THE LIST

So here it is....in no particular order
--- THE LIST---

1. Tweak and FOLLOW a monthly family budget
2. Get the kids passports (Printed out the paper work- 3/29)
3. Finalize our will
4. Organize and sell or donate kids clothes/toys we no longer use (this is going to be a work in progress, but have kids clothes organized in bins in the attic newborn-12 months and recently purged toy box and donated items)
5. Get at least one new stamp in my passport
6. Complete P90X again
7. Complete INSANITY again
8. Update and maintain Lexie's Birthday video
9. Create and maintain Olivia's Birthday video
10. Print Olivia's first year album
11. Get a pedicure with mom, Allison, and GG
12. Learn to use my camera (most if not all the functions!)
13. Blog everyday for a week
14. Take Lexie on a 'date' 6 times a year
15. Take Olivia on a 'date' 6 times a year
16. Go on at least 12 dates a year with Russ (
17. Play a round of golf with Gretel
18. Take the girls to Cedar Point
19. Make homemade ice cream like we used to at the lake when we were kids
20. Buy a nice pair of sunglasses (that aren't from Target-cost more than 5 bucks and keep them from the kids!)
21. Create a weekly meal plan for a month
22. Try 30 different recipes (1. Cilantro Lime Mahi,)
23. Create a new family tradition
24. Implement a 'no tv day' one day a week and stick to it for at least a month
25. Buy a new mattress (yes, even though ours is only 3 years old!)--purchased, anxiously awaiting its arrival!
26. Go room by room and SPRING CLEAN! (Dining Room, Spare Bedroom, Bath, )--Completed over the course of a few days--but DONE none the less!
27. Transition Olivia to a 'big girl bed' (Russ is ready to try now--I'm not willing to go there yet) 04/12/11
28. Back up all of our photos
29. Run a 10K or 1/2 marathon (IF i can get it approved by a doctor!)
30. Use my clarisonic 2x day for a month
31. Narrow down house plan designs---or design our own!! (Have it down to 8--it's a huge start considering the list started with 217)
32. Start/Organize "DREAM HOUSE" ideas binder (starting with all of the info from the Home and Garden show!) (H&G Show info organized! Binder is well underway!)
33. Send a package to a solider
34. Send a package to an unsuspecting friend
35. Set money aside monthly for 'that lavish little extra' for the new house
36. Donate 12 hrs of my time to a local cause annually
37. Get back to C-bus for an Ohio State game
38. Read 10 books (this may not seem like a big deal--but I rarely make time to read!) (Just started a great one by Dr. Lehman---will post more later!)
39. Try a new hobby
40. Host a holiday--Easter 2011,
41. Take the kids to Disney (Florida--since we already hit California)
42. Have a RAOK Birthday
43. Donate (or burn) my maternity clothes
44. Help someone with a project (working on curtains for mom's room and selling unwanted items for her on e-bay)
45. Compile design ideas for future rooms/new house from magazines, websites, sketches and file! (Started...stay tuned)
46. Start garden from seeds in new kit (Started indoor seeds on 4/3/11)
47. Transplant seedlings to garden late May/early June
48. Visit 3 cities in the US I've never been to
49. Take my mom on a date
50. Organize our filing cabinet
51. Clean out our closet!!! (Got a good start...just need to go through shoes and dresser)
52. Clean out garage--again! (4/10/11)
53. Have a 'girls' weekend
54. Host a party for someone--Easter Party/Play Date for MOPS 4/18/11,
55. Do something crafty with the kids for major holidays--dyed eggs for Easter,
56. Go to 5 concerts
57. Research and price out appliances (started file for kitchen appliances: Home Depot, Direct Buy)
58. Research/purchase something that uses an alternative fuel source (ie solar panels, wind turbine, or electric car)
59. See 10 'new' movies (either in the theater or rental!)
60. Take kids to an apple/strawberry/fruit orchard to pick produce
61. Go on a family vacation
62. Clean out the cubbie under the stairs in the basement
63. Re-caulk where molding has pulled away from the wall (Russ pulled away old/cracked caulk in stairwell 4/12)
64. Make more usable shelves in the basement storage closet
