#31 Go Horseback Riding

#31 "Go Horseback Riding"- Check another one off the list please! :o) I happily trotted on Big Phil through Ellison park this past Saturday while the love of my life trotted along on Zebb. It was a perfect time the weekend after peak foliage, gorgeous fall colors, relaxing ride, and made the bf feel at home again. It was amazing, and awesome, and all things wonderful I cannot wait to do it again!
Here are some photos of me, and of big phil, and of Jeremy and Zebb :)

It was awesome! So Happy we did it, and during such a beautiful time of year :) Can't wait to go again!

The end of summer, the beinning of fall - a good time for an update!

The changing of the seasons couldn't be a more appropriate time to update, and with the leaves just beginning to turn there are many new experiences ahead, and many items that can be crossed off this list. So here it is!

#16" Collect All of Anything Dr. Seuss has written*" - I've been collecting over time, and here's the books I can safely cross off of my list:
1) The Cat in The Hat
2) Did I Ever Tell You, How Lucky You Are?
3) Are You My Mother?
4) The Butter Battle Book
5) The Birthday Book
6) Oh The Thinks You Can Think
7) Green Eggs and Ham
8) The Cat in The Hat Comes Back
9) The Lorax
10) The Foot Book
11) Wocket In My Pocket
12) How The Grinch Stole Christmas
13) Ten Apples Up On Top
14) Oh The Places You'll Go
15) Snow
16) I'm Not Going To Get Up Today

So thats it so far, but that puts me at 16/54, and whats great is almost all of them were gifts to me! Which just makes them that much more special :)

#34 "Take a Glass Blowing Class" - Done! I took Hot Glass 101 at Studio 34 in Rochester NY, we didnt have a glory hole or anything to work with but we worked with a torch. Now, I am addicted! I love it, I even asked for my own torch or Christmas!! I've already made all kinds of beautiful beads at Open Torch. Amazing, I love it, So SO happy. You can see photos of it here --> http://www.lovelistsforlife.blogspot.com/ There are photos of my work station :) everyone should try this!

#48 "Do Something Creative With My Mom" - We went to Splatters! A place in Spencerport where we painted pottery. I can't disclose what I painted right now because they were Christmas Presents for the bf and who knows if he'd read this blog so- dont want to take any chances, but they're beautiful, and we spent about 3 hours doing it, it was amazing and fun!!

#53 " Read 10 new Books" - I've just completed Book Number Five - we're half way tehre - I read Kelly Coutrone's "If you Have to Cry, Go Outside." It was a most excellent book and was everything I need, and wanted it to be. Two Thumbs up for Kelly Coutrone on this one :)


There are also all kinds of things in the works right now - saving up for my trip to Europe, and my DSLR....ah great things the future holds!!


Thats all for now! Love Peace, and Pickles! :)

So...this weekend was nothing short of amazing.

Good Morning! It is with an accomplished feeling that I here today!!
Here's whats been done! thats right D-O-N-E DONE! :)

#26 "Go Canoeing" - Complete! We Went Canoeing on 07/17/2010 in Ithaca along the river. I loved it! I think I'm a real natural at it too. It was so much fun, I had a great time, and it was a perfect time for beginnger canoe-er to go because it was later in the day so there weren't that many people out on the river. At first it scared the crap out of me but 1/2 hour in I was really getting comfortable with the whole thing. It was great, I can't wait to do it again!!

#76 "Try 7 new kinds of fruit" - As you know I've already tried 1)Cactus Fruit, 2)KumKwats, and 3)Red Bananas. This weekend I tried 4) Golden Plums (which were gross!) 5) Black Raspberries (Amaaaazing, I tried them right off the Bush yesterday as I was picking :) ) and 6) Apricots (not horrible, but certainly not amazing) and 7) Purple Raspberries (I didnt know these even existed! I started picking them by accident thinking that they were Red Raspberries and wondering why the red raspberries were so sour, when I saw the sign, and they are a very mellow raspberry flavor (when you eat the purple ones haha) I really like them. So thats two more things to go ahead and cross off of the list! Yay!

2 Months Have Passed! Here's whats complete!

Hellllllo Blogger-onis!

