Sunday, January 30

i like to sing like a coffee maker.

if you needed a laugh:

Sunday, January 9

#40 Spend a day with my brother

My brother, Steve, took his girlfriend, Jordan, to Chicago on Friday to show her around and visit the museums. After sitting in traffic for 2 1/2 hours (Friday + rush hour + flurries), they made it to our place to spend the weekend! Side note: I find that having guests is the perfect motivator for getting the house clean... and to bust out the waffle iron ;)


Lebowski is still nervous around Uncle Steven

On Friday night, we took them for Chicago-style pizza at Lou Malnati's and walked around downtown Naperville.
a fifth Beatle?
On Saturday, we enjoyed homemade sticky buns (recipe 1/25)...
more like super sticky buns
Ate our weight in sushi... and enjoyed free smells from Penzey's Spices
I love that they sat us in a private room!

Went to Goodwill and saw True Grit...
unread and only $2!
Then, today, ate waffles and posed for pictures.
Candids are much better than portraits, sometimes.
I'm so happy they were able to come visit before heading back to Colorado.  Despite having colds, Andy and I had a great time entertaining and getting caught up with my little bro.  In addition, I'm glad this was the first item I crossed off my 101 list.  Not only did I spend "a day" with Steven, it was more like 48 hilariously adventurous hours!

#40 - Spend a day with my brother - Complete

Monday, January 3

My 101 in 1001

As of today:

Ever since Brooke started her list, I've been putting ideas into my little notebook and waiting for today to arrive to kick off my list.  Coincidentally, there are also 1001 days until my 30th birthday!  Wow, that hurts to type...anyway.  Here goes:

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).
Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past – frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. 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 you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.
Start Date: January 3, 2011
End Date: September 30, 2013

Bold/Italicized - completed

Cooking
1.    Cook 25 recipes from cookbooks I own (0/25)
2.    Make 5 dishes that get 5 stars (0/5)
3.    Find a *signature* dish
4.    Take a cooking class
5.    Organize my recipe folder
6.    Cook at home for entire week (0/7)
7.    Bring treats to work (not for birthday)

Crafty
8.    Set up an Etsy store
9.    Sell Grandma’s hankies on Etsy
10.  Enter a photography contest
11.  Create wedding album for wedding weekend events
12.  Create a shadowbox of wedding mementos
13.  Finish sewing pillows
14.  Take photos that spell out our name or wedding date
15.  Finish wedding recaps on blog
16.  Take a Photoshop or Illustrator class/seminar
17.  Make our t-shirt quilt
18.  Finish organizing scrapbook box 2002-2010

Culture
19.  Read 5 non-fiction books (0/5)
20.  Read Martha Stewart craft book and do project
21.  Organize or participate in a book group
22.  Go to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
23.  Visit a new to me museum
24.  Write 15 letters (0/15)
25.  Play a song on the piano

Decorating
26.  Decorate the office
27.  Hang up pictures in kitchen
28.  Create a photo gallery wall
29.  Figure out an organizing solution for coat closet
30.  Declutter the family room & maintain
31.  Make the bedroom more relaxing

Faith
32.  Find a new church
33.  Attend all advent services (0/4)
34.  Volunteer for a service activity
35.  Bring someone to church

Family & Friends
36.  Have a dinner party
37.  Reconnect with an old friend
38.  Mail someone a surprise anonymously
39.  Babysit for free
40.  Spend a day with my brother
41.  Visit Missouri (0/2)
42.  Help Dad find a full-time job
43.  Throw a surprise party
44.  Help someone plan & organize a party
45.  Make plans with a new friend
46.  Create a visual family tree
47.  Throw a themed party
48.  Take family portraits and put into an album
49.  Send a care package to my brother

Financial
50.  Sell wedding dress
51.  Sell ebay pile
52.  Spend $0 for 1 week
53.  Pay off credit card
54.  Sell extra wedding supplies
55.  File bills once a month
56.  Save 3 month’s salary for an emergency fund

Health
57.  Eat as a vegan for one week (0/7)
58.  Start allergy shots
59.  Schedule a physical
60.  Take a workout class
61.  Run a charity race/walk
62.  Floss every day for a month (0/30)
63.  Lose 10 lbs and keep it off (0/10)
64.  Work out three times a week, two weeks in a row (0/6)
65.  Touch my toes!

Home
66.  New flooring
67.  Finish painting
68.  Eliminate chemical cleaners
69.  Find rocks for the boot tray
70.  Buy a grownup bed
71.  Sell home or refinance
72.  Clean out closets and donate clothes to charity every 6 months (1/3)
73.  Finish changing all light bulbs to CFL/most energy efficient for their use

Marriage
74.  See results of pastoral pre-marriage assessment
75.  Have professional photos printed
76.  Take a spontaneous adventure
77.  Volunteer together
78.  Have a date night once a month (0/21)
79.  Visit local walking paths and bring dog
80.  Do something nice as a surprise

Personal Growth
81.  Unplugged weekend – no internet
82.  See a movie alone
83.  Get a tattoo
84.  Write a will
85.  Donate blood
86.  Write a letter to myself to open in 10 years
87.  Volunteer or join a committee at work
88.  Don’t watch TV for a week
89.  Don’t swear for a week
90.  Don’t eat fast food for a month
91.  Whistle with my fingers
92.  Leave notes in library books
93.  Volunteer my services for free
94.  Write 101 blog posts (4/101)

Travel
95.  Visit 3 new states (0/3)
96.  Get a new passport
97.  Take a transatlantic flight
98.  Go to a taping of Oprah
99.  Stand outside of the Today show on a weekday morning
100.  Have a drink on the 96th floor of the John Hancock Building

Saturday, January 1

new year, clean slate

I'm starting the New Year with a clean slate floors. Yesterday, after struggling with our textured laminate tiles that always appear dirty, Andy bought me a Shark on clearance for $20 at Target.


PS - Andy is sick, so of course this is how I'm going to spend my morning - yay!

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