#bucket20

Bringing it in for the Year End Review. I made it through 22 without hearing T. Swift once. WOOT. I’ll get around to a new set of goals in the next few days. (Original post here.)

1. Pay off a large chunk of my car (whom I named Emerson, after Pushing Daisies’ Emerson Cod).

Well, I paid off some of it. Then I had to pay car insurance. Then I quit my job. Long story boring, I’m still working on this. Hopefully with my new job I’ll make enough to pay it off quickly!

2. Move out of my parents’ house.

Might have an opportunity to do just this. But for now, I’m still here.

3. Get fit/workout regularly.

Off and on and off and on and off again... so no.

4. Be allergen-free for a month.

GF since the beginning of April (with a small snag in May). Planning to cut out dairy and such as life gets less crazy (ha).

5. Drink more tea.

This should always be a goal. It’s easily accomplished, and boy does it make you happy.

6. Visit Moscow for Misha’s graduation (!!!)

YES. And managed to nearly die by drinking too much (not really, but dying of embarrassment can be real).

7. Explore Bham/Alabama (e.g. hike Ruffner Mountain).

Sloooowly working on it. I went to Noccalula, Sloss, Ruffner, Red Mountain, the Tennessee River, Cullman, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa. So many more places to go.

8. Continue my search for that signature scent.

I bought a perfume I like, sometimes. I want a natural perfume though, since the chemicals can make me feel sick.

9. Visit the beach.

Three. Freaking. Times. July, September, March. And I still love it.

10. Go see The Oh Hellos again.

YES AND IT WAS SO AMAZING AND NOW GARNETT AND I FANGIRL TOGETHER AND OHMYGOSH I LOVE THEM. Oct. 7/8, 2016.

11. Study French.

Thank you, Duolingo, for allowing me to study French (and Spanish and Italian and Swahili). No, thank you, Duolingo, for making me lose my 110-day streak and thus all motivation to keep studying. I want to pick it back up again, but maybe with some textbook supplemental info.

12. Visit Seattle.

SEATTLE. I miss you. I haven’t see you in over a year (unless you count the airport which I do because it’s one of my favorite places on earth).

13. Work on regular devotions.

Guys, you’re going to be so proud. I have done Ann Voskamp’s Joy Dare daily since February 1. And I have attempted to read a chapter of the Bible every day. I recently added Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost, but I want something more encouraging than I find it to be.

14. Go on a date.

...moving on...

Honestly though, I’m very happy with the way my interactions with guys have gone this year. Thanks, y’all, for making a girl realize that she will be loved one day.

15. Get my passport.

CHECK. Now I gotta use it...

16. Learn to rest in my Savior, particularly when it comes to friendships.

Thank you, Jesus.

17. Visit other churches in the Birmingham area.

Covenant Pres., St. Peter’s, the Anglican church in Pelham, Red Mountain, Redeemer, Church of the Advent. Thank you for welcoming me to worship. Thank you for welcoming me, Redeemer.

18. Find a coffee shop that I like.

Red Cat is my favorite. The one by Pepper Place.

19. Buy a Birmingham t-shirt.

Not yet. Maybe in honor of my first paycheck.

20. Buy an Idaho t-shirt.

Not yet. Maybe in honor of my second paycheck.

21. Improve my relationships with my siblings/parents.

They’ve gotten better. They’re still not great, but they’ve gotten better.

22. Remind myself regularly that God is always with me, I only need to trust Him.

Well, it’s been over a month since I turned 22 (and I have yet to hear the entirety of Taylor Swift’s hit song!) This past year was tough in a number of ways, and I am sure the coming one will bring its own challenges.

1. Pay off a large chunk of my car (whom I named Emerson, after Pushing Daisies’ Emerson Cod).

2. Move out of my parents’ house.

3. Get fit/workout regularly.

4. Be allergen-free for a month.

5. Drink more tea.

6. Visit Moscow for Misha’s graduation (!!!)

7. Explore Bham/Alabama (e.g. hike Ruffner Mountain).

8. Continue my search for that signature scent.

9. Visit the beach.

10. Go see The Oh Hellos again.

11. Study French.

12. Visit Seattle.

13. Work on regular devotions.

14. Go on a date.

15. Get my passport.

16. Learn to rest in my Savior, particularly when it comes to friendships.

17. Visit other churches in the Birmingham area.

18. Find a coffee shop that I like.

19. Buy a Birmingham t-shirt.

20. Buy an Idaho t-shirt.

21. Improve my relationships with my siblings/parents.

Original post here.

Let’s look at how I did...

1. Finish paying my parents back.

Well, I did that. And there was great rejoicing. And then a year later... (see number 4)

2. Write a thesis.

Check. Now let’s just forget that ever happened. Except for the fact that I fulfilled the requirements to graduate.

3. Graduate from college!

BECAUSE I GRADUATED. I FINISHED NSA AND NOW I’M READY TO CONQUER THE WORLD. Only not really... can you tell I’ve had coffee??

4. Buy a car.

...I got a car (and get to pay my parents back for it)!! 2014 Kia Forte and I love it. I need to name it. Suggestions are welcome.

5. Figure out post-college plans (culinary? marine biology? work?).

Turns out it’s gonna be work, work, work, and more work. We’ll see where it goes from there - I’m excited!

6. Get my passport.

Sadly this never happened.

7. Travel outside the United States.

Seeing as I didn’t get my passport, this couldn’t exactly have happened either. At least not legally.

8. Visit Seattle with Michelle.

I did, the weekend before Thanksgiving. And she didn’t like it. *sad face*

9. Camp with Alli a lot.

We never went camping. This saddens me.

