35 Things to do this Year

Thirty Five Goals for 2012

1. Travel to a new foreign country
2. Travel to San Juan Islands or new WA town
3. Travel to a new U.S. state
4. Read a book a month or more
5. Write in journal daily or once a week minimum
6. Learn to sew
7. Study a foreign language
8. Do buckram yoga 30 day challenge
9. Create new art
10. Go on a hike somewhere new
11. Go to the hot springs
12. Cook a favorite Thai or Indonesian dish
13. Bake something new
14. Go to the bath house spa
15. Paint kitchen shelf
16. Run a half marathon
17. Blog once a week
18. Read at a coffee shop
19. Paint the living room
20. Paint footboard/headboard of bed
21. Decorate bedroom
22. Make a new friend
23. Eat a new fruit/vegetable
24. Travel somewhere solo for a vacation
25. Practice and play guitar
26. Create a Facebook page for work
27. Take a class on a hobby
28. Meet with an advisor at Seattle central about enrolling
29. Take an educational class
30. Play a new sport or activity
31. Go to the top of the Space Needle
32. Get a new camera and take lots of photos
33. Volunteer at a shelter
34. Reupholster 2nd chair
35. Go to a new museum 

Thirty Four Goals for 2011

1. Travel somewhere new in US.  √ Austin, TX
2. Travel somewhere new abroad.  √ Thailand and Indonesia
3. Learn to sew
4. Paint on canvas.. 1/2√ for this one
5. Practice spanish.  1/2√
6. Buy running shoes and run more√
7. Ride bike√
8. Cook something with cactus
9. Make business flyers self promotion
10. Go to bath house spa
11. Get massage√√  (got this one extra.. In Thailand!)
12. Practice guitar
13. Plan trip to Europe 1/2√
14. Plan trip to Thailand√√√
15. Make space in apartment for art projects 1/2√
16. Paint shelf in kitchen
17. Reupholster kitchen chairs 1/2√.. (Finished 1)
18. Reupholster headboard/footboard 
19. Read more books on crafting√
20. Cook a thai dish.. (did not do but ate plenty:))
21. Make something for Aunt Lori and send care package.. sadly she passed
22. Write in journal√
23. Finish Harry Potter series√
24. Set more goals for work√
25. Go hiking somewhere new in summer√  Cabin in Leavonworth
26. Go to San Juan Islands
27. Go to new museum√
28. Go to top of Space Needle
29. Get wood floors in living room√
30. Go to coffee shop to read
31. Go to remedy teas
32. Plan trip for parents to visit√
33. Bake healthy cookies√ (vegan brownies and macaroons!)
34. Go to Vancouver and visit friends

15 COMPLETED!

5 HALF COMPLETED

MUY BIEN!!!!!!

Happy New Year!

Well we made it through another year.  There were some hard times and plenty of good times.  As I am working on my 35 goals for turning 35 list, one of the goals is to blog once a week or as I'm hoping to do even a wee bit more!  To start off the very first post of 2012, I will share a couple of holiday pictures to recap the end of the year.

The 1st is a picture of a dinner party for winter solstice with the ladies and burning of the old to start off the new.  Next I am proud to say that I baked my first homemade vegan brownies which were a hit at the party to follow for us orphan children.  And finally a lovely cocktail to celebrate my Birthday on New Years Day... Cheers!

So to sign off I'm hoping to live up to some of my goals and to fill you all in as I check them off my list.  Next blog is hopefully a top 12 list to highlight 2011....

Happy New Year to All and may 2012 be full of happiness in life to be shared with the ones you love!!

Thailand and Indonesia Adventure

It's been very busy since my return from my travels to Southeast Asia a week before Thanksgiving.  I would have tried to post earlier but I had a recent loss of my Dad's brother and my fun loving uncle Urbie.  It's always sad but we did celebrate his life.  Unfortunately he loss his battle with esophagus cancer on December 4th, 2011.

                                                       R.I.P. Uncle Urbie  Love you Always

Of coarse there was also Thanksgiving which I chose to celebrate at home with my big fat cat Earl since it was my first full day home in over a month..

So back to the travels!  How would I sum up in a word the beauty and intriguing culture and land of Thailand and Indonesia... Delicious, Genuine, and absolutely take you breath away Beautiful!  Ok that's more than one word but one word is not enough to describe a land of caring people, beautiful land, and absolutely delicious food.  So here are some photos to capture a few of the moments.

