take or you see these super cute heels at the mall.  Because if you make excuses, you'll always find one and never save anything.  Treat it like a monthly bill that you have to pay.  You'll thank yourself later.

Every woman should have...

A passport.

I'm a traveler, so it's probably no surprise that this one is on my list.  I do love collecting me some passport stamps, and plan on having traveled to 10 countries by the time I turn the big 3-0 in November.  It's an amazing world that we live in that we are able to hop on a plane and be in another country by morning.  I always learn so much from seeing different places, eating different food, hearing different languages, and meeting different people.  It's something that I firmly believe we should take advantage of if we have the opportunity to do so.  And even if you can't go now, you might be able to go someday.  So get that passport and keep it handy!

Photo via La Mia Vita

Good sheets.

Because I'm cheap as discussed above, this is one thing it took me a while to figure out.  Spend money on sheets.  Cut back somewhere else---I'll sacrifice a lot of things in order to sleep on my 500 thread count Wamsutta sheets.  They make my heart happy.  And make me sleep better.  Which benefits me and everyone around me when my alarm clock goes off in the morning.  Good sheets.  Do it.  Trust me.