Just 15 Minutes

As a general rule I don't read featured or sponsored posts.  As in I don't, ever.  However last week I was bored & had already read all of the blogs that I follow for the day & I saw one that said "How Changing Just 1% Of Your Day Can Completely Transform Your Life"  I was intrigued.

In case you don't want to read it here are the cliff notes.

There are 1440 minutes in every day.

15 minutes is about 1% of your day.

If you dedicated 15 minutes to something (writing, praying, meditating, whatever) how would your life change...

The guy in the article started writing 15 minutes a day which led to him writing multiple books.

The article got me thinking.  I've been saying for YEARS that I want to learn to play guitar, & then I don't.  I got my first electric guitar at 15.  I bought my first acoustic guitar around 24/25.  A few years ago I won a signed acoustic guitar.  Guess how many of them I can play?  That's right.  Zero.

A few days before I read the article I actually downloaded an app to help me learn, I also found a real human who said they'd teach me too.  I already used the app to tune my guitar & did part of a lesson, Nash was not pleased with my lack of skills.  But what if I really did start practicing?

So because I don't give myself enough goals (insert sarcasm here) I plan on attempting this.  For just 15 minutes a day, I'm going to start playing guitar using the app I downloaded.

What would you choose to dedicate 15 minutes a day to to change your life?

I'm Taking Suggestions

On January 1, 2010 I started my first 101 in 1001 project.

On September 28, 2012 I started my second 101 in 1001 project.

On June 27th, 2015 I started my third 101 in 1001 project.

I've decided that I do want to do a 4th one but I'd like to hear your suggestions!  If you click the links above you can see how I did on each of them, or in the case of the 3rd one where I stand 1.5 years in.

My 4th 101 in 1001 will run from Mar 25, 2018 until Dec 20, 2020.

I'd like to hear what your suggestions are.  What would you add to your 101 in 1001 list?

Here's what I have so far:

1. Pay off Great Lakes Student Loan

2. Make 150 recipes from my Pinterest boards

3. Make 25 DIY from my Pinterest boards

4. Make 75 drinks from my Pinterest boards

5. Take a spontaneous road trip

6. Go sky diving

7. Visit a winery

8. Have credit cards paid off

9. Pay off AES Student Loan

10. Go to a blogging conference

11. Be a tourist in my own city

12. Hike a mountain & watch the sunrise

13. Graduate from grad school

14. Read 101 books

15. Do something big for my 30th birthday

16. Try 101 new bars/restaurants

17. Write a letter to myself to be opened when the 1001 days is over

18. Start & finish a Wreck This Journal

19. Visit Big Bend National Park

20. Visit Natural Bridge Caverns

21. Visit Guadalupe Mountains National Park

22. Float the river

23. Visit a brewery

24. Visit a distillery

25. Attend restaurant week

26. Clean up all Pinterest boards

27. Donate $1 for every failed goal

28 by 28 Check In

Two days ago I turned 28.  I already shared with you my 29 by 29 list, & today I'm here to show you how I did on my 28 by 28 list.

1. Get into grad school PASS

2. Be in a real relationship FAIL

3. Visit a new state FAIL

4. Have my smallest loan paid off: PASS

5. Attend 9 concerts: PASS

6. Try 24 new restaurants/bars: PASS

7. Cut my credit card debt down by 1/3: FAIL

8. Go 1 month without using a credit card: PASS

9. Run a 5k FAIL

10. Read 15 books FAIL

11. Get another tattoo PASS
Technically I didn't have it before I turned 28...but I made the appointment before I turned 28 & I'm getting it today so...

12. Get back down to 150-155 & maintain it PASS

13. Have $1000 in savings PASS

14. Stick to my new 1-48-5 rule when it comes to dating PASS

15. Get my CDL FAIL

But that's because I didn't really want to get it.  I was supposed to get it as a coach but I never finished it & now that I'm not coaching there's no point.

16. Get my CHL FAIL
I could have easily done it.  I took the class a couple of years ago & had until this past September to turn in the paperwork/pay the fee.  Ultimately I decided not to.  Why?  At this point in time it just seemed unnecessary.  I work in schools & in a bar... and I'm there all the time.  At neither place could I carry a weapon either.  Also, I don't even have a firearm in Texas. 

