As a reminder, I had a rough month accomplishing my goals in May, so I kept these same goals on my plate for June.

Here’s what I hoped to accomplish this month:

- Make or bake at least one Rachael Ray recipe.

- Try beets…again.

- Go bowling…and actually try to bowl well.

And…0-3. Boo me!

But, here are the goals I did accomplish in June:

- Purchase a new computer! I’m typing to you from my new Macbook Pro.

- Get into graduate school! I actually did this in March, but I can talk about it now, since I’ve told my employer. As of this August, I will be a graduate student at the University of South Dakota pursuing my Master’s in English Literature and my teaching certification! I think USD will be a great start on my path to higher education and eventually pursuing a PhD.

- Go garage saling at least one time per year. Jordan and I set out looking for a dresser, so we hit up some local garage sales. No luck, but it was fun!

- Try at least one new wine per month for a year. I’m on #5 of 12, and this month I tried New Age Wine at my bachelorette party; it was delicious with a lime!

That’s it!

Here are my goals for July:

- Get married! We’re only 13 days away!

- Take a trip overseas. We’re going to Jamaica for our honeymoon!

- Write a poem.

- Cut bangs into my hair…again.

- Go kayaking.

- Take one shot of tequila.

Today, however, I am prepared to give you all an update on my (lack of) progress toward my 101 in 1001 goals project.

Here are the goals I wanted to accomplish for May:

- Make or bake at least one Rachael Ray recipe.

- Try beets…again.

- Learn how to drive a stick shift/manual vehicle.

- Go bowling…and actually try to bowl well.

And here’s the one (yes, one) that I actually completed:

- Learn how to drive a stick shift/manual vehicle.

While my guy has tried to teach me how to drive a manual car before (his lovely old Jeep Wrangler!), he now has a new manual car (yay for Jettas!), so we spent a few hours together driving around a parking lot, and then hitting the main road!

I did rather well (I swear, the Jetta is easier to drive than the Jeep EVER was!), but once I had to take a detour (lame-o South Dakota construction!), I got scared as the car inched up (and then down!) a rather steep hill. Needless to say, that was the end of my driving experience that day.

I really sucked at completing my other goals, so I’m going to leave those on tap for June.

How are you doing on your life goals? Do you have a bucket list?

- Send my brother Brian at least one care package at college. [OOPS. Um, yeah, didn't do this one. This one's going on the list for the fall semester!]

- Take a trip with my best gal pals. [Well, one of my best gal pals! Jordan's sister Larissa and I trekked up to Minneapolis for a weekend, and had A BLAST shopping!]

- Send flowers randomly to someone I care about. [Check! Sent flowers to my lovely maid of honor and cousin, Kristen, to celebrate her getting her dream job!]

- Buy a pair of wellies. [Yeah, I wish...I just can't justify the spending right now!]

So, 2 out of 4 isn’t bad…right?

On the brighter side, here’s goals that I accomplished without even trying:

- Participate in premarital counseling. [J and I started this in April; read more about our premarital counseling here!]

- Write and mail at least 10 handwritten letters. [Sent 3 more handwritten letters in April, this time to 2 of my Aunts and 1 of Jordan's Aunts!]

- Go on a hike. [I took Wyatt the dog hiking in a recreational area near our house on a supremely lovely day; we had fun!]

- Have a marathon movie-watching session of all of the “Lord of the Rings” series with Jordan. [We watched the LOTR series while designing our wedding ceremony programs!]

- Try at least one new wine every month for one year. [In April, I tried a Malbec! Yummy.]

Here are my goals for May:

- Make or bake at least one Rachael Ray recipe.

- Try beets…again.

- Learn how to drive a stick shift/manual vehicle.

- Go bowling…and actually try to bowl well.

Be sure to tune in again in June to see how I did!

Relationships

-          Write and mail at least ten handwritten letters. [I mailed one letter (well, a card) to my pal Jessica in March.]

-          Send a care package to one of my dear friends at school. [Sent a package to Jessica!]

-          Talk with Jordan about changing my name, about his feelings regarding divorce, and about his feelings regarding adoption. [Talked with J about all of these things. Can't say that each talk was a good talk, but at least we discussed all of these things.]

Necessities

-          Write down and store end-of-life wishes. [Done, although J sure thought it was morbid to get this email from me...]

-          Get an eye exam & glasses. [DONE! And man, was my vision TERRIBLE.]

Physical Changes

-          Keep a food journal every day for one month. [Done! And seriously, it was HARD. I am not really taking away anything enlightening from it, other than the fact that when I eat out, I eat WAY more than when I'm eating at home. Just a note to self.]

*I also accomplished a handful of goals without even trying!*

Relationships

- Write gift ideas for family and friends down as ideas arise, and keep this list in a safe place. [Started this list in March 2010.]

Necessities

- Get a passport. [Check - March 2010.]

Spiritual/Emotional Growth

- Investigate international adoption.[I checked out two adoption web sites, and all I can say is YES. I feel my heart pulling me in this direction. If only I could get J to sign on...]

Miscellaneous

Complete at least six creative projects per year. [With all of the wedding planning hoopla, I hit my mark already for 2010! We did our invitations, RSVP cards, rehearsal dinner invitations, Save the Date cards, a surprise for my bridesmaids, and our cake toppers, among other projects!]

Here’s what I hope to tackle in April:

- Send my brother Brian at least one care package at college.

- Take a trip with my best gal pals.

- Send flowers randomly to someone I care about.

- Buy a pair of wellies.

Happy Monday!

I’m about one month into my 101 in 1001 goals project, so I thought I’d share my progress with my readers!

Goals Completed: 1

Financial

-          Designate and use a jar to hold my loose change.

