haphazard musings

Friday jumble...

and no that is not a quiz or a game, although perhaps some day that could be a fun blog game...hmmm...

Anyway, today I have many thoughts and I feel like sharing them out loud (well kinda).

Change - I am craving change...it happens every couple months, that I really begin to feel a tug for something different.

Sometimes it feels like this.

That's me...right there in the middle of those two arrows...feeling hemmed in.

I have lots of explanations for this, but for now I will just say..."change, is kinda like milk, it does a body good."

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My new semester of class started this week.  And as per usual, I think there is going to be one or two individuals that make me crazy.

There is one guy who seems very, shall we say interesting, who just talked incessantly throughout the entire 40 minutes we were there.  Even though there wasn't really an opportunity for class participation, he just made himself...umm...known.  I hate that.

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I also have a feeling I might be the dumb kid once again.  I am taking a Creative Writing Workshop.

Let's just say I have not written a "story" since I was in 3rd grade and we had to write a story and do all the illustrations for it.  

I am sure my mom must have a copy of that creation somewhere...

But then she may not, as I have definitely inherited her stance against clutter and against too much "sentimental stuff" - Thank goodness!  We always ask the question, "Will I ever use this again?" or the question "What is the purpose of saving this?"  It's been a life saver. 

I have, however, had two poems published in my life.  Which should serve me well right, considering I must write at least 3 poems this semester.

But once again the last time I wrote a poem was third grade.  I believe the winning poem (in my age category) was written by yours truly and it was called Halloween.

And if I remember correctly (which would be crazy since that was 20 years ago) it was most about candy and ended like this and I quote...

"tummies too fat."

Perhaps someday I will share that with you.  I know that the printed collection of winners exists in my "toy" closet at mom and dad's.

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Meet my friend Anne...

Thanks to her, I have been super duper motivated with working out since November!  She is my new running buddy.

I am super proud of my latest accomplishment - 4 miles all at once and 13 in one week!

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Not only that, for Christmas Anne gave me a fantastic gift...

Its a milk-frother!  Sounds lame right, but on no my friends, this is fantastic!

Yesterday I made my very own latte!  It cost like 50 cents.  

Here's the recipe.

One k-cup in my Kuerig coffee machine - medium size.

1 half cup skim milk - heated for one minute in the microwave - then frothed with the tool seen above for a few seconds.

1 squirt chocolate syrup - or more if you are feeling cheeky.

Pour frothed milk into coffee stir it all up and there you have a chocolate latte with a little foam!

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And the final thought for the day

source

Scotland...

source

Have you been there?  If you were going there, what would do or see?  Thoughts?  Suggestions?

Memoir Monday - Happy Anniversary!

NOTE: So this Memoir Monday is a new thing for me and it didn't work so well this week.  :(  I didn't post my post.  I had it all written and everything.  Oh well, thanks to Angela over at Ruby Red Slippers for sharing and starting this one.  So happy Memoir Monday on Wednesday.

No.37 - Done.

Ryan and I have now been married for 4 years.  Pretty crazy to think about.

Sometimes it makes me feel old - like when I realize that means I graduated from high school 9 years ago.  

Other times it makes me feel young - many of our friends have 4 or 5 year-olds!  :)

Two days after our actual anniversary we got to go out and celebrate together.  

We went on a date.  We don't do that very often.

We picked out a nice little place we had never been before in Old Town called Uptown Bistro.

The food was fantastic!

Ryan started out with mussels.  I have never had mussels...but he loved them.  They were a little weird - oddly chewy...really not into chewy unless its like a Sour Patch Kid or a Starburst...

I had a lovely cup of soup with chorizo sausage and white beans.  Which just happens to be a recipe in my new Sunday Soup cookbook!  Thanks Cindy.

Then I had this pork chop with a honey glaze, mashed potatoes, and fresh green beans. 

Sidebar - I don't understand why restaurants must serve such large portions.  Please keep one pork chop and charge me half price.  Oh well, I guess now I have really expensive leftovers. :)

It was super tasty.

Then like every really in love and celebrating couple, we went to Target.  Apparently no trip to Wichita isn't complete without Target.

We even saw another couple at Target that were waiting for their movie to start and were at Target on babysitter time!  See people do go on dates to Target!

We concluded our trip into town with a stop at the latest trend - Orange Leaf.

My friend Jess and her sister Anne were telling us about their trip there the day before.  You can read more about there trip here.

