Ya Win Some & Ya Lose Some

Yesterday I turned 29 years old.  That's right, I have officially entered the final year of my 20s.  And you know what?  I'm excited.  Not that I plan on wishing 29 away or anything but I'm not upset about approaching 30.  I'm ready for 30!  When I created my 29 by 29 list I tried to pull a lot from my 101 in 1001 list so as not to overwhelm myself.  Well, I still only got half of them done...

1. Pay off my car [#23 on 101 in 1001]

2. Go to CA, WA, or OR [#47 on 101 in 1001]

3. Donate blood 3 times [#42 on 101 in 1001]

4. Make a pie on Pi Day [#60 on 101 in 1001]

5. Run a 5k [#24 on 101 in 1001]

6. Have credit card debt at 5k or less [#69 on 101 in 1001]

7. Have student loans at 60k or less [#2 on 101 in 1001]

8. Spend NYE with a S/O [#13 on 101 in 1001]

9. Eat at 24 new bars/restaurants [#21 on 101 in 1001]

10. Track spending for a month [#28 on 101 in 1001]

11. Get my own place

12. Go ziplining [#51 on 101 in 1001]

13. Attend Austin City Limits [#55 on 101 in 1001]

14. Watch the sunrise on New Year's Day [#81 on 101 in 1001]

15. Send out Christmas cards [#86 on 101 in 1001]

16. Do a spending freeze for a month [#92 on 101 in 1001]

17. Finish my Netflix watch list [#99 on 101 in 1001]

18. Read 24 books [#9/10 on 101 in 1001]

19. Do a 30 day fitness challenge [#15 on 101 in 1001]

20. Complete 52 week money challenge [#20 on 101 in 1001]

21. Have $500 in savings [#44 on 101 in 1001]

22. Photograph the same spot each season [#59 on 101 in 1001]

23. Visit a new ballpark [#62 on 101 in 1001]

23. Attend 2 MLB games [#63 on 101 in 1001]

24. Run a 1/2 marathon [#66 on 101 in 1001]

25. Sing karaoke [#67 on 101 in 1001]

26. Watch 2 movies in a theater in 1 day [#71 on 101 in 1001]

27. Build a snowman [#84 on 101 in 1001]

28. Take motorcycle license class [#26 on 101 in 1001]

29. Visit 3 museums [#31 on 101 in 1001]

The Last 29 By 29 Check In Before It Ends

In just 3 short months I'll be starting my last year of my 20s!  Why does time just keep getting faster & faster??  When I last checked in back in April I had 10 completed, 8 in progress, 2 failed, & 9 not started.  So let's see what I've gotten done in the past 3 months.

