I Secret Santa'd

The wonderful folks over at Georgie's Blog (Decisionally Challenged)  and Amy's blog (AmyAmyBoBamey) came up with the Secret Santa Soiree last year, which I joined.  It's a Secret Santa where you are given someone to buy for and they are given someone totally different. That makes it a secret!  Fun!! 


This year I was supposed to do three things.
1) Mail my gift before the 15th of December
2) Send the Delivery Confirmation number to Georgie and Amy
3) Keep my name a secret from my recipient until some said time.

The only thing I did right was to mail the gift :)  I did buy the deliver confirmation and put it on the package, but forgot to email in th enumber.

 OK - so going with the Three Strikes, You're Out rule...

The recipient of my Secret Santaness blogged about the gift that I sent on Sunday.

She wasn't thrilled - she thought it was all crap.

I JEST!

Oh goodness, I'm just kidding!!

She loved it!

I hit a home run, if I do say so myself.

This is where she blogged about the present.

One of my favorite things that I sent was this reindeer bag.

Shutterbug took this photo.  I put everything for her into the bag and when the bag was full, I stopped buying anymore and got it ready to send.  I hope she doesn't mind that I hijacked one of her photos.

...she took photos of the gift.  Good thing because I didn't snap a single photo of it.  I can't imagine what was going through my brain, but I totally forgot to photograph it. I hope she doesn't mind that I hijacked one of her photos.

In the comments of Shutterbug's blog I posted an extremely long comment, because I wanted to be sure to give her the links to all of my printables (which you know I love) - but because I'm a thrifty blogger, I knew that it would make for an excellent post for my own blog!

Hello Ms. Shutterbug!

Ooooh, you are so great. I'm so glad you won't have to regift anything LOL But I wanted to be sure and give you permission, just in case :) I have truly enjoyed reading all about you and your new marriage and your pregnancy and your photography and and and!!

The tree and birdy is a free download. I had to trim it to get it to fit the box, so you may want to print another copy to put in your bathroom frame. The photo stickers on the sides of the box and the address label are all my original photos. The handmade card, the key chain wristlet, the onesie, and the measuring tape were all purchased from local artists here in Jacksonville, FL at the Riverside Arts Market. It's like Etsy but no waiting! lol

I think I mentioned in the card that I love printables. Free ones are my favorite of course, but there's a lot of printables on Etsy that are great values. The vintage (ish) tags or tickets that I sent you were free and found here. Oooooh there's a part two to the vintage tickets. Look Here. The recipe cards were from Paper and Cake and part of a downloadable package that I purchased on their etsy site. I just love the chandelier print on them.

The picture frames, snowflake and chocolates came from Target. I can't believe you have a snowflake theme. How awesome. The little designer kleenex has Christmas Palm trees on them because I think they are cute and I live where there are palm trees. It's just to remind you of me! LOL same as the card. :)

I think that's about it. OOOh, except that reindeer bag. I feel hard for that one. I found it at Whole Foods. It was my first time in that store, I had just discovered it and I purchased that bag and knew it was destined to be for you.

Oh, the strawberry jam. I was petrified that it was going to break in the mail and that I didn't have it packaged properly. But that box was the best size. Anyway, it arrived unbroken - whew!!

Thanks so much for being such a wonderful blogger to follow!! I'm going to repeat almost everything over on my blog, including the links. I'm excited to be a regular visitor now.

Kristin - The Goat

In the comment section I got scolded - I wasn't supposed to reveal my name, as I mentioned above.  Ooops lol I wrote my name on the card and since it was a handmade card, I wasn't going to cross off my name once I put it on there. So, I figured I let most of the cat out of the bag.

It's been a lot of fun meeting Shutterbug.  I'm so glad I joined the Secret Santa Soiree!  

Have a wonderful day!
Kristin

POTD - B/W Snowman

Black and White Snowman - by Kristin Corlett

This photo has been growing on me.  I had some prints made yesterday and when I saw this print I fell head over heels.   I think this may be in the running for being a part of my Christmas Card photo front runners.

I found this snowman outside under a tree in the parking lot of an antique shop that I visited a few weeks back. 

Enjoy!
Kristin

Minnesota New Model A

I love the unexpected emails and messages that I get because of what I've blogged about.  Last week I got this message...

Hi, Kristin...I was flabbergasted when I saw your blog about the New Model A sewing machine.  My wife has one exactly like it that I've been trying to restore for her.  The cabinet is in pretty good shape, but the machine itself has been somewhat neglected over the years.  I've been trying to find a manual for some time and am hoping you still have yours.

If so, can I talk you into scanning it and sending me a copy? I really need it to figure out how this thing works!

Cheers,
-JJ

This was the blog post where I posted close up photos of the Treadle, and talked about the manual that I also had.

I did scan the pages of the manual.  There were only 18 pages, so it was an easy request to honor. I've offered to take additional photos of mine if he needs some more assistance.  The manual mostly showed how to use the sewing attachments but there some helpful hints on how to thread the machine and what parts need to be oiled. 

I hope that JJ gets that treadle working for his wife. 

...and I hope that I continue to get interesting emails from people who find things on my blog that interest them.