I love ice cream (but this was as Jess explained froyo and thus better for you!), and was a perfect cap to the night.

Here we are quite happy and full.

So Happy 4th Anniversary to us!  We've had a pretty exciting four years, so here's to 40 more!

 

Welcome to 2011!

Updated

Well, now its 2011.  Another year has passed.  I thought I would give you an update on my 101 things, which was the reason for starting this blog in the first place.  I have obviously, strayed a little from the original plan, but I am really enjoying blogging.

So far here's the story: 28 complete, 23 in progress (most of those are monthly things).  That is 51.  This all makes me a little nervous.  I realized today that I only have 9 months and 17 days left.  That seems like almost no time to get some of those things done.  I feel like I am behind.  

Oh well, I guess this was more of a guideline anyway right?  You know, like they say in the Pirates of the Carribean movies, the rules are more like guidelines....

 

Start date: Monday, January 19, 2009

Finish date: Monday, October 17, 2011

Updated:  8.3.09

Personal / Being healthy

1.        Make some really long term goals.  (Fall 2010)           

2.        Run a 5K. (Emma Creek 4.24.10)

3.        Run a 10K .

4.        Stick to my read the Bible in a year plan.

5.        Start & keep a prayer journal – at least once a week.

6.        Play on a rec league team.

7.        Pray more often.

8.        Workout 4 days a week for a month. (4/4) (June 2010)

9.        Eat more fruits and veggies.

10.     Eat out less.

11.      Floss.

12.      Get new glasses.  (5.6.09)

13.      Remember reusable shopping bags when going shopping.

14.      Work on praying for specific things and for His will.

15.      Listen for God’s instruction to take on a project or to create a project.

16.      Share my faith with someone.

17.      Have a better attitude about work.

 

Financial

18.      Make weekly dinner plans.

19.      Increase our monetary giving.

20.     Learn to save.

21.      Double our savings/investments.

22.     Put away at least $100 a month. (24/33) 

23.     Buy a digital SLR camera. (Nikon D60 - April 2010)

24.     Stick to the budget.

25.     Buy a new computer - a mac. (April 2009)

26.     Buy an original piece of art.  (Puerto Vallarta, February 2010)

27.      Make a list before going to the store – every time.

 

Family & Friends

28.     Explore & choose a way for us to invest in the family ranch.

29.     Increase the size of our family.

30.     Write one letter or personal note to a friend or family member each month. (24/33)

31.     Update the blog regularly...not just once a month.  

32.     Take a Saturday to spend in McPherson with the girls shopping & exploring.  (12.09) 

33.     Take time to call friends that don’t live here.

34.     Host a fancy dinner party.

35.     Host a marathon game night.

36.     Take a class at Wichita Center for the Arts with Mom.

37.      Celebrate our 4^th anniversary!  (01.06.11)

38.     Pray for our small group once a week.

39.     Send cards and presents on time!

40.     Bathe Finley once a month. (19/33)

41.      Have a movie marathon with friends and popcorn (the good kind).  (Jill - Emma, Pride & Prejudice, & Sense and Sensibility - April 2010)

42.     Make breakfast/brunch ten times. (7/10)

 

The House

43.     Make a cleaning schedule.

44.     Stick to the cleaning schedule.

45.     Finish decorating the house.

46.     Plant both flowerbeds.  (06.09)

47.      Touch up the paint job in the living room.  4.4.09

48.     Plant 2 trees. (2/2) (May 2010)

49.     Decorate above the cabinets.

50.     Make sense of the basement. (3.28.09)

51.      Tile the bathrooms and kitchen. (01.16.10)

52.     Fold and put laundry away when its clean.

53.     Keep fresh flowers in the house for a whole month. (Poinsettia - 12.09)

 

Just Because

54.     Spend six weekends without TV. (4/6)

55.     Catch, tag, & weigh a calf alone.

56.     Hand make all family & friend birthday cards.

57.      Finish college scrapbook.

58.     Go on a picnic – with the blanket and the basket from our wedding.

59.     Take more pictures.

60.     Spend a weekend with all the girls from college.  (Tiffany's Bachelorette - 4.4.09)

61.      Baby-sit for friends so they can have a night out.  (Lakey's 4.24.09 - 4.25.09)

62.     Paint a painting to frame.

63.     Get a pet fish.

64.     Watch a sunset.

65.     Watch a sunrise.

66.     Fill up with one tank of gas, pick a direction, see where we end up.

67.      Start our own holiday traditions.

68.     Organize craft supplies.  (3.28.09)

69.     “Create” a crafting room.

