25 before 25

I have a list of 101 in 1001 somewhere on this blog and I haven't looked at it lately for fear I'll become depressed at the number of things not yet accomplished (which is probably accurate). I'm also not even sure of how much time is left. **edit, I just checked, and I have until next October. Whew.** I should probably update the list as there are definitely items on it that I no longer wish to complete, or can't, or were far too ambitious. Like blogging a photoshoot once a week. Clearly I'm failing on that one.

Since I'll be 25 in a little over a month and that sounds like a terrible age, overshadowed only by 30 in awfulness, I feel like I should accomplish things, one last go at life before the age sets in. Apologies to anyone over the age of 25, I tend to be highly dramatic and I like to think that it's part of my charm (which probably means that it is only charming to me). I don't even think my parents are old (even though my dad just bought a Lincoln and was alive the same year Pearl Harbor was bombed).

Without further introductory rambling, here are 25 things that I hope to remember to make myself do in the next 40 days:


 1. Reach 1000 likes on Spindle Photography's facebook page.

(this is shameless, and we bloggers/social media addicts are usually pretty shameless anyway, we feed on comments and fake fame and being responded to on twitter. I'm surprised my husband lets me have the internet, or that he is willing to look past how opposite our views on being visible online. It's just gotta be love.)

So, if you want to help me feel happier about getting old and you don't hate my photography, you could like it (no one is asking you to love it, afterall), approximately 242 210 196 of you who don't already. I'd add some easy fancy like button but I don't know how to on blogger especially, so if someone else does and would rather donate that service than like my page I could accept that.

2. Read a book. Hunger Games & Done. Miracles.

I realize I sound illiterate, and I vaguely mentioned to Garrett that I wanted to buy a kindle kind of and he laughed and asked if it was to play mp3s and I explained that I thought I'd try to read a book by the time I turn 25 as if that logic follows. But, I have had trouble reading for fun since middle school really, I tend to busy myself with things and picking a book up long enough to read it all before I get distracted or eaten up with work of some variety has been nearly impossible. I have one on the bedstand that's been started, maybe it will be the fateful book.

3. Cook a meal dish

I'm going to allow myself a lot of leeway here, it can even be something I've made many times before, I just need to get back in the kitchen, I feel like that muscle has atrophied and I'll never get it back.

(Completed! I made lasagna last night (8-7-11) for my poor darling husband who had been eating sandwiches all week while out in Kentucky for a climbing trip. Nothing new and adventurous, but it felt good to make myself cook SOMETHING)

4. Use August to catch up! On everything!

I've only blogged 3 weddings this year. I've shot 14. Maybe number 5 should be to hire another intern. Lord.

5. Shoot and develop a roll of film. The pentax would be fine, I just need to do it.

6. Weed out old clothes I don't wear.

7. De-boxify the apartment (of at least the non-books, because I value my life and the books are not mine for the most part).

8. Take all of the old clothes to goodwill or consignment (or a clothing swap, if Molly Green has one soon).

9. Clean out the refrigerator.

10. Get all of my office papers out of the house and into my office where they belong.

11. Dust.

12. Clean everything else in our apartment up.

13.  Have people over in our newly cleaned apartment.

14. Revamp my photo blog in some way

15. Make a plan for getting the new Bham Bride up, running, and functional

16. Start working out regularly (a few days a week at least)

17. Buy/gather the fabric for the quilt I've sworn I'll make one day.

18. Hang up the framed photos I got for my cement-walled office (that should be fun and easy, yeah?) (DONE!)

19. Update my website with new favorite pics.

20. Photograph my grandmother, who will be turning 90 this August. (photos to come)

21. Giveaway something awesome.

22. Go out dancing (suggestions welcome, I have no idea of anywhere good to go dancing in Birmingham).

23. Do something relaxing. A movie, massage, pedicure, something. (Crazy, Stupid, Love, and DONE)

24. Make a video with my new camera (nothing fancy, and probably nothing involving my voice or any real editing. But maybe I can come up with something I would be willing to share online).

25. Do a styled shoot. Not sure to what extent, but it's time to force myself to do something different.

Coming up with 25 things was much more difficult than I would've thought, and I'm not even sure that those are all doable. Worth a shot.

101 in 1001- Movie List (in progress)

See the original post for all of my goals. This goal is to watch 101 movies in 1001 days, and it began on February 1, 2010, will end October 29 2013.

