Life Goals - a Wishlist

I recently came across someone's wish/bucket list for life and decided to come up with a list of my own.    I often try to set goals for myself, and recently have been setting weekly goals to accomplish.  It certainly helps to me to work harder towards achieving them when the list is written down, a sort of checklist.  

So, I came up with 40 things that I would like to attempt, try or at least think about doing in my life.  I chose 40, because that is the next "big" birthday, but this is certainly not a list I intend to fulfill before that time!  But, here's to giving it a try!  

1. Experience Disney with my kids

2. Go on a cruise with my hubby 

3. See Luke Bryan (again), Miranda Lambert and maybe Garth Brooks in concert

4. Learn to golf

5. Try downhill skiing again (maybe just once)

6. Climb Mt. Katahdin

7. Take a photography class - just for fun

8. Go back to school - maybe a certificate in literacy (We'll see - told Mike to remind me of specific moments during my graduate program if I ever thought about going back to school again)!!!!

9. Find a volunteer opportunity that I am passionate about

10.  Learn to crochet or knit

11. Fit back into my wedding dress for my 10 year anniversary (possibly do a trash the dress photo session)

12. Hot air balloon ride (terrifying thought)

13. Go on many family camping trips

14. Plant a vegetable garden (aka learn to garden)

15. Zipline (also terrifying)

16. Go on a cross country road trip

17. Go to a Patriots Game (only NE team haven't seen in person)

18. Watch sunrise & sunset in the same day

19. Run a 5K, 10K, half marathon

1st time running whole thing 5/13/12

20. Watch the stars with my children

21. Host/participate in a murder mystery dinner

22. Donate my hair (again)

23. Create a tradition of getting together with girlfriends (girls weekend/trip)

24. Visit Alaska, Costa Rica, Ireland, Italy, PEI just to name a few places (aka travel)

25. Complete 365 photo challenge (maybe after a photography course)

26. Dance with my sons on their wedding days

27. Participate in a flash mob 

28. Stomp on grapes in a vineyard

29. Visit a castle

30. Go ice skating in Rockefeller Center

31. Drive around in a convertible with the top down

32. Go snorkeling and/or swim with dolphins

33. Kiss under a waterfall

34. Take a painting class

35. Teach in public school again (preferably 4th-6th grade)

36. Have another baby

37. Participate in a color or obstacle type run

38. Go horseback riding

39. Winter weekend getaway in a log cabin or bed & breakfast

40. See a broadway show (again)

Thirty One Months

A little summary of the month:

* Still working on starting statements with "may I have" "I would like" instead of "I want"
* A few cute phrases "you walk hind me", "mommy or daddy you play toys me", "want to read a book for me"
* Working on getting Braden to dress/undress himself.  He does really well with pants & socks
* Started a movement class with a few of our toddler friends

* Beginning to use correct tenses: I threw it, good throw, caught it
* Went for the first ultrasound and saw a picture of the baby
* Started creating "tot trays" with fun learning activities for B to choose

* Will sometimes state when he is peeing in his diaper (infrequently, inconsistently)
* Practicing holding writing utensils correctly through tot trays & tracing fun

* Started counting things out on his fingers 1-5 & will put up 2 fingers for his age
* So sweet & helpful when mommy was sick - getting blankets, rubbing my back when I "spit up"
* Started doing a calendar activity each morning: month, day, date, weather, season (updated it in March)

* Finally convinced him to try pineapple - he wasn't in love with it, but he will eat it every once in a while

10th Day of Christmas

Snapfish Book - Friendship

Last year I created a family photo book as a Christmas gift for Braden.  It had each individual family members name and photos of them with Braden.  Of course the family has grown since then, so will have to update it someday!  

This year a friend in the mom group created a friendship book based on the story Brown Bear, Brown Bear.  Each page has a picture of one of the friends asking them what they see and they respond with another friends name/picture.  I decided to order the book as a Christmas gift for Braden this year.

Any type of photo book is precious, memorable and becomes a cherished gift for any recipient.  

6th Day of Christmas

Crochet Fingerless Gloves

In September I decided that I wanted to learn how to either knit or crochet.  In the end I chose crochet, because I could follow a set of lessons I found available online - Crochet School.  With this new hobby the possibilities are endless with cute hates, scarves, mittens/gloves, shawls, etc.  

