12.5 in 6

So tomorrow is kind of a big day.

It's my half birthday, exciting I know.

But it also means I'm a little behind on my "25 in 25" list.

For starters, I haven't even created that list yet. And for enders I'm not one to make lists.

So you can see how I've got a few things working against me here.

I figured I'd cut my losses and just start with a "12.5 in 6" list instead.

(12.5 because it's half of 25, and 6 because it's half of 12 months, get it?)

1. Marathon.

I decided a while ago I want to run the Chicago marathon next year.

I even actually went out to "train" one night. But I ran one mile and it was super easy so I thought

F this,

I don't need to train for at least another six months.

(I always won the Red Ribbon Run 1 mile race in Norfolk. How different could 26 be?)

2. Book.

I've been working on a book for quite a while. -says every blogger.

But for reals. I'm only about 10 pages in, so that means I've got roughly 340 to write in the next six months. The working title right now is 50 Shades of Blog. JK it's not.

But if you'd like to use that title for your own book I'll sell you the rights for a small fee.

3. I need to stop eating my fingers.

Winter is especially tough for me because my hands get pretty dry, which causes my hang nails to

get bad and I can't help but tug and pull on them until they're super red and painful.

I've decided this is the year I'm going to grow up and start having

mature, non meth addicted, looking fingers.

(No offense to meth heads, we've all got our issues!)

4. Perform on stage at the Second City.

Which as long as I stay on course, I'll actually get to do this in a month or two in my next class.

It will be just like my second grade play where everyone in the class gets to speak,

the audience will probably only be family members and maybe a creepy janitor or two,

and I will most likely be playing a rainforest lumberjack named Juan.

5. Win the lottery.

I felt real good about last night's drawing. Per the usual, I didn't win.

Doesn't mean I'm going to give up on this dream though.

That would just be unAmerican of me to think I'd actually have to work to get a million dollars some day.

6. Pay off my student loans.

As long as #5 comes through, this shouldn't be a problem.

If not, I'm sure I'll come up with another way to raise $80,000 by May.

7. Survive the Mayan Apocalypse.

I know I mention this a lot on here, but it's because I'm (not so secretly) very scared of it.

I believe our Lord Jesus Christ Romney will "come like a thief in the night" when the world is truly over, but I also believed CIA agents didn't cheat on their wives.

Kidding. I always knew they did. Especially when they work with babes like this:

8. See Mumford & Sons in concert.

This is my band. No band has spoken to me like this since Protozoa sang Super Nova Girl.

(The band from Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century.)

Zoom, zoom, zoom, make my heart go boom, boom, boom.

9. Find a Plato's Closet in Chicago that is not ran by Satan's helpers.

I will figure out a way to get them to buy my "lightly used clothes" one day.

I need that extra $21, damn it.

10. Get my book, A Bottle For You, A Bottle For Me

on Chelsea Lately.

And figure out a way to get all of you to buy it.

Nothing says Christmas like giving an ironic children's book!

(If you'd like so see a copy via Pdf before you purchase we have that option, as well.)

And for all of you stuck in 1992 we also have layaway available.

11. Learn to love dirty martinis.

Because drinking olives in my beer is starting to feel a little more White Trash everyday.

12. Start the Harlow Foundation.

I just want to figure out a way to help animals is all.

12.5 Stop spending numerous hours reading blogs when I should be writing my novel...

Speaking of my #12, let me introduce you to a girl who is 1 step ahead of me

and has already began putting some good back into the world.

Her name is Brie and she makes the most unique (and affordable) bracelets that are sold online

with a portion of all profits going straight to The Ronan Thompson Foundation-

a foundation near and dear to her heart, and for a good reason.

Brie is one of those rare souls that chose to use her own heart ache

as the driving force behind her passion for helping others.

I've ordered from Brie's store and I received so many great compliments on my bracelet.
But then my mom "borrowed" it and hasn't given it back....
So I will be placing yet another order because I love her line, and I also love the fact
she is supporting a good cause.

But I've said enough, here she is-

Hello, hello! My name is Brie and I blog over at Sophistifunk. I also recently started an online shop selling jewelry.

Here's a little background about how Sophistifunk: The Shop came to be:

My dad was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Cancer in October of 2011. He had never smoked and was only 44 years old, so it came as a huge shock to my family. He was a well known high school football coach in the Phoenix area and as soon as he was diagnosed, the community rallied together for him and created Team Bemis. They raised money for our family to help pay for his rising medical bills. My dad passed away in January 2012, just three months after his diagnosis. Seeing my dad go through such a gruesome process of radiation and chemotherapy made me want to do something to help cancer patients and thank the community for all they'd done for our family. I've made jewelry for family and friends for years but decided that I wanted to create a business out of it with a percentage of proceeds going towards various cancer charities. Last month, I was able to donate over $100 to the Ronan Thompson Foundation which goes towards finding a cure for Neuroblastoma, a form of pediatric (childhood) cancer.