Project Complete!! {ish}

Have you ever had a piece of furniture (or clothing, or whatever) that was just off? I have.

Well made, quality wood, excellent detailing. Plus he was free- he had a couple dents on him, so his previous owners gave him away. Despite all his obvious attractions, I have never been sold on this unfortunate sofa table. At one point, I made him a suit to make him prettier, but that really only works for about 1.5 months out of the year {I am that serious about Halloween, thank you very much}. The solution?

Spray paint!

Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch semi-gloss black, to be exact. I highly recommend it for home projects. The only issues I had using it came from my inexperience using spray paint, not any issues with the paint itself. But I digress.

Several coats of paint later, and following a lovely innovation from Mr. Pony {shelves are amazing!}, we now have this in our entryway!!

Much better! And quite a bit more functional, once I find some nice baskets for shoes and such. And remember those details I told you about? The spray paint covered them just fine!

I'm much happier walking into our home now- it looks more grown-up with this chic piece of furniture:) {not to toot my own horn or anything;)}. Added bonus is that this completes #37 on my 101 in 1001 list- refinish or repaint furniture we already own or used furniture. Huzzah!

And another one gone
And another one gone
Another one bites the dust
Hey, I'm gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust 
- Queen

100 and 101

Can someone tell me how it has gotten to be the end of February? How have I been the queen of my own home {sub-queen- Pepsi comes first} for almost 8 months? What craziness is this that this is my 100th post??

Its amazing what can happen in just 100 electronic moments in time- I'm now a married old woman with a house, a new baby {dogs count, right?} and a growing obsession with domestic-y craft projects {that isn't to say I'm any Martha Stewart, but I can at least make napkins now}.

In honor of my 100th internet ponder-post, I thought I'd share the progress I've made on my 101 in 1001 goals. Some of the goals have changed since I started, but the concept is still the same, and I feel like I'm making good headway and, in the progress, improving myself as a person. Always a good feeling. The weekly and monthly goals have been harder to keep up with than I imagined- between work and... work :) sometimes I just don't have excess energy. However- I'm finding that having these goals does make me get up off the couch (and away from the computer)- sweet!

Weekly
1. Run at least 2x a week every week for the entire 1001 days. {11/143}
2. Clean my desk off every week. {13/143}
3. Play with the ponies at least 2x per week. {13/143}
4. Photograph at least one dinner per week. {13/143}
5. Make a list of weekly goals and actually finish all of them. {12/143}
6. Put away laundry the day it is washed, not later in the week. {13/143} 
7. Clean the litterbox once a week. {13/143} 
8. Spend 30 minutes/week looking at the news. {13/143}
 
Monthly
10. Commit at least 5 hours a month to writing one of my story ideas. {1/33}
11. Pick 1 photo every month to set aside as my photography benchmark so I can look back and see how I’ve progressed. {3/33}
12. Bake at least 2x a month. {3/33}
15. Spend at least 2 nights a month completely away from the computer, and vacations don’t count. {3/33}
16. Make at least 5 blog posts a month- 1 should actually have ‘real’ content. {3/33}
17. Sew at least once a month. {3/33} (I've hemmed pants, made a wallet {failure} and made napkins {not a failure})
18. Find at least 2 reasons a month to get all dressed up and go out. {3/33}
19. Relax with a bubble bath, some wine and a good book 1x a month. {3/33} -haven't gotten the wine yet, but the bath and the book have been great!

Other
28. Read at least 50 new books- rereads and other books on the list don’t count. {1/50}
    - The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein
29. Buy 2 nice lenses for my camera {2/2} completed 2/1/10 w/ purchase of T1i
   - Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II
   - Canon EF S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS
31. Inspire at least 2 people to make their own 101 in 1001 lists. {1/2}
   - Mr. Pony made a list!
33. Cook dinner for Mr. Pony at least 30 times. {2/30}
54. Find 5 things about Central Nowhere that make me happy to live here. {2/5}
   - there is good Indian, Italian and Asian food here- yay ethnic tasties!
   - we could afford to buy a house!!
58. Read or reread all published books by Diana Gabaldon {10/10} completed 2/17/10
   - 3 Lord John books
   - 7 Outlander books
65. Finish the wedding photo book. Completed 2/21/10
86. Do something special each New Year’s Eve.{1/3}
   - NYE 2009- went to Dallas and had expensive champagne
93. Go to a concert (singer, orchestra, whatever). completed 12/30/2009
   - Transiberian Orchestra. It sucked, but it was a concert!
97. Watch the sun rise without being up for work 5 times (photography optional). {2/5}
   - 12/23/2009
   - 12/28/2009

