Christmas busy

Got really busy with the holidays. Will start on the list again soon!

Bonus: Sunday Brunch

      So I ended up doing a proper Sunday brunch this past weekend. I know it's not on the original list but a bonus activity. I figure, though, that this could help out in the future completion of the list. I had suggested it to a Meetup group that I am in. (For those of you that don't know meetup.com, it's a social network where people with similar interest in your area get together.) Because I suggested this outing, I was made the Event Host. I wasn't really thrilled with being the host for the simple fact that I didn't want the responsibility, but it did make certain that I actually attended the brunch. (There could have been a very good chance of hitting the snooze too many times.)

So, the group decided to go to Point Brugge Cafe. It's this cozy little neighborhood cafe in an updated townhouse. The rumor is that Point Brugge is a very popular brunch spot and gets crowded quickly. So we decided to beat the rush and go early at 11:30. I was surprised to find out that even that early it still had a forty-five minute wait. So spontaneously enough we decided to eat outside on the patio. I know, crazy right? Five days before Thanksgiving in Pittsburgh, and we're eating brunch outside. However, it was actually pretty warm out. I believe the temperature was somewhere in the fifties. We wore our jackets, some people got hot drinks, and the sun was shining. So, it was actually pretty pleasant outside on the patio. 

 

      As for the food, let me tell you that this is an awesome place for brunch. They even have a special brunch menu that has many unique dishes with distinct ingredients. For instance they serve brioche with eggs, crab cake eggs benedict, and a mussels bowl. Obviously the menu took some serious studying at first. Most of the group decided to get the Prix Fixe Selection. This is their version of create a combo except it also includes a brunch alcoholic drink, yay! So after serious consideration, I got the Margarita Frittata with Creamy Polenta and a wonderfully sweet Mimosa. Except for the mimosa, these were all new things that I had never tried before. The polenta was like a delicious grainy oatmeal with walnuts, cherries, and a touch of honey. My frittata was also very good being much like an omelet with basil, but it had a little too much tomato in it for me. (I've never been one with the tomato’s.) All in all, this was a wonderful meal on a gorgeous day, with great company.

      Brunch is definitely now becoming my new favorite meal. How can you go wrong when you combine alcohol and breakfast food. It's the perfect combination! I am now looking forward to the next time I am awake enough to do brunch. And I am very happy to find a new restaurant that I love. Where I can take friends to for a unique and fun experience.

Updates on #8 and #9: Cheesy letters and traveling the world

      So, I've slowly been making progress on the list. Not as much as I would like, but I feel confident that it will get completed by D-day. I could blame the lack of completion on a hectic life, but it may also be forgetfulness and even some fear. For instance, I went to a bar last weekend where there was karaoke and many bad singers. I would have fit right in. However even after several drinks, I could not get up the nerve to sing solo. I will follow through with this though. Just give me a moment.

      As for 8, and 22. There has been some progress on these long term goals. Now I know #8, write letters to my family, is a little cheesy, but I think it is important. Especially since we haven't always had the greatest relationships. With my parents divorce, being raised by a young single mother, and going through my own very rough teen years my family relationships have been strained at times. I feel better about them now, but is hard to tell them how much they mean to me. My family does not naturally share their emotions to begin with. We barely hug or say we love each other. We do show each other all the time though. For instance, if I call my mom and grandma and say I'm sick, I will wake up with bags of groceries at my door. Still, I feel it is important to actually tell them what they mean to me. So, I decided to buy blank greeting cards. On their birthdays, I'm going to write how much I care about them and why. Not only does this seem like the least cheesy way of doing it, but what a great gift to get on a birthday. So starting Saturday for my mom's birthday, I will begin to complete #8. Within a year, I will have let all my close friends and family know what they mean to me.

      On another note, I wanted to mention I now have a USA passport! I feel very confident that #9 will happen. I'm aiming for a summer job in Italy. My application is almost complete and ready to send in. (Wish me luck.) If that doesn't happen, I would be happy with something simpler like Toronto or Mexico. Especially Mexico since it is on the bucket list.

