Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Thankfulness in November: Days 1 through 9

I was planning on posting every day in Nevember, about what I am thankful for this November, but I completely forgot until now. I will put days 1 through 9 in this post, and then post the rest of the days separately after that.

So, here is what I am thankful for this year.

Tuesday, November 1st
-Having warm water to drink, wash with, and use however I need/want to

Wednesday, November 2nd
-Having clothes to wear

Thursday, November 3rd
-Having food to eat

Friday, November 4th
-Volunteering with the local library today, delivering library materials to homebound patrons
-Helping a children's librarian get crafts ready for a children's story time craft

Saturday, November 5th
-Buying a luminary from church, for their Christmas celebration

Sunday, November 6th
-Having a roof over my head
-A portable speaker coming in the mail, that one of my brothers ordered, so I can watch TV shows/movies in the kitchen (yes, we have a TV in the kitchen), without worrying about the sound going out anymore (the sound has been messed up for quite some time, so it was really nice to get this; it was also a surprise, as I didn't know he bought it until today)

Monday, November 7th
-Planning a Thanksgiving dinner for my family
-Being able to get a college education (I am going for my baking/pastry degree)

Tuesday, November 8th
-Being able to vote in this year's presidential election

Wednesday, November 9th
-Watching my favorite YouTubers

My Life Bucket List: Food and Drink

Bake a giant cupcake
Visit a chocolate factory
Try lobster
Make a Thanksgiving dinner myself
Visit restaurants in my state that I have not been to before
Host a cookie exchange
Make and try different cheesecake recipes
Make Monte Cristo sandwiches for my family
Make Croque Madame sandwiches for my family
Make homemade pasta
Try a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks
Make gnocchi
Make gumbo
Make Pad Thai
Get better at cake decorating
Get better and cookie decorating
Learn to grill
Learn to make doughnuts
Try fish and chips in England
Bake a rainbow
Bake a tie dye cake
Buy something from Georgetown Cupcake
Buy something from Carlo's Bakery
Go on an ice cream date
Go on a baking date
Take at least one cooking class
Make cake pops
Make homemade jam/jelly
Make beignets
Have someone make me breakfast in bed
Make a chocolate milkshake
Make a strawberry banana milkshake
Eat out at Messy Crab
Make tater tot casserole
Make homemade eclairs
Learn to make the perfect buttercream
Bake a pizza from scratch
Bake cinnamon rolls
Make at least one wedding cake
Make homemade bagels
Try fried ice cream
Make a Harry Potter Monster Book of Monsters cake
Make at least one Minions cake
Start a cake/bakery order business
Make a galaxy mirror cake
Get better at making roses (chocolate, buttercream, etc.)
Make macarons
Make Star Wars cakes
  -Yoda
  -Darth Vader
  -Darth Maul
  -Light saber
  -Storm Trouper
  -Jabba the Hut
  -Other characters
Make animal cakes
  -Horse
  -Dog
  -Cat
  -Fish
  -Hamster
  -Gerbil
  -Polar bear
  -Panda
  -Koala bear
  -Giraffe
  -Pig
  -Alligator
  -Crocodile
  -Dinosaurs
  -Owls
  -Ferret
  -Hippo
  -Elephant
  -Tiger
  -Lion
  -Leopard
  -Iguana
  -Sharks
  -Parrot/Parakeet/Other Birds
  -Walrus
  -Guinea Pig
  -Sheep/lamb
  -Goat
  -Otter
  -Duck
  -Goose
  -Flamingo
  -Zebra
  -Fox
  -Deer
  -Llama
  -Alpaca
  -Chicken/rooster
  -Swan
  -Squirrel
  -Snake
  -Bat
Make a hamburger cake
Make snowball cookies
Make scones
Try making homemade ice cream
  -vanilla
  -chocolate
  -strawberry
  -banana
  -cherry
  -Other ice creams

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Six Years

It has been six years to the day since my mom passed away, and I miss her more every day.

She was in the hospital for about 5 weeks before she died, and that was a very tough time for the family.

