DIY Project #3

I enjoy projects and being creative but I wouldn't call myself
a "crafty" person. A few big reasons is the lack of time and buying all of the necessary tools.

Last December I got on a kick to do a DIY project and of course turned to Pinterest which gave me loads of ideas. I had already made the decision to get my first Christmas tree in my apartment so obviously it made sense to make a tree skirt... I didn't thoroughly think it out and ended up making three Amazon orders after running short on ribbon. The amount of hours and hot glue gun burns can't begin to be added up. After all was said and done I have go say I'm quite pleased by my finished product.

What do you think?

NOLA

New States

Within a week I was able to knock two new states off the list in a whirlwind of a trip. First up was Louisiana and businesses meetings in New Orleans. I saw a lot of a conference room but was able to escape to witness the craziness that is Bourbon Street as well as wandering the riverfront and viewing the beautiful architecture. With a city that within the past 8 years was flipped upside down by hurricane Katrina it is tough to imagine what the city was like before and immediately after. I got a little first hand insight from my cab driver who had to close his boutique in the French Quarter because of damage and explained the long six years that it took to get insurance money for his destroyed house. What we don't hear about or see in the news is that the 9th quarter is still destroyed and abandoned. Katrina's damage to the city will be everlasting and tourism is still down but hopefully in the coming years people will come back to embrace it and not just the nonstop partying that makes Vegas look like preschool. I look forward to returning to New Orleans to try those famous beignets, take a cemetery tour, listen to some jazz and brass bands and explore the quieter side and beautiful architecture.

From Louisiana it was on to Florida. Yes, I've traveled near and far but never to Florida because being a West Coaster it isn't that quick and easy of a flight. St Petersburg is a beautiful place that instantly makes one feel like they are on vacation or enjoying retirement. Our trip was filled with celebrating a wedding of a good friend so sightseeing was minimal which just means another trip to Florida is in order.

31 before 31 Recap

As I near the six month mark till I'm 31 I felt it was time to check the progress of my 31 list.

I haven't been good about blogging with a busy few months of work travel, some medical issues, and life changes. All is good now and I hope to be better about blogging the next six months. As I look over what I have left off the checklist it looks like a lot of cooking and eating... I'll be working on updating the blog on some completed items.



31 Before 31 Project

Hobbies/Fun
1.) Take a photography class -completed
2.) Make my own wine or brew my own beer
3.) Complete a DIY project- completed
4.) Take a wine tasting class

Travel/San Francisco Places
5.) Try 8 new SF top 100 restaurants
- A16
- Fifth Floor
- Bar Agricole
6.) Try 8 new SF top 100 bars
- Bar Agricole
- 15 Romolo
- Bix
7.) Visit 4 new states -
- Panama
- Ecuador
-Tennessee
8.) Ride in a hot air balloon- Completed

Cooking/Recipes
9.) Master cooking a gourmet 5 course meal
10.) Learn to make beef stew
11.) Learn to bake a cake or other dessert that is extravagant but can be a go-to
12.) Create a signature cocktail
13.) Master a game day chili
14.) Learn to bake Aunt Carol's apple pie
15.) Learn to make a tomato bisque- Completed but not a success
16.) Learn to make fish or crab cakes
17.) Make lasagna from scratch
18.) Make a curry
19.) Learn to make meatloaf
20.) Learn to make bread from scratch
21.) Try two new recipes a month

Sports/Health
22.) Try to paddle board- completed
23.) Try yoga
24.) Visit 3 new ballparks
-Chase Field
25.) Learn to play golf- driving range once a month- Completed
26.) Complete a full moon hike
27.) Pick back up tennis

For Others
28.) Research prior to an election to make an educated decision and know why I am voting on a prop and elected officials. - Completed
29.) Give Christmas gifts to friends with mason jars I purchased 5 year ago! - Completed
30.) Mail a card to someone each month (birthday, anniversary, baby, just because)
31.) Find a charity I believe in and donate or give time

Learn to Play Golf -#25

While at my last job I had the opportunity to take golf lessons. After the lessons were over I entered an industry golf tournament and came home with a driver for the longest drive for a women. I instantly thought this was going to be my next sport and asked for a beginning set of golf clubs for christmas. Santa brought those golf clubs but that was the last bit of light they saw for awhile. Five years later I have finally brought the dusty clubs out of hiding and have been attempting to learn the game of golf. Between weekends at the driving range and after a number of recent lessons I set foot on the golf course again and with a lot of patience did alright. For now ill limit myself to 9 hole courses and the driving range as I keep working on this game of golf.

Try Stand Up Paddle Board -#22

I'm not sure I can say that I "learned" to stand up paddle board but I'm going to put "attempt". A few weeks back 20 crazy girls gathered in Santa Barbara to celebrate our friend C and her upcoming marriage. While in Santa Barbara we had a beach day looking out at the blue Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. For activities we rented a few kayaks and stand up paddle boards to go out on. I attempted but the paddle board ended up winning. The ocean wasn't calm with some waves but I don't think I can blame my lack of luck/talent on that. I seemed to have quite the sea legs that would shake each time I tried to stand and knocked me in the water. I did enjoy knee paddle boarding though...

The one interesting thing I learned from all of this is that when someone says SUP they aren't trying to be cool in 7th grade and saying what's up, but rather it means Stand Up Paddle boarding. There you have it the new lingo the cool kids use.

New State- Tennessee- #7

I decided to add visiting 4 new states to my list as there are so many amazing places to explore in our backyards without getting on a plane with a passport. Obviously that wasn't the case as I took an incredible vacation to Panama and Ecuador with my family including the Galapagos. With a big trip like this and an upcoming trip to a new area (for me) of Mexico I've decided that New Countries will be counted as states since after all of this travel I need to save up before taking off again.

Despite the international vacations the past year I have been able to visit a new state thanks to work. Nashville, Tennessee has been on my list of places to see for a long time. Unfortunately, with flight delays due to fog out of Oakland (yes, Oakland not San Francisco) I only ended up having one night and two full days in conference rooms which left no time to explore. The little taste of Nashville I got that one night was great. I spent less than 48 hours but I know I'll be back to explore and experience the city in the near future. Up next is another work trip to another new state... New Orleans, Louisiana in October.