Saturday I came into work for seven hours and fulfilled several "Maid of Honor" duties: drew out the maps for Monica's wedding invites, made the hotel reservations for the bachelorette party, as WELL as designed a prototype for the invitations (which got rave reviews so far yay!!! I've never seen a reaction from John like I got last night...it really made me feel good at what I do!). Then on Sunday I completed two 101 Things tasks: #57 & #61: Finished cleaning/organizing the apartment including the dreaded linen closet :) Technically it isn't complete if I include the coat closet though, but eh, that thing is alright....and b. Finished cleaning/organizing my room including making it look like I live there!! I put up framed pictures and even moved everything around so I could fit a chair in the corner for reading! It looks pretty cozy! Maybe I'll try 'er out tonight and finish up the first 60 pages of my mom's book.
So yay! I'm seriously plugging away at this list! I've gotta come up with another batch of goals to make in the next few months.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
End of July is Nigh
...up...
...up...
...and away!
#24 Kite flying was had! I mentioned it earlier maybe, but finally got the photos up. It was such a gorgeous day, but yeah, the wind wasn't havin' it. John had the kite up for like 45 seconds after I took that last one, and then I took a turn and had the kite up for maybe 5-10 minutes UNTIL I tried taking a picture WHILST holding said kite, and it fell. Classic.
OTHER updates!! Aside from the recipe sitch, I think I accomplished pretty much everything I wanted to.
#17 My surprise was very small...just baked some oatmeal raisin cookies and dropped them off at John's while he was with Grace. But it was partly an anniversary gift too. John surprised ME with a really hilarious card and GOOOOORGEOUS pink/yellow/orange roses. Our two [ish] year anniversary was simple, sweet and fun. We went to Harry's Bar & Grill for dinner...and then after we got home we shared the mini bottle of champagne I got from Monica and Tim's engagement party. Give or take a couple months in there, I can't believe it's been two years. And honestly things are so much better nowadays. Since the reunion, and a couple hiccups in there, I've never felt more "mature" and dare I say calm??? I just feel more trusting, confident, and genuinely happy. The work that we've both put into the relationship the last few months has been hard, but at the same time really fun! We're in a good place and hopefully it stays that way.
#39 Monday I played nine holes of golf!! Ok so I kinda blew. Not awful, but not great either. John and I played Best Ball (each player plays from the spot of the closest ball)...together we got a 47 which is like a 5 stroke average...not great for a par 3 course?? haha! But we used my ball's spot quite a few times! In any case, even though I wasn't all that good, I had a blast. It was nice to be out in the perfect weather, getting exercise, and having fun amongst the rolling hills of the course...it just made me want to go again soon to get the practice in! Yay golf!!
#75 I brought breakfast treats into work the other day, but I sort of feel bad counting it...it was thanks to everyone who contributed to the "Let's Thank Katie for Washing Our Dishes Every Day" Fund. They all got me a gift card to a spa!! It was crazy...I was totally taken a back. But in classic Katie style, I felt the need to thank THEM for such a sweet gesture. Hence the breakfast treats.
#95 I am currently reading my mom's draft of her latest novel Bloodchained which is ALL kinds of good. So in addition to the "classic" A Tale of Two Cities, I'll be able to add "erotica/romance" to my literary repertoire ;)
And finally...
#38 BALLOOOOONS!!!
John, Grace and I went to the Waukesha Co Fair as planned...the whole evening was so much fun. And the hot air balloons were the best. Not too many...only eight or nine total, but it was really cool watching them launch and then the whole "Balloon Glow" at night. Grace was especially a fan. Maybe she'll have a special place in her heart for hot air balloons like I do because of the Iowa Altoona Balloona fest I watched when I was her age?? In any case, here are some pix!
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
more...
Last night I used kiwi (#50) in this hot curried fruit concoction I created...I cut up strawberries, mango, a peach, and a couple kiwi, sauteed some onions in a little butter, brought the fruit up to a simmer, and added some curry powder and brown sugar. I sliced up some French bread, added a smear of brie cheese and topped with the hot fruit. So scrumptious and unique!
