#22 Fly a Kite

Growing up we lived next to a park.  And not just any park, it was the most amazing park!  It had swings, a slide, monkey bars, a basketball court, and so much open grass area.   I remember one time we put together a bunch of slip-n-slides from the neighborhood and made a giant one.  Growing up it was the coolest thing.  I remember rushing through my chores on the weekend so that we could go play next door.  We would spend all day at this park.  A kid really couldn’t have a better childhood then I had!  I loved when the winds would pick up and we could take our kites out and let them soar.  My sister and I had the most amazing kites.  They were huge and I think one had a bear on it!  Anyway there is something so peaceful about flying a kite.

I put on my 30 before 30 list to fly a kite, mainly so that I could relive that childlike wonder.  And really, when was the last time you flew a kite?  Mom got the cousins and us small kites for Easter.  It was so funny to see everyone outside Easter afternoon flying his or her kites and laughing.  I didn’t fly my kite that afternoon but it was so fun watching.  I did take my kite out today.  The winds were crazy and I thought what better time?  My little kite did really well but the winds got too strong and started to attack my kite.  It took a nosedive a couple of times but it kept going strong. 

I think I’m going to save my kite and bring it to the Homeroom Beach Contest reward trip with the students and try again then when hopefully the winds aren’t so crazy.  I think my favorite part of this item was the phone call I got from my sister yesterday.  She had just gotten off of work and “was having a glass of wine and flying my kite.”  Bert was right “When you send it flyin' up there, all at once you're lighter than air. You can dance on the breeze, over 'ouses and trees, with your first 'olding tight to the string of your kite!”  Consider this item done and one step closer to the list being completed!

#9 Random Acts of Kindness at School

I’ve always believed that we should do what we can to help out our fellow man.  I teach my kids that there are three kinds of people in the world.  The first person will do a good deed and ask for something in return.  The second person will do a good deed and think that something is owed to them.  The third person does a good deed without even thinking about it but just does it because it is the right thing to do.  I tell my kids from always to be person #3. 

I wanted to make sure when I made this list that I practiced what I preached and paid it forward to some of the most deserving people I know…my work family.  I went to Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and bought five $5 gift cards and wrote fun little sayings on them.  I then, throughout the month of March, left them around the staff room for whoever came across them.  I also got bags of quarters and left them on the soda machine for those who needed a little pick-me-up!  It was somewhat nerve-racking.  I was trying not to get caught because the whole point was to remain anonymous.  What I didn’t think about that some of my Stelle family might read this blog.  So I’m asking if you are one of them please keep it a secret!

What was cool about this post was that after starting it at school, I found myself doing random acts of kindness elsewhere in my life.  I took grocery carts left in the parking lot and brought them back to the store.  I walked by a meter that was about to run out of time so I put in a quarter.  I made sure to frequently hold the door open for people and say something nice about someone. This is an item that I will keep doing long into the future. I am now and will always be a person #3!

#3 Purchase Tickets to Scotland

I can’t tell you guys how excited I am for my trip to Scotland!  Yesterday I officially bought a plane ticket to the UK.  My friend Ashley from work and I are spending two weeks exploring England and Scotland.  We decided to do a Contiki tour mainly because there is a lot of free time that we can wander and explore on our own. 

I have wanted to go to Scotland for as long as I can remember!  It’s where my ancestors are from and I can’t wait to explore my heritage.  I am so ready for July and this adventure!  

#27 Treat Yo' Self

I don’t really spend a lot of money.  My mom says that I live like a church mouse.  I only spend on what I need to and then the rest goes into savings.  Recently I have been spending more money on travel but I feel that travel goes into the necessity column!  So I decided to use this bucket list as a chance to, as Alison always says, “Treat yo’ self!”  But the problem was that now that I was allowing myself to spend money…I couldn’t find anything I wanted to spend it on!!  I have had this item on my list for almost a year and I finally forced myself to splurge when I had a week before my Vegas trip.  I bought not just one new dress for the trip but two!!  It was fun having new outfits to wear in Vegas and made the trip feel a bit more special!  

 

#17 Make A Trip to Vegas

If you would have told me 9 years ago that I would enjoy going to Vegas, I would have said that you were crazy!  The smoke, the heat, the crazy drunks how would I of all people like this?  Fast-forward and I find myself craving trips to Vegas.  I love going dancing and that is pretty hard to do in the Valley.  Plus go with the right group of friends and Vegas is totally fun!  When making my list I had to make sure that I made one more trip to Vegas before the big 3-0!

In November we booked rooms at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.  This hotel is insane!  I love the vibe of the hotel and have always wanted to stay there.  The problem was that rooms go for anywhere from 250 – 600 a night!  So it took an act of God, and Cyber Monday for me to afford a room there!  On Cyber Monday the Cosmopolitan released a limited number of rooms for only $500 for the whole weekend!  And these weren’t any rooms; they were the wrap-around terrace suites that are about 1200 square feet!  Not only did we get the room for only $500 we also got a $500 resort credit that we could use on food and drinks!  This was going to be the cheapest trip to Vegas ever!

