100 Goals by 40

Every year on my birthday for the last few years I have set goals for myself to accomplish before my next birthday. Last year, my friend Lyndsey did this awesome thing where she made 100 goals to accomplish by the time she turned 30. Click here to view her ambitious list and the progress she’s made.  I liked the idea of taking on some goals that may take longer than a year to finish so I totally stole her idea (which I told her back in like October that I was).  By the way, Lyndsey and I just happen to share the same birthday. 

So I wrote down 100 goals for the next 7 years. They are not listed in order of importance, just the order that excel sorted them by. I did split them into categories to make it easier for me to keep track of. Did you know there are 84 months, 364 weeks and about 2,555 days in 7 years? That is the time I have to complete the following 100 goals, which I am affectionately calling my 100x40. 

Self

1. Wear a skirt/dress every day for a week.

2. Wear a skirt/dress every day for 30 days.

3. Work to become debt free – pay off at least 1/4 of student loan.

4. Take some sort of class – dancing, painting, workout, sign language…just learn something new.

5. Get a mani and/or pedi.

6. Blog every day for a month.

7. Complete Master’s degree.

8. Complete a 5k.

9. Weigh 150 lbs.

10. Buy a cute pair of heels & master them.

11. Send a card every day for 30 days.

12. Learn to drive stick.

13. Conquer the drive to Columbus.

14. Do 40 things I’ve never done before.

15. Purchase a LBD (little black dress) & wear it somewhere.

16. Write a book.

17. Be open to love.

18. Collect all the Grace Chapel Inn books.

19. Own a pair of boots.

20. Get really good at painting nails.

21. Figure out makeup.

22. Craft a personal mission statement.

23. Finish paying off vehicle.

24. Start an adoption fund.

25. Learn to change a tire.

26. Run a mile without stopping.

27. Own a smartphone.

Spiritual

28. Be on staff of a church or ministry.

29. Celebrate Passover.

30. Read the whole Bible.

31. Memorize 100 Bible Verses.

32. Lead someone to Christ.

33. Read a book by C.S. Lewis.

34. Do a prayer retreat.

35. Go on a mission trip.

36. Spend at least 30 minutes in prayer for 30 days

37. Complete 50 hours of servant evangelism.

38. Do 30 random acts of kindness.

39. Complete the 7 Challenge (based on the book by Jen Hatmaker).

40. Memorize Psalm 23.

41. Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity or another faith-based project.

42. See small group grow to 12 regular attendees (at least 3x a month for 4 months)

43. Organize a prayer walk.

44. Do 5 mission projects (possibly with small group).

Entertainment

45. Watch 100 movies.

46. Read 100 books.

47. Throw costume party.

48. Host a murder mystery dinner.

49. See a play or musical.

50. Go 3 months without TV or movies.

51. Karaoke.

52. Host 80s game night.

53. Host a Girls-only Camp weekend.

54. Purchase a projector for watching movies/sports outside.

Hobby

55. Take a picture a day for 365 days.

56. Take 100,000 pictures.

57. Knit or crochet something.

58. Paint my own pottery.

59. Complete December Daily.

60. Learn to play guitar (& play song).

61. Paint a picture.

62. Make 100 things.

63. Make a quilt for myself.

64. Make a quilt for Bean.

65. Finish Oh! Shoot class.

66. Complete Portraits class.

67. Sell something on Etsy.

68. Make a skirt.

Homemaking

69. Make a pizza from scratch.

70. Organize photos and get them out of my drawer.

71. Finish bedroom.

72. Finish living room.

73. Succeed in making bread.

74. Clean/organize basement.

75. Clean/organize garage.

76. Make 10 soups.

77. Try 30 new recipes.

78. Host Thanksgiving.

79. Frame & hang the cross-stitch pictures that I’ve had done forever.

80. Plant a tree

Others – this category was inspired by my cousin Danette.

