A few months ago, I was vlogging about what my life list includes and I very frankly said, I don’t have a life list.

I was pretty clear that if I kicked the bucket tomorrow, I’d have no regrets. And it’s true.

I’ve lived a pretty fulfilling life. I’ve had opportunities that I never would have dreamed of having as a little girl growing up in rural southern Maryland. I’ve traveled all over the world. Hung out with celebrities. Lobbied on Capitol Hill. Appeared on TV. Became a mom! What more could you possibly want or need?

And yet, I keep remembering the quote my older brother used in his yearbook profile for his senior year of high school.

“A man’s reach should exceed his grasp,
Or what’s a heaven for?”

- from the poem “Andrea del Sarto” by Robert Browning

How did my brother get to be so wise?

We all need goals and aspirations. Something to strive for even if it’s unobtainable.

I often seem to be a sounding board for people, especially when they’re depressed. I often tell them that no matter what their situation, financially, personally, mentally, whatever, that it always helps to have your sites set on something. Something to work towards and something to certainly look forward to.

And with that, I decided to take my own advice. I decided to really think about those things that have been passing fancies that I might really actually like to do. So I finally came up with My Mighty Life Bucket List, inspired mostly by Maggie Mason at Mighty Girl and her related site, Go Mighty.

Without further adieu, my list (so far):

1. Learn to play a ukelele.

Martin 5K Ukulele - with case

uketeecee via Compfight

2. Find and return a lost pet.

3. Go to Japan.

4. See Yes in concert (only counts if Jon Anderson is at the helm).

5. Build a birdhouse.

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6. Make a mosaic.

7. Learn to crochet a scarf.

8. Learn to knit a scarf.

9. Run a 5k.

10. Walk to the top of the Washington Monument.

11. Walk to the top of the Statue of Liberty (the crown and the torch).

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12. While I’m at it, walk to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

13. Take a soak in the volcanic springs of Iceland.

14. Drink a glass (bottle?) of Dom Perignon.

15. Do a full yoga inversion.

16. Travel to Antarctica.

17. Go whale watching.

18. Speak at a blogging conference. (Come see me in Spetember!!!)

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19. Practice yoga in Bali.

20. Hold a political office.

After I got to 20, I had to really start digging deep. But I felt like my list should be longer.

21. Attend a movie premiere in Hollywood.

22. Drive across the United States at a leisurely pace with no particular plan.

Endless Adventure Awaits

Todd Lappin via Compfight

23. Take an Alaskan cruise and train ride through Alaska on a glass-topped train.

24. Have a full body mud wrap.

25. Track down my 4th grade teacher, Miss Hoffman.

26. Catch some fireflies with my son.

27. Attend a surprise party FOR ME!

28. Stay in the Presidential Suite in a hotel.

29. Plant my very own garden.

30. Host my own show (TV, web, whatever).

31. Visit the White House.

The White House (Washington DC)

Creative Commons License Shubert Ciencia via Compfight

32. Meet Meryl Streep.

33. Feel comfortable enough with my body to wear a bikini.

34. Have a professional photo shoot.

35. Visit the childhood home of my grandmother in the Bronx.

36. See Mount Rushmore in person.

37. Spend a second honeymoon with my husband in Sonoma.

38. Digitize and organize all my childhood photos.

39. Watch Citizen Kane.

40. Be a bridesmaid or matron of honor in someone’s wedding.

Ashley + Ryan | Jealousy

Sean Molin via Compfight

41. Have a two hour body massage (do they offer them?)

42. Fly overseas in business or first class.

43. Cook a surprise meal and drop it off for 5 of my friends.

44. Teach my son how to ride a bike.

45. Drive an exotic sportscar.

46. Volunteer for an overseas mission.

47. Schedule cataract surgery for my dog so she can see again.

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48. Have an outdoor fancy lady garden party.

49. Attend high tea in an upscale tea room (Russian Tea Room, anyone?)

50. Find an amazing fossil in Calvert Cliffs.

I could probably keep going but I might be reaching, especially since the last thirty I came up with on the fly.

I think I’m going to find a way to keep this list front and center. Maybe even post on Go Mighty. But I think it’s time I start working towards some of these aspirations.

And as for the antithesis of my life list? Well, it’s almost easier for me to make a list of the things I definitely don’t want to do. Of that, I’m sure.

My Anti-Bucket list includes:

Balloon FIght

- Skydiving (no way, no how,  no thank you)

- Bungee jumping (see above, only worse)

- Climbing Mount Everest (I’m content to watch documentaries and read books. No edema for me, thank you very much)

- Traveling to the Middle East

- Go swimming or diving with sharks

- Ski down anything other than a bunny hill

I think you get the idea. I’m not a risk taker. But instead of focusing on the things I know I don’t want to do, I’m going to focus on the things that still exceed my grasp.

What’s on your list?

