Elizabeth August 30th, 2010

Part of my 101 Things in 1001 Days project.

Item #83 on my list was to photograph a day in my life, from beginning to end. It was inspired by a livejournal community that I discovered a long time ago, and putting this together was pretty fun.

And you know what I learned? There is no “good angle” when it comes to that first early morning portrait.

I’m putting all my photos underneath a “more” tag, and I sincerely hope that it doesn’t mess up anyone’s RSS reader! Consider this a once-only, never to be repeated…

On with the show!

Continue Reading »

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Elizabeth August 30th, 2010

Part of my 101 Things in 1001 Days project.

Yesterday Tim and I jumped in our little car, and went in pursuit of snow. It was the first time that Tim or I had seen snow since he moved here three years ago, so we marked the occasion with a funny looking snowman (and a few costume changes!).

Next year Tim is going to teach me to snowboard, which I am anticipating with equal measures of excitement and dread. I expect to be front-page news the next day so my plan is to ring around the hospitals and make sure I won’t have any trouble securing a bed. I have a year to figure that part out.

So I can tick “see the snow” off my list – and another one too! Yesterday I recorded my day in pictures from beginning to end, and tonight I’ll be putting together an “A Day in My Life” post so that you can laugh at my bedhair. There will be plenty more snow photos to come in my next post!

In the meantime, I can’t help but think of my icy little friend up on Lake Mountain. I hope he doesn’t get too much sun today, and that his nose wasn’t nibbled by creatures overnight!

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Elizabeth August 28th, 2010

One of my 101 Things in 1001 Days tasks was to resurrect my old recipe blog. It began (and ended) in 2007, and it’s always bothered me that I abandoned it.

I should make one thing clear: I don’t have any aspirations of becoming a food blogger! I’m not that talented, nor do I have the required dedication. And besides, I prefer to eat when my food is hot rather than run to perfect lighting to compose a photo!

The idea behind my food blog is really simple – I just want to collect all of my favourite recipes in one place. Over time I hope to have a strong collection of food that I adore, and it’s an added bonus that I can share it with others at the same time. I have temporarily named it “cracked pepper” until I am blessed with an idea that’s more creative.

Updates will sometimes be infrequent, so throw it in your RSS reader and forget about it. Be assured that when I do blog over there it will be because it’s worth it!

I’m ticking three things off my 101 List this weekend – the clock is ticking!

ETA: Did anyone notice the part where I forgot to link to my awesome new recipe blog? Geez.

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Elizabeth August 18th, 2010

So with less than six weeks to go in my 101 Things in 1001 Days project, it’s time to start crossing some items off my list! One of the items on my list is “Sell some photos”, so today I put a selection of my favourites together and made them available for purchase.

If you’ve been watching my journey and want to lend a hand maybe you’d like to buy a print?

Postcards start at about $2 (AUD), and there’s great discounts if you buy them in bulk. The best part of all is that you can choose postcards from any seller to get the discount, so it’s worth having a good look around the site! I recommend Natalie Perkins‘ gallery for some beautiful illustration.

If you’re more of a greeting card person, you can choose from two sizes at $2.52 or $3.79. Greeting cards come with matching envelopes, and discounts for multiple orders apply to these as well.

Or maybe you’re after something for your wall?

Matted prints begin at $30, and you can choose between white, off-white and black matting.

Of course, you would really make my day if you bought a framed print! However, at $95 I think this option is overpriced and you’d be better off doing it yourself.

I’ve spent some time adding work to my RedBubble store today, and will update it over time. These are the photographs currently available in my store.

I have an online portfolio at Scarlet Arts with more of my work, so if there’s something over there that you’d like me to list for sale just let me know.

I’d also love to hear from anybody else with an online store for their art; I love discovering new artists, and it would be fantastic if I could return the favour somehow!

Thanks for reading – spread the word!

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Elizabeth August 15th, 2010

Yikes, there’s only 6 weeks to go until my 1001 Days are up!

I’ve lost some of my momentum in the past couple of months, so it’s now become pretty obvious that I won’t complete all 101 Things on my list. But that’s okay, I still have time to complete a bunch more items before time runs out on 28 September.

