1. Attend an Orioles, a Ravens and a Caps game. - Once again, the only thing that may hamper this is the fact that Ravens tickets are insanely priced! - Been to all 3 this year! Thank goodness for an employer that raffles off tickets on a regular basis!
2. Complete a Web Design course. I'd really like to figure out Photoshop! - Planned to take this summer but vacay got in the way. And teaching myself has been quite the arduous process...
3. Make a vegetarian meal using veggies from the Baltimore Farmer's Market.- Nope, I think I may have missed my window on this one.
4. See "An Act of God" on Broadway with Jim Parsons and "Something Rotten" with Christian Borle. - Halfway done - saw Act of God, and have plans to see Something Rotten in December when I go up for the day.
5. Shoot Manual as opposed to Auto with my camera. - I have 2 big events this year that I'm attending, and I'd really like some AWESOME photos of these events. I need to at least master inside, in the dark photos and outside constant motion photos. - Done! Not really as happy with the photos I took in manual in England vs. the lovely ones I took in auto, but I'm getting there. Thanks to Manual I was able to actually see what I was photographing at the SPN Con which was mostly in the dark, so at least there's that!
6. Try Yoga. - On the itinerary for Texas this week.
7. Watch "House of Cards" and "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" - basically all the cool things that Netflix has in development. Oh and "Arrow" - Gotta love Netflix! - LOVED Kimmy Schmidt but couldn't really get into House of Cards. Haven't even tried Arrow yet but I'm loving Stephen Ammel on line so I think I really need to start.
8. Read the feminist classics - "Yes, Please" and "Bossy Pants." : ) - Complete! And adored both, as well as "Is everyone hanging out without me?" by Mindy Kaling!
9. Tea Party with Scottish Shortbread and finger sandwiches. - Nope not yet : (
10. Attend a Music Festival - I already know I'm going to ACL so that's sort of a cheat. - ACL's this week!
11. Pig out at Smorgasburg in Brooklyn, NY. - Unfortunately, Brooklyn is a lot further away from Manhattan than I realized, but hopefully this will be accomplished in March when I have another weekend in NYC scheduled.
12. Get a manicure - this is all based on whether I can stop biting my fingernails. That's the issue... - Done! Even managed a pedicure too. Not really a fan of either, but I will admit the pedicure lasted a whole lot longer than the manicure did!
13. Re-open my Etsy shop. - Nope, and I'm feeling super guilty about it...
14. Eat at Parts & Labor in Baltimore. - Nope, but I did try Family Meal
15. Visit the Smithsonian - I've only ever been to the Natural History & Air and Space Museums. - Done!
16. Puffy Tacos in San Antonio, Migas in Austin, Tea in London and Chocolate in Brussels. - Chocolate in Brussels, Tea in London, but missed the puffy tacos in SA however, I did have Migas there, so maybe it cancels itself out...
17. Day trip to Philadelphia - I've never seen the Liberty Bell. - Nope not yet
18. See a Sing-along or a Quote-along at the Alamo Drafthouse in VA. - Haven't been any good ones. I'm patiently waiting for something really good, like a Grease -sing along!
19. See an author talk - preferably Neil Gaiman, but I doubt he'll be back in boring old Maryland any time soon. - I saw Bryan Voltaggio speak at Baltimore Book Festival.
20. Complete a charity 5K. - This will most likely not entail running.
21. Craft/Write/Create for at least 3 hours each week. - I'd say I'm pretty much accomplishing this one. It ma not be exactly 3 hours a week but there are definite weeks that average way more than 3 so I think it averages itself out.
22. I will take a chocolate tour of Brussels - home of the world's best chocolate.- Best tour EVER!
23. I'll see at least 2 shows in NYC and London. - Act of God in NYC and another in December, Hamlet and Measure for Measure in London
24. I'll see the Alamo and resist the urge to say "I'll remember the Alamo!" - Half way there, I totally had to make the joke. Doesn't everyone?
25. I will drive on the M5 in England, and remember to always drive on the left. - Never had to. Luckily my friend was way more brave than I was. Of course that means, I can't actually cross it off my list.
26. I'll see a concert or 2 - preferably a country concert in Austin. - Darius Rucker & Mumford and Sons, and definitely at least 4 more this weekend at ACL.
27. I will see the cliffs of Dorset - where Hardy and Miller solved the Latimer case on Broadchurch. - Nope, we never made it there due to some threat of some serious rain that never came. Ugh!
28. I will geek out at the Supernatural convention - I know this is a geeky thing but I'm so darn excited to see this in person rather than just on YouTube! - Totally the best way to spend a weekend!
29. I'll see Benedict Cumberbatch in Hamlet on the West End, and resist the urge to jump his bones. - Saw him and resisted, even though he's so dreamy. However, not my favorite Hamlet - it has to be said.
30. I will add one day trip to the list of fun places I'm going this year. I'd like it to be somewhere new, but there aren't many new places around here within driving distance. - Haven't managed this one yet. I've been to Alexandria and OC, but those are the normal places. I just need to find somewhere new!
31. I will stand in line for Franklin BBQ - I'd like to think I have the patience, but honestly I think I'm more likely to try the Salt Lick instead. - On the agenda for this trip, but I did try the Salt Lick the last time instead and it was yummy!
32. I will hoard all the children's books from all the great cities I'll travel to. I certainly hope my future children like to read, because they'll have quite the library when I'm done : ) - Seeing as I bought 24 books (6 of which were kids books) on the last trip to England, I feel that I'm accomplishing this one without much work.
