How to grow your Threads to 5k+

Like any social media platform, Threads has it’s own algorithm and way that it works differently than the other social platforms. This means delving head-first into Threads can be intimidating, especially if you’re already trying to be consistent on other socials. I’ll try to keep this short and sweet to give you the basics, but if you want to learn more and continually scale, leave a comment below or send me a message and I can put together a more in-depth course.

  • Consistency Is Key: I know, I know, you hear this all the time with all of the platforms. But what it really means is that there isn’t a magic number of posts or interactions you have to make each day. Instead it’s being consistent with how and when you post. Your account is shown in more feeds the more active you are on a regular basis, so keep that in mind. It’s better to show up with a 3-5 posts/interactions per day, than to ghost your following for weeks on end.
  • The posting secret sauce: Your posts need to be engaging – meaning posting things that people want to respond and interact with, not that they’ll just “like” and pass along. This is easier said than done. But you want to think of thought-provoking questions to get people engaged without rage-baiting. Along with consistency, you’ll want to post at least 2-3 times per day, spaced out throughout your day and not all back-to-back, and then be scrolling and commenting on other peoples’ posts as well. Again, this doesn’t have to be hours on end, it just needs to be on a regular basis such as posting at 7am, 12pm, and 7pm then scrolling for 5-10 minutes and making useful comments at 7pm when you’re chilling in the evening.
  • Interaction makes Threads go ‘round: You’ve probably noticed I’m telling you to “interact” a lot. But what in the world does that mean? It means liking and commenting on other peoples’ Threads. And when I say that I don’t mean responding with “great” or “cool”  on everything, but asking questions, or providing helpful answers to Threads with questions.
  • Your magical posts: When posting, you should be sure to use words that tell the Algorithm what you’re looking for and what you want to see. For instance, if you hate summer, don’t post “omg I hate summer” because the algorithm will see keyword “summer” and show you more posts about it. Instead use words that you WANT to see. For example saying “I’d love to make more friends who are interested in X, Y, Z. Let’s be friends!”
  • Followers and following: There’s not a huge secret here or anything, but people on Threads do tend to want to actually be friends and not just be another number in your following list. So interact with people who have posts talking about similar interests to you, and follow people who have similar interests too. A lot of times if people see that you have similar interests, they’re likely to follow you back. NOTE: Do NOT go through and unfollow people though. This isn’t a random follow train, and again, people want to actually be your friend and not another number on a random list.
  • Pinned post: Remember the example I gave of looking for friends with similar interests? I recommend having a pinned post about who you are, what you’re into, and who you’d love to interact with to both help people find and connect with you, but also to help people see that you aren’t a bot and to know what you’re all about when they visit your profile.
  • Profile set up: Include a clear photo of yourself, who you are and what you do/who you serve, important links (things like a linktree are great to condense them!) and link your Instagram profile. This will help people be more likely to want to get to know you and be interested in your profile
  • HAVE FUN! Threads is meant to be an interactive social platform for friendships, so the biggest thing is to ENJOY being on there and making friends!

Follow for more tips!

2025 Holiday Gift Guide

The holidays are upon us, which means gifting is here. Yet gift giving can be stressful especially when all you can think of is gifting a candle or a gift card. I’m here to help! The women’s ideas are geared towards someone who enjoys being cozy, is a little nerdy and works a 9-5 job. The men’s ideas are geared towards someone who is a little nerdy and techy, and also in college/grad school. These gifts are all meant to not break the bank, and include stocking stuffers as well!

Women’s ideas:

  • LEGO botanicals – They’re flowers that won’t die, and are a beautiful addition to any desk space or counter at home. 
  • Knock off hatch alarm clock – It’s beautiful, useful, and doesn’t cost as much as a true Hatch alarm clock.
  • Cardigan – Offices tend to stay cold so this fights the chill while keeping her stylish.
  • Elf lip gloss – It’s the perfect addition to any handbag and will keep her lips hydrated and feeling great all day long
  • A classy koozie for cold drinks – If she’s a cold drink fan, get her one of these classier versions of a koozie to keep her hands warm and dry, even in the winter months.
  • Disney Dreamlight Valley – Or really any cute or cozy game to escape the winter blues and enjoy nerding out for awhile.

