I decided to take the bull by the horns and quit the soda (or pop, as some say) a little early.
I haven't had any Sierra Mist since Monday, January 25th. So that's 4ish days now! Pretty darn good for me. Although water is already beginning to bore me, and I've been noticing that a lot of juices have just as much sugar as soda these days. I just can't win!
I'm on the search for a soda alternative. I think I may be a little dehydrated.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Baking FAIL
#95: Try 5 new dessert recipes.
Well, the key word here is "try". I never specified it had to be successful!
I tried the Samoa Cookie Bar recipe from the What's Cookin, Chicago blog.
They look delicious in her photo. Mine turned out like this (be prepared to be appalled):
Ummm, yeah... gross, huh?
The main thing is that they still taste good! They look horrible, but I'll still eat them - I just won't bring them into work like I had originally planned.
My problem:
- When I dipped the bottom into the chocolate, the bottom of the cookie would pretty much fall off and crumble.
- I gave up and just smeared the chocolate on top instead.. haha
Better luck next time I suppose.
Well, the key word here is "try". I never specified it had to be successful!
I tried the Samoa Cookie Bar recipe from the What's Cookin, Chicago blog.
They look delicious in her photo. Mine turned out like this (be prepared to be appalled):
Ummm, yeah... gross, huh?The main thing is that they still taste good! They look horrible, but I'll still eat them - I just won't bring them into work like I had originally planned.
My problem:
- When I dipped the bottom into the chocolate, the bottom of the cookie would pretty much fall off and crumble.
- I gave up and just smeared the chocolate on top instead.. haha
Better luck next time I suppose.
Officially Mrs. Michelle N!
#49: Finally change my name.
It's official. I'm no longer Michelle H. I've moved down the alphabet to N and still have a name that's impossible for the general population to spell without asking.
Is it horrible that even I have to spell it out in my head (and sometimes out loud) in order to get it right? Hopefully it will get easier with time.
The process went a lot faster than anticipated. I was in and out of the SSA in under 10 minutes and in and out of the DMV in under 8 minutes. I was impressed! The thing that took the longest was changing my name with a life insurance company - and even that was only 15 minutes.
I'm just glad it's finally done!
It's official. I'm no longer Michelle H. I've moved down the alphabet to N and still have a name that's impossible for the general population to spell without asking.
Is it horrible that even I have to spell it out in my head (and sometimes out loud) in order to get it right? Hopefully it will get easier with time.
The process went a lot faster than anticipated. I was in and out of the SSA in under 10 minutes and in and out of the DMV in under 8 minutes. I was impressed! The thing that took the longest was changing my name with a life insurance company - and even that was only 15 minutes.
I'm just glad it's finally done!
Friday, January 22, 2010
Picture Time!
Goal #52: Add 5 excellent photos to my portfolio, every month for a year.
Well, here's the January installment of portfolio additions. No surprise, they are all photos from Mexico! Let's face it, Wisconsin is NOT very photogenic in January... or any winter month for that matter. I do intend to capture some good winter shots for next month though.
On to the pictures!
(Image quality and size have been reduced to deter photo swiping!)
Well, here's the January installment of portfolio additions. No surprise, they are all photos from Mexico! Let's face it, Wisconsin is NOT very photogenic in January... or any winter month for that matter. I do intend to capture some good winter shots for next month though.
On to the pictures!
(Image quality and size have been reduced to deter photo swiping!)
Monday, January 18, 2010
Soda is soooo 2009...
Goal #86: Quit drinking soda for a whole month, and hopefully for good.
I cracked open a Sierra Mist today, drank it, and realized that it tasted awful. I just don't want to drink it anymore.
I've decided that as of February 1st, 2010, I'm done. Done drinking soda. Hopefully for good!
I have gone through this process before. About 2 years ago I quit drinking Mountain Dew cold turkey, and let me tell you - it sucked!! But as of May 1st, it will be 2 years since I've had a Mountain Dew - or any caffeinated soda for that matter. You may think, "no big deal", right? Well, I was drinking up to 8 (yes, eight) cans of MD a day. That's just not healthy. It needed to be stopped.
