Monday, January 24, 2011

21 Before 21 Update

There are only three weeks and a few days left until my birthday; I figure it is time for a little update on how my goals are coming. I set 21 goals last April that I wanted to achieve before my 21st birthday on February 16th, 2011 (yes, I know, I'm a baby!). So let's look at that list:

1. Bake homemade bread

 -Done! I made a loaf of homemade bread for our Thanksgiving dinner, which we hosted at our house this year. I was amazed at how easy it was, and I have made several loaves since. Actually, this past weekend we ran out of bread, so instead of sending the husband to the store, I whipped up a fresh loaf. So delicious.

2. Take a sign language class

-Complete! Actually, not only did I take a sign language class, I am in the middle of my third.

3. Read a book just for fun

-Fini! I read the book, Having Faith by Sandra Steingraber. I wrote up a little review here. A few days later, I actually got an email from Sandra Steingraber! I was so ecstatic, as she has become one of my heros.

4. Buy a house

-Yep! We closed on our 1901 farmhouse on April 26th. It was a long time coming! Here is my write up about the closing.

5. Reupholster a piece of furniture
-Ok, here is where things get a little sketchy...I started re-upholstering our sofa the week before Thanksgiving. I did not know what I was getting into... I'm still hoping to finish it...*nervous laughter*!

6. Plant a garden
- Planted and blogged. However, my garden did not turn out as promisingly as I had hoped...aside from a handful of cherry tomatoes, I'm embarrassed to say that it hardly produced at all. If I'm going to be completely honest, Planting a Garden 2010 was an epic fail. But, I did try it. AND, I am even more excited about planting a few plants this year and doing it a little differently (and hopefully with a very different outcome).

7. Make cake icing out of avocados
-Yummy and unique! Check it out: Avocado Icing!

8. Get an internship

-Accomplished! For June & July 2010 I interned at my local hospital's midwifery clinic, where Dmitri was born. I researched fear and self-efficacy in childbirth and read a lot of interesting studies. It was right in my niche and I enjoyed every minute of it.

9. Write a pros and cons list for future careers

Achieved. I have known for a while that I want a career within the birth world, but have not been sure exactly what that would look like. I have done a lot of research, soul-searching, and thinking about different options and I have a vision for what I would like to do. But, for the moment I am focusing on getting baby # 2 here and finishing my A.B in Women's Studies (in December!). Then we will see where I go from there!

10. Go on a weekend away
-Nope. Pretty sure this will be a fail. I'll blame it on a lack of funds and being pregnant...

11. Perform a random act of kindness
-Yes, but, I think it would defeat the purpose to write about it.

12. Build Dmitri a play kitchen
-I plan to turn a TV entertainment center into a toy kitchen for Dmitri. We ran into a few road blocks transporting the entertainment center from my sister-in-law's house (it would not fit in our vehicle)...so I was not able to work on it when I had the time. I am hoping to make progress on it, though it probably will not be finished by my birthday. Nonetheless, I have some ridiculously cute plans for it that will be worth the wait!

13. Write a love letter
Still need to do this one. I just need to decide who to write one too...just kidding! Valentine's Day is coming up, so it seems appropriate.

14. Scrapbook from July 2009-July 2010

-Although I have not finished this, I have made some progress. I sorted through and ordered over 300 photos. I unpacked and organized all of my craft/scrapbook supplies. The next step I need to take is finding an album since last year's is full (I end up doing a new album every year).

15. Build a piece of furniture "from scratch"
-Definitely done! We built a day bed, as well as our King sized master bed

16. Take a practice GRE test
I am scratching this one off the list. I do not plan to take the GRE anytime soon, so I am not going to take a practice GRE now.

17. Perfect a whole wheat sugar free cookie recipe

-I've tried a few, but haven't "perfected it." Sounds like I need to put my apron on and mess around in the kitchen!

18. Create a budget and follow it
-In progress...A blog post will be coming soon about how we've started budgeting this year.

19.Face a fear.
-I have pondered for months what my "fears" are and how I can face them. I was pretty afraid of getting pregnant again and having another baby. At 32 weeks pregnant, I can honestly say I have faced that belly on!

20. Blog about it
-Here you go. = )

21. Start a compost
-I have started a compost pile, but have mostly put yard debris in it. I need to get better about taking our fruit and veggie remains out to the pile!

So there it is. It's not perfection, but it's progress. Hopefully I can knock a few more off the list before my birthday!

12 comments:

the girl in the red shoes said...

Wow, you accomplished so much! Let me know if you find a good whole wheat sugar free cookie recipe you like!

Unknown said...

I love your list. And you are probably more accomplished than I am! I'd do one, but I am ahead of you in the age category... Maybe I'll do a 30 before I'm 30? Hmmm... Interesting!

Willo said...

Great job! Just a little composting tip, we keep a colander (recycled stainless steel and bamboo from Natural Home) on the counter to put our daily scraps in (as well as tissues, receipts, coffee filters, etc...) and then at the end of the day those go in a container in our garage (ours is a reused kitty litter bucket) and then we only have to walk them out to the compost pile once a week...if that helps at all.

michelle said...

What a great list and it looks like you are on your way to finishing it up! You have accomplished quite a bit!

the cape on the corner said...

good for you, you have done a lot! i am choosing to ignore the whole age thing, as i am *gasp* 10 years beyond that. how did that happen?! seriously!

Suzana said...

I LOVE your comment on number 11 - that's the way it should be :)

paisley penguin said...

You are an inspiration! You have accomplished so much while going to school and being a mom AND being prenant.

Anonymous said...

Great list! About the garden, I think that's great that you've started a compost.... in my experience the success of plants growing and harvesting has mostly to do with the soil. You can buy a soil kit tester real cheap at a hardware store. They are super easy to use and will quickly help you identify what your soil is lacking.
Oh, and you are a young'n but I think that's great that you have such a head start on your life and goals, it's very admirable!

Mandi Miller said...

Sounds like you are doing pretty well on your 21 before 21 list!! Good luck with the rest of them. And if you perfect that recipe then you MUST post it! :)

Anonymous said...

Sounds like your getting a lot done!

Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking said...

You have really accomplished so very much! Congratulations!! I don't know how you do all that you do.Amazing!

rebecca said...

hey! i found your blog through a link ( it was the title that lured me!) and love this list! i am currently working on my 25 before 25 list! and i love that you are into sign language... i am an interpreter!

you and your blog are super cute :)