My December "Bucket List"

Inspired by this week's Mama Kat prompt I decided to make a December "bucket list" for myself.
What goals do you have for this month? Mine are fairly simple since I'm still jobless and transient.

1. Find and accept employment.
2. Go look at Christmas lights.
3. Bake myself a birthday cake. I'm debating between my triple threat cake or trying something new and outrageous.

4. Bake black sesame cookies. I found a recipe on Joy the Baker I want to adapt.
5. Finish the other two books I was sent to review this month.
6. Buy Christmas presents.
7. Find and purchase a pair of tall black dress boots.
8. Spend some time with Hotglue.
9. Choose a word of the year. I'm stumped this year...any suggestions?
10. Finish writing my list of books I want to read in 2016. Any ideas of MUST reads?!

Things I Want to Bake Before Moving to South Korea

As I am a list maker by nature, I have been thinking of things I would like to bake before we head over that great big ocean.

My list includes:

• Avocado Truffles....the second part of my challenge on Hot Glue Baking
• Macarons  ....are these as hard as they look?
• Boston Cream Doughnuts...my husband asked challenged me to make these for him)
• Fried Cupcakes...these have been on to my "to do" list for sometime now- they even made it on my 101/1001 list.
• Mini Chocolate Soufflés
• Coconut Macaroon Cupcakes....after seeing this mouthwatering picture on pinterest how do you NOT want to?

 

Pic from http://www.gigiscupcakesusa.com/coconutmacaroon

• A Cupcake Project Recipe...any suggestions? I'm leaning towards either the Ultimate Chocolate or Wine and Cheese........perhaps I can use the ultimate chocolate recipe as the base for my coconut macaroon cupcakes instead of the devils food it calls for. I'm liking this idea...
• A Brown Eyed Baker recipe....I'm thinking Cinnamon Raisin Walnut Bread
• And last but not least, Francine Bryson's Chocolate PB Bacon Pie

What's on your baking "to-do" list? Do you have any good recipe suggestions for any of the things I'm looking to make?

PS: I'm on the lookout for a good fruit pie recipe

2nd 101/1001

The following is my second 101/1001 list. I completed aprox. half of my previous list. This list is not a list of must dos, but rather a list of things I'd like to do. The list serves as a way to keep me focused. I have until December 10, 2015 to complete my list.(How fitting that it ends on my birthday!) At that time I can reevaluate.

The italized items are in progress, the completed items are italized and bold.

TRAVEL (0/14)

1. Go to Vegas with Mr. Groom
2. Visit the Bedford Village
3. Take a couples trip
4.  Visit Cake Boss Bakery
5. Take a road trip
6. Lay plans for a recoccuring girls vacation/get together
7. Go to a concert
8. Go to the beach
9. Visit Boston
10. Go to Philadelphia
11. Visit Baltimore
12. See wild horses
13. Renew my passport
14. See the locks

EATING AND DRINKING (0/4)
15. Tour a winery
16. Go to a fondue restaurant
17. Make a cocktail not from a mix
18. Have a pizza making competition

COOKING (0/9)
19. Make truffles again
20. Make Smores with homemade graham crackers and marshmallows
21. Bake 3 inventive cupcake flavors
22. Try 15 new dessert recipes (0/ 15)
23. Try 15 new non dessert recipes (0/15)
24. Make homemade icecream
25. Make deep fried cupcakes
26. Try a Cupcake Project recipe
27. Try a Brown Eyed Baker recipe

WRITING (0/6)
28. Finish Westbound Hope
29. Finish Imag
30. Submit Imag to a Publisher
31. Finish Wives book
32. Submit Wives book to Publisher
33. Attend a writing workshop or seminar

CRAFT/CREATIVE  (0/7)
34. Create postcards out of pictures I’ve taken
35. Take a card making class or a cake decorating class
36. Make a travel scrapbook
37. Finish my wedding shadowbox
38. Finish tshirt quilt
39. Learn to use my sewing machine
40. Finish my writing desk

DOMESTICNESS (0/6)
41. Host a dinner party
42. Get Mr. Groom a personal Christmas ornament
43. Buy personalized stationary
44. Wrap a gift with a Bobo scarf
45.Host a Southern Comfort Theme Party
46. Grow vegetables and fruit


SPIRITUAL (0/6)
47. Write out bible verses that inspire me and post them around the house
48. Read the entire Bible
49. Attend an Easter Service
50. Attend Christmas Eve Service
51. Strengten my prayer life
52. Share my faith with someone

BODY (0/3)
53.Get in shape (be able to run a mile, nonstop, under x minutes....be able to go up and downstairs without getting out of breath. boost upper arm strength)
54. Get new glasses
55. Have retainer removed

