5. Go Camping 5 Times (1/5).

This past October, the BF and I camped Bonelli Park in SoCal for Volkswagen show. This is our 3rd time camping in the park and going to the car show and it's always a good time.

Our 1st time we were just poorly prepared in general. The 2nd year it rained NONSTOP, we had to set up camp in the rain and I had to ride around in a convertible with a hole in the top right over my lap. This last year we were burglarized by some very crafty raccoons who managed to unzip part of our tent, reached into our cooler and stole our sandwiches!!!!!

The Beautiful Miss Dara.

I don't think this was the car we took camping...but ohhhhh, isn't it good looking?!?!

Blogger is currently mad at me. I can't figure out how to change any thing , and I can't highlight any thing, post links, change sizes and fonts, and so much more. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

30. Coachella Dreamin' (and 5. Go camping 5 times 2/5)

On April 12th, The Jace man and I headed out from Las Vegas towards Indio Valley to meet up with all of our West Coast Family for what we now know as "the best weekend of our lives!!!!"

On top of the ferris wheel on day 1.

Sun rise at Coachella day 3.

This Aussie looks WAY to happy to have just had his ass continually kicked in flip cup!

Our crew catching some shade with the parachute.

Swedish House Mafia, Gotye, Florance and The Machine, The Shins,

Childish Gambino, Fitz and the Tantrums,Radio Head

Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, TUPAC, AwolNation, Group Love,

Dat Sick, Gary Clark Jr,The Black Keys.......

AND SO MANY MORE

North 106th St. Family

All the pictures from that weekend are posted on my facebook page. Feel free to take a peak.

96. Get a fire pit, maake S'mores and hang with friends

This is another long neglected post.

We had a ton of friends staying over with us for Thanksgiving weekend, so I knew I had to get crackin' on the fire pit purchase.

This beauty was on craigslist.com listed for $30.....but the guy took $20!!!!

A good deal makes me appreciate my purchases so much more!!!

Hookah, champagne, s'mores and fire pit!!!

What a fantastic way to spend the night!!!

48. Take the Hoover Dam tour.

I completely forgot that this was on my list!!! But while the fam was in town visiting we did the Hoover Dam tour and it was bad ass!!!

I know you can see it from air planes, and you can see the size when you drive over it, but not until we got out and were walking around can you really take in the magnitude of it, it's absolutley incredible just how gargantuan the thing is.

Apparently, with all the concrete that was used, a 4 foot sidewalk around the earths equator could be built

and it would go around FOUR TIMES!!!!

The Dam was completed in 1936, right at the height of the art deco-movement, and you can really see the era while you're walking around in the visitor area and even when you're deep underground. All over the place is beautiful, shining, polished brass fixtures and railings, and any where with inscriptions or directions is done in this beautiful early 20th century font.

My uncle flipping the switch for a staircase that has more than 770 steps!!!!! It was so big that you couldn't see the top or the bottum!!

Walking around in some of the tunnels, Jace was a little cramped. I guess the dam workers in the 1920's and 1930's wern't quite 6'4!!!

But I had more then enough clearance room over head!!!

1. Read 50 Books (11/50).

A Wolf at the Table: A Memior of My Father

A fantastic read!!! Although my expierences with my own father were VERY different, I could easly relate to having a parent that that really dosen;t know how to love.

12. Try 100 different beers (10/100).

On our way back from the Hoover Dam tour, Jace and I stopped in to the Boulder Dam Brewing Company.
I had a Groupon, and we we're all the way out there any ways........ and who am I kidding......Jace and I don't need an excuse for a beer!!!



Our Groupon was for a 6 beer sampler and 2 pints.

I had the hefeweizen (and I forgot what Jace had).

Wasn't the best one I've tried, but after walking around in the heat all morning it was still a welcomed refreshment!!


Yey!!! Happy girl with her tasty beer.

1. Read 50 books (10/50).

Magical Thinking

The Old Man and The Sea

The Great Gatsby

Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang

1. Read 50 books (6/50)

The Book of Honor: The Secret Lives and Deaths of CIA Operatives.

This is exactly what I was talking about when I said that I wanted to read something a little bit "deeper".

Ted Gup does an a fantastic job bring names, faces, families, and stories to the "nameless stars" of the CIA. Each of the chapters is written well enough to stand alone as a short story, but over all he really does brings to life these fallen American hero's and solidifies the dedication and sacrifice that some individuals and families make so that we all may enjoy the freedoms we have become so accustomed to.

1. Read 50 books (5/50).

Last year, I heard a piece on my beloved NPR that featured filmmaker, Ethan Coen and did a review of his new book.

Generally, I'm not a lover of poetry, but this segment stuck with me.

On the day that I heard this piece, I happened to be giving my friend Cassie a ride home from work and I mentioned it to her.

For my birthday at the end of May, she gave this to me as a gift!!! I couldn't believe it! I had totally forgotten about it.....what a clever girl!!! She must have a memory like a bear trap.