Goals in Progress: 2

Relationships

-          Spend time with or talk on the phone with my Grandma at least one time per month.

Bucket List

-          Try at least one new wine per month for one year. [This month I tried Black Swan – very yummy!]

I think that’s a pretty successful start to my 101 in 1001 goals project!

Here are the goals I want to begin and/or complete in March:

Relationships

-          Write and mail at least ten handwritten letters. [I plan to mail one letter in March.]

-          Send a care package to one of my dear friends at school.

-          Talk with Jordan about changing my name, about his feelings regarding divorce, and about his feelings regarding adoption.

Necessities

-          Write down and store end-of-life wishes.

-          Get an eye exam & glasses.

Physical Changes

-          Keep a food journal every day for one month.

I’m very excited about this project, and I love feeling like I’m making progress toward achieving these goals!

How are YOU keeping your goals?

Have a great Monday!

I officially started my 101 in 1001 goals campaign this Monday, and I feel so excited to build on the motivation I have to complete as many of these goals as I can!

Here’s my final list (bear with me; it’s 101 goals long!):

Relationships

1. Get married!

2. Participate in pre-marital counseling.

3. Take dance lessons with Jordan.

4. Write and mail at least ten handwritten letters.

5. Spend time with or talk on the phone with my Grandma at least one time per month.

6. Teach someone how to do something.

7. Mail out holiday cards/letters to friends and family members each year.

8. Send my brother Brian at least one care package at college.

9. Send my friend Jessica at least one care package at seminary.

10. Send flowers randomly to someone I care about.

11. Befriend someone from another country.

12. Start a new tradition with Jordan.

13. Talk with Jordan about me changing my name.

14. Talk with Jordan about his feelings regarding divorce.

15. Talk with Jordan about his feelings regarding adoption.

16. Write gift ideas for family and friends down as ideas arise, and keep this list in a safe place.

17. Complete at least one finger-painting project with Jordan.

Travel

1. Take a trip overseas.

2. Go on a mission trip.

3. Go on a camping trip with Jordan and Wyatt the dog.

4. Visit 3 states I’ve never been to before.

5. Visit a Spanish-speaking country.

6. Visit Washington, D.C.

7. Hide out in the winter in a cabin for one weekend with Jordan.

8. Take a trip with my best gal pals.

9. Visit a zoo I’ve never been to before.

10. Take a mother-daughter trip.

Financial

1. Save $100.00 per month for an entire year.

2. Personal

3. Designate & use a loose-change jar.

4. Investigate (and file for) life insurance post-marriage.

Cooking

1. Learn how to make at least one type of fish, and make at least one fish-related meal for Jordan.

2. Make or bake at least one Rachael Ray recipe.

Academia/Career Goals

1. Personal

2. Be a member of (or start) a book club.

3. Continue to post regularly on my wedding blog post-nuptials.

4. Learn how to use at least one Adobe design program, and make a project.

5. Become a tutor or mentor.

6. Write at least one poem per year.

7. Read for at least 15 minutes every day for one month.

8. Re-design Eco-Vintage Weddings web site.

Necessities

1. Personal

2. Write down and store end-of-life wishes.

3. Purchase a new computer.

4. Get an eye exam & glasses.

5. Get a passport.

Spiritual/Emotional Growth

1. Spend an entire day at the spa.

2. Volunteer at least once on behalf of disadvantaged kids.

3. Volunteer at least once on behalf of animals.

4. Participate at least once in the “Drive-Thru Difference,” or, in other words, pay for someone’s order behind me in the drive-thru.

5. Personal

6. Find and recite a prayer to say with Jordan before dinner each evening.

7. Keep and update a personal journal at least three times per week for six months.

8. Purchase flowers for myself at least one time per year.

9. Go to church at least one time per month for six months.

10. Personal

11. Investigate international adoption.

Physical Changes

1. Cut bangs into my hair…again.

2. Take Wyatt the dog on a walk every day for one entire month.

3. Work out at least 3 times per week for 6 months.

4. Go on a hike.

5. Keep a food journal every day for one month.

6. Try beets…again.

Material Girl

1. Do not wear make-up for an entire month.

2. Buy a pair of moccasins.

3. Personal

4. Build my vintage-inspired wardrobe by purchasing at least one item from ModCloth per month for an entire year.

5. Purchase a new camera.

6. Buy a pair of wellies.

7. Buy high-thread-count sheets for our bed.

8. Go garage-saling at least one time per year.

9. Make at least one piece of jewelry.

Bucket List

1. Read Pride & Prejudice.

2. Watch “Animal House.”

3. Have a marathon movie-watching session of all of the “Lord of the Rings” series with Jordan.

4. Conduct and record an interview with my Dad about his life.

5. See the Backstreet Boys in concert…again.

6. Try at least one new wine per month for one year.

7. Learn how to draw a star shape…freehand.

8. Build a gingerbread house from scratch.

9. Ride a scary roller coaster.

10. Go kayaking.

11. Learn how to make a quilt.

12. Learn how to drive a stick shift/manual vehicle.

13. Donate blood one time.

14. Take one shot of tequila.

15. Go to the circus & confront my fear of clowns.

Miscellaneous

1. Complete at least six creative projects per year.

2. Attend at least one cultural or artistic event per month for an entire year.

3. Keep an indoor plant alive for at least one entire year.

4. Always fill up with ethanol-blended gasoline.

5. Be more diligent about writing in my wine journal.

6. Build a snowman.

7. Go ice-skating.

8. Find 5 new musicians/bands that I like & add them to my ipod.

9. Go to an amusement park.

10. Play piano for five minutes per day for one month.

11. Go bowling…and actually try to bowl well.

12. Go to a winery.

13. Try skiing…again.

14. Finish fantasy baseball with a better record in 2010 than in 2009.