Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Fitness Goal #1: Run a 10k marathon in 1 hour

April 19, 2012 by Nicole Elise

Still working on this one – it WILL be achieved! Just need to train a bit harder.

In the meantime I have improved my endurance and speed and managed to finish the Vancouver Sun Run in 1:12. Just 12 mins away from my goal folks!!!

See all the details here.

 

Posted in 101 Goals | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Finances Goal #2: Set up an emergency fund with at least 3 months worth of ‘cost of living’ savings

April 15, 2012 by Nicole Elise

Earlier this year I made a commitment to start saving money more consistently than I ever have in the past.  I’m doing this by setting aside 15% of my income as soon as it comes in.

Essentially I PAY MYSELF FIRST.

This pot of money is called my Emergency Fund and I am eager to help it grow.

It is advised to have 3 to 6 months worth of living expenses in your Emergency Funds. And I have set my sights on achieving a minimum 3 months worth within my 1001 day challenge. I hope to hit this one out of the park and over-achieve on this.

Suze Orman actually advises an 8 Month Emergency Fund! I’d like to reach that one day – but I believe in baby steps!

I read up and  found this article to be very helpful and will list the steps here:

  1. Decide how much you’d like to save.
  2. Calculate your monthly expenses.
  3. Open an account.
  4. Determine how much you can afford to save.
  5. Set up automatic deposits.
  6. Find ways to boost your savings efforts.

In my case this goal is SUPER important to me.

I’ve experienced multiple instances in my life where I felt like kicking myself for not paying enough attention to my savings.In each case, had I a much larger & cushier Emergency Fund to bail me out I would have panicked and worried a whole LOT less.

I won’t go into too much detail about these instances, but needless to say, I have learnt my lesson… it only took a couple of times to get the message through!

After I drained all my savings (and then some) last year, (but I sincerely do not regret doing it as it was imperative to do so), I am ready to get back on track. :)

I’m assigning a figure to this goal. According to my calculations I need approx $2,200/ month to be OK. Thus, I will set aside (and not touch – unless absolutely necessary) a minimum of $6,600 by the time day 1,001 arrives. 

 

Posted in 101 Goals | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

Week #3 – Veggie Lasagna

April 14, 2012 by Nicole Elise

So I suddenly realized that one of my goals (not listed in my 101 goals list), to cook a proper meal once a week, requires me to COOK something each week and blog about it.

I suppose I will be blogging about 50 meals a year… that would be awesome :)

First meal – Veggie Lasagna…. yummy!!! I cooked this while watching Tea with Mussolini. A movie that came out in 1999 when I was 17.

Ah! To be 17 again! It makes me feel poignant…

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

Goal: General/ Misc #7 – Getting Wiggy with It

March 31, 2012 by Nicole Elise

My first goal – and what a fun goal that was! I LOVE wigs!!

General/ Miscellaneous #7: Buy another bright colour wig

I bought this wig to wear on my 29th Birthday party at the Waldorf Hotel on East Hastings. I never thought bright red hair would suit me so much!

The costume shop I bought it from is on Main and Broadway…. and it’s a great place for wigs!

I might just achieve this goal a couple more times over the next 3 years! haha

Posted in 101 Goals | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

101 Goals in 1001 Days: Day 1 March 29, 2012

March 31, 2012 by Nicole Elise

WOW! I haven’t updated my blog since July 2011!! I was in such a different phase back then – was just leaving a very UNHEALTHY life to start anew and I am so glad I did. My life is so different now – WAY better.

I had the pleasure of working with a totally awesome girl a few weeks back who was visiting our office from the States. She inspired me to start this project – 101 goals in 1001 days. Thank you sweetheart!!

Back when I was turning 26 I was really feeling low – so I created a “26 things to do when I am 26″ list to lift my spirits. It was a lot of fun and I managed to achieve a lot of items on that list!!

Now that I have hit MY BIG YEAR – 29 years of age on March 29th… My lucky birthday – I want to do something BIGGER!!

So the 101 goals in 1001 days is JUST PERFECT.

I am writing this on March 31st – but March 29th was officially my Day 1!! And  I already achieved one of my goals!! (More on that later).

In the meantime I will list my goals here. NB – I still need to add a couple! My LAST day of this challenge is December 25, 2014. Xmas Day!

So here goes:

(Cooking/ Food)

  1. Cook a Maltese meal for friends
  2. Learn how to cook my Nanna Pawla’s Torta tal-Qara Hamra (Pumpkin Pie)
  3. Learn how to cook my Nanna Liza’s Chicken a la King
  4. Learn how to cook my Dad’s famous b’fast: Hashbrowns & Cornbeef
  5. Learn how to cook my Uncle Jim’s Tortelli di Zucca
  6. Eat Hobz biz-Zejt (Bread with Oil) by the beach
  7. Cook a a Thanksgiving Turkey meal

(Fitness/ Health/ Sports)

