list twenty-three: firsts, lasts + a little bit extra

 {country living}

oh my oh my. I've been a bit delinquent in my posts lately. So very sorry! I've been busy livin' folks. Summer is not the time to be stuck behind a computer longer than need be! Just yesterday, we hit the pool for the first time. Oh wow do I love the pool! It was glorious! Today has been a bit of an adjustment, getting back into the groove after shucking most responsibilities for a few days. As the clock winds down to pool time, I'm going to make the best of it. For now, enjoy list numero 23. Only twenty-nine to go. Only.

There are firsts and there are lasts. These are a few of both.

First...

• Thing I think of in the morning - "Just 5 more minutes..."
• Love - Luke Skywalker + Nathan in the yellow house. I liked those blonds back then.
• Vacation outside the U.S. - Mexico, senior spring break. Not one of my finer moments.
• Record - Shakedown Street by the Grateful Dead
• Tattoo - celtic knot on my back
• Thing I ever sewed: Elastic-banded shorts with cows printed on them. I threw them out about six years ago, I kid you not. I loved those shorts.

Last...

• Song I heard - Sweet Disposition by The Temper Trap 
• Thing I ate - miso soup, shrimp tempura roll, + calamari roll from Blue Ginger. nomnom
• Thing I watched - 6 kids on bikes, with helmets on, picking up sticks behind my house in our car parking pad area. They've come back three times now. Tricky little beings.
• Concert I went to - Further @ the LC. Holy good times, Batman.
• Thing I bought - 16 different fabrics from Joann Fabrics. I went bonkers.
• Person I called - Momma
• Thing I Googled - Springfield Antiques Show (anyone else going?)

list twenty-one: favorite unexpected design obsessions

{source}

1. foreign food packets...especially candy! I love most candy...especially when I can only pretend to decipher what the contents of foreign-candy wrappers may contain. Japanese candy is always a fun food roulette.

2. beer labels. Boutique and indie beer labels can be seriously genius.

3. ditto for wine labels.

4. skateboard art. You're never too old to love skateboard art.

5. vintage advertisements. From shoe polish to absinthe, chocolate to trips to Tanzania, I love, love, love vintage advertisements.

6. Japanese craft books. Seriously cute kawaii amigurimi or clean, aesthetically-calming clothing patterns, I'm a big fan. Perhaps it stems from my 5th grade obsession with origami? Who knows.

7. huge boxes of crayons. The smell alone is enough to obsess over (surely, I can't be the only one who loves the smell of crayons?), but the tidy rows of brilliant colors...it's almost enough to make me not want to use them, to keep all my crayons perfectly pointy...but only almost.

8. Bolts of fabric. Oh the joy of wandering around a fabric shop. I want to touch everything, but especially the wool felt. If I could make my entire wardrobe out of wool felt, I would. I'd be sweaty and gross all summer, but part of me thinks it's worth it. It's almost impossible for me not to want to buy just a yard...just one more yard.

9. Paint chip displays at home improvement centers. Without fail, every time I go into a store with a paint chip display, I make a bee-line for it and dream about painting every surface of my home in fresh color. I can't resist taking a few...just to stick on walls at home and pretend I can afford to repaint. Again.

10. European homes. Whether it's Galway, Ireland or Cinque Terre, Italy, brightly-colored homes, weathered cottages, cobbled footpaths, and thatched anything always tug at my heartstrings. There is something magical about certain places and old European homes do it for me.

list eighteen: what my weekend looked like.

Let's just say that Bubs and I hit the ground running this past weekend...

1. Had lunch with my best friend.
2. Bought & installed a PUR water filter on my kitchen tap.
3. Finished crocheting a mesh tote bag.
4. Slept in Saturday morning.
5. Went to Plain City Heritage Days uptown, took some photos & played a "Guess this vintage object" game...I think I did pretty well, actually.
6.  Drove over to Der Dutchman for continued Heritage Days fun.
7. Pet a pony.
8. Ate a doughnut.
9. Met great folks at the Etsy Columbus Craftacular.
10. Bought some Ohio-made preserves at North Market.
11. Worked on a second crochet tote.
12. More friendly faces at the Agora art show.
13. Bought a screen printed art poster from Will Ruocco.
14. Read three chapters of No Impact Man (which I love & wish everyone would read.)
15. Listened to the birds chirp in my back yard.
16. Did some urban gardening...Planted our veggie garden, herb garden, and flowers in 4 containers.
17. Ate a delish dinner of grilled teriyaki pork chops, hericots verts, asparagus, an organic potato, and spinach salad. Yum.
18. Then ate a coconut popsicle (thanks Tony for the idea!)
19. And then ate a bowl of Amish granola and bananas. I don't like bananas.
20. Got an email from an old friend I haven't heard from in ages.

