101 Things in 1001 Days

I am an obsessive list maker. It may be obvious to you from the insane amount I have already made on here but if not, here's another one!

I ended one of these this April and actually managed to complete a lot of the points. However when I made it I was in my first year of university and my goals and expectations were... less than realistic! I feel I have a better grasp on what I can achieve in three years and what I want to achieve by my 26th Birthday. 

The idea is to have points that aren't ambiguous. That way you have a clear indication of whether you have completed them or not.

So without further ado here is my brand new 101 things which I will do a monthly update of on here.

Start Date: Saturday June 15^th 2013

End Date: Saturday March 12^th 2016

Travel:

1.     Visit Croatia

2.     Visit Paris

3.     Go on holiday with a friend

4.     See a Romeo and Juliet at the globe  

5.     Spend the day at Alton Towers

6.     Relax in the country for a weekend

7.     See The Magic Flute

8.     See The Nutcracker at Christmas

9.     Take a road trip

10.  Visit 10 new places in the UK

11.  Spend my 25^th Birthday in a different country

Online:

12.  Write an ebook

13.  Redesign my blog to something I am proud of

14.  Get a new computer

15.  Create a brand for myself

16.  Rejoin youtube posting content I am proud of

Family and friends:

17.  Make the people I love a handmade gift for Birthdays/ Christmas (x5)

18.  Have a catch up with friends at least once a month

19.  Spend a day out with Kathryn

20.  Make an effort to send birthday cards to close family and friends

21.  Re-connect with at least five friends.

22.  Spend a day with my family at least once a month

My Mind:

23.  Learn French and be able to hold a conversation.

24.  Watch 20 Classic movies

25.  Cook 5 meals from 5 different countries

26.  Watch a movie from every year since moviemaking began

27.  Read a new book every month (x33)

28.  Read 10 Classic novels

29.  Organize my photos and scraps into scrapbooks and boxes.

30.  Watch 20 foreign films

31.  Watch 10 Classic musicals

32.  Take a photograph every day for a year

33.  Buy a sketchbook and fill it with drawings

34.  Learn a new skill

My body:

35.  Be 120lbs

36.  Half way to weight loss

37.  ¾ way to weight loss

38.  Complete the couch to 5k programme

39.  Cut out soda for a month

40.  Try pilates

41.  Take a dance class once a week for a month

42.  Keep a food journal for a week/ a month

43.  Improve my posture

44.  Go Vegetarian for a month

45.  Become flexible enough to touch my toes

46.  For one month get up early every day for a walk/ run

47.  For one month give up added sugar

48.  For one month give up caffeine

49.  Complete the seven day slim down

50.  Complete a tone it up members challenge

51.  Complete the Ballet Bar Challenge

52.  For 101 days give up fast food

53.  Take a yoga class

54.  Drink 2 litres of water per day for a month

55.  Whiten my teeth

56.  Do a full body detox

57.  Take vitamins every day for a month

58.  Floss my teeth every day for a month

59.  Wake up at 6am for a week

My soul:

60.  Write a list of 50 things I like about myself

61.  Write a letter to myself to be opened at the end of 1001 days

62.  Write a letter to someone I admire

63.  Write a list of 101 things I’ve already achieved

64.  Document my music taste over a year

65.  Get rid of 101 things

66.  Spend a whole weekend without the computer and smart phone!

67.  Unplug for 24 hours once every two months.

68.  Be working as a professional Actress

69.  Build a time capsule

70.  Meditate daily for a month

71.  Don’t say anything negative for a day

72.  Complete my own happiness project

For me:

73.  Get a massage

74.  Buy something designer

75.  Make Pinata cookies

76.  Carve a pumpkin

77.  Get a pedicure

78.  Watch a yankees game

79.  Make macarons

80.  Make a rainbow/ ombre cake

81.  Get a facial

82.  Fill my wardrobe with the basics from my list

83.  Buy a vintage dress

84.  Go for lunch at a tea room all dressed up

85.  Spend the day at the beach

86.  Own a matching pair of underwear from Victoria’s Secret

87.  Buy a new camera

For others:  

88.  Give blood

89.  Organize a charity event x3

90.  Send someone a care package for no reason

91.  Do volunteer work x15

92.  Make cookies and cupcakes and give them away

93.  Buy flowers for someone

94.  Throw Donna an amazing Bridal Shower

Money:

95.  Set a savings target

96.  Go a month without buying anything that isn’t a necessity

97.  Find an affordable apartment to live in

98.  Have a car boot sale

99.  Pay off my credit card debt and overdraft

100.                 Catalogue my expenses for one month in every year (x3)

101.                 Save £10 for every completed item

 Wish me luck, the same to you.

Annabelle

xoxo

Time to Study!

 This morning I went to my first dance lesson in about three years. It wasn't as horrific as I first expected it to be and I actually ended up having fun. Turns out I quite enjoy dancing when I stop worrying about how bad I am!

 I've had a lot of free time, what with no job, no money and, well no life! So I've been researching the Broadway stars I admire and seeing what they do, how they prepare. I discovered that while on Broadway in the leading role of Frank Abagnale Jr. Aaron Tveit was still taking acting lessons and I thought why am I not doing the same? If he continues to learn after bagging the job of his dreams why on earth am I sat around not learning when I haven't even got one professional credit under my belt?

 And so begins my 'quest' to keep learning. I've enrolled in dance classes, ballet to be exact, as well as acting classes. For now I'm going to leave the singing as that's where I'm strongest and focus on the other two. Also when money's short you really can't afford to do that many classes!

