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

On My Shelf // February 2013

Jane 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.

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.

Guess Who Had a Party?