One of the best weekends in memory. How was yours? What did you do?

list sixteen: favie snacks

 

{sara hayashi knows what I'm talkin' about.}

I get food cravings like nobody's biz. Here are the ones my snack monster loves the most!

1. Kosher dill pickles, specifically Klaussen's. No other dill will do.

2. Ruby Red grapefruit. I am a candidate for a grapefruit knife and spoon set.

3. Green grapes -- especially the crazy-big ones.

4. Fruit Roll-ups. I actually resist the urge to lick + stick the temporary tattoo printed on some varieties.

5. Snyder's of Hanover sourdough hard pretzels. They never last long at our house.

6. Colby cheese. Huge fan. I blame my grandma, who loved it more than I.

7. Doughnuts. Oh, joy, for a fluffy, sugar-coated, pudding-filled, fried-doughy treat. Doughnuts are the devil.

8. Kool-aid. Do drinks count? Sure they do. Blue Lemonade + grape flavors reign here.

9. Strawberry Toaster Strudel. I never eat this. I must be hungry to even have thought it up.

10. Dim Sum. Perfectly steamed, hot, oily, meaty little bites of wonderful. More of a mini meal than a snack.

11. My mom's Italian Crisps. Cooked with love, I could eat a whole tray of these crispy little tasties. She would tell me, "Well you know how to make them!" But I would reply, "Everything tastes better when mom makes it!"

12. Arnold Palmer Half + Half Ice Tea/Lemonade. Another drink to the table. I've tried to make my own, but it's just not the same (but close if you use sweet tea). Holy moly. This stuff hits the spot.

13. Pineapple. Both me and my sister have been known to eat so much pineapple that we burn our taste buds on the citric acid it contains...Weird, but true.

14. Blondies. Don't get me wrong, I love a brownie, but I love the butterscotchiness of blondies.

15. Fro yo. Hello, Pinkberry. Throw some fresh raspberries in the mix and I am in snack food heaven.

list fourteen: weaknesses

{fairchild art via weblog boredom}

It's been crazy busy around here with the launch of my online shop Hello Magpie last Thursday, and what a grand opening it was! A resounding first impression made upon so many folks. Thanks for talking the time to give me your feedback + suggestions. I appreciate it all so much. Can't wait to see what the future holds!

Boy, do I have a treat for you tomorrow, folks...my first guest blogger! She's an Ohio gal + a small business owner, so please do pop on over and show her a warm welcome! I won't say any more...you'll just have to come and learn all about her tomorrow. How exciting!!

Also up on the agenda for the week...recaulking the bathtub! Boo! This should be an adventure...I think I may even post the 'before' photos, if you promise not to laugh. It's disgusting. Why I've lived with it for this long is beyond me. There's just something about the layout of the bathroom that doesn't prevent the best air flow and it takes ages to dry (hence the crazy-disgusting moldering caulk.) Super Eve to the rescue! It's the least I can do for our happy household...Bubs has weeded the entire yard, front + back, without so much as a peep, bless him. So, anyway, you have all that to look forward to (maybe next week? Hard to say how long it'll take me!)

And now for today's list no. fourteen: the weaknesses. This list is all about my favorite indulgences and those things which make my knees weak. The list is small, but mighty. How does your list compare to mine?

1. Shoe shopping. Even if I don't actually buy anything, just trying on shoes makes me ridiculously happy.

2. Sun-kissed skin. Fake or real, I like a healthy sun-kissed glow to skin in general, but especially on my skin. Fair just doesn't fare. It pales in comparison. OK, I'll stop...

3. Sweets. Any kind will do. Gummy anything, Swedish Fish, lollies, popsicles, ice cream, cakes, cookies, chocolate. Nothing, not even maple-flavored doughnuts, are safe around me. How I'd love to be one of those people who thinks that fruit is "sweet enough". Sure, it's sweet enough to be a topping on something really awesome, but it's hard to hold a candle to a Rice Krispies treat!

