Christmas Bucket List

Fall is over (at least in my book) and we’re on to Christmas. Time for a new bucket list!

1. Make Christmas Cookies

2. Watch 5 Christmas movies

3. Decorate our new house

4. Make hot cocoa

5. Buy fun candy canes

6. Read “A Christmas Carol”

7. Build a snowman

8. Create snow angels

9. Create a popcorn garland

10. Create paper snowflakes

11. Have a snowball fight

12. Sing Christmas carols

13. Build a gingerbread house

14. Drive around and see the lights

15. Go visit Santa

16. Send out Christmas cards

17. Read 5 Christmas stories

18. Leave out cookies for Santa

19. Go to Christmas at the zoo

20. See a Christmas performance

21. Buy a special ornament

22. Take a photo of all four boys together

23. Try a new holiday coffee drink

24. Find a new holiday album

25. Donate to CSI’s Subsitute Santa drive (I used to work there!)

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• Really frustrated with the fact that Q refuses to go to the gym daycare. That was part of the reason why we picked this gym. Ugh!

• I need some candy canes in my life ASAP.

• Sitting at my dining room table, I can feel the slight draft from the old windows. Landlord is going to replace in the spring. Until then, I’m going to get a sweater.

• I royally screwed up an order on Black Friday and now it looks like I can only recover 1/2 of the order. Very sad…

• My library stack is out of control. Guess I need to read some more.

• Looking forward to having the ability of just hauling all the presents to Indiana in the back of the van. Means I can shop for everything now and know I have it all with me.

• Every pen I pick up in this house sucks. I guess I need to stick to my trusty Papermate Flairs.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• Finally getting into a routine here, but Q is thwarting my attempts to go to the gym. Apparently he hates the gym daycare and screams when we step into the building. Need to figure this out quick. I hate going to the gym at night.

• Love the new Starbuck’s green cups. I’m even going to add one into my December Daily pages.

• Speaking of, I finally pulled out my Christmas crafting supplies and took stock. Grabbed a few new kits for Holiday albums, but I’m in good shape.

• Started some freelance transcription and it’s going okay. The boys interrupt me too often making for long sessions. But I’ve already made about $100 this month.

• After a broken oven and water in the basement, here’s hoping our house troubles are over for awhile.

• Getting excited about Holiday activities!

Next up on the TBR pile:

November 2018 Life Goals

Let’s check in on October's goals and my progress.

• Do something special for Arthur’s 5th birthday — The day of he was sick, but the day before we went to go see The Very Hungry Caterpillar at the Rose Theatre.

• Unpack to a reasonable point — Success. I still want to fix our master bedroom, but most of the house is livable.

• Join a book club — I didn’t actually join one, but I did start one of my own.

• Find a class/group for Arthur — No classes joined, but we did find a preschool and he’s starting next week.

• Find a few new-to-us places to hang out — Success.

• Launch my crafty business in Nebraska — Fail. I created an event, no one showed up.

• Go trick-or-treating! — Success!

November's Goals:

• Fix the master bedroom — We need to move a dresser, attach the mirror, move the other dresser, and then fix my outlet.

• Layout my TBR for the end of the year / start brainstorming reading challenges — Need to figure out those last minute reads to finish out 2018 and get started on my plan for 2019.

• Join/register preschool, gym, and library — I have the paperwork for Arthur’s new preschool, but need to drop everything off. I need to email the gym membership guy about joining process. And I want to get my library card this month.

• Buy some new jeans and key fall pieces — Um… living in California for almost 7 years means that I have little-to-none winter clothes. I just put in an Amazon order with new pants and sweaters. Hoping they fit!

Next up on the TBR list:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• I seriously love Halloween so much! So sad it’s over.

• Very excited to get my crafting room set up so I can make some things.

• The summer-like fall weather was nice, but I’m looking forward to sweater weather!

• Here’s hoping my new clothes fit (bought online…)

• Contemplating my next read. I have too many choices on the self.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Fall Bucket List Update #2

Another season, another bucket list. This one will be a bit weird as we are moving to a different state at the end of September. There is a short list of things we want to hit before leaving California and a list of things for Indiana and Nebraska. It's going to be a mixed bag.

