my 101 journey

42. 71.

2010-05-25T17:08:00.000-07:00

Things have been pretty busy... (new baby, moving to GA) so I'm just now getting around to updating my list. I finished two things a while back, but never updated:

42. Finish a scrapbook. I completed my Italy scrapbook a few months back. I love it, it's perfect, it's gorgeous. Come visit me in GA and ask to see it!

71. Read the Bible in its entirety. I finished this a while back as well, and hope to do it again, many more times!

I'm looking forward to making more progress on this list as we get settled here in GA. I've got about a year and a half to go!

29. 31. 38. 43. 66. 71.

2010-02-01T12:18:00.000-08:00

29. Do 200 crosswords. My dear friend Erin gifted me with a NY Times crossword calendar for my birthday, so I've been able to do some crosswords in my downtime around the house.

31. Attend a hockey game. Nick and I went to see our friends' son Tanner play in his hockey league last night. It was lots of fun to see the little guys (ages 7-9) skating around like pros!

38. Make 5 projects with my sewing machine. This one's all complete! I've been sewing up a storm in preparation for our little guy. I've made crib sheets, changing pad covers, a little snuggly pea-pod blanket, and a nursing pillow. I'm really enjoying it!

43. Volunteer 100 hours of community service. I've been catching up on these hours working with FLOC here in Dayton (For Love of Children). Lately, most of my work has been on their newsletter and preparing for a huge bake sale in a few weeks.

66. Watch and pay attention to 5 movies of Nick's choice in the theater. Nick chose Avatar this time. I didn't think I would like it- frankly, I didn't even know what it was about. But, it was actually pretty good- cool effects, and better than a bloody action film!

71. Read the Bible in its entirety. Finally made it into the New Testament- I'm working on John right now, and will soon be in the Epistles.

13. 38. 42. 50. 66. 71. 89.

2010-01-04T07:23:00.000-08:00

13. Get 5 massages. I got my third massage as a birthday gift from my mom while I was back home in PA. It was so relaxing! If only the effects of these massages lasted a little bit longer..

38. Make 5 projects on my sewing machine. I finally started working with my sewing machine and made two little cloth Velcro pouches for my diaper bag. I've got a whole list of ideas for projects (mostly baby stuff), so hopefully I'll be finishing this one quickly!

42. Finish a scrapbook. I'm starting a scrapbook for our Italy trip and definitely hoping to finish it before we leave here for our next base. At least it was a finite trip, making it easier for me to finish. I have such a bad habit of getting most of the way through scrapbooks and never finishing!

50. Send Christmas cards before December 10. Okay, so I didn't make it exactly on Dec. 10, but it was within a day or two after that, so I am considering that a triumph!

66. Watch and pay attention to 5 movies of Nick's choice in the theater. This weekend, we went to see Avatar. I wasn't sure that I'd like it.. honestly, I didn't even know what it was about. But after watching in 3D, I think it was a pretty cool movie. Usually I don't go for the popular, action-type movies, but this one was a little different. Not a bad movie night!

71. Read the Bible in its entirety. In December, I made it through the Old Testament and now I'm working on the New Testament.

89. Go without the Blackberry for 1 day, 10 times. Last month, I got rid of my data plan, and so I have been leaving my phone at home often. It turns out I don't need it as much as I thought I did!

13. 25. 49. 71. 94.

2009-11-09T14:17:00.000-08:00

I haven't been thinking much about the list lately, but recently, I decided to re-prioritize and take back some of the time that I have been wasting during the day. That brought me back to the list, so hopefully we'll be seeing some more progress in the next few months! Here's what I've been up to since the last post:

13. Get 5 massages. Originally, this was "Get 5 massages at Serenity," which is a cheap massage school, but I've decided to be less specific. While my mom was visiting last month, we both got amazing 90 minute massages at Square One Salon in Dayton. Totally worth it!

25. Go on a girls-only trip. Last month, one of my best friends and I headed to the Northeast for a special girls only trip to Newport, RI. It was a great bonding time and a beautiful weekend. We drove up, so we got to see all of the autumn leaves along the way. We also checked out the cliff walk and a few of the Newport mansions.. and there was good food and shopping, too, of course! Hopefully we'll be able to make this a tradition! :)

49. Organize recipes digitally. I'm in the process of this.. I'm now in the habit of scanning recipes from library books and scanning magazine clippings, but I have a ton more to go through. Work in progress!