4. A well-groomed man. Throw a spritz or two of cologne into the mix and my heart goes a-flutter. I'm not saying uber groomed, however. I love a bit of stubble. Not too much, not too little. A fresh hair cut, trimmed nails and pearly whites are par for the course, but when you take the time to put on some (non-floral scented) lotion? A man after my own heart.

5. Blended iced coffee drinks. It doesn't have to be Starbucks for me to want to indulge in the frothy, creamy deliciousness that is a blended iced coffee drink. Caramel, mocha, vanilla, hazelnut? Yes, please.

6. Animals. I love animals, but especially love little fuzzy pet-type critters like cats + dogs. Visiting the animal shelter and the occasional pet store to give some cuddles to a kitty or mutt makes me happier than I can explain. I do draw the line at squirrels who dig up my plants and eat my veggies and my neighbors' dog, who should be classified as some otherworldly creature it is so ill-tempered. Poor thing, it's not even the dog's fault...I should say instead that I despise bad pet parents of all varieties. Just walk your dog every day and don't let it out to bark incessantly at 4 a.m...(yes, we notice.)

7. Old junk. Books, wood spools, baubles, tchotchkes, trinkets, art work...I love sifting and scouring through antique shops, estate auctions, and garage sales. I find items from other eras endlessly fascinating. Ancient books with hand-gilded leather covers, metal wire baskets, and milk glass anything are tried-and-true favies.

8. Miniature food. This has to have a separate category than sweets, but of course, it's colossal when a treat is both bite-sized AND sweet. I don't know where it comes from, but I absolutely adore bite-sized foodstuffs. Raiding my mom's kitchen after one of her tea parties makes for a great day -- teeny tiny salad sandwiches, petit fours, miniature fruit tarts, soup shooters, and even baby carrots in Chinese take-away. Love 'em all!

list thirteen: if I were a...

 {Save the Sea Turtles}

· If I were a season I would be Spring - full of renewal, growth, and sunshine.

· If I were a month, I'd be September - warm, comfortable, and relaxed.

· If I were a day of the week, I’d be Sunday.

· If I were a time of day, I'd be twilight - it's what I call "blue" outside. It's my favorite.

· If I were a planet, I'd be the sun.

· If I were a sea animal, I'd be a sea turtle.

· If I were a bird, I'd be a cardinal - for their  beautiful song.

· If I were a direction, I’d be east - where the sun rises and new days begin.

· If I were a piece of furniture, I’d be an old, loved farmhouse table.

· If I were a liquid, I’d be iced tea - classic & refreshing.

· If I were a gemstone, I’d be citrine - yellow-gold and unique.

· If I were a tree, I’d be a mighty oak.

· If I were a tool, I’d be Aleen's Craft Glue (my kinda tool.)

· If I were a flower, I’d be magnolia.

· If I were a kind of weather, I’d be blue-skied.

· If I were a musical instrument, I’d be an acoustic guitar.

· If I were a color, I’d be glasz.

· If I were a fruit, I’d be a ruby red grapefruit - a little sweet and a little tart.

· If I were a sound, I’d be a giggle.

· If I were a food, I’d be bruschetta.

· If I were a dessert, I'd be English Summer Pudding.

· If I were a place, I’d be an island.

· If I were a material, I'd be wool - durable, practical & versatile.

· If I were a taste, I’d be balanced.

· If I were a scent, I’d be clean.

· If I were an object, I'd be treasured.

· If I were a body part, I’d be the heart.

· If I were a song, I’d be anything by Glenn Miller.

· If I were a pair of shoes, I'd be flip flops.

list twelve : lost & found.

 {lightsoutfilms flickr}

Some things I've lost along the way...
- my grandparents
- my dad
- my nice hamster Bruce (yes, like Springsteen. He had  a big...um...pair. Everyone laughed at him. I was 9 and was completely clueless.)
- my mean hamster (who replaced Bruce and who bit my grandma & ran away. Don't even remember it's name, only remember he was a mean little cuss.)
- innocence (it's inevitable, but sad to lose don't you think?)
- integrity (I have some not-so-proud moments...)
- focus (or a lack of priorities. No..a lack of focus. Whatevs.)
- friendships (and I use the term loosely in this context.)
- favorite teddy named Pinky (mice in the garage turned him into a nest. Eww..)
- 2 of a set of 3 vintage enamelware bowls. (Who loses bowls?! I can't bring myself to get rid of the lonely yellow and black one.)
- Lost my cell phone once at the Dublin Irish Festival. It pretty much ruined the day, until I went to the lost and found when we were on our way out and lo and behold, someone had turned it in. They even sent a couple text messages to friends/family in my phone, to tell them to tell me that they were turning it in. That still amazes me. Whomever did that for me, thank you.


