Day 28 Challenge: {My hopes, plans, & dreams for the next 365 days}

I had to bust out my 'to-do' list for you

{In no particular order}

~have a garage sale here in the next month or so and clean out the garage...again

~can some salsa

~bake homemade bread in my breadmaker

~make baby food next week for Ava's 4 month birthday

~still searching for the perfect patio furniture

~family portraits next month in the park or the backyard

~go on a harley trip somewhere for a couple of days with Conor before it gets too chilly

~we talked about Chicago in September????

~paint/redo a few pieces of my Grandmother's furniture for the girls' room

~finish Audrey's baby book and start on Ava's

~finish my latest baby girl onesies line to sell on Etsy

~Junior League starts up this month. Very excited to be involved in Cultural Literacy this year, doing arts and crafts and teaching kids about different cultures

~Attending a wedding in Boone, North Carolina in November. I'll get to see where Conor tore up the town in his college days and meet old college friends

~Also attending another wedding in Atlanta in November and staying for Thanksgiving

~take an oil painting class

~finish Audrey's Christmas stocking that I started last year & start a new one for Miss Ava

~Christmas in Oklahoma this year

~Potty Training (Audrey has gone potty 3 times this week in her potty chair. Yes, I did a potty dance for her :) .......you have to

~Plan Audrey's 2nd birthday party (OMG...will she really be 2??? Probably an Elmo theme, she's in love)

~new stove & dishwasher....so old they're breaking (knobs and buttons flying off in the middle of cooking and cleaning)

~keep a journal of Ava's 1st milestones to put in her baby book

~lose baby weight

~frame black & white family pictures for the hallway

......and my number one dream is to not be so busy with the hustle and bustle of life that I don't stop & take in the simple moments of everyday. It's easy to do, I believe, as a woman trying to mutli-task and keep life and your family in order. For me, I'm guilty of leading a fast-paced life and rushing from one thing to the next. I tell myself I can enjoy this or that when the kitchen is cleaned, when the garage is organized, or when the laundry is done [hello, that's never]. Sometimes I miss out on those simple "moments" because of my busyness. I also get distracted with the next great thing to fulfill what I think is a need but 99% of the time is just a want. Whether it's the fabric I want for my curtains in the living room or a sale I might miss at the store. I know I have to remind myself on a weekly basis. Stop and smell the roses, literally!

How often do you find yourself absolutely content just in the moment? Seriously. I'm talking about truly appreciating something simple and feeling a sense of peace & happiness.

I'm going to work on letting go and appreciating more simple moments. Recent moments I've loved...

1. Husband & I on our patio sipping wine and admiring our [finally finished] backyard and garden

2. Bathtime with Audrey and doing the potty dance together

3. Ava laying on my chest, holding her head up and telling me the most amazing story [in baby jabber]

Now it's your turn.....what are some things that bring you a feeling of contentment?