2 Months Down and 10 to Go!

Well, March isn't over yet....but it almost is and I probably won't accomplish any more in the next few days, so here is what I've done this month:

2. Read all the books by the Bronte sisters: I finished "Wurthering Heights" by Emily Bronte. I did enjoy this one..not so much because the story was great, but because of the author itself. Her story made this story remarkable. I won't say more incase you haven't read the book....if you haven't, you should. Apparently this is a love it or hate it book. Read about the author first and then read the book - then I think you'll love the book. :) Only 5 more books to go!

6. Make a new vegetarian recipe every month: this month I decided to make Baked Leeks. It sounded better than it ended up being. It ended up being very bland. But I'm putting a picture in just so you can see it - it at least looks nice. I also made a poached egg salad (which I've made before) and is quite good, so I've posted a picture as well.





Since this meal didn't turn out to be so yummy, I decided to make a new recipe for St. Patrick's Day. This time I decided to make irish food - potato leek soup and something called colcannon (it's like mashed potatoes with cabbage in it). These both turned out to be much more tasty. I did however end up steam-burning myself in the process of making these - oh well. Cooking is definitely NOT my thing :) Here are the end results:






8. Take advantage of Boston Restaurant Week: I went last night with my sisters (combining this activity with #15. Get together with my sisters once a month) to DaVinci's in Boston. This is my favorite restaurant in Boston - if you haven't been, you should definitely check it out...beats any italian restaurant I've been to in the North End. They served their entire menu instead of having a special menu which is why we chose this restaurant (all 3 of us are vegetarians). Needless to say it was most excellent as usual. Here is a picture from our evening out:



11. Learn a new fact every day: I've been pretty good about doing this. Here are some of my favorites:

~In 1923, parts of China's rural Heilongjiang province experienced a severe thunderstorm during which thousands of cobras fell from the sky.

~The pope's official barber, who only cuts the pope's hair, earns an annual salary the equivalent to $250,000 US.

~The US Military spends more money on condoms than on bullets for US troops stationed in South Korea.

~An ounce of pickled ginger can temporarily raise your IQ by as many as 10 points.

~Four leaf clovers are caused by the same mutation that causes conjoined twins.

13. Go on a mini-vacation: I haven't really been on a vacation per-se, but I've been to NYC a lot this year. I've been to visit one of my best friends, Becky (who I went to grad school with in San Francisco), a couple times. The first was for her final DMA recital (she is a fellow flutist) and the second was for her baby shower (her first baby - a little girl named Maelee!- is due next month). Here are some pictures from those visits:




14) Learn a piece of music I don't like and see if I still don't like it after learning it (I stole this from Becky's 30 by 30 list): I've chosen Jolivet's Chant de Linos...so far not liking it any better. We'll see if it gets any better - not holding my breath! :)

21) Return to my natural hair color (this is contingent on my stylist letting me do this!): Ok, so I finally convinced my stylist to let me return to my "natural" hair color - and by this I mean, the colored version of my natural hair color - or thereabouts :) I am naturally a dark or dirty blond (although the roots growing in look like a very ashy blond now, so maybe I'm getting lighter!). I decided to color my hair reddish brown and then chocolate brown over the last 2 years and really loved it, but then I missed being blond. Unfortunately my stylist preferred me as a brunette and I had a very difficult time convincing her to let me go lighter again, but I finally won! :) So here is what I look like now. Also, attached is a pic of the darker hair so you can see brunette Sarah. Which do you prefer?? :) I'll probably keep it for the summer and then go dark again - go figure! :)





I think that about covers it for now. More to come next month! Happy Spring! :)

1 Month Down, 11 To Go!

Ok, so February is coming to a close and it's time for an update on my list. Here's how things look so far:

2. Read all the books by the Bronte sisters: I just complete "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte today. I must say that I did enjoy it. 1 book down, 6 more to go.

6. Learn to make 1 new vegetarian recipe a month: I made Leek, Mushroom, Lemon Risotto....it was quite delicious! I think the next time I make it I will add artichokes...yummy! Here are some pictures of my yummy meal:




11. Learn a new fact everyday: I've been pretty good about this. I would say I've learned a new fact almost every day. :) There is a great website for random facts: www.factropolis.com

15. Get together with my sisters once a month: I got together with my sisters earlier this month for my birthday. We had a lovely dinner at DaVinci's - one of my favorite restaurants in Boston.

20. Enroll in an adult-ed class: I enrolled in the class...it's called Introduction to Dreamweaver (or something to that effect) - it's basically a website design class. Classes start Monday and last 7 weeks. I'm very excited :)

Those are the biggest ones so far....more to come! :)

The Big 32 by 32 Challenge!

So I've decided to embark on a challenge to accomplish 32 things by the time I turn 32. Here is the list:

1) Open the doors to my music school.
2) Read all the books by the Bronte sisters.
3) See the Boston Ballet (or a ballet in any city).
4) Go to a concert at Tanglewood this summer.
5) Give a recital.
6) Learn to make 1 new vegetarian recipe ever month.
7) Do a full on spring cleaning - this time make sure things actually make it to goodwill!
8) Take advantage of Boston Restaurant Week.
9) Be bold and ask someone out on a date.
10) Learn to say "please" "thank you" and "I love you" in 20 different languages.
11) Learn a new fact every day.
12) Randomly tell/show people that I care about them.
13) Go on a mini-vacation (ie. visit Mieke in London, Steph in SF, or go someplace I've never been - like Montreal).
14) Learn a piece of music I don't like and see if I still don't like it after learning it (I stole this from Becky's 30 by 30 list).
15) Get together with my sisters once a month.
16) Go rollerblading on the Charles River.
17) Spend a day at the beach this summer.
18) Host a dinner party or a holiday dinner.
19) Get new plants for my home and see if I can make them live this time!
20) Enroll in an adult-ed class (I stole this one from Elizabeth's 32 by 32 list).
21) Return to my natural hair color (this is contingent on my stylist letting me do this!).
22) Learn a new hobby - I've chosen guitar.
23) Re-do at least one bathroom without any professional help.
24) Go to a jazz club.
25) Go to a non-classical concert.
26) Take Ella ice skating.
27) Put my car back in its original condition.
28) Go see a comedian.
29) Go on a picnic.
30) Go to a sporting event (this is so not me, so I'll need friends to help me make this one fun!) :)
31) Watch all 8 seasons of 24 - this one is for Kayla.
32) Lose 32 pounds - seems like a good # to end the challenge on.

So there you have it! I'll update you on my progress. Here's to 2010 and accomplishing these goals! :)