Deliberate: 101 in 1001

98% of the time at the end of the day the only things I seemed to get done were meals, a load of laundry or two, a nap and kids' homework.  Nothing special just the daily grind of raising a family and I wonder am I making any difference in myself, my family, my community, the world.  For too long I've just let life happen without having a real plan or purpose each day, basically not being deliberate in my choices and actions.  I have my routine of getting up exercising, studying the scriptures, making meals, homemaking, kids etc. but don't input deliberate actions that could benefit myself or others.  I recently was released from Primary and I am able to attend Relief Society for the first time in almost 6 years and Sunday School in almost 4.  I was really hesitant about going at first because it has been so long but in just the past couple weeks I have been so rejuvenated spiritually.  I am finally able to have a lesson for myself that I prepare and study for throughout the week and I feel just wonderful.  It's made me realize I need to take more time out for myself and accomplish things to improve myself and become better.  I said at the beginning of the year that 2014 is going to be a good year.  I'm thinking it's the year I better myself. 

Now I am a list maker and goal setter by nature but haven't done much of it and it's high time.  I came across some blogs that are participating in a challenge of completing 101 things in 1001 days or about 2.75 years.  I loved the idea and am jumping on board.  Being as I am also a procrastinator I'm not sure how much I'll actually do but I'm motivated now and I love to cross things off my list.  Some of the blogs I follow are so inspiring.  Women just doing good things.  Doing deliberate things each day to help others.  I want to be like that.  I want to be better and this is a start.  It's kind of like personal progress and scouting for adults.  2014 for me is about being better.  So here is the link that explains the challenge if you want to join along.  I am going to make a separate page to record my progress.

Here's my list:  101 in 1001
Start February 1, 2014 . . . End October 29, 2016

Health, Fitness, Style
1. Exercise 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week for a month. (0/20)
2. Try eyebrow waxing or threading (these babies are out of control)
3. Get a pedicure (can anyone get rid of my crusty heels)
4. Go on one hike each year (0/3)
5.    Buy an outfit for myself that I love, that fits and that I am comfortable in and that is       in style
6.   Get my makeup done at the makeup counter
7.       No fast food for a month
8.       Try a Zumba class or video
9.       Eat all whole or homemade food for a week
10.   Eat breakfast before 9 am for a month
11.   Run in a 5k
12.   Wash my face each night for a month (0/30)
13.   Brush my teeth each night for a month (0/30)
14.   Get a physical
15.   Go to bed by 10pm every night for 2 weeks (0/14)

 Reading, Writing, Learning

16.   Write in my personal journal once a month (0/33)
17.   Reread Secret Garden and Jane Austen novels (they are my favorites but I can’t   
       remember them) (0/7)
18.   Memorize the Proclamation on the Family
19.   Memorize one scripture a month (0/33)
20.   Reread the Book of Mormon front to back
21.   Keep a scripture journal
22.   Record stories from my childhood and my youth
23.   Interview my parents and Kim and Linda and record stories from their life
24.   Read a book on anxiety
25.   Read 5 parenting books (I need all the help I can) (0/5)
26.   Renew my teaching license
27.   Update my blog at least once a week (0/231)

Home and Organization

28.   Tile the fireplace and family room

29.   Paint the main part of the house
30.   Build Shelves for the Kids’ Bedrooms
31.   Buy blinds for the kitchen
32.    Decorate the living room
33.   Make a cookbook of all our family’s favorite and go-to recipes
34.   Print photos and make a photo book for each of the kids
35.   Make a will
36.   Sort and organize all of the kids’ papers I’ve saved over the years
37.   Make bins to organize Lucy’s toys
38.   Sell or donate all the old bins of boy clothes
39.   Sell or donate my bins of fabric
40.   Plant a garden or at least some tomatoes
41.   Make my bed every MORNING for at least one whole month (0/30)
42.   Keep track of all expenses each month (0/33)
43.   Plant something pretty in the front of the house in the retaining wall

Family/Nurture

44.   Call each family member once a month:  Mom (0/33), Dad (0/33), Kelly (0/33),

      Allison (0/33), Ryan (0/33)

45.   Take each of the kids on a Mom Date:  Conner (0/1), Sam (0/1), Mikey (0/1), Lucy
       (0/1)
46.   Get family pictures taken each year (0/3)
47.   Get Eliza’s collage photo taken
48.   Plan and go on 12 dates for Neil and I (0/12)
49.   Go on an overnight trip with just Neil
50.   Have a family game night once a month (0/33)
51.   Have a slumber party with the kids in the family room
 
Crafting, Sewing, Creating
52.   Make all the holey pants I’ve saved into shorts for the boys
53.   Make a jeans quilt
54.   Learn how to knit/crochet
55.   Make the fleece snakes with the kids
56.   Finish the quilt I started 13 years ago
57.   Make all the baby bibs I have fabric for
58.   Make a Valentine, St. Patrick’s and Spring table runner
59.   Make the girls matching dresses
60.   Repurpose at least one of the articles of clothing I’ve been saving
 
Cooking
61.   Make a tiered cake
62.   Make a cake using fondant
63.   Make 12 different from scratch cupcakes that I have not made before (0/12)
64.   Make homemade turtles with homemade caramels
65.   Make homemade jam
66.   Make homemade gummy candy
67.   Make homemade marshmallows
68.   Learn to can ground beef and chicken for food storage
69.   Prepare four freezer meals each month (0/132)
70.   Make sweet and savory crepes
71.   Teach Conner to cook 3 meals completely by himself
72.   Make Grandma Mathern’s kuga
73.   Finally make Sam and Mikey their very own batch of cookies for completing  
       their summer goal in 2013

For Others
74.   Make a meal for a family

75.   Do 10 RAKs in one day
76.   Write 12 letters  to a friend or family member (0/12)
77.   Send a random care package to a friend
78.   Participate in a volunteer project
79.   Index 100 names (0/100)
80.   Volunteer to watch someone’s kids
 
Social
81.   Host an adult party
82.   Plan a girls night out once a year (0/3)
83.   Invite a family over every two months for dinner or dessert or games (0/17)
84.   Do my visiting teaching each month (0/33)
85.   Make a new friend
86.   Go out on a date with another couple

Adventure

87.   Visit two of Utah’s State/National Parks(0/2)
88.   Visit Antelope Island
89.   Go camping at least once each year (0/3)
90.   Ride in a hot air balloon
91.   Visit Georgia
92.   Visit Ryan in California
93.   Go to Legoland or Sea World
94.   Geocache
95.   Go to a Farmer’s Market
96.   Go to a college/professional sporting event

Just Because

97.   Learn to tie a tie
98.   Pick berries or peaches or some kind of fruit
99.   Learn to play chess
100.Buy Chocolates from a Chocolate Store
101.Find a new shade of lipstick that I like (I’ve been wearing the same color since 
       high school, Merle Norman's Chocolate Mousse)