Your Mama Does 101 in 1001

In Need of Focus

2008-09-08T21:09:00.002-05:00

I've decided that I need to focus on a few goals each week, because otherwise, it just seems overwhelming to look at this huge list and have to figure out what to do next. So, for this week, I've decided to focus on working on the boys' baby books and doing all of the goals that have a once a month component.

I figured this is a good time to work on the boys' baby books because Will has done a lot of things for the first time in the past week or so: he started army crawling, is getting his first two teeth, and started clapping and waving bye bye. Jackson's baby book is pretty incomplete, with a lot of his milestones either missing, or just with the month and year. And sadly, I've done even less with Will's. Growing up, I always loved looking through my baby book, so I want to get them done for the boys so they can have the same experience.

The monthly goals I have left are: going on a date with DH, taking a family picture, and taking a video of the boys. There is a surprise party for a co-worker on Saturday, so provided we can find a babysitter, that will be our date.

My (Hopefully) 200 Books Read

2008-08-31T09:39:00.005-05:00

One of my goals is to read 200 books during the 1001 days. I usually set the goal to read about 100 each year, and make it to 70 or so most of the time, so I'm hoping I can make it to 200 in just under three years. I'll keep a log of all the books I've read and what I think about them here:

1) The Ten Year Nap by Meg Wolitzer
Finished 8/31/08
2) Chalked Up: Inside Elite Gymnastics' Merciless Coaching, Overzealous Parents, Eating Disorders and Elusive Olympic Dreams by Jennifer Sey
Finished 9/13/08
3) The Best Day of Someone Else's Life by Kerry Reichs
Finished 9/13/08
4)Such a Pretty Fatby Jen Lancaster
Finished September 20, 2008.
5) Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
6)A Hell of a Place to Lose a Cow by Tim Brookes
7)Schooled by Anisha Lakhani

One down, One hundred to go!

2008-08-30T21:31:00.002-05:00

I got to cross off the first thing on my list this week. On Monday at bootcamp, I did 25 "boy" pushups. We did a circuit, and for one of the exercises we had to do pushups, so I thought I would try and see how many I could get up to, so I would know where to start working from. Much to my amazement, I did 25! It wasn't a complete breeze, but it was easy enough that I felt like I was cheating by having it down as a goal. I do have to say, though, that a few months ago when I started boot camp, I couldn't even do two regular pushups. Twenty-five seemed like a lot when I made the goal.

I've been frustrated on and off this summer because I've been getting my ass kicked in boot camp and not really losing any weight. But when I see that I can do things I never could have done when I first started, I feel a lot more encouraged.

So far, so overwhelming

2008-08-20T23:16:00.002-05:00

So I'm about halfway through my first week of the 101 in 1001 Project, and mostly I'm feeling overwhelmed. I have quite a few goals that are ongoing that I have at least started: flossing every day, donating grains of rice through www.freerice.com, saving a dollar every day of the challenge. But I haven't really dug into any BIG goals yet. I think the first one I am going to tackle is learning Spanish conversationally. The Adult Education program is offering a Beginning Spanish class for the Fall, so I need to sign up for that.

One of my goals is to visit at least 10 new restaurants. One plus of this town is that we have a lot of unique restaurants with great food. I am happy to say I tried my first new restaurant today! My friend Jen and I went to lunch, and I had seen this place downtown for awhile, but never been there. Recently someone told me it had good food, so I suggested we try it.

The restaurant was Le Gourmandise Bistro.

I had the Downtown Roast Beef sandwich, which was phenomenal! It had big slices of roast beef, not the thin-sliced deli kind, and an avocado spread. It was filling and delicious. Jen had the Spring Vegetable wrap and said that it was good as well, with vegetables she wouldn't expect, like peas and green beans.

The best part of the lunch? Jen told me she has filled out all the paper work and gotten the ball rolling to adopt a child! I know it's something she has thought about for awhile, so I'm thrilled that it's all started to happen for her!

My List

2008-08-16T23:21:00.011-05:00

Start Date: August 18, 2008

End Date: May 16, 2011

Goals in progress

Completed Goals

Health:

1) Get LASIK surgery

2) Get a full physical

3) Lose 10 pounds

4) Lose 20 pounds

5) Run a 5K in under 30 minutes

6) Eat at home for 30 days (0/30)

7) Stop talking negatively about weight, mine or anyone else’s, for 30 days (0/30)

8) Run a half marathon

9) Drink 8 glasses of water a day for 30 days (0/30)

10) Do 25 consecutive “boy” pushups.

