Celebrating 41
I turned 41 this past Saturday. It didn’t have the hoopla of my 40th, but I still enjoyed the time with my loves and all the birthday messages I received. We went out to breakfast and spent the rest of the day hanging out at home really doing nothing. For me, it was actually nice to do nothing. Saturday night, AJ surprised me (made me put on a blindfold) with a picnic with wine, bread, cheese and Proscuitto from my favorite place- Cured. We had a drink out before the picnic and finished with carrot cake and cocktails at 24 Carrot Bistro. It was a nice night and kept my mind off Irma.
Sunday was an emotional day as we continually watched the coverage of the hurricane. Although we don’t fully know the extent of the damage of the city of Naples and Marco Island, we know my parents place came out with minimal damage. The friends and family we had around the state are all safe and sound as well. My thoughts go out to those who lost loved ones, their homes, their livelihoods.
Last year, I created the blog post, “A Bucket List for 40“. One year later, my bucket list is re-posted below along with a ♥ next to the items I have been able to check off. Thirteen in one year isn’t too shabby! I am going to try for fifteen this year!
40 for 40
- Do 40 acts of kindness in the two months leading up to the big day-♥
- Surf my first real wave
- Get an article into a big parent mag like Family Fun or Parenting-♥
- Sleep a night not under the same roof as Emma… Yes, you read that right. I have never slept a night away from her-♥
- Take some photos of the Milky Way-♥ (need to do a re-do as these didn’t come out that well)
- Learn to really change a flat tire on my bike
- Hand out/donate a 100 dollar bill to someone in need
- Finally go on a honeymoon with AJ
- Use power tools to build something
- Learn to cut our monthly grocery bill in half-♥ (need to do it consistenly month to month though)
- Visit the Grand Canyon- ♥
- Climb a 14er- yep lived in Colorado for how long and never have done it
- Quit a bad habit- I think this should be drinking soda once and for all
- Forgive the people that have hurt me in the past
- See the glaciers in Alaska
- Find ways to be grateful everyday-♥
- Mash my own grapes to make wine
- Make fresh pasta-♥ (AJ got me a gift card to do this… now I just need to sign up)
- Write a note to each of my parents thanking them for the many things they have given me/ taught me
- Have consistent child/parent market writing assignments- ♥
- Revisit something I used to love to do but don’t do anymore-♥ (slowly getting back into photography)
- Dip my toes in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in the same year-♥
- Watch the leaves change colors on the East Coast
- Make ice cream from scratch
- Read a new book every month-♥
- See the Northern Lights
- Host a backyard movie night
- Ride a horse on the beach
- Send a message in a bottle
- Pay for a strangers groceries
- Visit a lighthouse
- Run a trail half marathon
- Take a road trip in a Vanagon
- Plant an apple tree and grow my own apples
- Participate on a run relay team like Ragnar
- Volunteer for the Red Cross or other aid organization
- Have three-four tech free days per month
- Learn to live more simply by buying less-♥
- Send a handwritten card/note to someone at least once a week
- Make a perfect replica of the Marachino coffee drink I had in Rome, Italy
Adventure On,
Courtney
adventureswithmylittleray 
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