#94: Carve a Jack-o-Lantern

This autumn has been absolutely beautiful in D.C. Crisp, not-too-cool days, highlighted with fiery bright trees. It's put me in the mood for cider, crackling fires, and all things fall. So at the end of October, Steven and I picked up a couple fresh pumpkins, and got together with our buddy Hunter to make a few jack-o-lanterns.

It was a quick process, lots of fun, and definitely worth it to come home to our cute pumpkins every night last month!

Steven and Hunter, scooping out pumpkin guts

Hunter's longhorn pumpkin

My toothy jack-o-lantern

All three of our masterpieces

In Progress - #38: Plan 10 parties in a year

This weekend, Steven & I welcomed friends into our new home for a fun housewarming party. It was so wonderful to be able to fit so many people comfortably into our home - a big step up from entertaining in the basement apartment on the Hill!

I had almost as much fun putting together the details as I did seeing our friends Saturday night. I set up a spread of cheeses and wines, as well as yummy cheese pairings like crackers, grapes and salami. And my crowning achievement of the night? A tasty baked brie with apple slices.

I only snapped a few pictures before guests started arriving. Our first guests - Margarita & the Berglunds - were even sweet enough to bring a few pumpkins to fall-ify our front porch! Thanks to all of our friends who came and celebrated with us last weekend!

#56: Clean out the nightstand “junk” drawer

Since writing this list, the nightstand junk drawer was cleaned once for the move. Once we settled in, though, the drawer expanded to become two junk drawers. Last night I cleaned them both.

There were lots of back issues of Southern Living and Traditional Home, most of which I purged. There were also envelopes full of photos from my time at the White House, a few stray lip glosses and a whole array of headbands. At the end of the evening, both drawers were clean and (mostly) organized.

(The catalyst for the clean-out? I needed a place to stash two huge GMAT prep books as I move forward on #8.)

New Year's Check-In

The start of a new year seems like the right time to dust off the blog and check in on the list, noting a few accomplishments I failed to document in real-time. It's been three months, so forgive me for the piled-up post; I'll resolve to blog more frequently in 2011.

#13: Take a Yoga Class
I participated in my first yoga class since college - a Vinyasa Flow class at Stroga in Adams Morgan - on November 1. I liked it so much, I signed up for a monthly pass and have been going fairly regularly ever since. The big challenge on the yoga horizon? My first hot yoga class, which I plan on attending later this month!

#30: Buy (and paint) a Dining Room Sideboard
Shortly after our big move in August, I found a great sideboard for our new space. We don't have a dining room per se, but the dresser/cabinet is housing all of our china, so I'm counting it. It also didn't require a paint job, though I still may fix up the top, as it came (from Craigslist) with a few scratches and peeling spots.

#58: Update My Resume
In December I earned a sweet promotion at work, and with it I updated my resume. In 2011, I plan to create a simple Word doc of my professional accomplishments, updating it quarterly to ensure I don't miss any of the truly noteworthy things I do at work.

#62: Earn a Raise
With the promotion mentioned in #58, I also earned a nice raise. Gold star for me!

#65: Buy a Camera
It's not a fancy Nikon or by any means professional in quality, but I did buy a no-frills, digital camera for Steven for Christmas. Important features that set it apart from our old camera: it turns on and takes photos.

#71: Send Christmas Cards to Family and Friends
I may have mailed them a little closer to the 25th than I had hoped, but they were mailed nonetheless, and I absolutely loved the Carol Dyer artwork we picked for the fronts.


Here's to a fabulous 2010 and an even bolder, more adventurous 2011!

#61: Paint the Mantle

I hope you haven't been on pins & needles, waiting for the promised big move follow-up post (with photos!). I am, to put it nicely, an unreliable blogger.

However, I am good at keeping my word. So please behold photo evidence of my completing to-do #61 - paint the mantle.
I know Steven was particularly happy to see me accomplish this task. After all, he did drive an hour out to Leesburg with me to pick up the mantle after I spotted it on craigslist. He drove back into the city with the crumbling, peeling mantle tied to the roof of the Rav. He lugged it into the apartment and built a TV cabinet to fit, which he promptly ripped apart when it was time to move. And finally, I've held up my end of the mantle bargain by painting it high-gloss white.


Sounds fair to me.

#11-12: Clean Out My Closet; Donate Closet Discards to a Charitable Organization

This next accomplishment is a two-fer, so buckle up!

In the past 30 days, the husband and I analyzed our finances, decided we'd like to save some cash, delivered a note to our landlord letting him know we'd be moving out, signed a lease on a new (adorable!) basement apartment and moved all our worldly belongings over to our new spot on the Hill.

Did I mention that the new apartment is a basement? And that it's maybe half the size of our old place? And that we've had to downsize a lot?

Luckily for me, all of these changes were a huge help in crossing items number 11 and 12 off of my to-do list. Nothing encourages a massive closet clean-out like being faced with the prospect of carrying all of your clothes out of the apartment.

After creating a sizable mountain of clothes that no longer fit, flattered or fired us up, the husband and I did some quick research on nearby clothing donation drop spots. We were pleased as punch to find a Salvation Army just a 10-minute drive away. (And they were thrilled to get our carload of clothing!) Better yet? The Salvation Army also accepts small appliances, furniture and an assortment of household goods - all of which we happened to be clearing out of our apartment and out of our lives!

Completing these two items has left me feeling lighter, liberated and like I've made a difference, small as it may be.

Stay tuned for one more project accomplished during the big move - this one with complete with photos!