It’s time for a mass update about my 27 before 27 list. I’ve completed 5 more things since my last post about it. Now that the weather’s getting warmer around here I should be able to tackle some of the outdoor stuff soon. In the meantime, here are the newest items I’ve crossed off the list:
#4 – start a garden (03/19/11)
I planted some herbs today. Jonathan and I were hoping to have a full-out vegetable garden this year but the time’s not quite right yet. Instead, I’ve planted some basil, chives, lavender, and rosemary in a small plot next to our garage. I’ve never planted any herbs before so I’m hoping they’ll turn out.
#8 – read a classic novel (01/30/11)
Since I have an English degree, I’m kind of ashamed that it wasn’t until this year that I finally read Fahrenheit 451. It was, however, worth the wait. I really enjoyed it!
#10 – meet a neighbor (03/19/11)
I met our neighbor today. Well, it’s kind of a shame, really—he’s not technically our neighbor. He’s renovating the house next door in order to sell it, so unfortunately he won’t be around for long. But he’s a nice guy anyway—Dale. No pictures though (thought that might be kind of awkward :P).
#15 – update my resume (01/16/11)
Finally got around to doing this back in January. I’m not in the market for a new job or anything, I just hadn’t updated my resume in about three years, so it was past time. It feels really good to have this crossed off the list.
#17 – buy some red high heels (03/05/11)
This is definitely my favorite update. I searched long and hard for these babies. The requirements were that the shoes 1) be high heels, 2) be red, 3) be sexy, and 4) make me feel gorgeous. They definitely succeed at all that.
Hope to have another update in another month or so with more stuff crossed off the list! :)
As we’re nearing the end of 2010, a lot of people are thinking about their new year’s resolutions for 2011. I very rarely participate in the new year’s resolution craze—this coming year I’m not going to have a new year’s goal considering I have a list of 27 things to do before I turn 27 next November that I haven’t yet put much of a dent in. But over this past year, on top of my weekly goal list, I made a lengthy resolutions list, and I thought I should update on how I did this year in making these things happen.
1) I will write more.
I feel like I accomplished this. I didn’t put any specific measurements to it, but I’ve been journaling consistently once a week this year, sometimes twice, with an occasional miss. I’ve also blogged some, so I’d call this a success. The next step is to get back to creative writing, my real desire, something I haven’t done in a long time and feel drawn to do.
2) I will read more.
This one is also a success. I did manage to squeeze in 12 books this year, one being the NCV Bible which I completed reading in November (it took me two and a half years to read the whole thing!). I re-read all the Harry Potter books in preparation for the movie last month, and I also established one night a week as reading night, which I’ve been able to stick to on most weeks.
3) I will honor the Sabbath.
Like I said in my original new year’s resolution post at this time last year, for me, this is Sunday. That may change—I’ve started reading the Bible over again and this time I’m studying it, not just reading, but for now, I’m trying to get into the habit of taking a day of rest. Obviously there were quite a few weekends when I didn’t succeed at this, especially because it’s a habit that I have to form, but I’d say more weekends than not I did take Sunday to rest, so I’d call this one a win, too.
4) I will find a home church.
I was most worried about this one, but I did it! Fortunately for me I mentioned my church hunting woes at work one day and a lot of co-workers had some great suggestions, and I found a church as a result of that conversation. I really love it—I love the music, the atmosphere, and the teaching. It’s been really great.
5) I will take better care of my body.
This goal has definitely been my biggest challenge this year. I still haven’t successfully found a workout routine, but I haven’t given up. I have, however, made a lot of good choices when it comes to the food that I eat, so at least I’ve made some progress there! Hopefully into 2011 I can really tackle this.
6) I will be more loving.
This goal happens to be the least quantifiable, but I think I met my own expectations of what I wanted to do. My goal was to train myself to think more about others and less about myself—I’ve made a lot of progress in this and it’s something that I’ll continue to work on as life goes on. There’s always room for improvement here, especially because people are generally selfish by nature, including myself.
All in all I’m really happy with my progress over the last year, and I’m determined to carry the good habits and thoughts into 2011.
Happy new year! :)
I hadn’t planned on completing this goal so soon (#27 on my 27 before 27 list: add another classic to our Disney movie collection), but my mom and dad are apparently looking out for me, because they bought us Beauty and the Beast for Christmas! :)
I definitely plan on adding many more to our collection, but this is a start and enough to cross off another goal!
On December 12th, I completed #16 on my 27 before 27 list: attend a rock concert. On a whim, JB and I decided to go see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra! :) We went to see them two Christmases ago, but we enjoyed the show all the same! And if you don’t think TSO counts as rock…then you have never heard their really good stuff. ;) Here are some pictures chronicling the evening—enjoy!
Cookies and I have a love-hate relationship…I love them, but they hate me. Okay, the cookies probably don’t hate me, but I am notoriously terrible at making cookies unless I buy that pre-made cookie dough that’s already cut into perfect little disks. Hence why I chose sugar cookies for #1 on my 27 before 27 list: make a dessert from scratch.
Step 1 – make a mess of the kitchen
Step 2 – mix, roll, and cut
Step 3 – make an overdone batch
Step 4 – make an underdone batch
Step 5 – make a batch that’s juuuust right!
Mission #1 complete (12/07/2010). :)
For the past two years, I have created a weekly goal planner for the new year—I started with a yearly calendar in Excel and thought of a goal for every week of the year. After two years of doing this, I feel really satisfied with the things I’ve accomplished by this exercise, but as I approach the end of year 2, I feel like it’s time for something different—something a little more fun and a little more flexible.
Enter the “27 before 27” list. I had this idea a while ago and I’ve been working on this list for a couple months now. I’ve been eager to start but I thought it was too early. Now that I’m about 1 week from my 26th birthday, I feel like I can get started. :)
Some of these things are looming tasks that I never get around to; some are simply fun little things to remind myself to relax once in a while. In any case, here is my 27 before 27 list:
1) make a dessert from scratch
2) visit a new hockey rink
3) take a class
4) start a garden
5) visit the farmer’s market
6) travel to a new state
7) sew something
8) read a classic novel
9) send an unsolicited gift
10) meet a neighbor
11) paint the hallway
12) donate blood
13) preserve wedding dress
14) finish organizing/printing photos
15) update résumé
16) attend a rock concert
17) buy some red high heels
18) go camping
19) walk or run for a purpose
20) go to a museum
21) go canoeing
22) have a 100% “me” day
23) buy a bicycle
24) celebrate 4-year graduationversary
25) color an entire coloring book
26) read a non-fiction book
27) add to Disney movie collection
What do you think?
Smoothies and milkshakes are the best in the summer…cool, refreshing, and depending on how you make them, they can even be healthy. They’re way cheaper made at home than purchased at a restaurant, and they’re fun to make. But blenders…blenders are not fun to clean.
Taking all the little pieces apart and trying not to impale yourself as you wash them is a pain and takes a long time, so I wanted to share with you how we clean our blender at home. It’s so easy!
Once you’ve made your delicious cold beverage of choice, empty the blender of its contents right away into glasses. Now, before you enjoy said drink, fill the blender with warm water and add a bit of dish soap (fill it to the same height as the previous contents). Now, put the pitcher back on the stand, put the top on, and blend away. The soapy water will get into all the same nooks and crannies as the drink you just made. It’s important to do this right away so nothing gets dry and sticky.
Now just rinse and set on a towel or in the dish rack to dry! Easy! :)
Do you have any cleanup tips for the kitchen?