71. Read the Bible in its entirety. I haven't updated this one in a while! Since last update, I've read Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Romans and Revelation (I skipped around a little so I wouldn't get OT burnout!). I'm in Ezekiel right now, which definitely one of the more trying books, but I'm determined to learn more about my God and His Word!

94. Send 10 cards just to say hello. I sort of lost count of how many cards I've sent out, but I'm pretty sure it's reached 10. I love mail correspondence and I wish it was more commonplace.. it's so fun to get mail!

17. 37. 48. 77.

2009-09-29T06:05:00.000-07:00

17. Visit Europe. Nick and I finally made it to Europe! We spent nine days in Italy, and it was amazing. There's so much to tell.. I don't know where to start. If you want to know a little bit about what I learned in Italy, you can check out my post on Oven Love.

37. See 3 summer movies at the Victoria Theater. This summer, we saw American Graffiti, To Kill A Mockingbird and An American in Paris. All good movies, and it was a nice little date during the summer months for Nick and I.

48. Throw a surprise party for someone. This was a while ago, but my mom and I threw a surprise party for my grandparents to celebrate their 60th anniversary and 80th birthdays. It went off without a hitch and they were so surprised! A definite success.

77. Take a cooking class. While in Italy, Nick and I took a cooking class in Bologna. We made fresh pasta, bolognese sauce and tiramisu. It was heavenly, and I can't wait to replicate what I learned here at home.

27. 35. 46.

2009-08-01T14:50:00.001-07:00

I've been slacking on the list- not much motivation these days, but I've got to pick it up!

27. Go camping five times. Well, I got the first one in on our weekend camping trip with the Halls and the Gheeslings. It rained for part of the weekend, but we had an otherwise lovely time, partly due to the Halls' camper. We probably won't do much camping again for awhile since Baby Herr is coming, but we've still got time next year!

35. Visit Jungle Jim's. Jungle Jim's is a super cool grocery store with an amazing international market- they call it foodie heaven, and they're right! Nick and I finally got to visit, but we were cut short. I can't wait to go back and explore more .. I'm in love!

46. Make a family tree to hang in the house. I got around to starting this project a few weeks ago. I made little family trees for my parents and in-laws as a way to announce our new baby, and then I figured I should just start on the big one for our house. It's not done yet- it seems we have a lot of relatives. I can't wait to hang the finished product.

3. 21. 24. 32. 71. 80.

2009-06-18T05:28:00.000-07:00

3. Swim 3 times a week as a workout for one month. I've decided that this one is completed. I've been doing water aerobics on M/W/F for the last month or so, and even though it's not exact, I think it counts. It's been a great way for me to workout- lower impact but really challenging.

21. Visit Justin and Katie in Florida. We finally got to visit Justin and Katie! I wasn't sure this was actually going to happen, but we made it work and took a trip down to Pensacola for our anniversary. We got to do lots of fun stuff- tubing down river, a day at Pensacola Beach, shopping at the greatest outlets in Destin, and...

24. Visit a winery. Nick and I visited Chautaqua Winery while we were down in Florida. It was fun to learn about the process and then taste all of the yummy wines. I'll definitely be checking out more wineries in the future.

32. Walk a dog, even if it's not mine. I also had my chance to walk a dog while I was in Florida. Echo, Justin and Katie's dog, is a black lab mix and is sweet as can be (once he gets used to you, and you him!).

71. Read the bible in its entirety. I've just finished up Proverbs- chock full of wisdom and knowledge! Ladies, I would suggest reading Proverbs 31. It's a great model for godly womanhood.

80. Try 15 new foods, the weirder the better. This is definitely one on the list that's out of my comfort zone, but I finally tried something new - oysters. I tried them fried, so it wasn't that bad, but I wouldn't say they're a favorite. Still, I'm glad I gave it a try.

26. 40. 43. 52. 64. 71. 90. 95.

