Sunday, February 26, 2012

A Few More Things...

Apparently there is a new, updated Blogger interface for me to try out - has anybody given it a shot yet? I am hesitant to click on it, because I am reluctant to experience any and all change ;) Seriously though, I am still getting used to the changes to my Gmail Inbox from 3 or 4 months ago!

If you see any references to a "Thing 6" page for my blog, ignore them - that workout plan never really went anywhere, so I decided to free up some space along the top of the page. :)

I have updated my 50 book pledge page and you can click the link to see what I have read in 2012 so far - I have read 5 books so far, and have thoroughly enjoyed 3 of them! Not bad odds...

I also went through and updated my A-Z Challenge. I feel like there are probably a few more things I could put up there if only I could remember them!! ;) We'll see if anything comes to mind.

Anyways, if there are any new readers out there, welcome! For all you old readers (figuratively), thanks for sticking around!

I'm off now to do some writing for one of my things...maybe...or maybe I'll just play some Plants & Zombies for a little while ;)

~Until next time...

I have a blog? I mean... I have a blog!! ;)

Greetings dear followers, 
I apologize for my lack of blogging prowess in the last few months. I could get into all of the murky details, but I will try to spare you from them. To get positivity, you need to give positivity, so that is what I am going to try to do here... for today anyways ;)
I haven't given my list much attention lately, and for that, I am sorry. I love the idea of the list, and I love that blogging gives me a chance to write, something that I love but I always forget to make time for. 
I have made numerous changes to my list over the last 10 months, and I am sure that the changes will continue, but for now I am going to take a look at my list in general and comment on some of the new changes and adaptations that I made today. Hopefully it will entice you to keep coming back to read, and hopefully it will give me the kick in the butt I need to get back on track!
** Bolded entries are either started, in progress or about to be started, Crossed out entries are completed!

1. Get my debt under control
Realistically, I probably won't pay off all of my debt in next two years, but I think I can reduce it quite a bit. I have working on a budget with the help of the fabulous Janey Canuck, and so far 2012 is looking up. My main goals here are to reduce my debt load and to get out of overdraft. I think these are reasonable goals that I can achieve well before the end of my 1001 days!


5. Find a full-time job with benefits
Ideally this will be a teaching job within a public or catholic school board, but at the moment I am just thinking that a guaranteed, full-time job with benefits would be nice. 


6. Reach goal weight (128 lbs)
Apparently as I get older, I stop eating when I am stressed out. This resulted in losing another 7 pounds in the last few months, without regularly going to the gym. I am hoping to keep those pounds off, as well as lose the last 15(!!) I have to go with continued exercise. I love walking and can't wait for the spring to fully get here (daylight wise), and I have started going to Yoga/Bodyflow at the gym 3 or 4 times a week. This is helping both my physical body and my mental health, and so far, 3 weeks in, I am thinking it is something I can keep up with :)


9. Get rid of 101 things
My box of 101 things to get rid of has been sitting outside my door for 6 months. Oops! I am hoping to actually get rid of the things, and maybe add a few more things, on my holidays in April, so wish me luck!


10. Blog 2 times a month (minimum)
I need some incentive to remember to get on here, so here goes nothing!


12. Organize & back-up all computer files
I made some good headway on this when I got my new laptop in August, but it is starting to suffer again. Hoping to reach this goal by the end of 2012.


14. Go horseback riding
My students are starting a social skills/equine assisted learning program in a few weeks, and I am going for an introduction session this week. I am pretty excited about working and being around horses, and I hope that by the end of the program I get to ride one! If not, then I hope I can talk myself into some discounted lessons :)


15. Learn to play an instrument 
I have been going to a ukulele group a few times a month that my co-worker runs, and while I am awful, and hardly ever practice outside of class, it is fun, and I hope to be able to keep improving. I am getting used to reading music again as well, so I hope to pull out my keyboard again one of these days too :)


16. Take over my Dad's LOC in my own name
My Dad is amazing. No lie. The amount of times he has helped me out financially is ridiculous, but he always does, no questions asked (well, hardly any) Unfortunately I am worrying that this is taking a toll on him financially now, and so my first and foremost goal to complete in the next few months is to get the LOC I used and am paying off into my name. Cross your fingers!!


17. Go to Medieval Times
I am so excited! My school found out that they now offer kosher meals at Medieval Times, so we are going to go for our end of school year trip!!! I can't wait!


19. Research my family tree as far back as I can
I am debating whether or not to keep this on the list. We'll see...


20. Finance a new car
This may be a bit of a cheat, but hey - it's one of the big things that happened in my life in the last few months, and it's so nice to be able to drive around freely without worrying about the km's I am using!! 


21. Go on vacation with John
I felt this was a good thing to aim for. Plus, my new favourite past time is to look on the internet for places to go visit because I NEED A HOLIDAY!!! :)


23. Travel somewhere I need to learn 10 phrases in an different language 
There is just no way I am going to learn a new language in the next 600-odd days. This is way more realistic... for now, anyways ;)


26. Buy and wear a pair of stiletto heels
Remember those beautiful red stilettos I bought last summer? Me too... Will work on wearing them this summer!!


28. Get up when the alarm goes off every day for a week
This is a grand idea. Someday I will do this! I think about it a lot :)


29. Phone or visit my Grandma and Nonna once a month
In an ideal world, I'd visit or call lots of family members a lot more often. Someday maybe I'll do this, when I can afford the long distance. For now, I am just going to work on staying in better touch with my Grandma & Nonna :)




34. Learn enough yoga to be able to do it at home on my own
I am hoping that all of my yoga and bodyflow classes are going to help me with this goal! 


35. Write all my bad memories on paper, burn this paper afterwards
Someone recently told me that with the moon in Pisces this is an ideal time to do this! Hopefully I can reach this goal soon, I think I need it.


40. Become a regular at a Pub Quiz night
I gotta get back into this! 


49.  See 1 live music event a month
I did so well on this goal in 2011! 2012...nothing so far!! Need to get back on track soon!


50.  Create a nut-free version of Reese's Pieces for myself 
I attained this goal with soy-nut butter and mini chocolate bars, but I want to figure out a baked-type of version of this... 


55. Go to bed before 10:30pm for an entire work week (that means lights out!)
I may have attained this when JR was getting up at 5:30am for work in the Fall, but I didn't keep track... someday...


64. Plant, grow & eat an edible plant
I combined 2 goals into 1 for this... Will definitely need to move for this goal to happen, as I wouldn't want to grow anything outdoors where I am living now!


65. Get a job interview with a public/catholic school board Hamilton/Burlington area
Please, Please, Please, Please! Tell me how!!! 


70. Donate 1,000,000 million grains of rice
I really need to bookmark this website!!


77. Go on vacation with friends
Yup, I've got vacation on the brain!


86. Keep a plant alive for 6 months (unrelated to Thing 64)
I'm thinking about a peace lily, I liked the one I used to have in my house... again, need a nice apartment for this one. Basements are no good for plants!!


90. Complete a 50 Book Pledge in 2012
91. Complete a 50 Book Pledge in 2013
If I could do this in 2011, why not 2012 & 2013 too? :)


92. Eat or volunteer at Jon Bon Jovi's Soul Kitchen in New Jersey http://www.jbjsoulkitchen.org/
Hopefully this well help with Thing 18 ;)


101. Save $25 for each completed thing 
I will do this... I will!!!
I've completed 9 things so far... $225 won't be hard to save...right?! 




Stay tuned for February 2012's 2nd blog post... :)