My Holiday

I had a very nice Christmas this year. Relaxing and drama free! I loved spending it with my husband and family.

Christmas Eve
We went to my Grandma's home. She makes this FAB dinner. I look forward to it ALL year. She makes this incredible prime rib with all the yummy side dishes that go along with it. LOVED it! This year we did a white elephant exchange however, our family did not get the memo on the $5 price limit. So it was a little crazy with that part. With all the jokesters in the family....I thought there would be more "funny" gifts. Jeff (stepdad) gave an "old geezer" box. It was full of stuff older people might need. Canes, creams and stuff I don't want to imagine! It was so funny!

The rest of the evening was spent exchanging gifts, drinking and telling funny stories. Great, great night!

Christmas Day
I woke up to what has become a great Christmas morning tradition. Jeff makes this INCREDIBLE breakfast burritos. The sausage was fresh (literately....they bought a pig at the fair and had s/he butchard). Yes, that's right. Two fantastic meals right in a row. Then we did our next tradition....stocking suffers!!!! My parents go ALL out with these. Some useful, some, the same tradition every year. Any case, we love to do that. They gave me a WONDERFUL camera for Christmas!!

#60 - Buy a new camera on my 101 list! So I get to mark that off!!

Ryan's Parents gave me Wii Fit. Another fabulous gift that can help with #87 - loose 8 pounds. Great gifts padres!!!!

Ryan gave my an incredible gift as well. A Kindle. It will help me with #46 and #47. He is the best! I made out so good in the gift department this year!!!

My mom cooked a fabulous lunch. Super yummy with ham (yes, from the same pig) and all the yummy sides. Fantastic meal #3 right in a row.

After that, we went back over to Grandma's home to play some Wii bowling. I kicked @ss.

Overall, I had a WONDERFUL holiday. I am glad I got to spend it with my family, well except TiVO, my furbaby. We gave him special treats and a new goose toy. He LOVES it. I never seen him act this way with a toy. He has not put it down since he got it.

Hope all of yours was just as wonderful!

Christmas Wish

Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget.

With this thought, I wish you a very Merry Christmas, all the Happiest Holidays and all the luck the New Year could possibly bring to you.

List Progress....

#7 - Try 10 new restaurants (3/10)
Latte girls and I went to Sauce. It is owned by the same people of NoRTH. Fox Restaurant Concepts did not let me down, I loved it. I was reasonably priced (one pizza and two drinks it was $15). Great atmosphere, great service, fantastic pizza.....you can't ask for anything more! I give it 3.5 stars out of 4.


# 12 - Cook 10 new dishes (1/10)
I made shredded Green Chili meat in my slow cooker. It was delish and I will cook it again. Great for parties as well!

Recipe:
1 Chuck Roast (any size)
1 Small can of green chili
1 Small can of jalapeños
1/2 cup of water
1 onion (if you want)
Season with cumin and other stuff

Cook on low for 10+ hours.
Take the meat out and cut the fat and shred the meat.
Season with more cumin and anything else you want to through in the pot.



#97 - Use my cloth bags for shopping (4/15)
Used my bags twice this weekend!!!

Five Questions Friday (I know it is Monday)

1. Which boygroup did you like most in your teens?
I was in LOVE with New Kids on The Block.

2. Do you do Christmas cards, letters, photos, nuthin', all of the above?
Last two years I did photo cards. This year I made my own (see below post).

3. If you could meet one celebrity who would it be and why?
Martha Stewart. She is such a pro at EVERYTHING! I would love so much advice on cooking, baking, stationery, decorating and especially business stuff. LOVE MARTHA!!

4. Favorite thing to cook with (i.e. stainless, non-stick, Dutch oven, microwave, debit card...or, perhaps, a cauldron, etc.)?
Debit card!!! LOL! Love me some Chipotle! I do like to use my Crock Pot. I just wish I knew more recipe (Hint: I would like you to share some recipes please!)

5. What is the one thing you wear the most, besides your unmentionables?
Jacket. I am always wearing one. Yes, especially in the summer. It is 115 degrees outside and 72 inside. A little too cold for my liking.

