Fall 2012 Bucket List

First off, I’d like to give a shout out to Jane, one of my favorite bloggers, who writes In The Pink & Green. She’s got an awesome blog, writes well, has a great sense of style and seems like such a sweetheart. I hope to meet her one day! Yesterday she posted a Fall 2012 bucket list and inspired me to make my own.

Food

• Bake at least 1 new recipe with pumpkin
• Bake at least 1 new recipe with apples
• Make 1 new recipe per week using my CSA produce
• Use the double waffle iron I won on The Shiksa’s blog

Fitness/Health

• Run at least one registered 5k – the Pajama Run and/or the Reindeer Run
• Reduce sugar intake during the week, feel less guilty about indulging on the weekends
• Continue doing 30 pushups and/or 1 minute planks every hour at work with Dane

Education

• Attend a cooking class
• Read at least one book a week (I know, I’m crazy.)
• Go to the 30th Annual That BIG Book Sale
• Attend a Wine Awesomeness Wine School class

Fun

• Have a girls’ beach house weekend on IOP using the gift certificate Amanda & I won from the Bacardi contest
• Celebrate my baby brother’s 16th birthday – ahh!
• See Breaking Dawn Part II on November 16th…at midnight, of course
• Halloween!!

Travel

• Go to at least 1 college football game this  year
• Visit my family in Massachusetts
• Visit my grandparents in North Carolina

Fall officially starts September 22nd and ends December 21st. I have plenty of time to cross everything off!

What’s on your Fall bucket list?

What’s your favorite thing about Fall? I bet 50% of you are going to say PSLs….

2012 Is the Year I…

…run a half marathon. I mean why not? I may have short legs, but they are strong and will take me far. Hopefully 13.1 miles.

….read at least 12 books. One per month is not asking a lot. Why I still haven’t started this book, I’m not sure.

…use my camera more! And I don’t mean this one.

…have less stuff. Clutter drives me crazy and as mentally unstable as I am, I think less tangible goods will make life easier. I just called myself mentally unstable. Do you still love me?

…date more nerdy guys. I mean there is no way any not nerdy person can handle me so…ok, bring on the geeks. #geekchic

…be a better listener. I like, no love, giving advice, but should hone my listening skills. I want to start a column called Ask Xtina. But that sounds semi inappropriate, so let’s go with Ask Christina.

…eat less crap. I consume wayyyyyy too much sugar for my own good. Candy is fun but my teeth and waistline don’t appreciate it as much as my brain does.

…compliment people more. If I have a nice thought about a person, I’m just going to go all word vomit on them.

…be a better blogger! I love you guys. I do! So much. I’d marry my blog and all of you followers if that was legal.

…eat more pickles. Duh.

December Goals Revisited

As today is the last day of the month (and New Years Eve!!), it’s time to see how well I did with my December goals.

What I Completed

Fitness:

• I ran the Reindeer Run 5k with Amanda, Tyler, and Rob.
• I continued to run 3x a week and strength train at least 2x.

Personal:

• I finished Christmas shopping. Duh.

Romantical:

• I posted about the past year of being single – so funny
• I stopped being means to boys at the bar. I just ignored them instead.
• I went out with someone who I would not have considered before.

Educational:

• I read a lot of interesting websites with photography tips.
• I found photography classes to take with Biz next month.
• Amanda, Mary, Margaret, Megan and I finally chose a Bottles ‘n Brushes class for next month.

Culinary:

• I cooked a Jewish recipe – Walnut & Cinnamon Rugelach

 

What I Need to Work On:

Fitness:

• I did not try a new class at the gym. I did, however, have a really interesting spinning experience that I will soon tell you about.

Personal:

• I did not organize my closets, but I did buy a ton of hangers.
• I did not fix the oopsies from when I painted my wall green.

Educational:

• I didn’t read my books. I can’t sit still!

Culinary:

• I didn’t go vegetarian for a week. That was an unrealistic goal.
• I didn’t find the Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride tea, but that’s okay because Katie said it wasn’t that good anyway! haha.

How did you guys do on your monthly goals?

I hope everyone has a FUN and SAFE New Year’s Eve! Cheers to 2011!

December Goals

I have always loved the 1st of the month. Starting fresh with a set of goals not only helps get things accomplished, but provides you with a list of things to look forward to! I have come up with a list of December goals for several aspects of my life.

Fitness:

• Run the Reindeer 5k on December 4th, for fun. Last month's Pajama 5k gave me a new PR that I am very happy with (25:29), but I would like to enjoy this race. Being competitive with myself isn't always fun, but enjoying my time with friends in holiday spirit will be!
• Continue to run 3x a week and strength train at least 2x.
• Try a new class at the gym. I've been a member since January and have only done spinning and yoga. Pilates is looking good.

Personal:

• Organize my closets. I have pretty clothes that aren't hanging pretty.
• Fix the oopsies from when I painted my wall green.
• Complete Christmas shopping within the next 3 weeks. Last minute shopping drives me crazy.

 Romantical:

• Write a brutally honest post on what I have learned in the year that I have been single.
• Stop telling boys to "get away from me" and "go away" at the bar just because I like my friends more. How rude.
• Agree to go on a date with someone to whom I have previously told no/not considered. GAH!!!

 Educational:

• Learn how to use my DSLR better. There is no point to having a really expensive black baby if I don't know how to properly use all its functions.
• Sign up for a Bottles 'n Brushes class that Amanda, Mary, Margaret, Megan, and I all have a Groupon for. We need to either do it in December or agree on a date in January.
• Read one of the two books I purchased in August: Will Write for Food and The Amateur Gourmet

Culinary:

• Cook a Jewish recipe. Where are my Jew friends at? I've been staring at matzo balls like I love them but have no clue what they are.
• Go vegetarian for a whole week without dying or sinking into a state of depression. I'm thinking December 5-11. 
• Find the Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride tea!!!!

I feel like these are all reasonable goals and hope I can complete most, if not all, of them. What are your December goals?