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 Danielle. I’m 48 years old, a mom to 21-year-old twins, and I’ve been married to my high school sweetheart for nearly 25 years. We’ve called the Washington, D.C. area home for the last 27 years. Before the kids, I worked as a special education teacher. For the past 10 years, I’ve been substitute teaching—something that has let me stay connected to students and schools without the full-time grind.

Now, I find myself looking ahead—exactly 490 days away from my 50th birthday. And I want to make these days count.

This blog isn’t about being profound or perfect. It’s about being intentional. I’ve written down 50 things I want to do, try, experience, or accomplish before I hit that milestone. Some are big dreams. Some are small joys. All of them matter to me.

I’ll be sharing my journey here—checklists, photos, reflections, maybe even a few flops. My hope is that this becomes a personal time capsule and maybe a little motivation for anyone else wondering what it might look like to chase your own version of “50 by 50.”

So here’s to living intentionally, chasing joy, and doing the things we’ve always said we would. Ready to see what’s on my list? Let’s go.