My little grid tells me that I’ve been working pretty hard over the past 2.75 years, but there is plenty more to do. Here are the tasks I plan to complete in the time remaining:

		001. Weight loss goal #1 I don’t have time to complete all three weight-related goals, but this first one is definitely achievable during the next 6 weeks.
		008. Learn to cook a recipe from 30 different countries (22/30) Only 8 recipes to go! You can see what I’ve been cooking over here.
		011. Walk my dog 3 days/week for 1 month (0/12) We nearly crossed this off a while ago, but then he injured his little legs. We’re going to try this again this week.
		012. Go for three 2-hour bike rides (2/3) I just need to do one more! First, to put some air back in my tires. In my house, this sort of task is referred to as a "boy job".
		020. See 25 movies of Tim’s choosing (23/25) Two to go! This has been fun, and now that we have just bought a spiffy new surround sound system I’m looking forward to the next two.
		023. Build a time capsule This is mostly done – just need to add a letter of my own and seal the box!
		024. Read the dictionary from beginning to end (Now Reading: "M") I’m about halfway through. A few solid hours will put a big dent in this.
		027. Learn the names of every country, and identify them on a map Oh, Africa. You’re killing me.
		030. Learn 5 constellations (3/5) Waiting for a clear night to finish this one, although I have been loving our rainy nights.
		035. Go to Philip Island; and 035. See the snow We’re going to do both these things in early September.
		038. Visit 10 art galleries (4/10) I’ve made my list, a couple of them are interstate.
		040. Read 10 novels by local authors (9/10) Nearly finished my final book, hurrah!
		055. Visit Tasmania Tim and I are spending 5 days in and around Hobart next month, so I’ll be able to tick this off soon. Hooray!
		058. Do an anonymous favour I’m going to tick this off this week. Look out, it might be you! But probably not. Sorry.
		074. Revive my online recipe book I’ve been thinking of setting up a new blog on a free service. If so, this would be easily done in an afternoon.
		077. Make a will I suppose the time has come to take the plastic wrapper off my Will Kit! Geez, dying is a lot of work.
		079. Have the pickup in my guitar repaired I’ve chosen Betty’s transplant surgeon, now I just need to book her in.
		81. Sell some photos I’m part-way through setting up a RedBubble store to list some of my work. You should totally buy something.
		083. Photograph a day in my life, and blog it This might be fun to do when we go to the snow. Yep, that’s a plan.
		084. Participate in 100 Snapshots (82/100) I only need to take another 18 photographs to finish this one off! Naturally I’ve left the more difficult ones until last. Damn. You should check out my progress so far!
		087. Make a photography book My original plan was to create an elaborate portfolio-style book from my best photographs. However, I’ve been tinkering with it for over a year and the perfectionist in me won’t let me wrap it up. So last night I sat down and turned my 100 Snapshots project into a little coffee table book. It’s ready to submit to Blurb just as soon as I take those last 18 photos!
		089. Draw 5 hands (0/5); and 090. Draw 10 people (7/10) I think I need to set aside a few hours and tackle these in a single session. See previous notes regarding perfectionistic tendencies.

All of the above tasks are achievable during the next 6 weeks, and if I manage to cross them all off I will have completed 93 tasks out of 101.

It feels really good to know that I can still kick butt at this thing if I try my hardest over the next six weeks. I’m a little disappointed that all 101 tasks aren’t achievable in the time remaining, but have given myself a stern talking-to about letting go. I mean, when I wrote this list almost 3 years ago I didn’t know that I would be changing jobs, moving house, travelling interstate 600 times for family reasons, and paying big vet bills. I didn’t know that I would buy Tim 30 presents for his 30th birthday or that we might host about a million visitors during that time.

So I’m giving myself a break and recognising my achievements for what they are – whether I stop at 69 completed tasks or make it all the way to 93. Either way, that list is filled with stuff that I’d never have bothered to tackle if I hadn’t slapped a time-limit on them. So hooray for me!

Got any tips for getting through the next 6 weeks? Useful strategies? Irrelevant stories about Auntie Mabel’s pet Chihuahua? I’m all ears!

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Elizabeth May 25th, 2010

This will be the longest post I’ve written in a while…

It’s been a long time since I’ve written an update on my list of 101 Things in 1001 Days and I desperately need to get cracking on some of the remaining items.  My finishing date is 28 September this year and I have so much to do!

I have made peace with the fact that I will most likely not cross off every single item on my list, for various reasons.  The old me would have been a bit OCD about it all (I’m a liiiiitle bit of a perfectionist) and so I’m actually kind of proud of myself that I’m acknowledging it out loud!  There are just a few items that I can’t possibly complete by September, so I’ve spent some time shifting the goal posts and working out what is achievable in the remaining time.

I figure it’s better to make something from my original goals, rather than write them off altogether.

So here is my remaining to-do list…

011 – Walk my dog 5 days/week for 1 month (0/20)
Changed to: Walk my dog 3 days/week for 1 month (0/12)
We’ve begun this task a few times lately, but my pup has two weak back legs that seem to suffer when we hit the pavement.  He doesn’t seem to have any control over his energy and excitement when we go out and only feels the pain later on.  So, I’ve decided to alter this task to protect his silly little stems.

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033 – Go to Philip Island
We haven’t picked a date for this, but luckily it’s just a day trip!

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035 – See the snow
We’re just approaching snow season, so this will happen soon!  I really want to take my dog to see the snow, so we’ll need to make sure his little legs are up to the challenge!

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055 – Have the pickup in my guitar repaired
There’s a great little guitar workshop near my house, so I can say that I’ve chosen her transplant surgeon.

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058 – Do an anonymous favour
I’m sure I could cross this off if I thought back, but I haven’t actively sought out an opportunity to do an anonymous favour for somebody.

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074 – Revive my online recipe book
I could do this in an afternoon (so why haven’t I?!)

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081 – Sell some photos
Hey, do you want to buy some photos so that I can cross this off?  Make me your best offer!

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083 – Photograph a day in my life, and blog it
I’m waiting for a day worthy enough of being recorded!  Actually, that’s just a cop-out.

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099 – Participate in mailart.org
Hey, where did mailart.org disappear to?  Can anyone suggest a similar arty challenge to replace this one?

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101 – Plan and execute an online crafty collaboration, swap or competition
I had great big plans for this one, but it all seems a bit overwhelming right now.  Time for a new (simpler) idea.

001 – Weight loss goal #1 (50%)
002 – Weight loss goal #2 (75%)
003 – Weight loss goal #3 (100%)
I’ll  be honest here – my weight has been up and down during the “101 Things” mission and so it’s hard to know where I stand with this task.  I have decided to assign new weight goals to these three tasks which are achievable over the next four months.  I have given things a good kick-start by joining a gym and arranging for some personal training sessions, plus Tim has decided to join me.  Or, in other words, I’m now accountable to two people!

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005 – Learn 15 new vegetarian recipes (13/15)
Only two more to go! I’m sure I’ve actually completed this task without realising it, but I haven’t actively set out to cook vegetarian meals in a while.

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008 – Learn to cook a recipe from 30 different countries (12/30)
It’s been a loooong time since I’ve actively looked at this task.  I have some friends who want to help inspire me again with this task, so it’s back on my radar.

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012 – Go for three 2-hour bike rides (2/3)
Only one to go!  I plan to spend this last ride getting to know my new neighbourhood a bit better.

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016 – Write a budget; and
017 – Set a savings target, meet it, and maintain it for 6 months.
Tim and I sat down at the beginning of the year and looked at this pretty seriously.  Then we moved house and our expenses changed a lot.  We need to adjust some figures based on our first sets of bills.

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020 – See 25 movies of Tim’s choosing (20/25)
I’ve been very careful to only list movies that truly came from Tim, so this task has crawled along over time.  He’s really looking forward to a few upcoming movies, so the last 5 will be knocked over very easily.

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023 – Build a time capsule
Some of my friends have been good enough to write me a letter for my time capsule, and I have a couple more to add shortly (including one from my Mum).  I’ve put together a box of keepsakes that I intend to seal up as soon as I complete an art journal that I’m making, and then I just need to decide on a grand opening date!

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024 – Read the dictionary from beginning to end (Now Reading: “M”)
I stopped reading a while ago because it was getting a bit dry! (I know, right?)  Time to break out the old lexicon again so that I can cross this off.

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027 – Learn the names of every country, and identify them on a map
I can totally p0int to Australia on a map.  Also, Kiribati.  I am so great.

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030 – Learn to identify 5 constellations (3/5)
I’ve recently discovered a great iPhone app that will help me finish this one!  These clear Winter skies will make it nice and easy.

