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This seems like it would be an easy one to knock out of the park, that is if I did my grocery shopping without an antsy toddler in tow.
So when we were at Dick's Sporting Goods the other day (OK, yes, it's not a "grocery" store, but it is a store with a line to pay for goods), they needed to do a price check on one of my items. The cashier had to call a manager to the front, so I let the girl in line behind me go in front of me.
She said "Are you sure?"
I said "Yes."
She said "Thanks"
Pretty typical conversation for things like this.
All the while DH was keeping the antsy little one occupied so I didn't need to fret about making a break out of the store as fast as possible.
Nine more times of letting someone in front of me, and then this one will be done.
Earlier this week I went out wit the Margarita Mamas to a wine bar. The waiter was super friendly and managed the large group of women without breaking a sweat. Our water glasses were always filled, and those sharing bottles of wine always had full glasses.
I only had two glasses of wine, but when it came time to pay, I asked for a separate bill and left him a 100% tip.
OK, so it wasn't "technically" a restaurant, but it was still a place with wait staff. And even though my bill was rather inexpensive (hey, times are tough), I still left a big tip. I'm marking this one complete.
DH and I have always been what we feel are really good tippers. We leave 20% as a rule of thumb unless the service is super, super bad, then we leave 15% (there may have been one occasion where we left 10%). If the service is super, super great, we round up a bit passed 20% .
So my take away from Item #85 on my list is that on a rare occasion, when the mood is right, the service is exceptional, and we are feeling generous, a 100% tip can go a long way - not just for the server, but for us for making someone's shift at work.
January 26th
4th yoga class is done.
It was that memorable I forgot to post about it :) In all honesty, the instructor is very, very good. I'm just not the biggest fan of yoga yet. I have six more classes to go to see if I change my mind. I'm sure that after the tenth class, I will not be so strict with myself when 5:30a.m. comes around on Monday mornings and I need to get up for yoga.
The hardest thing for me besides balance and being flexible is remembering to breath correctly.
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Look at that beautiful pillowcase! When TemTem saw it, she said "Oh, pretty!"
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#61 - Floss often enough that the hygienist can see an improvement next checkup
Posted by Brooke Labels: #61My last dental cleaning was about 7 months ago. At this cleaning, they did one of those gum "tests" where they check how deep the pockets of your gums are on your teeth. I pretty much failed. They strongly recommend I have periodontal therapy done. However, my insurance was not going to cover it, and it was rather expensive. So I told myself that I would floss as much as I could and be diligent with the oral hygiene and see if I couldn't get my "test" scores to improve on my own.
I did not think at my cleaning appointment today that I would hear such good news. My scores were improved and they no longer are recommending the expensive periodontal therapy. They said that I am still at increased risk for gum disease and that I always need to keep an eye on this. But the hygienist also said she was super impressed with how well I did on my own! Yay!
I am not marking this one complete yet, even though I "technically" could do so. I am going to wait until my next 6 month appointment and make sure that I keep up with the flossing.
As a side note, I also learned today that my high scores on my test seven months ago could have been due to hormonal fluctuations because it had only been a month or two since I stopped breastfeeding.
I've got one family member signed up on Facebook, so I'm adding yet another task to the "In Progress" status.
Even though he resisted it at first, my brother joined Facebook. Well, let's be honest. I set up his account, filled out his profile, uploaded a bunch of pictures for him, and sent out a few friends requests.
And, like most people who get on Facebook, he seems to be enjoying it and is adding friends each day. He's even learned to post comments to other people's wall.
Next on my list will be to help my mom set up her account.
This task is now "In Progress" as well. The list of all family/friends birthdays that I wanted to gather has been compiled, and I even sent out the first birthday card this month too.
I will mark this task as complete after the first year, but I plan to continue sending cards out each year now that I have the list together.....oh, that reminds me, I think I still need to confirm two dates.
One letter off to a dear old friend. Not that she's old as in years "old", just that she's been a friend for a while and always lends a good ear.
Task is now officially "in progress".
I could technically mark this one complete, as I sent something small to someone unsuspecting last week. (And she sent the sweetest little thank-you note with money for TemTem to put in her piggy bank).
But I have an even better idea for someone else, so I'm going to keep this one open until I can get the other idea executed.
This is definitely a fun one!
So this is a rather boring goal, but a necessary evil. I mean, who really needs one lone pickle floating in a large jar in the back of the fridge?
Sometime last week I pulled everything out, checked dates on bottles, threw out old stuff, wiped down racks, and put everything back in place. I even pulled out the crisper drawers and wiped behind them as well.
