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The Challenge

Create your ultimate fantasy to-do list. Things you never thought you would do – but always wanted to. Things you want to do NOW. In my case, things I want to do before I turn 30.

The Rules

  1. The wishes have to be possible. Can’t be dinner with Jane Austen.
  2. No breaking the law. Sure, climbing the Hollywood sign would be fun. But felonies… not my thing.
  3. The list has to be exclusive – full of things you likely won’t want to do after 30. Could they happen after 30? Sure. Likely to happen? Probably not.

The Results

You could fill a library of books written about the practice. It’s simple, really: writing down your goals & revisiting them often helps you achieve your dreams. A little self-fulfilling prophecy, a little law of attraction, a little power of choice, the “secret”… whatever you want to call it. I think it’s the list. Spending time defining your dreams, what you want, enables you to A) jump on opportunity or B) seek it out.

Mark and I reviewed them recently, pushed some wishes to our non-existent (yet) “before 40″ list and made room for things we want to do now. So with 2 years and about 8 months to go….I think I can do it!

Here’s my list. Accomplished wishes are at the top, the rest below.

Wish#1: SEC Basketball Tournament

Date: March 10-13, 2011

Highlights: Nothing beats Kentucky basketball. Especially when it’s in your backyard. It was our first SEC tournament and since it was in our backyard, we couldn’t resist. Last 2 days were really exciting – especially after Kentucky won!

Wish #2: Visit Sweetwater Brewery

Date: Multiple times in 2011!

Highlights: If you like beer and a good patio, you have to visit Sweetwater Brewery on a visit to Atlanta. They are only open a couple of days a week and for 4 hours at a time, but it’s worth re-arranging your schedule for it. It’s a fun, hippie style micro brewery and, in my opinion, their Sweetwater Blue is the best beer ever made.

Wish #3: Go to a crazy fun, multi day music festival (Bonnaroo)

Date: June 9-12, 2011

Highlights: It was hot. We camped (in a tent!). My shower was an economy size package of baby wipes. But Eminem, Lil Wayne, Mumford & Sons, Florence & the Machine, Neon Trees, Amos Lee, The Black Keys and a best friend to share it all with… 100% worth it. You can’t put a price on that. Now Mark wants to go in 2012. Imagine that!

Wish #4: Run Peachtree Road Race 10K in less than an hour

Date: July 4, 2011

Highlights: I’m all about some goals. It was my 3rd time running a 10K and I was so determined to run it under an hour. I think it was spending time training with Mark that made it so special to me. Finished in 51:51. Success!

Wish #5: See Big Ben & London Bridge

Date: August 27, 2011

Highlights: With only a day in London, everyone knows the best way to do it is on a double-decker bus! We saw as much of London as we wanted to and thanks to that big bus, all in one day. Also saw Buckingham Palace and walked all over London, too.

Wish #6: Visit a Munich Beerhall, specifically Hofbrahaus

Highlights: Munich started with a bike tour…then off to Hofbrahaus! It was amazing. Women carrying 10 liters of beer, crazy German music, signing German drinking songs….such a fun night! Topped off with a night on the town with our new Contiki friends. Germany definitely knows how to do beer.

Date: August 30, 2011

Wish #7: Visit Italy

Date: August 31 – September 1st, 2011

Outcome: How can such a small city that floods 200 times a year squeeze in so much charm? Amazing city and we happened to be there during the Venice Film Festival! We got lost (multiple times), visit St. Mark’s Basilica & Square, watched a real Murano glass blowing demonstration, ate more gelato, pasta & pizza than I thought was possible and even saw an Italian brawl! And I can’t forget the gondola ride, but more on that later…

Wish #8: Gondola Ride in Venice

Date: September 1, 2011

Highlights: People might say that Gondola rides are hoaky, touristy, overrated. I’m here to tell you: don’t buy it. It was just at sunset, we shared a bottle of prosecco and were ushered through the nooks and crannies of Venice with the occasional serenade of an accordion. I can still hear the music!

Wish #9: Hike the Swiss Alps

Date: September 2, 2011

Highlights: I had no expectations for the Swiss Alps. But once we trekked up a mountain in Austria to go bobsledding, everything changed. Every moment we spent in Switzerland (even in the bus driving around) was picturesque. The top of Mt. Stanserhorn was life altering. That’s the only way I can describe it.

Wish#10: Meet me at the top of the Eiffel Tower

Date: September 4-5, 2011

Highlights: I confess: I cried the first time I saw the Eiffel Tower! If you think the Eiffel Tower (or Paris) is overrated, you’re crazy. See it on the hour at night when it shimmers. It takes your breath away. The view from above was amazing. It was packed, I definitely preferred admiring the tower from the lawn. I can’t wait to go back to Paris.

Wish #11: See the Mona Lisa

Date: September 5, 2011

Highlights: The Louvre is a highlight in itself. But seeing the Mona is huge. The Louvre is huge. Thankfully we had a turn-by-turn guide. After seeing the Venus de Milo, the Victory of Samothace (aka Nike) and Cupid’s Kiss, we were excited to get our first glimpse of the Mona Lisa. The Louvre had free entry the day before but we knew it would be packed so we waited – and I’m glad we did. We shimmied right up to the front & center. It’s not that she’s so impressive but there is a certain magical energy that comes from seeing such an icon in person.

Wish #12: Attend an Epic Concert

Date: September 24, 2011

Highlights: Piedmont park is legendary in Atlanta and one of my favorite places to visit. I’ve seen events held there, but nothing like this. #1 – it’s COLDPLAY. #2 – it was a perfect September evening. #3 – my mom was with me :) I really think you need to see a video to get the gist. Check it out.

What’s Left?

Here’s a rough list…some are already planned, others are being planned! I’m curious. What’s on YOUR list?

Sky dive in a beautiful city
New York City at Christmastime (the metropolitan museum, SNL, Statue of Liberty & The Today Show)
Watch Kentucky in the Final Four (2012? Maybe! TBD!)
Rio de Janeiro (Christ the Redeemer)
Visit Ireland
Take a formal cooking classes
Visit Vancouver & Seattle
College World Series (Mark/man trip)
Rent a ski cabin with friends
Chicago…but not during winter
Go to Atlanta Falcons game (11/2011)
Mardi Gras
South Beach
Hike Machu Picchu
Run a marathon
Take a professional photography class
Ski at Innsbruck, Austria
Take a tour of all the major distilleries in Kentucky

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