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031 – Travel to New England (or at least have the trip planned)
We don’t have anything booked yet, but we have decided to take our trip in September 2011.  I’ll happily cross this one off when we have specific dates in mind, and a puppy-sitter.

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034 – Spend a day or two on the Great Ocean Road
Only 3 weeks to go!  Tim and I are taking three of our good friends to an awesome villa in Apollo Bay over the June long weekend.  We’re packing lots of great food and wine (and the dog!) and will hit up the 12 Apostles at some stage.  I can’t wait to photograph them.

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038 – Visit 10 local art galleries (4/10)
Can you believe I haven’t done this yet?  I seem to find myself at the NGV regularly but really need to expand my horizons.

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040 – Read 10 novels by Melbourne authors (9.5/10)
Only one to go!  I’m halfway through my final book – hooray!

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043 – Go on a ghost tour
We’re all booked, and ready to roll at The Old Melbourne Gaol.

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047 – Go on the Neighbours tour
I can report, with a healthy dose of embarrassment, that I have booked and paid for this tour.  Sally is joining me.  She is either really lame (unlikely) or somebody that I could call on to help me hide a body if circumstances required it.

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057 – Read the last Harry Potter book
Does buying a copy of the book count as progress?  I can’t even remember what happened in the last book…

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077 – Make a Will
You might remember that my friend Sally bought me a Will Kit for my 30th birthday.  Cold, hey?  But at least it means I can count this one as “in progress”!  Next, to remove the shrink wrapping.  Baby steps.

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079 – Secret Task
Shhhhhh.

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084 – Participate in 100 Snapshots (79/100)
I said from the start that completing this wasn’t necessarily my goal.  However, I have enjoyed it so much that I really want to try and take all 100 photos!  I’m making great progress with this one, and have solid ideas for the remaining shots.

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087 – Make a photography book
I’m halfway through making a little book of photos through Blurb.

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089 – Draw 5 hands (3/5); and
090 – Draw 10 people (7/10)
I haven’t drawn anything in a long time!  I just need to set aside a couple of hours to complete these two.

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092 – Keep a paper journal for a year
Changed to: Complete a class in art journaling
I  have kept a haphazard journal during my 101 Things challenge, but can’t say that I have kept a year’s worth of journaling with a clear conscience.  So, I have decided to replace this task with one I can achieve by September.  I am halfway through a 6-week art journaling class, and I’m religiously completing all the assignments.  The finished product will be going into my time capsule.

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096 – Release 20 books via BookCrossing (0/20)
I’ve set aside some books for this task, but am yet to “drop” them.

So, there we have it.  It’s still a mighty big list, but when I set it out this way at least it will help me break it down into achievable bites.  I’d still be pretty proud of myself if I stopped right now, but I’m really eager to find out what I can accomplish in four short months.

If you have expertise or enthusiasm for any of the items on my list, and you think you can give me a helping hand… now would be a great time to say hi!

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Elizabeth March 22nd, 2010

Part of my 101 Things in 1001 Days challenge.

I almost apologised for this image-heavy post, but it wouldn’t have been very sincere!

There is no way to describe how incredible it feels to float above the clouds in a little basket, watching the sun creep up over the mountains and seeing the world wake up. It’s so smooth and gentle, and very serene.

All I can do is show you my pictures. I hope everyone reading this has the chance to do it someday.

(This is just a small selection of the photos I took yesterday!)

Unfortunately the company we flew with placed surprise restrictions on what could be carried on board, and I found myself having to leave most of my camera gear behind. It was really disappointing to have researched my shots so well in advance, only to be told that I couldn’t take a shoulder bag. Put it on your website guys, you list every other piece of information there.

Otherwise it was a brilliant experience. If you think you might find yourself in a similar situation I recommend asking plenty of questions ahead of time and consider getting it in writing. It’s a lot of money, and if photography is your thing you really want to get it right. 5am isn’t the time to be working on your Plan B!

It wasn’t a great way to begin the morning, but I managed to put it behind me and focus on enjoying the experience. Balloon Sunrise ticked every other box, and the Yarra Valley is truly beautiful from the sky.

Thank you Tim for organising this for my birthday!

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Elizabeth March 20th, 2010

Roses from Mum & Dad

Belgian Chocolate and Red Velvet cupcakes, from the incredible Little Cupcakes on Degraves St

KitchenAid Artisan, in Almond Cream

“Diamonds by the Yard” necklace from Tiffany, by Elsa Peretti

Soft leather handbag by Kate Spade, from Tim’s parents

Beautiful Georg Jensen cheese board and knife

Laguiole cheese knives (ok everyone, I think I’m equipped to eat cheese now!)

