How is it that another year has already flown by?? Even with an extra day in the year (thank you, February 29!), 2012 went by way too fast. I had a great year hopping around the United States, trying new things and adding to my 100 Challenge. 2012 is the third year I undertook the challenge in an attempt to learn, do and experience 100 new things. In the process, I also knocked six things off of my Life List: I threw beads in a Mardi Gras parade, wrote one handwritten letter every week for a year, visited Iceland, competed in the Urban Adventure Games, attended a production of Wicked and attended the Book Passage writing conference.

One of the things I’m most proud of is that many of the things in 2012′s challenge involved other people – hosting foreign exchange students, finding old friends, taking trips with family members, helping others meet goals on their own bucket lists. 2012 was a fun, satisfying year. Onward to 2013 and another attempt at the 100 Challenge!

1. Wrote a bona fide business plan.
2. Fell in love with a class at the gym.
3. Adopted an all black cat.
4. Made a welcome sign for someone I was picking up at the airport.
5. Became a host parent to a 17-year-old girl.
6. Registered a student in school.
7. Reconnected with a friend from elementary school.
8. Ate escargot.
9. Received a sugar scrub treatment.
10. Watched a professional dance company practice in its studio.
11. Attended a Mardi Gras ball.
12. Ate a pistolette.
13. Ate boudin.
14. Rode on a Mardi Gras float.
15. Ate alligator.
16. Took zydeco dance lessons.
17. Wandered through the world’s largest display of Mardi Gras costumes.
18. Decorated a king cake.
19. Ate king cake and found the baby inside.
20. Tasted crawfish.
21. Participated in a traditional running of the chickens parade.
22. Attended a Mardi Gras royal gala.
23. Received a chocolate sculpture as a gift.
24. Witnessed a world record being broken.
25. Had a caricature drawn of myself.
26. Went to Disneyland.
27. Introduced someone else to true Americana.
28. Made juice.
29. Took a class about holism.
30. Did yoga on the beach.
31. Got a pedicure.
32. Walked across the Hoover Dam bridge.
33. Set foot in New Mexico.
34. Visited the Four Corners.
35. Helped a friend cross something off of her bucket list.
36. Went rappelling (off a 120-foot cliff!).
37. Learned how to go rock climbing.
38. Rode on an ATV …
39. … and then drove an ATV.
40. Made scones.
41. Saw a condor in flight.
42. Did someone’s hair for prom.
43. Introduced someone to camping.
44. Made and ate a s’more.
45. Visited the South Rim of the Grand Canyon during the summer.
46. Was interviewed for a reality show.
47. Traveled around Iceland.
48. Stayed awake for the midnight sun.
49. Saw a starfish in the wild.
50. Visited a church that was painted completely black.
51. Saw a puffin in the wild (and they’re as cute in person as I suspected!).
52. Stood on the western most point of Europe.
53. Saw an arctic fox in the wild.
54. Crossed into the Arctic Circle.
55. Ate a gooseberry.
56. Saw a minke whale in the wild.
57. Saw a humpback whale in the wild.
58. Saw the largest mammal on the planet – a blue whale – in the wild.
59. Sailed in the Arctic Ocean.
60. Stood in awe of brilliant blue ice bergs.
61. Snorkeled in a dry suit.
62. Ate an Icelandic street hot dog.
63. Took a bike tour.
64. Cared for nine animals on my own for a week.
65. Hiked through a lava tube.
66. Completed the Urban Adventure Games.
67. Paddled through man-made white water rapids.
68. Saw Touchdown Jesus in person.
69. Walked through the Notre Dame cathedral.
70. Flew Allegiant Air.
71. Devoted time to creating mail art.
72. Learned about Las Vegas’ growing tech scene.
73. Attended the Book Passage travel writing conference.
74. Met Susan Orlean.
75. Made a very important, personal and life-changing discovery about my career path.
76. Signed a year-long contract with a travel magazine.
77. Launched an email newsletter.
78. Made a commitment to my passion projects.
79. Made a six-day road trip without a radio.
80. Learned about differential tuition.
81. Made a standing Saturday morning coffee date with a good friend.
82. Attended the wedding of a high school friend.
83. Became a host parent to a 16-year-old boy.
84. Bought season tickets to a series of traveling Broadway shows.
85. Saw Wicked (and absolutely LOVED it).
86. Rocked a fedora.
87. Attended a bona fide fundraiser.
88. Ate at a food truck festival.
89. Made more than $1.00/word for a magazine assignment.
90. Ate caviar.
91. Attended the Travel Classics conference.
92. Got a body polish treatment.
93. Received a facial.
94. Stood in a speakeasy.
95. Stood up to sexism.
96. Drove a car that cost as much as my house.
97. Drove faster than 100MPH.
98. Skied in Vail.
99. Rode a magic carpet ski lift.
100. Wrote 52 letters to 52 people in 52 weeks.

If you’re curious what I’ve done in years past, check out my 100 Challenge from 2011.