So it begins.....

So this weekend I had a pretty quiet weekend planned so I though it would be the perfect time to start tackling some 'activities' on my 30 before 30 list.

2. Grow a herb garden

Let me start by saying I unfortunately did not inherit the family green thumb but I do actually really enjoy being outside and working in the garden (easy to say this when I have a court yard garden).

Things have a tendency to thrive or die in my courtyard no matter how much love or lack of attention I give them. As a bit of a trial, I decided to buy some 'matured' herbs from Coles supermarket to see how they would go in my garden so I could find the best spot for them.

I found a nice spot for the basil, chives and parsley (like the little instruction tag told me), then proceeded to plant the newest editions to my garden.

This may sound pretty sad, but I was pretty excited about the beginnings of my herb garden ......unfortunately........... so was a naughty crow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I caught two Crows in my garden this morning with my Basil and Parsley!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously???? I thought that the Sun and the little ring tail possums that seem to hang around our street may have been the only threat ......but a crow????

Aaarrrrggghhhh :( Looks like I will have to have them in a pot undercover.

Stay tuned for Round Two!

* Photos of the remains to come*

_______________________

12. Bake 5 dishes off my Pintrest Board (Pt 1 of 5)


So after the Herb incident I thought I would keep going with my '30 before 30' fun and attempt a recipe off my Pintrest Board.


I chose a dessert as I thought that would be the most fun (and probably the easiest)!! As you can see from my Board, I have some SERIOUSLY yummy calorie packed items to pick from. In the end I decided to make mini Oreo Cheese Cakes.

 This is the picture of what I was aiming for.........

  

this is what I achieved.....

 

Laying a sweet foundation (I decided to crumble the cookies instead of using the cookie whole)

Looking good so far....












Was a little bit sad when they came out :(

But they still tasted awesome!!
You'll notice that I layered my mixture instead of swirling it through with biscuits like the recipe.








So my first attempt wasn't exactly as successful as I had hoped, but its a start!

I am serving them up to Amber tonight so I will let you know how she liked them. You always get an honest answer from Amber so wish me luck :)

18. Get my 3rd tattoo

I have wanted another tattoo for quiet a while now, but obviously since a tattoo will be with me forever, I didn't want to rush out and get anything I will regret in 5 years time. I have had my heart set on a black day of the dead skull for a while now and found a design that I love , but the comments I've had from people on my chosen design haven't exactly been complimentary so I've had second thoughts.

My tattoo is going to be on the right hand side of my rib cage and will only ever been seen my a handful of people but I still want it to be a nice tattoo.



I've narrowed it down to the two below:

OR                 

What are your thoughts???

My sister Amber has told me that she would like to join me so I have a buddy to join me on this one :)



29. Start a blog and record my '30' activities

I can happily cross one activity off my list ...... Yay ......only 29 more to go!!!

I had to laugh!

Every morning when I get to work I usually like to take 15 minutes to just sit and enjoy my hot peppermint tea whilst reading the news. A ritual I love and feel is a must to make sure my day is a good one (or is it another sign of my OCD?).

On the front page, the fourth story down was this:

Midlife crisis hitting 30-something singletons, Aussie experts say

Forget the midlife crisis - it's now hitting a decade earlier.

Thirty-something singletons are increasingly seeking therapy after reaching a fork in the road and reassessing their lives.Women in particular can see 30 as a deadline to have a successful career, perfect husband and children, Australian experts say. Melbourne counselor and psychotherapist Dr. Paul Cullen has noticed a "phenomenon" of clients aged 28-32 who were mainly single and despairing that their lives lack meaning.

At first my reaction was 'Pfffffftttt....whatever!', but then I started thinking about the way I have been talking and acting recently (well since I turned 28 to be exact). I have been totally obsessed with turning 30 and my life not being exactly what I thought it was going to be or that I was soon to be old and past it. I have even been adamant that I am starting botox next year!

I always thought by now I would have finished uni, be living in the city, married, have a mortgage, traveled and be thinking about having kids in a few years. As my 30th has been approaching I have secretly started feeling like a bit of a failure for not being anywhere close to achieving this life that a lot of my friends have already got.

 

After reading this article,  I feel so silly for thinking this way!! 

 

I have a lot to be thankful for, I have:

• Awesome people in my life
• A great job that now takes me overseas and has fantastic prospects
• I'm currently studying at uni and going well
• My health
• Had love in my life and certainly haven't been lonely
• A lovely roof over my head that I certainly call my home

 

What a waste of energy and time dwelling on the negative. You only get one life so why dwell on what you don't have.......get out there and start living it. Life is too damn short :)

 

Time to tackle my '30 before 30'!!

