The Countdown to 40

Merry Christmas!
I am enjoying Christmas with a full belly and cheesy movies on TV, crocheting.. and also doing a little reflecting (tis the season for reflecting)

 January 1st, 2017 I decided there were 40 things I wanted to do by the time I was 40 (#40by40) I still have a little under a month, but I know that I am going to making another list! But, I wanted to update my journey so far. You can follow my journey from the beginning here.  I had some lofty goals.. but that were fairly attainable.  I already know how I am going to change up a few! I do know, however, that I have had so many great adventures with my wonderful husband, fabulous family, and amazing friends! I LOVE that I have had help in all sorts of different places!

*Side note! I am actually about to reach my goal in Good Reads for this year! My final book of the year.. Where the Crawdads Sing.. SO good!

The ones with * are ones that have been completed

Travel
1. Book and pay for a vacation to Ireland- moving this to my next list
2. Take mom to New York- moving to my next list
3. Take a trip to New Jersey- moving to my next list
4. Tour a vineyard- moving to my next list
5. Drive Route 66- moving to my next list
6. Camp in a National Park - moving to my next list (but will hopefully be doing soon with my troop!
*7. Go on a haunted tour- April 2017 in San Antonio on a knee scooter!
*8. Go to Canyon with Elaine- July 2017
9. Float the River- moving to my next list
10. Go Skiing- ? Still deciding if this is really something I want to do?
11. See the Grand Canyon- moving to my next list
*12. Go on a girls weekend- YES! I had an amazing time with the #skurtcrew Jan. 2019
13. Go fishing with my dad- moving to my next list
Adventure
14. Take a wine tasting class- moving to my next list
*15. Get 3 tattoos- I LOVE my 3 tattoos that I got!! My parents signature are 2 of them and then the other one is From Where the Wild Things Are to represent my husband
16. Indoor skydive- moving to my next list
17. Learn to drive a stickshift- Trying to decide if this one is really important??
Family
18. Renew our vows- moving to my next list- Want to do for my 15th anniversary which is June 17th, 2020
19. Have photos taken- Want to do this on our anniversary as well
20. Host a game night- This is coming up Jan. 3!!
Life Goals
*21. Learn to crochet- My Aunt Rebecca taught me some simple crocheting this summer when they were in town.. and this year I learned how to crochet coffee coozies (made about 25 of them) and I am currently working on a scarf!

*22. Attend a New Years Even party- I attended my first one last year!!
23. Write an article for Family Fun- I have tried SO hard to get in contact with someone at this magazine! I have written a couple of articles for the ATPE magazine, so I think I am going to change this up for the next list.
24. Write a poetry book- this one will be changing up a bit
*25. Learn to make moms biscuits- done (and I even made some for breakfast Christmas morning)
*26. learn to make dads gravy- done (they were So good this morning!)
27. learn to make William's Death by Chocolate Crepes-Might happen before my birthday!
*28. Learn to make bread from scratch- learned how to do that this summer (2019) will probably have to make it from a recipe again
29. Make a photo book of my photos- I think I might do this as a gift to myself! I have loved taking pictures!
30. Make a t-shirt blanket- this one might never happen.. I keep collecting.. and never making!
*31. Send birthday cards- I did SO much better at this and everything is in my calendar so I can keep working on it- so I consider a success (if you haven't got a card from me.. and I asked for your address.. don't judge me too much)
*32. learn to play a song on a guitar- changed this to Ukulele.. and I LOVE it!
Random
33. meet Bill Murray- changing this to be my FAVORITE author!!
34. Watch all the Liam Neeson movies-changing this up a bit
*35. Do 40 Random Acts of Kindness- I think I have done more than 40.. but a random act of kindness happens.. and you don't really post every where that you have done something.
36. Go to a drive in movie-moving this to my next list
37. Get new luggage-moving this to my next list
38. Watch a meteor shower-moving this to my next list (and will also require me to stay up after my bedtime :)
Financial
39. Be in a better place with credit- I think I will be working on this for the REST OF MY LIFE!
*40. Purchase a groupon and use it- SO.. I totally purchased a groupon.. and then didn't use it because I realized it was for a baby blanket and not a regular size one :)


So.. officially 13 out of the 40 completed and at least 2 more that are going to be completed before the 20th of January!

Because it is Christmas and I am TOTALLY in love with this pic.. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year to you and yours.

Are you a list maker?  Do you have any milestones coming up that you are planning for? Here's to LOTS of new adventures!