#47 - Read 15 fiction books - Marley & Me

"A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. Status symbols mean nothing to him. A waterlogged stick will do just fine. A dog judges others not by their color or creed or class but by who they are inside. A dog doesn’t care if you are rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his. It was really quite simple, and yet we humans, so much wiser and more sophisticated, have always had trouble figuring out what really counts and what does not." - John Grogan on Marley the dog.


I just finished Marley & Me by John Grogan. Holy water works with the eyes.

Marley & Me was a wonderful book. I smiled, I laughed, I cried and I learned so much and realized that a relationship with a dog is absolutely wonderful and can add so much joy and love to your life. A must read, but with a box of tissues!!

Another book I read awhile ago was The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. GREAT book! Another must read. Especially for dog lovers. It was in the point of view of the dog, Enzo. Crazy, I know, but still worth every word. It was the first book after Twilight, that I found interesting and couldn't put down. To this day....I still talk to TiVO as if he knew what I was saying.

“In Mongolia, when a dog dies, he is buried high in the hills so people cannot walk on his grave. The dog's master whispers into the dog's ear his wishes that the dog will return as a man in his next life. Then his tail is cut off and put beneath his head, and a piece of meat or fat is placed in his mouth to sustain his soul on its journey; before he is reincarnated, the dog's soul is freed to travel the land, to run across the high desert plains for as long as it would like.

I learned that from a program on the National Geographic channel, so I believe it is true. Not all dogs return as men, they say; only those who are ready.

I am ready." Enzo, The Art of Racing in the Rain

Both of these books will yes, make you cry. But they will make you love life more and cherish the little things. Good or bad. They make you love your pets more and make them more apart of the family and your life....not to mention your heart. They make you feel grateful for the time you do have with man's best friend.

Go read both books and go adopt a best friend of your own. Arizona Animal Welfare League / SPCA is a great place to start!

101 Things in 1001 Days - Progress!!

#65 - Buy a "As Seen on TV" Item - Completed!

The only bad thing is, I bought it as a white elephant exchange item....so I can't say anything yet due to the blog stalkers in the family. It is half gag gift / half real present. I can't wait for the reaction....good or bad.


#4 - Send out Christmas cards for two years - 1/2 #67 - Make cards for friends and family instead of buying them. 2/5

I made all of my Christmas cards this year. I think they turned out super cute and fun! The theme colors were fire engine red with light green and matching envelopes in metallic paper. They have a little bow in front in the belly band. They turned out cute I thought. And yes, that is damask at the bottom. I like it and I am not afraid to admit that I heart damask!


Sorry about the quality of the photo. My camera has gone to electronic heaven. Hopefully I get my camera for Christmas!!! (Which takes off #60 - Buy a new camera. I totally forgot I had that on my list.)


#97 - Use canvas bags instead of plastic 2/15
Yay! I used them again! I need to keep one in my glove box so even if I run into Walgreens, I can use the bag.

Honest Scrap

I was given the Honest Scrap Award by Mya. So this means I have to share 10 Honest Facts about me, and then pass the torch to 7 other bloggers!

1. I usually sabotage most of the things I really want to do/accomplished. I don't want to fail, so I fail-on-purpose before I really get an opportunity. (Like the triathlon and school)
2. I am very sad that my dog, Tivo like Ryan more. I wish he treated us equal or at least pretended to care a little bit about me.
3. I find myself very odd that my two favorite shows of all time are Six Feet Under and Dexter (and it is not because I am a Michael C. Hall fan). It is all about death and horrible family dynamics.
4. I wish I was more motivated to do more stuff and get stuff accomplished. I have no clue why I am so lazy. I wish I can be more like Ryan.
5. I don't like leftovers and much prefer any restaurant food to a good home cooked meal.
6. I feel stupid when it comes to grammar, spelling and pronunciation. I can't do any of them and I don't know why. It makes me feel very ashamed and stupid. When people point it out to me....of course it is better and I need to know what I did wrong and maybe correct it. But a big part of me gets my feelings hurt and makes me feel sad and ashamed.
7. I HATE my hair and thighs.
8. I hold grudges.
9. I like to cry when I am driving home from work.
10. I wish I fit in more at work and had "friends", but I just really don't like a lot of the people I work with.

