Posted: Sun, 2 Jan 2011 08:14 AM - 14,481 Readers

By: Russell Wilde

Kristy Owen started her blog, 365 Things To Do in Austin, as a new year's resolution.

She decided to try something new for a year. She decided to write about the town she loves.

The blog began 365 days ago at one of Owen's favorite coffee spots, Mozart's on Lake Austin. That was Day One.

On Day 17, she visited Hey Cupcake. For Texas Independence Day, she featured the Capitol, and for Day 113, the Alamo Drafthouse. As the days added up, so did the number of readers.

"I'm shocked, in a good way, because it's been exciting. Definitely everyone following makes it much more exciting and it has so much feedback, which is good," Owen said. "But I didn't even start to blog to get followers."

The list hit Facebook in February, and garnered 1,000 followers in a week. Now, there are nearly 150,000 people following.

"It's become such a part of my daily life that I can't start my day until it's taken care of,"
Owen said.

Day 360 was the 360 bridge. The last day was also tied to Lake Austin.

"It started at Mozart's, and if you were to go and do every single thing on the list every day you would end right next door to where you started," Owen said.

However, the end really isn't the end. It's just another beginning. In addition to the blog and iPhone app, Owen is hoping to turn the endeavor into a book.