101 in 1001: Winter Update

It’s SPRING!!! Yay. I really need some sunshine and we got a beautiful 70+ degree day yesterday. Love it!

This Winter was a really big drag. I really picked up on yoga and working out to get some energy. Spring is my favorite season b/c:

1. Outdoor seating!
2. Longer Days
3. You start see more friends as they come out of winter hibernation
4. It’s my BDAY in May! 🙂

Soo…here’s my progress for 101 in 1001. Not too shabby considering my level of motivation this Winter. I got some good reading, cooking and documentaries in.  I would highly recommend reading The Martian and the documentary, Abstract Design (on Netflix).

I did have a modified goal (22) this winter– I realized that I will not be in town for Pimlico so instead I will count my trip to the Daytona 500 as a replacement experience. Though I never planned to go it was similar to Pimlico as it was something that I have never experienced before. Both very east coast/southern things that I just never experienced living in the PNW. That’s me at DEWALT Experience in the Fan Zone. Staying #DEWALTTough as always.

Personal

1. Start and finish 101 in 1001
2. Deactivate Facebook (January 1, 2015)
3. See 2 Broadway plays (Dirty Dancing, Phantom of the Opera)
4. Go to 5 different museums (Walter’s Art Museum, Milwaukee Art Museum, American Visionary Art Museum, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, B&O Railroad Museum)
5. Travel to NYC (January 2015)
6. Send 3 people unexpected care packages
7. Go to an NFL game
8. Visit a family member who I have yet to visit
9. Go to a winery
10. Read 25 books (Unbroken, The Tipping Point, Born to Run, Girl on a Train, The Great Gatsby, Never Let Me Go, Beautiful Boy, Modern Romance, Tender is the Night, The Secret History, Big Little Lies, Brave Enough, Torch, Room, The Wind Up Bird Chronicle, The Husband’s Secret, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, I am Malala, Luckiest Girl Alive, The Martian)
11. Read all the books written by one author – I read all of Cheryl Strayed’s books! She is excellent!
12. Pay off my car
13. Volunteer for an organization (Hackerman Patz House, Sinai Hospital)
14. Get new glasses
15. Plan 3 weekend getaway trips (NYC in February, Outer Banks North Carolina, Lake Ariel, PA)
16. Host a dinner club
17. Create a lean closet (January 25, 2015)
18. Take a cooking class
19. Try vegetarianism for a month
20. Go to 3 concerts (Kiran Ahuwalia, Taking Back Sunday, Global Citizen Concert in D.C.)
21. Go camping – Check out my post about my backpacking trip!
22. Go to Pimlico horse race – MODIFIED
23. Travel to 2 new cities (Kitty Hawk, NC, Oranjestad, Aruba)
24. Go to brunch with bottomless mimosas
25. Make homemade ice cream
26. Go to a TED conference
27. Take a self-defense class
28. Invest in 12 new coffee table books (The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up)
29. Learn how to fish tale braid
30. Do a headstand in yoga
31. Stay with 5, 2 more airbnb hosts
32. Visit an amusement park (Zoo in D.C.)
33. Get a massage/spa day
34. Purchase a nice camera
35. Lose 10 lbs
36. Find some plants for my apartment
37. Send 30 handwritten notes/letters (30/30)
38. Clean up iTunes library
39. Join or start a book club
40. Make 2 new friends in Baltimore
41. Order mussels at a restaurant
42. Develop interests in 2 random topics/subjects (Watercoloring, Blogging)
43. Purchase decorative pillows and a nice throw
44. Create a time capsule to be opened at age 30
45. Create a list of all the US States I have visited and states that I have yet to visit  See my post about it here.
46. Watch a Ted talk a day for 2 weeks
47. Sell something on Etsy
48. Purchase something on Etsy
49. Participate/Comment on an article on the NYT
50. Travel to Europe
51. Watch 15 seasons of TV (Orange is the New Black 1-3, Broad City Season 2, House of Cards Season 3, Silicon Valley Season 2, Game of Thrones Season 5, True Detective Season 2, The Wire 1-5, Mad Men 1, United States of Tara 1-3)
52. Purge on beauty products; only keep what is needed and used
53. Learn how to do my own eyebrows
54. Make 10 OpenTable Reservations (Blue Agave, The Food Market, City Cafe, The Helmand, Woodberry Kitchen, Iron Rooster, Mission, Cazbar, Tabard’s Inn, Cafe Deluxe)
55.  Save $10 for every item completed on this list
56. Reread all the Harry Potter books
57. Watch all of The Lord of the Rings movies
58. Watch all movies that won best picture of the last 10 years
59. Watch 10 documentaries (Dark Girls, Citizenfour, Nature, The Minimalists, Abstract Design)
60. Go to a speakeasy
61. Visit a upscale thrift shop – The Zone
62. Go to a poetry or story slam
63. Write 6 product reviews (6/6)
64. Make a friend through blogging

Professional

65. Learn to use Adobe Illustrator
66. Increase twitter followers to 300
67. Get a promotion at work – WOOO!
68. Take the GMAT –Took GRE instead but July 2nd!
69. Invest money (January 28, 2015)
70. Attend a conference
71. Make business cards
72. Become a mentor to someone
73. Take a online class or certification
74. Complete at least 50 posts on my blog (50/50)
75. Transition blog to a self hosted domain
76. Earn a bonus at work
77. Create a style guide for blog

Creative

78. Take a calligraphy class
79. Start a lifestyle blog (January 11, 2015)
80. Oil paint on canvas
81. Make 25 new foods from cookbooks (Cauliflower and Pea Bhaji,Pressed Tofu, Tomato Garlic Tortellini Soup, Chili con Elote, Gazpacho, Aioli Sauce, Brazilian Salsa, Moosewood Lasagne x 2, Mushroom and Broccoli Casserole, Caramelized Garlic Tart, Mushroom Ragout with Poached Eggs, Brussell Sprouts in Cream, Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies, Double Chocolate Cookies, Roasted Red Tomato Sauce, Minestrone Soup, Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie, Macaroni and Cheese, Buttermilk Pancakes, Home Fries, Oven Baked BBQ Chicken, Green Bean Shiitake Stir Fry, Paprika & Garlic Mashed Potatoes)
82. Learn to make pasta
83. Take an interior design class
84. Do 5 Pinterest DIY projects (Bird House, Lavendar Goat Milk Soap, Watercolor Desk Frames)
85. Write a travel story
86. Paint with watercolors
87. Create a stamp of my own
88. Attend a glassblowing workshop
89. Re-create resume in a creative format
90. Make a book on blurb
91. Find a doodling book and doodle everyday for a month
92. Conduct 5 photography shoots

