Birthday 2011 Recap

Earlier today, I posted about my birthday goals!   My year of {simple} has thus far been interesting, and I am excited to see where this takes me in the next year.


To celebrate my birthday this year, I slept in, however hit snooze too many times and was a bit late meeting K for shopping fun.

We did mostly window shopping, however did pick up a couple things. It was so great to catch up over lunch. We always have fun stories and a few good laughs.



I drove home to hang out with my boys...
Somehow, Alan and I didn't get a photo together :(


However in the -13 degree weather, I did have him take one of me!

We made our way to a couple antique stores.  Then to supper at Khans. :)

Then home to a fun ice cream cake!

We watched a bit of TV (Netflix is addicting).

I then ended my day with one of the most awesome things ever. I visited the Compassion International website, searched through children who had been waiting longer than six months for a sponsor, filled out the form, and hit "submit".     

She is from Uganda. I thank everyone who donated to make this possible. THANK YOU so much!

I'm looking forward to hearing more about my Compassion Child. It said to expect information in about 15 days. Wow. It seems like so long to wait. Yet, she waited over 6 months for me...

Birthday Goals 2011

On Tuesday January 22, 2008 I started a blog. I listed goals. Each year after (2009, 2010) I reviewed the previous year, and started fresh with new goals.

Last year, I had a good list of goals:

• Read 5 books, cover to cover.
• Make even more time for friends, and family
• Volunteer in at least 2 projects (Already signed up for one!)
• Pay off credit card
• Keep control of incoming paper (mail, newspaper, coupons, etc!)
• Finish organizing basement and paint
• Research and then implement making more use of new dehydrator, especially this summer!
• Meal Planning - just do it!
• 10 scrapbook pages a month. I know I can!

In 2011, I'm going to try something a little different.  I'm still setting goals, however it is going to be a couple overarching goals, with monthly specific goals. To keep it as {simple} as possible, I"ll post them here at the beginning of each month with a recap of the previous month. I'll also post updates to specific goals during the month. 

Keeping my one little word in mind, my general 2011 goals are:

• Connect with family and friends, frequently, though all possible ways, but particularly in person, on the phone and through snail mail.
• Use fresh produce for meals
• Organize and prioritize  - rid my life of unnecessary clutter and burden
• Connect with people, pets and things around me - do not take anything for granted
• Be creative
• Breath - pray - relax - enjoy - appreciate

I look forward to the journey this year will provide!

I have been secretly working on my January goals and will post the update on February 1!

I'll be posting later today about my {simple} birthday adventure! Stay tuned!

Bucket List. #131. Birthday Wish.

On September 18, 1997 I opened up a brand new purple note book and started a list. At the top of the page I wrote "My Goals / To Do List"

I then started to number down the left side of the page. I wrote nine goals that day. I was 14.

Over the years I added to the list (# 64: watch a sunrise and sunset on the same day 12-18-99), crossed off and dated when something was accomplished (ie: #43: learn to play the violin 8-17-98 accomplished with lessons starting in the summer of 2000), and rolled my eyes at a couple of the items a silly teenager wrote (ie: #5 be a student librarian, 9-18-97, accomplished Sept 2000).

There has been little activity in the purple notebook for quite some time. After starting college, I only made a few entries, and now and then crossed off items. Don't get me wrong, I have goals, dreams, and a major "to do list", I just have not been as diligent in writing it down (however as i write this post, I pause every time something comes to mind - the purple note book is open in my lap...).

Anyhow...

# 131

I remember as a child watching TV (and on TV ever since) seeing news stories on Nightline, 60 Minutes, or other random shows, plus the commercials showing pictures of starving children, asking to donate just a dollar a day.

These stories tug at my heart strings. I have since met, worked with, and become friends with many individuals with amazing life stories. Everyone has a different path, yet one key thing remains the same... They had someone to believe in, to give them hope and support when life was pushing them down.

Well this year, I would like to complete goal number 131. Sponsor a child.

I have done a bit of research, and decided to sponsor through Compassion (if you are wondering, Compassion is a Christian organization). I love the holistic approach they take, and am amazed at the first hand accounts I have heard from Carlos and Heather.

Now. Here is the deal - e - o. ;)

I do not want birthday gifts this year. Honestly, I do not need anything - my house is full of treasures already!

What I would like for my birthday this year is help from you in finishing my bucket list #131: Sponsor a child. Sponsorship is $456 for a year, that is $38 dollars a month... just over a dollar per facebook friend.

Will you donate, even $1.00 to help me sponsor a child?

My deadline is January 22 for #131's completion. Thank you in advance!

You can donate any amount through the paypal link below.

I will be posting updates on my donation goals every couple of days! THANK YOU!

Another Year Bites the Dust...

Wow!

I have been doing this bloggy thing for 2 years (and a couple days)! My very first post was a goal list for the year. I did the same for my second year... and yes, I will continue. I like having birthday goals. I have found this has a nice personal feeling. "Everyone" has new years resolutions. I have my birthday goals.


So from last year my goals. Let's see how I did:

Now, things to do before turning 27:

• Save money
• Volunteer in at least 3 projects
• Exercise more
• Plant a garden!
• Put up a fence in backyard for puppy
• Make more time for friends
  
• Complete the 365 challenge and scrapbook the photos!
• Scrapbook at least 10 pages a month

Well. I didn't do great, however I can say I am okay with what I did do.