Men’s ideas:

  • Laptop cooling pad – Sitting with a laptop gets hot after a bit. Help relieve him of the heat while staying comfy while he does his school work
  • Beard oil – This is a no-brainer for any guy who’s bearded, as he’ll always be wanting to use it to keep his beard feeling great.
  • New and improved wallet – Let’s be real, he’s probably had his old wallet for longer than he can remember and it’s likely not RFID protected. He deserves an upgrade!
  • HP pen – If he has an HP computer, this is a great addition to help him with school or work. And keep in mind, even if he doesn’t have an HP, there are things such as an Apple Pencil for other computer types
  • Funko Pops – These are so fun to receive, especially if it’s a character from one of his favorite shows!
  • Steam gift card – I know, I know, I said we weren’t doing gift cards. BUT, this is a great gift or stocking stuffer whether it’s $10 or $100 and will let him choose which games to purchase. It’s especially helpful since gamers sometimes have their wishlist kept to themselves.
  • Dual monitor riser – This will help clean up his space, bring his monitors up to a better viewing level, and even let him attach a microphone arm if he’s a streamer.

Let me know below if you need more ideas or have other fun ideas to contribute!

Top 10 Tips to Grow your Instagram in Less Than 30 Days!

These tips are solely to grow your follower count, and are aimed towards coaches, creators, and entrepreneurs.

Always remember, it’s better to have quality over quantity.

1. Switch to a professional/creator account.

2. Optimize your profile – make sure you’ve got a good headshot, you say who you serve, and you’ve got a link to your offer.

3. Post consistently. Consistency truly is key. This doesn’t mean posting daily or multiple times a day. Just posting consistently on a schedule that is feasible for you.

4. Use hashtags in your posts. But make sure they’re not too overused and not too common. If you need help, i can send you my affiliate link for a girl who compiles them all for you. 😍

5. Engage, engage, engage! IG is a SOCIAL platform. The more you’re engaging with other people, the more people are seeing you and interacting with your content.

6. Utilize a variety of features IG has to offer. It’s so easy to only do 1 format – like single photo posts or stories. But mix it up for the best results! Use some reels, add some carousels, use the poll features, and really anything else that IG comes out with!

7. Post anywhere up to 12 stories per day. (And you can even include tags and hashtags in them!). These catch people’s attention, get people engaged, and show that you’re actively on IG!

8. Share quality content. Whatever your niche is, post tips, tricks, advice, viewpoints, etc ALL the time! The more people see that you share quality info, the more likely they are to trust you, and in turn, follow you!

9. Keep your brand consistent. People want to get used to your brand and what they can expect from you, so try not to constantly change your branding.

10. Have FUN! The more you enjoy IG, the more people can tell you’re genuinely enjoying what you do and interacting with them. If IG isn’t fun for you, it’s absolutely okay to use a different platform!

PS – tag me in your posts and stories! I’d love to connect with you and encourage you!

-Blake

5 Steps to Refresh your Social Media Platforms

It’s a good idea to refresh your socials at least a few times per year, but ideally quarterly. Your marketing should be towards your current ideal client, and how you can best serve them and meet their needs.

With time though, business owners can have a tendency to get a bit off track. We don’t want that to turn into a full derailment!

So save this list, and add a recurring quarterly reminder to your calendar to do this!

It can take as little or much time as you’d like, but this is totally doable in 15-20 minutes when done regularly!

1. Check all your links: Make sure all your links still work and route to the right place! If they don’t, you’re losing out on so much extra money and additional connections.

2. Update your profile picture: Let’s be real, you haven’t updated it since…..oh no, you can’t remember! That means it’s been too long. Show us your smiling face!

