101...100...99...

#24: Stay overnight at a McMenamins

2011-12-12T22:14:00.000-08:00

Mmmmm, McMenamins. Cool atmosphere, good food, delicious brew.

When the bestie G and I took a little road trip in April 2010 to Oregon (almost died in a tent in a windstorm on the coast, then glorious weather in the beautiful city of Portland), we decided to stop by as many of these fantastic brew pubs as possible before we got home. Edgefield, Kennedy School, Crystal Ballroom; just a few of the ones we hit up.

Fast forward to July 2011, it's shortly after G's birthday and she and her madre had planned on staying in Portland at Crystal Hotel when plans fell through and I got a little phone call from my bestie. So we hop in Baby (my Subaru) and bonsai down to Portland for the weekend. At Crystal Hotel, we ended up in the Wrecking Ball, a delightfully decorated room...

{welcome to the wrecking ball...}

{gorgeous headboard}

{no bathroom (there was one a couple doors down), but here's the little sink area}

{all of the walls had this quote running around...}

Once we were settled, we decided to explore...

{amazing multicolored houses near a McMenamins theater...}

{curbside seating...}

{so glad someone tied up their pony, it's common knowledge that mini plastic horses tend to run off...}

{all smiles!}

{G with a cold Ruby...yum!}

After touring the city and hitting up multiple McM's for each stage of dinner, we headed back to the hotel for a dip in the soaking pool downstairs and a little shut eye. The next morning...

{we will not miss the death trap of an elevator...creaking and shuddering the whole way down...}

{at Zeke's cafe downstairs, G and her root veggie hash}

{and my delicious summer fruit parfait}

It was a great way to celebrate G's birthday...and accomplish one of my goals! :)

#24...check!

#98: Answer “50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind”

2011-12-07T13:24:00.001-08:00

50 QuestionsThat Will Free Your Mind (from http://www.marcandangel.com/2009/07/13/50-questions-that-will-free-your-mind/)

Thesequestions have no right or wrong answers. Because sometimesasking the right questions is the answer.

How old would you be if youdidn’t know how old you are? Age is just a number. I think that I’d probably be the same agethat I am now. Where I am in my life asfar as work and family goals/desires seems just right.

Which is worse, failing or nevertrying? Never trying. I’d always wonder.

If life is so short, why do we doso many things we don’t like and like so many things we don’t do? It’spart of being a responsible person, taking care of yourself and yoursurroundings. Sometimes that meanssacrificing your own definition of likes and dislikes in order to get it done.

When it’s all said and done, willyou have said more than you’ve done? Funny segue from the answer of the lastquestion. J It’s my personal hope that at the end of itall, I will have done more than I’ve said. Realistically, it’s an amazing hope for myself, but I’m not certain thatit will be true.

What is the one thing you’d mostlike to change about the world? The health epidemics (AIDS, cancer, etc.). Get a lot of funding, do a lot of research,cure this shit.

If happiness was the nationalcurrency, what kind of work would make you rich? Baking.

Are you doing what you believein, or are you settling for what you are doing? I believe that I’m doing something useful tomany people. I don’t think that’ssettling.

If the average human life spanwas 40 years, how would you live your life differently? Exactly the way Iam now. I’m in a decent place in my lifeas far as work and family goals/desires, I haven’t compromised myself to get towhere I am, and I have a full supportive group of family and friends.

To what degree have you actuallycontrolled the course your life has taken? I believe that everything happens for areason. We have free will and can chooseour path, but we will eventually end up where we are supposed to be. So 100%, I’m in full control.

Are you more worried about doingthings right, or doing the right things? Doing things right.

You’re having lunch with threepeople you respect and admire. They all start criticizing a close friendof yours, not knowing she is your friend. The criticism is distastefuland unjustified. What do you do? Speak my mind. They are only worth staying in my life ifthey can accept me as I am. And I wouldcertainly hope that close friends of mine would do the same for me.

If you could offer a newbornchild only one piece of advice, what would it be? Share.

Would you break the law to save aloved one? In a life or death situation, absolutely.

Have you ever seen insanity whereyou later saw creativity? Yes. My worldview is constantly shifting due to current influences.

