Hi, my name is Janie, and I'm a procrastinator ...

Yes, there should be, and probably is, an AA for procrastinators! Or for people who start things and never finish, or just take forever to finish. I swear I will finish this list to the best of my ability by the time those 1001 days are over!

The good thing is that most of the things on my list are life goals anyway, so even though I may not update as much as I should, I'm still working on them. So here goes:

2 – Post at least once a week (with photos where I can)

I've been horrible about posting on any of my blogs lately, and I'm determined to catch up. It likely won't be immediately, as we're about to go traveling, but I'm hoping to post at least twice a month from here on.

3 – Be consistent with workouts (at least 3 times a week)

I have actually managed this! Granted, they're not the workouts I was originally intending (in the gym, weight lifting), but as long as I'm getting some sort of exercise at least 3 times a week, I'm good. I've been alternating among Jillian Michaels' 30 day shred videos, walking for an hour around our neighborhood, and doing yoga at home. I'm just hoping to keep it going from here on.

5 – Learn to do a proper pushup, and be able to do at least 20 at a time

I now can do a proper pushup, still working on the 20 at a time thing!

19 – Post on our family blog at least twice a month

I've been much better about this, but still not where I'd like, so I'm not going to consider it completed yet.

21 – Purchase Jeffery’s 3 month pictures

I'm actually going to go backward here, and put this back on the list as not even started yet. We're so behind on pictures right now! We still have some from January (his 3 month), May, and are having more taken later this month while we're home, so we'll have even more! Yeah, that's a project for later!

25 – Call Tiffany and Ellen at least once every other month


I'm starting this one this month. Tiffany's first anniversary was yesterday, so I'm going to call her to wish her a happy anniversary, and going to be letting them both know that we'll be home visiting soon. I need to get better about keeping in touch. I keep up with Ellen here and there on Facebook, but Tiffany is hard to track down.

28 – Host the family Christmas

Christmas is going to have to be next year, but we ARE hosting Thanksgiving this year - yay! We're renting a cabin in the Smoky Mountains, and having both families over for the big meal and Black Friday shopping at the outlets! I'm uber excited about this one, as we have tons of gifts to give, hopefully will have news about orders, and tons to catch up on! I can't wait!!!

30 – Find an online program to take classes from

I'm actually taking classes right now to become a certified Financial Advisor. It's not easy, I have to take exams, and I still have to get in 700 (700!) practicum hours, but I'm loving it!

34 – Post on my Janie’s Creations blog at least once a week

Like I said earlier, I've been horrible about posting. But I've been even worse about taking pictures of my stuff. I do have a couple more things to be made, however, so I will DEFINITELY take pictures this time, and post them on my blog.

35 – Start writing again

I've decided to participate in this year's Nanowrimo, and attempt to at least get the pumps primed for writing again. I don't expect much out of my November project (after all, we'll be traveling during this time too), but it will hopefully get me in the writing mindset.

40 – Make Jeffery’s UT quilt

I'm not actively working on this (sidetracked by several baby projects and getting ready to travel), but I did get everything cut out and ready to start. I'm hoping to get going on it when we get back home. And definitely want it completed by the time we move back to the States next Spring.

42 – Make sampler baby burp cloths and 50 – Make burp cloths for all Gaeta ladies currently expecting or new moms

This has been the hardest thing to do, as every time I make some, someone else pops up pregnant, or I find another reason to give them away! On the upside, I sold several at a community bazaar a couple weeks ago. And I'm caught up on all the babies around here! On the downside, there are several newly pregnant people that I need to start working on now. It never ends!

53 – Bake at least once a week

FINALLY! One project that has NOT been a problem. I find that even when I'm not focusing on it, I end up baking more now that Jeffery's a bit bigger. He even sits in his highchair with me in the kitchen, playing with measuring spoons, while I mix. And last week, he had his first take of chocolate chip cookie dough! mmm!

