Alphabet Challenge!!

One of my most unique goals this year was to try one new thing for each letter of the alphabet!  (When I put it together that there are 26 letters in the alphabet and 52 weeks in the year, trying one new thing every two weeks on average sounded pretty doable.)  So I kept a record of every new thing I tried, and there are several on certain letters.  The first one was the Archery class, then I decided going in order was too much to hope for, so the last letters I completed were Q and then K (with karaoke at the Christmas party last night)! #collaborateandlisten ;-)

The things I am most proud of are the physical activities (archery, jiu jitsu, hot yoga, 15/30 group, the scrunch-up challenge), the Night Lights service project, and the "Parent Project."  I tried lots of new recipes and restaurants, of course, as well as some new TV shows and fun games.  I donated blood, created a cookbook, sang karaoke, went to the lake, finally joined BSF, visited the Gathering Place, and drove outside the state of Oklahoma for the first time!  We all do so many new things every year without really realizing it, so it was nice to pay attention to it and keep a record.  And this challenge definitely inspired me to try a few new things I would never have considered otherwise.

Anyway, here's a happy slideshow along with the full list! =)

• A ~ Archery Class ~ I totally felt like Katniss! lol  Despite the major bruise this created on my left arm, trying this class was fun and empowering!! =)
• B ~ Bible Study Fellowship:  I started the People of the Promised Land BSF study in September, and it's been really good!
• Book Shelf Challenge:  I reached my goal of reading 50+ books in two years - it's actually closer to 70 at this point!
• Blood Donation: This one went better than expected -- my iron levels were high enough, it only took one needle stick, I didn't faint - always a plus, I got an awesome free T-shirt, and I got the chance to help someone in need!  (I also finally learned my blood type, O+.)
• Banana Pudding Recipe:  Tasty! lol
• Banangrams:  Played Bananagrams for the first time with Sarah and Tiffany after watching them play that in Peter Rabbit!
• Bricktown Brewery:  Tried this in Midwest City with the fam (several times now) - highly recommend the Chopped n' Chipped Nachos! =)
• Black Bear Diner:  Fun new restaurant experience with Elizabeth!
• C ~ Crystal Bridges Museum:  Very cool museum and a fun little Memorial Day trip!! =)  *This was also my first time to drive outside the state of Oklahoma; first time in Bentonville, Arkansas; first visit to the WalMart Museum; and first visit to Dripping Springs Waterfall!  YAY!
• Cherry Cobbler + Chocolate Cake with Buttercream Icing Recipes:  Yum!
• Cohosting a Baby Shower:  Tate's Baby Shower Brunch with Kelly and JEM!
• Cali'flour's Cauliflower Pizza Crust:  Better than I expected, buuut still not great! lol You can only expect so much from vegetables.
• D ~ DeBusk Cookbook:  I typed and organized almost 200 recipes and helped make photo collages for the DeBusk Family Cookbook (a Christmas present for Mom's side of the family)!
• Donut Bun-Maker:  Finally learned to fix my hair in a quick-and-easy cute bun using the bun donut thing - hooray!
• E ~ Escape Room:  Bixby's Escape Hatch with fun friends... we did the N. Cheney Lane Heist room, and we made it out with 15 minutes to spare! #victory =)
• EggMazing Easter kit:  Bought the EggMazing thing after seeing it on Shark Tank - it was a big hit with the niece and nephews this Easter!
• F ~ Friday Night Lights:  Not among my favorite TV shows of all time, but it did introduce me to Tim Riggins! ;-)❤

