Check it off

I really need to update more often.  I've gotten more done!  Here we go!

23.      Go a full day without reminding Chris to clean up. (COMPLETED 1.20.14)

 This one is difficult for me because I hate mess and clutter, so I am constantly asking him to clean up.  But I did it!! haha

37.      Go to the Irish Italian Festival at St. Thomas (COMPLETED 3.15.14)

  We ran in the race on the 14th, and for racing, we got $10 for the festival for food and whatnot.  We have a list of things we want to do before we leave Hattiesburg, and this was one of them, so bam! Done :)

40.      Go to Hubfest (COMPLETED 3.29.14)

  Another thing on our list to do before leaving Hattiesburg.  I've been wanting to go every year since we moved here, and we never have.  There was some good stuff there!  It was lots of fun

55.      Go to a Southern Miss Baseball game (COMPLETED 2.22.14)

  I've worked for Athletics for 3.5 years, and we've never made it to a game.  So we got tickets, and we're going to as many as are nice this year :)  So far, we've made it to 2 games :)

80.      Do at least 1 full week of a class on Coursera (COMPLETED 1.25.14)

  I sign up, and want to do them... it's just a matter of getting it done.  Completing a full week was a big step.  Next, I wanna try getting a whole class done.

88.      Drive by myself to a location out of state (COMPLETED 3.10.14)

  Any time we go out of state, it is both of us.  I've never driven out of MS by myself, until Spring Break this year.  Sunny wanted to go dress shopping, so I took the week off, Chris stayed home, and I drove to and from Nashville by myself.  It really wasn't too bad - only 6 hours.

99.      Read a whole magazine within 24 hours of getting it in the mail (COMPLETED 2.21.14)

  This is a rare thing for me.  Most of the time, I get a magazine, and they get put in a pile.  I actually read this one immediately!  Woot!

Round 2 updates

New list = lots of updates - especially since I haven't posted about my updates or anything since I wrote the list!! 

4.      Renew my passport (COMPLETED 4.29.13)

This summer, Chris and I went on a mission trip with 4 other people from our church, and 3 other churches, to Guatemala.  In order to do this, I had to renew my passport! Lucky for me, the men's team was doing their passports for their trip to the Islands in August, and the lady who was doing theirs did mine right then too!

16.  Complete the “This is me” questionnaire (COMPLETED 4.5.13)

Something I found online and thought was interesting.  It will have to be updated over time when I reach certain points in my life, but it is as complete as it can be right now.

18.  Complete a full month of Swagbucks (COMPLETED 3.31.13)

This one excited me greatly.  I had always been hit or miss with my Swagbucks, but I wanted to do a whole month and get the 300 SB bonus.  YAY ME lol

19.  Go on an anniversary trip (more than 1 night) (COMPLETED 4.9.13)

We went down to the coast and spent two nights at the Beau Rivage - laid by the pool, played the slots, ate ridiculously good food, and just in general had a good few days away from home.  We did it more than a month before our anniversary because we got married just way too close to when camp is for me to be able to get away.

26.  No TV for 24 hours (self induced, not provider induced) (COMPLETED 7.13.13)

This was when we were in Guatemala.  You'd think it would be easy to go 24 hours without TV while down there, but our condo (yes, we stayed in condos) actually had a TV and internet. 

28.  Spend at least 3 hours on the beach in one trip (COMPLETED 7.2.13)

Kristen and Tom came down for vacation, and the three of us went down to Gulfport, leaving Chris at home.  He doesn't like the sand, so I can never get him to go to the beach with me.  Yay for friends visiting

29.   Sell a full 24 Day Challenge (COMPLETED 3.26.13)

Jess bought one!! I got her started :)  She did really good with it too

30.  Type up my bucket list (get at least 20 things recorded) (COMPLETED 4.5.13)

I have all these things I want to do while we still can, and didn't have any of them down.  I'd get these awesome new ideas, and then they'd disappear.  So I wrote them down

32.  Help a car accident victim (COMPLETD 3.31.13)

This was scary.  I didn't write this one to go out seeking an accident, but you always see people on the side of the road, whatever.  Just a random thing.  So this one - 2 a.m. on Easter morning, we hear "BOOM" "BOOM" "BOOM" then FLASH.  Not good.  No screeching, no nothing.  So we hurry up, pull clothes on, run outside.  A car had run off the road, and hit 3 cars in our parking lot right outside our window before plowing  through the power box of the apartment next door.  A small fire started, the guy crawled out the passenger side, crawled to the pavement, and sat down.  I went over to help him, and noticed it was someone I knew.  I crouched down next to him, and stayed with him through the paramedics and the cops - the other  girl who had helped him kinda backed off when we realized I knew him.  I convinced him to go to the hospital (because otherwise he'd be arrested for drunk driving right then and there), then called his grandparents, and made our way to the hospital.  We stayed until we saw him, since we told him we'd be there.  Scary, scary night.  We're just all glad he didn't hit another person, or hurt himself.

