Bucket List: Strawberry Picking? Check!

Strawberries.  Num.

Freshly picked strawberries?  Double num.

I've always wanted to head to a strawberry patch to pick fresh strawberries, but the timing has never been right.  Enter 2015.  And our fabulous friends who guided J#4 and me on our first experience...

 The Strawberry Basket Farm in Monticello, MN.

It's only natural I'd take my fruit--especially strawberry--loving girl with on this adventure. 

My imagination lead me to believe it would be a long day at the strawberry patch, but low and behold, about a half an hour garnered about seven huge buckets of strawberries between all of us.  Good thing, since it was a beautiful sunny and hot summer day in Minnesota.

- - -

So one thing checked off the list, means I should add a new thing, right?   Any ideas?

life. it's purpose.

Life.

Its full of twists and turns, ups and downs.

Sometimes its hard to understand what we are living this life for and why we are going through all of the twists and turns and ups and downs.

And then I look at her.

And him.

And all of them.

I remember that God put me (and them) on this earth to live for Him and all of his creations. To serve him, others, and our family.

Blessings.  Gratitudes.  Those are the fruit of life.  Those are the reasons we are twisting and turning, jumping and crawling.

New on the bucket list: UPDATE THE BUCKET LIST!

Hey friends, family, readers!  How are you?  What's news?

Remember the time I lived overseas?  Three of the most interesting years of my life.  Just about four years ago, when we had been there about six months and I had just given birth to my sweet J#4, I created this blog.  The name at the time:  A Drop in the Bucket.   I created a bucket list, and then I'd use the blog as a place to update you on the bucket list progress, and the happenings in our life as expatriates.  It was a great time.

paris.  of course. 

st. andrews, scotland: the old course

The blog evolved into "Living a Listful{l) Life" to include news of bucket list updates and just general musings of a stay at home mom.  When you look up the definition for 'listful', it means "attentive".  And that was {and is} my goal: to live an atttentive, joyful life.

Fast forward a couple of years, and we are settled back in Minnesota. I'm a full time working mom but the rest of my life remains the same...and the bucket list progress has slowed to a trickle.

I've decided its time to jump back in.  Writing the blog, checking items off the bucket list, offering those random musings of an attentive life.

But this is where I need you! What items should I add to my bucket list? I've got a few ideas:  a food truck festival coming to our town this summer and strawberry picking {which has always been on the bucket list, but needs to happen this year!}...but what else should I add?

Let me know in the comments, and check back soon, I'm not going to be a "one hit wonder" this time around.


P.S.  Curious about the J&#'s?  I'll fill you in soon...

GAME ON :: A RETURN

For those newbies, and people who might be returning after a hiatus, here is a summary of the Game On! diet:

First up the really quick details that are pretty important, so will be repeated again at the end: 
The length of the game?  Four weeks.  Doable. Right?
Buy-in?  $40.  Take that times the # of players we have and that will be the winning prize, which is split between: 
--the winning team
--the winner individual player (that isn't part of the winning team)

NOW--the low down on the rules, etc....

The first part of the plan is the points scored, which include:

#1. Meals/Food (a person can get up to 30 points/day in this category):
In the book, they detail a listing of "flabby" foods {to not be eaten} and FYT {Flatten your tummy} foods.  But they also say on their web-site {http://thegameondiet.com/} that you can follow Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig or any other diet as well.  So, friends, that is up to you. 

#2. Exercise (20 points/day): 
Pretty simple.  You exercise at least 20 minutes a day {breaking a sweat}, you get 20 points.  You don't exercise?  You don't get the points.  You exercise 10 minutes a day? You don't get the points. It's 20 minutes people.  We CAN do this.

TIME OUT:  Stick through to the end.  I have good news for you.  Really good news.

#3. Sleep (15 points/day):
Participants must sleep at least seven hours each night.  You do that, you get 15 points.  Easy, right?   {Please note that this is that you INTEND to get seven hours. If you have a baby, puppy, spouse, etc. that wakes you up in the middle of the night?  We get that.  Really. We do.}

#4. Water (10 points/day): 
Go find that water jug.  Go.  I'll wait here.

Alright.  You need to drink 3 liters per day.  That is 101 ounces.  12 cups.  This part might take some getting used to, but your body will adapt quickly. 

#5. New Habit (10 points/day): 
Pick a good, healthy habit to start doing.  And do it.  Ideas: Yoga, journaling, meditation, organizing.

#6. Old Habit (10 points/day): 
Pick an old, bad habit {not like nuns wear} and STOP doing it.  Something like checking Facebook every single hour of the day? Or playing Angry Birds like its your job?  Yup, one of those might just be mine.  