1. Pay off my car [#23 on 101 in 1001]

2. Go to CA, WA, or OR [#47 on 101 in 1001]

3. Donate blood 3 times [#42 on 101 in 1001]

4. Make a pie on Pi Day [#60 on 101 in 1001

5. Run a 5k [#24 on 101 in 1001]

6. Have credit card debt at 5k or less [#69 on 101 in 1001]

7. Have student loans at 60k or less [#2 on 101 in 1001]

8. Spend NYE with a S/O [#13 on 101 in 1001]

9. Eat at 24 new bars/restaurants [#21 on 101 in 1001]

10. Track spending for a month [#28 on 101 in 1001]

11. Get my own place

12. Go ziplining [#51 on 101 in 1001]

13. Attend Austin City Limits [#55 on 101 in 1001]

14. Watch the sunrise on New Year's Day [#81 on 101 in 1001]

15. Send out Christmas cards [#86 on 101 in 1001]

16. Do a spending freeze for a month [#92 on 101 in 1001]

17. Finish my Netflix watch list [#99 on 101 in 1001]

18. Read 24 books [#9/10 on 101 in 1001]

19. Do a 30 day fitness challenge [#15 on 101 in 1001]

20. Complete 52 week money challenge [#20 on 101 in 1001]

21. Have $500 in savings [#44 on 101 in 1001]

22. Photograph the same spot each season [#59 on 101 in 1001]

23. Visit a new ballpark [#62 on 101 in 1001]

23. Attend 2 MLB games [#63 on 101 in 1001]

24. Run a 1/2 marathon [#66 on 101 in 1001]

25. Sing karaoke [#67 on 101 in 1001]

26. Watch 2 movies in a theater in 1 day [#71 on 101 in 1001]

27. Build a snowman [#84 on 101 in 1001]

28. Take motorcycle license class [#26 on 101 in 1001]

29. Visit 3 museums [#31 on 101 in 1001]

Completed 15
In Progress 4
Failed 8

Not Started 3

Summer Goals

Today is my last day of real work!  *Insert comment here about how fast time is flying*  Technically I still have to go to work tomorrow but the kids are done today & tomorrow will just be spent cleaning out my classroom & probably watching some Netflix.

Since a new season is beginning, it's time for me to share my next goal list!  Here is what I would like to accomplish between today & August 31.  A little later I'll be recapping how I did on my spring goals.

1. Donate Blood [#3 29 by 29 & #42 101 in 1001]

2. Finish 4 shows on my Netflix watch list [#17 29 by 29 & #99 101 in 1001]

3. Read 12 Books [#18 29 by 29 & #10 101 in 1001]

4. Attend 2 MLB games [#23 29 by 29 & #63 101 in 1001 & #63 101 in 1001]

5. Watch 2 movies in a theater in 1 day [#26 29 by 29 & #71 101 in 1001]

6. Visit 2 museums [#29 29 by 29 & #31 101 in 1001]

7. Run a 5k [#24 101 in 1001]

8. Visit a new MLB ballpark [#62 101 in 1001]

9. Finish 1000 piece puzzle [#95 101 in 1001]

10. Visit 6 new places in DFW [Fun in DFW/Dining in Dallas/Fort Worth Food]

I'm Twenty-Eight...And A Half!

I can't believe it's already been 6 months since my birthday!  Why does time just keep getting faster & faster??  When I last checked in back in January I had 7 completed, 6 in progress, 1 failed, & 15 not started.  So let's see what I've gotten done in the past 3 months.

1. Pay off my car [#23 on 101 in 1001]
(When I got my tax refund in February I used part of it to pay off the rest of my car)

2. Go to CA, WA, or OR [#47 on 101 in 1001]

3. Donate blood 3 times [#42 on 101 in 1001]
(I had my first appointment back in January right after I posted my check in & just had my 2nd one this past Saturday)

4. Make a pie on Pi Day [#60 on 101 in 1001
(So I even blogged about pie recipes for Pi Day, but I wound up hanging out with friends instead of making one)

5. Run a 5k [#24 on 101 in 1001]

6. Have credit card debt at 5k or less [#69 on 101 in 1001]
(I don't really know why I hadn't marked this one as in progress last time...this is always in progress...)

7. Have student loans at 60k or less [#2 on 101 in 1001]
(See above)

8. Spend NYE with a S/O [#13 on 101 in 1001]

9. Eat at 24 new bars/restaurants [#21 on 101 in 1001]

10. Track spending for a month [#28 on 101 in 1001]
(I've gone back to doing this every month like I used to)

11. Get my own place
(On February 11 I moved into my own place...I still haven't given an apartment tour...)

12. Go ziplining [#51 on 101 in 1001]

13. Attend Austin City Limits [#55 on 101 in 1001]

14. Watch the sunrise on New Year's Day [#81 on 101 in 1001]

15. Send out Christmas cards [#86 on 101 in 1001]

16. Do a spending freeze for a month [#92 on 101 in 1001]
(I guess technically this is finished because I said for a month, but I'm doing mine for 2 months so I'm done on May 20)

17. Finish my Netflix watch list [#99 on 101 in 1001]
(Last time I had 2 seasons left of Shameless & had the following 9 shows to start afterwards: Orange Is The New Black, Grey's, House of Cards, Mad Men, Scandal, Dexter, Private Practice, & Narcos.  I got rid of Narcos because I couldn't deal with the having to read the subtitles to watch it.  I had started watching Mad Men & got 6 episodes in but then started watching Scandal instead)