It's much easier to clean the fridge in our place now vs the fridge in our house back in Michigan. This one is much smaller and does not have all glass shelves to get icky.
Now if only I could get to cleaning my car.....
January 19th
3rd yoga class can be marked off.
Yep, Monday morning and I hit the gym again for a 6:00 a.m. yoga class. The instructor is amazingly talented. She said something profound again about emotions, but I already forgot what it was!
I stink at yoga. I stink at breathing correctly. I hope that at some point I can catch on a wee bit and enjoy it.
I was doing so well. 13 days with no Internet purchases. That's probably a record for me. And it's super hard for me too. But this is also a super important one for us since I still have not found employment and need to keep extra spending to a minimum.
What was just so important that I had to purchase? I attend on a somewhat regular basis Metro Mom events in Dallas. The event I'm going to is presented by a local Professor and is called "Sensitive Parenting: Forming a growth-promoting relationship with your child." You can only pay for the event through PayPal, so it's most definitely an Internet purchase.
My goal for the rest of the month is still to make no more purchases, and then we move on to February and see what happens.
My first goal is complete!!
Did you hear that?
I almost forgot that I actually tracked this as one of the 101 Things I wanted to do until I re-read through my list today. And lo and behold, I did add it to my list and now I get to mark it as complete.*
I had to stop by the toy store last week to pick up a present for a birthday party we will be attending this month. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and I thought it would be a perfect day to go to the park with TemTem. I asked if they had any kites in stock, and we got a nice little one for $10.
Unfortunately, we had other errands to run that day and nap time was a must, so we never made it to the park. So this past weekend we made sure to head to a nearby park and test out our purchase. It was sunny and a little "chilly", but there was a slight wind that was great for a first-time kite flying experience. It was so much fun to watch DH show TemTem how it all worked (for the most part, I was busy trying to get pictures). She was really excited, for about 10 minutes that is! Then she had no more interest in flying a kite and wanted to run off and play.
* The good news is that the kite is in the back of my car and ready for more flights on the next perfect kite-flying day. So although this goal gets to be marked complete, it's not really a "one and done" type of goal. I'm looking forward to many more days like this for all of us. It's so much fun to experience these simple things with my kiddo.
January 12th
Second yoga class is done.
Let's just say I think I am the least bendable person on earth! I have no grace. Picture a big, burly football player in a ballet class. That's what I feel like!
January - Let's Pretend Elmo
Since TemTem received Elmo Live for Christmas from her Uncle Ryan and Aunt Tina, there was no reason to keep around the ill-fated Let's Pretend Elmo (I'll save the story that goes along with him for another day, as it would definitely place me atop my soap box). So I posted it on North Dallas Freecycle yesterday, and today the new owner picked it up for her grandson. I even put new batteries in it too! Funny thing is that as soon as I pulled it down and put new batteries in it, TemTem wanted to play with it. But now that it's gone (luckily she did not witness the transaction), I know she won't miss it. In fact, she's playing with Elmo Live right now. (If I hear that darn "Why is six afraid of seven?" joke one more time......)
January 5th
1st yoga class - check!
The instructor is in her mid-forties and has to be in the best shape of any woman her age (ok, not that far off from my age). She was so incredibly tone, but not crazy Madonna-muscular. If I could pick any body to look like, it would be this woman's.
Anyway, I digress. I am so not cut-out for yoga. Maybe it's just that I've never really done it (other than pre-natal yoga), and I need to give it a few more classes before I determining if I will like it or not. I'm so not flexible and I'm so out of shape. It's not very fun to try and get into some moves when your saddlebags or muffin top are getting in the way.
And holy wall of mirrors! I haven't looked at myself in a set of mirrors like that in ages, and I didn't recognize the person looking back at me. At one point, the instructor said something like "Open up your hips, as that is where you store all your emotions". And I was thinking the whole time, "Damn, I sure as hell have a lot of emotions stored up!"
I set this goal up as a monthly task, but I think I will be able to do this at least 2 - 3 times a month.
January
- Monday, January 5th - New recipe was a Rosemary Lemon Chicken. It came from my Healthy Cooking for Two recipe books. It was alright, but nothing to right home about. It likely won't become one of our regular meals. I did get to use fresh rosemary from my little rosemary tree that is on its last leg though!
- Tuesday, January 6th - Wow, we are on a role! Tonight's new recipe was much tastier. It was Creamy Dijon Chicken from my Lickety-Split Meals for Health Conscious People on the Go cook book (that's a mouthful). We had it with egg noodles and asparagus. Yum!
