365 Firsts: February 2015

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Day 230: Teach em how to Dougie

All right. Per many requests... I foolishly promised to make a dance video for a first at some point. Well, I made this early this morning to send to someone to cheer her up, so here ya go. Go easy on me. I'M FROM LOAMI, IL. I don't have the Cali-Swags.

Day 229: Merry Christmas (in 10 different languages)!!!

Hope everyone has a Merry Christmas or a happy holiday!

Day 228: Cheers to Mike Hubbard with Homemade Eggnog

Well, it is that time of year. I tasted eggnog for the first time last year I think and this year I made it from scratch. I'd like to take a second to say my condolences to Mike Hubbard's friends and family. Very sad time in this small community. At his best friend's visitation last week, Jacob Crosier, he gave me a hug and asked me to have a drink for Jake. I did. Now, I'll have a drink for you, Mike. I wish your friends and family the strength to make it through this very tough time. You are clearly loved very much.

Day 227: Buy a Round of Beers for the Kitchen

Obed and Isaac's in Springfield gives you this option and it's great. The chefs work hard and the food is great. GIVE THEM THE BEERS.

Day 226: Send a Christmas Card to a Random Address

Hopefully this gets a smile or two from the Jay and Laurie I've never met. I'm sure they're great people.

Day 226: Send a Christmas Card to a Random Address

Hopefully this gets a smile or two from the Jay and Laurie I've never met. I'm sure they're great people.

Day 225: Make Popcorn Balls

These are my pathetic attempt at making popcorn balls last minute whilst burning my thumb.

Day 224: Breakfast at Tiffany's

One of the biggest classics I've never seen before. Pretty great movie.

Day 223: Water a Christmas Tree

I can't have real Christmas trees because of allergies, so I've never done this! Good ol nature.

Day 222: Donate Supplies for an Emergency Shelter

The shelter should go somewhere where there is a natural disaster of some sort. Hope it helps someone.

Day 221: Use an Old Fashioned Dip Pen

I used this to make a very specific Christmas present for a big Harry Potter fan.

Day 220: Towel Art

A towel elephant! I know it's doesn't look professionally don't but I was limited in my towel variations and a lack of skill. It's really not that hard. Just google towel art and plenty of instructional videos pop up. #365firsts #towelart

Day 219: Play a Red Cross Game to Raise Awareness for Donating Blood

I personally have never been allowed to donate blood because of the intense dosage of allergens I receive during my allergy injections. I would donate blood as often as possible otherwise. Needles obviously don't bother me since I've had allergy injections since I was 3 years old, AND, there is always a need for it. It can and does literally save lives. I think most people believe that there is always someone else out there that will do it, but that's not the case given the fact that donations have gone down and there is always a need for more. Contact your local Red Cross and donate blood soon if you can.

365 Firsts/Day 218: Respect

It was a sad day today attending the visitation of my friend, Jacob Crosier. There were many firsts today, both big and small, however, out of respect for the entire Crosier family, I will not be posting them. At this time I would just like to send my best wishes and love to the Crosier family and Jacob's fiancé, Miranda. The memorial service was beautiful and Jacob looked great. It was pretty clear that everyone in attendance and beyond felt the massive hole now present in our community. We all loved Jake and love the family and when it is all said and done, His memory will live on forever. Tonight spoke for itself and was a perfect tribute to an amazing man.

Day 217: Christkindlmarket- Chicago

Holy German. This is a nice little Christmas market set up right in the middle of downtown. Authentic German food and drinks and novelties. I'm currently smashed inbetween a baby stroller carrying chihuahas and a complete stranger waiting in line for my spiced wine. WORTH IT.

Day 216: Zoo Lights at Lincoln Park

First time being in Chicago during Christmas time! Checkin out Lincoln Park and their annual Zoo Lights exhibit. It's pretty awesome so far. The whole city is decked out. Great experience with some great friends.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Day 215: A Day in Honor of Jacob Crosier

I won't be doing anything today for 365 Firsts other than remembering a friend who has tragically passed away. I've known his family for most of my life and became much closer with Jake in high school through sports and classes. The number one thing about Jake to me is that he always made me laugh. He was so unique in his humor, and I can't name too many more people that were more complimentary to me than he was. He would always just say I was awesome for absolutely no reason. I never understood it, but I can look back and appreciate every time he said it to me now. He was a great teammate. He played fiercely and was always the first to jump at my side anytime I needed someone or anytime I would freak out on our football team my senior year, "ya'll need to shut up and listen to Coxy!" He had my back and I'll never forget him for that. Then he had all of our backs as a decorated U.S. Marine. He fought for our country, improved himself in every way and others around him and he made us all proud. I'm so glad that I got to spend the entire night one night this summer during the local fair with him and just a few other friends, diving in pools at 4am until the sun rose. It was a total blast and Jake made it that way. His death is a tragedy. We're all here for his family who is such a big part of the area and who's brother was also a teammate and friend and who's father was my baseball coach for years and years and who was always so encouraging of me and saw potential in me I never knew I had. The whole family is special. The community lost a brother, a father, a son and a friend and much, much more. A unique soul is rare to find and that's who he was. It was rare that he didn't have a smile or smirk on his face and that's something we should all strive to have because it makes for a pretty great person. R.I.P, Jacob.

Day 214: Use a Backup Camera

I usually fly down my country driveway in reverse but using the camera took wayyy longer. Also, made me a little motion sick.

Day 213: I, Carrot App

This app is pretty great. It informs you of how lazy you are.

Day 212: Build-a-Bear at Build-a-Bear Workshop

Well, I've got the niece now so the next logical step was to build a bear. Chloe may not know what it is quite yet, but one day she will. I got a gift receipt if she wants to return it. Hopefully she doesn't get a Facebook or Instagram account before Christmas so that this gift is ruined.

