50 Goals; 1 Life

Because life isn't a rehearsal

  • 50 by 50: My First Cross-Stitch (Finally!)

    Checking off another item on my 50 by 50 bucket list feels pretty great — especially when it’s something that seems simple but definitely wasn’t easy. For starters, I have terrible eyesight. We’re talking contacts and readers layered on top, which is a very glamorous crafting setup, let me tell you. Add in arthritis in my Read more

  • Chasing the Northern Lights

    For most of my adult life, I’ve been utterly captivated by the aurora borealis. The idea of standing beneath those dancing lights filled me with a kind of childlike excitement. Last year, during a JMU football game of all places, we heard the Northern Lights were visible as far south as Virginia. I immediately made Read more

  • 🎶 Number 40: All Things Go Music Festival

    45 items to go on the 50 by 50 journey! We are what you might call a concert family. We love music, and we love experiencing it live. So when my daughter Sarah asked me to attend the All Things Go Music Festival with her this year, I didn’t hesitate for a second. As Eric Read more

  • Chasing the Sun: Sunrise to Sunset in One Perfect Day

    Bucket List #11: ✅ I’ve always been a sunset girl. Ask anyone who knows me — watching them, taking photos of them, sharing them with the people I love — sunsets are my thing. There’s just something about that warm golden glow and the way the day melts into the horizon that brings me peace. Read more

  • Checked off #13: Buc-ee’s Bonanza

    Since we were already down in Harrisonburg for the JMU game, we figured—why not check a fun one off my bucket list? #13: Visit a Buc-ee’s. ✔️ For those unfamiliar, Buc-ee’s isn’t just a gas station—it’s a full-blown cultural experience. Founded in Texas back in 1982, Buc-ee’s is like if a convenience store, bakery, sweet Read more

  • Keeper of the Memories – 50 by 50 #2 Complete!

    I didn’t expect to check off another item from my 50 by 50 bucket list so soon, but here we are! Since Eric and Jake left for their long boys’ weekend on Thursday night, I’ve had a quiet house—and with that, the rare gift of time. I used it to finally tackle a project that’s Read more

  • 1 Down, 49 to Go: My First “50 by 50” Bucket List Checkmark!

    On August 4, I officially crossed off the very first item on my 50 by 50 bucket list: Learn to play mahjong. Let me just say this — it’s nothing like the computer version I used to play. Not even close. Luckily, I had the best possible teacher. My dear, kind, endlessly patient friend Caryn Read more

  • My 50 by 50 Bucket List

    This list is a mix of big dreams, little adventures, and meaningful moments I want to experience before I turn 50. Some of these have been on my mind for years, and others came to me as I thought about how I really want to spend the next 489 days. It’s not about perfection—it’s about Read more

  • 490 Days, 50 Goals, and One Big Milestone

    Let me first start by saying—I’m not a writer. That’s not false humility; it’s just not what I do. But I am someone who loves goals, memories, and meaningful moments—and I wanted a space to keep track of all three as I take on something personal: my “50 by 50” bucket list. My name is Read more