Rolling out... or maybe swimming is more like it

We've got these 28 Things rolling out now!

Today was an epic day for that...

-Learned to swim 

(well, started the process)

-Conquered a fear! 

Okay, okay. Technically, I conquered a fear by learning to swim.

But I vote it counts for both.

Actually, I conquered two fears. But I'm not quite ready to divulge the details of that one yet. Post to come... (hopefully).

Date Night

I had high hopes of getting out the longboards several times this summer, but alas, sometimes leaving the house is a high hope.

BUT we did bust them out for date night last week! 

There is just nothing like the afternoon settling into evening, the air cooling from the hot day, the ground still damp from the summer storm, the leaves rustling, and the trail empty leaving my longboard and I. (And of course, my dashing husband.)

(And look at that Mountain! It was gorgeous!)

Another check on my 28 Things! I'm glad I included this one. It's something I've found lots of joy in over the years.

Update

Guess what! I went to my first oil painting class last night. Thats right! I did it. I signed myself up for a class to learn to paint. That would be 2 of my 28 Things. 

I loved it! (To be honest, I was quite nervous. But don't worry! I conquered that cube still life!) For growing up with the last name of Painter I probably should dabble in the art of it at least a few times in my life.

AND we started a garden. Well... mini garden of sorts. We used some of my mother's old flower pots and experimented with some container gardening. We have some tomatoes, zuchini and kale well on their way. The lettuce, basil, cilantro, and swish chard are still taking some encouragement. We were a little late on the planting but we decided that if anything we will have learned something for next year. So that would be another of my 28 Things in process. Wahoo.

Just thought I ought to update.

Write a Letter

 An art was lost when letter writing was replaced with its digital alter ego(s). Every once in a while the romantic in me wishes it would resurrect. (But seriously, who doesn't love snail mail?!) Growing up, we were taught the importance of thank you notes. I will be the first to admit that I should be better. There is one thank you note in particular that has been nagging me. Every time the twins' "story"  is told a frequent response is always "Did you tell your sealer?" No, I hadn't yet. But I should.

So I finally did...

About a week later we received this in the mail...

What a sweet man! I'm so glad we finally wrote him. We definitely plan on keeping in touch in the future.

If you happen to be reading this I challenge you to reach out to someone that has been on your mind. There is probably a reason you have been thinking about them. Go on, just do it. :)

Another of my 28 Things accomplished. 

5K Complete

First of my 28 Things COMPLETE!

Well I definitely realized I am still quite broken from a hard pregnancy and that I am very out of shape BUT to look on the bright side of things... we PRed! Of course, this was my first race so I only have one time under my belt. But that doesn't have to matter. haha. We even did better than anticipated. 

The sunshine, natural endorphins, crazy fun runners, family honking every time they passed us, kneaders breakfast, and general pleasant atmosphere made this a great` experience.

Lets do it again!

Shout out to Brittany for running it with me on her big 14th Birthday! 

Committed!

Race registration compelete.

Bra bought.

(I decided good bras are practically life changing.)

Jogging stroller purchased.

I'm committed. 

;)

5K and Crosswords

I used to run. I used to love exercising...

...then my body broke and my boobs got huge (pardon me).

Now I'm lucky to walk a 20min mile on the treadmill. Oi.

I'm thinking the Provo City 5K on May 3rd. It has to be soon enough that I will stick to my commitment but far enough away that I can actually, maybe, possibly get my running shoes out (and find a better bra... pardon again).

It can't be to bad, right? It's all downhill. 

On a different note...

I've been working on this for the last month:

I have 19 incomplete puzzles. 0 complete ones.

Are you allowed to use google? I don't think you should be, but I'm desperate.

Let's Celebrate!

I realize that I am addicted to goal-setting and list making (ie the whole premise for this blog) but it makes be happy so I'm doing it again. :D

28 Ways to Celebrate my 28th Year

I just celebrated my 27th Birthday. Crazy. I feel younger and more inexperienced than I did when I was 17. (Side note: Isn't that the glorious thing about being a teenager though. You think you know everything. It just goes downhill from there.)

One of the biggest downfalls of depression is that all the things you used to love no longer hold any interest for you. It is definitely counter-productive to the recovery process since then you won't do those things that make you happy. And then, yet another major problem is being to scared to try anything anyway. So to honor this new year I'm going to make a conscious effort to do some of those things that make me happy along with a couple of things I've been meaning to try/do. (Some of these coincide with my 100 Things list.)

Here's my list: 

Make a new friend

Visit a new place Boston & Maine

Throw a party I tried. The Babies' First Birthday. Unfortunately I came down with the flu but I'm counting because we had all the food and decor and it was going to be darling!)

Finish a crossword puzzle 

(seriously! I have yet to do this in my life.)

Go on a hike Ensign Peak (silly, but I'm counting it!)

Bake bread

Grow a plant Our first attempt at a Garden

Design a...

(not sure what that is going to be yet)

Buy a bike

Sew something

Try a new restaurant  Tony Caputos

Ride a horse

Take a class Oil Painting

Go to the library check, check, check

Run a 5K Provo City 5K

Send a letter To Brother Hyde

Take the GRE

Call-a-friend challenge

Grain challenge

Vegetable challenge

(All three challenges will be explained later)

Take a family name to the temple

(Find one first...)

Learn to swim

Write in my journal Finally! I'm doing it!

Do a photo shoot Blackham Wedding

Paint a picture Lake Sunset, Field Sunrise, Tetons

Go snowboarding

Go longboarding

Conquer a fear

Ready? Go!