I can't believe I've managed to let so much time slip in between my postings, so much has happened, so many things have been accomplished! It's just so exciting! I thought I had posted right after my birthday, but apparently I did not! Ridiculously I must say! So anyway, here's whats gone on:

4. "Read all of anything Kurt Vonnegut has written" (6/28)- Yessss, 1 more book complete, I believe I finished it in April - "Welcome to the Monkey House" an easy read, that I've been reading for probably like 6 months now, and have finally finished! Yipee, so that makes 6 down, and 22 to go! Yay!

16. "Collect all of anything Dr. Seuss has written" - I have received a whole bunch more, and will be updating my list on just how many it is, but I do believe that after my birthday, and graduation I have at least 16 Dr. Seuss books that have been added to the collection!

53. "Read 10 new books" - I've read another one! "For One More Day" by Mitch Albom. I didnt particularly like it, and I finished it in about 3 hours I guess his books are good for that.

60. "Go to 25 new-to-me Restaurants" - I've completed this one altogether! yaaay! California Rollin (a AMAZING sushi Place in Rochester, NY) was the final restaurant to be completed on my list, and I couldnt be more thrilled :o)

61. "Grow a Vegetable Garden" - It is official! we have quite the veggie/herb garden going here. We have Corn, Cherry Tomatoes, Italian Tomatoes, Ethiopian Purple Tomatoes, Chocolate Habaneros, Red Hot/Sweet Peppers, Banana Peppers, Cherry Bell Peppers, Bell Peppers, Jalapenos, Beans, Basil, Thyme, Oregano, Peppermint, Spearmint, and Chocolate Mint...I think I may be forgetting a few, but I have lots of photos of the whole thing, and I'll post those soon here, with updates on how our little sprouts our doing. but it looks as though the corn will be knee high by the fourth of Juuuly! yay! :o)

64. "Get a Raise at Work" - Done, and Done. I was salaried officially starting 05/17/2010 its not an amazing amount of money, but its good for now. Exciting, amazing, and so happy that this one is complete!



Thats all for right now, there are a few however, that will be added very very soon to this list! Yipee!

10 new restaurants, and another 1 marked off the list!