17. Kiss someone on NYE: PASS
This was a very generous pass.  I spent NYE with Mr. Midwest.  We did not kiss.  I wasn't even awake at midnight.  But I was with a guy I cared about & that's what counts.

18. Have my tarot read PASS

19. Donate blood FAIL
But I did try...I was just turned away for having too low of iron.

20. Meet a blogger PASS
Much like the tattoo, technically a fail.  But I had a blate schedule BEFORE I turned 28 & that's also happening today.  Still counts.

21. Learn to play a song on the guitar FAIL
This is going to stop being a goal...I have the guitar, I've had the guitar.  I just don't sit down to learn.

22. Don't get any type of traffic ticket FAIL
I got a red light ticket...which I still think is BS because I made a right turn on red, which was allowed, but because I yielded instead of coming to a full stop (other cars were making a left turn so I knew there were no cars coming) I got a ticket.

23. Go horseback riding FAIL

24. Go to a Twins, Vikings, & Wild game: PASS 

I'm going to count it as one anyway.  I didn't make it to a Twins game but I did go to a Vikings & Wild game...in addition to a Rangers game so all 3 sports were hit.

25. Go to Fort Worth, San Antonio, & Houston rodeos: PASS 

I'm also going to count this as a pass even though I didn't go to the one in Houston.  I made it to the other 2 & went to 2 other ones in Minnesota.

26. Complete 3 30 Day Challenges PASS

27. Learn Spanish PASS-ISH

28. Finish a 1000 piece puzzle FAIL

16/28...could've done better, could've done worse.

Fall Film Challenge 2016

Let's try this again.  Last year I had plans in participating in Jenn's Fall Film Challenge.  You know how many I watched on my list? 1.  Yeah, talk about a fail.  When I saw Stephanie post about the challenge again, & give her list, I thought "why the hell not?!"  The challenge starts a week from today, September 1, & you can read all of the rules here on Jenn's post.

I'll be choosing movies that I can find on Netflix just because it makes life easier.

Here are my picks:

one. about adolescence.

Fish Tank

two. about a character's rebirth or rite of passage

Cinderella Man

three. about a comic book character.

Catwoman

four. shot or set in washington, d.c.

Sharknado 3

five. set in an academic environment

Hard Lessons

six. about failure.

Take This Waltz

seven. about a man vs. god or gods.

Thor: Hammer of the Gods

eight. about a man vs. himself.

Seeking a Friend For The End of the World

nine. about an invention or an ingenuous individual.

Ingenious

ten. set in a jail or prison.

Let's Go To Prison

eleven. about a dog.

Hachi: A Dog's Tale

twelve. about loss.

August: Osage County

thirteen. about man vs. man.

SEAL Team Six: The Raid On Osama Bin Laden

fourteen. about man vs. nature.

A Lonely Place To Die

fifteen. one that has a monster or monstrous individual.

Sharknado

sixteen. shot or set in pennsylvania.

Paper Towns

seventeen. about a character's quest of some kind.

Journey To The Center of the Earth (1959)

eighteen. about a character who goes from rags to riches.

Dope

nineteen. about a man. vs. society.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

twenty. originally released in the thirties.

Young Mr. Lincoln

twenty-one. about undesirable individuals or elements.

Rounders

twenty-two. about a voyage and return.

Serendipity

twenty-three. about wizards or witchcraft.

Nanny McPhee

twenty-four. originally released in the sixties.

Cleopatra

twenty-five. about a yearning or obsession.

Eyes Wide Shut

28 by 28

I've been 27 for just over 6 months now which means I have 171 more days to complete my 28 by 28 list.

1. Get into Grad School
This one has potential to go either way.  If I don't get a teaching job by the end of summer I am going to apply to grad school.  If I do, I'll give it a few months before I decide.

2. Be in a real relationship

Mr. Midwest & I have been seeing each other for almost 7 months now, he's met my parents, we're talking about moving in together in August so... as of right now it's looking pretty solid.

3. Visit a new state

I don't know that this is going to happen.  I had a chance to go to California with some friends this month but then I went & quit my job so now I need those days for interviews.  My brother & I talked about driving out to Montana this summer so we'll see.

4. Have ECSI loan paid off

I paid that bad boy off as soon as I got my refund check back in February.

5. Attend 9 concerts

At this moment in time I'm at 6.  I'm feeling pretty confident that I can attend 3 more in the next 6 months.

