Here is a good sampling of the list in all its glory. I made this list when I was undergoing chemotherapy and have added to it the past 6 years. For those of you that want to keep track of me and keep me accountable, it’s here. For those that just want some ideas of things to learn, it’s here. I am going to be posting pictures and video as I tackle these, which should provide some great entertainment along the way as well. If you have additional ideas for me, I am always open to suggestions.

Sports and Adventure

• Run the races- 5K, 10K, 13.1, and the 26.2 marathon.
• Run in 3 good marathons- Marine Corps, Boston, and NY marathons
• Participate in the triathlons – sprint, olympic, half ironman, and the ironman, and KONA
• Learn how to change a tire on my bike
• Learn how to mountain bike
• Participate in the 15 mile epic ride (mountain biking)
• Complete the 109 mile El Tour de Tucson bike race
• Complete the Warrior Dash
• Complete an Xterra triathlon
• Learn to kayak
• Learn the hurdles
• Be an ice hockey goalie for a day
• Learn how to do an axel in ice skating
• Learn how to play water polo
• Learn how to play volleyball
• Learn how to play sand volleyball (with a bikini baby)
• Learn how to play lacrosse
• Play in a tennis tournament
• Learn how to vault in gymnastics
• Learn to surf
• Play in a game of polo (horse)
• Become a kickboxing instructor
• Get my black belt in Tae Kwon Do
• Complete RAGBRAI
• Take a self defense class and break a board
• Take a boxing class and jump rope with the best of them (must have gloves)
• Make a video of my mad double dutch roping skills
• Learn bikram yoga and document my progression from stiff, dead one to Gumby- in progress
• Learn the Tibetan rites
• Get a 6 pack instead of drinking one
• Take Barre method classes - in progress
• Try Pilates Reformer and document improvement
• Join Master’s swim program and make videos on starts, underwater streamlining, turns, strokes, and drills
• Swim in Master’s Nationals
• Learn how to play golf and join a lady’s group
• Master spinning classes
• Attend a strip pole class
• White river rafting trip (multiple day)
• Go parasailing
• Attain scuba certification
• Go 4 wheeling with family
• Go snorkeling in exotic place
• Learn how to spearfish
• Re-learn how to waterski, slalom, and barefoot
• Ski the black slopes
• Learn how to snowboard
• Attend Corefit
• Learn how to do dives from springboard and platform (play with the dry land equipment!)
• Go mountain/rock climbing
• Learn how to skateboard and do jumps at skatepark or on ramp
• Take horseback riding lessons
• Learn equestrian riding (must have the outfit and boots)
• Ziplining through the jungle
• Learn how to do one handed pushups
• Drive a race car on a Nascar track
• Learn archery
• Go snowmobiling
• Taking a class at the shooting range
• Learn how to dunk a basketball (assistance may be necessary)
• Learn how to perform various touchdown dances
• Go camping with the family every summer and learn camping skills
• Dutch oven cooking while camping
• Hike the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
• Learn how to flyfish
• Skydive
• Hot air ballooning
• Spulunking
• Try the bobsled
• Take a tap dancing class
• Salt River tubing with Jeff
• Learn to sail and go on a multiple day excursion
• Join crew team for a day (expecting to die a short, painful death)
• Chronicle my journey towards health- 130# and 18% body fat – in progress 7/10/11 view here
• Make a family Project Health Video- in progress
• Achieve the perfect squat, lunge, and mountain climber

Homemaking and Organization

• Learn the art of couponing
• Learn how to hang a ceiling fan
• Learn how to make my own cleaning supplies
• Learn floral arranging
• Organizing system for clothes in closets
• Organizing system for pantry
• Learn how to reupholster a couch
• Build plant/garden beds
• Plant a garden
• Build my dream kitchen table
• Learn how to lay brick (patio)
• Learn how to install a sprinkler system and drip system
• Discover an organized way to remember birthdays/anniversaries
• Work with landscaper on designing dream backyard and pool
• Experiment with creative and healthy school lunches (bento, etc)
• Help build a photo niche with TVs (like Becky Higgins) 

