101 Things Update

((Mar 30-July 8))

** items which have been 'strike-thru'ed (line through them) are done. :)

1. Lose 20 lbs. (3/20)
2. Finish the novel I've started writing.
3. Do one nice thing for someone every day. (21/101)
4. Do at least 1/2 hour of exercise every day. (21/101)
5. Be consistent enough with the radio show to get it going live.
6. Join the Babytime group at the Kitchener Public Library.
7. Find work for at least 2 more weeks of the summer.
8. Read at least 3 books. (0/3)
9. Go to church each week (2/13)
10. Finish my cross stitch I'm making for Liam.
11. Clean out the guest room (which has become a storage room).
12. Go to a dress-up dance with Ari.
13. Have one nice bubble bath a week. (0/13)
14. Learn 1 more dance (eg Salsa, Meringue).
15. Go roller blading and not quit after 5 mins.
16. Get my bike fixed.
17. Clean out the car and get it washed, vaccuumed and tuned up.
18. Have at least 1 play date a month. (1/3)
19. No messing with my hair - no cuts, no perms, dye touchups only. (21/101)
20. Go through my clothes to see what fits, what I wear, what i don't, etc.
21. Ditto shoes.
22. Cook for Ari at least once a week. (3/13)
23. Organize our actual storage room.
24. Donate my time to one good cause a month. (0/3)
25. Go to one new restaurant a month. (0/3)
26. See one movie a week. (3/13)
27. Donate my tutoring money to charity.
28. Get my retainer wire fixed.
29. Read at least a chapter of the bible a day. (21/101)
30. Know where we're going for summer vacation and plan it.
31. Sign up for an English course for summer semester so I can get my English AQ for the fall.
32. No pizza. (20/101)
33. Have one night a week with Ari set aside for fun ('date night' even if it includes Liam). (3/13)
34. Redo our back yard.
35. Create my unit plan for camp.
36. Read one book in French.
37. Go to the U.S. to buy diet Cherry Coke.
38. Take Liam to one new city a month. (1/3)
39. Have a mani/pedi.
40. Tell Ari I love him every day. (21/101)
41. Learn a new skill (knitting, an instrument, a language).
45. Try one new wine a month. (1/3)
46. Share one piece of writing for the purposes of critique and feedback.
47. Finish 'Thank You' cards for Liam's gifts.
48. Get one famous person's autograph.
49. Redo the linoleum floors in my house.
50. Set aside $30 ever week I don't have fast food for a non-food treat (eg CD, DVD). Subway excepted.
51. Get one other person to do the 101 things in 101 days.
52. Look into setting up a will (unsure if possible to complete as adoption won't be complete).
53. No non-diet pop. (21/101)
54. Submit a piece of writing to a publisher.
55. Get a baby seat for my bike, and Liam a helmet.
56. Blog every day (except my monthly 'no computer day' - see below). (20/98)
57. Renew and update my Apply to Education account (resume, references, cover letter etc.).
58. Call in to a radio show.
59. Go through my junk drawers (like, one in every room)
60. Get through the pile of stuff on my desk (DVDs/CDs to burn, photos to put away).
61. Go through my 'correspondence' storage space: organize it.
62. Find a place for the things I just cleared out of Mom's house.
63. Buy at least one of the board games Ari and I have been coveting.
64. Have a games night with friends.
65. Finish my puzzle.
66. See at least one friend a week. (3/13)
67. Get on the Do Not Call list.
68. Call the diaper service and get Liam into cloth diapers.
69. Be on time to things. (21/101)
70. Liam's naming ceremony and open house.
71. Redo the chips the movers left in the paint job in our house.
72. Wash windows.
73. Unpack from our trip, do laundry etc. by the end of the week.
74. Have a picnic.
75. Go to the gym twice a week at least (1/26).
76. Get Ari's Big Lebowski poster and McGill diploma either framed or plaqued.
77. Update my "Wrestlemania" collection
78. Beat "Zelda II: The Adventures of Link" without dying once.
79. Make one person laugh every day. (21/101)
80. Dance at least once a week. (3/13)
81. See one live theatre production.
82. Pray every day. (21/101)
83. Sign Liam's adoption placement papers.
84. Sign Liam's adoption finalization papers.
85. Watch and label the old wrestling videos Mom sent home with me.
86. Take Liam to the zoo.
87. Make a new friend.
88. Don't miss any appointments.
89. Go swimming.
90. Go to an arcade but don't spend more than $20.
91. Introduce Liam to solid foods.
92. Clean up Ari's side of the office for him (or get him to with my awesome powers of persuasion).
93. Distribute our formal Liam/family photos to our folks.
94. Donate blood.
95. Bake once a month. (0/3).
96. Make a list of things which have caused me pain/anger/regret/sadness, and burn it.
97. Go somewhere I've never been.
98. Have one internet-free day a month (1/3).
99. Have one TV free day a month (0/3).
100. Get a piercing.
101. Go to the Royal Ontario Museum.

