Determination

I've literally been working on this blog post for the past week. It's not that I don't have anything to say. I do. Lots, in fact. It's just been one of those where-do-I-start kinda things. Plus, I've had the plague since New Years Eve. So, in true bullet list fashion, here goes:

• I am SO excited to be starting a new year! The semester starts in 2 weeks and I'm itching to get back. (Read: trauma junkie) Lots of new projects and adventures to be had. 2013 will be MY year. To focus on me. Getting back in shape, a career shift (Hello, EMS. Goodbye, ER... sorta.), kicking this little blog up a few notches, personal goals and so on. I have to keep telling myself, change is good. Trust yourself.

• Project Life: Yes, I am FINALLY using my Project Life stuff I purchased *cough* two years ago *cough* I will be posting weekly shots and also plan on having some PL goodie giveaways. I downloaded an awesome 8x11 memory logbook from Log Your Memory that is not only your standard 12 month planner but it also has pages for PL planning. Lovelovelove it so far. It's available in two sizes for download, or in print. 

• Project 365: I had started this back in August and had snapped daily photos religiously. I was using only my iPhone and Instagram. When the year was over, I had planned on making a 365 Blurb book. Then my iPhone broke in November and I wasn't eligible for an upgrade until this month. Everything went out the window. Luckily, Santa helped me out and I was gifted a new iPhone 5 for Christmas. So this project is back on. You can find me on Instagram at @jlatini.

• The 101 Project: This was initially started in early August. You can find the original post here. If you're unfamiliar with the 101, it's essentially 101 goals that you'd like to accomplish in 1,001 days. I've been using Day Zero to keep track of the goals that I've already accomplished and those still in progress. Recently I signed up for Elise's Big Picture Class, I Choose. After watching the video she posted I had one of those, 'Duh, that totally makes sense, why didn't I think of that' moments. I'm not gonna give anything away, but if you want to get more goal oriented (And actually succeed) I highly recommend this class. You can find more info about Elise here and the class here. That being said, I know I'm not going to accomplish all 101 goals. That's perfectly okay with me. But I will be determined to check off as many as I can.

• 2013 Pinterest Foodie Challenge: Good God I have a lot of projects going on! This week I will be posting the recipe list for the 2013 Pinterest Foodie Challenge. Please feel free to follow along or create your own. This year I chose 24 new food and drink items I would like to try. I went ahead and scheduled 2 a month in my planner but I think I just might wing it as long as I keep myself in check and make sure said recipes are actually getting made. #YayRunOnSentences

• $1378 Club: Think Christmas Club without the bank. A few of us at work got together and came up with the $1378 club. At the end of each week, you add money to your fund. Week one, you add $1, week two, $2 and so on. So at the end of 52 weeks, you've accumulated $1378. Personally, I'm thinking a 5 night cruise may be in order after that. Had I tried to do this by myself, I would've failed miserably. But now that I've actually got a team to keep me motivated, it just might work. (I've already paid 5 weeks worth!)

So, as you can see, I'll be a busy little bee this year.

And baby, it's gonna be a good one.

The 101 Project: {Updated}

Some of you may remember when I posted my 101 Project last year. You can find the original post here. Completed goals in italics. Many things have changed since then so I feel it's appropriate to look over the list and update anything that isn't applicable anymore. Am I wrong by doing this, you ask? In my mind, no. People change, goals change. Let's take a look at my new goals:

Travel/Events in Other Places

1. Visit the Hoh Rainforest in Washington

2. Go to Provincetown {Completed 08/10/09}

3. Go to Thunder Over Louisville {Planning this April}

4. Rolex 3-Dy Event in Lexington, KY {I know I won't make it this year but I still want to go so it's staying on the list}

5. Plan a trip to Mt. Rainier {Doesn't necessarily have to be The Wonderland Trail but I'd like to go nonetheless}

6. Visit Canada {This may be happening soon than I planned - but more on that later}

7. Go to Times Square for New Years Eve {Maybe it will happen this year}

8. Visit Papa {Possibly this fall, once it cools off in Texas!}

9. Infield at the Kentucky Derby {Perhaps next year. Once again, it's staying on the list}

10. Take Mom to Bermuda

11. Go on another cruise

12. Do an overnight at Waverly Hills Sanatorium {Unfortunately the 2-hr visit last summer didn't count}

13. Visit one of Gordon Ramsay's restaurants {When I do Times Square, of course!}

Fitness

14. Drop 20 pounds, and keep them off for the remainder of the project {This is essentially, a work in progress}

15. Run, ok maybe walk a 5k

16. Master all Yoga positions {I've got quite a few of them down!}

17. Take a yoga class

18. Take a Zumba class!

Health/R&R

19. Take vitamins every day {I found some gummy ones and I've also been taking a Viactive chew - the chocolate ones}

20. Get a hot stone massage {Wish this was happening today!}

Career/Finances/Independence

21. Get my bath & body business off and running {Self-supportive}

22. Clean any debts {I'll be paying off my student loans for awhile but I've managed to clear 6 other debts within 3 months - Go me!}

