I have heard it said that your 20's are for finding yourself and your 30's are for living out that "self" that you found. My 20's were definitely a time for finding myself. I feel like I have finally come into my own, even just in the past 2-3 years. Something about having kids makes you not care about what everyone else thinks. It's important for me to live authentically for my children. I have done a lot and made a lot of changes. There are still plenty of things I want to do. Because I can't function without a list...here is my "life" to do list, or at least for the next 3 years.
Inspired by Heather. Here we go...(In no particular order of importance, just as they came to mind and then categorized.)
A Healthier Me
- Incorporate more whole/unprocessed foods into my diet
- Start drinking green smoothies
- Become a vegetarian
- Start drinking infused water instead of sodas
- Start running again
- Run a marathon
- Start practicing yoga regularly
- Try out hooping
- Start drinking herbal tea
- Lose the baby weight
A Life Less Toxic
- Purchase a Berkey water filter and a filtered shower head
- Stop using plastic in the kitchen...use stainless and glass when at all possible
- Buy Kleen Kanteens for me, hubby, and the boys
- Convert to all natural body products... cleansers, lotions, etc.
- Start wearing all natural/organic makeup
- Switch to no-poo method of washing hair and find or make natural styling products
- Make homemade deodorant
- Make homemade bug spray
- Find natural sun screen
- Start using natural toothpaste
- Stop coloring my hair or switch to henna dye
- Get rid of Teflon coated pans
- Make a "healing basket" with natural remedies
- Make homemade laundry detergent and stain remover
A Life Less Wasteful
Start using cloth paper towels and napkinsOct 2010- Start using "cloth" sandwich bags
- Start using cloth cotton pads (In place of cotton balls)
- Start using mama cloth or Diva Cup
- Try out cloth toilet paper
- Use reusable shopping bags ALL the time
Start using handkerchiefs instead of KleenexOct 2010- Try to get all books from library, borrow, or buy used
- If purchasing books or music, purchase to download online
- Try furoshiki instead of gift wrap
A Simple Life
- Join The Compact (pledge to not buy anything new for one year)
- Pay off all debt (except houses)
- Downsize to one car
- Get rid of the microwave
- Simplify each room of the house - only keep what is functional and/or what I LOVE
- Stop shopping at Wal-Mart, Target and other big company stores and start shopping at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, farmer's markets, and small locally owned businesses
My Little Suburban Homestead
- Start composting
- Plant a garden
- Start canning and preserving
- Start collecting rainwater for watering garden and other uses
- Build pantry shelves
- Organize home office
- Organize sewing room
- Redecorate living room
- Redecorate sun porch
- Redecorate boys bedroom
- Redecorate master bedroom
Going To and Fro
- Purchase a cruiser style bicycle with a basket and ride to local places (library, park, etc)
- Purchase a bike trailer for the boys
- Purchase a diesel vehicle and convert to run on veggie oil
It's Personal
- Start every day with prayer and meditation
Purchase a DSLR cameraSept 2010- Take a photography class
- Take an online course at Vintage Remedies
- Start etsy store
- Start ReFind style
- Do nothing and relax more often
- Read all the books on my Good Reads "to read" list (see sidebar)
- Organize computer files, pictures and email folders
- Find awesome boots and wear them with EVERYTHING!
- Volunteer with Impact Fulton (in honor of my dad)
- Give blood again
- Go on a mission trip
- Get a tattoo? (Still thinking about this one...)
Family Matters
Get rid of TV except for DVD useSept 2010- Get rid of DVD's that do not line up with our values
- Write a Family Mission Statement
- Write "18 Year Discipleship Plan" for our children
- Go camping
- Decorate the house with beautiful family photos (that I take with my new DSLR camera)
- Visit Ohio family
- Create family rhythm/schedule
- Read the entire "Parenting Passageway" blog
- Organize family photos and keepsakes
- Start doing Tot School with Buddy
- Start doing daily "devotions" with Buddy
- Have another baby
- Make keepsake box of my father's things
- Buy a vintage locket to hold a picture of my father
- Go on a REAL vacation to the beach
- Start real vintage shopping
Oh So Crafty
- Make an inspiration board
- Make a king size quilt for our room
- Make a full/queen quilt for the boys to share a bes when Little Man gets older
- Make a rag rug out of old t-shirts
- Knit a sweater for myself
- Knit a baggy hat for myself
- Knit a sweater for each of the boys
- Knit a hat for each of the boys
- Knit a hat for hubby
- Learn to crochet
- Learn to spin yarn
- Dye yarn using plant dyes
- Learn to embroider
- Take an online class with Rachel and Elsie
- Make a felt playhouse for the boys
- Buy a vintage sewing machine
Well, those are my 101. I'm sure I'll think of more, but that's it for now. I've been working on this post for about a month now, so some of the things I have already begun. I will mark through and date the items as my way of "checking them off the list" as I move forward. Gotta get busy
Always,
Amanda
Always,
Amanda
