After a LONG hiatis from blogging (or in reality, I should say blogging that actually gets published for YOU to see), I'm back.
Yeah, yeah - you've "heard" that before from me, but it's true this time (I think!). Do you care? Maybe, but most likely not. Do I? Hell yes.
So, 5 months down and quite a few crossed off. Let's see JUST how many or if I'm just fooling myself into thinking I'm actually doing things that I'm not...
*~*LEARNING & EDUCATION*~*
1. Get Standard Teaching Certificate by finishing Alternate Route classes ; 4 hour classes each Tuesday & Thursday night (Ongoing - Finish in MAY!)
2. Get Teacher of Student's with Disabilities Certificate by finishing Special Ed classes; 9 hours of classes on SATURDAYS....pure torture! (Ongoing - Finish in JUNE!)
3. Learn to cook 5 new GOOD main course dishes (I think I'm up to 25+?! This cooking business is growing on me slowly. Very slowly...)
6. Read 3 books related to education/teaching (Some were schoolbooks and some were "fun")
~*~SELF-IMPROVEMENT & HEALTH*~*
9. Go to the eye doctor to have prescription reevaluated (10/9/08 - due to injury at work, but heck - it got me there!)
10. Start taking a multi-vitamin every day (Ongoing; does 6 out of 7 days - on average - count?)
12. Drink 2+ glasses of water/day
*~*FAMILY & FRIENDS*~*
14. Call or write all siblings at least 1x/week (attempted ongoing)
15. Make point to say "yes" to get-togethers with friends more often (ongoing; stalled momentarily due to a crappy schedule and being sick. Must make mental note to begin again!)
16. Be quicker with writing Thank You notes (ongoing, except this one particular one that literally took 3 months. I'm genuinely ashamed...)
*~*HOME*~*
17. Paint craft room (Thanks to Mark, too!)
18. Install curtains in craft room (Burgundy to boot!)
19. Find art work for den (After 5 months, I found ITand I love it!)
22. Throw away at LEAST 10 shirts, 10 pairs of pants, and 2 pairs of shoes. (OMG, you should have seen the bags of JUNK. Apparently, I am never going to be skinny again, so it wasn't doing anyone any good to have it taking up half the closet. I'll admit it, I cried...but it felt GOOD)
*~*MARRIAGE*~*
29. Watch a movie Mark picks WITHOUT complaining (Well, maybe there was a *little bit* of complaining, but I was much better - I swear! )
*~*ENTERTAINMENT & TRAVEL*~*
30. Change name on passport (You'd think this would have done by NOW! But I apparently I needed a swift kick in the ass - or threat that I would not be able to go to Italy to visit Mark's family in June - to do so!)
34. Host a party (12/21/08 ShopWarming for Mark- and 2/28/09 Girl's Night, "Margarhitas and Fajitas")
35. Eat fondue at LEAST 1x/year (three times this year already thanks to some AWESOME coupons for The Melting Pot - $21/$26 for a 3 course meal! God, I love coupons!)
36. Go pumpkin picking (10/08 with the kiddos at work; hopefully with Mark next year)
38. Find 5 fun, FREE things to do within an hour of my house (See links below!)
39. Read 10 new, never-read before books. (That was complete within a few weeks. Should have been more ambitious here, but I am ATTEMPTING not to buy too many books - we're getting outta hand here)
*~*CREATIVITY & ORGANIZATION*~*
42. Put all random recipes in to a binder (10/10/08; edit - must redo with the new 25!)
46. Organize pantry 1x/month (ongoing)
47. Create a photo wall (11/08 - LOVE IT!)
*~*KINDNESS & SUPPORT*~*
55. Buy something from someone on Etsy (THAT wasn't hard to do either with all these weddings/showers/babies. Maybe one day I'll buy MYSELF something from there.)
56. Inform others about my work with Autism to promote awareness (ongoing)
58. Call my parents at LEAST 1x/week to remind them I love them (ongoing)
*~*CAREER & MONEY*~*
59. Get at LEAST 1 payraise (And it was even more AWESOME since I didn't even have to ASK for it! I should have put myself on a higher goal here and say at least TWO!)
60. Utilize teacher's certificate and special ed certificate -See 1 & 2 (ongoing)
61. Start cutting and using coupons for grocery shopping (ongoing)
62. Put together a budget of family money (We are really really trying here!)
63. Transfer stocks from A to B (10/08)
66. Attend at LEAST 1 conference (10/8/08; and wishing I had money to attend the ADTA conference in Oregon this year - boo)
*~*ENVIRONMENT*~*
67. Make box for newspapers/flyers to use in fireplace to cut down on recycling/waste (ongoing AND easy!)
69. Buy 2 reusable bags for grocery store (10/08; now just to remember them all the time!)
*~*FUN "ME" STUFF*~*
76. Get at LEAST 1 pedicure/manicure each year (manicure sonly so far, but they were divine!)
77. Spent 1 whole day in PJ's and watch TV/movies (It was due to illness - but I guarantee you I WILL try again!)
79. Have at LEAST 1 "girls only" nights (10/08 & 11/08 & 2/28/09)
80. Enjoy a day out with mom (10/08 and 11/08)
81. Create playlist on IPOD (11/08)
82. Buy one new pair of earrings (MADE a bracelet and necklace to match - what do you think about THAT?)
83. Locate 1 new/fun website each month (Again, could have been more ambitious here. There are SO many - I'm addicted!)
84. Eat at 3 new restaurants (including an amazing Portugese/Rodizio restauarant in Newark for Valentine's Day/Mark's birthday; Tabor Road Tavern with the in-laws for Mark's birthday; and a yummy take-out thai place)
*~*PERSONAL*~*
88. Accept feedback more effectively (I'm really, really TRYING to do this without feeling like it's personal. Hopefully effort counts for something?!)
89. Give feedback more effectively (Again, TRYING!)
*~*RANDOM*~*
96. Use face cream at night. (Very random, I know...but I am the WORST at doing a THING for my face and I'm getting OLD, so this has become a morning/night routine)
97. ******* *** **** ***** (Private/ongoing)
100. Register to vote in the 2008 election in NJ (10/08; voted 11/08; and "won"!)
Wow, I'm pleasantly happy. Considering my crap ass year I've had so far, apparently I've still managed to accomplish a hell of a lot more than I thought! ::pat on back::