  1. Run a 10k marathon in 1 hour
  2. Go on 3 dates involving a sports-related activity
  3. Try rock climbing
  4. Transform my body from an average/ slim build to toned/ muscular build
  5. Master a handstand
  6. Post a total of 321 posts on Ready Set Pedal, my fitness blog, by day 1001
  7. Try snowboarding
  8. Try snowshoeing
  9. Get laser eye surgery
  10. Help someone quit a vice like smoking
  11. Join a Sports Tournament
  12. Ride a tandem bike
  13. Establish a bedtime routine to help prepare for tomorrow and sleep better
  14. Create a list of my top 10 power foods/ drinks
  15. Buy a heart monitor
  16. Achieve a female six pack
  17. Organize a Euro 2012 Cup pool

(General/ Miscellaneous)

  1. Learn how to wear my hair curly/ how to style my natural wavy hair
  2. Identify 5 key colours that work really well for me (besides black and white) and buy 5 new items of clothing in each colour
  3. Chronicle my 101 goals experience on Ouest meets West (my blog)
  4. Write a letter to myself on day 1 to be opened on day 1001
  5. Compile a list of at least 5 people who have helped influence my life positively and write them thank you letters
  6. Get one of my friends to create a 101 goals list and help them accomplish one of the items on the list
  7. Buy another bright coloured wig DONE March 29, 2012 
  8. Fundraise for charity
  9. Overhaul my entire wardrobe for my new lifestyle in Vancouver – shoes, outerwear, work etc
  10. Buy a satin pillow case
  11. Wear a disguise & adopt a new personality/ character for an entire day
  12. Grow my hair out to a much longer length
  13. Write a fan letter to a person I admire
  14. Allow my hair to go back to it’s natural texture
  15. Show someone I love him/ her
  16. Sing Bohemian Rapsody at the top of my lungs in a car
  17. Compile a new 101 things to do/goal list after this one
  18. Adopt a new pet

(Finances)

  1. Pay off my debt
  2. Set up an emergency fund with at least 3 months worth of ‘cost of living’ savings Working on it!
  3. Find a new financial advisor
  4. Save 15% of ALL my earnings (salary) as soon as I get it.
  5. Contribute full amount towards my TFSA annually.
  6. Contribute full amount towards my RRSP annually.
  7. Take the necessary first steps towards owning my own place
  8. Create a budget and follow it
  9. Start a business

(Travel/Adventure)

  1. Go on a road trip
  2. Observe a natural phenomenon in nature
  3. Visit 3 new US States
  4. Visit 2 new CAD Provinces
  5. Swim in natural hot springs
  6. Go on a last-minute, spontaneous weekend getaway
  7. Watch the sunrise and sunset in the same day
  8. Feed an undomesticated animal
  9. Discover 10 new hiking trails.
  10. Skydive
  11. Ride a mechanical bull
  12. Learn to swim properly and hold my breath under water
  13. Jump into water from a high diving board/ cliff
  14. Try kayaking
  15. Appear on a Jumbotron at a game
  16. Take a Xmas photo with Santa
  17. Go on a beach vacation in the middle of winter

(Career/ Education)

  1. Learn Spanish
  2. Restart part-time studies.

(Hobbies/ Entertainment)

  1. Watch 29 movies I have never seen before
  2. Find a personally inspirational quote and work it into a piece of art/ home decor
  3. Write a screenplay
  4. Create a loving homemade gift for a friend or family member
  5. Ask 15 friends to recommend one book each – and read them all
  6. Take a monthly photo for the entire duration that I am 29 years old and turn it into a poster
  7. Host/ organize a themed party
  8. Organize a pub-crawl
  9. Experience a professional photography session
  10. Listen to Clair de Lune by Debussy in a beautiful and breath taking place
  11. Collect 5 more heart shaped objects
  12. Expand my repertoire of classical music
  13. Listen to classical music with someone while lying down in the dark
  14. Try a new musical instrument
  15. Play a video/ arcade game
  16. Host a Game/ Board Game night
  17. Play a prank on someone and film it
  18. Play a video/ arcade game

(Life experiences)

  1. Get a meaningful tattoo
  2. Do something memorable at both 12:12am and 12:12pm on 12.12.12.
  3. Get a BC Driver’s license
  4. Stop an elevator to steal a kiss
  5. Win a contest/ competition
  6. Expand my dating horizons
  7. Celebrate my 30th birthday in style

(Spirituality) 

  1. Discover a place in Vancouver where I feel connected to & can communicate with God
  2. Remember how to pray in Maltese
  3. Learn a new prayer from a different faith
  4. Visit a monestary
  5. Get more copies of my favourite “santi”
  6. Get something blessed

Posted in 101 Goals | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

Taking the ferry home…

July 21, 2011 by Nicole Elise

False Creek Ferries, Vancouver

My favourite way to get home by far – grabbing a False Creek Ferry from Granville Island.  

Posted in Photo from Vancouver, Vancouver | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

Not going anywhere

July 20, 2011 by Nicole Elise

Trapped Tram – Not going anywhere in a hurry (next to Olympic Village Station, Vancouver)

Felt a little sorry for this poor tram that looks abandoned. Reminded me of this song by Keren Ann…

 

Posted in Photo from Vancouver, Vancouver | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Older Posts »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.