After looking back at the goals I've accomplished in the past 89 days, I'm excited to see how I do through the rest of this challenge!



Goals are dreams with deadlines. -Diana Scharf Hunt

Long time no post!

And so I have finally returned to the blogging world. Life has been exceptionally busy (as I'm sure it has been for anyone else), but I've decided its time to return to the blog-o-sphere. Whats new here?

-I've made a few changes to my 101 in 1001 which I'll post in the new few days. Over the last month, I've made next to no progress on my list and found that several of my goals didn't really matter that much to me, so... I changed them and I'm starting over as of Dec. 1, just to make a clean break of it. I suppose I could procrastinate until New Year's, but then I'd probably never get started.

-I'm obsessing over new ideas in home decor {shocking} and I'm just itching to distract Mr. Pony long enough to spend hundreds of dollars on airy bookcases, delicate knick-knack tables and tidbits of foolishness to decorate said tables. I may have to content myself with daydreaming for now, but one day, victory shall be mine!

-The Pony family is strongly considering adopting a dog from one of the local animal rescues. Mr. P thinks a lab puppy would be super. I'm a bit more... tentative on the puppy-ness of what we adopt. I'm leaning more towards a mature animal that will hopefully be past its puppy chewing phase, etc. After all, we already have the catdog that chews on shoes, wires and small pieces of wooden furniture- isn't that enough?

Nothing major has changed, but important things for me! Upcoming will be some updates to the 'look' of the Pony site, plus *hopefully* more regular additions. Cheers!

The begining is the most important part of the work. - Plato

101 in 1001: The Beginning

Sometimes motivation is a problem for me, so when I found the 101 in 1001 project, I thought 'Why not, maybe it'll help!' I don't know if I'll get through all of these tasks, but I'm gonna do my best- check back for progress!

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: 11/2/2009
End Date: 7/30/2012

Bold - Completed Item

1. Learn French from French in 10 minutes a Day.
2. Learn how to use Ap and Shutter priority settings to get nice pictures.
3. Take a Photoshop course.

4. Private goal
5. Run at least 2x a week every week for the entire 1001 days. {0/143}
6. Talk to Roommateo at least 2x a month. {0/33}
7. Join a book club

8. Learn how to sew well enough to make things for the house.

9. Return my library books on time for these entire 1001 days

10. Read at least 50 new books- rereads and other books on the list don’t count. {0/50}

11. Buy 2 nice lenses for my camera

12. Commit at least 2 hours a week to writing one of my story ideas. {0/143}

13. Pick 1 photo every month to set aside as my photography benchmark so I can look back and see how I’ve progressed. {0/33}

