Wake Up. Kick A%#. Repeat.

We had an amazing time away and it was so nice to be able to relax for a few days.  I even managed to tick a few things off my list!

2. Before we left I finished Foetal Attraction (Kathy Lette) {9/20} and was pretty glad I overpacked on books as I ended up reading a little more than I had expected!  A week before we left I saw Kathy Lette had put out a new novel so I grabbed that off Book Depositary ... luckily it arrived the day before we left yay!

While on the cruise I read Mad Cows (Kathy Lette), Boy (Roald Dahl) - I found this really interesting as it was the story of his younger years at boarding school, The Boy who Fell to Earth (Kathy Lette) - this was an interesting book as it was quite different to her other novels, then I decided to tackle iCon (Jeffery S. Young & William L. Simon) - this was interesting as I have had it sitting on my bookshelf since 2008 and Steve Jobs died since the writing of it.  iCon is the story of Steve Jobs, Apple, NeXT, PIXAR and how everything happened.  I am looking forward to finishing Walter Isaacson's book Steve Jobs to see the similarities ... but I will read another chicklit first I think!  At least the pile beside my bed is dwindling {13/20}

5. We went out to see another movie in Gold Class ... Fast & Furious 6 ... seems to be a theme here on all our dates - they all seem to be action boy movies??? hmmm might have to find something painfully girly for the next one he he he {9/12}

24. I have now been to Noumea, Vila, Lifou and Mare, Noumea and Vila are both capital cities so another thing ticked off my 101 list.  I really don't think that Noumea is somewhere I will be hurrying back to ... Vila however I would go tomorrow.  The people are just as beautiful as the scenery.  I am so glad we had the opportunity to show Quinn the islands as it is so different to the way we live and it has really given him a greater appreciation of the luxuries that he has. Visiting a preschool in Vanuatu was a highlight for me, as was the Blue Lagoon!

35. I have kicked off the exercise 3x a week today ... fingers crossed it makes it past the first month this time around without injuries!  ... come end of September and I should have kicked this ones butt ... and hopefully #58 while i'm at it ... although that would mean eating a little less chocolate ... hmmm?

Coming into Noumea

Leaving Noumea

84. I saw most sunrises and sunsets whilst on the cruise but of course Murphy's Law paid me a visit on the day I decided to take photos ... what would be more beautiful than seeing the sun rise over the reef as we sailed into Noumea I figured.  Well the sun did rise ... just behind a bunch of clouds!  The sunset ... not so spectacular either unfortunately.

BUT... I did manage to get some amazing shots as we left Lifou as that sunset was amazing...

97. I also went two days without any email/phone/facebook! It was actually easier than I expected ... although I was pretty happy to be able to check my email again!

101.  Well I have made a start on the next list ... I still have 518 days until 27 November 2014 but I figured I better write things down as I think of them.

Still a few things to tick off this month but they are manageable!

2. Read 20 books that are not for uni - this will be a welcome change to a text book! {13/20 @ June 13}

5. Go on 12 dates with my hubby {9/12 @ June 13}

7. Digi scrap daily for one month (might catch me up to date!) {aim - July 2013}

16. Host a Valentines Day Party

19. Perform a Random Act of Kindness for someone I don't know, once a month for 12 months {started December 2012... 6/12}

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}

33. Learn to model with modeling chocolate

35. Exercise 3x a week (for at least 3 months) {started 26 June, 13}

38. Carve pumpkins

39. Host a Halloween Party

44. Close in our deck to make the area more user friendly (or make the decision we won't be doing it)

53. Refresh my First Aid Certification

54. Theme 10 parties {4/10: March-12, May-12, Dec-12, May-13}

58. Lose 5kg

63. Spend Christmas in the USA {December 2013 - this looks to be a long shot - it may be the one goal that needs to be extended a few months past the 1001}

68. Design 25 digi printables {1 completed Apr-12, 24 to go!}

70. Go away on a girls weekend {Aim - Wellington, July 2013}

71. Decorate our house in some way for each season of the year

74. Learn another language (the basics anyway!)

77. Take a wine tasting course

79. Attend an overseas trade show/convention (out of NZ)

81. Decide what to do with our house - extend/sell/remove & rebuild {will decide October, 2013}

83. Write a letter to myself to open in 10 years

84. Watch the sunrise & sunset in one day {18 June, 2013}

87. Find an inspirational quote and work it into a piece of artwork in our home

89. Expand my vocabulary by 50 words {21/50}

91. Go barefoot for a day

96. Build a snowman

97. Unplug for a weekend - no phone, computer or logging onto Facebook! {21 June 2013)

100. Stay awake for 24 hours 

101. Add another 101 goals for the following 1001 days!

Change is in the air...