I did very well in planting a garden, getting a fence put up in our backyard, and completing (and continuing) in the 365 photo challenge.

I did scrapbook, however not near 10 pages a month. And, I'm very disappointed that I don't feel I made enough time for friends. That is sad, really. How hard are either of these things?

The others. Well. Let's just move to this years goals!


Before Turning 28:

• Read 5 books, cover to cover.
• Make even more time for friends, and family
• Volunteer in at least 2 projects (Already signed up for one!)
• Pay off credit card
• Keep control of incoming paper (mail, newspaper, coupons, etc!)
  
• Finish organizing basement and paint
• Research and then implement making more use of new dehydrator, especially this summer!
• Meal Planning - just do it!
• 10 scrapbook pages a month. I know I can!

I'm sure there is all kinds more, however I'll leave it at that. Let's hope for a great turn out. I CAN do this!

When do you set goals for yourself? What works to keep you on track?

Birthday Photos!

Dakota didn't want to be left out of the birthday photo!


Good thing there wasn't too many people around.


Fun Mirror photo.




Yummy #502 at Quangs!

**the photo that wasn't taken (what were we thinking?). I went scrapbooking at Archivers with K! TONS of fun! AND Pizza Hut pasta! YUM!


And always IceCream Cake to top off the day!

My birthday

I have a very nice birthday! I was a bit nervous, as one never knows how the day will go at work. However it was good!

• About 20 of my students stopped in to tell me happy birthday. This was great and very unexpected. I haven't found out who told them, however it was sweet.
• I received flower at work from Husband!
• I also received a teddy bear and balloons from my brother and sister in law!
• Husband brought me take out for lunch
  
• I enjoyed a trip to Archivers after leaving work a bit early
• Arrived home to find Dakota had left a gift for me (the not good part of my day).

... as the story goes...

"I was able to leave work early on my birthday, arriving at home before Husband. As I gathered my things from the car, I was excited to relax a little before going out for supper. I unlocked the door from the garage to the house, and push open the door. The order poured out of the house; filling my nose, and causing my eyes to water. I found Dakota, in his kennel. There had been a bit of a misunderstanding. I had told him I wanted him to be "Sooper Dooper Good" for my birthday. He thought I said that I wanted him to be "Sooper Pooper" for my birthday."

One year later...

If you haven't checked out my birthday wish, be sure to click over!

WOW! One year ago today this blog was born! I cannot believe it has been this long, and that I have stuck with it. I remember that first post. I was stressed out about grad school, avoiding homework. This blog has provided me with more than I could have ever imagined.

On my very first post, I listed this:

Things to do before turning 26:

• Start a blog
  
• Take the 365 photo challenge (http://photojojo.com/content/tutorials/project-365-take-a-photo-a-day/)
• Move out of my apartment
• Find a Job
• Finish my honeymoon scrapbook and start/finish another travel scrapbook
• Watch less TV
• Exercise more
• Play the piano more
• Save money

Well, I was off to a good start with "Start a blog"... Check!


Now the 365 day challenge didn't turn out so well. I lost motivation, inspiration. However, I have started it again this year, and have thus far been successful!


I also graduated and found a job (after much anxiety and stress). The job prompted us to move out of our apartment and into a house! We were doing very well on "save money", however with the home purchase, we ran ourselves a little more thin than I would have liked. With our new home came a puppy, and less time to watch tv.


Overall, I did quite well. I wasn't successful on the scrapbook, exercise, and piano playing, however I believe overall, the year was good to me!

Now, things to do before turning 27:

• Save money
• Volunteer in at least 3 projects
• Exercise more
• Plant a garden!
• Put up a fence in backyard for puppy
• Make more time for friends
  
• Complete the 365 challenge and scrapbook the photos!
• Scrapbook at least 10 pages a month

I'm sure there are many more, however this is a good start.

Happy Birthday to ME!

I suppose I cannot put off turning 25 any longer. I cannot decide if I am excited about my birthday, or would rather pretend it is just another day. I think part of it is that I have so many things on my "To Do" list, and no time left in my planner. That could be why I am up after midnight... well, maybe I'm just playing on the internet and have no real excuse.

I don't have much planned. I took the day off work and school so I am able to sleep in. I have a few errands, and a few things for school I will need to get done. (Unfortunately, grad school doesn't allow me to use the "my dog ate my homework" bit, though I would love to see the look on my professors' face if I said it with a serious face).

My husband will be leaving work early so we can go out for dinner and spend the afternoon together. Honestly, it will be nice to just hang out and not have to be in a mad dash for a day.

Ironically enough, I have decided that turning 25 requires it's own "To Do" list. I suppose it is my new years resolutions coming a bit late. :)

Things to do before turning 26:

• Start a blog
  
• Take the 365 photo challenge (http://photojojo.com/content/tutorials/project-365-take-a-photo-a-day/)
• Move out of my apartment
• Find a Job
• Finish my honeymoon scrapbook and start/finish another travel scrapbook
• Watch less TV
• Exercise more
• Play the piano more
• Save money
  

I'll start with that and see how it goes. Hey, I must say that I have a good start. "Start a blog" . . . check!! :)