Category: about me

It’s no secret that I love goal setting and projects to work towards. See my 2015 Resolutions and 101 in 1001 for examples!

However, after turning 29 last month I decided it was time to set some more specific, not so hard to achieve goals before I hit the big 3-0 next February.

The thought of being 30 does panic me slightly. Even though I know this is ridiculous and that I probably won’t feel any older, a new decade is an intimidating thought.

I know that some of the best times of my life are going to happen in my 30s, I’ll be getting married to my best friend for a start! But I can’t help feeling that once you’re 30 you’re really supposed to start behaving like a grown up!

Here’s my 29 before 30 list. A few little bits and pieces to try and achieve before that looming big birthday in 2016!

1. Turn mobile phone off more (technology free days)

2. Get scrapbook COMPLETELY up to date! (I’m already lagging behind with 2015!)

3. Re-read Pride & Prejudice.

4. Sew at least one pretty dress that will be worn!

5. Take more toy camera photos.

6. Finish all started knitting projects.

7. Use leftover wool in stash to create knitted blanket panels.

8. Re-read the Harry Potter series.

9. Write children’s book (at least in draft!)

10. Take more Instax photos.

11. Finish all started sewing projects.

12. Visit somewhere new.

13. Try out new recipes (challenge yourself!)

14. Give handmade gifts (Xmas, birthdays, anniversaries, fathers’/mothers’ days)

15.  Make wedding decorations.

16. Use up fabric in stash to create new items.

17. Make wedding invitations.

18. Visit 5 new museums/galleries/castles.

19. Have a trip away.

20. Climb at least 1 more mountain.

21. Read all bookcase & Kindle books!

22. Re-vamp dining table and chairs.

23. Use up wool in stash to create new items.

24. Create something using white air drying clay.

25. Learn how to/improve pencil sketching & water colour skills.

26. Start an exercise routine (and stick to it!)

27. Declutter!

28. Practice mindfulness.

29. Plan a memorable 30th birthday party!

Some of these link into my 101 in 1001, I figured it made sense to link them together, and give me a time scale for working towards some of them. I’ll do an update just before my 30th birthday to revisit this and see how many I’ve achieved. They’ll definitely give me something to focus on in the Summer holidays!

 

 

I know that everyone’s saying just how fast this year is passing, but it seriously feels like it’s whizzing past!

January and February have been packed months for us both, but these are the 4 highlights I’ve whittled down from them both:

1. 16.4.16

Starting to plan our wedding has been exciting and terrifying equally! The important locations are booked, the important people have been asked to be bridesmaids/best men/ushers etc and I’ve started to look for the important dress! As you can see from the photo, the wedding magazines are starting to take over our home (much to Jonny’s delight!)

2. Weekend away in Grasmere

We are so lucky to live near to the Lake District where we spent a lovely weekend away at the beginning of February.

3. The Godmother

This February I was lucky enough to become Godmother to two gorgeous little darlings, Max and Phoebe. I feel so privileged to have been asked to hold this role in their lives, and cannot wait to see them grow up!

4. 29th Birthday

On February 9th I turned 29. I’m still a big kid in that I still get excited about and love birthdays. I love the build up when birthday cards start to arrive, I love the presents, and I especially love the cake (which this year was ridiculously chocolate-y and covered in pink glitter!) Turning 29 was a fun one, I asked for money instead of gifts to open this year and treated myself to my first DSLR. I’m looking forward to playing with it and taking some (improved) photos for this blog!

Despite my online absence for pretty much all of January and February I have been slowly plodding through some of the items from my 101 in 1001 project.

Here’s my progress so far:

January 2015

81. Cook a 3 course dinner. 31.12.15

I made a 3 course dinner to celebrate the New Year quietly at home. We’ve done this the past couple of years and I genuinely enjoy this more than the pressure to have a fab night somewhere overpriced in town!

94. Eat lobster. 31.12.14 

Part of that 3 course dinner was a starter of lobster tails with a homemade garlic mayo. I definitely enjoyed them but lobster probably won’t be my first pick in a restaurant. Although I am definitely up for trying it again.

55. Drink champagne on NYE. 31.12.14/1.1.15

As part of our quiet New Year’s in we toasted in 2015 with champagne. (I’d drink champagne everyday if I thought I could get away with it/afford it!)

11. Get a job.05.01.2015

I started my new teaching position last month. So far I’m thoroughly enjoying my time with my Year 3 and 4 class.

3. Organise materials/update scrapbook.10.1.15

See my post here about this process. It’s something I’m working hard to keep on top of after it took so long to update!

9. Find a lipstick that suits me! 10.1.15

I braved the No. 7 beauty counter in Boots to try out their Colour Match service. It basically involves having a photo taken of your cheek skin tone before it analyses which of its shades would best suit you. I bought my first ever red lipstick and am loving it so far! I’m rarely confident enough to use anything other than a tinted balm on my lips so this is definitely new territory for me.

February 2015

50. Have a weekend away with Jonny. 6.2.15-8.2.15

Jonny and I spent the weekend of my birthday in the beautiful Grasmere. It’s somewhere that we both love and it was an especially nice weekend after a particularly busy January. (I’ll blog about the trip soon!)

92. Climb a mountain. 8.2.15

Much to Jonny’s delight I finally climbed a mountain this month! I’m proud of myself that I managed it although I feel I may now have set a precedent as Jonny is plotting further peaks for us to scale!

OK, excuse the ridiculous Titanic quote, but I feel it sums up my HUGE web absence.

It’s not down to anything bad, I’ve just had a particularly hectic couple of months settling into my new job. So far I’m really enjoying myself. Yes it’s tiring, and yes it’s sometimes stressful. It is, however, incredibly rewarding. Especially when a child grasps a new concept you’ve taught them. It’s a great feeling seeing them so proud of their achievements (it’s definitely something we should work on more as adults!)

We’ve also been  starting to plan our wedding. Nobody warns you just how much is involved in wedding planning! So far we have the ceremony and reception venue and a date; Saturday 16th April 2016.

16.4.16.

My inner geek loves the symmetry of that date. We’re getting married at the same church as my parents did which is pretty special, followed by a reception at a beautiful local stately home. The biggest stress by far is the guest list. We’re both from large families and have a lot of friends so this is proving to be particularly tricky to whittle down to the venue’s numbers.

I also turned 29 at the start of this month. Only one year left to 30 as my lovely brother reminded me in my birthday card! So far if doesn’t feel any different to 28, although the looming big 3-0 is definitely on my radar now! I certainly thought I’d feel more grown up at this age than I do. Is anyone else like that? Maybe I’m forever going to feel 21 (if only I could forever look 21 too!)

I’m going to try and blog more regularly now I’ve got a better work-life balance established. Thanks for hanging in there!