Happy Birthday To Me!

I can't believe it's my birthday already!

Tomorrow I turn 26!

I'll get to spend the day with family, opening presents and eatign lots of food.

Since the year is almost over I thought I'd give you a final udpate on my While I'm 25 List.  Here's the final update on my "list" of things I wanted to do.  (Here's the original post and the mid-point update.)

     -          Lose 15 pounds

I didn’t make it.  I only list 5 pounds

     -          Have a date with Joe that includes a picnic

Not exactly a date, but we did go out and get some Burger King and ate it at the park that is in our neighborhood

     -          Bake a pie

Lemon Meringue Pie from Lemon Meringue Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke – Made it at my mom’s the weekend I forgot my camera…oops. I’d never made one of these before and everyone who came to the bbq said it was wonderful! Yay me!

     -          Make homemade spaghetti sauce

     -          Find a fantastic recipe for salsa and making it with veggies from my garden

I made salsa just by throwing a bunch of stuff together.  I had about 2 cups peeled fresh tomatoes, ¼ cup chopped onion, 1 chopped jalapeno, 1 clove minced garlic, a little salt, and some fresh chopped cilantro.  It turned out fantastic!!  I can’t wait for more tomatoes to be ready!

     -          Bake a loaf of bread

I made some chocolate babka

     -          Visit a new city

I spent 4 days visiting my best friend Danielle in Louisville and Lexington Kentucky.  We went to Churchill Downs and did a behind the scene tour that was sooo much fun!  We also went to Keenland Race Track and watched live racing.  It was a blast!  The trip was planned to celebrate Danielle’s graduation from school and is now a certified Physician’s Assistant!  About 40 days later, she moved halfway across the country to Raleigh, North Carolina.

     -          Go to a concert

Steel Magnolia – June 23

The Band Perry – June 30

Gloriana – July 7

Randy Rogers Band with Reckless Kelly – July 14

Corey Smith – July 28

Kenny Chesney – July 30
Sunny Sweeney - August 4
Craig Campbell - August 18

     -          Run a 5K (and train for it first)

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure – August 14

     -          Make a menu for the week using my cookbooks, or at least Monday through Wednesday for the whole summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day)

I definitely could have done better here, but I'm not going to complain. I did prepare for Mon-Wed every week.  Sometimes I even prepared for the rest of the week too.  I'm going to keep doing this one. I’m doing a good job prepping for part of the week

     -          Write notes to friends
       I wrote a couple of notes recently and sent them off.  I sent everyone Christmas Cards this year!

     -          Make homemade salad Dressing

     -          Blog at least 1x per week!

I tired, but not hard enough.  I get too involved in my projects without posting.  I will be posting alot soon though.

     -          Volunteer with an organization

Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Shirt Pick-Ups - August 9 & 12

     -          Go to church more

I haven’t gone once yet.  Oops.

     -          Go to a Sporting KC Soccer game at their new stadium (I'm not sure when construction is going to be completed though – Opened June 9)

Hubby and I went July 23 with some friends from work.  It was crazy hot, like 100 degrees. We were trying not to move and photos slipped my mind, but the stadium was really awesome.  I hope we can go again this season.

     -          Attend a Play, Symphony, or Orchestra Concert

Hubby and I attended a performance put on by a Church in a nearby area.  One of my co-workers is in the performance and it was wonderful!

     -          Make a little "Welcome" spot for visitors to our house

I made a basket with a bunch of travel size items in case things were forgotten.  It was wonderful to have things at hand over Thanksgiving with our guests.  If they needed something, they didn’t even have to ask for it.

     -          Host a dinner party (or a BBQ?)

I hosted Thanksgiving this year.  I made everything from scratch and had all the fixings!

     -          Read 2 books a month

June:  The Help, Decision Points

July: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie…and ? (oops only 1 book!)

August: Committed and.....? Oops only 1 book again.

I didn’t read tow a month but here’s a two  I did read: Decision Points by George W. Bush and Bossypants by Tina Fey.

     -          Plan a trip for "just the girls"

Labor Day Weekend Trip with my Mom and Sister

     -          Get a pedicure with my mom

It didn’t happen this year.  Maybe next year I’ll try again.

     -          Make a fancy tiered cake (a reason isn't necessary)

I didn’t get this one done either, but I’m planning a tiered cake for my sister’s baby shower in January (close enough right?)

     -          Tailgate at 6 Royals Games

June 6 vs Toronto Blue Jays

July 8 vs Detroit Tigers

Maybe I’ll try again next Year.

     -          Ride a motorcycle

I tried really hard to do this one, but Joe wouldn’t really commit to taking me out.  I’m going to force him in the spring though.  I REALLY wanna do it!

I'm not sure if I'll be doing another list next year, but it was kinda fun to cross something of when I did it. What do you think?  Should I do another list?