3. Clean up your feed: Delete posts that no longer resonate with you.

4. Planning: Look over your content creation planning, and make sure everything still fits your current marketing plans. If anything doesn’t feel right anymore, switch it up!

5. Check your consistency: Have you been posting on a consistent basis? Or are your posts kind of all over the place? I know, business is busy so sometimes this is the last thing you’ve got time to think about! Try scheduling some of your posts in advance with a program like Tailwind, Hootsuite, or the Meta Creator Studio. As I’m writing this, I know each of these have a free and easy plan to get this done quickly!

If this feels like too much, consider hiring a VA (Virtual Assistant), OBM (Office Business Manager), or SMM (Social Media Manager). It can be SO worth it to have someone do this for you with your best interests in mind!

Comment below with other ideas you have for social media refreshes!

Need an assistant? Message me at blakeryaustin@gmail.com and I’m happy to refer you to folks I trust! 💖

Dirty 30 – 30 Tips for Living Life to Its Fullest

I’ve officially turned 30 today, so what better time to reflect on the past 29 years?

These tips might be pretty general, so take them as you wish.

1. Never settle for less. Whether it’s a relationship, a job, a home, or anything else – you deserve to have what you desire.

2. You’re never “too much” for the right people.

3. Your health and well being are most important. Mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally, you come first.

4. Go after your dreams. Even if people think they’re ridiculous or tell you that you can’t do them. Set your mind to them and you can do anything imaginable.

5. Set up several forms of income. Especially passive income streams and evergreen income. Your job isn’t guaranteed, and anything can happen. And hey, it doesn’t hurt to have extra money coming in!

6. Share your truth somewhere. Whether it’s a blog, social media, church, a book, or another format. Someone needs to hear your story. There’s someone that you can help. And even helping just 1 person is amazing.

7. Give more than you take. Put out good into the world, and expect nothing in return. The world needs more kindness, so be the person who stays kind.

8. Never stop learning. Whether you enjoy books, podcasts, going back to school, watching videos, or something else – keeping your mind sharp keeps life interesting and helps you not age as quickly.

9. Put your health first. I mean all parts of your health. I know, I know, people have always tried to engrave the “30 minutes of exercise daily and eating balanced meals” into our brains. But these sayings come with truth. For optimal health, our bodies need movement + nutrients. So even if your time or money are limited, a 5 minute walk or a fruit or vegetable added to your meal still help.

10. Go to therapy or get a coach. See one of these regularly. You need somewhere to get thoughts and ideas out of your head. Even if you don’t realize it, things that have happened in your life may have had effects on how you’re currently living. A professional can help you overcome things from your past, and start broadening your horizons for what you can look forward to in the future.

11. Take time to fully relax. This could be meditating, journaling, listening to music, or cleaning. We don’t realize how much tension and stress our bodies hold just during our day to day being.

12. Splurge on yourself. You deserve the massage, chiropractor, hair appointment, nail appointment, spa day, etc. Make time for at least one splurge item, and do it consistently.

13. Try an abundance of new hobbies. You might be great at them, or you might fail epically at them. Either way, you had new experiences and got out of your comfort zone. (I.e. I tried a beginner pole dancing class. I was AWFUL at it. lol. But it made me realize how much strength performers have, and see that it truly is fun and a big skill to learn.)

14. Declutter. Come on, you don’t need to keep your 42 old band and comic tees that you never wear. They’re just taking up room in your closet, and adding more to the hassle each time you move. When doing this, you could try a capsule wardrobe, the Kon Mari method, or get inspiration from so many folks on TikTok!

15. You make the rules in your life. There’s no rule that you have to have a dining room table, or that you can’t have a blanket fort in your living room. If it makes you happy, do it. F*$& what society thinks you “should” do.

16. Cherish your loved ones. They can be gone in an instant. There’s so much to still know and love about them. Go visit your family more, call your family in other states more often, and don’t forget to tell people you love them.

17. Get a companion when you’re ready. Before I was ready for a human life partner, I adopted a bonded pair of kittens. They’ve brought me so much comfort and joy in such a short period of time already. I waited until I knew I could give pets the love and attention they deserve though.

