Bucket List/Goals

As this year comes to a close (yes, it’s already November), I realize that it’s time to update my bucket list/life goals. I’ve been lucky enough to check several items off in the last couple years, and there are new ones to add. I figure since my 30th birthday is fast approaching, now is the perfect time to dream big and set a few goals. 

Without further ado, I give you my bucket list/goals:

1. Go to the Ellen Show: This is something I’ve ALWAYS wanted to do and haven’t gotten the opportunity yet. With all the drama and pain in today’s world, it’s refreshing to see someone like Ellen Degeneres as a constant source of positivity. She’s absolutely hilarious, and she reminds her viewers to “be kind to one another” every day. If there was one person on the planet I’d want to have a sit-down conversation with, it’d be Ellen. Ellen uses her celebrity status to change lives, and the fact that she’s from New Orleans doesn’t hurt! Maybe Ellen will need to be a 2019 goal. 
2. Design for the Music Industry: I’ve been (slowly) working to angle my graphic design career towards designing for the music industry, and over the last year I’ve had a few opportunities to make that dream a reality. It’s no secret that I’m a concert junkie and love the industry. Nashville could easily be my second home. One day I’d like my clientele to be mostly musicians, designing their social media marketing, print promos, album covers, merch, etc. It’s so much fun, and it’s something I really care about. 
3. Get to Europe: As you’ve (hopefully) read in my blog about flying, it’s a challenge for me to travel via airplane, and I therefore try to drive anywhere I can. Driving to Europe from Louisiana is obviously not an option, so I need to think about how this can happen. A cruise is a distinct possibly, but that would involve leaving for an extended period of time. We’ll see. This one may be tough. 
4. Get My Art into Major Retail Stores: This one is in progress as we speak, but nothing has quite worked out yet. Stay tuned. 
5. Maintain a Steady Income: This is kind of a basic one, but any of you that freelance probably have the same dream. It’s true what they say about “feast or famine.” Some parts of the year are particularly slow, while I don’t even have time to even breathe during others. Although I don’t mind having some of those ridiculously busy times, I’d love for my business to level out just a bit. If any of you have the secret to making this happen, let me know! I feel like I will probably be wishing for this forever. 
6. Kentucky: I have a really good friend in Kentucky I’d like to go visit at some point. I’ve never been there, so it would be a lot of fun to go for a few days. I’ve been trying to get there for years, and maybe next summer will be it. 
7. Get Back Into Agility: I did dog agility with my first Italian Greyhound, Fais, years ago, and it was so much fun. Fais was absolutely terrible at it, but it really helped us bond and was something I enjoyed doing with her. My papillon/Pomeranian mix, Paisley, would love to do something like that, and I think she’d be good at it. I keep saying I need to look into local classes and just haven’t done it yet. Time to make this a priority.
8. Rod in Vegas: Unfortunately this probably won’t happen (unless he goes back next year), but I’d LOVE to see Rod Stewart perform at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. He has dates in the next two months, but the likelihood of me being able to afford another big trip this year is basically zero. But, this post is about dreaming, right? Y’all know I’m now Rod’s number one fan, so this would be super special. Rod, if you’re reading this, take notes. 

The fact is, I’m actually pretty happy with where my life is right now, which is why, after a lot of thought, I could only come up with eight bucket list items. I thought I’d mention a few of the items I’ve been able to check off over the past couple years to lengthen this post a bit. Here’re the highlights:

1. I finally got to see a concert at Red Rocks, which is a huge deal. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, look it up. It’s by far the most amazing concert venue in the country. And the show I got to see was Little Big Town, which makes it even more special. Absolutely unreal. 
2. This was a few years back, but I got to meet Reba McEntire. Reba has always been my celebrity idol, and meeting her was kind of life-affirming. And I managed not to hyperventilate or sound like an idiot, so there’s that. 
3. I didn’t know know this was on my bucket list until I actually did it, but not only did I get to meet Rod Stewart, but I also got to work for him. That is an experience I will never forget. (Read about it here.) 
4. We got to go to CMA Fest for the first time this year, and we will definitely be back. So. Much. Fun. 
5. I’ve gotten to go wine tasting in Napa a few times, which is super fun. Definitely want to do that again. How can you go wrong with starting wine tasting at 10:30 AM?!
6. I finally feel like, with the help of Carole Dupre, marketer extraordinaire, my business is on the right track. It’s not quite where I want it yet, but it’s grown leaps and bounds since this time last year. She’s pretty amazing. 
7. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a lot of celebrities over the past few years, including but not limited to Wanda Sykes, Harry Connick Jr., Florida Georgia Line (who also gave me a guitar), Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Sugarland, Dustin Lynch, Luke Bryan, The Cadillac Three, Thomas Rhett, Hoda Kotb, Gavin DeGraw, and plenty more that I’m sure I’m forgetting. All of these experiences come with their own crazy stories, and I love each and every one of them. 

Until next year…Stay tuned!