The Master List!

Starting January 15, 2009. Deadline: October 12, 2011.

1. Go to a wine tasting
2. Paint one room in the house - the bathrooms don't count.
3. Hang curtains on the first floor.
4. Read 10 books (0/10)
5. Complete 1st year Baby book for M
6. Make an album for M
7. Lose 15 lbs (from post baby)
8. Refinish Rob's desk
9. Plant flowers in the yard
10. Bring M to a movie
11. Play golf 3 times in one season
12. Take 3 weekend overnight trips with just Rob (0/3)
13. Have 5 candlelight dinners at home (0/5)
14. Take a family vacation with just me, Rob & M.
15. Update my passport with my married name.
16. Get M a passport
17. Have a game night with at least one other couple.
18. Put screen doors on front and mud room doors.
19. Replace slider
20. Get pregnant with #2.
21. Create or build a front walkway.
22. Babyproof the house
23. Make a better master bedroom closet that both Rob and I can use.
24. Rework mudroom closet into a pantry and cleaning storage area.
25. Decorate the master bedroom
26. Make or buy a headboard
27. Get a dog.
28. Get a family picture taken.
29. Teach M to write his name
30. Cook a turkey dinner
31. Take M to a children's museum
32. Go to the zoo.
33. Go to the aquarium.
34. Build a sand castle
35. Plant an herb garden
36. Go sledding
37. Create a skincare regimen
38. Participate in Toys for Tots
39. Finish Christmas shopping by November 15.
40. Take a "scenic" photo and frame it for the house.
41. Make Christmas stockings for Rob and M
42. Put in the concrete patio
43. Connect the two decks
44. Purchase riding lawnmower
45. Have rings fixed to fit together.
46. Get diamond necklace appraised.
47. Find comfy black dress shoes
48. Visit Lloyd in Ohio
49. Find a swingset
50. Have a dinner party.
51. Host a playgroup
52. Take M to the library for story hour
53. Increase savings
54. Get a bookshelf for M's room
55. Play catch with
56. Write letter to person M is named after.
57. Get M into a bedtime routine (bath, bottle, book)
58. Get a magazine rack for the bathroom.
59. Walk in a marathon fundraiser.
60. Go apple picking.
61. Take a bubble bath.
62. Choose M's guardians should anything happen to Rob and me.
63. Save for our 10 year anniversary vow renewal - hopefully destination!
64. Have a bbq/bonfire party during the summer.
65. Get one of our wedding pictures blown up, framed and hung in the house.
66. Put M's money in a CD.
67. Put wedding bouquets in display case.
68. Eat soup and salad at Olive Garden for lunch.
69. Finish a tooth whitening kit.
70. Keep the center island clear of clutter every day for 2 full weeks. (And try to make a permanent habit out of it.)
71. Eat at The Melting Pot with Rob - so he can experience all of the cheesy & chocolate goodness that goes with it.
72. Go garage sale-ing.
73. Post 12 books on paperbackswap.com. (0/12)
74. Go a whole summer with no algae in the pool.
75. Find or buy storm windows for all the windows in the house.
76. Put up Halloween decorations.
77. Create a family tree for M.
78. Go to Italy (this is a long shot, but I want to at least keep it on my radar.)
79. Learn PhotoShop
80. Learn to build a website
81. Keep desk clutter free for two full weeks.
82. Post a secret
83. Contribute to a magazine.
84. Replace our desktop PC with a new laptop.
85. Go on Ellen, Rachael Ray, or Oprah show (as an audience member - not guest!)
86. Write a poem
87. See a play
88. Organize mudroom with a bench for places to put shoes, hats, mittens, etc.
89. Design my own calendar
90. Go to Canada.
91. Visit the house in Eleuthera.
92. Have afternoon tea.
93. Learn to make a good sangria.
94. Make a meal with my tagine.
95. Go on a cruise.
96. See live music again
97. Visit the Boston Science Museum
98. Go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
99. Donate $2 to charity for every items I don't accomplish.
100. Blog about my accomplishments, experiences and set-backs at least once per month.
101. Make a new list of 101 things.

Why I'm doing this

I guess this is the simple part. I'm not one for New Year's resolutions. One year doesn't seem long enough for my lofty goals in life. And, by lofty, I mean, numerous. There are just too many things I want to do in life to give myself just one thing to do per year. I look forward to completing my list of 101 things. And, I look forward to being challenged by it. Why, you ask? I believe in being challenged by everyday things. They don't have to be big things. But, they are all things that are important to me. And since life isn't easy and I don't expect or want it to be, I find myself challenged each and every day.

The Mission of this Challenge

The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable, or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of effort on your part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities