Casi Kristant's 40B4Forty

Turning 30 has come and gone and completing my 30B430 list was only the beginning. In 2023, I turn 40. I have a new list, and a new last name, and so far, I am loving my 30’s. This time I have 10 years instead of 7 months. Let the journey continue. Be inspired. Join me. Start your list! My 40B4Forty 1. Have a baby. 2. Eat beignets in New Orleans. (DONE 10/8/2015) 3. Write a children's book. 4. Have a tapas adventure in Spain. (DONE 10/22/14) 5. Host a wine party. 6. March in a parade. 7. Get the Ginnifer Goodwin drastic haircut I love. 8. Watch the AFI Top 100 Films. 9. Go to the Kentucky Derby, wear a hat, have a mint julep & place a bet. 10. Take in the Grand Canyon. 11. Spur of the moment road trip weekend to an unplanned location. 12. Skydive. 13. 30 Day Yoga challenge. 14. Be on a podcast. 15. Hike a famous trail/mountain. 16. See an icon in concert. 17. Stand in a Greek Theatre in Greece. 18. Cocktail experience at The Aviary. 19. Go to a Roller Derby Game. 20. Sleep in a tree house. 21. Learn how to play chess. 22. See the Northern Lights. 23. Plant a garden and cook a meal with the harvest. 24. Host a Murder Mystery Dinner Party. 25. Drink a Guinness at the Guinness Factory in Ireland. 26. Get certified in something new. 27. Participate in a year of gratitude. 28. Have my palm, tarot card & aura read. 29. Dance the night away at a Silent Disco. 30. Take a glass blowing class. (Done 6/26/15) 31. Learn the ukulele and write/record my own song. 32. See a show at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. 33. Attend the Albuquerque Balloon Festival with my Mom. 34. Participate in the 4th trimester body project. 35. See 40 new shows. (3/40 Done) 36. Have a sea glass beach adventure. 37. Go camping without electronics. 38. Go to a Moth event and tell a story. 39. Create and send a Post Secret Postcard. 40. TBA adventure to discover in my 39th year.

[casi40b4forty]

#17 Stand in a Greek Theatre in Greece. DONE August 8th, 2017

In college we were required to take a certain number of DODA (Development of the Dramatic Arts) classes to satisfy our major. Professor Rhoda Kaufman taught the whole series at the time and my first class was Ancient Roman & Greek Theatre and I ate it all up. I hung on every word and felt like I was becoming a part of theatre history by absorbing this knowledge and knew it was my job to learn to be a part of the next generation of theatre. Cheesy, yes, but also a time where I truly enjoyed being a student. Rhoda came to class one day and showed us all a rock. This was a rock she had picked up from THE FIRST theatre in the world on her trip to Greece. She passed it around for us all to hold as she told us the story of this theatre and how special it felt to stand there and think about all the greats that had been performed in that space shaping a world of theatre to come. The rock came to me and I closed my hands around the rock as if to make a wish to go to this theatre and stand where the greats stood. Fast forward 15 years and I am sitting in my nursery with Wesley breast feeding and I get a call from my brother:

Nathan: “Hey Cas, Julia and I were talking and we want to do a family trip to Greece, do you want to come?”

Without thinking I said yes and knew that was that. Of course, there were many phone calls with my Mom and Nathan to research/plan the trip and special travel equipment to buy to bring an 8.5 month old abroad, but it was all worth it. Traveling with an 8-month-old is the perfect time to travel because they can’t walk and are happy to be with you on your adventures. Traveling with Wesley was tough at times, but he was treated like royalty everywhere we went. It was as if the whole country of Greece had never seen a baby. We received so many free gifts, food treats at restaurants and special treatment with a baby in tow. Having Nathan, Julia and my Mom’s help was invaluable to make a smooth trip with babe. 

On the morning of 8/8/17 (8 is my lucky number) I put Wesley in the travel backpack on CK’s back as we adventured through the wind across the grounds of the magnificent Acropolis and to the Theatre of Dionysus Eleuthereus. I immediately flashed back to Cal State and instead of hearing our tour guide’s speech, I was listening to Rhoda tell us about Sophocles, Aeschylus and Euripides. I looked down and there was my rock. I picked it up, slipped it in the back pack and took home a piece of my own theatre history to complete the circle.

[casi40b4forty]

#18 Cocktail experience at The Aviary. DONE October 18th, 2015

Chris and I had on our Chicago bucket list to visit The Aviary from the moment we knew it existed. A birthday gift for Chris that was scheduled on the night of our anniversary (the closest I could get to his birthday!) I selfishly got to enjoy his gift and celebrate our one year anniversary in one hit. It was a $65 reservation for a flight of cocktails. We each got to pick one cocktail from their beginning, middle and end courses of cocktails. It was so fun to cheers each other in style celebrating Chris’ birth and being married for a year. The Aviary was around the corner from our wedding venue and we popped by after for a shot outside one year later. Instead of describing each detail of each cocktail, I will leave it a mystery and let you enjoy your own Aviary experience… and looking at the menu now I can’t even remember which was which, but I do remember the order they came in and enjoying them all. One special additional piece to the evening was our server recognized me from Snow White & the 7 Drag Queens and said they followed me on Instagram. She wished us a happy anniversary with a special anniversary cocktail and offered us a post experience reservation at The Office, their speakeasy bar downstairs that is invite only. Of course, we couldn’t resist the invitation. Chris ordered from the menu and I told the bartender some of my favorite things about a cocktail and I received a concoction made special for me. Our bill was delivered on parchment with a wax seal and we were very giggly at this point in the evening. Luckily, we were close to home.