81. Scan the rest of Mom’s family pictures.

82. Help Danette start a garden.

83. Take Beaner to a home Ohio State football game.

84. Scan family pictures from Aunt Bonnie.

85. Turn Jim’s slides into digital picture files.

Travel

86. Visit Wilmington, NC.

87. Visit World War II Memorial.

88. Get a passport.

89. Use passport (even if it is just to get into Canada).

90. Visit 7 states I’ve never been to.

91. Spend a winter weekend in a cabin in the woods.

92. Experience NYC @ Christmas.

93. Visit an art museum.

94. Stay in a B&B.

95. Road trip to an Ohio State game.

Emmy

96. Sleepover or camp out with Emmy.

97. Craft with Emmy 20 times.

98. Write a book for Emmy.

99. Go to a zoo we’ve never been to.

100. Take Emmy to Ohio Stadium.

32 Goals Wrap-Up

Times up on the 32 goals! Completed goals are in purple. Those with progress made are in red. Here’s how I finished:

My 32^nd Year Goals

1. Save $1000 – I have the $. I just need to go and open a savings account.

2. Donate blood – Got my donor card in the mail the other day.

3. Read the entire Bible – Didn’t happen. Definitely on the next list.

4. Weigh 150 lbs. – LOL

5. Dress more girly – I think I am doing this. Most days I’m even wearing a little mascara & eyeliner. 

6. Finish my bedroom – Didn’t happen. But I’ve written a list of things needed to be done to complete this.

7. Finish Oh! Shoot class – Nope

8. Finish Portraits class -  Nope

9. Visit a new state – Nope, though we did entertain the idea of going to Delaware…until we found that there is not much to really do in Delaware.

10. Make a pumpkin pie – Sure did!

11. Take 10,000 pictures –  I don’t have all my pictures upload from the camera. But I think I got close to 3/4 done.

12. Learn song on my guitar – Guitar string still broke : (

13. Fix supper 2x a week – I’ve been doing some cooking here lately. Made some pork chops last week and Chicken Parmesan tonight.  Did up the chicken for chicken enchiladas later in the week.  Progress, people : )

14. Finish Emmy’s 2nd year book – Done

15. Do Daily December book – Got plans together for this year’s book.

16. Start Project Life – Done! 

17. Read 20 books – Almost finished with The Hobbit. It’s been a much easier read than the LOTR.

1. I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp (which I read completely on my birthday)
2. Middle School Ministry Made Easy (for school)
3. Courageous
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
5. 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley (for school)
6. The Castle in the Attic (read w/ my 4th graders)
7. The Hunger Games
8. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
9. Among the Hidden (read w/ my 4th graders)
10. The Help
11. The Search Committee
12. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
13. The Lucky One
14. The Vow
15. Among the Hidden (read w/ my 4th graders)
16. Catching Fire
17. Jane Eyre
18. Mockingjay
19. Stand By Me (a House of Hope book)
20. That’s Why I’m Here by Chris Spielman
21. The Last Song
22. Safe Haven
23. Roadside Assistance
24. Among the Imposters (to read w/ my 4th graders this year)
25. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning (1 of the kids said I had to try it.)
26. Mrs. Kennedy and Me

18. Watch 20 movies – Done!

1. The Grace Card
2. Madea’s Big Happy Family
3. Little Fockers
4. 12 Dates of Christmas
5. Something Borrowed
6. Flypaper
7. Water for Elephants
8. Courageous
9. Miracle of the Cards
10. Crazy Stupid Love
11. Breaking Dawn
12. Abduction
13. The Smurfs
14. National Treasure: Book of Secrets
15. She’s the Man
16. Alice in Wonderland
17. The Hangover
18. In Time
19. Hunger Games
20. The Help
21. The Way
22. Footloose (2011 version)
23. The Muppets
24. Like Crazy
25. A Warrior’s Heart
26. Jane Eyre
27. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
28. The Vow
29. Footloose (the Kevin Bacon version)
30. Soul Surfer
31. Good Deeds
32. New Year’s Eve
33. The Lucky One
34. Mirror, Mirror
35. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

19. Complete 5/K – Going to start training

20. Try 12 new recipes – Done!

1. Loaded Baked Potato Soup
2. Homemade bread – failed
3. Apple Pie
4. Pumpkin Pie
5. Pumpkin Fudge – failed
6. Buckeyes
7. Homemade Pop Tarts – for Christmas Eve brunch
8. Green Monster Spinach Smoothie (it actually is not as bad as it sounds)
9. Hawaiian Sweet Roll Ham Sandwiches – for the Super Bowl
10. Mexicorn Dip – for the Super Bowl
11. Wendy’s Chili – tasted just like Wendy’s chili
12. Corn & Potato Chowder – it was ok. I guess I’m not a chowder girl.
13. Crockpot Pork Chops
14. Chicken Parmesan

21. Daily prayer time – Got my prayer book ready

22. Go camping – Went camping with the Fords at Dillon a couple weekends ago. We had a great time!

23. Make an apple pie – Got apples to make another one with Emmy this weekend…yum!

24. Sew a skirt – got the material to make a few, actually.

25. Build craft armoire

26. Make 10 crafty things – Ok, so I had to stretch to make this goal complete. In my defense, 32 was an extremely busy year for me.  A new job. Grad school was tough, especially five classes squeezed into 14 weeks this summer…I still can’t believe I survived that!

1. Christmas quilt for Maggie
2. Christmas quilt for Cooper
3. Christmas quilt for Emmy
4. Baby blanket for Peyton
5. Pigeon T-shirt for Emmy’s birthday
6. Glitter Christmas ornaments
7. Quilt top (that’s counting, ok…don’t judge me)
8. Emmy’s 2nd year book (yep, I’m counting it on this list twice)
9. Ohio State-M*ch*gan book 2.0
10. Made a card for Scott for Father’s Day (so counts…I had to upload the picture)
11. Mini Moo Cards

27. Do 10 things I’ve never done before – What I’ve found I love about this goal is when my sister reminds me that something could be added to this list. It makes me happy that she helps me with this.

1. Be a gym teacher & music teacher (I filled in a class each)
2. Cooked pumpkins and then froze the meat.
3. Went to a midnight movie premiere…The Hunger Games with Nick & the Schaumleffels.
4. Hair professionally colored.
5. Climbed a lighthouse.
6. Gave blood (so counts for 2 goals!)
7. Went and saw Danette finish Pelotonia ‘12
8. Purchased season ticket for high school football (brother is playing)
9. Ate at Tlaquepaque.
10. Ate asparagus that I planted myself the year before.
11. Cut nearly 10” of hair off and donated it to Pantene’s wig program.

28. Mani &/or pedi – nope : (

29. Start living room makeover – Painted the walls is as far as I got. But I’ve totally written down a plan to get this done.

30. Be intentional with my time – This I think I’ve done better with.  I think my overwhelming summer helped me see how important time is.

31. Clean/organize the basement – Bean got a little bit done. Hoping we can work together and get this done.

32. Clean out the garage – haven’t done anything since it was discussed.

I completed 14 and made some progress on 7 others. I’m happy with it. I think that was great for the crazy busy year I ended up having. And look at the book list…what I did there was not easy. The Lord of the Rings trilogy was difficult and then I also read Jane Eyre. Bonus points?  Those that didn’t get done have been moved over to my new list. And I’m so excited about sharing my next set of goals! 

32 Goals {1 month to go}

 

How am I doing on my goals, you ask?  Not too bad. Eleven are completed. I think 6 are in progress.  And like 7 could still be possibly done by the b-day. I think that’s better results than I’ve ever had in the past. I’m already working on the next list. It is going to be a 7 year list!  And it’s going to be so awesome!

My 32^nd Year Goals

1. Save $1000 – Surprisingly, this might just happen.  I won’t know for sure until closer to time.

2. Donate blood – I totally did this!  At the end of July, I gave blood for the first time.  I didn’t even feel the needle go in.  It was great…until I almost passed out at the end.  It was so hot in there and I think with the blood draining from my body it got to be almost too much. But I survived.  Not sure if I’ll do it again. Maybe??  Still waiting for my donor card so I can find out what my blood type is.

3. Read the entire Bible – So not going to happen.  I hate to make excuses, but grad school was just a little overwhelming this spring (2 classes at once) and this summer (5 total with 2 weeks off having all 5 classes at the same time).  It’s already on the next list.

4. Weigh 150 lbs. – I was hoping with all this free time I was going to have this summer that I could dedicate a lot of that time into getting into better shape.  Guess what?  I didn’t have any free time.  Most of my days & nights were spent with the laptop or a course book, sometimes both.  Now that I am heading back to a better schedule, I’m going to start working on this, including going back to the fitness center with my sissy & starting to train for a 5/k.

5. Dress more girly – I think I’m heading in the right direction with this one.  I actually have two skirts for the new school year.  I’m not calling this one done yet until I wear at least one of them to the school.

6. Finish my bedroom – Not happening.  I said I wanted to finish the finishing touches (pictures & shelves on wall, new bookcase, ceiling repainted & a rug I want to make). My wonderful sister did paint my ceiling as a birthday present. Best. Present. Ever. (so far)  It kills my neck to do that.  I did cut up the white tees I had for the rug, but I need tons more white shirts (hint, people – send me your old white tees).  I’m questioning the bookcase.