40.  Travel out of the country (COMPLETED 7.12.13)

41.  Go on a missions trip (COMPLETED 7.21.13)

These two go together - GUATEMALA! Like I said above, Chris and I were invited to go on a mission trip to Guatemala this past July.  We were gone for 10 days, and they were the most life changing, amazing days ever.  I would love to go back, again and again and again.

42.  Try a new salon for a haircut (not the hair school and not in the mall) (COMPLETED 5.16.13)

I went from Renee doing my hair, to Nicole.  If one of them couldn't cut it, it didn't get cut.  Well, this May, it needed it, desperately.  At the silent auction for the golf tournament, I had won a certificate for a free cut from Hair Worx, so I bit the bullet, and went.  And liked what she did!  I will probably be going back to see her again

45.  Run a 5K (COMPLETED 10.26.13)

Chris and I signed up for the Runner's High New Beginnings 5K training in August.  This led up to the Halloween Hustle 5K the weekend before Halloween.  When we first started, it was so hard, but before long, I was well ahead of the group, running, and actually liking it!  My goals for the 5K were to run it without having to stop, and run it in under 30 minutes.  I ran it in 27:53, without stopping, and placed 3rd in my age group!!! There was a girl just ahead of me for most of the run, but she burned out, and finished maybe 10 seconds behind me - I almost didn't place.  I was shocked that I had.  Super excited, but shocked! I can't wait to run my next one

52.  Get the nursery ceiling fixed at 38^th ABC (COMPLETED 7.16.13)

The ceiling in the bed baby room was awful, sagging, coming unattached - we sold cookbooks to raise money, and then, as we were working on the ceiling, someone decided to donate the sheet rock so we could do the ceiling right!  Then Donnay Dunaway donated his skills with the mud and putty knife, and finished it for us.  I was so excited, it looks so good! 

54.  Participate in a work day at church (COMPLETED 6.8.13)

This was the ceiling day.  We worked on the ceiling, and doors - yay sprucing things up.

57.  Plan a bachelorette party (COMPLETED 9.15.13)

As Matron of Honor, I got to work with Katie to plan Jess' bach party.  OMG so much fun.  I don't know that I'd want to be in charge again, but it was fun

58.  Try a new flavor of Spark (other than Strawberry Mango) (COMPLETED 5.18.13) 

I have only ever had Mango Strawberry.  I love it! I am super hooked.  But I wanted to try another flavor.  So Liz gave me a Watermelon, the newest flavor to try.  It was good, but still doesn't beat my Mango Strawberry

63.  Organize and participate in a fundraiser from start to finish (COMPLETED 6.25.13)

For our Guatemala trip, I organized a fundraiser at Newks.  Talked to Mr. David, set up the date, got there early, saw it through - it felt good.

64.  Try a snow cone from the place on 4^th street (COMPLETED 6.18.13)

I had never had a snow cone from a stand before.  So Norma and I went one day during the summer, and it became a tradition - we'd go when we had cash

65.  Participate in an “exchange” (cookie, secret santa, whatever) (COMPLETED 8.5.13)

The Nutties did a cookie exchange - I got mine from Mo, and sent some to Brigit.  Super fun, and would totally do it again

66.  Babysit for someone from church (COMPLETED 6.30.13)

I got to hang out with the Ladd boys!! Amanda's high school reunion, which she was on the committee for, was on a night where their parents couldn't watch the boys, so she asked me to come out, which helped with the cost of Guatemala :)  And I got to hang out with the boys for 6 hours :)  So much fun.  I can't wait to do it again.