1. Casablanca- classic, I'd never seen it, and I think it has changed Garrett's attitude about old films, which I am glad for. I also want to re-watch, we watched at Alabama Theater and the sound was quiet for the forst 15 or so minutes so I couldn't catch all of the lines. They showed us trivia before and I found it amusing that while "Play it again, Sam," something I've heard my mom say all my life, came from Casablanca, it isn't said in the movie.
2. Princess and the Frog- So good! I was glad to see the old disney cartooning style and the story was great. Also, this is the first Disney film for me where the sad part turned truly happy.
3. Slumdog Millionare- I really enjoyed it but not as much as everyone else seemed to. It reminded me a lot of City of God, and I didn't know much about either before I watched them, but I definitely wasn't expecting so much violence/horrificness. My favorite part was the Bollywood style end credits.
4. Charlie Bartlett- Cute, and had a lot of nods to Harold and Maude, but I can't help thinking someone else could've taken this movie and made it great. I really liked Charlie  (Anton Yelchin), who went on to star as Chekov in Star Trek. And it has Robert Downey Jr.
5. Munich- I was completely on edge for absolutely all of this movie, but it was great (I need new adjectives). It's funny how much easier it is for me to watch graphic or violent movies now, I used to avoid them.
6. Away We Go- I was so ticked that this never came to Birmingham so we rented on Netflix. It was pretty good but couldn't live up to it's elusiveness.
7. Alice in Wonderland - Enjoyed it very much despite the nay-sayers.
8. Toy Story 3- I cried during this one as well, as much as I tried not to. Growing up is terrible. I'd rather not do it.
9. How to Train Your Dragon - Loved it and Garrett didn't stop raving about it. 3D movies are super expensive but this one was worth it.
10.  It Might Get Loud- Amusing and intriguing. My husband loves Jack White but I'd never really watched any video footage of him, I enjoyed it. And I felt bad for The Edge.
11. Kick Ass- I loved it. I didn't read the comics (and haven't read much of any comics really) but I really think they did an amazing job of making a superhero movie that transitioned between real life and the grit and humor of comics.
12. The Talented Mr. Ripley - Chilling and really well done.
13. An Education - loved the outfits and hair.
14. Iron Man 2- Not as good as the first. Oh well.
15. The Hangover- I appreciated it much more once I'd seen Zack Galifianakis's stand-up on netflix, but I enjoyed it anyway the first go round.
16. The Fountain- Strange (surreal) and depressing but lovely. I was shocked it came out in 2006, it had a 1997 look to it (in my very untrained opinion)
17. Nick Saban: Game Changer- I teared up during the intro. Amazing. I took pictures with the marquee and dressed up. That good.
18. Knight and Day- Really enjoyable.
19. Inception- I remember someone saying on Twitter that Inception would take over high school philosophy classes, replacing the Matrix. Rightfully so.
20. Jackass 2.5- I'd only seen bits and pieces of Jackass before watching this on Netflix, and it was much more watchable than it would've been to me a few years ago. Enough that I went to see...
21. Jackass 3-D - They did an amazing job with the intro & cinematography. Makes me want to take up film. But not of men purposefully hitting themselves in the nether regions.
22. Twilight- the first one. I was okay until he started running fast. 
23. The Social Network- Makes me love facebook again. Great acting, even if it's not 100% accurate (which is really too bad since everyone was crazytown), and the rowing scene is beautiful.
24. Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps - Hilarious probably unintentionally. And Carey Mulligan's baby bump made me want one. Enjoyable but ridiculous. And I need to see the first one still.
25. About a Boy- I'd just read the book. I really like both. Plus it's fun to see Tony from Skins as a child.
26. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows Part 1
27. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- I was as excited as anyone at seeing Brad Pitt as a teenager but this movie didn't do it for me. Most people I've talked to liked it, so it might be just me (and the friend I watched it with). I felt like old baby Benjamin looked like Smeagol from Lord of the Rings and I wasn't drawn to the love interest at all. Also, 2 hours and 45 minutes? Should've read that before we started watching.
28. Me Without You - I watched this one instantly on Netflix and I really enjoyed it. It's at times a pretty accurate portrayal of female friendships and madness. Plus Michelle Williams is in it.
29. True Grit- Amazing.
30. Dinner for Schmucks- I couldn't help feeling bad pretty much the whole time. A lot like Shallow Hal. 

101 in 1001- new words

I have to learn 1001 of these before October 29, 2012! 

Have any obscure favorite words I should learn?

In case you are new to the blog, this is one of the items on my 101 in 1001 list, click for the whole shebang.

1. akimbo (to stand with arms akimbo), body position with hands on hips.


2. jag (as in crying jag) a period of unrestrained indulgence in an activity; spree; binge: a crying jag; a talking jag. (dictionary.com)


3. calliope [kuh-lahy-uh-pee] (hard as heck for me to pronounce while reading for whatever reason) Also called steam organ. a musical instrument consisting of a set of harsh-sounding steam whistles that are activated by a keyboard. reminded of this word when seen in Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury.


4. rennet - enzymes naturally found in mammalian stomachs used to break down mothers' milk. often used in the production of cheese. Microbial rennet is often used in North America because it is cheaper than animal rennet, and it is vegetarian friendly.

Recipe 3/101 Asparagus Tempura

So, last night I fixed some Hamburger Helper (except it was complete so it included the meat, you just add milk), and it was okay but not amazing. But only like 3 dollars so it's still a win. I made tempura as a side though, and it is soo easy and tasty.

If you've never made tempura here's the scoop. Heat vegetable oil in a pot or pan (I used a tiny pot and cut the asparagus into halves). Make your batter with water & flour, think pancake consistency. I used medium high to high heat. To see if the oil is hot enough, drop in some batter and if it rises to the top bubbling and then turns brown you win. Dip the asparagus (or shrimp, broccoli, whatever) in the batter and carefully drop it into the pot. I recommend tongs for removing them once they've browned. It's a really quick process and so delicious with soy sauce for dipping. You can add some salt and pepper to the batter as well.

I did burn the oil at first because I forgot that you have to drop the batter in (NOT WATER, btw), I thought it would bubble on it's own like water. Haha! I consulted my handy "How to Cook Everything" to see where I went wrong. The oil smoked and filled the apt with fried oil smell but we worked it out by opening all the windows and doors and lighting some of my Christmas candles. I need some non seasonal scents to cover up my cooking mistakes.

Recipe 2/101 Chicken Fried Rice

Forgive the awful cell phone quality picture, but at least you can see that I try as hard as I can to be a Japanese grillmaster. I almost put a spatula underneath and made it pulse. It tasted nothing like any other fried rice I've ever had, which is okay, because it was still pretty yummy. I have a few things I'll be doing differently next time.

Here's the link to the original recipe, from about.com.

Basically, you scramble some eggs, heat up cold cooked rice, add some soy sauce (I added way more than the recipe called for and thus we will likely die early, but we love us some sodium), and when you're ready to serve, throw in some chopped green onion.

I used our giant Presto big griddle because Garrett loves "cook on the table" restaurants and I felt like I'd watched the pros enough times to do it right. I scrambled eggs on one side, stirred my rice up on another, and added 2 chicken breasts on a corner. I also used about 6 cups of rice because Garrett and I always get hungry after we cook at home. Probably because we always eat out so much.

 It is so much harder to stir things on a flat surface, and I'm pretty sure I'll use a pan next time. We like really flavorful foods so we added some asian hot mustard sauce (I'd maybe even add more next time), ground ginger (more than you'd think you should, and it was a good choice), and lots of salt and pepper. I used butter and vegetable oil to cook with. Not a healthy meal by any means. But really yummy.

Have you ever made fried rice? If so, what are your secrets?

Progress...#30

image via the yellow stereo

So, I've finished #30 on the ol' 101. Garrett and I went to see Girls at Bottletree this past Thursday night and it was oh-so-fun. Opened by The Smith-Westerns and Magic Kids (I had to hear Garrett and Joey sing the words Magic Kids over and over during their songs, and it was actually entertaining). Here's a link to their myspace, my favorite song is Lust for Life.

101 in 1001 - The list

101 things to do in the next 1001 days...

Beginning February 1, 2010, ending Monday, October 29, 2012

The rules:
•I made these 101 things doable because I want to actually accomplish them. I would like to, in theory, run a marathon. But, I would much rather run a 10K with my husband, and that's a goal I can actually see coming to pass in the next 2 and a half years, so it makes the list instead.
•If the goal is to do something once a week or month or everyday, I will tally it. Once I've reached the number goal, I'm done, even if I still have days, months, or weeks to go. Making myself do something everyday never turns out well, so hopefully this method will be easier.

Crafty Fox 
1. Make a quilt.
2. Embellish a onesie for our favorite expecting married couple, Ian & Onna (though I may wait until after the baby is born, they are waiting to find out the sex!)
3. Modify an awful piece of clothing to render it wearable.
4. Make a crochet squid for Garrett.
5. Complete 33 DIY projects I find online.
6. Buy a button maker.
7. Open an etsy shop

8. Learn how to embroider and embroider something awesome.

9. Make a font out of my own handwriting (which requires that I make my handwriting worth fonting)

All Quiet on the Homefront 
10. Spend an entire week eating only home cooked meals.
11. Play the Newlywed Game with another married couple (or two, sign up now!) (technically the couples weren't married but I think it still counts)
12. Take cooking classes or have a great cook teach me.
13. Move into a new place. (oh thank goodness!)

