Spring bucket list: 60 before 60 – update 1

Spring Bucket List: 60 by 60

Where flowers bloom so does hope.

Lady Bird Johnson

We are one month into spring, flowers are blooming, hope abounds…and it’s time to share an update on our Spring Bucket Lists, or in my case, an update on my 60 before 60 Challenge.

Last October, I announced that I would be completing a 60 before 60 Challenge in the year leading up to my 60th birthday. That challenge will be taking the place of my typical seasonal bucket lists this year. Here’s how I’m doing six months into my challenge.

Health and Fitness

Walk 60 miles on trails or roads I haven’t traveled yet. I’m making slow progress on this one…just 7.5 miles to date. The weather hasn’t warmed as much as I would have hoped and it’s been pretty wet recently…however, the 2021 hiking challenge for my office has begun, so that should help motivate me. So far, I’ve completed two of the beginner hikes on this year’s list, one of which was a trail I haven’t previously traveled, Ensign Peak. And while it was short (one mile), the views were spectacular.

The view of Salt Lake City from Ensign Peak.

Joy

Declutter 60 things. Since last report, I cleaned out one kitchen cupboard and the outside of our refrigerator…which is covered in family photos and souvenir magnets. It’s still covered, but at least they are organized, and I did throw some old appointment cards and other clutter away. (Yes, this is the “after” picture.) I counted each of those projects as one item, so that brings me to 54 total…well ahead of schedule.

Refrigerator covered in pictures and souvenir magnets.

Learning and growth

Do 60 new things…that is 60 things I haven’t done in adulthood…if I haven’t done something since I was in high school, that counts as new. I’ve added five things to the list since last report (those in bold below), putting me one shy of being on track to reach the goal of 60 things in a year. 

  1. Started 52 lists for calm journal
  2. Tried Freddy’s (fast food)
  3. Tried brie and cherry honey
  4. Took a wine appreciation course
  5. Visited Red Cliffs Desert Garden
  6. Tried Dot’s Southwest Pretzels
  7. Tried pralines and cream cold brew
  8. Fixed a new potato pepper frittata recipe
  9. Listened to Ashley Campbell music on YouTube 
  10. Downloaded PetFinder app
  11. Went through the pet adoption process
  12. Ate with my left hand
  13. Made a new friend: Buddy
  14. Tried online grocery shopping
  15. Drove a different route and took in my surroundings
  16. Tried Beans & Brew egg bits—not so good; I prefer Starbucks for egg bites.
  17. Cooked taco soup (new recipe)—loved it!
  18. Discovered two new blogs: Roughwighting and Annika Perry—loved them both!
  19. Tried new type of beer: Uinta Brewing Co. Yard Sale Winter Lager—thumbs up!
  20. Meditated with eyes open—this just felt strange; I prefer eyes closed.
  21. Tried Zuppa Toscana soup—delicious!
  22. Learning to crochet—so far, I am enjoying it (though not yet good at it!)
  23. Tried Killer Pecans Smokin’ —They were good and, in fact, grew on me the more of them I ate…which was probably too many.
  24. Signed up for a virtual mixology class—I actually missed the class, but the kit arrived, and so far I have made two of the drinks. The one pictured below is called Who’s Cooler than You. It is fun and delicious. Win win!
Supplies for a mixology class.
Virtual Cocktails Mixology Kit. Caution: Contents may raise your spirits.
Woman toasting herself in the mirror with a pink drink.
  1. Tried Shake Shack—it was good, especially the beer and the cookies ’n cream milkshake.
  2. Made Jamaican Jerk Chicken & Vegetables (new recipe)—yummy!
  3. Made glitter stress relief bottles with one of my daughters and two granddaughters—lots of fun and they turned out great! I keep mine on my desk and use it often. Here are the instructions, if you want to make your own.
Four glitter stress relief bottles.
Teenage girl holding a glitter pink bottle.
Pre-teen girl holding a green glitter bottle.
  1. Ate at Lonny Boys BBQ in Hurricane, Utah—delicious!
  2. Built a swimming pool—It’s been a long process, but we love the finished product! Now to get the landscaping done.
Swimming pool.

Relationships

Commit 60 intentional acts of kindness. This month I have committed six acts of kindness specifically with this goal in mind, putting me at 48 total…ahead of schedule. I choose not to share every act, but to give you an idea, this month’s list included cooking dinner when my husband was tired, going back to get the door for someone whose arms were full, buying coffees, and getting a surprise for my sisters. Shhh…

In summary

That’s what I have been up to this month. My husband and I have been vaccinated against COVID-19, and I am holding out hope that I will have an opportunity to try a larger variety of new things before my 60th birthday in October. I’m halfway there!

Your turn

What about you? I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to this spring (or fall for my Southern Hemisphere friends). Please share in the comments.

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12 Comments

  1. Hi Christie – it looks like your tracking really well on your list of things. Love the new pool and the glitter stress bottles brought back memories – my husband and I made some a couple of years ago and the grandgirls always love to give them a shake or two when they visit. I hope the weather continues to improve so you can get on with more hiking – lovely seeing you without a mask on and enjoying the great outdoors.

    1. Yes, Leanne, I’m getting there. I sat my glitter bottle on my desk, and find I shake or turn it several times during the day. The glitter is a lovely purple mix that makes me smile. It’s rainy and windy again this week, but we’ve got a break today, so I’m planning to take advantage of that. I hope all is well with you. Enjoy your week!

  2. I like watching your new things list and the ideas for kindness – gives me ideas for my own.

    This month, we are doing a huge de-clutter and giving away/donating lots of things (more than I anticipated, hubby is giving up some things!). I’m not even keeping track anymore of the toss away part of decluttering. It’s getting a bit easier as the boxes to move pile higher and higher.

  3. Hi Christie, I love that quote by LadyBird Johnson. Because of her efforts, Texas is ablaze with Bluebonnets every spring. You are making lots of progress with your 60/60 plan. I’m sure the weather will improve soon and you will be clocking those miles. Until then, keep smiling!

    1. Isn’t spring wonderful, Suzanne? I’d love to see Texas and the Bluebonnets. I am making progress on my list, and it’s fun to look back and see what I’ve accomplished/enjoyed along the way. I am hoping for “better” weather…at least more enjoyable for hiking and walking outdoors. Today, we are taking advantage of a dry day to go to the Tulip Festival.

  4. Congratulations! You’re doing so well on your bucket list. Did you say a surprise for your sisters…..?! (At least you know I’m paying attention!?) I love you sis!

  5. Christie, You’re making great progress with your 60/60 list. The weather will improve and you’ll be able to do the walks you like. Thank you for sharing your updates. Happy Spring!

  6. Hey sweet friend, left for a trip out of town to care for our moms, and never had time to do any blog reading. So enjoyed catching up with your progress on your bucket list or 60 before 60 list.

    I think I need to make a couple of those stress bottles pronto!! They sound like a fun project and I could sure put them to good use right now. Glad you enjoyed crafting with your grands.

    The pool is so lovely, Christie. Oh, my goodness. Is that a sunning ledge? We thought about adding one and now I wish we had. Good place for the babies to sit. Can’t wait to see it all landscaped. Beautiful!!

    1. Hello Leslie. I’m glad you had a chance to see your moms and that you made it home safely. I’m really loving my glitter bottle, and it was fun and easy to make. You should do it! That is a sunning ledge in the pool…as you said, perfect for the littles. We look forward to having the children and grandchildren over this summer.

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