26 Things

Well, now that I am 26 I need to recap my 26 things.  Do your remember all of the sporadic posts and updates?  Did I actually do them all?

Nope.

But I am ok with that.  The more important thing to me is that I attempted them.  That I had goals.  That I did accomplish some of them.  That I was able to do other cool things, even if they weren't on my list.

So, how did each one go, you ask (well, maybe you didn't, but I can pretend you did!):

1) join a Gym- DONE! joined Planet Fitness on 9/25/2009


2) exercise 2x a week- DONE! been going consistently 4-5 times a week since I joined the gym. :-)

3) go on a "beach weekend" - DONE!

4) play hooky to spend a day reading- DONE! and it was glorious!

5) buy a tent- DONE! I bought in May and I really am glad I purchased it.

6) pay of credit card #3- ok, so I wasn't able to do this one.  BUT, I have significantly lowered my debt (down a couple THOUSAND dollars) and I used all my birthday money to continue on that trend.  I know that wasn't exciting, but makes me feel better!

7) scrapbook each month (2-3 spreads)- yea, this didn't happen as often as I wanted.  BUT, I did get to scrapbook and I bought a book to start making my Joshua Scrapbook.

8) read 2 books a month- DONE!  I didn't post all of the books I read, but I definitely read more this year.

9) get my car detailed- nope, but I have cleaned gotten into the habit of cleaning it out once a week; and I asked my parents to get this done for me for Christmas.  I can dream, right?

10) write a living will- I started researching it...


11) call each grandma each week- DONE, and now one of them has email (Lord help us all!)


12) call Ross each week- not quite, but I worked on it.


13) Office at work: decorate, move around, organize, clean- it is a work in progress, but it is much improved!


14) buy new book shelves- DONE! and I bought a new desk, too!  YEA!


15) go white water rafting- DONE, well sort of!  The white water rafting trip fell through, but I am going to count going to Maine.


16) make a skirt- yea, no...


17) run a mile, non-stop (no time limit)- DONE, well kind of!  I am counting my running on the Elliptical...


18) visit Ross in Washington DC- DONE!  now for a more extended stay this year.


19) Take either GRE or GMAT- DONE! and I didn't do too badly either!


20) buy pair of TOMS shoes- DONE!


21) visit one grad school of interest, find out pre-reqs- DONE!  I actually visited TWO schools!


22) go camping- DONE!


23) blog 3 times a week- DONE!  Have you seen a marked improvement in my consitency? I have too!


24) try 2 new recipes a month- no, but I have been eating better and making food more often for myself.


25) get a pedicure- DONE!


26) go to the Piano Bar in Raleigh- miserable fail...

So, not shabby, I guess.  I am going to do a 27 things before I turn 27... mainly because I like having goals and it helps me stay on track.  Are you ready for them?  Well, let me make a separate post of those...

26 Things Update!

Do you even remember this? It has been so long since I have given an update! BUT, I am making some progress, I guess. Here are a couple more updates!

#1 - Join a gym.
COMPLETE! I joined a gym last Friday. I now belong to Planet Fitness.

#2- Exercise 2x a week.
Ongoing, but COMPLETE! Yep, my co-worker Shawna and I are exercising together. We started Monday. We are going for an hour each morning. It is a good thing I have to meet her; I don't think I would make it into the gym other wise.

#6- pay off Credit Card #3.
Well, I haven't done it, but I am making a lot of progress. I recently revisited my budget and spending habits and made some changes. I know use the envelope system for things like Groceries, Eating Out, Entertainment, Clothing. The rest I still pay via check or debit card. But I am working hard to live off of my paycheck each month and use my mileage reimbursement as payoff for the credit card debt. I am seeing slow and steady progress and I think that is the most important part, right?

#8- Read 2 books per month.
I haven't let you know what I am reading, but I am getting there. I recently started re-reading the Anne of Green Gables stories. :-)

#10- Write a living will
I downloaded an example today so that I can get going on it!

#13- Redo my office
It's getting there, and there has been progress. Everything is filed, my drawers are cleaner, the company just painted. Now I just need to move my furniture. And put some stuff up on the walls. Soon, soon I think!

#14- Buy new book shelves
Doing this afternoon. Then my brother is going to help me put them together this weekend. AND, I bought a desk! Do you remember?

#15- Go white water rafting.
FAIL. So can I exchange it for my trip to Maine and kayaking? Rachel ended up not going for her birthday. I'll have to try again for next year.

#21- Visit one school of interest
Haven't physically gone, but I am doing lots of online research. Hope to know which schools I am applying to buy the end of the weekend.

#23- Blog 3x a week.
I think this one has been a success, don't you? I have seen an increase in my posts since last year!

I am making progress. I don't know if all of them will happen though. That is ok; I certainly like having goals and watching (some of) them progress!