Back to Basics with Christmas

Right now is the season to do all the things for the holidays.
But, I first have to say.. that last year I made it my goal for this year to be Back to Basics for the holidays.  You can find the whole blog here .  Last year I feel like I sort of forgot why I enjoyed this season so much.  When Thanksgiving hit, I reminded myself what I wanted to do during the month of December and how I wanted to experience things and traditions! I stepped out of my comfort zone at times.. and I also made myself get outside the house.. BUT.. what a WONDERFUL month full of memories and experiences!! I did LOTS of Christmas activities, but I also did a ton of other things too. There were choir Christmas Concerts, Kickstart Kids Belt Ceremony, Cub Club, Basketball game, Beginner Band Concert, Christmas on Crandall (where my ukulele group played too), Ballet Folklorico group performed at the Nimitz Dance Showcase and so much more!
First- I actually had ALL 140 ornaments made by December 1st! (this was my 18th year of creating ornaments- and so I have made about 2000 ornaments over the past 18 years)

140 ornaments- I hand painted designs on
wooden round discs found here

One of my #40by40 was to learn how to crochet-
  made 24 coffee coozies- you can find the pattern here

The month of festivities started out an awesome Girl Scout meeting full of stations where they made an ornament (that did not include yarn!), photo booth card making, and wreath making.

The week of December 7th-15th got just a little bit crazier! It was a week full of seeing LOTS of people, but also REALLY long days! But, I loved every minute of it!

Troop 1810 at the Parade

Started the week off as the photographer for Breakfast with Santa at Elliott then hung out with a ton of cool people at the Irving Holiday Parade.  On Sunday I celebrated the holiday season by attending the Christmas Celebration at Oakview Baptist Church.

Beginning on the 9th of December we celebrated Christmas on Crandall for two weeks at school. You can find all the fun things we did here. This year for Ugly Sweater I created a book snowman shirt.  I already know what I am doing for next year. The next Saturday was spent caroling and cookies with Troop 1810.  I even got to attend a Carols and Candlelight service at First Baptist Irving and see one of my girls sing a solo with the choir!

This last week was spent looking at Christmas lights! Guys- we drive by houses and always comment how pretty they are, and I always say I want to look at Christmas lights.  We never get it done though because we get comfy in the house and then don't wan to leave the house.  This week I made the effort and LOVED walking around the Irving area with hubby.

I spent this weekend with my parents and soaking up some major family time! I am pretty partial to my parents.. I mean.. my dad is Texas Santa and Mrs. Claus!  They stopped by school and I got to show them around where I work. I then whisked my mom away to see The Christmas Belles at the Theater of North Texas and watch my best friend perform.  On Saturday we headed out to the Fort Worth Stockyards where my job is the "elf" picture taker.  My parents walk around in full costume up and down the Stockyards handing out candy cane and reminding people of the magic of the season.  

Today I was scrolling social media and was SUPER excited to see that Visit Irving Tx had posted a Scavenger Hunt!! I was first finder- so I won a brunch for 2 at Four Seasons, 2 tickets to any show at Toyota Music Pavilion, $25 gift card, and 2 tickets to the Cotton Bowl with parking pass!!

So, as you know I am learning to crochet. I have to share one of my fails (we all have those.. right?) I know people think that crocheting is relaxing.. but my poor brain that moves so fast had a hard time keeping up with all the counts! I am not giving up though.. I have some other patterns I want to try!

 Although I have done a ton of things this month that have made my heart super happy does not mean that we are not all facing our own trials.  Some days it is hard not to be Grinchy (although there were a few times that I was "feisty") I choose smiling and reminding others that they are important even when sometimes I feel as if my own life is falling apart.  It is all about perspective and getting out of my comfort zone.  I was reminded all month how lucky I am to surround myself with amazing people.  I am so happy that although I stayed busy I continually reminded myself when I did things I was doing it to experience different things of the season. I think the last few years I had got so caught up in gift giving.. that I forgot that the magic of Christmas is the joy of family, friends and love. This month has cost very little- only the amount of time that I have given myself and others. 

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year from our little family to yours!

I am SUPER excited about an event that is coming up in January!! Todd Nesloney is putting on an event called Celebrate Your Story- and I am talking Bringing the Sunshine! It is a super affordable 2 days of PD and I can't wait to share my ideas!!

  Next blog- an update on my #40by40.. I have less than a month until I hit that 40 mark!!