14. Learn to use all the fancy make-up I purchased for the wedding

15. Inspire at least 2 people to make their own 101 in 1001 lists. {1/2}

16. Participate in a project from sh1ft.org at least 3 times (http://sh1ft.org/projects/)

17. Bake at least 2x a month. {0/33}

18. Clean my desk off every week. {0/143}

19. Get Copper to Training level dressage.

20. Cook dinner for Mr. Pony at least 30 times. {0/30}

21. Learn to make 5 tasty cocktails (excluding those I already know). {0/5}

22. Create at least 5 DIY tutorials for my blog. {0/5}

23. Design & build bookshelves for home.

24. Check craigslist, flea markets and 2^nd hand shops for things before buying in a store.

25. Avoid Wal-Mart at all costs.

26. Say thank-you more.

27. Make the bedroom into a haven, not a sleep-hole.

28. Get bangs cut.

29. Attend a local theater production.

30. Take my camera out on 10.10.10 and 11.11.11 and do a "Day in the Life" segment. {0/2}

31. Learn more about wine.

32. Go to at least 5 wine tastings. {0/5}

33. Call my brother at least 1x a month for no real reason. {0/33}

34. Call my aunt at least 1x a month for no real reason. {0/33}

35. Learn to be less defensive.

35. Travel outside of the U.S.

36. Visit one fabulous U.S. location.

37. Send at least 5 small presents for absolutely no reason. {0/5}

38. Get rid of music I don’t listen to anymore.

39. Find 10 new artists/songs that make me smile or work out better.

40. Relax with a bubble bath, some wine and a good book 1x a month. {0/33}

41. Read 5 books from the ‘Banned Books’ List. http://www.banned-books.com/bblist.html {0/5}

42. Find 5 things about Central Nowhere that make me happy to live here. {0/5}

43. Get 20 followers on blog (have 3 now, so need 17 more). {0/17}

44. Spend at least 2 nights a month completely away from the computer, and vacations don’t count. {0/66}

45. Make a skirt that I would want to wear in public.

46. Find at least 2 reasons a month to get all dressed up and go out.

47. Private goal.

48. Read all published books by Diana Gabaldon.

49. Read at least 5 non-fiction books. {0/5}

50. Identify all the historical and factual errors in The DaVinci Code.

51. Listen to more classical music.

52. Pony ride at least 2x per week.

53. Photograph at least one dinner per week.

54. Make a list of weekly goals and actually finish all of them.

55. Make at least 2 blog posts a week- 1 should actually have ‘real’ content.

56. Private goal.

57. Get one more beautiful picture of Lyric.

58. Become a real Pony Clubber again (knowledge and care skills at least).

59. Finish the wedding photo book.

60. Do a trash the dress session.

61. Sew at least once a month. {0/33}

62. Get art up on all the walls.

63. Find a perfect LBD and heels combo.

64. Make a purse for daily use.

65. Take riding lessons again.

66. Wander campus and take pictures.

67. Put away laundry the day it is washed, not later in the week.

68. Take a picture for each letter of the alphabet. {0/26}

69. Make the guestroom actually inviting (headboard, etc).

70. Keep the animals all up to date on shots/health care stuff.

71. Buy a quality piece of clothing on each vacation.

72. Create a more useful desk/craft/writing space.

73. Take a photography class.

74. Paint my fingernails bi-monthly.

75. Private Goal

76. Reread and buy all the Harry Potter books in hardcover. {0/7}

77. Go visit Roommateo at least once.

78. Buy one quality piece of art on each vacation instead of lots of cheap ones.

79. Plant and garden around the front of the house.

80. Complete the 100 snapshot challenge. (http://community.livejournal.com/100_snapshots/profile)

81. Put up crown molding around the house.

82. Show at training level dressage or beginner novice eventing.

83. Do something special each New Year’s Eve.{0/3}

84. Clean the litterbox once a week. {0/143}

85. Update resume & CV and keep updated.

86. Make 4 pillow covers for throw pillows. {0/4}

87. Turn back patio into an outdoor retreat.

88. Visit 5 cities I’ve never been to. {0/5}

89. Keep an inspiration notebook w/ quotes, pictures and ideas that inspire me.

90. Organize & clear out all photos on the computer.

91. Go to a real concert (singer, orchestra, whatever).

92. Spend 30 minutes/week looking at the news.

93. Get an 8% raise in 2010 and 2011. {0/2}

94. Get a professional massage (at least 30 minutes).

95. Put pictures that make me smile in several spots at home & work to improve my day.

96. Watch the sun rise without being up for work 5 times (photography optional). {0/5}

97. Take a course on becoming a better manager.

98. Stay off of Facebook for one consecutive week.

99. Write a short story and submit it for publication somewhere.

100. Donate $2 to the local animal shelter for each incomplete task at the end of 1001 days.

101. Make a new 101 in 1001 for the next go around!

'Nothing builds self-esteem and self-confidence like accomplishment.' - Thomas Carlyle