Health

93. Join a pool for lap swimming
94. Stop drinking for 1 month
95. Meditate once a day for 1 month
96. Try fasting or a cleanse
97. Do a yoga retreat  This is a modified goal. Instead of doing a yoga retreat, I decided to join Corepower, a yoga studio in Federal Hill. Read about it here!
98. Drink green tea instead of coffee for 2 months
99. Start using natural and sulfate free shampoo 
100. Stop washing my hair everyday
101. Hike a trail in a national park (Arikok National Park, Aruba)

I’m going to keep on keeping on with this list. It’s crunch time!

101 in 1001: Fall Update

I’m slowly accepting the fact that we are fully into Winter. So, here’s my progress for the Fall. It’s going slowly but surely!

Personal

1. Start and finish 101 in 1001
2. Deactivate Facebook (January 1, 2015)
3. See 2 Broadway plays (Dirty Dancing, Phantom of the Opera)
4. Go to 5 different museums (Walter’s Art Museum, Milwaukee Art Museum, American Visionary Art Museum, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, B&O Railroad Museum)
5. Travel to NYC (January 2015)
6. Send 3 people unexpected care packages
7. Go to an NFL game
8. Visit a family member who I have yet to visit
9. Go to a winery
10. Read 25 books (Unbroken, The Tipping Point, Born to Run, Girl on a Train, The Great Gatsby, Never Let Me Go, Beautiful Boy, Modern Romance, Tender is the Night, The Secret History, Big Little Lies, Brave Enough, Torch, Room, The Wind Up Bird Chronicle, The Husband’s Secret, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, I am Malala)
11. Read all the books written by one author – I read all of Cheryl Strayed’s books! She is excellent!
12. Pay off my car
13. Volunteer for an organization (Hackerman Patz House, Sinai Hospital)
14. Get new glasses
15. Plan 3 weekend getaway trips (NYC in February, Outer Banks North Carolina, Lake Ariel, PA)
16. Host a dinner club
17. Create a lean closet (January 25, 2015)
18. Take a cooking class
19. Try vegetarianism for a month
20. Go to 3 concerts (Kiran Ahuwalia, Taking Back Sunday, Global Citizen Concert in D.C.)
21. Go camping – Check out my post about my backpacking trip!
22. Go to Pimlico horse race
23. Travel to 2 new cities (Kitty Hawk, NC, Oranjestad, Aruba)
24. Go to brunch with bottomless mimosas
25. Make homemade ice cream
26. Go to a TED conference
27. Take a self-defense class
28. Invest in 12 new coffee table books (The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up)
29. Learn how to fish tale braid
30. Do a headstand in yoga
31. Stay with 5, 2 more airbnb hosts
32. Visit an amusement park (Zoo in D.C.)
33. Get a massage/spa day
34. Purchase a nice camera
35. Lose 10 lbs
36. Find some plants for my apartment
37. Send 30 handwritten notes/letters (30/30)
38. Clean up iTunes library
39. Join or start a book club
40. Make 2 new friends in Baltimore
41. Order mussels at a restaurant
42. Develop interests in 2 random topics/subjects (Watercoloring, Blogging)
43. Purchase decorative pillows and a nice throw
44. Create a time capsule to be opened at age 30
45. Create a list of all the US States I have visited and states that I have yet to visit  See my post about it here.
46. Watch a Ted talk a day for 2 weeks
47. Sell something on Etsy
48. Purchase something on Etsy
49. Participate/Comment on an article on the NYT
50. Travel to Europe
51. Watch 15 seasons of TV (Orange is the New Black 1-3, Broad City Season 2, House of Cards Season 3, Silicon Valley Season 2, Game of Thrones Season 5, True Detective Season 2, The Wire 1-5, Mad Men 1, United States of Tara 1-3)
52. Purge on beauty products; only keep what is needed and used
53. Learn how to do my own eyebrows
54. Make 10 OpenTable Reservations (Blue Agave, The Food Market, City Cafe, The Helmand, Woodberry Kitchen, Iron Rooster, Mission, Cazbar, Tabard’s Inn, Cafe Deluxe)
55.  Save $10 for every item completed on this list
56. Reread all the Harry Potter books
57. Watch all of The Lord of the Rings movies
58. Watch all movies that won best picture of the last 10 years
59. Watch 10 documentaries (Dark Girls, Citizenfour, Nature)
60. Go to a speakeasy
61. Visit a upscale thrift shop – The Zone
62. Go to a poetry or story slam
63. Write 6 product reviews (6/6)
64. Make a friend through blogging

Professional

65. Learn to use Adobe Illustrator
66. Increase twitter followers to 300
67. Get a promotion at work – WOOO!
68. Take the GMAT –Took GRE instead but July 2nd!
69. Invest money (January 28, 2015)
70. Attend a conference
71. Make business cards
72. Become a mentor to someone
73. Take a online class or certification
74. Complete at least 50 posts on my blog (50/50)
75. Transition blog to a self hosted domain
76. Earn a bonus at work
77. Create a style guide for blog

Creative

78. Take a calligraphy class
79. Start a lifestyle blog (January 11, 2015)
80. Oil paint on canvas
81. Make 25 new foods from cookbooks (Cauliflower and Pea Bhaji,Pressed Tofu, Tomato Garlic Tortellini Soup, Chili con Elote, Gazpacho, Aioli Sauce, Brazilian Salsa, Moosewood Lasagne, Mushroom and Broccoli Casserole, Caramelized Garlic Tart, Mushroom Ragout with Poached Eggs, Brussell Sprouts in Cream, Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies, Double Chocolate Cookies, Roasted Red Tomato Sauce, Minestrone Soup, Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie, Macaroni and Cheese, Buttermilk Pancakes, Home Fries)
82. Learn to make pasta
83. Take an interior design class
84. Do 5 Pinterest DIY projects (Bird House, Lavendar Goat Milk Soap, Watercolor Desk Frames)
85. Write a travel story
86. Paint with watercolors
87. Create a stamp of my own
88. Attend a glassblowing workshop
89. Re-create resume in a creative format
90. Make a book on blurb
91. Find a doodling book and doodle everyday for a month
92. Conduct 5 photography shoots

Health

93. Join a pool for lap swimming
94. Stop drinking for 1 month
95. Meditate once a day for 1 month
96. Try fasting or a cleanse
97. Do a yoga retreat  This is a modified goal. Instead of doing a yoga retreat, I decided to join Corepower, a yoga studio in Federal Hill. Read about it here!
98. Drink green tea instead of coffee for 2 months
99. Start using natural and sulfate free shampoo 
100. Stop washing my hair everyday
101. Hike a trail in a national park (Arikok National Park, Aruba)

101 in 1001: Summer Update

Holy smokes! It’s officially FALL and October! Where has this year gone ? I made some progress on my list but the going is slow. It’s time for the hard stuff! Let’s get to it!

Personal

1. Start and finish 101 in 1001
2. Deactivate Facebook (January 1, 2015)
3. See 2 Broadway plays (Dirty Dancing, Phantom of the Opera)
4. Go to 5 different museums (Walter’s Art Museum, Milwaukee Art Museum, American Visionary Art Museum, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, B&O Railroad Museum)
5. Travel to NYC (January 2015)
6. Send 3 people unexpected care packages
7. Go to an NFL game
8. Visit a family member who I have yet to visit
9. Go to a winery
10. Read 25 books (Unbroken, The Tipping Point, Born to Run, Girl on a Train, The Great Gatsby, Never Let Me Go, Beautiful Boy, Modern Romance, Tender is the Night, The Secret History, Big Little Lies, Brave Enough, Torch, Room, The Wind Up Bird Chronicle, The Husband’s Secret, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up)
11. Read all the books written by one author – I read all of Cheryl Strayed’s books! She is excellent!
12. Pay off my car
13. Volunteer for an organization (Hackerman Patz House, Sinai Hospital)
14. Get new glasses
15. Plan 3 weekend getaway trips (NYC in February, Outer Banks North Carolina, Lake Ariel, PA)
16. Host a dinner club
17. Create a lean closet (January 25, 2015)
18. Take a cooking class
19. Try vegetarianism for a month
20. Go to 3 concerts (Kiran Ahuwalia, Taking Back Sunday, Global Citizen Concert in D.C.)
21. Go camping – Check out my post about my backpacking trip!
22. Go to Pimlico horse race
23. Travel to 2 new cities (Kitty Hawk, NC, Oranjestad, Aruba)
24. Go to brunch with bottomless mimosas
25. Make homemade ice cream
26. Go to a TED conference
27. Take a self-defense class
28. Invest in 12 new coffee table books (The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up)
29. Learn how to fish tale braid
30. Do a headstand in yoga
31. Stay with 5,3 more airbnb hosts
32. Visit an amusement park (Zoo in D.C.)
33. Get a massage/spa day
34. Purchase a nice camera
35. Lose 10 lbs
36. Find some plants for my apartment
37. Send 30 handwritten notes/letters (24/30)
38. Clean up iTunes library
39. Join or start a book club
40. Make 2 new friends in Baltimore
41. Order mussels at a restaurant
42. Develop interests in 2 random topics/subjects (Watercoloring, Blogging)
43. Purchase decorative pillows and a nice throw
44. Create a time capsule to be opened at age 30
45. Create a list of all the US States I have visited and states that I have yet to visit  See my post about it here.
46. Watch a Ted talk a day for 2 weeks
47. Sell something on Etsy
48. Purchase something on Etsy
49. Participate/Comment on an article on the NYT
50. Travel to Europe
51. Watch 15 seasons of TV (Orange is the New Black 1-3, Broad City Season 2, House of Cards Season 3, Silicon Valley Season 2, Game of Thrones Season 5, True Detective Season 2, The Wire 1-5, Mad Men 1, United States of Tara 1-3)
52. Purge on beauty products; only keep what is needed and used
53. Learn how to do my own eyebrows
54. Make 10 OpenTable Reservations (Blue Agave, The Food Market, City Cafe, The Helmand, Woodberry Kitchen, Iron Rooster, Mission, Cazbar, Tabard’s Inn, Cafe Deluxe)
55.  Save $10 for every item completed on this list
56. Reread all the Harry Potter books
57. Watch all of The Lord of the Rings movies
58. Watch all movies that won best picture of the last 10 years
59. Watch 10 documentaries (Dark Girls, Citizenfour, Nature)
60. Go to a speakeasy
61. Visit a upscale thrift shop
62. Go to a poetry or story slam
63. Write 6 product reviews (6/6)
64. Make a friend through blogging

Professional

65. Learn to use Adobe Illustrator
66. Increase twitter followers to 300
67. Get a promotion at work
68. Take the GMAT –Took GRE instead but July 2nd!
69. Invest money (January 28, 2015)
70. Attend a conference
71. Make business cards
72. Become a mentor to someone
73. Take a online class or certification
74. Complete at least 50 posts on my blog (50/50)
75. Transition blog to a self hosted domain
76. Earn a bonus at work
77. Create a style guide for blog

