43 Things Minus 4

I have a couple things I want to swap around on my 43 Things List, and since so many of them coincide with things I put on my goal list in January, I'm declaring here that during the month of February, I am determined to accomplish 4 things from my 43 Things list. Since there's about 4 weeks total in February, that puts me at one a week. Not bad, not bad at all. And if I do more than 4, well, hooray for me.

Dreaming...

Last night I had repeated dreams about going back to graduate school. I cannot decide if I am ready, though I am pretty sure I want to do it. So I think I am going to start at least looking at programs. I have all the time in the world, right? I don't have to commit to anything. The main thing is right now I really do not want to move and I highly, HIGHLY doubt I could get accepted by University of Chicago. I've thought about a potential commute to Notre Dame. Regardless, maybe I can start tabling ideas for later...we'll see...
(Yes, this would be for a Ph.D. in literature, luckily I have an M.A. vs. an M.F.A. which places a stronger emphasis on literature and less on studio/workshop. So now you know--and that's one to grow on!)(I can't stop using that phrase today, I really don't know why!)

Big goals for Feb.

1. Get book reviews done this week.
2. Drink a lot of water this month. Extra. Double. Just cuz.
3. Do 2,007 regular, 2,007 side (each) and 2,007 shoulder stand crunches this month.
4. Get rid of that pile of work.
5. Visit my parents on the coast.
6. Sock away an extra $300 in savings this month.
7. Let someone read my second book before March. At least some of it.

$10,000

I'm putting this toward a Masters.

$9,000

Switched my Bigmouth blog over to the new version today, which i am glad about. I resisted doing it until the bugs were worked out, and they now seem to be. Good.

Okay, I have $9,000 today. Let's shop!

Anthropologie first: this cute dress for $150.

Moo Shoes second: these cute shoes for $105.

With the rest, I'm going to go schlep around China for a few weeks.

Thinking of running?

I have been thinking of setting a goal of running a 5k race this spring (something to get me motivated). There are a few coming up in town in March and April. Is anyone interested in joining me?

$8,000

With eight grand, I'm going to trade in my car and add the $$ and get a black Mini Cooper.

Career and other goals

I have recently been reading a book about women moving their careers forward by growing up and not being a girl anymore. I am really pumped by envisioning me in a higher position. So I am wanting to start doing the following things that will help my success:
1. Dress more professionally
2. Only apologize when it is my fault
3. Spend time on projects that will help my career not just on daily tasks
4. Take credit for my accomplishments (as well as mentioning them when I feel they are being overlooked)
5. Ask my boss for feedback more regularly
6. Inform my boss instead of asking for permission for things that I am able to decide on my own
7. Demand respect from coworkers outside of my department (instead of waiting until my position warrents it)
8. Rub elbows with my boss's boss more (She is a great role model for women professionals)

It seems my life is most often marked with periods of growth in different areas that balance-out (if not contradict) each other. So along with greater assertiveness in the workplace, I also want to start being a better homemaker. I have been blessed over the last year with a place that I truely love and want to make into a home. And I want to make the time investment in taking care of my things and clothes which means breaking out the sewing machine and ironing board (and my new KitchenAid). Along with this comes the goal of strengthening my marriage by becoming more independent and seeking new friendships.

(February goal notes)

Posting my 100 goals here in January worked really well, and I would be remiss to not report what I had accomplished on the list.

