28 things for my 28th year

Today, I am 28-years-old. This last year flew by so very quickly, I feel like I blinked and it was gone. You can read how I celebrated my 27th birthday here.


The most wonderful thing happened last year, the birth of my Lainey Bug and while this year could never compare, I am determined to make it a good one! So, I've decided to come up with a list of everything I want to do in my 28th year.

1. I want to continue to be the best momma I can be to sweet baby girl. She has made everything in this world so much better for me and I owe it to her to give her the best life I can.
2. Read more. I love to read but rarely do it. When we lived in Louisiana, which is actually when and why I started this blog (so family could keep track of us) I was reading a book a week it seemed! Last year, I think I ready 3 books. I have a new Kindle so I'm determined to read a book a month. Hopefully, reading with an infant is quite a challenge.
3. Write more. Article one submitted for the year this morning so, so far so good.
4. Spend time with my husband like I did before we had a baby. I know that I give all of my attention to Lainey, which she deserves. But B does deserve attention as well. I've noticed that once Lainey is asleep, I choose to still hold her rather than put her in her bed and snuggle with B.
5. Spend less money. Yep, I just said that.
6. Be a better friend. If you read this post, you will know that I have decided to let go of some friendships and put more energy into those that are really valuable and I am determined to be the best friend that I can be.
7. Be healthy. I am generally a healthy person. I work out and eat a pretty decent diet. But I want to be healthier. I want to get back into my workout routine that I abandoned with pregnancy and eat more veggies.
8. Get a website up and running where I can show off my print design and freelance work, which will hopefully lead to more work, accomplishing #3. :)
9. Learn to take it easy. I put a lot of pressure on myself to get things done. I often over-commit. I want to learn to take things as they come and handle things with grace when I can't get it all done. Like yesterday, I nearly crumbled when my lack of sleep had me doing silly things like trying to heat Lainey's bottle in cold water.
10. Try to be more sensitive. I am a bit sarcastic and very matter-of-fact. Which sometimes comes off as a little cold. I am not surrounded by others who share that same sentiment. 
11. Volunteer more. I am a member of Junior League and I absolutely love it. I want to offer myself more to the League and the community. I am currently the editor of the newsletter and have yet to put in one hour of community service in this League year (August-May is the League year)...See what I mean about over-committing?
12. Finish my gallery wall. I have a tendency to put things like that off. I am very excited about it and have most of the pieces to put the wall together. I just gotta do it!
13. Spend more time with my grandparents. I adore my grandparents and I want Lainey to know them and love them like I do. I will be devastated when they are no longer here and I don't want to regret not having enough time for them.
14. Dig more into the Word. As in the Bible. I am desperately missing church. We haven't been in almost 16 weeks! We will go back this Sunday for Lainey's first Sunday visit. I want to grow in my walk and to strengthen my relationship with God. After all, He is the only reason I have all of the blessings that I do.
15. Write a sassy, smart-ass book that will never get published and piss everyone off, but at least I will have gotten the snark out of my system. I may even send it to Random House and frame the letter they send me in return telling me how crazy I am.
16. Sing and dance with my baby girl at least once a day. My grams used to sing and dance with me and I loved it. Some of my fondest memories are of us having tea parties and singing her made-up songs.
17. Participate in a run/walk for a cause. I have a dear friend who's mom has MS and two years ago I did the MS 5K run/walk in her honor. It was such a wonderful experience and her mom was so overjoyed. I selfishly want that feeling of doing that for someone I love again. 
18. Get a concealed hand-gun license. I own two guns. In Texas, it's very legal. We use them for home protection but I want my license. Plus, I think the education will be great for me.
19. Go to the beach more. I live so close to the beach and B goes to the beach all the time. I never go. Why not enjoy it, right?
20. Reconnect with at least one old friend. Sure, I'm editing friendships, but there is no reason to check in on an old friend and just say hello.
21. Clip coupons. See #5.
22. Learn how to use my Cricut. It has barely been taken out of the box. 
23. Sell something. Maybe something I make with my Cricut, maybe my sassy book, maybe I'll start selling Stella and Dot. Who knows, I'll figure it out as I go.
24. Read more blogs and blog more. In other words, give blogger more of all that free time I've got...
25. Do something drastic with my appearance. Not necessarily shaving my head, but maybe highlights, piercing my nose again, a hair cut...something.
26. Take my pups on more walks. I get so consumed in my day that I've let the simple joy of walking my pups go out the door. They enjoy it, I enjoy it, Alaina enjoys it. Yet, it has fallen to the back burner and B ends up doing it the majority of the time when he gets home from work.
27. Edit my friends on Facebook. I have way too many friends. Honestly, I don't delete most of them for the sheer fact that I might be the nosiest person I know. It's time to cut that list.
28. Enjoy every day of this year. Learn to see the happy in even the rough days and realize that no matter what happens, I am extremely blessed, loved and happy.