December 2012 Update

The first half of December seemed to go very well, and then I got sick just in time for Christmas, everything seemed to go downhill from there.  But I'm posting this update on time, and I'm planning on having  another post ready for tomorrow. Happy New Year, everyone!

32. Organize a family Christmas picture each year (1/3)

This was one of the first things that I did this month, mostly to get the Christmas cards done, but we have one year done. I also tried to get one in our pjs Christmas morning, but it didn't seem to work out all that well (and the fever wasn't helping my resolve).

33. Send Christmas cards each year (1/3)

I also sent out our Christmas cards, although not as early as I have been in the past. I was late enough that I was only able to get religious stamps, but glad to hear that even my British cards made it before Christmas.

42. Attend Sunday services at least twice a month (7/66)

Christmas morning, we made it to church for the morning service, and despite the 101 fever, I even read the lessons. I am way behind on this item, but hopefully I'll start catching up soon.

15. Make dessert for each Christmas dinner (0/3)
16. Make dessert for each Boxing Day (0/3)
17. Bake cookies for Santa (0/3)

None of these things happened, I was just way too sick to get any of it done. I had all the shopping done and was ready to bake, but I couldn't stand long enough. I am obviously not marking this as complete this year, but I am shaving this year off the count since I couldn't complete it due to circumstances beyond my control.

20. Try at least two new recipes a month (24/66)

Four new recipes this month, all from Six O'Clock Scramble.

Savory Mustard Salmon

Chinese New Year Stir-Fry with Pork

Miraculous Macaroni and Cheese

Irresistible Honey-Curry Chicken

# 24 and # 25

24. Have a Christmas/holiday party each year (1/3)
25. Get together with friends once a month (2/34)

This year we were able to have everyone over again, and had a fondue party like we've had in the past. It was the first time that we've gotten together since the babies were born, and the first time that all three children were in the same place at the same time. It was a lot of fun to have everyone together, and I'm hoping that we'll make it an annual thing.

November 2012 Update

Getting a little close to the end of the year for my liking, but of course I got sick and fell behind on everything (but that will be more in the December update). Anyway, here's what's new for November.

20. Try at least two new recipes a month (20/66)

Not a lot of new recipes this month, but I did get two from the Six O'Clock Scramble. No pictures but we have had the pork again.

Sweet Harvest Baked Chicken
Rosemary-Garlic Pork Roast

# 14 and # 20

14. Make dessert for each Thanksgiving (1/3)

20. Try at least two new recipes a month (18/66)

For Thanksgiving this year I made three pies, two using new recipes. I made the same apple pie that I did last year, but I also made a pumpkin pie and a pecan pie, both from my Betty Crocker Cookbook. They went over very well and it was nice helping out my mom by making most of the desserts (she just got some cookies, eclairs, and of course the custard). Looking forward to what I can do next year when I have two little ones under my feet.

October 2012 Update

This is another month where the recurring items suffered, although I did make a decent amount of progress overall (as shown by the posts below). Between Jay visiting and the vacations, home cooked meals really suffered, and while I'm pretty sure that I made some meal plans, I can't find them to update. I started a book while on vacation that I am still reading (although constantly being interrupted for some craft book inspiration as well as a reread the latest edition of Baby Bargains as I work on a new registry). So this update is a little lacking, but things are starting to pick up speed again, and I'm getting closer to catching up.

# 28 and # 45

28. Celebrate Geoff's birthday (1/3)
45. Have a monthly date-night with Geoff (1/34)

While we were in the Bahamas, it was Geoff's birthday. We had a special birthday dinner with the family and afterwards, we got a babysitter for Peter so that we could have a date night. Date night got cut short, but we did get to spend some time just the two of us, which was really nice.

# 36 and # 81

36. Take a vacation with Geoff's family
81. Finish 6 items from bucket list (2/6)

After we got back from Mystic, Geoff, Peter and I left to go to Atlantis with the Brahams. Peter absolutely loved the plane, but he was not at all a fan of the pool or the ocean. It was nice to be in warm weather again, even if the trip seemed too short. One more item done, and I was able to cross Sunbathe in the Bahamas off my bucket list.

