I Dare Allie – Update # Two

As you may know, I have embarked on a year-long journey/mission to do something new, every day, for a year.  You can read all about it in my first I Dare Allie post, along with my list from the first three weeks.  My inspiration was Lu Ann Cahn’s book, I Dare Me.  You can learn more about her year on the I Dare Me blog.   Some firsts are simple, for which I catch a lot of heat from my spouse (but as I tell him – I can’t jump out of a plane every day!)  Also, “firsts” that I haven’t done since childhood will count (the same as in Cahn’s book).

March 13, 2014 – I went to my first track meet.  My second son is on his middle school’s track team, so I went to watch him (of course).  Believe it or not, I’d never been to a track meet before.  They’re a bit long and it’s a chilly time of year, but it’s fun to watch the kids as they cross the finish line.

IMG_20140313_172518_011

March 14, 2014I made and drank my first gin martini – shaken, not stirred.  It’s an acquired taste (I’m a vodka girl).  The good news is that I drank it slowly, and after one, I was done.

March 15, 2014 – I had a date with my oldest son, Barrett.  He has autism and sadly we’d never had a mother-son date.  It was time to change that.   He’d recently brought something home from school about the movie Frozen.  When he handed it to me, he gave me a look.  I’m easy, all it takes with Bear is some direct eye contact that lasts for more than a couple of seconds.  I asked him if he wanted to go to the movies with me and he said, “Yes.”  It was the third movie he’d seen in the theatre (he’s 13), and the only time it was just the two of us.  In the past I’d had the other kids and Dad as back up.  Barrett has a tough time sitting still and things that don’t interest him rarely hold his attention.   Frozen hooked him, but only one of us sang “Let It Go,” at the top of our lungs, on the way home.

March 16, 2014 –  I did a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle.  Just kidding!  Not even close.  I attempted to do a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle.  In the past, my record for doing a puzzle by myself was 300 pieces.  So 1000 pieces was a bit cocky, but I thought I could do it because it was a Fenway Park puzzle.  I listened to my audio book and went to work.  It wasn’t easy (or fun) and I got a bad cramp in my neck from bending over the dining room table for hours (boo-hoo).  I only completed about 20% – epic fail.

March 17, 2014 – I changed the air-conditioning filters (three of them) in the house.  Hubby is loving this.

March 18, 2014 – I got a spray tan.  I grew up on Cape Cod and in south Florida.  I love the sun, but it has not been kind to my skin, so I’m done.  But I still love a tan.  Tanning beds are out, so I gave this a whirl.  It was cool.  I liked the color, but didn’t care for the smell.

IMG_20140318_154900_561

Sun-kissed, with a winter scarf, ha.

March 19, 2014 – I had lunch with a friend I’ve known for years, yet we’d never dined together.  It was fun.  Poor Kathy though, I forgot my wallet and she had to pay.  So it may have been our last lunch.

March 20, 2014 – I went to a school play.  Seriously, I’d never been to any school drama production in my life, even in college.  And – get this – I didn’t even have a child on the stage.  Audrey helped build the set for the play (Annie), so she really wanted to see the performance.  It was short and sweet.  The kids did a great job.

March 21, 2014 –  No yelling.  Seriously.  Four kids, big house, Irish by birth, and I didn’t yell once all day.  Didn’t make any difference around here, by the way.

March 22, 2014 – I camped overnight, at Zoo Atlanta.  Lions!  And Tigers! And Bears!  Oh yeah, I did. My friend  Merrick is the den leader (sorry Merrick if I got the title wrong) for his son’s Cub Scout troop and one of the boys had to cancel.  We don’t have a Cub Scout, but Merrick thought it would be a fun experience for my youngest.  Daddy declined, but volunteered that it would be a good FIRST for a non-camper like me.  I’m still not a camper, but I have to admit that sharing my son’s first camping experience (he was so excited) was pretty cool.  What wasn’t so cool was sleeping in such close proximity to many snoring dads.

IMG_20140322_224435_080

Camping selfie

IMG_20140321_153044

March 23, 2014 – I participated in my first blog tour, with three other bloggers (Allison @ Go Dansker, Amy @ Hot Breakfast and Holly @ Desert Momma), for the Clean Eating Challenge.  Now, full disclaimer, it wasn’t my first clean eating challenge, but it was the first time I was publically accountable for eating healthy.  And I was responsible for promoting a “tour” with fellow bloggers and posting their blogs to my site (which really confused my Aunt GinnyJ).  I learned a lot, and I have new friends.

THEClean eatingCHALLENGE

March 24, 2014 – I drove my family around in a mini-van (the 24th was the first day of a 10 day sentence).  I plan to write about my disdain for mini-vans in the near future – and I’m sure I’ll offend many, but it just ain’t my thing.

