Summer 2014 Bucket List

Now that it's finally summer, I have a ton of stuff that I would like to accomplish over the next three months. All with my sister, hopefully! After being separated all semester, it's always great to be reunited with a long summer ahead of us. She's my best friend and it's always fun going on adventures and trying out new things together. I can't wait!

I'm most excited to attempt the Dozen Donut Crawl in Columbus. Donuts are pretty much my favorite and I always get excited when we pass by a Krispy Kreme, especially when the hot light is on. While eating 12 donuts in one day seems a little daunting, I am totally up for the challenge.

I have been working on crocheting the same chevron blanket for months and I just want it done already! I love it, but there's only so much time I can spend crocheting the same pattern over and over again before I go crazy. I found the most adorable granny square blanket that I want to try out making next, but I am not letting myself start any new projects until this current blanket is done. Hopefully I can get a lot of work done while watching the old Star Wars movies and finally finishing up Gossip Girl on Netflix! It looks like it's going to be a very good summer :)

To Do List: #69

#69: Buy yarn from a yarn shop in England

Ever since I've been in England, I've been dying to find a yarn shop to go to. After looking over review after review of yarn shops online, I finally settled on a lovely little shop called Prick Your Finger in Bethnal Green. It was so adorable and I could not wait to see what the little shop had in store for me. 

The woman working there was teaching another woman how to crochet in the front, so I was free to roam the two room shop and look at all of the fantastic colored yarns that lined the wall. Some were a bit more expensive than I wanted to spend (ranging from 5-10 pounds, which is about 7.50-15 dollars per skein) but I found a sale bin! And I settled on some green hand-dyed wool yarn that I thought was really pretty. The owner wrapped it up and even tied some string in a bow around the package. Since I didn't bring any needles with me (I know, I know, but I could only bring so much!), I think I'll leave my yarn all wrapped up so it can be like opening up a present when I get home :)

I'm so happy I found this shop! It makes me even more eager to go out and find some other shops and see what they have to offer. There's just something about being inside of a yarn shop with their walls filled with yarn that makes me all warm and happy on the inside. I'll be on the look out for more shops and definitely report back with my findings. 

To Do List: #15

#15: Travel to Europe

I know it's kind of obvious by now that I'm in England, but I never did an official to do list post about it! So here it is! Here are just a few pictures from the past week since I've been in Europe! It's still surreal to think that I'm living in London right now and will be fore the next four and a  half weeks. How did I get so lucky? 

I've been having an amazing time and adjusting to London life super quickly. There are cute little markets, cafes, and pubs everywhere that I don't know how I'll have enough to to even see it all! In my pictures, the first things I made sure to see where Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross, The London Eye, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. I can't wait to see even more of London and the country, and have the time of my life in this wonderful country!

To Do List: #24

#24: Drink tea in England

This past Thursday, I was able to do something that I've only dreamed of doing: Have afternoon tea in London. The entire group I am in London with went to The Cadogan in Knightsbridge for a lovely afternoon of tea and some delicious pastries. 

For the tea, I had their special Chelsea Flower Blend and it was absolutely delicious. They use tea from Partridges and I was able to track down their store in London and buy some to bring back for my mom, because I know she'd just love it. WIth the tea, everyone got a Chelsea Bun and two Scones with clotted cream and either Strawberry jam or Lemon and Champaigne Jam. They were delicious!

As my first tea, I was definitely expecting more pastries and treats. I guess the professors booked the simplest tea, so we only got three tiny pastries. Last year they had done tea at Harrod's for the program, which I would have loved, but they decided to change it up this year. I definitely want to find another tea shop where I can get more food for my pound, including sandwiches, scones, cookies, and your other typical tea foods. Oh well. At least I got to enjoy some very delicious tea and got to know the other people in the program. The Cadogan is definitely a beautiful place and I'm so happy to have been able to have this experience!

To Do List: #26

#26: Get a Passport

I meant to post about this a looonnngggg time ago, but I got a passport! Woo hoo! That means I can officially leave the country whenever the heck I want to. Haha, I guess that's good since I'm leaving the country for London on Sunday! I think my passport came in February or March, but I never got around to sharing that with you guys. The day it came, I was beyond excited because that made my trip that much more real.

About four years ago, when my sister went to London for a spring break trip, one of my friends got me this super cute red passport cover because she thought I was the one going on the trip. Ha, so I was a bit disappointed in the gift then since I had no passport to use it for, but I'm so happy I have it now! It's really cute and it can protect my passport while I travel.

Wow, making this post has definitely made my trip to London seem that much more real. I can't believe I leave on Sunday, which is what, five days away? I've already started laying stuff out, but I am no where near prepared on figuring out what I'm going to do there for 6 weeks. I'll be taking classes Tuesday-Thursday, but I have the rest of the week to do anything I want. Guess I need to do some serious research. Either way, I can't wait!