Sorry, book swap buddies. Unlike most of the books I read that get handed over to friends and fellow lovers of stories, this one is going onto the shelf to be part of the personal collection.

12. Try 100 different beers (9/100).

For the first official weekend of fall, I celebrated with a few of my autumn favorites (even thought there was no noticeable difference in Las Vegas, 100 + degrees is 100 + degrees no matter what the calender says).

Harvest Moon is another one of Blue Moons seasonal brews. It isn't to heavy or too pumpkin-y, it's got just the fight amount of fall flavoring.

I'm definitely going to have to throw a few more of these bad boys back this fall!





And one of my all time favorites no matter what the season is Wyders Cider. It's light, crisp, bubbly, comes in delicious flavors, like pear, apple and rasberry......and....it's gluten free.....who knew?!

12. Try 100 different beers (7/100).

Last week we stopped by my friend Kat's house so the handy BF could check out her hot tub.

Turns out the spa worked all along (just needed the door the be shut.....damn safety mechanism), so we ended up having a beer on the patio, just enjoying the beautiful weather.

For beers, the lovely and talented Miss Kat, shared with us her personal favorite, Honey Moon by the Blue Moon Brewing Company.

Later in the week we hung out with some more friends for Taco Tuesday and got to have another beer!!

Moose Head brewery is Canada's oldest independent brewer, and really, they've been doing a good job.

21. Re-hab 10 pieces of furniture (1.5/10)

I'm going to count this as a 1/2 completion

because I painted these before I started the list

but I did "finish" them by replacing the cushion.

These cute foot stools were scavenged from my neighbor a few months ago.

I was taking the trash out before work one day and caught her right as she was throwing them out. I had to argue with her a little before she handed them over. She was convinced they were junk and told me that they were older than I was. This may be the case, but with a quick glance you can see that they are NOT junk!!






As was the case with the bed side tables, these babies were used outside, so already had most of the sanding done.



I painted them with some left over teal spray paint, and replaced the old cushion with prettier ones from Pier 1.

18. Take sunset hike up to Red Rock.

Last night, J. my friends Allison, Steve and my self went up to Red Rock Canyon for a sun set hike. We did the easy, 2 mile Moenkopi Loop and it was great.

It was absolutely stunning up there. The sun went behind the mountains about 20 min into the walk, but it stayed nice and light until we were finished with the whole loop.




When left alone the desert is really beautiful. It's crazy to me that such a secluded place can be so close to all the madness of Las Vegas, just 10 min away.

2. Watch a movie for every letter of the alphabet.

D. Date Night

Loved it!!!!!! Tina Fey & Steve Carell were both awesome. They made a great couple and plopped in a few reminders to not just be "really excellent room mates" with the one you love.

2. Watch a movie for every letter of the alphabet

V. Valentine's Day




Julia, Jamie, Bradley, Anne, George, Ashton & Topher ( who were both on That 70's Show.........I can't believe I didn't put that together until just now) all some of my favorites!!!

Pretty sappy. The eye candy was great, but it was just one of those all start studded, "oh-how-our-lives-interchange", nonsense movies.
Alas, I still love ever one that was in it.

1. Read 50 books (4/50).

I didnt have a problem with this book, it was actually a really enjoyable, easy, light read, but I am getting pretty tired of reading about over privladged whingy girls who are having issues with living in New York City.


I'm looking forward to picking out a few books from the shelvs that are a bit deeper. We'll see.

12. Try 100 different beers (5/100)

Last night was the 1st (of what I hope will be many) Crafts and Drafts.


We made small treys (which I'll post up later) and I also got to knock a few beers off my #12.


Peroni

Rolling Rock

Negra Modelo

78. Hike up a new trail at Mt. Charleston.

This weekend was BEAUTIFUL!!!

If the weather in Las Vegas could have been like this through the summer, I would have had no complaints.

On Saturday morning we, picked a dog and headed up to Mt. Clarleston with our friend Cassie & Jason to hike the Bristle cone Trail.

























Cassie & Jason with their dog Mijo and J. and our dog Max.





These are some of the bristle cone pine trees for which the trail was named. They are the longest living trees on earth, reaching upwards of 5,000 years old!!!

Some of the amazing view (and the mountains ain't bad either harharhar!!!).

#2. Watch a movie for every letter of the alphabet.

#2. Get NexFlix and watch a movie for every letter of the alphabet. (2/26)

C. The Contract
H. Hot Tub Time Machine

Last night the BF and I did some running around for a "new" VW (I'll get into more detail on that later)and then set up for a movie night. We picked The Contract because it's got my man John C. and then a favorite for both of us, Morgan Freeman. So I thought this was going to be an obvious hit, boy was I wrong.

Didn't like it at all. I thought the characters were boring and shallow and the story line was just dull. But hey, at least I'm chipping away at my list.

I thought it was hilarious!!! I love John Cusack (Uhhh....hello...Say Anything...) almost as much as I love cheezy comedies with completely imposable, and unrealistic story lines, so this one was in the bag for an obvious win.

To know Lloyd Dobler is to love him. And I love me some Lloyd Dobler.