18. Get planning! In all aspects of your life. Budget your money, plan your upcoming trips, plan birthdays and holidays so they’ll be extra memorable. The extra thought helps tremendously.

19. Get in touch with nature

20. Set up a couple of good routines for yourself.

21. Travel while you can. Life is short, and many people have more freedom for travels in their younger years. Don’t miss out on opportunities just because of the “what ifs”.

22. Quit the job you hate. Yes, the soul sucking one. The boss who yells at you and treats you like a dumpster, the coworkers who refuse to get along, and the part where you’re over worked and under paid. There’s so many jobs out there that are significantly better. It’s totally understandable to have a new job lined up first – and it’s smart! But don’t let yourself stay feeling “stuck” at a job you hate. Life can be so much better than that.

23. Stop buying shit you don’t need, and be thankful for what you have.

24. Learn to enjoy the little things again. The feeling of the sun on your skin, the grass between your toes, a slow morning with a perfect cup of coffee, a lazy morning in bed.

25. Laugh more. It’s one of the best medicines. I’m talking full belly laugh that you can’t control!

26. Take more pictures for memories. Memories always seem to fade too quickly. People you care about pass too soon. Take the photos while you can.

27. Take time to work on YOU and figuring out who you are.

28. Share your goals and progress with someone.

29. Celebrate more! Celebrate all the things, big or small. We tend to downplay the things we’ve accomplished.

30. Never give up. Even if it seems like no one cares, I do. I’m glad you’re still around. Keep going. 💖

Bucket List Pics – Part 2

A little more recent – and more exciting to me!

Pictured are:

-Visit an aquarium (Dallas World Aquarium)

-Graduated from college

-Visiting a winery

-Hosting an event (Friendsmas)

-Dyeing my hair a wild color (purple!)

-Visiting a pumpkin patch and apple orchard

Bucket List Pics – Part 1

Some bucket list items I completed in the past are pictured here. These are oldies but goodies.

Pictured are:

-Donating my hair to locks of love or a similar place

-Getting my hair cut even shorter than when I donated it

-Eat something strange I’ve never tried before

-Trying contacts

-Going to the casino

101 Things in 1,001 Days

I just shared my bucket list, and it got me thinking. Why not have a list of things to accomplish even sooner than by the end of my lifetime?

I heard of 101 things in 1,001 days and figured I’ll give it a shot. Start date=July 14, 2022; End date=April 10, 2025

I’ll be updating this list as I go. And as always, making posts with pictures of some of the things I accomplish. Cheers!

