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I’m always one to make lists to help improve my quality of life and continue to learn and grow, but I tend to not finish the lists or I get bored with them. Or sometimes I just forget about them. I came across the Day Zero project and I wanted to make my own list of 101 things to accomplish in 1001 days. The tasks I chose are very doable, and very specific which ensures a better chance of me actually completing them. I showed my list to Derek and he was very excited and wanted to help me complete everything, so I’m excited to challenge myself for the next 1001 days. For those of you who aren’t familiar with this challenge, here’s the lowdown.

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks/goals/challenges in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and represent “stretching.”

Why 1001 Days?
It’s all about a realistic deadline. 1001 days (about 2.75 years) allows you several seasons to complete tasks, which is better for organizing and timing things like overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Start Date: August 1, 2012
End Date: April 29, 2015
Goals Complete: 8/101
Goals in Progress: 14/101
Last Updated: February 5, 2013

Crossed out marks a completed item
Italics marks a partially completed or in-progress item

I’ve also broken my list into categories to 1. help me find them to cross them off, and 2. to be able to focus on certain areas of my life that need it. So without further ado, here is my list!

Business | Blog | Grown-up Stuff

1. Apply for an LLC

2. Have our apartment published in a high profile blog or magazine

3. Work for one of my dream design firms

4. Buy a new car [10/12 I bought a 2013 Mazda CX5 and I just love it!]

5. Complete the 30×30 Remix Challenge

6. Write a regular column for a local magazine or blog

7. Backup my laptop once a month (3/33)

8. Put $10 into savings for every task completed

9. Invest in a nice piece of furniture

10. Update all of our photo frames with more current/memorable photos

11. Develop a chore chart and stick to it

12. Pay off my credit card

13. Write a tour post for each city I’ve spent a lot of time in (0/7)

All Things Intellectual

14. Subscribe to a magazine and actually read it cover to cover

15. Buy a piece of local art

16. Read every Jane Austen novel (0/6)

17. Learn calligraphy

18. Read 20 new books (0/20)

19. Watch 10 classic films I haven’t already seen (0/10)

20. Purchase 5 really good design related books (2/5) [1-Design*Sponge, 2-Young House Love]

21. Watch The Wizzard of Oz sync’d with Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon [8/4/12.. it was pretty neat, not mind blowing or anything]

22. Attend The Nutcracker every Christmas (0/3)

23. Become fluent in Spanish

24. Read 5 autobiographies/biographies of people I find interesting (0/5)

25. Sign up for a creative class at the local college

26. Restock my vintage stamp collection every season (4/11)

27. Watch the Oscar-winning Best Pictures of the past 20 years (6/20) [Slumdog Millionaire, Chicago, A Beautiful Mind, American Beauty, Titanic, Forrest Gump]

28. Feel 100% comfortable using a DSLR camera (without having to ask Derek for help)

Paying it Forward

29. Pare down my wardrobe and donate things I never wear

30. Pay the bill for someone behind me in the drive through line

31. Adopt/rescue a puppy

32. Help build a house with Habitat for Humanity

33. Leave an inspirational note in a library book

34. Volunteer to help people pass the NCIDQ every Spring/Fall (3/5)

35. Donate $10 to a charity for every item I do not complete

36. Volunteer to be on the Fiesta flower making team one year

37. Leave a $20 tip on a meal that cost less than $10

38. Leave a secret in a Post Secret book at a bookstore

Friends + Family

39. Host a dinner party

40. Buy my parents an Apple computer [Christmas 2012]

41. Send out Christmas Cards every year (0/3)

42. Make a new friend [Hey Angelica!!]

43. Send a fun unexpected package to a friend

44. Have a spa day with my mom

45. Play a board game at The Friendly Spot every month (1/33) [8/1/12 - Creationary]

Adventure

46. Sign up for Ballroom dancing

47. Go thrifting in Kerrville, TX

48. Go camping

49. Take a hike

50. Go on a picnic

51. Marry my best friend [engaged 11-11-11, married 12-12-12]

52. Make a dress using my sewing machine

53. Attend the Round Top Antique Fair

54. Learn to drive a standard transmission

55. Create my own Dear Photograph, moment

56. Teach Derek how to ski

57. Go to a San Antonio Missions game

58. Pick out and take home a real Christmas tree

59. Go to the racetrack and bet on a horse

60. Have an all night tennis tournament

Travel

61. Visit New York City

62. Visit Marfa, TX

63. Take Derek to my Alma Mater

64. Visit Italy and throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain [Honeymoon 2012]

65. Take Derek to a Tech football home game + tailgate

66. Visit 3 states I’ve never been to before (0/3)

67.Go on a spontaneous weekend getaway

68. Apply for a US passport [arrived 8/3/12]

69. Go on an Alaskan cruise

70. Go wine tasting in the Hill Country

71. Fly first class

For the Body, Mind & Soul

72. Drink 8 glasses of water a day for a week on four separate occasions (0/4)

73. Go to Bikram yoga 3 times a week until the wedding (4/19)

74. Start and keep a once sentence daily journal

75. Run a 5k

76. Sketch something every week (3/114)

77. Swap out my beach cruiser hybrid for a a road bike

78. Find out my blood type

79. Complete the “French Women Don’t Get Fat” Leek Soup detox

80. Complete the Bikram 60 day challenge

81. Buy flowers for myself once a month (0/33)

82. Complete RCIA

83. Stay in bed for one entire day

84. Take a detox bath once a month (1/33)

85. Send a postcard to Post Secret

86. Go on a long walk through the neighborhood after dinner once a week (6/143)

87. Wear red lipstick at least once a month (3/33)

88. Find a church we both love

89. Watch the sunrise and sunset in the same day

Food, Inc.

90. Take a cooking class

91. Try 50 new recipes (10/50) [8/4/12 - 3 layer chocolate cake, 8/15/12 - Garlic Chicken Parmesan, 8/17/12 - Strawberry Lemonade, 12/24/12 - zuchini fries, 12/24/12 - zuchini pizza logs, 12/24/12 - mini grilled cheese sandwiches, 12/24/12 - pizza poppers, 2/3/13 - pretzel dogs, mac & cheese muffins, cocoa crispy footballs]

92. Make homemade jam

93. Eat vegetarian for a week on 5 separate occasions (0/5)

94. Try 20 new foods (1/20) [mamón on 7/30/12]

95. Start an herb garden

96. Bake a loaf of bread

97. Go fruit picking and make something with my loot

98. Go an entire month without fast food, on 3 separate occasions (0/3)

99. Give up sodas for 1 month on three separate occasions (1/3)

100. Try 15 new beers (5/15)

101. Pack my lunch every day for a week, on 10 different occasions (0/10)

I’ll update everyone with my progress occasionally, or if it warrants a funny story, but for the most part you can see my progress by clicking the 101 in 1001 tab under our header. If you’d like to join in on the fun and make a list of your own you can link up to it in the comments below.