Skydiving - DONE!

Let me start by saying that skydiving is the biggest fear of my life. It terrified me more than anything to think about the reality of doing this.  I honestly kept finding reasons NOT to do it just out of fear and a little on the timing side.  After realizing it was the perfect time for me to really take the leap and do this, some amazing friends entered my life.  Eric and Cory have rejuvinated me in so many ways, I can't describe how wonderful the past few weeks or so have really been. I'm lucky to have them around! 

A random conversation ended up with a commitment on a date and time and here we were. May 7, 2012 is a day that will forever be in my mind. We all have gotten on the bucket list band wagon and now is the perfect time to be on a mission to push hard for change in life. 

When we got there, I started to feel the panic a little bit but that was really minimal because of the two with me. We joked a lot and it helped me through the process. They suited us up and we started documenting the process. Jeff (my tandem jumper) really helped me. He talked to me the whole flight so it really kept my mind off things. I decided if we were doing this it was "go big or go home" so we backflipped out of the airplane. I went first and I think that helped me too!




A really weird calm feeling came over me in the airplane and I definitely didn't expect that. It all happened so fast and before I knew it I was flipping out of the plane and free falling.  I can't describe it other than you don't lose your stomach or feel like you are falling because its 2 1/2 miles up and you fall at 120 mph.

When the parachute opens, its just a peaceful floating experience.  Theres a major post jump adreneline for sure. 

What an incredible experience it was!

We have quite a few fun videos so heres a little bit of the day. Eric is going to put my jump dvd on his computer and do something with it so I can post that but for now...that's about it!

This post ended up being a little deeper than just about a simple skydiving trip.  See one of my favorite songs by Lady Antebellum pretty much sums up a little bit of WHY I was ready to do this.  Don't take these lyrics the wrong way, what I mean is that I've been scared to move on with life. I've been scared to really push myself hard to change and figure out exactly what was behind some of my feelings and behaviors. Skydiving symbolized me being ready. I have realized it is time to take control. To stop thinking but to act on it and I feel like this was exactly what I did.

"Seems like I was walking in the wrong direction
I barely recognize my own reflection, no
Scared of love but scared of life alone
Seems I've been playing on the safe side baby
Building walls around my heart to save me, oh
But it's time for me to let it go
Yeah, I'm ready to feel now
No longer am I afraid of the fall down
It must be time to move on now
Without the fear of how it might end"
(Lady Antebellum)

Take a Pole Dancing Class - #46

#46 - Take a pole dancing class

By far this particular item on my bucket list has pushed me the farthest out of my comfort zone from a physical perspective. I can definitely say this will be something I'll do again. It was a great workout but also a ton of fun. The teacher was amazing and made me feel so comfortable, not to mention PHENOMENAL on the pole. He made it look like an art form.        

From the moment I made the phone call, it was just a great experience. The lady who made my reservation was so friendly and I told her it was on my bucket list. During the class, she was like "Its on your bucket list so just let go and enjoy it". It really helped that the staff were so wonderful.

When we started, I could barely even hold myself on the pole. I have a whole new respect for people who do this for a living. We made a few videos to capture the moment. The first one is just learning the spinning on the pole then the beginner class one full run through the routine. 

Part of the point of the bucket list is to push me as a person. So here we go...

And that's a wrap...another one off the list!

#53 - Play Hopscotch

Sometimes the things that are the most fun come from our childhood. This year has made my childhood become a very comfortable place for me. We grilled out and taught the kids how to play hopscotch. (Thank you google for the rules).

There were 5 of us playing including one of my friends Ive known since middle school and her son. Fortunately since it was my bucket list....I WON! I was definitely underdog status but thats how I roll :)Here is the video. Number 53 is now OFF THE LIST!

#76 - Have a huge water balloon fight

This was the most hilarious bucket list item to kick off this month!  I was in CVS buying something and saw water balloons on sale for $2 and was trying to think of something to entertain us that was cheap and fun. We decided this would be SO much more fun if we surprised someone with the fight vs staging it.

