In March 2008 I re-discovered a forgotten list of 30 things I had set out to do in my 30th year. I was happy to discover that I had done most of the things and became ambitious to do the ones that had gone undone.

Thinking more I thought, if I gave myself more time, what would I do? How many things have I always wanted to see, experience, do or feel? And the 101 Things To Do Before I Die list was born.

Here it is (if it’s struck-through it means I did it!):

1. Go to Mustique Island.
2. Stay at the Bora Bora Beachcomber Inter-Continental
3. Go back to Maui
4. Linger
5. Take an actual vacation (one place, one week, no work, no internet)
6. Produce a film.
7. Donate over a million dollars.
8. Get a pedicure.
9. Own/run a (gluten free) gite in France.
10. Have a maid every two weeks just for the bits I don’t like to do.
11. Sleep more than 4 hours a night for at least a month.
12. Ride the Orient Express
13. Fly a plane.
14. Take the Coast Starlight from LA to Seattle.
15. Stay at the Ritz Paris
16. Stay at Hotel Particular Paris
17. Visit Iceland
18. Throw a massive party extravaganza.
19. Own the best claw foot tub
20. Be healthy.
21. Swoon
22. See Vienna
23. Visit Apifera Farm.
24. Cook/eat at home everyday for at least a week.
25. Have a garden
26. Have a stone home
27. Upgrade my camera (last was 2001 – 6MP Digital Rebel)
28. Buy my entire Anthropologie Wishlist at once
29. Never hesitate in buying a book
30. Eat Oysters and champagne.
31. Own a Dior gown.
32. Horseback ride on a beach
33. Own chickens
34. Photograph for Anthropologie
35. Not move for an entire year.
36. Move back to Europe (Denmark or France) for part of the year.
37. Be met at an airport
38. Stay at The Plaza and read Eloise.
39. Unpack everything.
40. Go on a Ghost Hunt.
41. Take a cover shot.
42. See Victoria Falls and do a safari.
43. Buy a fixer upper house and remodel it.
44. Work with Lonely Planet.
45. Get over my fear of the phone.
46. Own Lightroom.
47. Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity
48. Make someone else’s dream come true.
49. Have lots of people to bake for.
50. Have better and prettier shoes (start with Louboutin).
51. Travel without having to work at the same time.
52. Have a massage every four weeks for a year
53. Take an RV Trip
54. Have a backyard BBQ with friends.
55. Make a difference.
56. Condense all my web sites and like at least 1.
57. Speak French without having to hesitate or throw in an English word.
58. Have custom curtains
59. Buy entire Amazon Wishlist.
60. Love my home, my city and job – all at the same time.
61. Sail the Queen E2 from NY to Southampton.
62. Buy a Four Seasons King Bed.
63. Feel sophisticated.
64. Boogey like it’s 1999.
65. Figure out Wordpress.
66. Be in love with everything.
67. Have a mentor. Be a mentor.
68. Refurbish my farm chairs.
69. Meet more people when I travel.
70. Hire an assistant
71. Hire a financial planner.
72. Subscribe to Marie Claire Maison.
73. Have a trip planned for me. Even just a day.
74. Find a great gluten-free croissant.
75. Drive through the East Coast in Fall.
76. Try the trapeze.
77. Make my home 100% green and sustainable.
78. Visit Pompeii
79. See the pyramids.
80. See my nieces.
81. Own some jewellery. Like jewellery. Wear the jewellery.
82. Own a pony. Named pepper.
83. Have a gluten-free chef.
84. Own couture.
85. Zipline
86. Ride on the roof of a train in Equador
87. Have Babycakes again
88. Have breakfast in bed and then stay there for the day.
89. Learn how to really use my camera.
90. Volunteer with Jack (my dog).
91. Find a signature parfume.
92. Get a manicure.
93. Read every book I own (I have a habit of buying without reading)
94. Take a trip with my BFF
95. Study and learn more history
96. Have a stocked and large linen closet.
97. Have a dedicated guest room filled with guests.
98. Take Sunday’s off.
99. Cook an omelet that’s edible.
100. Have theme music follow me for a day. Like in a movie.
101. Rest.

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