6. Try 24 new restaurants/bars

While I was in Houston I finally completed this one.

7. Cut credit card debt to $5300

If I got my ass in to gear this would MAYBE still be possible but it's really not looking well.

8. Don't use credit card for 1 month

This hasn't happened yet.  Of course it's a new month so maybe May will be that month...

9. Run a 5k

I haven't even looked at any races.  I don't have high hopes for this one.  Mostly because it's not really at the top of my priority list.  I can with almost 100% confidence say it won't happen over the summer.  Maybe once I'm back down in Texas again next August I'll do one.

10. Read 15 books

I'm at 1.  However, summer is right around the door & I have a stack of books I'm wanting to read.  I can knock books out in the summer, school year not so much.

11. Get another tattoo

I know what I want.  I just don't know when I'll get it.  Right now there are other things that I need/want to spend money on.

12. Weigh 150-155

I'm on week 2 of a 12 week work out program.  Plus, I'm also trying to eat less junk.  Fingers crossed I can hit this long before the end of October.  I'd love to hit it by the end of July but would also accept mid-September.

13. Have $1000 in savings

I had this.  I had more than this.  But then I had a rental car that got hail damage & had to pay a $500 deductible.  I suppose that is what savings is for right?  I'm hoping to get it back up there again though.

14. Stick to the 1-48-5 rule

This hasn't been relevent because I haven't been dating anyone new.  Since I met Mr. Midwest back in October I've only been seeing him.

15. Get CDL

I almost called this a fail.  It still most likely will be a fail.  I don't want to get it.  However, if I get a new coaching job thta requires me to...I suppose I'll give it another go.

16. Get CHL

This one should be so easy.  I took the class a couple of years ago.  And if I remember right, I have 2 years after the class to apply for the license which means I still have until September.  If that's not true, it's not like the class was hard.  I could very easily retake it in August/September & apply for the license right away.

17. Kiss someone on NYE

We didn't kiss at midnight.  I passed out before midnight.  However, I did spend all NYE with Mr. Midwest so it still counts.

18. Have tarot read

I plan on doing this once I get back to Minnesota this summer.  I did it last June when I was in NOLA, & while I wish I could do it there again, I won't be going there this summer so it'll have to be Minnesota.

19. Donate blood

This hasn't happened.  This falls under the whole "I feel like I had more time/my shit together last year"

20. Meet a blogger

I honestly don't know that his will happen.  I'd love for it to but there are no plans in the works as of yet.

21. Learn to play a song on the guitar

That guitar is still just sitting in the corner of my bedroom...

22. No traffic ticket

So far so good.  Knock on wood it stays that way.

23. Go horseback riding

I still haven't done this either.

24. Go to a Twins, Vikings, & Wild game

I've been to a couple of Vikings games & a Wild game so far.  I have plans on going to a Twins game on June 7 so this one should get completed.

25. Attend San Antonio, Houston, & Fort Worth rodeo

I went to the SA & FW rodeos.  I missed Houston though.  2 out of 3 ain't bad right?

26. Complete 3 30 day challenges

I haven't even looked at any challenges  I should really look into some if I want to have any chance at completing this.

27. Learn Spanish

No.  I'd also say it's likely that it'll never actually happen...

28. Finish 1000 piece puzzle

I'm thinking of buying one either on my way back to MN or once I get back to MN so that I have something to do this summer while everyone else is at work.

So in case you've lost count, or just didn't keep track, half way through my stats look something like this:

Complete: 4
In Progress: 9

Not Started: 14

Failed: 1

Looks like I better get my butt in gear with some of those "Not Started"

28 By 28 3 Month Check In

1. Get into grad school - as of this moment in time this is off the table

2. Be in a real relationship - I don't really know what I meant at the time when I made this...Mr. Midwest & I have been together since the middle of October so I suppose we'll see where I am/we are at by my 28th birthday

3. Visit a new state - this one could be a tad tricky.  I have no plans as of right now to go on any trips & the only states I haven't been too are on the west coast & the northeast so it's not like I can take a quick trip either to knock one out.  Maybe this summer I'll get someone to drive out to Montana with me or something.