What’s something you know you dodifferently than most people? Make Oatmeal Scotchies for my dad. No one else’s compare.

How come the things that make youhappy don’t make everyone happy? Everyone’s unique. Life would be boring if we all had the sameinterests, viewpoints, etc.

What one thing have you not donethat you really want to do? What’s holding you back? Culinary school.

Are you holding onto somethingyou need to let go of? Yes. Multiple things, both tangible and emotional.

If you had to move to a state orcountry besides the one you currently live in, where would you move and why? Somewhereelse in the States, maybe the East Coast. A change of pace, something different than what’s here.

Do you push the elevator buttonmore than once? Do you really believe it makes the elevator faster? No. No.

Would you rather be a worriedgenius or a joyful simpleton? Worried genius. It’d be the same as I am now. J

Why are you, you? “Baby,I was born this way.”

Have you been the kind of friendyou want as a friend? Yes. Honest,caring, down to earth. I’m not gonnabullshit you, I genuinely care about you and what’s going on in your life, andwhat you see is what you get.

Which is worse, when a goodfriend moves away, or losing touch with a good friend who lives right near you? Losingtouch. Makes me feel like I don’t matterto that person anymore, and that really hurts.

What are you most grateful for? Thepeople in my life.

Would you rather lose all of yourold memories, or never be able to make new ones? Never be able tomake new ones. The old memories are afoundation for new ones. If I couldn’tmake new memories, I would be living in the past.

Is it possible to know the truth withoutchallenging it first? Absolutely.

Has your greatest fear ever cometrue? Nope.

Do you remember that time 5 yearsago when you were extremely upset? Does it really matter now? Nope. I definitely have a problem with not beingable to see the forest for the trees. It’sa difficult thing to step back from a situation and try to see the biggerpicture.

What is your happiest childhoodmemory? What makes it so special? Christmas at Gram and Poppy’s. Being surrounded by people that loved me andthat I loved. The excitement of it all.

At what time in your recent pasthave you felt most passionate and alive? When I’m exercising. It sounds cheesy, but I have a lot more selfconfidence when I’m working out and that makes every aspect of my life better.

If not now, then when? Whenthe time is right.

If you haven’t achieved it yet,what do you have to lose? All of the work I’ve done to get closer to achievingit, I don’t want to blow it and start from scratch again.

Have you ever been with someone, said nothing, andwalked away feeling like you just had the best conversation ever? Yes. Those people are truly in tune with me and Iabsolutely treasure those connections.

Why do religions that supportlove cause so many wars? Because the people of those religionsinterpret them differently and it’s a fight (sometimes to the death) to get their interpretation voiced.

Is it possible to know, without adoubt, what is good and what is evil? Nope,there’s always going to be some kind of grey area.

If you just won a million dollars,would you quit your job? Absolutely not, but I’d definitely improve mylife (and the lives of those around me).

Would you rather have less workto do, or more work you actually enjoy doing? More.

Do you feel like you’ve livedthis day a hundred times before? Maybein a past life or something.

When was the last time youmarched into the dark with only the soft glow of an idea you strongly believedin? It’s been too long…

If you knew that everyone youknow was going to die tomorrow, who would you visit today? The people that would visit me.

Would you be willing to reduceyour life expectancy by 10 years to become extremely attractive or famous? Nope. With those things comes another host of problems.

What is the difference betweenbeing alive and truly living? Beingalive means filling a place, being here. Truly living means embracing the very essence of you.

When is it time to stopcalculating risk and rewards, and just go ahead and do what you know is right? When the risks and rewards are equal and youhave a strong gut feeling about one of them.

If we learn from our mistakes, whyare we always so afraid to make a mistake? Noone likes to fail.

What would you do differently ifyou knew nobody would judge you? Nothing.

When was the last time younoticed the sound of your own breathing? Justas I was reading this question.

What do you love? Have anyof your recent actions openly expressed this love? Family. Friends. Yes, without a doubt.

In 5 years from now, will you remember what you didyesterday? What about the day before that? Or the day before that? Probably not. My memory is not that precise and abundant to file away information onevery day that I’ve been alive.

Decisions are being made rightnow. The question is: Are you making them for yourself, or are youletting others make them for you? Mostdefinitely making them for myself.