I made it about 4 months before I needed a "fiz fix". Enter Sierra Mist. Still fizzy, but caffeine free. Now I want to nix that as well.
It won't be easy, but I'll push through... I hope! Wish me luck!
I cracked open a Sierra Mist today, drank it, and realized that it tasted awful. I just don't want to drink it anymore.
I've decided that as of February 1st, 2010, I'm done. Done drinking soda. Hopefully for good!
I have gone through this process before. About 2 years ago I quit drinking Mountain Dew cold turkey, and let me tell you - it sucked!! But as of May 1st, it will be 2 years since I've had a Mountain Dew - or any caffeinated soda for that matter. You may think, "no big deal", right? Well, I was drinking up to 8 (yes, eight) cans of MD a day. That's just not healthy. It needed to be stopped.
I made it about 4 months before I needed a "fiz fix". Enter Sierra Mist. Still fizzy, but caffeine free. Now I want to nix that as well.
It won't be easy, but I'll push through... I hope! Wish me luck!
Making progress and making plans
It may not be much, but it's better than nothing.
I received my 1st paycheck of 2010 this past week. $50 into my savings account! Hopefully I can keep that up.
If you do the math - I get approximately 26 paychecks a year, 26 x $50 = $1,300. An extra $1,300 saved a year is pretty darn good in my opinion. On months that I'm doing well, I'd like to put that extra money into savings as well. The more the better - you can never be too prepared! This also goes hand in hand with building up my savings to 3 months worth of pay.
What else, what else... I've paid my 1st car payment of 2010. I'd ideally like to pay an even $300 a month, which would help me pay off my car a full 7 months earlier than the loan allows.
It's all about the money, and as that crazy couch jumper would say:
I received my 1st paycheck of 2010 this past week. $50 into my savings account! Hopefully I can keep that up.
If you do the math - I get approximately 26 paychecks a year, 26 x $50 = $1,300. An extra $1,300 saved a year is pretty darn good in my opinion. On months that I'm doing well, I'd like to put that extra money into savings as well. The more the better - you can never be too prepared! This also goes hand in hand with building up my savings to 3 months worth of pay.
What else, what else... I've paid my 1st car payment of 2010. I'd ideally like to pay an even $300 a month, which would help me pay off my car a full 7 months earlier than the loan allows.
It's all about the money, and as that crazy couch jumper would say:
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
How could I forget?!?
Jamie and I also went on a Zipline tour while in Mexico - so CHECK!!
I don't have any photos from that though, we weren't allowed to bring cameras along for safety reasons. They sold photos of you taken by their photographers, but there was no way in hell I was going to pay $15 for ONE 5x7 print. No way, no how.
The zipline tour was pretty much amazing. If you're up for a little adventure while in Mexico, definitely check this out!
We booked through Selvatica. I received a lot of recommendations for them from various message boards. I'm glad we decided to book with them because the guides made everything so much fun. Worth every penny.
Link to Selvatica
I don't have any photos from that though, we weren't allowed to bring cameras along for safety reasons. They sold photos of you taken by their photographers, but there was no way in hell I was going to pay $15 for ONE 5x7 print. No way, no how.
The zipline tour was pretty much amazing. If you're up for a little adventure while in Mexico, definitely check this out!
We booked through Selvatica. I received a lot of recommendations for them from various message boards. I'm glad we decided to book with them because the guides made everything so much fun. Worth every penny.
Link to Selvatica
Monday, January 11, 2010
A bunch of birds with one stone!
Well, we survived Mexico. In the process I managed to complete a few goals off of my 101 in 1001 list!
Goal #1: Travel outside the US. CHECK!
That was relatively easy I suppose.
Goal #2: Try snorkeling. CHECK!
While I was completely terrified the whole time, both times I went. Maybe it would have been less terrifying if I could actually swim..haha. Life jackets are fantastic.
The first time we went, we went to Xel-Ha. HIGHLY recommend this to anyone, it's seriously gorgeous there. The water is so blue and there is just so much to see. Absolutely beautiful!
