10. Write at least 2 letters to each child, per year - UPDATE

New: Well, I'm still in the running to being able to check this one off. I just finished my 2nd letter to all my girls tonight. It brings tears to my eyes to be able to tell them what they are like at this age, what kind of a mom I am, but wish I was. To let them know how I pray for them. It's a sweet time and I encourage all my mom (and dad) friends to write at least one letter to your kids!

Old:
Okay, so I didn't use pen and paper. I typed out a letter to each of my girls. It's only the 1st one this year, so I can't check it off. But, I can tell you that this one was good for my soul.

I live such an every day life (all you stay at home moms out there know what I mean). Just about the only thing I do for myself on a daily basis is check Facebook. It's easy for me to complain about the difficult task of  raising children. These letters that I just finished have brought me back. Once again, I realize how blessed I am.

51. Watch a Sundance Film Fesival Film once a year

2012 Film: Slavery By Another Name. Slavery wasn't abolished in the US until the 1940s and 1950s. Did you know that? I didn't...because that's not what we're taught in the history books. The US education system and what it chooses to teach is a joke. It's just not real education. Our history books today contain the nice stuff. Or the sad and shameful stuff that's too known to leave out. But, if there's something that the masses don't know about...well, leave that out of the textbook for heaven's sake. I was not aware that slavery didn't really end in the south until the 40s and 50s. What a tragic, shameful piece of history. And it's no wonder why there is still such a racial divide...there are people living today that were enslaved or had family members enslaved and remember first hand what that was injustice was like. What a shameful and tragic thing that happened after slavery was "abolished". 

I highly recommend Slavery By Another Name to everyone - it was educational and well done.

2011 Film - The Cove. What a well done documentary. The cameras used in it were AMAZING. And I don't mean the cameras used to film the actual movie. I mean the ones they used to expose Japan's dolphin industry. It reminded me of something right out of a really cool military movie. Although it wasn't my favorite movie, I'd recommend it. And like almost any film, it's really good to debrief with someone after the film. Documentaries in general strive to hit emotions, so I think it's good to talk through it to see what other view points (typically that are more logical rather than emotional) there are. But, I can see why it won the award. Extremely well made.

My Sundance Film for 2010 - Dark Days. I also counted this towards my number 33. So you can read what I have to say about it there. As it relates to Sundance: I don't know much about the prestigious award. So, watching this film was good insight to what they look for. Dark Days was the Sundance Film Festival award winner in 2000. I like the authenticity of independent films versus the big production ones. And I look forward to my next Sundance movie: The Cove. Now if only I can wait until 2011 to watch it so it can count.

58. Organize a quarterly game night

This is Virginia. She and her husband are our bridge partners. Although I have also organized game nights with other friends, I'm using bridge to check this one off my list since we play every week. I know, I'm an overachiever. I couldn't stop at once a quarter...had to do a once a week.

97. Write a business plan for my own organizing business

I love throwing things away. I love figuring out where my pasta machine should go (which by the way is in the garage). I love sorting and organizing; my favorite tool is my label maker.

And why not get paid for what I love to do? And while my first and most important (and fun) job is being a mom and wife, I don't get a pay check. Hence, starting my own business in organizing.

I don't have a name. I don't know what website platform to use. I don't know my price points. I don't have a Facebook or Twitter account set up yet for it. But, it's all in my business plan. Phase One includes creating a blog, so keep an eye out for it...coming soon to a computer near you (insert the manly voice over typical of movie previews).

16. See Wicked

OK, so the picture is really bad. But, the show was really good. Amazingly good. I had wanted to see Wicked for years. I've heard nothing but raving reviews of it. So, last night Matt and I saw it. And I have nothing bad to say about it. It's right up there with Les Miserable and Phantom. And I'm already hoping it's not long before it comes back through Charlotte.

50. Make homemade chicken stock

Before:

After:

I have always been intimated by home made chicken stock. STUPID. It is ridiculously easy. It made my house smell delicious (I'm considering inventing a food scented line of candles: chicken stock will be the 1st one I create).

And for those of you who really follow my list: this one wasn't actually on it. My 50. was making a gluten free pie crust. Since I no longer have a child who is GF, I'm changing it (SH- I still want to get together to bake one with you though!).

66. Consider and/or organize a dinner co-op

I've always been a fan of bulk cooking. Spend 1 day cooking up a storm, saving money and time in the long run. But, I've also kind of dreaded it. All that preparation. All the dirty dishes it makes. Standing on my feet all day. So, I've decided that this is the way to do bulk cooking. With a friend. You spend a morning instead of all day. You split the buying, the preparation, the washing dishes, etc. And you get to hang out with a friend (and if you're really lucky, your friend has a great dog to come behind you and take care of anything that happened to fall on the floor - big shout out to Mia).

I have my sweet friend, Chris to thank for checking this one off. She and I will be getting together once a month to bulk cook together. Today we made meatballs, meatloaf, mango chicken, and rice pilaf. I have 10 main dishes and 3 sides all ready to go in my freezer. Next month: twice baked potatoes, shredded bbq chicken with corn cakes, and spinach feta lasagna rolls. Yes, I'm drooling, too.