My Fall 2024 Goals/Bucket List

It is nearly Fall, which means it's time for my Fall goals/bucket list! I love making these kinds of lists, as it helps me figure out what I want to do this season and find events near me that relate to what's on my list.

I have been thinking about what I wanted to do this Fall for a while and am looking forward to doing as many of these as I can.

I think I love making to-do/bucket/goals list because I can write out the things I want to do and feel a sense of accomplishment from checking something off. It makes me feel productive, like I am able to do the things I love without too much trouble.

So, without further ado, here is what I want to do this Fall:

• Paint/carve/decorate a pumpkin
• Watch Fall/Halloween themed movies
• Make Halloween cookies
• Paint
• Knit or crochet a blanket
• Knit or crochet a sweater for myself
• Put together a puzzle
• Create a Fall-themed wreath
• Make crafts with fallen leaves
• Paint my nails a Fall color
• Roast pumpkin seeds
• Do a corn maze
• Make s'mores
• Read 1-2 books a month
• Drink hot chocolate
• Make a scarecrow
• Have a game night
• Put away summer clothes
• Attend a Fall festival
• Bake a pumpkin pie
• Cook Thanksgiving dinner
• Go on an outdoor photography walk
• Decorate my room for Fall/Halloween
• Spend a day scrapbooking
• Binge watch a TV show
• Color in a coloring book
• Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade
• Make chili
• Go to a Joni and Friends Walk n' Roll
• Have an at-home spa day
• Go on solo/self-dates
• Make Boo baskets
• Make cinnamon rolls
• Donate to a food bank
• Go thrifting
• Create Fall-themed charcuterie boards
• Write letters to friends
• Make second t-shirt quilt

What do you want to do this Fall?

Get Organized HQ Virtual 2024

I am so excited about this year's Get Organized HQ Virtual! This is my fourth year attending, and I love learning new tips and tricks to help me get organized in my house, and in life in general.

I heard about this event from another blogger a few years ago, and I decided to check it out, as it sounded interesting. I am so glad I did, as it was so informative, fun, and exactly what I needed.

At this event, there are speakers who talk about tips for decluttering, organizing ideas, crafts, faith, self-care, meal planning and prepping, tips for parents as well as empty nesters, and more.

There is always something to learn every year, and many of the speakers have bonuses for those who attend the event. There are even giveaways for items that help keep your home clean and organized.

Even though this is my fourth year attending this event, I feel like I could always learn more, to see what would work for me.

You can find more information about Get Organized HQ, here.

You can also find more information about GOHQ Virtual and to get your free ticket here, if you are interested in checking it out. 

Or you can purchase an All-Access Pass here and get instant and lifetime access to the event.

There are 100+ speakers at this event, so there may be some tips and tricks that don't relate to you and your situation, so don't feel like you have to watch every single video. You can pick and choose which ones you feel like would most benefit you. 

That is one of the best things about this event. You don't have to get to everything, if it's not something that would work for you.

If you decide to get a ticket, I hope that you will be able to learn something at this event, and that you are able to find something that can help you have a cleaner, more organized home that you can feel good about. 

My Summer 2024 Goals/Bucket List

Summer is nearly here, and as usual, I have created a bucket list of things I want to do during the season.

Summer is my favorite season, as it is warm, and I am more willing to spend time outside. I feel like I am more productive during the warmer months, because I am not cold, and I can focus more on what I am doing.

The one thing I am unable to do this summer, that I am sad about not getting to do, is volunteering at a Joni and Friends retreat. Which I'm not too happy about, as retreat is one of the few things that brings me so much peace and joy every year. I am hopeful that I will be able to go next year.

In no particular order, here is my summer bucket list:

• Go swimming
• Get bedroom cleaned up
• Redecorate my bedroom
• Make lemonade
• Ride my bike
• Go for walks
• Make a t-shirt quilt
• Learn to play 1 song on the violin every 1-2 weeks
• Read the Bible every day
• Pray every day
• Memorize one bible verse every 1-2 weeks
• Paint
• Make smoothies
• Go to the farmer's market
• Get my driving permit, and practice driving
• Improve baking, cake and cookie decorating skills
• Go on self-dates
• Spend a day (or more) in the city
• Go out for ice cream
• Dye my hair purple
• Build a fort
• Apply for a new job
• Have a movie marathon
• Make friendship bracelets
• Binge watch a TV show
• Make a fairy garden
• Draw with sidewalk chalk
• Read outside
• Make lemon bars
• Write letters to friends
• Knit/crochet at least one item
• Reach 100% in a video game
• Put a puzzle together
• Learn Spanish
• Paint my nails
• Make charcuterie boards
• At-home spa day at least once a month
• Take photos
• Make origami
• Learn how to barbecue  
• Learn to cook 3 meals  
• Bake a pizza from scratch
• Work on writing a book
• Become more comfortable with public speaking  
• Figure out an exercise routine that works for me, and keep up with it
• Learn how to apply my own makeup
• Make a prayer board
• Make a junk journal
• Go thrifting
• Volunteer
• Write poetry

Here's hoping to a fulfilling, relaxing, fun and memory-making summer.