I love blogging!
Kristin

POTD - Brine

Brine - by Kristin Corlett

This particular brine is the Williams Sonoma Apple and Spices Turkey Brine. Sea Salt, Apples, Juniper Berries, Lemon Peel, Star Anise, Garlic, Rosemary, Thyme, Black Pepper, Onion and Bay Leaf.  It's just gorgeous.  I've had this jar of brine ingredients for the past year.  I had forgotten when I asked my Aunt for a brine recipe that I still had this jar of spices. 

I did get a recipe from my Aunt Marg.  As a matter of fact she made up a little blog called Margee's Recipes and her very first post is her brine recipe.  Actually she posted a few variations.  Thanks Marg!!

Enjoy!
Kristin

Kookie Brittle

My husband says he always knows what's coming when he sees this scene in the kitchen. It's a bowl with a dishtowel over the top.  Sometimes it takes me two days to actually get to making Kookie Brittle so the bowl stays there a bit longer than necessary, but this is my first step.

Put two sticks of butter into a bowl and allow to come to room temperature.  I usually make two batches of Kookie Brittle, so I have a plate off to the side with two sticks of butter on it and I place one of the butter wrappers over the top.  At my house this is to discourage kitty hairs from wafting into the butter.  Kitty hairs waft ya know.

Bunny was having a grand time watching me cream together the really soft butter,  salt and vanilla.
I then added in the remaining ingredients - sugar, flour, chocolate chips (I use milk chocolate, but the recipe actually calls for semi-sweet) and walnuts.

If you are wanting to freeze the cookie dough to bake another day (which is a really good idea) then I just plop the dough into a gallon sized Ziplock bag.  In the olden days when I first started making Kookie Brittle dough and freezing it, I used to freeze it in these giant logs, like you would a slice and bake type of cookie dough.

I've since learned to flatten out that dough ball into a nice thick mat right inside the bag.  Nearly all the air is forced out and the dough is very easy to store in the freezer.  You can stack these easily, too.  I've had a dozen of these stacked in the fridge before.  When you want to bake it just rip the baggie off of the cookie dough (seriously, just rip the bag) and put the dough on your cookie sheet and let it thaw before baking.  

The next round of photos have all sorts of weird coloring.  Not sure what happend, but it was all shot in my kitchen in the same hour.  

If you decide to bake the dough right away, then this is what you do.  Plop the ball of dough on the cookie sheet.  You may have more or less than the amount shown - it all depends on how much of the dough you eat before it actually gets to this point.

My rule is, once the dough makes it to the cookie sheet no more samples are allowed.

Spread the dought out with your hands.  Your edges will end up looking like this - thin and wavy. 

I have started just tucking the edges all together so it makes a little wall.  The dough will spread out during baking, but if you tuck the edges up, the spreading seems to less dramatic and the edges won't burn as heavily. 

This is what my dough typically looks like.  I love these baking sheets.  I got them at Willam Sonoma.  They don't bend, warp or making snapping sounds when placed in the oven.  I hate that there are dark spots on them.  I've tried my best to keep them stain free, but sometimes you just gotta give in.  Stains happen and no amount of scrubbing seems to be getting them off...but I digress.

Here's a close up of that lovely dough.  I've added some chopped walnuts to the top of the dough.

At this point, you can either put the dough into the oven or you can put the whole cookie sheet into the fridge.  My butter was sooooo soft when I mixed the batter that I chose to refrigerate the dough for about 15 mintues.  It just helps keep the brittle from running too much.

Here are my two pans of baked Kookie Brittle.  I baked both of these at 350º for 15- 20 minutes.  The one on the left was baked for 15 minutes.  It was not quite as done and will be a more chewy cookie.  I love this kind.  The one on the right was baked for 20 minutes and was a lot more done.  The edges got more done, too.  The cookies will be much more crisp and will snap when you break them up.  I love this kind.

I've burnt more pans of Kookie brittle than I care to mention.  I will say though, that burnt Kookie Brittle is still pretty darn good.   I've never thrown out a batch of Kookie Brittle.

The trick is to bring the brittle out of the oven when the top of the brittle is just starting to get that light brown hue.  You can see the difference in the two pans above.  I love it all ways - raw dough, chewy, crisp and burnt! 

I've taken this Kookie Brittle out of the pan in 4 large chunks and put some parchment between.  I just cut the big cookie in half and then fold one side over the other (shown above) then I slip the whole thing into a gallon sized Ziplock.

This is another way you can store or freeze Kookie Brittle.  Since it isn't broken into too many pieces, it stays pretty flat and is easy to stack. 

I broke this pan of brittle into irregular pieces and I managed not to eat any of it before the photo.

Close up.  Goodness, you can't imagine how good this is. That little piece on top never made it to the freezer.

This bag contains all of the pieces (with the exception of that little piece) from the sheet pan.  I tossed this into the freezer.  That's where I keep all of my Kookie Brittle.   It's just easier to keep it there and it thaws out by the time you take your third bite.  (ask me how I know) 

I put the large pieces on parchment just because it's easier to slide them into the bags and slide them out.  The smaller pieces don't need parchment because they come apart easily.  Just toss them in a bag, zip it up and freeze.