#98...check!

#97: Watch "Rocky Horror Picture Show" from beginning to end in one sitting

2011-11-12T19:18:00.001-08:00

I'm not so into the blood and guts version of Halloween, so I like to make my own unique costumes. Last year, I was a disco ball. SOmuchFUN! For Halloween this year, my glue gun and I fought and I narrowly won (2nd degree burns on my fingers) and I became a peacock...

{me fully assembled *finally* and ready to go!}

C got us tickets to The Showbox for their annual bash on Saturday...

{here's a delightful photo of the two of us in the green room, with the lovely C as miss living dead}

and we encountered so many amazing costumes (I'm talking about you Full On Body Painted Captain America, Extremely Tall Robot, and Group of Boys Dressed Up as St. Pauli Girls). On the way out of B'ham, we drove by the Mt. Baker Theatre and noticed they were putting on Rocky Horror Picture Show on Halloween Monday. So I purchased tickets on Monday when the box office opened at 10 (lucky I did it then, there were only three tickets left!) and picked C up after work to head to the show.

Let me preface this by saying I've never seen Rocky Horror all the way through, ever. I've seen the last dance number and Glee did some Rocky Horror stuff last season. That's my only exposure before this experience.

Right when we walk in, two girls are asking people if they are Rocky Horror virgins. Clearly, this is me. C loudly volunteers that I am (all the while laughing), and I am decorated with a red lipstick V on my chest and dashed with glitter. Instantly I'm thinking, what did I get myself into? There is music playing and people dancing in the theatre before the show starts, and then it's time for virgin games. All of the virgins are hauled up front and everyone gets their shot at sexually themed games; two virgins eventually win boxes of Twinkies. And then the show starts.

Quite possibly the rowdiest crowd is cheering people on while the movie is playing and actors are playing the roles. At the same time. Then there is the side commentary...

Pretty sure that was the best way to see Rocky Horror for the first time. Now I'm gonna have to Netflix it to actually hear what's going on. Amazing.

#97...check!

#78: Help a Rainbow girl learn their ritual part

2011-11-12T18:05:00.001-08:00

I've actually had the opportunity to help a few girls in the Assembly with their memorization in the past week or two. It's been kinda fun, actually. It brings back good memories from when I was a Rainbow girl and was learning my parts going up the line... :) Sometimes nostalgia gets the better of me...

#78...check!

#70: Start an account on Etsy

2011-11-03T17:51:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time coming. I haven't decided if I am going to sell anything or not, but there are definitely TONS of amazing things to look at, like these sweet flower earrings...

and these cute lil' mason jar lights...

and this gorgeous feather necklace...

I want to buy all of these!!! And if I decide to actually sell something, you can visit me at http://www.etsy.com/people/cake4brains!

#70...check!

#50: Go to a concert

2011-10-24T14:49:00.000-07:00

{our tickets!!!}

It's not that I've never been to a concert, I just wanted an excuse to go to another. And who better to go with than my bestie G??? Along with her friend Nic, we hit up Key Arena on Friday to see Night Ranger, Foreigner, and Journey! Freakin'. Awesome. Show. Being in Section 201, Row 17? Well, see for yourself. This was the view right when Foreigner came on...

{yep, you're so jealous...}

Aside from the seats being up in the rafters, we had a really great time! We didn't see Night Ranger, but caught all of Foreigner and Journey and enjoyed our $9 beers. Haha, yes.

#50...check!

#89: Leave a 100% tip to a deserving server

2011-09-11T22:29:00.000-07:00

This past week has been trying and enlightening - I took a vegan-for-a-week challenge. I live in a great city where earthy people abound, so I wasn't concerned with completing the challenge. What concerned me was eating in restaurants. While some servers/restaurants are willing to cater to vegans, others couldn't be less helpful. While that seemed to be the case for brunch on Saturday morning, my Sunday dinner was amazing! C and I drove to Mt. Baker and hiked up to Artist point, which is still covered in snow in September! The road to drive up is closed off (due to 10 ft. of snow/ice in some areas), so the only way up is to hit the trail. After an exhilarating climb up and back, we hit up The North Fork Brewery. While they have incredible pizza, I didn't think that eating pizza without cheese would be very satisfying, so I ordered the veggie grinder. Beyond delicious, our server was more than happy to put my order in, requesting no cheese of any kind and even checked the label on the buns to make sure that little vegan me could consume them. The atmosphere is great and she was attentive and friendly. When our bill came, I decided to cross another item off my list...

