how to summer to do list

SUMMER IS HERE!

My friend Lauren is hosting a little summer bucket list link up over on her blog. So I jumped at the chance to make a list (something I love doing) and make some summer memories!

Here is my summer bucket list so far

you can find your own how to summer list here. I cropped mine for the picture.

What are your plans for the summer, I plan to add some things to my list later on!

I linked up with Lauren over at Bound by Love! If you want to join in head over to her blog to link up with her!!

July Goals

Well, this is sort of my first goals post in here. It's not - but I'm starting fresh, so we'll call this the first. I have been setting monthly goals for about a year and a half and I love it! It has really helped me take life on! 

Now that summer is officially here, I'm ready for some summer fun! Trips to the lake, camping, hiking, YAY!

July Goals

-Watch the fireworks on the lake with my grandma

-Complete my personal challenge with disposable cameras

-Get back on track with exercising and eating

-Hang up the rest of our frames on the gallery wall

-Start one summer craft

-Go hiking

-Spend a whole weekend doing absolutely nothing with my sweet Derek (soaking each other in)

That is it for July, what are your goals? Share them in the comments below!

getting to know you

photo credit: Dominik Martin

I love knowing people. I don't mean being able to name drop or just knowing a multitude of people, but knowing them. Knowing their middle name, their birthdate, what their favorite color is, little tid bits and quirks, but more importantly knowing what makes their heart smile, their fears, their joys, how to lift them up, but also where they struggle so that I know where to pray. 

So I thought it might be fun to answer a few questions to help you get to know me.

1. Who is the most important person in your life? my sweet derek. he is my everything and i am beyond blessed to be able to serve and love this man for the rest of forever.

2. What do you most look forward to achieving in your life? all my life, i have wanted to be a wife and a mother. you can read a little about my story here.

3. Were you named after anyone/anything? i was named after the song 'aubrey' by bread 

4. What is your favorite part of the day? my favorite favorite are those last moments right before we fall asleep. we lay in bed together and chat about anything and everything, we pray, we hold hands, we laugh. it's perfect.

5. What is your favorite thing to wear? pajamas. i joke with derek that pajamas are my love language. i love that they don't have to match, i love how instantly i can relax as soon as i put them on. pajamas = happy

6. What are your vices? my love for food, and my hands (they bring the food to my mouth)

7. Where would you love to travel? i have always wanted to visit australia and ireland

8. What is something you wish to learn? i would love to learn another language - i have been practicing with duolingo - i also want to learn sign language!

9. What is something that people would be surprised to know about you? i can do a few pretty good accents (british & australian mainly). i am fascinated by accents, i love hearing the different words and the different inflections used. when i read or pray i do so in different accents to . (side notes: i often get the words (not meanings) mixed and call accents, accidents)

10. What is a talent you wish you had? i've always wanted to be a singer, i love singing, but i'm sure no one else loves me singing ;)

11. What has been your biggest challenge? i have always struggled with my weight and self image.

12. What is your favorite season? autumn. the colors, the cool brisk air, the sweaters and scarves, the pumpkin spice lattes, the upcoming holidays, the family get togethers. everything!

13. Do you have a favorite sound? i love the sound of rain. it is soothing and relaxing.

14. What are your three biggest interests? photography, crafts, exploring (obviously those are second to God, Derek, Hubble & Phoebe

15. If you could throw any kind of party, what would it be for? it would be a christmas ugly sweater party, with a fun photo booth, and a hot cocoa bar.

16. What is your least favorite chore? vacuuming. yuck.

17. What is the longest car trip you've ever taken? when i was younger my family moved from alaska to new york and we drove the whole way - with a few stops to visit family along the way.

18. Are you morning person or a night owl? i used to hate mornings, but as i've gotten older i really enjoy mornings and will feel like i've lost half the day if i wake up past 9:30 am.