And a few things I've found:
- an honest-to-goodness best friend
- true love
- a belief system
- money (Nothing beats finding a $20 in a Christmas card, people.)
- self-worth (This one gets lost in the shuffle, but it's there.)
- once-in-a-lifetime experiences (Oh the stories!)
- the truth in people (Sometimes it's ugly, but mostly it's glorious.)
- forgiveness (Though it still doesn't come easy for me.)
- determination (It's what helps me find my focus.)
- what I want to do with my life (and I'm doing it.)
- peace of mind ('tis what it is.)

So there's my list. It was harder to come up with physical things that I've lost in my life because, well, I don't tend to lose things; I merely misplace them temporarily. Finding things is entirely different. I love finding things, whether they're my things to begin with or not. Lost animals, one-of-a-kinds, or other people's stuff...it's fascinating to think of all things lost and found in the world. If you're like me and like the stories behind found objects (real or make-believe), check out Found Magazine and the Museum of Found Things. I could look at this stuff for hours.

How about you? What sorts of things have you lost or found over the years? Anything like a footless parrot?

List ten: 10 things I would love to do.

{source}

This list is a hodge-podge of lots of things I'd like to do. Consider it a bucket list-in-training. See anything you'd like to do, too? Maybe we could accomplish it together!

1. Learn to fluently speak another language. I'm leaning toward Spanish because it's most practical, though I have a good start on French already. Czech would be cool, as would Japanese. I'm up for the challenge!

2. Visit Ireland. There's a part of my soul that longs to see Ireland. It's a place of magic and spirituality.

3. Reduce clutter and learn to live with less. My sister is almost gypsy-like in this sense. The girl does not have the same strange emotional attachment to objects the way I do. I'm a pack rat, but I'm not proud. My house is full of stuff I don't really need. I'd like to start with one room and really de-clutter. I think I'd be able to breathe with less stuff surrounding me.

4. Lose 20 lbs. I think I could if I could just commit to a fitness routine. I loathe working out, but then again, I went to the gym all the time when I had a membership. Perhaps I'm not cut out for at home fitness on the cheap..?

5. Eat local and in season. I really stand behind locally-grown and harvested farms, goods and food, but I'm guilty of not eating it as often as I should. I want to relearn how to eat local, minimize my contribution to outside-Ohio foods and maximize my support for healthier food choices and local farmers.

6. Finish projects I start. I'm notorious for starting something, getting bored before it's finished and walking away, only to never finish it. My work space is chock full o' unfinished projects. I'd like to go back, finish those projects and commit to not starting another one until the current one is completed. Easier said than done to someone like me, but it's worth trying.

7. Grow my own victory garden without the urban warfare squirrels eating everything, the buggers.

8. Learn to can and preserve said vegetables to eat all winter.

9. Learn to screen print. Just one more craft to add to my artistic arsenal.

*10. Learn to make my own sewing patterns. I am a pretty good seamstress, but my pattern skills are lacking. I'd love to not only learn to master sewing patterns and how to adjust them, I'd love to learn to make my own patterns from scratch and share them with everyone. Pattern sharing just makes me smile. I'd love to give back to everyone else who has contributed to my sewing happiness over the years.

(*edit: yep. I forgot #10 on my list of ten. oops! Here it is!)

List nine: I bet you didn't know...

 

{image}

 1. Reality shows are my secret indulgence. Jersey Shore? Oh yes, I watched every fist-pumping minute. Hoarders? Celebrity Rehab? 16 and Pregnant? Check. Check. Check. Strangely, I'm less embarrassed to admit this than I thought. I like to believe watching Antiques Roadshow, National Geographic and BBC America balances things out somehow.

2. I loathe guacamole, the smell of bananas, pinto and black beans. Everything else is fair game.

3. OK this one is embarrassing...but I'll divulge for the sake of an interesting read: I sleep with a blue stuffed bunny at night. It makes a good neck bolster pillow. My chiropractor would be sorely disappointed.

