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?

The beginning. And now.

The beginning of this blog was a bucket list, and my intention is to return to the bucket list.  Maybe shift it a bit with the world country we are living in now.

But one think I know, is that until the weight I'm intending to lose is gone?  That is going to be a focus.  Because it has to be.  And this past week?  No weight lost.  That is going to happen, as losing weight isn't an easy task.

Even though I know that is the case, I'm still not happy about it.

But a couple of things people I am happy about:

Wacky day at daycare.  Thank God for our Scottish hats.

inspiration :: plus weekly weigh in

Two things we need to talk about here today.

#1: Weigh in.  Lets just get it out of the weigh way.  I'm down five pounds after a week of eating healthy and exercising regularly.  Not bad.  Not bad at all. I know that will slow down after a bit, but of course I'm hoping not for a few weeks at least....

Have you ever noticed how much more work it takes to lose weight than it does to gain weight? Annoying.  Maybe at some point "that'll teach me".

#2: Inspiration.

These three are my inspiration for this weight loss.

I've got heart issues I've written about before, and getting healthy is only going to help that situation. It won't solve it--but it will definitely make a positive difference.  Better heart = longer life = more time with those three people in the photos above.

That and the fact that I want to be a good example for my daughter.  She lives and breathes fruits and vegetables. So I'm taking her lead and making sure there is someone in the house doing the same thing. Hopefully that means she won't decide to change her mind about her love for all things healthy.  {fingers crossed}

So how about you...what is your inspiration?  I've got these peeps as my screen saver on my phone, to remind me many times a day of my motivation.

Acceptance.

A key thing I've learned as I've gotten older:  acceptance.  

Eh, okay.  A little.   I have a ways to go.  And when I'm talking about acceptance, I'm talking about accepting things in my life, that directly affect me.  

Take today, for instance.  The plan? Get a bunch of stuff done.  Get all packed for the trip the kids and I will be leaving for on Friday. Head over to my brother and his family's house for some sledding and dinner.  But then this happened: 

The packing? The cleaning?  With a little lady on my lap, I was a bit stuck {in a good way}.  The packing had to wait.

There is only so long that these little ones will find themselves on my lap and stay there for longer than a few minutes.

My plan is to take advantage of every minute of it.

One Word :: 2014 :: Firework {cont'd}

I may be biting of more than I can chew.  BUT my goal for 2014 is to be a firework.

ORIGINAL: not worrying about being one of the crowd, doing my {or our} own thing.

ILLUMINATING: bringing light to the world, to the people around me, to myself.

SHOCKING: in 2014 I don't want to stop surprising myself, my husband, my children.  Life is short, it's time to make it exciting.

ENERGETIC: explains itself, yes?

INSTANTANOUS: no procrastinating.  Do things now--now waiting.

IGNITE: my passion.  Not sure what direction this blog is going to take, but it's involved in my passion of writing.  So expect to see me more around these parts.

and last:

BEAUTIFUL: comes from this blog entry at Momastery.

One Word :: 2014 :: Firework

A fresh start.

A new year.

A new word.

Firework.

More to come. 

Happy New Year!

2013 was...

too much.

At the begining of 2013, I chose a word to be my theme:  ENOUGH.

I'll admit here and now that I didn't stick with that theme.

But at the beginning of the year, I didn't really understand what I'd be dealing with in 2013.

The year started with high hopes.  I remember not being happy with 2012, and having big plans for 2013.

And then the year happened.  From a move back to Minnesota, nearly losing a best friend (not because of a fight but because of a darn bacteria), adapting to life as a working mom, the passing of two aunts and one uncle within four weeks of each other this holiday season, building a house and trying to get an old one sold... sigh.

What other things were 2013?

2013

...was a year of development for my kiddos.  Potty training, pre-school, writing and both speaking...and speaking...and speaking.
...was a year with too many hotel night stays.
...was a year of good-byes, and hello agains.
...was.

It's done {well, jut about}; a year to remember fondly for a move back to Minnesota and many, many beautiful moments watching our children grow up and spend time with those closest to us.

Oh, one more thing 2013 was: a year of gratitude.  Each day I added a photo to my 'Gratitude 365' app.  EVERY day.

One thing 2013 was not: 

a blogging year. Fourty-four total blog posts.

I pledge now, even before the new year starts, that 2014 will bring more blog posts.

At least 45.

Here's wishing you all a happy, safe and fun New Year's celebration!

Be Happy Now: Sieze the Day

Remember when I was going to share my 31 days of 'being happy now'?  So it begins... please feel free to comment here or on Facebook, I'd love to make it a conversation! 

How many people spend a ton of timing thinking about how they can be happier?  You know...you'll be happier when: 

• all that weight is lost
• that darn to do list is all checked off
• the next season begins because this one is [too cold, too hot, too dark, too long]

::Raises hand:: Looks around... 

I know it's not just me.  There was a post that someone shared on Facebook last night, and I decided to make it prettier so I could share it on Instagram.  

I have no idea who came up with these so-called rules.  But he or she is right.  On every single point.  Enough that I think I might just have my next seven blog posts.  Because you know what?  As I look at this, it's an instruction manual on how to be happy now. 

So thanks anonymous.  

And CARPE DIEM.  

Sieze the day.  

Think about one of the items above that you could try today to make your day happier.  

See that's the trick.  To be happy now, means that you need to be. happy. now.  Not tomorrow, not two weeks from now.  

We have the power to make any change {small or big} today. 