What is on your summer goals/bucket list?

My Current Favorites

 I haven't done one of these lists in quite a while, so I figured it was time for another favorites list.

I have had this post saved for quite a while, adding to it as I find new/new to me things that I end up loving. I eventually forgot about this list, until recently, so I figured it was time to post it, as there is a good amount of new favorites on here.

• His Mercy is More by Matt Boswell
  I recently heard this song on the radio, and absolutely love it.
  
  
• Pink Piglets from Candy Club
  I found out about this from a friend who is collaborating with the company to sell these, and I loved them the first time I tried them!
  
  
• Dragon Eggs from Candy Club  
  These are another find from the same friend. They are soo good!!
  
  
• Irish singer Hozier
  I found out about Hozier through Girls' Life magazine, where they posted about some Irish artists to listen to for St. Patrick's Day. I am part Irish, so of course, I was intrigued by this article. I decided to check out Hozier, who was the first artist they mentioned. His full name is Andrew Hozier-Byrne, and he is from Bray, Ireland. His music is described as bluesy folk. I looked him up on Spotify, and liked what I heard when I listened to his music.
  
  
• The Art of Getting It Wrong: Finding Good in the Misadventures of Life by Stephen Miller
  I read this book for the first time last year, and absolutely loved it! It is about the authors life, and what he learned along the way, from his early years to now. He talks about jobs he's had, his school and home life, his faith, and his YouTube channel. 
  
  
• Suave Skin Solutions Nourishing Lotion
  I found this lotion last year, while shopping for some last-minute things for a trip I was taking.
  
  
• Macrame
  I've known about macrame for a long time, but never got into it until recently. I have only made a couple small things, but it has got me hooked, and wanting to make more.
  
  
• Heart of God by Zach Williams
  This song gives us a glimpse into God's heart, what he does for us. He puts the right people in our lives at the right time, showing us His love. It shows us what faith can do, for ourselves as well as for other people. He hears our cries, and lifts our burdens, if we just come to him.
  
  
• Because of Bethlehem by Matthew West
  This song reminds us of where the savior's life started, and where our hope, love, and grace comes from. It tells us of the beauty of a humble beginning, and the beauty of God's mercy and love.
  
  
• The Hope of Christmas by Matthew West  
  I know Christmas was several months ago, but I just had to include this song on this list.
  
  
• Somewhere in Your Silent Night by Casting Crowns 
  In this song, it reminds us that God has always been with us, will always be with us, has always loved us, and will always love us, no matter what we have done or will do. We just have to turn to him, and accept his love, grace, mercy, peace. To accept him, even in our "silent night."
  
  
• Disney Dreamlight Valley video game  
  This game has apparently been out for a couple of years now, but I just recently heard of it. I decided to check it out from the library to see what it's like, and I quickly fell in love with it. There are many Disney characters in the game, from the classics like Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and more, to newer characters like WALL-E, Mirabel from Encanto, and more. At the time of this post, I have unlocked about 24 characters, the last ones being Buzz Lightyear and Woody.

Well, that is my entire list of current favorites. It's a good mix of music, games, crafts, snacks, books, and beauty products. I wonder what I will come across for my next favorites list?

What are some things you are currently loving?

My Spring 2024 Goals/Bucket List

Spring is almost here, and that makes me so happy! I'm not a fan of the cold, snow and ice, so it's always a relief when spring comes.

As always, I have made a goals/bucket list for the spring and am hoping to get around half of this completed.

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

• Get rest of retreat photos printed and picked up
• Get bedroom cleaned up
• Begin relearning how to play the violin
• Get bike ready for riding (inflate tires, put lights on)
• Memorize 1 bible verse every 1-2 weeks
• Read 1-2 books a month
• Go for walks
• Learn how to sew
• Work on making t-shirt quilt
• Go on self-dates
• Paint
• Dye Easter eggs
• Draw with sidewalk chalk
• Create a fairy garden
• Take photos
• Make friendship bracelets
• Write letters to friends
• Go to my church's Easter mass
• Reach 100% in a video game
• Binge watch a TV show
• Make charcuterie boards
• Buy a new pair of sandals
• Go thrift shopping
• Color in a coloring book
• Put together a puzzle
• Knit or crochet a shawl
• Make an Easter basket for myself
• Play board/card games
• Apply for a new job
• Start a YouTube channel
• Start a new skincare routine
• Start a new haircare routine
• Work on my mental health
• Create and work on an art journal
• Learn how to cook better, so I can make more meals for myself and my family
• Learn Spanish
• Learn how to be more confident in my speaking abilities

There will probably be more things that I will add to this list, but this is a good starting point for what I would like to do this spring.

I am so glad spring is almost here!

What is on your bucket list for spring?

Songs I Would Like to Learn How to Play on the Violin

I played the violin for a couple of years in elementary school, and I quit after that because at the time, I got bored of it. 

Now, I know that I quit because I didn't want to practice on a regular basis. Basically, I wanted to be good at playing the violin, but didn't want to put in the work and effort needed.

I regret quitting now, because I still have a love for the instrument, and want to play again. The thing is, since it's been so long since I've played, I don't remember a thing. I have forgotten how to read music, where the notes are on the strings, everything.

Which is frustrating for me. But, I am determined to relearn how to play, and to actually practice on a regular basis. I miss playing, and would love to be able to play again, and be proficient in it.

Of course, I want to start out learning easy songs, so I'm not overwhelmed by it. I plan on learning one song every week or so, depending on how easy or difficult it is.

In no particular order, here are the songs I would like to learn how to play on the violin:

• Happy Birthday
• Mary Had a Little Lamb
• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
• The Star-Spangled Banner
• Amazing Grace
• Yankee Doodle
• Brahms' Lullaby
• My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean
• Danny Boy
• Silent Night
• Joy to the World
• The Star Wars Theme song
• Harry Potter theme song
• We Wish You a Merry Christmas
• Somewhere Over the Rainbow
• Game of Thrones theme song
• You Are My Sunshine
• You Raise Me Up
• Pure Imagination
• Frere Jacques
• For He's a Jolly Good Fellow
• This Old Man
• O Holy Night
• Hot Cross Buns
• Row Row Row Your Boat
• What Do You Do with a Drunken Sailor
• Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
• Firework by Katy Perry
• Happy by Pharrell Williams
• My Heart Will Go On
• Here Comes the Sun
• Can You Feel the Love Tonight
• La Bamba
• A Whole New World
• We Will Rock You
• Good King Wenceslas
• O Come All Ye Faithful
• Jingle Bells
• Deck the Halls
• Angels We Have Heard on High
• God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
• Away in a Manger
• A Thousand Years
• Bella's Lullaby
• Beauty and the Beast
• In Christ Alone
• Yellow Submarine
• Part of Your World
• Lean on Me
• Any Dream Will Do
• Oh Susanna!
• Pomp and Circumstance
• Love Theme from 'The Godfather'
• Do-Re-Mi from 'The Sound of Music'
• Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
• Summertime
• Pink Panther Theme
• Nothing But the Blood of Jesus
• How Great Thou Art
• It is Well with My Soul
• Jesus Loves Me, This I Know
• To God Be the Glory
• The Lord's Prayer
• When the Saints Go Marching In
• Hallelujah
• What a Friend We Have in Jesus
• Agnus Dei
• Ave Maria
• Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
• Ding Dong Merrily on High
• Miracle Hymn
• What a Beautiful Name
• 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)
• Firm Foundation (He Won't)
• O Come O Come Emmanuel
• Can't Help Falling in Love
• Hanging Tree
• Frosty the Snowman
• This is Halloween
• Waltz from Sleeping Beauty
• Jeopardy Theme
• Eleanor Rigby
• Theme from Pirates of the Caribbean
• Carol of the Bells
• When You Wish Upon a Star
• Super Mario Bros.
• Tale as Old as Time
• Do You Want to Build a Snowman?
• How Far I'll Go (from Moana)
• Waymaker
• What a Wonderful World
• Misty Mountains (from The Hobbit)
• Auld Lang Syne
• Schindler's List theme
• Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo
• Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
• We Three Kings
• This is Me from The Greatest Showman
• Can't Help Falling in Love
• The First Noel
• Tale as Old as Time

I know this is a lot, but seeing as I haven't played in so long, I want to make up for it, I guess. And because I really do want to learn how to play all these songs.

There may be more songs I will add to this in the future, but this is enough to keep me busy for quuite a while, which I am happy about.