2009-06-02T16:46:00.000-07:00

26. The Phillies came to town a few weeks ago and we were able to go to see them twice! The first night we went with one of Nick's AFIT friends. We were able to get free military tickets, and we packed snacks, so all we paid for was $5 parking! The Phils won, and it was a great night. We returned the next night with more AFIT friends and their two boys who are fellow Phillies fans. The Phils didn't win, but it was fun to hang out and catch another game with friends.

40. The herbs are thriving- we've planted them in our garden and I was already able to use some of our basil in this pesto dish!

43. We've been volunteering at Target Dayton, a local mission for the poor and homeless. It's an amazing organization, and we're having a great time. We're being served as much (if not more!) as we're serving.

52. I finally got around to putting up some photos in the house. I got a great deal on a frame at Home Goods that holds eight 4x6s, and I filled it with black and white wedding photos. It's on the mantle looking fabulous!

64. It's warm here in Dayton, so we're loving picnics. Last week, we did a backyard picnic, and this weekend we did a lakeside picnic. We both love sitting outside under the sun (sunscreened of course!)

71. I've been working my way through the Old Testament and I've now reached the Psalms and Proverbs. Reading the Bible every morning really helps to prepare my mind for the day.. so necessary and refreshing!

90. My goal was to do one blog-along and make a few friends, but I've actually started a monthly blog event called "Pre-Made Our Way." Each month, we make a food item that we would normally buy pre-made- so far we've made Wheat Thins and Pop Tarts. People seem to be enjoying it- I am, too.

95. We finally bought roses from the man at the highway. He's very sweet, and the roses were beautiful.

41. 60. 61. 71. 76.

2009-04-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

41. While my parents were here this weekend, I got to take some photos at Cox Arboretum, one of the many MetroParks here in Dayton. Here are a few shots:

my beautiful mother, smiling lovingly at..

my daddy, the most charming guy you'll meet!

a blooming tulip

interesting greenery

one of the ID tags on the trees

60. I just read The Fair Tax Book by Neal Boortz. If you know me, you're probably thinking that this sounds like the last thing I would want to read. I know, sounds super boring, but it's really well written, interesting, and a great idea. Imagine not paying income, keeping 100% of your paycheck, not having to deal with embedded taxes.. it would be amazing, basically. And a lot easier than the current crazy system. Check out FairTax.org for more info.

61. Finally changed my first diaper. Not so bad. I'm soaking up as much Mommy info as I can these days.. gotta get ready.

71. Finished up 1-2 Kings and working on 1-2 Chronicles. Lots of genealogies.. really had to make sure I was soaking up a the point of the passages. God's hand has been in everything, throughout history, from the first. Crazy!

76. I've been posting on Oven Love like crazy. Check it out.

13. 62. 71. 83. 85.

2009-04-06T09:34:00.000-07:00

It's been a little while since the last update. I'm hoping to get lots of these crossed off during the spring and summer!

13. I got my first massage at Serenity, a school of massage here in Dayton. It's only $30 for an hour.. amazing!

62. I've been teaching myself more about graphic design with Tickled Pink. I started fiddling around with some programs to make some brochures, etc, and I'll be working with a website designer this month to fix up the website. It's great to learn more about graphic stuff.. I've been so clueless!

71. I finished up 1-2 Samuel since the last time I updated the list. It was great to learn about Samuel, Saul and David. It's incredible to see and read about God's plan and how it relates to Jesus and to the present.

83. We had brinner again last week- the works! Pancakes, Bacon, Eggs, Hashbrowns.. the whole thing. So good.. I really recommend it.

85. I finally made soft pretzels for the Phillies Opening night! They weren't my favorite recipe, so I'll be looking for other ones to try. Check out yesterday's pretzels on Oven Love.

20. 48. 71.

2009-03-11T13:59:00.001-07:00

20. Alex, my brother-in-law, and I checked out the Dayton Art Institute today! The museum is actually pretty cool- there's way more art than I thought! Here are some photos from the afternoon.

48. My mom called with some info for a surprise party that we're going to throw in August! Obviously, I can't tell you about it, or who it's for.. but you'll see in August..

