My First 101 in 1001

Like most, I’ve had a lot of time to think lately. About my dreams, my goals, the pesky little things I keep leaving off my to-do list out of avoidance – and now, I’ve finally written them all down! 101 things to do in 1,001 days (2.75ish years), inspired by Mackenzie Horan.

Started: August 12, 2020

Ending: May 10, 2023

43 down, 58 to go

Marriage – 5/10

1. Decide where our family is going to live long-term.
2. Take a trip just the two of us.
3. Figure out a budget and system that works for us.
4. Start marriage counseling. (7/10/21)
5. Watch 10 films with Judah that he either loves or wants to see. (10/10 – Our Time Machine on 9/12/20, The Way I See It on 9/18/20, On the Rocks on 10/2/20, Phantom Thread on 10/3/20, Pineapple Express on 10/17/20, Zodiac on 10/24/20, Dick Johnson is Dead on 11/7/20, Klaus on 12/19/20, Lovers Rock on 1/3/21, The Vast of Night on 1/5/21)
6. Start paying off Judah’s student loans more aggressively.
7. Surprise Judah with a fully planned date.
8. Play Bananagrams together every night for two weeks.
9. Have Judah teach me how to play two new card games. (2/2 – cribbage on 8/12/20, spades on 9/6/20)
10. Help Judah find a career he’s interested in. (Real estate appraiser!)

Home – 3/12

1. Finally, actually, truly hone in on my personal interior design style.
2. Consult with a designer on a space I’m struggling with.
3. Find a couch that Phoebe won’t scratch up. (1/4/21)
4. Design Annabelle’s “big girl” room.
5. Figure out how to display Annabelle’s art.
6. Invest in a piece of art from an artist I admire. (Alexis Walter)
7. Get a TV with a screen that doesn’t randomly black out. (11/18/20)
8. Figure out how to display my seashell collection.
9. Figure out the best way to organize sentimental items.
10. Do a serious, ruthless purge.
11. Host friends for a homemade dinner.
12. Complete a DIY project.

Family – 8/15

1. Take another set of family photos. (Taken on 11/21/20)
2. Find an activity for Annabelle that she loves. (Gymnastics on 4/25/21)
3. Make mom friends.
4. Send out Christmas cards every year. (2/3 – 2020, 2021)
5. Buy life insurance.
6. Make a will.
7. Read 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families. (Finished on 11/20/20)
8. Find a way to get involved at Annabelle’s school. (Volunteering to organize library)
9. Decide if/when to have a second kid.
10. Have Annabelle help us pick out our Christmas tree.
11. Go on a trip with my mom and sister.
12. Start a new family tradition.
13. Treat my mom to a nice gift or meal, just because.
14. Cook a meal for my dad and Michelle, just because. (20 Minute Ramen Carbonara on 12/23/20)
15. Find a pediatric dentist for Annabelle. (Scheduled her first appointment on 9/9/20)

Austin – 4/14

1. Visit a farmer’s market.
2. Take a class through CRAFT.
3. Rent a boat on the lake for a day.
4. Take Annabelle to the Austin Aquarium.
5. Take Annabelle to the Thinkery.
6. Take Annabelle to the Austin Zoo. (Labor Day 2021)
7. Go paddle boarding on the lake. (9/25/20)
8. Take Annabelle to a farm.
9. Go to Jeffrey’s with Judah three times. (1/3 – 10/17/20)
10. Go back to the pool at the Wayback.
11. Try five new restaurants. (5/5 – Stiles Switch BBQ on 9/6/20, Swedish Hill on 9/22/20, Launderette on 10/18/20, Lucy’s Fried Chicken on 12/12/20, Oakmont on 3/3/21)
12. Watch the Nutcracker at Ballet Austin.
13. Discover and support a local entrepreneur or cause. (Inside Books Project)
14. Find a new favorite place.

New England – 2/13

1. Take a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard.
2. Take a day trip to Nantucket.
3. Go fishing off Cape Cod.
4. Rent a vacation house with our friends. (Summer 2021)
5. Eat the best lobster roll in Connecticut.
6. Eat the best lobster roll on Cape Cod.
7. Eat the best lobster roll on Martha’s Vineyard.
8. Try the lobster ice cream at Ben & Bill’s.
9. Build a snowman with Annabelle.
10. Take Annabelle ice skating
11. Take Annabelle sledding.
12. Go on a day trip somewhere new. (Mystic, Summer 2021)
13. Spend the night at a boutique hotel or bed and breakfast.