[casi40b4forty]

#7 Get the Ginnifer Goodwin drastic haircut I love. DONE June 6th, 2016

What better time to do something drastic to your appearance then when you are pregnant? Once I was 4 months pregnant it felt time for a change and I knew that my hair was going to be driving me crazy when my belly was big. In hindsight it was the best decision, but also the most terrifying. My friend and fellow Midtangent ‘Snow White & the Seven Drag Queens’ family member Karla had a short rocker haircut that I just loved. It was so hip and punk and chic all together and she promised me that Michael was the best ever at finding the perfect cut for you. Michael was x-military and covered in tattoos with a gruff demeanor, but with a pair of scissors in his hands he was a magician. He was blunt and honest and I instantly trusted him. I brought hm my Ginnifer Goodwin photos and he said that he would give me the cut that was right for me and…he was right. I loved it. It took little maintenance, but I still felt like I could dress it up or down depending on what product I used. I also returned to Michael before we left Chicago to get the purple “cool mom peekaboo,” I had fantasized about. I sit here typing this 2 years later and again 4 months pregnant, but this time with my baby girl. Only an inch of the cool mom purple remains, but I have dreams of bringing it back and of cutting my hair again. Part of me envisions my first photo with her with my long hair and the other part of me sees my hair shorter then before, either way my face will be glowing.

[casi40b4forty]

#2 Eat beignets in New Orleans - DONE October 8th, 2015

The infamous 1993 film Undercover Blues is one of my family’s “family movies,” and was my inspiration for needing to have a beignet in New Orleans. If you have never had a beignet, then you must fly to New Orleans and go to Café Du Monde. AND if you haven’t seen Undercover Blues, then you are missing out on some early 90’s Kathleen Turner/Dennis Quaid sexy spy duo couple on maternity leave in NOLA excellence. Chris and I decided to experience the wonder for our one-year anniversary and had a magical trip. I needed this beignet so bad that it was the first thing we did after we settled into our hotel. Straight to Café Du Monde to check the beignet off the list. The Original Cafe Du Monde Coffee Stand was established in 1862 in the New Orleans French Market and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Don’t worry, we took advantage of this going 2 more times while on the trip. The other lovely thing about the café is that the menu has the famous chicory coffee and you could order it iced, which we did because even in October it was HOT. We asked friends for a list of recommendations and let that be our guide for the trip making sure to hit all the tourist stops: the hurricane at Pat O’Brien’s, seeing the Preservation Hall Band, cocktail at the Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone, Frozen Irish Coffee at Erin Rose, late night jazz on Frenchman Street, dinner at Galatorre’s and Cochon, the purple drink at Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, a cable car ride to the Garden District, a tour of the Saint Louis Cemetery and Voo Doo Museum. My favorite recommendation was from a local for brunch at Atchafalaya and if you do go to New Orleans, please look up Cubs the Poet and have your own personal poem penned for you on the spot. Can’t wait to go back as every beignet I have had since doesn’t live up to the powdery goodness of that French pastry treat we had on our anniversary trip.

[casi40b4forty]

I AM BACK! I am 35! I am halfway to 40!

"When I passed forty I dropped pretense, 'cause men like women who got some sense." - Maya Angelou.

Wow. It has been a minute or two since I have posted. 4 years. Many new adventures have been had and there are many more on my list to check off. Thank goodness for my amazing coworker Mary and a conversation we had about chronicling our own/our children’s lives (YES I HAD A BABY! #1 on the list done! Post to come!) and I brought up the magic of my #30B430. It has been a while since I visited my #40B4Forty and I have had a blast dusting off the cobwebs. How amazing to see how many things I HAD accomplished without even thinking about it and now I can look forward to the next 5 years of completing the list. Bring it 40.

[casi40b4forty]

#35 See 40 new shows - 3/40 DONE July 30, 2015

This is a show that I have always wanted to see, but never had an opportunity. I have heard so many girls sing, Lost and Found at auditions and there are 3 great female leads! I was excited to not know much about the plot so I could be surprised with every new plot point. We were excited to see Jason as all the fun ensemble roles and one standout as the spiritual guide. Last time I went to see Jason at Marriott, I got food poisoning and had to leave at intermission. I made it through Act 2! Smart and sharp direction and so much power on that stage! I fell in love with the secretary. I was sad to hear that a friend Danni Smith was out, but her understudy went on without a hitch!