#7. Communication (5 points): 
In order to get these dandy 5 points, you need to be in communication with at least one of your teammates and one of your opponents once a day. 

THE GOOD NEWS?  You get a day off!!!  More about that at the end...the very end. 

Hehe.  See how I did that?

Alright, so here are the penalties.  It's a game people.  There have to be penalties {I guess}.
#1.  Scale Penalty (Deduct 1 point per penalty):  If you weigh yourself more than once a day?  Take off a point for each time. 
#2.  Snacking Penalty (Deduct 10 points per penalty): You get five meals.  Don't eat at other times of the day.  Like when you are sitting in front of the t.v. at night watching The Bachelor {oh, that's just me...when I am in the States?}, don't be chomping on potato chips. 
#3. Collusion Penalty (Deduct 20 points per penalty): Be honest.  Don't try to convince a teammate or opponent to cheat with you.   Just don't do it.  It isn't fair.  Nope, not a bit.  If you do it?  Take off 20 points.
#4. Alcohol Penalty (Deduct 25 points per penalty): Other than your day off or your meal off, if you have alcohol?  25 points deducted.  Each time you imbibe. 
#5. Change your Habit:  See #s 6 and 7 above?  Change them?  Deduct 50 points.  So make sure they are good ones.  :-)


You get bonus points for: 
~Reaching your fitness/weight loss goal (1% of your starting weight that week):  20% of total points earned
~Reporting your score to your team scorekeeper on time (10 points)

DAY OFF!  Yup, you get one.  Do what you want with the day.  Want a glass of wine {or two}?  Drink it.  Tired of exercising?  Take a break.  Even the habits...this is your day off, enjoy it.  Plus, you also get a MEAL OFF.  So if you are following the book's diet, you can indulge in your favorite carbs, etc.  and not worry about the points.  Got it?  

The length of the game?  Four weeks.  Doable, right?
Buy-in?  $40.  Take that times the # of players we have and that will be the winning prize, which is split between: 
--the winning team
--the winner individual player (that isn't part of the winning team)

A return.

I'm baaaack!

We shall see how long it lasts, but for right now, I'm going to try and make a few more regular visits to this blogging home.

I'm also back to the Game On scene--with an important goal of getting healthier and losing weight.

Want to join? My next post is going to be the Game On rules...

Five Minute Friday: Grateful

Back in my 'ole blogging days, I used to join in the fun of a link-up called "Five Minute Fridays".  So, of course I had to join in again now that I'm trying blog a bit more.  

The whole idea is to set a timer, write for five minutes about a topic, and then link up over here.  

# # #

Grateful.  Of course I am!  How could I not be?  

For realz.  Look at these two...

Sometimes it is so easy to get lost in the 'everyday-ed-ness' of life. You get stuck in routine.  Crabby because the ever elusive sun won't show it's shining face. 

It's easy to forget all that we have to be grateful for, like for me: 

• a husband who puts up with all my moods
• kids who don't even notice them
• and love spending time with me, giving me hugs and kisses 
• mostly just making me feel like the luckiest mom on earth
• the ability to be close to family and friends
• a beautiful home 
• a fun job
• with great froworkers (& coworkers)
• a full weekend packed with entertaining our most favorite people this weekend
• the promise of days ahead
• the promise of each new day, where I can start again
• the fact that I don't ever have to stop trying...and someday, someday... 
• the knowledge that habits and good changes will stick
• vacation days
• Fridays
• 'stay at home' days = my daughter's name for weekends

# # #

What are you grateful for today? 

"Ain't got no time for that?"

A few years ago the whole "Ain't got no time for that!" phrase was all the craze.

It's not anymore...right?  So why am I saying that?  

Now, clearly life has changed a bit lot for me over the last year.  I went from being a stay at home mom in Scotland to a working mom in Minnesota, after all.

BUT.  That isn't an excuse.  There are still some things that I LOVE doing, like writing on this blog. With that being said, my intent is to write here more.  I know, I know, I've been saying that since the beginning of the year, right?

It's sort of like my weight loss.  "Woulda, coulda, shoulda Jenny."

Point taken.  The proof is in the pudding.  {Speaking of pudding.  Do a lot of people still make pudding? I cna't remember the last time I've had it...but I digress.}

The proof is in action, so I'm going to take the action of being more faithful to the blog. My hope is that there is a side benefit and I choose to use my time writing blog posts when I'm feeling hungry or bored (which makes me hungry) or lonely (which makes me hungry) or if I have something fun to share (which makes me hungry).  Are you seeing the theme there?

It's a win-win, as I see it.  My fingers stay busy on a keyboard and you get something to read.

That is, if you are there. Are you there?

Hello.  :: knock, knock ::   Is this thing still on?