On those 27 things.

As this is my last day at 26, I thought it'd be a good time to check up on my list of 27 things. Last year on my birthday I put together a list of 27 things I'd like to accomplish before I turned 27.  Here's a little update on how I did.

1. Take one (at least!) picture each day.

Not bad, not perfect.  My Instagram phase has helped a little.  I've taken a break, but need to get back on this!

2. Watch a movie my husband loves that I've never seen.  i.e. Star Wars, Harry Potter... 

Still haven't seen Star Wars or Harry Potter. Oops.

3. Declutter my email inbox.

DONE!

4. More date nights.

Yes! We've had fun getting together with friends and on our own.  Being in a new (bigger) city and closer to family has made this easy. We like to frequent "First Friday's" Downtown Art Walk and have tried numerous new restaurants.  

5. Write a letter. or two.

Kinda... will hope to do much more of this this year.

6. Make something from scratch for a week.

Nope.  Not quite the same in someone else's kitchen.

7. Clean out the garage.

Hehe.  If I had only known...

8. Keep up the blog.

Not bad.  Hoping to keep this up.

9. Go on a road trip with J.

All the way to Texas, baby!

10. Read 5 books.

I can't believe it, but yes.

11. Bake a layered cake.

Need to do this ASAP.

12. Eat from my garden.

A couple tomatoes, but that was a FAIL.

13. Deep clean the entire house.

haha, again, if I only knew.

14. Run a 1/2 marathon.

TIMES 2!

15. Run a marathon.  (dream big, right?)

Not so much.

16. Write and follow a more specific budget.

Budget written.

17. Random acts of kindness.

Need more.

18. Reunion with my college sorority friends.

YES! Love those peeps.  They all keep moving away, but we still pick back up right where we've left off.  That's the best.

19. Cook at home for two weeks straight.

HA!

20. Drink 10 or less Diet Coke's.

ZERO! Still in shock.

21. Write in a journal.

Just started one this month, actually.

22. Give compliments each day.

To students, yes.

23. Make my bed for 2 weeks straight. 

Again, HA!

24. Run 500 miles.

689 logged on mapmyrun.

25. Go computer free for 5 days. (that sounds impossible!)

Spring Break- does that count?

26. Give more charity.

Need more.

27. Say thank you more often.

Again, never enough.

I'm still working on my list of 28 things, but I'll hopefully get that up by the weekend. 2012-2013 has been a crazy roller coaster.  I've learned more, loved more and experienced more that I could have ever imagined. I've loved having this "to do" list to look back at throughout the year, even if it didn't all get accomplished.

Hope you're having a great week!
-m

Photo Challenge.

One of the "things" on my "27 things before 27" is to take more pictures, one a day, actually.  So far, I've failed miserably at this goal.  I don't know why it's been so hard for me to remember to take my phone out and document some of my days! I'm not one to take a lot of pictures, but I'd sure like to be, so I'm trying out a little self-made challenge.  Inspired by other blogger's renditions of similar challenges, each month will have a new theme, and my goal is to take one picture a day that relates to the month's theme.  Then, in order to knock off another "thing", (to post more on this blog!) I will recap each week here on the blog.

November: Gratitude

December: Joy

January: New

February: Love

March: Lucky

April: Celebrate

I'm thinking of using Instagram, even though I currently am not an Instagrammer.  I saw somewhere this week that Instgram users has now overtaken the number of Facebook and twitter users (of course I don't remember where I saw this, so who knows if it is valid!), so there must be something to be said for this Instagram hype.

If you're on Instagram, explain to me "following" (that's what you call it, right?!). If you're following me, will I know it? Can I follow you back? How do I make sure weirdos aren't following me? Is it bad to share my username?

Thanks for understanding my stupid.  This is bringing me back to the days of sharing my screen name with my 7th grade BFFs. And to be honest, it kind of freaks me out.  I'm closing my eyes and jumping in. Now, let's be Instagram friends, K?

-m

An Update *27 things before 27*

1. Take one (at least!) picture each day. 

2. Watch a movie my husband loves that I've never seen.  i.e. Star Wars, Harry Potter... 

3. Declutter my email inbox.

4. More date nights.

5. Write a letter. or two.

6. Make something from scratch for a week.

7. Clean out the garage.

8. Keep up the blog.

9. Go on a road trip with J. scheduled.

10. Read 5 books. 2 down.

11. Bake a layered cake.

12. Eat from my garden.

13. Deep clean the entire house.

14. Run a 1/2 marathon. scheduled.

15. Run a marathon.  (dream big, right?)

16. Write and follow a more specific budget.

17. Random acts of kindess.

18. Reunion with my college sorority friends. mostly....

19. Cook at home for two weeks straight.

20. Drink 10 or less Diet Coke's. 0 so far!

21. Write in a journal.

22. Give compliments each day.

23. Make my bed for 2 weeks straight. 

24. Run 500 miles. in the works.

25. Go computer free for 5 days. (that sounds impossible!)

26. Give more charity.

27. Say thank you more often.

Well, I have some work to do, but it's good to check in.  A few things marked off the list, and some others in the works.  I've got about 7 months left!

-m

Diet Coke.

Today marks the 100th day that I've been Diet Coke free!  I hadn't been counting, but was curious a few days ago, and it turned out to be so close to 100 that I figured that was worth celebrating... or mentioning at least.

On a whim one day I decided to give something up (not really a whim; it was lent, but I, personally have never participated in Lent until this year).  I had consistently drank about 5 cans of diet coke per week for a very, very long time.  I had a feeling it was affecting my health, and I knew it wasn't the BEST idea to drink pop, but I kept telling myself that it was "okay" because it's diet.  Also, I recently read this after I saw it linked on Pinterest.

I still don't think it's bad to have a pop now and then, but I just haven't really wanted or craved it after I made it 40 days!  I know I'll drink one again, occasionally.  It's nice to know that I don't NEED a diet coke.  And really, it doesn't really do anything for me except make bubbles in my tummy.  So now when I'm really thirsty for something of a treat, I drink a beer. Sorry, mom. :)

On a different note, I'm hoping to get back into project posting soon.  I have some DIY projects planned for the summer (which BTW, started yesterday!).  I accidentally left my computer at my parents, which has only meant I've had more time for Real Housewives and The Bachelorette laundry and cleaning.  I'm anxious to catch up on some blogs!

Hope you're having a good week!
-m

27 things before 27.

I'm a fan of lists.  They help me think, and they are hella fun to cross off. In lieu of turning 26, here's a list of 27 things I'd like to do before my next b-day.  In no particular order.... :)

1. Take one (at least!) picture each day.

2. Watch a movie my husband loves that I've never seen.  i.e. Star Wars, Harry Potter... 

3. Declutter my email inbox.

4. More date nights.

5. Write a letter. or two.

6. Make something from scratch for a week.

7. Clean out the garage.

8. Keep up the blog.

9. Go on a road trip with J.

10. Read 5 books.

11. Bake a layered cake.

12. Eat from my garden.

13. Deep clean the entire house.

14. Run a 1/2 marathon.

15. Run a marathon.  (dream big, right?)

16. Write and follow a more specific budget.

17. Random acts of kindess.

18. Reunion with my college sorority friends.

19. Cook at home for two weeks straight.

20. Drink 10 or less Diet Coke's.

21. Write in a journal.

22. Give compliments each day.

23. Make my bed for 2 weeks straight. 

24. Run 500 miles.

25. Go computer free for 5 days. (that sounds impossible!)

26. Give more charity.

27. Say thank you more often.

This post was extremely helpful in creating this list.  Good one to keep bookmarked :)

-m