Amy's 101 in 1001

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 organizng and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities. Learn more about the 101 Project here.

Start Date:  October 1, 2009
End Date: June 28, 2012

Bold/italicized - Completed Item

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Get Artsy
1. Take a photography class or self-teach
2. Make framed art with calendar or scrapbook paper.
3. Take a course in Photoshop or self-teach
4. Create art for above the bed.
5. Resurface or restore a piece of furniture.
6. Finish wedding party scrapbook.


Get Healthy
7. Work out three times a week for one whole month. (/30)
8. Lose 15 pounds by February 14, 2010.  FAIL
9. Participate in a 5k with my husband. 
10. Eat breakfast religiously for one month straight. (0/30)
11. Drink five glasses of water a day for two weeks. (0/14)
12. Go one week without eating convenience/frozen/boxed food. (0/7)
13. Floss every day for a month. (0/30)
14. Complete 50 push-ups.

Get Cultured
15. Read 5 non-fiction books (0/5)
16. Organize or participate in a book group.
17. Watch all of AFI's top 100 movies (2007 list) (0/100)
18. Go to a live show at our local community theatre.
19. Go to a local festival.
20. Attend a live music performance of someone I don't know who is not famous.
21. Read 10 books I haven't read from 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (0/10)
22. Attend a concert of someone famous of whom I've never seen before. 

Get Deep 
25. Go to a movie alone.
26. Identify 100 things that make me happy. (0/100)
27. Identify 25 things I like about myself. (0/25)
28. Go to a coffee shop with a book and enjoy the afternoon solo.

Get Domestic 
29. Take a cooking class.
30. Make dinner at least 3 nights a week, two weeks in a row. 
31. Make my dad's amazing spaghetti sauce.
32. Make home made ice cream.
33. Host a party for friends.
34. Take a cake decorating class.
35. Decorate a cake (or cupcakes) for a loved one's birthday.
36. Take lunch to work every day for two weeks. 
37. Try 30 new recipes. (10/30)
38. Cultivate a plant.

Get Organized 
39. Organize car trunk.
40. Clean out pile of wedding gifts.
41. Keep a filing system for important papers.
42. Buy birthday cards and greeting cards to have on-hand and send
43. Organize jewelry with a new storage system.
44 Clean tarnished jewelry.
45. De-clutter the bedroom.
46. Change my name with several places I haven't changed with. 
47. Back up all 2009 photos and start printing/albuming pics since 2005.

Get Rich (or at least get my finances in better order) 
48. Set DH up with direct deposit and auto withdrawals. 
49. Transfer at least $50 to savings a month. (0/32)
50. Create a financial plan with the hubby.
51. Put $5 in savings for each completed task and $10 for every uncompleted one.

Get Generous
52. Pay 10 strangers compliments (0/10)
53. Purge and donate old clothes from closets at least three times (0/3)
54. Volunteer for a fundraiser or organization.
55. Pay for the person behind me at a toll or drive thru.
56. Serve food at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter.
57. Send 12 cards or letters for no reason at all. (0/12)

Get Social
58. Mail 50 Christmas Cards out before Christmas.
59. Make plans with a new friend. 
60. Call one faraway friend a week for 6 weeks. (0/6)
61. Have a girl's night once every other month. (0/16)
62. Plan a surprise birthday party.
63. Have a dinner date with my husband once a month. (0/32)
64. Have a double-date with friends once every other month. (1/16) 

Get Stuff 
65. Buy a digital SLR camera.
66. Buy a home. 

Get Adventurous
67. Go to NYC.
68. Go to the West Coast.
69. Take a girls only trip.
70. Take a completely impulsive, spur of the moment road trip with husband


Get Habitual
71. Blog daily. (0/30)
72. Declutter house. (15min/day) (0/30)
73. Give up fast food for a month. (0/30)
74. Meditate. (0/30)
75. Photo a day. (0/30)
76. Stand in front of mirror and say an affirmation. (0/30)


Get Random
77. Write a letter to my future self.
78. Drink wine on a boat.
79. Go to a drive-in movie.
80. Re-read The Baby-Sitter's Club books for the first time in 20 years.
81. Get wedding dress cleaned.
82. Pick strawberries.
83. Kiss in the rain.
84. Play mini-golf.
85. Host a theme party.
86. Print off important digital pics.
87. Stay in a bed and breakfast.
88. Color a coloring book.
89. Attend a Zumba class.
90. Surprise husband with a romantic dinner.
91. Take pictures in a photobooth.
92. Send my grandmother flowers.
93. De-clutter my trunk
94. Keep a recipe book.
95. Leave a 100% tip to a worthy server.
96. Throw away old makeup.
97. Make Thanksgiving dinner.  
98. Pay a stranger a compliment.
99. Discover my favorite wine.
100. Be a vegetarian for a week.
101. Get a facial. 