71. Finished Judges and Ruth. Both great books. Judges shows that Israel simply can't handle things without a leader - no king, major chaos! Ruth is a sweet story about kindness and devotion to God and family. Everyone should read Ruth! It's a treat. :)

13. 15. 40. 45. 68. 71. 74. 76. 87. and Pictures!

2009-03-02T12:23:00.000-08:00

13. I just scheduled a massage at Serenity Day Spa - I've tried two other times to get appointments, but both were canceled! Hopefully this one works out.. I've gotta get my five massages before we leave Dayton. :)

15. I have really been neglecting this one until this point. Recently, I discovered that I am pretty horrible at taking care of myself. I never go to the doctor, I don't take vitamins, I wasn't eating very well (hello, cupcake tasting!), and the list goes on. So, today at Trader Joe's, I bought a 30 day supply of Daily Supplements- I'm sitting them right out on the counter so I won't forget!

40. Nick just transplanted our little herbs into their new homes! I'm getting really excited. It's fun to watch them grow, and it will be great to have herbs around the house whenever I need them for a recipe.

45. So #45 says I need to secure a full-time job for any length of time. I've decided that I'm considering starting my own business as a full-time job, because I think it is! I'm devoting lots of time to it, and the point was to find a fulfilling job.. this is it!

68. Our date night tonight was spent at the house. We had planned on going out, but then we decided to go on a special Trader Joe's run and pick out a fun dinner to make at home. We ended up making Chicken Tikka Masala with rice and TJ's Curry Naan Bread - amazinggg! You must try it, even if you don't think you like Indian - this bread is to die for. Anyway, we had a little picnic in the living room and watched Fireproof- which is a great movie that I would recommend to anyone. Go rent it now!

71. I just finished Joshua a day or two ago. This book was very dramatic, full of battles. God's people are finally in the promised land, and Joshua is urging them to follow the Lord, knowing that everyone is prone to sin. The land has been divided and conquered, the promise fulfilled, and now the book of Judges, where things start to go downhill. More on that later! :)

74. It's been on my heart lately to begin sharing the Gospel more openly. It has truly changed my life, and continues to change me every day. I want everyone to have that peace and calm of knowing Christ, especially in these difficult times. I was able to share with a friend recently, and have been praying on her behalf. Praise God for opening up opportunities to share! (If you're reading this and you want to know how my life has changed, please email me at natalieherr@gmail.com!)

76. Even though February is the short month, I managed to squeeze out 20 blog entries on Oven Love. I think it was all the cupcake testing entries. :)

87. I know I've been mentioning Trader Joe's a lot in this post, but I tried a great dark beer, Trader Joe's Oatmeal Stoudt. Cheap and tasty, with notes of chocolate and cinnamon. Nothing like (half a) beer for dessert! :)

71.

2009-02-22T14:53:00.001-08:00

71. This week, I finished Deuteronomy. It was interesting to read Moses' speeches; his words of wisdom for Israel before he died. They were on the brink of entering the Promised Land, a long awaited and exciting event. God spoke through Moses, reminding his people of the laws they must follow upon entering Canaan. God goes out of his way to show them his love and prepare them for this important time in Israel's history.

The book of Joshua is up next- I'm already a few chapters in, and enjoying the beginning of the historical books. Looks like I'm slacking on the rest of my list, though.. I need to paste it to my forehead!

8. 36. 40. 43. 60. 71.

2009-02-13T11:01:00.000-08:00

8. I took my first Zumba class yesterday! I love it. It's so much fun. It's like going out dancing, but better. I think I'll be doing it more often!

36. We visited the 2nd Street Market last week, and I hope to be seeing more of it! (I'm starting a cupcake business, and I want to become a vendor there).

40. Nick is helping me with this one- he started seedlings for basil, parsley and cilantro. I can't wait until they're ready to move into pots!

43. I just joined the board of a local charity called FLOC (For Love of Children) that helps families of foster kids in Dayton. We had a long brainstorming session on Wednesday, and I'm very excited to be a part of it. I'll be working on the Christmas for Kids campaign as well as doing some PR/photography stuff.