Creative

78. Take a calligraphy class
79. Start a lifestyle blog (January 11, 2015)
80. Oil paint on canvas
81. Make 25 new foods from cookbooks (Cauliflower and Pea Bhaji,Pressed Tofu, Tomato Garlic Tortellini Soup, Chili con Elote, Gazpacho, Aioli Sauce, Brazilian Salsa, Moosewood Lasagne, Mushroom and Broccoli Casserole, Caramelized Garlic Tart, Mushroom Ragout with Poached Eggs, Brussell Sprouts in Cream, Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies, Double Chocolate Cookies, Roasted Red Tomato Sauce)
82. Learn to make pasta
83. Take an interior design class
84. Do 5 Pinterest DIY projects (Bird House, Lavendar Goat Milk Soap)
85. Write a travel story
86. Paint with watercolors
87. Create a stamp of my own
88. Attend a glassblowing workshop
89. Re-create resume in a creative format
90. Make a book on blurb
91. Find a doodling book and doodle everyday for a month
92. Conduct 5 photography shoots

Health

93. Join a pool for lap swimming
94. Stop drinking for 1 month
95. Meditate once a day for 1 month
96. Try fasting or a cleanse
97. Do a yoga retreat  This is a modified goal. Instead of doing a yoga retreat, I decided to join Corepower, a yoga studio in Federal Hill. Read about it here!
98. Drink green tea instead of coffee for 2 months
99. Start using natural and sulfate free shampoo 
100. Stop washing my hair everyday
101. Hike a trail in a national park (Arikok National Park, Aruba)

101 in 1001: Spring Update

Spring has come and gone. It really didn’t feel like Spring this year. It went from cold to all of a sudden summer temperatures. We are in the middle of the summer heat and humidity now so the AC has been put to good use.

My overall progress is ok with my 101 in 1001 list. I started completing some of the more difficult tasks such as, avoiding coffee in the mornings but, I still have a long way to go. I have completed 47 out of 101 things in and I am about 547 days into my challenge. A little shy of halfway

The most recently completed items are crossed out in red. Here are the highlights-

I read a few more books this spring–The Wind Up Bird Chronicle and The Husband’s Secret. The Wind Up Bird Chronicle was one my favorite books I’ve ever read! Stay tuned for a book review! I also read The Husband’s Secret and it was ok. Everyone I’ve talked to said it was a page turner–which it was–but it wasn’t anything super special or suspenseful. If you need a quick beach read then this will do. If you do like Moriarty’s style, her other book, Big Little Lies is much better. It’s also coming out as a HBO miniseries.

I was particularly happy that I got to cross of the TED conference. I thought I had missed the only one in Baltimore this year but I was lucky to attend the TEDxJHU. It was really exciting to see local experts talk about their passion projects. I was particularly interested in  Jean Fan’s talk. She created a non profit initiative that encourages kids in STEM by providing them a customizable book that depicts the child as the protagonist of the story book. Check out her project, CuSTEMized.

TED themed cupcakes

Another thing I crossed off my list is #15 and #68 in just this past weekend. I regretted signing up for the GRE on a long weekend but once it was done on Saturday midday, we headed up north to Lake Ariel, PA. A very nice way to celebrate being done with the GRE! Overall, a relaxing weekend getaway with friends, LOTS of food, kayaking and craft beer.

 

Personal

1. Start and finish 101 in 1001
2. Deactivate Facebook (January 1, 2015)
3. See 2 Broadway plays (Dirty Dancing, Phantom of the Opera)
4. Go to 5 different museums (Walter’s Art Museum, Milwaukee Art Museum, American Visionary Art Museum, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, B&O Railroad Museum)
5. Travel to NYC (January 2015)
6. Send 3 people unexpected care packages
7. Go to an NFL game
8. Visit a family member who I have yet to visit
9. Go to a winery
10. Read 25 books (Unbroken, The Tipping Point, Born to Run, Girl on a Train, The Great Gatsby, Never Let Me Go, Beautiful Boy, Modern Romance, Tender is the Night, The Secret History, Big Little Lies, Brave Enough, Torch, Room, The Wind Up Bird Chronicle, The Husband’s Secret)
11. Read all the books written by one author – I read all of Cheryl Strayed’s books! She is excellent!
12. Pay off my car
13. Volunteer for an organization (Hackerman Patz House, Sinai Hospital)
14. Get new glasses
15. Plan 3 weekend getaway trips (NYC in February, Outer Banks North Carolina, Lake Ariel, PA)
16. Host a dinner club
17. Create a lean closet (January 25, 2015)
18. Take a cooking class
19. Try vegetarianism for a month
20. Go to 3 concerts (Kiran Ahuwalia, Taking Back Sunday, Global Citizen Concert in D.C.)
21. Go camping
22. Go to Pimlico horse race
23. Travel to 2 new cities (Kitty Hawk, NC, Oranjestad, Aruba)
24. Go to brunch with bottomless mimosas
25. Make homemade ice cream
26. Go to a TED conference
27. Take a self-defense class
28. Invest in 2 new coffee table books
29. Learn how to fish tale braid
30. Do a headstand in yoga
31. Stay with 5,3 more airbnb hosts
32. Visit an amusement park (Zoo in D.C.)
33. Get a massage/spa day
34. Purchase a nice camera
35. Lose 10 lbs
36. Find some plants for my apartment
37. Send 30 handwritten notes/letters (20/30)
38. Clean up iTunes library
39. Join or start a book club
40. Make 2 new friends in Baltimore
41. Order mussels at a restaurant
42. Develop interests in 2 random topics/subjects (Watercoloring, Blogging)
43. Purchase decorative pillows and a nice throw
44. Create a time capsule to be opened at age 30
45. Create a list of all the US States I have visited and states that I have yet to visit  See my post about it here.
46. Watch a Ted talk a day for 2 weeks
47. Sell something on Etsy
48. Purchase something on Etsy
49. Participate/Comment on an article on the NYT
50. Travel to Europe
51. Watch 15 seasons of TV (Orange is the New Black 1-3, Broad City Season 2, House of Cards Season 3, Silicon Valley Season 2, Game of Thrones Season 5, True Detective Season 2, The Wire 1-5, Mad Men 1, United States of Tara 1-3)
52. Purge on beauty products; only keep what is needed and used
53. Learn how to do my own eyebrows
54. Make 10 OpenTable Reservations (Blue Agave, The Food Market, City Cafe, The Helmand, Woodberry Kitchen, Iron Rooster, Mission, Cazbar, Tabard’s Inn, Cafe Deluxe)
55.  Save $10 for every item completed on this list
56. Reread all the Harry Potter books
57. Watch all of The Lord of the Rings movies
58. Watch all movies that won best picture of the last 10 years
59. Watch 10 documentaries (Dark Girls, Citizenfour, Nature)
60. Go to a speakeasy
61. Visit a upscale thrift shop
62. Go to a poetry or story slam
63. Write 6 product reviews (6/6)
64. Make a friend through blogging