So I guess now is the time to knuckle down and get to the hard work, let's face it. When I finally do get a job I'll be craving this kind of time to completely dedicate myself to acting so I'm not going to waste it while I have it.

If a little inspiration is needed though, here's the wonderful Aaron Tveit in Catch Me If You Can showing off some dance skills. (Oh and Chorus girls with legs for days, if that doesn't make you want to go to the gym I don't know what will!)

Wish me luck, the same to you.

Annabelle

xoxo

Catch Me I'm Falling

 Another day, another rejection. I didn't get the one from Sunday and, yes, I'm hugely disappointed.

"What did I do wrong? Why didn't they like me?" 

I'm okay at dealing with rejection, but every now and again (usually after a couple of them in a row) I get those horrible voices that pop up in the back of my mind.

 You're not good enough, you can't even get a supporting role in regional theatre what makes you think you can become a professional? You're 23 years old, that's too old to just be starting you should already be there. And then a list of people I admire and where they were at my age. (Aaron Tveit was already on Broadway in Hairspray no less, Sam Barks was in the Les Miserables movie! And you are sat on your behind at your parents... keep dreaming.)

 It's probably safe to say the reason I can deal with rejection and criticism well is due to the fact they will never be as harsh as my own mind. It all starts with one thought then my brain grabs onto that and runs with it, going around and around in circles until we're back at square one and curled into a ball of self loathing and tears.

 It used to cripple me, but I've got a lot better. I still think that way, I think we all do at some point, but I know not to let it affect me so much. So what those people were at so and so by my age, they're not me, they haven't been through my journey. When the time is right for you it will happen.

So I will keep being as prepared as possible for each and every audition and try my hardest to keep those voices at bay. I mean 23 isn't too old, right? In the eyes of everyone outside the theatre community I'm young! I just need to keep telling myself that.

 Wish me luck, the same to you.

Annabelle

xoxo

The Audition

 After the harsh "That's all we need," yesterday was a nice surprise. To begin with the people holding the audition were incredibly lovely. (I'm not saying the others were horrible, I just had about 10 seconds with them and that's not enough time to tell!) 

 As you know the day started with a dance audition. We were taught a routine from Newsies. For those of you familiar with the show can you imagine my intense fear when I hear that name come up, especially as a none dancer! For those of you unfamiliar here is a video to show you the standard these guys are at...

(The insanely incredible dancing starts around 2 minutes in.)

 At that point I thought, might as well give up, you're dead meat! Oh boy was I wrong. For starters the way the guy ran the audition was extremely relaxed, he'd make jokes (Including A Chorus Line "Again... Again....Again..." thrown in for good measure!) If you were stuck he would run over it with you without being snotty about it and when it came to actually performing it if you were very stuck he got up and ran it with you. 

 I can say very proudly that A) My group managed to perform the dance unsupervised... whether I got all the moves or not is another thing, but I did it with a smile on my face, and B) I didn't fall on my behind! That for me is a huge success compared to my last dance audition.

 Then came the singing... this was my time to shine! I sang No Good Deed from Wicked and am so happy with the way it went. If you add in the laughs I had with some girls I met the day was actually one I will look back on fondly, even if I don't get a part. And this is how I will look back at every audition from now on, by listing the things I achieved and learnt from the day rather than focusing on the bad. So here goes...

- I learnt a very hard dance combination for me, and managed to overcome my worries and perform it with a smile and a character.

- I remained standing through the entire thing!

- I met some wonderful people who pulled me out of my shell enough to dance in a very crowded street and sing in a pub, two things the old Annabelle would never dream of doing. (Well, maybe after a couple of pints...)

- I belted my little heart out managing to put character into my song, despite my nerves.

 All in all I'm happy! Now I need to wait out the week to see if I get a part or not.

Wish me luck, the same to you!

Annabelle

xoxo

Dancing Through Life

 On Sunday I have another audition, it's for regional theatre this time around and that makes it no less scary than any other in my mind! In fact it's even more terrifying as it starts with a dance audition.

 Now I'm okay at dancing if you give me time to pick up the steps, I've had some training and figured out my problem is confidence. (I know, join the club!) That doesn't stop me sabotaging myself every time a dance audition comes around.

 Let me give you an example. I had an audition for Into the Woods, having never heard the music before (remember my thing of not researching shows until I've seen them...) that was a big enough issue, thank you very much Mr. Sondheim. On top of that I had to learn a dance routine... I picked up the steps easy enough and while rehearsing as a group I felt pretty confident, hidden, able to watch the choreographer.

 Then it comes time for the groups of four to perform it and when one of the turns comes up I fall flat on my backside. There was no way to hide this, I was sprawled on the floor very ungracefully scrambling to get back up and complete the rest of the combination head down in shame.

 It's safe to say I didn't get the part... or any part for that matter!

[Source]

 So how do I stop myself doing the same on Sunday? If you have any ideas please let me know because I sure don't. I'm naturally a very nervous person, something happens when I sing that takes it all away, the same can't be said for dancing.

 It's that thing that when I sing I stop over thinking, everything becomes very simple and life is one big happy pie full of rainbows and fluffy bunnies. (I'm not sure either.) When I dance in front of people I other think. Should my arm be here or 3.5 inches up to the very slight left? Yeah my perfectionist comes out in full form and as someone who falls over their own feet while walking, trying to manoeuvre while thinking about if your head should be tilted to the left looking to the right while your arms flip to both sides is near impossible.

 On the plus side there are plenty of female parts that require no dancing, Eponine. Elphaba, she's actually meant to be awful! Natalie in Next to Normal, Molly in Ghost, any of the girls in Hair. Just flail and you're a hippy!

Wish me luck, the same to you!

Annabelle

xoxo