3 Things Left on My 2011 Bucket List

So the year is officially coming to an end. This weekend marks the last weekend in October, then comes November and sooner than you know it New Year's Eve will be staring us in the face. That was fast, right? After college, it seems like the years pass by at an accelerated rate. Whomps.

Anyway, the purpose of this post is two-fold. First, I needed this post. When I first began this blog, back in 2009, before the online features and the cameos on Essence.com and the fancy advertising you see above (lol), I started it for me. I started it at a time when I was frustrated in life and needed a creative outlet to express myself. I also wanted to document the wonderful life of a 20-something fashionista in the big Apple, unapologetic about being curvy & fab. So, to bring it back to it's original roots, I needed to write this post so that I can document on this fine day in October, what I'd like to do with the rest of my year (and hopefully have something to refer back to when I accomplish them).

Second, you needed this post. Somewhere between July 2009 and now, my blog has evolved into this thing that's WAY bigger than me. And I love it. I can't tell you how many emails I get from you lovelies about how something I've done or said or featured on my site has made an impact on your lives or inspired you to be bigger, better and greater than you were before. Getting responses like that makes it all worth it. So, with that, here are the three things left on my 2011 bucket list. Hopefully this list will inspire you to re-evaluate some things in your life today and make a list for yourself:

1. Redecorate my apartment.

I've literally been talking about this for the past 12 months. "One of these days, I'm gonna HGTV the hell out of my place!" It still hasn't happened. I've been spending hours scouring sites like ApartmentTherapy.com and more to figure out exactly what I want to do with it and I even got the process started two weekends ago by adding a few chairs and a new comforter to my room. I would say I'm 40% of the way there. Hoping to be completely done by the end of December. (any suggestions? Hit me up in the comments!)

2. Become a mentor.


In 2005, I went to Ocho Rios, Jamaica on a cruise with my older sisters. As most tourists do, we headed to Dunn's River Falls to climb up the beautiful mountain. In order to get to the top, everyone in our tour group had to lock hands in a single line, and the excursion leader would literally "pull" us up to the top as a group. As you took one step, you had to pull the person behind you and the entire group moved along in that fashion. This is how I feel about youth mentorship. As you move up the ladder of success, you should take others with you. Finding a great non-profit to support, or gathering up a group of girls and having a chat with them once a month - that's definitely on my list this year. Mentorship has always been something I've wanted to do more of so I'm hoping to get more involved before the year is up. (Any NYC-based folks involved in youth mentorship programs? Leave me a comment!)

3. Take an extended trip outside the US.

Me studying abroad in France, 2008

Last but not least! Death to the weekend getaway. Since the beginning of the year, I've promised myself that this year I'm going to get out of this country, at least for a 5-day trip. No such thing has happened. Instead I've been taking mini weekend getaways around the US to ease my travel itch. As a college student, I left the country AT LEAST once a year for Spring Break. And in my Junior year, I spent an entire semester abroad in France. So international travel is in my bones. And LUCKILY my 2011 trip is on the horizon! Tomorrow I'll be embarking on a 10 day trip to South America! I'm touring the beautiful country of Ecuador from the capital city of Quito to the coastal cities of Manta and Santa Elena. 

 I'm super HYPED. I'll be updating you guys as often as possible while I'm away so stay tuned!

In the mean time, what's still on your 2011 bucket list? Tell me in the comments section!