One More Item Marked Off the Bucketlist

I have always loved music and have been singing since before I could officially talk (at least according to my mom). I grew up watching musicals, then performing in choir and musicals in high school. Afterwards though, I stopped and started focusing on other things, and I feel like I lost a piece of myself in the process. 

Finally, as of this last May, I started singing again with my best friend's dad. He has been playing and performing in bands off and on for the last 50 years and is an extremely talented guitar player, but hadn't been playing for a little while for the same reasons, and was in need of a vocalist. My friend suggested me, and The Songbird and the Axeman was born. 

Last month we finally had our first two concerts, and I loved it. Singing makes me feel so alive, and I can't believe I'm actually getting paid to do something I enjoy so much. I've wanted to do this for years, and I finally am. 

Dreams do come true. ❤️

Until next time,

The Songbird

My Literary Bucket List!

I've finally done it! I started writing a list of all of the literary works I want to read. I'm not sure why it has taken me so long to get around to writing one, considering how much I love reading, but no more excuses. 

I now have a page on this blog dedicated to books I want to read (or have read), and I plan on checking them all off. For now, it's just a short list of classics I was able to jot down quickly, but I will be adding to it as I go. 

Let the Adventure Begin!

~Hannah ♥

Bucketlist Item: Learn to Make a Croissant. Check!

As of yesterday, I can officialy cross "Making a Croissant" off of my bucketlist!

I had actually forgotten this item was on there when I first started working at the bakery, and it wasn't until I was able to look my list over this last week that I realized I had almost accomplished it. Making these takes four days of mixing, shaping, freezing, thawing, sheeting, folding butter in, then finally cutting, shaping, and baking. 

For the last month I've been doing all but the last three steps of this process, but I was finally taught how to cut and shape them yesterday, and above is the finished product. 

So that is one item down, many more to go!

Lets see which ones I can complete next. 

~ Hannah ❤

Making Dreams Reality

[Source]

I just read an article on Elephantjournal.com (which is one of my favorite websites to visit) titled How to Say Screw It & Live Brilliantly, that inspired me to write a post.

I am a dreamer. A big dreamer. Always have been, always will be. I have plans and goals for my life that many people think will never happen; maybe in the movies, but not real life.

Yes, they haven't happened yet, but I have had no doubt that they will, someday, somehow.

I have come to the realization though that there is a problem with the way I have been thinking about these dreams of mine. This whole time I have been waiting for everything to come together; waiting for money to fall in my lap; waiting until my children are older; waiting until I'm not so busy.

I can't just keep waiting for my dreams to come true though. I have to MAKE them happen. I have to be more proactive about what I want. I am not going to learn that new language or instrument if I keep waiting until I have the time to devote to it. I am not going to take my dream trip to Italy (or anywhere else for that matter), unless I actually start saving money and planning a trip. I won't publish a book if I don't start writing. And I won't own a bakery or restaurant if I don't start writing a business plan and looking for funding.

I realize now that, although I am happy to call myself a dreamer, that is all I will ever be if I don't start really living and taking action. I am done waiting around, living a normal, boring life, while drooling over pictures of foreign cities and forgotten places. I always felt so out of place growing up, longing for adventure and wanting more than the simple lives I saw functioning around me. I wanted to learn, and travel, and have great adventures like the ones I read about in my books... Maybe that's why I have always loved Beauty and the Beast so much and could always relate to Belle... I am done longingly waiting for everything to come together, and continually putting my goals and dreams on the backburner, while dealing with "life". From now on my life will be the adventure I have always wanted, no longer settling for second best, and always pushing for the things I deserve, without being afraid of failure and the unknown.

I am doing this for myself, but also for my children. I want them to see me as an example of what life can be like if you pursue your dreams, and don't listen to the naysayers and "realists" who are always there to remind you that you could fail, and to question why you would try something that might not work out. Well, I would much rather try and fail at something extraordinary, that I love, than try and fail at something "safe", out of the fear of "what if".

So I am saying goodbye now to my old normal, everyday life, and hello to the new adventure I am beginning.

Wish me luck.

~Hannah ♥

Frogs legs

 

Maybe not the best picture, but I finally tried frog legs and I can check that off of my bucket list now. I went to a restaurant in Portland called Le Bistro Montage, last night with some friends, and their Cajun inspired menu allowed me the opportunity to try these. Of course, it did take me a few minutes, going back and forth, deciding if I really wanted to order them, because you have that picture in your head of slimy green frogs, but I eventually decided to, and I am glad that I did. The legs tasted amazing, with a crisp breaded layer on the outside and a meaty chicken/fishy taste on the inside. I will definitely be ordering these again, and I can't wait to visit this restaurant again.

Afterwards, we of course had to make a trip to Voodoo Doughnuts for a dozen of their amazing doughnuts, including a Bacon Maple Bar for me.

 

 

I have to say, I love how unique Portland is, and I am definitely looking forward to my next trip up there.

 

Until next time.

 

~Hannah ♥