Turning 30: 30 Things Every Woman Should Have And Should Know

So I've been doing a little surfing of the net and I came across an old (and supposedly pretty well known) Glamour magazine article from way back in '97 that outlined the 30 things that all women should do or have before they hit the three-decade mark. Hmmmmmmm............wonder how close I am to achieving these things???

By 30, you should have ...
1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you’ve come. (DONE)

2. A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family. (DONE)

3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour. (DONE)

4. A purse, a suitcase, and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying. (DONE)

5. A youth you’re content to move beyond.(DONE)

6. A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age. (DONE)

7. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age -- and some money set
aside to help fund it. (Hmmmm....does super alone count?)

8. An email address, a voice mailbox, and a bank account -- all of which nobody has access to but you. (DONE)

9. A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded. (DONE)

10. One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry. (DONE)

11. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra. (No drill....but I think that is a good thing when it comes to me. who knows what little 'project' I would start)

12. Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it. (DONE - Michael Kors handbag)

13. The belief that you deserve it. (DONE)

14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine, and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don’t get better after 30. (DONE...... botox starts after 30)

15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship, and all those other facets of life that do get better. (Job stuff is sorted, just need to get the man stuff sorted)

By 30, you should know ...
1. How to fall in love without losing yourself (DONE)

2. How you feel about having kids (Changes daily but 90% positive I want one by 32)

3. How to quit a job, break up with a man, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship. (Can do the first 2, but obviously haven't nailed #3)

4. When to try harder and when to walk away. (DONE)

5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next. (DONE ;) )
6. The names of the secretary of state, your great-grandmothers, and the best tailor in town. (Hilary Clinton, Molly McCann and Rosie Henry/Alice Cannon and Johannah Ashe , and the ladies on level 4 at Indooroopilly shopping centres.....DONE)

7. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to. (DONE....love it and miss it)

8. Where to go -- be it your best friend’s kitchen table or a yoga mat -- when your soul needs soothing. (DONE)

9. That you can’t change the length of your legs, the width of your hips, or the nature of your parents. (FAIL)

10. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over. (Starting to realise this...DONE)

11. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love. (DONE)

12. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs, or not flossing for very long.(DONE)

13. Who you can trust, who you can’t, and why you shouldn’t take it personally.(DONE)

14. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault. (FAIL)

15. Why they say life begins at 30 (Yet to find that one out!)


I dont think I'm going too bad then according to that list :). Time to relax a little about this milestone stuff for one night xxx

30 before 30: The challenge

Well, they say life begins at 30 .....

I've been pretty lucky and led a pretty sweet life, but like most people at my age (28 and turning 29 this year) I'm feeling like there is soooo much I still haven't done that I thought I would have by 30. This is where the 30 before 30 list comes into play!

I have made a pretty simple list of things I want to do before I hit the big 3 - 0. Here it is:
 

1            Secure myself a raise at work

2            Grow a herb garden (Might need to call Pa for some tips)

3            Try Paddleboarding/surfing

4            Attend a wall-pilates class at Zen Yoga

5            Learn how to knit (Nicola at work is going to teach me this one)

6            Indulge in a spa day (Massage, facial, mud wrap etc)

7            Watch a live AFL match (Love my sport but never watched this sport live)

8            Get back to under 60kgs

9            Have shopping free month (This is going to be hard)

10          Get back into tennis and have a lesson with a Pro

11          Organise a picnic at New Farm park on a sunny day

12          Bake 5 dishes off my Pintrest board

13          Run 10kms non stop

14          Attend a cooking class

15          Buy a nice camera (I'll need something to document my 30 before 30 activities)

16          Buy something in a charity shop that isn't for dress ups (this one is for Amby)

17          Donate a small amount of $ to charity every pay (Been doing this monthly)

18          Get my 3rd Tattoo

19          Learn a sentence in another language (I am terrible with languages)

20          Run/Walk up Mt Cootha

21          Play Blackjack at the Casino

22          Have my flat cleaned by a house cleaner

23          Have my makeup done for a big night out (last time I was 24)

24          Wear a bikini to the beach (haven't done this since I was 18)

25          Watch all the Godfather movies

26          See the snow (Yup, never seen snow!)

27          Have $5,000 in savings

28          Make an awesome custom birthday cake for a family member

29          Start a blog and record my '30' activities (looks like I've started one!)

30          Spend my 30th birthday in Las Vegas with the girls

A pretty simple list, but it always seems to be the small things that we forget or end up puttin on the back burner because life gets in the way. Well, not this time!!

After doing a bit of reading on the net, they say it's best to get as many people on board to make sure your list is completed by the time you hit 30. This is why I am going to enlist my closest friends and family to join me!

So, who's in?? 474 days left and counting :)