"Blow at High Dough"

On Saturday, I crowded into a field with 30,000 people in 33 degree weather to watch a stellar line up of bands grace the stage. Starting with Matt Minglewood, Blue Rodeo and Johnny Reid followed by The Tragically Hip and The Eagles.

We arrived on the field around 2:30pm just in time to listen to Matt Minglewood start off the show. Let me tell you, for an old guy he's still got it going on. I was swooned by Blue Rodeo, fell in love with the way that Johnny Reid spoke (not such a fan of his music, but I could listen to him talk to for hours!).

Then what I had been waiting for... Gord Downey took the stage and stole my heart.

 



When Daniel and I started dating he would sing me Hip and Springstien songs that would melt my heart. Standing there with his arms around me, watching Gord prance around the stage ( I really don't know what else you can call his style of entertianment), made the experience perfect.

Despite the heat, the beating down sun, and the long wait, the ticket was worth every penny I spent on it. And while the Tragically Hip, were opening for The Eagles, to me this was the best part of the show.

The Eagles on the other hand, well I liked their music.. love it actually.. but the only thing I learned while watching the Eagles is that Joe Walsh is still the man. <3

To me there is no better feeling that crossing something off of a to-do list... unless it's crossing the very last item off on your entire list!  (Want to know a little secret? I make a list of things that I need to do at both work and home every night before I go to bed!) I think this is part of the reason that the 101/1001 challenge was so appealing to me. Not only does it give a realistic amount of time for tasks(or at least more so than a New Year's Resolutions) but it's a list that I check items off of when I'm finished!

Part of my 101/1001 was to make a list of goals, or things that I wanted to complete every month for a year and accomplish everything on them.

I've been trying this out for a few months and am getting nowhere with it, so I though that if I posted it here than I would feel obligated to do these things... even if nobody ever reads this. So here we go...

June

1. Read 3 books.

2. Watch 2 documentaries, recommended by friends.

3.  Drink only water for a week.

4. Walk 3 nights a week.

5. Try 2 new recipes. 

DIY Projects

Lately it seems that I have become obsessed with DIY projects. I'm always on Google looking for a ideas, searching blogs and bookmarking things that are either simple or too cute to not try. My list has become increasingly long and I haven't even started one project yet. 

Searching through DIY projects has given me the urge to try all kinds of new art projects, revamp my old clothes and turn leftover renovation supplies into the cutest coasters! It's truly amazing how many people have started refurbishing old run down furniture and turning them into works of art. It has definitely opened up my eyes to a whole new side of redecorating and sparked an interest in stepping out of my comfort zone, which usually involves buy everything that I need for my apartment already assembled at the store. 

I'm excited to start trying out all the new ideas that I have for my apartment and make all kinds of cute things for my friends and family!

Rainbow Tie Dye Cupcakes

I apparently had baking fever this weekend! Not only did I made the Oreo cupcakes on Saturday, I woke up Sunday with the desire to do more baking! If I keep this up I'm going to  have to have to invest in bigger jeans!

This recipe was so much fun (but resulted in so many dirty dishes). 

 I just started off by making my favorite vanilla cupcake recipe and then separated it into four separate bowls. I then added 4 different colors of neon food dye, mixed it up and then it looked like this!

Then you just layer the different colors into your muffin pan and put them in the oven!

This was my final result! Not only were they delicious, but they look so cool! At first I just stared at them a little.. but then the smell was so overwhelming that I had to eat one (okay, okay... I ate two).

Oreo cupcakes!

I figured there was no better place to start my 101/1001 list than by doing one of my favorite things... eating cupcakes!

I found this super easy (and delicious) recipe for Oreo cupcakes on stumble upon.

One new type of cupcakes down... 9 more delicious recipes to go!

101 in 1001

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.

Start Date: January 20th, 2013

End Date: October 15th, 2015

Goals that are in italics are in progress and the goals that have a strike through them are complete! Here we go!

