9 THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU'RE OVERWHELMED

Life has seasons that come and go.  Some are happy and restful.  Others can be stressful and busy.  Right now, Ironman and I are in the stressful, busy season and it leaves me feeling overwhelmed almost all the time.  We are trying to wrap up our home renovations, after 2.5 years of living in this Fixer Upper.  The list of to-do's is now pretty short, but we feel burned out and just ready to be done. Although I'm not the one doing most of the construction, it's still draining to have it constantly going on around me.  Sub-contractors coming and going almost daily.  Ironman working nights and weekends.  Me, trying to keep the house tidy and clean.  It's been a vicious cycle and we're tired.  But just because we're tired, doesn't mean we can kick back.  So, we keep pushing forward, checking things off the final list and looking forward to the day when the renovations are done.  This lifestyle has left me overwhelmed, especially in the last 6 months.  In case you are also struggling with feeling overwhelmed, here are the 9 things that truly help me feel more calm and grounded.

1.  GET OUTSIDE.  Simply stepping outside into the sunshine and fresh air makes such a difference.  I'll often sit on my front porch swing to read or table to work and I find I'm much more productive.  Going on a walk is another of my favorite things.  I don't listen to music and usually don't bring my phone.  It's just me, listening to my breath and my steps.  Something about the exercise gives me a fresh start and I come back home with a better attitude and more energy.  Plus, walking is always a great way to catch up with a friend, while you're both getting in a work out.  How often do you get outdoors?

2.  DO SOMETHING YOU ENJOY.  I love a slow morning when I can take a bath.  I pour in some epsom salt with essential oils while the tub in filling, dry brush my entire body until I feel tingly and then step in for about 30 minutes.  My water bottle and kindle always come with me and I'll lay in there, drink 32 oz and read a few chapters in my latest book.  It's an amazing way to start the day.  Walking is something I enjoy.  Organizing.  Blogging.  Reading.  Watching a good movie on Netflix.  Going out for coffee with a friend.  There's always something that I can choose to do for fun.  What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

3.  PRIORITIZE.  Learning to say no has been a huge thing in my life.  Ironman would always tell me that I needed to learn to say no.  It took years.  I don't know why it was so hard, but for the most part, I'm good at saying no now.  Since I like for people to like me and be happy and I like to do things right, I end up piling on the responsibilities (whether they are real or made up in my own mind).  I'll often find myself agonizing over something that I need to do, but when I really think about it, I wonder "Why do I even need to do this and why am I worried about it?".  Many times, it's all made up in my head and it's not something that I need to spend time on or worry about.  Do you have things on your list you could erase?

4.  LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE.  Creating a list of priorities really ties into the big picture.  I can made a million tasks for myself that I believe I'm "supposed" to be doing.  I can make sure that everyone likes me and is happy.  It doesn't take long to make myself busy doing all the "right" things.  But, who made the rules?  No one.  I'm making up rules for myself, killing myself to try to do everything perfect and then, come to find out, many of these things don't even matter in the long run.  Sure, I can't sit around doing nothing my entire life.  But, it's important that I choose to spend my time on things that truly matter in my own big picture.  Are you spending your time and energy on things that truly matter?

5.  ASK FOR HELP.  There's nothing wrong with asking for help.  Chances are you have a friend, parent, spouse or sibling or who be there for you in a second.  It's easy to feel isolated and alone when you feel overwhelmed.  I tend to have a million things on my mind that I think that I "should" be doing, but then clam up and get nothing done.  Once you make your priorities list and see what you actually truly need to do, reach out and ask someone to help you.  I bet they would love that!  It can even be a housekeeper or nanny, depending on what you need help with and who's available.  When's the last time you asked for help?

6.  GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK.  No one is perfect, so neither will you be.  You're not going to make everyone happy.  Not everyone will like you.  You aren't going to do everything perfect.  Sometimes you'll forget something or show up late or somehow fail.  That's ok!  You're human.  Stop putting so much on your plate.  Choose the important things and do your best.  I'd much rather do my best in a few things than spread myself thin in a lot of things.  Plus, I'm a much nicer person to be around when I don't feel like a chicken running around with her head cut off.  Are you being too hard on yourself?

