You like me, you really like me.

Alen4ik Litvinenko left me a very cool message yesterday. She awarded TTDBYD the following. Check it out:

Her blog is my-bits-n-pieces.blogspot.com

Now it's my turn to pay it forward.

Here are the rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog. (done)

2. Add a link to the person who awarded you. (done)

3. Award up to 10 other blogs. (I picked 3 for now, but you guys have some great blogs!)

4. Add links to those blogs on yours. (see below)

5. Leave a message for your awardees on their blog.

And the awards go to (cue drumroll):

According to Malika. I have to give it to her, she's not only (sometimes painfully) honest but she's damn funny.

The Fabulous Matriarch Does Life. The more I read, I more I like. I can definitely relate.

TwentyEight30. I came across this blog by accident. If you get a chance you should read this one. It's truly good stuff.

Anyway, I'll dole out some more. Just my small way of saying thanks!

More list adventures coming soon...only 6 days until inauguration!

Item #137- Make a List of 100 Things to Do When You Are Bored/or on a Rainy Day

Ok... took me a while to make this list. It's actually a LOT harder than I thought it would be, but it is officially my first "achievement" of 2009. Yeah!!

This will come in very handy if you are in need of something to do or especially if you have kids (which is what kinda prompted me to start this in the first place).

Now the idea here is that everything on this list is free or fairly inexpensive, can be done indoors (if it's raining) and mostly kid friendly.

• "redecorate" an old pair of jeans or shoes (fabric paint, markers, patches)
• arrange a last minute pot luck
• bake cookies
• blog
• blow bubbles--in the house
• break out the ice cream and set up a build your own sundae bar
• browse photo sites looking for great pics
• build a card house
• build a fort using the living room furniture and couch cushions
• call a friend
• call friends over and have a movie fest using movies you all already own
• check the local college for classes (recreational or otherwise) you'd like to attend
• check the local college for lectures you'd like to attend
• check your credit
• clean out your pantry and donate food to a food bank
• cook something new from a recipe book
• dance in the house
• dance outside (if it's raining)
• do a craft project
• do a crossword puzzle
• do a jigsaw puzzle
• do a simple science experiment
• draw
• enter a bunch of online contests
• find an event in the local paper and go
• fingerpaint (if you have no fingerpaint use chocolate pudding)
• fix yourself (or someone else) breakfast in bed
• go through your books and either arrange a book trade with friends or box up books to sell or donate
• go through your closet and get rid of stuff you no longer wear to donate to charity
• go to a museum
• go to church
• have a dance contest (if you have kids or a husband/wife)
• have a puppet show (make puppets using socks/ fabric and/or popsicles sticks)
• have a tea party
• have a water balloon fight (if it's raining it's fun because you're already wet)
• have an indoor picnic
• have an indoor scavenger hunt
• if you live in a city with public transportation--ride the bus/train from one end to the other and back
• play i spy
• invent a new cocktail (have fun drinking all the "trials")
• jump rope (indoors)
• knit/sew something
• learn random words from the dictionary
• learn a bunch of new jokes
• learn all the CORRECT words to 5 songs
• learn something new (at random)
• learn to juggle
• learn to say basic words/phrases in another language (you can use BBC's webpage)
• listen to music (specifically stuff maybe you haven't heard in awhile)
• literally "sing in the rain"
• look for a part time job
• look for inspirational quotes
• look up people you know including yourself on Google
• make a collage
• make a dream book
• make a rubber band ball or a paperclip chain (in fact make a whole jewelery set out of paperclips)
• make a video diary
• make musical instruments out of household items
• make pictures using macaroni and glue
• make your own list of 100 things to do while bored
• map all the places you've been and places you would like to travel to
• meditate
• memorize a poem
• mute the tv and have fun "narrating" the scenes
• organize your budget/finances
• organize your photos
• origami
• pillow fight
• play board games
• play tourist in your hometown
• practice writing, drawing, peeling a banana--with your feet
• pull old clothes out of your closet and have a fashion show (with kids)
• read a book
• read a newspaper (try an out of state one)
• rearrange or redecorate a room in your house
• research your family tree
• buy/sell something on ebay
• start or work on a novel
• start or work on a project that you've been putting off
• sudoku
• take a bubble bath
• take silly pictures (wearing bad makeup or silly clothes)
• take the MENSA test
• think of things to add to the "things to do" list
• try out one of your grandmother's recipes
• video yourself reenacting scenes from your favorite movies (watch Be Kind. Rewind. you'll get the idea)
• visit the library
• visit the local nursing home
• volunteer for something
• wash your car
• watch a movie (for more fun watch it with foreign subtitles)
• watch a show you normally wouldn't watch
• window shop at the mall
• work on your resume
• write a cover letter
• write a letter (a real letter) to someone and send it
• write a letter to your future self
• write a poem
• write a short story
• yoga