Travel/Events

• Visit 25 waterparks with family
• Visit every MLB ballpark and eat a hot dog and peanuts at each- in progress, see here
• Organize an annual girls only retreat
• Travel in an RV for a summer and visit U.S National parks, landmarks, and festivals
• Travel through Canada and visit with Jeff’s extended family
• Attend a Barrett Jackson car auction
• Attend an Outstanding in the Field dinner
• Follow University of Arizona through March Madness – travel in person baby! Bear down!
• Visit Mount Rushmore
• Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland
• Take family to Spirit West Coast Concert
• Visit the Canada side of Niagra Falls
• Attend the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival
• Attend the Monaco Grand Prix
• Visit the sea turtles and snorkel in the Galapagos
• Attend the Indy 500
• Attend the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D. C.
• Dance in front of the monuments in Washington D.C.- completed 8/9/11 view here
• Sail the Greek Islands with friends
• Visit Greece with my parents and grandparents- tour with family, take a cooking class, learn Greek dancing
• Take a Mediterranean cruise
• Italy- Ride a gondola, visit Tuscany, Venice, Rome, Florence, and Laglio, Lake Como, Cinque Terre, Sistine Chapel
• Swiss Alps- snow ski, sing like Julia in Sound of Music, visit castles
• Take family to Mudbug Madness Festival in Shreveport, LA
• Mardi Gras in New Orleans with Jeff
• Explore Amsterdam
• Visit the Olympic Training Park in Park City, Utah
• Swim with dolphins and scuba dive in Kizimkazi- Zanzibar, Tanzania
• Go on an African safari (Kenya or Tanzania)
• Israel- visit the Holy Lands, attend the Feast of the Tabernacles
• Attend Octoberfest in Germany
• Tour China- Great Wall of China, terracotta soldiers, Yangtze river cruise
• Scuba dive and beach vacation in the Seychelles Islands
• Take Jeff to an Arizona Diamondbacks game and sit poolside – completed 5/9/12
• Attend the Nagoya Basho in Japan
• Track gorillas in Rwanda (Can you tell I want to do everything that I read about in National Geographic Traveler?)
• Visit Spain- America’s Cup, Run with the Bulls in Pamplona, Festival of the May Crosses, Bastille Day
• Visit the Rock of Gilbraltar
• Visit Hammershus Castle in Denmark
• Explore Sweden
• Attend the Festival of Diwali in Mumbai, India
• Scuba dive at Fushifaru Thila in the Maldives
• See the tulips in Holland
• Attend the Rio Carnival in Brazil
• Explore Norway
• Ski indoors at the infamous Ski Dubai
• France- Seine River , Eiffel Tower, eat a Lauduree macaron, visit flower and food markets
• Attend the Tour de France
• Attend Cannes Festival
• Attend a Saturday Night Live in NY
• Visit the pyramids in Egypt, Library of Alexandria, Cairo, and ride the camels
• Climb Machu Picchu
• Go to Summer Olympics- attend the opening ceremonies, volleyball, swimming, track & field
• Take Emily to Olympic Trials for Swimming - completed, read here
• Attend a pro surfing tournament
• Go to the X Games
• Go to Winter Olympics
• Go to Roaring River and fish with my dad and kids, visit old waterside and make family chain
• Hawaii- helicopter tour over waterfalls, snorkel on Molokini island, whale watching
• NYC- plays, upper rail park, statue of liberty, serendipity, Yankees stadium, picture of family in central park
• Visit Casablanca, Morocco
• Explore New Zealand
• Visit Portugal and attend the floating lantern festival
• Camp at Yellowstone
• Attend a Home Run Derby with Ben completed 7/12/11 view here
• Attend an All Star Baseball game
• Take Jeff to the Masters
• Slide rock with kids
• Tombstone
• London- BigBen, Wimbledon, why possibly everything. High on the list my friends.
• Explore Ireland
• Take Jeff to the British Open
• Host a dance off with my 2 faves
• Disney cruise
• Chicago- deep dish pizza, Chicago River green river, take kids on architectural tour
• Host a tailgating party at U of A game
• Host a tailgating party at Cardinals game
• Throw a strike off a Major league ballpark mound
• Make a video with kids on double dutch jump roping (I have skills)
• Learn pop/funk dancing
• Attend a pro volleyball sand tournament
• Go to a Superbowl
• Play Pebble Beach with Jeff and Ben
• Attend the Kentucky Derby with girls. Attend festivities and the girls and I wear great big hats!
• Attend the Preakness