7.  UNPLUG.  Turn off Netflix.  Step away from the laptop.  Put away your phone.  Feel the tension immediately drop from your shoulders.  I don't know what it is about technology, but it really contributes to my anxiety.  I feel pulled in like a magnet and out of control.  I honestly think this is why I love to get outside so much and go camping with Ironman.  There is nothing but nature and dirt and a campfire and us and it's wonderful.  I feel like I can breathe easier, dream bigger and find myself smiling much more.  Crazy as it sounds, I even feel more in love with Ironman.  Maybe it's not that I'm more in love, but it's so quiet around us that I'm reminded of how much I love him and how grateful I am for him.  Do you take time to unplug?

8.  GET INSPIRED.  So now that I just talked about unplugging, I'm doing a 180.  Sometimes it helps me to forget about how overwhelmed I am by being inspired by others.  Watch a good documentary.  Browse quotes on Pinterest.  Google a topic you're interested in.  Read an educational or business book.  Listen to a podcast.  Talk to someone you look up to and ask them "How do you do it?".  Even with my blog, I find that when I am in a slump it helps me to find ways to get inspired so that I can get out another new post.  What or who inspires you?

9.  PRACTICE MINIMALISM.  When every where you turn is a mess, you're going to be overwhelmed.  Make simpler meals so that dinnertime isn't so daunting.  Adopt a Capsule Wardrobe so you aren't always saying "I have nothing to wear" as you stare at your jam-packed closet.  Donate unused toys so that the kids play areas aren't out of control.  Get rid of the clutter in your home so that cleaning takes less time.  Your environment has a huge impact on your daily life.  Is your home causing you to be stressed out all of the time?

Are you overwhelmed in life right now?  I know I am, but I also know that taking myself through these 9 steps really does make a difference for me.  Maybe they can help you too!  If you have other methods to deal with feeling overwhelmed, I'd love to hear in the comments below.

HOW I LOST 20+ POUNDS AND DROPPED A PANTS SIZE

Growing up, I was always skinny.  I never dieted and pretty much ate whatever I wanted.  I hated the gym and "exercise", but was involved in sports and dance because I enjoyed that I was with my friends outside of school hours.  However, everything changed once I graduated high school.  We moved back to the USA (enjoyed a lot of Little Ceasar's and Krispy Kreme) and I immediately put on about 20 pounds.  I wasn't on any sports teams and wasn't taking dance classes, so my workouts came to a complete stop.  After getting married at 22, I found myself eating more often and bigger portions because I was eating when and what my husband was eating.  On top of that, my 20s were really difficult years for me, full of anxiety and depression and I ended up doing a lot of emotional eating.  Before I knew it, my 20s were gone, I had put on another 30 pounds, I was constantly exhausted and really didn't feel like myself anymore. 

Fall 2016 vs. Fall 2017
Photos by Emily Lynn Christopher at Just Because Blog

It was about a year and a half ago now that I began to work out and eat better and I can't believe how incredibly different I feel.  It wasn't that I just wanted to be skinny...I felt like I lost myself somehow and just wanted to feel like "Emily" again.  I wanted to feel my best and began making changes towards that goal.  It's been a gradual process and I didn't do all this cold turkey.  But, since May 4th, 2016, here are the 10 changes I've slowly adopted:

1.  Stop the caffeine.  Although I may not drink soda but a few times a year, I did tend to have coffee a couple times a week.  Unfortunately, it brings on the jitters and leads to anxiety filled days, so it was good to get the caffeine out of my system.

2.  Kick the sugar.  I LOVE sugar and wish I could live on Cinnamon Sugar Pop-Tarts.  But, the affect is basically the same as caffeine...speeds up my heart and leaves me feeling all flustered.  Since sugar is clearly a problem for me, I've cut way back.

