[another] 12 by 2012 update

since there's just over a week left in the year, it's time for another 12 by 2012 list update.

1.       Use the fall cookie cutters I bought 2 years ago. check.
2.       Exercise 3 times a week, even if it’s just a walk around the block. still going!
3.       Make a set of these adorable mugs to give away as Christmas gifts. check.
4.       Finish the last 10 weeks of the 52 weeks project. only 2 weeks to go.
5.       Pay off my car loan and say hello to financial independence.  check.
6.       Buy and decorate, paint, or carve a pumpkin to sit outside our door. check.
7.       Change over my credit card and passport to my married name. debit card recieved, credit card and passport in process. [sorry, you don't get pictures of those!]
8.       Try this newsprint nail technique- one of the first things I ever pinned. check.
9.       Edit and post all back-logged photos. [this means you, Colorado trip!]
10.   Clean out my wardrobe of all those things I’m hanging on to but never wear. check.
11.   Make marshmallows.  I’ve wanted to do this for years but never tried.
12.   Participate in NaNoWriMo [National Novel Writing Month] check.


who would have thought photos and marshmallows would be the last on my list?

#3: mugs with love

I realized that posting a full DIY on these mugs would spoil the surprise for those receiving them as gifts next week... so here's proof for my 12 by 2012, and details to follow in the new year!

#10: if you don't use it, you should lose it

I've always been one to hold onto things long after they are needed. birthday cards, old love letters, too short jean shorts, strings of decorative lights, bargain books I've never read, my high school track cleats. I'm not quite to the "hoarders" level... but my wardrobe is probably the worst area of my life that needs to be cleaned out.

part of my problem is that I hate throwing away something I spent my money on. the other part, I think, is my tendency to be fatally optimistic. I tell myself I'll wear something again and save it... if i find the right cardigan, when it gets warmer out, on the chance I'm invited to a Hawaiian - themed BBQ. I have this thing inside me that makes me believe that I can use/wear anything if the circumstances are right.

the result? my closet is stuffed full of things I never wear, probably won't ever wear. a few items I try on a lot, but they never seem to make it out the door. and so getting dressed is always difficult, because I can never find what I DO want to wear, since it's hidden behind 5 things I DON'T.

I attacked my closet on at least 3 separate occasions, ruthlessly pulling out those items. I'm sure there's more that can still be expunged but it's a definite start. I even decided to recycle some items into a DIY project which made me feel a little better about tossing a few items. [and actually encouraged me to go back in and look for things in that color scheme which I didn't wear.]

hopefully I can start adopting this mentality to other areas of my life...

#12: writer's block

12.  Participate in NaNoWriMo [National Novel WritingMonth]

well. since November is just about over, it's time to report:

I made it 5,784 words. [plus a few handwritten pages and a lineage chart]

certainly not a novel. but the goal for me wasn't to write a novel, it was to participate. and despite all the travel and work and wedding madness, I managed to do that. it was fun trying to nail my ideas down on paper. but I think I might stick to reading novels for the time being.

I started with an event. a scene that I thought was going to be the beginning. but it turned out I needed a lot of back story to get to that point, so I backed up 20 years and started from there. I think if I ever finish the story, it's going to be at least a trilogy.

for me, it was challenging to try working on this sporadically when I could make the time. I think sitting and writing for a few days uninterrupted would have been much more productive. but I did the best I could with the time I had. and that was the point.

#1: fall cookie cutters

I bought these cookie cutters 2 years ago in early December, when all the fall and Halloween goodies were marked down to dirt cheap. and I finally used them. the cookie recipe I tried was a gluten-free chocolate experiment which ended up taking like... dirt. they were pretty though. check out instrusctions and more photos over on the baking blog.