Update on Item # 121- Inaugural tickets

I received this email just prior to Christmas:

Thank you for contacting Senator Webb’s office regarding Inauguration tickets. As you may know, the Senator’s office has received more than 35,000 total ticket requests and has been allotted only a few hundred tickets. Unfortunately, at this time, we are unable to accommodate your request for tickets to the Inaugural Swearing-In Ceremony on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol. However, please note that the remaining sections of the National Mall will be open to members of the public who were unable to obtain the limited tickets available. These areas will have large screens to ensure that the general public can easily view the ceremony and festivities.

We wanted to give you this status update well in advance of Inauguration Day so that you can plan accordingly. Please also be aware that in addition to the public viewing area on the National Mall, there are a number of events during the week, including the Inaugural Parade, that do not require tickets.

Due to the extraordinarily high interest in the Swearing-In Ceremony, Senator Webb has sent a letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein, Chairman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, requesting additional tickets to account for Virginia’s proximity to Washington D.C. Should Senator Webb receive additional tickets from the Inaugural Committee or any other source and be able to accommodate your request, we will be sure to let you know.

The Swearing-In Ceremony is the only Inaugural event to which our office has received tickets...

Blah blah blah... long story short, I still may have an angle on tickets, but I am going to Plan B/C which is to say I am either 1. going to brave the cold and the expected 4 million people who are coming to my town in about 2 weeks and watch the inauguration from the Mall or 2. I am going to go to the Verizon Center or Convention Center which are fairly close, but have seats and heat, and watch on the big screens from there. I'm leaning more toward the first since this is a once in a lifetime moment.

Suggestions?

No Resolutions!?!

Happy New Year all.

This year I am resolving NOT to make resolutions. That's right! No resolutions. Resolutions are temporary--how many people do you know who've actually kept theirs? Instead I'm adding goals to my life list.

So here are the new additions:

• Read the Kama Sutra
• Start a photo journal
• Do the Rocky Horror Picture show (thanks Tyler for suggesting that one)
• Write another "Audrey" book for Drey
• Learn to a hip hop or rock song on a violin
• Bake a perfect batch of cookies
• Be as bold/self confident/assertive as Drey (see my previous blog)
• Take a picture with "The Awakening" (on the National Waterfront in DC)
• Take dance lessons (I'm thinking ballroom or salsa)
• Build a bear at a Build-a-Bear workshop
• Have someone send or send myself flowers at work
• gamble in Monte Carlo
• Slip a secret into a Post Secret book
• Learn a cool bar trick
• Keep up with this blog

I am probably going to add a few more things, but I think that's a good start for 2009. Lol.

So, let's toast to a great New Year and new accomplishments!

The Best Inspiration Ever!!!

I want to share with you the best inspiration I have ever had, courtesy of my 4 year old.

Yesterday among the presents my daughter got was this little Tinkerbell wand. Of all the things she got this is by far her favorite--she has been carrying it around ever since.

This morning my mom and I took her to the store with us while we shopped the day after Christmas sales. Of course you know the lines were long and the store was crowded!

What did my 4 year old INSIST on doing but walking up to EVERY single person in the ENTIRE store and say:

"Excuse me," (yes she has fantastic manners...lol) "can you hold out your hand."

As soon as they did, she would touch them with the magic wand and say "I'm giving you fairy dust so that all your dreams come true."

I never saw so many people smile.