Professional

65. Learn to use Adobe Illustrator
66. Increase twitter followers to 300
67. Get a promotion at work
68. Take the GMAT –Took GRE instead but July 2nd!
69. Invest money (January 28, 2015)
70. Attend a conference
71. Make business cards
72. Become a mentor to someone
73. Take a online class or certification
74. Complete at least 50 posts on my blog (43/50)
75. Transition blog to a self hosted domain
76. Earn a bonus at work
77. Create a style guide for blog

Creative

78. Take a calligraphy class
79. Start a lifestyle blog (January 11, 2015)
80. Oil paint on canvas
81. Make 25 new foods from cookbooks (Cauliflower and Pea Bhaji,Pressed Tofu, Tomato Garlic Tortellini Soup, Chili con Elote, Gazpacho, Aioli Sauce, Brazilian Salsa, Moosewood Lasagne, Mushroom and Broccoli Casserole, Caramelized Garlic Tart, Mushroom Ragout with Poached Eggs, Brussell Sprouts in Cream, Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies, Double Chocolate Cookies)
82. Learn to make pasta
83. Take an interior design class
84. Do 5 Pinterest DIY projects (Bird House)
85. Write a travel story
86. Paint with watercolors
87. Create a stamp of my own
88. Attend a glassblowing workshop
89. Re-create resume in a creative format
90. Make a book on blurb
91. Find a doodling book and doodle everyday for a month
92. Conduct 5 photography shoots

Health

93. Join a pool for lap swimming
94. Stop drinking for 1 month
95. Meditate once a day for 1 month
96. Try fasting or a cleanse
97. Do a yoga retreat  This is a modified goal. Instead of doing a yoga retreat, I decided to join Corepower, a yoga studio in Federal Hill. Read about it here!
98. Drink green tea instead of coffee for 2 months
99. Start using natural and sulfate free shampoo 
100. Stop washing my hair everyday
101. Hike a trail in a national park (Arikok National Park, Aruba)

101 in 1001: Fall Update

Winter is Coming…in less than a week! Where has this year gone?? I figured it was a a good time to check in on my progress. I’m still shying away from some of the difficult tasks…such as, pay off my car or joining a pool for lap swimming…BUT, I am still on track and have made some progress!

The completed items are crossed out in red—but here are some highlights:

I kept up with my book club and am making progress towards reading 25 book. The first book was The Secret History, by Donna Tartt–read my review here! Our second book is Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty. You should be seeing a book review on that soon–stay tuned.

Another item that I’ve been wanting to do was to make a list of the states I’ve visited and the states I would still like to visit in the USA. See my list here. How do you compare? I would love to travel internationally more but sometimes I forget how much there is to see just in the USA alone.

The colder weather always makes it so easy to watch TV in bed and that is exactly what I’ve been doing recently.  I exceeded my goal of watching 15 seasons of TV way earlier than I expected…Whoops.This TV habit might be hard to kick…I’ve only really recently started enjoying TV/Movies.

As for my professional goals, I earned my first bonus at work! Woooo! Cheers to that and hopefully more to come! During the holidays my office does an annual trip to McFadden Glass Studio in Baltimore so I was able to cross off another item on my 101. The workshop was a bit spendy but it included instruction and materials. I wanted to make a whisky sour glass. See my pics below.

Dipping into Colored Glass Chips

Personal

1. Start and finish 101 in 1001
2. Deactivate Facebook (January 1, 2015)
3. See 2 Broadway plays
4. Go to 5 different museums (Walter’s Art Museum)
5. Travel to NYC (January 2015)
6. Send 3 people unexpected care packages
7. Go to an NFL game
8. Visit a family member who I have yet to visit
9. Go to a winery
10. Read 25 books (Unbroken, The Tipping Point, Born to Run, Girl on a Train, The Great Gatsby, Never Let Me Go, Beautiful Boy, Modern Romance, Tender is the Night, The Secret History, Big Little Lies)
11. Read all the books written by one author
12. Pay off my car
13. Volunteer for an organization (Hackerman Patz House, Sinai Hospital)
14. Get new glasses
15. Plan 3 weekend getaway trips (NYC in February, Outer Banks North Carolina)
16. Host a dinner club
17. Create a lean closet (January 25, 2015)
18. Take a cooking class
19. Try vegetarianism for a month
20. Go to 3 concerts (Kiran Ahuwalia, Taking Back Sunday, Global Citizen Concert in D.C.)
21. Go camping
22. Go to Pimlico horse race
23. Travel to 2 new cities (Kitty Hawk, NC, Oranjestad, Aruba)
24. Go to brunch with bottomless mimosas
25. Make homemade ice cream
26. Go to a TED conference
27. Take a self-defense class
28. Invest in 2 new coffee table books
29. Learn how to fish tale braid
30. Do a headstand in yoga
31. Stay with 5,3 more airbnb hosts
32. Visit an amusement park (Zoo in D.C.)
33. Get a massage/spa day
34. Purchase a nice camera
35. Lose 10 lbs
36. Find some plants for my apartment
37. Send 30 handwritten notes/letters (10/30)
38. Clean up iTunes library
39. Join or start a book club
40. Make 2 new friends in Baltimore
41. Order mussels at a restaurant
42. Develop interests in 2 random topics/subjects (Watercoloring, Blogging)
43. Purchase decorative pillows and a nice throw
44. Create a time capsule to be opened at age 30
45. Create a list of all the US States I have visited and states that I have yet to visit  See my post about it here.
46. Watch a Ted talk a day for 2 weeks
47. Sell something on Etsy
48. Purchase something on Etsy
49. Participate/Comment on an article on the NYT
50. Travel to Europe
51. Watch 15 seasons of TV (Orange is the New Black 1-3, Broad City Season 2, House of Cards Season 3, Silicon Valley Season 2, Game of Thrones Season 5, True Detective Season 2, The Wire 1-5, Mad Men 1, United States of Tara 1-3)
52. Purge on beauty products; only keep what is needed and used
53. Learn how to do my own eyebrows
54. Make 10 OpenTable Reservations (Blue Agave, The Food Market, City Cafe, The Helmand)
55.  Save $10 for every item completed on this list
56. Reread all the Harry Potter books
57. Watch all of The Lord of the Rings movies
58. Watch all movies that won best picture of the last 10 years
59. Watch 10 documentaries (Dark Girls, Citizenfour, Nature)
60. Go to a speakeasy
61. Visit a upscale thrift shop
62. Go to a poetry or story slam
63. Write 6 product reviews (6/6)
64. Make a friend through blogging

