30 Things Before 30

Every year, I make a list of things that I want to accomplish by my next birthday. Here's to a new year and a new list. Some of these are big and seem lofty, some are fairly easy to accomplish. Check back every once in a while. I will have a tab at the top of this blog. If I mark something off, I usually will have a link with it. This year, I had too many things on my list which usually doesn't happen. I guess I'm ready to ring in 30 next summer with a bang. Let's do this. 

1. Read 30 books. With my love for the library now, this should be easy. 
2. 30 Recipes, meal plan for dinner. 
3. Try Blue Apron or something like it. 
4. Go on a family vacation. 
5. Work on getting through Baby Step #2 (Dave Ramsey.) 
6. Paint living room and hallways. Repaint kitchen cabinets. Paint trim and doors white. Lots of painting. Pretty much paint the entire inside of our house. 
7. Try Cize. 
8. Do another Whole 30. 
9. Get prego, round 2. 
10. Yoga Headstand
11. Work through this book. 
12. Reach my goal weight and keep moving (30 minutes, 10,000 steps, or C25k per day)
13. Have a meal at The Kitchen. 
14. Get a facial at She She.
15. Take family photos
16. Create some physical photo albums, not digital. 
17. Be able to park the Dodge Journey in the garage. i.e....Clean it out! Dump trip. 
18. Increase our income. Make it happen. 
19. Potty Train Marin.
20. Spend a lot more time outside. 
21. Write some songs. 
22. Breakup with online shopping and go thrifting more often. 
23. Join a CSA or Bountiful Baskets. Buy veggies/fruits from a roadside stand. 
24. Drink more wine.
25. Get a blowout at a salon. 
26. Help Marin not be such a picky eater. Expand her palate.  
27. Capsule Wardrobe or Project 333
28. Go to a concert at Red Rocks. 
29. Eat like a French Woman.  
30. Paint the outside of our house. 

Weekly Lovelies: Currently Clicking #11

Every week, I gather links of all of the places I have been perusing in the great, grand internet. There are plenty of people out there doing big things and small things. Some of these are practical, some are inspiring. This week, my love for sushi shows. DIY would take over my life and my home if I allowed it to. I feel the need to really focus on taking care of myself and setting some fitness goals. To add to that, I still think about good food ALL OF THE TIME. 

1. I think I need these Avocado Sushi Bites in my life. I also just realized that I still haven't had sushi since I had the baby. What?! That needs to change ASAP. 
2. I love how this Stained Wood Wall DIY totally changes a space. The price tag for the project isn't too bad either. I would love to a wall like this in our office. 
3. I have a sewing machine that needs some loving', but here are 15 No-Sew Fabric Projects for the Home. 
4. I received a FITBIT for Christmas and I am just now getting ready to start using it. I am excited. Here is one gals experience with the FITBIT. I think this is just what I need to really get moving again. Here's another review and another.  
5. I sometimes toy with the idea of going Paleo. This dish is right up my alley: Chicken Enchilada Bake. Yum. 

Weekly Lovelies: Currently Clicking #10

Every week, I gather links of all of the places I have been perusing in the great, grand internet. There are plenty of people out there doing big things and small things. Some of these are practical, some are inspiring. 

I want to make sure I don't forget these some where down the road. 

1. The Ultimate Ikea Shopping List: 9 Cheap, Chic Classics
2. Buzzfeed's Clean Eating Challenge: A 2-Week Detox plan that focuses on eating REAL food. 
3. MOTHER: A new web mag for Moms. Style, living, beauty, food, and travel. It also just looks so darn good. 
4. The Only Pizza Dough Recipe You Will Ever Need. I need this in my life. 
5. 20 Little Ways to Buy Happiness for Less Than 10 Bucks
6. A Beautiful Mess has done it again with their newest E-course: Blog Life. Learn how to make a living doing what you love. I love everything about this. 

Weekly Lovelies: Currently Clicking Week #9

Every week, I gather links of all of the places I have been perusing in the great, grand internet. There are plenty of people out there doing big things and small things. Some of these are practical, some are inspiring. I have spent the last few days at home sick as a dog with a kid that has been under the weather as well. This marks the first sickness since I was pregnant. Not fun. Not fun at all. But, here are some links to boost my mood and cause me to think about something other than the fact that I'm supposed to sing at a conference tomorrow and don't know if I can because I've been so sick. Ugh. 

1. 101 Tips to Make Your Life Easier. We all need these at some point. To continue with life tips....31 Ideas for a Sparkling Home.
2. Some local musicians just released a worship record that is so refreshing to me. The hubs and I saw them last Sunday. Good people. Listen and purchase Loudharp's record here. I promise you won't be disappointed  The song, "The Nearness of You," wrecks me completely every single time.
3. I'm seriously crushing on this Modern Bohemian House Tour.  And this Mid-Century Modern House Tour.
4. I recently became a mom. I have the battle scares to prove it. Some of them will probably never disappear, but they are a constant reminder of my little one and I wouldn't have it any other way. Here are 16 Real, Beautiful Women in Every Stage of Pregnancy. Does contain nudity, but I think it's beautiful. Don't act like I didn't warn you. Also, along the same vein, 4th Trimester Bodies. Becoming a mom is a powerful thing. I think it needs to be celebrated even when our jeans don't fit like they used to. It's not worth freaking out about. 
5. 100+ Tips for Frugal Living: How to Get Thrifty and Save Money. Posts like this are my jam. I'm a total nerd for stuff like this. Now, if I could get to the point of actually practicing all of these...
6. As a songwriter, I struggle sometimes with pulling from my past so much when I write because it was a much darker time than the life I live now. This article perfectly paints the picture of that struggle: How to Live a Creative Life (Without Ending Up Depressed, Drunk, or Dead.) 

DoTerra 101: My First Class

Last night was my first hosted class with DoTerra. I don't think I could have asked for a better group of people and a better array of products. I am amazed time and time again about how awesome these oils really are and how they have already helped my family's health so much. The company itself is also so supportive and knowledgable. I feel good about sharing my experience so far. For this first class, I didn't teach the course, but the gal who introduced me to the oils did. Another DoTerra advocate opened up her home for us because my living room was too small and couldn't accommodate the amount of people that wanted to come. I think that is a great problem to have. I think this is a company that will be around for a long time. I believe that these oils will be a part of my family's life for a long time. It is so encouraging and inspiring to share these oils with other people that are asking the same questions I am. There is a natural way to approach a lot of healthcare. I find using the oils sets me far more at ease than popping a pill every time I have an ache or pain.

There will be many more classes to come and I will begin teaching them as well. For any of you that were in attendance yesterday evening or if you are looking for another excellent essential oil resource, here is one of the books that you were able to look through, called Essential Oils: HealthCare for Today (A Beginner's Guide.) I will be definitely adding this to my library shortly. Unfortunately, Amazon doesn't have it available at this time, but Aroma Tools does.

This is good. Good things. Good people.