Cherry Blossom Adventures

After writing a life list at the end of last year I found that having a list like that is good motivation to get out and do stuff which is why when I saw 101 things in 1001 days on a couple of blogs I read, I knew that I wanted to give it ago (Those blogs are here and here). I decided to start this in April because it will be my last full month in Japan and also because it will be almost a year until I get married so I thought having some wedding related things on the list as well as things I want to do in Australia would be a good idea. I have roped my friend Mandy into doing it with me and her little brother Paul is in too! Nay is joining in too!!! So on with the rules and my list!

The Mission:
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria:
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past – frequently simple goals such as New Year’s resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Start date April 1st, 2008. Finish date December 28th, 2010

Japan/Japanese
1. Pass level 1 of JLPT
2. Read a Japanese newspaper or magazine and understand it
3. Take a Japanese cooking class or classes
4. See Sumo
5. Go to at least two of the following places: Nagasaki, Hakone, Nara or Hokkaido (0/2)
6. Get Japanese drivers license
7. Visit at least five areas I have never been before in Tokyo or surrounding areas (0/5)
8. Complete all of the exercises in `shiken ni deru kanji to goi`
9. Complete all the exercises in `kanzen master` grammar book for level 1 of the JLPT.
10. Find a decent apartment that Shumpei and I are both happy with (once we return to Japan)

Wedding
11. Buy and keep a wedding notebook to keep track of stuff
12. Choose a theme or colour scheme
13. Choose and buy a wedding dress
14. Choose and buy bridesmaids dresses or material
15. Find and book a photographer
16. Write and finalize guest list
17. Choose or make invitations
18. Send all invitations
19. Finalize menus for reception
20. Choose and buy a cake
21. Choose, organize and buy flowers
22. Have a meeting with organizer at wedding and reception venue
23. Make hair and make-up appointments
24. Organize and buy stuff for wedding favors
25. Decide on a honeymoon destination and book
26. Choose and buy wedding rings
27. Get marriage license
28. Get married

Health and Self-improvement
29. Try Pilates or yoga (At least two times)
30. Learn to ski
31. Lose five kilos (0/5)
32. Lose another five kilos (0/5)
33. Maintain the weight loss for at least six months (0/6)
34. Learn how to do self breast exams
35. Do EFT everyday for two weeks
36. Get my teeth whitened
37. Learn 10 new recipes (0/10)
38. Give up coffee for a month
39. Stop biting and picking at my nails
40. Learn how to keep a hoola hoop up for more than 2 minutes
41. Learn how to do at least one cool hoola hoop move!
42. Do a week long detox (No coffee, no alcohol, no meat etc etc)
43. Get back into a proper skin care routine including sunscreen everyday- Keep it up for at least 3 months (0/3)
44. Give up fast food for two consecutive months
45. Try (or learn to like) 5 new fruits or vegetables (0/5)
46. Have another pap smear test

Creativity
47. Knit something other than a scarf successfully
48. Learn to sew (again!)
49. Sew my own handbag
50. Learn how to use Photoshop
51. Learn how to use illustrator
52. Sell something I have made

While in Australia
53. Do some kind of class either in photography, writing, cooking or something completely different.
54. Make at least one trip out into the country with Shun
55. Go to five suburbs I have never visited before (0/5)
56. Visit Melbourne
57. Eat at at least 10 restaurants I have never been to before (0/10)
58. Show Shun what Christmas in Australia is really like
59. Make sure my dad buys a dog
60. Learn something about wine perhaps do a wine tasting
61. Go to a concert
62. Go to a show with Shun
63. Visit a city I have not been to before (maybe Cairns?)
64. Take Shun to at least one major sporting game

Buy
65. A hoola hoop
66. A Polaroid camera
67. A new pair of boots
68. A plane ticket back to Japan
69. A proper DSLR camera!
70. A wireless external hard drive
71. A sewing machine (Or bring my sewing machine in Australia back to Japan)

Blog & Writing
72. Get paid to write something
73. Meet at least five other bloggers in real life (0/5)
74. Add a new section to my blog
75. Introduce some kind of ad system on my blog
76. Do Nabloplomo- Now I can choose any month I wish to do this!
77. Keep my journal going for at least the year (the year will be up this August…but If I stop I will have to start again and complete another full year before the 1001 days are up)
78. Do a monthly update for each month that I do 101 things in 1001 days on my blog. (0/33)
79. Keep track of my blog stats and referrers by checking at least once a week
80. Reach 400 posts on my blog

Personal & Random
81. Sponsor a child
82. Perfect one piano piece
83. Save enough money in Australia to return to Japan and start up life again here
84. Visit with my grandmother
85. Read 100 books in 1 year
86. Be able to skip for at least fifteen minutes
87. Organize my itunes, delete double ups and make at least three new play lists
88. Back-up my computer
89. Organize my photos and put all my photos onto cd`s as a back-up
90. Read the last Harry Potter Book
91. Finish the 888 book challenge
92. Watch the rest of Heroes with Shun
93. Go to the cinema 20 times (0/20)
94. Wake up at 6am everyday for a week
95. Get a credit card
96. Go camping with Shun (hopefully in Australia)
97. Get a new address book and add everyone I know too it (will be good for when it comes time to send out wedding invitations)
98. Clean out my closet and donate or throw away all clothes that no longer fit me or are ratty and old!
99. List 101 things that make me happy
100. Make a budget and stick to it for six months (0/6)
101. Donate 10 dollars to charity for each uncompleted task after 1001 days

Now I have done the easy part, putting it up here on my blog…..Now it is time for the hard part…Actually getting everything done before December 28th 2010!

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