Tuesday, July 15, 2014

101 in 1001 Update (A VERY LONG UPDATE)

I know, I don't update for weeks and now I'm going to bombard you with a long post. But hey, it's my blog, I can do what I want. :) Also, who knows when I'll update again, I have to get you caught up! And I'm REALLY bad about updating my progress on my 101 in 1001 list. As always, you can keep up with my progress here.

101 in 1001 Update

4. Attend games at five MLB ballparks I've never been to before
I can FINALLY add one to this goal. Last month I went to Comiskey Park, excuse me, US Cellular Field- home of the Chicago White Sox. When we got to Chicago, it was pouring down rain, I was so afraid the game would get rained out. Of course, after buying a $5 White Sox rain poncho, the rain stopped (it was worth it to have a rain-free game though). But I felt like a traitor wearing a White Sox poncho. That brings my grand total of MLB ballparks to six: Ballpark in Arlington (Rangers) Minute Maid Park (Astros), Turner Field (Braves), old Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park (Red Sox), and now US Cellular Field (White Sox).



Thanks to my buddy Brian for getting us amazing seats just 10 rows from the field
6. Attend a George Strait concert.
After talking about it for nine years, the BFF and I FINALLY saw George Strait in concert. Not just any concert, it was the last concert of his Farewell Tour at Cowboys Stadium (excuse me, AT&T Stadium).

Giddy BFFs!
The King himself
"Oh the last goodbye's the hardest one to say...
...This is where the cowboy rides away." 
9. Visit five states I've never been to before 
I am able to add three more states to this list after I went to visit friends in Indiana last month (we made side trips to Michigan and Illinois while I was there). Since I went to Iowa earlier this year, I just have to visit one more state and I'll be done with this part of my challenge! 
Visiting The University of Notre Dame
Was able to visit my friend Christie and her kids, Mini M and T, while I was in Indiana!
Me and Christie at Lake Michigan. And yes, when we crossed over the Michigan state line, I did announce we were in the home state of the great Steve Avery. :)
While in Illinois, I was able to meet up with my lovely friend Harrie, who lives in Chicago. She was brave and wore her Cubs gear over to the White Sox part of town!
15. Take a trip to the beach. 
Since I didn't specify if it meant ocean beach or lake beach, I'm gonna count my trip to Lake Michigan as a beach trip. The water was FREEZING, so I opted to lie on the beach and read. :) I did stick my feet in at one point.

Yes, I know, I'm pale
18. Vacuum apartment weekly for a month.
I've actually done this for two months! Yeah, go me. :)

29. Pay off personal loan.
HOLLA! Tomorrow I make my final payment on my personal loan. That leaves me with only a credit card, my student loans, and my car loan. Then I will be debt free (again- holla). 

42. Volunteer at the annual company seminar
I've already done that. In fact, it starts this week. Boom.

49. Learn to cook 10 new meals
I can finally add one to the list. Well, it's not necessarily a complete meal, but I tried a recipe for roasted broccoli and I REALLY enjoyed it (click here for the recipe). NOTE: I did NOT use garlic on mine, mainly because I didn't have any. But I did use the olive oil and pepper and it turned out really good. I just recently became a fan of broccoli, I didn't eat it growing up.

50. Try out 10 restaurants that I've never been to before 
I was able to add two more to this list, making the total 5. I am only counting restaurants in the DFW area, not the ones I go to on vacation.

March 15- Old Texas Brewing Company in Burleson
This place is awesome. Next time I'm in Mexico, I mean, Burleson, I want to go again. :)


Hanging out with my favorite Burlesonian...or is it Burlesonite? Anyways, hanging out with my bestie Chance at Old Texas Brewing Company. Yes, we are very silly. And he just LOVES when I make him take pictures. :)

June 6- Esperanza's Mexican Cafe and Bakery in Fort Worth
From the outside, this place looks like a little hole in the wall, but the food was really good. It's off Main Street in Fort Worth (like you are heading towards the Stockyards). I went there when some friends of mine were in town visiting. 


56. Go on 20 walks
Okay, so I've only gone on one, but hey, it's a start!

57. Read at least two new books a month
I'm so far behind on my weekly book challenge (six books behind to be exact), BUT, I've read 21 books so far this year, so that is averaging more than two a month, so for this challenge, I'm doing great! :)

One of the books I read was Special Heart by Bret Baier. I met him at a book signing at SMU back in June. He's a super nice guy, and it was a great book. I highly recommend it!
59. Complete three group Bible Study courses
My Bible study and I completed one about Ruth and Esther earlier this year. Some gals in my group didn't care for it, but I personally liked it.

63. Attend a symphony
Back in April, the BFF and I went to see Radio Days: A Salute to the Troops presented by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. It was amazing. I really enjoyed it. It had a lot of "big band" music, which I enjoy.


I didn't get a picture of us at the symphony, but here is one of us at a sports bar dinner afterward.
67. Spend a day at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History
Okay, so I didn't spend a WHOLE day, but I did spend the whole afternoon with some friends- we went to the see the Indiana Jones exhibit. It was A-MAZ-ING.


Actual costume worn by Harrison Ford in the movie. Queue Rachel freaking out.
My museum peeps!
81. Treat a friend to a nice dinner (non birthday related)
I wasn't sure if I should count this one because I owed him a dinner after losing a bet, but I'm going to (I hope you are happy Brian). :) When I was in Indiana, I took my friend Brian out for a nice steak dinner. Stupid Cardinals. Or in this case, stupid Braves couldn't beat the stupid Cardinals. I'm never making a bet with this guy ever again. You think I would have learned after the first time I lost a bet to him (we don't talk about the first bet I lost. Let's just say it happened in 2011. That should say it all). 

84. Treat myself to a manicure
I may have done this one more than once. :)

85. Treat myself to a pedicure
As I'm sure you can tell, I had to force myself to complete this task. :)

87. Set aside one night a month for "me time"
I've actually been a homebody lately, I probably have had more "me time" than "social time". 

88. Watch a sunrise
I'm not a morning person, but when I flew to Indiana, my flight left at the crack of dawn, so I got to watch the sunrise from the plane (that was cool).

89. Watch a sunset
On July 3 some friends and I went to my office to watch a fireworks show (we had a better view, and we weren't outside being eaten alive by mosquitoes). We got there early and were able to see a beautiful sunset from the office windows.

90. Treat myself to a Chick Fil-A milkshake once a month
Did you really doubt I would be able to do this? Lol.

Hope you are doing well!! Thanks for taking the time to read my very long post!

XOXO!!