• G ~ Gathering Place:  Went with Tiffany for the opening day of this impressive new park right here in Tulsa!  Need to go again soon when it's less crowded and crazy. =)
• H ~ Hot Yoga (SALT Strengthen & Sweat class):  Yoga is always harder than it looks, particularly when you're in a freaking sauna... it was a really great workout, though, and I sweat more than I did on long runs in the past!
• I ~ Instant Pot Meals:  Mostly for chicken and soups so far.  Rach and Josh got me an Instant Pot for Christmas last year... it being a pressure cooker still scares me sometimes, but I've gotten better at it and I love that it's sooo fast!
• Interval 15/30 Training:  I joined Fleet Feet's new 15/30 Interval training group in September.  Tough, but really good for me, and a great way to ease back into running life!
• J ~ Jiu Jitsu:  Whaaaat!?  I tried Gracie Jiu Jitsu's "Women Empowered" Self-Defense class... fun and very informative, and only slightly intimidating! lol
• K ~ Karaoke: Technically YouTube Karaoke in Jon and Kristin's living room, but it still counts. I did a duet with friends on Don't Stop Believin', Africa, and Ice, Ice, Baby whilst using a selfie-stick as a microphone! lol
• L ~ Lake trip:  My first ever trip to Grand Lake for the Miss K's 5th birthday... fun times on the boat with the fam!!
• M ~ Magnum Steno Club:  Mark Kislingbury's site for daily practice for court reporters... by far the most helpful material available for us anywhere online!
• MumaBlue Books:  Ordered Mumablue personalized books for Jace and Kyndal - adorable and fun! =)
• N ~ Night Light Tulsa:  One of my favorite LifeGroup service projects with Kelly's group, serving by coloring and playing fun games with homeless children!
• O ~ Oral Histories Project with NCRA:  I volunteered to transcribe the oral history of Holocaust Survivor Joseph Wolke.  It was challenging and emotional material, but very much worth the effort!
• Outdoor Christmas Lights:  The first year I've done outside lights, installed by my brother-in-law this November!
• P ~ Parent Project:  One of my favorite things on this list, and having this alphabet challenge pushed me to finally get it done! ...On a road trip to Texas, I interviewed Mom and Dad and got a timeline-style history of their lives: salvation stories, family stuff, school teachers, jobs, moves, their memories of major world events, etc. They both answered several questions that went into specific memories and relationships and life lessons and advice!  I have an audio recording of most of it and the rest is written down, so I'm going to compile it all into a mini-book for me and Rachael! =)
• Pink Impact Conference:  Went to Woodlake's simulcast of the Pink Impact Conference with Kristin and Tiffany - really good!
• Pioneer Woman Potato Soup:  This was the first time I've used my blender on anything hot while making Ree's "perfect potato soup" recipe -- yum!!
• Q ~ Quiche:  First time baking a quiche this year - won't be the last!
• R ~ Redefine Rodan & Fields Skin Care:  Meh, aerage and overpriced... good, but not that good.
• Ring Doorbell:  Josh (my brother-in-law) installed my Ring doorbell this summer, and I've really loved having it! =)
• Renting a Bike:  I rented one of the pretty pink bikes and took a very brief but memorable bike ride on the Jenks Pedestrian Bridge this spring! lol
• S ~ Scrunch-Up 18k Challenge:  Thanks to Candace Cameron Bure's challenge on Facebook, I am right on track to complete 18,000 squats, 18,000 crunches, and 18,000 push-ups in 2018 -- (that's 50 a day for 360 days) -- woohoo!!
• Summer Reading Program:  I participated in the Tulsa Library's summer reading program for the first time and got lots of fun coupons - yay, Marble Slab!
• Salon One-Eleven:  I broke up with overpriced Ihloff and moved to a great new salon in Jenks!
• Suburbia:  Fun new board game with Jonathan and Elizabeth!
• Savoy:  I finally had breakfast at Savoy (famous for their cinnamon rolls) for Tiffany's birthday - yum! =)
• T ~ TheoFit:  Highly recommend Paul Maxwell's (free) TheoFit for a beginner's weightlifting, cardio, and healthier eating program (basically calorie and protein tracking, but not overly limited on what foods you can eat)!  I started in September, and I've gained strength and confidence and lost 30 pounds. #getexcited #mustgetbackontrack #holidaysugarfest
• Torchy's Tacos, Ti Amo, Tavola Trattoria, Taziki's catering, Tom & Chee, and Tuscany Ristorante:  It feels pretty ironic to list all these restaurants before and after TheoFit, but seriously, 95% of the new restaurants I tried this year had T names - craziness! lol
• Transitions Lenses:  My first pair of Transitions glasses (they move from normal to sunglasses by sensing the UV rays) - I'm a fan! =)
• U ~ Unstable Unicorns:  This is one of my favorite board games we've played at Jon and Kristin's group... it's fun and quirky, and the cards are adorable! =)
• V ~ Variety Bible-Reading Plan:  Loved this reading plan and highly recommend it!  The variety really helps keep me engaged, and the fact that you know what section of the Bible you're reading each day of the week has been great!  (I'm on track to complete this goal, and plan to do the same with another translation next year.)
• W ~ Woodlake Church:  Finally joined Woodlake Church after being in the Fosters' Group for around a year. lol 
• Write the Word Journals:  I highly recommend these journals by Lara Casey - you look up and handwrite the encouraging Scriptures in their prompts + use the other half as a prayer journal!
• X ~ Xbox Game:  This barely counts, but X is hard, and I did play Fibbage a few times with Sarah and Tiffany - fun and entertaining!!
• Y ~ Yahtzee:  Played Yahtzee for the first time with Jon and Kristin's group - good times!
• Z ~ Zoo, Tulsa:  I finally had my first ever trip to the Tulsa Zoo this year with Elizabeth, then went again a few months later with Sarah and Tiffany for the St. Francis event! =)

Huzzah, mission accomplished! ❤

#alphabetchallenge #embracethenew