Well, with no Internet and no TV on Sunday night, and the alarm set for 5:00 a.m. so I could head to the gym, I managed to close my eyes around 10:30 p.m.! Wohoo!! I still needed a nap when TemTem took her nap because I am no longer used to waking up so damn early. I think once I start working again, this goal will not be hard to reach each week.
I can happily report this one as In Progress as well. No Internet for one day had to be the hardest thing for me! I have a little bit of an addiction problem (I won't tell you what I am doing while typing this). I even made a list of all the things I needed to do once I was "allowed" back on the Internet.
As hard as this will be for me each week, I know it's very important to "unplug" once in a while. It's good for me, even if it is a bit painful. I really need to learn to sit back and relax and enjoy the little things, and hopefully unplugging each week will make me remember the life that is happening around me!
My goal is not to only do this each week, but to also start to look forward to prying my fingers off the keyboard!
Yeah, I can mark this one as In Progress now.
Our first no TV day was Sunday, January 5th. TemTem is really into movies right now (against my better judgement, I know, but we are trying to limit it to one a day). So when she asked for a movie, we lied (bad parents) and told her we lost the remote control. We could not contain our laughter when she came running to us yelling "Yeah, TemTem found it!" DH had hidden it under a couch cushion, and I guess she was determined to find it! Still, we didn't cave and the TV stayed off.
It was a nice quite day, and I actually read a bit as well. It wasn't as tough as I thought it would be, and it definitely was an eye-opener as to how much we have the TV on for background noise.
I attempted to take a beginner sewing class tonight, but the class was cancelled due to not enough participants signing up. I'm rescheduled to take the class mid-month, which gives me a little time to try and dig my machine out of storage. I'm not even sure if it works, as it was a hand-me down from someone!
January 2008
DH and I went to see Revolutionary Road at the Angelika at Mockingbird Station. Overall well acted and well written, just a very tough, depressing movie to watch.
I have a confession to make. I think I may have messed up a little already on some of my "weekly" goals - all those goals where I said I wanted to accomplish X at least once a week.
If I follow the calendar weeks, Week 1 was Thursday, January 1st - Saturday, January 3rd, with Week 2 starting Sunday, January 4th. That means my first week I would have only had 3 days to complete several tasks.
If I follow my own "personal" Week 1, it would have started Thursday, January 1st and wouldn't end until this coming Wednesday, January 7th.
I think to give myself the benefit of it all, I may for the first week count my deeds through January 7th. And at the same time, Week 2 will start on Sunday, January 4th. So there will be some overlap and some things I will have to double up on this coming week to be on course.
Enough rambling!
I've started on a few tasks, but nothing significant enough that requires lots of attention. I've been caffeine-free and chocolate-free for three days now and am ready to go crazy! I've also (barely) remembered to take my vitamin each day as well. I went about doing an "eco-friendly" goal that I thought I listed but didn't, so I'm just giving myself a good pat on the back for changing most the light bulbs in the place so far to the energy efficient ones. And hubby and I went on a date this past Friday night. I think I will add a quick extra post just so I jot down the "date" logistics.
And the hardest thing I think for me to try and accomplish on this list is no internet once a week. I'm fully admitting that I'm addicted to the Internet. Every spare moment not with Temperance, I run over to the computer. It's sad. It's like a drug. I will have to work hard on this one!
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.
Why 1001 Days for Me?
I’m tired of creating the same old New Year’s Resolutions each year, that simply get pushed to the wayside come February or March of the New Year. I wanted to try something just a little bit different. I wanted to do something fun and challenging at the same time too. I decided to create a separate blog to track my goals on a regular basis. Talk about putting it all out there! I’m nervous and excited to start this project. Making this list made me stop, think, and evaluate who I am and how I can make “me” a better person.
Some of these goals just might not be attainable, but it’s all good. For every goal not reached, I will donate at least $2 (or more depending on finances) to a charity of my choice. Maybe I can inspire at least one other person to start his/her own list as well.