Couch Potato to 5k?

My mom has always tried getting me to exercise/work out more. I think that may be on her Top 5 things to do list.

Her most recent attempt?

To get me to run a 5K.

If you know me, you know I don't like to run. Hate it. Abhor it. Think that Satan invented it to torture me.

Yep, that sums it up.

But there has always been a small (albeit, very small) part of me that want to be a runner. Nope, not even kidding. What would it be like to run non stop for a whole mile? I can't even imagine as I have NEVER been able to!

My mom wants the whole family to come home on Oct 17th to run/walk a 5k together (for Race for the Cure). And I have been tossing around the idea of actually running it.

Am I crazy?

Here is the program I would use.

And... didn't I set one of my 26 goals before 26 to run a mile non stop? and wasn't another one to work out regularly?

Should I go for it?

26 Things: An Update (#2 or 3)

Yep! Another one off the list! I got a pedicure with Laura last weekend. What a nice relaxing way to spend our morning. We are thinking we might deserve another one at the end of the month after we move and get through all of that. What do you think?

OH... and how about two off the list? On Friday, I spent the day at the beach doing nothing but beach bum things. I went with friends and we sat around, read a little, talked a lot, and went into the water some. There was also an afternoon stroll to get ice cream (yummy!). Yea for more getting knocked off!

Others are still being worked on... but life is moving (and quite fast, actually). So much going on, but I do like being busy, right?

Hope you all had a nice holiday weekend!

Last-Minute Lasagna

I tried a new recipe! (remember that was one of my 26 things...).

This time I made Last-Minute Lasagna, a recipe I found in Real Simple. And it was delicious! I will definitely be making this again. Yummy is all I have to say!

I forgot to take a picture, but let the one on the recipe page on Real Simple be enough to entice you to try it. Just remember: the spinach and the ravioli have to be thawed BEFORE you can begin to cook it (made dinner very late last night).

Do you have any new recipes you want to share with me?

26 Things- Update #2

I am working on this list... slowly but surely. Today I am able to officially knock two more things off of my list and say I am working hard to make another one happen! :-)

Number 20, Buy a pair of TOMs shoes is now DONE! I bought a pair this morning. I'll make sure to take a picture to show you all when I get them in the mail. I am super excited!


As well, Number 22, go camping... DONE! I went camping last Friday night with some girls before our retreat to Fort Caswell. How fun is camping ON THE BEACH. We woke up to the sun rising over the Atlantic Ocean. Talk about fantastic! We are planning a couple more trips this summer... hopefully to the mountains and maybe around Raleigh. I do enjoy camping... or at least in the short term. ;-). Want proof we went camping? Here are a couple of photos for you to enjoy:

And... drum roll, please... I am officially signed up to take the GRE!


You read that one correctly. Time to start opening the doors for God to close the ones He wants closed and to lead me as to what is next. Here goes nothing...


Anyone want to help me study?


I am excited I am moving forward with some of my goals. I read not just 2 books in May, but FOUR (#8)! I have been in touch with the grandmas (#11) and the brother (#12) on a semi-regular basis this month. I am still working very hard to pay off Credit Card #3 (#6)-- just sent in an extra payment because I had some left over in my budget this month. But, I am sad to report however, I am failing miserably with some others (ahem, exercise and running a mile, cooking new meals, scrapbooking). Just never enough time in the day... or my life... or I just put other stuff first. Oh well, habits are hard to get started and to break. But I do like being able to keep track of this kind of stuff. Hope you all are able to be working towards goals of your own!

26 Things Update

Remember this post? I have been working on my list of 26 things I want to do before I turn 26. It is going... probably not as well as i would like. Can I edit my list as we go? Since I came up with the list... then sure!

I bought my tent! AND I get to use it this weekend when we go camping at the beach! So as of this weekend, I'll have two things off of my list. :-) (#5 and #22 if you are keeping track).

As for some of the more on going items:
- I have the two recipes I want to try in May... BUT I don't know when I am going to make them. Life is busy, and i work a lot of evenings. (#24)
- Blogging 3 times a week- DONE! Only a month into this list and I have to say this is the one I am doing by far the best on. Easily surpassed my 3 times a week goal so far. Now if only some of that blogging was done on the weekend and not during work hours... (#23)
- Reading 2 books per month: so far, so good. But it might be because the Twilight Saga is so easy to read. We'll see how we do in June. (#8)
- Calling loved ones? Been doing pretty well. I think I have only missed one week so far by not calling them. (#11, #12)
- Some of the "weekly" ones that need to be worked on: #2) exercise 2 times a week; #7) Scrapbook 3 spreads a month

Ok, ok. I am going to work over the next month or so on getting better at all of these things. We'll see what happens. Still thinking about adjusting some of these. I'll let you know what I decide!