16 and 2 halves - Complete
2 - Incompleteable
6 - On the docket
That just leaves 8 that I need to get moving on. Not too shabby this year!
There's a new trend that's been sweeping Pinterest for the last few months. Apparently, pinners are taking actions or activities they'd like added to their bucket list and making sentimental little posters of them, then pinning them for all their Pinterest friends to see. At first it seemed like a good idea to me. Having goals is always positive. But then I started to read them. It's sort of easy to see who may be doing the majority of the pinning of these "very important" life goals.
Some are completely attainable, in that, they could literally complete the action at that very moment. For instance, send a message in a bottle or take a photo a day for a year. I understand wanting to introduce creativity to your life, but why make it a huge goal when you most likely have paper, pen and bottle at your fingertips and you most likely own a smart phone with a fantastic camera that's glued to your hip? Hello! You can start your bucket list right this very moment. It literally took you longer to create the poster and pin it to Pinterest than it would have taken you to write the letter in a bottle.
Some go in the opposite direction. Basically they're impossible for some reason or another, like being against the laws of physics ("Be in 2 places at once.") or not being a real place ("Visit Tomorrowland.") Bloggers note: I'm assuming they mean the super natural setting of the new George Clooney movie but I could be mistaken.
Then they're are others that are so ridiculous that you wonder about the person that would include these items as a life goal:
Jump in a swimming pool of jello.
Put a piece of gum on the gum wall in Seattle.
Do paint balloon darting. (I have NO idea what this even means!)
Go through a drive-thru on a horse (What?)
Of course, you also have ones that are just a bit sad. Those are the people I worry about. I worry that one of their biggest goals in life is really having a walk-on closet, or building a gingerbread house. I'm just not thinking they're thinking big enough. Or the girls (it just has to be teen girls) can't really think in 50 years they'll care about having a wardrobe they actually like (why'd you buy the clothes in the first place if you didn't like them?) or making a rainbow rose.
But then again, all this focus on big ideas and big trips, is sometimes good for the ego. Sometimes, you hear about these amazing trips that people have taken and you start to wonder if you'll ever get to go to these places and have awesome adventures. But then, you start seeing fabulous places pop up on Bucket Lists - fabulous places you've actually been (Shop in NYC. See a Broadway Show. Visit Abbey Road. See the monuments in DC), and you start to realize how lucky you really are.
Of course there's always room for a few extra awesome goals to strive for in the future:
~See Australia, Germany, Austria, Italy, and New Zealand.
~Have my happily ever after complete with the perfect shabby chic wedding to Prince Charming and 2. 5 kids (with the picket fence and the puppy too - not really tied to the picket fence, most flats in Notting Hill don't have picket fences...)
~Dinner at the French Laundry, Franklin BBQ, and Momofuku.
~Master French and re-master Spanish, and learn Sign Language.
~Create the perfect job that mixes helping people, papercrafting, travel and entertainment. Quit my old boring job and do that instead : )
~Completely step out of my comfort zone and do GISHWHES
1. I will, once and for all, stop biting my finger nails!
2. I will continue to try whatever I'm offered.
3. I will nail down the one, end-all, be-all perfect recipe for macarons and they will become my specialty.
4. I will go on a date (hopefully more than one but why be greedy?)
5. I will visit 2 other countries.
6. I will see Shakespeare in the Park (Comedy of Errors this year!)
7. I will (try to) be me. I will enjoy what I enjoy, do what I like to do, eat what I love, and dress the way I feel comfortable, contrary to other opinions.
8. I will attend an O's and a Caps game (I'd say Ravens too bu since they're now World Champs, the ticket prices have jumped from ridiculous to obscene.)
9. I will (try to) stop caring so much about what everyone else thinks.
10. I will learn how to code/program mostly to understand the really fun web design stuff and not feel like such an idiot when computer-y people at work try to talk to me.
11. I will save more money instead of buying things I don't need.
12. I will continue to decipher crocheting - so easy yet so difficult at the same time.
13. I will attend at least 2 shows and 2 concerts. (Clybourne Park and Richard II are set but what concerts to choose?)
14. I will become a tourist in my own state. I always want to travel outside of Maryland, but I should probably discover a bit more of what's close to home too. This will of course be after the camera purchase referenced in #25
15. I will attempt to amass enough crafty output to populate an (admittedly small) Etsy shop.
16. I will find a course or seminar on Book Arts and finally learn the ins and outs.
17. I will learn to sew or embroider (Not even sure what embroidery entails so this may pose a problem...)
18. I will travel to at least 3 other states.
19. I will eat authentic Dim Sum, Ramen and Indian (even if I have to go myself!)
20. I will take a yoga class. (Confession: The only reason I haven't done this yet is that I haven't a clue what to wear...)
21. I will blog about each thing I tick off this list which will hopefully account for 30 blog posts. I never actually complete this list so I'm trying really hard this year!)
22. I will complete at least 1 race for charity (very slowly, most likely)
23. I will master the art of the chopsticks.
24. I will volunteer for at least 1 event or charity.
25. I will purchase and learn how to use a good DSLR camera before my European adventure.
26. I will grow a back-bone and try to speak up for myself.
27. I will re-read the Harry Potter series since I've forgotten so much of what has happened in them...but there are about 30 books that are screaming my name to tackle first.
28. I will throw a tea party, after I master the art of macarons. You can't throw a proper tea without post desserts!
29. I will try to organize old photos in some semblance of order.
30. I will jump back on the healthy eating and exercise path I was following last summer.
