35 for 35 {05.27.24}

Hello and happy Memorial Day to my American friends! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend and are looking forward to a fun week ahead.  We're having a chill Memorial Day at home and will be doing some chores around the house and outdoor chores (weather permitting).

For today's post, I thought it would be fun to share my goals for my 35th year of life.  Every year I try to put together a list of things I want to accomplish over the next year and while I usually don't accomplish them all, it is still fun to make a list and track everything I do accomplish.  My thought is that I would share the list here then as a complete tasks, I will share update via a new post where I share what I accomplished to date. 

MY 35 for 35

1. 100 miles in 100 days – June 1st to Sept 9th

Starting June 1st, I am challenging myself to complete 100 miles in 100 days.  This can be done via walking, running, biking, swimming - really any movement I see fit.  If you'd like to join me for the challenge, be sure to check out my Instagram post.  Just click the image below to be taken right to my page.  You can also check out my tracker over on my Google Drive: 100 Miles, 100 Days Tracker. 

2. Send 35 letters to friends/family

This can be a simple card or a hand written letter.  I am trying to make sure it is outside of a normally sent card (like a birthday card) so that it makes it more special. 

3. Finish 10 of my books on my TBR pile

I have soooooooooo many books that I have purchased and have not read so my goal is to read around one a month to bring down my total TBR list.  I'm planning to go through my books and pick 10 and will be sure to share them here once I pick them all out. 

4. Learn to make macarons 

I have been wanting to learn how to make macarons for a long time so why not make it a goal for this year? 

5. Spend 1 day a month media free

With the exception of work/blog related posts, I would like to spend one day a month (minimum) without accessing social media of any kind. I might even make it so that day for the month I pre-schedule all my posts so that I do not have to worry about posting for that day.  And for this day, I am intending to remove all the apps from my phone so I can't easily access them. 

6. Try 35 new recipes

Justin and I have been cooking at home more, so I figured it would be fun to try 35 new recipes and expand our very small list of things we like to eat for dinner.  My plan is to find 35 recipes, put them in a wheel and every week spin the wheel to pick 1-2 new recipes to try for that week.  Once it's been tried, the recipe will be removed from the wheel until we get them all done.

7. Visit 1-2 new bookstores in Michigan (or another state) 

Because I've been really loving reading lately, I've been all over the indie book store scene and want to make it a point to visit at least 1 or 2 Indie book stores in my state.  Or if I am in another state and can make time to visit it then join one of those. 

8. Finish my crochet sweater for myself

I mentioned earlier this year that I learned how to crochet.  And I started making myself a sweater so of course, I need to make it a point to finish that sweater for myself since I have a habit of starting projects for other people and not finishing the ones I have for myself.  Ideally, I'd like to finish this before the winter of 2024, but I'm also giving myself until my birthday next year. 

9. Try 5 new foods/food types

I have been discovering that I like a lot more foods than I originally thought so I'd like to give some new foods or food types a try.  Any suggestions? 

10. Visit 1-2 new cities in Michigan

These must be cities that I've never been to before and I have to do more than drive through the city. 

11. Take a yoga class at a local studio

My flexibility is terrible, so I'm looking to take a yoga class at a local studio and hopefully get into a good routine of taking a yoga class.  If I am unable to find one locally, I may just look for online classes in which I can regularly participate. 

12. Finish one box of my house plant diamond painting kit 

Justin got my these mini diamond painting kids for Christmas and there is 12 in each box.  So I figured it would be fun to give myself a goal to finish the entire box and if I have time, finish the second one.  Want to see what I'm talking about, check out Paintgem: Houseplants Edition

13. Color 35 pages from a coloring book

Another craft-related goal, but I have so many coloring books and I'd like to do 35 pages from them.  If I can finish an entire book, that would be even better but some of the pages are very complicated.  

14. Plan another trip just mom and I

A few years back mom and I planned a trip just us two to Holland, MI to see the tulips and it was so much fun.  I mentioned to her that we need to plan another trip just us two and right now we're tentatively talking about going on a cruise together.  This goal does not have to be completed within the year, but we have to have something booked before my next birthday. 

15. Donate/give 35 books to free little libraries or my library

Over time, I have collected some books that I just no longer want/need so my goal is to give them away to free little libraries or to my local library.  I set the number to 35 because even if I don't have 35 of my own to give away, I can still get some books at a discount and give them away. 

16. 12 deliberate dates with Justin

Justin and I spend a lot of time together at home, but I think it's time we actually made it a point to go out on dates together. We already did one this month that I'll share later, but I want to make it a point to spend some quality time together without distractions. 

