Bucket List Updated – 10 Things in 10 Years (Things I want to do before I turn 40)

Hello everyone!

I hope you’re having a great wednesday and an even better week.

I turned 30 in October and I must confess it took me a while to being okay with leaving my 20’s behind. Now that I’m finally happy and content to be 30, I decided it was time to update my bucket list.

These are the main things I’d like to accomplish before I turn 40.

Have a second child.

Ideally, we’d have three kids. Realistically, I think we’ll probably be done after two.

Adopt another dog.

We’ve been meaning to do this for years but it never seems like the right time. We’d love for Rosa to have a furry brother or sister but we’re not sure how she’d react to sharing her space and our attention with another dog. She’s not super nice to other dogs and she’s quite used to being spoiled and having both of us all to herself. Having a human sister should be hard enough and quite the adjustment so we’re going to wait and try to understand how she reacts to no longer being our only baby.

Buy a house.

We’ve been casually looking for a while but the market is impossible unless you have a lot of money laying around, which we don’t. We plan on saving as much as possible and keep looking until we find something we like and can afford.

Get into nursing school.

I have applied twice (2020 and 2021) and did not get in but I’m definitely going to keep trying. Praying that 2023 will be the year.

Renew our vows for our 10 year wedding anniversary.

My husband is not super keen on this. According to him “what is ten years if we plan on spending the rest of our lives together”. He’s right, of course, but this is something special I really want do for us and for our marriage, every ten years.

Visit a new country every year.

I’m not exactly sure what travelling with a kid will look like but I know we’ll still do it. We don’t want to be one of those couples who never leave the house again after having children. Wherever we go, she’ll go with us. We’ll figure it out.

Learn how to ride a bike.

I actually bought a bike last year and was in the process of learning when I got pregnant so that’s on hold for the next few months.

Get fit.

I know I’ve been saying this for years but I feel like I can’t live my 30’s the way I’ve lived my 20’s. Especially now that I’m about to become a mother, I want to be the healthiest I can be and to set a good example for my daughter. It won’t be easy. It was never easy but I think it will be especially hard now, after 30 and after giving birth. I NEED to lose about 40 kg or 88 Lbs, which I’ve gained over the last 5-6 years, after a mental health diagnosis, tons of medication and years and years of neglect and unhealthy habits. I have no idea how I’ll manage this but it is definitely one of my top priorities.

Be fluent in German.

I took two semesters while in university and then I quit. I think it’s a beautiful language and would like to go back to learning and become fluent at some point in the next few years.

Write a book.

Something I’ve been wanting to do since I was about 12 years old. I’ve started a couple of books but have never finished anything. I don’t think my writing is good enough as of now but I intend to learn more and get better to the point of feeling comfortable sharing my work with the world.

What about you? What’s an item on your bucket list?

Love,

Cheila

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8 Random Things I don’t Eat – Foods I Don’t Like

Hello Everyone,

Today I bring you another random post: 8 foods I absolutely hate.

Of course, if you were to invite me for dinner I’d do the polite thing and eat whatever you put in my plate. When I’m making food for myself though, I try to avoid the following foods:

Beets

They taste like dirt to me.

Avocados

The texture is horrible and they taste like freshly cut grass. Guacamole = yuck!

Sardines

Gosh. The smell, the tiny deadly bones, the fishy flavor.

Celery

I feel like I’m biting into a soap tasting log.

Arugula/Roquette

Again, food that tastes like bitter grass.

Rabbit

I don’t think this is something people eat everywhere but it’s definitely a typical Portuguese food. I refuse to go near it, though. The meat itself is too sweet and bunnies are to cute to be eaten.

Cilantro/Coriander

It tastes like soap.

Cashews

Apparently, they’re everyone’s favorite nut. Go figure.

What is a food you won’t eat?

Love,

Cheila

8 Random Things That Really Freak Me Out

Hello everyone,

I hope you’re having a lovely weekend!

My post for today is very random, I know. I was walking the other day and actually crossed the road so I wouldn’t have to walk under some scaffolding. It got me thinking “What else freaks me out this much?” and so I came up with a list.

These are the 10 things that I try to avoid like the plague.

Walking under scaffolding.

Yes, I’m afraid someone will drop a hammer or a whole person will fall on top of me.

Getting any sort of anesthesia.

People keep asking me if I’m afraid of giving birth and honestly, for now, my only fear is getting anesthesia. I’m not sure I want an epidural and it makes me very nervous to think about getting anesthesia in case I need a cesarean section. There’s something very scary about being sedated or not being in possession of my full capacities. Maybe that’s why I’ve never drank or taken drugs.

Radiation.

Oh the anxiety I get every time I have to get an x-ray or a CAT scan. It’s a nightmare. Just the little radiation danger signs give me the hibby jibbies.

Deep, dark water.

If I can’t see the bottom, I’m not getting in. And I’ll never ever jump from a high place into a pool, lake or river.

Security cameras.

No idea why, they just scare me.

Answering calls from unknown numbers.