It's amazing how quickly the year is flying by ... June... already?  seriously? wow... only 205 days till Christmas.

I have been super busy of late but a break is coming ... by the name of the Pacific Pearl.  I am so looking forward to 9 nights of fun, time with my boys, and no internet!  I will probably go crazy not checking my emails and social media after 1 night, but it will be good (I may just need to repeat that over to myself a few more times).

So in 12 sleeps we will be bound for Vila, Mare, Lifou and Noumea.  Lets hope Quinn loves kids club!

I have been making progress on my list ... even managing to squeeze some reading time in ... yay for the Japan shop that sells LED lights which clip onto your book!

At 542 days to go I have ticked off...

2. 20 books (8.5 down) ... So I must admit the 3 books I initially read may have been the Grey's books, but since then I have read a few more that I can recommend...

The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch and Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart - Gordon Livingston, M.D. are two books I try to re-read each year ... it's amazing how much you forget, and how each time I read one of these books I always take away something.  If you haven't read them - check them out.

Being the Apple geek I am of course I had to read The Apple Experience - Carmin Gallo.  It's all about building insanely great customer loyalty.  After three 'intellectual' reads I went back to read the new PostSecret book by Frank Warren, and then the tried and true author Kathy Lette with Nip & Tuck.  I'm already half way through another Kathy Lette book which means the next book off the rank will probably be something a little more 'substantial' like Steve Jobs or iCon.

Hopefully I will be able to relax poolside and do some reading on the cruise so I will be at least halfway through the 20 books come the end of June.

5. After such a great Gold Class experience last time (nothing to do with the amazing Ferrero Rocher sundaes of course) we went out to see Iron Man ... it was a great movie with enough action for the boys and comedy and lovey dovvey stuff for the chicks.  Might have to get that one when it comes out on iTunes.

24. I will be ticking this one off in the next few weeks - when we visit Vila, Mare, Lifou and Noumea - don't know they are actually 'cities' but they are all new places to me :)

47. Take a mini break twice in 12 months {April 2012, May 2013}

Although a few days out this one is getting the tick as we also had a holiday in July/August last year and are away again in June this year.  We headed down to a VERY cold Queenstown for a few days to celebrate Quinn's 4th birthday at the beginning of May.  He had a great surprise when we told him we were getting on the plane.  

Still, there's lots do do ... I am aiming for the blue items to be completed by the end of June ... time for some BIG decisions and to get my A-into-G on others...

2. Read 20 books that are not for uni - this will be a welcome change to a text book! {8/20 @ June 13}

5. Go on 12 dates with my hubby {8/12 @ May 13}

7. Digi scrap daily for one month (might catch me up to date!)

16. Host a Valentines Day Party

19. Perform a Random Act of Kindness for someone I don't know, once a month for 12 months {started December 2012... 6/12}

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}

33. Learn to model with modeling chocolate

35. Exercise 3x a week (for at least 3 months) 

38. Carve pumpkins

39. Host a Halloween Party

44. Close in our deck to make the area more user friendly (or make the decision we won't be doing it)

53. Refresh my First Aid Certification

54. Theme 10 parties {4/10: March-12, May-12, Dec-12, May-13}

58. Lose 5kg

63. Spend Christmas in the USA {December 2013 - this looks to be a long shot - it may be the one goal that needs to be extended a few months past the 1001}

68. Design 25 digi printables {1 completed Apr-12, 24 to go!}

70. Go away on a girls weekend {Aim - Wellington, July 2013}

71. Decorate our house in some way for each season of the year

74. Learn another language (the basics anyway!)

77. Take a wine tasting course

79. Attend an overseas trade show/convention (out of NZ)

81. Decide what to do with our house - extend/sell/remove & rebuild

83. Write a letter to myself to open in 10 years

84. Watch the sunrise & sunset in one day

87. Find an inspirational quote and work it into a piece of artwork in our home

89. Expand my vocabulary by 50 words {20/50}

91. Go barefoot for a day

96. Build a snowman

97. Unplug for a weekend - no phone, computer or logging onto Facebook!

100. Stay awake for 24 hours 

101. Add another 101 goals for the following 1001 days!