60. I just finished reading Self-Made Man for my book club. It was an interesting book about a woman who becomes a man for 18 months. I learned a lot about how men and women relate to each other, but I don't agree with everything in the book and I didn't always enjoy her style of writing.

71. I recently finished the book of Numbers. I am continually amazed by the way God keeps his promise to Abraham throughout the Old Testament, even when the people screw up over and over. What a loving God!

70. 76.

2009-02-04T12:42:00.000-08:00

70. I wrote Nick a letter today. It made me think about how often we wrote to each other while he was in Basic Training and at the Academy. Never underestimate the power of a good letter.

76. I kept up Oven Love with over 20 posts this month! There were a lot of great recipes this month, and I can't wait to make some Valentine's creations for February!

69. 71. To Do.

2009-01-26T18:11:00.000-08:00

69. Nick and I had our first Greek Night tonight! I'm excited to learn more about Greece in the next few months as we prepare. For dinner, I made Greek Greens and Sweet Onion Pie (a variation of Spanikopita) and Greek Salad. We tried to get some greek music on the internet, but we weren't too successful. Working on that for next month. We looked up some greek history and watched a few YouTube videos about some destinations we're interested in. We also found out that Space-A (military) travel is going to be pretty easy- that means free airfare! Very excited.

71. I finished Leviticus this morning. Leviticus is all about the laws that God gave Moses for his people Israel. It's amazing the lengths that God will go to be with his people. He created all of these rules for offerings so that the people would be atoned for their sins and right in His sight. God loves us to no end!

To Do. January is ending quickly- here are the monthly items left to do:

36. Go to a farmer's market- maybe I can let myself off the hook in January.
70. Write Nick a letter- definitely do-able.
73. Memorize a scripture- do-able as well, I need to make it a priority this week.
74. Share the Gospel- I'm praying for God to open up opportunities for me this week!

83.

2009-01-23T05:42:00.000-08:00

83. I made Brinner last night! (That's breakfast for dinner, if you're confused.) We had the works: eggs, bacon and pancakes. The whole idea is based on a joke from Scrubs.. and is very delicious. :)

11. 94.

2009-01-22T07:50:00.000-08:00

11. I got my blood work today, so I'll find out about my cholesterol soon!

94. I sent a little postcard out yesterday to a very dear friend. :)

I'll be checking something fun off the list tonight- stay tuned!

45. 71.

2009-01-19T15:50:00.000-08:00

45. I had an interview today! I think it went really well. I made it to the top 5 out of 80 applicants, so that's good news. (I think PRowl had a lot to do with it. Thanks to all of my PRowl members for helping to make the firm a success!) A few steps closer to completing #45...

71. I finished Exodus this morning. What a great example of God's love and his commitment to keeping his promises. God carried Israel through a crazy trial, tested their faith, and loved them through their mistakes. I know that God loves me that way, and is caring for me the same way through my trials. Oh, and the tabernacle- amazing!

5. 6. 66. 68.

2009-01-16T05:56:00.000-08:00

5. I finally went in to see a doctor. Apparently, physicals aren't necessary anymore? The doctor kept wanting to know some specific reason why I was there. But none-the-less, I told him about a few little ailments and will be getting blood work done as soon as I remember to fast and go in for it. Then I'll be able to find out where my cholesterol is!

6. Went without makeup at the airport last week- Nick picked me up and said I looked very pretty, so beauty must be from within. :)

66. We went to see Gran Torino with Nick's AFIT friends on Tuesday. I payed attention, and it was pretty good, just a little too much swearing for me.

68. We had our first official Date Night last night! Nick planned it all out, and surprised me with a trip to eat Indian at Jeet India! I love Indian food, and we hadn't had it for a long time. We had a nice evening chatting and enjoying each other. Love Date Night!

96.

2009-01-14T19:10:00.000-08:00

96. Offering up my doctor's appointment today.

14. 29. 45. 96.

2009-01-13T07:59:00.000-08:00

14. Lost another 2 lbs! Very exciting. Hoping this trend continues.

29. Frick! I forgot to do the crossword this Sunday, as I was home with family and taking engagement photos of my very photogenic friends, Em&Tim. But! Just remembered that I did one on the plane, so I'm counting it.

