#136 - Sail on a boat on one of the Great Lakes

Behind me is the Chicago skyline while we sailed on Lake Michigan - July! What a fun and relaxing experience with one of my longest and most amazing friends, Rebecca. We traveled to Chicago for a work related conference and the night before it started, we decided to take a sunset sailing trip to get this one off my bucket list!

The Navy Pier was right next to this breathtaking view of the city!

Bucket list #136 - complete!

#70 - Take a painting class

Something I have now had to learn the hard way...post my blog immediately after completing a bucket list item for a few reasons. First of all, if you lose your phone...the pictures are gone :(  My painting class photo is gone forever BUT the final product is fine and hanging on my wall.

The painting class was very interesting. Our teacher was drinking the entire class time! Justin and I were confused and frustrated with the guy who kept telling us to do a smidgen of this and a dash of that.  At the end of the day, it was a good memory! I definitely want to try out another class at a different place with a painting I really want to paint. 

#152 - Conquer my fear of frogs by holding one!

Frogs are awful. They were when I added this one to the list and they still are. Holding one didn't do the trick BUT I did happen to complete it so I guess that's a win on its own.

One one of my trips to Pennsylvania, Justin took me to check this off my list.  We pulled up to a pet store and I was completely confused. It wouldn't have helped for me to be prepared but being caught off guard I immediately freaked out.

#152 - Held the frog but it didn't cure my fear!

#144 - Have an old school sleepover as an adult!

I didn't even realize this one was on the list OR done but what a nice surprise! A group of my closest friends from our small group had a legit sleepover night complete with Spin the Bottle (which actually was a spin the bottle nail painting game since we are all married), girly movies which of course included "The Notebook" and so much more.

We bonded, we laughed and guess who feel asleep first? Whoops! Granted I had been up for 24 hours when I passed out.

#144 - DONE!

Sleepovers are always fun no matter how old you are! Girls, we need to do this again soon!

#82 - Go christmas caroling door to door with a group of friends

Although it has been quite a while since this actually took place, it's important to document all the things this wonderful list has helped me do since I started it.  Our small group at Access Church in Lakeland all went out caroling together in December to spread joy to our community.  I think every person in the group had some apprehension going into this but we achieved the goal of spreading joy and the Christmas spirit. I would love to do this again!

We certainly had the one or two people that didn't want to acknowledge our presence but we also had those who cried, those grateful for the positivity and  thanked us for stopping by and those who cherished the moment they got to experience what you may only see in movies nowadays.

Really appreciate The Rippy's for gathering the group to make this happen!

#82 - "God Christmas caroling door to door with a group of friends" is officially off the list!

#57 - Murder Mystery Dinner

Part of me doesn't even know where to begin on an update of my life and part of me just doesn't know if it is even relevant or necessary.  Although its been a while since I posted an update, it doesn't mean I haven't been working on the list! In actual fact, I have gotten quite a few things off my list BUT I do really need to focus on completing a few more of my goals between now and the end of the year.

Let's just jump into my experience with the Murder Mystery Dinner and I will do a personal update blog later to get everyone who cares up to speed!  

One of my closest female friends just turned 30 years old and threw a roaring 20's themed Murder Mystery dinner called "The Juice Joint"! The Taylors can't throw a get together without going above and beyond.  They have a vision for decorating that I don't and we were all thoroughly impressed with all the details.

My character was Cindy Butt, the cigarette girl at the Speakeasy. This was one of the best nights I have had in quite a long time.  We got a script and some background info on who we were and who we did and didn't like at the party. We dressed the part, acted according to our character profile and witnessed the murder of Notorious Nick (aka Ryan Taylor) at the party. 

#57 was well worth adding to my list of things to accomplish in life! We were all pushed out of our comfort zone and I really bonded with some people I didn't know as well as others. If you want to host a party like this, check out their website at www.nightofmystery.com! 

#27 Visit Willy Wonkas Chocolate Factory

I'm going to look at the positive side of the only possible disappointment on the list which was visiting Willy Wonkas Chocolate Factory.  They really could make a killing off a theme park or something like Chocolate World In Pennsylvania but instead the movie was definitely not a fragment of truth. It was over an hour from Chicago in horrible traffic but I was glad to get another one off my list. Are you ready for it???? It's literally a boring brick warehouse without any wonka-isms other than a sign. Womp Womp. No gift shop, no tour, no chocolate river and no snozberrys. I felt like throwing a Veruca Salt style tantrum but I stopped myself and just decided to be happy to check it off the list ☺️

 

#35 - Drive on route 66

It's been way too long since I've blogged but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy checking things off the list.  The first of my catch up blogs will be "Drive on Route 66". After the famous song, I got my kicks on Route 66. Joliet, IL is a small town with little else to do. Sometimes it's hard to see places like this that have had their glory years back but this little town dwells in the glory days. They have a museum of the history associated with the town and Route 66 and it was a GREAT museum. Artifacts from the time they were busy and a great video on what they are now.

Truly enjoyed this one! #35 off the list!