I hope you make this cookie.  My mom had it written on a card in her recipe box.  The card is severly stained and splattered, the sign of a well loved recipe.  When I looked this recipe up online I found one site that said it was released in a magazine ad for Nestle chocolate chips in the 1960's and has never been published again.  I'll agree with that because I've never seen it on the bag of chips or any other print ad for Nestle.  I've been keeping my eyes peeled for it for years. 

I hate that cookie is spelled with a K, but other than that, this is a winner of a cookie.

Enjoy!!
Kristin


Kookie Brittle

Ingredients:

1 cup butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
6 ounces Nestle's Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 375 º F.  (although I usually cook mine at 350º) Combine butter, vanilla and salt in a bowl and blend well. Gradually beat in sugar. Add flour, chocolate chips and 1/2 of the chppped nuts; mix well.  Press mixture evenly into an ungreased baking sheet.  Make sure the sheet has at least a 1" lip.  Sprinkle remaining nuts over top and gently press into dough.

At this point you can chill it in the fridge if the dough is a little soft, right on the baking sheet.

Bake for 15 - 25 minutes.

Watch it like a hawk the last 5 minutes.  

Cool completely in pan, then break Kookie Brittle into irregular pieces. Store in air-tight container. Makes about 1 3/4 pounds of brittle, depending of course how much dough is eaten before baking.

POTD - Yum

Yum - by Kristin Corlett

This my friends is Kookie Brittle.  Yum doesn't even describe this cookie.  I'll be giving the recipe out later today, but nothing says Christmas goodies to me like Kookie Brittle.

The recipe has been written and posted... Kookie Brittle.

Enjoy!
Kristin

900

Image  source: An Ode to Numbers

I've published 900 blog posts as of this one!

I've been blogging every day (with the exception of two or three misses) since the 29th of March 2008.  In November of 2008 I joined the National Blog Posting Month big annual event and I have continued to join in every month ever since.   I set a goal last November to post every day until the end of November 2009.  I officially missed one day a few months back, which really bugged me.  I wanted to have a perfect streak of 13 months in a row of blogging.  Ah well.

This next year I will strive, once again, to blog every day because I enjoy the heck out it, but I'm not going to put as much pressure on myself like I did this last year.  I hope to continue posting my Photo of the Day M-F and by golly, I'm going to upgrade this blog. 

I'm going to start this more relaxed attitude after I get through the December NaBloPoMo.  It just makes sense to ge through the end of the year.  :)

I made some Kookie Brittle this afternoon and some potatoes au gratin both of which I photographed and will be writing up posts for them.  My Secret Santa recipient received her gift yesterday and blogged about it today! I got my tree up and decorated and Tom and I finally finished off the last of the Thanskgiving turkey on Friday.  It's been a very good day.

Happy 900 to me!

I hope your Sunday has been spectacular!
Kristin

My first Christmas

Me.
December 1966
My very first Christmas.  I was 2 months old.
I'm still pretty much that pale and washed out and I still love to stare at Christmas trees.
(you can click on the photos to enlarge them)

That's my Mom.
She was 21 years old in this photo.
If she were to put tinsel on a tree again, she would hold it exactly as she is in the photo.
Only one to three strands per branch and the tinsel must hang straight.
It was important to that the tinsel hung straight.
She no longer places tinsel on the tree.

 

This is the finished tree.  My Father is holding a football... I mean me.   I'm not sure what happened to the color in this photograph.  I tried to fix it, but I don't have enough mad photoshop skills yet.

This was the base housing at K.I.Sawyer Air Force base in Marquette, MI.

I always have to laugh a little bit when I think that I was born in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  I'm a yooper.  There is a yooper dialect, but I didn't take that with me.  I was four when we left and moved down below to Lansing, MI.

I found this little Yooper creation story on the Finding refuge in you blog. It's a hoot!

In da beginning dere was nuttin, see

Den on da first day God created da U.P., eh?

On da second day He created da partridge, da deer, da bear, da fish, an da ducks ya know

On da third day He said, “Let dere be YOOPERS to roam da U.P.”

On da fourth day He created da udder world down below and on da fifth day He said,” Let dere be TROLLS to live in da world down below.”

On da sixth day He created ‘DA BRIDGE’ so da TROLLS would have a way to get to Heaven, see.

God saw it was good and on da seventh day He went huntin!!

Yoopers are those that live in the U.P.
Trolls are those that live below the bridge.
Fudgies are those that live or travel to Mackinac Island.

I didn't realize this would turn into Michigan trivia, but that happens whenever I talk about my early childhood.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Hi Ann in the U.P.!!! 

POTD - Santa

Santa - by Kristin Corlett

This is a vintage Christmas Tree stand.  I hadn't recalled ever seeing one of these before and there were three of them in this particular antique mall.  I found this in Jacksonville, FL.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Friday Fragments

Mrs. 4444, from Half-Past Kissing Time, hosts Friday Fragments each week. It's a great excuse to get all those little snippets that gather in the brain and don't seem enough for one post but together they can make one fun blog post!  I love to have you smile when you come over to visit. I hope I've done so!  Please visit Mrs. 4444's Fragmented post so you can find even more severely fragmented posters like me.

We got a new button this week!  Here's what the graphic will look like next week at the top of the FF post.