  1. Get a new job
  2. Make $21+/hr
  3. Have a staycation
  4. Have less than 20 items on my Amazon wishlist
  5. Visit Kansas City
  6. -redacted-
  7. Create a blog website
  8. Create 6 months of content for a blog, and publish them
  9. Create posts of updates with pictures as I complete this list and bucket list items
  10. Try ads
  11. Monetize my blog
  12. Start email marketing
  13. Be active on IG again
  14. 30 days of consistent yoga
  15. Try a new hobby (knitting/crotcheing?)
  16. Learn to shoot a gun
  17. Have a real Christmas with lights, fake fire, cookies for santa, hors d’vours, etc.
  18. Visit sunflower fields while they’re in season
  19. Go strawberry picking
  20. Have a Valentine
  21. Go on a trip with a friend or s/o
  22. Book a unique AirBnb
  23. Have a real picnic
  24. Try 5 new restaurants
  25. Have a birthday with metallic balloons, dinner with friends and/or an s/o, and buying myself a gift I’ve been wanting
  26. Read 10 books
  27. Review every book I read on Good Reads
  28. Finish reading the After series & then watch the movies on Netflix!
  29. Listen to 10 podcast channels
  30. Watch 101 movies
  31. Try 10 new TV shows
  32. Splurge on new tops/clothes from Shein
  33. Buy new work pants
  34. Go back to therapy
  35. Try journaling
  36. 10k followers on IG
  37. 1k followers on Pinterest
  38. 500 likes on my Facebook page
  39. Finally get a haircut
  40. Dye my hair back to brown
  41. Get a shark tattoo
  42. Get my belly button pierced
  43. Find out my blood type
  44. Visit 5 new states
  45. Clean out my phone
  46. Fully clean out my email inboxes
  47. Get my dresser fixed
  48. Get my curtains hung up
  49. Create a digital recipe book
  50. Start an etsy shop of digital templates/artwork
  51. Put $20 into savings for each item on this list I complete
  52. Complete a game of Animal Crossing New Horizons
  53. Figure out how to play Stardew Valley
  54. Beat Picross on my phone
  55. Come up with 101 things + inspire at least one other person to do the same
  56. Have 2 secondary income sources other than my FT job
  57. Learn how to tie a tie
  58. Vote in a non-presidential election
  59. Give someone a “just because” gift
  60. Truly surprise someone
  61. Make a vision board
  62. Try to start my own business
  63. Take a photography class
  64. Partner with another entrepreneur and feature each other
  65. Host another event
  66. Go to a business or networking conference
  67. Renew my passport
  68. Get my SS card with my new name on it
  69. Try using my air fryer
  70. Start budgeting again once the new job starts
  71. Save a 6 month emergency fund
  72. Write a living will
  73. Write a list of 100 things that make me happy
  74. Make a dentist appointment
  75. Get a new OBGYN
  76. Take a photo a day for 30 days
  77. 30 day challenge: Read for 30 minutes per day
  78. 30 day challenge: Duolingo for 15 minutes per day
  79. Complete 50 Questions that will free your mind
  80. Learn basics of ASL
  81. Get my google adwords certifications
  82. Participate in a blog challenge (Blogtober or Blogmas)
  83. Visit an escape room
  84. Update my family tree
  85. Be able to do the splits
  86. Buy a plant and keep it alive
  87. Create my own business cards
  88. Deep clean my car
  89. Buy good quality earrings
  90. Put together a capsule wardrobe
  91. Buy a pair of extra glasses from Zenni optical
  92. Start a side hustle or freelance
  93. Update my playlists
  94. Order my dream standing to sitting desk
  95. Pay off my Amazon credit card
  96. Have a no-spending month
  97. Complete at least 50 things on this list
  98. Have at least 5 “go-to” dinner meals
  99. Buy a piece of artwork for my living room
  100. Finish adding to my Bucket List

The Bucket List

Over the years I’ve created numerous bucket lists, but never took the time to put them all together and see what I can accomplish. So here goes nothing! Below are all the things I want to accomplish during my time on this Earth. I’ll be marking items off as I go, and linking when I post about the experiences.

My overall goal is to enjoy life more. I have a goal of putting 365 items on this list, but if I think of even more then I’ll keep adding to it.

