101 Things in 1001 days

So, I got this from a blog that I follow called SillyGrrl and think it's an amazing idea. Complete 101 things/goals/tasks/dreams in 1001 days. That's it.

It's going to take me a while to come up with 101 things to complete but I think it's a great way to set some goals in my life. (I did create a bucket list once, and I'll need to track it down since I think that'll be a great place to start)

A lot of times, when you hit this age, I feel like there isn't anything to strive for. If you're not dating someone with marriage on the horizon or if you're not in line for that big promotion or job change, what is there to look forward to?

When there really isn't anything "new" going on in your life, can you really measure how well you're doing? I mean I think it's silly to think that at the age of 26 I should have X, Y and Z accomplished. Things change. If I followed all of my pre-set plans, I would have been married by 24 and would have started a family by now - which sitting here typing that seems just plain crazy. To put it in realistic terms, I would be married to an a-hole who treated me like crap and would hopefully not be bringing a child into that environment. There are aspects of my life that I love and there are parts that I wish would change a bit but overall, I am really happy with where I am. The question is where to go next and how will I know if I'm being successful. Is it by the amount of money in my bank account? Whether or not I have a steady boyfriend?

I mean so much can change in 1001 days. I just figured out that 1001 days ago was February, 13, 2007 and shutter at the thought of how my life was going at that time. Things were not good.

So, I think this is an amazing way to gauge how I'm doing. So, my deadline for creating my 101 items is Friday.

Start date: Friday, November 13, 2009

End date: Friday, August 10, 2012.

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).

I will donate $10 to charity for every item not completed.

Anyone else up to the challenge?

If this sounds like something you'd like to do for yourself, leave me a comment so I can track your progress!

Click here to download the 101 in 1001 days image

How will your life change?

Saving money for the holidays

You know I have kinda always thought that using coupons was something mom's with families did. But it turns out there are a ton of really great sites and blogs out there that help everyday people find amazing deals. I have seen some of these people on the Today Show getting like $300 worth of stuff for like $20. I have actually been following a couple of great ones if you're interested in checking them out. Coupon Gal and The Good Deal Gal and Hip to Save are my favorite. By following these blogs, I have gotten magazine subscriptions for free, saved tons of money at Walgrees/CVS and tons of other great deals. Grab a Sunday paper and you too can start saving. You should totally check them out

As the holiday season approaches, I’m always looking for ways to do my Christmas shopping on a budget. I came across the three new sites: PricePlease.com, CouponMap.com and SeatCity.com. These sites just launched and are sister sites of CouponCabin.com, which is a must when online shopping. With more and more recessionistas and price-savvy shoppers, these sites are a huge help on helping users with great deals on everything from entertainment and dining to gifts and gas. Check them out for yourself and let me know what you think!

I've fallen off the wagon

I can't believe my last post was over a month ago. It's been a busy couple of weeks because I feel like I posted all of those pictures just yesterday.

But I am back on the blogging wagon.

And in the spirit of being committed to blogging again, I have finally decided to buy my domain name. I'm still going to be using blogger so I don't think anyone's feeds should be disrupted (if anyone actually has me on their feed) but I am really excited. I build so many webpages and graphics for work, it's about time I do the same for my own blog.

But in the meantime, I am having some writers block. What are your favorite go-to blog topics when you have writers block.

In honor of my favorite video game growing up, a quick look at Oregon Trail!

I believe summer is officially over... sad.

I can't believe I wore a coat to work this morning. But based on principle alone, I still wore flip flops. It is dawning on me that summer is actually over. It's been a great summer, don't get me wrong, I just miss the days of relaxing by the pool, enjoying the warm weather and various other childhood summer memories. The reality is that I haven't had a summer like that since I was probably 13... but it's still good to remember.

Since work's been crazy and life's been equally crazy, I need to catch up on everyone's blogs and also actually post something that is worth reading. But in the meantime, here are some pics from my summer.

September - My friend Kristen's bachelorette party in Toronto


September - The city bonfire on my back deck

September - My tour of Wrigley Field!

August - My brother's wedding

August - Penny Celebrating my 26th Birthday!

July - My sister-in-law's bachelorette party in California

July - Where we stayed for the bachelorette party... it's the original 90210 house (Kelly Martin lived here)


May - My sister's graduation from the University of Dayton

Enjoying some wine and cheese.

I hope everyone is having a great Friday night!





Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

Worst Case Senario: Dating

So I came across this video from a friend's gchat status and just died. It is absolutly hysterical. But at the very same time, I kinda felt bad for these guys.

I mean in 1989 (or whenever this was created) filming this was probably just as scary as signing up for a Match.com account. Both come with the high possiblity that someone you know might stumble across your profile and make fun of you.

I have never really been opposed to online dating, I just alway thought of it as a last resort. If everything I was doing: joining co-ed volleyball teams, meeeting people's friends of friends, etc., wasn't working then I was open to online dating.

I mean, one of my best friends met her soon-to-be-husband online and they're happy as could be.

Anywho, long story short, while these guys' comments are hysterical (wait for the man in the vikings costume)... there is a level of humlity attached with filling out an online dating profile or speaking to a camera in an amazing multi-colored sweater and saying: "I'd like a boy/girlfriend but I can't find one on my own. So maybe this way will work."

And as a single girl, I can sympathize.

Dating Montage
by smithy00101

Three Bridesmaids Dresses Later...

Here are the long awaited pictures from my brother's wedding - we are one good looking family. For some reason (of course) it is kinda fuzzy.

Thanks again for all of your kind words and well wishes.

