2012 is almost done

With the date to completion extended out to 27 November 2014 (due to my blondness of not working out the date correctly the first time) I am doing well!

It's hard to believe another year has flown by, and of course that means 9 months of my 1001 days has almost passed.  I have actually surprised myself at how many things I have managed to accomplish over the past nine months.  There are one or two things on there that I don't know if I will accomplish in the next 698 days but you have to dream big huh?  After passing my aim of less than 70 at the end of the year I have decided to aim for under 60!

so... since my last post I have managed to tick a few more items off.

#1.   I actually managed to stick to my "go to bed before 11pm each night" ... some nights it was 10:59pm but that's still before 11!!!  It did help that I was pretty sick for a few of those days so was in bed at 7pm but hey ... thought I might as well make the most of it and continue on to tick the goal - I did find though I am so much less productive with a set bed time ... you just lose too many hours :D

#8.  Get a hot stone massage.  This was so nice - except I was coming down with Quinn's tummy bug so not as relaxing as hoped - oh well, gives me an excuse to have another one :D

#15.  Take part in the 29-Day Giving Challenge
Everyone in the 29-day community is so supportive so if you are looking for small ways to give back a little - check it out.  It has been great to give a conscious "gift" every day, this will flow onto my one random act of kindness at least once a month (#19) I am aiming to do for the next 12 months.

#17.  We took Quinn Berry picking 
We were aiming for a particular berry farm when we went the wrong way and stumbled over another place which was fantastic!  The place was packed out and I could see why!  If you haven't been berry picking in summer, find a berry farm, it is a must do.  I went in the states and had heaps of fun as there was such a variety of fruit and berries (and great company of course), here there were just strawberries, but it was still great.  Quinn enjoyed himself too and even told Stephen off a few times for not picking berries of the correct quality.

#36.  Take a special cooking class.
I did an italian class and learnt to make potato and kumura gnocchi. Wow the kumura one was SO delicious, it had an amazing blue cheese sauce, and although labour intensive - was well worth it.  I also did a 3 course class and made a beetroot and goats cheese entree, eye fillet on mash main, and crepes suzette for dessert.  I have never been able to make crepes well, now I know the tricks, and I even flambéed with gas.

#59.  Hosted a cookie exchange Christmas party - it was so much fun - and of course filled with delicious cookies!

#78. I've still not ticked all 12 girls night off (yet) but have had two great girls nights this past month.  One to see Mary Poppins at the Civic, and the other to see the Life of Pi, which was totally not what I was expecting, in a good way.




I ate a Quail Egg (#82 - try a new food), and I sent a secret off to PostSecret (#88) ... no, i'm not telling!  Cleaned the office (including YEARS worth of filing) #22, started a new tradition in our family (#21), this was a activity advent calendar AND sorted through Quinn's stuff (#37).

I did a little more to work towards a few other goals:
#24.   Choreographed a new routine for my step class

#40.   Only 1 car clean to go!

Bruschetteria yumminess

#64.   If you are in Auckland City, eat at Elliot Stables, we went to Bruschetteria - I am so going back here!

#74.   I have decided I am going to take up spanish (could come in handy in the future) so looking for classes - if anyone knows any good places in Auckland to learn please let me know.

#13.  Have booked into a photography course in January

#2.    Started on another book (only 16 to go after that! ... better get a wriggle on)

#29.   Only 1 month to go to reach my 6 month mark for pretty toenails - thank goodness for gel polish!

#20.  I had already ticked off (go to a concert) as we went to The Wiggles "concert" ... I have booked tickets for Offspring in February though so now I can add a more adult concert to the ticked off list!



ONLY 51 (including lots of half things) to go!!! 
I am officially half way there!

BIG MISTAKE!

BUT

It comes with a bonus....

I just worked out that I have been outdoing myself of some precious days... I was working out how many days I had left when typing out my next post and realised that I had duped myself out of 60days! 60 precious days to get stuff done.  well some of those not so realistic things have just become a little more attainable.  YAY!!!