10. Get fit (arms, abs, legs, etc.)

I am not fit.

11. Get healthy (eat less unhealthy food, more nutrient-rich diet - watch out for allergies).

*cough*

12. Start wearing makeup more often.

Woot! Definitely did this. (Now I just need to wear more makeup often.)

13. Find a signature scent.

I really love Pacifica’s Tahitian Gardenia scent, but I’m not sure it works on me since I have yet to buy any.

14. Revamp the wardrobe.

I’m more in tune with what I’m wearing, etc. Hoping to get a job and boost things a little more.

15. Keep up with the Joy Dare from Ann Voskamp.

Didn’t happen, unfortunately.

16. Learn Hebrew.

Well, I took it for a term and then it was a matter of wanting to learn more about the stars than an ancient language...

17. Focus more on being a daughter of Christ than anything else.

By God’s grace.

18. Do daily devotions (read the Bible, pray, memorize Scripture, etc).

Unfortunately this isn’t happening. Starting tomorrow morning, I will do this.

19. Get a consistent sleep schedule (HA!)

ha. haha. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

20. Talk to my parents about life.

See #19. Juuuust kidding. I do, sometimes. It’s still hard, but God is working through us all and He is glorified so whatever happens is good - however ugly it appears to us.

21. Go out for drinks with my friends!

That’s how long I’ve spent on this globe. I wonder how many more I have...Anyway, a bucket list for my 21st year.

1. Finish paying my parents back.

2. Write a thesis.

3. Graduate from college!

4. Buy a car.

5. Figure out post-college plans (culinary? marine biology? work?).

6. Get my passport.

7. Travel outside the United States.

8. Visit Seattle with Michelle.

9. Camp with Alli a lot.

10. Get fit (arms, abs, legs, etc.)

11. Get healthy (eat less unhealthy food, more nutrient-rich diet - watch out for allergies).

12. Start wearing makeup more often.

13. Find a signature scent.

14. Revamp the wardrobe.

15. Keep up with the Joy Dare from Ann Voskamp.

16. Learn Hebrew.

17. Focus more on being a daughter of Christ than anything else.

18. Do daily devotions (read the Bible, pray, memorize Scripture, etc).

19. Get a consistent sleep schedule (HA!)

20. Talk to my parents about life.

I've been 20 for over 2 months now. That's weird. Here's an update on my goals.

1. Pay off my debt.

So I had this brilliant idea of paying my debt off $100 a month for the next year and it would all be good. That hasn't happened yet. But that's OK, because my job should help with this. Praying that I'll be able to figure out this job schedule and balance it well with work.

2. Learn to run (and enjoy it).

Ha. Still working on getting up early enough to go without people seeing me. But Alli and I are going to start meeting at the track early in the mornings just to walk. I'm hoping to get a bit of running in, too, if I can. Praying I'll be diligent enough to get up on time.

3. Tone my abs.

Ha. Moving on... Not really. Praying that I accept my body for what it is and that I can actually discipline myself to work out.

4. Learn a new language.

I signed up for Duolingo yesterday. French was the first language I tried, but then I switched to Spanish. I might go back to French because it's easier on my Latin brain. Praying that I will enjoy this and get over my fear of speaking it.

5. Buy an iPod.

With my money going to paying off debt, this will have to wait a little longer. Praying I will be content as I am.

6. Become as financially-independent as possible.

Praying I become content with how much I need to rely on my parents and that I won't be resentful towards that fact.

7. Decide on a thesis topic.

Not much closer, but things keep sounding fun. Praying I find a topic I truly enjoy.

8. Buy a pair of 5” heels.

Thanks to Alli, check. Praying I'll be comfortable with my height. Rock the tall, am I right?

9. Wear a pair of 5” heels.

Thanks to Alli and Michelle and Amy, check. (Technically, they're 4.5", but that's close enough.)

10. Wean myself off of corn and milk. Gotta get these allergies in check.

So hard when you are in college. Praying I'll eat healthier if I can.

11. Discover a cure for my hair (milk, perhaps?)

Praying for God to heal me.

12. Save money. (Budget.)

Well. Ha. No. Praying I'll be a wise steward of my gifts.

13. Talk to my parents.

I have (possibly not about what I am supposed to talk to them about, but whatever). Praying my relationship with them improves.

14. Talk to my dad.

Yep. Did that. Praying I'll be patient and wise with that situation.

15. Make fondant. Bake my sister a Tardis cake.

Check, check, CHECK. Best idea EVER. Only... don't try to make fondant in a non-airconditioned home on a summer evening in Alabama.

16. Buy a nice gift for everyone in my family.

Money probs.

17. Write a new blog post every month.

So far, so good. 

18. Learn some conversational phrases in at least 2 new languages.

Same as #4.

19. Plan most of a trip to Italy. Save for it.

Money probs. Yet again.

20. Read through the whole Bible. And read it every day.

Turning 20 in a week. Bucket List for the year.

1. Pay off my debt.

2. Learn to run (and enjoy it).

3. Tone my abs.

4. Learn a new language.

5. Buy an iPod.

6. Become as financially-independent as possible.

7. Decide on a thesis topic.

8. Buy a pair of 5" heels.

9. Wear a pair of 5" heels.

10. Wean myself off of corn and milk. Gotta get these allergies in check.

11. Discover a cure for my hair (milk, perhaps?)

12. Save money. (Budget.)

13. Talk to my parents.

14. Talk to my dad.

15. Make fondant. Bake my sister a Tardis cake.

16. Buy a nice gift for everyone in my family.

17. Write a new blog post every month.

18. Learn some conversational phrases in at least 2 new languages.

19. Plan most of a trip to Italy. Save for it.