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•*

Last week in my Friday Fragments I said that I had been married for 7 years.  Ooops.  That isn't right.  I've been married for 8 years.  Tom and I have been together since Dec 23rd, 1994,  married June 23rd 2001 and by next year I will truly have forgotten (again) if he likes pumpkin pie.  I'll probably still think we've been married just 7 years.   That's OK.  I'm not sure how old I am either.

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•*

I found myself Googling how to spell the raspberry noise.  It seems to be a fairly popular question!   I finally spelled it   pthhhhbt

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•*

I cannot read blogs that have a black/dark background.  If I really like that blog, then I read it only in my Google Reader.  I usually don't leave a comment on their blogs because it is so hard for me to handle the dark background and the white/light colored text, even for the short time it takes to comment.  I feel bad, but if I go to a new blog that has a very dark or black background I just close it without even investigating whether or not it was worth clicking to it.

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•*

Spiders have taken residence in my car.  I think it was a whole nest because all of the spiders that I've spied have been the exact same - they are these ivory colored (almost clear) spiders and I've killed half a dozen of them already in my car.  Each time I get in my car there seems to be a new web from my steering wheel to the window.  ewwwww!   I thought I finally had them all because there hasn't been a new web in a few days, but there was one there today.  Ugh.

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•*

speaking of cars.  I have a sunglasses holder in my car.  It holds one pair of glasses.  I just don't like to put the three pair that I usually have in the car in that space so I turned that space into something else.  It now holds pens and sharpies.  When I need a pen I reach up, click the magic door and down comes the pocket with pens!  I always have one handy and if I drop the pen while trying to write and drive (I cannot lie) there is another within reach.

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•*

I am going to be making Kookie Brittle this week.  If I haven't done it already, please be on the lookout for an awesome recipe.  (I made the dough tonight!  I'll be baking it in the next day or so.)

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•*

I sent off my Secret Santa package today and I even managed to send out the Everyday Food magazines that some Random Cool Chick offered to take off my hands.  Although I sent the EF books off as media mail because they really were too expensive to send parcel post.  (I'm a cheap skate sometimes) but I bet they will arrive much sooner than the 2-3 week time line I was given. I wrapped them in some attention getting paper.  Nothing obscene mind you, just attention getting.

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•*

I had to slip in a few printables and projects.

Kids Piggy Bank made out of a spice jar & some cool printable labels at Givers Log.

Hanukkah Round Up and a Kids Christmas Round Up at One Pretty Thing. It's a fantastic site for all things DIY, crafty, printable and tutorial. Love this place.

*•-:¦:-•:*''''*:•-:¦:-•*

I hope you have a fabulous weekend!
Kristin

Bad Bunny

My neighbor parks this Monte Carlo in the spot next to mine in our garage.  It's always so clean and shiny.  I'm petrified that my drivers side door might someday swing too far and touch his car.  It's just nerve wracking. 

...but bunny wanted to sit on the top, so I let her :)

My friend Bob, who is waiting impatiently for Bunny to make her move to New Hampshire, really loves this particular coffee shop that we have here in Jacksonville.  There used to be one next door to my place, but they sold it and moved to a new location.  I found the new location the other day. 

Bunny decided she wanted to go there.

Yep, that's its name...and there is a little donkey next to the name in case you thought it might be a bad word or something *snicker snicker

Bunny also wanted to go inside and see if it was as much fun as the old place.  Ehhh, not so much, but she did enjoy getting her photo taken with the t-shirts and coffee mugs.

Bunny will indeed be making her way to New Hampshire.  
She still has a few more stops to make.

Onward!
Kristin

POTD - On the River

On the River - by Kristin Corlett

I took a few dozen photos of this chair the other day.  I really liked two of the photos - this one and the more abstract one I posted the other day called Loops.  I still can't get over this frilly looking chair sitting out on a sea wall.    This was taken on one of my walks through the Riverside neighborhood in Jacksonville, FL.

Enjoy!
Kristin

Goodbye NBU

This message may not mean anything to you all - but I have to post it. It's what I've been working on for the past two days and it's something that's near and dear to my heart.

I've been known as Kirby for many years now. It was my first username and in the organization that I talk about below, I was just known as Kirby.    NBU stands for New Body University and it was created to help people lose weight according to the Michael Thurman Six Week Body Makeover Program.    We created a virtual game where we had the University, dorms, Resident Advisors (RAs), students, a faculty that included a Provost, Dean of Student Activities, Stats, News, Food Services and a Quad to have fun.   All of these things exist in a message forum, so it's very interactive.   NBU is going to continue, but I gave my resignation to the faculty last night.  This message below is what I'm telling the students tomorrow. 
 
I think that's about all you need to know to understand the note below, but if you have any questions, please ask. 

Have a great day.
Kristin

Hello NBU!

I'd like to thank you all for being a part of another successful NBU. We wouldn't be the incredible New Body University without the Students and the Volunteers that help run this program.

We've come a long way from our first NBU semester 5 years ago. We saw a need, created the University idea, wrote it all down, hashed it out, then proceeded to have several sleepless nights getting NBU started. We've now spent these 5 years tweaking the curriculum so that it was fun and educational. It's exciting being a part of something so unique. 

Who had ever heard of a virtual university to help someone lose weight? Who would volunteer to lead a virtual dorm? Who would actually want to play games and take pretend vacations?

We Did!!

