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101 in 1001 – an update

By on February 21, 2012 in Motivational, stuff we do, us

I was very happy to start our 101 in 1001 on my 30th birthday last year (background here), but I never actually posted anything about it. now we’re almost a quarter of a year in and I realized it was time to revisit it and see what kind of progress we are making…

Inspirational

  • 1. memorize 11 scripture passages (one for every quarter) {behind}
  • 2. finish Dave Ramsey’s recommended reading list
  • 3. make another list to start after this one
  • 4. put quote collection online and add to it. {in progress}

Health/Fitness/Beauty

  • 5. get David’s teeth fixed {need to schedule while we are here in Costa Rica}
  • 6. maintain marriage weight {in progress}

Travel

  • 7. go back to Costa Rica at least once for a good 3 months again {yay! we’re here!}
  • 8. make 8 road trips

Crafty

  • 9. modpodge end tables
  • 10. modpodge lamp shade
  • 11. make a prayer board
  • 12. make container magnets
  • 13. make a button curtain
  • 14. make pattern/magnet clothespins
  • 15. make picture frame tray or vanity tray

Food

  • 16. set up rotating menu system {started – utilizing one here in Costa Rica}
  • 17. make raised bed gardens
  • 18. try a new recipe every month {I think we’re sticking with this – I need to check exactly}

Business

  • 19. read and report on 8 business books
  • 20. develop color art line {in progress}
  • 21. develop blank canvas card line {definitely in progress :) over here}
  • 22. get backup service going
  • 23. get self-service sites set up {in progress}
  • 24. develop WIWHTY {in progress}
  • 25. enter 2 design competitions
  • 26. do 1 blog giveaway/month {working on it, we’ll catch up later – 2 down}
  • 27. start developing apps {in progress}
  • 28. start developing plugins
  • 29. start developing themes
  • 30. sell stock photography {in progress}
  • 31. practice photography every week {in progress}

Hobbies/Skills

  • 32. take dance classes together {should be doing this now…}
  • 33. write a book {in progress}
  • 34. do a 365 day photo challenge – doesn’t have to be successive days :)

Family

  • 35. go to a marriage conference or retreat
  • 36. go over marriage conversation papers every 4 months {we’re due for this}
  • 37. go over relationship papers with kids every 4 months {we’re due for this}
  • 38. make 5 “about me” pages per kid {Maverick’s is due, Maeve’s will be next month}
  • 39. organize and spruce up monthaversary journal {in progress}
  • 40. create a better journal of kid funnies
  • 41. finish our wills (oy)
  • 42. family art project once a month
  • 43. have family dance party at least once a week {we haven’t done too well on this yet}
  • 44. read through 2 classic books together
  • 45. go to a library story hour
  • 46. go to a zoo, amusement park, or kids’ museum
  • 47. have a family water fight
  • 48. all sleep out in the back yard
  • 49. go on another midnight adventure
  • 50. dye easter eggs
  • 51. make soft pretzels
  • 52. try letterboxing
  • 53. make a gingerbread house {check}
  • 54. do a picture story/theme/whatever
  • 55. do a make/give activity (cookies, etc.)
  • 56. all sleep in a blanket fort
  • 57. have a breakfast (sunrise?) picnic
  • 58. film a family story video
  • 59. watch a movie outside
  • 60. go mini-golfing
  • 61. go bowling
  • 62. family fun activity TBD
  • 63. family fun activity TBD
  • 64. family fun activity TBD
  • 65. family fun activity TBD
  • 66. family fun activity TBD
  • 67. family fun activity TBD
  • 68. family fun activity TBD
  • 69. family fun activity TBD
  • 70. family fun activity TBD
  • 71. family fun activity TBD
  • 72. family fun activity TBD
  • 73. family fun activity TBD
  • 74. family fun activity TBD
  • 75. family fun activity TBD
  • 76. family fun activity TBD
  • 77. family fun activity TBD

Music/Art/Education

  • 78. make 10 mixed media collages
  • 79. go to a worship conference
  • 80. go to a maroon 5/adam levine concert
  • 81. write 2 songs
  • 82. get the kids started in music education

Organization

  • 83. go through old pictures and scan
  • 84. get old VHS transferred to digital
  • 85. figure out picture/file organization/archive system
  • 86. add birthdays and such to online contacts
  • 87. sort design resources

Finances

  • 88. settle the madness once and for all!!!
  • 89. buy a {real} house or building with cash or maybe another trailer/land

Lifestyle

  • 90. sort through shed and continue toward minimalism {check! but also a continual thing}
  • 91. finish trailer landscaping

Missional

  • 92. get LTM team set up {in progress}
  • 93. begin LTM development {check!}
  • 94. make “blessings bags”
  • 95. fast/pray 1 day/month {on track}
  • 96. send a message in a bottle
  • 97. leave a note in a library book
  • 98. send off a note on a balloon
  • 99. send 2 care packages

Miscellaneous

  • 100. get matching tattoos
  • 101. complement 1 stranger/month {behind}

as you can see, we definitely still have work to do, but we do have some time left. if you haven’t done something like this, or at least have longer term goals you are working towards, I’d highly recommend it!

——-

hungry? one more day to win a free pizza from Papa John’s :)

Comments { 0 }

Communal Living in Costa Rica?

By on February 19, 2012 in Costa Rica, HA! ☺, help!, Lifestyle, Musings, us

communal living is one of a few things we talk about on our vlog this week.
also mentioned are double chins, earthquakes, and child leashes.

there may or may not have been some bleeping that occurred, as well as a tiny surprise ending.

I think we’re hopefully starting to get a little better at this vlogging thing, you tell us :)
(Krista is also having some fun with trying out different techniques in editing, lol)

Comments { 2 }

Costa Rica: full disclosure budget take 2

By on February 13, 2012 in Costa Rica, Debt Free!, Lifestyle, traveling

it’s been too long since the first budget post. here’s an update.

January 22-28

$6.64 Jumbo [popcorn, salt, tortilla flour]
$7.99 Netflix [stupid tax - being that the free trial screwed up]
$100 [translation of papers for kids' dual citizenship and our marriage registration]
$32.57 Price Smart [bread flour & tortilla flour]
$3.50 yummy bread [2 loaves]
$2.10 good bread [1 loaf]
$21.30 feria [fresh produce]
$12.97 Walmart [stuff for pasta salad + $2.64 shampoo]

Total: $187.07

January 29-February 4

$3.50 yummy bread [2 loaves]
$5.03 Jumbo [nail polish remover & 2 polishes]
$23.20 beach [admission]
$86.43 Price Smart [bulk food + $6.59 cleaning supplies and $19.49 TP]
$14.90 feria [fresh produce]
$16.30 souvenirs [bracelet/ring for Tina, 8 postcards for Maeve, and something for a friend]

Total: $149.36

yeah, these are not impressive totals again, but maybe I should start tracking the food cost separately.

January 9-14 $191.62
January 15-21 $39.62
January 22-28 $112.56
January 29-February 4 $78.75
Food Total: $422.55

yeah, still not liking that at all. well have to see how much we can stretch some of that stuff, but we won’t really know till it’s gone, which will probably be when we leave or not long before.

in other food news, I just had something tonight that if you ever come across you should definitely not hesitate to score some for yourself. Maverick somehow got ahold of the bag and kept growling when other people tried to get some out. Tronaditas – go find some.

I even found a little commercial, haha.

Comments { 3 }

Low-Maintenance Girl’s Guide to: a last-minute meal in Costa Rica

By on February 11, 2012 in Costa Rica, Lifestyle, Low-Maintenance Girl, tips & tidbits, traveling

I decided today that if I was a super hero my name would be Low-Maintenance Girl. I think I need to explore this alter-ego a little more and come up with some sort of costume and such.

seriously, though. I’m a bit of a convenience freak.

when we’re in the States this is one of my go-to last-minute meals:

+

{when I was finding the ramen picture I was reminded how much we love Aldi. if you don’t save your hard-earned money there then  you should find one and start. they even have a smart phone app I just discovered. funny.}

ok, so in the States we’ll stick 4 or so blocks of Ramen in a pot, add their little seasoning packets, and empty most of a bag of frozen string green beans also from Aldi on top (because something healthy with something very-not-healthy = at least slightly better) – add water, not too much as we like a little drier noodles, and turn the stove on high until it boils – after which we turn it off, give it all a good stir, and then leave them sitting on the still-hot burner for a bit. the whole thing probably takes about 8 minutes.

here in Costa Rica we have a little variation of this that is actually much, MUCH yummier. (we do other variations in the States also, just that the green beans are the fastest) we make the Ramen as usual (meaning just dump it all in, don’t needlessly wait for the water to boil first) and while it’s cooking we chop up tomatoes, cucumbers, and cilantro. the tomatoes in chunks (or sometimes 8ths) and the cucumbers in tiny little strips kinda like shoestring fries.

then just dish up some noodles and top it off with the garnish. SO yummy. you can also add a little fresh lemon or lime juice for extra deliciousness. sigh.

this is a little mid-night meal we had the other night, with a show of course.
aww, look at the cute socks my friend, Colleen, got for me :)

Comments { 3 }

introducing… (something clever)

By on February 6, 2012 in stuff we do

(something clever) with Tico♥Tina – a weekly when it works out sort of vlog.
(this thing was bound and determined not to get uploaded, but youtube prevailed in the end)

this is just one of the things we’ve been wanting to do for a while now – it’s something interesting to do together and records bits of our lives in a way nothing else really can.
we’ll see how it evolves!

whether you know us personally and fancy a little inside look at this or that,
or don’t know us personally and would like to forever ruin the “cool persona” we surely have in your mind,
give it a little watch why dontcha? we welcome any sort of feedback you might have, even if it is to laugh at our big heads or David’s crotch-sewing abilities, lol.

Comments { 3 }