67.  Have a full conversation in Spanish (COMPLETED 7.15.13)

The entire week we were down in Guatemala, there was myself (almost fluent)  Yvonne (has a minor in Spanish) and then Marvin and Nick who have been learning Spanish from Vivian, a Guatemalan who was also there with us, who spoke Spanish.  So I got to do a lot of talking in Spanish.  It was fantastic.  Flipping back and forth between the two languages, not so easy lol

68.  Interpret a conversation in Spanish – different person from above (COMPLETED 7.15.13)

Again, Guatemala.  I played interpreter all week, and it was fantastic.  I loved getting to use my Spanish and talk to all those sweet people

71.  Download at least 10 worship songs in Spanish (10/10) (COMPLETED 7.29.13)

When we got  back from Guatemala, I used Swagbucks to get an iTunes gift card and downloaded a bunch of Spanish worship songs.  It became my running music - a great way to worship

78.  Pet an exotic animal (COMPLETED 10.4.13)

Donnie (Coach Tyndall) has an alligator! In the office!! Nikki took her out one day and was letting her walk down the hall, so I stopped to pet her- why not, right?

83.  Get a Nike FuelBand  (COMPLETED 11.25.13)

Chris' parents got my a Fuel Band for Christmas!! It is a fun toy.  I wish it were an HRM too, but still fun

Brag Moment

I have to brag just a little bit.  I feel like I should get the housewife of the year award today -

Workout - check
Walmart - check
Dishes - check
Bake bread - check
Bake Chris' birthday cake - check
Laundry - drying
Dishwasher - running
Husband playing poker with the guys - check!

When laundry is done, I'll fold it.  When the dishwasher is done, I'll empty it.  The only thing I asked Chris to help me with is the Walmart - he had specific stuff he wanted, so he had to come along.  I feel like I accomplished so much today - I love productive Saturdays :)

Yay for getting stuff done!

101 in 1001 Round 2

I've decided that once this 101 in complete (in 6 days) I am going to start over - I will take the things on my list right now that are not completed, and put them on my new list.  Along with a few other ones that I had changed due to time constraints on the old list, and start fresh.  I may also do some repeats (donate clothes once a year, etc - ones that help me stay on top of things )  So I will start making my list soon.  I am pretty excited :)

More completed

Yay!! As the days dwindle, I am getting so close!! I might actually complete these on time!

Most recent completions:

#28 - Buy new khaki capris that actually fit.  The last pair I had I bought in college to wear for Admissions Ambassador stuff.  They were size 7.  Needless to say, they were 3 sized too big, and I gave them away a few years ago.  Friday, Chris and I went to Kohl's to look for shorts for him, and I decided to look for me because I knew I could wear them to work and then to the golf course for the tournament in May since they have fairly strict dress codes.  I FOUND A PAIR!  And they make my butt and legs look amazing.  Just saying :)  Yay having pants that are the right size!

#70 - attend a USM/ Memphis men's basketball game This one has been an issue in the past because either it was on a Wednesday when I had to be at church, or because it was sold out and I wasn't going to have a seat.  This year, I got a ticket from Justin, because he's awesome.  So I was able to go.  It was the white out game, and lots of fun, even though they lost.

#77 - Make / take breakfast to Sunday School 3 times  I think I've done it more than 3 times, but I know this last one was at least a different dish.  I have made homemade waffles, apple muffins, and this last Sunday, I made apple cinnamon oatmeal.  It was good, but I made WAY too much.  We had quite a bit leftover.  But oh well.

#15 - see 114 on the scale again.  I topped out close to 124... so 114 is a goal :)  I GOT IT TODAY!!!!! Woot!!

Getting close!

It has been so long since I updated - I am now down to only 26 days left!  I have also edited my list a bit since I last posted - got rid of things that won't happen due to money, or made some things more specific.  I have also accomplished a TON of goals, so here we go!

#9 - I changed that to "Make dinner for someone else" - I figured new parents at church, or work, or family. I complete this one on Christmas Eve in 2012, when I made pizza for my in-laws for dinner :)

#26 - "Start watching 3 new series" - I changed this from "watch the nightly news every night for a week" because we got rid of cable.  In getting rid of cable, we subscribed to Netflix.  That makes it really easy to watch TV series :)  The three new series are Alias, Downton Abbey, and Glee.

#34 - I changed to "attend a Mardi Gras parade" - this was a big one for me because I am supremely claustrophobic - I HATE crowds.  But we live so close to so many places that have parades!  Well, the one we went to was actually in New Orleans!  We were down there for a conference for Chris, and the parade ended right in front of our hotel! It was awesome.  I am so glad we stuck around for it.

#49 - I changed this to "Eat ice cream for dinner"  - this is another big one - I love my sweats, but I am also all for eating right.  So this one was about relinquishing control and being ok with not having a square meal.  And you know what?  It was fun :)

#64 - I cut this number down from 100 to 50 things I like about myself.  I got to 40 no problem, but trying to get beyond that was hard.  So I figured 50 was a good cut off.

