The List – The Original

THE LIST HAS BEEN UPDATED – SEE THE NEW POST HERE – THE NEW & IMPROVED…LIST  The original list will stay since it’s the reason The Sustainable Sweet & Savory Gourmet exists…enjoy!

The List
I started the list a few years ago. I don’t want to call it a “bucket” list. The thought alone is depressing. I don’t want to call it a “new years resolution” list…then nothing on the list would ever get done. I’d like to think of this list as a life adjustment, personal goals, fun things to do, new things to learn, and places to go, list. I’ve been known to print copies of “to do” lists and place them in multiple locations in my house as a constant reminder to stay on track and get shit done! So… this is THE LIST. Yes THE List… the all-encompassing – no limits – big or small the thought, idea, experience, or goal… it will go on THE LIST… to be continuously edited as needed…

In no particular order…

1. Read at least 1 book a month (*6 books since the list started and working on the 7th)
2. Keep a daily journal (*the journal has been started but it’s not been daily, yet)
3. Visit with friends/family at least once a week (*slowly getting back into the social swing)
4. Write a book (*started…)
5. Loose 100+ lbs and keep it off (* 75+lbs so far…)
6. Create a personal savings
7. Participate in at least 2 charity runs/walks a year
8. Volunteer at least 2 times a year
9. Attend Pigs & Pinot
10. Attend the Sundance Film Festival
11. Write a screenplay
12. Join a working mom group
13. Do a weekly fun activity with my son (*The Little Gym once a week, a different park once a week, a trip to the beach or hiking once a week)
14. Take defensive driving courses
15. Create a photography portfolio
16. Attend SXSW
17. Book at least 2 photo shoots before 36
18. Attend Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival
19. Write a cookbook
20. Attend The French Laundry
21. Attend the Artichoke Festival in Castroville
22. Stay active in the EA and HR communities (*Updated my LinkedIn Profile and am reconnecting with former colleagues)
23. Read the Professional Chef as its intended purpose, a text-book (*Reading Part I – The Culinary Professional)
24. Attend “drop in” yoga classes where available (*Working on a fixed budget so I’ve purchased my former teacher’s book and am practicing 4 x a week from the book)
25. Attend Sonoma Valley Film Festival
26. Attend Café Beaujolais
27. Finish my son’s birth to 1 year baby book and start on the next (*I’ve got roughly 10 pages in but not yet past birth…I’ve got a way to go…)
28. Put together a family cookbook with recipes from as many family origins as possible (both mine and my husband’s) – (*now in the process of gathering recipes, pics, and stories.  This will be an ongoing project since I’ll be adding my own in addition to the family’s…)
29. To save $$ on the grocery bill, start making fresh breads, tortillas, and pasta (*I’m practicing making sour dough as we speak, pasta is easy just time-consuming, and tortillas are next on the list…) 
30. Host monthly rogue dinners focusing on local, organic, seasonal foods (*Guest list complete, site confirmed, date set… January 2012 here we come!)
31. Own/Operate a sustainable organic farm that supplies its own cafe (*I am working on the business plan and speaking with interested parties)

• Books to read:
  • Fraud – David Rakoff
  • Don’t Get too Comfortable – David Rakoff (*DONE)
  • Half Empty – David Rakoff
  • The Gonzo Papers – HST
  • The Curse of Lono – HST
  • Fear & Loathing on the Campaign Trail 1972 – HST
  • The Kitchen and the Cook – Nicolas Freeling
  • Down and Out in Paris and London – George Orwill
  • Fast Food Nation – Eric Schlosser
  • A Cooks Tour – Anthony Bourdain
  • Stanley Park – Timothy Taylor
  • Mother on Fire: A True Motherf%#$@ Story About
    Parenting – Sandra Tsing Loh (*DONE)
  • The Happiness Project – Gretchen Rubin
  • Medium Raw – Anthony Bourdain (*DONE)
  • Blood, Bones, & Butter – Gabrielle
    Hamilton
  • Waiting – Debra Ginsberg (*DONE)
  • The Emperor Wears No Clothes – Jack Herer
  • Chariots of the Gods – Erich von Danikan (*In process)
  • The Orion Mystery – Robert Bauval