Ten Things I've Learned or Relearned in the Past Week or So

Always, always, always wear sunscreen on your face when being out in the Florida sun all day. 

Know that so many people believe in you and your dreams, even if you might doubt yourself at times. 

A lot can change in just a short, memorable weekend with friends. 

Always go on that date. You never know what could happen. And how much fun you might have. 

Never stop planning trips. They will happen someday. 

Strive to learn something new each day, even if it seems silly. 

DIY projects are so much harder and time consuming than they look!

Never let people treat you wrong. They are not worth your time. 

Hard cider on tap makes me oh so happy. 

Always appreciate the here and now. Life is so sweet and good to you. 

Jon, Phyllis, and Vero Beach, Florida

Long weekend trips are the best. 

Especially when your hosts know how to pack in the fun. 

Phyllis and Jon, two of my parents' very close friends from Germany, let me come visit and stay with them from Friday (way early Saturday morning) through Monday afternoon.

Saturday: 

Around 1am my plane landed in the warm, and not so sunny, lands of Florida. 

Jon, Phyllis, and I met up at the airport and headed on our way from Orlando back to their home in Vero Beach. 

Of course, a quick stop at the beach to look for nesting turtles was a must. 

We found a nest! 

Then it was off to bed for two and a half hours of shut eye! 

When we woke it was off to the Indian River for fishing, exploring, lunch at Suzi's Tiki Bar, and swimming in the ocean! 

As soon as we got back home and cleaned up the boat it was time to ride! 

Horseback riding was on my list and I was excitedly able to check it off! 

After our beautiful ride, all three of us drove back to Vero and grabbed groceries for a delicious dinner, thanks to Chef Jon! 

After a refreshing post dinner dip in the pool it was off to bed to get ready for another full day. 

Sunday: 

Rising bright and early, we headed back to Fort Pierce for Deep Sea Fishing on Lady Stuart! 

I had such a fun day casting out and seeing every one's catch.

And checking off yet another bucket list item! 

With only a small bout of sea sickness added on the side.  

After getting our fish filleted and cleaned we ate our lunch and head on to our next activity! 

Jon suggested we check out the gators at a local conservation area! 

We hopped onto a stadium style air boat and were on our way out into the natural habitat of so many neat animals and species! 

After our ride we headed home for dinner and some company from their friend, Liz. 

Jon cooked our catch from earlier in the day to perfection and Phyllis and I made a fresh fruit salad.

After dinner we shared some wines and had a mini red wine tasting! 

Which, thanks to Phyllis, I have discovered one that I actually like! 

Check, another item crossed off my list! 

After a great late night chat with Phyllis we headed to bed to get rested up for our last day. 

Monday: 

The last day of the trip is never a fun one, but Phyllis and I had a girl's day and made it the best even with my upcoming departure. 

We walked down Ocean Boulevard and checked out a bunch of cute boutiques. 

After spending a little time, and money, we headed off to lunch at Waldo's! 

We snacked on the dolphin fingers: think Mahi-mahi fish sticks. And shared the fresh fish basket. 

After feeling way too full we headed to the beach for some much needed ocean time. 

It was the perfect day for swimming and enjoying the sand. 

After the beach we headed home and I packed up my bags, not quite ready to leave such wonderful company. 

We arrived back to the airport at 5pm and hugged and waved my newest friends goodbye; they're no longer just my parent's friends now! 

So many thanks go out to Phyllis and Jon for treating me to such an incredible adventure and being so extremely kind to me. You two are amazing people and your love for each other is admirable. I hope to someday find a love like the one you share. 

101 Things Before I Go

Ultimately, my inspiration for this blog. Here it is, my version of a bucket list.  