For at least six months or so, I was having a hard time coping with my mom's death, so I was able to go back to my therapist for a while, to help me out.

Every time I had a dream about her (which I had a lot of for a while after she died), it made me wish she was still here, so I could tell her about them. Almost every single dream was about her going back to work, as she loved what she did (she worked at a local library).

By a year after her death, I was surprisingly ready to go back to school (I was taking college classes through all this, although, I did miss a couple when things took a turn for the worst with my mom's health), but, things didn't work out with school just yet, so I had to find something else to do.

At some point after my mom's death, I took up knitting to help with the grieving process.. I have always wanted to learn how to knit, but couldn't get the hang of it at first. I found a knitting and crochet store a few blocks from my home, that taught people how to knit and crochet, and that helped me out a lot.

So, I would go there on a regular basis to learn knitting, and to help me cope with my loss. It has helped me very, very much, and I am so thankful for that.

I wasn't trying to forget about my mom; I just needed something to get me through each day, so I didn't do anything I would regret.

I went back to school after year and a half, to two years after this, and I have been really enjoying it for the most part.

I still miss my mom very much, and I wish she was still here, but I am not nearly as bad as I was at first. I can get through most days without feeling like my world is crashing down around me. As much as I did not want to go through this, my mom's death has shown me just how strong (emotionally) I really am. If I can get through this, I can get through most anything. I hope my mom is proud of all that I have done, in these past six years.

I will always miss and love you, mom!!!

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

My Life Bucket List: Travel Part 2

The Enchanted River in Surigao, Philippines
Sacre Coeur, Paris
Kauai, Hawaii
Cenote Dzitnup, Yucatan, Mexico
Inside Iceland’s Thrihnukagigur volcano
Oxford, England
Cape Town, South Africa
Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah
Ilulissat, Greenland
Lalibela, Ethiopia
Mount Evans, Colorado
Uluru, Northern Territory, Australia
Koh Samui, Thailand
Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Paje, Zanzibar
Heidelberg, Germany
Epcot at Disney World in Orlando, Florida
Tunnel of Love, Ukraine
Happy Magic Water Cube, Beijing
Città Del Mare Hotel, Italy
Chimelong Paradise, China
Hersheypark, Pennyslvania
Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai
Long Island, New York
Splish Splash, Long Island, New York
Suoi Tien Park, Vietnam
Great Wolf Lodge, Washington
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, Florida
Wet ‘n’ Wild Water World, Australia
Legoland Water Oark, California
Magic Springs, Arkansas
Atlantis, Bahamas
Disney’s Blizzard Beach, Florida
Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Indiana
Tropical Islands, Berlin
Noah’s Ark Water Park, Wisconsin
Raging Waters, California
Waterville USA, Alabama
Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Oneonta Gorge, Oregon
Skagit Valley Tulip Fields, Washington
Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, Colorado
Zion National Park, Utah
Watkins Glen State Park, New York
Yosemite Valley, California
Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming
Haiku Stairs of Oahu, Hawaii
Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico
Whitaker Point, Arkansas
Hamilton Pool, Texas
Horseshoe Bend, Arizona
Bryce Canyon, Utah
Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada
Smoky Mountains, North Carolina/Tennessee
The Wave, Arizona
Sequoia National Park, California
Thor’s Well, Oregon
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Palouse Falls, Washington
Glacier National Park, Montana
Nā Pali Coast State Park, Hawaii
Devils Tower, Wyoming
Marrakesh, Morocco
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Tamil Nadu, India
Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Forbidden City, Beijing, China
Fiordland National Park, New Zealand
Bagan, Myanmar
Havasu Falls, Arizona
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Lisbon, Portugal
Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
St. Basil's Cathedral, Moscow, Russia
Blue Lagoon, Iceland
Sossusvlei, Namibia
Hawa Mahal, Jaipur, India
Spray Park, Ashford
Hurricane Hill, Olympic Peninsula
Horseshoe Lake, Central/Western Washington
Perfection Lake, Enchantment Lakes
Hoh Rainforest, Forks
Skyline Divide Trail, Mount Baker area
Priest Point Park, Olympia
Harry's Ridge Trail, near Toutle
Bean Creek Basin
Duncan Garden, Spokane
Tree Cave in Kalaloch, Olympic National Park