Today I had plenty of time to kill, so I buckled down and worked on my budget (#80). These sites helped me tremendously:
http://cgi.money.cnn.com/
printable budget worksheet
I looked at my budget from June, what I had for July so far (with some projections), and came up with what I should be spending each month. For June it was ridiculous...I spent my entire paycheck minus like $5 and that did NOT include leftover INKYTNMO expenses and the $550 check I wrote my mom. Luckily July has been much better and it looks like I COULD come up $500 on top. This is good as August is a big spending month with my mom's bday, camping, and my $300 car repair bill. So from now on, at the end of each month, I'm going to divvy up all my spending into that worksheet to keep track. Hopefully I'll get a better sense of pattern and take those good months where I saved a chunk and use that for the bad months where my car decides to breakdown, it's everyone and their mother's birthday, I get three parking tickets, and I have to make 8 new recipes that involve salmon, wine, pricey cheeses, and olive oil (my typical expensive grocery items). Voila!
Today I had plenty of time to kill, so I buckled down and worked on my budget (#80). These sites helped me tremendously:
http://cgi.money.cnn.com/
printable budget worksheet
I looked at my budget from June, what I had for July so far (with some projections), and came up with what I should be spending each month. For June it was ridiculous...I spent my entire paycheck minus like $5 and that did NOT include leftover INKYTNMO expenses and the $550 check I wrote my mom. Luckily July has been much better and it looks like I COULD come up $500 on top. This is good as August is a big spending month with my mom's bday, camping, and my $300 car repair bill. So from now on, at the end of each month, I'm going to divvy up all my spending into that worksheet to keep track. Hopefully I'll get a better sense of pattern and take those good months where I saved a chunk and use that for the bad months where my car decides to breakdown, it's everyone and their mother's birthday, I get three parking tickets, and I have to make 8 new recipes that involve salmon, wine, pricey cheeses, and olive oil (my typical expensive grocery items). Voila!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
darnitsauce!
So I completely slipped up BY ACCIDENT and had diet coke on Sunday. I just completely forgot! I went to Old Country Buffet, so obviously, a buffet set up and therefore they don't ask you what you want to drink. Normally I would just say "Water's fine" but since we got our own drinks, I automatically thought "Diet Coke". Blah. And not just ONE glass, but two. Sigh. So as a punishment, I might just have to do something extra hard in August: no alcohol EXCEPT Miller Lite. That's all I can allow...which will suck on Aug 18th for my mom's bday. Cubanitas = the best mojitos ever :\
Friday, July 13, 2007
Stretched Thin
I conquered my 30 Day Pilates Challenge (#40) and on time! This week I did two double workouts and pass on a beer at Bastille Days in order to finish by today. I'm going to continue to try and rock the Pilates at lunch, but it's supposed to be 90 degrees Monday so I'll probably take a little break there.
And as I mentioned, it's mid-July (already?!) and I have yet to make one new recipe (#45). I've been trying desperately to save money this month because of the abundance of expenses that have either come and gone or are right around the corner. So I do believe I'm taking a break from the recipes during July. I will make up for it by making eight new recipes this fall (when you want to eat more anyway!) However, I still have to eat kiwi in some form...I have to keep this in mind.
Not having soda is working out great! I'm getting SO sick of beer ;) No, but seriously, I think the soda thing has been one of the easier 'give-ups' which is nice after the tragedy that was not eating after 7pm. In any case, I'd give up beer in August if I wasn't going camping on the 4th ;)
Other than that, I'm still pluggin away here. I've had a few bridesmaid duties to attend to (#101), namely the impending bachelorette extravaganza (note: one of the many expenses in my future). I'm also halfway through organizing my cube (#86). All that's left is the drawers and the abundance of crap under my desk. I obviously finished my Floyd Collins biography (#95) which was FANTASTIC. So awfully sad at the end...I mean I knew he died, but the way the story is told, you seriously think he might make it! Very strange. Anyway, tonight I'm going to try and get through a significant (well, significant for my reading speed, or lack thereof) portion of A Tale of Two Cities.
