50 Books in 2021 - February

This month was a shorter month and honestly, I was having a hard time picking out books I liked.  I started a few but couldn't get past a few pages, so I went back to my old reliables- Lapena books.

I did add three more books to this year's list and I'm still right where I want to be.

8. The End of Her, Shari Lapena

9. An Unwanted Guest, Shari Lapena

10. A Good Marriage, Kimberly Mccreight

Again, all mysteries and all wonderful.

xo, Heather

40 by 40

My birthday is in just 5 days! Which means it's the end of my 40 in 4 and time for my 40 by 40!

I really loved doing my 40 in 4 because by writing out what I hoped to do, it was a visual reminder of things I'd like to accomplish and since it was for me, there really was no stress about getting it completed, but rather to just enjoy it. 

I knew I set some lofty goals and between divorcing and Covid, I didn't hit them all and that's okay! I took the things I didn't get accomplished and added them to my newest list-- 40 by 40. Five years to go!

40 by 40

TRAVEL

1. Disney World or Disney Land with the kids (again)

2. Lego Land in New York

3. Travel internationally - Europe ideally

4. Harry Potter World

5. Go to a Tropical Island

6. Go on a cruise.

7. Go on a road trip that's at least a week long a different place every night or two..

8. Fly 1st class.

9. Go Glamping/ Stay in a Tree house

10. Camp at least 10 days in the five years

11. Go to Aloha at Disney or real Luau in Hawaii.

12. See 5 Natural Parks

13. Go to an all-inclusive resort

14. Make a bucket list of travel locations

15. Get a new passport

16. Visit 5 new states

FITNESS

1. Try Barre or a new type of fitness class

2. Bench a full plate on each side

3. Run an in person 5k or 10k.

4. Run a half marathon.

5. Do a pull up

6. Try a pole fit class

FOOD

1. Try a juice cleanse

2. Eat vegetarian or vegan for a week

3. Go to a fancy dinner and splurge without looking at menu prices

4. One month take out/fast food free

5. Try barbeque in the south

6. Tip 100% on a bill /$20 on a small bill

FOR WORK

1. Take a spanish or ASL class

2. Masters + 30 or a CAGS

FOR ME

1. Be comfortable in my body

2. Get another tattoo

3. Buy a piece of art -- real art, not a print from Marshalls/Home Goods

4. Do the AFSP Overnight walk NOT in Massachusetts or New York

5. Unplug completely for 24 hours

6. A spa day

7. Try diamond painting or another new craft with Em

8. Cross stitch something

9. Take a baking class -- cookies or cake decorating.

10. Pay off the car

What can I accomplish in the next few years?

xo, Heather

The End of 40 in 4

Welp, 

It's finally over. Technically, I have three more weeks but looking at what's left, I know it's over...

Four years ago I made a  list of things I wanted to accomplish.  I changed the list as situations changed but overall, I'm so happy with what I did accomplish.

1. Run a 5K

Was actually a 10k because Disney sold out of the 5k registrations but still. Eventually I'll do one in person but doing it virtually was super convenient.

23. Take a cooking or baking class.

I did a sushi rolling class one night which is something I've wanted to try for a while so I am pretty excited! I will still go buy sushi all the time instead but it's cool to know how to do it!

40. Save $10 for each accomplished task and spend it on something extravagant. -- $270 to..... my savings account! Seemed like the smartest idea.

Means that at the end of this, I ended up with 3 things we couldn't do thanks to divorcing/selling the house and 10 things that I just didn't get done. Restaurant week item was cancelled thanks to Covid, we made it to California but Disneyland was closed thanks to Covid, and traveling (5 items!) isn't really happening. Oh well... maybe I'll add those to the next challenge I do.  40 Before 40 has a nice ring to it. 

1. Run a 5K

2. Have my palm read.

3. Weekend in the Vineyard with my family.
4. Buy a bicycle.
5. Wear a bikini to the beach, no cover up.
6. Put my toes into the Pacific Ocean.
7. Go back to Disney
8. Go to Universal Studio
9. Get a job in Higher Ed
10. See another Broadway play
11. Fit into a size 8.
12. Travel to Europe, ideally London or Rome.
13. Get another tattoo (or two).
14. Be debt free, minus student loans and mortgage.
15. Put away a 4 month emergency amount.
16. Begin working on an administrator's license or a PhD.
17. Get a nose piercing! I've been talking about it for years and finally did it as a gift to myself for my 33rd birthday!
18. Travel somewhere tropical.
19. Go camping.
20. Get family photos done with the kids.
21. Buy a NEW new car! I've never owned a brand new vehicle but after having so many issues with our last car, we decided the extra money on a brand new car (under warranty) was smarter than any other option. 
22. Take the kids on a great vacation
23. Take a cooking or baking class.
24. Take a cake decorating class.
25. Go to Ireland.
26. Find a local church to belong to/Baptize Tyler.
27. Get out of the minivan.
28. Take a calligraphy class.
29. Participate in Restaurant Week in Boston or Providence.
30. Go to Disney Land.
31. Work on our kitchen: backsplash, new desk, new table...
32. Buy a jacuzzi and redo the back deck.
33. Fence in the whole back yard

34. Clean up the back yard of our new place.
35. Finish the basement.
36. Attending the NYC Thanksgiving Day Parade
37. Create a real vegetable garden for an entire season/year.
38. Take a day after the quarantine and do my hair, brows, nails, and get a tan!
39. Splurge on our 10 year anniversary.
40. Save $10 for each accomplished task and spend it on something extravagant. -- $270 to..... my savings account! Seemed like the smartest idea.

Valentine's Gifts for 2021

Celebrating Valentine's Day in 2021 is going to be like celebrating anything in 2020... socially distanced and very small. I feel like until we have a grasp on vaccines and can really be protected, the smaller the events the better. Thankfully there are amazing restaurants taking even more precautions than normal so going out for a great dinner is an option and, at least in Massachusetts, we still have the opportunity to book staycations (as long as we stay in state lines we don't have to quarantine after!) so that's another option! However, the safest options right now are private gift exchanges in your own home. 

And since everyone deserves to be loved, especially on Valentine's day, here's some amazing gifts, regardless of the gender you're buying for...

Castaway Nantucket - for snuggling up close on a cold winter's night.

A nomadiQ grill - Perfect for summer picnics.

Cheryl's Cookies - they are just the most delicious! (I send them to my siblings for lots of holidays!)

Cozymeal - Did you always want to try cooking something new? They have everything! I learned to make sushi and it was so much fun!

Bacon Roses - Who says only women should get flowers? I think these are hilarious!

Comfy Undies from Me Undies or Target!

Brian Anthony Jewelry - I have multiple Brian Anthony pieces and LOVE the messaging attached to the pieces. They are so much more meaningful than any other jewelry I've found.

Custom Yankee Candle - For the candle lovers, these are a perfect way to make it extra special.

Left Coast Custom Charcuterie Board - Functional, personal, and delicious? I'd like one please. 

Flowers from Bouqs - I believe you should get flowers every week, but especially on Valentine's Day. Bonus points if you deliver them to work.

What else are you looking to buy or that you want to receive?

xo, Heather