ListifyLife Challenge: Things I Collect

So, I’ve skipped the last few weeks of this. But, I’m back now. I’ve collected a lot of things over the years. Elephants(stuffed animals, banks, figurines, etc…not real ones obviously), toy horses, rocks. Probably some other things as well. Now, though:

• Books – You could say I’ve collected books for a long time. And there are certain ones(Louis L’Amour, Nora Roberts, and now all my Roni Loren ones) that I will not get rid of. But, I’ve found the joy of the used book store now. So, periodically, I take a box of books in there and come out, usually with close to the same amount I took in(or at least half as many as I took in). I just got 10 more books over the weekend(3 were for the kids), and it only cost about $18. I still buy new as well(can’t find all the books I want there), but I get mostly older ones in a series there.

• Bookmarks – I have a lot of these. And different kinds even. And still, sometimes, I end up using a piece of paper because I can’t find one. I now have them in one spot, so that shouldn’t be too difficult anymore.

• Pens – You can never have too many pens. Well, okay, maybe you can. But, I could use a different one every day for probably at least two weeks. It’s jut a matter of having room in my pen holder for them.

• Yarn – I don’t really plan to collect this. But, I’m always buying new yarn for knitting and crochet projects. And then I have some leftover. Not always enough to make anything else. Just enough for it to get tangled up with the other bits of yarn. Still haven’t found a good way of storing it without it getting all tangled up.

 

ListifyLife Challenge: Week 3 – Little Happy Things

Week 3 of the ListifyLife Challenge and still going strong. Today’s list is about the little things that make you happy. This took me a little bit of thinking. Not that I’m an unhappy person. After all, I surprised the nurses when I went in to have my daughter. Smiling when I was having contractions(that I couldn’t feel anyway). But, I like to think of myself as mostly content. Except for when I’m not(and that’s mostly when my anxiety is high).

But, there are a few things that raise my happiness level:

• New Books – I’d say this one is pretty obvious. And it’s not just brand new books. All new to me books make me happy. Which is why I love the used bookstore. This past weekend, I took a small box of books in and left with 14. For only $25. 4 of those were for the kids. Most of the ones I get there are from older series I’m trying to catch up on.

New books

Not so new books

• Coffee – Let’s just say this one makes those around me pretty happy, too.
• The woods – We moved from our small town when I was 10, to a house outside of that town with trees on three sides of us. I figured out pretty quickly that this was one of my happy places. We don’t currently live in the woods, but sometimes my walks take me through a section of trees, and I still get that sense of peace from it.
• Quiet house – People are always surprised when I tell them how early I get up. But, my kids are also early risers. So, getting up so early(usually around 4 a.m. is about the only way I can assure I get some quiet time in the morning. It’s also when my words seems to flow the best. I also get some quiet time when both kids are at school, but the boy is only there in the morning, so even that is limited.

#Listifylife Challenge: Week 1 – To Me Spring Is…

Join another challenge? Sure, why not? The #Listifylife Challenge, created by Roni Loren, is only a weekly one, so I shouldn’t have a problem keeping up with it. Planning to post on Mondays, since it’s not already dedicated to another post.

I love lists, by now anyone who has followed me for long should know that. So, this one is right up my alley.

 

 

• Warming Up – Living in Northwestern PA, we’re usually dumped with snow all winter long. This winter was strange, though. We probably didn’t get more than a total of a couple feet snow. And we had quite a few days of unseasonably warm weather. Of course, there’s still a chance we’ll get some more snow before it goes completely away. But, it shouldn’t be too much.
• Allergies – Not such a good part of Spring, but a part nonetheless. And it seems we all suffer from them, the boy least of all, though. They start as early as April for my husband, as trees and grasses both affect him. For me, it’s mostly grasses and lter in the summer/fall, weeds. So, I’m usually sneezy/watery-eyed, through the summer. Also itchy skin. The girl reacts much the same way, getting these little bumps on her hands and face every spring. They’re already starting to show up.
• Motorcycle Rides – This is probably the thing I’m looking forward to the most this spring. Until last May, I’d never been on a motorcycle. But since the first time I rode with my husband, I haven’t wanted to get off. It seems to be the one thing that truly drains the anxiety away. We haven’t ridden since September/October and itching to get out there for some wind therapy again.
• Walks – Sure, I’ve walked some on the treadmill over the winter, but it’s not even close to the same as walking down the road. And out where we are, there are no sidewalks along the road. The route I usually take also goes through the woods, which is one of my happy places. So, it will be very nice to get back out there. I’ve gone out once so far, with the new puppy, now if I can just get him to not sniff at every single leaf and clump of dirt.

So, that’s what I’ve got for this week’s list. How about you? Are you joining in with this? What comes to mind when you think of spring?