I thought I better triple check my adding and came across a great website for working out dates - check it out if you're ever stumped.   http://www.convertunits.com/dates

So I actually have 698 days to go as of today... I'm pretty happy right now.

So with 689 days to go ...

I can tick off another few.. whoop whoop!

Nothing overly exciting (aside from selling our rental house) to mark off but at least it is progress!!!

11. Learn Illustrator (Basics) 
I actually don't even hate Illustrator now... I am not highly proficient with it (yet) but I actually have a desire to learn more now.

25. Put $5 a week into Quinn's saving account for a year 
I ended up putting a little extra than the $260 I was aiming to put in by week 32 so have crossed this off ... I will still continue to put at least $5 in each week

49. Start my Bucket list
I have started it and found a great App on my iPad to use to add photos etc.  Now just to transfer all the written desires onto the iPad

50. Enter a competition
I actually entered a draw a month back for some store credit at a shop and totally forgot!  oh, and I won yay!!!  

51. Write my Will (not very exciting,but very overdue!)
Seen the lawyers, just need to go in and sign it once it is complete

57. Sell one of our houses!
Very happy about this one!  sold before the original auction date and for a price I was happy with... less debt is good!!!


66. Make a new vision board
Again, I decided to go electronic and have done this on my ipad so I can always refer to it and have everything categorised... it also makes it very personal

67.Create a new recipe from scratch
Well I made some mint treat cookies - they were delicious but flat as anything and totally not worthy of being given away at my cookie exchange so back to the drawing board!



90. Buy something from Etsy
I purchased a cute pocket watch necklace from Etsy for only $2.99 US!!!  can't wait for it to arrive... check it out...

92. Answer the 50 Questions that will free your mind
This was an interesting one.  I was going to do it over a period of time but then I got into it ... a few of the questions really make you think and are quite challenging.  Give it a go! 

99. Visit the museum
Wow I was just looking through my list and saw I could tick this one off.  I went on the weekend with Q, although he was not a fan so we didn't stay long.  His favourite part was the chocolate milk.  For a kid that doesn't scare easily - he couldn't wait to leave!

These will be ticked off by the end of the week...
8.  Get a hot stone massage
36. Take a special cooking class


So I soon should have only ... 64 things to go!!! ... even better than last months aim of having less than 70 at the end of the year!

so thats 16 months left to achieve 64 goals ... hmmm at least 4 goals a month ... guess I am going to stay busy!

715 Days to go!!!

It might sound like a lot .. but I only have 715 days to cram in a bunch of stuff on my 101 things list! 

So what I have achieved since my last post... well it has been a while so you would hope plenty!  Blogging wasn't one of the things that is obvious!

BUT... I have managed to tick a few things off ... part of this may be due to procrastination of my last uni paper... 2 assignments left to go and motivation is seriously wavering... ok lets be-honest - it's non existent!

so in order of number achievement here goes...

#2  -  Yes, I have to admit there was a certain serious of books I had to find out what the fuss was about so 3 of my 20 books to read are now ticked

#3  -  During my August/September health kick I managed to eat breakfast every day for a month - and it wasn't even chocolate!

#4  -  I even went without chocolate for more than one week!!!  That was a HUGE achievement!

Of course it is smart to tick a number of things off in one fowl swoop where possible so...

#5  -  Hubbie dates ... the first was ticked off in Vegas to see Criss Angel (also #98 complete). 

The second involved eating at a new restaurant, tick one off the count for #64 and #61 as we had a 6-course degustation menu.

#6  -  Stamp in the passport was marked complete with a last minute trip to the USA - which also helped tick off #80 (take Quinn back to Disneyland)

 

#20  -  I am counting The Wiggles as a concert.. not probably my musical choice but hey - still a concert and Quinn loved it (up until the new Wiggles came out - then he wanted to go home) 

#27  -  A credit Card and an HP have been paid off ... Wahoo!!!

#43  -  Purchased a new freezer so I can now have that freezer food party

#52  -  Brought a Lotto ticket ... and won... nothing!