So I am not going to pass along to 7 people, however....I would love for 7 people to contact me and share their 10 Honest Facts!

Five Questions Friday

I know it is Monday.....somehow I always remember Five Questions Friday on Monday. It should be changed!!

1. Does Santa wrap the presents he leaves at your house?
He left them....I think I will do the same when I have children.

2. When is your "big" Christmas celebration...Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Tell us about it...
Christmas day. On Christmas eve, we would get to open one gift. However, I always masterminded the process of finding out what all the gifts were under the tree. I pretty much knew what 80% of them were. So when it came around Christmas Eve, I would open up one I really wasn't sure about.

I still to this day try to find out what the gifts are. I am REALLY trying VERY had not to cheat this year. Doing good so far!

3. Are you big on keeping tradition every year?
I really like going to my Grandma Shirley's home on Christmas eve. It is so much fun, plus she makes this INCREDIBLE dinner.
4. Do colored lights or white lights tickle your fancy?
I like the simplicity of white lights.

5. Do you decorate outside your house for Christmas?
Not at all.

#53 - Give out a “just because” gift to a friends/family

#53 - Give out a “just because” gift to a friends/family - COMPLETED!

I gave my BFF, Cathie an embellished business card holder. I know it sounds wierd, but I like business card holders and it usually isn't something people buy for themselves. Plus, she is just starting her own marketing business. GO CATHIE!!!!! The card holder is totally her. It is pink glittery thing with an embellished crown on it. I found this holder....it is not exact, but close.


I got it at Nostrums Rack! I also bought one for myself. Purple with a fleu de lis. LOVE THEM!


Another update on my list. Use my cloth bags for groceries. I had them in my car for over a year and only used them a few times. Even in the rain, I took a minute longer to get them out of my trunk. Let's just hope this is a new trend for me! Oh, Target gives you $0.05 back per bag. Every bit helps!

#7 - Visit 10 New Restaurants - NoRTH

#7 - Visit 10 New Restaurants.

Ryan, Cathie and I went to NoRTH. I LOVED it. It is fancy-pants Italian food. It is owned by Fox Restaurant Concepts. They created several restaurants in the valley and around the US. They are known for their upscale - modern designs that also translate into their food. A few other restaurants are Sauce, Olive and Ivy, Zin Burger, True Food, Wildflower and a few others.

I had their risotto with scallops. YUMMMMMMY! I wanted to be a person at Hells Kitchen. They always have risotto on their menu and I have never had real risotto before. My only complain was that the scallops was not cooked the way I ordered them. I ordered them medium and they came medium-rare. Ryan and Cathie very much enjoyed their meals. I give them 4 out of 4 stars!

5 Questions Friday

1. Favorite gift you are GIVING this year? I/we are not doing much this year (parents, In-laws). So I am going to say TiVO getting doggie behavior lessons. I am really wanting to buy blankets and sweatshirts for the homeless or care packages for the troops. That will be a great gift!

2. How many parties are you attending between now and Christmas? Not very much this year - three.

3. What is your favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night

4. Who was your favorite elementary school teacher and why? I don't have one that sticks out at all. I liked 3rd grade....but it wasn't because of the teacher. I liked my friends.

5. If you had a choice to live in any other period of time (other than now) what era would you choose and why? I would have liked to live in the 60's as an young adult. The music, the culture, the art, the drugs. I would have liked it.

101 Things in 1001 Days....Progress!

I have slowed down a bit, so I need to get focus!

#7 - Eat at 10 new restaurants. I have given up on Ryan participating in this, so I am going to "modify" my list to me trying 10 new restaurants. I am sure it is not allowed.

I went to K Sushi Bar Grill in Glendale with Mya for her belated b-day! I had such a great time with great people. The sushi was actually good and fresh. (I am kind of bratty when it comes to sushi....once you eat at Stingray....it is super hard to eat anywhere else.) The server lady was equivalent to the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. She yelled at us....we were scared. So I give K Sushi 2.5 stars out of 4!

Next new adventure will be: revo burrito in the Biltmore. Looks like it's the next Chipotle (my fav btw)!

