#91 See The Ice Hotel In Sweden

Yeah. It IS as much fun as it sounds.

Date Completed: February 26th, 2012

Ice shot glasses on an ice bar in a hotel made of ice.

The Lads at the ice hotel bar

Ok so it may not be as romantic as the Eiffel tower or exciting as Sky Diving, but the ice hotel is one of those awesome places you have to see before you die just because of the uniqueness. The entire building, floor to ceiling, is crafted of thick, massive ice blocks. The rooms are all designed by prominent artists and are as much a work of art as a place to sleep, and of course we made sure to spend some time at the world famous Ice Bar, where they blast house music and everyone gets schwaysted on vodka.

#35 Live On Another Continent

If only an adventure of a lifetime could be summarized in one post.

Date Completed: Early 2012

The People Make the Experience

Home Sweet Home in Jonkoping, Sweden

As many of you know, for the last six months I moved from South Carolina to Sweden to study and immerse myself in a completely different cultural experience. I've been getting a lot of beef from friends and family for not updating this list item sooner, but I wanted to wait until after the whole experience had time to set in before finally crossing off the list item. This item was unique in that not only did I accomplish a major life goal, but my life was truly and completely changed because of it. The hundreds of amazing, wonderful people I met opened my eyes to the world, and the handful I became extremely close with made this experience one of the best of my entire life. I could ramble on and on within this post about everything from dogsledding to Ikea to HV71 hockey games, but I'd probably bore you with hours of details. Feel free to comment or come buy me a beer if you want to hear any and all stories!

#22 Get A Tattoo

Whether you are a fan of tattoos or not, the adrenaline thrill of getting one has got to be pretty cool.

Date Completed: January 3rd, 2012

You Won't Do It

As many of you know, my goal for 2012 was to cross my first 10 items off my list. What better way to start than with one I could do right at home? I called up the artist shop that had taken care of my sister's tattoos in the past and with an appointment set, headed over to do the deed. My sister came with me, and although I wasn't very nervous to begin with, it was still a lot less painful than I had expected.

Update: Many of you have been asking about the meaning of the tattoo, "You Won't Do It". To those of you who are my college friends in South Carolina, you know the meaning of the words all too well. Among our close knit group, the four words are more than a simple dare to complete any dask- they are a dare to live life to its' full extent at every possible moment. What better way to start the journey towards completing my life goals than with a reminder to do just that?

#43 Eat Gelato in Italy

Because ice cream IS NOT the same thing.

Date Completed: February 15th, 2012

1/2 Pistachio, 1/2 Lemon

Last week, I went to a tiny Gelateria in the streets of Rome (not a tourist location next to a huge landmark, I mean a 25 minute walk into the middle of nowhere) with the hopes of crossing off one of my most anticipated list items. When I walked into the shop, it was clear the owner, a kind old man easily pushing 80, barely spoke any English, so a large majority of the transaction was carried out with hand signs and pointing. A few minutes later and a few Euros lighter I left the shop with a cup half full of pistachio and lemon gelato, and let me tell you - it was everything I had anticipated. Go get some. Right now.

#15 See the Vatican

Regardless of your religious beliefs, there is no doubt the Vatican and its' museums are a must see.

Date Completed: February 15th, 2012 

The View From The Top Of Michelangelo's Dome

The Basilica At Sunset

A Statue on the Vatican Bridge

On my recent trip to Rome, one of the stops we made was to see the Vatican- and believe me, it was everything I had expected it to be. Between the staggering majesty of St. Peter's Basilica, the vast halls of the Museum, and the unbelievable beauty of the Sistine Chapel, my experience at the vatican was a life changing one I will not soon forget. Definitely a must see if you've never been.

What is #thislifeofmine?

Welcome to #thislifeofmine, a blog chronicling the seemingly random adventures of one individual, hopefully culminating in one hell of a life story. The purpose of this blog is such that it will never be static, never be complete. As I go through my list, I will update with the progress of each task, as well as post short stories when a task is complete. Whether you are a close friend following my progress, a stranger interested in seeing my journey, or someone who has accidentally clicked a wrong link and wound up on this page, I encourage you to comment, leave your thoughts and feelings, or maybe even leave tips to help me along the way!