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If you’re looking for a Father’s Day post, I already did one! Please take the time to read my post about how you can head to Wendy’s this weekend and help other kids at the same time. And I even have a Wendy’s gift card giveaway that ends tomorrow!

***

I’m pretty excited about this month because I’ve found my exercise routine and I’m actually keeping up with it!

I’ve been going to the gym regularly and I’ve got my standard classes:

Sunday 10am – 11:30am is Yoga for Life. It seems like a pretty straightforward yoga class full of beginning, older folks, younger ones, super limber people, and then those right in the middle like me. It’s a long class and we spend most of the time getting our bodies ready for the most challenging move at the end of the class.

I always have to laugh at people who say that yoga isn’t enough of a challenge for them because they like to work up a really good sweat. I can attest that yoga not only gets your heart rate up and can make you sweat profusely, but it is hands down the exercise that makes me the sorest. I credit yoga for any shape I’m now achieving in my arms and shoulders.

Tuesday 6:30pm – 7:30pm is Body Flow. This class is part of the Les Mills franchise of classes. It means it’s a class with certified instructors and standardized routine that changes about every three months. BodyFlow, in particular, is a class that combines Tai Chi, yoga, and Pilates set to coordinating music. Again, it’s challenging but the hour flies by and I actually enjoy the class. (Yes, ME, enjoying exercise!)

I used to do Pilates on Thursday evenings but the class isn’t offered this summer so I’m trying to find something to motivate me to get to the gym at least once more per week.

But since today is Yoga Sunday, I thought it might be perfect to talk a little bit more about what I wear to the gym. Because it matters.

When I started exercising seriously about a year and a half ago (and then stopped and then started ago), one of the greatest joys and motivators for me was finally feeling justified in buying cute workout wear. Like, I wasn’t just buying yoga pants to be comfortable. I was buying yoga pants because I was doing yoga.

And truth be told, I like to like good when I’m working out.

Call me vain. Call me a girl. Doesn’t matter. It’s one of those when-I-look-good-I-feel-good things. So I usually will at least brush my hair (unlike other times I’ve posted pictures of myself looking rather unkempt), wear matching workout wear, put in some small earrings, and wear lip gloss at a minimum.

Yes, I wear lip gloss to class. What of it?

So when I got a chance to review Ellie sportswear, I was all over it. I started by filling out a style profile that included the colors I like and the types of activities I like to do, as well as my measurements. The result? A lovely yoga outfit in black. Perfect.

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Don’t ask me why I wasn’t smiling. I probably didn’t realize my husband was snapping the picture.

Back

I absolutely loved the back of the top.

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The outfit was definitely formfitting, which is normally okay for yoga. But it was a little clingy for me. It didn’t stop me from wearing it but I was a little more self-conscious than I normally am.

transparency

It wasn’t until about the third time that I wore this that I realized there were areas of transparency  on the top. Normally this would freak me out but it wasn’t anything too revealing.

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I’m more of a fan of the pants. They are capri style and fit snugly but not so snug that they create a muffin top (please disregard cat hair in this picture).

But let’s be honest. What you really want to know is how the outfit worked for me for yoga. Here’s my best tree pose so you be the judge.

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Now here’s the confusing part. Since I was asked to do this review (back in March), I’ve had three different contacts with the company and the company has changed more times than I can count. I signed up to review some workout wear. Instead, it turns out that Ellie is promoting their Fit Fashionista Club. It’s a $49.95 monthly membership that provides you two pieces of workout wear every month.

I think they wanted me to sign up and become an affiliate and make money if you buy in. I almost considered it because I could provide you a discount if I did that. But ultimately, I don’t want to get into affiliate sales no matter how lucrative it is.

Instead, I decided to simply provide you some pros and cons to ordering from Ellie and/or joining their Fit Fashionista Club.

Pros

  • The clothes are definitely high quality. I made sure I wore them several times, used them for workouts, and washed and dried them. The color didn’t fade and the material is pretty solid.
  • About $50 a month is a great price for high end workout wear, especially if you’re the type that is addicted to companies like Lululemon and Athleta.
  • Nice clothes make you feel better and when you feel better, you’re probably more inclined to want to work out.

Cons

  • If you don’t join the club, the individual pieces are fairly expensive (~$60 per piece).
  • I don’t personally need two new pieces of workout wear per month (the gym is already a monthly splurge for me).
  • I’m a bargain shopper and can usually get some pretty nice workout clothes at TJ Maxx or clothing outlets.

Let me know what you think about Ellie, the workout wear, and my yoga pose. How do you feel about what you wear to workout?

Disclosure: As mentioned, Ellie provided me with two pieces (top and bottom) for review. All opinions are my own.

 

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Can you guess which one of these kids is adopted? Look carefully and see if you can tell.
Happy Kids

 

The truth is that I have no clue if any of them are adopted. Frankly, they’re all stock photos that I found when I was searching for happy kids (incidentally, you can just as easily find photos of grumpy kids). So why the set up?

