My first day of 39 was terrific. I spent the day buying fabric for my December Daily album, talking to good friends and family, and eating a cupcake. After the Thanksgiving holiday, I’m going to be having all sorts of fun checking items off from this new list as well as completing my 39 list.
I can’t begin to tell you how much fun it was reading through my original life list (only part is on this website) and feeling energized and excited about the next year. I still remember writing my first 100 list items with Bud. He was my chemo buddy that I based my 52 cupcake series on. His words continue to be an inspiration to me almost eight years later. Boy do I ever wish he was here to dance with me.
As I was going through pictures in my Project Life album, I came across this picture of Ben and his friends at an amusement park. I printed an extra picture off for my refrigerator to remind me to live my life with this same childlike joy and laughter. It’s hard for me not to smile remembering their infectious giggles.
So here are the 40 items I hope to learn and experience over the next year before I turn 40 on November 20, 2013.
Knit a blanket
Complete my dining room table project
Take a ceramic class
Go see the Beach Blanket Babylon show in San Francisco
Complete the Phoenix Summit in November 2013
Participate in the Color Run with the family
Run a 10K
Run a 5K in under 30 minutes
Go tubing in the Salt River
Hot Air Ballooning
Plant a garden
Experiment with healthy school lunches
Go on a girl’s retreat
Visit the winter Olympic Training Park
Make the kids their birthday cakes
Take a letterpress class
Watch a Diamondbacks game from Friday Front Row with Julie & Chris
Complete a sprint triathlon
Make our porch a sukkah and host Sukkot dinners
Take kids to Slide Rock
Brew beer
Host a Halloween costume party
Take a food photography workshop
Take a woodworking class
Get season tickets to the theater
Ride a mechanical bull
Teach kids how to snow ski
Make 3 versions of homemade ice cream
Make a catapult with Ben
Host a monthly Project Life group
Teach kids how to cook and bake
Host a Friendsgiving
Visit Mount Rushmore
Learn three new book binding techniques
Go boating and tubing as a family
Stay at an Ace Hotel
Take on the trapeze
Make fresh pasta
Go on a white river rafting trip
Make homemade stacked enchiladas with Sam
As my children say, the next 363 days are going to “Ah-mazing”, “Boss”, and “Amazeballs”. I’m excited for the possibilities. Life is good.
Blessings sweet friends,
Jenny
-> As always, feel free to follow along and leave a link to your list you are working on in the comments.
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Comments
Lesley
Sounds like a plan to me!!! Cant wait to watch your countdown to 40 adventures as they unfold!
Sandi Keene
Great List, Jenny! Can’t wait to hear about each adventure. Go, You!!
Ashley
So great! I always get inspired when I read your lists! I recently turned 28 and made a “30 Before 30″ list: http://thebigwhitefarmhouse.blogspot.com/2012/10/recording-life-30-before-30.html
Emily
What? You only ate “a cupcake”? I would have had at least two! Happy, Happy Birthday to you!
I’m currently working on a list, too – http://naptimeismytime.com/day-zero-project
Lisa Muniz
Can’t wait to see you do all these things. It will be amazeballs for sure!
Nicol (imanewbierunner)
Wish I lived closer so I could come to your Project Life group. This is a great list! Have fun with all of those adventures!
Julie
We saw Mount Rushmore last summer. One of my favorite areas! Definitely check out the Crazy Horse Memorial while you’re there!
J3SS1C4
Love this list of things to do before 40! Sounds like it’s going to be an amazing year for you! I can’t wait to see how they all turn out!
cathy stolze
I am having Jenny withdrawl. Everytime I think of you, I say a prayer. I know your life is full and busy. Look at that list you created you lovely type A woman. I hope you’re dancing!!!
xoxo love from a C+, sometimes B- woman, haha Lots of love from VA
Enjoy the moment. xoxoxox
Bunny
When you go to see Beach Blanket Babylon, get center balcony tickets. Go at least an hour early to stand in line so you can snag the front row of the balcony. I’ve done the front cabaret, rear cabaret, and center balcony, and balcony was the best. Being slightly higher up gives you a better overall view of what’s happening on the stage. If you have the time beforehand, you can catch dinner at The Original U.S. Restaurant, an Italian place about a two-minute walk away. It’s not too expensive, and it’s decent food. There’s a tiny Italian bakery nearby that has fantastic canolis. If you like chai tea, you should definitely also check out La Boulange, which is a block or so away. They have the best chai… I think out of everything in San Francisco, including BBB, I miss that chai the most. A lot of major bus lines go straight through the North Beach area (near BBB); it’s worth using them instead of taking a cab. And finally, avoid Broadway after 11:30 or so; there are a lot of strip clubs, etc. there, and I found it to be kind of creepy. It’s the only time I’ve ever taken a guy’s hand just to make it look like I was “taken”. When you plan your SF trip, if you want other tips or ideas, send me an e-mail. I love living on the East Coast now near my family, but I do miss a lot about the city.