4. Have ECSI loan paid off - this will be completed as soon as I get my refund.

5. Attend 9 concerts - I've gone to 2 so far (which is really low for me...I have 4 coming up though)

6. Try 24 new restaurants/bars - I've gone to 16 (clearly food is a priority)

7. Cut credit card debt to $5300 - yeah about that...

8. Don't use credit card for 1 month - see above...maybe after Feb/Mar this can happen

9. Run a 5k - I really need to sign up for one but that won't be happening until at least April when basketball/softball are over

10. Read 15 books - I've read 1 (there's a chance this won't happen...)

11. Get another tattoo - I already know basically what I want I just need the funds.

12. Weigh 150-155 lbs - Last time I weighed myself I was ____ lbs away.

13. Have $1000 in savings - it's making it's way up there but I'm only counting it if I can have that in my account around the time of my birthday

14 - Stick to my 1-48-5 dating rule - I'm not dating new people so this is irrelevant at this point in time

15. Get CDL - I honestly have no plans on doing this anymore as I don't want to coach next year where I currently work & if I get a job elsewhere I won't be getting it there either

16. - Get CHL - I took the class I just need to do all the payments/paperwork by September

17. Kiss someone on NYE - I don't really know what to do about this one.  Technically we didn't kiss at midnight but Mr. Midwest & I spent all night together with a couple of my friends but I was passing out on the couch by 11 & then passed out pretty much right when we got home again shortly after midnight.

18. Have tarot read - I still want to do this, & had planned on doing it in December with my cousin but time & schedules didn't allow for it so now I'm not sure when I'll do it next.

19. Donate blood - I just need to make an appointment once basketball & softball are done & I feel like I have a moment to breathe

20. Meet a blogger - I have no plans for this as of right now but if anyone in TX, or anyone visiting the DFW area wants to meet up let me know!

21. Learn to play a song on guitar - no progress on this one...but it sure looks nice sitting in the corner of my bedroom ha

22. No traffic ticket - (I type this as I'm doing defensive driving for a ticket I got back in October) Knock on wood so far so good

23. Go horseback riding - I need to find someone to go with me & time to do it.  Apparently Mr. Midwest is afraid of horses so it won't be him.

24. Go to a Twins, Vikings, Wild game - I watched the Vikings vs. the Bears in December & then saw the Wild vs. the Stars on Jan 9th.

25. Attend San Antonio, Houston, & Fort Worth rodeos - I already have tickets to San Antonio, plans for Fort Worth, & possible plans for Houston.

26. Complete 3 30 day challenges - I haven't finished any yet

27. Learn Spanish - I haven't started this either.  I think once softball/basketball are over I'm going to redownload Duolingo & try that.

28. Finish a 1000 piece puzzle - I think about this all the time but I know it won't happen until I'm in MN over the summer because I live with roommates (aka mostly in my own bedroom) so I have nowhere to set it out & walk away from it.

27 by 27 update

Tomorrow is my birthday.  At 10:42 am central time I will no longer be 26 but 27.  Looking back at the list of 27 things I wanted to accomplish by then tells me just how differently I saw my life being right now.  That's my way of saying I didn't really do shit on my list.

1. Move back to Minnesota

I remember exactly when I decided I was going to move back to Minnesota.  I had flown home for my friend's wedding in September 2014.  I also flew home for my cousin's wedding that same month & had to miss 2 weddings.  I decided I just couldn't take it anymore, I hated where I was & I missed everyone back home.  Right then & there I decided that no matter what I wasn't going to return to my school district.  I planned on moving to Minnesota at any cost.

As I'm sure you're aware that didn't happen.  I did move north...but only 4 hours north putting me in Fort Worth, TX...not anywhere near Minnesota

FAIL

2. Get a teaching job

Like I mentioned above, I hated my job.  I hated my district & wanted to get a new teaching job so that I could say I at least tried more than one district should I decide I still didn't love teaching.

I did get a new teaching job.  In the middle of May I got hired to teach 9th grade social studies as well as coach basketball & softball in a Fort Worth suburb.

PASS

3. Get into the University of Minnesota

I have toyed with changing my major before I even finished mine.  When I had planned on going to the U of M I was planning on getting my Masters in a program that would allow me to work at the college level in offices such as admissions, greek life, cultural studies, etc.

Seeing as how I didn't go back to Minnesota I assume you know that this one didn't happen either.  I am however applying soon to back to school to get my Masters in Communications through Tarleton & will hopefully be starting summer 2016.

