COMPLETED - 30. Enter a jewelry making contest

Yesterday I ended a contest through a jewelry making community I belong to called Bead Space. It is a simple contest for necklace design, but since this was something I wanted to do on my goal list, I decided to go ahead and try. There is no big cash reward or prestige involved, but it is a way to share what I do with the jewelry making community and that is important. If I get up the nerve I have another contest I'm thinking of entering that does involve both cash and prestige, but for now this is my contest completed.

This is the necklace I submitted.

11. See some of the local sights - Allentown Lights in the Parkway

It seems like setting this goal was a good idea. Every time I turn around, I'm seeing something local I never knew existed or that I had always wanted to see. This time it is the Allentown Lights in the Parkway Christmas lights display. It was really great to see and even better to see it with the snow and ice reflecting all of the lights.

COMPLETED - 17. Get a car

This goal is officially completed. Hard to believe I managed to get it done before the end of the year, but I am happy that I did.

Here is the new addition to my car history.
My Tahoe.

31. Tell People if Things are Wrong

I've decided to use this post to do just that.
Recently it has come to my attention that people have been using the things that I write on this blog as a way to show that I am apparently doing something wrong or acting in an inappropriate fashion. They are trying to use these posts, and the overall positive reasons for them and these goals, as a negative to use against me. I cannot let that be.

I think that it is wrong for people to seek out information to hurt others. I am not ashamed of what is written here and feel that I have done nothing wrong in sharing my transformation. The purpose behind the 101 challenge is to step outside of our comfort zone, maybe do things we've been wanting to do and never did, or to help each of us find a way to improve ourselves. It is not to show negativity or meant for shame. If it was, none of us would share it. In that sense, I am joined by thousands of people across the country, and world even, who like me see themselves up to the challenge of deciding on 101 things that they feel will improve their lives.

Trying to use this experience against me is extremely wrong. I don't feel that I am writing anything that is negative or that could hurt others. I am writing simply what needs to be written to complete a goal. I have purposely left out full names of friends who are involved in those posts to help keep them from being thrown all over the internet. I have not left those names out for any malicious reason and for someone to believe so if astounding.

I am proud of the things that are listed here for me to complete. I truly feel that by doing each of them, I will be "the best Becki I can be" and I am sorry if any of my goals seems to offend someone or seems to instigate some sort of vindictive behavior on their part. Unfortunately though, there are people out there who don't know when to mind their own business or in fact what their own business truly is. These posts are out there for the world to see. They are obviously not being hidden.

To all of you who read along and who have made positive comments both on this blog and through emails, thank you for being here during this journey.
-Becki-

TWO COMPLETED - 64. Try 3 new things that someone suggests

Last night G and I went to see the Eagles concert in Philadelphia. Pretty much anyone who knows me knows what a big deal this is since I have a fear of large crowds, especially in new situations so I've decided to use this as one of the ways to complete this goal. When G suggested it, I wasn't so sure, but once I was there I had a really good time. He held my hand and told me that if it became too much to just let him know. Just knowing he was next to me and would leave if I needed to made it possible for me to simply relax and have a good time. Of course, it also helped that the crowd was all older (old enough to be our parents) for the most part so they weren't really loud. I'm proud of myself for going.

COMPLETED - 97. Write a novel

I did it!
At the end of last month J shared some info for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and since I knew one of my goals was to basically just write again, I took the challenge.

Basically the idea was to write a 50,000 word novel between November 1 and November 30, 2008 and today I wrote word number 50,035! My novel is complete. I can't believe I actually managed to get this goal done so quickly. Of course, now I need to edit and make sure it's worth reading, but I did it and that's what matters most.

Here is the cover:

ONE COMPLETED - 59. Get regular hair cuts every 2 months

Ok, so it wasn't 2 months, but I still managed to get a much needed haircut, so it counts. Here are some before and after shots. It was SERIOUSLY needed.

BEFORE:

AFTER: