30 for 30 - a progress report

I've definitely slowed down on my list lately. #2 is starting to consume more time and energy than I anticipated (a glimpse into the rest of my life, I suppose)!

I. Ed, Friends and Family

1. Plan one date or activity a week to do with Ed outside our normal routine - Even though we were in separate cities for half of the month, we managed to find a great new Mexican restaurant in our neighborhood (and eat there twice), run the Hot Chocolate 15K together, celebrate a friend's 40th birthday with karaoke at Louie's and have an early Thanksgiving with Ed's family.
2. Procreate - 2 months to go!
3. Have a 4 am girls-only dance party
4. Call my grandpa more often
5. Babysit our godchildren – Ryder (+ Ava), Maddie and Liam

Bonus: Send 1-2 handwritten non-birthday notes a month to friends and family

II. Work and Hobbies

1. Work on photography – take more photos, read Understanding Exposure and take the Intermediate Digital Photography class at the Chicago Photography Center
2. Complete the 365 photo project
3. Learn Lightroom
4. Take One to One classes at Apple
5. Redesign blog
6. Complete current event planning job with Sharon and discuss future ones
7. Read Creative, Inc.

Bonus 1: Buy and learn InDesign
Bonus 2: Set up Etsy shop

III. Travel

1. Travel to Argentina
2. Visit my friend Maria in Charlotte, NC - revised to visit Betsy in New York.
3. Take long weekend trips to new U.S. cities (Seattle, Portland, Palm Springs, New Orleans, Jackson Hole, Charleston)

Bonus: Take a race-based running trip with Ed’s family

IV. Home

1. Buy a house
2. Switch from chemical to non-toxic cleaners (yes, including Windex)

Bonus 1: Clean out makeup and toiletries and buy new where necessary
Bonus 2: Host a holiday or annual party that becomes a new tradition

V. Food and Cooking

1. Organize recipe binder
2. Go to the Green City Market early on a Saturday and buy food to make dinner
3. Eat at Alinea
4. Cook at home 1-2 times a week (including 1 new recipe)

Bonus: Try new restaurants that allow us to explore Chicago’s neighborhoods and ethnic cuisine

VI. Health and Fitness

1. Take regular yoga classes
2. Run at least 2 half marathons
3. Ride my bike more, including riding the North Branch bike trail

Bonus: Break previous Shamrock Shuffle record (36:20)

VII. Chicago

1. Go on Frank Lloyd Wright tour in Oak Park, IL
2. Spy on Rick Bayless's garden
3. Visit at least 6 Chicago museums and cultural institutions (MCA, Art Institute, Field Museum, CSO, Lyric Opera, Chicago History Museum...)

Bonus: Go to Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues

VIII. Organization

1. Purchase and fill photo albums for 2008; create photo books for 2009-2011

Bonus: Organize and donate/throw out grad school and old teaching materials
Bonus: Clean out Yahoo email account and unsubscribe from unnecessary emails
Bonus: Clean out the six plastic tubs at my parents’ house that are full of grade school through high school papers and mementos

IX. Giving & Volunteering

1. Come up with a charitable giving plan for 2011
2. Volunteer for Girls on the Run

Bonus: Serve food on Thanksgiving at a food pantry or soup kitchen