Till next time.

1. Study a new language

      So I started number one on my list a few months ago. This came about because I'm thinking of applying to a job in Italy for the summer. Realistically, the chances of me getting the job are slim since they hire from many different countries. However on the off chance that I do get the job, I figured knowing some Italian would definitely be a plus. So, for the past few months I've been studying Italian with Rosetta Stone. Now if your not familiar with Rosetta Stone, it's a computer program you work on independently at your own pace. It uses full immersion to teach you the chosen language. This means there is no English spoken at all. This is a little confusing at first since it is kinda setup like a computer game and videos. But, you can catch on quickly. It's kinda fun and something to do in the few moments of free time I have. It goes through writing, reading, grammar, and speaking. The speaking can be a little embarrassing when my roommate hears me yelling buon giorno in my bedroom because my mic is acting up. But all in all, I think it will be fun to say I know another language. Also, if my dream does come true and I make it to Italy, I will be able to find a bathroom and order a pizza. Which I feel both will be extremely helpful and important.

      So, for now I started my list completion with number one. I'm thinking of doing number 19 soon. Also I want to start looking into volunteer opportunities. I'm just not sure what I want to do. I need a break from children and adult conversation would be wonderful. So any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Till next time, Arrivederci'

The List

       I start this blog as a twenty-eight year old. I have a cute little apartment. A job I work hard at and for the most part like. My family is as nuts as everyone elses, but I'm learning to love that about them. My friends have scattered across the country after college. Which can be hard at times, but also nice when it's time to take a vacation. I like to do new things, but feel I could be more spontaneous and adventurous. I'm nervous about who I am and where I'm going, just like everyone else.

So here I am, on my own again. Starting a new chapter in my life after going through a very rough patch. What better time then now to challenge myself with a list of things to push my boundaries, make me uncomfortable, and have a little fun.

      Now I have to admit, this is not in original idea. I actually stole this idea from an old friend who is doing the same thing, blog and all. After googling this idea, I found it wasn't an original idea for her either. I guess I'm a little slow with the new trends. But anyway, I think this will be good for me. This list about me and doing things for myself and learning more about myself. I did not put any obscure ideas like getting married, travel the world or win the lottery. I tried to make it realistic and possible to do in my time frame. Which is a little less then two years. (Yes, I am 28 now.) I also included a few back up options just in case a few are impossible because of time or money. I won't chicken out of any, but I am not a millionaire either.

     Why publish this for everyone to read? Well, first I doubt anyone will read it, and second even having a blog is pushing my limits. Normally I am a private person. I don't update my facebook status every hour. I don't have youtube videos of myself falling down stairs. I share on a need to know basis. But since this list is about learning more about myself and pushing myself to do new things, and blogging seemed to fit. So here’s the list and as I complete items I will update you all on my little adventures. It should be fun and I'm sure very interesting.

1. Study a new language.
2. Try being a vegetarian for a month.
3. Skydive
4. Cook a holiday dinner for family.
5. Volunteer when I don't have the time.
6. Sing karaoke solo.
7. Buy myself a nice piece of jewelery.
8. Write letters to my family members about how much I love them.
9. Travel to any foreign country.
10. Learn to snowboard.
11. Go white water rafting.
12. Camp in a tent in the middle of nowhere.
13. See the pacific ocean.
14. Give more then I can afford to charity.
15. Ask a stranger to dance.
16. Host a dinner party for friends.
17. Help a stranger.
18. Attempt to surf.
19. See a movie alone.
20. Have a weekend spa retreat with girlfriends.
21. Take my grandma on vacation.
22. Make my new apartment feel and look like a home.
23. Take a self-defense class.
24. Run a 5k.
25. Dance in the rain.
26. Break something on purpose.
27. Oktoberfest at a brewery.
28. Go on in all-American road trip.
29. Dancing lessons.
30. Visit a winery.

Extras

• Swim with dolphins.
• Go to a proper brunch
• Get my makeup professionally done.
• Try an expensive champagne.
• Be in a flash mob.
• Para-sail