#46 - Read 3 non-fiction books. I finished I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell by Tucker Max. Funniest book that I EVER read. My stomach got a work out for sure. After I was finished reading, I swear I had a six pack from laughing so much. The book was all about Tucker's life as a drunk, arrogant, walking STD a-hole that beds more women than I have ever heard of. He is about the rudest person on this planet, but loved every word! He is a person I would like to have known at 22 (the age in my mind that he is stuck at). I would have had such a great time listening to his crazy drunk ass stories. They truly are unbelievable. Just read the "Famous Sushi Pants" story and you can tell where the book is headed. He started a website years before the book: TuckerMax.com. You can check it out and read some of the stories. There also is a movie coming out soon.

#47 - Read 25 non-fiction books. I just finished A Touch of Dead by Charlaine Harris....Sookie Stackhouse series, AKA True Blood. It is book 10 and yes, I did read all 9 other books. This book is several mini stories within the series. It tells about the "gift" that Neill gave her or Claude's bar. It wasn't bad. I still crave more.....but hopefully it will hold me over until May when the final book comes out.

Next, I started: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

#77 - Pay off my auto line-of-credit. With the help of my generous, intelligent husband....I am finally able to pay it off this week!

#78 - Open a savings account and start saving for a new car. I am planning on putting away a car payment every month. So in 3-4 years....I'll have enough for a new car without owing on it.

5 Questions Friday

1. Are you a Black Friday shopper?
Negative! I can't even stand Wal-Mart on a Saturday morning.

2. What was your favorite childhood toy? (Think Easy Bake Oven, Cabbage Patch Kid, Shrinky Dinks, etc.)
I really liked my Barbies and Dolls and playing "house" with them. I did have a Cabbage Patch Kid that I really liked.

3. Favorite Christmas movie?
A Christmas Story. "You'll shoot your eye out!"
4. What is the "must have" item on your Christmas list this year?
I REALLY want a Kindle or some other brand.
5. Do you go all out with decorations or do you keep it simple and classy?
Simple and classy!

ABCs of Jamie

I stole this off of Jenni's blog. She always has the cutest posts!

A - Age: 29 (makes me sigh each time I think about it)
B - Bed size: King
C - Chore you hate: Laundry
D - Dog's name: TiVO
E - Essential start your day item: A shower
F - Favorite color: Purple, but lately it has been gray
G - Gold or Silver: Silver (or white gold)
H - Height: 5'2
I - Instrument you play: None....at all
J - Job title: Graphic designer
K - Kid(s): None, just TiVO and Gage
L - Living arrangements: I live with my husband, 1 dog and 1 fish
M - Mom's name: Jill
N - Nicknames: Jame or hey you
O - Overnight hospital: Once when I was in an accident. I spent a few days. I have been to the hospital for other reasons.
P - Pet peeve(s): smacking gums or chewing with your mouth open or slurping drinks.
Q - Quote from a movie:
"Can I go to the bathroom?"
"Don't belong."
"Don't belong?"
"No, don't be long." - Whole Nine Yards
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: 1 brother. I had a step sister and a step brother
T - Time you wake: 5:20am
U - Underwear: Yes of course
V - Vegetable you dislike: Peas
W - Workout style: Uhhhhhh? What is that you called "workout"? I don't understand the term....[looking it up in the dictionary] Aghhhh, yes, workout. Nope! Don't do it.
X - X-rays you've had: I whole bunch on my head and lungs and other parts of my body.
Y - Yesterday's best moments: Yesterday I had a day from hell. It was a horrible day! So finally getting home at 9pm and seeing TiVO and Ryan made my day.
Z- Zoo favorite: Monkeys! They are always so lively and funny to watch.

Betty Rocker

There have been eight paintings commissioned to date. But did you know Betty Crocker wasn’t a real person? Well, at least not one person. Instead, she was a composite of several of the company’s Home Service Department members meant to represent a motherly image. Over the years portraits have been commissioned to update her look with the times.

Bakerella made a quiz out of the portraits. So, let’s see how good you guys are at guessing.

Above are eight Betty Crocker portraits. Place them in the correct order from oldest to newest. You can go on Bakerella's website to answer the questions. The winner will win the new iPod nano … in rocking red of course. Betty likes red.