  1. Be fluent in German
  2. Sleep under the stars
  3. Visit all 50 states
  4. Travel to 10+ countries
  5. Land my dream job
  6. Land my dream internship
  7. Adopt a child
  8. See the northern lights
  9. Run a 5k
  10. Weigh under 150lbs
  11. Read 365 books (67 as of 10/17/14)
  12. Support someone in need
  13. Watch 1,000 movies (914/1000 as of 7/13/2022)
  14. Kiss a dolphin
  15. Adopt a dog
  16. Pay back my grandparents
  17. Spend NYE in NY
  18. Obtain my associate’s degree
  19. Obtain a graduate degree
  20. Give a student a scholarship
  21. Read the entire Bible
  22. Go 1 month without eating fast food
  23. Give back to everyone who helps me reach my goals and believes in me
  24. Use my world map/mark everywhere I’ve been
  25. Thank Awo Eni for inspiring me to make this list
  26. See a shark in the ocean
  27. Swim in every ocean
  28. Make a large donation to a non-profit organization
  29. Go on a cruise
  30. Practice yoga regularly for a month
  31. Be in two places at once
  32. If possible, donate blood
  33. Try scuba diving
  34. Save someone’s life
  35. Regularly serve somewhere such as a soup kitchen or American Red Cross
  36. Be debt free
  37. Go to the airport and pick a random flight to take
  38. Ride in a hot air balloon
  39. Help make someone’s last wish come true
  40. Plant a tree
  41. Learn some sign language
  42. Participate in a beach clean-up
  43. Love myself
  44. Come up with 365 things for this list
  45. Go on a vacation
  46. Knit something
  47. Order room service
  48. Vote
  49. Send a postcard
  50. Write my will
  51. Change a flat tire
  52. Plant a garden
  53. Attend a professional sports game
  54. Try to break a world record
  55. Do a 365 day photo challenge(started 10/15/14) 
  56. Make an origami crane
  57. Send a postcard to post secret
  58. Beat a video game
  59. Donate money to a charity
  60. Make a list of 100 things I’m thankful for
  61. Make a habit of working out at least 4 days a week, every week
  62. Be someone’s mentor
  63. Learn to play a musical instrument
  64. Live in a different country for at least 6 months
  65. Make 1,000 origami cranes
  66. Write the story of my life
  67. Make a list of my all-time favorite quotes
  68. Own everything on my amazon wishlist
  69. Attend the Olympics
  70. Support a child in another country for the rest of his/her life
  71. Attempt extreme couponing for 2 months
  72. Get a paracord bracelet
  73. Watch every movie in my list
  74. Have a job that I love
  75. Choose a specific person to support on each race I run
  76. Lose 50lbs
  77. Lose 100lbs
  78. Start a book club
  79. Meet Ellen Degeneres
  80. Spend a day in all 50 states, sightseeing
  81. Visit every continent
  82. Visit Mexico and Canada
  83. Learn how to really prayer walk
  84. Take 365 pictures of myself for transformation
  85. Fill water balloons with paint and make art
  86. Carve initials into a tree
  87. Be good at tying ties
  88. Be CPR certified
  89. Learn to see again
  90. Learn to no longer go to food for comfort, but to something healthier instead.
  91. White water rafting
  92. Be in 2 states at once
  93. Be in 4 states at once
  94. Get a picture in the “big” sign in Dallas
  95. Do something crazy during spring break
  96. Get an internship
  97. Take pictures underwater
  98. Go to a burlesque show
  99. Try going to a club
  100. Go to a gay club
  101. Go to a strip club
  102. “pay it forward” at least once
  103. Skydive
  104. Swim with dolphins or another sea creature (not just fish)
  105. Go deep-sea fishing
  106. Go offline for a week
  107. Stargaze on a roof
  108. Spend one full day doing nice things for strangers
  109. Travel alone
  110. Go to las vegas