#60 - "Try 25 New-To-Me Restaurants" - Well, Whilst in Boston this past weekend, I quickly knocked another 10 restaurants off my list! (that is to say I ate at 10 new restaurants!!) - bringing my total to 23/25! Two more to go!! So let me tell you a little bit about each one!
1) Cambridge Commons - here we enjoyed two delicious apps of Sweet Potato French Fries (and they were DEEEELISH!) and a small plate of Nachos - which were kind of eh..but the best part of the night had to be the Beer Punch (which we had plenty of i think 3 pitchers..I know we're crazy1) I know you may find yourself wondering...beer punch what the..? Well its a glorious mixture of Lemonade, Poland Springs Vodka, and Sam Adams SummerAle...It was very sweet, but excellent, and we can't wait to make it at home with our homebrew!! (not to say that Sam Adams wasn't AWESOME in it, but the summer ale isnt always in season)
2) Finagle A (or my) Bagel - It was okay. Its definitely a chain, and chain restaurants (especially bagel places) tend to fall short for me most of the time. I'll stick with my Balsam Bagels in Rochester instead. Because they're awesome. Anyway, I got a Jalepeno and Cheddar Bagel with Veggie Creamcheese, and none of it was very good.
3) Luna Cafe - After an amazing experience touring the Sam Adam's Brewery and getting to sample Three new and different kinds of beer, we found our bellys quite hungry for food and more beer, so we wandered over to Luna Cafe (which is in Jamaica Plains, Boston) and each enjoyed a pint with a wonderful pizza covered in garlic, carmalized onions, red sauce, and goat cheese it may not sound great, but it was awesome!
4) That evening we decided to go up into the North End of Boston (A.K.A. - Little Italy) It was great just walking around up there, its so quaint and awesome. Nick - my best friend's boyfriend took us to this little italian retaurant called Pompei. The food tasted some what like a chain restaurant. I got Ravioli, and personally I would've picked a different italian restaurant, knowing how picky I am, but understand that food in Boston isnt cheap and Jess and Nick were on a budget so, all in all it wasnt bad, but it wasnt fantastic either.
5) Sunday morning we decided to explore Harvard Square and happened upon this little place called "Crema Cafe" OH MY GOD. It was packed, and for good reason. Jess and I go the most amazing sandwich I think I've ever had. It was whole wheat toasted bread with Goat Cheese, Sweet Potato, Apple Slices, Spinach, and Avocado. I want another one right now as I type this...SO GOOD! All in all LOVED that place.
6) We found ourselves slowly grazing our way around this day, so after walking to the river we worked up an appetite for BERRY LINE. Berry line is a place that sells frozen yogurt, but not that bullshit TCBY kind. It is legit frozen yogurt, I am still dreaming about it today. I tried three flavors - Raspberry, Original, and Banana, and they were all amazing. and the best part is you top them with fresh fruit or granola! LOVE IT! If you're ever in Boston you have to try Berry Line!!
7) On our way to Berry Line we walked past the cutest place ever. It was called Sweet. and all this little shop sold was the most adorable Cupcakes! Beautiful, Adorable Cupcakes of all varieties. Of course I had to try one of the mini Ones, it was rich and wonderful and I loved it. I felt like a little girl again in that place and Jeremy felt like he was in a doll house soo...haha it was still really awesome.
8) After we decided we were finished with Harvard Square we hopped on the T and ventured to NewBury street in Boston (the most famous street there, its covered in coach, and gucci and other designers). We walked around there, found a park, explore the library for all of 5 seconds before they kicked us out because it was closing, at which point we found ourselves a little thirsty. We wandered over to this awesome Irish Pub called Solas. There Jess and I each enjoyed an Irish Coffee (Baileys, Kaluha, Jameson, and Milk) and Jeremy enjoyed a Guinness, and the three of us shared a basket of Chips with curry sauce. It was good.
9) Veggie Planet - This is the FIRST and ONLY restaurant that I as a vegetarian could have selected any item on the menu! It was so nice to be able to look through and have the choice to eat anything on there! this is a rareity for me so I took it in and enjoyed every minute of it. We all decided that the dining area (which was too small, i mean really toooo small) wasnt very good, but that had we ordered take-out it wouldve been fantastic. Jess and I split a pizza with Butternut Squash, Goat Cheese, Carmelized Onions, and Garlic, and a small plate of Coconut Rice, and Broccoli covered in a Thai Peanut Sauce. AMAZZZZING. I loved it! Jes Loved it, Jeremy was less than thrilled, but happy that I was so happy Everything there was organic, free trade etc. All good more about it here - http://www.veggieplanet.net/
10) The Beanery - This was the restaurant inside the Albany Trainstation Stop. It had the most delicious potato salad! and even had vegetarian options...props to you little cafe for caring about those of us who don't eat meat!

Whew, that was a lot. But boy was it good (most of it anyway).

annnnnnd the second update isssss:
# 100 -"Visit Jess in Boston" - Done and now I will have to visit her in Brussels! We had an amazing time, I'm sure you can judge just by my reviews of the food. It was so wonderful to see my best friend, and to show Jeremy all of my favorite little spots in Boston - We did all kinds of things, like Lay in the Commons,

 Sam Adams Brewery Tour, 
 Explored Newbury Street, Walked through the Public Gardens, Saw Fanieul Hall and Quincy Mahket, Wandered around Harvard Square, tried new foods, etc. It was an amazing time, and we just got back last night here are some more photos, i took over 1000, but it would be crazy to post too many here!!

Updates! Updates! Get Your Updates Here!!

#60 - Go To 25 New-To-Me Restaurants (13/25)- 12 More to go! Jeremy and I tried another new restaurant, we figured, if we have to eat out, we might as well make it a new place right? So, we tried Mike's American Diner in Henrietta. BLARG. This place was the epitome of the obese American Diet. Now I'm not saying that Jeremy and I are tiny, because we aren't, but we're working on it. I mean this place (besides the bad-for-you food) had portion sizes that were absurd for one person to eat. Being that I'm now vegetarian (and there were limited options) I got the grilled veggie sandwich which was enough sandwich for four people I think. It was crazy big, and not very good at all. The service was a whole different problem, our waitress looked as if she'd been out pretty late the night before and was pretty hung over that Sunday Morning. Anyway, NO GOOD. I much more enjoy Sunday Breakfast at my house, or at James Browns if i'm going to go out :o)

