35 things to do before turning 35

I was prompted by my best friend to make a list of 35 things to do before I turn 35. I've been thinking about this list since last night when she suggested it. I couldn't really think of more than 5 things I might want on the list.

Have no credit card debt
Overcome my social anxiety or at least have it under control
Make 3 new friends that I form a good bond with

okay well, I could only think of 3.

Then tonight I was helping Alyssa do her extra credit social studies project on jazz music. We were looking up videos on youtube for swing music to add and we came across a video of 2 young kids dancing to swing music and I realized another thing I wanted to add to my list. I want to learn to dance. I want to learn some ballroom dances for sure. My only problem is that I know I want be able to convince my partner in life to be my partner on the dancefloor. Hmmm...Wonder who could be my dance partner. I may need to find a gay guy soon...LOL

I'll keep thinking on those 35 things!

Self diagnosis myself

Ever since LJ was diagnosed with Aspergers I've been wondering if some of my issues didn't mimic his social awkwardness from Aspergers. I really started thinking about it a lot a couple days ago and started researching social anxiety.

According to Wikipedia:
Social anxiety is anxiety (emotional discomfort, fear, apprehension, or worry) about social situations, interactions with others, and being evaluated or scrutinized by other people.[1] The difference between Social Anxiety and normal apprehension of social situations is that social anxiety involves an intense feeling of fear in social situations and especially situations that are unfamiliar or in which you will be watched or evaluated by others. The feeling of fear is so strong that in these types of situations you may be so worried that you feel anxious just thinking about them and will go to great lengths to avoid them. It is the third most prevalent psychiatric disorder according to the US National Comorbidity Survey (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). It can occur at different times of life, and for different reasons.

And on the Wiki page I was linked to a Social Phobia Inventory questionaire. When I answered the questions (which were answered by a scale of not at all to all the time) my results came back saying:

According to your score, you are rated as having modering social anxiety disorder. You should consult a health care professional for possible treatment.

So now I'm thinking about calling my doctor. I'm sure I'd be sent to a psychologist or phsychiatrist for a full evaluation. Maybe not..maybe the doctor can diagnose that. I don't know. But the thought of being able to live a more normal life makes me really want to seek help.


Social Anxiety Disorder Symptoms:
Meeting new people
Fear of criticism or being teased
Drawing attention; being center of attention
Feeling like you are being watched while doing something or fearing you may be watched
Intimated by people of authority
Staying away from social situations with strangers
Being reserved at parties and fearing starting small talk with others
Performing on stage
Public speaking
Being called on in class
Going on a date

I found the above list on another site. I've italicised (sp?) the things that seem to apply to me. I have a hard time meeting new people because I don't know how to talk to them. I feel like I'll say something stupid. And often when I do say something and I don't get the reaction I thought I'd get I'll repeat the thing I said over and over in my head wondering why I even opened my big mouth.

I've never learned to drive a stick shift vehicle and only because I was afraid that whoever was teaching me would laugh when I stalled the vehicle and wasn't succesful. I don't like to do exercise videos with my own husband watching because I don't want to hear him laugh at me doing some funny position.

When I go to get togethers with family or friends I often stand in the background. I don't feel part of the group for some reason. Joe has a cookout for the staff shooters for a bow company he shoots for this weekend and I'm a little anxious about going. We almost didn't didn't have a sitter for LJ and I was going to suggest that he just go alone but we have a sitter now so we're going together. I've asked him to please include me so I don't feel so alone during the evening.

I've tried a few meetups with mom groups and I went twice with one group from meetup.com and both times I just stood watching LJ play. I couldn't make myself start up a conversation with the other ladies and I just stood around waiting for someone to talk to me. I must look like a total snob.

And I never liked being called on in class. I'm visiting a new church and I thought about going to try the sunday school class too, but the thought of a small group where I won't blend into the crowd as much makes me anxious.


Whew...I feels good getting this all out. The more I read and type this the more I really think it's an issue. I sure would be nice to make this better.

More work on LJ's room

LJ has been sleeping in his room all night by himself for a little over a week now! I'm still working on decorations and the final touches. I still haven't decided on a theme so I don't know what route to go for the decoration. I'm thinking maybe guitars and music and I can cut out a couple of guitars from wood and paint them. Maybe--time will tell.

My sweet little brother helped me build the new headboard. Okay, I lied, he didn't help. He did all the work himself. All I did was find the plans over at Ana White's site and pay for the wood. He did all the cutting and putting together. I did paint it after it was all together though! I started to second guess my navy paint choice, but once it was finished I fell in love!



Then I spent a lot of time looking everywhere (in stores and online) for a quilt or comforter to replace the worn out quilt that was on his bed. I couldn't find anything that I liked. (Did you know that most quilts in stores are girly?!) I had seen these quilts at Target in different colors but they didn't have any in Twin that would go with the navy headboard. Well, after searching more, I'd forgotten all about the Target quilts. So, I went to JoAnns and spent at least an hour choosing 9 different coordinating fabrics. I'd decided I would just make a quilt so that I could get the colors I wanted together. It was a huge undertaking that had me quite worried. I got 10 main blocks sewed and they're cut now and ready to be pieced into the quilt top. But I went back to Target and they had the green quilt in Twin that I'd wanted before. So, I swiped it up. I'm still going to make the quilt, but now I can make it throw size and put it at the end of his bed and I want feel so intimidated by the idea of quilting a twin size quilt. I'm not big on the light green side of the reversible quilt and I didn't realize that the sham was the light green color. I'm planning to make a new sham for the bed because of this. And I'm going to do a couple of accent pillows for the room too. I also have plans for curtains made from navy and green fabric.



And today I was cruising around Etsy and I came across these adorable letter blocks. I ordered them! The color combination will be the same as the picture below, but the size combo of the blocks will be slightly different to make it look good. I'm not getting the accent pieces on the blocks either. They're cute, but they don't seem suitable for LJ as he gets older. They look more baby or toddlerish to me. I can't wait to get them in! They'll sit on a wooden shelf that I painted to match the headboard.

P.S. I Quilt giveaway

P.S. I Quilt is a blog I follow. I've gotten so much inspiration from the blog. The writer of the blog is hosting a give away for a gorgeous bundle of fat quarters. Go check it out for a chance to win!

LJ's new bedding

Ricky helped me build a new headboard for LJ's bed. Okay...I'll be honest...Ricky built it and I just helped by calling out the measurements. haha I got it painted and Ricky came over and attached it for me. So, I decided it was time for new bedding. He's got a quilt that's quite faded and in need of a replacement. And after looking at nearly every online store I could think of and seeing nothing I liked, I decided to dive into a project that scares me. Making a twin sized quilt.

I settled on a disappearing 9 patch quilt pattern. I bought 1 yard of 9 different fabrics and cut my squares tonight. I've got 10 large blocks, but I'm thinking I may need more. I'll have to lay them out and see. I've got plenty of fabric left though. I'm hoping that I have enough left over to make a sham and a valance. It would be super if I had enough for a pillowcase as well. We'll see. That's hopeful thinking. I know I need to go back and get more of one fabric for a border, and I'm betting they won't have anymore. Just hoping they get more in or they can order it for me. I bought what was left on the bolt but didn't see if they had more in stock. I was too busy deciding on 9 different coordinating fabrics that I didn't think about the border fabric.

I'd post a picture, but my computer seems to be fighting against me pulling up pics. I'm quite annoyed with it right now.