3.  Quit the alcohol.  I like beer, I love wine and I adore all the sugary girly drinks.  But, just like caffeine and sugar, it leaves me not feeling so great.  It's so crazy that all the things that I consider "my treats", leave me feeling the worst!  I thought it would be hard to give up, but I've only had wine once since May this year and I don't miss it.

4.  Exercise daily.  Daily exercise helps me feel better emotionally and sleep better at night...and those are huge.  Plus, it's helped me feel stronger and have more energy.  However, one big thing for me is I've had to learn to work out alone instead of relying on others to be my constant work out buddies.  But the biggest thing is I've had to make the decision that I will work out every single day whether I want to or not.  

5.  Take supplements.  I've been taking Young Living's Ningxia Red and Master Formula daily and can tell a huge difference in my digestion, energy, hair and skin when I take them!  I try to eat well, but it makes me feel better knowing that I'm covering all my necessary antioxidants and vitamins each day.

At 21-years-old, I was around 120-130 pounds and really felt great!

6.  Sleep.  Cutting out caffeine, sugar and alcohol really makes a difference in my sleep.  Going to bed and waking up each day at the same time helps too.  Count in a hard workout that day and my diffuser going with Peace&Calming blend that night and I sleep like a rock.

7.  Cut out toxins.  Did you know how dangerous the toxins in your toiletries, makeup, food, drinks and cleaning supplies can be?  Even candles, air-fresheners and things like that are harmful.  Now that I've detoxed from these types of chemicals, just being around them for a short time will give me headaches and is further proof that they should be avoided at all costs.  Your entire body, inside and outside, can be negatively affected by toxins.  Plus, I've learned that a lot of fat is full of stored toxins.  Sounds dangerous to me.  So, getting rid of anything toxic and replacing it with a healthy alternative has been high on my list.

8.  Eat well.  I hate diets.  I see people deprive themselves, lose weight, go off the diet, gorge on all the food they missed and then gain back all the weight they lost.  Diets are not sustainable.  What I had to learn, though, was how the food I ate really effected how I felt.  There are things I love to eat, but now don't because I realized how bad they made me feel.  I have learned to choose foods that help me feel good, which happen to be whole, plant-based vegan foods.  And I've also learned to eat when I'm hungry and don't eat when I'm not hungry.  It's not a difficult concept...who knew it would take me 32 years to get it?!  Oh yea, and drink more water, right momma?  Haha.

9.  Minimize stress.  Stress really affects me in every way.  I'm easily anxious and depressed, but since I know that about myself, I can try to make good choices.  One thing is not allowing myself to get too busy.  I have to have some space and alone time each day and so I am careful to plan my calendar accordingly and don't schedule things back to back.

10.  Wrap up looming projects.  Talking about stress, one big thing that I want to do is finish our home.  As you know, if you follow this blog, we are living in a fixer upper and have been for the past two and a half years.  Weekly, if not daily, we have sub-contractors over here working on projects.  Along with the workers, comes the dirt and dust and mess.  With all the nails and staples and plaster chips and who knows what else laying around, I know that living in this environment has really added to my stress.  I'm so happy that we are on the home stretch now and hope we don't take on another project this large again (not going to say "never" because then it's bound to happen).

10 years later, 31-years-old and 169 pounds...my heaviest.
I felt constantly exhausted and uncomfortable in my own skin

The past year and a half has been all about getting rid of the things that made me feel worse and adding in the things that help me feel better.  It's not just about diet and exercise, but even my schedule, relationships, work, free time, hobbies and other small things that felt like big things because of how they affected me so heavily.  I've come a long way and feel like a different person...a lot like the old "Emily".  Sure, I miss some foods and would sometimes love to slack off and just wing it, but I don't want to go back to where I was a year and a half ago.  I want to continue moving forward towards better health and feeling my best!

4 BURN VICTIMS AND THEIR SURVIVAL STORIES

As the holidays approach, I'm reminded once again of my mom's accident, how God saved her and how she has impacted so many lives through her non-profit, Burn Care International.  For over a decade, she has traveled all over the world and worked to improve the lives of burn victims through effective rehabilitation, helping over 10,000 victims!  This time of year marks a season of giving and I hope that you will take a moment to read these stories below and consider giving a tax-deductible donation to Burn Care International before the end of 2017.