Professional

65. Learn to use Adobe Illustrator
66. Increase twitter followers to 300
67. Get a promotion at work
68. Take the GMAT
69. Invest money (January 28, 2015)
70. Attend a conference
71. Make business cards
72. Become a mentor to someone
73. Take a online class or certification
74. Complete at least 50 posts on my blog (29/50)
75. Transition blog to a self hosted domain
76. Earn a bonus at work
77. Create a style guide for blog

Creative

78. Take a calligraphy class
79. Start a lifestyle blog (January 11, 2015)
80. Oil paint on canvas
81. Make 25 new foods from cookbooks (Cauliflower and Pea Bhaji,Pressed Tofu, Tomato Garlic Tortellini Soup, Chili con Elote, Gazpacho, Aioli Sauce, Brazilian Salsa, Moosewood Lasagne, Mushroom and Broccoli Casserole, Caramelized Garlic Tart, Mushroom Ragout with Poached Eggs)
82. Learn to make pasta
83. Take an interior design class
84. Do 5 Pinterest DIY projects
85. Write a travel story
86. Paint with watercolors
87. Create a stamp of my own
88. Attend a glassblowing workshop
89. Re-create resume in a creative format
90. Make a book on blurb
91. Find a doodling book and doodle everyday for a month
92. Conduct 5 photography shoots

Health

93. Join a pool for lap swimming
94. Stop drinking for 1 month
95. Meditate once a day for 1 month
96. Try fasting or a cleanse
97. Do a yoga retreat
98. Drink green tea instead of coffee for 2 months
99. Start using natural and sulfate free shampoo
100. Stop washing my hair everyday
101. Hike a trail in a national park (Arikok National Park, Aruba)

101 in 1001: Post Summer Update

I impressed myself this summer and made some good progress on my 101 in 1001 list! As of today, I am almost a quarter of the way to my 101 items–right on track! The remainder of these are a bit more difficult which is probably why they are still not crossed out. I will need to get my planner and start goal setting to finish.

The completed items are crossed out in red—but here are the highlights:

As promised in my previous post, I meant to share a story that happened while I was on vacation in Mexico. On the last day of our trip we decided visiting the spa would be the best way to end vacation. Fortunately for me, I was able to cross off an item on my 101 list. Unfortunately for me post-massage I broke out in an allergic reaction to the oil that they were using at the spa. It was terrible but impeccable timing since I was leaving for home the very next day. All is well now and I am perfectly normal ! Lesson learned–patch test your skin before using a new product!

Since the embarrassing situation in Mexico, I have invested in a pair of new glasses which I am so excited to wear! I have never felt very comfortable wearing glasses but these just make me feel great!

To continue the nerdy streak, I have also started a book club with some girls I work with. Our first meeting will be in October and we will be reading The Secret History By Donna Tartt (she also wrote The Goldfinch, which was a great read). Look out for the book review in October!

Finally, last but not least, I was able to cross off attending an NFL game. We attended the first Ravens pre-season game! Yes, it was only pre-seaon but tickets were only $16!

Personal

1. Start and finish 101 in 1001
2. Deactivate Facebook (January 1, 2015)
3. See 2 Broadway plays
4. Go to 5 different museums (Walter’s Art Museum)
5. Travel to NYC (January 2015)
6. Send 3 people unexpected care packages
7. Go to an NFL game
8. Visit a family member who I have yet to visit
9. Go to a winery
10. Read 25 books (Unbroken, The Tipping Point, Born to Run, Girl on a Train, The Great Gatsby, Never Let Me Go, Beautiful Boy, Modern Romance, Tender is the Night)
11. Read all the books written by one author
12. Pay off my car
13. Volunteer for an organization (Hackerman Patz House, Sinai Hospital)
14. Get new glasses
15. Plan 3 weekend getaway trips (NYC in February, Outer Banks North Carolina)
16. Host a dinner club
17. Create a lean closet (January 25, 2015)
18. Take a cooking class
19. Try vegetarianism for a month
20. Go to 3 concerts (Kiran Ahuwalia, Taking Back Sunday, Global Citizen Concert in D.C.)
21. Go camping
22. Go to Pimlico horse race
23. Travel to 2 new cities (Kitty Hawk, NC, Oranjestad, Aruba)
24. Go to brunch with bottomless mimosas
25. Make homemade ice cream
26. Go to a TED conference
27. Take a self-defense class
28. Invest in 2 new coffee table books
29. Learn how to fish tale braid
30. Do a headstand in yoga
31. Stay with 5,3 more airbnb hosts
32. Visit an amusement park (Zoo in D.C.)
33. Get a massage/spa day
34. Purchase a nice camera
35. Lose 10 lbs
36. Find some plants for my apartment
37. Send 30 handwritten notes/letters (10/30)
38. Clean up iTunes library
39. Join or start a book club
40. Make 2 new friends in Baltimore
41. Order mussels at a restaurant
42. Develop interests in 2 random topics/subjects (Watercoloring)
43. Purchase decorative pillows and a nice throw
44. Create a time capsule to be opened at age 30
45. Create a list of all the US States I have visited and states that I have yet to visit
46. Watch a Ted talk a day for 2 weeks
47. Sell something on Etsy
48. Purchase something on Etsy
49. Participate/Comment on an article on the NYT
50. Travel to Europe
51. Watch 15 seasons of TV (Orange is the New Black 1-2, Broad City Season 2, House of Cards Season 3, Silicon Valley Season 2, Game of Thrones Season 5, True Detective Season 2, The Wire 1-4, Mad Men 1)
52. Purge on beauty products; only keep what is needed and used
53. Learn how to do my own eyebrows
54. Make 10 OpenTable Reservations (Blue Agave, The Food Market, City Cafe, The Helmand)
55.  Save $10 for every item completed on this list
56. Reread all the Harry Potter books
57. Watch all of The Lord of the Rings movies
58. Watch all movies that won best picture of the last 10 years
59. Watch 10 documentaries (Dark Girls, Citizenfour, Nature)
60. Go to a speakeasy
61. Visit a upscale thrift shop
62. Go to a poetry or story slam
63. Write 6 product reviews (5/6)
64. Make a friend through blogging

