New Year: New Plans

Happy 2019!
I'm always excited for a new year and new possibilities, but honestly, not much changes for me, at least not on January 1st.

I did check off another 40 in 4 item and have plans for the next few sooo...

1. Run a 5k 
I ran my first mile a couple days ago on the treadmill and marked my time. I have a goal to keep working towards and my wonderful amazing husband (who can somehow run long distances even though he hasn't in years) has already said he'll run something with me.  My dream is to go do a Disney Run but we'll see.  This is so do-able this year.

2. Have my palm read.
3. Weekend in the Vineyard with my family.
Another easy one to accomplish this year. Without dance every weekend, we'll hae so much more time for family things that don't involve tagging and competitions. I'm hoping to get to the Vineyard in late May for Dave's birthday!

4. Buy a bicycle.
The kids each got new bikes this year so it's only fair I get mine soon right? I keep getting stuck on it because of Tyler though. He an't keep up, but is he too big for a wagon on my bike?

5. Wear a bikini to the beach, no cover up.
6. Put my toes into the Pacific Ocean.
The plan is a trip this summer to visit my brother, go to a vow renwal and visit Disney! Cross your fingers!

7. Go back to Disney
8. Go to Universal Studio
Hmm... maybe a day at Universal would make sense while we're alreday in Cali...

9. Get a job in Higher Ed10. See another Broadway play
11. Fit into a size 8.
12. Travel to Europe, ideally London or Rome.13. Get another tattoo (or two).
I have an appointment this month with my mom! Let's hope I don't chicken out! And side note, why am I way more terrified of tattoos now than when I was younger? I mean, I have 4!

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. Take a photography class.
18. Travel somewhere tropical.
19. Go camping.
Emmalee keeps asking so this seems like another thing we'll be doing. I'm debating April vacation at Normandy Farms where I went camping growing up, or Ellis Haven near my mom, or hitting NH this summer....

20. * Get professional head shots for the blog.
21. * Sew Emma a matching dress for her and her dolls
22. * Consider selling the custom shirts I've been making for the kids...
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.
C'mon summer vacation....!

31. Work on our kitchen: backsplash, new desk, new table...
32. * Buy a jacuzzi and redo the back deck.
33. * Fence in our yard.
34. * Landscape.
35. * Finish the basement.
36. Attending the NYC Thanksgiving Day Parade
37. Create a real vegetable garden for an entire season/year.
38. Spend the day at the spa, getting pampered.
I'm turning 33 this year and that seems like a great excuse to disappear to a hotel and spa for the night with my girlfriends right?

39. Splurge on our 10 year anniversary.40. Save $10 for each accomplished task and spend it on something extravagant.
I have $100 saved up already! Go me, right!? Except there's so much more I want to do! 
It's amazing to me how much my plans have changed in 2 short years already but I'm excited to accomplish some of these!

xo, Heather

Bucket List: Thanksgiving in NYC

Bucket list item check- We spent Thanksgiving in NYC this year... at the parade!
I've always wanted to travel to NYC for the Thanksgiving Day parade but with such a big, close knit family, I was never willing to give up the day with everyone. This year was a bit crazy with my brother just moving to California a couple month ago, he wasn't coming home, and my other brother stayed in OH with work, so he didn't come home, and then my mom asked about going to OH with my sisters instead.  As much as I would have loved to go, Dave's work schedule didn't allow it so we saw it as the perfect opportunity to go to NYC!

We booked a room at the Watson hotel through Booking.com and started counting down!The beautiful thing about Booking.com was that since the Watson offered free cancellations, I could keep grabbing a new price as it went down as it got closer to the day. We had originally planned on staying Thanksgiving night but after looking at logistics, it made more sense to go Wednesday night into Thursday instead.  So Wednesday morning, we packed up and started the 3.5 hour drive.

We stopped in CT to see Dave's aunt and swim/sauna at the YMCA. It was a very relaxing morning and honestly, I wish our local YMCA had a sauna and steam room because I'd live there, so maybe it's good that they don't?

We spent the afternoon and evening in NYC, eating at American Girl, shopping and sight seeing in Rockafeller Plaza, and finished the night with the lights of Times Square.  The kids love New York so much and we ended the night eating M&Ms in our hotel room, making our game plan for the next morning.

We honestly didn't want to wait outside too long, it was only about 12* on Thanksgiving this year in NYC so we opted to catch the parade closer to Central Park, where we wouldn't need to get there as early for a good seat, and the parade would finish earlier than if we were closer to the tv viewing area. We left our hotel around 7:30 and stopped at Fluffys.

Fluffy's is this little cafe on the corner of 9th and 58th and worth the stop. Breakfast, with drinks was $42 for the 4 of us and we had so much food off 3 meals that were all full.  The meals took only a few minutes to cook and was so delicious.  The manager was unreal, coming over and talking to the kids, even complimenting them on their manners and behavior.  Before the end of the meal, he brought them each a black and white cookie that was literally the size of Ty's face! The kids were so happy and we loved every minute of our meal!

We ended up getting a spot right in Columbus Circle around 8:30 and waited for the parade to kick off at 9. David left a few minutes later to pick up hot cocoa re-enforcements from Starbucks and the kids and I froze a bit in the close to single digit temps. I'll admit the kids didn't last the whole time.  They were cold so we made our way into the shops at Columbus Center and had a great view of the parade, while being warm! If I'm being honest, I didn't expect them to make the whole thing and we saw a bunch of floats before calling it quits.  Since the hotel was only 2 blocks away, it was a quick walk back around 10:15.  We were even able to catch the parade on tv in our room while we packed up to check out!

We were so lucky that David's grandmother lives along the way back to our house and she had a delicious Thanksgiving meal waiting for us when we made our way back up to CT.

While it wasn't the traditional Thanksgiving that I'm always used to it was so wonderful to check something off of my bucket list!

xo, Heather

Does It Make You Happy?

So it's been a hot minute since I wrote, and honestly, I've been looking at JOY in my life lately and writing just wasn't doing it for me.  I feel fulfilled at work and at home and sitting down to write just wasn't bringing me joy.  Why do something that doesn't make you happy, amiright?

So after almost 2 full months of thinking about it, I've decided to continue writing, but only about what I want.  I'm done with sponsored posts and ads.  I just want to document my life to go back to it one day with my kids.  In our digital world, it will matter eventually to me and it will be things I want to share.  I'm sure I'll still post favorite items and recipes, but 2019 will bring a greater narrative to my storytelling.

I'm excited to love writing again, and to start it off there will be a few posts to get us caught back up to date!