61 – Use my daily planner on a consistent basis

This hasn't been a problem either. It's become my brain lately! It's been so helpful!

62 – Get back to planning meals on a regular basis and using my plan (4+ weeks in a row)

Surprisingly, along with losing brain cells from being a Mommy, I've learned that this is not just great for organization, but a necessity if we're going to eat!

64 – Reorganize my pantries and clean out my fridge/freezer

Currently in progress, as I'm trying to use up all the perishable foods before we leave. I'm hoping to organize everything that's left when we get back. We're going spartan for our last few months here, and I intend to try to use as much as possible of what I already have!

65 – Get credit score up to 750 or higher

This has been a NIGHTMARE! Just around the time all three of my scores broke 700, I had a collector post a fraudulent account to my report, and I'm still working on getting them to take it off. I've even enlisted the help of a lawyer! Needless to say, this is a long process.

66 – Register JC as a business, get tax ID #, etc. – become “official”

We're going to be talking to someone while we're home about doing this, as well as my Pampered Chef business. We want to start an LLC, with both my PC and JC businesses under that umbrella. I'll update once we figure out how to do that.

67 – Make Janie’s Creations (JC) profitable

This is actually slowly beginning to happen. Like I said above, I managed to sell a few baby items at a local bazaar, and I have a few orders in for more burp cloth sets. I have also FINALLY listed a few items on etsy , so it's getting there!

87 – Have a ladies’ gtg at my house

I've backed this one up as well. I tried to do one before, but it fell through. And now with moving in the next few months, I'm going to put it on the back burner until we get settled in our new area.

90 – Get a new computer with a valid copy of MS Office on it

Thanks to my amazing husband, I now have a laptop with the latest version of Office, as well as the Microsoft 7 operating system. I am in love!

95 – Have a daily quiet time

I've been pretty good about this, ever since starting a new routine in the mornings. And I always have access to C. H. Spurgeon's Morning and Evening devotions, so I can at least have a few moments in each day. It's really helped to improve my perspective toward each day, and I feel much more productive!

99 – Learn how to cultivate roses

This came as a surprise, as Neal brought two rose bushes home this past summer. They were getting rid of them at work, so he thought I'd enjoy them. They were in sorry shape, and immediately went into shock, but after babying them with some water, pruning some dead branches, and pulling weeds, they perked up wonderfully! I never knew how easy roses were! I still plan on learning more about them, but it's a start!

Wow! That was an update! You can see I've been up to a ton lately, I just haven't sat down to record it all. So I'll be updating my sidebar with what's been accomplished, started, stopped, etc. Thanks for sticking with me so far!

Urgent Prayer Request

I just wanted to post a quick request for as many prayers as possible. Stellan is am 8 month-old little man who was born with a damaged heart. For more info on him, you can check out his mom's blog here.

I found her blog through a mutual friend when I was still pregnant last year, and have followed their family ever since. Stellan is an amazing baby, and is just that much more special to me because he and Jeffery are only weeks apart in age. It breaks my heart to see a family going through this, and I hold my own little boy closer today knowing that it could be anyone's child.

Please take a moment today to pray for this most precious little guy. It seems he could really use it. Also, please pray for his parents' comfort, and the doctors' wisdom and leading.

Proof !

I know I said I'd start posting pictures as well, so here goes. Proof that I did get something done:


41-Write on Jeffery’s baby pillow



More pictures to come!

A seriously tardy update!

Well, I went home for almost the entire month of May, then had my in-laws visiting the first two weeks of June, a baby shower to plan this past weekend, and I am just now settling back into normal everyday life here at home.

So here's the update:

6-Lose the rest of my baby weight and get down to a healthy weight for me (5/5, 4/25)

I'm finally down to a consistent 151! Considering I didn't gain weight while visiting the States, I consider this a huge success! Now I'm just trying to get back into the swing of things with workouts. But now that Jeffery is on a good schedule, I have plenty of people willing to watch him while I go get a workout in. Hooray for awesome friends!