IMG_20140324_101032_736

March 25, 2014 – I put myself in a sales woman’s hands, with no input from me (other than size).  Admittedly, I was struggling for an idea and happened to be at The Avenue (our local outdoor mall), when the thought occurred to me.  What if I walked into a store with a hundred dollars and asked the sales girl to pick something out for me?  And I’d have to buy it, no questions asked.  Initially I chose Chicos, since I’ve never even been in the store before – a double first!  The lady was a little rude when I explained about my project and blog.  She declared that she’d have to clear it with her district manager.  Say what?  I was looking rough, having just come from a workout.  I kind of felt like Julie Robert’s character, Vivian in Pretty Woman, when she was shopping on Rodeo Drive.  Chico’s lost a sale – off to Loft I went.  The sales girl at that store loved my idea and the challenge.  She picked out something for me that I never would have even tried on.  She selected a maxie dress (love), in chambray blue (not my color), jersey material (not flattering), with good Lord – horizontal stripes, and paired it with a brown belt.  I regretted it all the way home.  Guess what?  I tried it on and loved it!

March 26, 2014 – This wasn’t my doing, but it was a first.  I was contacted by Huffington Post Parents and asked to contribute to the article, 68 Things to Know About Children With Autism.  A good sign, I think.

March 27, 2014 – I “hunted” on the Wii.  I’m not a fan of hunting, even though I married a man who is.  Unlike my adventurous friend Lise, you’ll never find me in a tree stand.  No, I tried my first in a virtual world.  I was coached by a seasoned hunter, who thought my first shot was a dud – but I got my target.

IMG_20140327_190526_224

All fake!

March 28, 2014 – My blog about our incident at California Pizza Kitchen that appeared on the Huffington Post kicked off a series of cool events (which I will soon share).  On this day, I got to call somebody with the news that they were getting a generous check for their charity.  That was a very cool feeling, let me tell you.  If I ever win the lotto, I’m going to be a philanthropist, for sure!

March 29, 2014 – I don’t like cold weather.  Believe it or not, we went to Michigan for spring break, where there was still snow on the ground.  My husband loves cold weather and hot tubs, especially at the same time.  It was 20 degrees, and I agreed to join him and my sister in the hot tub.  It was cool, until it was time to get out.

blog dare

Dressed for warmth.

March 30, 2014 – I took a selfie with a stranger.  I was nervous to ask, but this lovely lady was all for it.

IMG_20140330_153437

March 31, 2014 – I went to Ann Arbor Michigan for the first time AND I met one of my cyber-bosses, Joanne Giardini-Russell from the Family Legacy Center.   To be honest, we did meet briefly at my brother’s funeral last year, but I didn’t really remember, because the day was a blur.  Joanne is a sweet lady and we talked about my up-coming blogs for her organization.  There’s some cool stuff on the horizon.

025

026

Okay, share with me something you’ve done recently for the first time.  Also, I’m still looking for suggestions – that won’t void my life insurance policy, please.  I can’t tell you how many people want me to jump out of a plane and I’m not sure how to take that.  Coming up, I’m going to the opera, hosting a wedding, and participating in an autism walk (yes, first time).  I have 300 new ideas to come up with and I need your help!

 

 

10 thoughts on “I Dare Allie – Update # Two”

  1. Allie, this is such a cool idea! Of all the things you mentioned, my husband would also be most thrilled if I changed the air conditioner filters. I think I would be pretty proud, too. : )

    I was in theater in high school, and we were always so appreciative of people who would pay to see our shows! I always vowed that when I was an adult, I would support local high school theater….and yet I never have. Good for you.

    Have you cooked with tofu or quinoa or some other crazy food yet? The clean eating thing has inspired me to try some really different stuff. Last week I made my own granola bars for the first time, and they were really yummy!

    But now that you mention it, I can’t think of many other new things I’ve done recently. Well, I learned how to use the weight machines at the gym, which was empowering. But you’ve inspired me to think of a few more!

    Keep up the good work!

    1. Thanks Amy. I haven’t done the quinoa thing yet, I am embarrassed to admit! Perhaps that will be good for Sunday’s dinner. I have been back on the healthy eating bandwagon – but slacking, still, with the exercise. Bad time management, so kudos to you with the weight machine.

  2. I can’t tell you how much I love about this post. There is so much to process, so much to share and respond to, so much I adore. xo

  3. You’re so busy! I’m in awe!

    Impressed with all of your goings-on, but perhaps MOST with the air conditioning filters! I’m serious!

    1. Thanks Nina. Believe it or not, changing the filters was very easy (embarrassingly so) and took less than 5 minutes. And another first – I went into my attic!

  4. This is a great idea, Allie! What a great way to live life.
    I admit, I’m not one to try new things, but I’m feeling inspired!

    1. Thanks Alison. Interestingly, I like trying new things (always have), but have gotten lazy and complacent as I’ve gotten older. So far, this has been rejuvenating.

Comments are closed.