# 35, # 74, # 75 and # 81

35. Take a vacation with my family
74. Go on vacation somewhere I have never been before
75. Take a vacation/staycation each year (1/2)
81. Finish 6 items from bucket list (1/6)

While Jay was visiting, we took a family vacation to Mystic, CT. It was the first time that I had ever been to Mystic, and it was our first vacation of the year. It also knocked one item off my bucket list, as it was a vacation with extended family. We were there for five days and four nights and it was great to get to spend time with everyone. The house we stayed in was amazing, and Peter had such a blast at the house as well as visiting the seaport and the aquarium. Hopefully we'll be able to do it again next year.

# 68

68. Spend a day downtown

In October, Jay came to visit and Peter and I took him downtown one of the days he was visiting. We started off in Battery Park, and saw the Statue of Liberty from afar. After that, we explored the National Museum of the American Indian before we walked down Wall Street. We considered going to the South Street Seaport, but since we were heading to Mystic the next day, we decided to skip it. There is plenty that we didn't get to, so I'll probably do it again when the weather gets nicer again, but here is one item done.

September 2012 Update

It seems, looking back, that I didn't do much this summer, but the truth is that we were super busy, just not with items from this challenge. The next few months were much more productive as far as this challenge goes.

8. Have one meatless dinner a week (15/143)
19. Use the crockpot for dinner sixty times (12/60)
20. Try at least two new recipes a month (16/66)

Once again, I fell behind on the meatless meals and the menu planning, but I did have four new recipes, one of which was in the slow cooker. All the new recipes were from The Six O'Clock Scramble.

Warm Pasta Salad with Spinach
Hearty Beef Stew
Mexican Confetti Casserole
Tortellini Soup with Spinach and Tomatoes

August 2012 Update

Wow, looking back at the calendar, it appears that I did not do all that much in August. I had no new recipes, and I fell behind on the meal planning and vegetarian meals (it appears, honestly I don't remember off hand it's been so long). I know that I also was working out a bit, but not as much as I wanted because of my morning sickness, so I have no idea how to update that item.

84. Read 2 new books a month (8/66)

While I've been reading a bunch of different books with projects and stuff for Peter, the only books I actually finished in August was The Host by Stephenie Meyer The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory. I did find The Host very interesting, even though it wasn't the best book that I've read. I'm not sure how well it will translate into a movie, but I guess we'll see. I enjoyed The Kingmaker's Daughter much more, but I almost wish that I had reread The White Queen since the two books cover basically the same period from different points of view. There were a few references which I couldn't quite remember how it played out in The White Queen, and I feel it would have made the book even better if I had.

July 2012 Update

So much for getting my July posts up "in a few days". I am obviously way behind, and I will be playing catch-up for the next week or so. For the most part, I will only have the summary posts with maybe a few regular posts for important items. My goal is to be ready to start fresh for the new year, and that's coming up a lot quicker than I would like. Anyway, without further ado, I bring you July.

20. Try at least two new recipes a month (12/66)

July was a big month for new recipes, most of them coming from The Six O'Clock Scramble.

Divine Eggplant and Chickpeas with Mint from SOS
Warm Garden Wraps with Corn and Sweet Potoatoes from SOS

Summer Bean Salad with Turkey Sausage from SOS

Chicken Parmesan with Garden Herbs from SOS

Chili Mac
Sloppy Joes

Rotini with Italian Vegetables from SOS

Vegetarian Enchiladas from SOS

84. Read 2 new books a month (6/66)

July was also a big reading month, although I've really slowed down since then. At the time, we were still keeping the pregnancy a secret, so I wouldn't even have been able to post about Expecting 411 in July anyway. (Yeah, that's why I'm five months late in posting everything, that's it.)

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets Nest by Stieg Larsson

1-2-3 Magic by Thomas Phelan

Out of Oz by Gregory Maguire

Expecting 411 by Ari Brown, M.D. and Michele Hakakha, M.D.

89. Create vacation photobooks (3/5)

I finally got started on this item, and powered through some of our old vacations. Using MyPublisher, I made books of our honeymoon, our trip to England for Grandma's 100th birthday as well as our trip for her funeral. I also made a book of Grandma's party, but I'm not including that into this item. I loved the way that the books came out, and I will definitely be using this service again in the future.