21-Purchase Jeffery’s 3 month pictures

Does it count that Neal bought some of these for my Mothers' Day gift? Now I just need to find frames. Seriously though, we're planning to sit down this weekend and order these, as well as the ones I had taken while I was home in May.

41-Write on Jeffery’s baby pillow

Done!

43-Come up with more baby item ideas

I have a few more ideas, though I'm still working on getting some samples done. If people would just stop having babies! I can't keep up with all the babies being born around here!

68-Get my notary status reinstated, and start doing closings again

Well, I can't do the second part of that until we move back home, but I've sent in my application for reinstatement.

89-Plan a ten year high school reunion

This was a bust. Apparently I just had bad timing, as almost nobody was available while I was home. No matter though, as I still got to catch up with some girlfriends.

Now that I'm back in the swing of things, for the most part, I'll be working on this list a little more. Plenty of updates to come, I'm sure!

Another update

I'm so seriously bad with this, but I am keeping up, just not posting much. Little by little, I'm chopping away at things. Here are the most recent ones:

19 - Post on our family blog at least twice a month

I'm currently working on posting more regularly on the family blog. We'll see how this works out. Of course, I'm about to go home for a few weeks, but I'll try to blog while I'm there too.

62 - Get back to planning meals on a regular basis and using my plan (4+ weeks in a row)

I've been planning, and besides a glitch here and there, have been following it for the most part. This is the first week that I've followed it and had dinner planned each and every day, but I'll try to keep it up. Again, leaving town might put a kink in this, but I'm going to try my hardest not to let it.

63 - Pack away my maternity clothes

This is DONE! They are all boxed up and ready to be carried to the third floor. It even inspired us to pack up winter clothes and baby clothes that Jeffery has outgrown. I'm going to the Exchange tomorrow to get more Rubbermaid bins. YAY!

That's it for now. I'm currently working on a list of projects to finish before heading back home, so I likely won't be doing too much with this list for now.

A few changes

I deleted my 101 list that I had posted on Feb 24th. I finally figured out how to add my list into the sidebar, so I put it there. I should have added "Learn how to use Blogger better" to my list. But that is a great side-benefit to doing this. I will learn more just by using it.

This week's update: I suck at keeping up with blogging now that I'm a mom. But that's beside the point.

6-Lose the rest of my baby weight and get down to a healthy weight for me (5/5, 0/25)

I finally lost that last pound last week, and am now on to the more challenging part of my weight loss. I have managed up to this point without working out regularly (mainly just walks and watching what I eat, as well as breastfeeding). Now comes the hard part!

24-Call Grandma Osgood at least once a month

This one will start today, as it is my Grandmother's birthday. I plan to call her today (though I may wait until tomorrow, as usually everyone is calling her today and it gets rather crazy), and then keep up with her better. I also need to send her some pictures of the Little Man.

41-Write on Jeffery’s baby pillow

I WILL do this today. This will literally take less than five minutes, and I keep letting my nervousness of messing it up psych me out from doing it. I will come back later today or tomorrow to put that one in Bold!

50-Make burp cloths for all Gaeta ladies currently expecting or new moms

I did two of these for one of the ladies who had a little boy in March. Her shower was yesterday (she went into early labor and we had to reschedule the shower), and they turned out awesome! However, I just realized earlier today that I forgot to take pictures. Argh! I've already emailed her to ask if I can get a picture soon, and I'll post it when I do.

I was so proud because the two cloths took less than an hour to make, and it really motivated me to do some more. My plan this week is to get back to my daily cleaning schedule so I have more time to do these projects.

I didn't put this one in bold because I still have quite a few to do.

63-Pack away my maternity clothes

We went through these two weeks ago, and while they're not officially packed away, I am only waiting to get another Rubbermaid bin big enough, so I have put it in bold. I need some sense of accomplishment!