Photographic evidence from Xel-ha:
The 2nd time snorkeling wasn't as fun for me. We went out to a reef in the middle of the ocean, which was pretty neat. However, the water was freezing and it was very windy which caused large waves. I tried my best not to freak out, but it was just an unpleasant experience.
We were in a group of 10 people and we were instructed to stay together. I pretty much spent more time watching where everyone was than I did looking under the water. I was slightly disappointed. I'm just glad we went twice, because Xel-Ha was SO much better.
Goal #3: Go on a nature hike. CHECK!
Another goal completed at Xel-Ha! This place is seriously beautiful, have I mentioned that yet?
A few pictures from our loooonnngg hike:
With those completions, I now have 3% of my list complete. Only 991 days to complete the other 97%
Goal #1: Travel outside the US. CHECK!
That was relatively easy I suppose.
Goal #2: Try snorkeling. CHECK!
While I was completely terrified the whole time, both times I went. Maybe it would have been less terrifying if I could actually swim..haha. Life jackets are fantastic.
The first time we went, we went to Xel-Ha. HIGHLY recommend this to anyone, it's seriously gorgeous there. The water is so blue and there is just so much to see. Absolutely beautiful!
Photographic evidence from Xel-ha:
The 2nd time snorkeling wasn't as fun for me. We went out to a reef in the middle of the ocean, which was pretty neat. However, the water was freezing and it was very windy which caused large waves. I tried my best not to freak out, but it was just an unpleasant experience.We were in a group of 10 people and we were instructed to stay together. I pretty much spent more time watching where everyone was than I did looking under the water. I was slightly disappointed. I'm just glad we went twice, because Xel-Ha was SO much better.
Goal #3: Go on a nature hike. CHECK!
Another goal completed at Xel-Ha! This place is seriously beautiful, have I mentioned that yet?
A few pictures from our loooonnngg hike:
With those completions, I now have 3% of my list complete. Only 991 days to complete the other 97%
Friday, January 1, 2010
101 in 1001: The Day Zero Project
For approximately the 2.75 years, the main purpose of this blog will be to help me to complete 101 goals in 1001 days. I'm hoping blogging about my progress will help me stay on track - we shall see.
I was introduced to The Day Zero Project a few days a go and decided to make a list of my own (Jill, check that goal off your list!). Let me tell you, coming up with 101 goals is a lot harder than you think! I took me 2 days to come up with enough. Hopefully I didn't bite off more than I can chew - we'll find out September 28th, 2012! By which point Jamie and I will have been married for 3 years - wow!
Intrigued about Day Zero? Read more about it here.
And here's a direct link to my list: List Link
I won't bore you by posting it here, it's obviously long! I'll be able (or should be able) to knock a few things off the list starting Sunday. When the hubby and I head to Mexico for our long awaited honeymoon!! 3 months after the wedding is better than no honeymoon at all, right? I think so.
I was introduced to The Day Zero Project a few days a go and decided to make a list of my own (Jill, check that goal off your list!). Let me tell you, coming up with 101 goals is a lot harder than you think! I took me 2 days to come up with enough. Hopefully I didn't bite off more than I can chew - we'll find out September 28th, 2012! By which point Jamie and I will have been married for 3 years - wow!
Intrigued about Day Zero? Read more about it here.
And here's a direct link to my list: List Link
I won't bore you by posting it here, it's obviously long! I'll be able (or should be able) to knock a few things off the list starting Sunday. When the hubby and I head to Mexico for our long awaited honeymoon!! 3 months after the wedding is better than no honeymoon at all, right? I think so.
(un)Happy Hangover and Happy 2010!
Well, it's 2010. Hopefully '10 can live up to '09, because it was a pretty damn good year. I got married to the greatest guy ever on 9.26.09. That's going to be pretty hard to beat!
Overall 2009 was pretty kick ass, but I'm looking forward to the future. Let's all hope for good things. Too bad I'm hungover and day one of 2010 isn't working out so hot. It can only go uphill from here, right?
Happy 2010 Everyone!
Overall 2009 was pretty kick ass, but I'm looking forward to the future. Let's all hope for good things. Too bad I'm hungover and day one of 2010 isn't working out so hot. It can only go uphill from here, right?
Happy 2010 Everyone!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