To do list: #28

#28: Join a book club

Since book clubs are kind of scarce on a college campus, I decided to take things into my own hands and for my own Jane Austen Book Club! Our first meeting was on Valentine's Day and we read Persuasion by Jane Austen. I was so nervous going into the meeting because I had no idea how it would go or how chatty the other members were going to be. There were four of my friends who showed up and while that's a pretty small group, I think it was perfect for discussing the book. We all loved the novel and had so much fun discussing it together. We swooned over Wentworth and Anne, complained about Mary, and fell in love with Austen's writing. 

Next meeting, we've decided to read Pride and Prejudice and meet for dinner as well as the book club. I can't wait to read this one because I am in love with the movie and I've heard it's her best book. Hopefully I'll love it as much as I'm expecting too. Our meeting is in two weeks, so I'll let you all know how that goes as well :) Needless to say, discussing Jane Austen was the perfect ending to a pretty great Valentine's Day!

To do list: #52

#52: Own an iPhone

I can't believe I didn't post about this sooner! I completely forgot that this one was on my to-do list until I was looking over it the other day and saw good old #52. I've actually had an iPhone for about two months now and I absolutely love it! I'm so obsessed with it and buying different cases to go with my phone. My favorite case is definitely my owl one because it's just too perfect for fall! And it was only a little bit over $2 on Amazon with free shipping! You can't really get much better than that! Here are the rest of my beloved cases...

I love them all so much and it's so hard to choose which one to use. I switch my phone case so much, but I feel bad if I don't use one for a while because they all deserve to be shown off! But the case isn't the only best part. Having an iPhone is so handy, especially when I have free wi-fi on campus. I have 3G, but I don't like wasting it and wi-fi lets me get online whenever I want! I can check email, facebook, or even Pinterest whenever I want and it's absolutely fantastic :) It's nice to say that I can finally realize why people love the iPhone so much. I don't know how I ever survived without one! 

To Do List: #44

#44: Run on the beach

I had a fantastic time on vacation and I was able to knock another item off of my to-do list! 3 out of the 7 days we were there, I ran 6 miles on the beach! It was crazy long because I was running 3 miles straight to one pier, then 3 miles back to the condo, so it felt like it was never going to end! 

I would get up at 6, watch the sun rise, then slip on my running shoes and go for a run! It was so pretty and I was so amazed by how many people were out so early! When I run at home, I pass maybe 2 or 3 people at 7 am, but I passed tons of people on my runs at the beach. And one morning my mom saw dolphins! I didn't see any while I was running, but I saw some of them later in the day when we were laying out. Needless to say, I had a beautiful view and it was so much fun! I can't wait until we go back next year and I can run there again :) 

To Do List: #59

#59: Have a Die Hard marathon (watch all four in one day)

That's right. Last week, me and my sister went over to our best friend's house at 10 am. Four movies, a package of Oreos, a bag of licorice, 9 hours, a pizza, and 3 subway subs later, I have completed number 59 on my to do list! Die Hard holds a special place in our hearts because our sophomore year of high school, when our best friend broke up with her boyfriend, my sister and I brought over a pack of Oreos and Die Hard to take her mind off of it. So who else could I do this challenge with than those two amazing girls? 

During the movie, we all got caught up with each of our college lives, I crocheted yet another octopus, and I got ahead on some blogging stuff. It was such a nice way to spend my day! The only problem is that after the first two Die Hards, I really wanted it to be Christmas! Haha, but sadly there is still 6 more months to go until that wonderful holiday (I have to admit Die Hard is one of my favorite Christmas movies!). I had so much fun crossing another item off of my to do list and I can't wait to do even more of them with my two best friends :)

To do list: #22

#22: Crochet An Afghan

Andddd I finally finished another item on my to-do list! This one took me MONTHS to do, but it is totally worth it in the end! Here are some pictures :)

It's not as big as I hoped it would turn out, but it's still big enough to be a lap blanket! After 120 squares, I didn't really want to make that many more! Haha, it was SO MUCH WORK. I was so happy to finish all the squares, but then it took me another week and a half just to attach them all. But it's DONE! I'm so happy it's done and with how it turned out. The colors are so pretty and I can't wait to show it off to everyone at school! Here's some more shots of the completed blanket!

Ain't she a beaut?? Haha, well I'm so happy this one's knocked off my bucket list! Hopefully I can make another afghan in the future without taking forever this time! 

