It's a new year!

Well, I am officially 25. This past year has been a whirlwind, but I was reminded of my list I made a year ago: My 25 before 25 list.

I'm happy to say I was able to accomplish *most* things on my list ... but apparently I should've added #26: Start a family. 

The preparation and arrival of my new little man changed my life quite a bit, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Even with life changing dramatically, here's what I was able to accomplish over the past year!

1. Learn how to sew - well I am no seamstress, but I was able to sew my own crib sheets. Needless to say, after that adventure, I opted to buy the rest from Walmart!

2. Make a quilt - once I know how to sew :) - I started cutting out the squares ... that's as far as I got ...

3. Get in shape - Pregnant is a shape ... right?

4. Attend a triathlon to cheer on someone else - Yeah, that didn't happen

5. Go on a tropical vacation - We went on our "Babymoon" to Mexico! An amazing time together at the Occidental Grand Nuevo Vallarta in Riviera Nayarit. Would definitely recommend it! 

6. Host a successful event - Hosted the premiere for High Rise Studio's first feature film Last Run. Four sold out shows and people loved it!

7. Knit a unique baby blanket for our new baby! I started one ... but he was given so many new blankets, I gave up on mine.

8. Knit & finish a baby blanket - No, no, no ... not for myself. For a friend! - made for my cousins baby Lilah! She's such a babe.

9. Be featured in the media - ie. magazine, newspaper, TV, etc. - I was featured in The Record when I was one of the top three contestants for the Young & Free campaign. Check it out here! http://bit.ly/QNI4XQ

10. Make my own pie crust - this should've been the easiest one ... yet still on the list

11. Make damask pillow covers - chck them out here: http://jninaber.blogspot.ca/2011/10/like-kid-at-christmas-11-done.html 

12. Get a "Big Person's" job ie. a full time PR/Communications job - Got a job as a Marketing Strategy intern at Shaw Media in Toronto.  It was a full time contract position. Loved it!

13. Get rid of my debt - still working on that one

14. Get 1000 followers on Twitter - same answer as #13!

15. Train Hank to become a nursing home dog - or at least have him in the process of becoming one - Well he didn't get trained to become a nursing home dog, BUT we did put him in puppy training with Elite Dog Training in Kitchener. I would highly recommend them! They did wonders for our family and Hank.

16. Travel somewhere cool - We went to Mexico and Florida ... does that count?

17. Spend New Years doing something interesting & fun! Ummm yeah, we just stayed home. I'll be planning this in a few years!

18. Buy a new car I got a new (to me) 2010 Dodge Journey R/T fully loaded. LOVE IT! (And Matt got a new (to him) car too! A 2007 Saab 93 Turbo)

19. Have two+ of my press releases published - Two articles that I wrote for the DIY Network at Shaw were published in the Toronto Metro.

20. Learn how to make pesto - I learned that Costco's Kirkland pesto is the best pesto ever. Therefore ... no need to create my own!

21. Create a fabulous, culinary meal with a crazy, fancy name Well it didn't have a crazy, fancy name ... but I did make a roasted chicken for the first time with roasted carrots and potatoes ... and man was it delicious!

22. Reupholster our kitchen chairs - I decided I actually really like the chairs the way they are, so we are keeping them the same

23. Finish watching all of the seasons of LOST - We started Season 1 in September and finally finished the last season in March. I had never been so happy to finish a set of DVDs before.

24. Go on a spontaneous, yet semi-planned, road trip - Took a road trip up to Restoule with a 12-week old baby to visit my Memere & Pepere. What should've only taken 4 hours took 6, each way ... but it was worth it :)

25. See a Cirque de Soleil performance - Last fall we joined Rob & Stacey Musselman (nee Clayton) and Nelson & Kathy Dunk for an amazing performance of Cirque de Soleil Totem. If you ever have the opportunity to go see a Cirque performance, I would highly recommend it. You will not be disappointed!

Well there you have it. My last year in a nutshell.

Now to start thinking about my 30 Before 30 list! At least I have five years to complete this one ...

What's on your bucket list?

Welcome to the Family!

Well, a few months ago Matt and I welcomed a new member to our family. His name is Hank and at the time he was a 9 week old chocolate lab. Our little baby has grown up and we just celebrated his 8 month birthday last week. Where has the time gone?? Our little baby has grown into a man. If time flies this fast with a puppy, I can only imagine what life will be like as our family begins to expand.

Oh wait. Did I forget to tell you? It looks like time is going to start flying even faster, as Matt and I will be welcoming a new addition to our family this coming June 2012.

Yes. That's right. I'm about to become a mom ... and Matt's going to be a dad ... for real.

Probably one of the craziest feelings ever. Knowing that there's a new, little life growing inside of me right now. It wasn't until yesterday that it became even more real, when Matt and I went for our first ultrasound and had the opportunity to see our baby for the first time.

