101 Things in 1001 Days

So here's my "whoa momma" list of things I'd like to do. Not just do ever, but do in the next 1001 days. Why the random number you may ask? Well apparently it's the thing to do. I didn't make it up, but I decided to try and be a little more goal oriented. I'm not great at sticking to things. I've got wonderful intentions, but somehow I always manage to lose my way. So here I go...

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

The Criteria:
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 my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as new year's resolutions. 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 organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

My Own Rules
1. If the task involves forming a new habit, it won't be considered complete until it's been performed for at least 2 months without fail. In the event it is failed, I will start over.
2. I will put the date behind the ones that I have completed and italicize the ones in progress

Start Date: March 9, 2007
End Date: December 4, 2009
In Progress: 17
Finished: 13

At Home/Improvement/To Do
1. start potted herb garden (planted May 27/07)
2. start recycling (done April 9/07, got a blue box)
3. buy myself fresh flowers once a month
4. clean bathrooms every monday
5. build and flip 2 houses min., 3 preferably (0/3)

Culinary/Social
6. buy a new cookbook and try at least 50% of the reciped in the book and post a review
7. eat at 529 Wellington
8. eat at Hy's Steak House
9. try 10 new restaurants (0/10)
10. learn about wine/do a wine tasting
11. start giving dinner parties once every 2 months (4/16)
12. have guests over for Sunday lunch or supper once a month (2/32)

Financial/Future
13. create a budget and stick to it for at least 6 months
14. pay off my credit card
15. cut up credit card (1 of 2 cut up, May 4/o7 - once I have my Josh Groban tickets I'll cut up the last one!)
16. give $25/month to a cause/charity/mission (5/33)
17. start a retirement savings plan
18. collect any change I find and cash it in on day 1001 (started April 10/07 - $0.65)
19. donate $5 to some cause/charity/mission for every item not completed by day 1001
20. start using a cash only system
21. for one month, spend no money except for necessities (gas, food, bills, insurance, mortgage)
22. get a will written up

For Fun
23. play bingo
24. find some event or place to wear fancy dress (see #70)
25. go on date with Jer once a month (6/33)
26. send a just because care package to a friend
27. host another clothing swap
28. do the Book Crossing thing
29. participate in a 26 things
30. go to an opera
31. take Ella to the ballet
32. go to an art museum (hopefully in Europe, but it doesn't have to be)

For Myself
33. start learning another language (Spanish or Italian)
34. start a journal
35. journal regularly
36. get peekaboo highlights in my hair
37. go another month without sugar, yeast, flour, vinegars, preservatives
38. get more design/decorating education (workshops, courses)

For Others
39. give blood
40. leave a 100% tip for excellent service in a restaurant
41. have my girlfriends over for a "just because I love you" party where they are all the guests of honor!
42. write more letters
43. write down all my friends birthdays and give them a card made by moi (started March 24/07)

Health/Fitness
44. go to the chiropractor every month (3/33)
45. walk every day (started April 8/07)
46. do Pilates 3x a week
47. drink 8 or 9 cups of water daily
48. have a full day at the spa and get every treatment I want
49. go to the dentist

Habits/Chores
50. floss and brush my teeth every day
51. shave my legs once a week
52. Make my bed every day
53. do daily skin cleansing routine
54. keep up with my laundry (fold directly out of dryer and put away) (started March 9/07)
55. clean my house from top to bottom once a month (3/33)
56. stay off computer until my list of chores for day is done (started March 9/07)
57. Get up earlier than my kids on weekdays

Organization
58. develop all the undeveloped pictures on my computer (50/400)
59. put my pictures in albums
60. go through my magazines and clip all the pictures or articles that inspire me for my design binder
61. redo my cookbook binder
62. have a garage sale
63. back up photos and put negatives/discs in safety deposit box
64. get home videos converted to dvd
65. go through my utensil drawer and get rid of anything I haven't used (done March 12/07)
66. scan my childhood pictures to a disc from Mom and Dad's collection

Purchases
67. buy a new pillow
68. buy albums for pictures
69. buy nice stationary (done for me by Rachelle March 22/07)
70. buy a fancy dress
71. save $500 and go on a guilt free shopping trip

Reading/Crafts/Decorating
72. start my wedding scrapbook
73. start a personal scrapbook
74. finish my current cross-stitch project
75. sew canopy cover for Ella's bed
76. read 50 books (9/50)

Spiritual
77. read bible every day
78. read the entire bible
79. pray with Jer every day (started March 11/07)

Travel
80. start a travel savings account
81. get a passport
82. go to Italy with Jer
83. have a girls weekend in Minneapolis
84. take a road trip
85. go to Vegas with Jer
86. go visit Val in Illinois : )
87. plan a surprise holiday for Jer and myself (weekend or longer - can coincide with #85)
88. do a house-swap with a family from another country
89. go on a train over night in a sleeper car
90. go to Interior Design Show in Toronto

91. go see Josh Groban or Michael Buble (done August 12, 2007 saw Josh Groban)
92. have a vegetable garden
93. get back to 140 lbs.
94. have our own firepit
95. buy my own fondue set
96. get our garage roofed (it shouldn't take 1001 days, but it's already taken 5 months and no sign of the roofers - my dear brothers!) (done April 13/07 FINALLY!)
97. own at least 12 pairs of shoes (all at the same time)
98. finish our headboard
99. paint our front door a different color
100.learn to jog/run (started April 25/7)
101.start a Portfolio for my design/decorating