France
Les falaises d’Etretat
D-Day Beaches
Strasbourg’s Christmas market
Les Gorges du Verdon
The old city of Dinan
Chamonix
Bonifacio, Corsica
L’Ile de Sein
National Regional Park of Camargue
Carcassonne

Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
Koreshan State Historic Site
Highlands Hammock State Park
Venetian Pool
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
Cinque Terre, Italy
Bariloche, Argentina
Silfra Fissure, Iceland
Ponta Da Piedade, Portugal
Tian Tan Buddha, Hong Kong
Piazzele Michelangelo, Florence, Italy
Canggu, Bali
Phuket, Thailand
Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica
Take a picture with every state sign in America

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

My Life Bucket List: Famous People

These are the people I would love to meet someday.

  • Johnny Depp
  • Andrea Bocelli
  • Harp Twins Camille & Kennerly
  • Jonathan Antoine
  • Joni Eareckson Tada
  • Buddy Valastro
  • Bindi Irwin and her family
  • Jorge Garcia
  • Francesca Battistelli
  • Pope Benedict XVI
  • Tom Felton
  • Emma Thompson
  • Daniel Radcliffe
  • Rupert Grint
  • Emma Watson
  • Robbie Coltrane
  • Celtic Thunder
  • Celtic Woman
  • Andre Rieu
  • Jazz Jennings
  • David Tennant
  • Maggie Smith
  • Garth Brooks
  • Morgan Freeman
  • Tom Hanks
  • Billy Connolly
  • Elijah Wood
  • Gary Oldman
  • Harrison Ford
  • Ian McKellan
  • Alan Jackson
  • Brad Paisley
  • Michael Buble
  • George Strait
  • Julie Andrews
  • Patton Oswalt
  • Peter Dinklage
  • Ralph Fiennes
  • Bethany Hamilton
  • Jack Hanna
  • Alexis Bledel
  • Katherine and Sophie from Georgetown Cupcake
  • Jonathan Teows
  • Marion Hossa
  • Meet Patrick Kane

  • Tuesday, October 18, 2016

    My Life Bucket List: Travel

    Like many people, I have decided to make a bucket list, and I will be posting mine on here, in several posts, as it is a very, very, very long list. I may add more, if I find other travel destinations/attractions that I would like to visit one day.

    I will start with travel.

    Visit Italy
    -Leaning Tower of Pisa
    -Pompeii
    -Colosseum
    -Vatican City
    -Sistine Chapel
    -Mount Vesuvius
    -Trevi Fountain
    -David (Michelangelo)
    -Grand Canal (Venice)
    -Milan
    -Rome
    -Florence
    -Verona
    -Portofino
    -Ride in a gondola
     
    Visit England
    -London
    -London Eye
    -Big Ben
    -Buckingham Palace
    -Tower Bridge
    -Westminster Abbey
    -Trafalgar Square
    -St. Paul's Cathedral
    -Covent Garden
    -London Zoo
    -British Library
    -Wimbledon
    -London Paddington Station
    -Liverpool
    -Bristol
    -Bath

    Visit Scotland
    -Glasgow
    -Inverness
    -Edinburgh
    -Glasgow Cathedral
    -Loch Ness
    -Carbisdale Cathedral

    Visit Ireland
    -Dublin
    -Cork
    -Limerick
    -Shannon
    -Blarney Stone
    -Blarney Castle
    -Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin
    -Spire of Dublin
    -Grand Canal

    Visit Germany
    -Berlin
    -Munich
    -Hamburg
    -Frankfurt
    -Cologne
    -Stuttgart
    -Leipzig
    -Nuremberg
    -Brandenburg Gate
    -Berlin Wall
    -Neuschwanstein Castle
    -Cologne Cathedral
    -Berlin Cathedral
    -Berlin Zoological Garden
    -Deutsches Museum

    Visit Wales
    -Cardiff
    -Cardiff Castle
    -Britannia Bridge
    -National Botanic Garden of Wales
    -Horseshoe Falls