18. Read 24 books [#9/10 on 101 in 1001]

19. Do a 30 day fitness challenge [#15 on 101 in 1001]
(I'm doing 30 miles in 30 days, & while I'm well over the 30 miles, I've basically changed it to at least a mile a day so I'll be done after the 30th)

20. Complete 52 week money challenge [#20 on 101 in 1001]
(I'm not technically doing this... I just put money in savings every pay day rather than weekly.  So as long as I have at least the $1378 in savings by the end that I would if I was doing this, I'm calling it a win)

21. Have $500 in savings [#44 on 101 in 1001]

22. Photograph the same spot each season [#59 on 101 in 1001]
(I couldn't decide where I wanted to photograph...so I didn't...)

23. Visit a new ballpark [#62 on 101 in 1001]

23. Attend 2 MLB games [#63 on 101 in 1001]

24. Run a 1/2 marathon [#66 on 101 in 1001]

25. Sing karaoke [#67 on 101 in 1001]

26. Watch 2 movies in a theater in 1 day [#71 on 101 in 1001]

27. Build a snowman [#84 on 101 in 1001]

28. Take motorcycle license class [#26 on 101 in 1001]

29. Visit 3 museums [#31 on 101 in 1001]

Pass: 10
In Progress: 8
Failed: 2

I got an additional 3 completed & now only have 9 not started instead of 15.  By the time my next check in rolls around I'm expecting to have #3, #16, #19, & #22 completed for sure.  There are another 3 that I could also complete without much effort.

Wasn't My Birthday Yesterday??

I have been 28 for 3 months now.  It honestly feels like my birthday was a lot longer ago.  I honestly feel like I'm not doing too bad on my list.  I already have one failed, & there are a couple of other ones that might not happen (I'm looking at you credit card & student loan debt), but other than that I already have 7 fully completed & a couple of others that will be done relatively soon.  For 3 months in that's not bad.

1. Pay off my car [#23 on 101 in 1001]

(I recently put a large chunk of money on my car so now I'm down to owing less than $800 on it.  I'll have it paid off before summer starts.)

2. Go to CA, WA, or OR [#47 on 101 in 1001]

3. Donate blood 3 times [#42 on 101 in 1001]

(I have an appointment for the 29th of this month)

4. Make a pie on Pi Day [#60 on 101 in 1001

5. Run a 5k [#24 on 101 in 1001]

(Back in December I did the Rock'N'Roll 5k in San Antonio)

6. Have credit card debt at 5k or less [#69 on 101 in 1001]

7. Have student loans at 60k or less [#2 on 101 in 1001]

8. Spend NYE with a S/O [#13 on 101 in 1001]
(I did something way cooler & did a midnight hike at Palo Duro Canyon)

9. Eat at 24 new bars/restaurants [#21 on 101 in 1001]
(I've already been to 21...only 3 more to go over the next 9 months)

10. Track spending for a month [#28 on 101 in 1001]
(I'm currently doing this.  I'm not counting bills but all other spending like groceries/gas/fun)

11. Get my own place
(I move in on Feb 11!)

12. Go ziplining [#51 on 101 in 1001]

13. Attend Austin City Limits [#55 on 101 in 1001]

14. Watch the sunrise on New Year's Day [#81 on 101 in 1001]

(Not only did I watch the sunrise, I got to do it in a state park)

15. Send out Christmas cards [#86 on 101 in 1001]
(I just went to Walmart & bought some cards to send out.  Next year I want to do fun ones)

16. Do a spending freeze for a month [#92 on 101 in 1001]

17. Finish my Netflix watch list [#99 on 101 in 1001]
(I'm currently watching Shameless.  I only have 2 seasons left & then I have 9 more shows to finish: Orange Is The New Black, Grey's, House of Cards, Mad Men, Scandal, Dexter, Private Practice, & Narcos.  Any suggestions on which one I should tackle next?  I may end up getting rid of Narcos because as interesting as it seems, I tried watching an episode & I couldn't keep up because I wasn't sitting there reading the subtitles like I needed to)