GIVING BACK (0/8)
56. Participate in Operation Christmas Child
57. Volunteer at the soup kitchen or food pantry
58. Volunteer with Girl Scouts
59. Be a Girl Scout Leader
60. Send a gift to Morningside
61. Adopt a soldier
62. Send Christmas Cards to St Judes every Christmas (0/3)
63. Look into being a foster parent or adoption

ORGANIZE (0/7)
 64. Load all pictures on my camera onto cds
65. Sell my prom dresses
66. Put all my books on shelves
67. Put all my printed pictures in an album
68. Clean out my room at my parents house
69. Hang artwork
70. Have my wedding dress preserved

FAMILY AND FRIENDS (0/11)
71. Go on a double date with Hotglue and her man
72. Host a holiday celebration
73. Host a holiday celebration where both sides can attend
74. Have a niece or nephew stay the night
75. Have my sister spend a weekend or so with us
76. Continue to send snail mail to my friends
77. Give family history books for grandparents and parents to complete
78. Pray for my futrure children and thier spouses
79. Get  Mike a pet. And not a rock
80. Make recipe dish towels for family
81. Plan something special for our 5 year anniversary

THINGS (0/4)
82. Buy a new laptop
83. Get my camera fixed
84. Start a charm bracelet
85. Get a Nook case

FUN (0/12)
86. Take pictures in a photo booth again
87. Get another massage
88. Play laser  tag
89. Go outlet shopping
90. Host a craft night party
91. Have a bonfire
92. Go on a picnic
93. Host a murder mystery party
94. Host a girls night in
95. Makeover
96. Attend a scrapbooking weekend
97. Have boudoir shots made
98. Learn to braid

PROFESSIONAL  (0/3)
99. Start a business
100. Send my freelance writing resume to 5 places
101. Learn Sign language

The Excitement is Building!

Everything is almost in place for the wedding. All of the centerpieces are ready and tableclothes have been found. Everything is settled with the caterer and DJ and my bridal portriat session is tomorrow at 3:30. Its been raining all weekend so I hope my dress doesn't get muddy.

What's left to do?

- Make a CD of prelude music
-Wrap thank you gifts for my parents
-Put the finishing touches on my bridesmaids gifts
- Print the poem and put it on pretty paper
-Make R for the door
-Finish centerpieces
-Print out guest book instructions
-Buy sparklers
-Buy flower girl petals
-Print out wedding cake recipe for the food table
-Finish making Mike's gift
-Print my vows and put them on pretty paper
-Print schedules for the wedding party
-Finalize the menu for the bridal luncheon
-Finishing packing 
-Make final ceremony descions
- Get my room cleaned up so that my bridesmaids have somewhere to sleep.

Here it goes!

Novembers Here!

And a fun filled month it will be!

This week I'm baking 50-200 cookies for the Dean's Tea
This weekend is my bridal shower and two of my bridemaids and I will be spending Friday night at my parent's house.
My college's homecoming dance is this Saturday night
Next weekend is Lyric's 22nd birthday and we're all going out for dinner and gelato.
The third weekend in Novemeber is my Bachelorette Party! All of the details are still a suprise! I'm so excited!
And then its Thanksgiving weekend!

Things to look for this month:

A Halloween post
A Bridal shower recap post
Bachelorette Post- possibly a guest post from hotglue if I can convince her
A post on all of the wonderful holiday cards shutterfly has to offer
]A book review of Eat Pray Love

I Did Not Do Much

I didn't do much of my todo list last week. It was just too hectic of a week. In addition to classes and homework I want to:

1. Mail remaining invitations.
2. Call someone and ask them to be a usher in our wedding
3. Call the sound guy at church
4. Call the Soup Kitchen
5. Make a bowl for charity
6. Do laundry
7. Mortar Board Meeting
9. Mortar Board Fundrasing duties.
10. Do a wedding update blog.
11. Pack and go to my parents for Fall Break
12. Write a feature on the smoking issue on campus.
13. Finish writing a guest blog

To Do

This week's to do list

1. All classes, homework and projects.
2. Pick up wedding shoes.
3. Baking with Hotglue while watching Big Bang Theory
4. Call Soup Kitchen
5. Make Ring Bearer Pillows
6. Q Post
7. Wedding Update Post
8. Workout
9. Print Pictures
10. Plan out fall break
11. Try to get ahead on homework
12. Work in my premarital counseling workbook
13. Come up with article ideas
14. Writer Recruitment
15. Copy Bible Verses into my Inspiration Notebook
16. Journal
17. Pray about Mr. Groom's job search and his sister's health

Another Week of Running

The beginning of my week is jam packed but I'm hoping that the end of it is relatively calm. I need a calm end of the week to help my catch up on all of the projects- school and wedding wise- that I need to complete.