Safari in Africa. CHECK: Mole National Park, Ghana, 2010.
Eat a french macaron in France.
Climb/Hike a large mountain.
Become fluent in three languages.
Attend Loy Krathong, the sky lantern festival in Thailand.
Cliff dive in Jamaica. CHECK: In Negril, December, 2013.
Scuba dive.
Pick olives in Greece.
Zip line through a canopy. 
Live in another country for a year.
Compete in a full Ironman 140.6.
Learn to play an instrument, well. 
Grow vegetables and herbs from seeds to edible.
Visit all of the states in the U.S.
Backpack across Europe with my best friend. 
Hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Travel all seven continents. 
Become a Nurse.
Drink wine in Italy. 
Fall in love. 
Learn how to surf.  CHECK: Huntington Beach, October, 2013.
Buy spices at a Moroccan market. 
Speak to my grandmother in Spanish.
Go white water rafting.
Cross a country on a bicycle.
Visit Yellowstone National Park.
Float in the Dead Sea.
Learn to tango in South America. 
See the Northern Lights. 
Visit Mount Rushmore. 
Milk a cow. 
Celebrate New Year's in Time Square. 
Explore the pyramids in Giza. 
Ride an elephant. 
See the Taj Mahal. 
Go couch surfing. 
See the Grand Canyons.  CHECK: March, 2014. 
Participate in a Polar Bear Plunge. 
Visit the Louvre Museum. 
Volunteer in 10 different countries.
Help someone else fulfill a goal. 
Fly a kite at the Cervio Kite Festival in Italy.
Build a house. 
Go skinny dipping in the South of France.
Sky dive. 
Travel for a month straight with only a backpack. 
Shower in a waterfall.
Teach someone illiterate to read. 
Go on a multi-state road trip.
Shoot a gun.CHECK: Take Aim in Bellevue, December, 2013.
Go horseback riding. CHECK: beach horseback riding in Fort Pierce, FL with Phyllis Turner. June, 2013.
Bathe in a hot spring.
Ski in the Alps.
Serve in Doctor's Without Borders.
Collect maps from all over the world. 
See hippos in the wild. 
Acquire a love for red wine. CHECK: Apothetic Red Winemakers Blend with Phyllis Turner. June, 2013. 
Learn how to french braid my hair. 
Have too much fun in Mexico. 
Cross the Canadian border. 
Save someone's life.
Pull an all-nighter.
Rediscover old friendships.
Experience many new ethic cuisines.
Build a piece of furniture. 
Sleep in a hammock outside on a beach.
Swing dance in my cowboy boots. 
Practice yoga in a beautiful park. 
Complete a century bike ride. 
Have a cup of coffee in Seattle in the rain. 
Swim in the Blue Lagoon in Iceland.
Visit the nation's capitol. CHECK: July, 2013. 
Do 10 pull-ups consecutively.
Attend church in the Vatican City.
Attend La Tomatina in Spain in August.
Go deep sea fishing and eat my catch. CHECK: Atlantic Ocean with Jon and Phyllis Turner. June, 2013. 
Ride in a hot air balloon.
Visit Glass Beach in California.
Watch the sunset in Santorini, Greece.
Visit the Glow Worm cave in New Zealand. 
Bike through the vineyards of Napa Valley. 
Kayak in the bioluminescent bay.
Pub crawl in Ireland.
Stand atop the Great Wall of China.
See the Iguazu Waterfalls in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay.
Live on my own in an unfamiliar place. 
Learn how to drive a stick shift.
Learn every country of the world and be able to locate it on a map.
Learn to use a compass properly. 
Ride a double decker in England. 
Collect flags from every country I visit. 
Sleep under the stars. CHECK: Larabanga, Ghana, 2010.
Sell/give away everything that I do not need at one point in life.
Learn how to rollerblade.
Enjoy a bonfire on the beach. 
Climb a coconut tree and retrieve a coconut. 
Sew a dress and wear it.
Get another tattoo.
Learn how to do a cartwheel. 
Fly first class.
See a show on Broadway.
Perfect a homemade macaron.

Peer Pressure

Well, Phyllis, you talked me into it. 

While sitting at the airport, waiting for the five hours to pass before my plane departs, I decided to give this a try. 

If I could think of a main topic or agenda that a blog of mine would follow it would be traveling. Specifically, my travels and adventures. And I suppose some little tidbits about my everyday life, here and there.

I do not think I am an expert by any means, but I do love it and that is good enough for me.