These last couple of weeks have been busy!! BUT - I've been able to fit in time for a few fun and meaningful things too!!
#3: To kick it off, in the last week, I have tried strawberries and two kinds of cherries, as well as cooked apples. Now, here's the deal, none of them were my favorite. The strawberries were a little too sour; the cherries were pretty good, but I'm not a fan of the pits; and something was off about the texture of the cooked apples. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE fresh, crisp apples. But I think it was maybe the cinnamon and then the shock of the apple flavor? I don't know... anyway, they were all ok, but so far I've been sticking with my apples, bananas, and grapes. I wish I could be more creative, but with my crazy food sensitivities, I am counted out from trying anything citrus, and I've tried peaches, pears, kiwi, blueberries, and a few others in the past. Maybe I'll get up the gumption to try some of them again and see how it goes. For veggies, well, let's just say, my mom and I established that my corn, green beans, peas, carrots, lima beans, lettuce, and fresh broccoli are enough for right now, especially since it was really just this last year that I started eating salads like a bunny rabbit!
#5: So I haven't actually started learning the song, but I did go online and get myself the sheet music for about a dozen pretty gorgeous pieces of piano music!! I have them all together in a book and have started marking the music on a couple that I'd like to start with. Perhaps after my mom's catering event this week, I can begin on them on Saturday or Monday!!
#7: You know, sometimes it can be hard to pray for your friends everyday when you don't get to talk to them very often; but that is where you ask the Holy Spirit to guide you on what to pray for and then make an effort to get in touch with them. I've accepted that once I do my part, it's up to them to do the rest, so if they don't text me back or make time for us to meet up, then at least I have done what I feel I am supposed to do.
#9 & #27: As some of you may know, my family surprised my dad with a trip to the Black Hills, SD for Father's Day weekend. Not only was it a total success and super fun, it helped me knock off two things on my bucket list!! It really was a blast going out to Mount Rushmore again. It is so gorgeous and relaxing out there!! I just wish we could have stayed longer. On the second night there, we were hit with quite the thunderstorms and rain; but Ashley and I made the most of it and played in the rain. We had wanted to go see Mount Rushmore get all lit up, but that wasn't really an option. Although, it would have been pretty epic to say that we played in the rain at Mount Rushmore!! (Instead, we played in the rain in view of Mount Rushmore :) )
#18: Well, yesterday (Monday) I was assigned the task of taking one of our new clients to see an apartment he might be renting. I had never spoken to him or met him, and all I knew about him was his telephone number. When I finally showed up at his house (long story), we had about 2 hours together to chat and drive to get to the showing and back to his house. It was pretty great just talking with him about his life, growing up, his current family, and his love for reptiles. I think I learned more about snakes than I ever thought I wanted to!! Today when I called him to schedule another tour on Thursday, he even asked to see if it was me that would be taking him. I look forward to seeing what more comes up in the car then!!
#22: So the whole workout thing is so rewarding, but it is also super hard when my mornings tend to be booked up with all the things I can't do when I'm working in the evenings. Thankfully I've been able to make my house chores and stuff a little more intense of a workout (ever carry 40-60lb laundry baskets up and down stairs repeatedly??). It's not Zumba or swimming, but I am hoping to get back to those ASAP!!
#33: Today we had our first load of donations picked up by the Lupus Foundation of MN! It was fabulously easy and felt great to get some more stuff out of our house!! We are already gathering more stuff as we go so it is ready for their next pick up! The key is to put stuff in bags or boxes as you come across it. As I've been in my room, I might see something on a shelf or find a box of interesting things, and I'll take out a few that I don't need anymore and add them to a bag. By the end of the week, I'll have a full bag!! Plus, it is SO nice to declutter!!!
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Bucket List Progress Report #1
Well, it has been a week since I posted my official summer bucket list, and I am proud to say I have completed a couple of the items on the list!!
First, I spent my sister Ashley's birthday out doing fun things with her all day. If you are friends with me on Facebook, you got to see our stops throughout the day, including going to see The Fault In Our Stars, having lunch at Noodle's, going home for some rest, and then stopping by the graduation reception at MCA for some cupcakes and catching up with old friends. We had originally planned to go to the Friday evening Joyful Noise concerts, but with the rain we decided to skip that. In all, it was a great day to celebrate Ashley turning 20, and a wonderful start to our sister dates for the summer. (Item #2.1 on list = complete!)
I have also been working on #22 - Establish a workout routine and actually DO IT. I have managed to reorganize my time to allow for a Zumba and weights workout 3 times/week, and on the days that I do not officially work out, I have other activities planned to keep myself moving. I've included things like cooking/catering (which I did for j6 hours on Saturday and 14 hours on Sunday), cleaning (you should see my room and other areas of the house), etc. On top of this, I have been doing really well at following the eating plan my dietician and I came up with to help solve some of the digestive issues I was having! So far, it's a great start. We aren't going to call this one complete until it becomes a habit, though :)
#29 - Send a card or letter to a different friend each week - complete for last week, and working on this week's :) Ya'll better be watching your mailboxes! (If I don't have your address and you would like a card, send me a PM or email and you're added to the list!!)
Lastly, #33 - Clean out my room and donate anything I haven't used this year. I managed to clean out my closet last week in little spurts between workouts and before work. I have one load ready to go to Goodwill ASAP and more in the works!
First, I spent my sister Ashley's birthday out doing fun things with her all day. If you are friends with me on Facebook, you got to see our stops throughout the day, including going to see The Fault In Our Stars, having lunch at Noodle's, going home for some rest, and then stopping by the graduation reception at MCA for some cupcakes and catching up with old friends. We had originally planned to go to the Friday evening Joyful Noise concerts, but with the rain we decided to skip that. In all, it was a great day to celebrate Ashley turning 20, and a wonderful start to our sister dates for the summer. (Item #2.1 on list = complete!)