                                                                   1st meal.. So Good!!
                                                           

                                                             Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn)

                                                    Breath taking Sunsets.. Above Ko Lanta

A couple questions everyone has been asking since I've returned...
1.  "Was a month long enough?"  Yes and no.  I was ready for my own shower and bed and different clothes but I was just starting to really feel comfortable in such a foreign land.
2.  "So was the food good?"  YES!!!!  Some of the best food I've ever had and one of the main things I miss.  I haven't had asian food since I've been home cuz I'm a little nervous it's just not gonna measure up but I think I'm ready or at least I want to try and make some of my favorite dishes at home.  Maybe that will be some of my next posts??

Well now I feel a little better getting something up since it's been forever except I just realized that my camera went kaput on my trip from the heat and humidity...  Xmas ideas for me...  New digital camera Please:)  Kap kuhn ka!  xoxo

To Yoga in Bali?

I have just finished reading a charming book by a local author here in Seattle Yoga Bitch.  It's about a one woman show and her journey through inner self life emotions and yes yoga.  She travels to Bali and studies for 2 months to become a yoga teacher and hopefully find herself a little along the way.

As you know I will be traveling here in two short weeks to the beautiful lands of Thailand and Indonesia on my own path to enlightenment or as I'd like to say sunshine tropical paradise!  I do dabble a tiny in yoga from time to time but I've mostly been biased to Bikram yoga.  And frankly one thing with yoga is that I am not flexible so that is one reason I like the heat in bikram style.  Of coarse if anyone knows me I like a challenge and I like something new and out of the ordinary.  Not to say I've never tried other styles because yes I have but I'm limited to my trials and my curiosity is starting to peak a little more on the idea.

So yes I will be going to Bali and do I yoga or not in Bali??

Getting Ready for Travel Adventures!

So a little update and for those who don't know I will soon be traveling to Thailand and Indonesia!  I leave in 3 short weeks and 2 days.  I have been busy preparing for my travels and also work, work, work!  My list is getting shorter and with the help of some awesome buds who also like to travel I have saved a little money with not having to buy too much new things to make travel easier.  I thought of a travel blog but decided against it hence I will not be taking my computer on my adventure.  So if you'd like to stay updated I would recommend my Facebook or check back here in November hopefully for some updates!

Some of my preparations have been ordinary things and others are just me being anal and excited!

-Yes I got a few vaccinations.. Typhoid fever, tetnus, and flu.
-I have been working on my playlist for my Ipod so if you have any recommendations I'm all ears!
-Same goes for books..  So far I have my travel guide books and my new Journal (gift from friend, thanks Erica!).  Haven't decided on what to take for beach, train, and plane reads so let me know what you think?
-Backpack 1 month pre pack done
-Started Master Cleanse with Abby to help get my beach bod on
-Bikram Yoga is also helping along with some running
-Listening to Thai language cd's (very difficult language!)

That's a few of the things getting me prepared.  Let's hope I return from travels to update more;)

Wow it's JULY!

So is it just me or has this year flown by?  I seriously was corrected this month while I was still in the mindset that it was still June and my friend had to say "Ahhh It's July"!  Woops!  First off since we just celebrated our independence here are a few pics how my weekend went.

Yes there was a BBQ involved where they broke out the double dutch jump roping!  Fun to watch and brought back memories but I was not motivated enough to try and fail in front of a bunch of strangers.  The 4th was spent at my old apartment building where friends now live and we had a visitor from the neighbors kitty!  He was so funny with his smashed face and he would just climb in our friends window and be curious wondering around!  Haha I loved him!

So to catch everyone up I yes have been reading Harry Potter and am on book 6 and will probably finish tonight.  Yes I'm glad I finally decided to read and watch movie after each book.  They are fun and entertaining!  I also am planning a BiG trip this fall and will post more later when I feel I know more but let me tell you it will be AMAZING!!  Now that it's summer I am also getting back on that workout health kick!  Bikram Yoga, Running, Juicing, making hummus in my new blender, and hopefully getting out on that bike this week!  Let the hot summer days begin!

June Gloom = Trip to the Great Outdoors

This morning instead of going for a run on this cloudy northwest morning I decided to try and do a little art.  I'm not happy with it but I must practice.  I realized that I really don't have a great set up to do at home in my little apartment but I also know what I will need to do to make easier for the next time.  So here is my little practice art piece dedicated to seattle on this cloudy morning.

As for the last weekend of June gloom I took an outdoor adventure to my friends cabin outside of the cute bavarian town of Leavenworth!  Wow so much fun and so beautiful!  And yeah can I just live in your cabin... house... aka "The Shire"?  So amazing and much needed.  Hiking, lake, fire, food, drinks, and friends!  Couldn't ask for more:)

June had some adventure but I'm so ready for full on Summertime in Seattle!