5 Questions Friday

I was so busy this weekend....I didn't get a chance to do the 5 Questions Friday.

1. What is your favorite "eat" on Thanksgiving?

I love me some mash potatoes and brown turkey gravy. I am not talking about the instant powered potatoes.....it want the ones with the occasional lumps of potato. I drowned my potatoes, turkey and stuffing in gravy. I also heart my grandmother's banana cream pie. I am very stingy when it comes to this pie. I HATE sharing it! I want the WHOLE pie for myself. I do and have thrown a monster, 3 year old type of fit when someone comes in-between my pie and me.

Thanksgiving is all about sharing....except when it comes to my pies!


2. What is the name your best girl friend and the best trait about her or how you met (or heck, both!!)

Cathie. She is such a giving person and puts everyone ahead of herself. She is also extremely intelligent and very driven. I met her in college.


3. What would you say is one of your "weirdest" quirks?

I smell everything. Seriously everything well, except poop. No go smell for me.


4. What is your favorite genre of music? (Hip hop? Classical? Rock? etc.)

Alternative, rock, soft-rock.


5. Are you a Night Owl...or an Early Bird?

Use to be a night owl. Now that I am old and have to wake up before the sun is up....I am becoming an early bird. Getting old sucks!


5 Questions Friday is provided by: http://fivecrookedhalos.blogspot.com/

Will this be in my near future.......

Will this be in my near future.......



Details coming soon!

5 Questions Friday

Jenni did this on her blog and I thought it was cute and good way to get to know each other. You can go on the blog at the and add your link to share your answers with the bloggers (its not working for some reason....post next Friday).

1. What is your dream job?
Kind of in it (graphic designer). But I would LOVE to open a bakery. I can't bake and I can't cook, but some how.....bakeries have been a dream business. Think Sprinkles.

2. What song could you play over and over?
Yellow Ledbetter by Pearl Jam. Great song, plus you are trying the entire time to figure out what the heck Eddie Vedder is saying.

3. Do you prefer to talk on the phone or text (or email)?
Email, but if I don't respond to it right away, then I forget.

4. What is your must have beauty product?
Chap stick and moisturizer. I like the Oil of Olay with spf in it.

5. What is your favorite Michael Jackson song?
Sorry....not a huge fan.....but highly respect the guy and defiantly an artist.

#88. Donate blood - Completed!

Yay!!! I was eligible. I was worried about everything, but over all, a million questions later, They had to test my iron levels, and they said I could donate! Hopefully they can use my blood.

#88. Donate blood - Completed!

Walk to Save Animals

Arizona Animal Welfare League and SPCA (http://aawl.org/) is my favorite charity for animals. They do so much work for homeless animals and abused or injured animals. This event is for the whole family, 2-legged and 4-legged. They will have several vendors out there. Lots of activities for kids and pets as well as shows. Ryan and I volunteered last year. This year we are going to do a little of both, walk and volunteer. I want TiVO to get photos with Santa.

Hope you all can make it and support AAWL / SPCA!!

Last year at the Petsmart walk, TiVO made out with a crap load of free stuff.

Walk Info: http://aawl.org/AAWL_walk_2009/Default.asp

You can sponsor Ryan, TiVO and I by going to: http://aawlwalk.dojiggy.com/denkes


WHEN:
Saturday, November 14th 2009, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE:
Tempe Town Lake at Tempe Beach Park (Map)

WHAT:
2K or 5K Pet Walk to raise money and awareness for the Arizona Animal Welfare League and SPCA. The Walk features exhibitors, demonstrations, food and activities for the entire family.

WHY:
For over 38 years, the AAWL / SPCA has helped thousands of homeless animals find their forever home. This is made possible with the help of our friends and partners just like you!Your participation shows the community you care and helps save animal lives.

Betty Crocker on Ryan's ass

I have the need to get all "Betty Crocker" on Ryan's ass.

I asked him to order me Martha Stewart's cupcake book. Will I make any recipes? Probably not or I'll make one and it will be an absolute disaster and never open it back up. But I have a strong desire to bake something. I am OBSESSED with bakeries right now. I just want to go out an buy one. Why? I have NO clue. I can't bake. I can't cook. But I really would love to do it.

