Sunday, February 10, 2013

100 Things to Do in 2013

I decided to be open and sharing about what I want out of my 2013.  So, without further ado, here is my brainstorm of 100 things to do.  I tried to keep in mind my 2013 theme of "Active Renewal" while coming up with ideas.  I decided this was a year to get back to me as opposed to moving forward.  A year to build to foundation.

1.     Start daily yoga                 
2.     Learn to rock climb                 
3.     Quarterly massages      (0/4)
4.     A week alone at my family's camp                   
5.     Monthly date nights with Corey      (0/12)
6.     Take a photography class            
7.     Go camping 3 times    (0/3)          
8.     Stand at the top of a mountain
9.     Pay off my car           
10.   Find a group of Portland friends         
11.   Go to The Nutcracker
12.   Start journaling        
13.   Buy a better camera         
14.   Tailor CTS job for me
15.   Learn some new updos           
16.   Go to the ballet        
17.   Complete a non-blanket crochet project
18.   Clarify my personal style               
19.   Learn to shoot a gun                 
20.   More girl time
21.   Take a course in designing blogs           
22.   Take a dance class           
23.   Find a local "escape place"
24.   Get a bicycle            
25.   Figure out what I want to go to school for        
26.   Create a morning ritual
27.   Make all Christmas gifts        
28.   Find a way to make extra money/income
29.   Go on a whale watch             
30.   Figure out my patron god/goddess
31.   Study and learn my oracle cards             
32.   Go to a casino               
33.   Stop biting my nails
34.   Go skinny dipping               
35.   Get my passport          
36.   Buy something that makes me feel sexy
37.   Read "Game of Thrones"             
38.   Watch "Game of Thrones"             
39.   Make a perfect planner
40.   Day with Corey at the beach               
41.   Go to Boston                
42.   Plant an herb garden
43.   Get a hammock      
44.   Karaoke        
45.   Go to the drive-in   
46.   Eat more fruits and veggies         
47.   Have a birthday party            
48.   Lord of the Rings movie marathon             
49.   Make s'mores
50.   Naughty times outdoors                                                     
51.  Take a college course 
52.   Start a business plan for whole life wellness            
53.   Complete The Joy Equation                                    
54.   Dance!!!                
55.   Finish all the main quests in Skyrim
56.   Read "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings"                       
57.   Weekend away with Corey
58.   Weekly shag                
59.   Get a dog                               
60.   Move somewhere we can have a dog
61.   Create/start a Project Life or Corey and Liz album                   
62.   Doctor and dentist checkups
63.   Funtown/Splashtown day                
64.   Pay four overdue bills         (0/4)                     
65.   Save $1000      
66.   Hula hoop more                                        
67.   Create a 5 year plan with goals and action plans
68.   Get my car a complete tune up                         
69.   Stop taking my "life unhappiness" out on Corey
70.   Take a self help/improvement course     
71.   Cook better meals      
72.   Visit Debsconeag Ice Caves
73.   Make a quilt                     
74.   Go to a concert                       
75.   Check out Soakology   
76.   Eat 'clean' for at least a month              
77.   Take an entire day hike             
78.   Take a kayaking trip
79.   Make a gratitude journal               
80.   *Private* 
81.   Read the books I already have before buying more                           
82.   Start a side business
83.   Take a class to improve my blog                  
84.   Find my soul color   
85.   Watch all the new seasons of Dr. Who  
86.   Cull Google Read / find "must read" blogs to inspire me
87.   Find a regular hang out spot in Portland                        
88.   Start to really build life with Corey
89.   Try Bikram yoga
90.   Be more kind
91.   Climb a tree
92.   Plan a big awesome anniversary
93.   Take an art class
94.   Be less judgey
95.   Be happy!
96.   Figure out what I really want in life
97.   Make bread
98.   Do all the workbooks that I have already bought/downloaded
99.   Let go
100. Accept where I am in life and start the changes I want

Friday, February 8, 2013

On My Shelf // February 2013



JaneJane by April Lindner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Even though (I believe) that this book was written for young adults, I really enjoyed it. It is a modern take on "Jane Eyre", with the Mr. Rochester character being a rock star. The action was fast paced enough to make this a quick read, but the Jane in this version is a little ... "blah". I never really understood what "Mr. Rochester" saw in her. And why a modern relationship would move that fast - as in first kiss to engagement in ... two(?) days.

Here's the summary from Goodreads : "Forced to drop out of an esteemed East Coast college after the sudden death of her parents, Jane Moore takes a nanny job at Thornfield Park, the estate of Nico Rathburn, a world-famous rock star on the brink of a huge comeback. Practical and independent, Jane reluctantly becomes entranced by her magnetic and brooding employer and finds herself in the midst of a forbidden romance.

But there's a mystery at Thornfield, and Jane's much-envied relationship with Nico is soon tested by an agonizing secret from his past. Torn between her feelings for Nico and his fateful secret, Jane must decide: Does being true to herself mean giving up on true love?

An irresistible romance interwoven with a darkly engrossing mystery, this contemporary retelling of the beloved classic Jane Eyre promises to enchant a new generation of readers."

I have heard from quite a few people, mostly those who loved the original, that didn't like this version. I think that the reason I liked it is because I had a hard time getting into the original. I love the movies, but for some reason, the book is too slow for me to read.

I recommend this for those who love the movies, but not the book. If you like the original, you probably won't like this book.



Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Trip of a Lifetime // Part Duex

My initial post about my dream road trip seemed to really catch a lot of people's interest, so I thought a nice follow up was in order.  I am still dreaming and plugging away at a plan for this, but I really think that maybe I'll be able to make it a reality.  Which is super exciting!

Somewhat coincidentally, I found this book a weekend or two after my initial post at my local dump's "treasure house" - which, if you don't know what that is, is where people put their stuff they don't want but is too good to throw away.  Even though it was published quite some time ago, it looks pretty interesting.  It has helped me to add a couple more places to my list .... like I needed more, right?  I'm thinking I might need to really sit down and figure out which part of the country to really focus on.  I'm thinking the Rocky Mountain region.  Maybe South Dakota/Idaho.  Or Arizona/Utah.  Okay ... it might be tough for me to narrow down.  I want to see everything!!!

I think that the biggest planning will really have to be the budgeting and saving.  Not only will I have to save up for the actual trip, but I'll have to save up for the months off of work.  At the moment, my rough estimate is that I will need at least $1,000.00 for each month I plan for.  This seems high, but I want a little wiggle room for unexpected splurges - opportunities that are just too good to pass up, a really nice restaurant, that sort of thing.

I'll also have to budget having Corey join me for a bit too.  He won't be able to do the whole thing since he has his daughter every other weekend, but he should be able to join me for a week or so.  And everyone is entitled to an awesome vacation every now and then.