{evidence.}

North Fork, you are a kick ass place with amazing staff! Kudos!

#89...check!

#41: Inspire someone else to create a 101 in 1001 list

2011-09-10T18:51:00.000-07:00

While spending the Saturday at the batting cages and getting our auras cleansed and read, I convinced G to write her own 101 in 1001 list. Not that it took much convincing. She is adventurous like me and likes working toward something, and when I suggested that she could help me out by writing a list of her own, she was on board!

{G and her 101 in 1001! I can't wait to help her check a few things off her list!}

#41...check!

#81: Hit a ball in a batting cage

2011-09-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

When playing baseball/softball as a kid, I was always better at throwing than hitting. I've also never been inside a batting cage, so that's why it made it onto this list.

My friend G came over today and we decided to accomplish a couple things on my list. So, to the batting cages! She drove us over to Inside Pitch, we paid $5 for tokens for the machine, and took our swings at the softballs launched our way...

{Yes, I needed the helmet. I kept hitting the back of it with the bat; I'm sure my head wouldn't have appreciated that...}

{swing...}

{..and a hit!}

{G even got in on the action!}

So, I hit more than one ball in the cage = a successful trip! And spending $5 for 70ish hits seems a good way to spend a Saturday afternoon. I might even go back...

#81...check!

#87: Go on a picnic

2011-09-06T09:46:00.000-07:00

Labor Day - the last official holiday of summer. While that can be sad to some, this year was great! I arrived late to the unplanned party and was greeted with a myriad of things. Let's just say that while everyone was having a good time, some people were having a GREAT time. When it came time to eat, it was decided that a picnic in the backyard was going to happen...

{cheers for picnics!}

#87...check!

Cake!

2011-08-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

I've been taking cake decorating classes - here's just a couple of my completed creations:

{a groom's cake for J and R's wedding - red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting and stroopwaffles on the sides- so amazing that they asked me to do this, of course I said yes!}

{my final cake for my flowers and cake design class - yellow butter cake with raspberry filling and almond buttercream frosting...note the AMAZING basketweave on the sides!}

Thank goodness I have people in my life to eat these things! Sometimes I get this incurable urge to bake and bake and bake...but I don't really want to eat any of it!

#66: Sew an article of clothing for myself

2011-07-03T18:36:00.000-07:00

I volunteer with a girls group, The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, and our annual convention, Grand Assembly, is coming up this weekend. One of our traditions in our jurisdition of Washington Idaho is for each district (ours being Whatcom, Skagit, and Island counties) to pick out a fabric and each person in the district that attends GA wears a dress or skirt made from that fabric. This year, District 5 will be decked out in...confetti!

{can you see the resemblance to sprinkles???}

This weekend, I got down to business and sewed a floor-length a-line skirt. Nothing super exciting, but definitely functional and easy...so there.

#66...check!

#27: Hike the Oyster Dome

2011-06-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

Six people, one dog, two cars, strange people running Subway that can't seem to get to work on time, gravel roads filled with potholes, sweating, anxiety, mud and rocks, and one of the best views of the area I've seen in a long time!

{me, rachel and jake, frankie and marzipan, jessica, and tyler at the top}

as a bonus, when we got back to our cars, we got to watch a hangglider and a parasailer take off - awesome!!!

#27...check!

#7: Get my earlobes pierced again

2011-06-21T17:40:00.000-07:00

Spur of the moment, while out with G and her sister...

#7...check!

#18: Lose the weight!

2011-06-09T14:50:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, I had a few seemingly-personal blows, both personally and professionally. I also had a doctor's appointment that week. After sharing some amazing health/fitness/weight loss tips, Sarah helped me lay out a plan.

The goal = reach a healthy BMI.
The time frame = 6 months.