* * * 

So what are you going to do?  What one change are you going to make to be happy now? 

Hello??? Is this thing on??

So, I've been pretty quiet around here, haven't I?  I'm going to blame our move back to the United States, living in an extended stay hotel for six weeks and the two additional weeks it took us to get settled into the town house we are living in for a while.  Plus a few more weeks of adjusting to life, period.

Now three months post move (to the day!) I feel like my feet are under me...mostly.

Here's a secret for you--I was going to do the whole 31 days of blogging series hosted  by the Nester, as I have the last few years.  And then I decided...quit being crazy, Jenny.

BUT I had planned out 31 posts about how to be happy NOW.

See, I find myself thinking next year is going to be better and I will be more happy then, because I'm not going to be doing the whole repatriating thing.  {By the way, the repatriating thing?  It's not as simple as it might look.  A fellow expat posted this article on Facebook, it summarizes where my mind is right now better than I ever could.}

While my mind is thinking next year will be better, the rest of me knows I need to be enjoying the moment this year.

I need to be grateful for the several blessings I have in life:  an awesome husband, brilliant children, family and friends who I get to be around daily, and new friends that I can keep in touch with via Facebook and email.  Not to mention a great job, a comfortable home and and all the comforts of "home" that now surround me again.

All that being said to let you know...I'm back to the blogging game.  And I'm going to take those 31 days I had planned, and spread them out over the next few months.  What better time to focus on being happy now then during the holiday season?

Seriously--have you seen a four year old and two year old understand for the first time what Halloween is all about?

We've already got their costumes waiting in the closet.  And they've been there for a few weeks already too.

Those are the kind of moments I plan on enjoying now.

settling....

Life is finally settling down.

Er.  Scratch that.

Parts of life are starting to settle down.

Fun moments with a 4.5-year-old and 2.5-year-old are still the norm, but right now they are taking place in an extended stay hotel.  Which, while it is supposed to have all of the essential 'comforts of home'?  Is not a home.

But we continue on, trekking through our days creating a new normal and a new routine--for the next month at least.

Then we'll move to another rental, while we build our forever {if I have anything to say about it} home.

I've got some posts simmering around in my brain about returning to life in the U.S.  And how surreal, and somewhat overwhelming AND underwhelming the past several weeks of this journey has been.  However, my first week back at work...in an office...with adults...and thinking about businessy things...is draining my brain of all energy.

So you'll just have to wait just a little bit longer.

In the meantime, check out this great video that my friend over at My Life in Scotland shared.



It's sort of a little peak into the differences of living in the U.K. versus the U.S. of A. and what I'm getting used to as my normal again.

tick. tick. tick.

Time is winding down.

We have just over a month left in Scotland.  And within that month we have visitors that arrive tomorrow for ten days, and then we have another visitor arrive just a few days after that who will be here for a week.

Time is going to fly by.  So the trick will be to stay in the moment.

To not be looking towards the next thing...or the next visitor...and for sure the next flight that will take us "home" to Minnesota.

I'll be working outside the home come August, so my days at home with these little people are limited.

And I'm going to enjoy every last minute {or at least try real hard to, because lets face it...sometimes there are just moments}. 

So if you don't hear from me much around here, that'll be why.

I will however show up over here at least three times every week.

energy

I have all of these thoughts of how I want to be.

The kind of mom I want to be. 
The kind of wife I want to be. 
The kind of daughter and sister I want to be. 
The kind of aunt and Godmother I want to be. 
The kind of friend I want to be. 
The kind of woman I want to be. 

If only I had the energy for all of it. There are days right now {not every one, but a few here and there...ahem, like today} where I am lacking the energy just to sufficiently get halfway to where I want to be with the first two items.

Do you ever feel that way?

I find myself trying to remind myself of my word for the year:  enough.

I'm trying to tell myself that I am doing enough.  That all of the things that are up in the air for our family will eventually work themselves out and settle as is planned for us.

If I could just leave all of the thinking to someone else, maybe I'd get more energy?

So I will try and rest my mind, and take these thoughts to Him. My prayers were answered in one area this past week.  Literally, between prayers, some medication and more accurate testing I am blessed to be able to avoid a medical procedure (at least for now).

I will continue to work on developing more patience, and choosing joy through each day.

I will shift my mind to a positive place, because that is how I am intent on living right now.

Summer 2013 Bucket List

Ooooh, boy girl, do I have something fun for you today!

I saw there was a link-up for summer bucket lists. And I thought, "well why not?" Clearly this is bound to be one of the more exciting summers of our life.

Half of it will be spent in Scotland, where 'summer' may not be the best word for season.  Seriously folks. No air conditioners, because the temps rarely get over 70 degrees.

The other half will be in Minnesota, and after two full summers away, we are excited to get back there, mosquitos and all. (No, seriously. You should see the Jenny Long Legs in Scotland. Look like a mix between mosquitos and daddy long legs.  Gross. They don't bite, but still.  Gross.  And no screens on windows....so.  I'll let you think about that for a second.  Eeew.)

With that being said, I humbly present our 2013 Summer Bucket List:

What do you think?  Anything we should add?  Who's up for a bonfire?

I should have added a bubble gun fight.  Oh, wait.  That already happened. 

Alright, I'm off to find out how to make our own bubble solution, since I have a feeling J#3 and J#4 will be chomping at the bits to take these bubble guns out again.  Pinterest, don't let me down.  

** 

Linking up with these ladies: