My 25 Things!

Starting Date: May 18th, 2013

Ending Date: May 18th, 2014

Completed: 3/25
Completed: strikethrough
In Progress: bold

1. Get a new job
2. Move out of my parents' house
3. Adopt a pet
4. Complete a detox or cleanse
5. Lose 25 pounds (5/25)
6. Read 25 books (17/25)
7. Watch 25 (new to me) movies (7/25)
8. Try 25 new foods (8/25)
9. Donate or consign 25 things (16/25)
10. Send 25 greeting cards (11/25)
11. Bake something from scratch
12. Grow a plant from a seed
13. Learn how to knit or crochet
14. Make a budget (and stick to it!)
15. Volunteer
16. Start an herb garden
17. Go on a hike
18. Visit a state or national park
19. Buy and wear a two-piece bathing suit
20. Get my eyebrows professionally shaped
21. Buy something cool and unique from an antique store or thrift shop
22. Make something from Pinterest
23. Travel somewhere new
24. Complete a photo album of my college years
25. Trace my family tree back to Europe

Budget is made- let's see if we can stick to it!

Now that I have a full time job and an idea of what I'll make a month, I've been able to start making a budget. It is still a work in progress, but I've started and I'll see if I can stick with it!

Sent off two more birthday cards!

Lots of birthdays and events going on in October! I gave my mom a greeting card earlier this month for her birthday, which was lovely. And then I sent one to my grandmother for her birthday as well! We sent her a present too, which she seemed to like. I have more cards to give and send before the end of the month!

Donated 3 more things!

I donated three pairs of shoes! I actually gave them to a recycling program that makes water filters out of old shoes. So that was a really cool thing to be able to participate in!

Another ebook- Ninth Doctor

I'm back to my routine of reading one real book, then one ebook. After finishing The Chaperone, I read the ebook for the Ninth Doctor. The story was okay, I really liked how they revealed the companion gradually so that the reader didn't base their opinion about her on her appearance. I would have loved to see a Ninth Doctor story featuring Rose Tyler though, because I'm afraid the author of the Tenth Doctor's story will pick a different companion. But it was a pretty good story, no complaints!

New food- pawpaw?

Okay, so I tried a new food. I was told that it was a pawpaw, although it didn't really look like the images that came up when I googled "pawpaw." The taste wasn't bad, but it was extremely mushy. I couldn't deal with the texture, so it's not for me!

Another book finished!

I read a book called The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty. The book was partially about an actual person, silent film star Louise Brooks, but mostly about her chaperone Cora, who was a fictional character. The story was about Louise and Cora's trip to New York, and their journeys toward finding out who they are. It was a good story, but it really seemed to drag out. I would like the story better if it was just the trip to New York, with some references to before and after. But the book told Cora's entire life story, and focused on many different issues. I feel like the book would be better and more successful if it was more concise and focused, instead of trying to be so broad.

I almost forgot!

I sent a greeting card earlier this week! I sent a thank you note to my former coworkers, for the lovely gifts they sent me. I love sending cards!

Just two more books left in the Tudor Court series!

I finished The Queen's Fool by Phillipa Gregory, the fourth book in the Tudor Court series. This book was a little different than the others, because the main character wasn't a historical figure. The main character and her family were all fictional, but based on people and situations that actually happened. As usual the book centered a lot around the English court, this one taking place after the death of King Henry VIII. I wasn't sure I'd like a book featuring a psychic as the main character, but the book was similar enough to her others for me to enjoy.

Another movie!

At least this one is sort of new! Today I watched Star Trek Into Darkness. I'm not super into Star Trek, I've watched some of the original series and various other episodes, and I hadn't even seen the 2009 movie. But I did really enjoy this one! Benedict Cumberbatch was excellent, and Chris Pine was freaking gorgeous. It was a good movie on it's own, and I think the more you know about Star Trek, the more you'll understand about this movie. There were a lot of things that probably went over my head, but I still really liked it. Now I definitely want to watch the 2009 movie!

Another book down!

Today I finished the Wizard of Oz book. Yes, it's a children's story, but it's such a classic that I wanted to read it! I was really curious to see how it's different from the movie, and it is very different. I really liked the story, even though it was slow at parts. I can see why it's considered such a classic- it's so timeless and universally appealing. Normally I'd start an ebook next, but the next one doesn't come out until later in the month! So next up is another Phillipa Gregory, in the same series I've been reading.

Another (not so) New Movie!

Today I watched Big Fish, which I've been meaning to watch for ages. It was a cute movie, but I wanted to watch something fun today and this was definitely sad in parts. I cried at the end, and while I liked the movie, it wasn't really what I was wanting to watch today. I think if I'd been in the mood for this kind of movie, I would have loved it.

I donated some more things!

Last time I was at Soma, I noticed that they had a big box for donations. When we asked about it, they said that they accept donations of old bras to give to women's shelters. I have a ton of old bras that someone might be able to use, so last time I was at the mall I brought three in to give to them. They were so happy to receive the donation! If you have a Soma shop near you, check to see if they take old bras too! I'm sure you have some laying around!

Another ebook done!

I finished another Doctor Who ebook, this one was for the 8th Doctor. The story was decent, but this was the first time that I really noticed the writing style, and not in a good way. I don't really know much about the Eight Doctor, and between that and the writing, I didn't like this book so far. Next up is something very different, so maybe that'll be a nice change.

Almost halfway done with books!

I finished reading book #12! It was The Boleyn Inheritance by Phillipa Gregory. I had actually started reading another book, The Other Queen, before realizing that they were different parts of the same series. I think each book can be read on it's own, but I'd read the first two books in the series and wanted to continue in order. So I read the third book in the series, which I enjoyed quite a lot. It was narrated by three different women, alternating chapters. That made the book very interesting, and allowed for the reader to be almost all-seeing without an omnipresent narrator. Of course the books are historical fiction, and knowing what happens to Henry VIII's wives means that the ending of the book is no surprise. Even so, the book was very well written, and I really enjoyed it.

Another new movie!

I watched another new movie! This one was called In The Loop, and I watched it because the 12th Doctor Peter Capaldi was in it. I really enjoyed this movie, I found it to be very funny. I'm glad I watched it for Capaldi, because I don't think I would have found it otherwise!

Spaghetti Squash!

I tried another new food- spaghetti squash! It was okay, might be a nice fall veggie!

Donated 4 More Things!

Today I took a trip to Goodwill and donated four more things. I love getting rid of old stuff, especially knowing that someone out there will be able to use my stuff!

And yet another book done!

After reading a regular book, it was time to read an ebook. This was the story for July, so now I'm all caught up! This ebook was about the Seventh Doctor, and it was excellent. The Doctor was well written, as was Ace the companion. Also there were Daleks, which is always exciting! Looking forward to the next ebook about Paul McGann's Doctor.

Another book down!

I've finished another book! Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. This book has really withstood the test of time, and it's easy to see why. It's still very relevant, and still an excellent book. It's very interesting to see which of Huxley's predictions for the future have come true, and which ones seem totally absurd. This is definitely my kind of book, and I adored it.