70.     Go to a Farmer’s Market

71.      Buy a pair of red shoes. (2.12.10)

72.      Plant a garden.  (5.9.09)

 

Travel

73.      Go on the Frasier Farms trail ride with Ryan.

74.      Get a new stamp in my passport. (February 2010)

75.      Go on a family trip – the whole family.

76.      Go skiing.

77.      Go on a weekend getaway.

78.      Camp – using only what I can carry in my backpack.

79.      Spend a day at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

80.     Take an out-of-state trip with Ryan.  (College Station, TX 02.19.09)

81.   Visit our friends that don't live in Newton.  
          Denver, Summer 2009
          Kansas City, Summer 2010
          Dallas, Fall 2010 

82.   Visit four unique Kansas attractions. (4/4)  
          Botanica - Wichita (5.9.09)    
          Boot Hill Museum - Dodge City (6.19.09)
          BoBo Drive In - Topeka (9.26.09)
          Coronado Heights - Lindsbourgh (04.18.10)

83.     Visit our grandparents twice. (2/2) (June 2010)

 

Learn something

84.     Read one book per month (5 of which Ryan can choose). (27/33) Confessions of a Shopaholic, Imperial Woman, One Tuesday Morning, Beyond Tuesday Morning, Angels and Demons, Book of Job, Utopia, New Atlantis, Paper Bodies, The Lost Symbol, The Last Song (Ryan), Jane Austin Ruined My Life (Ryan), Love Walked In, The Age Curve, Little Bee, Belong To Me, Pride and Prejudice, The Help, Incidents in the Life of  Slave Girl, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, Pudd'nhead Wilson, Maggie, The Red Badge of Courage, Conjure Woman, The Hermaphrodite

85.    Learn patience.

86.     Take a hunter’s safety course.

87.      Learn to play Clare de Lune on the piano.  (5.16.09 started)

88.     Make a school plan – and start.  3.13.09  Class starts 6.09.

89.     Try one new ethnic recipe.

90.     Learn to compose pictures for framing.  6.09

91.      Re-cover the dining room chairs.

92.     Learn a new crafting technique. Sewing - 04.02.10 - Baby Blanket

93.     Refresh my water coloring skills.

94.     Watch a new sport.  01.30.08

95.     Watch an opera.     

96.     Go to the ballet.

97.      Practice the piano at least once a week.

98.     Make one new recipe a month.

99.     Read a book that’s written in French.

100.  Read the news (paper or internet) every day for a month. (Time Magazine 2010)

101. Lean to love openly.

 

101 in 1001 Updates

I thought you might like a list of all the completed tasks by number.

2. Run a 5K
8. Work out 4 days a week for a month.
10. Eat out less.
12. Get new glasses.
23. Buy a digital SLR camera.
25. Buy a new computer - a Mac.
26. Buy an original piece of art.
32. Take a Saturday to spend in McPherson with the girls shopping & exploring.
41. Have a movie marathon with friends and popcorn.
46. Plant both flowerbeds.
47. Touch up the paint job in the living room.
48. Plant 2 trees.
50. Make sense of the basement.
53. Keep fresh flowers in the house for a whole month.
59. Take more pictures.
60. Spend a weekend with all the girls from college.
61. Baby-sit for friends so they can have a night out.
68. Organize craft supplies.
71. Buy a pair of red shoes.
72. Plant a garden.
74. Get a new stamp in my passport.
80. Take an out-of-state trip with Ryan.
82. Visit four unique Kansas attractions.
83. Visit our grandparents twice.
88. Make a school plan - and start.
90. Learn to compose pictures for framing.
94. Watch a new sport.

That is 27 complete.

Another 18 are in progress.

For a total of 55 done or in the works.  I am pretty pleased.

18 months down.

16 months to go.

I think I am on track. 

Check out the full list here.

I can always

use another reason to encourage a good workout.

 

I got this today from someone from my workout group.

Whatever it takes right?

Which by the way I am three weeks into #8...work out four times a week for a month.

So frustrated today.

Its been one of those days. 

I don't feel very good about it.

I didn't get a lot done at work - not because there wasn't a lot to do (because there was).

More because I was in meetings all day.

I like meetings most of the time.  But today I wasn't into it.

I am upset though, mostly with myself.

Let me tell you why.

THE BUDGET. (wait - should that be red...)

I hate paying the bills and working out a budget.

I am not good at it. 