I've been a part of Provida & the 6WBMO since March of 2002. I've been voicing my opinions since the day I got to Provida and thankfully I found a place to put all of that hot air to good use. I was among many who helped create NBU and all of the people who have come through its doors has helped create me.

We've had hundreds of RAs, thousands of students, and a few million laughs and giggles. I've probably sent a few thousand PMs and received just as many. I've sent many messages of encouragement and a few to point out the rules of play. I remember one student telling me she was afraid to open the PM I sent to her because she thought she was in trouble! I hope for the most part my messages were received without pain.

In the early days I was the only one who wrote the challenges, but thankfully somewhere along the line I accepted help with them and our wonderful volunteer faculty started creating challenges, too.  Since I had given away my challenge writing job, I started playing around with the NBU format.  Through the years we came up with badges, Pirate week, structured DTD challenges, additional theme weeks and questions of the day. I started writing Kirby Mail and even had my turn at running a dorm or two for RAs who were on extended vacations. I learned quickly that I was not RA material. I'm MUCH better being behind the scenes, making my appearance every so often, but helping to keep the wheels spinning in the background.

Why am I getting all nostalgic?

I'm trying to let you all know how much I love NBU and how much it has profoundly affected my life. How the friendships I've made and the work that I've done has made me a much better person. I never thought I could do anything truly significant and now that I look back, NBU is very significant and I helped create it! Being the Dean of Student Activities in a virtual world has meant the real world to me.

I'm trying to say that I've decided to leave NBU.

It's a heartbreaking decision and one that I've struggled with, but one that needs to happen. There is a season for everything and I do believe that my season with NBU has ended. I can't imagine not having NBU in my life or having all of these fabulous women in my life (there's even been a few guys in NBU, so guys, too) but I need to stretch my legs in a different direction.

I made one of my dearest friends because of NBU.  Rachel (NBU Provost brwright) has been one of the best mentors and friends I've ever known. She taught me how to lead, how to delegate, how to be firm and to keep going every day, no matter what. I taught her her a few things, too, I'm sure. She has been a friend to me like no other.  

I've met so many wonderful people in NBU. Some of these folks will be friends long after NBU. I have seen the world through the eyes of the students and RAs.   I've read about loves and loss, children and spouses, heartaches and successes.  You've taken us on your vacations, attended weddings and enjoyed reunions.  What a cool world we live in.  

I thank you all for being a part of something that was so incredibly important. I also want to thank those of you who will never read this message because you left years ago, you were an important part of NBU and an important part of me. 

Thank you, everyone.

Thank you.

I'm really going to miss being a part of this wonderful volunteer organization.

We always are looking for people who want to be a part of NBU, so if you'd like to volunteer to RA, ARA, write challenges, or have any other ideas, please contact your RA. You will not regret being a part of NBU. I will never regret it. Ever.

Kirby
Dean of Student Activities
...for the last week

POTD - Holly Snowman

Holly Snowman - by Kristin Corlett

I found this snowman near the exit of an antique mall.  He was damaged and broken, but looked nice standing next to this tree.  I was already in my car pulling out of the parking lot when I spotted him, backed up and reparked the car.  I then got out and took a few dozen photos of him.

Enjoy!
Kristin

101 Things to do in 1001 days.

I've been wanting to recap/update this list for some time and today is that day. In some ways I have been burying my head in the sand not looking at the list because I knew some of the items on the list were goners or total failures. Now that I've gone through the list and crossed off those items that are the dead ones (or ones that no longer make sense for me to do) I find that I'm not doing too bad.

Below is the original post with the updates. My current commentary will be highlighted. Comment on my successes, my utter failures, my upcoming challenges or if you plan on doing something like this...or if I prompted you to get your laundry put away :) Enjoy!!

I may edit this a bit more tonight and tomorrow - but here it is so far.




101 Things to Do in 1001 Days

I found out about this from someones blog and traced it back to Day Zero - Home of the 101 Things to Do in 1001 Days.

There I found how to write my own list, what the criteria should be and also how to stay focused. Focus, boy do I need focus. You can add your own 101 things to do in 1001 days, if you have it posted on a blog and you can also use the handy dandy little calculator to figure out when your 1001 days are up. I have found that if I start my 1001 days on January 21st, 2008 that the end date is my birthday in 2010. What a great incentive to get my list completed. To see when my birthday is, go to Things to Do #101.

I may edit this to get things into categories, but for right now, I'm going to just list my 101 Things to Do in 1001 Days.

Green is "In Progress" - Like a traffic light - don't stop, just keep going.
Purple is completed! My favorite color.



1. Get MRJ online and visible
This is my www.medrestjax.com website that I use for my condo rentals.  It needs an overhaul, but it is up and available and it gets used, so that's great!

2. Get the rest of the websites up by the end of April 2008 -- StomperNet Seminar is in April, so get going on this... get going...get going) I need to reevaluate this one.

3. Watch one Video or Tutorial on SN every week (Bonus points for multiple days in a row!) (143 weeks)

2 & 3 - Utter failure.  That's all I'm going to say about that lol

4. Read MAC OSX Missing Manual guide
It's truly like reading an instruction manual.  I learned a lot in the first chapter and didn't read any more of it.  I should though because there is so much more I'd like to do with my MAC and it's all in that book. 