A six-course banquet at Flower Drum, a hand-carved swan (with a sparkler), and a bunch of strangers singing me Happy Birthday!

And weather-permitting, this is what I’ll be doing tomorrow morning:

I am feeling very lucky, and very spoiled.

I was given lots of other little bits and pieces as well. Shoe clips, an evening bag, a little bottle of Chanel Cristalle and some sparkly jewellery. My parents also sent me a few pieces of furniture that we needed. Is it sad that I was most excited about finally having a pantry?

So I guess being thirty isn’t so bad, so far. Please cross your eyeballs that we have good weather tomorrow morning! If all goes well we’ll be sailing over the Yarra Valley at sunrise, followed by breakfast at Balgownie Estate winery.

Of course, my friend Sally anticipated that all this attention might go to my head, so she did her best to find me a present that would drag me back down to Earth. I am so lucky to have a friend to remind me that the clock is ticking!

I’m sure this present had something to do with my 101 List, and that it wasn’t purely sadistic. She’s been such a champion where my list is concerned, and we’re celebrating my 30th properly in June when she joins me for a trip to the (remaining) 12 Apostles.

And now we’re off to our friends’ place for another birthday dinner. I have been promised a ridiculous birthday hat, so perhaps I should leave the camera at home!

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Elizabeth March 1st, 2010

Ah, fresh starts. Aren’t they great?

Here are a few little habits I’d like to improve upon in the month of March.

01. Make the bed every morning
02. Put away my clothes once a day
03. Walk the dog 5 days/week
04. Stop eating as though it’s still Christmas
05. Go for a run twice/week
06. Write something in my journal every day
07. Focus on one room of my house at a time, and completely unpack it
08. Take some photos of my pretty new home
09. Make a nice, big dent in my 101 list
10. By the end of this month, cease being in my twenties

That last one isn’t exactly negotiable, but the others may take a little bit of concentration!

I must say, life is treating me well right now. Our new house is finally starting to feel like home, and we’re gradually finding solutions to all its little problems “quirks”. Like the fact that it has no pantry, and no cabinet in the bathroom, and…

… it turns out that it’s all fine, and nothing that couldn’t be fixed with a bit of clever shelving. Our new home has got so much style and charm, and although it has one less bedroom than the last place it manages to look very spacious. We have incredible sunset views every afternoon, a constant breeze and brand new paint and carpet. As much as I loved our previous house, it’s nice to not have cracks in the ceiling that actually let through sunlight!

On top of all of that, several people have answered my call for butt-kicking me into finishing my 101 Thing in 1001 Days list! My friend Sally deserves extra credit for planning a 10-day visit in which we’ll visit the Great Ocean Rd, do the Neighbours tour, see fairy penguins at Philip Island and maybe even fit in a ghost tour. She’s already orchestrated the Yarra river cruise and taught me sign language, and I owe her a great deal of credit for encouraging me throughout my silly self-imposed challenge.

And later this month I’ll be waving goodbye to my twenties. The big Three-Oh seems to big a big deal for some people, but for some reason I’m not all that excited about it! I’m not dreading it either, I guess I just don’t see it as much of a landmark occasion. My new “chapter” began when I moved to Melbourne I think, perhaps it’s just too soon for another one.

Of course, I reserve the right to change my mind about this during the next two weeks. My family has begun to make a bit of a fuss of me, so perhaps it will rub off!

So, there’s lots to look forward to in March, and beyond. My favourite seasons are approaching, my favourite boy is close enough to snuggle, and work has been very rewarding. Life feels so much better when you’re in the driver’s seat, zipping through the traffic and singing along to the radio!

Have a lovely March. I know I will!

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Elizabeth February 24th, 2010

Uh oh!

I’ve just realised that I have a little more than seven months in which to complete my 101 Things in 1001 Days list. Time to get serious.

Here are the things that I will cross off in March:

005: Learn 15 new vegetarian recipes (12/15)
- only three to go! I am so slack.

008: Learn to cook a recipe from 30 different countries (12/30)
- I’m going to learn 5 recipes next month.