But it is my job, and I do it for work successfully, so one would think I could handle it here at home.  It should be less complicated.

I think I have everything all figured out and then - boom.

There is never any extra money at the end of the month.

I don't get it.

I'm not asking for a lot - just some extra to put in savings - its also one of my 101 things in 1001 days.

Where does it all go?

I will vow publicly, here and now:

I will buy nothing the rest of the month that I am not already committed to.

    That means like food - we're committed to eating meals (but no restaurants).

    That means like bills - we are committed to paying what we already owe.

Signed, Lindsay

I wonder how I will do.

Should be interesting.

So wish me luck.  Let's see how it goes.

A little thank you...

to God for telling everyone to take a weekend. 

Thank you for resting on the 7th day, that I too may rest.

It should look like this:

I am ready for a couple days with no plans other than celebrating our mamas and grandmamas.

(Interestingly, I don't think I have ever referred to my mom as mama - ever.)

Here she is none the less.  And here is Ryan getting down with his mama on the hottest night ever spent in south Texas.

 

So get ready weekend, here I come.

I am armed with all the necessary items for a successful weekend.

• The Book of Hosea (my current study).

• A new book (from the Newton Public Library - we are trying to save money here!)

• You should check out their collection. Haha that's funny! You should laugh, and it's even funnier because I didn't mean to make a pun - those are the best kind.

• I think I can hear my mom laughing at that one from here.  We love puns.

               

• A camera to learn how to use.  (#23 by the way - Buy a Digital SLR.)

           

• A race to train for.

• # 3 - Run a 10K.  Right now I can do 3.1 as evidenced by last week's 5K.  So I have to double that.  Hmm...

So a happy weekend to all of you!  Enjoy, take a rest, and tell yo' mama how much you love her!

Well we made it...

through April. 

And we only ate out 4 total times.  That's amazing.

We each got one lunch out and one dinner out together.  

So the goal was three times.

But we ended up making an evening trip to Manhattan, dinner on the road was necessary.

So 4.  That is so good.

In the 3 months prior, we spent on average $250 at restaurants.

In April, we spent $65 eating out.

In case you aren't good at (what I call) mental math (I'm not either) that is a savings of $185.

We also even spent less at the grocery store.  Who would have thought.

I think being intent on saving in one area helped me strive to save money in other areas as well.

HOORAY!

Thanks for the meal tips and the encouragement throughout the month.  I think we will try it again!

# 82 - complete.

82. Visit four unique Kansas attractions. (4/4)
            Botanica - Wichita (5.9.09)
            Boot Hill - Dodge City (6.19.09)
            BoBo Drive-in - Topeka (9.26.09)
            Coronado Heights - Lindsborg (4.18.10)

Done.

We went up to the land of Sweden, well Sweden in Kansas - Lindsborg a couple weeks ago to a a little lunch with Ryan's grandma, Joe, Cindy, and grandma's cousins.  It was pretty fun.  We actually went on a tour of the original homesteads where Ryan's great-grandparents fist settled after they came here from Sweden.

There were some pretty interesting stops and fun things to photograph. 

The one that lets me check off number 82 was Coronado Heights.  It is said to be the farthest north place Coronado went on his search for the City of Gold.  In the 1930's the structures on the top of the really tall hill were built as part of the Works Project Administration.  It does have a pretty good view.

The moss or algae or whatever growing on the sandstone was awesome.  I loved the colors.

 

 

 

So that sums up Coronado Heights.  There were some great other photos from some other stops, but I will post those on another day.

If you want to see the rest of the 101 in 1001 days check here or check for other updates by checking here.

#48

Plant 2 trees. Done and done.

(Check the whole 101 in 1001 here.)

Yep that's right, Uncle Mark, we finally used that gift certificate to Brady Nursery. 

We bought a lovely tree.  Its nice and big and was really beautiful before it rode home in the trailer at 70 miles an hour on the world's windiest day.

But here it is.

 

It had so many lovely white blooms.  Oh well, next year we can enjoy that.

Thankfully, we have some nice friends who will help you dig a hole when you need it. 

Seriously, digging in Kansas soil is a tough job.  One time my dad and Ryan made me sit on a gas powered post hole digger to improve its digging ability in the clay.  Well, let's just say it didn't end well.  Especially when my mom saw what was going on.  Pretty sure, "mom instinct" kicked in despite the fact that I was 25. :)

Gotta love that she still wants me to "be careful."

 

And here are both trees to complete No. 48.