19. What is the worst hairdo you've ever had? i've never really had a bad hair cut, but when i was 20 i decided i wanted a change, so i got a perm (they had to do it 3 times before it took, but even then the perm wasn't curly like it was supposed to be, it was just a slight wave/crimp). then a few months later, i thought why don't i dye my hair red - and it was terrible, i looked like a brand new penny (maybe i'll post the picture one day). so to cover up that mess, i dyed my hair dark brown, that faded pretty quickly into a weird light brown with a greenish tint. needless to say, i have never, nor will i ever again, dye my hair.

20. What is one thing you will never leave the house without? i always try to remember to take my phone, keys, and purse - but the one thing i never go anywhere without is my wedding ring. but that is pretty easy because it never leaves my finger.

goals

Happy New Year! I hope that this finds you well and excited for the new year! I know I am! 2012 has been a challenging one, a time for beginnings, but more so it seemed to be a time for stand stills, hurry up and waits (which is very common for military families!). The past few weeks during my quiet time with God, I have been getting one constant thing... "I am faithful!" Through all the stand stills and time in limbo land - it was easy to forget that no matter what He is there, and always will be! This year for me, has been a year of temporary. Temporary moving, temporary living, temporary working... temporary, temporary, temporary. And amidst all of that, God has been continually reminding me that He is faithful! He is NOT temporary, He is everlasting, He is always! And I am SOO thankful for that!

So over the past few weeks I have been really looking back at the year and taking note of the good, the bad, the encouraging, the heartbreaking, the uplifting - and working with myself and God to prepare myself for 2013, change and to make things happen. This year I am going to stretch myself, push myself, and step outside of my comfort zone. I am going to make 2013 MY year!

I started my lists with a list of things I would like to make a habits by the end of the year.

2013 goals/habits

-12 in 12 - I have heard the name before from others and I love the idea! One book in one month - very doable.
-Be more organized
-Drink more water
-Exercise more/eat less
-Meal plan weekly (even for days that I know we won't be at home - I would like to still have a plan on what that night will look like)
-Wake up earlier, go to bed earlier
-Write in my Q&A a day journal
-Keep in touch with family and friends better - with handwritten letters and birthday/anniversary cards
-Less TV and more quality time
-Be intentional in documenting my own life and memories

January goals

-12 in 12 - He said. She said.
-Wake up at 6:45 am M-F and 7:30 am on weekends
-Attend Branches & Light (SOO excited about this!!!)
-Make a cleaning regimen
-Walk 3-4 miles 4x week
-Drink one-two nalgene bottles a day

This is the first time I've really put myself out there like this, and shared, or really even made specific goals for myself. I am excited and very ready to go on this journey! Have you made any goals for this year or this month? What are they? Share them below! I'd love to see your goals!

"The Day After Christmas"

There isn't much to say about today. I got stuff done, I disappointed, I asked for forgiveness, I cooked, I cleaned. And I relaxed. This is what my night looks like.

"The Day I Challenged Myself"

The year is almost over. How?! How did this happen!? This year has gone by soo quickly! I am so ready for this new year and to see what it brings with it.

Over the past two months or so, I have been working on being thankful for the things that God has blessed me with and...change. I have been trying to go through my life and find things - superficial things, material things...- that are pulling my focus away from things that truly matter, from doing things for the glory of Him, from making a difference in the world, in the life of others, in my own life.

Thanks to Nancy I have been inspired! I have been following her blog for a while now, and she is inspiring, beautiful! I'm not sure when she started, but as long as I have been following her, she has posted goals that she has set for herself each month - for a long time now, I have wanted to make monthly goals for myself, but for no reason I can say, I just haven't. However, something happened today, something changed. I don't know what it was - but I'm thankful that it has finally stuck.

In the next couple weeks as I reflect on this past year, I will be making my goals for January- and I can honestly say I am excited about it! I will share them with you each month and hope that maybe some of you can be inspired to do the same.

And because every post is better with a picture, I leave you with some sweet-smelling, adorable Christmas happiness. (Thank you again Nancy and Caroline! I can't wait for Branches & Light next month! - more on that later)

Love beyond measure.

"The Day We Enjoyed"

I love Sundays!! Today after church we had some of our best friends over for lunch and a relaxing afternoon! Here was the day.