Not a Valentines Post.

Maybe I will tell you all about that later.

Today's post is about my birthday!

In exactly one week I will be twenty years old!
Wow, crazy. I am so excited.

Lately I have been thinking about things that I may like for my birthday, however, nothing really comes to mind. In all honesty I have most anything I would want or need. So with the exception of a few things from family members I was stuck, I didn't know what to tell people when they asked me. It's not like I'm a child anymore who wants to have more barbies, and more toys.

A thought donned on me a little while ago though. To be honest I thought it was a spectacular idea. Here is what I truly want. And if you dear readers want to participate, I would be forever greatful.

As most of you know, Auston and I plan to adopt. In roughly a year from now we will begin the process. I am asking the everyone I know donates just $5.00 towards our goal.
This adoption means so much to the two of us, I can hardly explain it in words. My mother grew up in foster care, so I grew up knowing about the dark side of being in the system. If I can just help one child find a loving home, I feel like I will have done something truly spectacular with my life.
Shortly I should be getting a sewing machine, and then I will be coming up with some crafty ideas, I plan to try and sell to raise more towards our goal. I won't go to in depth today because I have already written a rather lengthy post on this subject.

And if you could share this post with your readers, or your friends, I would be so thankful.

Happy Valentines Day

Sorry if this post seem Choppy today.

My 25 Before 25 list...

This is the second of a Two Part Series..

Next month I will be turning 20. I don't know why this number is so daunting to me, but it is. I feel like it officially makes me an adult. Even though I have been living as one for the better part of the last two years.
Because of my excitement to turn twenty I have been doing a lot of thinking, and planning.
I have come up with a list of things I want to accomplish in the next five years!
In a little bit I will add this list to the top of my page, so you can keep an eye on my progress.

Here is my list, and a brief description on why I have listed each of these thing:

 25 before I am 25 :

1. Master another language - Auston and I want to adopt, either a blind or deaf child, and because of this we want to master sign language.
2. Buy a house - Who doesn't want to own their own home?
3. Visit Italy - I come from an Italian family, I also have relatives who live in Italy still so I would love to go over there and meet my family, and see where we come from.
4. Start a small business selling crafts - I just think this would be fun!
5. Have a Sangria Party :] - Well, I tried sangria for the first time a couple of months ago. I am not a big wine drinker, but I loved it. And I just think it would be a blast to do this with friends (once we all hit 21)
6. See a Broadway Show - Auston and I met in drama class, and I grew up on stage. I miss it so much sometimes, and I have never seen a big professional production like this.
7. Go to Las Vegas - Come on guys, this one should explain itself. 
8. Learn to drive a Stick - I just think its important to know how to do. What if an emergency happened and that was the only car available? I'll be damned if I'm stuck.
9. Buy a new car - Preferrably an eco friendly one. I REALLY want this one, but that may not happen.
10. Read the Bible, cover to cover. - I grew up in church, I know a lot of the stories, but I have never actually taken the time to read the bible all the way through.
11. Go to see a Patriots Game - <3 Love them.
12. Go to a Red Sox Vs Yankee's game - Huge Red Sox fan, and I think just seeing them would be awesome, but seeing them against the Yankees would be a dream come true.
13. Get three New Tattoos That mean something Special - I must admit, I'm addicted. But they all mean something to me.
14. Visit Canada - Can you believe, I grew up right outside, and still, I have never been?
15. Start a Career in Finance - Even if its just something small on the side.
16. Spend New Years Eve in NYC - I have wanted to do this ever since I was a little girl. I think its magical.
17. Visit 15 Museums - Auston and I both love museums. But we have a habit of going to see the same ones over and over again.
18. Participate in a charity Walk - I'm always down for a good cause.
19. Go Rock Climbing - This is on my bucket list, and I want to do it before I get to old.
20. Visit 3 amusement parks - WOO roller coasters!
21. Spend a weekend in Amish Country - I wanted to do that this year, but things happen, and they got in the way.
22. Start and maintain a vegitable garden - I have been talking about this forever! It would save me money, and I would know there were no pesticides.
23. Watch 100 classic Movies I have never seen before - I'm a chicken when it comes to classics. I always think they're going to be lame.
24. Find and buy a perfect black cocktail dress. - Every girl needs one, and I would totally spend a small fourtune, if I found the perfect - Could wear for years to anything - one.
25. Go to Mardi Gras in New Orleans - I am so excited to do this!!

There you have it - 25 things I will accomplish before I hit the age of 25.

What do you think?

Where will you be 5 years from now?

Next month I will be 20!

I can hardly believe it! Life has been flying ever since graduation, almost two years ago.

Along with everyones 2012 goals, and monthly goals, or weekly goals, and plans to pay off thier debt and homes, I have also seen a couple of other bloggers post a 5 year plan.
Niki Talks about hers here
And Michelle also has hers posted
I haven't made a list like theirs yet, though I really do think I am going to shortly.

Five years from now I will be turning 25! That seems so impossibly far away. Its not though, and I know those years are going to go much faster than I think.
I also know, that I have big dreams, and hopes for the future and if they are not planned out properly, they probably won't happen.

What kind of dreams you might ask?

Well for one, I know I want to get married. Auston and I have been talking about it forever, we can juust never fit it into our budget. How unromantic.
We want to adopt, special needs (blind or deaf probably) preferably. This will take a lot of planning, and reasearch and saving.  (More on this subject matter to come in a future post)
I want to take classes, on something, and maybe go to college. That has never been high on my to-do list, but lately I have been finding things I might like to go for. Finance being one of them.

As you can see, I have a couple of rather large ambitions. I have more to add, but I don't want to ruin my post by giving it away to early...

I know this post is kind of choppy and pieced together, I can't seem to focus tonight.

What do you think? Do you find it helpful to have a long-term plan?

Today was a successful No-Spend day! :]
I put $20 in savings towards my trip, which is depressingly small, but next week I should be adding a ton more! This week there would have been more if I hadn't taken the weekend off to spend with my father && if I hadn't done so much grocery shopping. Also, just to be cautious, I'm leaving a big chunk out of savings to renew my insurance with. I'm not sure exactly how much this is going to cost, and I would rather have to much money than to little.

That's about it on the financial front.

_____________________

It was also my nephews 2nd birthday! So here's my 365 photo:

A montage of photo's from today's party!! I love this little man <3