2015: 52 Things in 52 Weeks

In other words, 52 things in a year.

Instead of coming up with a list of resolutions for 2015, I thought I’d take a bucket list-y approach. I was inspired by Design Darling Mackenzie Horan’s 101 in 1001 Days, but I can visualize and plan for a year much more easily than 1001 days.

I’ve included my list below and will be sharing updates as I go.  Items that I have accomplished will be crossed off the list (like this).  If I’ve posted about the list item, I will include a link to the specific post.  Here we go!

1. Work on my Spanish.  (In progress)
2. Keep a sketch book.  Add to it regularly.  (In progress)
3. Take a class (of any kind).
4. Watch 10 documentaries. (1. Ballerina, 2.  The Up Series, 3.  Burt’s Buzz, 4.  A Year in Burgundy, 5.  Ballet 422, 6.  Legends Rising:  A Documentary Series, 7. Backstreet Boys:  Show ‘Em What You’re Made Of, 8.  Cowspiracy, 9.  Somm, 10.  Tig)
5. Watch 10 classic (to me) films.  (1.  Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2. Star Wars:  Episode IV: A New Hope, 3.  Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, 4.  Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, 5.  2001: A Space Odyssey, 6.  White Christmas, 7.  Grease, 8.  Grease 2)
6. Volunteer my time and energy at least twice.
7. Learn about cheese.
8. Learn about wine.
9. Learn about beer.
10. Re-learn to crochet and make a blanket.
11. Complete a book of word searches.  (In progress)
12. Organize my computer, digital accounts, etc. and back it up.
13. Read at least one new book each month. (January – Paris in Love:  A Memoir by Eloisa James, February – Finding My Balance by Mariel Hemingway, March – The Third Plate: Field Notes on the Future of Food by Dan Barber, April – Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland, May – Veganist: Lose Weight, Get Healthy, Change the World by Kathy Freston, June – Fermat’s Enigma: The Epic Quest to Solve the World’s Greatest Mathematical Problem by Simon Singh, July – French Women Don’t Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano, August – Lunch in Paris: A Love Story, with Recipes by Elizabeth Bard , September – The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, October – Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert, November – MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search for a New Best Friend by Rachel Bertsche, December – Cool, Calm & Contentious: Essays by Merrill Markoe)
14. Listen to one entire new album each month. (January – Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance from Belle & Sebastian, February – Echolocations:  Canyon from Andrew Bird, March – My Everything from Adriana Grande, April – Satie:  Piano Music from Roland Pontinen and Erik Satie, May – Hot Fuss from The Killers, June – Enough Thunder from James Blake, July – In Colour from Jamie xx, August – Live at Royal Albert Hall from Eels, September – Blood from Lianne La Havas, October – Dopamine from Børns, November – Get Weird from Little Mix, December – Art Angels from Grimes)
15. Choose a new recipe to try each month. (January – Easy Baked Chicken Chimichangas, February – Lemon Pesto Pasta with Grilled Chicken, March – Spaghetti Carbonara for One, April – Lemon Poppy Seed Scones, May – Spicy Indian Veggie Naan Wrap, June – Craig Claiborne’s Pasta con Asparagi, July – Grilled Naan with Burrata and Roasted Potato and Lemon, August – Crispy Parmesan Chicken Cutlets with Tomato-Mozzarella Salad, September – Grilled Caprese Naan Pizza, October – Creamy Vegan Garlic Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes, November – Carbonara Polenta, December – Cheesy Mustard Baked Chicken Breasts)
16. Train for a 10K.  (In progress)
17. Climb five mountains.  (1.  Stone Mountain, 2.  Kennesaw Mountain)
18. Treat myself to another batch of hot yoga class passes and use them all!
19. Successfully complete a 30-day fitness challenge.  (30 Day Plank Challenge and a bonus 30 Day Crunch Challenge)
20. Practice yoga everyday for at least two weeks.
21. Work out in the morning for two weeks.
22. Try a barre class.  (1/24/15)
23. Learn to do crow pose.  Then crane pose.  (In progress)
24. Complete a short, introductory meditation program.
25. Give up soda for a month.
26. Try at least five new salad recipes.  (1.  Tracy Pollan’s Signature Salad, 2. Greek Pasta Salad, 3.  Spicy Chickpea Salad with Tomatoes, Shallots, and Sherry, 4. Panera Bread Copycat Fuji Apple Chicken Salad)
27. Eat Vegan Before 6 (VB6) for a week.
28. Actively track my spending for 6 months.
29. Have a shopping-free month (excluding food, of course).
30. Clean out my closet.  Get rid of items that are beyond repair.  Donate items that could use a new home.
31. Splurge on flowers for myself.
32. Buy myself something nice.
33. Bake a multi-layered cake.  (A yummy one for my sister’s birthday!)
34. Get a manicure and pedicure.
35. Take myself on a date.
36. Get my camera out every month.  And use it! (January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December)
37. Complete a 52 weeks self-portrait series. (January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, discontinued in September because it was becoming a chore that I did not enjoy)
38. Travel to at least three new places.  (Claysburg, PA – for snowboarding, San Antonio, TX – for work, Toronto, Ontario, Canada – for work)
39. Take a road trip.
40. Plan a big future trip.
41. Take a trip with my family.  (To the beach!)
42. Host a dinner party.
43. Make a new friend.
44. Disconnect from social media for a weekend.
45. Actively practice “two ups for every down” for a week.
46. Deep clean my apartment monthly. (January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December)
47. Develop my “personal brand”.
48. Complete 100 Happy Days.  (You can find my happy days on Instagram and my wrap-up here.)
49. Buy myself a new retainer.
50. Establish morning and evening routines.
51. Play in snow.  (I got my snow fix over Valentine’s Day weekend in Pennsylvania.  Snow!  Everywhere!)
52. Make a 100-item joy list.