California:

1. Visit Rocket Fizz ✓

2. Take a Ferry Ride to San Francisco ✓

3. Have a Beach Day ✓

4. Enjoy my Retreat Weekend! ✓

5. Celebrate Arthur and Quentin's Birthdays! ✓

6. Visit Children's Fairyland ✓

7. Visit Children's Creativity Museum

8. Eat at Black Bear

9. Buy pie in Guerneville ✓

10. Have one more pool party ✓

Midwest:

1. Visit Fort Wayne Zoo ✓

2. Visit Science Central ✓

3. Visit Omaha Zoo

4. Visit Omaha Children's Museum

5. Get a new library card

6. Find a good park

7. Go see a movie in the theater - Arthur and I finally saw Incredibles 2 ✓

8. Go to Vala's Pumpkin Festival - So big! But lots of fun! ✓

9. Eat at Coney Island

10. Travel to OBM Sparkle Party in Iowa City

11. Find a good indie bookstore

12. Visit the comic books store

13. Find a good brunch place (Wheatfields?)

14. Have dinner with a friend alone

15. Join a new parent group

16. Join a book club

17. Get my crafty business started

18. Go to Fort Wayne for Thanksgiving

19. Create a fall signature cocktail

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• Finally in our new house and getting unpacked.

• Super anxious to unpack my craft stuff but I need to wait for the desk to be delivered to properly unpack…

• Different layout is bringing up new questions. Good questions, but still questions.

• I ask one question on Nextdoor and next thing you know I’m organizing a book club for the area.

• Ditto for playgroup

• I would love to get out and explore, but both kids caught a cold while traveling. We’re stuck inside until further notice.

• Next shopping trip needs to include winter coats and boots for the boys.

• Amazingly, we have gloves and hats.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• We had to buy a fridge for our new rental and I am irrationally happy about it. Finally a fridge that I actually like!

• I’ve fallen into a cozy mystery hole and I’m not sorry about it.

• I packed for Indiana weather in the 50s and 60s. Unfortunately it’s going to be upper 70s and low 80s this week. I am hot!

• I hope the boys transition to our new house and routine well. Guess we will see next week.

• Lore did an episode (Ep. 91 Beneath the Surface) about Mackinaw Island and I loved it! I used to visit with my family almost every years during my childhood. Creepy stories! Now I want to go back and revisit those places.

• Started a few new-to-me podcasts this past month. Unfortunately now I’m getting behind on my regulars.

• Driving my Grandpa’s old car while here in Indiana and it’s a piece of crap. Shakes when you go above 50 mph. I really miss my Odyssey!

Next up on the TBR pile:

October 2018 Life Goals

Let’s check in on September's goals and my progress.

• Read 10 Books -- Success! I ended up reading 13 books while getting ready to move. I’d say that’s a great showing.

• Execute the boys's birthday party -- Success! We had so much fun!

• Execute the retreat -- Success! It was a lovely few days away.

• Finish packing and move!

October's Goals:

• Do something special for Arthur’s 5th birthday — Maybe a pumpkin patch?

• Unpack to a reasonable point — J will have unpacked the big furniture and most of the kitchen.

• Join a book club — I am scheduled for a few ones. Hopefully I really enjoy one of these groups.

• Find a class/group for Arthur — Maybe martial arts or gymnastics.

• Find a few new-to-us places to hang out

• Launch my crafty business in Nebraska

• Go trick-or-treating!

Next up on the TBR list:

It's Moving Day!

The day is here! Goodbye sunny moderate California, hello blustery and chilly Nebraska! The boys and I are on a plane leaving the west coast for a quick trip to Indiana before driving over to Nebraska and settling into our new home.  I'll share photos of the new house once we get in.

Fall Bucket List Update #1

Another season, another bucket list. This one will be a bit weird as we are moving to a different state at the end of September. There is a short list of things we want to hit before leaving California and a list of things for Indiana and Nebraska. It's going to be a mixed bag.

