84. Ask 10 People for Book recommendations - then read those books

I resorted to facebook for my 10 books mentioned in #84. I did decide that I would put  few stipulations on this though. #1? I will only read books I have not previously read. #2? I will take the first recommendation someone listed if they list multiples. That way I get a good variety!






So; my list according to facebook? 

*Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
*A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
*Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder
*The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
*The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
*Choosing to See by Mary Beth Chapman
*Mirror Mirror by Gregory Maguire
*House Rules by Jodi Piccoult
*Clearing the Aisle by Karen Schwartz
*Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman

While it's unlikely that I will read them in that order - I will definitely read them all! (Despite the fact that there are two on the list that I have avoided like the plague... Since my friends enjoyed them enough to recommend them, I will give them a fair and unbiased attempt!)


Sorry for the choppy sizing of the photos -- my computer screen didn't fit the whole thing on one screen; and I wasn't thinking as I was cropping the screenshots! 

44. Write a Letter to Bettina

 

I have had a few friends come into my life who have stuck around. Bettina is one of them, and I am so thankful for her friendship. We met my sophomore year in high school - she was an exchange student from Germany. After she went back, we kept in touch via email. (Although she is better at writing regularly than I am...)

When Ryan and I got married, I sent her an invitation - although I was sure nothing would come of it. The day of my wedding, I was getting my makeup done when there was a knock on the hotel room door. I opened the door to see Bettina and her brother standing there!! I was thrilled! We spent the day after my wedding exploring some of the mountains here in Southern Colorado.

About the time that Skyler was born, I got an email that she would be in the states again for a visit! I lucked out that we were in Lincoln at the same time and she got to meet Sky! (She seems to be around for major life events *lol* )

Her friendship is one that I really treasure, and one that I hope to keep for the rest of my life. And since I've been bad at keeping in touch the past year, I thought a letter would be a great way to get back in touch! (So I sent her an email *lol* Asking for her most recent snail mail address!) I know she's moved around a lot, both while in school (studying abroad in University as well) and since graduating; so I'm not really sure where to mail it too!

3. Try 30 New Recipes :: Stromboli (or Calzones)

I love being in the kitchen, cooking or baking. It's a definite stress relief for me; and it's fun to have something new to try! So for 101, my #3 is to try 30 new recipes. Tonight, I took it a step further and sort of created my own! Stromboli!

First up? Pizza Dough! Use your own recipe; mine is a revised version from the Better Homes & Gardens cookbook (Eveyrone has one! ) and I double the sugar, and a few minor changes to yeast and water thanks to altitudes.



Split your batch of dough (one batch makes two stromboli's for me, and Sky can eat a half, I ate a whole and was full.) And roll it into squares, get it as large as you can without ripping.

Then I brush with Olive Oil and flip over (so that the whole outside will be well coated.)

Next up? Toppings! (Or is it Stuffing?)



Tonight I went easy... Just pasta sauce, pepperoni and cheese.

For the sauce? I used left over from our spaghetti last week. It was Mr. C's from Nebraska (Thanks Dad!!) Although I think normally I'd just use my regular homemade marinara. The spaghetti sauce was a bit too sweet for this.

Also, next time I plan on making a veggie one for myself! Peppers, Onions... all the yummy veggies from a pizza! But I was lazy tonight.

I layered, sauce, meat, cheese, sauce, meat, cheese.



Close them like a clam, and be sure to crimp the ends. (I didn't roll my dough out flat enough, so I had a bit of a struggle with this and they weren't as pretty as I'd like! )



Sprinkle seasonings on top. (I did a mixture of McCormick's Italian Seasoning and Parm Cheese!)

Place in the Oven (425*) for 13 - 15 minutes.

Enjoy!

71. Hang at least 5 Photos in the House

#71 on my list is to hang 5 new photographs. I (FINALLY) got my print by Todd Powell (a local photographer from Frisco Colorado) that we bought last year on our anniversary hung!






It's my goal to hang a third photo; same size as the new one - in a vertical frame - on the right of my GOG photo. I just need to find the photo I want there!!

It looks kind of silly right now; so I hope to get it done soon!! (Unfortunately, none from my recent Pikes Peak trip fit the bill... I guess we're in for a trip up to San Isabel this month!! )

96. Visit 5 Historic Landmarks :: Pikes Peak

On Mlonday - May 16 - Ryan, Skyler, Katie and I headed up Pikes Peak! (Which is a Historic Landmark; btw!)




We had a great trip up the mountain; the drive was gorgeous and everyone was having a really good time. I went a bit photo happy, a total of 476 photos. (And no, it did NOT fill up my memory card, but it did drain my camera battery. )

The weather was 60* F in Colorado Springs, 30*F at the entrance to Pikes Peak highway and 10* F with a windchill of -1*F at the summit. And my sister was in shorts. *lol* Luckily; we had a sweatshirt in the trunk.

These are a few of my favorite photos, but HERE is the set on facebook (I'll upload to flickr in a bit)

93. Visit 5 different State Capitol Buildings :: Denver!

Yesterday we visited the Colorado State Capitol in Denver! It was a cold and rainy day, so our view from the top wasn't the greatest... but it was a lot of fun! My only state capitol experience so far had been with Nebraska which is a beautiful building, but very dark. The Colorado building was bright and happy.


At the end of our 45 minute tour the guide offered to take us up to the dome - - which is normally only done under pre-reservation. After walking up a rickety staircase, we got an awesome view of Denver from the 16th floor! (Nebraskas viewing deck is only the 13th floor!) Unfortunately, after 30 minutes at the top; we climbed hte rickety (ok, it was probably pretty stable) metal maintenance staircase back to the 5th floor to discover the door locked and the lady with the key had gone home!! So we waited for an additional 15 minutes for her to get back and let us out!! (Bad planning!!)