23. Add to my IRA {Since the economy is getting (a little) better I have seen my IRA rebound quite a bit. I'm ok with where it's going so I feel I don't need to add as much as I had originally planned}

24. Set up another 401k {Once again, this may change in the very near future}

25. Own a home {Yep, I'm keeping this one up on the list}

Gaining knowledge/Intellectual pursuits

26. Learn a foreign language

27. Sign up for a ballroom/salsa lesson {If only there were ones nearby}

28. Get CPR certified {Why shouldn't you know how to save a life?}

29. Learn how to knit {I taught myself the basics but would love to learn more}

30. Read 101 books {See previous post}

31. Learn how to play chess {And not suck at it}

Creativity

32. Open up another Etsy shop {Completed 01/20/10}

33. Get familiar and comfortable with Shrinky Dinks}

34. Complete the 30 Days of Lists prompts

35. Learn how to sew... properly

36. Finish an afghan

37. Make a quilt.

38. Complete the Owl Doorstop pattern from Tiddliwink Toys

39. Go to a glass blowing class {Once again, if there was one nearby}

40. Create a recipe for a solid sugar scrub

Relationships/Family

41. Document family tree back to Italy {Still working on this one}

42. Complete Family Tree Maker & update online {1,348 people, 451 marriages, 8 generations, 385 surnames... and counting}

43. Document Gill lineage {Still working on this one via Ancestry.com}

44. Grave hunting {Heading out tomorrow to document 6 cemeteries in Henry Co., TN}

Food

45. Make a one-month meal plan {This is kinda hard now that I work 3rd shift, but I'm keeping it up here}

46. Go to 30 new restaurants and Yelp each one {I've been to a few, just haven't added them to Yelp yet}

47. Bake something at least twice a month {Not really helping the 'lose 20 pounds thing}

48. Cook one new recipe every month {Will post these later on, recipes included}

49. Drink nothing but water for a whole week {I could do this easily if it wasn't for my tea addiction}

50. Try every flavor of Stash & Tazo tea {Stash 5/200+; Tazo 3/?}

51. Make homemade ice cream

52. Make Nana's fresh fruit jam

53. Update recipe book {I've been adding recipes sporadically}

54. Eat more fish. {I did have Cod when I went home this month. I guess that counts for something}

55. Find a variety of sushi that I like.

Fun

56. Participate in Gimme Your Stuff {Completed 11/2009}

57. Go camping {This summer perhaps}

58. Watch 101 movies {See post below}

59. Go to the opening night of the rest of the Harry Potter & Twilight movies {I dragged mom to see HP:DH part 1 so that leaves 0/3 left}

60. Start a garden {Prepped ground last weekend{

61. Get more ink! {Completed 02/16/11}

62. Visit IKEA {Completed 03/16/2010}

63. Set up other Nano to be used as a frag tank {Emptied tank last weekend, waiting for sand to dry}

64. Sell frags

65. Fishing with mom {This summer!}

66. Send a secret to PostSecret

67. Have a snail mail pen pal {It's been a while, but the lovely Ria has helped me with this goal}

68. Go to a planetarium

69. Go horseback riding.

70. Go on a whale watch {Completed 08/10/2009}

71. Fly first class {I've tried many, many times. Apparently, it's the first thing to book up}

72. Go snorkeling {On my cruise of course}

73. Take mom to a Michael Buble concert {Once he gets his butt over here!}

Social

74. Throw a holiday party

75. Host a bonfire

76. Write ten snail mail letters {4/10}

Community

77. Donate blood twice a year {Gotta wait since I just got fresh ink}

78. Design an item to sell on Etsy. All proceeds to go to an organization in need {Super excited to be doing this. Details coming soon!!!}

79. Volunteer for an organization or at an event

80. Vote!

81. Plant 3 trees

Organize

82. More photos into albums.

83. Have a yard sale {Completed 4/10-11/2010}

84. Update iTunes {All names, titles, artwork, etc. filled in}

85. Organize beads/jewelry

86. Get rid of 101 material things {Completed - 200+}

Indulge

87. Cricut {Completed 05/2010}

88. iPod Touch {Completed 05/10/2009}

89. Bella Bag {Completed 09/24/2009}

90. Necklace from BirthDesigns

91. Mittens

92. Get my hands down with henna {by a professional}

93. Project Life {Completed 01/2011}

94. wii

95. iPhone4

96. Sewing machine

General

97. Blog about each of my 101 tasks at least once {Completed 03/21/2010}

98. Complete the 365 Project {Started and stopped this year, keeping this up}

99. Blog every day {260/360}

100. Don't take life too seriously!

And finally...

101. On day 1001, publish a new 101 Things in 1001 Days list that includes new goals and everything else that didn't get completed on this one.