I feel really ready to accomplish this, as I've just recently completed running my first 5K. I'm also in this really great place in my life where I feel I can start anything, do anything, complete anything, achieve anything.

The method = complete Power 90 {started June 1} in 90 {ending August 29}
As far as after Power 90, there are a couple different systems through Beachbody that I've been looking at. I think I am going to wait to see how I feel about 2/3 of the way through {or around 60 days}.

With Power 90, you start day 1 with recording all sorts of measurements, from body fat % and cholesterol to flexed bicep and waistline. You also take photos to track your progress {along with a new set at 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days}; I don't feel comfortable posting those {yet}. Maybe once I'm fit, I will be okay with it...I'm going to try and post at those milestones to keep myself accountable.

I'm reallyexcited about the transformation that is going to take place; 1 week into the program, and though I am not following the meal plan {yet}, I am seeing a difference in how my clothes fit. Hooray!

Here's to not being a doormat, getting fit, and taking charge of my life!

#86...Bake 10 new cupcake recipes

2011-06-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

2. ~~Red~~ Green Velvet Cupcakes

After a superfantastic day with le apron, we decided to head out to my parent's house and I got the brilliant idea to make cupcakes for dessert. Red velvet cupcakes. From scratch. After a fun drive up and an interesting trip to the store, I got friendly with Mom's Kitchen Aid mixer {lovelove. wantwant.} and the cupcakes started coming together. Until I realized there was no red food coloring. So, they became green velvet. With justenough vanilla extract to finish the cupcakes and start them baking {in mini cupcake liners! in mini cupcake tins!}, I started in on the cream cheese frosting, the essential pairing for red, er...green velvets. And what do I need for this frosting? Vanilla extract, of course. So I get out the box o' extracts, play a little baker-chemist with the almond and mint, and viola! Of course my niece helped my sprinkle them with the green sugar. And she was super helpful with eating them and taking them to other people to eat. :)

{so cute!}

{cute enough to spell my name!}

They weren't super sweet, which was delightful, and because they were mini-sized, you could eat five and it only equated to one regular-sized cupcake {or at least that's what I told everyone...}!

Two recipes down, eight to go!

#30: Try a food I've never tried before

2011-06-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

I'm all for baking, I can bake to my heart's content and still not get enough. I get these little kicks where I need to bake and bake and bake and get it out of my system {and friends and family typically relish these little funks I find myself in} and then I'm fine. As far as cooking, there isn't so much love there. Not sure why, hopefully I can turn that around at some point. I digress. So I was reading somewhere that quinoa has all of the essential amino acids that the body needs. The next day, I was watching The Biggest Loser {go purple!} and a few former contestants were back, sharing their dieting and exercising plans that work for them in real life, not just on the ranch, and they shared this recipe: quinoa, black beans, red pepper, mango, and lime juice. Sounds delicious, healthy, and easy to whip up. So a couple days later I went to the store and gathered the items that I needed. {Sidebar: why is quinoa so expensive?}

Turns out it was delicious, healthy, and easy to whip up. Quinoa cooks a lot like rice but looks curly when it's done because the germ is exposed {or something to that effect}.

I don't have a photo of the curly salad, as I'm calling it. :( But I thought I'd include this photo as a good comparison for anyone else unfamiliar with the curls...

{the uncooked is on the bottom left, cooked on the top right}

#30...check!

#80: Get a massage

2011-05-22T16:40:00.000-07:00

My neck and shoulders have been giving me grief lately so I decided that it was time to get a massage {and check something off my list...}. A friend recommended a local L.M.P. and HOLY GUACAMOLE, Lara is worth her weight in gold! I can finally turn my head fully to the side and my neck, shoulders, and chest feel as if a giant weight has been lifted off each of them. With a calming atmosphere, great technique, and professional manner, Lara has definitely gained a customer for life! {There are really not enough exclamation points to display how amazing it was...}

For your very own AMAZING experience, check out Greenhaven Massage!!!

#80...check!