I’ll do the millennial thing and google the number before I take the call. I’m always afraid someone is calling me before something bad happened or somebody died.

Motorcycles.

They’re very dangerous and I wouldn’t ride one if you paid me good money.

Airplane takeoffs.

The speed, the noise, the feeling. I hate it. I won’t stop travelling by plane anytime soon, but I can assure you I’ll be hating every minute.

What about you? What freaks you out?

Would love to read about it in the comments.

Love,

Cheila

My Resolutions for 2020 – Late as Usual (Part 1)

Hello fellow bloggers and lovely lurkers!

Today I come to you in the company of my chocolate milk and a very agitated dog, since the mailman has just paid us a visit and he’s a bad bad man, apparently.

I thought I might as well share my resolutions for 2020 because, in case they never happen, at least they’ve met the internet at some point, which makes them at least 10% real.

I should start by saying that I haven’t made any resolutions for the past couple of years for the obvious reason that there is no point in making them as I know myself too well by now. I’m not sure I should call these “resolutions” or simply a list of “shit I’ve been putting off for so long it’s becoming embarrassing”. Yup, that sounds more fitting. Honestly, I wish I could be the kind of person that could make it a goal to drink more water or eat better or whatever the cliche and keep it up forever but I’m just not. I have no discipline whatsoever when it comes to such goals. I think I’m getting better with age, but I’m not there yet. Also, I’m not that lousy when it comes to drinking water, actually. I manage to get 2-3 liters in the Summer (being a bit lazier on the weekends) and 1 to 1.5 liters in Winter. I could definitely eat better, though. (Anyone else thinking about spaghetti and meatballs right now?).

And that is why I do not make these “cliche goals” as long term. I prefer to focus on eating better tomorrow or eating more vegetables today. Then, if I fail, it doesn’t feel like I’m failing for the whole year. I hope this makes some sense. Anyway, I’m rambling.

There’s definitely 2 things that I hope will help with achieving my goals:

1. A deadline.
2. To start working on them ASAP.

And without further ado:

My 6 Resolutions for 2020: (Part 1)

 

1. Lose the weight

I’ve been carrying around this weight (literally) for too many years after being diagnosed and dealing with illness and SO much medication. Going from being more active and taking public transportation to sitting at a desk all day did not help either, if I’m being honest. But I’m tired of it, both physically and mentally. I’m tired of the fat jokes, and of loathing myself and what I see in the mirror. I don’t even like my wedding pictures that much, which is pretty sad. Also, I’d like to be pregnant some time in the next few years and I don’t want to add more weight to this body. I want to be the healthiest I can be for my future child. My actual goal is to lose 30 kg/60 pounds (you guys, I work with UK banking and almost wrote GBP and died laughing).

Deadline: December 2020, with a grace period of a couple of months because I want to do it in a healthy way.

Steps taken: Appointment with a nutritionist for January 29th.

 

2. Finish my Degree – History Minor. 

So I happen to have 3 credits/courses of my degree to finish, which happen to fall under my minor in History. I should have finished this in… what? 2015? Never mind. The thing is, I’ve never actually and practically needed it. I’ve worked for quite a few years in the field, I’ve taught, I’ve tutored HISTORY, I’ve prepared students for HISTORY exams and no one has ever questioned my abilities. Nevertheless, everyone who has ever known me, mostly my mother and husband, love to bust my balls about this. The funniest thing ever is that my baby sister has since started and finished uni. It’s not like I don’t care, it’s just.. I’m mostly over it. Would I have picked the same degree today at 28 years old, so many years later? No way. I know I want to go back to school at some point in my life and study something else. I’ve been back and forth with this for so long, having at some point having to quit because I was too sick. I’m ready for it to be over. And that is why I’m FINALLY going to finish it.

Deadline: June 2020 (End of school year)

Steps Taken: Applied back in November, got accepted, classes start on January 27th.

 

3. Get my Driver’s License

Oh my God, you guys! You have now idea the kind of bullying I’ve endured over the years because I do not have a license. My mother mentions it at every family dinner,  phone call, text message and my nightmares. My husband is always going on about how he’d love to be able to drink as much as he’d like to if I was able to drive him as I don’t drink at all (We DO NOT drink and drive and neither should you). My friends and my husband’s friends tease me equally. It comes up at every party, wedding and funeral. People assume they’d be able to take advantage of my driving just because I do not drink. The day I finally have my license will be a national holiday. In everyone’s defense and to my shame, most people in this country get their driver’s license by the time they’re 18 years old. Because I’m tired of being made fun of (for this anyway) this will finally be the year. I’ll help the drunks be drunks.

Deadline: June 2020 (6 months sounded like enough time)

Steps Taken: Enrolled in school and paid for the whole thing, lessons start in February.

Because I’m someone with soooo many goals *laughs maniacally*, stay tuned for part 2.

Love you to Spain and back.

Mrs. Martins.

** I don’t know why but this post took me 3 hours to write and edit. **

Photo by Valeria Boltneva from Pexels