January Update

This post is to keep me accountable on how I'm doing with my List of 28!
This month I've done these;

#19; I swam at East GR High School's lap pool to try it out before buying a 3-month pass. I like it, the only thing is that I don't want to drive there and well....I am lazy. I'm planning on trying out hot yoga again, although I am nervous I'll want to vomit and leave the room like I did 3 years ago.

 #11; I've ransacked the house for Salvation Army stuff and a pile is currently waiting to go there as soon as I remember to put it in the car...

#6; I've been able to try out my Christmas gift from my parents with all the snow! Snowshoeing is nice, I'm eyeing a 5k race, but we'll see if I do it :)

#9; I weighed myself at school and sadly discovered I've gained 6 mom/holiday/call-it-what-you-like pounds. Well...knowledge is the first step to fixing it right? Yessssss

#14; I kept a promise to sister Kellie (sent her coat and shoes back in a timely fashion) failed sister Katie (have not sent her care package yet) failed a friend I keep telling I'll volunteer with, failed at sending Thank You's from Harrison for Xmas yet. This one needs a lot of work...

Whew, okay. Re-reading this makes it seem January was not such a great launch month...perhaps February is what I've been waiting for?

Reflections on being 27

I certainly had a great time living my 27th year

The 27 highlights were these; 

1. moved into our very first house

2. celebrated H turning 1

3. saw my sister get married 

4. Ran my 2nd annual Halloween Run and Turkey Trot with the one and only Katie Matteson in record time I might add!

5. Enjoyed a crazy bachelorette weekend with Katie, Kellie and Kel's friends in LA, complete with seeing the bride-to-be destroy a very cute purse in the back of some unfortunate's taxi cab:)

6. Was the B Team soccer coach at my school, loved getting back on the field and seeing those boys learn the game and sometimes love it 

7. Enjoyed 6 weeks off in the summer to play with little boy H

8. Bought the burley! 

 

9. Had Katie be a great babysitter for H

10. Found Cindy and Eli which turned out to be the perfect place for H to spend his days while I worked 

11. Thanksgiving in Alma with my sweet familia 

12. Watched Jon become a greater and greater dad every day 

13. Met the sweet Bridget Thomas, the daughter of one of my BFFs

14. Art Prize Brunch with our friends! Although less spectacular than last year it was made fun by Fred's dynamic GR touring skills 

15. Reunited with some of my favorite and truest high school friends at the Annual Poker Party

16. Was able to congratulate (albeit not in person) one of my NY besties on her engagement 

17. Had Harrison help me be a more outgoing version of my self every day 

18. Witnessed Jon embrace cycling to work with enthusiasm 

19. Found enjoyable GR spots like Reeds Lake 

20. Bought not one but two new winter coats (both because sister Katie introduced me to Modcloth)

21. Learned to love Mulick Park for being super close to my house, and truly beautiful in all seasons

22. Successfully got H on a sleep routine and said goodbye to late night feedings

23. Speaking of which...said goodbye to breastfeeding as soon as he hit the 1 year mark, whew

24. Was able to walk, bus, bike, or drive to work-which I love!

25. Spent Christmas Eve as a little family unit and watched H tear up his Christmas presents gleefully 

26. Rang in the New Year, just Jon and I

27. Enjoyed a great birthday party complete with ice skating downtown, sangria, tapas and friends :)

Looking forward to making even greater highlights this year!

28 Things to do While 28

1. pay off the car
2. one big home improvement A/C installed June
3. interview/visit preschools
4. travel to a new destination Saugatauk, MI with Mandy for film festival in June
5. create a backyard garden side garden: lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro; backyard: butternut squash, fennel, spinach
6. go snow shoeing 
7. go kayaking 
8. throw more dinner parties Friendsgiving, Art Prize and St. Pattys were some highlights 
9. get back into peak shape lost a total of 11 pounds by April
10. shoot a gun (is this silly?)
11. purge/sell/giveaway things I don't use/need on a semi regular basis
12. register to vote in MI and make at least a semi-informed decision 
13. paint a room in the house lower bathroom Grey
14. make fewer promises, but follow through on the ones I make 
15. get better at knowing my priorities and spending the time/money on them 
16. do something that scares me 
17. get a NEW hairstyle- be bold! got bangs back, June (does that count?)
18. eat better by which I mean budget more for better food 
19. try a new work out/or location paddle boarding on Reeds Lake, August
20. take swimming lesson with H
21. purchase/share a CSA share
22. volunteer my time to something productive ESL tutoring at Church of the Servant
23. cycle a century
24. see a sporting event live
25. group camping trip although not a group, but our family: Manistee at Orchard Beach for 2 nights
26. do a wine or beer tasting/tour event
27. eat paella @NHA's Xmas party, yum 
28. invite a neighbor over for dinner 

This list took me over a month to compile. I'm glad I started to think of these things earlier than last year! I hope that means I'll have a better shot at completing more than last year, or dare I say it all of them.

I think the ones I'm most excited for is paying off the car, dinner parties and a group camping trip.

The ones I'm least excited for is the scary one and the bold haircut...because I'm nervous I wont bite the bullet and actually be bold. I heard somewhere that you're likely to keep your high school hairstyle indefinatley, which is both scary and crazy.

Check out how I did last year's list of 27 things here. And if you're interested check my 26 Things list here.

Happy Birthday to me and wish me luck on my list! You should make one too!

Don't Break the Bank

Because it is January and the start of a new year I have reinvigorated my search for new adventures in this city of mine. But as you might know, I am way cheap. I do not like to spend money on anything I can get for free. Or sample for free. Which brings me to the point of this post. I want to share with anyone out there who reads this some free (or nearly free) things to do around Grand Rapids along with my review of the activity.

1. Bargain with MVP for a free weeks pass: this is an awesome facility complete with underwater music to enjoy while you swim! I met with a membership consultant and negotiated a week pass instead of the normal 3-day trial pass. You know, to get the full effect of the place. Great place, but way to pricey for a membership.

2. Enjoy Community Yoga Class: While not exactly free ($5) this class at Hot Yoga House on Sunday nights gives the proceeds to a charity of the month. I have not done this yet, but am eager to try even though I nearly passed out when I last did hot yoga in NYC.

3. Community Yoga @ Yoga Studio: this beautiful studio is on Cherry St. and occasionally has free community classes on Saturdays. Although that made it a lot more crowded I still enjoyed talking to the (mostly) ladies there and stretching my forgotten muscles.

4. Spin Class: right by H's daycare in Wyoming this spin/fitness facility lets you sample your first spin class for free. I have not done this one yet but it's tentatively scheduled for a weekday evening. Not sure how I feel about spinning...I can always jump on the bike outside.

That's all for now...I am excited to try some more, and not spend any money doing it :)

11 Things I've Learned in 2011

1.  babies turn into toddlers very quickly 
2. getting summers off is not as fun when you're not on salary 
3. live-in sisters are the best cook/nanny/cleaning ladies ever
4. even if you plan a vacation months in advance babies have a uncanny way of changing your plans
5. weddings and funerals shouldn't be the only time you see family 
6. owning a home gets way more expensive when your home is in Michigan and its winter 
7. carports arn't as bad as they first appear
8. when you have minimal furniture its quicker to clean up the house
9. its really hard to stop being lazy once you've started 
10. giving up cable and fancy phones is way easy 
11. eyebrows need monthly maintenance (when will I ever learn!)