#9: Run a 5K

2011-05-09T22:05:00.000-07:00

My mom is super amazing in more ways than one. She is really great at supporting and becoming involved in my fitness endeavors. Turbo Jam, walking a 1/2 marathon, etc. She really goes above and beyond. We had both been looking at fitness magazines and articles and formed an idea - let's run a 5K. She found this killer plan to take you from couch to running 2 miles in 8 weeks, which seems like a long time but really isn't. So we started this 8 week program. And then I got sick. For three weeks. Yuck. But she kept on truckin' and was inspirational and motivational when it came to getting back into the swing {or run} of things.
We signed up for the Haggen to Haggen, a local 5K that starts at one grocery store and ends at another. The weather had been wishy washy, sunny then rainy then breezy; typical spring in Washington. The day of the race - overcast and possible rain until 15 minutes before the start, then a complete downpour. Literally every layer I wore was soaking wet, water dripping of the brim of the hat I borrowed from my dad {thanks, Dad!}, but that rain kept me cooler than if it were a nice morning...

{#762 would be me...}

{...and #763 is my momma}

We each had a goal - Mom wanted to finish the race in under an hour and I wanted to run the entire way. And guess what??? We accomplished BOTH goals! We finished in 46 minutes, not bad for the first time running the race.

I have a couple things I would like to improve the next time {yes, there will be a next time} I run a 5K...or who knows, maybe a longer run is in my future. We shall see...

#9...check!

#63: Make something at Creativitea

2011-04-18T00:59:00.000-07:00

On a sudden whim/off-work-early Friday afternoon, I grabbed the bestie and we headed over to a little place in Fairhaven called Creativitea. For $20ish, I spent a couple hours designing, then painting a latte mug in the style of my choosing. The following Wednesday, my creation had been through the kiln and glazed. This is photo documentation of said creation...

{hello octopusses! please notice the black glitter paint. delicious. soooo much better in person.}

{i dig how this one kinda blends in...}

{yep, there's one on the inside, too. couldn't forget the inside...}

{the little purple guy is pretty amazing, so is the yellow one by the handle}

{such cute little fellers, eh?}

I didn't get to actually see my mug in person until Thursday. And promptly drank hot chocolate from it Friday morning at work. :)

#63...check!

#28: Go to the Bellingham Farmer's Market

2011-04-03T21:01:00.000-07:00

I've lived in Whatcom County for a while now, but I have never been to the farmer's market. People talk about it alot, so I decided to put it on my list to see what the fuss was all about. So Barefoot Apron, her friend + baby, my mom, and I all met up on Saturday morning for the first day of the market. It was packed full of people and cold and rainy {thanks for the stellar weather, Washington} and great! There are a lot of interesting vendors there, a lot of interesting people to watch, and lots of sights and smells. :) It would be a lot better in good weather, and since I now live so close, I can definitely see more trips to the market in my future.

Oh, and the rain went away by the early afternoon, blue skies and sunshine were in abundance. Go figure. :)

#28...check!

#6: Get my nose pierced

2011-04-03T20:53:00.000-07:00

While out and about on Friday with my bestie Grover, she suggested I get something pierced. I wasn't fully sure until we visited the 3rd tattoo/piercing establishment...

{as you can see, I'm highly talented at taking self portraits...}

#6...check!

vacation+inspiration lovelove.

2011-03-07T15:49:00.000-08:00

this baker's dozen revolves around cake and fashion. mmmm.

{simply delicious.}

{NEEDthese}

{OMGshinyOMGshinyOMG}

{NEEDthis. part of my newfound obsession with octopuses.}

{same ring as above, but I dig the nail art in this one. i basically dig everything from CABfayre's Octopus Love Affair.}

{tripleCUPCAKEcake. okay!}

{soFREAKINGadorable. times 12.}

{pizza cake! such a cute idea!}

{too cute! from lulubugjewelry}

{simplyTOOcute. this makes me smile.}

{i loves me some polka dot shoes.}

{killer heels.}

{adorable}

#48: Go to a wine tasting

2011-03-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

Barefoot Apron and I drove {well, she drove and I jammed to hits on the radio} to Northern CA to visit her mom and family, we're here for a little less than a week and we are in wine country! So they suggested taking a drive to Ironstone Vineyards, a gorgeous place with acres of grapes and a huge chunk of gold...

