52 Weeks/52 Things

Here's another list of things that evolved as I was doing my Me album. It's a bucket list of sorts. These are things that I haven't done (at least not in some time) that don't cost a ton of money and therefore are attainable. My goal is to do one a week over the next year (thus the 52 weeks/52 things).

In no particular order here they are:

1. Plant some flowers

2. Handwrite a letter to someone

3. Bake cookies

4. Make a digital scrapbook album for my someone special

5. Get a massage

6. Go for a bike ride

7. Book a weekend trip somewhere

8. Get a new hairstyle

9. Walk on the beach

10. Spend a day photographing things I love

11. Spend an afternoon thrift store shopping

12. Make homemade bread
13. Have breakfast in bed

14. Have fondue

15. Take a cooking class

16. Buy someone flowers just because

17. Make homemade ice-cream and have a sundae bar

18. Go to a flea market

19. Have a mother/daughter day

20. Go to the movies with my husband
21. Sew an apron

22. Make cards to hand out at the nursing home

23. Go to a flea market

24. Buy some pretty shoes

25. Have pajama night with popcorn and movies

26. Take a candlelit bath

27. Make chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream for the kids

28. Pick fresh fruit/veggies from a farm

29. Buy flowers for myself

30.  Get a facial

31. Take a photography class

32. Learn a new word

33. Volunteer at a non-profit function

34. Restore an old piece of furniture

35. Go to the zoo

36. Frame and hang pictures of the kids on the wall upstairs

37. Dress up and go out to dinner with friends

38. Paint the hallway walls a fun new color

39. Make curtains for Haley

40. Learn a new song on the piano

41. Sleep late

42. Make a purse

43. Organize my closet

44. Make new artwork
45. Cook dinner for friends

46. Jump on the bed with the kids

47. Take the kids hiking

48. Take a walk downtown to explore the city

49. Learn something new

50. Bake a cake for someone

51. Buy a new color of lipstick

52. Read a Classic Novel

A to Z Gratitude List

I am working on a scrapbook called Me: The Abridged Version. In it, I am chronicling things that are a part of my life in encyclopedia style from A-Z. As I was making my list of things, I started thinking of all the things I am grateful for. Here is my list which only includes one entry per letter even though I surely could have come up with dozens more.

A to Z Gratitude List


A – Air Conditioning

B – Boisterous children

C – Chick-fil-a

D – David

E – Every extraordinary day and waking up to begin each anew.

F – Family (and friends)

G – God and the freedom to practice religion

H – Haley, Holden and Harrison

I – Internet - how did we ever live without it

J – Jeans, my favorite pair that fit just right

K – Kisses from my kids every morning and night

L – Love

M – Magic Eraser (how does it work?)

N – naps

O – Organized space

P – Parents

Q – Quiet Time

R – rainy days

S – sweater weather

T – Target

U – Underwear

V – Vacuum

W – Washer (and Dryer)

X – XTI, Canon (my camera)

Y – Yard sales

Z – Zillons of little things like butterflies, spring rain showers, bright flowers ….. and on and on

Because it never hurts to be reminded.....

Slow Dance

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round

or listened to the rain slapping the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly’s erratic flight

or gazed at the sun fading into the night?

You better slow down, don’t dance too fast,

Time is short, the music won’t last

Do you run through each day on the fly

When you ask ‘how are you?’ do you hear the reply?

When the day is done do you lie in your bed

with the next hundred chores running through your head?

You better slow down, don’t dance too fast

Time is short, the music won’t last

Ever told your child you will do it tomorrow

and in your haste not seen his sorrow?

When you run so fast to get somewhere

You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day

It’s like an unopened gift thrown away

Life isn’t a race so take it slower

Hear the music before your song is over…