3 Things I'd Like to Try Before Year's End

There are many things I would like to do/try this year, but I have decided to focus on three at this time (or, at least, I would like to focus on these).

1. Learn how to play the ukulele.
   For a little while now, I have been wanting to play the ukulele. A co-worker of mine goes to a ukulele group thing on Thursday evenings at a local restaurant, playing songs on the ukulele. I have always loved music and instruments, especially stringed instruments. So, hopefully, I can go to these ukulele meet-ups on Thursdays, once I get decent enough.
2. Learn how to sew.
   For a long time, I have been wanting to learn how to sew, but never got the opportunity to.really learn how to. I want to be able to know how to fix/patch up clothes if I need to, and to be able to make my own clothes and other items. My mom was able to make my bridesmaid dress for my brother's wedding, and my sister has made several different items, that are very impressive. It makes me want to learn for myself, so I hope to be able to do that sometime this year.
3. Write a book (or at least start one).
   I love to write, and have had the idea of writing a book for quite some time now. I just haven't had any inspiration for a story yet. I really want to have at least one published book in my life, and to have people enjoy it.

What are three things you would like to try this year?


I know this was only supposed to be three things, but I just thought of one more thing I would like to try this year, which is:

• Running/jogging
  Normally, I hate to run, but I've seen and heard about how many people love the benefits of running. So, I have been thinking about trying a running/jogging routine at some point this year. I am trying to get myself into better shape, so I am willing to try running, at least for a little while.

A Tough Time in My Life

Everybody goes through a tough time in their life, at some point. I have definitely gone through my share of mine.

The toughest time in my life was the last 5 or so weeks of my mom's life, her death, and about 6 or so months after her death.

It was really, really hard to see her so sick, and not able to really do anything. A few weeks after she first went into the hospital, she actually started to slowly improve, so we though we were going to be able to take her home at some point.

That was not to be, though. A week or so later, she took a turn for the worst, and just went downhill from there.

I hated seeing here like that; so sick, and not being able to take care of herself.

When we knew she was going to die, I went to the hospital's chapel, because I was so overwhelmed with the whole thing. We had spend so much time at the hospital with my mom, and it was taking a toll on me. On all of us.

For at least six months or so, after my mom died, I cried at night, and knowing my mom wasn't physically there to comfort me made it worse. I took some time off of school, so I could

Surprisingly, after almost a year, I was ready to go back to school, but I had to wait about a year and a half to go back, for financial reasons.

I had several dreams about her, almost all of them good, making me wish I could tell my mom about these dreams. Now, I seldom get dreams about my mom, which I miss.

These days, I am doing much better. I am still in school, I now have a job, and I am volunteering. I just wish my mom was around to witness these things. But, I know she would be proud of all that I have accomplished so far.

I miss and love you very much, mom!!!

My 5 Year Plan

I have been thinking about where I want to be in my life, in the next five years. There are a lot of things I would like to do, and I am trying to get at least some of those done as soon as I can.

So, here is my five year plan:

• To finish my baking degree
• To get/start my photography degree
• To get my bedroom cleaned up and redecorated
• To move out of my parents' house
• Have a regular exercise routine
• Have a healthier/better eating habit
• To be in a healthy, loving relationship
• Learn Spanish fluently
• To at least start writing a book
• To become a little more outgoing
• Learn to play the ukulele
• Re-learn how to play the violin
• Learn Italian fluently (or at least semi-fluently)
• Learn sign language (ASL) fluently (or at least semi-fluently)
• Get my vision re-checked
• Save up for, and buy, a good DSLR camera
• Adopt a dog
• Become proficient in cake decorating
• Learn how to apply makeup
• Learn how to sew
• Learn to love myself (yes, I really want to do this)

100 Things To Do When You Are Bored

If you are bored, and can't think of anything to do, here is a list of 100 ideas, of things to do when you are bored.

1. Play a board or card game
2. Visit a museum
3. Go for a walk
4. Go for a bike ride
5. Doodle/draw/paint
6. Take a long, warm bath
7. Bake a cake
8. Bake cookies
9. Bake brownies
10. Cook something
11. Learn a new language
12. Be a tourist in your own city/town
13. Fly a kite
14. Write a story
15. Garden
16. Play with your pet(s)
17. Have a movie day/night
18. Have a spa day
19. Practice yoga
20. Read a book
21. Call a friend or family member you haven't seen/talked to in a while
22. Go to a local concert/festival
23. Visit the local Farmer's Market
24. Go on a picnic at the local park (or in the living room if it's too bad outside)
25. Make a collage
26. Make a vision board
27. Go bowling
28. Visit a theme park
29. Go garage-saling
30. Go to a thrift store
31. Learn how to play an instrument
32. Make melted crayon art
33. Volunteer at an animal shelter
34. Volunteer at a homeless shelter
35. Volunteer at a local library
36. Volunteer at a hospital
37. Find other local places to volunteer at
38. Put a puzzle together
39. Color in a coloring book
40. Redecorate your bedroom
41. Do a crossword puzzle
42. Have a movie marathon
43. Write poetry
44. Write a story
45. Write a letter to your past or future self
46. Draw with sidewalk chalk (you are never too old for this!!)
47. Go roller blading
48. Binge watch a TV series
49. Write/create your own song(s)
50. Make a bucket list
51. Check out a new-to-you restaurant
52. Learn how to sew
53. Bake a loaf of homemade bread
54. Learn how to juggle
55. Make a 101 in 1,00l Days list, and try to complete as many of those things as possible
56. Play a sport
57. Donate any items you don't need or want anymore (that are in good condition)
58. Meditate
59. If you don't know how already, learn how to apply makeup
60. Try a new hairstyle
61. Spend the day at a library, and check out things that interest you
62. Learn how to tie a tie
63. Sign up for a class at your local community center
64. Stage a photo shoot
65. Join a MeetUp group (www.meetup.com)
66. Make and give gifts to friends, family
67. Go on a picnic
68. Learn about bullet journaling and try it out
69. Try a different hair color
70. Visit a new city
71. Put your physical pictures in frames, scrapbooks, or albums
72. Do a random act of kindness for someone
73. Try out a science experiment
74. Look at the stars, and try and find a constellation
75. Build a blanket/pillow fort
76. Visit a zoo
77. If you have a dog, walk your dog
78. Watch a sunrise
79. Watch a sunset
80. Try skateboarding
81. Tie dye clothing
82. Visit an aquarium
83. Visit a science museum
84. Try origami
85. Try archery
86. Attend a cooking class
87. Make a homemade pizza
88. Learn finger knitting (look it up; it really is a thing!!)
89. If you have kids, go on a daddy/daughter, mother/son, daddy/son, mother/daughter date(s)
90. See a play
91. Have a water gun fight
92. Have a water balloon fight
93. Make a smoothie
94. Decorate a pair of white shoes
95. Learn self defense
96. Dance to your favorite music/song(s)
97. Host a barbecue
98. Go mini golfing
99. Host a game night with friends
100. Make homemade lemonade

Enjoy!!

Things That Make Me Happy

There are lots of things that make me happy, and I figured I would share what those are.

• Books
• Journaling/writing/blogging
• Baking
• Feel-good movies
• Warm weather
• Rain on a warm day
• Hugs from loved ones
• My favorite music
• Taking pictures
• My favorite foods
• Relaxing out on the front porch, or in the yard, on a warm, sunny day
• Playing the violin
• Spending time with family and friends
• Bike riding
• Pets (playing with them, cuddling with them, petting them, etc.)
• Knitting
• Crocheting
• A very comfy bed
• Cheesecake (I LOVE cheesecake!!!)
• The sound of rain (and the smell after a rain)
• Butterflies
• Hot chocolate during cold weather days
• Ice cream on a warm/hot day
• A good laugh
• Having people to love
• Making awesome memories with family and friends
• Making s'mores
• Going swimming on a hot day
• Learning something new
• Being able to buy things that I want and need, with my own money
• Making lists (yes, making lists makes me happy!!)
• Taking an accidental pictures that turns out really good
• Going somewhere new, and having a good time
• Being warm on a cool/cold day/night
• Being cool on a warm/hot day/night
• Eggless chocolate chip cookie dough (seriously, this stuff is SOOOO good!!!)
• Flowers
• Gardening
• Being in nature
• Being alive
• Being me
• And many, many more!!

What makes you happy?

3 Wishes

I have been thinking about all the things I would like to do in my lifetime, and these are the three that I would most like to happen (although I know the first won't happen in this lifetime).

1. To get to see and talk to my mom again.
   My mom died in 2010, and it was very hard on me. We didn't have the best of relationships, but I did love her very much, and hated seeing her so sick, and in the hospital, the last 5 weeks of her life. I did get to say goodbye to her, but I did not want to let her go. I really want to be able to be with her again, one more time.
2. To have a job/career that I will love, and not really feel like 'work.'
   I have a few passions: writing, baking, and photography. I am currently going for my baking degree, and hope to get more degrees in all three friends in the future.
3. To travel the world.
   I have never been outside of the U.S. before, and would really love to travel all around, outside as well as in the U.S. There is a lot that the world has to offer, and I want to see and experience as much of it as I can, while I can.

There is much, much, MUCH more that I would love to be able to do, but these are my top three. I hope to be able to enjoy more things in my life, and to have the best life I can possibly make for myself.

Even though this is a three wishes post, I have decided to add one more, because it's something that I really, really, really want:

• To get married, and start a family of my own.
  I want to get married to someone who loves me for all of me, who won't hurt or try to change me, and who I love very much, who I will love for who he is. I would also love to have children, either biologically, or through adoption.

Five Minute Friday: Enough

I am linking up with Kate Motaung, for this week's Five Minute Friday.

This week's FMF is: Enough

 

You are enough

You are beautiful enough

You are smart enough

You are loved enough

You are worthy enough

You are talented enough

 

Is it really so hard to see your worth?

Your beauty?

Your strengths?

Is it so hard to see the worth,

the beauty,

the strength in others?

 

Everyone has a right

to be who they are,

and does not need to change

for anyone or anything.

Their life, as well as your own,

is worth it,

is enough.

 

You are more than what other people think of you.

You are the way you are for a reason,

and nothing can change that.

You have always been enough,

and will always be enough.

 

You do not have to be perfect,

to be enough.

No material possession

determines your worth.

You are worthy of this life,

and this life is worth it.

 

My Fears

Everyone has fears, even if they don't want to admit it.

I have three big fiears:

• Death (my biggest fear)
• Heights, and
• Spiders

I know, spiders aren't the worst thing to be afraid of, but they creep me out. I won't scream, or freak out if I see one, but I will NOT hold one.

Heights, I have been afraid of pretty much forever. When I went to Montana with my family for a wedding, we had driven partway up a mountain, and had got out to check out the view. I was seriously scared being up that high.

Death, I never seriously thought about, until my maternal grandpa died in 1999. Seeing him like that in the casket, really scared me, and I have been very afraid of death since then.

I am starting to come to terms with death, and accepting it as a part of life, but I will probably always have some fear of it.

Another 'fear' of mine is not finding someone to spend the rest of my life with, and having a family with. I really want to be a wife and a mother, and as I get older, it doesn't seem like it will be happening anytime soon. I'm not in too much of a hurry, but I would really like to be in a loving relationship at some point.

I am also afraid of public speaking, of speaking in front of people. I definitely do NOT like being the center of attention, of being in the spotlight. I always think of what others may say, think, or do when I speak, and I always get stage fright when I have to speak.

I do try to calm myself, and try not too think too much into it, but it doesn't really help. I always get scared, and my mind goes blank when I get up in front of people. I do want to work on this, and become more comfortable in speaking, but it may take a while for that to happen.

These fears are not preventing me, for the most part, of living my life. I still do things that I enjoy, and try not to worry too much about what may happen. I don't want to miss out on life, and want to enjoy it to the fullest.

10 Things I Cannot Live Without

If I had to choose ten things I couldn't live without they would be:

1. Books
   I love to read, because I can get lost in a book, and travel to different places, without having to go very far. It helps me to de-stress, which is awesome.
2. Music
   Music also helps me to de-stress, and I can get lost in it as well.
3. Notebooks and pens
   I also love to write. As I am a very shy person, writing helps me to better get my point across, and I can be creative in what I want to say.
4. Blogging
   I know blogging is basically writing, but I had to include it here.
5. Baking supplies
   I absolutely LOVE to bake, and am almost finished with my baking degree.
6. Digital/DSLR cameras
   Yet another passion of mine. I am always on the lookout for photo opportunities, and many things catch my eye.
7. Puzzles
   This is another thing that helps me to de-stress after a long day/week.
8. Blankets
   I love blankets, and I am one of those people that prefer to be covered when I sleep. I don't know why.
9. Knitting and crocheting supplies
   Another de-stresser. I love making things, and I always look forward to the finished product.
10. Chocolate
    Obviously!! I LOVE chocolate, and can't see myself being able to live without it.

Movies I Would Like to See

Because I am busy with work, school, homework, and volunteering, I don't feel up to doing much sometimes, but when I do feel like doing something, it's just to watch a movie, or go on the internet.

Here are the movies I would like to see:

• Logan
• Power Rangers
• Kong: Skull Island
• La La Land
• The Shack
• The Great Wall
• Rock Dog
• Smurfs: The Lost Village
• The Girl on the Train
• The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
• Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales
• Despicable Me 3
• Cars 3
• Transformers: The Last Knight
• Spider-Man: Homecoming
• Boss Baby
• Born in China
• The Case for Christ
• Sing
• Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
• Fences
• Jackie
• Moonlight
• A Monster Calls
• Storks
• Free State of Jones
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
• The Huntsman: Winter's War
• The Boss
• Miracles From Heaven
• The Fountain
• Risen
• Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
• American Sniper
• Pride & Prejudice & Zombies
• Spectre
• Steve Jobs
• The Lady in the Van
• A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velazquez Story
• He Named Me Malala
• The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

What is on your list of movies to watch?

There will definitely be other movies I would like to see, but this is it so far.