5. Do one business action a day - write it in notebook or in blog
This was originally to go with #2 & #3 - I could probably pull this out of the utter failure status and put it toward the photography part of my life.  I think I'll just leave it where it is and add in a whole new section to deal with the photography.


6. Read Dr. Oz books - I have 2 (I am in the process of reading the first one.)(11/08/08)I have read through most of both books, but not quite finished yet. Finished :)

7. Get to first goal weight - :) Written down in secret book, by December 2008
8. Get to second goal weight - :) Also written down in secret book, by February 2009
This is not utter failure, but I've had some struggles.  I have decided to take this off the block because my goal now is to keep my diabetes in control and weight loss is a part of that.

9. Walk once a day 5 times a week (143 weeks)(yep yep)

10. Stop drinking all carbonated beverages as of day one. (I've craved carbonation since the day I wrote this down. I used to go months, now it has been just days. Lets start again, Groundhog Day, 2008. 1st day - 5/3/08 nix that, I've had a ton of soda lately. Working on the flip house has me craving it. Two sodas a week is about my average. I'll keep it as an ongoing project.) (11/8/08) I haven't had any carbonation in weeks.

11. Stop drinking caffeine as of day one.(I keep buying something that has caffeine in it. I must stop, caffeine and my body hate each other - pay attention)(11/8/08) I haven't had any caffeine in two months at least.
I drink a soda every month or so.  I consider this to be a done deal and nothing I will be going back to drinking on a daily or even weekly basis.

12. Swim once a week - Summer 2009 May - Sept
I was having a lot of trouble with my skin (and still am) and the chlorine in the pool made the condition worse - so this is an out.  bummer

13. Plan 2 months of dinners
I've actually planned the dinners but a lot of them didn't get made.  I guess making the dinners wasn't part of the "to do" so technically this could be a win!  but I knew what I wanted and I also know that this isn't going to happen.

14. Try 2 new recipes in a 6 month period (6 - 6 month periods)

I did this last year.  Most of the recipes I took to the potluck dinners :)  and I've been trying new things much more often.  This was a good challenge.

15. Pay It Forward at least once a year - I gave some gals in the grocery store line several dollars to pay for their food since they were short on cash.


16. Write in Gratitude Journal for 365 (purchased New Years Day and am current) 05/03/08 I am not current. ugh (11/08/08) still not current. I will have to just start again in the same book.
This was just making me feel bad that I wasn't writing in this book.  I think writing my blog and writing in my journal is enough writing on daily basis. 

17. Create 2 Challenges for NBU in 2008 - done done done :)

18. PM at least one person a day during each NBU session.

#17 I finished - #18 I did real well for the first year, but this year I didn't do as much.  I will no longer be a part of NBU as of the end of the month, so this project is done and I'm pleased with the outcome.

19. Get dressed to shoes 5 days a week by 9am (30 days in a row - Bonus points for continuing the practice)
 I'm pretty good about this.  I did the 30 days in row.  That was a very productive month!  I should probably get back into the habit...I could also probably go to bed earlier, too and that would help get me up and dressed by 9:30!

20. Clean off coffeetable each Monday. ( I still haven't even started this one 2/2/08, I just have to keep remembering that this is a project lasting 1001 days and I am building a foundation)
I've been really working on this lately.  I had forgotten it was on my list.  I need to make this a daily event and not just once a week - my coffeetable can get totally out of hand in an hour.

21. Write to Zora twice a month (05/03/08 More like every three weeks - I need to get this into a habit.) I am pretty good at once a month. I need to step this up.

I did real well for about 6 months, but have failed miserably. I need to start back up again because Stella is going to be old enough soon to enjoy getting mail, too and I want to do this for her, too.

22. Send 5 care packages for absolutely no reason at all.
I've been overthinking this one. I can't quite figure out what makes a care package - who should get one - how much money should I spend on it - and on and on. I'm striking it out to take the pressure off, but I may reinstate it now that I don't have to worry about getting it finished :)  I'm doing reverse psychology on myself!

23. Send Thank You cards (handwritten) to people for unexpected things. I sent Thank You cards to all of the people that met us at the Cafe in Maywood, NE.


24. Empty Storage Unit (Done!!!!!) Saving $190 a month!!!

25. Empty one garage and sell it by the end of 2009

26. Photograph household inventory.

27. Photograph condo inventory (all three units) done!

28. Take a daily self-portrait for a year (join the Flicker group that does this?)(2009, 2010) I have been thinking of doing this starting in January 2010
I thought this might be fun, then I thought I'd hate it.  Then I thought that it was just a way to document my life and then I thought I was totally crazy for even thinking about doing this.  Now I want a tripod so I can set up in the same spot each day.    I think I want the tripod more than I want the self portrait every day, but this activity is still on table.


29. Learn to Meditate (begin in 2008)

30. Meditate every day for a month (start this in 2009)(Bonus points for continuing the practice after the month)
I still think I might like to do this...but I'm obviously moving the date to 2010.

31. Go to an art exhibit or gallery opening 5 different times

32. Put coins into an expired meter. I'm going to try to do this while we are in Denver this coming week. I'm just never around any place with parking meters (and I'm just assuming that Denver will have some!) I forgot when we were in Denver. I did this in Lansing when I was there in Oct 2009!

