25 List

I wanted 25 to be more a way of life. I don't want it to be me scrambling to cross big things off my list in the last couple of months. It's all about the simple things. My mantra for the year is to live with less. Less stuff. Less stress. Simplify. Carve out a more peaceful life.

So here it is...and happy birthday to me!

 

1. improve my 5k time
2. Take a drawing class
3. explore a new city
4. go surfing
5. make real hot cocoa
6. drink sangria
7. make salad dressing from scratch
8. Take a staycation
9. Get a design *out there*
10. do something spontaneous
11. do yoga daily for one month
12. read seven deadly sins
13. make a fire
14. declutter studio
15. slip n'slide
16. paint a big canvas
17. make ice cream
18. clean out my closet
19. screenprint something
20. chinup
21. draw a self portrait
22. finish my quilt
23. ride a bike
24. live with less
25. grow something

recap of 24

24 -
Some things were harder than expected. Some things didn't turn out at all how I expected. Many unexpected things happened. I won a contest. I got a puppy. I got a spontaneous haircut. I went to South America. I went to a funeral. I created a lot of patterns. I got a henna tattoo. I got a real tattoo. I climbed a tree.

Not all of the things on the list got done. 100 push ups is too many. I tried really hard to run 5km in 30 minutes, but the best I could do was about 4.25km. The pallets are still sitting on my deck.

1. Shoot a gun
2. Run 5km in 30 minutes
3. Sell something in a store
4. Donate blood
5. Run through a sprinkler
6. Go to Asia
7. Dance
8. Take a Polaroid photo
9. Hike the Chilkoot
10. Camp under the stars
11. Go to Seattle
12. Build a snow fort
13. Go on a road trip
14. Volunteer
15. Jump
16. Sew something to wear
17. Build something with pallets
18. Take a kickboxing class
19. Do 100 push ups
20. Have a photo shoot
21. Swim
22. Be a better travel agent
23. Prepare a four course meal
24. Learn 50 words in Portuguese

 And some of my favorite pictures from the year

Tomorrow I'm posting my list of 25 - and celebrating my birthday on the island of Koh Tao in Thailand!

#6 - Go to Asia

 

I'm off to Thailand to cross #6 - Go to Asia - off my list.

 

I'll be posting on my travel blog while I'm away, and I have a few posts scheduled here while I'm away, including my list of 25!

 



fresh flowers

Photo Inspiration: Gazoo

Gazoo is my little Pomeranian friend. He belongs to one of my best friends. For her birthday I decided to try to make a little Gazoo graphic.

 

 

#4 - Donate Blood

So when I put this on my list I didn't know that you can't even donate blood in the whole territory where I live. The nearest place to donate blood is either a 850 mile drive, or a 2 hour flight to Vancouver.

I had a long layover in Vancouver, so I booked my appointment. I hopped on the skytrain and went downtown. I got my "1st Time Donor" sticker. They tested my iron. They took my blood pressure. And then they took my pulse. And they took it again and again. Finally it was decided for me that I would not be donating blood because my pulse was above the "normal" range. And I was really disappointed.

I'll try again the next time I'm in a large city, but for now I've registered for the stem cell and marrow database. I've sent off my swabs, and I'm crossing this one off my list.

my little gang of dragons

I've always like to draw dragons because there are no expectations. Dragons can be anything you want. There is no right or wrong. I love that about dragons.