Day 299 - 42 weeks and 5 days gone......

Okay I have been somewhat getting back into the swing of checking my list daily and trying to make every day matter..... I know some things will not be achieved overnight but other's can be.

So 299 have gone (42 weeks and 5 days) which means I have 702 days left to achieve as much as possible. Honestly I don't expect to achieve everything on my list.... however it would be nice... who knows, hey?

So what has the last few weeks brought...

#57 - Try a different recipe every week (42/143) - the last two "new" recipes we have tried are:

Linguine with Lime and Chilli Prawns

Honey Mustard Pork Cutlets

#83 - Sit at the dinner table as a family 4 times per week (151/572) - we have managed 11 out of the last 14 days to eat together.

#92 - Ring my mam once a week (41/143) - I have spoken to my mam 6 times in the last 14 days - not too shabby there.

#100 – Put $2 away for every day of this challenge (299/1001) - have started replenishing my coin collection.

Day 290..... time to re-focus!

I am not going to make excuses for missing and wasting so many days. These days I will never get back but I can surely make the effort to RE-FOCUS and get back on with the job at hand.

There are a few items of my list that I now believe shouldn't have been on there to start with and I am not sure what I can do about this... will have to ponder some thought on them. But others on my list are there for a reason and I know that by completing them I will fulfill many aspects in my life.

SO where am I at now.......

#01 – Lose weight – my current weight is 93kgs (as of today) and my personal NEW goal is 65kgs. I have 28 kgs to lose.
#02 - Have a "date" with my husband once a month (4/34)
#03 - Complete my Cert IV Trainer and Assessor Upgrade - deadline is NOW END OF OCTOBER! And this time I do not plan on getting any more extensions....
#04 – Research our family tree – started and stalled......
#05 - Control my psoriasis - started and not persisted...... hhhhmmmm!!!!
#08 - Find a hobby (besides Facebook) I really like and will continue to do.... DONE! Now I BLOG!! Still feel I need to find an ACTUAL hobby!!!
#11 - Get rid of clothes that I no longer wear or haven't worn - started.
#13 - Have a family holiday other than camping - paid deposit for a chaltet in Bright - no date set as yet
#14 - Hold a "How To Host A Murder" Dinner Party - DONE Saturday 4th July 2009
#19 - Have a party for Noel's 40th in April 2009 - DONE Saturday 25th April 2009.
#46 - Send mam a card every month (5/34) - missed a few months so need to catch up - should be up to 10.....
#54 - Write a cookbook - having started online http://www.adashofflavour.blogspot.com/ - I am having so much fun with this and have put it out there for others to read - please come and vist our online kitchen!!
#57 - Try a different recipe every week (41/143) - definitely cooking more than one new recipe each week
#59 - Go somewhere for dinner where we need to dress up (1/6)
#61 - De-clutter my house (get rid of 1001 items not including general rubbish) (250/1001)
#64 - Organise all DVD's and CD's - has been started and stalled
#66 - Listen to Alex read 3 nights per week (10/429) - need to catch up on this one... should be up to 123!!
#67 - Listen to Oliver read 3 nights per week (2/429) - need to catch up on this one... should be up to 123!!
#83 - Sit at the dinner table as a family 4 times per week (140/572) - been a little slack!!
#84 - Sort out kitchen cupboards - DONE but now I do need to do the plastic containers... ggggrrrr
#86 - Walk 30 mins per day 3 times per week (6/429)
#87 – Finish unpacking house from the move - started.
#89 - Spend at least 1 hr per week quality time with Oliver (20/143hrs) - definitely need to improve in this area..... should be 41 hrs
#90 – Spend at least 1 hr per week quality time with Alex (20/143hrs) - definitely need to improve in this area..... should be 41 hrs
#92 - Ring my mam once a week (41/143) - I have to admit to sometimes ringing her more than once
#100 – Put $2 away for every day of this challenge (290/1001) - raided my stash so I have to start again... naughty girl.

So what's in the pipeline?