[casi40b4forty]

#35 See 40 new shows - 2/40 DONE May 2015

FUN HOME

Wow. I heard about this musical when it was first a tragicomic book being made into the musical. A friend of mine Michael Driscoll introduced it to me. When I decided to add an impromptu visit to NY in May before Chris' cousin's wedding I decided to get the tragicomic in hopes that I could see the show. Uncle Paul secured us tickets for Mother's Day. I inhaled the book. Comics are quicker to read, but this one was effortless and so well written. I couldn't wait to see it onstage. After Mother's Day brunch with Uncle Paul we settled in for the matinee. I think I held my breath for the whole show. I knew it would win the Tony because this type of theatre deserves it. AND it did. AND I felt everything all over again watching Young Alison give her heart to the world in her Tony performance of, 'Ring of Keys." After the show we bumped into Alison Bechdel and I got to thank her for sharing her story.

Later a friend told me he went to see the show post Tony. He bumped into the actress that plays Young Alison and asked her if she knew the impact of her performance and that she is one of the biggest young stars in the world right now. She replied, "This is Alison's story, not mine, I am honored to share it." Give her a Tony for that performance!

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT TIME

A coworker heard I was going to NY and said, "YOU MUST SEE THIS SHOW." They had read the book and said they heard it was going to be brilliant. The show is also directed by the same director as War Horse, which I loved. This NY trip was about time with my brother, so I wasn't packing in as many shows as possible. I had one more slot for a show. Deciding between this show and Something Rotten, with Brian D'Arcy James was a tough choice. I knew that Something Rotten would tour, but maybe not with Mr. James. I had a feeling that Curious Incident, would win a Tony and I wanted to see something unique. The show was theatre magic. The way that technology and projection was used with the set was phenomenal. The ensemble work was so tight and effortless. I went home and read the book. The show won the Tony. It deserved it.

[casi40b4forty]

#30 Take a Glass Blowing Class - DONE June 26th, 2015

I was home visiting the Bay Area after not being home for over a year and a half. Too long to be away from home! It was great because I had 2 weeks at home and my Mom was off from work. We had many adventures planned. One adventure my Mom planned was a glass blowing glass with a groupon from the Bay Area Glass Institute to make a floppy bowl. What a great surprise! I was inspired to add this to my list after my Mom and I watched a glass blowing demonstration in Venice, Italy.

It was the day of the class and we had to wear pants and closed toed shoes. It was 98 degrees out and the studio was hot, hot, hot! We stayed hydrated and watched the instructors melt away. We got to select 2 colors (blue and red for me!) and the instructors walked us through each step with them always in control. I remembered to keep turning and to count to 3 with my bowl in the furnace. What an amazing process. Each bowl took about 10 minutes to make  with the guidance of the teachers. I was hooked. This is absolutely something I would love to do again! The bowls took two days to bake and I now have a lovely floppy bowl in our dining room. I want to go back in the fall and make a pumpkin.

[casi40b4forty]

#4 Have a tapas adventure in Spain - Done October 2014

My first 40b4forty was completed thanks to Rick Steves' travel guide gifted to us for part of our wedding gift from my Aunt Linda. This book was our Spain bible. Chris and I had many conversations that consisted of, "Did you bring Steve?" "Can you hold Steve for a moment?" "Awwh look at the other couple with their Steve out!" Rick Steves had the perfect blend of know how, history and humor that made navigating our way through a foreign country exciting! I have already posted on his facebook page to thank him. On our first night in Madrid we went on a tapas adventure outlined by Rick Steves. In all seriousness, Spain is a tapas adventure in itself...but this one was a specific street of adorable tapas restaurants aligned for one delicious honeymoon evening adventure.

Choclateria San Gines

Taberna Maceira

Cerveceria Los Gatos

La Dolores

Taberna de la Danilea

Our tapas tour started with dessert in the afternoon! Kat Zdan loved this Choclateria and their churros con chocolate and said it was a must for us to visit. Of course with my impatience, I wanted to go on day 1! I later suggested it to Nate for his trip to Spain with buddy Andrew and they visited too! The churros were our lazy afternoon treats before heading back to the hotel to rest before our evening tapas adventure. The tour gave us a chance to work on our small talk Spanish...even if we were handed an English menu when we walked in the door. It amazed us how just ordering a small beer (cana) got you a free tapas. Olives, chips, a yummy lentil stew, every place had their own tapas to go with your cana. We were both adventurous ordering things we didn't know how to say and eating things that we didn't know what they were! We started early (silly Americans) and as we sat at the bar and on the patios we watched the city come to life the later in the evening it got. We ended the evening with a lovely Spanish waitress giving us tips and simple phrases to help us on our honeymoon. It was a dream.

[casi40b4forty]

Let the 40b4forty begin!

30before30 was a great success. Round 2 has begun.

it has been a slower process to get this blog started, but I have 10 years (really 8 and some change) to finish this list! My 30before30 took me 29 years to get started. Many things on this 40b4forty list are things that have been on my life bucket list. I am leaving some spots open for discovery in the next 10 years. Time flies when you're having fun - so let the fun begin!