1	. help someone on the side of the road
2	. go on a Disney cruise
3	. see a Broadway show
4	. shop at J.Crew for a dress
5	. watch a Harry Potter marathon - January 2013
6	. spend a day with a Vespa, seeing and exploring
7	. complete the Warrior Dash
8	. go on a picnic in a park
9	. have my hair in a beehive hairdo
10	. attend an event wearing a fabulous big hat
11	. take a tour of the Art Institute of Chicago - February 2013
12	. attend high tea at The Drake - February 2013
13	. confidently roller skate for 15 minutes - in progress
14	. learn to play the ukulele
15	. go 21 days without complaining - in progress
16	. learn 3 hymns on the piano
17	. learn to french braid hair - in progress
18	. attend a TED event
19	. get better at applying eyeliner and mascara
20	. learn to play the cello - in progress
21	. memorize 50 scriptures
22	. fill in 10 more names in my family history
23	. finish my Master's degree
24	. build and enjoy a giant slip'n'slide
25	. make a good lemon meringue pie
26	. have an "underground" dining experience
27	. ride a zip line
28	. spend a whole day reading
29	. buy groceries for someone in need
30	. go Zorbing
31	. learn to make 5 different balloon animals
32	. work on a Habitat for Humanity home
33	. successfully make Plain Cookies
34	. learn 3 slight of hand magic tricks
35	. participate in The Color Run/Walk  - June 2013

35 by 35 - an update

I'm delighted to say that I'm making progress on my 35 by 35 list!  I'm also stunned to realize that it's been six whole months since I told you how things were going!  Yeah - that happens.

In January I finished the Harry Potter marathon.  Thanks, stomach bug!  I also started roller skating lessons and at this point I have 10 minutes of confident skating...so this one is still in progress.

In February Reyna and I spent our ladies/Ferris Bueller day in Chicago.  We went to the Art Institute of Chicago for several hours.  The collection is far too vast to see in that short amount of time but I loved the armor collection and Chagall's Windows.  And then...THEN we went to The Drake hotel for high tea.  Now - I was never a fan of tea.  In fact, I always felt that it just tasted like dried grass (dur).  But at The Drake we sat in an elegant room where we had divine tea and a tiered tray of finger sandwiches and pastries, accompanied by clotted cream and curds and jams.  Please bless someone will show up with afternoon tea every. single. day.  Rest assured that I will be happy to enjoy high tea with your anytime, anywhere.

In April I officially started cello lessons!  I've learned a lot and am getting better (for a beginner playing a stringed instrument).  I promise I won't subject you to my playing but I'm getting pretty good at Old MacDonald Had a Farm, Ode to Joy, and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.  Technically I'm also getting really good at the ABC's song - since that's the same tune as Twinkle, Twinkle....  The progress continues. 

May brought learning to French braid hair - and that still needs more work.  Eloise was so sweet to sit while I practiced on her hair.  And she was even sweeter to let me practice on her American Girl doll once her neck had had enough.

The last adventure I checked off the list was to do the Color Run.  This race is known as the Happiest 5K on the Planet...and we had a BALL.  Team MalleyCat was out in full force today.  The whole gang got up and out the door today very early and were patient and fantastic during the whole race.  We had perfect weather and had so much fun getting covered in color.  I loved this day.  If you have a chance to do The Color Run - I HIGHLY recommend it. 

Team MalleyCat after setting a new personal best for the 5K...and multicolored skin.

Moss Graffiti

While I find most graffiti uninspired and just vandalism...I find this idea so delightful! Perhaps this Eco-friendly graffiti would work better in Oregon - but who knows?! This seems like an excellent idea for a garden or playground or monogramming your house.

 

Tutorial from here.

 

Rinky Dinky Derby Town

Rest assured that my roller derby days are in the future...the distant future.  But I do want to be ready with the ideal name when I'm ready to join the derby ranks.  The following are my current votes:

A. Full Metal Jacque

B. Happy Killmore

C. Helen Highwater

D. One Hit Wanda

E. Medusa Damage

Each as merit and makes me giggle - which I think is key to a roller derby name.  I also will happily accept your suggestions for clever names.  I just want to be prepared, you guys.

January 2013 - 35 by 35

I've begun to tackle my 35 by 35 list...and this month I am starting with #13 and #20 and #5.  I'm starting with these thanks to my wonderful, thoughtful, generous parents - and thanks to a New Year's stomach bug.

#13 - confidently roller skate for 15 minutes.  
I got roller skates for Christmas from my folks!  So - starting Monday nights I'm joining a group roller skate class.  I'm assured that the average age of the class is 40 years old, so it won't be me hanging out with 6 year old kids that skate a million times better than me.This goal is actually the first step in my quest for roller derby.  No.  I'm not joking.

#20 - learn to play the cello.
I cannot stress enough how much my folks are always in my corner...and they clearly understand that they are several thousand miles away.  They sent me a cello for Christmas...and they will never have to listen to me practice!  These are some really smart people.  But I last night was my first real night of practicing with my cello.  I am so excited and very aware that it will be a lot of work and time before anyone will want to hear me and my cello.  But one day, on your birthday, you'll get a voicemail that sounds like a sick whale singing you "Happy Birthday."  That will be me and my cello!  You're welcome.

#5 - watch a Harry Potter marathon.
Let's remember that all the Harry Potter films add up to about 20 hours of film...so...it's being broken up over time.  I'm making up the rules here - so if you don't consider it a "marathon" if they aren't watched consecutively - you can stick it.  On January 2nd, everyone at our house spent time with a stomach bug.  It was not pretty.  But laying around wondering if you were going to barf, or if someone near you was going to barf, made for a great time to watch the first three Harry Potter films.  So - I'm a 3rd of the way there! 