17. Start and maintain a sourdough starter/ 18. Learn to make sourdough bread

17 and 18 go hand-in-hand so I'm lumping them together. I am a little late to the trend, but I very much want to make my own sourdough starter and learn how to make my own sourdough bread. 

19. Start and finish my quilt from Justin

For Christmas, Justin bought me all the fabric I would need to make a book-themed quilt and so I'd like to give myself the goal of finishing the quilt this year and not have the kit laying around. I think the hardest part will be picking a background fabric and binding fabric to go with the pattern, but I know I can do it. 

20. Create a regular workout routine/program

This one will be a bit more difficult for me because working out is not something I look forward to, ever.  But I'd really like to do something and I'm thinking it will be important to set up a good routine.  Not exactly sure what it will be at this time, but I have a few ideas floating around. 

21. Plan a NYC trip for Justin and I 

Justin and I have talked about going to New York City during the holidays so I want to make it a point to plan a trip there.  Like my trip with my mom, it does not have to be planned over the next 12 months, but I want to have something booked before my birthday next year. 

22. Pay off my student loans 

If you're like me, you may have been holding out hope that your student loans would be paid off.  But, if I'm being realistic it's not going to happen.  So for this year I'd like to say farewell to my student loans and wipe my hands of that debt.  I'm also hoping to do this outside of our regular income by doing side gigs.  If I am calculating everything correctly, I need about $150 a month to get this done. 

23. Learn five songs on my ukulele 

I have a ukulele in my basement that I have not touched in years. I would like to learn five songs on my ukulele and put it to good use. 

24. Volunteer for 35 hours this year

This one is more so for me, but I'd like to volunteer for 35 hours over the next year (or roughly 3 hours a month).  I've already started reaching out to a few local organizations to see how I can help.  I'm hoping an hour here or an hour there will add up quickly. 

25. Eat at a restaurant you’ve never tried before

There are so many restaurants I've been wanting to try so this will be easy to do.  I really should just look for a restaurant in my area that I've not visited and just make my way there. 

26.Finish the 90% done projects in the house

Do you have projects in your house that are 90% done? I think we all do.  My goal is to tackle those over the next year.  So far, I've only captured three but I'm sure I'm missing more: 

1. Patch hole in pantry room ceiling

2. Finish tile in laundry room

3. Paint arch in mudroom white 

27.Get Boudoir photos done

This one is just for me but I'd like to get boudoir photos done.  I've not had a positive view of myself for quite some time and I think it's time I change that.  

(please note: I will not be sharing these with anyone, I'll just update that they're done).

28. Complete one 1,000-piece puzzle or 2 500-piece puzzles

I love puzzles so I knew I had to add this to the list.  The best part, I've already got 2 puzzles that fit the bill. I'm thinking I'll just leave them in the dining room and work on them a bit every day when I need a mental health break from work. 

29. Design 36 new stickers and list on Redbubble

If you didn't know, I have a sticker shop on Redbubble and I excitingly had my first sale last week.  My goal is to design and list 35 new stickers between now and my 36th birthday. 

30. Take a beginner sign language course

I'd really like to learn sign language so I am going to make it a priority this year to start learning.  I can do all the letters and know the basics, but would like to better understand more words and conversations. 

31. Do 35 random acts of kindness

I'm hoping to do more than just buy the drink for the person behind me in line, but if that is all I can swing that is what I'm going to do.  If you have any ideas I'd love to hear them! 

32. Develop a journaling habit

One of the recommendations my counselor gave me was to start journaling to help me manage my stress/worries.  

33. Take an art class

I'm thinking I will take a class at one of my local venues - especially since we have a Paint Like Bob Ross class that's hosted in my local township.  This will be a lot of fun and something that would be easy to accomplish. 

34. Start saving for my dream purse

This one is a bit silly, but I've wanted to get a Louie Vuitton purse for years but did not want to just go an buy one.  I want to save up for one and own it out right.  It will be so much fun to go to the store and buy one with cash, so my goal is to start saving for one.  I need roughly $2000 or so but I do not intend to save all of that this next year. 

35. Dedicate appropriate time to the blog

I have had this blog for over 10 years now and feel like it's not any more advanced than it was when I started it all those years ago.  I'd very much like to get into regularly scheduled posts and invest quality time into writing on the blog.  I'm still flushing out what this will look like, but the blog is important to me and I'd like to build it more into a community. 

Have a wonderful day,

Jackie

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