My Life List

I've never really liked the sound of a "Bucket List," just a little too morbid for me.  I prefer to think of it as a Life List.  This is my life and these are the things I want to do while I'm living it.  

Some of the things on my list I've already completed (yea!) and I'm going to use this blog as a place to document the list and when I complete things.  If you want to follow along I promise I won't make it totally boring.  If not, just skip over these posts.  

There will be a list as a new tab under my header to keep the list as well as link to all of the future posts about completions.  

If you want to check out my list (warning: it's long), check out my new tab up top! 


Semi-related, here's my twenty-thirteen goals (I'm not one for resolutions). 

I'm always adding to the list and love hearing what's on your lists or what you'd love to do.  Let me know!  

EOW

A year ago I wrote this post.  As this day comes around it means it has been an entire year since two little girls I love so much lost their father. A year since one of the strongest women I know lost her husband. A year of the "firsts" without him has passed.

I wear this bracelet every single day. It's now so faded you can barely see what it says--but I know.

I never know when it's going to hit me.  The other day with J's entire family, someone mentioned another officer death in the state...I had to leave the room because I didn't want to loose it in front of all of them. I can't watch an episode of "Cops" where there's a bank robbery, it makes me ill. 

So please, just pray for his family--his beautiful family--& friends as they finish out a year of firsts and try to cope with a new "normal." 

As I pray about and dwell on these things, I hope that you hold your family tight today, and everyday.

The Perfect Autumn

...consists of... 

...savoring the last days of heat with a walk with J.

...spending time with my sisters.

...nightime fires with the family & friends.

...fried food cookout with the family--pickles, onion rings & chicken--I'm getting hungry again.

...the annual library book sale--stocking up for my classroom (:

...pumpkin Spice Latte. (sidenote: I don't like coffee--I know, I know--so I get it with one less shot of espresso and one extra pump of flavor...delicious) Also, very impressed that he spelled my name correctly-everyone always spells it wrong. 

...vacation with J that included wine-tasting in Traverse City. More on that later. 

...playing this with my two favorite girls when I babysit them.

 ...Grand Rapids Art Prize...incredible. 

...pumpkin spice donut from the local (as in 2min from my house local) apple orchard. 

I can't wait to continue to create my perfect autumn (: 

What would be included in your perfect fall?

5 Years

...is how long J and I have been together.

I edited this picture before we started dating.  We were seniors in high school. 

Someday I'll write our love story...but we officially met in 5th grade, so it's a little long. 

Our entire relationship up until July was long distance (except the 3 months we spend studying in England).  Which means that it has not even been close to perfect--but we worked at it because it's worth it. 

So here's to my best friend and the love of my life.  Someone who challenges me, teaches me, comforts me, makes me laugh, helps me grow. 

And here's to the next 5. 

  

My Dilemma

When I first started this blog, I was doing a really good job of keeping up with it.  I took some terrible pictures, linked up to tons of parties, and did as many "weekly" posts and I could.  I think it's this reason that I kind of fizzled out.  It was a lot of work, and I felt pressured to turn out great post after great post and try to procure a lot of readers.  I wanted to make tutorials for everything and basically just tried to follow every single tip to getting lots of readers.

After thinking about what I love most about my favorite blogs, I've come to a conclusion.  I love personal posts.  I used to think that I had to have lots of perfect crafts/tutorials/projects to have people like my blog (and maybe I do), but I'm going to emulate the people I truly admire.  I really thought about changing my blog name altogether, but thought I'd stay with what I've got.

I hope you'll still stay with me (:  Feel free to skip over any posts that aren't your style! I'm about to make this a mix of topics (something I once read wasn't a good idea for a blog...rules were made to be broken, right?) 

Thanks for reading!

(Thanks to Target for these adorable Andy Warhol-inspired cans.  I totally realize these don't match the topic...but every post needs pictures, no?)

The Lil Journal Project: Week 1

One of my favorite blogs, Lil Blue Boo, is doing a journaling series called The Lil Journal Project.  Now, I've never been good at keeping a journal, but I love writing.  In this project, Ashley has been posting journaling prompts--really awesome ones.

Here's my first week. 
Day 1: She gave us a quote to write...with our non-dominant hand...I hope I never break my right hand. 

Day 2: Map the first classroom you can remember.  I decided to do the classroom I student taught in.  The one where I was truly a teacher for the first time.  This I will love to look back on. 

Day 3: A list of simple pleasures.

Day 4: People Watching.

Day 5: Practice Handwriting.  I decided to start a list of names of people who are really important in my life.  This list is ever-growing--each in a different handwriting style.

Want to join us?  You should, it's really great!  I use the prompts and have been able to make them relevant to me.

Dumpster Diving Pt. 1

Yes, you read that correctly.  And this is me. 

A month or so ago our neighbor packed up only necessary belongings and left her house.  We then noticed a foreclosed sign on the house.  Weeks later a man came to clean up...meaning he literally put everything into a dumpster. So of course my daddy and I went to check it out.  All nice new stuff, no trash.  Like antiquing, but free, right? And when they took that away and put a new one there the next day, I went in with my momma.  

You wouldn't think it, but I got some good scores. Too many for one post...so here's the beginning of it (:

An embroidery kit with adorable scissors and some vintage-y thread. (I say vintage instead of old because I feel like it sounds better...but it was pretty old).

Vintage roller skates.  2 pairs. I love them. I even skated around the garage, but they'll make cool decoration when I have my own place.

A stack of records for daddy.  Including some Beatles and other originals.

Beautiful umbrella stand. (I think that's what it is anyway)

I love detail.

A candle stand...that I figured out something really fun to use for...and it's not candles.

Here's a hint, I like it better upside down.

An old quilting pattern in a book...may have to make this sometime.

Cute little basket.

Little birdhouses...not sure what I'll do with these yet.

And a fun picture frame.

Besides all that I got a lot of supplies like stickers, notebooks, staples and some craft supplies for my future classroom.  Oh yea, and about 2-3yrds of 4 different fabrics!  What a score. 

Have you ever been dumpster-diving? 
(Yea, it was a first for me too)

Insta-Friday: 3

I am in love with Instagram.  Want to follow me so you don't miss the mundane details of my life? I'd love it. BarbaraEmily is my name.  Here's what I've been up to.

Went down to Ohio State for boyfriend's graduation. 10,000 graduates...vs 48 in mine. Just a little different.

Had a sleepover with two of my favorite littles. The big sister was so smart and made me a schedule in case I wasn't sure what we should do.  This was the first day.

I got to play Littlest Pet Shop at 7am. They are really cute, I almost want a few for myself!

Boyfriend was home for a weekend and we had a Panera lunch date. Delicious.

More wedding crafting...only a week to go!

Cookouts with my family. I love corn on the cob.

My dad found this in the front of my car. I almost cried when I saw it, I must have killed it and didn't know :(

Running errands with my momma usually means Starbucks...and we got kettle corn from the farmer's market...it's the best.

I'm wearing Toms in the wedding I'm in and I thought I should break them in before a full day of wearing them.  

What fabulous summer things have you been up to?

Taking part in InstaFriday at Life Rearranged.