A little patient name Emily, with her
pressure garment on.

Harold Torrez Araoz -   "The gas explosion happened when I was at work.  At first, I didn't feel any pain, but I felt so hot.  I pulled off my clothes and noticed that the burned skin had turned white.  My brother ran in to see what happened and ended up not really helping me because he went into shock.  I told him to call our parents and tell them what happened.  The Ambulance came to pick me up and took me to a hospital in Vinto, since I was working 15 kilometers outside of town.  They didn't know what to do with me there, so I was taken to another hospital.  I got there and waited and waited and no one attended me, so I finally went to a 3rd hospital, where I was finally seen.  The accident happened at 2:15 on a Wednesday afternoon and I didn't get taken care of at the hospital until 6pm that night.  (Click the link to read more of Harold's story.)

Maciel Fernandez Peredo - "I was burned three years ago, when I was 15 years old.  I was out of town with my family, celebrating Carnival.  We had a fire going and my mom took a bottle of alcohol and poured it onto the fire.  Instantly, the flames leapt towards me!  My arms were on fire and my mom ran at me to help me.  However, she ended up pouring more alcohol on me by accident and then my chest and face caught fire.  My father grabbed the alcohol bottle and threw it and then he pushed my mother away from me.  (Click the link to read more of Maciel's story.)

Alejandra Cruz Romero - Alejandra's story, told by her mother: "Six years ago, when Alejandra was three years old, she fell backwards into boiling water.  I took her immediately to Univalle Hospital and she stayed there for one week.  They didn't know how to care for her burns properly and she got worse and worse as time went on.  She developed an infection and her body kept swelling more and more.  By the time I took her out of that hospital her 2nd Degree burns had turned into 3rd Degree and her skin was coming off all over her back as if there was nothing holding it there.  (Click the link to read more of Alejandra's story.)

Javier

Javier Abel Espinoza - "Two years ago, when I was 32, I was burned in an electrical explosion.  My wife was 2 months pregnant and I took up a second job to make some extra money for us.  It was only the second night on the new job that I had the accident.  When the accident happened, I was sitting down on the floor, facing the piece of machinery.  The electrical currents were too strong and caused the explosion.  I guess from the surprise, I sucked in a breath, which caused me to also suck in the fire.  I passed out and came in and out of unconsciousness while I waited on the ambulance to take me to the hospital.  (Click the link to read more of Javier's story.)

As you can see, burns aren't just for a certain age, gender, race, etc.  Victims are men and women, young and old and all over the world.  Some are burned much worse than others, but every accident is terrible and traumatic.  Many victims are scarred for life in every way, not just physically, but emotionally and mentally too.  It's so important for them to receive good care so that they can properly heal and get back to their life.

   By supporting BCI, you will be providing material, thread, zippers and foam for the Pressure Garments and Suits, silicon for the difficult scars, essential oils and creams for itching skin, salaries for Juana and Maria (the workers) and basic supplies for the Burn Clinic.  

     Please CLICK HERE to visit BCI's website to learn more about our important ministry.

-You can DONATE ONLINE by scrolling to the bottom of the website, click the "DONATE" button.  

-Or you can MAIL A CHECK to:
Burn Care International
419 Woodland Drive
Florence, SC 29501

  All donations are tax-deductible and will change a burn victim's life!

