My 50 before 50 list is done!

For the 42nd birthday this year, I had just 3 goals:

1. Wake up in Arizona
2. Start the deep dive on my book
3. Finish the 50 before 50 list

Check. Check. And check.

50 Before 50 List

1. Come up with a 50 by 50 list – put a lot of thought into it
2. Ayurvedic retreat 
3. Go to the Czech Republic
4. Go to Costa Rica with the whole family
5. Publish that book!
6. Sell Thyme on Main
7. Complete ‘Bible in a Year’ with Fr. Mike
8. Study the book of Isaiah in detail
9. Study Proverbs in detail
10. Study Ecclesiastes in detail
11. Know exactly where we will retire and/or even have our house purchased there
12. Touch a snake
13. Complete a 30-day streak of meditating
14. Trust and take a self-driving car
15. Paint the main entryway railings white
16. Go zip lining
17. Try a class (even if it’s just one session) that has to do with something completely new to me (bonus if it’s something with Ryan)
18. Go on a weekend trip with just Samarah
19. Go on a weekend trip with just Isaiah
20. Go on a weekend trip with just Amiya
21. Remove all plastic containers from the kitchen
22. Complete Deepak Chopra’s Ayurvedic course
23. Expand Spanish language
24. Take a cooking class in a country I travel to
25. Take one photo on my professional camera every day for a month
26. Complete an official poetry class
27. Go on a weekend silent retreat
28. Experience the sunrise and sunset in the same day at a beautiful location
29. Go to Vietnam with Lan
30. Write a letter to my future self to open on 50th birthday
31. Swim in a natural hot spring
32. Celebrate a “no occasion” party for the kids, just because
33. Read 100 books
34. Spend a night in a tree house
35. Write a letter to my 18 year old self
36. Learn to make sushi from scratch with the kids
37. Record a video interview with each child on their birthday and save them
38. Create a “Love Always, Mama” jar for the kids to open when the need it
39. Update the family Gratitude jar
40. Celebrate our anniversary in a new place each year (ie. 41 = New Mexico)
41. Create a shared vision board with Ryan
42. Learn to write flash nonfiction (or drabbles)
43. Create our silence/meditation/quiet room via the guest room
44. Hike a mountain I’ve never climbed before
45. Create a personal mission statement
46. Learn an advanced skill which pertains to the new company
47. Set clear career goals and break them down into steps
48. Zero SIBO setbacks
49. Travel to the East Coast with Mom (unless I can beg her to skip that and just go West!)
50. Create this list in a creative program and print it off for keeping track / to serve as a vision board

Arizona to Celebrate 42

There are a million things I could say about my solo trip to Arizona.

I’ll spare you all my desert-loving, plant-obsessed, hippie vibes.

Instead, HERE is a little video recap + here are some pics…

Notes:

• Yes, I added to the tattoo collection. And if you’re in the Phoenix area and want a great recommendation – see: Golden Rule Tattoo, John Swartz.
• My AirBnB was a tiny house filled with plants. The cat came complimentary, and she never wanted to leave me. So I made a new bestie. And I’m not even usually a cat person.
• In that cup = water, not alcohol. I rarely drink anymore, and am a much better person because of it.
• I was able to cross off #14 on my list: Trust and take a self-driving car. You can see the image with no driver = my fave human from the trip. Coolest experience that I did a few times. No it wasn’t scary. Yes I trusted it more than humans. And when can I buy one?

Finally, while I was gone, I started to re-imagine this website.

Namely because of the book, but also because it serves as the perfect creative outlet.

So I updated the homepage, dialing in the branding, look and feel.

And created this….

BTW – for all my girls in your 40’s era (or about to be there) — it’s not that bad.

I mean, minus the fact that I herniated a disc in my back a year ago, so now we have to be cognizant of “ailments” like that. Or the fact that, without a good Botox regimen, my face definitely shows 42 and not 22.

But besides those minor things, I’m actually far more confident than I was in my 30’s.

I know what I do and (more importantly) don’t want.

Mileage continues bringing meaning.

Join the magic and chaos.

Xox,

SKH