Healthy Living

1. Quit bad habits.

2. Go to bed early.

3.  Complete a 30 Day Shred. (0/30)

4.  Run a half-marathon.

5. Give up Pepsi for a week.

6. Go vegetarian for a week.

7. Attend a Yoga class.

8. Drink only water for a week, twice.

9. Drink the daily recommended amount of water daily, for a month.

10. Complete the Couch to 5K Challenge.

Creative

11. Make my own skirt (and actually wear it).

12. Learn to knit.

13. Try blogging.

14. Learn how to curl my hair.

15. Learn to curl my hair.

16. Keep a journal for a year.

17. Buy and complete a "Wreck this Journal".

18. Revamp an old piece of clothing.

19. Give a creative gift rather than buying one.

20. Make a blanket for and sleep it in.

Education

21. Join a book club.

22. Try snowshoeing.

23. Watch all of IMDB's Top 250 Movies. (0/250)

24. Pass Calculus.

25. Finish my Psych degree.

26. Read 101 novels. (0/101)

27. Learn to play guitar. 

28. Become First Aid Certified.

29. Read 5 non-fictional books. (0/5)

30. Watch 10 documentaries, all suggested by friends. (0/10)

31. Learn Conversational French.

32. Take a free online class.

33. Take the GRE.

34. Learn how to change a tire.

35. Read Pride and Prejudice.

Travel

37. Visit Ireland.

38. Hike Gros Morne.

39. Kiss the Blarney Stone

40. See a Tragically Hip Concert.

41. Take a roadtrip.

42. Go to England.

43. Visit Dinosaur Provincial Park.

44. Get a stamp on my passport.

45. Complete Copper Mine Trail.

46. Drive across the Confederation Bridge.

Baking/Cooking

47. Try making a new dish every week for a month.

48. Host a dinner party.

49. Make red velvet cupcakes.

50. Make my own recipe book.

51. Make my own wine. 

52. Cook Chinese food.

53. Make a Rubik's Cube cake.

54. Learn how to make creme brulee. 

55. Make 10 new kinds of cupcakes. (2/10 - Oreo cupcakes, Rainbow tie dye cupcakes)

56. Make soft pretzels.

57. Make chocolates.

Kindness

58. Donate blood.

59. Influence someone to make a 101 in 10o1 List.(After hearing about  my list and all the neat things I wanted to do, my roommate Jolene decided to make her very own list!)

60. Donate all clothes I haven't worn in the last 3 months.

61. Register as a bone marrow donor. (02/09/13)

61. Become an organ donor.

62. Find out what my blood type is.

For Me

63. Go to a wine tasting.

64. Get completely out of debt.

65. Buy myself a nice piece of jewelry.

66. Buy myself a dress from Modcloth.

67. Wear a skirt once a month . (0/ 33)

68. Buy something on Etsy.

69. Don't go on Facebook for a week.

70. Cut my hair short.

71. Go back to Blonde.

72. Buy myself flowers.

73. Buy a new DVD player.

74. Spend $0 for a month (except bills).

75. Do a random act of kindness.

76. Go through everything I own and downsize.

77. Whiten my teeth.

78. Wear heels once a month. (0/33)

79. Go whale watching.

80. Try 10 new beers. (1/10 - Shock top)

81. See a Llama.

82. Go on a picnic.

83. Go camping.

Misc.

84. Ask 20 friends to suggests books and read them all. (0/20)

85. Host a game night,

86. Put away $5 for every goal I complete.

87. Ride a roller coaster.

88. Make 5 things from instructables.com (0/5)

89. Listen to a new artist/band every day for a month.

90. Write a letter to myself, to be opened at the end of the 1001 days.

91. Write another 101 list at the end of the 1001 days.

92. Write and send letters to 5 friends. (0/5)

93. Write a list of goals each month for a year and keep them.

94. Do a 1000 piece puzzle.

95. Get a house plant and keep it alive for a month.

96. Give 10 friends "I love you because..." cards. (0/10)

97. Receive 101 cards from postcrossing.com. (0/101)

98. Go camping.

99. Watch 26 movies that I haven't seen, starting with each letter of the alphabet. (0/26)

100. Answer "50 Questions that will free your mind".

101. Meet Emily for a beer in 1001 days (Oct. 18th, 2015).

So, here we go...

I'm not exactly sure what your first blog post is supposed to contain.. I'm not even sure if anyone will ever read this, but I'm determined to give it a try.

Recently, a friend and I decided to join Day Zero Project and start the 101 in 1001 challenge. One of the things in my list was to try blogging. I have followed blogs for years and thought it would be neat to get my opinion out there and a great way to track my progress in the 101 in 1001 challenge. 

I can't guarantee that this blog will be a success, or even be read at all. Either way, I'm going for it. Even if all I end up posting about is my love of cupcakes and wine.