Just wanted to share this GORGEOUS picture of Red River Gorge and Natural Bridge that my wedding photographer took this past weekend.

I have spent a lot of time this week just in awe of how beautiful the trees look as they change and this picture truly captures that. Thanks Frank:)

So Cam and I learned a lot from our *short lived* selling adventure. One thing is that our house apparently shows nicely and we have learned how to properly stage a house, which is great to hear. But, we also learned a few down parts to our house (namely the bathrooms and windows, lack of yard, and our neighbors). The other bad news is that we have put a lot into our house and are unsure if we will be able to get it all back anytime soon. So, we will probably hold back on doing too many actual updates to the house and may focus on saving up for a new home or buying nicer things for our house. We will probably finish out the landscaping, but other than that we will be pretty slow to sink too much more into the house.

That being said, I would LOVE to update the bathrooms and wanted to share a few bathrooms I have seen that I love.

• I did all the usual cleaning, including mopping, vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning the bathrooms.
• I have removed all signs of our pets, including the cat tree, feeders, toys, beds and crates, and the animals themselves. Sophia is at Carla's house all week and Ritz is going to work with Cam tomorrow.
• I have taken down quite a few of our pictures that could be distracting, removed some paintings and rugs to make some of the rooms feel larger and show off the floors. I also removed quite a few things from our counters to make them feel larger and cleaned off the front of the fridge.
• I made cookie dough so I can bake some cookies before they come so the house will smell "homey". I also dabbed all the light bulbs with a little vanilla extract. The heat when they are on gives the room a hint of vanilla.
• I cleaned out the closets to prevent them from looking too cluttered.
• I removed some of the side tables and other small pieces that either blocked the walkway or were unnecessary to make the house feel bigger.
  
• I deep cleaned the carpet upstairs. I have decided that hydrogen peroxide is seriously the best invention for absolutely anything you need. It removed every spot on our carpet that Resolve couldn't get it.

I love lists, so when I saw this ultimate list I realized it was made for me! I plan on making this a sticky note on my computer so that I will have to abide by it.

Lauren's 101 in 1001

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 work on my 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 organizng and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities. Learn more about the 101 Project here.

Start Date: October 2, 2009
End Date: June 29, 2012

Bold/italicized - Completed Item

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Get Artsy
001. Make and create a wedding album for our pictures.
002. Resurface/store the dining room chairs to a solid silk fabric.
003. Make window draperies.
004. Make a duvet cover/pillow shams for one of the beds.
005. Finish the needlepoint pillow.
006. Make a t-shirt quilt.

Get Healthy
007. Work out three times a week for a month. (0/12)
008. Run in a 5k with Cam.
009. Eat breakfast every morning for a month. (0/30)
010. Cut my sugar intake by at least half.
011. Stop drinking cokes.
012. Get back into yoga/pilates classes.
013. Enroll in a fitness class and go 3 times a week for a month. (0/12)
014. Pack a healthy lunch every day for school for at least a week (0/5).
015. Eat fast food from a drive-thru no more than 10 times. (0/10).
016. Get tested for allergies and get the shots.

Get Cultured
017. Read 20 books off my "to-read" list. (0/20)
018. Attend a concert.
019. Watch 33 new movies (a movie a month). (0/33).
020. Visit a town that begins with each letter of the alphabet. (0/26)
021. See a movie at the local drive-in.
022. Go wine tasting.
023. Buy a nice piece of art.

Get Deep
024. Identify 25 things I like about myself. (0/25)
025. Turn off the computer, cell phone, and TV for one day.
026. Go to church at least 2 times a month. (0/64).
027. Enjoy a fall day at Red River Gorge.
028. Write a bucket list.
029. Maintain only "us" time with husband for at least an hour a week.
030. Complete the First Saturday Devotions.
031. Have just as loving and wonderful as a marriage as we did on our honeymoon.
032. Read the bible, cover to cover.
033. Stop swearing.

Get Domestic
034. Take a cooking class.
035. Make dinner at least 3 nights a week, two weeks in a row. (0/6)
036. Try 30 new recipes. (0/30)
037. Keep a houseplant alive.
038. Make Christmas cookies.
039. Decorate our house for Christmas each year (0/3).
040. Carve a pumpkin for halloween each year with Cam. (0/3).
041. Bake 5 pies. (0/5)
042. Turn the formal living room into a study/office.

Get Organized
043. Keep car organized.
044. Buy birthday cards and greeting cards to have on-hand and send
045. Officially change my name.
046. Organize and clean the pantry.
047. clean out drawers.

Get Rich
048. Put $5 in savings for each completed task and $10 for every uncompleted one.
049. Be able to pay back any student loans within 6 months of graduating.
050. Save at least $50 a month from my paychecks.
051. resist spending money on something frivolous at least once a month and put it in savings instead. (0/33)

Get Generous
052. Donate old clothes from closets at least once a year (0/3)
053. Volunteer for a fundraiser or organization.
054. Say yes 10 times when i'd rather say no (0/10).
055. Put change in an expired meter.
056. Donate 100,001 grains of rice of freerice.com. (0/100,001)
057. Give a 100% tip to a really good waitress.
058. Donate blood.
059. Participate in the Giving Tree every Christmas. (0/3)

Get Social
060. Mail out Christmas Cards.
061. Make plans with a new friend.
062. Call one faraway friend a week for 6 weeks. (0/6)
063. Have a girl's night once every other month. (0/16)
064. Have a dinner date with my husband once a week. (0/32)
065. Have a double-date with friends once every other month. (1/16)

Get Stuff
066. Buy a Canon Rebel.
067. Invest a big piece of furniture for the house.
068. Buy a little black dress.
069. Buy 5 more suits for work. (0/5).
070. Buy 10 more tops for work. (0/10).
071. Buy season football tickets after graduation.
072. Get crystal lamps to replace the lamps in our bedroom.
073. Buy stock.

Get Adventurous
074. Go visit Erika and Klaus and Ryan and Shannon in Europe.
075. Take a girls only trip.
076. Take a completely impulsive, spur of the moment day trip with husband.
077. Go snowboarding with Cam.
078. Take golf lessons.
079. Go scuba diving (even better if I can finish my certification).
080. Take a vacation somewhere I've never been.

Get Habitual
081. Blog daily for a month. (0/30)
082. Pray with Cam every day for a month. (0/30)
083. Spend at 15 minutes a day outlining.
084. Read for class the day the assignment is assigned.

Get Professional
085. Graduate from law school.
086. Pass the bar.
087. Get a job that I enjoy.
088. Maintain the partnership track.

Get Random
089. Write a letter to my future self.
090. Kiss in the rain.
091. Host a themed party.
092. Surprise my husband with a romantic dinner.
093. Take pictures in a photobooth.
094. Discover my favorite wine and beer.
095. Get a facial.
096. Get a massage.
097. Try 10 new restaurants. (0/10)
098. Tell my husband I love him every day. (0/1001)
099. Take Ritz to a dog park at least once a month. (0/33)
100. Climb and tree and stay there for at least a half an hour.
101. Take my nieces/nephews to the zoo.