Summer Bucket List

Today I'm lamenting the end of my summer. It's come and gone in a whirlwind and I'm facing another semester at school, another semester of homework, and another semester of not seeing my husband until 9 or 10 o'clock at night. So, this summer I decided to make a "summer bucket list" so that it wouldn't pass me by and leave me wondering where the time went. Here is what my list included.

1. Take, and PASS, a Math class. Check.
This was the biggest thing for me. I was really nervous about taking a math class A)because I absolutely dread math and B)because it was a lot of work in such a short amount of time! I was doing 3, sometimes 4 assignments a night. On top of a 4 hour class, a 1 hour lab and work. But I did it! I did it! I did it! Oh, so happy!

2. Finish a scrapbook-ish cookbook of all our favorite recipes. Check.
I started this cookbook when we first moved here. I was having a hard time finding a job at the time and Brad was in school all day so I had nothing to do and I was going crazy! So I started cooking up a storm. Then after I had collected a number of recipes (mostly from my Mom and from some random foodie blogs) I decided I would make my own little book of recipes, and scrapbooking it sounded like a good idea. (Which is funny because I don't actually scrapbook.) But then I got a job. Then I decided to go back to school. And nothing has happened to the book for a year. Until now! Here is the final product...until I gather more recipes. Anyone want to submit some to the cause?! My belly, and Brad's, would appreciate it.




3. Put together a 72 hour kit. Check.
You can never be too prepared, right?! I went to the grocery store once and they had all these Earthquake Emergency kits for sale and the words of Brad's mother rang in my ears, and I quote, "I could make the @#!*% thing for 2 dollars!" So I did. Not for 2 dollars, but for less than they were selling them for and with stuff I like more. Brad's mom gave me some ideas, and the kit she made for Brad when he still lived and home and away I went. And ta da! We each have 72 hour kits. Here is Brad modeling his.



4. Finish the quilt I started last year. Fail.
This was another project I started while I was unemployed. I took one quilting class in high school and figured I could do it on my own. Easy enough right? Kind of. Well, I still haven't finished the one I started. But until this summer it was just cut out pieces and now it looks like this.

Yeah, it's baby blanket. And no, I'm not making any announcements. I just had to start small. All I have to do is finish the corners and sew all the strips together then sew on the outsides. And quilt it. (And un-pick the blocks that I mixed up that ruins the whole pattern. I just can't bring myself to unpick one more thing!) I can't decide whether or not I should actually quilt it. It's going to be all wonky. But I did it, and I'm pretty dang proud of it! I learned a lot, and even want to do another so I can keep getting better and be as good as my Grandma. Although it's a pretty lofty goal, the woman is amazing! She and my aunts make a quilt for each granddaughter/niece when we get married, how lucky are we?

5. Read a good, leisurely book. Check.
I chose this book:

Princess of the Midnight Ball, by Jessica Day George. My sisters recommended it to me and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. It's based on the Brothers Grimm tale of the Twelve Dancing Princesses. If you love a feel good, fair tale every now and then give this one a try. I also loved "Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow" by the same author. Now I'm reading The Peacegiver, by James L. Ferrell. I'll let you know how it goes, so far I love it.

So, that's it. That's my summer bucket list! I know it's only 5 things, but that's about all I had time for! The rest of my time was spent with my best friend, my husband, adventuring around SoCal. I hate to see summer end, but there's plenty to love about Fall! Not that the leaves change color here. But can you say Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies?! I sure can!