    Visit Australia
    -Sydney
    -Melbourne
    -Perth
    -Brisbane
    -Sydney Opera House
    -Sydney Harbour Bridge
    -Great Barrier Reef
    -Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park
    -Australia Zoo
    -Daintree Rainforest
    -Wave Rock
    -St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney
    -Daintree National Park

    Visit Egypt
    -Cairo
    -Alexandria
    -Thebes
    -Great Sphinx of Giza
    -Great Pyramid of Giza
    -Mount Sinai
    -Colossi of Memnon
    -Valley of the Queens

    Visit France
    -Paris
    -Marseille
    -Nice
    -Cannes
    -Montpellier
    -Dijon
    -Eiffel Tower
    -Louvre
    -Mona Lisa
    -Arc de Triomphe
    -Palace of Versailles
    -Notre Dame de Paris
    -French Riviera
    -Champs-Elysees

    Visit the Netherlands/Holland
    -Amsterdam
    -Rotterdam
    -Anne Frank House
    -Van Gogh Museum
    -Efteling
    -Rembrandt House Museum
    -Amsterdam Museum

    Visit Poland
    -Warsaw
    -Krakow
    -Auschwitz Concentration Camp
    -Wawel Castle
    -St. Mary's Basilica, Krakow
    -Christ the King
    -Grand Theatre, Warsaw
    -Wroclaw Zoo

    Visit Mexico
    -Cancun
    -Guadalajara
    -Acapulco
    -Oaxaca
    -Chichen Itza
    -Frida Kahlo Museum
    -Guadalajara Cathedral
    -Cola de Caballo

    Visit Brazil
    -Rio de Janeiro
    -Sao Paulo
    -Christ the Redeemer
    -Iguazu Falls
    -Copacabana
    -Fernando de Noronha
    -Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge
    -Sao Paulo Cathedral
    -Church of Nosso Senhor do Bonfim, Salvador
    -Itiquira Falls
    -Paranoa Lake
    -Rio de Janeiro Bontanical Garden

    Visit Canada
    -Ottowa
    -Toronto
    -Montreal
    -Vancouver
    -Calgary
    -Winnipeg
    -Halifax
    -Niagra Falls
    -Parliament Hill
    -Rocky Mountains
    -Canadian Rockies
    -Banff National Park
    -Chateau Frontenac
    -Casa Loma
    -Notre-Dame Basilica
    -Hockey Hall of Fame

    Visit Russia
    -Moscow
    -Sochi
    -Saint Petersburg
    -Kremlin
    -Saint Basil's Cathedral
    -Temple of All Religions
    -Bolshoi Theatre
    -Saint Isaac's Cathedral
    -Saint Petersburg Botanical Garden
    -Lena Pillars

    Visit China
    -Beijing
    -Hong Kong
    -Shanghai
    -Walk across the Great Wall of China
    -Forbidden City
    -Terracotta Army
    -Mount Everest
    -Giant Wild Goose Pagoda

    Visit Japan
    -Tokyo
    -Osaka
    -Hiroshima
    -Kobe
    -Kyoto
    -Mount Fuji
    -Himeji Castle
    -Itsukushma Shrine
    -Osaka Castle
    -Rainbow Bridge
    -Cherry blossoms

    Visit India
    -Mumbai
    -New Delhi
    -Taj Mahal
    -Red Fort
    -India Gate
    -Lotus Temple
    -Bahubali
    -Sundarbans National Park
    -Jog Falls

    Visit Jamaica
    -Dunn's River Falls
    -Black River
    -Dolphin's Cove
    -Y.S. River

    Visit the Bahamas

    Visit Czech Republic
    -Prague
    -Dancing House

    Visit Austria
    -Vienna
    -Salzburg
    -Vienna State Opera
    -Hohensalzburg Castle
    -Zugspitze
    -Spanish Riding School
    -Salzburg Cathedral
    -Melk Abbey
    -Heldenplatz
    -Judenplatz Holocaust Museum
    -Vienna Woods
    -Sigmund Freud Museum