#8- See 15 Brand New Bands (10/15) - There are a few to mention here now - I can't believe I forgot to update this sooner buuuut - As far as live music goes Jeremy and I have enjoyed a few new bands here recently - The first was called Thousands of One and they were fantastic - We had a great time, and they are awesome music to dance too, rocked it, loved it. The Second was - Dylon's Band Nevergreen, another really good band. I found them very enjoyable really good relaxed music, liked it a lot. The Third was DJ Ak-O Which is my friend Rob, He DjAYed at Dubland Underground inbetween bands and was really good. Loved it! The other new bands I saw with him are called The Manhattan Project. They were really good for the first 45 minutes. After that I had had enough, but they weren't half bad. Next I saw Malicious Intent - a rap duo that is managed my a friend of mine. They were decent, I always feel bad when I see white kids rapping because its so difficult for me to take them seriously. I know thats a rotten stereotype and generally I give them the benefit of the doubt. In this case, I happened to know one of the rappers and he's just so nice off stage it was difficult to take him seriously as a hardass. Thennnn At the seed factory reunion show I got to see Iceberg, and they were really good, I really enjoyed them, they're a great group of musicians. After that The Artists Formally Known as The Capitals played, I've seen some of these musicians play together before, and I knew them all, but the conglomoration was pure bliss and i really enjoyed it. Most recently as in Last Thursday, I stumbled into Boulder with the inclination that I was going to actually get some work done. Upon doing so I managed to write a paper whilst listening/enjoying some live music. That live music now known to me was a band called Jacob's List. They were really good definitely had a death cab/pixies meet the postal service and Rufio feeling to them. They were great...and could be better if they begin to understand that the audience does NOT like feedback :o( or maybe thats just the sound guys fault? Anyway, that brings me to 10! thats right 10/15 new bands, which means only 5 more to go! Yaay!

#28 - Throw a Surprise Party For Someone - (My Mom!) YESS! we did it! It was a complete success, and not only did we throw a surprise party for my mom, but we double whammyed her with two surprises. Her bestfriend Jenn(with two ns) flew in all the way from Colorado Springs to be here for the party. So Friday night I picked her up, Then Jenn(with two ns), Jeremy, my sister, and I proceeded to begin the catering for the party. Kelly god bless her, she walked all those trays with food down into the basement without making a sound the night before at 3:00AM. Promptly and unable to sleep I woke at 7:00AM the next day, ready to shower and collect the cake and the last few things we needed. Then hiding around the block in the neighborhood when we got the cue we quickly rushed in and began setting up as fast as we possibly could! At 3:00PM that afternoon everyone began to come, and hide in the basement (which was amazingly decorated, best family job yet! and the catering was even better!!). Then at 4:00 PM after three months of careful and very secretive planning my mom was taken by surprise at her very first 50th Surprise Birthday Party! :o) here are some photos:

Palm Trees out of Peppers and Carrots!

Apples Carved into Swans!

Deviled Eggs of Course!

Granny Smith Swans!

Just a small amount of the delicious spread!

This is the first thing the my Mom saw when we shouted SURPRISE!!

Friends and Family Feasting in Honor of Fifty Years!

My Beautiful Mom with Her Birthday Balloon, Shirt, and Necklace..did I mention that we also gave her 50 presents?!

Boyfriend and Beautiful little sister, Feasting and Playing with Party Favors

Other end of the table! It was a Looong Table!

My  mom's favorite color is purple, so heres a fruit tray...with Purple Dip!!

I think we could've been professional caterers! Haha It was so much fun, and such a relief, if you have a close relationship with your mom, then you know, its difficult to keep a secret!!! all in all a success I say!