Prepare to be horrified...

Let this be a warning to you all.

Education is power and we can stop this kind of thing from happening in the future.

Just in time for the new year!

Unless you're the Breakfast Beaver, you may still be looking to determine your dream job...and here's a handy website to help you figure that out...and to determine if that job actually exists.  You're welcome. 

Remember: two weeks notice is nice - but not required.

Facts

Everyone you know needs one of these.

A return to glamour

Just in case you've got a swanky affair to attend - but nothing to wear - fear not!

Rent-a-Swag has it's own online presence - but in Rent-The-Runway.  So many exquisite outfits.  Please do enjoy.

Things people say....

It's come to my attention that I was raised in a home where there was a funky saying for every situation.  Random things like:

"Put some money in the kitty"

or

"Close enough only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades"

 

or

"That smell would knock a buzzard off a puke wagon"

And my mother still insists that "More trouble than a married lady" is a thing people have ever said...ever.  I still disagree. 

But this list has just cracked me up.  I mean - did people EVER really talk like this?  For reals?  Beatniks did, apparently. Get a job, ya hippy!

Image from here

35 by 35

At some point in the last few months I realized that I had all these ideas of things I wanted to do - or at least say that I had TRIED to do - but they were just ideas floating around.  Loving lists the way that I do, I assembled my 35 by 35 list. So, dear friends and random interwebbers, I present to you 35 things that I want to do before I turn 35.  I have a handy countdown on my phone that tells me I have 586 days to attempt and accomplish the following:

1	. help someone on the side of the road
2	. go on a Disney cruise
3	. see a Broadway show
4	. shop at J.Crew for a dress
5	. watch a Harry Potter marathon
6	. spend a day with a Vespa, seeing and exploring
7	. complete the Warrior Dash
8	. go on a picnic in a park
9	. have my hair in a beehive hairdo
10	. attend an event wearing a fabulous big hat
11	. take a tour of the Art Institute of Chicago
12	. attend high tea at The Drake
13	. confidently roller skate for 15 minutes
14	. learn to play the ukulele
15	. go 21 days without complaining
16	. learn 3 hymns on the piano
17	. learn to french braid hair
18	. attend a TED event
19	. get better at applying eyeliner and mascara
20	. learn to play the cello
21	. memorize 50 scriptures
22	. fill in 10 more names in my family history
23	. finish my Master's degree
24	. build and enjoy a giant slip'n'slide
25	. make a good lemon meringue pie
26	. have an "underground" dining experience
27	. ride a zip line
28	. spend a whole day reading
29	. buy groceries for someone in need
30	. go Zorbing
31	. learn to make 5 different balloon animals
32	. work on a Habitat for Humanity home
33	. successfully make Plain Cookies
34	. learn 3 slight of hand magic tricks
35	. participate in The Color Run/Walk

Ice Lanterns...et al.

There are going to be more blog posts coming.  There's all kinds of random stuff I've been saving until I had the time to sit down and check spelling and make sure links worked - and - now...the time has arrived.  Be prepared for stuff like this:

Aren't these lovely?!  Wouldn't you just gasp if you arrived at a soiree and these lined the walk? Yes, you would.  Don't lie.  Learn how to make your own here from Susan of Oh My! Creative

or

Have you ever played Silent Football?  One summer, while working at Camp Namanu, Spam taught us all how to play and on dark days, it STILL makes me laugh.  Customary tip of the hat!  Customary SWOOP!

or

 I just love this.  The quote is from Elsie de Wolfe

I know you've just been waiting around - wondering when you'll have a whole bunch of random things to look at.  More is on the way.

Nothing sweeter...

People don’t like to change,

but like to have changed.

Discounts - via Consumerist

[Photograph: via Reddit]

At Texas-based burger mini-chain Twisted Root Burger Company (AHT review) you can get a few cents off your order if your server thinks you look hot. Reddit user caraficionado24 posted this photo of a receipt from Twisted Root featuring 2¢ discounts for "Best Butt" and "Best Looking." Eater confirmed with Twisted Root that "there are 20 or so set goofy discounts in the computer that servers can give out," including the ones above. Discounts based on attractiveness: funny or creepy?

[via Consumerist]

Julia - and her child...

Good morning, Campers!

With all my love, from Camp Northstar.

Does this look dangerous to you?

Most of you know that I drive a very basic model Ford Focus. The Silver Bullet doesn't turn any heads but I still love her. The air conditioning works well and it has a great stereo. And these are the most important features, right?

Lately I've gotten some comments on the ghetto cable being used to connect my phone to the stereo. The ends have duct (not electrical) tape securing the frayed wires to the connector ends.  I felt that the arts and crafts time was well spent here.  But, still, the comments and questions about the cable.  And my typical response has been, "No, I'm pretty sure you won't get electrocuted..." but I always watch for signs of shock just to be a responsive citizen.

But shame and personal safety are good motivators.  So, don't worry - I got a new cord.

From the Reader feed....

How do you not love this shower curtain?  ThomasPaul’s website also features yellow puffer fish pillows, charcoal throws featuring silk screened thoroughbreds, limited edition bandanas decorated with portraits of admirals.

A project for the office...

I have to think that a person with serious crafting skillz could make one of these

 The colors are a little 3-2-1 Contact for my taste, but buying one might be easier...