Firstly I need to get my head sorted and get back on with my mission at hand. It's all about improving me and finalising the things I want to do, the things I have listed. I am going to start planning both the Indian and Chinese dinner parties, as they will need to be planned properly.

Football season for 2009 is nearly over so I will now get my Sunday's back....and therefore I will be able to spend more time with Noel, Oliver and Alexandria. Something I need to do that is for sure!



hhhhmmmm I wonder can I change my list half way through or is that cheating?

Day 168 and all the days MIA before......

WOW - sort of missed a few days worth of posting here… oops!!

No exact reasoning for the lapse in not only blogging but slackness on behalf of completing these challenges. I have had a fair bit going on... but I don't want to bore you with excuses!! So will just put it behind me as blah, blah, blah and get on with crossing some of these things off - okay?

101 tasks:

#01 – Lose 36.7kgs – restarted my lifestyle change/weightloss journey yesterday after yo-yoing for what seems forever. No more excuses!
#02 - Have a "date" with my husband once a month (3/34)
#03 - Complete my Cert IV Trainer and Assessor Upgrade - deadline is NOW END OF MAY!
#04 – Research our family tree – started.
#05 - Control my psoriasis - started
#08 - Find a hobby (besides Facebook) I really like and will continue to do.... DONE
#11 - Get rid of clothes that I no longer wear or haven't worn - started.
#13 - Have a family holiday other than camping - paid deposit for a chaltet in Bright.
#14 - Hold a "How To Host A Murder" Dinner Party - in planning stage
#19 - Have a party for Noel's 40th in April 2009 - the party is on 25th April at our place.
#46 - Send mam a card every month (5/34)
#54 - Write a cookbook - having started online http://www.adashofflavour.blogspot.com/ - I am having so much fun with this and have put it out there for others to read - please come and vist our online kitchen!!
#57 - Try a different recipe every week (40/143)
#59 - Go somewhere for dinner where we need to dress up (1/6)
#61 - De-clutter my house (get rid of 1001 items not including general rubbish) (250/1001)
#64 - Organise all DVD's and CD's - has been started
#66 - Listen to Alex read 3 nights per week (10/429)
#67 - Listen to Oliver read 3 nights per week (2/429)
#83 - Sit at the dinner table as a family 4 times per week (96/572)
#84 - Sort out kitchen cupboards - DONE.
#86 - Walk 30 mins per day 3 times per week (6/429)
#87 – Finish unpacking house from the move - started.
#89 - Spend at least 1 hr per week quality time with Oliver (20/143hrs)
#90 – Spend at least 1 hr per week quality time with Alex (20/143hrs)
#92 - Ring my mam once a week (96/143)
#100 – Put $2 away for every day of this challenge (167/1001)

#14 - Hold a "How To Host A Murder" Dinner Party - in planning stage

No date set as yet but I have decided on the couples that I am going to invite - now I need to choose which game and when? I love these dinner parties - they are such a novel idea!

#59 - Go somewhere for dinner where we need to dress up (1/6)

On Easter Sunday the family all dressed in our suits and fancy clothes and went for lunch at the Italian Club in Keysborough to celebrate Dad's birthday. It was nice to dress up... as we don't do it very often at all.

#89 - Spend at least 1 hr per week quality time with Oliver (20/143hrs) and #90 – Spend at least 1 hr per week quality time with Alex (20/143hrs)

I have just had the past week off from work as it's school holidays. It was wonderful to spend some extra time with the kids. I cannot class all of the days as quality time as quite a lot of it I spent cleaning, doing clothes washing etc. But it was great to be able to sit and watch movies, play games, talk and just be together. We did go to the cinema's to see Monsters vs Aliens so that was a nice outing.

Needless to say I need to pull my finger out and focus on completing quite a few more challenges as time is literally running out......

Day 79 - 107... OMG time flies!!

I cannot believe that it has nearly been a month since updating this blog. I do however have an arm full of excuses, which I will not bore you with.

Have I achieved anything to date... let's take a look at the list and see.