    Visit Haiti
    -Port-au-Prince

    Visit New Zealand
    -Wellington
    -Christchurch
    -Hobbit Town in Matamata
    -See Glow Worms in the Waitomo Caves

    Visit Iceland

    Visit Greenland

    Visit Monte Carlo

    Visit Belgium
    -Brussels
    -Bruges
    -Antwerp
    -Gravensteen
    -Grand Place
    -Brussels Town Hall
    -Lion's Mound
    -Het Steen
    -Saint Nicholas' Church
    -Museum of the City of Brussels
    -Gentse Feesten

    Visit Switzerland
    -Zurich
    -Geneva
    -Swiss Alps
    -Matterhorn
    -Rhine Falls
    -Lake Geneva
    -Chateau de Chillon
    -Palace of Nations
    -Zytglogge
    -Glacier Express

    Visit Easter Island
    -Moai Statues

    Visit Chile
    -Laja Falls

    Visit Puerto Rico
    -San Juan

    Visit Argentina
    -Buenos Aires

    Visit the Bahamas

    Visit Costa Rica

    Visit Denmark
    -Copenhagen

    Visit Ecuador

    Visit Greece
    -Athens
    -Olympia
    -Delphi
    -Tripoli
    -Santorini
    -Mount Olympus
    -Parthenon
    -Acropolis
    -Temple of Olympian Zeus
    -Hagia Sophia
    -Theatre of Dionysus
    -Santorini Caldera
    -Lake Voulismeni
    -Mount Ainos

    Visit Hungary
    -Budapest

    Visit Israel
    -Jerusalem
    -Tel Aviv
    -Nazareth
    -Western Wall
    -Dome of the Rock
    -Temple Mount
    -Curch of the Holy Sepulchre
    -Mount of Olives
    -City of David
    -Tomb of the Virgin Mary
    -Mount of Beatitudes
    -David's Tomb
    -Basilica of the Annunciation

    Visit Lebanon
    -Beirut
    -Tripoli

    Visit Lithuania

    Visit Nepal
    -Kathmandu

    Visit Nicaragua

    Visit Norway
    -Oslo

    Visit Singapore
    -Singapore Flyer
    -Singapore Zoo
    -Thian Hock Keng
    -Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

    Visit Spain
    -Madrid
    -Barcelona
    -Almudena Cathedral
    -Alcazar of Seville
    -Plaze de Espana
    -Santa Maria la Blanca

    Visit Thailand
    -Bangkok
    -Khao Yai National Park
    -Wat Benchamabophit

    Visit Ukraine
    -Kiev
    -St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery
    -St. Sophia's Cathedral
    -St. Volodymyr's Cathedral
    -St. Andrew's Church
    -St. Cyril's Monastery
    -Vorontsov Lighthouse
    -People's Friendship Arch

    Visit Vietnam
    -Ho Chi Minh City
    -Imperial City
    -Thien Mu Pagoda
    -Temple of Literature
    -Dragon Bridge
    -Turtle Tower
    -Long Som Pagoda
    -Tuan Chau
    -Vietnam War Memorial