FAIL

4. Get a serving job

In the event that I didn't get a teaching job I was going to need some type of job, especially since school was my back up plan to getting a teaching job.

I got a teaching job so no restaurant/bar job necessary.

FAIL

5. Visit a new state

This is always on my list.  I want to see all 50 & am at 29.

I didn't get to a new one.  Right now it doesn't bother me because I'm still at a higher number of states than my age...they're catching up to each other though so a new state is needed soon.

FAIL

6. Monthly girls' night with Becky (Kickass Cousin)

I had good intentions with this one.  Becky is my best friend, girls' nights are fun.  When I moved back to Minnesota it only seemed obvious that this would have to happen monthly.

I was an idiot for putting this on my list.  Even if I had moved back to Minnesota it wouldn't have happened until June 2015 which means there would've still be 7 months where we lived 1300 miles apart...

7. Read 12 books

Every year I attempt the 50 book challenge.  You know how many times I've ever completed that? 0...since 2010.  At least I'm consistent.  I figured that 12 seemed reasonable.  That's only 1 a month after all.

I passed & really that's all that matters.  I read exactly 12.  I honestly thought for a hot minute I'd surpass that number.  I went for a stretch where I was reading about 1 a month but then there was a week this summer where I read 3.  Then I went back to slowin my roll.   I suppose I could still surpass it if I really wanted to.  I'm almost done with a book I've been reading since this summer... but whether I do or don't I still read 12 & that's what counts.

PASS

8. Go to 6 concerts

Music is life.  6 concerts in a year seemed totally reasonable for me.  One concert every other month?  No problem.

Underachiever is what I was when setting that goal.  I had it 6 in under 4 months.

PASS

9. Run 6 races

I hadn't run a race in almost a full year when I made this goal.  I missed running races & doing a 5k every other month seemed like no big deal.

Wrong.  I ran 0.  Yes, 0.  Priorities I guess??

FAIL

10. Pay off 2 credit cards/loans

I'm so in debt it's not even funny.  Which is why I made this goal.  I had a smaller credit card & a loan that was almost gone so it was totally doable.

I'm going black & white on this list which is why this is a fail.  I paid off one of my 2 credit cards but that little loan is still sitting there with just over $600 left on it.  I mean I've been paying on it but clearly didn't pay it off.

FAIL

11. Create a wreath for each season

I blame Pinterest for this one.  Maybe blogging a little bit too.  Everyone always has such cute seasonal decor & I figured 4 wreaths wouldn't be that big of a deal to make to spruce up my door.

Making shit is expensive...and it takes time.  A lot of time.  I made 0.

FAIL

12. Make 12 new recipes

This one also came from Pinterest.  When I lived in my house down in Houston I did meal prep every single Sunday & since I have hundreds of recipes pinned it only made sense to actually use them.

I was making 1-2 different meals a week on average so it took me just under 3 months to make 12 new things.

PASS

13. Send someone a card/letter each month

I love getting snail mail.  Also, my friend Sonja sends this awesome cards for any holiday you could ever think of & it's fun to get those so I wanted to do something similar by sending a card or a letter to at least one person every month.

PASS

14. Do 52 week $$ challenge

As well as wanting to pay off my loans/credit cards ASAP I figured saving money would be a good idea.

Again I'm going to be black & white here & call it a fail.  I made it through week 23.  At one point this summer, up until not all that long ago actually, I had more in savings than I would have had I just done the 52 week challenge.  However, I didn't finish challenge, & I don't have anywhere near the $1388 in my savings I would have had if I had finished it.

FAIL

15. Get motorcycle license

Another thing that has been on my list for years.  I told my parents in elementary/middle school I wanted my first vehicle to be a motorcycle.  They laughed at me & said no.

I actually thought I'd have this one, or at least be on my way because my roommate has hers & when we met back in June we talked about it.  However, we don't talk...like ever...so I haven't gone to do it on my own.

FAIL

16. Paddleboard

I think paddleboarding looks so sweet & really wanted to try it.

The didn't have to be a fail.  Becky & I went to a lake over the summer & had every opportunity to choose paddleboarding...we chose a pedal boat instead.

FAIL

17. Keep 6 word day journal

I'm not good at writing in a journal every day.  I've made that a goal before.  Writing 6 words a day seemed way easier though because it's just 6 words...