#62  -  Watched the entire series of Big Bang from the start ... again I think this is called procrastination of Uni work!  Still have Greys Anatomy to go :D

#78  -  Chicks at the Flicks is still featuring strongly with more fantastic chicky movies...

I am even working through a few more...

#25  -  $5 a week into Quinn's savings - up to 32/52 weeks

#11  -  learning Illustrator

#39  -  Hosting a Halloween Party this year ... and we will have some carved pumpkins (#38)

#28  -  Bake something new each week for 2 months - week 1 is ticked off

#21  -  I am working on something for Christmas... this should be fun

#29  -  Keeping my toe nails painted for 6 months (think I am up to month 4!!!)

#51  -  Writing my will - booked to see the lawyer at the beginning of next month

#57  -  Sell one of our houses - first open home was today... that will lead to #56, #81& #44

#58  -  Joined Weight Watchers and am on my way to losing 5kg (although motivation has been hard to come by this week!)

#67  -  I am creating a new cookie recipe for my cookie exchange this year ... hopefully it is delicious!

so still 78 things to tick off... but progress is being made! Hopefully by the end of the year I can make it under 70!

Slack!

So it is fair to say that I have been more than a little slack with blogging about my 101 things.. sooo it's time to get back on track!  (well maybe after my last exams in 3 weeks).

BUT .. I still have managed to tick a few things off my list.. I worked out I needed to get at about 5 done a month to stay on track - looks like I am going to have to do 10 some months now!

So - what have I managed to cross off since March?  Here's a few of them...

We took Quinn to Snowplanet on the weekend, yes it wasn't outdoor, and it wasn't snowboarding like I had originally written but, it is snow and he's too little to board so off it's crossed!  he looked so totally adorable in his snow gear too!  I do fear that he will be better than me in a years time tho!

Although I have been trying to get assignments done, I have also managed to squeeze in a few girls nights to see some great movies ... 

 

and even better - there is a goody bag and a glass of wine involved!!!



And... I have ticked off #45 - Try a new sport.  I was thinking that I would have sore arms from my Paddleboarding experience...  turns out it was my legs that were aching - going up the stairs at work on Monday morning was bad enough... going down... WAY worse!  ouch!  so, the verdict on Paddleboarding?  It was a cold, windy day out on the choppy water... not really ideal for learning to stand gracefully upon a board and paddle across the ocean!  I didn't fall off - Bonus!  but I think I will save round 2 for a calm, sunny, summers day instead!




So there it is... a few more things ticked off the list... and so it continues!
Only 89 things to complete in the next 910 days!  Time to ramp up the efforts a little come the end of June :D

97 things left in 972 days

Well almost a month has gone by... and I must say I am pretty pleased to have been able to tick a few things off my list... well 4!  But that still leaves me lots of time to tackle to other 97!



So.. the highlights of the month?????  The steam train trip was great.  We went for a massive drive out to the Vintage Railway for the Thomas the Tank Engine Day.  Even better that we were able to spend it with friends.  There were lots of activities on throughout the day and Quinn & his little buddy Josh seemed to enjoy it.  

Ice Skating was another fun item to get ticked off.  Quinn however was not interested in wearing the skates... it was far more fun to skate with Daddy and "Go fast"!

The chocolate course was my thing that I wanted to tick off just for me this month.  it was lots of fun - although I think I was tarred with the naughty kid brush a little!  oh well... no idea why that always happens :D  


It didn't exactly help me tick off the not eating chocolate for a week but realistically I think that is going to be one of the last things I strike off!


I am working on a bunch of other items at the moment.... some of which will take some time to complete.... 
#25       Put $5 a week into Quinn's saving account for a year {4/52} &
#89       Expand my vocabulary by 100 words {3/100 - thanks Jo for the start!}


The next to be completed... 
#76.  Making it a week without a ponytail... yes that is kinda a big achievement for me, mind you the weekend has not hit yet! and 
#75.  Teach/Relieve for another gym as I am doing that on Saturday.
#69.  My Facebook fans are coming along nicely too... with 120 in the first month.  Only another 130 till I reach my goal (hint hint).


So there it is ... Month 1 down (almost) and although I have had a hectic one, it sure does feel good to make some progress on this list!  


So... when are you starting yours?  

101 things in the next 1001 days

The Challenge:
I have decided to set a goal of accomplishing 101 things in 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?
New Years resolutions never seem to stick so I gave up even attempting to set those!  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  several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips, study semesters, or outdoor activities. This, seems manageable... well almost!  


So my mission is set... I have 1001 days, starting March 1st 2012, to accomplish 101 things off a list I have set!  That means I have to have everything ticked off by 28th September 2014!  Seems like a long way away now but I know it will sneak up quickly!  By that time Quinn will be at school!  WAY TOO scary to think about, after all he is only 2!


To keep you up to date I will put updates in a different colour and a line through things like this as I complete them... lets hope it doesn't take too long to get the first run on the board!

1. Go to bed by 11pm every night for two weeks (including Friday's & Saturdays!)  {November -December 2012}
2. Read 20 books that are not for uni - this will be a welcome change to a text book! {5/20 @ April 2012}
3. Eat breakfast every day for a month (hopefully I can keep this one up!) {September 2012}
4. Go without Chocolate for 1 week!!! (give me strength!) {September 2012}
5. Go on 12 dates with my hubby {7/12 @ April 13}
6. Add a stamp to my passport {July/August 2012}
7. Digi scrap daily for one month (might catch me up to date!)
8. Get a hot stone massage {10 November 2012}
9. Host a St Patricks Day Party {17 March 2012}
10. Take Quinn snowboarding {27 May 2012 - he had his first Ski lesson}
11. Learn Illustrator (Basics) {September/October 2012}
12. Buy a new DSLR camera {December 2012}
13. Take a photography course to learn how to use the new DSLR! {January 2012}
14. Volunteer my time for a charity {SPCA February 13}
15. Take part in the 29-Day Giving Challenge {December 2012}
16. Host a Valentines Day Party
17. Go berry picking (find somewhere to do this first!)  {29 December 2012}
18. Take a ride on a steam train {4th March 2012}
19. Perform a Random Act of Kindness for someone I don't know, once a month for 12 months {started December 2012... 4/12}
20. Go to a concert {Wiggles - September 2012} {The Offspring - February 2013}
21. Start a new tradition in our family {December 2012}
22. Clean the office at home  {28 December 2012}
23. Create 12 new aerobics routines to teach {2/12: May-12, Dec-12, Mar-13}
24. Visit two cities I haven't been to before  {June 2013 - Aim!}
25. Put $5 a week into Quinn's saving account for a year {November 2012}
26. Graduate University (again!) {Completed uni December 2012, Graduated April 2013}
27. Pay off one Credit Card and one HP {September 2012}
28. Bake something new every week for 2 months {Jan/Feb 2013}
29. Keep my toenails painted nicely for six months (oh the simple things!) {Aug12-Jan13} 
30. Call my Nana once a fortnight for at least 6 months {Nan is now living with mum & Dad so I see her at least once a fortnight, if not weekly}
31. Send a hand made, hand written card to 5 of my friends {20 April 2013}
32. Take Quinn Ice Skating {11 March 2012}
33. Learn to model with modeling chocolate
34. Take a course on how to make chocolates {18 March 2012}
35. Exercise 3x a week (for at least 3 months) 
36. Take a special cooking class {November 2012}
37. Sort through all of Quinn's books & toys he no longer needs/uses and pass them on {December 2012}
38. Carve pumpkins
39. Host a Halloween Party
40. Vacuum out my car 4 times in a year! {Mar 2013}
41. Complete Quinn's 3rd 2010 photo book {January 2013}