I have also been working on #22 - Establish a workout routine and actually DO IT. I have managed to reorganize my time to allow for a Zumba and weights workout 3 times/week, and on the days that I do not officially work out, I have other activities planned to keep myself moving. I've included things like cooking/catering (which I did for j6 hours on Saturday and 14 hours on Sunday), cleaning (you should see my room and other areas of the house), etc. On top of this, I have been doing really well at following the eating plan my dietician and I came up with to help solve some of the digestive issues I was having! So far, it's a great start. We aren't going to call this one complete until it becomes a habit, though :)
#29 - Send a card or letter to a different friend each week - complete for last week, and working on this week's :) Ya'll better be watching your mailboxes! (If I don't have your address and you would like a card, send me a PM or email and you're added to the list!!)
Lastly, #33 - Clean out my room and donate anything I haven't used this year. I managed to clean out my closet last week in little spurts between workouts and before work. I have one load ready to go to Goodwill ASAP and more in the works!
Monday, June 2, 2014
Unstoppable Summer: Must-Do Adventures Before I Move Away
Alright guys, here is my list for the best summer of my life so far!! My goal is to make the most of this summer in as many ways as possible. I'm gonna need your help on some of these, so if you want to join in, let's do it!! Keep me accountable, people!
Disclaimer: I have not included the things that are already "givens" for the summer, such as spending extra time with my parents/family, going to the barn every week, and working. So, Mom, in case you were worried that I forgot about you (which I NEVER could!), you and I are already booked!!!
1. Go on a one-on-one adventure with a different friend each month (June, July, August).
2. Go on dates with my sister at least once each month.
3. Try a new fruit and a new vegetable that will broaden my healthy-eating horizons.
4. Last an entire day without eating anything processed, packaged, or not in its whole form.
5. Learn a new song on the piano.
6. Lay in the sun and read for a whole day (with sunscreen of course!).
7. Choose one person in my life to pray for everyday, and make a point of talking with them about their life once a week.
8. Go to the quarries and jump of the cliffs into the swimming hole.
9. Take a road trip to some other state (other than Indiana, since I'm moving there!).
10. Read at least 5 books on the all-time classics list.
11. Volunteer somewhere at least once each month.
12. Celebrate Christmas in July, even send cards to my close friends!
13. Host a summer barbecue/picnic at my parents' house - campfire and all!!
14. Go wilderness camping (ok, or just camping in general).
15. Make a new friend and keep in touch with them after I move.
16. Visit children in the hospital.
17. Pay for the person behind me in line.
18. Talk to a stranger about their life for no other reason than to make them feel important.
19. Learn a few phrases in ASL.
20. Go to the beach.
21. Invite someone new to church.
22. Establish a work-out routine and actually DO IT.
23. Go visit a friend who lives too far away to see regularly.
24. Write something very well-thought-out and inspirational, even if I never actually share it (but I probably will, knowing me).
25. Write a research paper just for the fun of it.
26. Go see multiple movies in a row at the theater (at matinee prices, of course!). Even better - go to a drive-in movie!!
27. Play in the rain.
28. Color every picture in a coloring book and send each picture to a different friend.
29. Send a card or letter to a different friend each week as encouragement or just to say hi.
30. Learn something new about my best friend.
31. Pray for a celebrity that is making a difference in the world.
32. Bring lunch to homeless people.
33. Clean out my room and donate anything I haven't used this year.
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Disclaimer: I have not included the things that are already "givens" for the summer, such as spending extra time with my parents/family, going to the barn every week, and working. So, Mom, in case you were worried that I forgot about you (which I NEVER could!), you and I are already booked!!!
2. Go on dates with my sister at least once each month.
3. Try a new fruit and a new vegetable that will broaden my healthy-eating horizons.
4. Last an entire day without eating anything processed, packaged, or not in its whole form.
5. Learn a new song on the piano.
6. Lay in the sun and read for a whole day (with sunscreen of course!).
7. Choose one person in my life to pray for everyday, and make a point of talking with them about their life once a week.
8. Go to the quarries and jump of the cliffs into the swimming hole.
9. Take a road trip to some other state (other than Indiana, since I'm moving there!).
10. Read at least 5 books on the all-time classics list.
11. Volunteer somewhere at least once each month.
12. Celebrate Christmas in July, even send cards to my close friends!
13. Host a summer barbecue/picnic at my parents' house - campfire and all!!
14. Go wilderness camping (ok, or just camping in general).
15. Make a new friend and keep in touch with them after I move.
16. Visit children in the hospital.
17. Pay for the person behind me in line.
18. Talk to a stranger about their life for no other reason than to make them feel important.
19. Learn a few phrases in ASL.
20. Go to the beach.
21. Invite someone new to church.
22. Establish a work-out routine and actually DO IT.
23. Go visit a friend who lives too far away to see regularly.
24. Write something very well-thought-out and inspirational, even if I never actually share it (but I probably will, knowing me).
25. Write a research paper just for the fun of it.
26. Go see multiple movies in a row at the theater (at matinee prices, of course!). Even better - go to a drive-in movie!!
27. Play in the rain.
28. Color every picture in a coloring book and send each picture to a different friend.
29. Send a card or letter to a different friend each week as encouragement or just to say hi.
30. Learn something new about my best friend.
31. Pray for a celebrity that is making a difference in the world.
32. Bring lunch to homeless people.
33. Clean out my room and donate anything I haven't used this year.
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