4. Remember those coloring book contest pages in the 80s? (Do they still have them? I'm not sure...) Well, when I was nine, I won one of those coloring contests. It wasn't the college tuition-level prize, of course. It was a neon yellow nylon backpack. One of my crowning artistic achievements to date.

5. I would eat breakfast for dinner every day if my husband would let me.

6. I've never broken a bone.

7. I've never been stung by a bee, wasp or any other hurty-type insect. Just skeeters, but they're worse, I think.

8. I volunteered at local no-kill cat shelter while in college.

9. I spent my 18th birthday hiking the Bridger Mountains in Montana.

10. I was in a Gap Kids fashion show with my little sister on my 8th birthday.

11. Always the overachiever, I never got below a B until college.

12. I learned to crochet when I was 10 by my cousin's grandmother. I taught myself to knit at 30.

13. I like old man food like smoked cheese, sardines and liver pâté.

14. When I was in kindergarten, I wanted to be a school bus driver.

That's enough from me. What's a weird little-known fact about you?

List eight: Favorite movie quotes

 "Where are the white women at?" [Blazing Saddles, 1974]

{image by Effingboring via craftster}

Bubs and I are crazy movie quoters...like, not a single day goes by without one of us quoting a movie in our everyday conversation. It happens so often I have to think about what was said to remember it was a movie quote! It makes us laugh. We're big movie nerds, what can I say? Here are a few of my favorites. Most of them are classics...I was feeling a little movie quote-y today. So, without further ado, a little insight into my ridiculously juvenile sense of humor. Enjoy :)

1. "And if it wouldn't be too much, I'd like to get something for you Clark. Something really nice." [National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, 1989.]

2. "Watch out for the horse crap, Ted." [Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, 1989]

3. "Well, um, actually a pretty nice little Saturday, we're going to go to Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, I don't know, I don't know if we'll have enough time." [Old School, 2003]

4.  "What do you mean brought it bowling, Dude? I didn't rent it shoes. I'm not buying it a f*cking beer. He's not taking your f*cking turn, Dude." [The Big Lebowski, 1998]

5. "The chinaman is not the issue here, Dude. I'm talking about drawing a line in the sand, Dude. Across this line, you DO NOT... Also, Dude, chinaman is not the preferred nomenclature. Asian-American, please" [The Big Lebowski, 1998]

6. "Some men are islands. I'm a bloody island! I'm bloody Ibiza!" [About a Boy, 2002]

7. "I'll have some of the yellow. And don't get cheap on me." [Vegas Vacation, 1997]

8. "I got it, I got it. Last words - I dig music....I'm on drugs!" [Almost Famous, 2002]

9. "Purple! Your aura is purple!" [Almost Famous, 2002]

10. "Look at that subtle off-white coloring. The tasteful thickness of it. Oh, my God. It even has a watermark." [American Psycho, 2000]

11. "When life gives you lemons, just say 'F*ck the lemons,' and bail." [Forgetting Sarah Marshall, 2008]

12. "It's just a flesh wound." [Monty Python and  the Holy Grail, 1975]

13. Jack Byrnes: "If I set you up, do you think you can spike it, Focker?
Greg Focker: "Well, I would have to get pretty high."
Jack Byrnes: "I bet you would Panama Red." [Meet the Parents, 2000]

14. "I can't hear you, you're trailing off and did I catch a niner in there? Were you calling from a walkie-talkie?" [Tommy Boy, 1995]

15."I guess you can dere-lick my balls cap-E-tan." [Zoolander, 2001]

16. "Listen, not a year goes by, not a year, that I don't hear about some escalator accident involving some b*stard kid which could have easily been avoided had some parent - I don't care which one - but some parent conditioned him to fear and respect that escalator." [Mallrats, 1995]

17. "Good stuff. This is the good stuff. Snakes and sparklers." [Joe Dirt, 2001]

18. "Don't tell me my business, Devil Woman. Call the fire department, this one's outta control." [Billy Madison, 1995]

19. "Well-well look. I already told you: I deal with the god d@mn customers so the engineers don't have to. I have people skills; I am good at dealing with people. Can't you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?" [Office Space, 1999]

20. "There is no Dana, only Zuul." [Ghost Busters, 1984]