Scrapbook: Mom's Album for Jaye

Ok, so on my list of 26 Things I mentioned I wanted to Scrapbook at least three times a month. It certainly didn't happen in April, but I am giving myself a pass because it was only a half month. But, I'll have to get serious about it during May. Let's see if that can happen...

Anyway, for Christmas my mom had me make her an scrapbook/album for her of each of us kids (so one for Ross and one for me). I worked pretty hard on them, and I think they turned out great. Here are some of my favorite spreads from my album (I'll share Ross's later...):

Yep, look at those baby pictures. I really like the one on the left- don't know why. PS- don't I look like an alien baby on the right? My head is HUGE!

I did at least a page for each grade... my mom wanted me to use the professional pictures; I embellished with some of my personal pics from the years.

Each graduation page turned out pretty nice... or at least I think so. Really hard to believe that I have not only graduated High School (almost seven years ago), but also College. Also pretty crazy I can remember each day pretty clearly in mind, what I did in what order.

I also did a page/spread for memories and/or activities. So, the one on the far left is for all my Michigan memories. Click on it to make it bigger and check out the picture of my dad with a slight mullet- it's hot. The center picture is of the Girl Scout page, and the right one is of Little Point Sable, Michigan- my favorite place on earth.

Recipe Number Uno

On my list of 26 things I said I wanted to try two new recipes a month. Well, for April I tried "Cheesy Baked Shells and Broccoli." (the recipe came from Real Simple)

The recipe was good. The problem? I just don't like Broccoli. I try... I really do, but the stuff is just plain gross. I found the recipe tolerable because they had you add Nutmeg to add flavoring. Much needed to mask the taste of broccoli in my opinion.

Because I started the 26 things in April, I am unsure if I'll be able to get another recipe in before may begins. BUT, I will try. Next on my recipes to try: Chicken Enchiladas with green salsa (also from Real Simple). YUMMY!

Have you tried any new recipes recently?

Baby Step 2: Complete!

Yep, you read the post title right. I am done with Baby Step 2 on my Baby Steps to Financial Freedom (no debt, solid savings, etc)!

Yes, yes... please join me in another happy dance.

I got my Tax Return this weekend. I applied almost all of it to my Short-term savings account and hit my goal! :-) So here is how my Baby Steps look at this point:

1) Save $2000 in long term, high-yield savings account.- DONE!
2) Save $1000 in short term, (emergency) savings account.- DONE!
3) Pay off three remaining credit-card debts- getting closer
a) Bank of America Card- DONE!
b) Wachovia Credit Card- DONE!
c) Northwest Credit Card- working hard. It is my goal to have this paid off by my 26th birthday...
d) Chase Credit Card
4) Pay off car
5) Save 3 to 6 months worth of expenses in high-yield savings account
6) Start investing 15% of income in retirement (either Roth IRA or pre-tax retirement plan)
7) Buy a home, build wealth and give freely!

Exciting :-). Now, as you can tell (and as I mentioned in this post), I have added a credit card to Step 3. Why? It was paid off before I started following the baby steps, but I felt like it was something I did accomplish and I should celebrate that effort. So, that is why you see the change.

Anyway... hope you all are working on becoming debt free, too! I know it is only through God's help that I am getting this far. Thank you, Jesus for motivating me, convicting me and growing me in how I approach my finances. It is freedom knowing that I will be without debt soon enough.

26 Things Before I Turn 26

UPDATE: I have been asked- I have until November 10th to finish all of these goals. I think I can... we'll see :-).

My friend Keli has a list of 30 things she wants to do before she turns 30. I really loved the idea and decided to do a list of 26 things I want to do before I turn 26. Kind of ambitious, but fun all at the same time.

Here is my list:

1) join a Gym
2) exercise 2x a week
3) go on a "beach weekend" (where I go to the beach and do beach bum things, no other purpose attached to the time at the beach)
4) play hooky to spend a day reading
5) buy a tent
6) pay of credit card #3 (look for a post as to why it is #3 and not #2)
7) scrapbook each month (2-3 spreads)
8) read 2 books a month
9) get my car detailed
10) write a living will/instructions for what should happen should something happen to me (I know this one is depressing, but it needs to be done)
11) call each grandma each week
12) call Ross each week
13) Office at work: decorate, move around, organize, clean- I have been here a year and a half, it's about time I made it my own
14) buy new book shelves
15) go white water rafting
16) make a skirt
17) run a mile, non-stop (no time limit)
18) visit Ross in Washington DC
19) Take either GRE or GMAT
20) buy pair of TOMS shoes
21) visit one grad school of interest, find out pre-reqs
22) go camping
23) blog 3 times a week
24) try 2 new recipes a month
25) get a pedicure
26) go to the Piano Bar in Raleigh

What do you all think? I think I can do all of these (especially because some are on the calendar). I'll keep you posted as to how things go with this list!