101 IN 1001 UPDATE!

Today I am beyond excited to be attending the TED Conference in Times Square. Seeing a TED Talk live is one of the goals on my 101 in 1001 list so I thought a little update would be timely! Here's what I've crossed off since my list started on January 1:

{all items available here}

1. Reconnect with my French host mom.

I lived with a host family in Tours, France, my junior year of college and became super close with my host mom, Marine. I may or may not have had to pull out my French-English dictionary to double check my first email to her but it was so great to hear about what's new with her (two of my host sisters are now married with kids!) and get to tell her what the tiny little study abroad blog I started four years ago has become. 

2. Reconnect with my favorite high school teacher.

Is anyone else terrible at keeping in touch? I really recommend this one to anyone and everyone who's thinking of writing a 101 in 1001 list. Such a happy goal!

5. Go one month without shopping.

You can read all about that right here!

26. Switch to Gmail and unsubscribe from unwanted email lists.

Gmail is a game-changer (don't ask what took me so long) and unroll.me is great for getting rid of pesky newsletters.

27. Upgrade to the iPhone 5S and update all my apps.

I promptly shattered the screen, but that's beside the point...

30. Host a blogger brunch in the city.

This was such a special day. See all the pictures here!

31. Start a new blog series.

The career spotlights have become such a highlight of my week and a point of pride for Design Darling. The feedback from you all has been phenomenal (keep the emails and tweets coming!) and I'm excited to keep bringing you new features every other Wednesday. Read the first five interviews here!

32. Buy Photoshop and take Blogshop.

I loved this class! I walked in having never opened the program on my desktop and left two days later with a newly acquired wealth of knowledge I didn't know was possible in such a short period of time. By the way, you can download a free 30-day trial of Photoshop and then pay $19.99 a month! It's a great alternative to one big expense and it ensures you'll always have the most up-to-date version.

53. Move downtown.

Oh how I love my new apartment!

75. Visit my friend Sara in Atlanta.

Such a fun trip. I can't wait to go back!

79. Visit Austin with Will. 

Ditto!

83. Leave a 100% tip for great service.

Will and I eat at Café Cluny at least a couple times a month and one time he ordered a drink that neither of us cared for. The waiter asked if everything was okay and we just said it wasn't our favorite, no big deal. The waiter then erased the drink from our bill — a thoughtful gesture that promptly warranted him getting the cost of the drink and then some as an extra tip. This is now one of my favorite random acts of kindness — waiters and waitresses work so hard and it makes me happy to reward them for a job exceptionally well done. (P.S. More random acts of kindness here!) 

87. See three Broadway plays.

Check out which ones I saw here!

- - - 

I continue to really enjoy keeping my 101 in 1001 list and encourage all of you to write one too! As always, if you tweet me the link to your list, I'll add a link to your blog at the end of my list. I LOVE this little community of goal-setters and it's so much fun for me to watch you all tackle your lists as I chip away at mine! Oh and I'll be tweeting from the TED conference today so be sure to follow along here! xx

Today I am beyond excited to be attending the TED Conference in Times Square. Seeing a TED Talk live is one of the goals on my 101 in 1001 list so I thought a little update would be timely! Here's what I've crossed off since my list started on January 1:

{all items available here}

1. Reconnect with my French host mom.

I lived with a host family in Tours, France, my junior year of college and became super close with my host mom, Marine. I may or may not have had to pull out my French-English dictionary to double check my first email to her but it was so great to hear about what's new with her (two of my host sisters are now married with kids!) and get to tell her what the tiny little study abroad blog I started four years ago has become. 

2. Reconnect with my favorite high school teacher.

Is anyone else terrible at keeping in touch? I really recommend this one to anyone and everyone who's thinking of writing a 101 in 1001 list. Such a happy goal!

5. Go one month without shopping.

You can read all about that right here!

26. Switch to Gmail and unsubscribe from unwanted email lists.

Gmail is a game-changer (don't ask what took me so long) and unroll.me is great for getting rid of pesky newsletters.

27. Upgrade to the iPhone 5S and update all my apps.

I promptly shattered the screen, but that's beside the point...

30. Host a blogger brunch in the city.

This was such a special day. See all the pictures here!

31. Start a new blog series.

The career spotlights have become such a highlight of my week and a point of pride for Design Darling. The feedback from you all has been phenomenal (keep the emails and tweets coming!) and I'm excited to keep bringing you new features every other Wednesday. Read the first five interviews here!

32. Buy Photoshop and take Blogshop.

I loved this class! I walked in having never opened the program on my desktop and left two days later with a newly acquired wealth of knowledge I didn't know was possible in such a short period of time. By the way, you can download a free 30-day trial of Photoshop and then pay $19.99 a month! It's a great alternative to one big expense and it ensures you'll always have the most up-to-date version.

53. Move downtown.

Oh how I love my new apartment!

75. Visit my friend Sara in Atlanta.

Such a fun trip. I can't wait to go back!

79. Visit Austin with Will. 

Ditto!

83. Leave a 100% tip for great service.

Will and I eat at Café Cluny at least a couple times a month and one time he ordered a drink that neither of us cared for. The waiter asked if everything was okay and we just said it wasn't our favorite, no big deal. The waiter then erased the drink from our bill — a thoughtful gesture that promptly warranted him getting the cost of the drink and then some as an extra tip. This is now one of my favorite random acts of kindness — waiters and waitresses work so hard and it makes me happy to reward them for a job exceptionally well done. (P.S. More random acts of kindness here!) 

87. See three Broadway plays.

Check out which ones I saw here!

- - - 

I continue to really enjoy keeping my 101 in 1001 list and encourage all of you to write one too! As always, if you tweet me the link to your list, I'll add a link to your blog at the end of my list. I LOVE this little community of goal-setters and it's so much fun for me to watch you all tackle your lists as I chip away at mine! Oh and I'll be tweeting from the TED conference today so be sure to follow along here! xx