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Bucket List for my 30's

Today I was going around asking some friends what's on their bucket list for their futures. I guess I've just been feeling super excited lately. It's crazy to think that Kevin and I are turning 30 this year...there's something so MAJOR about it. Seriously, it feels like the ending of a chapter of our lives since a new decade is sneaking up on us. In our 20's we: graduated from college, worked full-time jobs, got married, had two children, plus a lot of other great and heartbreaking events in between.

Here are a couple of things I'm HOPING will happen in our 30's:
  • Kevin gets into a PhD program! And becomes a professor like he hopes. He will apply at the end of the year and will find out by March of 2019 if he gets into any of those schools..I want to see him succeed in this area of his life. Crazy thing is, he is applying all over the United States! I wonder where we will be in a few years because there's a chance we won't be in California after 2019.
  • We foster and adopt at least 2 children...this will largely depend on where we will be living and how we are financially. I'm so thankful we are on the same page about this. I definitely don't think everyone is called to foster and adopt, but I do believe we have a calling to take care of orphans. Kevin and I have always wanted a big family, so while my 20's were dedicated to child-bearing, it definitely doesn't mean we are done growing our family! Just thinking about little children all over the world never understanding the love and warmth of a family breaks my heart. Evangeline and Elianna are so loved and they know it even at this young of an age. Everyone deserves to feel safe and protected by their family members.
  • Our children will have beautiful transitions into their K-12 school years. Ugh, makes me want to cry! Evangeline is starting preschool this year, and Elianna is turning ONE! I feel like I blinked and all of sudden, here we are! Kevin and I both like the idea of doing a part-time academy/co-op as well as part-time homeschooling for their K-12 years. This is open to change of course, but we will take it year by year for each child.
  • Fun family vacations, yes please! Since Evangeline's older and her immune system is stronger, we can finally plan for fun travel plans for the future! We can't wait to go to Disney World in Florida, a cruise, and to visit different states all over America! Going out of the country seems to be less feasible for us financially but that's ok. Europe can be for when we retire haha!
  • I can go back to school or work and dip my feet into a solid career I wholeheartedly love...I definitely believe that it's possible to have it all, but not all at the same time. Kevin and I both prefer I stay home for the children during their early formative years, and I know that this is the best decision for our family. But once they're older and more independent, I do hope I can go and get more education. In the meantime, and I'll make a separate blog post about this, I've actually just decided to become a consultant for Beautycounter! Beautycounter is a skincare and cosmetics line which is dedicated to getting safe products into the hands of everyone...they're safe, non-toxic, sustainable and responsibly sourced! They're supported by JCrew, Goop, and most recently John Replogle (the CEO of Seventh Generation Inc.)  just joined their Board of Directors! Why Beautycounter though? Well, I am doing this for my girls. I want them to grow up purchasing skincare and cosmetics that are not going to harm them in the long run. Evangeline's is now a threenager and is begging to use the make up I put on my face. I told her she can't bc she's not a grown up yet, and the chemicals aren't safe for her. Then she goes "One day I'll grow up and I will wear your make up!" and she will just sit there, watching me put on make up for the next 5 minutes. That woke me up to her future and what she puts on her skin. I still remember going to the mall with my mom and watching her put on cosmetic products! What is Evangeline going to remember? I want her to make good choices for what goes on her skin, because what goes ON also goes IN. The chemicals we put on our skin daily are linked to cancer, infertility, autism, and a host of other problems that are consistently on the rise! I've already swapped my shampoo, conditioner, body wash, face wash, moisturizer, body lotion, etc. But most importantly, I've invested in their baby and kid's body wash and shampoo because I don't want any horrible chemicals on my babies' skin! Eventually I'll purchase their sunblock and make up too. (And to be clear--I do think the best way to take care of your health is holistically, which includes: a healthy diet, exercise, handling stress and negative emotions in an acceptable manner, etc. I am totally still needing to work on doing all of these! My diet can go from me forgetting to eat all day to binging on unhealthy foods, trust me, I keep it real ALL.THE.TIME. And my exercise consists of breastfeeding and chasing Evangeline!) . ...Ok, ok, I can go on and on. I'm truly proud to be part of a company that is starting a movement to counter the beauty industry! The CEO and many consultants just recently visited Washington D.C. lobbying Congress to pass a bill that holds other companies accountable and transparent by listing every single ingredient in their products! How cool would it be if I could be one of those women on the steps of the White House? What an amazing opportunity to change the beauty industry for the future generations! I still have so much more to say! It's nice that I have this side gig. Since I love the product and its mission, might as well try to promote it as a work at home mama! Also, I'm gonna be real, as a consultant I get pretty sweet deals and discounts ;) I'm still feeling kind of shy talking about it in person, and I don't ever want to be pushy or annoying about it because honestly, I've never had a sales job or background. But it is an exciting chapter of my life for sure! (My website is www.beautycounter.com/leigh-anngausselin if you want to check out some products or purchase under my name. Really, every little bit matters, so if you do choose to purchase anything from me, a HUGE thank you!) 

So that's all for what I'm looking forward to! I still have 4 more months before I enter my 30's so I'm gonna live it up until then...and by living it up, I mean breastfeeding on an as needed basis and trying to fill our days with playdates with Evangeline's friends! Seriously though, I know I'm gonna miss these days, even as I live them.



(My favorite thing about my 20's was getting married and having these two btw ;)

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