Like I said before, I am going to learn one song at a time and won't move on to the next song until I know how to play each one.

Do you play any instruments? If so, what do you play? If not, do you want to play one, and what would you like to play?

2024 Goals (A Little More Specific)

I have been thinking a lot about my goals, and figured I would like to be a little more specific with what I want to accomplish this year.

I have split them up into categories, to make it easier to find each goal, and to see how I want to grow in each category. Hopefully this will be the year that I actually work on many of these goals, as I tend to procrastinate a lot. And I want to change that.

These are in no particular order, but here is a somewhat more detailed list of my goals for 2024.

Relationships

Talk to at least one friend/family member a day

Have a few game nights with friends

Go on at least one trip with friends

Be in a loving, healthy relationship with a significant other

Go on adventures with friends/family/significant other

Make crafts together

Make new friends

Finances

Save more than I spend

Be wiser about the things I purchase/how much I purchase

Learn how to budget

Build up an emergency fund

Work towards becoming financially stable/independent

Track my spending

Work

Update my resume

Find a job that I love, that works for me

Stand up for myself/speak up, if something isn't right

Try networking

Develop skill sets

Gain new experiences

Improve work relationships

Learn to set boundaries

Gain hands-on experience in fields that I am interested in

Start a new degree

Health

Eat a more balanced diet

Some form of exercise every day (30-45 minutes a day)

Improve my daily hygiene habits

Drink more water every day

Improve my posture

Do a regular digital detox

Create a skincare routine that works for me

Create a haircare routine that works for me

Home

Get bedroom cleaned up

Redecorate bedroom

Keep bedroom clean

Declutter as much stuff as possible, that I don't need/want anymore

Create an ICE (In Case of Emergency) binder

Personal

Learn to speak up more

Don't worry about what others think of me

Pray every day

Deepen my faith

Deepen my relationship with God, Jesus

Do one thing a month, that is out of my comfort zone

Spend less time online (maybe down to 1 or 2 hours a week)

Learn Spanish a little each day

Learn how to play one song on the violin a week

Read up to 3 chapters of a book each day  

Get over my fear of driving (more specifically, of hitting someone or something), get more comfortable driving, and finally get my driver's license

Knit or crochet at least one item a month

Develop better social skills

Improve my public speaking skills

Work on my procrastination

I know this is a lot, but I want to at least get started on some, and complete others, depending on how long each goal takes to complete.

Hopefully I can actually make changes in my life, as things are slow for me now. I am in a sort of waiting/in-between period, and I am ready to really live my life. I am done with feeling like I am failing in life and am ready to do more. To be more than someone who is waiting for something to happen, instead of actually doing it.

Have you set any goals for 2024? How are you doing in achieving them?

My Word for 2024

For several years now, I have bee doing a word for the year. I've done ok with sticking with my word of the year, but I can definitely do better.

Hopefully 2024 will be the year that I take it seriously, and work on doing better.

My word for 2024 is: COURAGE

For as long as I can remember, I have been very shy and afraid of speaking up for myself, as well as doing as much as I can for myself.

Being so shy, and not sticking up for myself, has made me feel like I couldn't do anything, and that I was missing out on what would be the best things for me.

This year, I want to say yes to doing more of the things I want to do, and no to staying on the sidelines. Yes to doing more things for myself, so that I can be as independent as possible, and no to being afraid of doing things.

I want to have more confidence, and less fear.

This year, I want to:

• Reach out to my friends and family more
• Become more comfortable with public speaking
• Become more comfortable with making phone calls (and talking to people on the phone)
• Take better care of my physical and mental health
• Deepen my faith and relationship with God
• Become more comfortable with starting a conversation with someone
• Become more comfortable with praying out loud, in a group of people
• Learn how to not care so much about what others think of me
• Learn how to not doubt myself so much
• Become more comfortable with driving, and to get my driver's license
• Get a job that I will love, that works for me and my skillset
• Pray every day, in the morning and before bed  
• Say yes to more things that I want to do  
• Create boundaries and stand up for myself
• Go on a vacation by myself
• Start a YouTube channel, and post regularly
• Try indoor skydiving
• Try the ropes course at camp (if I am able to go this year)
• Teach myself how to play the violin
• Teach myself how to play the ukulele
• Try karate
• Write compliments on sticky notes and leave them in random places
• Have a photo shoot taken in public
• Write and send letters to friends, telling them what they mean to me
• Learn Spanish
• Learn Sign Language
• Play a song on the violin, in front of a group of people

I know this is a lot, but I want to stop being so afraid of going after the things I want, and of living up to my true potential.

Do you have a word for 2024?