12 Before '12

I was reading one of the five thousand blogs I follow semi-regularly the other day, and saw this very cool concept of doing a "12 before '12" list. Basically it's just twelve things you want to accomplish before 2012. I like the short time span and the fact that if I complete this, I'm gonna feel hella accomplished on January 1st 2012. So here's mine!

1. Learn how to use photoshop.
It's my unofficial New Year's resolution (right under eat better and actually go to the gym) to really upgrade this blog. So I must learn to use this tool. My friend Katie, over at Adieu Aurelia is a total pro at it, and has inspired me to try as well, because I seriously covet her blog's look these days.

2. Finish a book.
I used to love reading. Now all I can really say I've read are coursepacks about pipe sizing and textbook about reactions engineering. Barf. So as soon as December 21st hits, I will throw myself back into the third book of the Millenium trilogy (which I had started but has been collecting dust all semester now).

3. Actually get a real night's sleep.
At first I wanted a proper night's sleep, or a sleep marathon. Now I've decided to perform a "bed-in," and so mom, you've been informed now, sometime during break I will spend 24hrs in my bed, getting up only for the bathroom and food.

4. Pass all my classes.
Ya, for some, that's a given. But for the engineering world..... It's always a toss-up. So in order to feel like I truly deserve my Christmas vacation, I plan to be absolutely insane and study like 15hrs a day for 2 weeks. Then I will pass everything, drink a lot of champagne, and then... well, see #3. Also having this on my list is like my positive thinking moment of the day!

5. Finish training my cat.
We've conquered the morning routine, she can now hold off until 10am before jumping on me. Sometimes she won't even jump, she'll just meow or she will lie on top of me and purr really loud until I get up. Which I can't say is the worst thing ever. Still. We gotta polish that one off before she meets Grandma Line, cause those shenanigans won't fly in her house, lemme tell ya.

6. Write a post for my bestie Sarah's wonderful new blog, Art for Art.
I really want to work on my writing abilities, and I feel like this is a great opportunity for a really cool project. I just need to brainstorm on what exactly I'm going to talk about!

7. Write a book review for the lovely Sarah.
So again, more writing. Sarah just needs a ton of writing samples from people and well I love to whore around my writings. I plan to write on a book I fell in love with years and years ago. Stay tuned, I'll post it on this blog too!

8. Paint my nails AND toenails.
Ok this one sounds dumb, I know. But for about two months now, I haven't painted either, and I feel naked! And unkept!

9. Invest in fleece-lined leggings.
Winter is coming, ok? And while I used to hate leggings so so much (leggings are not pants!!), I kinda love wearing them with tunic-length shirts now. So fleece lining means I can continue this even when it's freezing outside. Yay! Also did you all know there's fleece-lined jeans? My question is, how long must those take to dry after a wash, RIGHT!!!

10. Watch the new Twilight movie.
I'm just curious to see if I'll have a seizure too...

11. Finish my pile of magazines.
Every December, I buy a copy of all the magazines I love (Glamour, Fashion, Elle Canada, InStyle, and even the dirty dirty Cosmopolitan), because this month and only this month, I get to read MY horoscope. In big, expanded form. Right now I have my core five piled up on my desk, begging for a read. Before January 1st, I will get through them all!

12. Become a bona fide tea addict.
I feel like this will bring about many positive things. Firstly, it helps keep you from getting sick, cause the heat kills bacteria or something. I'm not sure about that one, but a med student told me that, so I took it as factual. ALSO. Tea is mostly water, which means I will drink more water, which will do wonders for my skin and such.
But most of all, let's be honest, I just want to look cool carrying a cup around all the time, and chai tea is yummy.
How will I measure this feat? If my tea drinking abilities are at 3 cups a day by January 1st, I will give myself a thumbs up in the mirror and consider this task accomplished!


Wish me luck, and let's check back in January 1st to see how (hopefully) well I did!