That's all for now, but I am hoping to really start whittling this list down this week. Now that I only have one thing going on (pictures with the Easter Bunny tomorrow, I can't pass that up), I am seriously focusing on home and family.

Plugging along

Well, I swear this is one of the hardest things to do, updating this blog regularly. I'm awful about this kind of stuff. Jeffery's also been teething, so he's been a little more needy the last week-plus.

3-Be consistent with workouts (at least 3 times a week for a month)
This was obviously the first thing that went with a busy week last week. I decided that I'm going to stop attempting to get to Yoga, as it just seems too difficult to get Little Man on a regular schedule in the afternoons. Instead, I'm going to try and get back to free weights. Neal and I bought a bar and some weights this week, and we're hoping to get enough equipment to get me a really good workout at home. This seems like the best possible scenario. Between that and walks around the neighborhood, I should be able doing well.

5-Learn to do a proper pushup, and be able to do at least 20 at a time
Neal and I are both going to try and do a program called "100 pushups" starting soon. We'll see how it goes. I still haven't read up too much on it.

6. Lose the rest of my baby weight and get down to a healthy weight for me (4/5, 0/25)
I've lost another pound, so I'm down to one more pound of baby weight left. Then it's off to the races for the 25 pounds I want to lose after that. I'm still right on track for now, so all is looking good. Hopefully, with Spring and Summer coming up, it should be relatively easy to keep up with.

51-Catalog all my cake decorating supplies and replenish what I need
I have the catalog done, and I even threw out some of the older stuff. Neal said he'd buy some more of my supplies for my birthday, so I'm working on the replenishment part.

70-Go through my clothes/shoes and donate what I don’t want/use/doesn’t fit (be ruthless)
Neal and I finally got around to doing this on Sunday. The freaky huge box of clothes that I've had squirreled away is finally gone! I threw out a bunch of clothes, am donating a ton, and only kept a couple of things. I'm so proud!

90-Get a new computer with a valid copy of MS Office on it
Does it count that we just went ahead and bought a new copy of Office? We're waiting to buy a new computer until we get home.

Man, this is hard stuff!

An update

So I'm not so good at this blogging weekly thing. I'd like to blame it on being a new mom, the crazy stuff that comes up on a daily basis, or the fact that March is always busy, but it's solely my own fault. I take the time to check emails, Nest, and do other computer stuff. So I don't really have an excuse.

Anyway, here are a few things that I'm currently working on or have already completed:

6. Lose the rest of my baby weight and get down to a healthy weight for me (3/5, 0/25)
I'm down to 157 from starting this at 160. I officially started on this one on 3/2 at 160 pounds, and am already ahead of my goals. Following the one pound per week rule, I intend to be down to 130 by Jeffery's first birthday. By the way, I have before pictures for this one, but I'm so not going to post those until I have some awesome after pictures!

31. Look into the Spouses to Teachers program
I called about this today, and the program is getting revamped to go worldwide in April, so they couldn't do a ton for me. But I got some great information, and know where to begin now. The good news is that it looks like I can finally start working on my R.D. certification. I just need to find a school to do it with. That will be fun.

42. Make sampler burp cloths
I started making some of these, then realized that I need more supplies. JoAnn Fabrics here I come!

I totally plan on doing more in the coming week. I'm off to a slow start, but I'll pick up speed.

My 101

In the interest of actually becoming productive with my life, as well as getting some of my big projects done, I decided to jump on the bandwagon and create a 101 list. The gist of it is that you come up with 101 things you want to do, and write them as goals to be completed within 1001 days. It's taken a while to make mine, but this is a great project for me, as I always have all these great ideas, but am nowhere near organized enough to tackle any of them. Maybe now I can.

Starting today with my list, my due day will be November 21, 2011. Anything that's currently in progress will be in bold. Anything done will be in Italics (it will also have the completion date beside it). I may change this, as I figure out the formatting for my blog.


I will post my list tomorrow, as I can't seem to copy and paste into Blogger without weird formatting. I'll have to work on that.