I completed 4 months & some days it was like pulling teeth.  6 words is not easy.  It's almost harder.

FAIL

18. Turn Pinterest quotes into book

I was going on a big clean out of all of my Pinterest stuff.  I only wanted to keep stuff that I could actually use.  Why was I pinning stuff I was never going to buy or look at again?  That meant bye bye quote board but I also love quotes & didn't just want them to disappear forever.

I had a Shutterfly code for a free photo book so I took the quotes & turned them into a coffee table book.  When/if I ever have a daughter I want to write in it randomly & then give it to her has a graduation present.  (Some of the quotes are too gender specific to give it to a son...because well I'm a girl & pin girl shit)

PASS

19. Visit 1 new MLB ballpark

I eventually want to see as many MLB ballparks as possible & one in a year seemed doable.

Wrong.  Could've driven to Milwaukee, Chicago, Kansas City...all within under 8 hours.  I moved to DFW & could've easily gone to a Rangers game.  I went to 0 baseball games.  In fact I haven't even been to a MLB game since 2012.

FAIL

20. Attend a MLB, NHL, & NFL game

My last MLB game was in 2012, my last NFL & NHL games were before that...I wanted to change that.

Again...black & white with this list so fail.  I didn't go to a MLB game as you know because of my #19 fail.  I did manage to go to a NFL game at Cowboy Stadium & a NHL game at American Airlines Center.  So I did get 2 out of 3 but I didn't hit the trifecta.  If only I had made #19 visit a new stadium instead of being so specific...

FAIL

21. Attend MN State Fair

I hadn't been to the MN State Fair since 2011 & it used to be one of my favorite things so because I was planning on moving back to MN that had to be rectified.

Well I didn't move back.  The fair is the two weeks leading up to Labor Day...when I'm already back in Texas so it's impossible for me to go.  I did go to the Texas State Fair but that wasn't my goal & it's definitely not the same.

FAIL

22. Attend a food festival

I had been to a beer festival before & had seen multiple bloggers post fun pictures from different food festivals from all over the country.  It was something that I wanted to do too!

But I didn't.  I still want to someday...

FAIL

23. Photograph Minneapolis-St. Paul

This has been a goal of mine so many times.  Even though I grew up 1.5 hours away MSP will always be my home metro area & therefore my favorite.

The problem is...I don't exactly know what I mean by this or how I want to execute it.  I mean I have an idea of what I want these photos to look like but I don't know exactly what in MSP I want pictures of, if I want to do this alone or when I'm out with others, or how I want it to work logistically...

FAIL

24. Set up online dating if single by 27

When I made this as a goal what I meant was if by tomorrow I was still single I'd start paying for online dating.  So not quite sure how I expected to pass or fail that one but whatever.

I passed anyway.  Back at the end of August when I moved over to Fort Worth from Dallas I started using Tinder again which isn't exactly paying but it is using a dating site.  Then, at the beginning of this month I got a free month on Match.com which is what I had in mind by paid site.  I've been on dates with 7 different guys since moving down here because of this.

PASS

25. Skydive

Heights scare the shit out of me.  It's something I really want to do though!  Everyone always says how happy they are that they did it.

But I still haven't.  I also still need to go ziplining.

FAIL

26. Learn to play guitar

I got my first guitar at the age of 15 when my friend & I thought we were going to start a rock band.  I thought I could teach myself to play it.  I couldn't.  Then I moved down to Texas & at 24 bought myself an acoustic guitar.

I still haven't learned to play that guitar.  Actually I just brought that one to Goodwill because I won a way nicer one this summer...which I also haven't learned how to play.  These are the things I need to sit down & make time for.

FAIL

27. Go fishing 3 times

I used to love fishing & being out on the lake.  I hadn't gone in years & years.

I still haven't gone.

FAIL

7/27 completed...that's a 26% y'all...pitiful!

1 day until my 27th birthday!!

Choose Your Own Adventure

The topic for November was organization.  I had only one goal & that was to clean out/organize my closet.  I didn't really organize it but I did get one bag full of clothes to get rid of & could probably fill a second.  After I had a the first one closed up I realized the dress that made me decide I should start getting rid of clothes in the first place was still hanging up in the closet.