California:

1. Visit Rocket Fizz - We went after a park playdate. Arthur picked out some gummis. That’s my kid! ✓

2. Take a Ferry Ride to San Francisco ✓

3. Have a Beach Day ✓

4. Enjoy my Retreat Weekend! ✓

5. Celebrate Arthur and Quentin's Birthdays! ✓

6. Visit Children's Fairyland ✓

7. Visit Children's Creativity Museum - scrapped this due to fussy kids

8. Eat at Black Bear

9. Buy pie in Guerneville ✓

10. Have one more pool party ✓

Midwest:

1. Visit Fort Wayne Zoo

2. Visit Science Central

3. Visit Omaha Zoo

4. Visit Omaha Children's Museum

5. Get a new library card

6. Find a good park

7. Go see a movie in the theater

8. Go to Vala's Pumpkin Festival

9. Eat at Coney Island

10. Travel to OBM Sparkle Party in Iowa City

11. Find a good indie bookstore

12. Visit the comic books store

13. Find a good brunch place (Wheatfields?)

14. Have dinner with a friend alone

15. Join a new parent group

16. Join a book club

17. Get my crafty business started

18. Go to Fort Wayne for Thanksgiving

19. Create a fall signature cocktail

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• How do we still have so much to pack? I really hate packing kitchens…

• Last weekend’s retreat was just what I needed #coconutballs

• Getting excited about fall festivals in Nebraska. We’ll be able to catch some of them in mid-October.

• We still have a pile of food from the pantry to attempt to consume before next week. I might just need to do a drop off at the nearest food pantry.

• Kinda bored with my current read. I might need to DNF it.

• I might need to make a horror book pile for October. I’m really drawn to the dark reads right now.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• I'm super chill about moving right now. Super sad to be leaving our friends, but excited about the new opportunities for our family. And the packing is going very smoothly. 
• Really not excited about Colton as the new Bachelor. Nopeity nope!
• Currently reading a book about smallpox and I need all the epidemiology books in my life. I might have missed my calling...
• I can't get enough iced tea right now
• Craving some BBQ chicken on the grill but alas, we have other dinner plans
• Need to think of a signature cocktail for the retreat next week.
• The stack of comics on my nightstand is calling my name

Next up on the TBR pile:

September 2018 Life Goals

Let’s check in on August's goals and my progress.

• Read 15 Books -- Fail. Although I did still have a great reading month. 
• Wrap up the OBM Care Exchange -- Success! This one went much easier than some of the previous exchanges. 
• Finishing sending out OBM cards -- Success! Love spreading the good cheer. 
• Pack 10 more boxes -- Success! We are in a good position moving wise.
• Plan and execute 10 more kid activities -- Success! We are knocking it out of the park.

September's Goals: A very short list this month as we are moving at the end. Our biggest goal of this month is moving to Nebraska. 

• Read 10 Books -- Still trying to fit in reading.
• Execute the boys's birthday party -- Actually this was a few days ago. And it was amazing!
• Execute the retreat -- So incredibly excited for one last weekend retreat with some of my CA friends. It will be especially nice to get away for a weekend before the craziness of the move. 
• Finish packing and move!

Next up on the TBR list:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• This house smells of cardboard boxes... Loving that we've gotten this much packed already, not loving the smell.
• I finally got a book about the smallpox epidemic of the Revolutionary period from the library. I am way too excited about this one!
• My planner supplies are a bit out of control. I need to do a bit of organizing.
• We've possibly lost another library book. Seriously where has it gone????
• I'm so ready for my weekend retreat. Unfortunately it is still weeks away.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #8

Reading: Finally picked up Little Bee by Chris Cleave. It's been sitting on my shelf for years!

Watching: Loving this season of Bachelor in Paradise. Way better than The Bachelorette.

Listening: Downloaded and working my way through Crooked Media's podcast The Wilderness. In some ways it's very depressing, but in other ways it fascinating and somewhat uplifting. 

Making: My next craft project is prepping birthday thank you cards for the boys's birthday party.

Feeling: J and the boys were all sick this past week. While I've escaped most of the sickness, I've had to deal with three sick people in my house. I am now exhausted. Here's hoping I don't catch it now.

