Number 15: Attend a roller derby meet

 Went into Anchorage last weekend for some doctor/dental appts, shopping, and rollerderby!

 It was fun to see what a roller derby meet was actually all about.

 Watching those ladies out there really made me crave skating.  I miss have roller skates on my feet!

 I think if I lived in a place where there was a roller derby team, I would be very interested in being involved!

Good times!

Number 33: Make a rip rug

What to do with all those old t-shirts?  Throw them away?  Nah...too wasteful.  Turn them into rags?  You can only have so many rags.  So, I looked for something better!  And found this tutorial on making rip rugs.  

http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-braided-t-shirt-rug/

You can also use any other old fabric like old bed sheets or towels or whatever.  This rip rug was made out of a pair of Christmas themed fleece pajamas.  The fabric was too thick to put under the sewing machine, so I had to sew it by hand, but it turned out good.  Nice and soft and comfy.  Just perfect for putting your feet down on when you get out of bed in the morning or good for the dog to curl up on.

This rug was a little too tedious, so I've decided to try this method instead. http://www.craftpassion.com/2010/03/recycle-tutorial-woven-rag-rug.html

I've got one almost finished.  Maybe I'll work on it today!  

Number 28: Complete a 30 day challenge

Completed this challenge along with my roommate and our Bethel Biggest loser group.  It was a great way to kick start my weight loss and the participation in the group.

Number 25: Renew my Alaska teaching license

Done.  

It's kind of ironic that this came in mail the day after I've decided that I'm pretty sure I'm not coming back next year.  At least I have the option to come back anytime before 2020!

Number 14: Whiten my teeth

I had been thinking of whitening my teeth for awhile when I found a whitening package at Costco.  It included a 15 pack of regular Crest whitening strips and a 2 pack of 1hour express strips.  I decided that I was going to do the whitening over the summer while driving in the car.  I started with one of the 1 hour strips, then did the 15 strips over the course of the summer whenever I was bored driving in the car, then ended with the other 1 hour strip. I dont really have a before pic, but this is the after pic.  I do think it made a difference and even my dental hygienist said they looked good when I was there last week!

Number 2: Pay off a credit card

I've had this credit card since 1998.  It was the first one I got in college.  I've kept it all these years because they are a good company with good interest rates and frequently have low rate balance transfer offers and other perks.  It is the card that I used for all of the house remodel costs two summers ago.  This is the first time it has had a zero balance since 1998!!!!  That's pretty exciting!

Number 32: Visit a state I've never been to

Nebraska-stopped for a visit with friends for a couple days in Omaha

 Wyoming-camped in Yellowstone

 Montana-visited a friend in Belt, then spent a weekend in Bozeman

Number 11: Visit a new place in Alaska that I've never been to

 I visited several new places in Alaska this year.  Starting with a trip in to chaperone the ANSEP middle school academy.

 We visited the Sea Life Center in Seward, Alaska.  We did not get much of a chance to see the town, but enjoyed the ride down in a chartered bus.

 While Chris and Erin were in Bethel, I got to tag along on a trip up to Three Step Mountain.  After a long, rainy trip up river, we set up camp on a gravel bar in the rain just in time to see the stay clear up.

 The next morning was gloriously beautiful!!!

 We visited the fish counting station up river from Three Step and talked to the guys there about their operation.

 We enjoyed a warm, sunny boat ride home in which we stopped to go some filming for a documentary that Erin's dad was in town working on.  I was really impressed by how different the tundra was that far away from town....very healthy. 

A few days later, I traveled into Anchorage to meet up with Sadie.  We camped at Eklutna Lake in Chugach State Park with Chris and Erin.

 A few other former Bethel friends came out to the campground to hang out with us and we had a very good time.

 Next day, we went for a walk beside the lake with the dogs and let them romp in the mud.  Ryder even went swimming in the Lake although is glacier fed and freezing cold.

 Next, we went camping up near Hatchers Pass.  

We went hiking to a little lake that was still frozen around the edges.  Ryder loved the snow!  I really enjoyed hanging out with old friends.

We visited Independence Mine and took a little walk around.  We got yelled at by an angry marmot.  

Next day, we visited the muskox farm.

And the Knik River.

 All parts of Alaska are beautiful.  I love seeing every new place.

Number 31: Try 3 new chambord recipes

My neighbors gave me a bottle of Chambord and a bottle of Grey Goose as a thank you gift for watching their dogs over Christmas break.  That's how this bday list item came about.  I hadnt had any Chambord since college and I wanted to see if I could some up with a few new ways to try it.

Recipe 1: chambord, vodka, and OJ
This was pretty delicious and I would have it again, but I cant drink too many of these because the OJ is just too sweet.

Recipe 2: chambord, vodka, and diet sprite
This was also delicious and I could easily drink several of these because the sprite isnt too sweet.

Recipe 3: chambord and ginger ale
Yum.

Number 27:Disc Golf at one of the top ten

Smugglers' Notch Resort

Just as I was getting ready to leave Vermont, I happened to look at the top ten list to see if I would be passing close to any of them on my travels.  That was when I found at that there were two right there in Vermont all along.  In fact, we had driven right by the course ranked 7th in the US the day before.  Chris and I took a little jaunt over to this disc golf course and played 18 holes.  It was a beautiful course!  It was well maintained and took a beautiful path through the Vermont woods near Jeffersonville, Vermont.  I would highly recommend this course!  On your way out, stop by the local burger joint for the most amazing burger and homecut fries ever!

Sorry no pictures, I was having too much fun!

Number 26: See a Cirque du Soleil show this summer and Number 6: Vacation in another country

While in Vermont this summer, some friends and I decided to take a quick trip up to Montreal.  

 

We explored the city for the day at a park on the top of Mount Royal.  The view from the hill was impressive. 

 We ate sushi at a cute little sushi place that had sushi happy hour.  Then we walked around to some of the street fairs that they had in the city.  There were several that day and many streets were blocked off.  We spent quite a bit of time at a festival where they poured big piles of dirt in the street and had bmx bikers and skate boarders and such.

 We made our way down to the river front to complete our stroll and head toward the Cirque du Soliel tent.

 The show was called Curios.  It was a new show that just came out.  The cirque headquarters are located in Montreal.  All new shows premier there.

 It was a steampunk based story about weird and curious things.  

 We had tons of fun!  I always feel a little better about the world after I see a Cirque show.

 Then we walk around the cobble stone street down in the Old Montreal section of town and had a bite to eat.  It was crazy crowded, but still alot of fun.  I especially loved hanging out with friends.

We only spent a day in Montreal, so it wasnt a full vacation, but I've got a vacation already booked for spring break to Mexico.  Between the two trips, I think I can cross off Number 6.