101 tasks:

#01 – Lose 36.7kgs – loss to date 0.8kgs.

#02 - Have a "date" with my husband once a month (2/34)

#03 - Complete my Cert IV Trainer and Assessor Upgrade - working on it.

#04 – Research our family tree – started.

#05 - Control my psoriasis - started

#08 - Find a hobby (besides Facebook) I really like and will continue to do.... DONE

#11 - Get rid of clothes that I no longer wear or haven't worn - started.

#13 - Have a family holiday other than camping - paid deposit for a chaltet in Bright.

#19 - Have a party for Noel's 40th in April 2009 - I have started planning this.

#46 - Send mam a card every month (4/34)

#54 - Write a cookbook - having started online http://www.adashofflavour.blogspot.com/ - does this count I wonder?

#57 - Try a different recipe every week (21/143)

#61 - De-clutter my house (get rid of 1001 items not including general rubbish) (250/1001)

#64 - Organise all DVD's and CD's - has been started

#66 - Listen to Alex read 3 nights per week (10/429)

#67 - Listen to Oliver read 3 nights per week (2/429)

#83 - Sit at the dinner table as a family 4 times per week (52/572)

#84 - Sort out kitchen cupboards - DONE.

#86 - Walk 30 mins per day 3 times per week (6/429)

#87 – Finish unpacking house from the move - started.

#90 – Spend at least 1 hr per week quality time with Alex (3/143).

#92 - Ring my mam once a week (15/143)

#100 – Put $2 away for every day of this challenge (107/1001)

So let's wrap this up.....

#05 - Control my psoriasis - started

When Jeff came out from Wales to stay with my mam he brought me some tubes of cream. This cream I have used before with success, but didn't follow up on. I decided to get myself into a routine of applying the cream regularly and I am quite proud of my elbows and knees at the moment. I still have a long way to go but my spots don't look or feel so dry and sore as they have in the past.

#08 - Find a hobby (besides Facebook) I really like and will continue to do....

Done... my new hobby isn't Facebook but I dare say that it's computer related. I have started an online cooking blogspot. This is something I dabbled with last year but have really found a passion for. Infact the whole family are quite excited about this venture and are participating not to mention encouraging me.

Check it out if you dare: http://www.adashofflavour.blogspot.com/

#13 - Have a family holiday other than camping

Earlier in January I put a deposit on a Chalet in Bright, Victoria. It won't be a long holiday but it will still be a holiday for the four of us. Now we just need to work out when we will be going.

#19 - Have a party for Noel's 40th in April 2009

April 24th is Noel's birthday and I have already started planning a party for him. It won't be too fancy but fancy enough to celebrate his big birthday. Mam and Clare are both planning to fly in to help celebrate.

#54 - Write a cookbook

Having started an online cooking blog, http://www.adashofflavour.blogspot.com/, does this count I wonder? I think so and if successful it will be a great starting block for a proper cookbook.

#84 - Sort out kitchen cupboards.

I did it and managed to through out 2 and a half black garbage bags full of out of date food. Now when I say food it was packet mixes, flours, sauces, jars etc... I couldn't believe what was actually in our cupboards but now they look great. (This is only one cupboard but I am sure that you get the picture).

Day 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 and 78...

Okay so another few days have flown, but that's okay.

No major achievements to cross off the list but I did manage to lose 1.6kgs this week so that's a little chipped of task #1.

Also tried a new recipe this week - Spinach and Ricotta Conchiglioni (I adapted from canneloni as I had large shells not tubes) and it was quite nice actually. Add that to the favourites list.