That is why I had to include at least one crochet project, but I am sure there may be at least one more in the next set of 6 Christmas crafts.  These fingerless gloves looked very intimidating to me when I first saw the picture (a friend asked me to make them for her). Once I actually started the pattern I realized how easy it was!  I love the way they came out, and I hope they keep my friends hands warm while still allowing her to use her camera!  

Here are a few other projects that I have found successful.  

I am hoping to also make a few hats to donate to Stitch For Cancer - if not before Christmas then definitely for January!  

5th Day of Christmas

Colorful Wine Coasters

This project makes a great gift for any of your wine/drink lovers.  I had found the tutorial quite a while ago, and just never had a chance to try it.  If I had realized how easy they are to make I would have started the project much sooner.  The original pattern can be found here.

The thing that took the longest was trying to pick out colors & coordinating fabrics (5 per coaster).  Once that was complete I cut a 5" square piece from each fabric.  Then I layered them one on top of the other, and traced the outline of a CD on the wrong side of one fabric.  I pinned them all together, so they would not move while cutting out the circles.

Next choose one of the circles to be the bottom and fold the other 4 in half wrong sides together and press.  Once that is complete it is time to start layering them onto the bottom fabric.  

With the bottom piece right side up place on of the half circles on top with the folded edge towards the center.

Do the same with another half circle to the left, layering it on top of the other half circle.

Again do the same by placing a half circle on the bottom.

Now, lift the original half circle up and towards the left and place the last half circle on top and replace the original half circle.

Finished look:

I then pinned each intersection, so the pieces would not move while sewing.  Next, sew around the outside of the entire circle with 1/4" seam.  Do no leave any openings and backstitch over the beginning to secure.  

Then turn the fabric inside out and they are complete.  I still have one left to do to make a complete set of 6 coasters.  However, I did not like any of my yellow/orange fabric combinations. 

They can be used around the bottom of wine glasses, and can help determine whose drink belongs to who.  Or they can be used as regular coasters and by placing the glass directly on top!

Twenty Five Months

I have to say it was really weird coming up on August 5th and not taking a "monthly photo".  I am not exactly sure how well I will keep up with monthly updates without that constant reminder, but here goes.

A summary of the month:

* First time bowling thanks to kidsbowlfree.com and a rec group was there, so it ended up being glow bowling.

* Likes to imitate working out using the pink 2 lb weights, and he likes to push on me while attempting to do the pushups.

* Second year sleeping in a tent without a pack n play or nursing was not very easy.  

* Some of his latest words or phrases: "I coming", "this way", "leash", "collar", "who else?", "how about...", and has also started to say please without having to be prompted.  

*Will have time-outs usually because of hitting friends in frustration or hitting the dog.  Have to be with mom right now or in the high chair, because he won't stay put

* Evening walks in the stroller and with Sage around the neighborhood.  We typically go twice, so he will say "one more time?"

* First trip to an amusement park when he could actually ride some of the rides - Canobie Lake Park 7/14

* First trip to Tumble Tikes open gym with lots of our little friends 7/19

* Made a trip to Bangor for a visit and went to Cole's Transportation Museum for the first time 7/25

* First trip Blueberry picking with our little playgroup.  It went much better than strawberry picking, because Braden loves blueberries 7/30

Loving Project Life!

In one of my last posts I mentioned that I had discovered Project Life and how I was looking forward to scrap-booking again without taking up so much time!  Well, I just have to update that I absolutely LOVE Project Life.  Not only have I been able to keep up with my 2013 weekly album, but I also finally started a scrapbook for Braden.  

I had started an original scrapbook for Braden, but I only made it as far as his birth and just could not keep up.  Twenty months later and it was looking like it was NEVER going to happen.  But, in just over a month I have been able to use Project Life (and the Baby Boy kit) to complete Braden's first year from July 2011 through February 2012.  Now, I know that I will be able to finish it and my plan is to continue up through January 2013 where my other Project Life album picks up.  Then I will end Braden's scrapbook with his monthly t-shirt photos from 18 months - 24 months.