Tiffany over at Figuring Out The Plot posted something the other day about Project 333.  It sounded like a really cool concept, especially if you're trying to work on cleaning out your closet.  The basic concept is that you can only wear 33 pieces of clothing for 3 months with a few exceptions.  You should definitely check out her post to learn more about it, & just because her blog is awesome.  

The theme for December is "Simplify"
My goals for that will be:
1. Finish getting rid of all pins & boards on Pinterest I don't really need.  If I can't actually do something with it...it's gone.
2. When I'm out with friends/family when I'm back in MN stay off the cell phone (obviously snapchat & pictures are allowed)
3. Unsubscribe from all of the junk e-mail I get.
4. Start setting aside stuff at my house that I don't really need for the last 5.5 months I'm there & either toss it, sell it, or pack it up.

No Humbug Challenge

Last year I made a very half ass attempt at completing the No Humbug Challenge.  I also did a shitty job with how I chose to blog about it (probably because I wasn't really going for it with all I could)  I'm giving it another go this year.  I'm not quite sure how I'll blog about it yet.  Certainly not daily.  I will try to keep up with it on Instagram daily (briannemcc) though.  It starts on Nov 24 & ends on Dec 24.  If any of you would like to attempt the whole challenge or just parts of it, here it is:

May Goals

Actually JT it is May...but any excuse to use "It's gonna be May" 2 days in a row...

1. Squat Challenge

Although, Dear whoever made this: May had 31 days...

2. #FMSPhotoADay

I've actually managed to keep it up so far in 2014.  My IG is briannemcc it's private because I teach seniors but I'l accept you if you request to follow me.

3. Wallet Watch

I'm definitely not going for a "no spend" month but I am going to try to spend less.  My bank account took a major hit in April having to entertain people for 2 weeks straight.  I already have a few things planned that are not normal purchases but the eating out all the time & buying stupid random things is going to come to a serious slow down.

4. Using my nice camera more

I don't have a super fancy camera or anything but I do have a fairly nice one with manual settings.  It started being tempermental about 2 years ago & then I just stopped even trying.  However, it apparently works again (maybe it just needed a break).  I'd like to start using it again & get better at taking pictures with it.  I'm pretty sure that Scavenger Hunt Sunday was the first link-up I ever joined as a blogger & that's how I'm going to force myself to use my camera more.  Go ahead & click the icon...check out Ashley's blog & the link-up.

5. Drink More Water

I was doing so good for a few weeks (drinking at least a gallon a day) but then I started slacking again.  I need to get back into drinking more.  I've been interested in trying out some detox water recipes (maybe flavored will help me drink more...plus ya know...health benefits)  So I'm going to try to drink at least one glass of detox water in the morning & one before I go to bed...along with my regular water throughout the day.

6. Finish Breaking Bad on Netflix

I'm somewhere at the end of season 3 still...the whole avoiding a life to save money should help.

7. Get better blog content.

I'll be the first to admit that more often than not...this shit I make you read sucks (there used to be more substance at one point I promise)

26 By 26

#7: Cook 12 new Pinterest meals.

#4: Bacon wrapped smokies jalapeno poppers.

 

 

#5: Chili Cheese Tator Tot Casserole

 

#6: Pot Roast

 

#16: Watch all of Breaking Bad on Netflix

Mr. Fireman & I started watching the series...we're only partway into the 1st season right now.

 

#17: Watch all of Friday Night Lights on Netflix

I started watching the series...I'm on the 4th season.

 

 



No Humbug Challenge Week 3

(12/10) Day 17: Leave a couple of coins behind for someone else to discover.

(12/11) Day 18: Deliver hot chocolate to a neighbor.

(12/12) Day 19: Volunteer.

(12/13) Day 20: Turn off your phone & press play on a Christmas classic.

(12/14) Day 21: Help someone lighten up & carry their groceries to their car.

(12/15) Day 22: Leave someone an anonymous love note.

(12/16) Day 23: Surprise the person behind you in line with a free coffee.

 

10: I literally never have cash so leaving coins behind is not an option.

11: It just didn't happen.  I don't really know any of my neighbors.

12: I also just didn't volunteer.

13: I have been playing some Christmas music in my classroom.

14: Again, I don't really know my neighbors & I haven't really been to the store to carry anything for anyone.

15: No anonymous notes were left...

16: I didn't go get coffee at all because I'm broke so I have just been making it at home.