011: Walk my dog 5 days/week for 1 month (0/20)
- I need to do this before the days get shorter again, so March it is!

012: Go for three 2-hour bike rides (2/3)
- one to go!

016: Write a budget; and
017: Set a savings target, meet it, and maintain it for 6 months.
- I was making progress, but then moving house came along and ruined everything…

020: See 25 movies of Tim’s choosing (18/25)
- NOTE TO TIM: March is Boy Movie Month. I need to see at least 4 of his movies in March.

023: Build a time capsule
- Another task that is almost done, just need to throw in the last few things

024: Read the dictionary from beginning to end (Now Reading: “M”)
- I’ll read up to “U” next month

038: Visit 10 local art galleries (4/10)
- Rather than just going to the same galleries, I’m going to 2 new ones next month.

040: Read 10 novels by Melbourne authors (7/10)
- March is the month that I will finish the crappy novel I’ve been stuck on for weeks on end. The final 2 books are sitting on my bookshelf, waiting for me!

043: Go on a ghost tour
- Tiiiiiii-iiiiiiim, c’moooon. For me?

084: Participate in 100 Snapshots (62/100)
I’m sort of loving this task. I have a bunch more photos to take, but I love it.

In reality, I think I have accepted that I won’t finish all 101 Things on my list by September 28. In fact, there are two items on my list that I can’t possibly complete in the time that I have left, if I am to be faithful to the criteria that I set for myself. I’m reluctant to re-write the requirements just to get that magical “101″, when I haven’t truly achieved it.

So instead I am looking at it this way: by the time September rolls around I’ll have definitely done 80+ things on my list. 90+ is extremely possible. I might even reach 99 Things! That’s not too bad, right? I consider each of those tasks as things that I may not have gotten around to doing without my trusty list, so there’s still plenty to be proud of.

Even if I stopped today with 60 items complete I’ve achieved so much. I love my little so much that I’ve already jotted down some ideas for my next one.

Can I have some volunteers to kick my butt through March and make all this happen?

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Elizabeth December 31st, 2009

I’m in so much denial about this 2010 thing that everybody is talking about. I mean, can’t we all just calm down about 2010 and wait until Christmas has passed?

Hang on a minute…
Is that why people kept giving me presents last week?

I think I’d better accept that this year will be over in about six hours and say my goodbyes!

2009 was pretty good to Tim and I.  Our little house was full of friends and family, but there was also plenty of space for the two of us to just be together.  Both of us have had periods of stress in our jobs because of downsizing, but for the most part our work lives have been pretty fulfilling.  We’ve lived well, loved well, and we seem to have achieved some wisdom about what matters most.  It doesn’t get much better than that, does it?

Many of my friends, coworkers and fellow bloggers seem to want this year to be done.  So, for their sake, I’m okay with the clean slate that a new year will bring!

Here are my resolutions for 2010 (and beyond):

1. Continue to plug away at my 101 Things in 1001 Days challenge. With 42 items on my list still remaining, and a finish date of 28 September 2010, I have a lot of work to do! There are a lot of “works in progress” in that total, so it’s still an achievable goal. And hey, if I fall short by a few it’s still a monumental achievement.

2. Write a grown-up budget. Not that there’s anything wrong with spending all my pay each month, and then living out the final 10 days on instant noodles… but I would like to buy a house someday…

3. Move house. We absolutely adore our enormous 3-bedroom, inner-Melbourne house and our huge backyard… but it’s time to start putting our money to better use. We have no regrets about the time we’ve spent here, but it’s time to move on.

4. Continue to improve my health. I’m an idiot for not writing about this already, but I finished Couch to 5K almost a month ago and lost a buttload of weight in the process! I’ve been given a glimpse into a life where I feel fit and healthy, and I want more. In the short term this will mean:

- Making running a few times per week a part of my routine
- Heading back to the gym and swimming lots of laps
- Fresh food that focuses on vegetables, fruit, wholegrains, fish, lean meat and tons of water. No fads!

5. Reconnect with that which is most important. I plan to set aside time each day to clear my brain of work, TV and Internet… and just focus on getting back to “me”. My plan is to rediscover my passion for my paper journal, and playing music again. I’m just not me without them.

Five resolutions is plenty for somebody who doesn’t normally make NY resolutions!

It’s exciting to have some clear goals in mind, and to imagine life at the end of next year if I have been able to improve each of these areas of my life.

