Still on track

Yes, it's shocking but I am still working towards checking all of these bad boys off my list. In the past I would have abandoned this project by now. Not in 2010!

Read 10 books:

I just completed Test Drive your Dream Job: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding and Creating the Work You Love by Brian Kurth. I know sounds too self-helpish for most but was really a great motivator for anyone who wants to pursue a new career or who is looking to find work they love.

Book number 2 will be......Dolly: My Life and Other Unfinished Business by the AMAZING Dolly Parton. I am so excited but am having the hardest time getting my hands on a copy. It seems both the city libraries I am a member of are keeping it from me and I am not happy about it.

I have a mini obsession with Dolly and I am sure after reading her autobiography (that's right, she is so fab and intelligent she can write her own book) it will turn into a full blown stalker situation.

Write an article and submit it to a magazine:

I got a library book on how to write and submit and articles to magazines for publication. Not too exciting but since I am not a writer it might be best to seek some advice from whoever it is that wrote this book.

Volunteer: more than once, and actually enjoy it

While searching for local volunteer opportunities I came across The Princess Project!!!! I had heard about them before and thought it sounded like such a fun organization. In case you haven't heard about them; The Princess Project collects prom dresses and accessories and gives them to girls who cannot afford their own. :)

Shopping, styling, and helping girls.....sign me up! I think this will be a match made in heaven.

Photo via Nick San Pedro; Logo via The Princess Project

I'm on my way.

Learning how to ski:

I have planned two trips to Tahoe in February! Unfortunately, I have also had several conversations about ski accidents, unqualified ski patrol, massive head trauma, death on the slopes................uh...maybe I'll learn how to ski next year.

Learn to spell:

Since I don't have a 3rd grade teacher cracking the whip; I had to think of a way for me to improve my spelling skills on my own. My roommate decided the best way would be to sign myself up for an adult spelling bee. I thought it was pure genius! For some reason I was perfectly OK with the idea of humiliating myself in front of an audience. Weird.

After a quick search, it seemed the only adult spelling bees were small philanthropy events where teams of adults work together to spell given words. So my boyfriend suggested I throw one myself, compete, and raise some money for one of my favorite non profits. I kinda like it.

In the meantime, I decided to write down all the words that have that angry little red squiggly underline. Those will become the master list. Then I will force anyone willing, to test me or to challenge me in a spell off. This will be my Rocky-style uber-intense training for the bee.

See 3 new places:

I have booked a ticket to Boston! I know it's not Istanbul or Tokyo but I have never been and always wanted to go. PLUS, my girlfriends and I are going for the St. Patrick's Day weekend which I am pretty sure is THE biggest weekend of the year in Boston.

more to come....

Green Light

This year is my b*tch! 2010 will be the year I finally do all the things I usually talk myself out of.

My roommate and I made the joint proclamation that “2010 is OUR year” so I started by creating a list of things I want to accomplish in 2010 and then narrowed it down to 10 items. My hope is that keeping this blog will keep me on track with each of my 10 goals.

A little history:

Over the past few years I have begun to view my overly rational nature as holding me back. My logical thinking was keeping me from taking even the tiniest risks and as I saw friends around me taking chances I found myself envious of their more impulsive nature. I viewed them as fearless or free spirited and was convinced they were living a more fulfilling life. Although I longed for these qualities, I told myself it wasn’t in my nature to be a risk taker and there was no way to change the way I operated. So typical of me to talk myself out of any and everything. Ahhhh!

I am finally sick of standing in my own way. I may be starting small but the fact that I am even starting is remarkable. I am determined to live a little more in 2010 and to make more rash decisions; even if they put me at risk for epic failure. I need to learn how to fall flat on my face or at least how to do something I may not be the best at.

So what exactly have I gotten myself into? Here is my list as of January 18^th (in no particular order).

1. Read 10 books
2. Write an article and submit it to a few magazines
3. Throw 2 great parties: I’m talking invitations, a full menu, create a “tablescape”, you know the whole domestic goddess thing
4. Run a race: over 3 miles
5. Volunteer:more than once, and actually enjoy it
6. Learn how to drive a stick shift
7. See 3 new places:destinations or noteworthy spots not something like the newest bar on the strip
8. Re-learn how to ski:after 13 years its time to get back on the mountain
9. Create 5 unique paintings
10. Learn how to spell:seriously, it’s embarrassing

Well…..there you have it. Everything I will do in 2010. I am stoked for the hilarity that will be me attempting to accomplish each of these tasks. I can already promise you “Re-learn to ski” (which is first up) will be far from a smooth ride.

-n