18. Read 24 books [#9/10 on 101 in 1001]

(I have hit a serious reading slump.  I was doing so good & now I haven't read in almost a month.  I'm on book #8 though)

19. Do a 30 day fitness challenge [#15 on 101 in 1001]

20. Complete 52 week money challenge [#20 on 101 in 1001]

21. Have $500 in savings [#44 on 101 in 1001]
(I have exactly $500 in savings.  I'm counting it as a pass right now...but if I don't have at least that in there by the end I will turn it back into a fail)

22. Photograph the same spot each season [#59 on 101 in 1001]

23. Visit a new ballpark [#62 on 101 in 1001]

23. Attend 2 MLB games [#63 on 101 in 1001]

24. Run a 1/2 marathon [#66 on 101 in 1001]

25. Sing karaoke [#67 on 101 in 1001]
(My birthday weekend I did karaoke in Nashville)

26. Watch 2 movies in a theater in 1 day [#71 on 101 in 1001]

27. Build a snowman [#84 on 101 in 1001]

(I made a little snowman while I was deer hunting, & not seeing any deer)

28. Take motorcycle license class [#26 on 101 in 1001]

29. Visit 3 museums [#31 on 101 in 1001]

29 by 29

**Tomorrow I leave for Nashville tomorrow celebrate my birthday weekend!! You can follow along on IG (briannemcc) & SC (nrthmeetssouthe)**

Here we are again.  In just 3 short days I'll be turning 28.  I feel like I say this every year, but 28 just seems so daunting.  I'm definitely not in my early 20s anymore, I'm not even in my mid 20s.  I'm in my late 20s.  I'm long since over where I "should be" at this point in my life.  I'm just living my life my own way & doing my best to make the most of it.  I decided to pull the goals for my 29 by 29 from my 101 in 1001 list since I have just under a year & a half left on that.  Without further ado, my 29 goals that I hope to complete by my 29th birthday.

1. Pay off my car [#23 on 101 in 1001]

2. Go to CA, WA, or OR [#47 on 101 in 1001]

3. Donate blood 3 times [#42 on 101 in 1001]

4. Make a pie on Pi Day [#60 on 101 in 1001

5. Run a 5k [#24 on 101 in 1001]

6. Have credit card debt at 5k or less [#69 on 101 in 1001]

7. Have student loans at 60k or less [#2 on 101 in 1001]

8. Spend NYE with a S/O [#13 on 101 in 1001]

9. Eat at 24 new bars/restaurants [#21 on 101 in 1001]

10. Track spending for a month [#28 on 101 in 1001]

11. Get my own place

12. Go ziplining [#51 on 101 in 1001]

13. Attend Austin City Limits [#55 on 101 in 1001]

14. Watch the sunrise on New Year's Day [#81 on 101 in 1001]

15. Send out Christmas cards [#86 on 101 in 1001]

16. Do a spending freeze for a month [#92 on 101 in 1001]

17. Finish my Netflix watch list [#99 on 101 in 1001]

18. Read 24 books [#9/10 on 101 in 1001]

19. Do a 30 day fitness challenge [#15 on 101 in 1001]

20. Complete 52 week money challenge [#20 on 101 in 1001]

21. Have $500 in savings [#44 on 101 in 1001]

22. Photograph the same spot each season [#59 on 101 in 1001]

23. Visit a new ballpark [#62 on 101 in 1001]

23. Attend 2 MLB games [#63 on 101 in 1001]

24. Run a 1/2 marathon [#66 on 101 in 1001]

25. Sing karaoke [#67 on 101 in 1001]

26. Watch 2 movies in a theater in 1 day [#71 on 101 in 1001]

27. Build a snowman [#84 on 101 in 1001]

28. Take motorcycle license class [#26 on 101 in 1001]

29. Visit 3 museums [#31 on 101 in 1001]