Thanks Audrey! :)

Things to Do for the Holidays

Although I will be with my family starting tomorrow, I'm still not quite in the holiday spirit...so I thought I'd kick off the Christmas countdown with a couple of short lists--you can add any of these to your big list.

Must See Christmas movies: Nothing is better than being curled up with a blanket, a cup of hot chocolate or some popcorn and watching any (or all) of these Christmas classics.

• Miracle on 34th Street
• It's a Wonderful Life (this is one of my favorites)
• A Christmas Story (you'll shoot your eye out...lol)
• The Nightmare Before Christmas
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (classic cartoon version is still the best)
• Polar Express (this is a great film if you've never seen it)
• Frosty the Snowman
• Elf (Will Ferrell, syrup and spaghetti...enough said)
• Home Alone (still a classic)
• The Muppets Christmas Carol
  
  and of course... Charlie Brown Christmas

Great Christmas tunes: I'll be putting together a cd tonight to listen to on my 7 hour drive

• The Christmas Song- Mel Torme OR Nat King Cole
• Santa Claus is Coming to Town- The Jackson 5
• Santa Baby- Joan Ellen Javits
• This Christmas- Donnie Hathaway (still the best version ever!!)
• Let it Snow- Boys II Men and Brian McKnight version
• Silent Night- Temptations
• Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer- Temptation
• The Chipmunk Christmas Song- Alvin and the Chipmunks
• All I want for Christmas- Mariah Carey version

and the one that always makes me think of Christmas:

Carol of the Bells- the Trans Siberian Orchestra version rocks!

Things to do to put you right in the holiday mood: Continue or start a holiday tradition this year

• Bake a batch of cookies*
• Make Christmas cards*
• Read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' on Christmas Eve*
• Drive (or walk) around your neighborhood and look at Christmas lights OR find a local drive through light display (we do this every year. our neighbors put up great Christmas displays)
• Have a Christmas movie fest (see above)
• Make homemade decorations
• Get your picture taken with Santa
• Go for a train or sleigh ride (a lot of parks have Christmas train rides set up and things like that)

and lest we forget the reason for the season:

Go to church (most have Xmas eve programs and services. Even if you are not particularly religious it's a good opportunity to connect with people)

If you're wondering why I starred 3 items--see below

Ideas for giving back: Please let's not forget there are those who are going through hard times this season. And it's not too late to volunteer. Here are some small ways to help

• Volunteer to serve Chirstmas dinner at your local food bank/homeless shelter
• Donate blankets/food/supplies to your local charity or Salvation army
• Bake cookies*--and give a batch to an elderly neighbor or friend who may be alone for the holidays
• Make Christmas cards*--and take them to the local retirement home or veteran's hospital
• Read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' on Christmas Eve*--or any other book at a local children's hospital (call and see if they need volunteers or have a program set up)
• Become a "Secret Santa"-- if you happen to know someone in need, do something small. For instance if you have a co worker/neighbor who is struggling, buy a $25 gift card to the local grocery store or gas station and give it to them anonymously.

Ok, I'm feeling a little more Christmas spirit already! Be safe and enjoy your holidays!

Re-Focus

I want to be encouraged. I do. But it is just so easy to let every day stuff drag you down and make you forget what you want to do and why.

Like today...

I am NOT having a good day.

It happens. I accept it. I'll get through it and I'll re-focus and get it together tomorrow or the day after. I'm trying to stay positive. I am. Ugh! It's not easy.

Days like today are the days when I look at my list and think to myself: is all of this really realistic? Sigh.

The answer is of course it is. I just have to find a way to make it work. So I took a look at a few of my goals and decided to break them down as to what I would need to do to make them feasible.

For most if not all of the BIG trips, I need to renew my passport and save up a whole bunch of money (unless by some miracle I hit the lottery), so I'm not going to concentrate on those so much today. Some of the smaller ones are "moment of opportunity" goals, so nothing we can specifically do about those either.

For some of the smaller ones, like the cooking class and the skydiving (well those aren't small, but smaller...) I'm going to spend some time today researching where I can do these things and when.

And since I am in the research mood, if anyone has anything or their lists (or even not on the list) and they don't know where to start, let me know. Post it in the comments section and I'll see what I can do.

I promise I will be my usual bright and cheery self by tomorrow. :)