TWENTY-FIVE THINGS: MID YEAR CHECKUP

It's the middle of the year and it's time to re-visit my 25 things in 2012 list! I'm excited about some of the things I've done so far and I'm looking forward to accomplishing more things from this list!

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>>> 1. Take the DIY Dress-Up E-Course. -- I've purchased the e-course, but I've yet to start it. I feel like this one has been put on hold due to moving and another move coming up this month! But this is definitely still on my list of things to accomplish! 

>>> 2. Read 3 business//development-related books or e-courses. -- I'm halfway through the Dream Job e-course, but I still have a pile of business books, yet to be read! I've always had a difficult time adding reading time into my routine, but I need to figure out something soon!

>>> 3. Learn to bake French Macarons. -- I bought a Macaron cook book, and I've poured over all of the different recipes. I need to pick up some baking supplies to make them, but once we move and settle in, I'll be SO excited to start. :) 

>>> 4. Start going to bed earlier and waking up earlier on weekdays. -- Check! Jon and I have gotten a lot better about heading to bed around the same time every night and waking up earlier. I'd like to continue working on that routine and eventually wake up even earlier. 

>>> 5. Do project HIS & HERS. -- I've played around with a few ideas for this, but I haven't put it all together yet. This will be a photography project, but I still need to work on defining it. 

>>> 6. Move into our first house//townhome! -- Almost! We are only about three weeks away from the big move and we couldn't be more excited! Follow our condo re-design progress here. :) 

>>> 7. Take 2-year anniversary photos. -- Check! My sweet sister took some shots of Jon and me to celebrate two years of marriage last month. See the post here. 

>>> 8. Pay off 2 of my final 4 student loans. -- Jon and I have been working SO HARD on paying off my student loans. In may, we realized that we have hit our half-way mark! We started off with 10 loans total are are down to 4. We will definitely pay off another this year, and we're hoping to squeeze in one more before the year ends. 

>>> 9. Have at least five Pinterest parties this year. -- So far this year, we've had two Pinterest Parties! Check out the posts here and here. We have plans for another this month, and several more before the end of the year. 

>>> 10. Organize all of our family documents, memories, and MISC paperwork. -- This is a when-we-move-into-our-condo, to do item! 

>>> 11. Attend a marriage retreat with Jon. -- Check! Jon and I attended a getaway at the beginning of the year and loved it. We are hoping to make it a yearly tradition to get away and focus on our marriage. 

>>> 12. Complete first year of 5-year journal. -- Work in progress. 

>>> 13. Become an official member of our church. -- Check! Did this with Jon quite a few months ago. 

>>> 14. Have at least six 7-11's. -- We've had several 7-11's this year. 7-11's are our sometimes monthly get together with close friends. It's been such a special tradition we started when we first got married and we've loved spending time with such a special community here in Atlanta. 

>>> 15. Print and frame wedding photos for our home//make blurb books for our home and for our family. -- Goodness! I NEED to get this done. 

>>> 16. Explore 5 new places in the Atlanta area. -- Check! It's safe to say that I've been to several new places in Atlanta this year. From antique stores to new restaurants, it's been so special discovering how unique the place I live in is. It's definitely helped my "the grass is greener" attitude about Atlanta. 

>>> 17. Take a summer workshop at SCAD. -- This did not happen. Hoping to squeeze in some time of class or workshop this year to make up for it! Maybe I'll take a couple classes from ALT? 

>>> 18. Launch the new re-design of www.MaieDae.com. -- Check! This was such an exciting thing to accomplish this year. It's great to have a professional website and a new logo that we LOVE. See posts about it here and here. 

>>> 19. Go thrifting or antiquing one time each month. -- This has been one of my favorite challenges this year. I've loved finding new shops, scoring amazing treasures and recording it on the blog! See each month so far: JAN, FEB, MARCH, APRIL, MAY, and JUNE. 

>>> 20. Put together special date night calendar with Jon. -- Check! See my date night calendar DIY and post about date nights here. 

>>> 21. Start and develop new Balance series on blog. -- Check! I've been trying to make it a goal to post about balance each month. This is something I'm really passionate about. I love this series and I plan to continue it! See balance series posts here. 

>>> 22. Participate in another craft show. -- Jenny and I have plans to participate in another craft show at the end of the year. It's been so nice to close down the online shop and focus on blogging and our graphic design jobs, but it will be such a treat to be in another show! 

>>> 23. Read the "No Brainer Wardrobe", purge my closet, define my style, and begin to shop more intentionally. -- Check! I really enjoyed reading through this e-course and slimming down my closet. I definitly suggest reading the "No Brainer Wardrobe"!  

>>> 24. Create an organized dinner menu with easy//healthier recipe options. -- While we've been eating healthier and trying new things we haven't developed a dinner menu yet! I'd like to do this when we move. 

>>> 25. Make artwork with our wedding vows. -- Haven't done this yet! But I'm looking forward to making something special from our vows. 

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I'm feeling good about my progress! It's been a fantastic year so far. :)