42. Host a freezer foods party {February 2013}
43. Buy a new freezer to put said food in! {September 2012}
44. Close in our deck to make the area more user friendly (or make the decision we won't be doing it)
45. Try a new sport {paddle boarding May 2012, and Trail Running}
46. Drink 2l of water a day for 28 days (it supposedly takes 28 days to form a habit!) {January 2013}
47. Take a mini break twice in 12 months {April 2012, May 2013 - not quite within a year but only a couple of weeks out, and not counting larger holidays so decided it counts!}
48. Set up my new business {4th March 2012}
49. Start my Bucket list {October 2012}
50. Enter a competition {October 2012}
51. Write my Will (not very exciting,but very overdue!) {November 2012}
52. Buy a lotto ticket {August 2012}
53. Refresh my First Aid Certification
54. Theme 10 parties {3/10: March-12, May-12, Dec-12}
55. Take Quinn on a Boat/Ferry ride {05/05/12 & 08/05/12}
56. Buy a new car (well new to me) {November 2012}
57. Sell one of our houses! {October 2012}
58. Lose 5kg
59. Host a Christmas Party (seems to be a few parties making this list!) {December 2012 - Cookie Exchange}
60. Get a MoleMap/MoleSnap {April 2013}
61. Go to a restaurant with a degustation menu {11 October 2012}
62. Watch every episode I missed when studying of Greys Anatomy & Big Bang Theory {August 2012}
63. Spend Christmas in the USA {December 2013 - Aim!}
64. Eat at 7 new restaurants {1/7 BBQ Grill (USA) - July 2012}  {2/7 Toto - October 2012}  {3/7 Bruschetteria - December 2012}  {4/7 Sal's - February 2013}  {5/7 Mexico - February 2013}  {6/7 Burger Wisconsin - February 2013} {big little grill - Mar 2013}
65. Create a menu plan for 1 month (and stick to it)  {February 2012}
66. Make a new vision board  {October 2012}
67. Create a new recipe from scratch {October 2012}
68. Design 25 digi printables {1 completed Apr-12, 24 to go!}
69. Get 250 facebook fans {18-04-12 hit 250!}
70. Go away on a girls weekend
71. Decorate our house in some way for each season of the year
72. Send flowers randomly to a friend - just because :D {Mar 12}
73. Take a dessert course {March 2013}
74. Learn another language (the basics anyway!)
75. Teach/Relieve for another gym... just for a change of scenery {Mar 12}
76. Make it through a week without a ponytail (except for teaching aerobics) {Mar 12}
77. Take a wine tasting course
78. Have 12 girls nights out {Mar, 18/04, 2/05, 30/05, 13/06, 29/08, 17/10, 05/12, 10/12, 18/01, 23/01, 20/02  = 12/12}
79. Attend an overseas trade show/convention/event (out of NZ)
80. Take Quinn back to Disneyland {July 2012}
81. Decide what to do with our house - extend/sell/remove & rebuild
82. Try a new food {10 December 2012 - Quail Egg!}
83. Write a letter to myself to open in 10 years
84. Watch the sunrise & sunset in one day
85. Make a new friend {2012}
86. Go on a picnic {January 2013}
87. Find an inspirational quote and work it into a piece of artwork in our home
88. Send a secret to PostSecret {December 2012}
89. Expand my vocabulary by 50 words {18/50}
90. Buy something from Etsy {November 2012}
91. Go barefoot for a day
92. Answer the 50 Questions that will free your mind {November 2012}
93. Attend a film festival movie {25 April 2013}
94. Go rock climbing {December 2012}
95. See a movie in 3D {December 2012}
96. Build a snowman
97. Unplug for a weekend - no phone, computer or logging onto Facebook!
98. See a musical/go to the theatre/see a show {July 2012 - Criss Angel in Vegas} & {December 2012 - Mary Poppins @ The Civic}
99. Visit the museum {November 2012}
100. Stay awake for 24 hours (obviously not the same week I want to be in bed by 11 every night ;D)
101. Add another 101 goals for the following 1001 days!

So there it is... now time to start planning and ticking things off to make this a reality! Let me know if you are going to start one as I would love to follow yours :D