Because when it comes to kids, the most important thing is that they have a happy home that gives them a sense of safety, stability, and love.

We should all be so lucky.

Sometimes we’re born into that lucky situation. Sometimes it finds us, as is the case with many children placed with families through adoption.

Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendy’s, was once one of those children many years ago. When he was 6 weeks old, he was adopted by a family and then spent many years living with his grandmother. He credits her with instilling in him the values of a life of service.

Now when you think of Wendy’s and service, you might be thinking of someone serving up a single cheese with everything, side of fries, and a Diet Coke. Or maybe that’s just me. Or maybe you’re thinking of a Frosty. Or maybe you’re thinking about the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

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Actually all of them are good thoughts (well, except for my cheeseburger combo meal) because this weekend, in honor of Father’s Day, you can help others when you order a Frosty.

Let me tie it all together for you.

It’s Father’s Day and you want to treat dad (maybe your dad, maybe your husband, maybe it’s YOU). So you stop by Wendy’s and order a Frosty (they have a ridiculous amount of Frosty varieties now). When you do, anytime during Father’s Day weekend (June 15 & 16), 50 cents from each Frosty purchase will be donated to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (DFTA). These donations will be used to benefit the cause of Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, which is a program that helps foster children in need find great homes.

As if you needed a reason to have a Frosty.

Here are some more details anyway.

HOW DO I DONATE?

There are a couple different ways to donate! Check them out and be sure to pass them on!

1. Facebook & Twitter – Use the hashtag #FirstFrosty and share your first Frosty memories. For each story, image or video, Wendy’s will donate $1, up to $50,000.

2. Go to Wendy’s – For each Frosty purchased on June 15-16, Wendy’s will donate 50 cents to DTFA. Any Frosty purchase counts! Even their newest product, the Frosty Waffle Cone!

But WAIT! There’s MORE!

I want you to enjoy your family time at Wendy’s so I’m giving one of you a $10 gift card to Wendy’s. Unfortunately I won’t be able to get it to you this weekend but you can use it anytime you want to visit Wendy’s.

To enter, simply leave me a comment telling me how you plan to appreciate the Dad in your life this weekend.

And of course, I’d love for you to tweet, post, share, whatever with the #FirstFrosty hashtag.

I’ll let Father’s Day come to a close and draw the winner on Monday, 6/17/13.

***

This opportunity was provided to me by The Motherhood. I’m being provided Wendy’s gift cards for my participation in this campaign and as part of the giveaway.

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The Difference A Year Makes

June 13, 2013

I’d love to write a really sappy post about how my baby is growing up. About how quickly time passes and how it’s important to cherish every moment you have. I’ve love to, but I won’t. Because in theory, that’s all true. But it’s not exactly how I’m feeling. I’m actually feeling an incredible sense [...]

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Things That Aren’t Cute (but I love them anyway)

June 10, 2013

I have a real problem in my household. The problem is this: I love too much. I think that was actually the name of a self-help book. But in that case, I’m pretty sure it was referring to a sort of person who gives and gives at the expense of their own sense of self. [...]

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NYC, Celebrities, and a Good Cause (NOW with PICTURES!)

June 6, 2013

It started out like any other typical Wednesday. Get glammed up. Hop on a train. Head to NYC. Take a cab to Central Park. Hang out with celebrities. I mean, isn’t that how your typical Wednesday goes? But I can’t brag about celebrities unless I show them to you. (And tell you why I got to meet [...]

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Just Another Tuesday Night Happy Hour

June 3, 2013

What would you say if someone someone offered to send you five bottles of wine to review? If you were me, you would say BRING IT. And then you would try to find several friends to help you drink it because maybe you can’t be trusted with five bottles of wine all by yourself. Ah, [...]

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Shaklee 180: The 90 Day Reveal

May 31, 2013

Continuing my journey as a Shaklee 180 blogger on a journey to get fit and healthy… You guys. I SO did not want to write this post. I even considered copping out and not posting pictures or measurements or anything. Because this was not my best month. I had strep throat for the first time in my [...]

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Shaklee 180 Video Diary: This is NOT my happy chaos

May 30, 2013

I. am. going. to. do. this. I proclaimed. (Talking about the Shaklee 180 program) I am going to be publicly held accountable. I’m going to post embarrassing photos of myself on the internet. I’ve got to show improvement. But more importantly, I’ve got to show it’s real. And with real come faults and mistakes and missteps. But [...]

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That’s What I Like About Me

May 29, 2013

Why is liking yourself so hard? I know I’m not alone in that thinking. When I wrote my post last year about self-loathing, I was surprised by how many women said they felt the same way. Beautiful, intelligent women. It’s easy to say things like I like my lips but it’s quickly followed by but [...]

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