1. Address the remaining wedding invitations.
2. Do a wedding planning update post.
3. All classes, homework and tests (can you believe I have midterms this week?)
4. Editoral Board Meeting- school paper
5. Call Soup Kitchen
6. Make appt with health center to discuss smoke issues.
7. Poetry Reading
8. Send my mom a birthday card.
9. Pick up my marriage liscense.
10. Complete my logo design project
11. Write my article for the paper.
12. Print my pictures
13. Start my ring bearer pillows
14.  Update Project Serve's service board
15. Write the service newsletter.

What's on your todo list this week?

So Much Going On!

I am really trying to get back on a posting schedule. I think my regular life schedule is finally set- regarding classes, internship and club meetings. Here's whats going on this week:

1. Classes and homework per usual
2. Interview for Assitant Editor of the online paper
3. Greeting Card Workshop at church.
4. Dinner with the parents and Mr. Groom
5. Applying for a marriage liscence.
6. Greek Festival?
7. Continue trying to contact nonprofits.
9. Generate ideas for new articles.
10. PSLT meeting
11.Senior pictures!
12. Workout!
13. Bio test- YIKES!
14. Deliver Big Sis/Little Sis Gifts for the roomie.
15. Season Premiere of Big Bang Theory!!!!! WOOT! (Major stress reliever)
16. Pick up my newly cleaned and tightened engagement ring
17. Dinner with a few friends that Mr. Groom has yet to meet.


It's going to be a busy week for me! What have you got going on this week?

To Do List 9/13-19

I did a pretty good job of knocking things off of last weeks's list so I thought I'd post this weeks list to keep me motivated. Before I write the list I want to ask ya'll to keep Mr. Groom in your prayers. When he was in Korea he had intense stomach pain and was told he had a hole in his stomach. Now, the situtation has escalated. The doctor's here think its because he wasn't given enough medicine to allow his body to fully heal. He goes to the hospital on Tuesday and Wednesday. On a more positive note, he has a job interview lined up!

Here we go!

1. Attend all classes and do all homework!
2. Attend Senior Hats on Party
3. Help the other seniors decorate campus in red.
4. Start my internship!
5. Buy postage
6. Start addressing invitations
7. Contact two nonprofits for Project Serve- whoops I only did one
8. Come up with three goals for my position (Publicity Chair) for Project Serve- only one at the moment, but I've got until Tuesday.
9. Go to College Fest
10. Cooking lesson at Williams Sonoma
11. Try to update my Williams Sonoma registy while I'm there.
12. Shop for shoes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Does anyone have a pair of pretty white, low heels in size 5.5-6 they want to get rid of?)  I found a pair!
13. Post a review of Creamy Creek Goat Milk Soap
14. Call my Aunt to let her know about the Flower Girl dress colors. Again, I'm a slacker.
15. Go to the Conversationalist Launch Party
16. Type a new schedule for above my desk.
17. Find out why I didn't get a response about my engagement notice.
18. Decide if I want to fence or participate in the card making ministry .
19. Workout.
20. Call the Courthouse and find out about marriage liscense requirements

Wow. I'm exhausted just looking at this list. Here goes nothing!

Getting on the Ball

Ya'll I promise to get back on the blogging ball as soon as I get back into a routine. Today I'm going to share my to-do list for the week and answer the GTKY questions.

First up, my to do list:

1. Attend all classes (Bio, Bio Lab, New Testament, Graphic Design, Feature Writing, Integrated Marketing Communications) and knock out all homework.
2. Start writing my article for the college's paper.
3. Prepare a recipe for the college paper.
4. Help out at the Involvement Fair
5. Pick up my cap and gown!!
6. Go to an internship interview.
7. Attend a 31 Gifts Party.
8. Shop for wedding shoes.
9. Buy some back to school, basic supplies.
10. Cooridnate a dinner "date" with Mr. Groom and my parents.
11. Type all of the guest list addressess.
12. Workout!!
13. Work on my Korea photobook. (ie harrass mr. groom into giving me his pictures)

Yeah, I think thats plenty for now. Now, for GTKY

1. Do you like seafood?

 yes
2. Are mermaids hot?
sometimes?
3. Have you swam in the ocean?
yes, I love the Ocean

4. If you got stung by a jellyfish, would you let a stranger pee on you?
Do I have to? Is there no one I know?

5. Have you ever pee'd in the ocean?

As a child

6. Can you make a cute fish face? (Show a pic..if you want)

Nope :(
7. When you see the lobster tank at the grocery store do you just have this overwhelming urge to set them free or cook them up?

Neither.

8. Are you afraid of sharks?
 
Um, yes. Who isn't?