First Full Week

I was able to cross 2 more things off my list this week. I finally tracked down one of my best friends from high school. So I wrote her a letter and put it in the mail this week. I am totally afraid she is going to be "OMG! STALKER!" But I hope to rekindle a very special friendship. I found out she got engaged not long after we lost touch and is now married with twins. The other thing I was able to cross off was recycling all the old cell phones & electronics we have. Luckily my job runs a drive to recycle cell phones a few times a year - so as soon as I saw the box go up in the lobby - I brought it all in!

I also started quite a few things this week. I cleared off my bureau so I am working to keep that clear all month. I also wrote letters to my grandmother & Aunt with a picture of Fiona, and an email to my friend Anne.

I also tried my hand at making baby food. I made avocado baby food - she wasn't all that fond of it. I still have some in the freezer - so I will try again in a few days.

First Weekend

I actually got a lot accomplished on my list this weekend. It helped being away on vacation - I even crossed one thing off!

First off - Items now appearing in green are completed and items in red are in progress. I started reading some classics, I started with the Handmaiden's Tale which is a more modern classic - but I remember seeing snippets of the movie when I was younger and the story always intrigued me. I liked the book - I just wish there was a little more resolution.

In NYC we saw three national historic landmarks - Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty and Central Park. I never thought Central Park would be on the list - but when I was looking at sites I found it. http://www.nps.gov/nhl/designations/listsofNHLs.htm I was really excited to walk around Central Park - of all the times I have been to the city - no one wanted to see the park with me. we walked almost the entire length of the park and saw Strawberry Fields. (which was a lot smaller than I thought it would be. Since it was Warren's first time in the city, we ate at all new restuarants. We had dinner the first night in Little Italy at Da Nico's, then Sushi at Yama's & Hill Country BBQ.

Also since were in NYC I didn't check my email at all this weekend. It was really difficult on Sunday when we were home - but I persevered. This morning at work was a little slower since I had a few days of emails to get through - but nothing earth shattering. AND I WAS ABLE TO CROSS SOMETHING OFF MY LIST!

The List

Family & Friends
1. Do a great-grandchild portrait for Nana
2. Get a family portrait taken
3. Have a girl's Day in NYC
4. Potty Train Fiona
5. Send Pictures of Fiona to relatives Once a month (1/33)
6. Take Mommy & Me Swimming with Fiona
7. Take antique furniture to be repaired & restored
8. Throw a wine tasting party
9. Take Fiona Apple Picking
10. Spend a vacation without checking work e-mail once
11. Spend a weekend without checking work e-mail once
12. Memorize 3 lullabies
13. Take Fiona to Sunshine Cottage
14. Do the 26 Thing Project and make a photo book out of it.
15. Visit Gramma's grave and plant flowers
16. Pick 5 ideas from "1001 Ways to be Romantic" and do them
17. Buy rain gear for Fiona & self so we can walk in rainy weather
18. Plan Girl get togethers every other month
19. Take Warren & Fiona to Kellerhaus
20. Take Fiona to the Aquarium
21. Visit my older brother in North Carolina
22. Take Fiona to TX
23. Get our wills written
24. Find High School friend and write her a letter

Fitness
25. Complete the Couch to 5k running plan
26. Drink only water for 2 weeks
27. Eat Vegetarian for an entire week
28. Get over my fear of the dentist and start going regularly
29. Lose 10% of my body weight
30. Run in 5K
31. Take a multi-vitamin everyday for a month
32. Take a Spinning Class
33. Walk to the Train Station once a week for an entire year (0/52)
34. No Diet Coke for 1 week - 10 times (0/10)
35. Lose 50 pounds
36. Lose 75 pounds
37. Climb Blue Hill
38. Walk outside with Fiona twice a week (except in winter)
39. Climb a Rock Wall
40. Try Yoga

Organization
41. Have a Yard Sale
42. Clean out Attic
43. Clean out Home Desk
44. Clean out Work Desk
45. Keep to do NOTEBOOKS for work and home for 1 month - start 9/1/08
46. Pick out clothes the night before - for a week
47. Get all my stuff out of Mom & Dad's House
48. Don't leave toys out at night for 1 month
49. Organize Man cave
50. Organize Exercise Room
51. Keep bureau top clear for 1 month - start 8/30/08
52. Put Shoes away as soon as you take them off every day for one month
53. Recycle all old cell phones and electronic equipment
54. Make the bed every day for a week

Personal
55. Keep a non-List related blog for 1 month
56. Read 10 "Classics" (1/10)
The Handmaiden's Tale
57. Write/Email out of Town friends Once a month (1/33)
58. Find and meet with a therapist specialising in food issues
59. Send a message in a bottle
60. No gossip for a whole week
61. Wear Makeup everyday for 1 week
62. Don't stress about what Fiona eats for a whole week - 4 times
63. Get Charm bracelet up to date
64. Learn how to french braid
65. Get a pair of sunglasses I actually like

Giving
66. Donate 101 items (32/101)
67. Raise $1,000 for March of Dimes
68. Walk in March of Dimes Walk
69. Make 100 hats for NICU
70. Do 20 Ramdom Acts of Kindness (0/20)
71. Contribute 100,000 grains of rice on freerice.com (3,500)
72. Give someone a wrapped present for no good reason

Savings
73. Pack my lunches for work for 1 month (0/30)
74. Save a dollar each day of the challenge (15/1001)
75. Try to make two varieties of baby food
Avocado, Asparagus
76. Get 20 books/things I would normally buy out of the library (4/20)

General
77. Eat 5 things I swear I hate but haven't tried since I was a kid (0/5)
78. Go to church once a month for three months
79. No TV for 72 hours
80. Refinish small nightstand
81. Try 10 new restaurants (3/10)
82. Visit a Nashoba Valley Winery
83. Try one recipe from each of the cookbooks we own (0/15)
84. Go to 10 National Historic Landmarks (3/10)
Statue of Liberty
Ellis Island
Central Park (who knew! http://www.nps.gov/nhl/designations/listsofNHLs.htm)
85. See Jeff Dunham live
86. See a Frank Lloyd Wright House
87. Attend a High Tea
88. See a movie at an Imax Theater
89. See a movie at a luxury Theater

Dreams
90. Finish Children's Book
91. Research getting book published
92. Submit Book to 3 publishers/literary agents

Crafty
93. Finish the 100 layout challenge (0/100)
94. Make a Sock Monkey for Fiona
95. Make Matching Christmas Stockings for the Family
96. Take a cake decorating class
97. Make a quilt
98. Buy a sewing Machine
99. Learn how to use the sewing machine
100. Make a dress for Fiona

101. Spend $5 on me for every completed item - give $10 to charity for every item not completed

101 Goals to Complete in 1001 Days!

Well I love lists – so when I heard about the 101 in 1001 Project I just had to try it out!
http://www.triplux.com/dayzero/default.asp?view=masterlist
Here's what the project is all about:

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.
2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.
3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.
4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.
5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.

My start date is August 22, 2008 (my 34th Birthday) and my end date is May 20, 2011. Please follow along and keep me honest and moving in the right direction!