11) Do 100 crunches every day for 30 days (0/30)

12) Floss for 30 days (0/30)

13) Be in bed by 10:30 pm for 30 days (0/30)

14) Take vitamins for 30 days (0/30)

15) Eat vegetarian for an entire week

Financial:

16) Start contributing to DH’s 401K

17) Pay off credit card

18) Pay off my student loan

19) Save a dollar each day of the challenge (12/1001)

20) Create a budget and adjust monthly

21) Buy a new home

22) Have 100 “no spend” days (1/100)

23) Read Dave Ramsey book and complete workbook

24) Order credit report and correct any mistakes

25) Find out credit score

Just Because:

26) Try sushi

27) Try 10 new restaurants (1/10)

28) Watch AFI’s 10 Top 10 Movies: (0/100)

29) Submit a postcard to PostSecret

30) Have a professional bra fitting and buy six matching bra/panty sets

31) Design a blog to track progress on this list and update weekly (1/143)

32) Enter and win a contest

33) Keep a one sentence journal for 365 days (0/365)

34) Stop swearing for 30 days (0/30)

35) Buy good make up

36) Wear a skirt once a week for a month (0/4)

37) Take a hot air balloon ride

38) Finish a New York Times crossword---even if it’s Monday’s!

39) Watch all the movies we own that I haven’t seen

40) Implement Internet-free Sundays for 1 month (0/4)

41) Buy and fill out a new address book

42) Have a meal at a restaurant alone

43) Renew passport

44) Make 10 recipes including an ingredient I’ve never used before (0/10)

45) Try 10 new beers (0/10)

46) Buy a pair of shoes that costs at least $50

47) Do not complain about anything for an entire day

48) Listen to my entire ITunes library on shuffle without skipping

49) Get a bikini wax

50) Spend an entire day reading

51) Spend an entire day watching movies

Family & Friends

52) Go on a date with my husband at least once a month (0/33)

53) Take a family picture every month (0/33)

54) Go on a winery tour with friends

55) Play hooky with DH

56) Get a family portrait taken

57) Use the video camera to record the boys at least once a month (0/33)

58) Take a picture with the boys every month (0/33)

59) Take the boys to the Indianapolis Zoo and Children’s Museum

60) Take Jackson to the circus

61) Go golfing with Mark

62) Take Jackson to a baseball game

63) Read one of Mark’s favorite books

64) Send a card, letter, or email to someone I haven’t talked to in awhile once a month (0/33)

65) Take the boys to fly a kite

66) Take a family trip

67) Take the boys to the state fair

Giving to Others:

68) Join the National Bone Marrow Program

69) Donate blood at least ten times (0/10)

70) Become a volunteer for Special Olympics

71) Pay for the person behind me in the drive-thru

72) Pay for the meal of a young family in a restaurant

73) Put flowers on someone’s grave I don’t know

74) Send flowers for no reason

75) Donate 101 items (0/101)

76) Compliment someone every day for 30 days ( 0/30)

77) Throw someone a surprise party

78) Bake something for the elderly next door neighbor and take the boys to deliver it

79) Donate 50,000 grains of rice on www.freerice.com (680/50,000)

Get It Together:

80) Get our wills written

81) Finish the boys’ baby books

82) Finish recipe blog

83) Get rid of all clothes I have not worn in a year

84) Clean out filing cabinet

85) Get my car detailed

86) Get duvet professionally cleaned

Learn Something New!

87) Mow the lawn

88) Learn how to make an omelette

89) Take a photography class

90) Take a math class

91) Learn Spanish conversationally

92) Read 200 books (0/200)

93) Plant and maintain a vegetable garden

94) Make a meal on the grill

95) Learn how to tie a tie

96) Complete my National Board Certification

97) Learn how to use Photoshop

98) Read 25 of Time Magazine’s Top 100 List (0/25)

99) Take a cake decorating class and use what I learn to make one of the boy’s birthday cakes

100) Take a rubber stamping class

101) Take a boxing class

The 101 in 1001 Project

2008-08-16T22:48:00.000-05:00

I first heard about the 101 in 1001 Project on a message board that I frequent. And since I am all about making lists and crossing things off said list, I decided to jump on board. Here's what the project is all about:

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 organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

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 Focussed. 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.

My start date is August 18, 2008 and my end date is May 16, 2011. Please join me in my journey and root me on along the way!