Week One Notes: I didn't get to the gym because I still couldn't find my "Y" membership card. I now have so I will start this week - I still managed to be active every day though. :) Also I missed ONE day on my pizza promise as we ran out of time to do much else when we had our friend Steve over for Wrestlemania. Otherwise I'd say a pretty good week and even if not 100% success I've stuck to the spirit of the list so far. :)

Week Two Notes: Much more on track this week. Awesome. Only thing I didn't do this week that I should have was my 'bubble bath a week' - I'm two weeks behind on that one now. But this week anyway, the spirit of that goal was met - this weekend instead of my usual quick 10-minute shower, I had a nice long one, I blowed my hair dry and did my nails ... hey I wanted to do all these and no excuses, but I think there aer worse ones to miss. :) Also my cooking for Ari this week consisted of ordering in - but hey it was one night of saving him cooking. :) I'd say overall this hasn't been a 100% success so far but pretty damn good.

Week Three Notes: Not the most successful week - still no time for a bubble bath and didn't get to the gym, although I still did my half-hour of activity a day so I consider the spirit of that to be met anyway. Liam is teething and going through a bit of separation anxiety so I have had a hard time this last little bit leaving him to his own devices even to do stuff around the house for more than 20/30 minutes at a time. Also, as much as this list was meant to be completed perfectly, I also recognized as a busy new mom that might not happen: considering that I'm pleased at the progress I am making. :) For the most part I'm doing the things I want to every day, and I usually cross at least one or two extra things off a week. So I'm no superwoman but I don't think I'm quite heading into 'you suck at this' territory yet lol.

Go Jays! And happy belated birthday Dawn

So Ari and I went to the Blue Jays game with Little Tyke today as discussed - it was a GREAT game the Jays won 1-0. Very tight and very good pitches and plays throughout. LT really seemed to enjoy it too, standing on my lap watching and babbling through a bunch of it before napping through the second half. Afterwards, we joined my brother Kyle, his girlfriend Dawn, and some of their friends for a dinner celebrating Dawn's birthday which was yesterday. It was a very nice day in Toronto all in all, and I realized I didn't take the chance to wish my 'sister-in-law' a happy birthday here yesterday as I did my Sweetheart Saturday post so I wanted to take that chance now.

Thanks K&D for showing us a good time ... and reminding me how much I enjoy Red Lobster. ;)

Sweetheart Saturday

I just want to say I love Ari - no particular reason. We've had a pretty normal week, and if anything it's been a bit of a busy and stressful yet boring and mundane one - but that's just it. One of our weaknesses in the past has been venting AT each other not TO each other, if that makes sense and I think we're getting better at it.

We're much more different people than I think either of us realized when we first dated but one of our biggest successes as a couple has been to learn how to appreciate those differences and how they can compliment each other instead of causing conflict. And we've come a long way but in the hustle and bustle of everything we don't always acknowledge that. So I want to here - thanks for being on this journey with me Ari, even if I rush you along sometimes and even if you sometimes hold us up. Somehow, miraculously we ended up in the same place and I for one am thrilled about that. :)

Take me out to the ball game ...

So it's the weekend and shaping up to be a good one -

Taking Little Tyke to his first baseball game this weekend. :) That makes me happy. Especially since it means seeing my awesome brother and his awesome girlfriend while we're in Toronto.

Also Ari has two day weekends again, as in two days off in a row (instead of two separated over the course of the week as he has the last couple months), which will be nice. Which means we can have a good productive day tomorrow, and enjoy Sunday.

A good week all around I think. :) Quiet, a bit unproductive, not quite as good, for example, as last week on the '101 things' front but I still have time to hit the things I haven't yet, and given the next couple days are busy, I bet I'll actually be MORE likely to than days I'm just sort of hanging around with LT.