33 REASONS WHY I LOVE NICK STEWART

Today is Nick's 33rd birthday!  I've already taken him out to breakfast, gonna treat him to lunch at a new place in town and then planning to cook and bake something he'll love for dinner...maybe rent a new movie.  I love him so much and always want to throw him some big party and invite everyone, but he doesn't like attention and wants it to be low-key and just us every year.  So, I'll remain calm and just use my blog to channel the love.  Here are 33 reasons why I adore my 33-year-old Ironman:

1. He always put others first
2. He forgives quickly
3. He gives everyone the benefit of the doubt
4. He's slow to get angry or freak out
5. He's calm and laid back
6. He's tall, blonde and handsome
7. He's got a great smile

8. He's strong and athletic
9. He's talented
10. He doesn't leave a job unfinished
11. He loves the Lord
12. He's kind to everyone
13. He's a great listener
14. He's the most patient person in the world
15. He's honest
16. He's a hard worker
17. He's a good provider for us
18. He doesn't make rash decisions
19. He's a good friend
20. He say's sorry
21. He puts up with me

22. He's disciplined
23. He's loyal
24. He's responsible
25. He's funny and has a good laugh
26. He's a gentleman
27. He's generous
28. He makes the best out of every situation
29. He goes along with my crazy ideas
30. He's compassionate
31. He loves to travel
32. He always does his best
33. He's my hero

Let's just say, he's the best.  Can we agree on that?!  Leave him a "Happy Birthday" below.

HOW I FAILED MY FIRST TRIATHLON

A couple months back, I competed in my first triathlon.  It was a total flop.  I trained for months and I got up to all the distances I needed to swim, bike and run.  But, when it came down to it, I wasn't prepared and ended up riding back to the finish line in an ambulance!  Here are the areas where I believe I went wrong:

Me, when I still had no idea what I had gotten
myself into...

Bike.  Contrary to all the friendly suggestions I received, I was too cheap to buy the right type bicycle and ended up doing the race with the one I had.  I always thought it was a mountain bike, but apparently it's some type of hybrid.  Whatever it is, though, it's not a road bike and wasn't the right one for this triathlon.  I had nothing to compare it to, but my friend took a ride on it and told me it's too heavy and bulky and it's no wonder I couldn't finish the race.  Add that onto the huge hills that I faced and I was done.

Water.  The night before the race, I was afraid that I would have to get up to use the bathroom all night and not sleep well.  So, I solved that by not drinking any water past 7pm.  Then, when I woke up in the morning, I was afraid to drink too much and have to use the bathroom during the race.  So, I solved that by only drinking about 16 oz.  So yea, I pretty much started out my first triathlon dehydrated.  On top of that, it was a day of record breaking heat and humidity, so I didn't stand a chance.

I was actually as happy as I look at this point!

Food.  Although I ate breakfast before the race, I didn't take any snacks to have during the race.  I didn't know that it was important during such a short race.  However, I was later told that I should have had some type of gummy snacks and water enhancer for the electrolytes and salt.

Training.  Finally, as I was training, I was doing so on flat ground.  I didn't factor in that we would be racing in Greenville, where there are hills everywhere.  The swimming was fine, but biking on hills is much different than biking on flat ground.  I never even got to the running part, so who knows how that would have gone on hills.

Me, on the first hill, and I already was dying.

So, here's how it went down.  I started the race all excited, with the goal of just crossing the finish line.  I wasn't trying to beat anyone or break any records.  Just cross the finish line.  That's it.  The race started and I jumped into the water.  Because so many people were swimming in the pool, I got stuck behind a slow swimmer.  Plus, the water was so choppy, I swallowed tons of salt water.  So, by the time I jumped out, I felt a little nauseated.  I ran over and got on my bike and took off on my already jello legs.  After the first hill, I knew this was going to suck.  My legs were on fire.  I couldn't catch my breath.  I don't know how much time passed when I started to fill sick.  I was super thirsty, but every time I took a sip of water, I would feel like I was going to throw up.  All of a sudden, I started blacking out.  I tried to stop by bike and just stand there, but I was shaking so hard I couldn't hold myself up.  I laid my bike down on the road and sat down in case I fainted.  It wasn't too long before some women caught up with me.  They gave me something salty to drink, some type of gummy snack to eat and called the police.  Within minutes, I felt significantly better.  A police officer showed up and had me sit in his car with the air conditioner blowing on me to see if I improved, but since I still couldn't stand up and get on my bike, he called the ambulance.  The ambulance showed up and checked me out.  They said that I looked like a ghost, my blood pressure was super low and that they didn't want me to continue the race.  I was so disappointed to quit, but at the same time, felt too sick to care.  So, I got my first ambulance ride back to the finish line to find Ironman there waiting on me, worried.  By the time my friend Emily finished the race, I felt mostly back to normal, but the rest of the day was a combination of feeling disappointed and exhausted.