12 by 2012: update

I figured it was time to give and update on my 12 by 2012 list. I also need to make a modification- won't be able to roast pumpkin seeds as my pumpkin started to rot! BUT getting my credit card and passport in order is probably more important than pumpkin seeds... especially since it looks like I'll be doing some international travel in 2012.

so here's where I'm at currently:

1.       Use the fall cookie cutters I bought 2 years ago. dough is chilling in the fridge.
2.       Exercise 3 times a week, even if it’s just a walk around the block. in process, so far so good!
3.       Make a set of these adorable mugs to give away as Christmas gifts. ordered mugs today.
4.       Finish the last 10 weeks of the 52 weeks project. on track, almost there.
5.       Pay off my car loan and say hello to financial independence.  check.
6.       Buy and decorate, paint, or carve a pumpkin to sit outside our door. check.
7.       Change over my credit card and passport to my married name.
8.       Try this newsprint nail technique- one of the first things I ever pinned. attempted, semi-check.
9.       Edit and post all back-logged photos. [this means you, Colorado trip!]
10.   Clean out my wardrobe of all those things I’m hanging on to but never wear.
11.   Make marshmallows.  I’ve wanted to do this for years but never tried.
12.   Participate in NaNoWriMo [National Novel Writing Month] started! I have a timeline and character bios... no way I'm going to hit the 50k word mark but I'm participating.

#6: painted pumpkin

Crossing something else off my 12 by 2012 list!

I swear I painted the pumpkin last week.

Only just getting around to pictures and posting today.

I like that the orange of the pumpkin shows through the gold paint.

And the stem is glittery.

Happy Halloween!

#5: financial independence day

 

the check. has. been written.

car payments are no more...

busting out the scotch to celebrate!

#8: newsprint nails [first attempt]

I'm not a girly-girl, but lately I've been obsessed with nails. Not creepy, I-kinda-look-like-a-hooker, nails. Paint them yourself at home [on your real nails] nails. I used to only paint my toenails. If anything, my hands would sport a pale pink or clear coat. Totally natural and neutral. And then I started buying bottles of Essie. and I can't stop.

These two colors: power clutch and merino cool. I've been rotating them for the past month. Charcoal Grey is very in right now. My sister is getting married in a few weeks [!] and my dress for her wedding is dark charcoal. I of course needed a smoky purple as a complement, because wearing the same color nails as your dress is a little matchy-matchy for me.

I'm currently wearing the purple [merino cool] and decided to try the newsprint nail technique. I wouldn't exactly say I was UNsuccessful... but I'm going to need to make another attempt.

I think a lighter base color would have helped, and I definitely put the top coat on too soon and it fuzzed up my letters. I also discovered that soaking your nails in vodka: not necessary. You only need to dip the paper in and press on you nail. BUT only press it down once and don't move it because your letters will blur.

I can't exactly cross this off my list yet, but it's good learnings for the next attempt!

12 by 2012

The other day I stumbled onto a new blog through something I pinned. And on that blog I found something that she had found through another blog that I want to try: accomplishing 12 things by 2012. It didn't take me long to come up with a list of things I've been meaning to finish or wanting to try. I tried to keep it simple and concrete- you'll note a lot of crafting and baking are involved.

1.       Use the fall cookie cutters I bought 2 years ago.
2.       Exercise 3 times a week, even if it’s just a walk around the block.
3.       Make a set of these adorable mugs to give away as Christmas gifts.
4.       Finish the last 10 weeks of the 52 weeks project.
5.       Pay off my car loan and say hello to financial independence.
6.       Buy and decorate, paint, or carve a pumpkin to sit outside our door.
7.       Roast the leftover pumpkin seeds.
8.       Try this newsprint nail technique- one of the first things I ever pinned.
9.       Edit and post all back-logged photos. [this means you, Colorado trip!]
10.   Clean out my wardrobe of all those things I’m hanging on to but never wear.
11.   Make marshmallows.  I’ve wanted to do this for years but never tried.
12.   Participate in NaNoWriMo [National Novel Writing Month] 

I hereby pledge to attempt to accomplish these 12 things by the end of December. And to document and post each of these things here, in hopes that will keep me honest. Bring it!