    Visit all 50 United States
    -New York
      -New York City
      -Manhattan
      -Statue of Liberty
      -Brooklyn
      -Albany
      -Ithaca
      -Lake Placid
      -Empire State Building
      -Central Park
      -Times Square
      -One World Trade Center
      -Brooklyn Bridge
      -Grand Central Terminal
      -Madison Square Garden
      -Adirondack Mountains
      -National September 11 Memorial and Museum
      -Coney Island
      -Bronx Zoo
      -Mount Rushmore
      -Grand Canyon
      -Disney Land
      -Disney World
      -Yellowstone National Park
      -The Pentagon
      -Hoover Dam
      -Hollywood Sign
      -Honolulu
      -Pearl Harbor
      -Hollywood Walk of Fame
      -Alcatraz
      -Gateway Arch
      -Lincoln Memorial
      -Washington Memorial
      -Space Needle
      -Maui
      -Oahu
      -Honolulu Zoo
      -Rainbow Falls
      -Wailua Falls
      -Springfield, Illinois
      -Nashville
      -Memphis
      -New Orleans
      -Graceland
      -Grand Ol Opry
      -Tennesse Aquarium
      -Dollywood
      -National Civil Rights Museum
      -Fall Creek Falls State Park
      -Natchez Trace Parkway Bridge
      -Titanic Museum
      -Green Bay
      -Houston
      -Austin
      -San Antonio
      -El Paso
      -Corpus Cristi
      -Fort Worth
      -Galveston
      -Las Vegas
      -Savannah, Georgia
      -Long Beach
      -Los Angeles
      -San Diego
      -Fresno
      -Anaheim
      -Pasadena
      -Montgomery, Alabama
      -Juneau, Alaska
      -Phoenix, Arizona
      -Little Rock, Arkansas
      -Denver, Colorado
      -Hartford, Connecticut
      -Dover, Delaware
      -Tallahasee, Florida
      -Atlanta, Georgia
      -Boise, Idaho
      -Indianapolis, Indiana
      -Des Moines, Iowa
      -Topeka, Kansas
      -Frankfurt, Kentucky
      -Baton Rouge, Louisiana
      -Augusta, Maine
      -Annapolis, Maryland
      -Boston, Massachusetts
      -Lansing, Michigan
      -Saint Paul, Minnesota
      -Jackson, Mississippi
      -Jefferson City, Missouri
      -Helena, Montana
      -Lincoln, Nebraska
      -Carson City, Nevada
      -Concord, New Hampshire
      -Trenton, New Jersey
      -Santa Fe, New Mexico
      -Albany, New York
      -Raleigh, North Carolina
      -Bismarck, North Dakota
      -Columbus, Ohio
      -Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
      -Salem, Oregon
      -Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
      -Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
      -Providence, Rhode Island
      -Columbia, South Carolina
      -Pierre, South Dakota
      -Nashville, Tennessee
      -Salt Lake City, Utah
      -Montpelier, Vermont
      -Richmond, Virginia
      -Olympia, Washington
      -Seattle, Washington
      -Charleston, West Virginia
      -Madison, Wisconsin
     -Cheyenne, Wyoming
     -Milwaukee, Wisconsin
     -Kenosha, Wisconsin
     -La Crosse, Wisconsin
     -Wisconsin Dells
     -Port Washington, Wisconsin

    Visit and buy something from Carlo's Bake Shop

    Visit Machu Picchu

    Visit Amish Acres in Nappanee, Indiana

    Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

    Visit the Caribbean

    Visit Maldives

    Visit Navajo Falls

    Visit Okavango Delta, Botswana

    Visit the Amazon

    Visit Stonehenge in person

    Go on a road trip/vacation with friends

    Live in a foreign country for 6 months to 1 year

    Friday, October 7, 2016

    My Fall 2016 Bucket List

    One thing about me, is that I LOVE making lists. I don't know what it is about lists/list-making, but I seriously enjoy it.

    Bucket lists are no different.

    Here is my Fall 2016 bucket list.

    • Go to a local fall fest (done: September 24, 2016)
    • Carve/decorate a pumpkin
    • Get bedroom cleaned up
    • Donate/get rid of unwanted items
    • Do a fall photo shoot
    • Start/work on sweater for dad
    • Start/keep regular exercise routine
    • Bake at least one pumpkin pie
    • Plan birthday party
    • Save up for, buy a full size (4/4) violin
    • Start saving up for a dslr camera
    • Watch Hocus Pocus
    • Make cinnamon rolls
    • Host a Friendsgiving dinner
    • Make a vision board
    • Make fall cookies
    • See a h.s. football game
    • Buy some new clothes
    • Go on an early morning walk, bike ride
    • Buy fall candles
    • Make crafts with leaves
    • Watch The Nightmare Before Christmas
    • Watch Corpse Bride
    • Watch The Addams Family
    • Watch Beetlejuice
    • Watch Coraline
    • Watch Monster House
    • Host a fall picnic
    • DIY fall/Halloween decorations
    • Watch Paranorman
    • Watch Hotel Transylvania
    • Watch Frankenweenie
    • Eat Halloween Oreos
    • 'Boo' neighbors
    • Watch It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
    • Watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
    • Roast pumpkin seeds
    • Put together and drop off shebox presents for Operation Christmas Child
    • Watch the Halloweentown movies
    • Find/enter into a meaningful, loving, happy relationship with someone
    • Learn to love myself
    • Try a pumpkin spice latte
    • Bake at least one apple pie
    • Have at least one movie night with friends
    • Start Christmas shopping
    • Host a game night
    • Go to the local farmer's market at least once
    • Build a Halloween gingerbread house
    • Sign up for spring semester classes
    • Practice cake decorating skills
    • Learn how to apply makeup
    • Upload at least one YouTube video
    • Have at least one at-home spa day
    • Apply for jobs until hired
    • Get a new mattress and bed frame
    • Start/maintain essential oil routine
    • Learn how to make Granny squares
    • Learn how to cook better
    That is all I can think of at this point (which is more than enough to get by during the fall). I am looking forward to hopefully trying at least some of these over the next few months!