Fashion Find

Tonight I scored myself a new winter-ish coat. Where, you might ask? Rue 21. I know, I was surprised too. I don't mind picking up some funky acccessories or a going out top there once in a blue moon, so I never expected to find almost exactly the coat I was looking for this season. And at a price tag of $40, well, I simply couldn't pass it up. It hits almost knee-length and flares out at the bottom - a girly touch I love.  While looking for  the coat on their website I came across even cuter coats in plaids and houndstooth, which I may hunt down the next couple of months. A girl in PA can never have enough winter coats.

Evolution

While going through some old pics, I happened upon one of the first pictures of me with two of my best friends from 11 years ago at my sister's wedding. For some reason this sparked my imagination to create a quick collage of the three of us (Triple A) over the last decade to email to them.  I'm all about before and afters and "my, look how they've changed/aged/declined/etc" comparisons. Naturally, creating these little collages is right up my alley.

Anyway, after finishing my little project, I stared at it for a little bit, contemplating my own personal aging and look. Simply coincidental that the first and last (2009) pics are both from weddings - my sister's and my own -- just FYI. I must admit I was pleased that I'm not 'declining.' While some people are at their peak of their looks at age 17-18, I was a freakin' mess. The dress was my sister's old formal dress from the previous year, weird grimace, wretched straight bangs.... gah. In 2004 you see a much plumper and rounder Amy -- but at least the hair was 85% improved. 2006 still brings the chubby, but you'll note I wasn't afraid of the smoky eye. Finally I seem to have it mostly together in 2009. I could attribute this to an expensive dress and pro hair, but for now, I'm going to bask in the fact that I'm not declining. I'm like a fine wine getting better with age! Or perhaps I've hit my peak at 28, and it's downhill from here. Either way, I need to roll with it and start appreciating myself. It's been a long time coming.

Follow-up: Skincare

Two words: Product rave. I'm four days in to my Clinique Acne Solutions starter kit regimen, and I am in love. It IS pretty drying, so I recommend an extra moisturizer tacked on to the three steps. But otherwise, my skin is happy and oil and acne free. I really couldn't ask for more. If this keeps up for a few more weeks, I will be Clinique's bitch for life. Between this and their Advanced Concealer -- ahh!  Just tack department store beauty products on to the ever-growing list of merchandise I will drain my bank account for and not think twice about. Where was this stuff ten years ago? :/

Who gets this excited over skincare?

Thanks to some online recs (thanks, F&B and Melissa!), I'm going to try out a new skincare regimen -- Clinique's Acne Solutions line.

For years I've battled (what is this, a war?) wretched breakouts, bumps, and scarring from ten years ago.  Just seems pretty ridiculous that a woman creeping up on 30 is having to worry about this like a hormonal 15-year-old.  In the past year I've tried a crapload of products, and just when I think I've nailed down the best line for my skin, it backfires. I blamed most of it on wedding stress, but I don't have that anymore, so what gives?  I'll be sure to update the blog on the Clinique outcome.

Notorious

One of the benefits about having so many pro photoshoots is having your photographer think you look decent enough to display on a wall!

First up - Here am I on the wall of Krisha Martzall Photograhy's studio in Lancaster, PA. I did a boudoir session last July as a gift to my then fiance. To the right you'll see the sexy legs of my friend Laura. You can view more of Krisha's awesomeness at her website: http://www.krishamartzall.com/

And as part of our city's First Friday celebration to honor the arts, here is a display from my Rock the Dress photographer, Shannon Confair. I'm obviously the bottom two. To the left is my fabulous friend and DOC extraordinare Francesca, and above me is my BFF Alisia, who joined in on my RTD. More of Shannon's work here: www.shannonconfairphotography.blogspot.com