It doesn't matter how many ultrasounds you see, whether they're your friends, or people in your family. It completely changes when it's your own. Quite emotional, actually. More so than either of us expected.

And hearing the heartbeat for the first time .... unreal.

Anyway, we're so excited to become parents and to finally be able to share it with family and friends. I think if my family had to wait much longer to tell, they may just burst. So here is your permission to tell the world!

Life has been fully of changes lately, with the news of the little one, my placement in Toronto, and a bunch of random other things, but bring it on! I'm ready for a change :)

Oh, and it looks like my 25 before 25 is going to be due for a little change up ... but that's another post all together!

Let the mommy blogs begin!

#25 Done! Cirque de Soleil

On October 7th, with the help of some very good friends, I was able to complete #25 on my list: See a Cirque de Soleil Performance. 

Ninamusdunkton

This was my first time ever seeing Cirque de Soleil, and although I know many people who have been and heard many stories, nothing prepared me for the show that they put on.

We watched the show TOTEM, which is a "fascinating journey into the evolution of mankind", and man was it ever fascinating! The acrobatics and flexibility of these performers was unreal. Most of the night consisted of the six of us sitting there with our jaws to floor, watching the performances in complete awe.

Unfortunately we weren't able to take any pictures inside of the performance, due to copyright, but here are some pics from the Cirque de Soleil website (www.cirquedesoleil.com) to give you an idea of what we experienced.

Like a Kid at Christmas - # 11 done!

# 11. Make Damask Pillow Covers

 I was seriously just like a kid at Christmas when I finished these pillow covers. Seriously, one of the most exciting moments of my week!

They were so easy to make and came out fabulously! I'll admit, it took me a little while to figure out my ancient sewing machine, but once I got it all done, it was so easy!

I started with two pillow covers from Ikea and purchased the damask fabric from Fabricland in Kitchener. A big thanks goes out to The Crafty Gemini on YouTube for the super easy envelope pillow pattern.

Here's what I started with:

Black & White Damask fabric for two sets of pillows. 

White & Black Damask for the second sets of pillows I plan to make. 

The backing of the two pillows is black suede.

Then Ta-da!! My new designer pillows!

Another one crossed off the list!

#9. Be Featured in the Media

Thanks to my great family, I was reminded today that I have already accomplished # 9: Be Featured in the Media

On July 22, 2010, I was featured in The Record, for my involvement with the Young & Free Ontario competition. (Check out my blog post 193 - The Winning Number, for details on the results!)

Here is a link to the article: Young job applicants make their pitch online

One down, 24 more to go! (And if I make it into the media again, I'll be uber excited!)

My 25 Before 25 Bucket List

In approximately 439 days 10,548 hours, I will be turning 25. Yes, I can see how it might seem like it is a long ways away, but in actuality, I know it will be there before I know it.  


It made me start to think, what have I done with my life thus far? 


Yes, I know I have accomplished a lot, but I want to make sure I'm living my life purposefully, not be default.

That being said, I decided to come up with a 25 Things I Want to do Before I'm 25 list. It's basically a bucket list, but I didn't want to call it that as I don't plan on dying by the age of 25! 


But what better way to stay accountable and make sure I actually do it by tracking it with my blog?


So here is my list. As I complete them, I'll cross them off, and do my best to write a little blog about what happened each time.  If you think of something I should add to my list, (realistically speaking!) let me know :)


I realize that some may sound lame to you, and some may sound absolutely impossible, but for me there is usually a reason behind each one. 


I'll be honest, I'm actually freaking out as I write this, knowing that all of cyberspace will know my goals and whether or not I reach them. But better this than having them on some list that gets lost in my purse, and never knowing if I ever achieved what I was aiming for!


25 Things I Want to do Before I'm 25


1. Learn how to sew
2. Make a quilt - once I know how to sew :)
3. Get in shape
4. Train for (and hopefully complete) a triathlon - Thank you Susan Dunk for inspiring me! 
5. Visit Australia
6. Bungee jump somewhere exotic ie. Australia 
7. Travel to Ireland
8. Knit & finish a baby blanket - No, no, no ... not for myself. For a friend!
9. Be featured in the media - ie. magazine, newspaper, TV, etc.
10. Make my own pie crust
11. Make damask pillow covers
12. Get a "Big Person's" job ie. a full time PR/Communications job
13. Get rid of my debt
14. Get 1000 followers on Twitter
15. Train Hank to become a nursing home dog - or at least have him in the process of becoming one
16. Learn how to ride a motorcycle
17. NYC for New Years!
18. Surf - while in Australia
19. Have two+ of my press releases published
20. Learn how to make pesto
21. Create a fabulous, culinary meal with a crazy, fancy name
22. Reupholster our kitchen chairs
23. Go snowboarding at least five times this winter - and become really good at it
24. Go on a spontaneous, yet semi-planned, road trip
25. See a Cirque de Soleil performance


Well there you have it! A little daunting, but I think I can do it :)
Wish me luck!