My 2022 Goals/Bucket List

If you don't already know, I love making lists, and goals/bucket lists are no exception.

For a while now, I have been thinking about what I would like to do in 2022, and lots of things came to mind.

In no particular order, here is my 2022 goals/bucket list:

• Get my driver's permit, and practice driving
• Be an STM at a Joni and Friends Retreat (maybe even 2)
• Go to a Joni and Friends Walk 'n Roll
• Visit a friend in another state
• Get a tattoo in memory of my mom
• Get a second piercing in each ear
• Get bedroom cleaned up
• Redecorate my bedroom (paint walls/ceiling, new bed, put computer desk together, etc.)
• Paint on a regular basis
• Work on writing a book
• Go ice skating
• Go sledding
• Learn to sew
• Learn Sign Language
• Learn Spanish
• Get a DSLR camera
• Be in regular contact with my friends
• Go to at least one concert/event
• Learn how to make macarons
• Crochet/knit on a more regular basis
• Play the violin on a regular basis
• Do at least 4 things out of my comfort zone
• Cook Thanksgiving dinner
• Read the bible in a year
• Learn how to apply my own makeup
• Learn to film and edit videos
• Have my own YouTube channel, and post on a regular basis
• Be in a healthy, loving relationship with a significant other
• Decorate my bedroom for Christmas
• Grow more in my faith
• Make a t-shirt blanket with the t-shirts I want to use for this project
• Make meaningful gifts for friends, family
• Declutter my digital photos
• Binge watch Outlander
• Binge watch Call the Midwife
• Update my resume
• Learn to barbecue
• Draw with sidewalk chalk
• Fly a kite
• Go to the beach
• See the zoo holiday lights
• Read the entire bible in a year
• Spend a day (or more) in the city
• Make recipe binders
• Learn how to make macrame
• Go out for ice cream
• Try a sensory deprivation tank
• Pack and send shoebox presents for Operation Christmas Child
• Learn how to French braid
• Learn how to do a fishtail braid
• Figure out how to best take care of myself (exercise routine, mental health days, etc.), and keep up a regular routine
• Donate unwanted DVDs, CDs, and other unwanted items still in good condition
• Put together and decorate a gingerbread house
• Create an emergency fund and use it only for that
• Create a vision board/book
• Be a tourist in my own town
• Have one technology-free day a week, and find other things to do
• Write in my prayer journal on a more regular basis
• Create a self-care routine and keep it up
• Learn how to be a better friend
• Track money spent
• Increase my confidence/self-esteem
• Learn one new word a day
• Refresh my grammar and spelling skills
• Become more comfortable talking to people/more comfortable with public speaking
• Visit New York
• Learn to play the piano
• Relearn how to play the guitar, and play on a regular basis
• Write at least one song
• See the Harlem Globetrotters in person
• Figure out more topics to blog about, and post at least once a week
• Dye my hair purple
• Complete a video game
• Learn Tunisian crochet
• Practice yoga 3x a week

Yes, I know this is a lot, and I most likely will not complete all of these, but I would like to do as many of these as possible this year.

What would you like to do in 2022? I hope this coming year is a good one!

My First Homemade Gingerbread House

I love gingerbread houses, and I normally buy pre-made, unassembled ones to put together and decorate, but I recently found a gingerbread house cookie cutter set, so I decided to make my own this year.

I bought some candy and snacks to decorate with, and got to work on baking, assembling, and decorating.

I got frustrated a few times, because the pieces to build the house, as well as some of the decorations, wouldn't stay put after a while, when I had put the icing on, so I had to get creative with that.

I had ended up using a plastic food storage container to hold up the pieces, so they can stay put while the icing dries.

                                                                      So very messy!

                                                                 The start of decorating

My decorations for the house

The front

This front piece of the house broke as I was putting assembling the house, so I had to "glue" it back together before moving on.

Left side

The back

The part with the candy cane Kiss is supposed to be a wreath

The round red piece of candy is supposed to be a window

                       The right side                       

It was very messy, and I had to have a lot of patience for this, as it took a long time for the icing to set on each side, before I could move on to another part of the house.