Professional

65. Learn to use Adobe Illustrator
66. Increase twitter followers to 300
67. Get a promotion at work
68. Take the GMAT
69. Invest money (January 28, 2015)
70. Attend a conference
71. Make business cards
72. Become a mentor to someone
73. Take a online class or certification
74. Complete at least 50 posts on my blog (21/50)
75. Transition blog to a self hosted domain
76. Earn a bonus at work
77. Create a style guide for blog

Creative

78. Take a calligraphy class
79. Start a lifestyle blog (January 11, 2015)
80. Oil paint on canvas
81. Make 25 new foods from cookbooks (Cauliflower and Pea Bhaji,Pressed Tofu, Tomato Garlic Tortellini Soup, Chili con Elote, Gazpacho, Aioli Sauce, Brazilian Salsa, Moosewood Lasagne, Mushroom and Broccoli Casserole)
82. Learn to make pasta
83. Take an interior design class
84. Do 5 Pinterest DIY projects
85. Write a travel story
86. Paint with watercolors
87. Create a stamp of my own
88. Attend a glassblowing workshop
89. Re-create resume in a creative format
90. Make a book on blurb
91. Find a doodling book and doodle everyday for a month
92. Conduct 5 photography shoots

Health

93. Join a pool for lap swimming
94. Stop drinking for 1 month
95. Meditate once a day for 1 month
96. Try fasting or a cleanse
97. Do a yoga retreat
98. Drink green tea instead of coffee for 2 months
99. Start using natural and sulfate free shampoo
100. Stop washing my hair everyday
101. Hike a trail in a national park (Arikok National Park, Aruba)

101 in 1001: Update

I don’t usually post twice a week but, I wanted to post an updated 101 in 1001 days list! The ones I checked off are in red.

Recently, I have been really motivated to go and do things. I think it may have something to do with the nicer weather we have been having. Last month, I went to a Taking Back Sunday concert at Rams Head. I never really listened to them growing up but it was still a good show.

Another thing I checked off was eating mussels!

Personal

1. Start and finish 101 in 1001
2. Deactivate Facebook (January 1, 2015)
3. See 2 Broadway plays
4. Go to 5 different museums (Walter’s Art Museum)
5. Travel to NYC (January 2015)
6. Send 3 people unexpected care packages
7. Go to an NFL game
8. Visit a family member who I have yet to visit
9. Go to a winery
10. Read 25 books (Unbroken, The Tipping Point, Born to Run, Girl on a Train, The Great Gatsby, Never Let Me Go, Beautiful Boy, Modern Romance)
11. Read all the books written by one author
12. Pay off my car
13. Volunteer for an organization (Hackerman Patz House, Sinai Hospital)
14. Get new glasses
15. Plan 3 weekend getaway trips (NYC in February, Outer Banks North Carolina)
16. Host a dinner club
17. Create a lean closet (January 25, 2015)
18. Take a cooking class
19. Try vegetarianism for a month
20. Go to 3 concerts (Kiran Ahuwalia, Taking Back Sunday, Global Citizen Concert in D.C.)
21. Go camping
22. Go to Pimlico horse race
23. Travel to 2 new cities (Kitty Hawk, NC, Oranjestad, Aruba)
24. Go to brunch with bottomless mimosas
25. Make homemade ice cream
26. Go to a TED conference
27. Take a self-defense class
28. Invest in 2 new coffee table books
29. Learn how to fish tale braid
30. Do a headstand in yoga
31. Stay with 5,3 more airbnb hosts
32. Visit an amusement park (Zoo in D.C.)
33. Get a massage/spa day
34. Purchase a nice camera
35. Lose 10 lbs
36. Find some plants for my apartment
37. Send 30 handwritten notes/letters (10/30)
38. Clean up iTunes library
39. Join or start a book club
40. Make 2 new friends in Baltimore
41. Order mussels at a restaurant
42. Develop interests in 2 random topics/subjects (Watercoloring)
43. Purchase decorative pillows and a nice throw
44. Create a time capsule to be opened at age 30
45. Create a list of all the US States I have visited and states that I have yet to visit
46. Watch a Ted talk a day for 2 weeks
47. Sell something on Etsy
48. Purchase something on Etsy
49. Participate/Comment on an article on the NYT
50. Travel to Europe
51. Watch 15 seasons of TV (Orange is the New Black 1-2, Broad City Season 2, House of Cards Season 3, Silicon Valley Season 2, Game of Thrones Season 5, True Detective Season 2, The Wire 1-2)
52. Purge on beauty products; only keep what is needed and used
53. Learn how to do my own eyebrows
54. Make 10 OpenTable Reservations (Blue Agave, The Food Market, City Cafe)
55.  Save $10 for every item completed on this list
56. Reread all the Harry Potter books
57. Watch all of The Lord of the Rings movies
58. Watch all movies that won best picture of the last 10 years
59. Watch 10 documentaries (Dark Girls, Citizenfour, Nature)
60. Go to a speakeasy
61. Visit a upscale thrift shop
62. Go to a poetry or story slam
63. Write 6 product reviews (5/6)
64. Make a friend through blogging