45. This is a little premature, but it's all about progress, right? I have an interview on Monday! I can't wait. This could be really good.

96. Acts of Kindness. I've decided I don't want to go into detail about these, it seems weird to talk about for some reason. So I'll just list.

Courtesy at the Airport.
Driving to Joey Eric to lock the door for Danielle.

6. 71.

2009-01-08T07:14:00.000-08:00

6. Went to DSW yesterday without makeup on. I didn't like it at first (skin was not clear), but then I realized that on a snowy day in Dayton, the odds of seeing someone I know were slim to none. It was only for a little while, but it's a start.

71. I finished Genesis today! Like I said, I really enjoy the ESV Study Bible- it helps me to stay focused and keep the stories in context. I'm remembering the content better than before and hoping that I will be able to reference what I learned in the future.

14. 16.

2009-01-06T11:49:00.000-08:00

14. Today, I calculated my BMI. Not so good.

Healthy BMI Range for me: 18.5-24.9
Actual BMI: 27.4

Yikes! With the help of the handy, dandy Self Magazine Calculators, I discovered that my ideal weight range is 115-154, and my happy weight is around 140. So I've decided to shoot for 140. I've already lost 3 pounds since the holidays, and I'm hoping to ramp it up (see below). I encourage you to check out your numbers, too!

16. I'm actually really liking this Self workout. Yesterday, I did the strength workout and some cardio, and today I went for a run around my neighborhood (and narrowly escaped death- very icy in Ohio today!). Feeling strong.

29.

2009-01-04T19:26:00.000-08:00

29. I attempted the crossword today in the Dayton Daily News. I am definitely rusty. I used to breeze through them.. I think I did more than one a day when I was living in Philly (most likely while not paying attention in class, or not working at work, sometimes respectably in bed, on the subway, or in the park). I'm glad to get back into them - hopefully I'll improve!

16. 71. 99.

2009-01-03T09:24:00.000-08:00

Let the progress begin!

16. Started a Self-Magazine workout yesterday - Run Three Miles With Ease. It's a month-long workout. Yesterday I did sprints and I'm definitely feeling it today. Feels good though.

71. Began reading my new ESV Study Bible. It's great- there's so much extra information. I'm excited to read through and get a better understanding of everything. God is so good!

99. The creation of this blog and this very post are helping me to achieve #99. Hopefully I can kick start some more items this week!

The List.

2009-01-02T13:01:00.000-08:00

So here's the list. I've separated it into sections to make it easier to handle and track my progress.

The Key to Checking my Progress:
-Item Completed (bold dark purple)
-Item in progress (italics light purple)
-Haven't started the item (normal white)

Health/Wellness

1. Run a 5k and a 10k.

2. Go vegan for 2 weeks.

3. Swim as a workout 3 times a week for 1 month.

4. Go on an evening walk once a week during the summer months.

5. Get a yearly physical.

6. Go without makeup, out of the house, 10 times. (10/10)
7. Do a pull-up.
8. Take a Zumba class.
9. Omitted.
10. Enjoy 3 holiday gatherings without eating dessert. (0/3)
11. Find out what my cholesterol is and lower it, if needed.
12. Wear a bikini and feel good in it.
13. Get 5 massages. (4/5)
14. Obtain/maintain a healthy weight based on my BMI.
15. Take Calcium, Multi-Vitamin and any prescribed medications every day.
16. Complete 3 Self magazine monthly workouts. (0/3)

Travel
17. Visit Europe.
18. Go to Alaska.
19. Visit the Atlanta Zoo.
20. Visit the Dayton Art Museum.
21. Visit Justin and Katie in Florida.
22. Visit NYC.
23. Visit a cave.
24. Visit a winery.
25. Go on a girls-only trip.

Activities
26. Watch the Phils play the Reds in Cincinnati.
27. Go camping 5 times. (1/5)
28. Sing karaoke.
29. Do 200 Crosswords. (9/200)
30. Go to an NFL game with Nick.