#65-  This one became "Have 3 magazine subscriptions" - I chose to do this because I tend to just buy them at the store.  It's cheaper to subscribe, and I am finally in a permanent enough place to actually have a subscription!  Cosmo, Shape and Redbook :)

#69 - "Own stoneware"  - yet another change.  I love stoneware - Pampered Chef is amazing.  But I never thought I would own any.  I got a pizza stone for Christmas in 2011.  I now have a pizza stone, a rectangle baking pan, and 2 bread pans.  I love them ALL :)

#82 - "Host a 'thing' party (jewelry, Pampered Chef, etc)" - I changed it to this so that I had more "help other" items on the list.  If I can help someone make money, and get fun stuff for me, I am all for it.  I hosted a jewelry party in March of 2012.  Got some awesome jewelry at an AMAZING discount.

#93 - "Babysit overnight"  - this one could have been done somewhere else, or at our place.  We ended up babysitting at our place.  Tomekia needed someone to watch Carlon while the team traveled because her dad couldn't, and Chris said he'd be ok with it.  So we had Carlon for about 41 hours.  It was so much fun :)

#96 - "Go a week without soda" - I have wanted to do this one forever.  I would get a few days in, and then cave.  I did a 10 day cleanse a while ago, and technically I didn't have any soda during that time, but I had to fight, so I didn't fight it.  This one, I have done great.  I drank my last soda in the fridge, and haven't had any since.  It has now been over a month, and I can honestly say I don't miss it.  The 5 lb weight loss from cutting soda doesn't hurt either :)

Now I am down to 21 things to complete in 26 days.  Here's hoping I can make it!

Catching up!

I have 299 days left.  Less than a year.  And I still have so many left to do!  But here are ones I've gotten done that I thought I had blogged about, and apparently failed :)

#14 - Make the trip to Iowa- we did that last Thanksgiving.  And let me tell ya, it was a trip.  We first went and picked up the grandmas in Indiana because Grandma Helt's crazy cousin bailed on driving them out there.  I love the grandmas to death, but it was the longest 20 hour drive of my life.  We did it in 1 day, and half of that with the grandmas in the back seat.  We totally won the grandkid award for that trip.  But I am glad we were able to do that and take them out there.  It was a good trip.

#48 - Do a back walkover - I did that towards the end of April.  I was doing hand stands and kickovers one day at the end of my workout, and decided to try for a walkover.  The first one was so crooked it wasn't even funny.  I think I did about 6 total, and they got better and better.  I am a long way from trying a back hand spring, unless I can find a mat and someone to spot me... but hopefully sometime in the next 299 days :)

#71 - I added a random act of kindness - there was a mom at the grocery store who had loaded her groceries, and was loading her kids, and one of them was screaming, so when I walked pass to take care of my cart, I grabbed hers too.  I figured those 2 extra steps didn't hurt me any, and the 30 seconds it saved her may have helped her just a little.

#24 - Try 5 new foods - I finally finished that one when I tried fried pickles back in November.  They are actually pretty good!!

#31 - Try 10 new recipes - got that one with Pizza sauce and pizza crust.  They aren't as hard as I was expecting, and now I make them all the time.  I am so glad we have a pizza stone :)

Check that off the list!

Woo hoo! More done!

#72- go barefoot for an entire day.  This wasn't the most fun task to complete.  I was up sick all night one night, and the next day, I got out of bed only to shower and move to the couch.  Chris went and bought me Gatorade, and took care of the trash, and all that good fun stuff.  But I didn't put shoes on for anything.  It was fantastic.  I love looking at shoes, and if I have to wear them, they better be cute, but I hate shoes lol

#89 - attempt to give blood.  Our church had a blood drive on November 2nd.  I decided to try, see if they would let me. I was told again (well I guess for the first time- my parents have been told before) that I will never be able to give blood.  Anyone who lived in certain countries Europe for a total of 6 or more months (consecutive or otherwise) between the years of 1980 and 1990 can not give blood due to Mad Cow Disease.  Germany happens to be one of those countries.  We happened to live there for a total of 4 years between 1987 and 1991... So no giving blood in the U.S. ever.  Which made me wonder- does that mean I can not be an organ donor?  I'll have to find out

#91 - 20 new recipes in the recipe box.  This one was easier than I expected it to be, thanks to the discovery of Pinterest!  I had printed a  bunch of recipes I wanted to try, and yesterday I brought my box and the recipes with me to work, and in my down time I copied over recipes! I am sure I have added more than 20 to my box since deciding on this challange, but hey, new recipes can't be bad.  I am going to make one of them (Mini German Pancakes) for dinner tomorrow night! :-D

List Edits

I was reading through my list, and realized that there were a few that were definitely not going to get done - they just aren't feasible.  So I made some changes, and made some updates.