Planning: I've gotten the decor, activities, and goody bags worked out for the party. Now I just need to finalize our menu for the day of. 

Loving: Cooler mornings were made for coffee and couch snuggles. Loving the bit of cooler weather we've had this past week. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

Fall Bucket List

Another season, another bucket list. This one will be a bit weird as we are moving to a different state at the end of September. There is a short list of things we want to hit before leaving California and a list of things for Indiana and Nebraska. It's going to be a mixed bag.

California:

1. Visit Rocket Fizz
2. Take a Ferry Ride to San Francisco
3. Have a Beach Day
4. Enjoy my Retreat Weekend!
5. Celebrate Arthur and Quentin's Birthdays!
6. Visit Children's Fairyland
7. Visit Children's Creativity Museum
8. Eat at Black Bear
9. Buy pie in Guerneville
10. Have one more pool party

Midwest:

1. Visit Fort Wayne Zoo
2. Visit Science Central
3. Visit Omaha Zoo
4. Visit Omaha Children's Museum
5. Get a new library card
6. Find a good park
7. Go see a movie in the theater
8. Go to Vala's Pumpkin Festival
9. Eat at Coney Island
10. Travel to OBM Sparkle Party in Iowa City
11. Find a good indie bookstore
12. Visit the comic books store
13. Find a good brunch place (Wheatfields?)
14. Have dinner with a friend alone
15. Join a new parent group
16. Join a book club
17. Get my crafty business started 
18. Go to Fort Wayne for Thanksgiving
19. Create a fall signature cocktail

Next up on the TBR pile:

Summer Bucket List Finish Line

I ended up with 14 activities finished this summer. Lower than I would have liked, but I we have been super busy getting ready to move in September. 

1. Two beach days (Half Moon Bay and Stinson) ✓
2. Jelly Belly Factory ✓
3. Go to the Warped Tour ✓ 
4. Sonoma Train Town ✓
5. Pool party 2x ✓
6. San Francisco Wharf/Musee Mechanique ✓
7. Make popsicles 3x
8. Pacific Pinball Museum ✓
9. Go on an easy hike with all the kiddos ✓ 
10. Escape Room adventure
11. Rocket Fizz Visit
12. Baskin Robbins ✓ 
13. Mini Golf ✓
14. Movie in a Theater ✓ 
15. Summer brunch party
16. Make your own pizzas party
17. Make Donuts 2x
18. Treasure Island Flea Market or Jack London Square Market
19. Fourth of July Festival at Berkeley Marina ✓
20. Waterpark day ✓ - We ended up spending most of our Gilroy Gardens Day at the waterpark area. Loved it!
21. Cookout
22. Read a romance series ✓ - I sped through Mose of the Renfrew/Kyle series from Jo Beverley
23. Make smores
24. Try a new (to us) ice cream place
25. Take the ferry to SF - We didn't get to this during the summer but have it on the calendar for later this month.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Odds and Ends

Here's my randomness for the week:

• I need to find more time to read. May and June was amazing reading-wise and then July took a nosedive. I'm hoping to ramp my reading back up.
• Working on our pantry cleanout before the move. Doing well so far, but I'm getting into some weird random things. I'm going to have to do some Googling...
• The craft projects are getting done, but I've still got a backlog. 
• A cold glass of iced tea is calling my name.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Currently #7

Reading: The Stolen Bride by Jo Beverley. I turned to some fun Regency Romance for this week.

Watching: J and I are getting close to finishing Supernatural S5.

Listening: I completely forgot about listening to Annotated S2 and rediscovered it on my podcast app. Yeah!! I'm four episodes in and I'm loving the collection of topics.

Making: Attempting to finish my Family Project Life spreads so I can pack away the supplies.

Feeling: Calmer this week. Hoping it lasts.

Planning: We're having a Mad Science Party for the boys's birthday party. I'm busy planning the science experiments that we will be featuring.

Loving: Having a to-do list to tackle every couple of days is keeping me on track. Usually I make them on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Next up on the TBR pile: