Category: Life

Fall Bucket List Item #6: Decorate for Fall

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Fall is upon us once again and so despite the craziness of life….a bit of decorating is a must. This year Addie is old enough to help get out our one little orange rubber maid. Honestly, I like that we put out the same predictable decorations each year (a few are listed below). While I love whimsy and novelty, I also find joy in routine and tradition. I like that we don’t have box after box of complicated decor. We have one box. We put out the same items year after year with little deviation or addition.

Traditions bring a sense of richness to life that I love to share with my girls and husband. I love this little tradition so much that I think I may start doing the same with one box of items for Easter/Spring as well as Summer.

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Pre-Fall Bucket List Adventures

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Who cares that it isn’t “officially” fall yet?! When you get an opportunity to knock a few items off on the 2018 Fall Bucket List, you just go for it!

Life being crazy-busy like it is and will be for the next year or so, we seriously thought about canceling our trip to Blue Ridge. However, when remembering Gretchen Rubin’s words in my ear to “choose the bigger life,” we headed out for another whirlwind weekend getaway.

In less than 72 hours we crammed in the following:

-Pony rides

-Chicky bowls at our favorite Cuban restaurant in Blue Ridge

-Blairsville’s First-ever Taste of the Mountains

-Apple picking

-Downtown Blue Ridge Window shopping

-S’mores!

-Addie Milked a Cow!

 

 

 

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Choose the Bigger Life

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If you know me at all, then you know that I geek out about anything related to personal development, productivity, habits, and so forth. I LOVE listening to these two ladies right here, Gretchen Rubin and Elizabeth Craft. I have been a faithful podcast listener of their shows, Happier and Happier in Hollywood for years! Gretchen has many sayings that she has coined in her books and podcast, and one of my favorites is this: “Choose the BIGGER life.” Simply put, when given the opportunity don’t always choose the easier path…but choose the path that provides the biggest opportunity for growth, fun, exploration, relationship building, etc… Yes, that means that you probably should NOT choose to veg on the couch for an entire weekend binge watching Netflix. Yes, that DOES mean you should put on your big girl panties and go for it…whatever “it” may be.

Waring and I are busy right now, and we are certainly tired too…but I am thankful for all that God has blessed us with and want to strive each day to live the BIGGER life!

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Fall 2018 Bucket List

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Fall 2018 Bucket List:

  1. Celebrate Addie’s 5th Birthday
  2. Paint Pumpkins
  3. Go to Disney World
  4. Explore 2 new states
  5. Go Trick or Treating
  6. Decorate for Fall
  7. Make homemade Fall Decorations
  8. Create a Thanksgiving Tree
  9. Finish the Thanksgiving Tablecloth
  10. 3rd Annual Friends Giving “C-theme this year”
  11. Light a Sky Lantern
  12. Go to A Harvest Festival
  13. Take Family Pictures
  14. Go to the Fair
  15. Read/Listen to 6 Books
  16. Get to GOAL WEIGHT!!!!
  17. Holistic Health Lesson
  18. Finish Christmas Shopping
  19. Cornmaze
  20. Udemy Lesson
  21. Relentless pursuit of goals!

Summer Bucket List 2018 Update

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This Summer has been jam-packed with life. Ugly, messy, beautiful, crazy, fun, adventurous life. We got a lot done, but when I think about this summer I am reminded of a quote from my girl-crush, Rachel Hollis:

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  1. Paint character rocks– DONE!

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  1. Pick blueberries—DONE!

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  1. Take newborn photos—DONE!
  2. Go to Virginia–DONE!
  3. Eat LOTS of fresh tomato and bacon sandwiches–DONE!

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  1. Swim lessons for Addie—DONE! (with Granny Layne as primo swim instructor)

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  1. Create Year 9 Photobook—Um…not yet…
  2. Plan 2018 – 2019 Trips (Fall break, Christmas, Spring Break, & Summer)- Spring Break–DONE!, Fall Break–DONE! Summer & Christmas–Not Yet!
  3. Paint pottery–DONE!pot4
  4. Tye dye–Not yet, but we have all of the ingredients needed for a fun night!
  5. Make stepping stones-Not yet, but we have all of the ingredients needed for a fun night!
  6. Go see a matinee- DONE!
  7. Create a girl’s-only spa night–DONE and DONE!

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  1. Go to tea with Addie—DONE!

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  1. Make homemade pizza–DONE!
  2. Celebrate 9 years of marriage- DONE!

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  1. Go new school clothes shopping with Addie- DONE! (Okay, so I mostly did this online)
  2. Throw an End-of-Summer & Beginning-of-School Adventure Night- DONE! We went to Chili’s but it still counts…
  3. Have a labor party to welcome Eleanor and get back to goal weight- DONE & DONE (Sort-of…I am 7lbs away from pre-pregnancy weight with 33 pounds down in 10 weeks. Yeah, I am pretty happy with this, the rest will come).
  4. Light a sky lantern-Not yet, but we have all of the ingredients needed for a fun night!

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A Sleeping Baby

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Is there anything sweeter than cuddling with a sleeping baby? I think not…

With three more weeks of maternity leave left, I am savoring each and every one of these snuggles! Am I tired? Yes. Is she sleeping “through the night”? No. Will this and all of her other stages pass far, far to quickly? Absolutely!

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Bucket List: 1st Friday Arts March in the Starland District Savannah, GA

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Have you explored your own hometown lately? Waring and I did just that last weekend. I have been wanting to explore the Starland District in downtown Savannah during the 1st Friday Arts March for a year or so now. For one reason or another things have not worked out until…. last Friday!

Waring and I took the littlest out on the town to meet Mer, Justin, and Baby Eli out for Tacos and a walk through the Starland District. We saw a pretty wild flower art exhibit, tasted olive oil and vinegar, ate tacos, and enjoyed some time catching up with friends. I love it when bucket list items are: 1). close to home 2). reasonably priced 3). pretty painless to accomplish 4). fun!!!

 

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The Beautiful Lynchburg, VA

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Waring had to go to school….and we came along for the ride. We had a great time in the small town that is now as the foothills of the Shenandoah Valley. We ate lots of good food, were mesmerized by fireflies and deer in the back yard each night, played at the children’s museum, hiked around the Natural Bridge, had traditional English tea, and even road an elephant. Yup….it was a pretty good week. Waring didn’t get to see much of the city, but he did well in his classes and is one step closer to graduation. That is what I call and win-win!

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Summer Bucket List: Celebrate 9 Years of Marriage

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One week after Eleanor’s arrival marks nine years of marriage for us. When trying to adjust to life with a new baby (especially when you are nursing) it is difficult to be far from the house. Thanks to Waring’s family we were able to steal away for a couple of hours to go out to eat to celebrate the special occasion.

Nine years has truly been just a blink of an eye. I am so thankful for our marriage. It (like us) is flawed and messy at times, but absolutely perfect to me. I am one lucky girl!

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