14. Host a yuppy wine tasting/guessing party where we see if guests can distinguish between the cheap stuff and the good stuff.
15. Cook 101 different recipes. (2/101)
16. Organize my closets [shudder]
17. Host a big sleepover.
18. Set up a weekly routine of need to do things (such as, taking the trash out or organizing my tumblr) and stick to it.
19. Organize my computer and external hard drives.
20. Keep track of all finances for a month and adjust spending based on the sure to be shocking results.
21. Host a dinner party, complete with invitations.

Choose Your Own Adventure 
22. See Paris.
23. Have a Honeymoon
24. Take a trip to NYC (I've been once with my fam and once with Garrett's, and I think it would be tres fun to go just the two of us. and bum on someone's couch)
25. Spend a week with Garrett at his grandparents' in Needham, AL.

26. Visit my Grandmother in Galveston, TX.

27. Go see Glacier Park before it all melts away.

28. See a Bama game at Bryant Denny Stadium. (Georgia State Game 2010)

29. Visit Chicago.
30. See a show at Bottletree
31. Take a Trip to DC

Keeping up Appearances 
32. Get a functional haircut (because the lifeless shape of my "mullet" as Garrett lovingly calls my hair, is sad)
33. Wear only dresses for a month (My main outfit for the day will have to be a dress).
34. Photograph my hairstyles for a month.
35. Find a new purse, preferably one that fits my camera (or buy the Kelly Moore bag)
36. Find the perfect pair of jeans (any suggestions? I am petite (5'3"), have no backside to speak of, and I have proportionately large thighs and calves)
37. Run a 10K with my husband.
38. Be able to do one pull up. (as of January 2012!)
39. Get picked southern femme of the week (dress better).
40. Paint my fingernails, just because.
41. Get a new pair of glasses.

I turn my camera on 

42. Spend a whole day photo scouting (any boy or girl scouts who would like to be my guide to Birmingham?)

43. Have one photo session a week and blog about them (whether it be a shoot with my husband, the landscape, for fun, or something paid) (5/143 shoots)

44. Upgrade my flickr account to pro and justify it (I use flickr for things I wouldn't add to my photography blog, random photos of outfits I wear or muffins that I think look pretty).

45. Take 1001 upload worthy non-work related images.

46. Create a photograph inspired by a great photographer.

47. Get back into the darkroom!

48. Shoot some film at a wedding (don't laugh when I pull out my pentax k1000 guys)

49. Get my Diana film developed. this was so expensive! I had 5 rolls and it ended up being just under $100. I'll have to be more discerning in my diana photographing!

50. Have a Disfarmer style photo night of portrait sessions

51. Get a TLR

52. Upgrade my camera Nikon D700 and I'm in love!

of the Internets 
53. Comment on my favorite blogposts at least once a day (total of 1001 comments) -this one has yet to prove difficult, and I'm not going to tally, since it would be ridiculous, instead this will serve more of a reminder that I need to be commenting on blogs

54. Meet one of my favorite bloggers in person. Lauren de La Croix of WeddingBee fame!

55. Do a "What's in my Bag" blogpost.

56. Help someone else complete a goal on their 101 in 1001.

57. Update the blog to make it easier to navigate.

58. Reach 100 followers on dash, pinch, smidgen (as in, they follow me via blogger or googlereader)

59. Feature 143 local vendors/businesses that I think are great! (4/143)

60. Finish my wedding recap! (I don't know why it's so hard!)

61. Go through my tumblr and add tags to make it more navigable.

62. Double my average monthly hits to the blog.

Mind your own [business] 
63. Get new headshots for my website 
64. Launch Southern Spin with my partner in crime, Megan LaRussa
65. Have my photography featured in a magazine.

66. Do some studio style portraits with a white backdrop.

67. Execute a photobooth setup.

68. Do a 1-on-1 with a photoshop guru.

69. Design a full set of photo cards for my clients (baby announcements, save the dates, christmas cards, etc)

70. Order sample albums for all of my photography package options (and find an affordable engagement guestbook to offer)

71. Get letterpress business cards.

72. Create an organized, inspiring workspace

It's Not You, It's Me (22)

73. See 101 movies (1/101)

74. Join a women's social club.

75. Buy/own something from Hermes (besides the perfume, Kelly Caleche, that I received as a Christmas present in 2008. it smells faintly of leather and is so lovely). (I have a twilly!)

