ideas – Tuesday Update

Little Bitty Life Update

Published on January 17, 2018January 28, 2018 by fabulouslepLeave a comment

My heart is full. Filled to the top. Overflowing!!

Coming back from a month long of home fabulousness is hard to bounce back from. It takes amazing people to get your head in the right place, classes to keep you engaged, and a healthy mindset overall to start another several months with two positive feet in.

My first day back was welcomed with a tumble in the snow in front of you know, EVERYONE, a hiccup with my schedule, and a too-warm green smoothie. My blog is nowhere near where I want it to be and I have one million and ten things on my small plate that need to be finished.

With all of these things looking like spaghetti in my brain, I cannot help but stop and look around at the people that are not only filling my heart, but making it overflow. These friends that I have made are the exact people I needed. Tonight at one of our Wednesday night E3 talks, I left thanking God for the special friends He knew would give me a spark of fire in faith and life.

I met with my advisor and am right on track for such an LEP career (keeping it to myself for a while). She helped me get excited and make me feel like I am absolutely in the place I need to be for my heart to dive into other hearts!

As far as the snow fall and hot smoothie, well those things are the ones that I get to laugh about and walk right past. My 2018 is going to be fabulous, and I am so so excited to stay keep my blog updated as I live out This Fab Life.

Clutter Cluster

Published on June 15, 2017June 15, 2017 by fabulouslepLeave a comment

I have recently come across one of my stress builders. You know, the foundation that supports all the other building blocks to your breaking point? Clutter.

I have always taken pride in being over the top on organization, whether it is in school, my room, or life in general. I focus on a clean-cut, fresh look. The less clutter, the better, but the Target dollar section just doesn’t agree. I truly believe that clutter in your house is the ultimate source of clutter in your brain! No one needs “I need to clean the basement” in the back of their mind on a Tuesday afternoon when they have more important things to accomplish- NO ONE.

When I was in high school, finals would roll around, and I would become a completely different person. I needed to clean out the fridge, rid my under-sink, purge food that we hadn’t touched in a while, and refold all of the clothes for my drawers before I could actually focus on studying. Casual? No. I needed all of this to be done around finals, but in reality it was always in the back of my mind and never being addressed. Then when a stressful time snuck up on me, I couldn’t have it there to be completely narrowed in on getting good grades.

Well, I have come to the realization that lately I just have not been pulling my best organization strings. This first year of college was hard to come home on a short weekend and clean my room because I wanted to spend ALL of my time with the family. On the other hand, I was living out of a duffel bag for a few days, which turned into one big mess for normal people and one excessive, overcrowded clothes party for Lindsey people.

It took me a quick minute to know that this is not how summer is going to go! After an unnecessary melt down to dad that he needed to build me a bigger closet, I pulled myself together with a pep talk. I will not live in this cluttered room with clothes I have not worn in years. I will not save these hair products under my sink that I am no longer using. I will not look at an email inbox full of spam. I will not keep things that I do not need.

And that is exactly what I did. I went into my room and stripped it. Other people could use these items more than I can, and if I had not worn it in two years or more, it had to go. Yes, yes I wanted to hold onto every t-shirt that has a memory, but I am not about to wear them, so I either put them aside for a t-shirt quilt, or they went to my memory box. (Praise the Good Lord for fabulous memory boxes). After the sorting, I took {several} trash bags to their appropriate places and am now basking in a simplified, organized, and oh so fabulous bedroom, with my favorite people only a few steps away. (I really couldn’t be happier!)

Processed with VSCO with f2 preset — FRESH drawers. #fab

Our homes are not only places to recharge your electronics, they are our place to regroup, re-juice and relax, while enjoying the company of our closest humans. Some people spend more time in their homes than others, but everyone should make time to clear their space. Like I said, a cluttered home (or workspace, for that matter) is a cluttered brain. Clear your head with a cleaning spree! I promise promise promise your shoulders will raise and your brain will have more thinking room. An organized life is a fresh and FABulous life!

Processed with VSCO with b1 preset — Alllllllllll the memories. Cue the tears.

DE-CLUTTER TIP: My mom started our memory boxes when we were born. They are filled with too many preschool art projects to count, special baby outfits, and anything that will make us cry when we open them now. Since my brother and I have been old enough to clean our own rooms, we became bosses of our memory boxes, which are just large storage tubs. I add things like my high school acceptance letter and notes I’ve gotten on retreats. One day I will open it and be able to read the birthday cards I received and relive the moments from the pictures I’ve snuck in there. The boxes that I have started include high school, college, and random memories, not counting several that my mom made. This way we get to keep all of our special things, but they slide under a shelf in the basement for “one day”.

100 Things On My Summer Bucket List

Published on May 4, 2017May 4, 2017 by fabulouslepLeave a comment

It’s the week before finals. In other words, it’s the finale- the finale of the school year. Summer is coming, I repeat: summer is coming. I can almost touch it. I am not sure if this is a “me” thing, but I cannot stop thinking of these grand summer plans (that usually never even happen) while I am 100 percent supposed to be studying for my 100%’s (that also usually never happen).

Well, I have decided that my grand plan this summer is to actually DO the things I want to do. With that being said, I have made a fabulous bucket list to keep me in line. While you are distracted, go ahead and write your thoughts down so you can get at your busy (or relaxing, whatever you prefer) summer the minute it starts!