Something tells me that 2010 is going to be great for me, and hope it’s great for you too.

Are you setting any resolutions for yourself this year?

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Elizabeth December 30th, 2009

Part of my 101 Things in 1001 Days challenge.

My Mum and Dad gave us a little trip to the Sunshine Coast for an early Christmas present this year, up near Noosa. We stayed in a beautiful resort for 4 nights, slept in late each morning and had long, luxurious breakfasts beside the pool. It was nice to live the life of the rich & famous for a little while!

There was a tour desk in the foyer of the resort, and on our second day I had a browse through the racks of brochures on the walls. For some reason I was really looking forward to seeing the Sunny Coast through the eyes of a tourist rather than going to my usual haunts. I picked up a bunch of great brochures, including two for horseriding.

One of the two offered beach rides, and I was hooked! We were off to the Noosa North Shore that same afternoon, which involved taking our car across the river by ferry.

We were lucky enough to be riding with only one other couple, plus the two riding instructors, and it meant that we were all able to chat during our two-hour ride. The company was great and the views spectacular – particularly as a storm was beginning to brew in the distance.

My little fella was called “Chappy”, and he was the most docile horse I’ve ever ridden. In fact, that was my only real disappointment – I could have let go of the reins for most of those two hours and he’d have just followed his pals. Monkey see, monkey do… one foot in front of the other.

It was clear right from the start that I wouldn’t be able to go ahead of the group and have a little trot or canter. The other girl in the group had done lots of riding as a kid, but the guys didn’t have any experience. It was very obvious that if one horse was to pick up speed, the others would have bolted too.

It’s only a small disappointment really, as the whole experience was still wonderful. It was beautiful to watch the waves crashing against the sand, and wade through the shallows with Chappy. The wetlands that grew beside the beach was home to lots of black cockatoos, and we saw a couple of wedge-tail eagles hovering overhead as well.

From the far end of the beach we could see Hastings St clearly, and when we caught the ferry back to the mainland we decided to head there for dinner. There was just enough light when we arrived that we could see the beach we’d ridden along just an hour earlier.

Noosa was lit up beautifully for Christmas, including this fairy-light tree in the main roundabout on Hastings St. We found a great seafood restaurant to sit and eat, while complaining about our sore saddle bums!

I managed to cross a few items off my list during my QLD vacation, but this was one of my favourites!

• 101 in 1001 , Cool stuff , Life
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Elizabeth November 30th, 2009

Cute cartoon from Everyday People Cartoons.

I’ve really slacked off in the running department during the past fortnight. Most of it can be attributed to Life, and it’s uncanny ability to get in the way of Stuff I Should Do, but there have been a few missed opportunities because I’ve just been feeling blah about it all.

It’s all a bit stupid, considering that I only have a few more runs to go before I can cross another thingo off my list. So what’s wrong with me?

You might remember my ridiculously dramatic post last week, where I compared my post-run state to that of a dying fly. Today’s run was almost as bad, and I’m sick of feeling so crap when I’m actually really enjoying the act of running itself!

The problem seems to be stitches. It’s strange that I am suddenly developing such horrible cramps when I run, as it’s something I didn’t experience at all until just a couple of weeks ago. Today’s was so bad that it felt like a broken rib was digging into my stomach every time I took a step. Even running up and down a low traffic island was excruciating, to the point where I had trouble breathing for 15 seconds afterwards. It’s like a horrible bruise that’s getting pounded with a stick every time I move. Unsurprisingly, it is most unenjoyable.

The most frustrating part is that I didn’t feel physically tired, but had to “protect” my stupid injury by reducing my pace and pushing through it. I felt like I otherwise had the strength and stamina to run really well today. The will was there, but my diaphragm didn’t get the memo.

Has anyone beaten the battle against these cramps? I’ve read plenty of theories about what causes them, and the most likely scenario in my case is that my asthma is causing me to breathe unnaturally. I’ve been conscious of all the flowering stuff in my neighbourhood during the past few weeks, and the unavoidable way in which I suck in all their lovely pollen as I run past. I’m sure this isn’t helping my lung capacity when I need it most.

I’ve heard other theories too, such as too much salt (or too little salt), or too much water (or too little water). With advice like this is it any wonder I’m confused?

Please discuss any theories, advice, experiences or laments in the comments. I’m off for some recovery sleep!