But, it was worth it in the end. I know the completed house looks messy, but it came out pretty good, and I am happy with it.

Although, next year I might just go with a pre-made kit, just to save me all this frustration, and impatience.

It was a fun experience, though, making it from scratch!

What I Got for Christmas 2021

To those who celebrate, merry Christmas!! To those who don't, I hope you had a wonderful day anyway!

I can't believe Christmas is here again! Where has the time gone?!

I celebrated with my dad, a few of my siblings, and my niece and nephew.

For those who are curious, here is what I got for Christmas this year:

(NOTE: I am not trying to brag, I just wanted to share what I got with those who may be interested. I am very happy with everything that I got, and was not expecting to get every single thing I asked for.)

• WREBBIT Harry Potter Hagrid's Hut puzzle
• Microsoft Surface Go stylus
• A lanyard
• Dragonfly in Amber book by Diana Gabaldon (part of the Outlander series)
• Downton Abbey season 6 on DVD
• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 on DVD
• Outlander Season 1 on DVD
• Bonanza season 4 on DVD
• Lego The Hobbit PS4 game
• Bike lights
• First 50 Songs You Should Play on the Violin book
• How to Read Music in 30 Days: Music Theory for Beginners book by Mathhew Ellul
• Believe CD by Andrea Bocelli
• Paints
• Paint brushes
• Canvases

Overall, I had a good Christmas.  I have already started putting together the puzzle, as well as playing the Lego Hobbit game.

I can't believe this year is almost over already. It went by so quickly!

How was your Christmas? How did you celebrate? I hope it was as wonderful as possible, and if it wasn't, I hope you will have better days to come.

My Favorite Christmas Movies

I am an avid movie watcher, and I absolutely love watching Christmas movies. 

Watching Christmas movies always gets me in the holiday mood, which makes me look forward to the season each year.

In no particular order, here are my favorite Christmas movies.

• A Christmas Carol
  There are 3 versions that I love: Disney's version with Jim Carrey, the one with George C. Scott, and the Muppets version
  
  
• A Christmas Story
  
  
• The Polar Express
  
  
• A Charlie Brown Christmas
  
  
• The Grinch
  
  
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas
  
  
• The Santa Clause trilogy
  
  
• Santa Claus is Comin' To Town
  
  
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
  
  
• Arthur Christmas
  
  
• Home Alone
  
  
• Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
  
  
• The Year Without a Santa Claus
  
  
• Miracle on 34th Street (the original)
  
  
• Frosty the Snowman

If you celebrate Christmas, what are your favorite holiday movies?

My Winter 2021/2022 Bucket List

I can't believe it's almost winter! And that it is the end of 2021. Where has the time gone?!

As always, I have decided to make a winter bucket list, of things I would like to do this winter. I hope to be able to accomplish as many of these as I can.

In no particular order, here is what I would like to do this winter:

• Go sledding
• Go ice skating
• Make a snowman
• Have a snowball fight
• Watch Christmas movies
• Drink hot chocolate
• Go to a Christmas market
• Donate toys to children in need
• Make and send out Christmas cards
• Crochet a blanket
• Practice playing violin 3-4x a week
• Make Christmas cookies
• Work on cleaning up bedroom
• Work on writing a book
• Have spa days
• Make a gingerbread house
• Put Downton Abbey puzzle together
• Make paper snowflakes
• Build a fort
• Bake a loaf of bread
• Attend a Christmas concert
• Visit a far-away friend
• Spend a day (or more) in the city
• Decorate my bedroom for Christmas/winter
• Decorate our Christmas tree
• Celebrate my birthday with friends
• Put together and decorate a gingerbread house
• Paint my nails
• Host a game night
• Dye my hair purple
• Take winter pictures
• Make a snow globe
• Color in a coloring book
• Paint
• Binge watch one of these shows: Call The Midwife, Outlander
• Develop an indoor exercise routine (and stick to it)
• See a play or musical
• Buy a new pair of pajamas
• Write and send letters to friends
• Take a photo with Santa
• 
  

What are things you would to do this winter?