List

Slideshow1 from Mandy Mergen on Vimeo.

I follow a number of good bloggers, and a couple weeks ago I came across a blog post that nailed a lot of things in my life. This gal had just turned 35 and wanted to share some insight she has learned as she traveled through life thus far. Here is her post below. It is great advice and #3 is my reason for my love of photography. This list will make you laugh and nod your head, I am sure!

I also love #32.  Scheduling last minute trips like our weekend at Frozen On Ice in Minneapolis,  is my favorite!

Here is the list....take a look.

In the past 15 years, I have learned so incredibly much, including this list I've whittled from approximately 1,000 to 35.

1. Price matters when considering mascara, vodka, denim, beef, coffee, insurance policies, tailors, Mexican resorts, & tattoo artists. Bottom line- in these categories, cheaper is never better. 
2. People don’t change. You just change how you accept/perceive/tolerate them. Eventually, you will come to your own conclusions about the relationships you have.
3. Get an education. It doesn’t have to come from a university or higher-education institution. Watch your Grandpa restore tractors. Become certified as a personal trainer. Take a knitting class. Commit to learning something from someone who is better at it than you.
4. Learn how to communicate. Period.
5. Trust your gut. I’m a huge instinct-follower. What is your heart telling you? Lies. Your heart is telling you lies.
6. Learn how to spell. Or at the very least, run spellcheck on everything you put your name on, literally and figuratively.
7. Sweat. Do it so many times a week you lose count. Schedule it, believe it, love it, and do it forever.
8. Find people to help you bury the body. You know - your friends and accomplices and alibis and ride or dies. You need to have friends who are selfless, who won’t question your motive or intent.
9. Say thank you.
10. Wear sunscreen. Wear sunscreen in January. Wear sunscreen in the rain.
11. Choose fashion over function. Because like my Dad says, “It’s better to look good than be good.” It should never be a question of, can I pull this off? But rather, do I want to pull this off?
12. Do not reward yourself with food. You are not a dog. If you want to eat an iced chocolate cake donut from Cold Spring Bakery, eat the donut. Eat both of them.
13. Send your grandma real mail. Because she sends you real mail and such correspondence should not be a lost art form in your generation.
14. Learn how to cook real food. Steaks medium rare, your Mom’s marinara, and eggs Benedict with from-scratch hollandaise.
15. Realize your legacy, what’s been handed down or entrusted to you from your lineage and be proud of who you are.
16. Have a signature cocktail(s) that’s quintessentially you. Bloody Marys, Ketel One sodas with lime, Maker’s Mark on the rocks, Malbec, or Grain Belt NordEast.
17. Be intentional in every single thing you do and practice.
18. Be an anonymous philanthropist.
19. Be on time. It’s rude to be late and really, unacceptable.
20. Don’t text and drive. You probably shouldn’t talk and drive, either.
21. Get a library card and fill your brain with words from real paper pages. Teach your children the same practice.
22. Iron your clothes. The liquid stuff that promises you’ll never have to iron again doesn’t work.
23. Listen to a wide array of music from every genre and every era. That way no matter where you are, or whom you’re with, you’ll love the soundtrack.
24. Wake up early.
25. Only wash your hair a few times a week.
26. Plant a garden. It’s incredibly fulfilling to eat what you grow. While you’re at it, learn how to pickle & preserve, too.
27. Floss your teeth.
28. Don’t be a grudge-holder. It’s exhausting. Forgive, but don’t forget. Maybe you won’t make the same mistake next time regarding the person against whom you’re holding the grudge. Shake it off.
29. If you’re lucky enough to be a brunette, you’re lucky enough. Leave the blonde to the blondes. Seriously.
30. Tell people what they’re good at, how they make you feel, why they’re important. Every single person in this world needs (& wants) to hear what they are to you.
31. Know your directions. It’s not that hard. North points to Canada. Where is Canada from where you’re standing right now? That’s north.
32. Schedule spontaneity. Well, that sounds counterintuitive doesn’t it? That’s because most people are crappy at it. Scheduling it ensures you might actually do it.
33. Shut up and dance.
34. Say no. Overscheduling gives you wrinkles.
35. Above all else, work hard and be nice.

 I can only imagine the life lessons I'll amass between here and 50.

Here's to making the most out of life and its beautiful lessons.

~ Alison Jorgensen Schroeder
Link To Her Post

One Year Ago....

 

Come To Me

God saw you were getting tired.

And a cure was not to be.

So He put His arms around you.

And Whispered. “Come to me.”

With tearful eyes we watched you.

And saw you pass away.

Although we loved your dearly.

We could not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating.

Hard working hands a rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us.

He only takes the best.

 

In Loving Memory

Pamela Jean Shirk

 

 

 

Pre-K Pictures!

Dear Mom,

We are coming up on the one year anniversary of your passing. Some days, it feels like it has flown by. Other days I feel like this could of been the longest year of my life.  It might be a close call between this year and the first year of the twins life. Both were exhausting.

I sure miss you in a variety of different ways. I missed not having you there to send these Little's off to Preschool. I missed not letting you be the first to see their first official "School Pictures."  I missed not being able to frame their artwork and send it to you in the mail.

Knowing you are watching over us, keeps us going. We still talk about you A LOT. The twins still reference you from time to time. Your pictures are spewed across our home with pride.

Lilly rocked her Matilda Jane dress for pictures this year. She wore this to your funeral last year as well. I love this dress. I paid too much for this dress and I will never give this dress away.

This past weekend Jen and I took the twins to Frozen on Ice at the Target Center. I hope you were able to look down and see the pure excitement and amazement they had in their eyes as they saw their favorite cartoon characters come to life in front of their eyes. Their excited waves to all of the characters, just melted my heart.

Thunderstorm season is upon us, and when I hear Thunder I think of you partying up there. This past Sunday you sure had a good time. Even showered us with High Winds, and Hail! Give her hell Mamma!

Song 

Meat Loaf Bat Out Of Hell