101 Things in 1001 Days: Round Three

Posted in 101 Things by widdershins22

This will be the third time I’ve participated in 101 Things in 1001 Days. Its so interesting how your focus and interests change over time. I started my previous list on May 24th, 2011. I was living in Wisconsin and was not yet pregnant. I didn’t have any idea the roller coaster that was to come with moving, the twins, Joseph,moving again. I was focused on my Etsy shop, knitting and starting to think about learning to sew and make a quilt. Amazing how much has changed. I’m looking forward to starting anew with this list and to see what life will bring over these next 1001 days.

Here’s my new list, I’ll be updating my official 101 Things page soon, but thought you’d like to see the old one to compare. Let me know if you want to join me this time around!

001. Go to Stella & Dot’s Hoopla Event
002. Promote to Star Stylist
003. Earn enough money to take family on vacation
004. See 10 concerts:
005. Go to a classical concert/opera with Roz
006. Go to a book reading event
007. Read 50 books:
008. Join the Chicago Art Institute
009. Join the Brookfield Zoo
010. See 25 movies:
011. Go on Chicago Architectural Tour
012. Go to Lincoln Park Zoo
013. Rent a cabin
014. Go to 10 different museums:
015. Teach Joe how to swim (with professional help)
016.Teach Joe how to read
017. Get Joe potty trained
018. Commission painting of Walter
019. Get Joe a passport
020. Have a picnic
021. Buy a higher quality sewing machine
022. Teach someone to knit
023. Make a pie for Pi day (3/14)
024. Get certified in CPR
025. Start golfing again
026. Join a yoga studio
027. Finish a 5K
028. Go fishing
029. Go camping
030. Go canoeing
031. Go to Great America
032. Find a reliable babysitter for JWC
033. Get a home safe
034. Donate to Locks of Love again
035. Get a safety deposit box
036. Find doctors/dentist for family
037. Find a new church to attend
038. Take Joe to the beach
039. Make a will
040. Get a library card
041. Organize and edit digital photo library
042. Teach myself how to crochet
043. Get a massage
044. Get a facial
045. Read 50 books:
046. See all Academy Award Best Picture Nominees before the awards show.
047. Take Joe to see a parade
048. Get personalized stationery
049. Get new business cards
050. Get address stamp made
051. Go to a Chicago Bears game
052. Go to a Chicago Cubs game
053. Go to NorthernGRADE
054. Go to a Chicago Blackhawks game
055. Go to a Kane County Cougars game
056. Complete Couch to 5K
057. Go iceskating
058. Take a cooking class
059. Host a beer tasting
060. Go to 30 movies:
061. Find local non-profit to volunteer
062. Knit preemie caps/blankets and donate
063. Make a quilt(s) to donate to a worthy cause
064. Make another quilt for Joe
065. Make a quilt for nephew
066. Make ice cream using a recipe from Jeni’s cook book.
067. Host a wine tasting party
068. Create cookbook of family recipes
069. Cook 10 things from Mastering the Art of French Cooking
070. Cook 10 things from 1080 Cook Book
071. Make pasta from scratch
072. Host a cookie exchange
073. Go to a wine tasting
074. Host a potluck
075. Visit a country I’ve never visited before
076. Go to the drive-in
077. Go to a National Park
078. Go strawberry picking
079. Make strawberry jam
080. Go apple picking
081. Make applesauce
082. Go to a county fair
083. Join a CSA
084. Join or start a book club
085. Go back to Hawaii
086. Fly somewhere with Joe
087. Get all artwork framed and displayed
088. Use Aveda points to go on vacation (I have enough!)
089. Go to Las Vegas
090. Have a girls weekend
091. Have a dinner party
092. Plan a surprise trip
093. Plant a garden
094. Get a bike
095. Clean up track information in iTunes
096. Have Family Christmas party
097. Figure out what to do with Instagram photos
098. Plant a tree for the twins
099. Get a tattoo in memory of the twins
100. Put $10 into savings for every completed item
101. Donate $10 for every completed item

13Feb2014

Joseph: 23 Months

Posted in Oh Baby by widdershins22

I’ve been adjusting pretty well to living at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. I miss some of my toys, my room, and my friends, but I’ve made myself right at home and have taken over the entire house. I think that I’ve livened it up around here quite a bit!

I really love playing outside in the snow, only it’s been way to cold to go outside! This makes me REALLY mad, especially when mommy tries to put me in the car and won’t let me run around. Hopefully, it will either get a little warmer so I can play in the snow, or get a bunch warmer so I can go swimming.

Mommy has been coming up with some creative ways to keep me entertained. Some of my favorites are baking cookies, coloring, playing “marching band” and going to play with my ball and trucks in the basement. I also like to play hide and seek with Grandma’s cat, but I wish I was better at finding him.

I still love Thomas the Tank Engine, but also really like to watch The Tigger Movie and The Hungry Caterpillar on Netflix. Wonder Pets and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood are also on my preferred list.

I am working on walking up and down the steps a lot. I still have to hold onto mommy or daddy’s hand and the railing, but I’m getting better at it. Soon I’ll be running up and down them just like everywhere else I go.

Only one more month and I will be two years old! Can you believe it?

4Feb2014

You have to do the hard things.

Posted in All About Me by widdershins22

You have to do the hard things.

You have to make the call you’re afraid to make.

You have to get up earlier than you want to get up.

You have to give more than you get in return right away.

You have to care more about others than they care about you.

You have to fight when you are already injured, bloody, and sore.

You have to feel unsure and insecure when playing it safe seems smarter.

You have to lead when no one else is following you yet.

You have to invest in yourself even though no one else is.

You have to look like a fool while you’re looking for answers you don’t have.

You have to grind out the details when it’s easier to shrug them off.

You have to deliver results when making excuses is an option.

You have to search for your own explanations even when you’re told to accept the “facts.”

You have to make mistakes and look like an idiot.

You have to try and fail and try again.

You have to run faster even though you’re out of breath.

You have to be kind to people who have been cruel to you.

You have to meet deadlines that are unreasonable and deliver results that are unparalleled.

You have to be accountable for your actions even when things go wrong.

You have to keep moving towards where you want to be no matter what’s in front of you.

You have to do the hard things. The things that no one else is doing. The things that scare you. The things that make you wonder how much longer you can hold on.

Those are the things that define you. Those are the things that make the difference between living a life of mediocrity or outrageous success.

The hard things are the easiest things to avoid. To excuse away. To pretend like they don’t apply to you.

The simple truth about how ordinary people accomplish outrageous feats of success is that they do the hard things that smarter, wealthier, more qualified people don’t have the courage — or desperation — to do.

Do the hard things. You might be surprised at how amazing you really are.

Original article from Business Insider.

I read this last week and it really struck a chord. Moving. Living in a state of limbo at my parents house. Solo parenting while Shawn is traveling for work. Snow, snow, frigid cold, more snow. Starting my Stella & Dot business from scratch. Housebound with a toddler. All these things are adding up and making me want to “take to bed” like a Victorian dowager. However, I continue to slog away and do “the hard things” knowing that all this shall pass and Spring -figuratively and literally- will bring sunnier days. Until then, I’ll keep my head down and keep pushing forward.