7. Finish Oh! Shoot class – Didn’t even work on the first lesson.  I really can’t wait to get back into photography again.  I love the feeling of walking into a room at someone’s house and seeing a picture I took on display.  I don’t think I will ever get used to that feeling.

8. Finish Portraits class -  I’ll be getting these classes done soon.  Maybe I can get Bean to work through it them with me.

9. Visit a new state – Didn’t happen.  We took Emmy to VA Beach for her first trip to the ocean.  Well worth not having visited a new state.  Was hoping to squeeze in a quick trip to MI or KY.  But my weekends are looking pretty busy between now and the b-day. 

10. Make a pumpkin pie

11. Take 10,000 pictures –  I think I am close to 4,000.  Can I squeeze 6,000 pictures into a month. That’s about 200 pictures a day.  We’ve got soccer games every Saturday.  Football most Friday & Saturdays.  Still need to take Emmy’s 3 year old pictures.  Have family from out of state visiting next week. They possibly are getting a family picture taken. Plus just general everyday, Project Life pictures. Don’t count me out. It could very well happen.

12. Learn song on my guitar – Emmy discovered my guitar one night and we played around with it…until a string broke. Anyone local know how to string a guitar??

13. Fix supper 2x a week – So did not happen. But with school starting up, I’m planning on doing this. If I do it for a month, it still counts, right??

14. Finish Emmy’s 2nd year book – She is getting this for her birthday tomorrow.  It’s crazy how much she has changed!

15. Do Daily December book – While I ended up not having time to do this last December, I decided that getting it ready for this year’s December would count. Well, I’ve decided on how I’m going to do the project and I have a girl who makes this great books that I love. I emailed her to see if she was doing a Christmas one this year and she is!  They are not up in the store yet, but I’m going to go ahead and count this baby done.

16. Start Project Life – Done!  And not only that, I’m pretty up-to-date on pictures.  I don’t have a week completely done yet, but I’m going to work over Labor Day to get the little things I need to do completed.  Then I’ll share some things with you.

17. Read 20 books – I started The Hobbit this summer, but I didn’t get it done before it was due back so I’ll be checking it out this fall to finish up.  There were a couple books I read for school this summer in their entirety (including the like 1,000 page theology book) but I’m too tired to look up their titles so they’re not making the list (plus, I really don’t want to remember all the work I did this summer).

1. I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp (which I read completely on my birthday)
2. Middle School Ministry Made Easy (for school)
3. Courageous
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
5. 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley (for school)
6. The Castle in the Attic (read w/ my 4th graders)
7. The Hunger Games
8. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
9. Among the Hidden (read w/ my 4th graders)
10. The Help
11. The Search Committee
12. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
13. The Lucky One
14. The Vow
15. Among the Hidden (read w/ my 4th graders)
16. Catching Fire
17. Jane Eyre
18. Mockingjay
19. Stand By Me (a House of Hope book)
20. That’s Why I’m Here by Chris Spielman
21. The Last Song
22. Safe Haven
23. Roadside Assistance
24. Among the Imposters (to read w/ my 4th graders this year)
25. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning (1 of the kids said I had to try it.)
26. Mrs. Kennedy and Me

18. Watch 20 movies – This isn’t even counting the couple times I had Twilight and Lord of the Rings marathons. They are my quilting, cutting fabric & painting walls go to movies.  And I also watched The Last Song after reading the book, but having already read it, it doesn’t count either.  But I am hoping to be one of the first ones to get a hold on The Lucky One at the library so I can watch it soon!

Here’s where the total now stands:

1. The Grace Card
2. Madea’s Big Happy Family
3. Little Fockers
4. 12 Dates of Christmas
5. Something Borrowed
6. Flypaper
7. Water for Elephants
8. Courageous
9. Miracle of the Cards
10. Crazy Stupid Love
11. Breaking Dawn
12. Abduction
13. The Smurfs
14. National Treasure: Book of Secrets
15. She’s the Man
16. Alice in Wonderland
17. The Hangover
18. In Time
19. Hunger Games
20. The Help
21. The Way
22. Footloose (2011 version)
23. The Muppets
24. Like Crazy
25. A Warrior’s Heart
26. Jane Eyre
27. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
28. The Vow
29. Footloose (the Kevin Bacon version)
30. Soul Surfer
31. Good Deeds
32. New Year’s Eve

19. Complete 5/K – Not happening, but going to start training after school starts.

20. Try 12 new recipes – I’ve found some great recipes to try this fall. Can’t wait!

1. Loaded Baked Potato Soup
2. Homemade bread – failed
3. Apple Pie
4. Pumpkin Pie
5. Pumpkin Fudge – failed
6. Buckeyes
7. Homemade Pop Tarts – for Christmas Eve brunch
8. Green Monster Spinach Smoothie (it actually is not as bad as it sounds)
9. Hawaiian Sweet Roll Ham Sandwiches – for the Super Bowl
10. Mexicorn Dip – for the Super Bowl
11. Wendy’s Chili – tasted just like Wendy’s chili
12. Corn & Potato Chowder – it was ok. I guess I’m not a chowder girl.

21. Daily prayer time – Got my prayer book done and going to build it into my morning routine.

22. Go camping – Didn’t happen…boo!  Maybe there is a weekend the Fords could squeeze it in. Or maybe they would haul their camper, set it up, come back and load us up for me & whoever I could get to camp with me.  Seriously. I’m not kidding.

23. Make an apple pie – So ready for some more this fall!

24. Sew a skirt – got the material, just need to do it.

25. Build craft armoire

26. Make 10 crafty things – Looks like I’m going to have to squeeze in a few more things.

1. Christmas quilt for Maggie
2. Christmas quilt for Cooper
3. Christmas quilt for Emmy
4. Baby blanket for Peyton
5. T-shirt for Emmy’s birthday tomorrow

27. Do 10 things I’ve never done before

1. Be a gym teacher.
2. Cooked pumpkins and then froze the meat.
3. Be a music teacher.
4. Hair professionally colored.
5. Climbed a lighthouse.
6. Gave blood (so counts for 2 goals!)
7. Went and saw Danette finish Pelotonia ‘12
8. Purchased season ticket for high school football (brother is playing)
9. Ate at Tlaquepaque.
10. Ate asparagus that I planted myself the year before.

28. Mani &/or pedi – not yet and not looking like it will happen.

29. Start living room makeover – Well, I did start it. I painted the walls this great Wild Turkey by Martha Stewart color back in November.  I’m going to be putting shelves up and I got a print for fall to frame and display in this room.

30. Be intentional with my time – I think I did ok with this. The summer threw it off a bit, but since I finished my huge paper & final I’ve been spending a lot of time with Emmy.  We spent two whole afternoons on the porch.

31. Clean/organize the basement – Bean started this a bit. Now we just need to finish.

32. Clean out the garage – haven’t touched at all though it was discussed.  That’s a step closer…lol

the one where I climb a lighthouse

The first time I went to the Outer Banks in September 2001, I fell in love with the Hatteras Lighthouse. I’ve since been to the Bodie Island Lighthouse and one in Florida (Sanibel perhaps?). But I have never went inside one. That changed today.

We are in Virginia Beach this week. I had never been to the Cape Henry Lighthouse.  We decided today to go and check it out. Emmy was too short to go up so Todd stayed behind with her. There is actually two lighthouses.  The old one – which is the first lighthouse that the US built – and the new one across the street that still lights the way to the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay.

         Bean in the doorway to the lighthouse. 

 

Bean after seeing the stairs – what did we get ourselves into???

 

       

We made it to the top!

Now here’s how to get back down.  First go down this small set of spiral stairs:

Then you have this crazy ladder:

 

Stop to take a picture in the window.

 

Proceed down this crazy spiral staircase that never seems to end.

Take a second to cool off. The breeze through this window is so nice.

 

Here’s another look at the staircase that made you a little dizzy going up. It is so much fun to have to pass someone on these steps.  The trip back down is so much easier.

       

We made it back down!

              

 

Well, who would have guessed? There was a sign on the way up that Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock and I think John Jay & Thomas Jefferson also were volunteer firefighters.

Bean, Emmy & Todd with the New & Old Cape Henry Lighthouses.