#4- completed today! My bff from college saw my blog, liked the idea of the list, and decided to make one herself! Total win!

#14 - we aren't going to have enough extra money in the next year or two to go on a cruise, so now the new goal is to make the drive to Iowa at some point and visit Chris' parents. It is in the works, but we gotta make it happen

#53- instead of going a day without sweets, I want to give up sweets completely.  I am sick of how I feel when I go overboard, I am sick of the fact that once I start, I have a hard time stopping.  I don't need to be eating sweets, and if I can give them up, I can probably drop a few more inches.  Awesome.  Here we go

#78- can't do a change jar- we never carry cash.  So instead, I want to go a week without eating out.  We have a really hard time with that, and I think if we can go a week, it will get us on our way to stopping going out completely.

#82- send 20 "just because" cards- I don't know who I'd send them to, or when I'd send them... so instead I am going to write a list of things I like, one for every letter of the alphabet.  Not things I like about myself, just things I like.  A slight variation on my 100 things that make me happy, but here's the kicker - there can be no crossover.  Tricky tricky! :-D

#91 - Keep the address book updated- I am so anal retentive that wasn't really a challenge.  So I changed that to add 20 new recipes to the recipe  box.  I dont' normally go search out new recipes, and if I find them, I don't copy them down so we can try them.  So I want to change that.  New recipes, put them in the box so they are handy, and give them a shot.

#92 - Get addresses from school friends - again, not a challenge.  So instead, I made it a fun task.  Spend the day on the beach.  I probably won't get to do this one with Chris because he doesn't like to just lay there, so it may have to be a girls trip, but I am going to do it, going to make it happen. :-D

#98- Instead of having a 15 minute phone conversation in Spanish, I started a blog in Spanish to keep up the language.  I figure it is a better way to practice than just one phone conversation.  Oh the things that arise from the desire to write a research paper :)

Update time!

It has been way too long since I have updated, but life has been CRAZY. I had to print my list out so I could keep it with me in order to remember what was still on my list!

First goal on the list that I completed was "365 challange". I completed it June 30, 2011, but sadly, can't post my pictures because my computer runs so slow, it would take forever to get them on to my computer and then on to my Facebook. Ugh pain in the butt

Next, and probably the most exciting, was "get a full time job" July 1, 2011, my job went full time! The other secretary was forced to retire again do to some new rule about retiries not being able to work part time, something to do with benefits, I don't know, all I know is that I HAVE A FULL TIME JOB!! I am pumped

I also completed "Have a group of people visit" - over Spring Break (way back in March) a group of friends from our undergrad came down and spent a week with us. It was so much fun. I am glad they came, I am glad we did it, but I was glad to see them leave too. It was a little much in a 1 bedroom loft apartment lol

Next was "visit 3 new states" In January, I went to Louisiana, and then last week, I was in Washington (to visit Chris) and then Wisconsin (for a wedding). That was a total "oh yeah, that's on my list!" discovery. lol

"Take a walk in the dark with Chris" was completed on July 4th- walking back from the fireworks, hand in hand, taking our time. It was nice. We used to walk around campus after dark all the time in undergrad, and I miss that a lot.

Last goal completed is "get a professional manicure" That happened back in April. I have the best co-workers ever. The assistant coaches I work with decided they wanted to get me something to show how much they appreciate the help I give them, so they got me a gift certificate for a mani/pedi. It was fantastic. Totally going to have to do that again.

Goals I am in the process of-
~Read the Bible from beginning to end - still working on that one
~26 pictures, 1 from each letter of the alphabet- still working
~try 5 new foods I've never had- I got 2 done! I had sushi a couple weeks ago. Probably won't do it again. I also had dried mango the other day. Never had it, but will definitely have to do it again :)
~26 movies, 1 from every letter - still going...
~10 new recipes - half way done!
~Rewatch LOST series - I am on disk 2 of Season 2, and going to try to get through the rest of Season 2 tomorrow!
~100 things I like about myself - still working on that one. It is so hard!
~1000+ piece puzzle- that one got pushed to the way side... I need to pull it back out
~20 different type of cookies- I've got a few more to do

I currently have
44 completed
8 in progress
And a bunch more to go :)