21. "But I do love the taste of a good burger. Mm-mm-mm. You know what they call a Quarter Pounder with cheese in France? Tell 'em Vincent...A Royale with cheese!...You mind if I have some of your tasty beverage to wash this down?" [Pulp Fiction, 1994]

22. "Oh, wicked pic in the PennySaver, by the way. Super classy - not like those people with the fake woods in the background. Honestly who do they think they're fooling" [Juno, 2007]

23. "We thought you was a toad." [Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?,  2000]

24. "The only true wisdom consists in knowing that you know nothing." [Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, 1989]


Ok...now I know I've missed about a billion quotes, but this is all I could think of right now.  How about you? What are some of your fave movie quotes?

List seven: my biggest fears

 

{image}

I read an amazing article by Lara Casey the other day and it really got me thinking of my fears, where they come from and how I can control them to make super-amazing things happen in my life. Here's my list. It's not a fear of heights or spiders or the like. It's about the shadowy parts of my personality that I feel hold me back from being the best version of myself. It was pretty liberating to write it all down. It's clear that I have a lot to learn about my fears, but writing them down is a good start. Take that, fear.

I AM FEARFUL...

1. Of never being viewed as successful, despite my hard work.

2. Of disappointing the people closest to me, whose opinions I value almost too much. (That's hard to admit.)

3. Of feeling alone and unpopular.

4. Of never having enough money.

5. Of being too old to have kids by the time we're ready.

6. Of never being "ready".

7. Of missing out on stuff, big and small,  because of being too tired, too broke or too lazy.

8. Of my not saving enough money now for later in life.

9. Of failing as a friend and...

10. Of losing friendships when I don't nurture them as well as I should.

11. Of admitting that I can't do it all.

12. Of never being able to get fit and what it could do to my health.

13. Of hurting my marriage because I'm quicker to blame others than take responsibility.

14. Of being wrong...and when I know I am,

15. Of admitting it and apologizing.

List five: things that make me insane.

 {source}

1. Having to repeat myself because someone wasn't listening.
2. Drivers who nearly stop at a highway on or off-ramp, rather than merge like a normal person.
3. People who don't shovel when it snows. My neighbors, in particular.
4. Incomprehensibly rude pet owners who let outside incessantly yappy dogs at 6:30 a.m and/or 11:30 p.m.
5. Having nothing but pennies when you need change for a parking meter.
6. Empty boxes of soda in the fridge.
7. Realizing you've no toilet paper after you've gone. (Really, who doesn't hate this?)
8. Pills on sweaters or fleece.
9. Wink's hairball barfs. (I don't do well with gross.)
10. Text inbox full messages.
11. Not turning off lights behind you when you leave the room.
12. When towels aren't folded properly and the crease is off. (ok, that one's a little OCD, I know...)
13. Anytime someone parks and takes up more than one space.
14. Printing envelopes upside down (because I can't ever recall which direction to feed them into the printer.)
15. Buying the wrong anything - size of clothes, kind of screws, lengths of fabric, knitting needles...
16. Shoddy windshield wiper blades. (Can't anyone invent a wiper blade that works in winter, please?)

List four: the states I've never visited.

 {the daily green...plus read the article on "endangered vacations"}

I'm a traveler and road trips are one of my favorite things to do in the whole, entire world. I got to thinking about summertime trips, which lead me to thinking of all the places I've been. The list is impressive. Maybe that will be a future post, but, for now, I'll start with the states I've not yet had a chance to visit, plus why I'd like to go. What's your favorite road trip destination?

1. Washinton -- For the forests.
2. Oregon -- Portland is more than reason enough.
3. Idaho -- To see the Grand Tetons.
4. Wyoming -- For the landscape.*
5. Utah -- For the Salt Lake.
6. Colorado -- For the skiing.
7. North Dakota -- Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival.
8. Minnesota -- Mall of America.
9. Nebraska --  Winnebago Pow-wow
10. Wisconsin -- To visit my aunt & uncle.
11. Louisiana -- NOLA, holla.
12. Maryland -- For Bethesda foodie heaven (and a trip to D.C.)
13. Delaware -- To say, "Hi, we're in Delaware."
14. Rhode Island -- Beautiful Newport.
15. Vermont -- Ben & Jerry's factory tour.
16. New Hampshire -- For Spring Maple Sugaring season.
17. Maine -- For the lobsta.
18. Alaska -- For the natural beauty.
19. Hawaii -- For the surf.