#44 - Spend a Week Following A Strict Vegan Diet - I did this, didn't like it though. Its a lot to think about/ worry about all the time. By the way there are milk and eggs in EVERYTHING. Not to mention I really enjoy being vegetarian (at least the kind that still eats eggs and cheese).  But this experience definitely opened my eyes to how difficult it is for Vegans to go out to a conventiona restaurant and get something to eat. There is virtually nothing that you can really eat if youre vegan because the ingriedent lists aren't available which i've grown to increasingly appreciate in different restaurant. Anyway, I blogged on my other blog about begin vegan here http://www.fortheloveofmybody.blogspot.com/ but thats another one complete! ;o)

#53 - 4/10 - I've read another book! I actually finished it a while ago. Skinny Bitch. Love, love, LOVED it. Its hilarious, and crude, and awesome. If you haven't read it then you should! Currently I am reading (as always K.V.) and I'm starting a Chris Moore book that a friend of mine is letting me borrow, I think it will be perfect for the train ride to boston!

Well thats all the complete accomplishments I have for now! Quite a few I might Add! Love updates like this, they leave me feeling soooo accomplished. Currently I am working on quite a few more. I also wrote the entire list on my chalkboard wall in my Art room at home and have been sharing my list with tons of people. Its great! I see it all the time now too, at least every morning when I'm doing my yoga. It reminds me, and makes me even more determined...I'm thinking Europe in the fall...yeah...October even haha..we'll see! Graduation is almost here!! cannot believe it!!! Alright, well I'll be updating again soon, with photos from my trip to Boston! It's Jeremy's first time being there, and he's going to love it!! yaay!

                               

"# 60 - Go To 25 New-To-Me Restaurants"

"# 60 - Go To 25 New-To-Me Restaurants" - Looks like I only have 13 to go! Yipee!! We Tried Henry B's and it is the BEST ITALIAN JOINT IN ROCHESTER! My God I loved it! It was amazing, delicious, and when the kitchen door opened it smelled like my Nonnas Kitchen, 5 Stars for Henry B's Can't wait to go back. They eat family style (which i love) it was awesome. Can't wait to go back...

Thats all for now, more updating later...

Update! (things in motion!)

#23 "Graduate Before My Brother" - Almost Complete, applied for graduation yesterday! (02/01/2010) Graduation Date is 05/15/2010! :o) :o)!!!!!

#76 "Try 7 New Kinds Of Fruit" (2/7) I tried fruit #2 - KumKwats - They look like tiny little oranges, and I can't decide I if I like them or not, the whole eating the rind thing weirds me out...maybe theres a different way to eat them, but as of now, I'm not sure how i feel about them

#100 "Visit Jes In Boston" - we are buying our train tickets Friday 02/05/2010 to go visit Jess in Boston in March!!! Very Exciting and I'll be posting many a photo of the commons, and quincy mahhhhket when we return and this is officially completed :o)

Accomplishments, Accomplishments!

#60 - "Go To 25 New-To-Me Restaurants"- I know it looks redundant, but it's not! In fact there are only 14 more new restaurants for me to try! This is very exciting. Its only unfortunate that I have to mention Veneto (wood fired pizza and pasta)  was a total BUSSSST. The service was absurd. I know that Next Door Bar and Grill (wegmans restaurant) was amazing, and I couldnt help but find myself comparing the two. Veneto also operated in an open kitchen format. But it was disgusting. First we were sat so far away from everything it took away from any connection with the restaurant itself. And, while I myself worked many a shitty job, and behaved in ways I wish I could go back and change, I cannot believe the behaviors, attitudes, and just plain old crazy shit these employees were doing in front of us. It was distasteful, unprofessional, and downright disgusting. Having watched this Jeremy and I vowed never to return to such a distasteful place. Such is life, win some lose some. So thats another one for the list, and 14 more to go!

#36- "Take a Painting Class" - I'm doing it! Thats right folks, went to my first one at Buffalo State College yesterday! We're working with oil paints all semester, and I couldn't be more excited! So check that off the list as well!

Thats all for completions now...but i'm always working on a whole bunch of things at once, because thats how I roll ;o)

#60 - "Go To 25 New-To-Me Restaurants"

#60 - "Go To 25 New-To-Me Restaurants" - Thats right! check another one off here, I enjoyed "The Next Door Bar and Grill" with Jeremy last Friday evening. It was Deeeelicious! (Its the wegmans restaurant) and its a high end restaurant, better than we expected! and its not too expensive. It was amazing, we loved it, its not on our list of "where do you want to eat tonight" for our Friday date nights! :o) Love Love Loved it! Only 15 more to go!!