Trying to keep a good attitude after not
finishing the race.

I definitely don't want to end on that note, so I hope to compete in another triathlon in the future.  Next time, though, I want to be prepared.  I want to have the right type gear.  I want to be hydrated and carry some type of drinks and snacks with me.  And I want to pay attention to training for the type of landscape that I'll be competing in.  It was really hard not to cross the finish line, but hopefully it means I'll do better next time!

8 REASONS YOUNG LIVING IS THE BEST JOB FOR TRAVELERS AND MINIMALISTS

Over the years, I've had many jobs.  I've cleaned offices, babysat, tutored, taught elementary school, washed windows, worked for a catering company on weekends, worked in Magic Kingdom and MGM Studios and shipped books in a warehouse.  I'm sure I'm forgetting a few and feel like I've done it all.  But, I never really enjoyed any of it.  I had those jobs because I needed a job.  Practical, yes.  Fun?  No.  Young Living Essential Oils is the first job that I've ever truly loved and, because of that, I've done better and stuck it out longer than any before.

At the Young Living Lavender Farm in Mona, Utah

I know that if you're a traveler or a minimalist like me, you'd love this job too.  Here's why:

1.  I work online.  I don't have an office building, employees, lease, utilities, or overhead.  I just need a wifi connection and can literally work from anywhere in the world.  It's a travelers dream!

2.  I don't have office hours.  No boss is telling me what day or when to come in.  I work when I choose and take time off when I want.  The freedom is amazing and has lead to much more travel than ever before!

3.  I don't keep stock or make deliveries.  Nothing is cluttering up my house and I'm not making local deliveries or shipments from the local USPS.  This means that if I take off for three months to live in South America, I can still run my business from afar.  And yes, I did that in 2015!

Planting at the Young Living Lavender Farm in Mona, Utah

4.  My team is made up of friends and family.  Business meetings, classes and events are often fun times catching up and planning with my favorite people.  And for the ones who live far away, it gives me another excuse to travel.  Travel hardly seems like business when it's so much fun!

5.  All the resources I need are already provided.  I don't have to have all the answers, I just have to know how to ask questions and find information.  And since it's all online, it's not cluttering up my home or even keeping me home!

6.  We already have a team brand, the Lemon Droppers.  All the websites, graphics and training is done for me so that I can focus on my business.  This means that I have professional graphics and more, without having to figure out how to create it myself.

We found ourselves on the Leaderboard!

7.  I'm my own boss.  I don't have anyone making decisions for me or telling me what to do.  This means when I want to hit the road for several months next year, I don't have to ask for time off at work (I'll just work as we travel!).

8.  My commission is residual and direct deposited each month.  I can be in another country, sick or on vacation and still know I'm earning commission.  Talk about freedom!

Being recognized on-stage in front of over 20,000 people!

Basically you just need an internet connection to do this job.  That's it!  It seriously can't get more simple than that.  This job is the best I've ever had.  I have so much freedom and truly appreciate it.  I believe that this can be a blessing to anyone, but especially if you love to travel frequently or live a minimalist lifestyle.  This is the job for you.  Believe me.  Since beginning my small business in 2013, I'm healthier because of the products and I'm happier because of the job.  You really can't lose.  I'd love to help you launch your own Young Living Essential Oils business.  Please reach out to me if you'd like to talk!

WHY YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE A WISHLIST

For most of my life I've had a wishlist.  I've pretty much always got something on my mind that I wish I had.  Each Christmas or Birthday that roll around give me renewed hope.  But as they pass and I don't get what I want, I feel disappointed.  What a spoiled child, right?!  It's pretty embarrassing to admit.