The room was amazing!  And the view was even better!  We arrived Friday around 5, checked in and grabbed a slice of pizza at the secret pizzeria.  Then it was up to our rooms for a quick change and out for the night!  We made our way downstairs to the Popup Chapel where Kevin and Alison and Kevin’s parents renewed their vows in a super cute and funny ceremony.  Then we made our way to Bond (a bar in Cosmo).  It was fun just to hang out have some drinks (which were free because of our credit) and laugh!  We made it back to the room around midnight, ordered some free room service, and then passed out!

 

Saturday we had breakfast and then made our way down to the casino for a little gambling.  I’m not much of a gambler; in fact I find it a huge waste of money.  But I thought since everyone was hanging out I would play a couple of dollars and then find something else to do.  I don’t pick games like other people.  I find the game with the stupidest name and then play that.  I wanted to play Kitty Glitter but it was full so I settled on Triple Butterfly Seven.  I didn’t know how to play and I accidentally hit the “Max Bet” button.  I thought to myself that I just wasted all the money I was going to play with on one round, but then the machine started to make a lot of noise and started giving me money!  And it just kept going!!  I ended up cashing out at $199.75!!  It was pretty amazing!

 

The trip ended with a nice dinner, cosmos at the Chandlier bar and a trip to Pure for dancing!  The club was crazy big and it was nice that we didn’t have to wait in the really long line because someone in our group knew someone who worked there!  We danced for several hours before we decided to leave.  On the way out of the hotel I also got to see a friend that happened to be in Vegas for the weekend too!  I didn’t think we would be able to see each other but it was really nice to run into each other…even if it was only for a minute before both our groups of friends wanted to leave. 

It really was a great weekend with some of the best people I know! 

#23 Visit to the Griffith Observatory

The more I thought about this list, the more I found it strange that this item never happened before.  I love space.  In fact I’m kind of obsessed with it.  I make sure that I get to go on the 6^th grade honor society trip to Astrocamp ever year so I can use the telescopes and look at the stars and planets.  As a young adult my favorite movies were Apollo 13 and October Sky.  When I was little I wanted to work for NASA, specifically working at Mission Control.  And on a clear night my eyes are on the sky secretly wishing that I could one day visit!  So how come I have never been to the Griffith Observatory?  I used this past President’s Day weekend to fix this problem.

First human footprint found and "one small step" on the moon

Alison, Kevin and I made our way to the Observatory Saturday night.  It was a special night at the Observatory; they were having a Public Star Party, where there would be the LA Astronomical Society and the LA Sidewalk Astronomers that the public could talk to and use their equipment.  Because it was a special night it was extremely crowded.  So we parked along the side of the road and started our hike up.  It was such a beautiful, clear night and the hike was really fun.  I can’t believe the views of both the city and the sky.  I also didn’t realize how big the Observatory was.  Inside there was so much to see and experience.  Its pretty crazy to think about how long the Earth has been in existence and how our time here is really just a blip.

The one thing I didn’t get to do that I will HAVE to go back for is the Planetarium show.  It was just too crowded to see the show.  But I will go back.  To end the evening we made our way down to the Grove for some dinner and shopping.  It really was a perfect LA night!   

#8 Help with a Good Cause

This blog post is should have been written two months ago as the item was completed in December.  My mom raised us that no matter how little we have we always have something to help others less fortunate then ourselves.  This past December I helped out with two causes, one that is very near to my heart.

The first cause I helped with is one that is a school community project called the Green Bag Project.  For the past four years Stelle has put together care packages for the homeless.  This year being the Leadership teacher I decided to make it the best Green Bag Project EVER!!  The week started with an AMAZING assembly that our fabulous Drama teacher helped put together.  It had puppets, audience participation, and a great message.  Through out the week we gathered hundreds of bags and were able to brighten the New Year for the homeless in LA.   

The second cause I helped with is very dear to my heart.  Six years ago I met the most amazing kid!  It was my first year at A.C. Stelle and I was teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grade social studies.  During the 1st semester I had one 6th grader missing...he was fighting cancer.  He ended up coming to school 2nd semester and in those few months I changed.  I started to see how fragile the world was and how I shouldn't take any day for granted.  Kevin showed me that.  I was lucky enough to get to be Kevin's 7th grade teacher as well.  2nd semester of Kevin's 7th grade year his cancer came back and he has been fighting ever since.  Kevin's been able to keep fighting thanks to the amazing program at St. Jude's.  For the past 6 years I have been making donations to St. Jude's to help Kevin and other children like him.  But over the past 6 years I have also been fighting pink slips at school, so I haven't been able to donate as much as I would like to.  I'm finally in a place that I feel safe with my job and I received a letter from St. Jude's saying that any donation during the month of December would be matched.  I made a large donation for Kevin.  For the little boy I met 6 years ago who shows me everyday what real courage is.  Courage. Strength. Believe.

Kevin, Yosemite 2010