31. Attend a hockey game.

32. Walk a dog, even if it's not mine.
33. Play Scrabble once a week for 10 weeks. (0/10)
34. See 5 live concerts. (0/5)
35. Go to Jungle Jim's in Columbus.
36. Find local farm markets and visit thirty times. (3/30)
37. Attend 3 summer movies at Victoria Theater. (3/3)

Projects

38. Make 5 projects on my sewing machine. (5/5)

39. Participate in 10 Post Crossings. (0/10)
40. Grow my own herbs.
41. Photograph ten places in Dayton. (1/10)

42. Finish a scrapbook.

43. Volunteer 100 hours of community service.

44. Omitted.
45. Secure a full-time position for any length of time.
46. Make a family tree to display in the house.

47. Publish something.

48. Plan a surprise party for someone.

49. Organize recipes digitally.

50. Send Christmas cards before December 10.
51. Write a book of short biographies of family members.

52. Choose, print and hang photos in the house.

53. Participate in 1 Gimme Your Stuff swap.

Learning
54. Learn conversational Greek.
55. Take a photography class.
56. Learn how to play one song from memory on the guitar.
57. Learn how to drive Nick's car.
58. Learn to use 2 new tools while working with Dad at camp. (0/2)
59. Learn more about my family history.

60. Read 3 nonfiction books. (3/3)

61. Learn to change a diaper.
62. Learn more about graphic design.

Marriage
63. Omitted.
64. Have a picnic once a week for 5 weeks. (2/5)
65. Learn more about one of Nick's hobbies/interests.
66. Watch and pay attention to 5 movies of Nick's choice in the theater. (3/5)
67. Omitted.
68. Have a date night once a month with Nick.
69. Omitted.
70. Write Nick a letter once a month. (1/33)

Spiritual Health
71. Read the Bible in its entirety. (66/66 books)
72. Regularly tell family and friends how much I love them.
73. Memorize one passage of scripture each month. (0/33)
74. Share the Gospel with one person each month. (1/33)
75. Give my monthly spending money to charity once.

Cooking
76. Maintain Oven Love with at least 20 posts per month. (5/33)
77. Take a cooking class.
78. Teach a cooking class.

79. Go to a hibachi restaurant.

80. Try 15 new foods- the weirder the better. (1/15)
81. Learn the canning process and can 2 fruits/vegetables. (0/2)

82. Have a fancy dinner party 3 times. (1/3)

83. Make "brinner" for Nick 10 times.
84. Have an Iron Chef-style food cook-off.
85. Make homemade soft pretzels.
86. Eat a real Chicago pizza.
87. Try a very dark beer.

Technology
88. Go without Facebook for 1 week, 4 times. (0/4)
89. Go without the Blackberry for 1 day, 10 times. (10/10)
90. Make friends with 5 fellow bloggers and do a blog-along. (5/5)
91. Go without internet for 1 day, 10 times, while the internet is available/in my face. (0/10)

Kindness/Hospitality
92. Take my parents out to dinner and pay for them.
93. Do something nice for Nick's parents (not on a holiday or other expected time).
94. Send 10 cards just to say hello. (10/10)
95. Buy roses from the man at the highway.
96. Do 1 Random Act of Kindness each week. (3/143)
97. Send flowers to 3 people. (0/3)
98. Surprise a friend with an unexpected visit.

Pertaining to the List Itself
99. Track progress on this blog. Add photos when applicable.
100. Throw a party to celebrate the completion of this list.
101. At the end of the 1001 days, make another list!

The 101 in 1001 Project

2009-01-01T09:59:00.000-08:00

2009 has arrived. Now what?

Well, I thought about making resolutions, but I don't always stick to them. There are so many things I want to improve, things I want to see, things I want to do. As I was pondering the great potential of 2009, I read Miss Lindsay's post about the 101 in 1001 Project. I was immediately interested, and wanted to create my own list. Then I thought about it, and figured there was no way I could come up with 101 things.

A little more info on the 101 in 1001 Project:

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).

A few days after my first run-in with the idea, I showed the post to Nick, and we decided we would start to create our own lists. It's turning out to be a very cool experience, and we've decided to go ahead with the project. I've decided to track all of my progress on this blog- staying accountable is the only way to make sure I follow through. So, enjoy reading as I work through my list, and maybe you'll decide to create one of your own!