{the aforementioned huge chunk of gold is enclosed in this glass case which is in a secured vault with cameras watching your every move. it's so shiny!}

So then we moved on to a room with a gigantic organ {the sucker took up a whole wall}...

{you can see the pipes in the windows on the bottom, the top windows are some type of vents that open and close to assist in dynamics, and there are pipes for lots of different instruments...}

I took a photo of the ONLY instrument that really matters in life...

{oboe lovin'}

and of a colossal chandelier that I would ~~like~~ LOVE to own...

{ain't she a beauty?}

There were so many strange things in and around this room, like...

{hello, heron}

{my one-armed, metal-covered future boyfriend}

{this b-e-a-utiful ensemble}

{and this cute lil old man. lovelove.}

last, but absolutely not least, we stopped by their tasting room...

{cheers! that's Stampin' Studio, Barefoot Apron, and I at Ironstone}

The tasting went so well, i purchased a few bottles to bring home to enjoy later! :)

Afterwards, we drove through a cute nearby town called Murphys, stopped in Angels Camp for lunch and Barefoot Apron's little sister's favorite yogurt spot. I am hooked! We REALLY need one of these in Bellingham. It's self serve, you grab a cup and load it with your choice of flavored frozen yogurt, sauces, candy, cookies, cereal, nuts, fruit, and any other topping you can imagine, then you pay by weight and consume like it's going out of style! It's so delicious, I'm gonna need to visit there at least once every day until we leave. :)

{the hot pink spoon was almost as exciting as the AMAZING yogurt! lovelove.}

what a great day! #48...check!

#45: Actually keep a plant alive for more than a month

2011-02-27T17:31:00.000-08:00

In January, W gave me two plants for my new little apartment. "Just water them every once in a while, when the soil feels dry." I probably watered less than that. I noticed a couple weeks later one plant drooping. As I watered it, i brushed against a leaf and it fell off. WHAT??? DO NOT DIE, PLANT!!! The plant didn't listen to my request and keeled over a week or so later. Sad face. But...the other one's still alive!!!! Granted, it's leaves are yellowing and I think it hates me for killing its friend, but it's still here and I will take that victory! So, wahoo to the {hopeful} end of my black thumb!

#45...check!

#96: Make a birthday cake for someone

2011-02-27T16:59:00.000-08:00

So, A's birthday dinner was 1/2 a day away and I really wanted to make a cake for him. But since the gathering was happening at a restaurant, I didn't want the hassle of bringing an actual cake, so I started browsing the internet for alternative ideas, and BAM!

{mmmm, cake}

Oh, yeah. Cake pops! These little nuggets of goodness are flat out amazing! I'm so glad that everyone (including the birthday ~~boy~~ man) enjoyed them! Happy Birthday A!!!

#96...check!

#95: Read Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates

2011-02-27T16:43:00.000-08:00

I've picked this book up numerous times and have never really gotten far enough into it to keep going. Typically, Tom Robbins books on my bookshelf get multiple reads, but for some reason, this one just wasn't keeping my interest. Until now...

I finally read it! It's great (obviously I'm biased since this is one of my favorite authors)! Switters, the parrot, the nuns, it's a strangely captivating combination. So, read it!

#95...check!

#86: Bake 10 new cupcake recipes

2011-02-27T16:31:00.000-08:00

1. Ricotta Cheesecake Cupcakes

So, I wandered into Barnes and Noble after the start of the new year and what do I come across? This amazing calendar!

{mmmm, cupcakes. lovelove.}

I mean, who wouldn't love 365 days of cupcakes? At 1/2 price, who wouldn't instantly purchase it? Clearly not this girl. :)

After drooling over all of the pages, I decided to test January 12th's recipe for ricotta cheesecake cupcakes. I'm not saying it was the best (although everyone at dinner did a good job of joining the clean plate club), but it was new. :)

One recipe down, nine to go!

#69: Start a blog

2011-02-27T15:59:00.000-08:00

Well, this one's pretty self explanatory...

#69...check!

101 in 1001

2010-11-06T21:21:00.000-07:00

My 101 in 1001

After some extensive blog reading and researching, I came across this AMAZING concept – the 101 in 1001 list. I’ve been wanting to make a list for a while (who doesn’t love lists?!?) but I wanted some kind of accountability for getting the tasks done. Enter the 101 in 1001.

Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

Rules: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part).

Why 1001 days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple challenges such as New Year's resolutions or a 'Bucket List'. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips, study semesters, or outdoor activities. (dayzeroproject.com)

So, without any further ado, and in no particular order, here is the list.

Start date: 11/6/2010
End date: 8/3/2013

1. Go to Lollapalooza

2. Go skydiving

3. Get a passport

4. Travel somewhere that requires a passport

5. Take a photography class

6. Get my nose pierced

7. Get my earlobes pierced again

8. Get my bellybutton pierced

9. Run a 5k

10. Travel to a state I’ve never been to

11. Complete a 365 day photo challenge

12. Bake a SUPERAMAZING pie (like Mom’s)

13. Watch (in marathon format) all three Lord of the Rings movies

14. Sell a crafty creation

15. Learn how to knit

16. Knit a scarf

17. Watch 50 movies from IMDb’s Top 250 List

18. Lose the weight!

19. Go kayaking

20. Go white water rafting

21. Get my finances in order with a money program (for entering receipts and budgeting) and an accurate filing system

22. Read 10 pieces of classic literature

23. Ride a train

24. Stay overnight at a McMenamins

25. Watch a sunrise

26. Watch a sunset

27. Hike the Oyster Dome

28. Go to the Bellingham Farmer’s Market

29. Visit the beach

30. Try a food I’ve never tried before

31. Go golfing

32. Camp in three state parks I’ve never camped in

33. Go surfing

34. Go to a Seahawks game

35. Go on every roller coaster at an amusement park

36. Go commando for a day

37. Try a new recipe every day for one week

38. Donate clothing I no longer need or want or wear

39. Donate blood

40. Donate $1 to a worthy cause for every goal not completed

41. Inspire someone else to create a 101 in 1001 list

42. Go to a spinning class

43. Go to a yoga class

44. Go horseback riding

45. Actually keep a plant alive for more than one month

46. Go scuba diving

47. See a movie at the Village Green

48. Go to a wine tasting

49. Pay it forward with a random act of kindness

50. Go to a concert

51. Go to a zoo

52. Go to an aquarium

53. Bake cookies for a friend

54. Send a friend flowers

55. Send a friend balloons

56. Add 10 new-to-me musical artists to my daily rotation

57. Finish Oliver Twist

58. Make a recipe book with pictures

59. Participate in Operation Beautiful

60. Watch the Star Wars trilogy in marathon format

61. Climb a rock climbing wall

62. Make the mirrored table from The Big Ass Book of Crafts

63. Make something at Creativitea

64. Go on a scavenger hunt

65. Play REAL bingo

66. Sew an article of clothing for myself

67. Take private lessons and spend some quality time with Beauty, my oboe

68. Sell my old textbooks

69. Start a blog

70. Start an account on Etsy

71. See Rockefeller Center at Christmastime

72. Ice skate at Rockefeller Center

73. Stomp grapes with my feet

74. Make a button ring

75. Make Christmas ornaments

76. Turn the $12 frame into a bright red-framed mirror

77. Own Star Trek (the new one) on DVD

78. Help a Rainbow girl learn their ritual part

79. Spend quality time in a hot tub

80. Get a massage

81. Hit a ball in a batting cage

82. Play tennis

83. Turn the disco ball into throw pillows

84. Go on a boat

85. Go to a midnight movie screening

86. Bake 10 new cupcake recipes

87. Go on a picnic

88. Learn to make AMAZING hummus

89. Leave a 100% tip to a deserving server

90. See “The Nutcraker” live

91. Make a new friend

92. Watch all seasons of Sex and The City in sequential order

93. Learn to play poker

94. Participate in a trivia night

95. Read Fierce Invalids Home from Hot Climates

96. Make a birthday cake for someone

97. Watch “Rocky Horror Picture Show” from beginning to end in one sitting

98. Answer “50 Questions That Will Free Your Mind” (http://www.marcandangel.com/2009/07/13/50-questions-that-will-free-your-mind/)

99. Find my signature non-alcoholic beverage

100. Go to a Star Trek convention

101. Write a new 101 in 1001