Who's wonderful by the way - a bit more difficult this week, hence the lack of productivity - he turned 5 mos. old and I think he's teething, he's been a bit crankier and needier than usual so for example the trips to the gym I commited to, well, I'll have one tomorrow but that will be it (I've been active every day nonetheless though, going on walks in the lovely weather, playing with him etc.). On the plus side though, this means LT's awake more, and he isn't hard to distract when he's fussy, so we've had lots of fun playtime and naptime and bonding together. :) He's becoming his own little person which is just a wonder to watch. Put more of the 1-3 month clothes into storage yesterday (yes he was that small that recently, he's a preemie), which is always sad but also encouraging to know he's growing so big and strong.

But isn't that life for you eh? You look back and wonder where the time went, but then it makes you look around at where you are and think 'wow, this is awesome'. LT has taught me to do that - stop living for the future, and where we'll be in a month, two months, a year from now - or in the past - why, when there's so much to do in the here and now? - and to live every moment - I won't say 'enjoy', that's asking too much lol - because good or bad they're all a part of who I am, and who LT will be. Not a bad life lesson to learn from a very wise baby huh? ;)

Click here to see the most amazing video I have ever seen - do NOT judge a book by its cover. This woman Susan Boyle is an incredible singer of a very difficult song. Lots of guts - the look on Simon Cowell's face says it all. Enjoy.

Bo the White House dog

Sorry a late post today - but still here nonetheless. It's been one of those days that feels kind of lazy and quiet but nonetheless you look up and all of a sudden it's late-ish.

Anyway - I have fallen in love. If and when Ari and I ever get a dog, I think provided we have a big enough house this is the kind I want, a Portuguese Water Dog:

Yes, exactly what it looks like; the Obamas finally came through on their promise to their daughters this week by adopting Bo from Sen. Ted Kennedy (yes, for my less politically inclined readers, of THOSE Kennedys). Portuguese Water Dogs are many wonderful things for a family - easily trained, active without being hyper, good-natured, etc. A plus for the Obamas, whose daughters have allergies, and what would be a plus for us, who have many relatives with them as well, is that PWDs are hypoallergenic as well.

Welcome Bo to the White House! Quite the digs to have the run of I must say. :) And check out how happy he makes Sasha and Malia - I think this is quite cool.

101 Things Update

As I said giving myself a do-over - replacing the things I had already accomplished, and starting tomorrow (Monday).

((Mar 30-July 8))

I'm taking this idea from my friend Tatiana, to set out 101 goals for myself in the next 101 days starting today. Some will be easy to attain, others harder, some will be important and 'deep', others will be slily fun, and we'll see how it goes. I'll update here as I knock goals off my list. Please feel free to follow along, or to do with me. :)