33. Have a dinner party (bonus points for having more than one!)

34. Do not purchase pens or sharpies for an entire year (this should start today :^)(1/21/08) 05/03/08 - I still have not purchased any sharpies. This is TOUGH! (9/14/08) I STILL have not purchased any sharpies. I've wanted to. A few of my sharpies have run out of ink, so my stash is getting low, but no Sharpies will be purchased this year.  (Dec 2009) I'm actually going on two years, since I got so many for Christmas last year! 

35. Frame one thing every four months (3 times in 2008, 2009 & 2010) - (9/14/08) I still have NOT done this. I even needed to get a picture framed for Tom's birthday (5 days ago) but never though of it. So I gave Tom an unframed print.  Another year later (2009) and the picture still isn't framed.  sigh.

36. Get a Safe Deposit Box - not sure what to keep there at this point, but I should have one.  Maybe keep copies of my digital files of photos.

37. Decorate patio
I'd like to just get the patio vacuumed now lol


38. Create a Paper Sack Journal and blog about it - do this for 30 days (30 sacks - 9 so far, need to blog about it  take a photo)  I like the idea, but haven't been doing anything right now. 


39. Send 20 Postcards using postcrossing.com (9/14/08) - Not sure if I want to do this.

40. Join 30 Day Challenge in August (or whenever it begins in 2009)

41. Write in my 10 year journal every day. http://www.journal10.com/ very very cool journal - Still on track. 05/03/08 I am still on track. I have one entry each day of this year. YES! (9/14/08) still writing in it every day. :) (11/08/08) Have not missed a day. 
I have not missed a day in two years :)

42. Put away laundry the same day it is dried (6 weeks) (Bonus points for continuing the habit!) First post about it, Second post 05/03/08 DONE!! This is a done project. I have it as a habit now.

43. Vote in the 2008 November election

44. Donate or sell one box of "stuff" each month (Box in guest room) (I haven't done it each month but I have gotten rid of most of my clothing that I didn't like or didn't wear often.)

I donate at least a box once a month. I have to admit though, that sometimes the box has just one item in it, but I do drop off items at the very least, once a month.

45. Write 12 new Kirby Mail posts in 2008 (3 completed)(9/14/08) I now have 6 completed.  All 12 done (April 09)


46. List the Plexiglas & the diamond tread on Craig’s list and get it gone by July 2008. (9/14/08)Oooh, we were flipping that house in July -- I forgot all about it. Lets move the date to March 2009.  

It has been listed a few times but hasn't sold.

47. Travel to...Hawaii

48. ...France I've changed this to Rome & I'm going in Feb 2010.

49. ...England, Ireland, Scotland (5/19/08 My father asked us last month if we'd like to all go to the Isle of Man next summer - so this trip is scheduled.) We went to Ireland and the Isle of Man -  May 2009.

50. ...Maywood, Nebraska (5/19/08 My mother asked me a few weeks ago if I'd like to go to her class reunion with her & visit Maywood! - My answer was YES!)(9/14/08) we leave in a few days!!!!!!!!!

51. ...Chicago

52. ...Memphis with Bob (scheduled for 2010 - right Bob?)

53. ...LasVegas

All of the travel destinations were just "way out there" type of entries.  I honestly didn't believe that I'd get to any of the places, with the exception of Las Vegas - Tom and I really like Vegas.  The funny thing is that we've traveled a bunch and haven't had the opportunity to go to Vegas and probably won't.  Last year for Christmas we went on a cruise to the Bahamas, so I can add in that and cross of another destination.


54. Sell the early editions of the MSL magazines by the end of 2008 (this doesn't look it'll happen. Maybe I can get them listed the first week in Dec.) I gave these away to someone.


55. Make a shadowbox or some kind of covered display for the BK items. (End of 2010)

 I haven't quite figured out what I want to do with the BK items.  I've since added to my collection so it's more than just a shadowbox, now.

56. Get China doll repaired - replace the string that held her together

57. Create a Home book - household inventory, floor plan, color chart, maintenance, etc. (end of 2009) I forgot I had this on my list -- I actually have all of this together in one place now.  It's a file in my filing cabinet.  Paint, Association meeting notes, phone numbers, inventory, etc.

58. Buy a new mattress for King bed (2009) This still hasn't happened. 

59. Buy a new mattress for Queen bed (2010)  I've decided now that I just want a new topper, not a whole new bed.

60. Memorize U. S. Presidents - Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Adams....just 38 more to go.

61. Learn how to change a tire on both cars. I learned on my car.  I 've decided not to learn how to change the truck tires or Tom's Mercedes.

62. Send flowers to someone.

63. Send a Get Well package to someone that includes crayons and a coloring book.

With everyone being sick this fall, I should have been able to get this accomplished.

64. Hold the door open for people (10 minimum but continue the practice)(done done done!)

65. Have a Chick Flick sleep-over party

I don't have a place to sleep over.  I'm hoping to just go to the movies with a few of my girl friends.

66. Replace all of my socks and chuck the old ones - all of them. 05/03/08 I did this the other day -- I totally forgot it was on my list. (Or maybe I didn't forget!)

67. Renew my passport - I HAVE to do this soon. we are going overseas next year. 

DONE!

