101 Things in 1001 Days: Update 3

Recently completed goals and/or recent progress:

15. Schedule appointments with doctor, dentist, etc. and go at least once per year. With my upcoming birthday next month, I’ll be switching off of my parent’s insurance and onto my own. As such, I decided it was time to get in all my doctor’s appointments for the year. I spent a full week in Tulsa going to 9+ different doctors appointments. And while it was a bit overwhelming at times, I can rest easy knowing I am healthy and on-track until the next year.

41. Incorporate more accessories into outfits. Necklaces are pretty easy for me to incorporate into my daily ensembles. But when it comes to bracelets and rings and purses, I sometimes just forget about ’em! And bracelets are a tricky business when you’re a engineering student, fervently coding and deriving equations all day. With the start of my blog however, I’ve been making a conscious effort to add in more accessories on a daily basis and I’m happy to report that I’m more consistently utilizing all the fun pieces I own.

47. Try five new trends outside my comfort zone. (6/5) Since my last update here, I’ve added the Sleeveless Coat and Boho Chic trends to my repertoire. If there’s one unexpected thing this blog has shown me, it’s how much fun it is to try new trends and experiment with different styles. And just because I can officially cross this one off the list, you can bet I won’t be letting up on experimenting with my style anytime soon.

57. Try five new foods. Recently I’ve added Buffalo burgers, Elk hot dogs, and Empanadas to my list of new foods. And while I’m generally not a huge fan of meat (I’m thinking of going much more plant-based this summer), I surprisingly liked everything I tried…but especially the empanadas! So. So. So. Good.

60. Go through magazine stacks. So much to recycle! How did I end up with so many magazines in my house?! #wemayneverknow Anyone else out there a magazine hoarder?

76. Visit five National Parks. (4/5) Over spring break, Allen and I took a long road trip from Colorado, over through Utah and up into Montana. As a part of the trip, we were able to see the stunning natural architecture of Arches National Park in Moab, as well as the spectacular wildlife of Yellowstone National Park in Montana. I’ll be posting full recaps of our road trip across the West this summer–so stay tuned!

95. Discover fifteen new favorite restaurants. (15/15) If you’ve followed along for very long, you know Allen and I love to try new restaurants! We are slowly finding our favorites in the Boulder/Denver area. Some of our new favorites include: best Colorado-style pizza: Beau Jo’s, best empanadas: Rincon Argentino, cutest breakfast spot: Jelly Cafe. And don’t be fooled! Although I have found 15/15 new favorite restaurants, you can bet we are not done exploring new places to try. We will without a doubt continue to add to the list–it’s not in our style to stop looking for fabulous food to eat. 😉

97. Have a picnic. On an unusually warm and sunny day this spring, Allen and I made turkey sandwiches and pasta salad to take out to a local park for lunch. The park is halfway between my place and Conor’s, so it was a nice surprise when he came to join us halfway through. It was the perfect springtime picnic!

Upcoming goals:

8. Move 10,000 steps per day for one month. Oh man, guys. This one has been a ‘priority’ of mine for as long as I know. With finals and moving states and around-the-clock meetings, it just hasn’t happened yet. But with a new summertime routine on the horizon, I’m thinking my soon-to-be daily workouts will help me to finally achieve this one. What about you? What’s your secret for getting in your steps each day?

11. Work out in the morning for two weeks. Three words. Triple. Digit. Temperatures. Yes, Houston is not known for its mild weather in the summer, so working out in the mornings and occasionally in the evenings will be essential to surviving the blistering heat while still getting my sweat sessions on. And #12 will be a must too!

14. Eat the recommended serving of vegetables each day for one week. After listening to my body the last few months, I’ve noticed that it’s been craving less and less meat. Don’t get me wrong, I have some seriously intense burger cravings every now and then. But on a daily basis, my cravings for meat just aren’t there. So I’ve decided to lead a more plant-based diet this summer. I’m hoping that an abundance of fresh veggies and fruits from farmers markets over the summer will really enable me to experiment and try out new recipes with more healthy greens (and purples and oranges and reds) in them. Any recommendations for good plant-based cookbooks you love? I’d really love to know!

17. Find and maintain my ideal weight.This one goes along with #8 above in that it has been on my list for what seems like forever! But it will only be possible for me to find (and maintain) my ideal weight when I’m living a balanced life–that goes for eating, exercising, sleeping, and working. All of ’em have to be in sync. With my change in routine for the summer, I’m hoping I can finally find some much desired balance.

23. Run one 5k per month for one year. Having a monthly race goal will help to keep me motivated and running consistently throughout the year. And consistency is the key to forming good habits, right? It’s also a great way to give back to the community and local charities that support those in need. Anyone want to run a race or two with me this summer?

26. Read 10 books. (2/10) Although I’ll be studying for my prelim exams coming up this fall, without classes and homework, I’ll have much more time to read for fun this summer. I’m planning on killing two birds with one stone by reading Dune, a classic sci-fi novel (#34) that so many of my friends rant and rave about. I’m also planning on finishing (#28) the Ender series (the final book) and the Harry Potter series (I never got past the 4th book when I was younger), as well as reading some non-fiction, The China Study and Yes Please by Amy Poehler.

40. Incorporate braids more often. Summertime means crazy hair, don’t care! Am I right?! So I’m planning on playing with a lot of new hairstyles, including braids, as a fun variation to my normal routine.

59. Go one month without shopping. I don’t know about you, but I shop entirely way too much. I need to change this from a budget standpoint (hello #49), but I’d also just love to prove it to myself that I can go one month without shopping. I think it would be very liberating, don’t you? To get away from all the pressures of consumerism and get back to the basics of just enjoying the simplicities of life. Of being completely and wholly content with what you have and where you are in life. Sounds so nice.

70. Go to a Red Rocks concert with friends. Allen and I are planning on going to the Greensky Bluegrass concert at the end of July. I am beyond excited (beyond!) and cannot wait to go to my first Red Rocks concert!!!!!

98. Go to a drive-in movie.Sounds like the perfect summertime date night, no? Anyone know of a good drive-in movie theater in the Houston area?