She's Makin' A List & Checkin' It Twice

With 2017 coming to a close and this likely being my last blog post of the year, I have decided to take a moment and update my readers on my "30 Before 30" list. Only 126 days remain people, 126 days to complete 18 items. Let's do this thing!

1. Start writing again, for me. To explore the possibilities of starting a blog and getting my thoughts out in hopes that it can help me find an outlet on days like today, to find my way back to something I am very passionate about and maybe, just maybe, help some other people through days like today.  I have continued to work on this blog & will continue to do so. Even though there are times when the days between posts are more than I'd like it to be, I'm enjoying finding new inspiration and things to write about. To those of you who take the time to read these posts as they are written, I thank you! 

2. Get healthy. Eat better. Lose 15-25 pounds.  Last summer I felt like I'd taken a good step forward. Even though I wasn't down more than about 8 pounds, I was toning & feeling better than ever. I've fallen off the wagon a bit but recently, with the help of Jacob, I'm trying to get back into the routine of hitting the gym in the mornings (at least 3 days a week). My  ultimate goal is to lose 10-15 pounds from my current weight of 163 by my birthday in May. 

3. Be a better me. For myself, for Jacob, for our kids. This will ALWAYS, ALWAYS, be a work in progress. However, I really do feel I've made strides in the right direction this year. Jacob and I went on our first overnight trip, alone, without children or friends a couple weeks ago and guess what? We survived. And I for one, had a dang good time.

4. Take more pictures of us. Of our children. Of nature. Find beauty behind the lens.

5. Get another tattoo. An anchor? The kid's names? Both?

6. Partake in a paintball fight.

7. Find adventure. Try new things. Say yes more often.  I'm trying to take this on as my new life mantra. 2017 has been a good year for this. I have tried new food - fish & oysters. I started playing disc golf. I made my first homemade pie, crust & all! 

8. Go on a random road trip with friends.

9. Travel to a new city or state.  I've stepped foot in Louisiana & Alabama this year (both a first for me) & went to a concert in Maryville, MO. A family trip to Arkansas and Tennessee are both in the works for 2018. Stay tuned.

10. Play messy twister.

11. Become a "regular" somewhere. 

12. Learn to cook. I've screwed up hamburger helper for Pete's sake! This too, will forever be a work in progress but hey, I am working on it. I've made homemade noodles & took my first attempt at a homemade apple pie. 

13. Start a new family tradition.  I started a new "family" tradition with a set of friends this year. Alex and Neal, some friends of ours, held their First Annual Noodle Making Party this December. It was a tradition passed on to Neal by his Grandma and he shared it with a group of us this winter. I can honestly say, I had a blast and will continue to attend for as long as they keep the tradition going. BUT, it definitely does help if you remember to put said noodles in the freezer and not leave them in the beer cooler.... pure devastation.

14. Know that it's okay to say how I feel. Holding it in doesn't provoke change.

15. Rekindle the romance and friendship with my husband. Times get tough. Sometimes giving up seems like the easiest thing to do but 11 years is too far to come to just walk away. I feel Jacob & I have both made steps forward in this category. He is my best friend. He always makes me laugh (even when I'm trying really hard not to). He calls me on my crap. And at the end of the day, we have each other and we're working to be the best versions of ourselves for each other and our kids. 

16. Go to a Chase Rice concert.  HOLY SMOKES people, I can cross this one off my list. On December 8th, Jacob and I braved the campus of Northwest Missouri State University to attend my very first Chase Rice concert. I say first because if I have it my way, it won't be my last! He was AMAZING!!!! 

17. Worry less. It's okay to go a day without makeup or the perfect hair. And lazy Sundays are and should be a thing. I've definitely been embracing the exhilaration of not having to get all dolled up on the weekends.

18. Finally watch the Lord of the Rings & Hobbit trilogies.

19. Find the prettiest waterfall in the state of Kansas.

20. Experience a drive in theater. 

21. Re-read the Harry Potter series & have a weekend marathon. 

22. Continue to make more time for family.

23. Lear to let go. Of hurt and of anger.

24. Make time for myself.  Since I've been slacking in my commitment to go to the gym, my time alone has taken a backseat to other things in life. And this time of year is just crazy. I will admit though, it's my own fault. Jacob is always very encouraging me to take a little time to myself. So after a recent bathroom remodel, I am telling myself, "grab a glass of wine & a book and allow yourself to enjoy a nice soak in the tub every once in awhile."

25. Home improvement projects. Kitchen (done), wall decor, office area. The office area is still not done. I will get there though, I will get there. But we have remodeled the kid's bathroom and I'm not going to lie, I'm pretty envious of it.