 

Food/Entertaining

• Host a kite making party with neighborhood kids
• Bake 52 different cupcakes in one year -in progress 6/27/01, view cupcakes here
• Learn how to make tamales
• Learn how to make fried rice and use chopsticks (embarrassing people)
• Host a party and make fire grilled pizzas
• Taste testing pizza dough family night
• Learn how to make refried beans
• Make homemade donuts with the kids completed here 1/5/12
• Make chocolate filled croissants
• Learn how to decorate cakes
• Learn all about wine- visit a winery perhaps? Wine tasting tour…hmmm
• Host quarterly brunches at my house- women only, different themes
• Host monthly outdoor/patio parties- at least one new couple every month
• Host a fondue party
• Host a sundae making party
• Learn how to make chocolate eclairs
• Make 52 different desserts in one year
• Learn how to make cake balls and cake pops
• Host a Baked potato and chili party
• Host a progressive dinner party via bike in neighborhood
• Host an annual crawfish party
• Host a wacky olympics party
• Host outdoor dinner parties at special Phoenix venues
• Make homemade strawberry, blackberry, and raspberry jam completed 7/25/11 view here

Design, Fashion, and Health

• Learn how to find properly fit sunglasses for my face
• Visit Roundtop to buy furniture
• Learn about hair- braiding, up-dos, hair care (teach girls)
• Learn about makeup- buying and applying
• Work with a skin anethesist/dermatologist and follow their treatment plan- chronicle before and after pics
• Try accupuncture
• Document building our house and design choices – in progress  6/30/11 start here

Capturing Life

• Begin project life to document our family life – in progress 7/18/11 start here, here, and here
• Learn photography- shooting manual and proper exposures- in progress
• Learn photoshop skills for blogging- Blogfest- in progress
• Learn photoshop skills for memory keeping- Ali Edwards and Cathy Zielske tutorials- in progress 7/18/11 start here and here
• Learn how to make and edit videos- in progress
• Learn how to use screenflow- in progress, used first in polaroid tutorial see here
• Make a weekly video of family- weekly interview questions- in progress, see here
• Write monthly letters to my kids- included in my weekly Project Life layouts starting 2012, view here
• Learn Illustrator
• At least one picture in every room on the walls- live with pictures
• Attend a conference on food photography
• Attend a Blissdom conference
• Attend Alt Design

Holidays/Traditions

• New Years- celebrate in NYC and Sydney, family party with resolution cards and favorite memory of previous year, make cascerones
• Valentines Day- make valentines with kids, baked goods for neighbors every year
• St Patricks Day- host rainbow parties, visit Chicago and see the green river
• Purim- themed costumes, cookies, noise makers
• Passover- host seder for neighborhood each year
• Easter- sugar cookies, “egg” our neighbors, big feast, and make cascarones yearly- completed, view here 4/4/12
• Cinco de Mayo- salsa dancing, outdoor party, Mexican tea cookies, refried beans, tamales
• Memorial day- neighborhood parade with flags and decorated bikes, bbq, potluck
• Fourth of July – take kids to celebrate in Washington D.C, NYC, and Lake Tahoe, host annual feast – 7/3/11 feast view here
• Arbor Day- how to plant a tree
• Sukkot- turn patio into a sukkah every year, have families over for dinner each night
• Rosh Hashanah- go to services in Tucson, host dinner one night in PHX
• Halloween- host an annual family pumpkin carving party and an annual adult costume party, make a hayride, family outfits every year, travel to a real (and different) pumpkin patch every year , host class parties
• Thanksgiving- make cornucopia and fruit sugar cookies each year, thankful cards, big feast, make pilgrim outfits and put on a play for family
• Hanukah- make latkes, play dreidel, eight crazy family gifts and then 1 gift for each kid on the 1st and 8th night
• Christmas- make a wreath, cinnamon rolls every Christmas morning, advent calendar activities, December daily album, enchiladas on Christmas Eve after Christmas Eve service
• Make kids birthday cakes every year
• Make gratitude keys  see here
• Have a weekly family night
• Host an annual father/child cake baking contest- great memory
• Annual TGIF baseball game feast with Julie and Chris
• Take each kid on a special weekend trip on their 16th birthday
• Attend an annual family Young Life camp
• Attend family reunions and make t-shirts each time