Day 211: Trivia Night

I've never done a trivia night or day or any sort of trivia that wasn't a board game or in high school or something. This one in particular is for Toys for Tots so it's going to a good cause as well. Either this trivia is particularly hard or I'm an idiot. I think it's mixture.

Day 210: Say Goodbye to Old Navy

I went in for the last time and said my goodbye's. When I first started here two years ago, I was contemplating getting engaged, I was going back to school for dentistry, I was making soap... soooo much soap, and I feel like I was pretty clueless. Fast forward... I graduated again with a psychology degree, ended a 5 year relationship, met some of the people that would be closest to me in Edwardsville, had a VERY insane dating life, lost my mind a few times, started 365 Firsts, and had the two of the craziest years of my life during my time at Old Navy. Needless to say, A LOT has changed in my life since then. A lot. And the people I've met here have became great friends and it's hard to say goodbye to them and this place which overall has been a great experience during all if these life changes. It's bittersweet leaving but it's time to move on. I sincerely wish everyone here the best of luck and thank you for everything.

Day 209: Celebrate National Repeal Day

Obed and Isaac's with some good friends and some beers. Prohibition was dumb.

Day 208: Homemade Play-Doh

I think this is honestly the same exact thing as Play-Doh, maybe minus a chemical or two.

2 cups of flour

2 cups of warm water

1 cup of salt

2tbs of oil

1tbs of cream of tartar

Mix ingredients together and cook over low heat until it's the right consistency. This could be a cool activity to do if you have kids.

Day 207: Chocolate Cheese

I'm standing there with a jar of picked pigs feet in my hand, staring at a block of chocolate cheese when Ashley comes walking up. So, we sample some of the chocolate cheese. A first for both of us! I'll save the pickled pigs feet for another day later in 365 Firsts. Can't wait.

Day 206: Play the New Mario on the Wii U

I haven't sat down and really played a game in a long time. Nice to do with some of my oldest friends.

Day 205: Proud Owner of a New Hyundai Sonata

So, the power steering continues to go out on my Ford Fusion and apparently it's happening with thousands of other Fusion's and people are actually losing control while driving and crashing their cars. Since it's still pretty new, we got great trade in value for it and a great deal and essentially paid very little to have that car for over a year and made almost an even trade. Great deal. This Sonata is awesome too. Good day today!

Day 204: Put in my Two Weeks Notice to Old Navy

I made some great friends through Old Navy over the last 2 years and it'll be sad to leave them and all of the other awesome people I'm just getting to know. Overall it's been a great experience, but life changes and it's time to move on. Little announcement: I'm moving to Springfield. I won't get more into it until it happens, but I'm leaving Edwardsville and the place I've lived for almost 7 years and moving to Springfield, even if it's just temporarily for a year or so before moving again. 2 more weeks at good Ol' Navy!

Day 203: Work my First 4am Shift

Yay, retail! Good thing I don't sleep.

Day 202: First Pair of Air Jordan's

J's on my feet.

Day 201: Carve the Turkey

I've always wanted to do this! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Day 200: Make Snow Ice Cream

Get some snow, vanilla extract, milk and sugar and mix it all together and you get snow ice cream and it's DELICIOUS. Man that stuff is good. So I made it to day 200! Since day 100, I've ran onto the field at Busch Stadium, sang my tipsy heart out at karaoke, beat an eating challenge, shaved my legs, smoked a cigar, guest starred on a podcast, went to a movie alone, saw a major SEC college football game with 102,000 other fans, hang glided at 3,000 feet in the air, shut myself inside of a sensory deprivation tank and became an uncle all for the first time. Plus a lot more. AND, my personal life was 100 times crazier. It's been interesting to juggle the two to say the least. Once my life gets a little more organized I will hopefully get to do some bigger things again soon. Thanks again for everyone's support and interest, it still means everything to me!

Day 199: Donate to Feed a Hungry Baby for a Week

They only ask for $9. An hour of work at good ol' Old Navy.

Day 198: Take a Moment of Silence for Ferguson

This is not a political post by any means, it's a human kind post. Violence is stupid. Violence should never happen in the first place. How many peaceful wars have you heard of? They start because of ignorant violence and always have a high cost. Same goes for situations like Ferguson. Whatever "side" you're on, it doesn't matter. It's ignorant. I live 15 minutes away from it and I'm staying out of it completely and entirely and just hoping that a community can pull together and through this and stop taking sides. Nothing would be better than to hear this spring that the Cardinals are set to debut at Busch for opening day and that Ferguson is rebuilding. How about we work towards that?

Day 197: Donate to Help a Child Learn to Read and Ride

All they asked for was $14. Less than two hours at a minimum wage job. I'd hope someone would do the same for me if I was in a situation like that. You can also donate to the same cause at this link:

http://www.samaritanspurse.org/donation-items/teach-a-child-to-read-write/

Day 196: Donate Money to Build Freshwater Wells

The money donated goes towards building a deep-drilled borehole and pump that can provide freshwater for an entire community. You can donate to it if you're interested at this link: http://bit.ly/1y2xoHM

Day 195: Friendsgiving Taboo

Second annual Friendsgiving. First time playing Taboo at Friendsgiving.

Day 194: Build a Glider System

Ol' Chloe has been begging for this glider ever since she's been born, so here it is. Now get off my back about it!

Day 193: Pine Needle Tea

I just walked out to my backyard and plucked a few tuffs of pine needles from a pine tree. Boiled some water and then throw the needles in and let it steep for about 10 minutes. Pine Needle Tea is supposed to have 5 times the vitamin C of an orange. It actually tastes amazing.

Side note: pine is my all time favorite smell.

Side note: I'm really allergic to pine. YOLO.