Here are a few ideas to get the ball rolling:

1. First and foremost, relax on vacation.

2. Be positive & live simple.

3. Spend time with fab friends.

4. Get rid of clothes I don’t wear- seriously, other people need them.

5. Have sister-brother lunch dates at the one and only Jimmy Johns.

6. Sleep in- but not too “in”, I have a summer to summer.

7. Swim, swim, swim!

8. Food Truck it for lunch- or din- or breakfast.

9. Super smile- and laugh, laughing is good, too.

10. Watch fireworks.

11. Road trip with my best friends- oh, the giggles.

12. Road trip with my roommate- oh, the giggles pt. 2

13. Play golf- it’s more fun when you’re terrible.

14. Shop- don’t stop until you have lines on your arms from the bags for proof of your day’s work.

15. Try new foods- oysters are still gross.

16. Organize the pantry, fridge, garage, basement- aka my whole house (why am I a mom?)

17. Go to a baseball game- professional or not, it’s still a must.

18. Plant flowers.

19. Invite friends over for a movie day.

20. Take a nap- aye aye, captain.

21. Read a book before seeing the movie.

22. Take a Barre class.

23. Go to a drive-in movie- don’t forget jumper cables.

24. Dedicate a day to attempting Facebook & Twitter recipe videos- you know you want to.

25. Go on a walk by myself.

26. Eat a snowcone in the trunk with my peeps. (but basically, just hang in the trunk because I’m not a fan of flavored ice unless it has “cream” at the end:) ).

27. Drive a jet ski- be careful.

28. Volunteer- do it.

29. Swim in a lake- don’t forget fishies bite toes.

30. Stare at the stars- #peaceful

31. Take a really, really long bike ride.

32. Buy a new pair of shoes- or three. OK, four.

33. Blare music in the car- and roll ALL of the windows down.

34. Parasail.

35. Feed a homeless person.

36. Eat breakfast for dinner- inside out and upside down.

37. Play Glow in the dark Frisbee- in the dark.

38. Tan on the deck (the dock, too)

39. Keep my car tidy.

40. Try ice cream for every meal- don’t get sick, I dare you.

41. Go to a country concert.

42. Tell someone I love them- Mom counts.

43. Hammock my heart out.

44. Wear a swimsuit all day long.

45. Wear jammies all day long- Don’t have to tell me twice.

46. Night swim- never too old for a swim in the dark.

47. Be a tourist in my hometown- cliche.

48. Journal- it’s good for the soul.

49. Drink a green smoothie- the ones that “make your skin glow.”

50. Fill balloons with good fortunes and let them go- someone will be surprised.

51. Get organized- fill that new planner!!!

52. Hang lights and have a music party.

53. Go back to college for a weekend.

54. Inspire someone.

55. Fresh squeeze lemonade- turning life around one glass at a time.

56. Go ziplining

57. Watch the sun rise- it will be worth it (I think) (I hope).

58. Watch the sun set in a secret spot.

59. Get donuts- try an “out there” flavor.

60. Kickbox- jab, cross, sweat, jab, cross, sweat.

61. Make a chalk portrait.

62. Play board games- a rainy day necessity.

63. Make s’mores- burn the ‘mallow.

64. Go on a picnic- bring a basket and the camera.

65. Have a water gun war- bonus points if it’s in clothes.

66. Take a picture every day- necessary. (Selfies absolutely count)

67. Take a cooking class- probably also necessary.

68. Leave a positive note on someone’s windshield- stay to see their smile.

69. Make the dogs homemade treats.

70. Adult slip ‘n slide- do. it. pt. 2

71. Skydive- ehhh…can’t do it all.

72. Don’t worry for a whole day.

73. Write letters to all my people- better than texting.

74. Ride a rollercoaster.

75. Go to a midnight movie- stay awake!!

76. Run a 5k.

77. Give up my phone for a whole day- the snap streaks will be fine.

78. Have a bonfire- check off #63 while I’m at it.

79. Try a new workout class.

80. Watch an entire season of a show in one sitting- I’ve done it before, I’ll do it again.

81. Have a whipped cream fight- SO FUN.

82. Ride a Ferris Wheel- only a summer classic.

83. Get a pedicure- pretty pink toes, of course

84. Bake a cake for someone’s birthday- do #67 first.

85. Pick fruit from a tree.

86. Learn a new word- so basically read the dictionary.

87. Clean out my Email inbox- enough red bubbles for Pete’s sake.

88. Buy the meal for the person behind me- Pay it forward.

89. Do a handstand- not on the trampoline (and then, of course, take a pic).

90. Get fancy for dinner.

91. Stand up paddle board- longer than five seconds, that is.

92. Run a faster mile!!

93. Try a different grocery store.

94. Make my own ice cream- could help with #40.

95. Be grateful for the things I have.

96. Go on a hike- so #granola.

97. Make Whole Wheat pancakes- the best. (every day?)

98. Enjoy ALL the moments.

99. Have ALL the fun.

100. Make ALL the memories.

These ideas came straight from my “Who needs Calculus anyway? When will my parents be here?” brain that should really be worrying about Calc because yes, hi, I need Calc. Due to my obsession with crossing items off of to-do lists, I most definitely put no-brainers on there. I would be thrilled if I could accomplish all 100 things. I know one thing is for sure, I will be crossing #9 off all the way home because it’s time to SUMMER! This Fab Life is about to get even more fabulous.

Also, can my new word be summer as a verb?