101

As usual, I am late to the bandwagon. A new year is starting, though, and I am surprised to find myself itchy to make some changes. So what better time to start 101 in 1001? The idea is that I have 1001 days to complete 101 goals - some small, some large, all things that I am hoping will improve the quality of my life. Lately, I feel as though I have just been putting in time. I deserve better than that. My family deserves better than that. The world deserves better than that. So! The end is October 3, 2011. The beginning is now.

1. Weigh less than 190 pounds
2. Weigh less than 180 pounds
3. Weigh less than 170 pounds
4. Weigh less than 160 pounds
5. Weigh less than 150 pounds
6. Maintain a weight less than 150 pounds for the remainder of the challenge.
7. Journal everything I eat for a month.
8. Eat at least 5 servings of veg/fruit a day for a month.
9. Try 5 new healthy recipes.
10. Avoid eating chocolate for one whole week.
11. Implement vegetarian Fridays (with the exception of Fish Fry Fridays).
12. Avoid fast food for an entire month.
13. Walk at least 10 miles per week for 6 weeks (making a new habit!).
14. Hike 5 trails that are new to me.
15. Complete the couch to 5k program.
16. Learn to play racquetball and start playing with Nick.
17. Pass the FBI physical fitness exam.
18. Have Claire baptized (something that I am extremely ashamed to admit that I haven't done yet, mostly because of my post-partum anxiety and then ever thereafter because I'm so ashamed that I haven't done it that I don't want to admit that I haven't done it. But there - I've admitted it publicly so I can get it done and stop worrying every single minute that Claire will die unbaptized).
19. Say a blessing before family dinner every night for a month (making a new habit!).
20. Go on a spiritual retreat.
21. Attend the Lenten mission in my parish.
22. Add the daily gospel rss to my blog reader so that I remember to read it regularly - and then hopefully it will influence me to be more charitable toward others.
23. Make a Jesse tree for Advent.
24. Pray the rosary every day during Lent.
25. Take a look at the adult sections of the parish library and see if there are any books that interest me.
26. Attend a Mass that Jake's class is leading.
27. Become a lector.
28. Knit or sew an item for the parish charity auction.
29. Knit or sew 5 hats to donate to St. Patrick's center.
30. Make a baby quilt to donate to Our Lady's Inn.
31. Donate at least 10 items from my closet to a women's shelter - fall/winter.
32. Donate at least 10 items from my closet to a women's shelter - spring/summer.
33. Chair a homecoming booth for the parish.
34. Participate in Operation Rice Bowl during Lent - full bore participation and not the usual half-hearted putting change in the bucket.
35. Be a Salvation Army bellringer.
36. Check with the retirement home across from the park for needs, then donate a basket of whatever they need.
37. Join the neighborhood association.
38. Attend a neighborhood association meeting.
39. Take my kids on a litter walk.
40. Introduce myself to a neighbor that I don't know.
41. Attend a block party or other neighborhood function.
42. Dine at one of the small, locally owned restaurants in my neighborhood.
43. Get a "City" bumper sticker for my car.
44. Volunteer to spend a few hours weeding at the park.
45. Vote for alderman!
46. Convince Nick to vote in the local election as well.
47. Start recycling paper/cardboard.
48. Walk to any location under 1 mile away for a month, with the exception of the grocery store.
49. Put weather stripping around all the door frames.
50. Make a worm farm.
51. Find out what needs to be done with the paint in the basement, then do it.
52. Check the water heater thermostat and if it's above 120, turn it down 10 degrees.
53. Avoid plastic shopping bags for an entire month.
54. Mend 10 items of clothing.
55. Play hooky with Nick.
56. Plan a weekend away with Nick as a surprise.
57. Get a $50 gift card through MyPoints to give to Nick toward his lawnmower fund.
58. Watch an entire basketball game with Nick during March Madness with a good attitude.
59. Sneak a love note into Nick's car.
60. Get an engraved plate for Nick's fantasy football trophy.
61. Start a semi-monthly family game night tradition and keep it up for 3 months.
62. Take 6 family field trips.
63. Make a chore chart for the kids.
64. Start an allowance for Jacob.
65. Revive the Sunday brunch in our household by having one for six consecutive weeks.
66. Take Jacob ice skating.
67. Make a fleece blanket for Claire.
68. Invite my mother-in-law to go yardsaling with me.
69. String my guitar.
70. Give Jake guitar lessons for 6 weeks in a row, then continue if he wants.
71. Sign Claire up for dance lessons.
72. Finish the floor upstairs.
73. Fix Jake's dresser.
74. Reupholster the big chair.
75. Make new curtains for the kitchen/sunroom.
76. Make a new window covering for the living room.
77. Make curtains for the upstairs windows.
78. Swap bedrooms with the kids.
79. Make curtains for the master bedroom.
80. Refinish the living room floor.
81. Landscape the front flower beds. Again.
82. Demolish the raised bed in the back yard.
83. Fix the kitchen pocket door.
84. Remove the shower doors and replace with a shower curtain.
85. Make a message center/artwork display in the kitchen
86. Try couponing for 3 months and see if it helps save money.
87. Make a price book for my grocery shopping.
88. Go one full week without watching television.
89. Make a tree skirt.
90. Sell the train set on EBay.
91. Work with Nick's aunt to make the family cookbook that she keeps talking about.
92. Spend a day working in my parents' garden.
93. Get an aquarium.
94. Stop biting my nails.
95. Keep my laundry off the floor in my bedroom for a month.
96. Sew Christmas gift bags.
97. Have a family photo taken.
98. Create a large piece of artwork for the living room as a family.
99. Attend a play.
100. Write a children's book and submit it for publication.
101. Successfully jump in to a double dutch jump rope (I have never, ever ever been able to jump in)