My Turning 50 Bucket List
- I wrote this post in 2017 anticipating turning 50 in 2018. Well, I am now 56!! So, You can now read my 60 Things to Learn, Accomplish, and Experience Before I Turn 60.
I will be half a century old by the end of 2018. The first 26 years of my life were defined by my experiences in school, getting married, and working. The last 22 have been defined by the ages and stages of my children and my parenting at each of these stages. As I head towards completing 50 years on this earth, I want to use my time wisely and expand myself as I never have before. (Not that having three children was not expanding!!) I am not completely sure where I want to end up, but to help me in the journey I have made a list of 50 Things to Learn, Accomplish, and Experience Before I Turn 50.
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My Turning 50 Bucket List
It was difficult to come up with my turning 50 bucket list. I have considered it for several months, but here goes…..
This was updated on December 27, 2018. I am now 50, so I have included comments on every item. I am excited to begin a new list. I did not finish everything on this list, but I know I did many things I would not have done if I had not made a list. Completed items are in red. Partially completed items are in Blue.
My Turning 50 Bucket List: Things to Learn
Take an iPhone photography class
Take a “real camera” photography class. This was a biggie for me 2 years ago because there was a rumor that bloggers could no longer buy stock photos, so I thought I needed to take all my own photos. I did one online class, but have kinda forgotten most of what I learned….
Learn HTML (a computer coding language). I started a CSS/JQuery course, but did not finish it. I was WAY OVER MY HEAD. I would still like to know some computer coding, but DIVI is becoming so advanced, I am not sure I need it as much as I once did.
Become a DIVI expert. (DIVI is the theme I use on this blog. It has so many possibilities and uses and I want to know EVERYTHING!) I think I can say “mission accomplished” here. Not sure about the word “expert,” but I am able to do what I need to do for my blog and I know how to find the answers when I want to do something new.
Improve my Spanish to the point I can comfortably have a conversation with a native Speaker. (I went to Guatemala for the fourth time in July 2017 and my Spanish still need a LOT of work!)
Take a cooking class. I did not do this. However… I am feeling much more confident in my cooking skills and knowledge now. When the kids were younger I mostly “heated things up.” That was all I had time for. I did Blue Apron for about 2 years and I definitely recommend it for learning cooking skills. The directions are awesome.
My Turning 50 Bucket List: Things to Accomplish
Publish 50 new blog posts (updating old ones does not count). (52 completed!)
260 Workouts (203 completed. I fell short here, but I know I went to class more than I would have if I had not been keeping track. I plan to continue tracking my workouts.)
Teach a class (not including Women’s Bible study classes) Still looking for an opportunity to accomplish this one.
Write the College Planner I have been dreaming about (It is NOW AVAILABLE! THE FIRST and ONLY PLANNER for recording and organizing EVERYTHING a high schooler needs to get from freshman year of high school to her freshman year of college.) See The Planning for College Planner. This was a biggie on my turning 50 bucket list.
My 50 Books by 50 Years Reading Challenge. This one was an easy add to my turning 50 bucket list because I love to read and listen to audiobooks.
15 Fiction Books:
10 Biography and History:
Rosemary: The Hidden Kennedy Daughter
Finish First: Winning Changes Everything
The King and Queen of Malibu: The Story of the Battle for Paradise
10 Blogging or Business:
More Non-Fiction:
Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup
Wildcard:
Clevenger Gold: The True Story of Murder and Unfound Treasure
Alexander and the Wonderful, Marvelous, Excellent, Terrific 90 Days
For the Love: Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards
Girl Meets Change: Truth’s to Carry You Through Life’s Transitions
Financially contribute to my family :I had a part time job for about 9 months, so not a lot of contribution, but it counts! This website also makes a little money.
Take all my own pictures for my blog (see “To Learn” #1 and #2): I put this on my list because there was a scary rumor going around that even if you bought your stock photos that you could be sued for using them. This rumor has been dispelled and I am happily mostly using stock photos. I take some of my own (like for care packages :)
Get all of our pictures digitalized, organized, and stored (All the film pics we took before about 2004) Almost everything is digitalized now, but still need to organize and figure out storage. Sounds like a project for my empty nest.
Grow and harvest vegetables again! (Darn those rabbits who always discourage me.) Tried really hard on this one, but bugs ate my zucchinis!