  111. Go to a weekend long concert
  112. Learn how to play golf (even if I’m terrible at it)
  113. Learn a new dance
  114. Visit the Grand Canyon
  115. Go to a musical
  116. Do the color run
  117. Watch a meteor shower
  118. Stand on the equator
  119. Travel first class
  120. Watch the ball drop in Times Square
  121. Go parasailing
  122. Go paragliding
  123. Climb a mountain
  124. Go hiking on a mountain
  125. Visit New York
  126. Message in a bottle
  127. Take 365 instagram pictures within a year
  128. Visit Canada
  129. Renew my passport
  130. Volunteer at an animal shelter
  131. Messy twister
  132. Fly in a helicopter
  133. Learn how to juggle
  134. Attempt surfing
  135. Raise at least $1,000 for a charity
  136. Learn to make sushi
  137. Learn how to fly
  138. Take a self-defense class
  139. Get 200 volunteer hours within 1 year
  140. Go to a rodeo
  141. Go to a Christmas parade with someone I truly love
  142. Send at least 50 Christmas cards to troops one year
  143. Be in the water with sharks (cage diving/swimming with sharks)
  144. Go hang gliding
  145. Give someone the holidays I never had
  146. Pay for a stranger’s groceries
  147. Complete at least half the items on this list before having children (119/183)
  148. Leave change at a vending machine for a stranger
  149. Send an unexpected gift to a friend
  150. Help someone complete most/all of the items on their bucket list
  151. Go on a real picnic
  152. Leave a positive note in a book for someone to find
  153. Make gingerbread men
  154. Be a vegetarian for a day—roadtrip style!
  155. Be a vegetarian for a week
  156. Be a vegan for a week
  157. Complete a challenge/dare
  158. Buy stock
  159. Learn to make a good mixed drink
  160. Tour a vineyard
  161. Learn to identify poisonous and edible plants in the wild
  162. Kiss under mistletoe with someone I love
  163. Learn how to shoot a real gun
  164. Do the Christmas angel gifts thing/give a gift for toys for tots or something similar
  165. Go skinny dipping
  166. Be able to easily run a mile
  167. Sleep on the beach
  168. Solve a rubik’s cube
  169. Get paid to travel
  170. Come up with a list to the question “what would you do if you weren’t afraid?”
  171. Do something creative and super sweet for someone
  172. Go on the Polar Express
  173. Have a “real” Christmas Eve (including a “fire” in the fireplace, lots of Christmas lights, & cookies and milk for santa)
  174. Throw a housewarming party or something similar
  175. Have an all-out birthday with metallic balloons, buying myself a gift I’ve been wanting, and dinner with friends or a partner
  176. Read all the Harry Potter books
  177. Go to Cirque du Soliel
  178. Watch 100+ Ted Talks
  179. Plant a tree on earth day
  180. Get a henna tattoo
  181. See penguins in their natural habitat
  182. Ride in a limousine
  183. Watch a movie from every year since moviemaking began
  184. Write a living will
  185. Have a philly cheesesteak in philly
  186. Get a large, elaborate tattoo
  187. Complete 101 things in 1001 days
  188. Learn how to meditate
  189. Go deep sea diving
  190. Identify 100 things that make me happy
  191. Try more than 50 new hobbies
  192. Go practice at the batting cages
  193. Visit all of the Iowa waterfalls
  194. See all of Mall of America
  195. Take an aerial class
  196. Get a shark tattoo
  197. Get a belly button ring
  198. Go to the Van Gogh exhibit
  199. Visit Kansas City
  200. Visit Chicago
  201. Visit the Dakotas
  202. Take a belly dancing class
  203. Tour the DSM Capital
  204. See sunflower fields in bloom in person
  205. Go actual mini golfing
  206. Be consistent on IG
  207. 10k IG followers
  208. Consistently blog for 6 months

