I dream of pushing the speed limits, regardless of it’s in the air, on land, or in the water. I imagine myself racing down the street in a car or speeding through the air by plane. Formula Experiences put me in the driver seat of Radical SR1 and SR3 cars and gave me the thrill of a lifetime. It holds a spot in my top five favorite adventures of my life. Continue reading
I love being under water. There is beauty and grace. The fish. The kelp. They flow in an elegant rhythm. After swimming with whales, sharks, dolphins, manta rays, sting rays, and dozens of species of fish, I still haven’t been dive certified. It’s high on my list, but I need more practice using the regulator and I still feel a sense of claustrophobia or panic. It’s like I can’t breathe, but I know it’s all in my head. I went to Catalina last weekend to try SNUBA with Catalina Scuba Luv. I wanted to suppress the fear and maybe overcome it. After years of panicking and still trying, I finally found my comfort zone under the water. Continue reading
Since we were traveling during the holidays, we opted for the multiple Christmases. Santa’s elves delivered some of Athena’s gifts early so we could open them at home and the Big Guy delivered the rest on Christmas Day in Wisconsin. It was a great plan that worked wonderfully for us, but the only downside was that Athena didn’t have much time to test out her favorite Christmas gifts before leaving the state. The minute we returned, we took the time to use her PlayWheels Quad Skates and her PlayWheels Skateboard. They were the first item on her list so we wanted to make the most of it. Continue reading
Whenever someone asks me what I want as a gift for any occasion, my mind always goes directly to flights, travel, and experience gifts. Experience is the greatest gift; I’ll take it over “things” any day. Being able to explore new countries, cultures, and adventures is a dream come true. At 36, I’ve visited more than 100 countries and participated in countless extreme adventures that I thought only existed in movies and dreams. Bucket List Publications isn’t just a blog or a website; it has helped me live in a dream world. It has made my daily life better than my wildest imagination. Sometimes it’s exhausting just trying to think up my next big vacation or adventure. My imagination/dreams, experience gift websites like Great American Days, and Instagram are my go-to sources for travel and adventure inspiration. Continue reading
I told a friend that I was considering a six month trip around the world or at least nonstop travel for six months. A few hours later she messaged me about a Canadian couple who are looking to sublet a furnished apartment during the same dates that I was thinking about traveling. Do you believe in the power of the universe? Fate? Positive energy? I don’t know what to call it or if I believe in any of that stuff but things in my life seem to line up for a reason. I think I’m going to do it! Continue reading
This week, I’ve really been considering a six-month trip around the world. I have connections in a ton of countries and I’d like to do it before Athena is school age. It’s a lot to consider and I’d like to start planning now if it’s possible. What do you think? Am I crazy to want to travel the world with a four year old? Is it much different from what I’m doing now, besides spending a small fortune on an apartment in southern California? Last year, I visited more than a dozen countries but I had a place to call home. Should I ditch the baggage or find stability? You’ll know as soon as I do. Continue reading
On our last day in Chattanooga, we were scheduled to go rock climbing at High Point Climbing & Fitness. I love rock climbing but I never thought Athena would be as interested at such a young age. It ended up being her favorite activity of the entire trip and she was fearless. I don’t know what I was thinking waiting so long to bring her but I’m glad we experience it now. Kids love to climb. They climb on everything. Why not bring them to a place where they can literally climb the walls and they have a safety when they fall? It’s genius! Continue reading
What did you do today? Oh I just did aerobatics in a T-6 Warbird around Mt. Baldy in California, topping out at 220 mph and 4 G’s. Just the typical Wednesday, right? That’s not even typical for an adrenaline junkie, but it way my afternoon. Today was freaking awesome. If you’d like a more humble Lesley, wait for the next post. If you want to hear about my epic adventure thanks to Cloud 9 Living and Aviator Flight Training… Continue reading
In 2016, I want to continue exploring the world and experiencing new countries and cultures, but I want to spent more time with my family and discovering my new backyard – California. I’ve decided to limit my international travel to one trip every two months and spend more time in the amazing state that I call home.
This is what that looks like… Continue reading
There are some things I never thought I’d do in my life. Some experiences are so petrifying that they are unfathomable. That was cage diving with great white sharks for me. It combines all of my greatest fears in one situation. Using a regulator in the water, being surrounded by massive, man-eating monsters in the ocean and being confined to a cage were the epitome of torture, but I learned that knowledge breads comfort in even the most terrifying situations. Continue reading
Bucket List Publications 