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.

Sunrises, though? That’s another story.
Too early. Too cold. Too much.

But this is my year of trying new things — of leaning into adventure, chasing beauty, and crossing things off my “50 by 50” bucket list. And number 11? Watch the sunrise and the sunset in the same day.

On September 17, 2025, I checked it off — and I didn’t do it alone.

We were spending the week in Ocean Isle Beach, NC — one of my favorite places with some of my favorite people. I checked the forecast, saw clear skies ahead, and made the call: Wednesday is the day.

I told everyone the plan the night before. “No pressure,” I said. “I’ll be up at 6:30 a.m. heading to the beach — anyone who wants to come, I’d love the company.”

The next morning, as I opened my bedroom door, there was Beth — sitting in the dark on the couch, glaring at me.

“I swear, if you didn’t come out of that room…” she said.

Apparently, she thought I was going to prank everyone and stay in bed. (Which, to be fair, does sound like something I might do. But not this time.)

So, in our pajamas, some clutching coffee like life depended on it, we made our way to the beach. It was a cool 58 degrees — crisp, still, and magical. The moon was still out, and we even caught a glimpse of Venus and Jupiter before the sky began to shift.

And then — the sunrise.

Pinks, oranges, soft clouds glowing as the sun peeked over the horizon. Our incredibly talented friend and resident photographer, Tammy, took some of these beautiful photos.

The rest of the day was what beach days should be: slow, sun-soaked, full of laughter, shelling, beach walks, snacks, and maybe a nap or two. And then came my favorite part — the sunset.

We poured drinks and gathered on the back porch, ready to close the day in the best way I know how. As the sky changed again — deep golds, soft pinks, fading light — We stood there soaking it in. Bookends of beauty. One day, two horizons, and one full heart.

This day wasn’t just about checking something off a list. I was reminded of what makes these bucket list moments so special. It’s not just doing the thing — it’s who you’re with when you do it, and how it makes you feel. Grateful. Present. Alive.

Here’s to chasing more firsts, soaking up more lasts, and saying yes to every beautiful in-between.

Bucket list item #11: complete.
But more importantly: a memory I’ll hold onto forever.

“May every sunrise hold more promise and every sunset hold more peace” – Umair Siddiqui