65. Fix corner bead in the kitchen/breakfast nook
66. Swap out photos in frames
67. Complete Olivia's first year frame before her second birthday!
68. Work on kids' baby books
69. Surprise someone
70. Plant flowers around the light post and mailbox
71. Build up the ground around front of the swingset
72. Stain Front Door (started--door is done, side panels done...just need to seal)
73. Buy-set up-and ENJOY a hammock!
74. Go to an antique store/auction
75. Create a travel 'bucket' list
76. Enjoy/use our place in FL--and encourage family and friends to do the same
77. Get involved in a community project
78. Donate more to charity--time, items, money if needed (first round of kids toys and unused bedding 4/13
79. Make a house 'schedule' and stick with it
80. Take a 'lesson'
81. Try 12 different local (greater Pittsburgh area) restaurants
82. Rent a house, villa or condo on the beach
83. Get away with Russ for a weekend
84. Send more 'snail' mail
85. Find local accountant/CFP/'money' manager (found Money Manager still looking for CPA)
86. Set up LLC or Sub-S for Real Estate Investments and another for Russ' medical contracts
87. Find and discuss different investment strategies with Russ
88. Read more political news/info
89. Find and organize different landscape designs
90. List house FSBO or with an agent (Placed FSBO sign in front yard and listing with HousePad-officially on the mls & completed flyer)
91. Keep in touch/visit my friends more often
92. Donate or purge anything we haven't used in the last 2 years...and no my mind doesn't count! (Good start-see#78, )
93. Organize all the closets (and use #92 as a guide on what to keep or not!)
94. Purchase/make window treatments for the master bath (it's been almost 3 years---I think it is time!)
95. Write a letter to someone that has had an impact on my life
96. Have a deeper commitment to my faith (Read more Christian based books, the bible, find a church I really connect to, watch services on Sunday if I can't make it to church ect) (3/27 Great message from Joel Osteen service, 4/3 Joel Osteen)
97. Prep(WITH HELP FROM RUSS) the house to put on the market and be in "Showing" condition--had our first showing 4/23/11
98. Stain/seal swing set with help from Russ
99. Give coupon-ing a try (Subscribed to the Post Gazette and a few websites---used coupons 3/28 at Giant Eagle--still a work in progress!)--Second attempt:spent 52 dollars but saved 20 with 10 more in additional coupons.
100. Make the kids Halloween costumes
101. Inspire 5 other people to create their own "LIST"

And SO It Begins!

Every once in a while, I find myself on random blogs of people I don't know. I guess, it is kind of like people watching---but in cyber space. Okay, well...maybe not, but it is interested to see different blog designs, layouts, what people post about etc. A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a random blog that really intrigue me...to the point where I spent an entire hour reading about this amazing woman and her life. A few days later, I found myself back on the exact same blog--rereading the post, and feeling more and more inspired.

The reason it was so inspiring was because it was real! Someone I didn't know, but oddly enough, someone I could really relate to! She has so many ideas, and thoughts, desires, things that filled her head...and was compelled to do something about them to make them happen. She started writing a list of things she wanted to do, see, accomplish...so as to hold herself accountable for them. Many of the 'things' were simple, some of them were challenging, others...just down right fun, and a few lavish, a few necessities...but all of them were things she really wanted to accomplish! She decided to write them all down---that way, she couldn't escape them---and rather than let things drag on and on and on...she gave herself a time limit...
101 things to do in 1001 days!

She made her list, published it on a blog, and is keeping it updated for all those would-be-blog browsers to see! AMAZINGLY INSPIRING---well, to me at least.

SO, I too am going to challenge myself--create my very own 101 things to do in 1001 days---because after all...who doesn't like a challenge???