Make 10 recipes from What’s for Dinner by Curtis Stone
What I have made:
Cider-Dijon Pork Chops with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Apples
Chicken and Chorizo Paella
Grilled Shrimp and Asparagus with Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette)
Roasted Pork Loin with Rosemary Salt, Potatoes and Carrots
Parmesan Crusted Chicken Tenders with String Beans
Make 10 recipes from The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime by Ree Drummond
What I have made:
Chicken with Mustard Cream Sauce
Chicken Marsala
Lemony Green Beans
Stove Top Mashed Potatoes
Buttery Parsley Noodles
Beef with Snow Peas
Shrimp Scampi
Oven Barbeque Chicken
Make 10 recipes from The Complete Cooking for Two Cookbook
What I have made:
Pasta e Fagioli
Classic Lasagna (may be the best lasagna I have ever had)
Coffee Cake Muffins
Chicken Vesuvio
Chicken and Rice
Salmon with Asparagus and Herb Dressing
Buttermilk Pancakes
Shrimp and Grits
Slow Cooker Easy Pulled Pork
Chocolate Cupcakes
Chocolate Frosting
Go to a show at the Jenks Planetarium
Go to a fitness class that I have never tried. (I’ve done yoga, pilates, water aerobics, barre, and weight lifting/cardio stuff. I ran out of a zumba class about 20 minutes into it, so not sure I accomplished this.)
My Turning 50 Bucket List: Things to Experience
See the musical Hamilton (Have the tickets!!) Yay!! Went in August 2019. LOVE IT!!
Attend a blogging conference (Went to Focused Blogging Conference in May 2017 and again in July 2018)
See my second child graduate from high school
See my first child graduate from college
Eat at Franklin Barbecue in Austin, TX
Eat at Boston Deli in Tulsa, OK
Eat at D’Vina in Tulsa, OK
Eat at Michael V’s in Bixby, OK
Eat at Bin 35 Bistro in Tulsa, OK
Eat at Roosevelt’s in Tulsa, OK
Eat at Katy’s Pantry in Tulsa, OK
Eat at Ridge Grill in Tulsa, OK
Eat at Roka Bar and Asian Flavors in Tulsa, OK
See Journey in concert (Have the tickets. We have tried to see some of our favorite 80s singers/bands with little success so far. We made it to the Eagles. Sold our Chicago tickets because our child was in a play that night. Did not get to see Fleetwood Mac because the band was sick and they cancelled the concert. Sold our Billy Joel Tickets because one kiddo was singing the National Anthem at one football game and another kiddo was cheering at a different football game. We will have to catch some of these folks on the casino or Branson circuit when we are old. Darn! Had to sell our Journey tickets because it was college orientation for our son!!!)
Actually escape an escape room. (We are 0 for 2. The first one we tried was the night of the Fleetwood Mac concert after it was cancelled. We were depressed and not on our game, I guess. No excuses for the 2nd one. We are just that lame.)
Visit a state I have not been to. Not sure when this will happen, but here are the possibilities: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey (moved our son to New Jersey to attend Graduate School at NYU), North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.
Go to a Drive-In Movie (Yep, never been to one.) FINALLY accomplished this one. It only took COVID to make it happen. I guess it always seemed much more attractive to go to the theater with the comfy seats and air conditioning. I still can’t say I went to a MOVIE at the drive-in, but we went to the Blake Shelton concert at the Admiral Twin Drive-In in Tulsa. July 2020, which I updated here when I was 51!!
Try a “frugally” Pinterest project. (Make my own laundry detergent or something…. Not gonna happen. Think I was just trying to come up with something here.)
Totally Random and Without Purpose, but would like to do for some reason
Complete an adult coloring book Also not gonna happen as part of my turning 50 bucket list because I have arthritis in my fingers and this one hurts! Sometimes you learn things along the way.
Finish “Candy Crush” without ever paying any money. How many levels are there?!?? I have made it to level 5398 without paying anything. When will it end?!??
Planned Out Acts of Kindness
Pay for coffee order behind me in the drive-thru
Leave note of thanks and drinks for the UPS people
Leave note of thanks and drinks for the mail deliverer
Send a care package to a deployed military member – Sent my cousin’s son an Easter Care Package like the one I sent my college sons. For care package ideas for all occasions, see all my College and Care Package Printables.
Leave money on a vending machine
I am super excited and somewhat scared of my list. I am a truly non-adventurous person – notice no sky diving or cliff jumping. Leaving the house can be an adventure for me. The absolute most scary item is “financially contributing to my family.” I have not worked outside my home in 22 years. Yikes!! Pray for me as I embark on My Turning 50 Bucket List.
Related posts and more ideas for My Turning 50 Bucket List
Checklist of Life’s Most Important Documents
4 Simple Ways to Organize Important Documents
Best Small Space Workout Equipment
9 Best Gadgets for a Midlife Reader
The Best Cooking for Two Cookbook
How to Make New’s Years Resolutions with Mark 12:30
10 Must Do Activities to Connect with Your College Student
Help for Empty Nest Moms: Let Go of These 5 Limiting Beliefs
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