I worked on my second novel a bit more. I didn't do 2,007 stairs on the StairMaster in the first week because I spent a lot of January sick, but I did complete them. Check! I gave myself spa time. Check! I revamped my marketing plan. Check! I gave the pink kitchen painting to A----. Check! I repaired the spot on my living room rug. Check! I got the rest of the links up on my blog that I want there. Check! I updated my website pretty well for this month. Check! I attended three, not two, schmoozy events. One went eh, one was good, one was GREAT! Check! I cleaned out my address book and updated it. Check! I figured out a time to visi my parents. Check! Plans for a charity fundraiser were casually mapped out. Check! I sent e-cards. Check! I learned about my new camera and have been taking more pictures. Check! I've been trying to casually use more bits of French with friends who understand it to try to brush up, so far so good. Check! I watched the entire fourth season to The Simpsons and began to tackle season nine. Check! I obviously didn't get six months of living expenses into savings, but I dis get as much as I could in there and that's my best. Check! I had such a good experience with my last schmoozy event that I am not as dread-filled about them. Check! I used Ahava products all month for myself and started selling Ahava, etc on eBay. Check! I did well at keeping in touch with people. Not perfectly, but better. Check! I looked at my options for the certificates I could earn that would be the most useful to me. Check! i put the Dorrie children's books on my eBay watch list. Check! I found and bought the long-sought book from my childhood, The Great Blueness and it should arrive any day! Check! I trimmed my hair but didn't chop it. Check! I haven't gone yet, but I am ticketed to attend live music this weekend. Check! I got a manicure and a pedicure when I needed them. Check! I did step into 2007 with a balanced checkbook, money in my pocket, a clean house and a stocked pantry, all to set a good tone for the year. Check! I read another book. Check! I bought a piece of artwork to contribute to the decorating of my bedroom. Check! I handed out business cards when the situation arose for me to do so. Check! I e-subscribed to the Wall Street Journal to keep in touch with the business and financial worlds. Check! I subscribed to the Word of The Day again. Check! I didn't buy a single generic item in January and I feel like I had extra money this month, interestingly enough. Check!

I'll set my Feb. goals in a day or two. not, uh, 100 of them, just hte biggies. :)

Travel Bug

I've got the travel bug in a biiiiig way. And I can stay 4 days in Barbados for about $600? Okay then! The rest will be spending money. For margaritas. And tips for the cabana boys. :)

Focus on Creativity

I decided this time in Seattle is going to be prime creative time. I'm going to take lots of pictures, and since I'm taking my laptop anyway, I am going to make sure I get some writing done. A change of scenery can do wonders for the creative juices.
I can't wait! :)

Beauty and The Geek

This keyboard for $180.00.
A hundred or so for my new tattoo.
And since this spa is located in the hotel I'm staying in later this week, I'll blow the rest of today's thousand getting massages and facials and mudbaths. Mmmmmm....

$7,000

For $7,000 my dad and I are going to Vietnam. I want him to show me around.

This Is All I Want Today

$1000 could get me a nice setup on a salt water fish tank. With fish. Yay.

Not Being Lazy, Honest

I really do just want to spend $1000 at L'Occitane.
It wouldn't be difficult to do. And I could buy some gifts, too. For Mom, for friends, for my patient. Good stuff. :)

Cooking with Sparks

I wanted to try for $2000 today, but I'm tired, and I still have interviews to schedule tonight. Soooo...everything today comes from a similar line of cookware that I found to be simply gorgeous.
Large casserole
Small casserole
Saucepan
And from another line entirely, a cast iron grill pan
I'm a little over $1000, but hey, no limits, right?

Starting the Week With Prosperity!

What the hell was up last week that made us all feel frail and crazy?
That was ugly. But today is lovely, and I declare it is setting the stage for the week ahead.
1) The Bathroom Blog is launched, and already receiving some fantastic responses. I see so much creative potential coming from this...and I'm so excited! (am I a little crazy for already starting to think about the legal processes I'd need to go through to turn a collection into a book? Or am I just smart and seeing the potential?)
2) This morning I was given another high profile, extremely difficult position for work. Which you'd think would make me upset, but actually, the more and harder positions they give me to work on, the more valued I feel and the longer I think I'll be around. Take that, bully co-worker who tried to make me doubt my own abilities last week!
3) I'm going to either meditation class or belly dancing class tomorrow night. Yes!
4) I've had some unexpected blips in my lovelife lately...nothing I'm heavily pursuing, but enough to make me feel like following the path. :)
5) Edited to add: I received a cute little map from my travelling companion for the Seattle trip, and I'm sooo excited. I'm only a monorail's ride from the Space Needle!

Pretty Things

This vase is so beautiful.
And so is this picture frame...
And so is this little figurine. :)
The remainder goes to a bottle of Maybe Baby perfume, which I've wanted to try for far too long!

