101 things in 1001 days

here it is, the list you've all been waiting for! just kidding, probably not but i am excited about it!

i am a huge list-maker, both personally and professionally, and i always feel a little rosier about everything that i have going on once i have written it all down, taken stock, and prioritized.

this list is a conglomeration of experiences i hope to have, goals i would love to achieve, places i yearn to travel, and perhaps some silly fluffy things i have always wanted to do. 

here goes nothing!

101 things in 1001 days

1. make a list of 101 things (july 2012)

2. enjoy the tasting menu at momofuku

3. go wine tasting in napa

4. visit kat and jim in beijing

5. climb to machu picchu

6. visit 10 new states

7. re-read classic books from my high school reading list 

8. drink the recommended amount of water every day for a week

9. learn to filet a fish

10. update my computer software

11. take a photography class

12. take a pastry class

13. thoroughly purge and organize all of my papers/bills

14. move money into my savings account from every paycheck

15. build a stock portfolio

16. design calling cards

17. go to the kentucky derby wearing a fabulous hat

18. complete a 30 day bikram yoga challenge

19. invest in a few quality pieces of furniture

20. attend altitude design summit

21. go to a red sox game and sit on the green monster

22. throw a girls' dinner party

23. make duck confit

24. read 25 new books

25. make my own limoncello

26. teach the boyfriend to sail

27. watch 5 oscar winning films that were made pre-1970

28. go to carnival in brazil and carnevale in venice

29. compete on jeopardy

30. complete a design project for someone else's space

31. perfect the art of blow drying my hair

32. finish the nytimes sunday crossword

33. send my parents on vacation - on my dime!

34. get professional photos taken

35. see a broadway show

36. have a sibling dinner date with both of my brothers. no dates, just us.

37. try skiing again

38. go stand up paddleboarding

39. make the perfect sunday brunch

40. redesign the blog

41. eat organic for a week (to see if there really is a difference!)

42. walk across the brooklyn bridge

43. take a day trip

44. go antiquing in brimfield

45.  organize my itunes library

46. have one dinner a week with the boyfriend without technology

47. invest in a car with better gas mileage

48. go skinny dipping

49. find a workout routine that fits my schedule

50. go to dinner at one of thomas keller's restaurants

51. post an outfit of the day on the blog
52. set regular skype dates with friends who are far away
53. run a 5k under 25 minutes
54. learn spanish
55. have sunday roast dinners all winter
56. plan a relaxing staycation with the boyfriend
57. wear my red sox gear to a yankees game
58. attend a black tie event in a floor-length gown
59. buy my mom an apple computer
60. play 18 holes with my dad
61. commit to using eye cream
62. update our dvd library
63. document our decorating process in the new apartment
64. watch the america's cup in newport
65. sail the figawi race
66. guest post on another blog
67. plan a trip around southeast asia
68. own a bicycle with a basket
69. experience the norwalk oyster festival
70. visit the maritime aquarium
71. try 25 new recipes
72. further develop my personal style
73. evaluate and update my monthly budget
74. take a workshop on photoshop
75. go to handel's messiah at christmas time
76. make my own wrapping paper
77. wear nicer underwear
78. achieve a lofty professional goal
79. rent a house on the cape/ack/mv with friends
80. watch every episode of 30 rock from the beginning
81. volunteer at the animal shelter
82. start a local restaurant series on the blog
83. get a bi-monthly massage
84. take more lunchtime walks at work
85. replace cosmetics at appropriate intervals
86. learn to sew buttons back on
87. eat crabcakes in maryland
88. find the perfect eyeglasses
89. have a picnic in central park
90. floss everyday
91. plan an amazing party for family and friends
92. visit the pyramids in egypt
93. moisturize more often
94. share the apartment as a home tour
95. pay off the rest of my student loan
96. plant tomatoes in the garden
97. go to the library more and order from amazon less
98. attend a music festival
99. send birthday cards instead of birthday emails/facebook messages
100. go dancing more
101. say yes more, because life is too short!

[image]

kickstart

i saw this little gem on facebook: definitely accurate. 

i am WAY out of shape. it's the middle of winter, and i am the champion of dreaming up excuses to skip a workout: it's too cold. it's too dark. it's too early. it's too late. the gym is expensive. i think i have a sore throat that might turn into a real illness, so i should rest.

you get the idea.

being out of shape isn't just a vanity statement; sure, my clothes are fitting a bit tighter than i might like, but the more noticeable symptom for me is the constant sluggish feeling, coupled with the build up of stress from daily life that usually gets worked out during a workout.

since i have to be in a bathing suit in less than a month (yikes!) and since i don't want to have a psychotic break during my commute (seriously. have you been on the metro north?) i need to get back into an exercise routine. my standards are usually running and yoga. i hate to run, but it does get the job done and you never regret it afterwards, even if the entire time you are chanting: i-hate-this-i-hate-this-i-hate-this-is-it-over-yet? yoga is great, although studio memberships in my area are insanely expensive.

my solution? this weekend i am going to bite the bullet and join crunch fitness in my area: it isn't that pricey, and they have great classes including yoga. also, i can run indoors without getting frostbitten ears and fingers. as added incentive, if i manage to make it to the gym 4 times a week for the next 3 weeks, i might treat myself to some new running shoes, which i desperately need.

have you been on the nike website where you can design your own shoes? way too much fun.

anyone else hitting the gym after a rather    l  o  n  g    hiatus?

fulfilling a resolution

<via>

happy new year! i have this feeling that 2012 is going to be a year filled with excitement, and instead of the usual, abandoned-in-february resolutions of years past (work out more, stress less, etc.) this year i have decided to stick to three simple, attainable goals:

1.     do one thing every day for myself.
2.     call/text/email my brothers once a week.
3.     drink more water.

the last one is seriously hard! i have at least 2 cups of coffee a day, but rarely do i manage anything close to the recommended 8 cups of water.

the second one is pretty self-explanatory: i have two brothers. we don't see each other much, and boys never call. we are citizens of the modern world with cell phones and email. there is no excuse for this.

the first one is an effort to be good to myself, because we all need to do that! it can be all too easy to give yourself a hard time about the little (and big) things in life, and i personally would like to be a bit nicer.

on that note, one of the first things that i am doing for myself in 2012 is launching crossed and dotted. this stems from my need for a creative outlet outside of my professional life: i work in fundraising for a museum in new york city, and while i love my job and find it very rewarding, i have been feeling for a while that i need a place where my inspiration can run unchecked.

so, welcome to the place where i will share my passion for style, design, food, and the other good things in life, all wrapped up in a neatly edited package to satisfy my penchant for organization and tying up loose ends. t's crossed; i's dotted.

*disclaimer: i am new to this game, so suggestions are welcome!