Inspiration
The 101 Things To Do in 1001 Days project was created by Triplux. I was inspired to get my butt in gear and give this a go by several fellow bloggers (Kameron @ A Wrinkle in Time, Heather @ Adventures of Aidanpod, and Liz @ Loving Mom 2 Boys). I did borrow many "things" from the lists of other bloggers :) My
Timeline
January 1, 2009 through September 29, 2011
The Key
Not Started
In Progress
Accomplished (with date)
My 101 Things to do in 1001 Days
Be a Better Me
1. Identify 5 bad habits and work on getting rid of them.
2. Identify 20 things I like about myself
3. Identify 100 things that make me happy
4. Make one new real friend
5. Visit 10 new churches
6. One day of each week, do not watch TV
7. One day of each week, no Internet, except as necessary for job search/work
8. Research & determine timeframe on becoming a surrogate
Be Knowledgeable
9. Read 20 books, any kind I want
10. Read 5 non-fiction books
11. Read 2 books with husband and discuss
12. Read Nikon camera manual
13. Read Sigma lens manual
14. Take a beginner sewing class
15. Re-hone my German skills
16. Learn how to use PhotoShop to edit pictures
17. Learn 50 countries, their capitals, and their leaders
18. Attend one blogging conference
Be a Family
19. Put daughter's postcards into a photo album
20. Buy a bicycle trailer for my daughter and go on a bike ride
21. Fly a kite in the park with my daughter
22. Take daughter berry picking at least twice
23. Have at least two family picnics
24. Dress up for Halloween with a theme for the family
25. Take daughter to her first movie in a theater
26. Take daughter fishing
27. Build a sand castle with my daughter
28. Search for beach glass on Lake Michigan with daughter
29. Teach daughter all 50 states and their capitals
30. Give daughter a sibling
Be Adventurous
31. Visit 3 new states or 1 new country
32. Date night with husband at least once a month
33. Attend a dinner/wine-tasting event
34. Host a party
35. Have a spa day with my sisters
36. Send a postcard to PostSecret
37. Participate in 20 Postcrossings
38. Watch 20 movies on IMDB's Top 250 list
39. Take a cooking class with a friend
40. Try one new recipe each month
41. Try one new restaurant each month
42. Watch the sun rise and set five times each
Be an Organizing Junkie
43. Organize my “Contacts” List and sync with my phone
44. Re-vamp the household filing system for efficiency
45. Back-up pictures on external hard drive once a month
46. Organize daughter's vaccination/medical file
47. Place at least one item on Freecycle once a month
48. Add jewelry to rider on insurance
49. Clean the fridge out completely once a month
50. Clean out my car once a month
Be Professional
51. Find a paying job
52. Find a paying job that I enjoy
53. Find a mentor in my field of employment
54. Teach myself to do pivot tables and vLookups in Excel
Be Frugal
55. No internet purchases for one entire month
56. No kid clothing purchases for one entire month
57. Organize bills through MS Money
58. Move 401K money from old employer into my Roth-IRA
59. Sign-up with a company to monitor credit report
Be Healthy
60. Take a multi-vitamin every day for 6 months
61. Floss often enough that the hygienist can see an improvement next checkup
62. Go caffeine-free (drinks) for 6 months (not chocolate)
63. Go chocolate-free for one entire month
64. Drink nothing but water for 1 month
65. No eating after 8:00 p.m. for one month
66. Make ****** doctor's appointment
67. Complete a ½ marathon
68. Fit back into my skinny jeans (even if they are out of style)
69. Go to bed before 11:00 p.m. at least once a week
70. Take ten yoga classes
71. Try 5 new exotic fruits that I've never had
72. Get serious about skincare
Be Giving
73. Pay for someone behind me in the drive thru
74. Participate in 2 volunteer opportunities
75. Send a hand-written note to a friend once a month
76. Send a gift to someone in the mail for no reason
77. Plan a girl's trip somewhere for my big sister's 40th birthday
78. Offer to babysit for my friends at least 5 times
79. Give up a parking space in a crowded lot to the person behind me
80. Let someone in front of me at the grocery store ten times
81. Put change in someone’s expired meter
82. Compliment ten complete strangers
83. Make 3 dresses to send to Little Dresses for Africa
84. Make a list of all family/friend birthdays and send them a card
85. Leave 100% tip at a restaurant for exceptional service
86. Put flowers on someone's grave who I don't know
87. Buy a gift for 3 children for the Christmas Angel/Salvation Army program
88. Convince someone to become an organ donor
89. Get two family members to join Facebook
Be Eco-Friendly
90. Go without a bag at the store or purchase an additional reusable bag if I forget to bring mine
91. Install 3 Smart Strip Power Strips in the house
92. Phase out non eco-friendly household cleaners
93. Plant one tree
94. Research and start using rechargeable batteries
95. Start composting
96. Use eco-friendly/cloth diapers for baby #2
Be a Memory Keeper
97. Take an “us" picture every month
98. Convert the first two year’s of Temperance blog entries into a scrapbook
99. Record Grandmother's and Grandfather's siblings names in one central location
100. Create a wall of photos for one room in the house
101. Keep a journal of my 101 completed tasks (blog)