Yes, I might be bat sh!t crazy.....the docs are looking into that.

Birth of the Internet - Uttered It's First Word Today

It was 1969 and a busy year for making history: Woodstock, the Miracle Mets, men on the moon -- and something less celebrated but arguably more significant, the birth of the Internet.

On October 29 of that year, for perhaps the first time, a message was sent over the network that would eventually become the Web. Leonard Kleinrock, a professor of computer science at the University of California-Los Angeles, connected the school's host computer to one at Stanford Research Institute, a former arm of Stanford University.

Forty years ago today, the Internet uttered its first word.

To read the entire interview with Leonard Kleinrock: Click Here

This is pretty cool because we read about him in school and studied it. The nerd in me thinks this is a really important day in our history.

Items #56 and #57 Checked Off! Cake Pops!

# 56. Bring in donuts for no reason to share at work
# 57. Bake and decorate a cake

#57 - So I decided that I am going to make cake pops!!! They look so easy to make. Found out how to make wedding cake pops and cupcake pops. Well, as all my baking stuff goes.....disaster! I found out what I did wrong at least. Hopefully next batch goes better.


#56 - I decided to give my co-workers the disasters of #57 for halloween. They are editable at least.

I will try to improve this technique. After all, I still have to complete #44 - Become self efficient as a stay at home mom and make my same salary (build a freelance business). Cake pops are the new cupcakes!

Happy 100th Post!

Happy 100th post!!!!!

100th post - 101 thins in 1001 days. Coincidence? I think not!

#28. Take three spontaneous day/weekend trips

# 28. Take three spontaneous day/weekend trips. Yay.....I completed a third of a task! Ok, I know I can't mark it off, but it is a biggie.....especially for me. I plan vacations.

Ryan and I along with his parents, Dave and June went to southeastern Arizona to Kartchner Caverns.

History:
In 1974 two cavers Tenen and Tufts were exploring the limestone hills at the base of the Whetstone Mountains. In a sinkhole they found a crack where warm air flowed out signaling the existence of a cave. They explored and found themselves in a pristine cavern. Over a period of four years they secretly explored the cave. In 1978 they told the property owners James and Lois Kartchner about their amazing discovery.

These caves only became publicly known in 1988 when the property was purchased by the Arizona States Parks in order that they were preserved and open to the public in a controlled way.

My Review:
LOVED IT! I have been wanting to go for YEARS now. We decieded to go to the Big Room tour. I would like to do the other tour sometime as well.

We started our tour at the informative Discovery Center which told us about the history of the cave and how the formations were formed. We then joined our guide for the tour. Passing through various airlock doors we entered the cave. The cave average temperature is 75+º F with 99% humidity so it felt like walking into a sauna.

The cave is home to several very unusual cave formations. One feature is a soda straw stalactite 21 feet 2 inches long which is one of the world’s longest. Also the cave has the most extensive deposit of brushite moonmilk which is a reaction of bats guano (poop) with the cave minerals to produce a white crystal. The cave is also the area for the first reported occurrence of “turnip” shields formations that look like small turnips and the occurrence of “birdnest” needle quartz formations.

Our guide was excellent in explaining how each of the different formations were occurring and also explaining the work the Arizona state was doing to preserve the caverns in as pristine state as possible. We now understood why there was no cameras, videos, bags, water etc allowed to be taken into the cave.

In two weeks, they are celebrating their 10th year anniversary. I would have liked to go to their celebration.

http://azstateparks.com/Parks/KACA/

My favorite formation: Bacon or Sheets

We also when to Tombstone, Arizona. We walked around the shops and toured the courthouse museum. I was bored out of my mind. I would like to go back when I had a better attitude and wasn't so exhausted. I just wanted to go home.

The Day Zero Project - 101 in 1001 days

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.

My Day zero Project starts October 23rd, 2009 and ends on August 5, 2012.

