• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Peanut Blossom
  • Start Here
  • Family Recipes
  • Book Club
  • My Cookbooks
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Start Here
  • Family Recipes
  • Book Club
  • My Cookbooks
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Blog » Birthdays

    40 Before 40: A Birthday Bucket List

    Published: Apr 15, 2016 · Modified: Jan 3, 2023 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

    2.1K shares
    • Share
    • Email Friend!

    40 Before 40 Birthday Bucket List to help make the last year of your 30s the best it can be!

    A pink and white birthday cake with a gold sparkly topper that says "Forty"

    I mentioned how Shakira's "Try Everything" single from Disney's Zootopia has inspired me to make this last year of my 30's the best it can be.

    We've been doing birthday bucket lists for the kids for a few years now.

    They are displayed proudly on a chalkboard in our kitchen.

    But the chalkboard is too small to fit a list that works for Tim or myself.

    This year I decided to tweak our tradition and made out my own list in a colorful printable that is currently hanging right on our refrigerator.

    40 Before 40: A Birthday Bucket List

    Peanut Blossom's 40 Before 40 list

    I thought about my main goals for life in general:

    • Stay healthy and strong so I have enough energy for adventures with my kids.
    • Enjoy precious family moments with my husband and kids.
    • Indulge my creative side.
    • Connect with and enjoy my friends.
    • Travel and see the world beyond our city borders.
    • Be a good example of a strong, caring, professional woman that my daughters can look up to.

    And for sure I plan to try and get as many of these photos to document my first 40 years!

    • 100 Photos Every Mom Needs Before Her 40th Birthday
    40 before 40: a birthday bucket list for mom

    With those in mind I made my list.

    I'm excited about each item there but some of my favorite highlights include:

    • Complete a virtual marathon over 26 days: More on this to come this summer. I hope you might join me!
    • Have family portraits taken: I want to be IN the photos this year. For the first time ever, we're hiring a pro to do it right.
    • Complete 40 random acts of kindness: Put good back out into the world.
    • Buy 2 bottles of champagne: because if this isn't about celebrating, what's the point?? I'm enjoying one on my birthday and saving the other to toast on my 50th!

    My girls are so excited that I finally have my own birthday list.

    They immediately scanned it to see which things they would be lucky to participate in. (Answer: 14 of the things!)

    I love that they are eager to help me check all the items off and make time for them within our family schedule. It helps ensure that I will actually get it done!

    40 before 40: blank template

    Are you facing this milestone yourself?

    Then you need a birthday list, too!! I created a blank version of my printable for you to use for free! You can download your own copy here.

    Maybe you'll be inspired by my list but maybe you'll need a little more help coming up with ideas. I suggest making it a family affair!

    Sit down with your kids and partner and talk about YOU over dinner one evening.

    Ask them for suggestions for things they want to do with you and for things you should do all on your own.

    Then let me know how it goes. I'd love to hear some of your creative ideas.

    More Fun Birthday Ideas for Kids and Adults

    • Birthday Cake Waffles
    • 6 Incredibly Easy Ways to Decorate a Cake
    • How to Host a Virtual Birthday Party
    • Groovy Beatles Gifts and Party Supplies

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Share Your Thoughts Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Sharon

      April 18, 2016 at 9:39 am

      This is so fun, I love it! A friend shared it on FB. I turned 37 this year and had aspired to do 37 random acts of kindness. I knew I couldn't do it all on my actual birthday, but gave myself a couple of weeks to complete all 37. I didn't quite get there, but hope to plan better for next year! I have things that pop into my head as I go about my days that I should put down on a bucket list, so I don't forget any of them! Thanks so much for the inspiration!

      Reply
    2. Renee

      April 15, 2016 at 8:23 am

      I love this, Tiffany! So inspiring 🙂

      Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. Birthday Bucket Lists (for your bullet journal) - aka Terri says:
      July 31, 2019 at 2:58 pm

      […] The 40 Before 40 Birthday List from Peanut Blossom […]

      Reply
    2. 100 photos every mom needs before her 40th birthday - Peanut Blossom says:
      October 17, 2016 at 8:48 am

      […] sat down at my computer to compose a recap of my 40 Before 40 bucket list progress. I wanted to make a slideshow of the pictures I have of me finishing certain tasks mixed […]

      Reply
    3. Is my child ready to read Harry Potter? - Peanut Blossom says:
      September 27, 2016 at 12:46 pm

      […] I vowed to read the illustrated Harry Potter as part of my 40 Before 40 list this summer, it suddenly occurred to me that perhaps now was a good time to share it with her. […]

      Reply
    4. Pucker up!: The perfect red lip gloss for rosy-cheeked ladies - Peanut Blossom says:
      September 20, 2016 at 9:58 am

      […] . . until now. With my 40 Before 40 list looming large, I thought about the things I wanted to do before I enter the next decade. I realized that finding […]

      Reply
    5. 8 tips for raising big kids to be made for adventures - Peanut Blossom says:
      July 19, 2016 at 8:46 am

      […] #40before40 birthday list was made for adventures and I’ve been knocking off the bucket list items one after the other […]

      Reply
    6. Saving children's lives one step at a time: Run for St. Jude - Peanut Blossom says:
      June 15, 2016 at 10:57 am

      […] We are 27 days out from the opening of official registration for the runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend and I’m about to knock off 2 more items from my 40 Before 40 bucket list: […]

      Reply
    7. Books in the wild: Show off your beachy reads! - Peanut Blossom says:
      June 13, 2016 at 9:46 am

      […] of my 40 Before 40 bucket list includes “Read a book outside.” Over the weekend, I grabbed our monthly book club pick […]

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Tiffany!
    I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for moms.

    More about me →

    What's Trending Now

    • 50 Best Bread Machine Recipes
    • Make Ahead Mac and Cheese
    • Healthy Chicken Tenderloins in the Air Fryer
    • How to Cook Salmon in Air Fryer

    Popular

    • Freezer Friendly Apple Crisp
    • Best Book Club Picks 2023
    • 10-minute Trader Joe's Meals
    • 30 School Lunch Ideas for Kids
    • 30 Quick Dinners for Busy Nights
    • Easy Dinner Ideas for Yo-Yo Nights {You're On Your Own!}
    • 30 Clever Meal Train Ideas with Recipes
    • 21 Harry Potter Snacks for Movie Night

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Contact
    Privacy Policy
    Disclaimer

    Favorites

    Bread Recipes
    Soup Recipes
    Quick Dinner Recipes
    Harry Potter Fan Club
    Reading with Kids

    Holidays

    Easter Recipes
    4th of July Recipes
    Catholic Celebrations
    Thanksgiving Recipes
    Christmas Recipes

    Recipes

    Appetizers
    Dinners
    Salads
    Side Dishes
    Desserts
    Brunch
    Homemade Pantry

    Copyright © 2023