To Do List: #36

#36: Send a Postcard

I finally did it! After work on Sunday, I bought a postcard for 79 cents! I sat down and wrote a short, sweet note to my friend from Minnesota (who's also going to be my roommate next year! Can't wait!) about how I miss her and can't wait for school to start! I didn't know how much it would cost to send it though, so I took it to the post office with a birthday package for one of my other friends and a letter to England for my pen pal. I guess the postcard just took a normal stamp, so I felt like kind of an idiot, but hey it was my first time! Anyways, I ended up sending it yesterday and can't wait until she gets it! I didn't tell her I sent it, so I'm hoping it's a nice surprise! 

I chose the cutest one I found, which was this adorable Polar Bear playing in the snow! Ahhh, the perks of working at the zoo :) And that's another thing knocked off my to-do list! This summer is proving to be very successful and I'm excited to send even more postcards! Maybe I'll send some to my friends when I go on vacation to Myrtle Beach later this summer. Can't wait :)

To-Do List: #4

To-Do List #4: Get a job

Your read that right! I finally got a job and had my first day today! It was so long, but I know it's definitely going to be worth the money I'm going to make this summer! I'm working in retail, so it's not so bad and all of the people are so awesome! 

Since I'm going to be working so much, I'll have less time to get things done that I wanted to this summer and blog. But I'm going to try my hardest! I have two days a week off, so hopefully I can find time to do everything I want! And by the end of the summer, I'll have tons of money to buy everything on my wish list and more! By the time my sophomore year of college starts, I'll be the best dressed girl on campus :) 

To-Do List: #13

#13: Weigh 120 lbs

I seriously cannot believe it. Today, I stepped on the scale and you know what showed up? 119.9. I weigh 120 lbs. I can't even remember the last time I weighed 130 lbs, let alone 120. I'm pretty sure the last time was in middle school. I've always been insecure about my body, but I never realized that all it took was time and dedication to feel healthier and better about myself. 

My problem? I love food. Seriously, I don't even know how people could have an eating disorder. I NEED to eat. And when I'm not eating, I'm thinking about eating (okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a little, but I seriously can't live without it). So the first step I had to take was eating healthier. I started eating more yogurt, fruits, and veggies. 

But eating healthier only gets you so far. So you know what the true key to my success was? Running. And now I absolutely love it. 

I go running almost everyday, so not only have I lost weight but I'm actually in good shape! I'd like to think I wouldn't be the first to die if I were to be in The Hunger Games ;) And now, I've built confidence in how I feel about my body, which has really broadened what I wear now! Clothes that hadn't fit before fit now and I'm not afraid to wear certain clothes (dresses, skirts, shorts) that I felt exposed too much before. All in all, I just love myself more and I'm so proud of how I've actually stuck with running and becoming a better me :)

To-Do List: #56

#56: Sew a Skirt

Today, I finished sewing my very first skirt! And I must say, I am IN LOVE with it! Here's a picture of the completed project :)

Isn't it adorable?? I love the polka dot pattern and it's my first red skirt that I own! It took a lot of work because I kept on messing up and having to resew parts, but it was totally worth it in the end! I just followed the directions from My Growing Home and they were pretty easy to follow! You know what my favorite part of the skirt is, though? The pockets! 

I chose a blue floral pattern with some red flowers as the pockets and I can't stoop looking at it! I think it looks perfect with the red, so I'm so happy with how it turned out! This entire skirt was about $7 to make, which is awesome. I'm definitely making more skirts in the future! 

Once I make some more (I bought enough fabric to make two more) I will definitely post them so you all can see! I love being able to make my own clothes :) Have any of you made your own clothes? I'd love to hear about it! 

To do list: #2

#2: Run a Half-Marathon

That's right. I ran a half marathon. And I'm still alive. 

Me, my mom, and my sister got up at 5:30 this morning, hopped in the car, and drove down to Columbus for the half-marathon that started at 8! It was a very early morning...

 

I was so excited, yet so nervous to run this race! It was my very first half-marathon, so I had no idea how it was going to go. And you know what my time was?? 

2:01:52

That's right! I finished the race in just over 2 hours! Ahhh I was so happy I did so well for my first time. I have been training since January and I guess it paid off!!! My sister and mom ran behind me and they ended up finishing in 2:53:00, which is still awesome. 

It was so cool to be with so many other runners and be pumped about willingly running for over two hours. Yeah, it got annoying when people stopped right in front of me or I had to squeeze through people because they were going so slow, but it was so inspiring with people cheering you on from the sidelines. I couldn't have finished at my time without them!

The funny thing is that even though I'm pumped about it now, I was anything but happy while running it. I kept on thinking, "what did I get myself into?!?!" and "I am NEVER doing this again" during the race, but I felt so good when I finished. I ran 13.1 miles! I'm not sure, but I might even do it again next year! Yeah, it sucks actually running it and I felt like stopping every single step of the way (well, every single step after 10 miles I did....) but being able to say I ran a half-marathon is amazing. I'm so happy I can check it off my list now! Maybe I'll add running a half-marathon in under 2 hours to my list next...