I spent probably an hour just filling balloons in the bathroom with no ones knowledge while my friend took them outside and strategically placed them around the perimeter of where we were planning on staging this fight.  The plan was to get her husband to go outside and take us on a golf cart ride and then just bombard him. A few minutes before we went to get him, he was already outside and driving away on the cart. We got him back over and went to town!

The best part was him not putting down the can of pringles he had been eating. It was fun, hilarious and we pulled it off without him finding out.  Priceless video!

#76 - "Have a huge water balloon fight" is officially off the list....

#2 - Skydiving - SCHEDULED!!!

This is literally my BIGGEST FEAR! Not only am I slightly afraid of flying in small planes but I'm also afraid of heights in a major way. I know this is on everyones bucket list for the most part, however skydiving is going to be a very symbolic thing for me. For me, its taking my fears head on and basically symbolizing a major change in my life.

I wanted to go when I turned 30 but I just had too much going on in life at that point for it to really be as important as I needed it to be for me personally. I've made a lot of major changes in a year and its time to show this fear who's boss!!!!

Two of my new amazing friends were on board with getting this done right away so its scheduled for May 7th and we are going to jump together to all prove to ourselves that life begins now and we are all in control of our future, our happiness and creating some unforgettable memories that we will cherish the rest of our lives. I'm glad to have some of my favorite people to be around there to hold my hand while I complete this one.

ITS ON!

#62 - Play Paintball

I'm not going to lie, I was terrified of this one (not as much as I am about skydiving).  I had heard some major horror stories about how bad it hurts to get hit by the paintballs.  There were 15 of us that made it out to the paintball field, only 3 girls.

Talk about bonding time...it was a blast. My first hit was right in the facemask and after that I was feeling much better. It barely hurt to be honest, just a quick sting.  The best part about this bucket list item is that it was with some of my favorite wedding industry friends.

I was last person standing on I believe the 2nd or 3rd game and didn't do too bad. They all thought I was going to be the ultimate prissy princess I think but I think I proved that I can hang too.

We went to Orbital Paintball and the people there were really nice and definitely made the experience that much better. They didnt know this was on my list but I appreciate Aaron organizing this industry event and unknowingly getting this off my bucket list!!

#62 - Go Paintballing - COMPLETE!!

Front row left to right: Jason Mize (Photography), Justin DeMutiis (Photography), Dustin (Photographer)

2nd row left to right: Mark Edwards (Photography), Aaron Lockwood (Photography), Phillip MacDonald (aka Phillip Lloyd Photography), Me (The Knot), Eric Harding (Grant Hemond and Assoc.), Jessica (Georgia Watson Events), Ryan Smith (Good Food Catering), Jacob Smeaton (Music on the Move)

Back row left to right: Cory Barron (Grant Hemond and Assoc.), JC York (Wise Guys), Bill Cadzow

*Not pictured - Andrea McMahon (Paper Presence)

#115 - Attend another Gary Gulman show

                               GARY GULMAN

Anyone that knows me well knows I LOVE live comedy! I even had a comedian at my wedding...Well my favorites are Dane Cook and Gary Gulman. I fell in love with his comedy back when he was on "Last Comic Standing". Say what you want but I love comedians who joke about things we all notice but maybe never think to make fun of, smart comedy.

I went with 3 friends to the show and it was beyond my expectations. He's hilarious and a really nice guy (and not bad to look at either). I went to a show a few years back but really wanted to go to another one and finally he came back to Tampa.  We sat in the front row.  A few days before, I started tweeting about him and to my surprise he retweeted me and remembered me when I got to the show. It made my year honestly. To the right is a picture from the first show years ago.

The show was at Side Splitters Comedy Club in Tampa on April 7th. What a blast!!

 The day after I posted on twitter about him exceeding my expectations and check out the sweet reply. What a nice guy he was and simply amazing show.

Check out his website if you want to see clips:

                       www.garygulman.com



#115 - Attend another Gary Gulman show - COMPLETE!