MY LIST

Family
1. Finish our wedding album
2. Finish scrapbook of wedding
3. Get pregnant (Way after my 30th Birthday)
4. Send out Christmas cards (0/2)
5. Visit a church
6. Get a family professional portrait
7. Try 10 new restaurants with Ryan (0/10)
8. No takeout for an entire week (0/5)
9. Learn to make 4 different sauces (0/4)
10. Host Christmas or Thanksgiving
11. Slow dance with Ryan
12. Cook 15 new dishes (0/15)
13. Attend a concert
14. Remodel / Redecorate Living room
15. Remodel / Redecorate 2nd guest room (Baby’s room)
16. Remodel / Redecorate Powered room
17. Go hiking with TiVO
18. Bake a treat for TiVO
19. Surprise Ryan
20. Teach TiVO a new trick or behavior


Travel
21. Take a vacation outside of the U.S.
22. Visit New York City
23. Visit Los Angeles
24. Go to 4 new cities (0/4)
25. Go somewhere tropical to swim in the ocean
26. Take a cruise
27. Have a girl’s weekend
28. Take three spontaneous day/weekend trips (0/3)
29. Attend and participate in the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas
30. Go to a theme park
31. Visit an aquarium
32. Go to at least one of the Seven NATURAL World Wonders (Mt. Everest, The Great Barrier Reef, The Grand Canyon, Victoria Falls, The Harbor of Rio de Janeiro, Paricutin Volcano, The Northern Lights)
33. Learn to say “thank you” in ten languages (3/10)
34. Hot Air Balloon Ride
35. Go to a comedy club
36. See a play / show live
37. Ride Phoenix’s light rail


Just for me / because
38. Throw myself a 30th birthday party
39. Get a website design degree
40. Get A’s for 2 semesters (0/2)
41. Take a non-course class
42. Build a website portfolio with eight sites (0/8)
43. Build a promotion site
44. Become self efficient as a stay at home mom and make my same salary (build a freelance business)
45. Renew my passport
46. Read three non-fiction books (0/3)
47. Read 25 fiction books (0/25)
48. Learn to knit
49. Knit something
50. Go to a day spa and get the works
51. Get Scuba Certified
52. Paint 4 new paintings (0/4)
53. Give out five “just because” gifts to friends/family (0/5)
54. Host a dinner party for friends
55. Host a game night for friends
56. Bring in donuts for no reason to share at work
57. Bake and decorate a cake
58. Say yes when I rather say no 10 times (0/10)
59. Do something with my wedding dress
60. Buy a nice camera
61. Fix Chinese iPod
62. Get a reading from a psychic
63. Do something by myself (i.e. dinner or movies – NOT lunches)
64. Accessorize my outfits for work (0/30)
65. Buy an “as-seen-on-TV” product
66. Carve a pumpkin
67. Make and send cards to my friends/family at least 15 times (0/15)
68. Make a new friend
69. Stop cussing for seven days straight (0/7)
70. Learn a new board game or card game


Money
71. Win a poker tournament
72. Make a will
73. Make Ryan make a will
74. Make a financial will list
75. Once pg, start a baby savings account
76. Buy lottery tickets twice a week for a month (0/8)
77. Pay off auto LOC
78. Open a special account for a new car and contribute monthly (0/17)
79. Pay down half of student loan


Blog
80. Blog at least once a week for 52 weeks (0/52)
81. Re-design blog
82. Inspire someone to do a 101 in 1001
83. Blog about each task completed (0/101)


Health
84. Take a multivitamin for 30 days (0/30)
85. Go to the gym twice a week for 10 weeks (0/10)
86. Take a class at the gym once a month (0/12)
87. Lose eight pounds


Random acts of kindness
88. Donate blood (if doctor allows it)
89. Volunteer for an organization (0/3)
90. Bring food to a homeless person
91. Send a care package to a soldier
92. Buy items to donate to shelter (i.e. blankets, formula)
93. Donate food to local food bank (0/3)
94. Purchase Christmas presents for a needy family
95. Pay for the car behind me in the drive-thru
96. Give money to a random street musician


Going Greener
97. Use my cloth bags for shopping (0/25)
98. Blog about our solar panel bills to inspire some to get solar panels
99. Start a garden


100. Celebrate day 1001
101. Make a new 101/1001 list

For more information, visit Day Zero Project.


If I have inspired you, please let me know (after all, it is one of my list items).

Some common goal setting tips:
1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.
2. Stay Focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.
3. Welcome Failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.
4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.
5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.