Here’s two things I learned today: 1. Even though they allow it, you probably shouldn’t wear flip flops while climbing up the wrought iron stairs of a lighthouse that is over 200 years old.  2. If you or anyone with you is wearing an Ohio State shirt, everyone will talk to you. And I mean everyone – from the military police checking your car for weapons (the lighthouses are on Fort Story) to the people you meet at the top of the lighthouse to that ladies sitting on the bench at the beach front playground to the people in the elevator.  Bean said that everyone seems to have an Ohio connection.  Well, duh – we are the heart of it all!  LOL

just a couple completed projects

 

I spray painted some flower pots last summer, but never planted anything in them.  They were just your basic terra cotta pots in varying sizes.  Some are this pretty turquoise and some are a basic black.  Emmy helped me plant a few of them Memorial Day weekend. I like the punch of color these give the front porch. 

My step-cousin had a baby boy a couple months ago and I finally mailed out this blanket I made Baby Peyton. I’ve had it done for well over a month…oops. Hopefully, he’ll get to enjoy it for a little bit.  It has been pretty cold here.  This was the first blanket I have ever made and I was very intimidated by it.  But I think it turned out pretty good. I followed this tutorial.

Emmy wanted to help me out. She had just gotten up.

 

I got this fabric at Joann.com. I thought it was pretty cute for a baby boy.

The backside has this light brown flannel.  I love how the dark brown stitching pops on it.

Short Goals Update

 

#14. Finish Emmy’s 2nd year book

We had a scrapbook day Saturday. Not only was it lots of fun, but I also got several layouts done for Emmy’s 2nd year book.  I even worked on a few more Saturday night and Sunday. Now the scrapping bug is back. Everyone wants to have a scrapping day again so hopefully here soon we’ll do it.

#18. Watch 20 movies

While scrapping here at home, I like to have the TV on.  Because of that I finished 3 new-to-me movies: National Treasure: Book of Secrets, She’s the Man & Alice in Wonderland (the Johnny Depp version). Here’s where the total now stands:

1. The Grace Card
2. Madea’s Big Happy Family
3. Little Fockers
4. 12 Dates of Christmas
5. Something Borrowed
6. Flypaper
7. Courageous
8. Crazy Stupid Love
9. Breaking Dawn
10. Abduction
11. The Smurfs
12. National Treasure: Book of Secrets
13. She’s the Man
14. Alice in Wonderland

#17. Read 20 books

I also finished reading this little book called The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.  Here’s a note to students who think they can watch The Lord of the Rings trilogy instead of reading the books. Besides the first book, they are very different from what Tolkien wrote. However, I do recommend watching at least the first movie before one would delve into the books. I think it made it easier to keep track of things because I already had a visual image for each character/setting while I read. Here’s the updated book list:

1. I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp
2. Middle School Ministry Made Easy (for school)
3. Courageous (the novel based on the movie)
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
5. 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley (for school)
6. The Castle in the Attic (read w/ my 4th graders)
7. The Hunger Games
8. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
9. Among the Hidden (read w/ my 4th graders)
10. The Help
11. The Search Committee
12. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

5 months in to my 32nd Goals

I can’t believe this year will be half over next month. I’m feeling pretty confident in the progress towards some of my goals.  The bad thing is I’m already thinking of things for the next list, which is going to have a different look thanks to Lyndsey. I’m real excited about it.

#1. Save $1000 – Just not going to happen this year. A part-time job is not conducive to saving $.

#2. Donate blood – Still need to do this.

#3. Read the entire Bible – I printed off a great list of the books with each of their chapters listed that I can mark off as I read. I just folded it in half and put it right in my Bible (I have The Message/NIV version and just love it).  Click here to print the list off for yourself.

#4. Weigh 150 lbs. –  I have taken a major step to this goal – I joined the gym!  Bean & I have been going the last two weeks.  Last night I managed to run 4 laps around the track!!  The scales are only saying I’ve lost a pound, but I put my jeans on today for casual Friday and realized that they were not as tight as last week.  They say muscle weighs more…

#5. Dress more girly – I’ve been trying out some new color combos. I don’t know if it’s working, but I tried.  I even wore a scarf yesterday.

#6. Finish my bedroom – Well, the armoire is done. I have a plan for my jewelry storage issue. I have a feeling I’ll be yard saling for some picture frames this summer as my walls are still very bare, um, like completely bare.

#7. Finish Oh! Shoot class – I’m going to try to do this by the end of March.

#8. Finish Portraits class – need to finish #7 first.