I think it's going to be a good weekend! :)
And as I mentioned, it's mid-July (already?!) and I have yet to make one new recipe (#45). I've been trying desperately to save money this month because of the abundance of expenses that have either come and gone or are right around the corner. So I do believe I'm taking a break from the recipes during July. I will make up for it by making eight new recipes this fall (when you want to eat more anyway!) However, I still have to eat kiwi in some form...I have to keep this in mind.
Not having soda is working out great! I'm getting SO sick of beer ;) No, but seriously, I think the soda thing has been one of the easier 'give-ups' which is nice after the tragedy that was not eating after 7pm. In any case, I'd give up beer in August if I wasn't going camping on the 4th ;)
Other than that, I'm still pluggin away here. I've had a few bridesmaid duties to attend to (#101), namely the impending bachelorette extravaganza (note: one of the many expenses in my future). I'm also halfway through organizing my cube (#86). All that's left is the drawers and the abundance of crap under my desk. I obviously finished my Floyd Collins biography (#95) which was FANTASTIC. So awfully sad at the end...I mean I knew he died, but the way the story is told, you seriously think he might make it! Very strange. Anyway, tonight I'm going to try and get through a significant (well, significant for my reading speed, or lack thereof) portion of A Tale of Two Cities.
I think it's going to be a good weekend! :)
Thursday, July 5, 2007
month 6
So to update, I have 847 days left out of 1001! That's quite a bit, but I have barely anything accomplished. Bah.
To wrap things up for June/update on July:
#50 - July atypical food: kiwi! That'll be a refreshing summer recipe for sure!
#51 - My June guilty pleasure food was semi accomplished...like I said, I think I cheated a bit. Seriously hard not to eat after 7:00!! For July I decided to cut out soda. Now this is going to be another hard one...especially in regards to mixed drinks. I've had a ton of beer lately, and I'm actually starting to get tired of it!! haha! But I think I'll allow tonic...it's carbonated, but not technically soda.
#78 - I volunteered on Monday at St. John's...thankfully it was only like 73 degrees that day so very comfy in the dining area! If I volunteer for August, I just know it's going to be smoldering in there.
#87 - My "new band" was neither new nor a band...but I indulged in some Timbaland and loved every second of it!!! ;)
Projected July tasks!!
#24 - I think perhaps John, Grace and I could fly a kite very soon...perhaps Air Expo weekend?
#38 - And speaking of air expos, there is a "Skyfest" at the Waukesha County Fair complete with hot air balloon launches...hopefully I can enjoy that as well July 21st weekend!!
#39 - It's only 154 days into my list and I'm already halfway through my "nixables" :\ But I replaced "walk 20mins when it's over 60 degrees" as that is obviously not happening. Unless you count Pilates Days, when I walk the ten minutes to work and back four times total (40 minutes!), but that isn't all at once like it should be. Anyway, like I was saying, I replaced it with: Play nine holes of golf. Now is this of lesser or equal value? Not really...but I hope to get into the sport now that I have CLUBS! Clubs I got for free and yes I do realize how lucky I am :) They aren't anything special...some crazy custom made clubs by this random guy in Minnesota, Marty Irving, who now works in real estate?? In any case, I went to the driving range yesterday and I'm ok! Not great, but not awful either...just need practice :) I don't know when I'll be able to play a round, but hopefully at least before the year is up. But anyway, I thought I'd make this replacement a little more reasonable since I realized that a lot of my list exudes a level of difficulty...particularly in the creative section!
#40 - Like I said in a previous post, I hope to finish up the Pilates 30 Day Challenge by mid July, but looks like I better just finish by END July. Only seven more sessions to go though!
#54 - I want to get my herr did by the end of July as well. It's crazy long these days.
#73 - I have to throw this in here: If I wasn't busy paying my OWN flipping tickets and $300 car repair bills, I'd get on this. Blah I hate Milwaukee parking.