*Update 2/28/10: Oops. I've been to Wyoming! I forgot that Devils Tower is located in Wyoming and was there in 1997. Time to go back for another visit, I think!

List three: My Favorite $10 Words

{source}

As a kid, Mom encouraged us to embrace language. We made using big words correctly a game of sorts and, when we kids impressed her with a properly-used, sometimes large and atypical word, she'd 'ooh' and 'aah' and say, "Now that's a great $10 word." I love when Mom tells me that, even if she's the same lady who teased me relentlessly for using the word 'slacks' instead of 'pants'. Oh well, you can't win them all, I suppose.

(P.S. There's always bonus points if you know how to spell them.)

1. vernacular
2. precedent
3. juxtaposition
4. precipice
5. quirky
6. exuberance
7. finagle
8. countenance
9. mundane
10. arbitrary
11. ceaselessly
12. obscurity
13. abject
14. futile
15. commiserate
*16. plethora

(*edit: Added because Mom is right - it cannot be left off the list!)

List two: things I wish I could do.

 {source}

1. Apologize when I know I'm wrong. {but want so desperately to be right.}

2. Make my mom's gravy. {From a recipe or something because I just can never remember how, despite the million times she told me how.}

3.  Snowboard. {Got one at an auction a few years ago and haven't used it yet.}

4. Change my own oil. {Because it ain't cheap.}

5. Do calligraphy. {Hello? It rocks.}

6. Breakdance. {Yes, I'm serious.}

7. Drive a manual transmission. {My one lesson 15 years ago doesn't count for much.}

8. Do my own electrical & plumbing upgrades. {Without flooding +/or setting something on fire, please.}

9. Make my own sewing patterns. {Is this practical whatsoever?}

10. Stick to a fitness routine that 1) works and 2) doesn't bore me to death. {Suggestions? Breakdancing, perhaps?}

List one: I can never have enough...

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Here's the start of my 52 Lists. I'm hoping that this will help curb my ever-pending writer's block and inspire me to look further into myself, my wishes, my past and my future. Enjoy.

List one. I can never have enough...

1. reassurance & encouragement. {one of those things I'm working on...}

2. conversation. {nonsensical babble with Sissy, hysterical storytelling with Mom and heated debate with just about anyone all apply.}

3. books to read. {on how I dream of built-in bookshelves to allow me to be beautifully surrounded by my many books.}

4. barbecue. {drool.}

5. recipe books. {even if I don't cook so much, just knowing I have a great pool of resources to help get me going keeps me happy.}

6. house cleaning. {nothing ever seems to be clean enough. Tidy, sure, but tidiness and cleanliness are not the same thing.}

7. craft supplies. {no type of craft is safe from escaping my clutches. Pen turning? Sure, why not...I'll just add it to the list.}

8. shoes. {another thing I'm trying to work on. no one needs 50+ pairs of shoes. It's just weird.}

9. tasty treats to satisfy my sweet tooth. {how I don't have cavities +/or diabetes is really beyond me.}

10. visits to the pet store or shelter. {I want to save them all, I really do. Well, maybe not the ferrets because they're kinda stinky, but I could see myself with a farm or something pretty easily.}

11. movie date nights. {I love watching movies. For years, Bubs & I went to the 50¢ movies every Tuesday at a local theater. Oh the terribleness we saw! But the memories...they're priceless.}

12. travel. {from the Corn Palace to Buckingham Palace, nothing is too big or too small to see at least once.}

Lists & The Stolen Idea

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I wish I could take credit for this idea, but I can't. I surreptitiously nabbed it from Andrea at Hula Seventy. 52 Lists, one for every week this year. Sure. I started a few weeks into the new year, so things won't be as squeeky clean as I like them, but I'm OK with that. After all, I'm a list girl. There's just something that helps me think I'm actually accomplishing something when I write it in a list. Now, whether or not I do anything beyond getting it onto a list, well, that's another post entirely.

Truth be told, most things that end up on my lists never get done. Rather, I think they end up in To Do List Limbo, but these lists are going to be a bit different. They won't necessarily be about what I want to (or need to) do. More than a few of them will be about what I have done, what I love/hate/eat/sleep/wish for.

Beginning this little project will start Monday. It's on my To Do List, but I promise. This one will actually get going.