Professional

65. Learn to use Adobe Illustrator
66. Increase twitter followers to 300
67. Get a promotion at work
68. Take the GMAT
69. Invest money (January 28, 2015)
70. Attend a conference
71. Make business cards
72. Become a mentor to someone
73. Take a online class or certification
74. Complete at least 50 posts on my blog (16/50)
75. Transition blog to a self hosted domain
76. Earn a bonus at work
77. Create a style guide for blog

Creative

78. Take a calligraphy class
79. Start a lifestyle blog (January 11, 2015)
80. Oil paint on canvas
81. Make 25 new foods from cookbooks (Cauliflower and Pea Bhaji,Pressed Tofu, Tomato Garlic Tortellini Soup, Chili con Elote, Gazpacho, Aioli Sauce, Brazilian Salsa, Moosewood Lasagne)
82. Learn to make pasta
83. Take an interior design class
84. Do 5 Pinterest DIY projects
85. Write a travel story
86. Paint with watercolors
87. Create a stamp of my own
88. Attend a glassblowing workshop
89. Re-create resume in a creative format
90. Make a book on blurb
91. Find a doodling book and doodle everyday for a month
92. Conduct 5 photography shoots

Health

93. Join a pool for lap swimming
94. Stop drinking for 1 month
95. Meditate once a day for 1 month
96. Try fasting or a cleanse
97. Do a yoga retreat
98. Drink green tea instead of coffee for 2 months
99. Start using natural and sulfate free shampoo
100. Stop washing my hair everyday
101. Hike a trail in a national park (Arikok National Park, Aruba)

An Alternative to New Year’s Resolution

This year instead of creating New Year’s Resolutions, I decided to make a list of 101 things I want to accomplish in 1001 days. 1001 days is a happy middle ground between a to-do list and a lifetime bucket list. I will post updates as I continue to check things off my list. Lets do this!

Personal

1. Start and finish 101 in 1001
2. Deactivate Facebook (January 1, 2015)
3. See 2 Broadway plays
4. Go to 5 different museums (Walter’s Art Museum)
5. Travel to NYC (January 2015)
6. Send 3 people unexpected care packages
7. Go to an NFL game
8. Visit a family member who I have yet to visit
9. Go to a winery
10. Read 25 books (Unbroken, The Tipping Point)
11. Read all the books written by one author
12. Pay off my car
13. Volunteer at an organization
14. Get new glasses
15. Plan 3 weekend getaway trips (NYC in February)
16. Host a dinner club
17. Create a lean closet (January 25, 2015)
18. Take a cooking class
19. Try vegetarianism for a month
20. Go to 3 concerts (Kiran Ahuwalia)
21. Go camping
22. Go to Pimlico horse race
23. Travel to 2 new cities
24. Go to brunch with bottomless mimosas
25. Make homemade ice cream
26. Go to a TED conference
27. Take a self-defense class
28. Invest in 2 new coffee table books
29. Learn how to fish tale braid
30. Do a headstand in yoga
31. Stay with 5 more airbnb hosts
32. Visit an amusement park (Zoo in D.C.)
33. Get a massage/spa day
34. Purchase a nice camera
35. Lose 10 lbs
36. Find some plants for my apartment
37. Send 30 handwritten notes/letters (3/30)
38. Clean up iTunes library
39. Join or start a book club
40. Make 2 new friends in Baltimore
41. Order mussels at a restaurant
42. Develop interests in 2 random topics/subjects
43. Purchase decorative pillows and a nice throw
44. Create a time capsule to be opened at age 30
45. Create a list of all the US States I have visited and states that I have yet to visit
46. Watch a Ted talk a day for 2 weeks
47. Sell something on Etsy
48. Purchase something on Etsy
49. Participate/Comment on an article on the NYT
50. Travel to Europe
51. Watch 15 seasons of TV (Orange is the New Black 1-2, Broad City Season 2, House of Cards Season 3)
52. Purge on beauty products; only keep what is needed and used
53. Learn how to do my own eyebrows
54. Make 10 OpenTable Reservations (Blue Agave, The Food Market)
55.  Save $10 for every item completed on this list
56. Reread all the Harry Potter books
57. Watch all of The Lord of the Rings movies
58. Watch all movies that won best picture of the last 10 years
59. Watch 10 documentaries (Dark Girls)
60. Go to a speakeasy
61. Visit a upscale thrift shop
62. Go to a poetry or story slam
63. Write 6 product reviews (1/6)
64. Make a friend through blogging

Professional

65. Learn to use Adobe Illustrator
66. Increase twitter followers to 300
67. Get a promotion at work
68. Take the GMAT
69. Invest money (January 28, 2015)
70. Attend a conference
71. Make business cards
72. Become a mentor to someone
73. Take a online class or certification
74. Complete at least 50 posts on my blog (7/50)
75. Transition blog to a self hosted domain
76. Earn a bonus at work
77. Create a style guide for blog

Creative

78. Take a calligraphy class
79. Start a lifestyle blog (January 11, 2015)
80. Oil paint on canvas
81. Make 25 new foods from cookbooks (Cauliflower and Pea Bhaji,Pressed Tofu, Tomato Garlic Tortellini Soup)
82. Learn to make pasta
83. Take an interior design class
84. Do 5 Pinterest DIY projects
85. Write a travel story
86. Paint with watercolors
87. Create a stamp of my own
88. Attend a glassblowing workshop
89. Re-create resume in a creative format
90. Make a book on blurb
91. Find a doodling book and doodle everyday for a month
92. Conduct 5 photography shoots

Health

93. Join a pool for lap swimming
94. Stop drinking for 1 month
95. Meditate once a day for 1 month
96. Try fasting or a cleanse
97. Do a yoga retreat
98. Drink green tea instead of coffee for 2 months
99. Start using natural and sulfate free shampoo
100. Stop washing my hair everyday
101. Hike a trail in a national park