 

Crafts/Hobbies/Arts

• Learn bookbinding to make journals for myself and the girls
• Learn how to play the guitar
• Learn the basics of wood working
• Learn ballroom dancing
• Make hanging beds
• Make platform beds
• Learn how to play the piano - completed 3/8/2012, read here
• Widen my stamping/embossing skills
• Learn how to salsa dance
• Learn how to sew
• Make my own personalized stamp and stationary
• Learn skills matting and framing of pictures
• Take quilting classes
• Learn stained glass work- work with glass kiln
• Take a pottery class- pottery wheel
• Learn how to use a serger and make tablecloths and napkins
• Learn how to make candles
• Learn calligraphy
• Learn letterpress
• Learn screenprinting
• Learn how to paint (pictures)
• Learn how to paint (walls)
• Learn how to paint/ redo furniture
• Help paint a mural at non-profit or orphanage
• Learn how to draw (flipping intimidated- i can draw a stick figure)
• Learn how to make baskets
• Learn how to knit- make a scarf
• Buy season tickets to theater
• Attend a crafting/hobby conference once a year with Julie- completed

Random careers/skills

• Be an elephant trainer for a day
• Learn how to ride a unicycle
• Play in the World Series of Poker
• Be a magician’s assistant during the show
• Be a TV journalist for the day
• Play hoops with the Globetrotters
• Be in a Pomplamoose video
• Go train with olympic trampolinists for a day
• Ride a mechanical bull
• Work at a florist for a month
• Make a video with Kenny Mayne
• Work at a bakery
• Learn French
• Be a dolphin trainer for a day
• Dance to Can’t Touch This with M.C. Hammer
• Dance with the Rockettes
• Explore all that Phoenix has to offer- restaurants, stores, and sites (“Phoenix Finds on Fridays”)
• Learn how to brew beer
• Learn how to do a trapeze
• Chronicle journey of putting dogs through obedience training
• Work as a bartender for a weekend and learn how to make awesome cocktails
• Learn how to be an auctioneer
• Be in a video with Jimmy Fallon
• Work with a voice coach to learn a mean English accent- totally want to say “Buggar” Sounds so cool.
• Drive a Monster truck at Monster Jam rally
• Be a flight attendant for a day
• Work with a butcher and learn about best cuts of meat and grass-fed beef, etc
• Work with a pastry chef
• Be in a parody or video with J.T. & A.S.
• Be a Navy Seal for a day (hour? minute? 30 seconds? come on people… Demi did it!)
• Host PTI with Tony Cornheiser
• Dance with Ellen on the Ellen DeGeneres show
• Meet Scott VanPelt and learn his job
• Learn Spanish (Jeff says this might be the most impossible of all of them. I butcher the poor language)

Mom/Kid experiences

• Teach kids how to snow ski
• Teach kids how to water ski
• Make a Go-cart and race it
• Build a genuine, kicking treehouse
• Make various homemade popsicles with kids- in progress, view here
• Make each kid a quilt of their own
• Take the kids to a circus
• Teach kids how to play croquet
• Take kids to the Greek Festival
• Adopt a resident at the local retirement home
• Take kids to feed the giraffes- completed 3/7/12 view here
• Make paper airplanes
• Take kids boating and tubing
• Teach kids how to cook and bake
• Make tye die shirts
• Make corn syrup paintings- completed
• Make homemade playdoh
• Instill a love of reading
• Work as a family every year around Thanksgiving at the Downtown Mission serving food
• Teach kids how to make scrapbooks and journals
• Make different versions of homemade ice cream
• Take Ben to a Spring Training Baseball game and sit on the lawn
• Host backyard campouts and made different versions of smores

Things I want to own

• Own a red english phone booth
• Own a Ms Pacman video game
• Own a photobooth in our house- have guest book at house, daily pictures
• Own a VW bus

Ultimate Dreams

• Own a lakehouse and a boat ( a girl can dream can’t she?)
• Travel the world for 1 year with family (ultimate, ultimate bucket list bullet point)