** items which have been 'strike-thru'ed (line through them) are done. :)

1. Lose 20 lbs. (3/20)
2. Finish the novel I've started writing.
3. Do one nice thing for someone every day. (14/101)
4. Do at least 1/2 hour of exercise every day. (14/101)
5. Be consistent enough with the radio show to get it going live.
6. Join the Babytime group at the Kitchener Public Library.
7. Find work for at least 2 more weeks of the summer.
8. Read at least 3 books. (0/3)
9. Go to church each week (2/13)
10. Finish my cross stitch I'm making for LT.
11. Clean out the guest room (which has become a storage room).
12. Go to a dress-up dance with Ari.
13. Have one nice bubble bath a week. (0/13)
14. Learn 1 more dance (eg Salsa, Meringue).
15. Go roller blading and not quit after 5 mins.
16. Get my bike fixed.
17. Clean out the car and get it washed, vaccuumed and tuned up.
18. Have at least 1 play date a month. (0/3)
19. No messing with my hair - no cuts, no perms, dye touchups only. (14/101)
20. Go through my clothes to see what fits, what I wear, what i don't, etc.
21. Ditto shoes.
22. Cook for Ari at least once a week. (2/13)
23. Organize our actual storage room.
24. Donate my time to one good cause a month. (0/3)
25. Go to one new restaurant a month. (0/3)
26. See one movie a week. (2/13)
27. Donate my tutoring money to charity.
28. Get my retainer wire fixed.
29. Read at least a chapter of the bible a day. (14/101)
30. Know where we're going for summer vacation and plan it.
31. Sign up for an English course for summer semester so I can get my English AQ for the fall.
32. No pizza. (13/101)
33. Have one night a week with Ari set aside for fun ('date night' even if it includes LT). (2/13)
34. Redo our back yard.
35. Create my unit plan for camp.
36. Read one book in French.
37. Go to the U.S. to buy diet Cherry Coke.
38. Take LT to one new city a month. (0/3)
39. Have a mani/pedi.
40. Tell Ari I love him every day. (14/101)
41. Learn a new skill (knitting, an instrument, a language).
45. Try one new wine a month. (1/3)
46. Share one piece of writing for the purposes of critique and feedback.
47. Finish 'Thank You' cards for LT's gifts.
48. Get one famous person's autograph.
49. Redo the linoleum floors in my house.
50. Set aside $30 ever week I don't have fast food for a non-food treat (eg CD, DVD). Subway excepted.
51. Get one other person to do the 101 things in 101 days.
52. Look into setting up a will (unsure if possible to complete as adoption won't be complete).
53. No non-diet pop. (14/101)
54. Submit a piece of writing to a publisher.
55. Get a baby seat for my bike, and LT a helmet.
56. Blog every day (except my monthly 'no computer day' - see below). (13/98)
57. Renew and update my Apply to Education account (resume, references, cover letter etc.).
58. Call in to a radio show.
59. Go through my junk drawers (like, one in every room)
60. Get through the pile of stuff on my desk (DVDs/CDs to burn, photos to put away).
61. Go through my 'correspondence' storage space: organize it.
62. Find a place for the things I just cleared out of Mom's house.
63. Buy at least one of the board games Ari and I have been coveting.
64. Have a games night with friends.
65. Finish my puzzle.
66. See at least one friend a week. (2/13)
67. Get on the Do Not Call list.
68. Call the diaper service and get LT into cloth diapers.
69. Be on time to things. (14/101)
70. LT's naming ceremony and open house.
71. Redo the chips the movers left in the paint job in our house.
72. Wash windows.
73. Unpack from our trip, do laundry etc. by the end of the week.
74. Have a picnic.
75. Go to the gym twice a week at least (1/26).
76. Get Ari's Big Lebowski poster and McGill diploma either framed or plaqued.
77. Update my "Wrestlemania" collection
78. Beat "Zelda II: The Adventures of Link" without dying once.
79. Make one person laugh every day. (14/101)
80. Dance at least once a week. (1/13)
81. See one live theatre production.
82. Pray every day. (14/101)
83. Sign LT's adoption placement papers.
84. Sign LT's adoption finalization papers.
85. Watch and label the old wrestling videos Mom sent home with me.
86. Take LT to the zoo.
87. Make a new friend.
88. Don't miss any appointments.
89. Go swimming.
90. Go to an arcade but don't spend more than $20.
91. Introduce LT to solid foods.
92. Clean up Ari's side of the office for him (or get him to with my awesome powers of persuasion).
93. Distribute our formal LT/family photos to our folks.
94. Donate blood.
95. Bake once a month. (0/3).
96. Make a list of things which have caused me pain/anger/regret/sadness, and burn it.
97. Go somewhere I've never been.
98. Have one internet-free day a month (1/3).
99. Have one TV free day a month (0/3).
100. Get a piercing.
101. Go to the Royal Ontario Museum.

Week One Notes: I didn't get to the gym because I still couldn't find my "Y" membership card. I now have so I will start this week - I still managed to be active every day though. :) Also I missed ONE day on my pizza promise as we ran out of time to do much else when we had our friend Steve over for Wrestlemania. Otherwise I'd say a pretty good week and even if not 100% success I've stuck to the spirit of the list so far. :)

Week Two Notes: Much more on track this week. Awesome. Only thing I didn't do this week that I should have was my 'bubble bath a week' - I'm two weeks behind on that one now. But this week anyway, the spirit of that goal was met - this weekend instead of my usual quick 10-minute shower, I had a nice long one, I blowed my hair dry and did my nails ... hey I wanted to do all these and no excuses, but I think there aer worse ones to miss. :) Also my cooking for Ari this week consisted of ordering in - but hey it was one night of saving him cooking. :) I'd say overall this hasn't been a 100% success so far but pretty damn good.