Totally Ripping Off Amy

I like the idea of setting a list and updating it with strike-throughs. I don't think I'm ambitious enough to come up with a list of 100, but here's what I do have:

1. Learn more about Kundalini yoga (I did it last night for the first time and it blew me away!)
2. Attend a meditation workshop in Lakeview (or two or three)
3. Take a bellydancing class (or two or three
4. Purchase an organizer for my DVD's and start putting them in it.
5. Put together that bookcase I bought embarrassingly long ago--figure out how to scrap old bookcase and get rid of it.
6. Put together new computer & new monitor, sell old monitor edited to add: sell computer as well on Craig's List
7. Spend more time going out to take pictures.
8. Launch the bathroom blog in all its glory.
9. Change Netflix account to one at a time, return all Netflix DVD's in my possession.
10. Learn basic French in preparation of planning a trip to France.
11. Get a passport.
12. Resolve driver's license issue with City of Chicago before license is up for renewal in April.
13. Call my accountant to make appointment for finalzing my 2006 taxes, so that I can rest assured I have saved enough money and thus be able to have a little more fun with my earnings. Appointment 1 of 2 scheduled for Wednesday!
Edited to add...
14. Get a library card.
15. Find out if I can check books out of academic libraries--if so, begin checking out a literary mag a week.
16. Update resume. Not out of necessity or fear, but because it's long overdue, and who knows, my employer may want to see a copy of it if, you know, they decide to hire me permanently or something... ;)

It All Fits Together In My Head

I'd like to kick off today's thousand with a $60.00 pass for a month of meditation classes.
Then, tickets for me and a group of friends to get good seats for a Chicago Blackhawks game.
And, tickets for me and a group of friends to go see Swan Lake. (I'm crying a little inside, because in real life I want to see this so badly)
I'll toss some big money around to get us all nice dinner & drinks for one or both of these events. And boom! That's it for today!

$6,000

I'm taking my $6,000 and flying to London. I'm going to schlep around western Europe then fly back.

This and That (still $1000)

I am now down to ONE wine glass that I haven't broken. I broke two this week, and the sad part is I wasn't even drinking any wine!
So let us replace them with these, and even though the white and red look identical to me, I'll still buy 4 of the white and 4 of the red just to be safe. Perhaps I should also take out a small insurance policy on them...(kidding)
Since I'm shopping for glassware anyway I can't pass up 6 of these. Adorable! Anything described as "whimsical" is welcome in my house.
I would like to get a massage at Renessence just for a change of pace, and I'm thinking the Sensory Journey massage sounds really nice, for $120 + tip.
Last but certainly not least, I've been thinking lately I could use a new mattress. Might as well throw in new boxsprings too. I'm one of those weirdos that likes a really firm mattress ($600.00 for the full set).
Let's see--wine, massage, and new mattress? That should ensure a well-rested Diane. :)

$5,000

Five grand. Let's see. I want to spend, say, $200 on bits of the best fabric because I have challenged myself to make a tallis that perfectly represents me. While at the fabric store, I will buy fabric to make the cool dress I drew this morning with the black fabric and funky green-aqua trim.

I will then devote $200 to finding the perfect throw pillows for my living room. I can imagine them, I just can't find them. (sigh)

$500 will go to buying up items to make a little inventory to open an ebay storefront. A little residual income never killed anyone.

Then, we're heading to Anthropologie, as per usual, for this mod dress for $150. Hmm.. this top, too, for $50. These cool red pants for $188. THen, let's hit a few others stores for this cool green skirt for $81 and this cute top for $71.

$500 gets the blue type writer tattoo and the Hebrew tattoo (as soon as I figure out where I want to put that one).

$2,000 buys me a month off to focus exclusively on finishing my second novel and whipping the third one together.

The rest goes to making my weekend at the New Orleans/Tennessee Williams Lit Fest really fun, relaxing, not-stressful, well-dressed and fun.

Eh, Not So Much

I'm now totally unmotivated to do a First Friday this Friday. BUT! I'm not discounting them completely! Just not this month. That will give me plenty of time to look into more, and maybe even find a buddy to come along. (I admit, for some odd reason I was totally intimidated going alone, which isn't normally like me)
Anyway, I need to get out more to hit this whole resolution of making more guy friends. If anyone wants to help with that, you know where to find me...

Now then. Back to $1000.
This sweater--I don't normally like cashmere, but this one is just too gorgeous to pass up.
Also, this sweater.
Both should be perfect for taking with me as I use the remainder of today's thousand to fly out to San Francisco for a weekend, just to bum around and enjoy the city by myself.

Firsts!

I am committing to going to First Fridays in 2007. In fact, I'm even going to dare myself to do a First Friday someplace different every month.
What should I do first of the Firsts? I shall research, and report back...
Of course, all are welcome to join me at any time!