And while it wasn't the best fitting dress I've ever worn, it did look pretty damn good.

PS - I'm the one on the left. :)

My non-foodie review: Publican

This is my first non-foodie review of a Chicago restaurant. I'd classify it as a non-foodie review because I just like food, I normally can't taste to oak undertones of a steak or most herbs - I just know what I like.

In honor of my sorority past, I will use the compliment sandwich format: positive, negative and end on a positive.

So let's get started!

Publican
845 W Fulton Market
www.thepublicanrestaurant.com

Positive: Pigs, pigs pigs
With the pig paintings on the wall, you know that pork is their main specialty. I had the pork belly with maple and something else (It's not currently on their website) but it was a fabulous combination of sweet and salty without being too much like kettle corn (not in the literal sense, but it provided hints of sweet next to the saltiness of the pork. After talking with the waitress about the different types of pork - since I am a novice - she suggested the pork belly for me since it was the closest to bacon without it tasting like breakfast. It was really great but I think I would try the ham next. Our neighbors were eating the ham and offered my friend and I a taste, it was by far the very best ham I have ever eaten. Sara Lee could take some lessons from them. No need for French's mustard, it was fabulous.

Negative: Loud and packed
From the pictures, you can see that there are just long tables with chairs lined up. Since you're sitting so close to people, you inevitably are listening to their conversation. And since you're doing your best to carry on a conversation with whoever you are eating with, you end up trying to talk over them. So while the community feel of the restaurant is pretty cool, the tables could use a couple of seats removed. We couldn't get a reservation - which was my fault for waiting so long to reserve a table - so we ended up drinking at the bar until our table was ready and while it could have something to do with the popularity of the restaurant, it was totally packed and we didn't sit down for dinner until about 10pm and finished at midnight. A little to European for me.


Positive: Ich mag Bier.
Good thing the beer list made it totally worth the wait. I love a good German beer and this place, complete with a beer director, had more choices that I couldnt pronounce and must try. I enjoyed Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel... which I loosely translate as Stephanie's Heifenwissen is Delicious (Clearly I know zero German and made that all up) But I do know it was probably one of the best beers I have ever had. While the price tag of $9 could seem steep, the 500ml bottle provides the perfect amount of beer for the price tag. On their 11x17, fully-covered menu, they had Trappist beer which swear is a beer urban legend. Some of the Trappist Monasteries' beers have won international beer awards and yet, I have never actually seen it at any establishment. There are only 7 monasteries/ abbeys that brew beer, six in Belgium and one in the Netherlands. At $31 a bottle, I am going to need to save it for a very special occasion but I am excited to try it.

So overall, I would say that Publican is worth a visit, even if it's just for the beer menu. I would love to try one of the other pork options and for sure get the ham. Even if you're not a meat eater, the fish menu was quite vast and looked delicious. I'm not a big fan of fish but my friend loved her mussels so that's good enough for me.

Summary - Totally worth the money for special occasions but you may not hear your neighbor talk.

What time is it and what are you thankful for?

So the time is 11:51 and I have decided that I have a lot to be thankful for.

For each number in the hour, list someone you're thankful for and for each number in the minute, list something random you're for.

People I am thankful for:
1 - I am thankful for my dad. He sends me these "inspirational" words or wisdom - which he subscribes to - and for the longest time I would just delete them but once I started reading them. I realized that he was sending me the ones he thought would help me. I look forward to getting them now.

1 - I am also thankful for my roommates. Tonight we discussed all of the great things we'd do if we won the 325 million mega lotto. We can talk about anything and everything. She cheers me up when I need it and can be an ear when I need to vent. We weren't great friend in college but are best friends now.

Random items I am thankful:
5 - My uncle's paintings in my room, stationary, my new blackberry, my new monogramed L L bean tote bag, and Nitro Circus on MTV2

1 - Lola by Marc Jacobs (it smells amazing)


So what time is it and what are you thankful for?
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

are you a disenchanted youth tuning it all out

so i am watching the daily show with jon stewart, like i normally do, and feel like i have come to a really powerful conclusion: american adults have lost their minds.

honestly, i don't even know where to begin. with all of the obama healthcare talk people have completly lost their minds. i am lucky enough to have great health insurance and pay alot for it. there are tons of people who don't have insurance or have terrible insurance that barely covers the cost of a flu shot - why don't more people care about that?

have we become so selfish that we'd rather not help out neighbors?

now i realize that it is not that cut and dry of an issue but the bigger picture is still there. when did we stop caring about the people who live right next door to us? don't think that i am far off when i say that the people who complain about paying more on their taxes are the same people that donate large chunks of money to causes in africa. does it make them feel better to help people they can't see?

and again, i know there are people who abuse governmental programs but i would like to think that the majority of people who use these programs really need it and arent abusive.

but what are young people to do? so what now. what are my next steps?

nothing.

whether you believe in obama's healthcare plan or (hopefully) something similar, there is nothing that you or i can do. even when our powers combined, are voice means nothing.

believe that what two people who love each other should be able to get married? tough.

believe that semi-automatic weapons arent actually used for hunting? too bad.

there are so many policies and laws that should be re-exaimned. but don't get you hopes up.

run for office if you dare but with the inter workings and behind the scenes life of our political system how is anyone old or young suppose to make a difference.

our government, good or bad, has been trecking along for 200 plus years and having nothing to do with obama's slogan (because i realize he hasnt been around long enough) - i want to believe in change and hope but have yet to see anything that has changed or something to be hopeful about.

**sorry for the rant and apologize for the lack of capital letters, typing on my cell phone.