Completed Bucket List Items:

  1. Go wine tasting
  2. Go geocaching and find one
  3. Kiss a girl
  4. Watch at least 5 amazing scary movies(Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Jaws, Psycho, Nightmare on Elm Street, Carrie, and The Descent)
  5. Have a scary movie marathon
  6. Watch TFIOS
  7. Buy at least 1 flannel shirt
  8. Dinner in the sky
  9. Try a new type of cuisine(Korean)
  10. Go to a drive-in movie
  11. Buy at least 1 beanie
  12. Make a large purchase for my 21st birthday
  13. Own a shot glass
  14. Move out
  15. Visit all my extended family up North
  16. Complete 7 goals within a week
  17. Book a hotel room
  18. Take a pole dancing class
  19. Visit a farmer’s market
  20. Buy a new interesting book I’ve never heard of before
  21. Watch 365 movies (394)
  22. Visit the Omaha Zoo and Aquarium
  23. Go to Des Moines Pride
  24. Come out to my immediate family (11/17/14)
  25. Buy and use reusable grocery bags
  26. Come out to my extended family
  27. Come out to my friends
  28. Do something crazy to my hair
  29. Go on a staycation
  30. Watch a sunrise and sunset in the same day
  31. Own contacts
  32. Give a stranger my number
  33. Take the time to watch all of the Lord of the Rings movies and understand what’s going on in them
  34. Do something crazy
  35. Go to a gay bar
  36. Go camping with someone I love
  37. Spiderman kiss someone
  38. Get a white ink tattoo
  39. Have a drink at a bar
  40. Have at least 1 “first drink” on my 21st birthday
  41. Go to the 21+ movies
  42. Send someone flowers
  43. Send a care package
  44. Thank one of our current troops
  45. Thank a veteran
  46. Be someone’s biggest fan (Kayden’s)
  47. Shop at a thrift store
  48. Go to a casino
  49. Fall in love (Christina)
  50. Try smoking
  51. Dye my hair a crazy color
  52. Have a real first New Years kiss with someone I love
  53. Obtain my undergraduate degree
  54. Have sex
  55. Have nice undergarments
  56. Be able to fit in the clothes at Victoria’s Secret
  57. Start a retirement fund
  58. Have a signature drink
  59. Create a college budget
  60. Have a threesome
  61. Buy lingerie
  62. Ask someone out on a date
  63. Ask someone to be my significant other
  64. Take a bath by candlelight with wine/champagne
  65. Change my hair color
  66. Go to a drag show
  67. Have a job lined up for when I graduate from college with my bachelor’s
  68. Be an overly courteous driver for a week
  69. Compliment a stranger
  70. Complete 21 items on this list by my 21st birthday(31/21)
  71. Complete 75 items on this list by my 22nd birthday (82/75) 
  72. Go storm chasing (not just sitting outside during a storm, but actually chasing and planning)
  73. Spend a romantic evening with someone
  74. Try a starbucks holiday drink(PSL)
  75. Learn to do taxes
  76. Go to a restaurant I’ve always wanted to try but haven’t (Magic Time Machine)
  77. Help someone cross something off their bucket list (real new years/fall in love kiss-Ash)
  78. Take C to yosto
  79. Try an exciting alcoholic drink
  80. Try an exciting non-alcoholic drink
  81. Create my own piece of artwork to display
  82. Reach some sort of achievement (soda)
  83. Walk across a long bridge without freaking out
  84. Be on a boat with someone I love
  85. Get a tattoo
  86. Get a 3rd piercing
  87. Cut my hair even shorter than when I donated it
  88. Eat something strange that I’ve never tried before(fried jalapenos, corn nuggets, BBQ shrimp, &BBQ bologna & cheese)
  89. Get a library card
  90. Buy real lipstick and wear it
  91. Bake in the middle of the night with someone I love
  92. Create melted crayon art
  93. Go to the Texas State Fair
  94. Try jell-o shots
  95. Get rid of ½ the things I own
  96. Learn to live with the things I already have ( no shopping for new things unless extremely necessary)
  97. Cut my hair super short (almost shaved)
  98. Take off on my birthday
  99. Quit a job
  100. Donate to locks of love (or a similar organization)
  101. Visit a walk-through aquarium
  102. Make a huge Thanksgiving dinner for friends who don’t have a place to go for Thanksgiving
  103. Complete & upload pictures of 50 of the things on this list by January 1, 2015 (50/50 as of 12/11/14)
  104. Visit an aquarium
  105. Visit an art museum
  106. Change someone’s life
  107. Keep up my own blog for at least 6 months
  108. Give an employee a 100% tip (Sonic 06/2015)
  109. Go 1 month without soda (started: February 7, 2014)
  110. Go 6 months without soda (started February 7, 2014)
  111. Go 1 year without soda (started: February 7, 2014—Complete! Still going as of March 5, 2015)
  112. Be truly happy
  113. Get a tablet
  114. Get a newer car
  115. Learn to make my own successful website
  116. Go to a concert of one of my favorite bands (Fall Out Boy with Kayden)
  117. Conquer a fear (heights)
  118. Complete 100 items on this list by the day I graduate from college (100/100)
  119. Go see a big Christmas lights show
  120. Visit an apple orchard
  121. Visit a pumpkin patch
  122. Visit a winery