#9. Visit a new state – I think I need to plan a long weekend to M*ch*gan or Tennessee. Of course, I’m debating now if I can put Kentucky back on the list of places to visit. We did only stay across the river for Reds games. We never actually did anything but sleep in Kentucky.

#10. Make a pumpkin pie – Done!

#11. Take 10,000 pictures –  Probably should count and see how many I’ve taken.

#12. Learn song on my guitar – Emmy discovered my guitar. A guitar string needs replaced. I’m sure we can all figure out why.

#13. Fix supper 2x a week – Well, this really hasn’t happened.  Our schedules are just not in sync.

#14. Finish Emmy’s 2nd year book – No where near being done, but I have a big scrapbook day scheduled next month.

#15. Do Daily December book – I think this summer I’ll work on getting an album together so I’ll be all ready once December hits. It’s always pretty busy between September and December 1st.  Getting that done ahead of time will help me stay on top of it once December rolls around.

#16. Start Project Life – While I don’t have any weeks completely done, I’m plugging along.  I find that I either have a ton of stuff for a week or not enough. 

#17. Read 20 books – So I’ve started The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King this week.  I’m also reading a great book called Wrestling Prayer by Eric & Leslie Ludy. It’s been pretty good so far. And all the books for my courses that start in March have started to arrive.  Now if only the weather would warm up so I could go out on the porch and read.

1. I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp
2. Middle School Ministry Made Easy (for school)
3. Courageous (the novel based on the movie)
4. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
5. 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley (for school)
6. The Castle in the Attic (read w/ my 4th graders)
7. The Hunger Games
8. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
9. Among the Hidden (read w/ my 4th graders)
10. The Help
11. The Search Committee

#18. Watch 20 movies – So I finally got to watch Breaking Dawn!  Even though I liked the book better, the movie was pretty good.  I may have watched it like four times since it came out on DVD.  Emmy Jo even likes it.  I also watched Crazy Stupid Love. Hilarious!  I was laughing so hard that Emmy came in and yelled at me to be quiet and go to bed at one point.  Going to flashback to the 80’s this weekend with The Smurfs.

1. The Grace Card
2. Madea’s Big Happy Family
3. Little Fockers
4. 12 Dates of Christmas
5. Something Borrowed
6. Flypaper
7. Courageous
8. Crazy Stupid Love
9. Breaking Dawn
10. Abduction

#19. Complete 5/K – Well, since I’m back to doing some training again this could happen!

#20. Try 12 new recipes – DONE!

1. Loaded Baked Potato Soup
2. Homemade bread – failed
3. Apple Pie
4. Pumpkin Pie
5. Pumpkin Fudge – failed
6. Buckeyes
7. Homemade Pop Tarts – for Christmas Eve brunch
8. Green Monster Spinach Smoothie (it actually is not as bad as it sounds)
9. Hawaiian Sweet Roll Ham Sandwiches – for the Super Bowl
10. Mexicorn Dip – for the Super Bowl
11. Wendy’s Chili – tasted just like Wendy’s chili
12. Corn & Potato Chowder – it was ok. I guess I’m not a chowder girl.

#21. Daily prayer time – I found an idea for a prayer journal to help me with this.

#22. Go camping – Spring is just about here!!

#23. Make an apple pie – Done!

#24. Sew a skirt – So a skirt for Emmy is probably going to come first (I have material for it). But a skirt is a skirt no matter how small.

#25. Build craft armoire – I’m going to claim this one done. It just needs a little touch up around one of the knobs and another magnet to keep it closed. The next step is getting all the stuff in there organized.

#26. Make 10 crafty things – Got my list of ideas…and it keeps growing.

#27. Do 10 things I’ve never done before – I’ll think of things and then I forget by the time I make the list out. I’ve done more than two things.

1. Be a gym teacher.
2. Cooked pumpkins and then froze the meat.
3. Be a music teacher – had to sub for the last class one day. They were playing recorders and it was pretty fun. I had just enough musical experience to direct them.

#28. Mani &/or pedi – not yet

#29. Start living room makeover – Next on my list is to hang the shelves I was going to put in my bedroom in my living room instead. Then I need to look for a ceiling fan.

#30. Be intentional with my time – I have been trying to spend some more time with Emmy – like watching videos of animals on YouTube or watching Breaking Dawn. (LOL)  Does that count?

#31. Clean/organize the basement – Bean got a good start on this last month. Our ancient deep freeze is now gone.

#32. Clean out the garage – Coming this spring!