• 101 in 1001 , C25K , Health & Fitness , Running
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Elizabeth November 24th, 2009

It’s safe to say that tonight’s run was not one of my best.

Last week I only ran once, and it really sucked to lose the rhythm that I’ve kept up since I began Couch to 5K at the end of September. I blame the loss of momentum on a few things, but mainly it was my weekend away and having part of my arm butchered. Both of them were pretty good excuses, but the setback was frustrating.

I’ve been feeling blah all day, but really needed to get back in the saddle and go for a run. Perhaps my blahness was a sign of things to come though, as tonight’s run was probably the worst one I’ve ever done!

Here are a few reasons why it sucked:

•  I got a crippling stitch in my diaphragm, which lasted for 22 minutes of my 28-minute session.

•  Blisters. Blisters that made me feel as though my feet were bleeding.

•  Did I mention that Melbourne has commenced fly plague season?

•  ASTHMA. In retrospect, the asthma was probably responsible for my stitch as I was breathing unnaturally the entire time.

•  As a result, I needed my inhaler much more than normal. And this may have had something to do with my overwhelming urge to vomit towards the end of my run.

• I found myself 15 minutes from home, and so irritated by all of the above that I actually ripped my headphones out of my ears because my music was annoying me. It was as though my brain couldn’t take any more information than what it already had to deal with. Weird.

• Getting home aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand… headspins. That’s the part where I sat on the front porch for a few minutes, because walking through the front door no longer featured in my short-term plans.

By the time I had recovered enough to actually come in from the street, I just walked straight out to my back deck and stretched out – face down – in order to relieve the horrible cramp in my abdomen. I was sweaty and gross and wheezing and picturing the weepy guests at my funeral, when I was overcome with the sudden urge to turn my head to the other side.

And then, I saw it. Right beside my head was a little message from the Universe; a metaphor that would equip me with the tools to whine on my blog like I have never whined on my blog before.

I called Tim and asked him to bring me the camera.

A couple of hours has passed, and I feel only marginally better than this fly. In fact, last time I checked the little dude was still wriggling around a bit… so I guess he’s in for a painful death like the one I’m experiencing.

The good news? I finished. One more 28-minute run later this week, and then I can finish up with three 30-minute runs. I’m pretty sure I’m not even going to notice that extra two minutes…

What happened to that euphoria I wrote about in Week 4?

• 101 in 1001 , C25K , Running
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Elizabeth November 17th, 2009

Click to see the full-size chart.

Today I began Week 8 of Couch to 5K! I ran my longest time and distance yet – 4.6km (2.9 miles) in 28 minutes. It’s hardly a record-breaking pace, but I did it.

And I only have five runs to go before I can cross this one off my list!

Today I chose a new route, and seriously overestimated the time I expected the course to take. I found myself very close to home with 13 minutes still to run – it was devastating! Digging up the motivation to keep running for that long was really difficult because I’d already fallen into “home stretch” headspace.

I dealt with it by setting small short-term goals, and used a long uphill stretch of road to take my mind off the clock. I discovered that lungburn will take your mind off almost any problem.

It was a beautiful afternoon to be out running; the sun was out, and there was a beautiful cool breeze. There were a lot of other runners on the road, and I couldn’t help but make some observations. First of all, drivers will almost always wave you across the road if you run “on the spot” at an intersection. The sight of an impending cardiac arrest seems to bring out the charitable side of most people! Secondly, most other runners will acknowledge you with a nod or a smile as you pass. It’s like a secret club.

(Thirdly, those runners who choose to ignore your very existance are always – without exception – women. Women who suddenly run taller and faster until they’re out of your line of sight!)

My iphone buzzed in my hand about 800m from home to let me know that my 28 minutes was up. Despite the fact that I felt physically spent, I decided to see how long I could sprint at full pace. I was amazed to discover that I was able to sprint an entire block, more than 60 seconds, after my 28 minute run! It really blows my mind that I have come so far, given that 60 seconds of jogging was the absolute limit of my stamina in Week 1.

There’s really no denying that interval training programs such as C25K can produce incredible, measurable results.

It’s hard to believe that this time next week I will be running my last week of the program. I’d better hurry up and figure out what I’m going to do once it’s finished – you can bet that I won’t be undoing any of my hard work!

• 101 in 1001 , C25K , Health & Fitness , Running
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