76. Pay off my student loans.

77. Climb a tree.

78. Be the subject of a boudoir shoot.

79. Get a pedicure (never have I ever had a pedicure. this clearly needs to be remedied!)

80. spend a day doing some serious thrift store shopping. (I think operation Martha's wedding counts)

81. Get a new car (new to me, lease or own). (2010 Mazda 3 and I looove it!)

82. Take a French class.

83. Have a picnic with my husband.

84. Read one book a month (1/33 books)

85. Get my wedding and engagement rings resized (they've always been loose but I haven't wanted to part with them!)

86. Stay up until the sunrise Marie Antoinette style (from the movie, she stays up till sunrise on her birthday)

87. Sip on some Dom Perignon Champagne.

88. Drink Moet and Chandon while listening to "Killer Queen"

89. Record a song (silly or not) with the husband.

90. Discover 33 new songs that I really, really like. (2/33)

91. Find a Japanese conversation partner here in Birmingham (I took Japanese in college and hate that I've forgotten almost all of it)

92. Learn 1001 new words (old words count if I didn't really get what they meant before, but other languages do count)

93. Find a video game I'd actually like to play (any good PS3 games for a girly novice like me?)
94. Design and Print our wedding album.

Okay, so it's you. 

95. Send someone an anonymous mixed cd.

96. Send one handwritten note a week. (2/143)

97. Run a giveaway on this blog. (what would you like to win?)

98. Buy 10 things from etsy sellers. (4/10 personalized hangers, washi tape, typewriter kit for G, divine twine)
99. Give a free lesson to a budding photographer.
100. Volunteer for a good cause
101. Baby-sit for friends or family so that they can take a night out.

If you have your own 101 in 1001 please comment with a link! And, if you want to help me complete one of my goals I'd love the help!

101 in 1001

I'm thinking of embracing the 101 in 1001. I know there are tons of other bloggers, photographers especially with the lists of 101 things to do in 1001 days and it seems so much more achievable than something I only have a year to do. I think it may take me 1001 days to come up with 101 things, so please feel free to comment with suggestions.


If you are interested in following suit, here are some examples and resources to get you started:


Day Zero - declares itself home of the 101 in 1001. You can create a list there if you want a place to keep up with it. I'm planning on having a lot of items with multiple checkpoints (like, if I plan on doing something once a month, I need to have 33 done by the end of this adventure), so I'm not sure if such a site will help. 


For fun, some of my favorite goals from the lists of Tiffany Zajas (fellow photog in Nashville that I went to High School with way back when), Jessica Claire (no explanation necessary).
italics are sidenotes by me.


Tiffany:

source

25. Learn how to make fondue. 
I have a fondue set that we received as a wedding gift from Garrett's mom but I haven't used it yet!
27. Get a sewing machine.
Garrett's actually getting me one, he wants me to pick it out though, so I haven't gotten around to it just yet!
34. Go on a train ride.
G and I have been talking about taking the amtrak to New Orleans for months now, and I say we do it!
42. Stay in a bed & breakfast.
57. Learn how to shoot a gun.
I just love that this is one of Tiffany's goals. I shot a few different guns for the first time in 2007 and really enjoyed it, and would enjoy getting good at it, but guns really do freak me out.
72. Send a care package to 3 people. 
73. Encourage someone to make a list!
Tiff, you can check this one off!

source

82. Learn how to use my new Diana F+ camera.
I have a Diana too! And ridiculously I have used up 5 or 6 rolls without getting any developed. Yet.


Jessica Claire:

6. Sell my wedding stuff on ebay

I have a ton of navy teapots and teacups that I desperately need to get rid of. But the thought of counting them, photographing, listing is daunting. anyone nearby want to make me an offer? There are at least 12 teapots and probably 20 something cups and saucers. 

Julia Child (source)

33. Take a cooking class

My plan is to coerce my in-laws' next door neighbor to take me on as a student (she used to work for Southern Living and is writing a cookbook!)

43. Get a new passport with my new last name

Apparently this will cost me $75. ugh. But I want to reserve our next out of the country trip under my real name.

source (by Annie Liebovitz)

55. Have a Martha Stewart looking dinner party or tea party

Now that I'm married I am desperate for a styled party. so hopefully I'll have time in the next 1001 days.

94. Get fresh flowers for my house

I've been wanting to do this more often, just buy and arrange some flowers to make our place more lovely!

98. Randomly send someone some small item they mention wanting

If I mention wanting a shootsac, will Jessica Claire hear me? Haha I just think unexpected nice things are great. If you ever want to make someone's day, tip someone at an icecream shop or fast food restaurant that wouldn't usually receive tips at all $5. It's a cheap way to see a shocked happy face.

What would be on your 101?