#81/#83 - And on that note, it's going to be WAY rough putting $280 into my savings next weekend...it makes me want to cry. But I have to do it...I'll thank myself later. If I didn't do it, I would just SPEND it now which I need to stop doing. I seriously feel like my checking account is bleeding to death. It's awful! This might be the perfect time to reevaluate my budget.
#95 - Hopefully I'll finish my Floyd Collins book tonight at Barnes!! Then start on A Tale of Two Cities. [PS I hate that, in my head, I think "A Tale of Two Kitties"...gross] I think my book after that will be a camera book. My current camera is seriously sick...I never know whether or not it will turn on. Ugh. So better get on learning about the lovely manual-ness of a camera (#8) before it's too late!!
Alright, quite an update, but work is boring today and I had some time to kill. Now I'm seriously going to force myself to go home and do Pilates in the 80 degree apartment. Man I'm building some character these days!
To wrap things up for June/update on July:
#50 - July atypical food: kiwi! That'll be a refreshing summer recipe for sure!
#51 - My June guilty pleasure food was semi accomplished...like I said, I think I cheated a bit. Seriously hard not to eat after 7:00!! For July I decided to cut out soda. Now this is going to be another hard one...especially in regards to mixed drinks. I've had a ton of beer lately, and I'm actually starting to get tired of it!! haha! But I think I'll allow tonic...it's carbonated, but not technically soda.
#78 - I volunteered on Monday at St. John's...thankfully it was only like 73 degrees that day so very comfy in the dining area! If I volunteer for August, I just know it's going to be smoldering in there.
#87 - My "new band" was neither new nor a band...but I indulged in some Timbaland and loved every second of it!!! ;)
Projected July tasks!!
#24 - I think perhaps John, Grace and I could fly a kite very soon...perhaps Air Expo weekend?
#38 - And speaking of air expos, there is a "Skyfest" at the Waukesha County Fair complete with hot air balloon launches...hopefully I can enjoy that as well July 21st weekend!!
#39 - It's only 154 days into my list and I'm already halfway through my "nixables" :\ But I replaced "walk 20mins when it's over 60 degrees" as that is obviously not happening. Unless you count Pilates Days, when I walk the ten minutes to work and back four times total (40 minutes!), but that isn't all at once like it should be. Anyway, like I was saying, I replaced it with: Play nine holes of golf. Now is this of lesser or equal value? Not really...but I hope to get into the sport now that I have CLUBS! Clubs I got for free and yes I do realize how lucky I am :) They aren't anything special...some crazy custom made clubs by this random guy in Minnesota, Marty Irving, who now works in real estate?? In any case, I went to the driving range yesterday and I'm ok! Not great, but not awful either...just need practice :) I don't know when I'll be able to play a round, but hopefully at least before the year is up. But anyway, I thought I'd make this replacement a little more reasonable since I realized that a lot of my list exudes a level of difficulty...particularly in the creative section!
#40 - Like I said in a previous post, I hope to finish up the Pilates 30 Day Challenge by mid July, but looks like I better just finish by END July. Only seven more sessions to go though!
#54 - I want to get my herr did by the end of July as well. It's crazy long these days.
#73 - I have to throw this in here: If I wasn't busy paying my OWN flipping tickets and $300 car repair bills, I'd get on this. Blah I hate Milwaukee parking.
#81/#83 - And on that note, it's going to be WAY rough putting $280 into my savings next weekend...it makes me want to cry. But I have to do it...I'll thank myself later. If I didn't do it, I would just SPEND it now which I need to stop doing. I seriously feel like my checking account is bleeding to death. It's awful! This might be the perfect time to reevaluate my budget.
#95 - Hopefully I'll finish my Floyd Collins book tonight at Barnes!! Then start on A Tale of Two Cities. [PS I hate that, in my head, I think "A Tale of Two Kitties"...gross] I think my book after that will be a camera book. My current camera is seriously sick...I never know whether or not it will turn on. Ugh. So better get on learning about the lovely manual-ness of a camera (#8) before it's too late!!
Alright, quite an update, but work is boring today and I had some time to kill. Now I'm seriously going to force myself to go home and do Pilates in the 80 degree apartment. Man I'm building some character these days!
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