Personal – 8/17

1. Read at least fifty books. (50/50 – The Matchmaker on 8/13/20, True Prep on 8/16/20, The Dirty Book Club on 8/16/20, Specials on 8/21/20, The Chiffon Trenches on 8/25/20, Extras on 9/2/20, Fashion Climbing on 9/14/20, The Year of Less on 9/20/20, The Testaments on 9/26/20, The Hate U Give on 9/29/20, Hidden Figures on 10/19/20, Finding Freedom on 10/23/20, Of Mess and Moxie on 10/28/20, Last Night at the Lobster on 11/1/20, Little Women on 11/20/20, 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families on 11/20/20, Majesty on 11/23/20, HRH on 11/27/20, Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire on 12/1/20, Obama: An Intimate Portrait on 12/2/20, Untamed on 12/4/20, The Lessons of History on 12/7/20, Just Mercy on 12/13/20, Evvie Drake Starts Over on 12/18/20, Impact on 12/20/20, The Promised Land on 12/31/20, Heart Talk on 1/3/21, Founding Mothers on 1/6/21, Where the Crawdads Sing on 1/10/21, Educated on 1/14/21, OMG WTF Does the Constitution Actually Say? on 1/16/21, Greenlights on 1/17/21, The Mothers on 1/23/21, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter on 1/29/21, The Nesting Place on 2/6/21, The Color of Law on 2/14/21, Mediocre on 2/16/21, The Highly Sensitive Parent on 2/17/21, Bad Moms on 2/20/21, The Vanishing Half on 2/28/21, Hood Feminism on 2/28/21, Tell Me How It Ends on 3/4/21, Fair Play on 3/12/21, The Last Black Unicorn on 3/19/21, Big Magic on 3/20/21, Braving the Wilderness on 4/4/21, Love Warrior on 4/4/21, Little Fires Everywhere on 4/8/21, Rising Strong on 4/17/21, Delicious! on 4/18/21)
2. Vote in the 2020 election.
3. Vote in the 2022 election.
4. Make real strides in my personal impact work.
5. Identify a cause I care about and get involved. (Letter writing with Vote Forward)
6. Learn how to actually put on makeup.
7. Find my signature scent.
8. Complete a full Bible study in a timely manner. (Finished on 10/8/20)
9. Use DuoLingo every day for a month. (Hit 30 days on 9/11/20)
10. Take a self defense class.
11. Take an interior design class.
12. Take a cooking class.
13. Take an art class. (Brush beCause with Riley Sheehey on 9/21/20)
14. Send thoughtful letters to five people who need and/or deserve it.
15. Develop a regular schedule/routine, and follow it for at least a month. (10/20-12/20ish? And ongoing!)
16. Travel somewhere by myself, even just for a day.
17. Take a day off from work just for myself. (1/29/21)
18. Plan my own birthday celebration one year.

Wellness – 6/10

1. Find a new therapist I love after mine goes on maternity leave. (1/20/21)
2. Find a new primary care physician and gynecologist I love, and visit annually. (2/3 – 2020, 2021)
3. Visit my eye doctor, dermatologist, and dentist regularly. (2/3 – 2020, 2021)
4. Discover a free workout that I enjoy. (Yoga with Adriene)
5. (Try to) make 15 new recipes. (7/15 – Butternut Squash Pasta Carbonara on 9/29/20, Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal Cookies on 10/31/20, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies on 12/7/20, 20 Minute Ramen Carbonara on 12/23/20, Broccoli Cheddar Soup on 1/10/21, Hazelnut Brownies on 1/16/21, Chewy Double Chocolate Chip Cookies on 1/30/21)
6. Exercise three times a week for two weeks. (11/8/20-11/18/20)
7. Invest in my skincare.
8. Finish Invisalign (finally). (Finished on 4/26)
9. Start taking daily vitamins. (Started on 12/6/20)
10. Start using sunscreen daily. (Started on 9/14/20)

Professional – 7/9

1. Reach a new career milestone. (Received a new hire to manage and a bonus in the same week!)
2. Freelance for a brand or business I love. (Cubbiekit!)
3. Reach out to five business owners I love, just because. (4/5 – 9/20/20, 10/9/20, 12/23/20, 3/2/21)
4. Post a new blog once a week for two months.
5. Unsubscribe from all my unwanted email lists. (9/20)
6. Succeed at something I’m scared of. (Freelancing full-time!)
7. Do High Fives for five co-workers. (4/5 – 8/28/20, 10/28/20, 1/28/21, 4/27/21, 6/29/21)
8. Receive specific, personal praise from executive leadership for my work. (2020 Cheerful Recognition)
9. Take initiative to put myself on a high visibility project. (Accepted to the Inclusion & Diversity Council and named Storytelling/Community Committee Lead)