    Sunday, September 4, 2016

    What Would Your Life Look Like If Money Had No Meaning?

    What would your life look life if money had no meaning? Would you work? Where would you live? Who would you spend your time with? What would you do more/less of?

    I found this question, among others, through a Pinterest post on ideas for journal prompts. I thought it was a good one to answer, so here is my answer.

    If money had no meaning, yes, I would work. If it is something that I love, that I truly enjoy, yes, I would work. I love and enjoy baking, writing, and photography, so anything to do with any of those fields, or a combination, would make me very happy!! Maybe even open up my own business(es).

    I would probably live in England for a year at some point, and maybe somewhere in Michigan or Wisconsin. I would also do a lot more traveling, around the world.

    I would spend my time with my oldest brother and his wife. I haven't seen him in a long time, and would love to see him again. I would also spend time with my cousins, as I don't see them very often either.

    I would do more outings with friends and family, and less time just sitting around the house doing unproductive things. I would exercise more and eat properly.

    I would go on some missions trips, to help people in need, as well as help those in need back home.

    I would live on my own. At one point, I would love to live on a farm with my future husband and kids (I am not married yet, nor am I a parent yet), and raise animals (horses, a few other animals), and have my own garden, with fruits, veggies, and flowers.

    I would try to learn how to play multiple instruments.

    I would get my license, and then get my own vehicle.

    Basically, I would make something of myself. I would be able to do more of the things I would like to do, and feel more confident about myself.

    Saturday, July 30, 2016

    Job Searching...Again

    Well, it has been a year since that short-lived stint at a local ice cream shop (a few weeks; the manager/boss said that I "wasn't a good fit" for the company :(  ).

    And I haven't had a job since then.

    I have started the job search process again, though. So it's not like I haven't been doing nothing since the Cold Stone job (I volunteer on Fridays at the local library as well, which at least gets me out of the house once a week).

    I had gone out to luch with a friend, on Thursday, and she offered to help me make an updated resume, to help out in the job search. It is just about finished; I have a few more things to add, and then it will be ready for those jobs that ask for a resume upon filling out job applications.

    To be honest, I am glad my friend got me to fill out a resume this week, as I don't know when I would have done it if she hadn't.

    I am mainly looking at bakeries/restaurants, or places that have bakeries, as that is my field of study in school (baking and pastry), but I am also looking at places like grocery stores, pet stores, the local library, etc.

    I am hoping that I get another job soon, as it felt good to actually be doing something, and to be able to earn my own money, to buy things that I need and want. I jsut want to feel that independence again.

    So, here's hoping to successfully landing another job, and keeping it a lot longer this time!!

    Monday, June 27, 2016

    101 Things in 1001 Days

    I heard about this a while back. I read a few blog posts from people who made their own lists of things they want to do in 1,00l days (or 2.75 years). I was immediately on board in making my own list, and took a few days to think about what I really wanted to do in that amount of time.

    So, without further ado, here is my list of 101 Things in 100l Days:

     
    Start Date: Friday, July 1, 2016
     
    End Date: Friday, March 29, 2019

    1. Post a video on YouTube
    2. Buy a full size (4/4) violin, and play it regularly
    3. Get a job I will love
    4. Get my driver's license
    5. Buy a Wii and Wii Fit
    6. Attend a Zumba class
    7. Get my baking/pastry degree
    8. Go on a Joni and Friends Retreat as a STM
    9. Go horseback riding
    10. Be in a loving relationship
    11. Get/start photography degree
    12. Clean up & redecorate bedroom
    13. Start, keep up an essential oils routine
    14. Make and stick to a regular workout routine
    15. Improve my posture
    16. Learn sign language
    17. Learn to sew
    18. Buy a DSLR camera
    19. Have a picnic with friends/family
    20. Hand write letters to friends and send them
    21. Go on a photo shoot with me in front of the camera
    22. Go on a photo shoot with me behind the camera
    23. Make at least one new friend a year
    24. Dye my hair blond
    25. Take a cooking class
    26. Get a second ear piercing
    27. Get nose pierced
    28. Attend a Bulls game
    29. Donate unwanted clothes, accessories, books, etc.
    30. Watch all seasons of Lost
    31. Watch all seasons of Downton Abbey (finished watching this before I finalized this list, so I changed it to another show) Watch all seasons of Hawaii Five-O
    32. Watch all seasons of Game of Thrones
    33. Swim with dolphins
    34. Unsubscribe from all unwanted email lists
    35. Make sweater for dad (knit or crochet)
    36. See the Bean in Chicago
    37. Go to local Farmer's Market
    38. Make a vision board
    39. Read the entire Bible
    40. Make at least one loaf of bread from scratch
    41. Get certified in First and and CPR
    42. Leave 101 inspiring messages
    43. Grow out my hair really long
    44. Go for a walk (up to thirty minutes each) 5 times a week
    45. Host at least one game night
    46. Get a new bed and bed frame
    47. Get better at cake decorating (a LOT better!)
    48. Take a one week vacation from Facebook
    49. Create/update resume
    50. Buy a laptop
    51. Learn how to juggle
    52. Take a picture of each letter of the alphabet
    53. Learn how to apply makeup
    54. Visit Navy Pier again
    55. Put together and send as many shoebox presents as I can to Operation Christmas Child
    56. Become fluent in Italian
    57. Volunteer at a local animal shelter
    58. Go to an Andrea Bocelli concert
    59. Eat at seven new to me restaurants
    60. Blog every day for one month
    61. Take a trip by myself
    62. See a live musical
    63. Make homemade gifts for friends/family
    64. Relearn and become fluent in Spanish
    65. Learn to grill
    66. Take a self-defense class
    67. Create a list of 50 things I love about myself
    68. Learn how to tie a tie
    69. Decorate a picture frame for a Father's Day gift, and give it to my dad
    70. Get a facial
    71. Start drinking tea on a regular basis
    72. Go to a h.s. football game
    73. Participate in an Escape Room adventure with friends/family
    74. Buy a new bike helmet
    75. Buy a new pair of roller blades (my dad threw out my last pair, which were STILL GOOD)
    76. Do at least one thing out of my comfort zone
    77. Get my eyes/vision rechecked
    78. Buy something from Etsy
    79. Go ice skating again
    80. Go to bed by midnight
    81. Wake up by 9 am
    82. Try one recipe a month from Pinterest
    83. Try one craft a month from Pinterest
    84. Try five new foods
    85. Go on a mission trip
    86. Get down to my goal weight, and maintain it
    87. Make pulled pork
    88. Go paintballing
    89. Start and maintain a dream journal again
    90. Visit Lincoln Park, Brookfield Zoos
    91. Visit Springfield, Illinois
    92. Visit 3 states I've never been to
    93. Get a credit card
    94. Try archery
    95. Go to Medieval Times
    96. Visit the Shedd Aquarium again
    97. Buy good running shoes
    98. Host/have a Friendsgiving at least once
    99. Get new glasses
    100. Get rid of my acne for good
    101. Create another 101 in 1001 list