24 years old!

A while back I was talking to someone about getting gifts as an adult.  What they said really got my attention.  They said that as a kid, you usually don't have much money, so celebrations are a way to get things you want or need.  However, once you are an adult, if you really want or need something, chances are you can afford to go out and buy it for yourself.

It's like all of a sudden it all made sense.  I don't need to write out a wishlist and put the burden on others to provide for my wants and needs.  Instead, I should act like an adult and take care of myself. Of course, I don't really go out and shop for myself very often.  So, when I do, here are the questions that I ask myself.

32 years old!

DO I TRULY NEED THIS ITEM?  If the answer is yes, then stop wishing.  Change that item to a goal.  Budget and save.  Go get the thing that you need once you can afford it.  For me, this was a pair of jeans!

DO I SIMPLY WANT THIS ITEM?  There is nothing wrong with buying something for myself because I simply want it.  The question is can I afford it?  For me, this is usually a facial!  I guess I could argue that I need it to keep my skin clear, but really it's a want...and a want that I'm willing to pay for.

As adults, we really should throw out the wish lists.  Provide for yourself and when friends and family give you gifts, count it as the icing on top, especially when those gifts happen to be exactly what you need or want anyway!

4 REASONS WHY I'M QUITTING MY BUCKET LIST

Last fall, I put together a pretty intense Bucket List.  And I was actually stressed about it.  I had to do all the things.  I had to document.  I had to blog.  You know me, I'm the Bucket List Queen.  I love a good Bucket List, but I also feel like there's a right/wrong time and right/wrong reasons to work on it.  Before I add new items to my Bucket List or cross off old items, here are a few questions I want to begin to ask myself:

1.  Is now a good time to work on my Bucket List?  Our Fixer Upper has been pretty stressful for the past two years, so thinking and concentrating on other things has been harder than normal.  Bucket List's are meant to be fun, but last fall I ended up feeling like it was just one more burden.  Maybe right now isn't the right time for us to be working on crossing things off of a Bucket List, but who knows where we will be next fall once our Fixer Upper is done!

2.  Do I really want to cross this item off of my Bucket List?  When I looked back at my fall Bucket List from last year, I noticed that I had put a few things that I really didn't care about.  Like, "jump in a pile of leaves".  Sounds all fun and cute, but in reality, I don't want to rake leaves and I hate spiders, so why?  I think I felt like I was supposed to do because it was fall and that's what all the other bloggers were doing (or saying that they were going to do).  My Bucket List should reflect what I truly want to do and will look forward to, not what I think I should do.  Side note: I just went to my Bucket List and removed stuff that I really don't want to do, but thought I was supposed to want to do.  It felt good.

3.  Am I taking advantage of positive things in my everyday life?  The problem with a Bucket List is that my everyday life can tend to be pretty boring.  I wake up, tidy my home, exercise, do some laundry, run errands, work some, blog, fix dinner, eat with my husband and then watch Netflix together or read books.  Not too exciting right?  I don't want to feel like life is only exciting when I'm crossing off an item on my Bucket List.  I want to enjoy everyday, do things each day that I enjoy and look forward to.

4.  Is my Bucket List making me feel bad about myself?  Sure, I'll never do it all, but it's fun to dream right?  As soon as it stops being fun, it might be time to step away from the Bucket List.  At least for a little while.  If you have a Bucket List make sure you have a plan of how you are going to check those items off.  Save your money.  Plan your trip.  Take time off work.  And go.  If you are always saying "one day", you'll feel worse and worse.  Don't say one day.  Say "when" and make it happen.

Long story short, I won't be working on a fall Bucket List this year, but I'm keeping my regular life-long Bucket List.  Don't worry.  I'm not that crazy.  I still love Bucket Lists, but I want to focus this fall, instead, on things that I know that Ironman and I love to do together.  We love to carve a pumpkin.  We love to go camping.  We love to watch ELF.  We love doing these things each fall.  So, I'm keeping it simple and going to just focus on doing things we love, without checking them off of a list.