Update on my list

Wow...what a fun journey this has been thus far! I think that everyone should make a list of things to do and give themselves a time frame to get them done. It's good for the soul.

As of June 29th, 2011 I'm 545 days in. Which means I have 456 left. Here's where I am:

Done: 57
Half way done: 9
Undone: 35

Not too shabby.

36. Make my own jam

Allow me to introduce you to this beautiful organic blueberry and honey jam. Making jam is a ton easier than I thought it would be...although I didn't try the finished product, so I guess I can't truly make that statement yet.

But that's the beauty of the list. I didn't qualify how WELL I do the item, just that I do it. And since this jam is made, I get to check this off.

94. Support a small local business

For the past 3 years or so I've bought that spreadable butter, Smart Balance. I like that it's spreadable. However, in the effort to Simplify My Life, I have decided to go back to the basics with just plain real butter. I'll leave it out on the table so it's spreadable.  But, I wanted a butter dish.

I could have gone to Target and bought one for a few bucks. But I went mountain local and got a hand crafted one...let's just say it was more than a couple of bucks. Did a cheaper one make more sense? Yes. But would it have had as much character? Probably not.

I enjoyed buying this because I supported a North Carolina artist. But as much as I enjoyed doing that, I do have to go back to supporting the big box stores. Because 1. I'm not rich and 2. Those big box stores hire lots of local people.

23. Go deep sea fishing

Well, I just got back from our NC Mountain vacation. And while there wasn't any deep sea fishing going on, there was trout fishing. When I first made this list of 101 things to do in 1001 days, I wasn't pregnant. I didn't think I'd be pregnant. At least not until the end of the 1001 days.

While I'm trying to do all the things on my list, I am also giving myself the freedom to alter the item. I still want to go deep sea fishing (just not with a nursing baby). So I'm not going to check this one off...just blog about it and give myself the freedom to use trout fishing in lue of deep sea if I never get to go. I'm hopeful that next summer we can go (when I no longer have a nursing baby). But, we'll see.

In any case, we went trout fishing on our vacation. For those who really fish, you will be ashamed at what I'm about to call fishing. It was a stocked pond. They handed out the equipment, none of which contained lures. My girls stuck the rod in and about 60 seconds later, a fish was on the line.

It was fake fishing really. But you can't really take 4 young children real fishing. Fake fishing or not, it was a delight!

40. Go blueberry picking

Loved this one. I'd done it before, a really long time ago. I remember it being a lot of fun, but I don't remember it being as much work or as hot. I now appreciate the cost of blueberries.

When (not if) I go again, the kids will be older. Having a toddler who emptied out her bucket a few times, a 4 year old who was too hot, and a newborn who couldn't be out in the sun is not the ideal way to pick blueberries. But, we all had a blast. And here's our bounty (minus a few we ate...good thing they are organic):

Blueberry jam (number 36 on my list), here I come!

After we picked blueberries, we cooled down with the best ice cream ever. Literally. It's Hershey's Cappuccino Crunch. Now if I can just find it in Charlotte.

91. Surprise Matt with a candle lit dinner

Gotta say - with four children in the house (one of which is a newborn), I wasn't so sure this one would happen. It's hard enough getting macaroni and cheese on the table, much less a meal fit for candles.

It really only worked out because Matt was coming home from work 30 minutes late. I fed the kids whatever something else. Then I made our grown up dinner (aka something you'd find on the menu of an actual restaurant...like one that doesn't give out crayons and children's menus when you sit down) while Matt put the children to bed. And then I am pretty sure he was actually surprised when he came into the dining room.

You can find the recipe here on my other blog. And Matt - I hope there are many more evenings of just us sitting by candle light eating delicious food while talking about our days. I love you.

35. Buy something off Etsy

Well, I did it. I bought something off of Etsy.com.  I have realized that Etsy is a place to go when you have something specific in mind to buy. Or if you have nothing to do.

There is a special birthday coming up soon and I wanted to get the recipient something special. I bought this from rrizzart. I love the vintage look. I love that I bought it as a key chain but it can be turned into a necklace. I just love it. And I hope the recipient does, too.

32. Send a "just because" package

Here they are...the "just because" packages. I couldn't decide between two of my friends so I made them both a package. They include a book that I thought the friend would like, a bottle of wine, and these amazing cookies. I deliver them tomorrow. Friends - if you are reading this, you are amazing women and I love you both!

74. No Fast Food for a month, updates

 Final Update #4: Five. More. Miserable. Days. That's all I got.

Update #3: Well, I'm day 15 for me. Wow. It sure does feel like it's been more days than it has. That means I'm half way done. I've already planned a CFA date with 2 of my favorite friends for the day after I'm done. And I've realized that I will NEVER do this again. 

Update #2: It's VBS week at my church. I'm helping out in the nursery with babies. I'm picking up my BFF's daughter on the way...which happens to be right next to a CFA. 

Babies + no CFA = grumpy me.

 

Update #1: This. Is. Not. Fun. I have made homemade tea to try to curb the Chick-fil-a tea cravings. It's good, but no where near CFA goodness.

And the hardest thus far will come today - I'm going to Target with all 4 children (yes, many of my friends say I'm not so bright) and I can't go by Starbucks. Usually when I take all the kids out with me, we stop by and get a petite vanilla scone for each child and a big comfort drink for me (grande, decaf, 1 pump hazelnut, nonfat, latte - hot in the winter, iced in the summer). I say comfort because that's what any mother needs when she takes her young children shopping with her.

And since I've defined fast food as a place where I get my food at the counter where I pay, no Starbucks. Sad. Sad. Sad.

74. No fast food for 1 month

This is The Last Supper. I decided that since I can't eat Chick-fil-a (the only fast food place I really frequent) for a month, I'm gorging myself before I start. And yes, the 1270 calories I just consumed was totally worth it. I probably go through the Chick-fil-a drive through every week, just to get their tea. Half sweet, half unsweet perfection. I will not be a happy person this month. I may snap at you should you talk to me when I have a Chick-fil-a craving. If you come near me with a Chick-fil-a something in your hand, I don't know what I'll do...so just don't do it.

Now, I suppose I should operationally define "fast food". It's definitely a place with a drive through. And it's a place where I don't have to leave a tip or where I receive my food at the counter where I pay. I think those are good enough definitions.

So, my start date: June 5, 2011. End date: July 4, 2011. I'll check in occasionally to document how it's going. Pray for me.