101 tasks:
#01 – Lose 36.7kgs – loss to date 1.9kgs.
#02 - Have a "date" with my husband once a month (2/34)
#03 - Complete my Cert IV Trainer and Assessor Upgrade - working on it.
#04 – Research our family tree – started.
#11 - Get rid of clothes that I no longer wear or haven't worn - started.
#46 - Send mam a card every month (3/34)
#57 - Try a different recipe every week (7/143)
#61 - De-clutter my house (get rid of 1001 items not including general rubbish) (187/1001)
#64 - Organise all DVD's and CD's - has been started
#66 - Listen to Alex read 3 nights per week (10/429)
#67 - Listen to Oliver read 3 nights per week (2/429)
#83 - Sit at the dinner table as a family 4 times per week (52/572)
#86 - Walk 30 mins per day 3 times per week (6/429)
#87 – Finish unpacking house from the move - started.
#90 – Spend at least 1 hr per week quality time with Alex (3/143).
#92 - Ring my mam once a week (12/143)
#100 – Put $2 away for every day of this challenge (78/1001)

Days 51 - 72... # 10 Complete...

Wow - December and Christmas really took a hold of me this year as I just needed everything to be perfect for the big day.. what am I saying I am like this every year!! So needless to say finding time has been very hard and as you can see it's been quite a few days inbetween posts.

Proudly though I can say that I completed #10 - Have a New Years Eve Party at our house. And it was ACE!! Not a huge crowd but big enough. A mix of family, old friends and new friends made the party successful not to mention all the food that was brought and prepared. In all I think everyone enjoyed themselves and from a hazzy memory believed that it finished around 3am!!

101 tasks:
#01 – Lose 36.7kgs – loss to date 0.4kgs - Christmas and New Year didn't help my weight.
#02 - Have a "date" with my husband once a month (2/34)
#03 - Complete my Cert IV Trainer and Assessor Upgrade - working on it.
#04 – Research our family tree – started.
#10 - Have a New Years Eve Party at our house - COMPLETED 31/12/08-01/01/09
#11 - Get rid of clothes that I no longer wear or haven't worn - started.
#46 - Send mam a card every month (3/34)
#57 - Try a different recipe every week (6/143)
#61 - De-clutter my house (get rid of 1001 items not including general rubbish) (180/1001)
#64 - Organise all DVD's and CD's - has been started
#66 - Listen to Alex read 3 nights per week (10/429)
#67 - Listen to Oliver read 3 nights per week (2/429)
#83 - Sit at the dinner table as a family 4 times per week (72/572)
#86 - Walk 30 mins per day 3 times per week (6/429)
#87 – Finish unpacking house from the move - started.
#90 – Spend at least 1 hr per week quality time with Alex (3/143).
#92 - Ring my mam once a week (12/143)
#100 – Put $2 away for every day of this challenge (72/1001)

Days 45, 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50 ....

"Geez louize" - cannot believe that I have become quite slack with this blog. I must say it's definately not intentional its time deficiency for sure.

On the challenge front no major advances as, like many of you, Christmas has taken hold of the steering wheel and is consuming me and my thoughts daily. I love Christmas dearly but this year I am looking forward to relaxing after it's all over. I don't really know why I feel like this - well to be honest I do - but I am a big girl and have to deal with it....

Sorry this is not really exactly exciting reading at the moment!!

101 tasks:
#01 – Lose 36.7kgs – loss to date 0.7kgs - Had a massive gain totally self inflicted.
#02 - Have a "date" with my husband once a month (2/34)
#03 - Complete my Cert IV Trainer and Assessor Upgrade - working on it.
#04 – Research our family tree – started.
#11 - Get rid of clothes that I no longer wear or haven't worn - started.
#46 - Send mam a card every month (3/34)
#57 - Try a different recipe every week (4/143)
#61 - De-clutter my house (get rid of 1001 items not including general rubbish) (130/1001)
#64 - Organise all DVD's and CD's - has been started
#66 - Listen to Alex read 3 nights per week (10/429)
#67 - Listen to Oliver read 3 nights per week (2/429)
#83 - Sit at the dinner table as a family 4 times per week (42/572)
#86 - Walk 30 mins per day 3 times per week (3/429)
#87 – Finish unpacking house from the move - started.
#90 – Spend at least 1 hr per week quality time with Alex (3/143)
.#92 - Ring my mam once a week (10/143)
#100 – Put $2 away for every day of this challenge (50/1001)