Plugging Along

So I'm moving along quite nicely with my challenge. I've already completely crossed off three tasks, and I'm keeping up with the ongoing ones just as I hoped I would. Here's what I've been doing lately:

Bye Bye Blondie!
Admittedly, I've been a salon blonde for 10 years. Ten years...that's a lot of highlights! Too many highlights, actually. It was getting way too expensive to maintain the blonde, especially now that my hair has decided to naturally turn darker and darker (hey, at least it's not turning grey!) So one of my challenges (#13) was to embrace my inner (natural) brunette! I went to see Mandy, my hairstylist on Saturday, and she turned me back into a bruntette. There was definitely an initial shock. And I was feeling very unpopular Monday as people walked by me in the halls at work and didn't even say hello (because they didn't recognize me). But you know what? I'm really starting to love this brunette thing. I feel a little more mysterious...a little dangerous. And - dare I say it - a little bit sexy.

Lebanese Food = Yum!
A couple of weekends ago, I tackled two challenges at once by eating at a new Lebanese restaurant called Sitti. I'd never eaten Lebanese food before, so it was a new kind of cuisine for me (#8); and it's a brand new restaurant in downtown Raleigh (#77). The food was fantastic - a yummy combination of my favorite Mediterranean flavors (lemon, mint, feta) with a Middle Eastern twist. I enjoyed my tasty beef Kebabs and Lebanese-style rice (with almonds on top), and some puffy pita bread with a creamy, lemony feta cheese dip. Delicious!

Still Reading
I've been plugging away at Pearl Buck's The Good Earth, the first of my 10 classics (#12) for about a month now. It's actually a good book so far - it's just that I keep getting distracted by other books as I'm reading! So I'll read a few chapters, put it down to start and finish another book, read a few more chapters, etc. My goal is to have it done by the end of the year. I have two weeks - I should be able to manage that, even with my toddler-like attention span.

Feeling Charitable
There are no shortage of charities asking for donations at this time of year. And, unfortunately, in the past, I've been one of the many people who tends to ignore them. But not this year. I've made good on my one charitable donation per month so far (#1), even exceeding that by a couple I've donated to several food drives and St Jude's Children's Hospital, and I'm looking into gift ideas for people that have some kind of charitable contribution associated with them. I know there are hundreds of smaller charities out there who need the support as well - so it'll be my goal to find some of those over the next 31 months. It does feel good knowing that, even if it was in the tiniest of ways, I might actually have helped someone. I also purchased a Christmas gift for a child in need (#82). What did the bookworm Jen buy? A book, of course.

I know I shouldn't covet things, but...
I really love this purse. Reallllllly love this purse! I want this to be THE purse (#19). Unfortunately, it falls into the "prohibitively expensive" category (#56), which is why I've been paying it visits in Nordstrom instead of actually owning it. So I'm saving my pennies, which are starting to really add up, but not quite quickly enough. At this point, maybe I'll be able to purchase this purse by the end of my challenge. If not, at least I'll have enough pennies saved up for something else really special (#14).

Other things I'm working on
I ran out of perfume, so now I'm on a hunt for my signature scent (#18). I'm sniffing my way through all the fragrance counters on my Christmas shopping trips to the mall. So far my searching has left me with nothing but a scent-infused headache, but I'm hoping one day soon I'll find something I love.

I actually started writing a short story (#5). I'm not very far with it yet, but the basic idea is in place. Inspiration keeps hitting at odd moments...but at least the writing wheels are turning again.

Push-ups...oh dear. I can stay on my toes (#25) for about 30, but then it's either drop to my knees, or collapse in a heap on the floor. I'm trying to build my upper body strength by lifting weights, too, which means I'm constantly SORE! My chest muscles and triceps are always burning. I suppose that's a good thing. If anything else, I will have nicely-toned arms this summer! :)

My plans for tasks in the New Year: to take some cooking classes (#9), attend at least one cultural event (#20-24), and do to a little bit of traveling, which should help me reach some of my other goals.

Happy Holidays everyone!