#2: Have Dinner at Melting Pot

Day #1 of my 101 and I thought I'd hit the ground running!

Today we had a pretty busy day; and I am officially able to cross off my first item!! We had lunch at the Melting Pot in Colorado Springs!! (I am officially a fondu lover, and I really want to make it at home sometime. Even Sky had a blast! )

(Yes, the photos are horrible... I'm a freak and I look higher than Robert Pattinson... But I wanted to document everything.)

What is 101 anyway?

3 years ago, my friend Meg and I started a popular internet project - 101 in 1001.  (Or Day Zero Project, to some!) Essentially, it's a really long to-do list with a time frame on it. 101 items in 1001 days.

I completed my first list on May 12, 2011 with 79 completed goals.  Goal #101 was to complete a new list. So here is the journey for this list!

I am making a blog specifically for the list, with the intent of blogging about every item and eventually making a book (from blurb.com) at the end of the project!

I hope you enjoy following along!

101 Take 2! (The Original List!)

Dates: May 14, 2011 – Feb 07, 2014

Food
1. Give up Fast Food for a Month
2. Have dinner at the Melting Pot
3. Try 30 New Recipe
4. Make a Gingerbread House
5. Eat Tofu
6. Eat an entire meal with Chopsticks
7. Plan weekly Meals for a Month
8. Make crème Brulee
9. Bake Skyler an awesome Birthday Cake
10. Purchase an Attachment for my KitchenAid
11. Make my Own Cookbook with photos (Use Blurb!)
12. Make S'Mores (with Skyler!) Outdoors
13. Make homemade Jam

Sports, Fitness and Health
14. Lose 15 Pounds
15. Lose 15 (more) Pounds
16. Lose 20 (more) Pounds
17. Complete C25k
18. Play 18 holes of golf
19. Have an appointment with the Eye Doctor
20. Buy a Bike
21. Run a 5k Race
22. Attend an F1 Grand Prix
23. Go Bowling

Creativity (Non Photo/Writing)
24. Learn 3 Songs on my Guitar
25. Create my own font
26. Visit 5 Museums
27. Create 10 Origami Pieces
28. Complete a Paint by Number
29. Attend 5 live shows

Photography

30. Shoot only black and white photos for a month
31. Sell a Photograph
32. Document a "Day in My Life" with Photos
33. Fill my Memory Card on my Camera in one day
34. Photograph a Landscape from the same location capturing all 4 seasons
35. Shoot 10 rolls of film
36. Take Photos in a Photo Booth
37. Take a photo of 10 childhood memories as they are today
38. Purchase a new lens
39. Complete another 365 project

Writing
40. Complete NaNoWriMo
41. Write 3 Novels (1 per year)
42. Submit a piece for (hopeful) Publication
43. Get a Pen Pal
44. Write a Letter to Bettina
45. Write a fan letter to an author I admire


Personal Development
46. Make a list of 101 achievements in my life
47. Fill a Paper Journal
48. Send a "Just Because" care package to someone
49. Keep a Swear Jar for 2 Weeks (Money goes into Sky's piggy bank)
50. Post in an online journal everyday for a month
51. Write a letter to myself within the first 30 days to open at the end of the project
52. Read a great religious book from 4 different religions.
53. Send a Post Secret
54. Keep a "6 words a day" journal for 6 months.
55. Go for a full week without buying anything but Bills/Groceries

Appearance and Clothing

56. Toss out all underthings and replace them
57. Donate hair to Locks of Love
58. Get a pedicure
59. Buy a designer handbag
60. Buy a pair of Doc Martens (I've always wanted a pair!)
61. Make a Quilt from Old T-Shirts


Family
62. Go on a Family Vacation
63. Get a Family Photo (x3)
64. Fly a Kite with Skyler
65. Write,Illustrate and print a Children's Books for Sky
66. Play Mini-Golf
67. Fill in Skyler's baby Book
68. Go Camping
69. Take Skyler to a Water Park

Home
70. Hang Christmas Lights outdoors
71. Hang at least 5 Photos in the House
72. Replace all the Bath Towels
73. Toss 101 items – declutter!
74. Purchase a Welcome Mat (for both front and back door)
75. Set up a Reading/Library Corner/nook in my house
76. Buy a Garden Gnome
77. Decorate someplace in the house with a Vinyl Sticker
78. Make (or Purchase) a headboard
79. Find a fabulous Spice Rack
80. Find a personally inspirational quote and work it into a piece of home decor

Books and Movies
81. Read 101 books
82. Read the Bible
83. Attend a Book Signing
84. Ask 10 People for Book recommendations - then read those books
85. Listen to the Directors Commentary on 5 DVD's
86. Write a review for 5 books (either on B&N.com or Amazon.com)
87. Read every Stephen King book written in the 1970's
88. Watch 5 classic movies
89. Watch a television series from start to finish (on DVD's of course!)
90. Keep a list of every movie watched for 1 year

Misc
91. Donate Blood Twice
92. Visit Santa Fe
93. Visit 5 different State Capitol Buildings (excluding Nebraska)
94. Learn to Identify 5 constellations
95. Do Volunteer Work (3 separate occasions)
96. Visit 5 Historic Landmarks
97. Make a Donation to Shriner's Hospitals
98. Create/Update a Living Will
99. Create/Update a Will
100. Fill in an Address Book
101. Create a New 101 List