68. Add additional $2000 to my emergency fund.

69. Get a Museum Membership

70. Put together an Emergency Kit (post what's in it in a blog post)

71. One Random Act of Kindness (this can be repeated often) 05/03/08 the other day I did all sorts of nice stuff for people and places. It was fun.

72. Purchase Photoshop (or other photo editing software) & blog about how I am using it each week for a month. (I'm mostly posting the photos that I've edited)

73. Make a list of 100 things that make me happy. (05/03/08 - I don't know why I haven't even thought of starting this...)

74. Go one month without using my Credit Card (Bonus points for Debit Card, too)

Hahahahahahaha

75. Go to grocery store only once a week for an entire month (Bonus points, big bonus points for continuing this habit)

Living next door to the grocery store makes this almost impossible. I'm not sure I'll ever get this one accomplished, but I should.

76. Go out to dinner once a month with a neighbor or friend. (12 months in a row)

77. Write a letter or card to someone other than family every week.

This is actually more difficult than it seems.  I've sent out a few letters, but not nearly one a week.  This is ongoing. 

78. Call Tom's parents at least twice a month.

Since Tom's brother's liver transplant in June, we've spoken to his parents quite a bit.  Twice a month these days is easy.


79. Flip a house in less than 4 months. This is absolutely being done right now. We are 3 weeks into it. (we did it in 4 months!!!!!)


80. Make a condo book listing the food, maps, suggestions, etc. Have my tenants write in it. Make it interactive if possible. (9/14/08) I just started working on this last week.  
This is ongoing and is working out well for my tenants.



81. Make a calendar for the family with all of our bdays and anniversaries in it. 

This may actually happen in the next few months. (Dec 2009)

82. Purchase a new rug for the bedroom and another for the computer room

I decided not to get new rugs - I don't like the ones we have, but they are just a few years old.

83. Go to a taping of the Oprah Show (could do it while I was visiting Chicago!) This doesn't seem to be as likely anymore.  I'm not as excited about this as I once was.

84. Acquire new bedding for the guest room (donate the current bedding)
The bedding has been donated, but no new bedding purchased.  I consider this done.  We'll reuse bedding that's around the house.

85. Wash all of the exterior parts of the windows. This is so much more difficult than anticipated.  I've decided not to risk my life doing this- The bottom part of the windows pulls out, but the top doesn't pull out or down.  So the top part of the windows are not getting cleaned.



86. Recover the yellow couch.
When I first wrote this we weren't sure we really wanted to have all three of our furniture pieces in the livingroom yellow.  I'm so used to it now, so this isn't urgent in any way.   I might change this to getting the couch just cleaned :)


87. Sell Grandma's Treadle machine.
I've photographed it.  I still can't bring myself to sell it.  I go back and forth.



88. Finish up the State Quarters book - it ends in 2008. 

I've tried a couple times to buy the remaining quarters and can't seem to get it accomplished.  I need to get this finished.

89. Create a small prop closet - this has been started and it is just going to be a basket in the closet. I will blog about it when I have more items, but it is started.

90. Get out of town with Tom 2 weekends a year.
We've taken more vacations than usual, so this wasn't as necessary.  

91. Buy a black velvet dress or one that seems just as cool and wear it to an event.

I have always wanted a black velvet dress.

92. Paint a picture and frame it. It doesn't have to be great - just do it!

Change this to Photograph something and frame it --- I've done that :)

93. Transfer Nebraska tape to DVD and give it to myself and family.

This is on my radar.  I have now found a place that can do this for a good price.  The trick is to take the tape to the place and drop it off :)

94. Toss out or give away all video tapes.

95. Make a Paper Crown - photograph it. (Bonus points for doing this again, if it was fun lol) 

I was going to do this with Zora in October, but I totally spaced it when we were together. Typical lol

96. Start writing down the family funnies -- Big Gulp, W/D on the curb, Kitten on his shoulder, elusive noodles, etc.  I do this with blogging, but I haven't been able to write about these funnies yet.  I can't seem to write them to sound as funny as they were lol

97. Clean out a dresser drawer once a month.
I'm in drawer maintenance now.  They are all quite clean.

98. Write down the crafty ideas so you don't have to try to remember them all. Create a book or gasp, a blog post, to put them in.  
I do this - I post everything on my blog.  Done.

99. Get rid of, recycle, gift, donate or otherwise move out of my possession every piece of electronic equipment or computer that hasn't been used in 2 years.  Big strides came when we had our garage sale this summer (2009). Actually I was a part of two garage sales this summer.

100. Get a professional family portrait taken frame at least one of the photos with in a month. Tom and I had our picture taken on a cruise last year.  It was professional looking and was nice.  I don't want it framed though.  I didn't like it well enough. 



101. Plan my own birthday party for the 18th of October, 2010 - the very last day of the 1001 days and celebrate the successes in the 101 goals!!
This is now less than a year away!

POTD - Snowman Row

Snowman Row - by Kristin Corlett

It's the first day of December, so I thought I could finally post my cool snowmen!  I found these little guys at the Sugar Bear Antique Mall in Mandarin, FL.  They were all stuffed into a box, so I took them all out, lined them up and photographed them a few hundred times.

Enjoy!
Kristin