26. Explore the opportunities within an online course or certification. 

27. Find the best cheeseburger in the state of Kansas.

28. Read more. I've read some good ones so far this year. I've found a new favorite author, Kristin Hannah & really enjoyed and recommend "The Good, The Bad and the Grace of God" by Jep & Jessica Robertson.

29. Go to a musical.

30. Never back down. Go after my dreams.

Doodie-Wads & Bingo

Christmas is hands down, my most favorite time of year and has always been my favorite holiday. For me, it's not about the gifts but about the traditions. You see, from the time I was little, my Grandma instilled in me the Christmas spirit. 

Last Friday evening, I got to spend some time with my Momma and the conversation soon turned to Grandma and all the things we did together, year after year. This year will be our second year without her and while we think about her daily, the void seems particularly daunting this time of year.

For those of you who didn't know my Grandma, let me just say this, she was an EXCELLENT shopper. Having worked in retail for many years, she was a professional at finding us the best deal. Every year before Christmas, my mom, my Grandma and I would embark on a girl's shopping trip. Any coupons we'd received were brought along, tucked into Grandma's billfold. Whenever we'd got our fill at a store, we'd make our way up to the checkout line and while waiting in line, Grandma would go through our finds and contemplate how to get the most bang for our buck. I can just hear her now, "We're going to put these shoes and these few shirts together, which totals ... and then we'll use our $20 off a purchase of $20 or more ...and for our second transaction we'll ...." It was a running joke in our family that one day we'd go to JcPenney and by the end of it, they'd owe Grandma money! 

Another thing I remember doing with her this time of year is making doodie-wads (or in common lingo, no bake cookies). It's a southern thing...don't ask. Grandma had the process down to an art. She knew exactly how long the mixture need boiled and when you actually needed to start the timer and they always turned out perfect. Me on the other hand, can not make a batch of no-bakes to save my life. I've tried and tried and tried again. They either harden up too quick or I can't get them to harden up at all. There is no in between. 

Hallmark Movies. She'd watched them all at least once. Mom said when her and Grandma would talk on the phone, Grandma would tell her all about the movies she watched and told Mom which ones to look for to come back on. Growing up I remember watching them with her but I didn't really find my appreciation for them until last year. And while I haven't watched very many yet this year, my DVR is full of recordings of them (sorry honey!). 

Back before I can remember, my Grandma worked at Newman's Department Store. I didn't know until last Friday that it was due to a foot injury that my Grandma was put to work doing gift wrapping. It must have been there that her wrapping expertise began. You see, at Christmas time, Grandma didn't believe in gift bags (unless time didn't allow proper wrapping or an odd shaped present came along). All presents must be wrapped. Not only that, there was a science to it which had to be followed. She did not care for shiny paper. And presents were topped with ribbons and bows (which properly matched and/or accented the wrapping paper). After a wrapping session, Grandma could tell you the average time to complete wrapping a gift, from boxing to gift tag and how many presents were averaged per half hour or hour. It's an art that she passed down to my mother and I and one which we take very seriously. 

Some other things I remember include the following: the bowl that set on her kitchen table year after year, filled with apples, oranges, mixed nuts, candy canes and Hershey kisses. The candy containers filled with M & Ms, peanut M & M's, miniature snickers and miniature peanut butter cups that were placed throughout her house. The sundrop cakes she'd have my Aunt Janice make for us on the years we'd go to North Carolina. Holiday cookies (but only the kind you could buy in bags for $1 at Dollar General). 

And now for the grand finale of our Christmas traditions: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

On Christmas Eve, we'd always gather as a family for a night of food and fun. The menu for dinner remains the same to this day, chili and all the fixins'. After dinner, we'd gather around and one of us grandchildren would ready the Christmas story out of the bible. When we were younger, Grandma might let us open one of our gifts from her, but as we got older, we started a new Christmas Eve tradition, bingo. Everyone that plans on playing is to bring a couple of little white elephant gifts and when a bingo is called out, the lucky winner gets to pick a random present from the stash. It's always a good time. The banter between us players is normally what makes the experience for me. Even Grandma, fun loving Grandma, loved to pick at us while we played.

Christmas morning consists of Santa, gift exchange and cinnamon rolls, always cinnamon rolls. And coffee, we mustn't forget the coffee.  And now that I'm adult (a term which I use very loosely), my favorite part of Christmas Day is watching everyone else open their gifts. And in only 19 days, I'll get to do that again. Until then, I'll be carrying on with tradition, both those started by my Grandma and ones Jacob and I have started with our own children. 

And to each and every one of you reading this, I wish you a very Merry Christmas!!!!