Crazily Overdue.

Not only have I managed to completely miss my blogging birthday (in April) but it seems that I also managed to completely forget about my list of Thirty Things To Do While I'm Thirty and having now turned 31 (in April!) a review is long overdue. Don't you think?

Here's the list -

1. Start running again and enter the Liverpool 10k. (I've started running, but no 10k race - yet!)
2. Complete my photography portfolio for my Beginners Photography course. (Check.)

3. De-clutter, de-stash and stick with the Use What You Have philosophy as far as possible. (See Waste Not Wednesday.)
4. Drink more water. (Check.)
5. Start a blog. (I'd already done it. Check.)
6. Throw a big garden party.
7. Spruce up the garden in preparation for the garden party!
8. Go camping and sleep under the stars.
9. Go to the fairground. Yeah baby. (Check.)
10. Make these lovely necklaces, this fantastic skirt and this beautiful bracelet instead of just drooling over the pictures. (Major fail!!!)
11. Build sandcastles on the beach.
12. Spend more time with my parents. (Check and Check.)

13. Have cocktails with some good friends. (Check.)
14. Plan a weekend away; take a road trip or just go somewhere new. (Check and Check.)
15. Refashion my wardrobe, mend old favourites and donate old clothes to charity. (Made A Start!)
16. Send a message in a bottle.
17. Dust off my bicycle and get my groove on.
18. Go to the cinema at least once a month. (Check.)
19. Take some craft classes. (Check, Check. and Check.)

20. Learn a new beading stitch. (Check.)
21. Climb a mountain.
22. Start the family tree.
23. Organise my life and home. (Life? Getting there. Home? One thing at a time, eh?)

24. Display more photographs - get them off the hard drive.
25. Take some photographs of Me and 'The Steve' - using these fabulous people as inspiration. (Check.)

26. Learn to make pretty cupcakes.
27. Do something that scares me. (Oh! Many, many times!)
28. Clear out and organise our little shed. (Check.)
29. Put up an inspiration wire or board.
30. Laugh more. (Check!)

I didn't manage everything and that's okay. I can't decide, though, whether I want to write another list. Has anyone else written one before now? I'd love to hear your thoughts or see your list if you have, so please link or comment x

Having A Life Crisis & Looking For A New Job

The title's a bit of a private joke between friends - and it's only funny because it's true - but it sums up my day nicely. I've been really glad of the rain today. At least when it rains you feel as though you're allowed to stay under the covers and feel sorry for yourself. There's something truly awful about feeling wretched on a beautifully sunny day.

Tomorrow I'm going to work on My To Do List. I think crossing off a couple of items might make me feel as though I'm achieving something. And maybe, just maybe, I'll start on sorting our 500+ holiday photographs...

Portrait Love (Things I Love Thursdays!)

Just a quick post for today's Things I Love Thursdays! Today I'm loving portraits; honest opinions; blogging friends; other people's flickr favourites; flip flops; skilled craftsmen; chocolate digestives; long overdue conversations with good friends over long distances; well written books; ginger beer; tents; pyjamas; old family photographs; colour; eccentricity; relaxing baths; the kindness of strangers; notebooks; pastel drawings; re-reading old diaries; making mini-albums; painting my toe-nails; country walks; comedy programmes; edit buttons; morning sunlight; oranges; and genuine, happy people.

1. polaroids past, 2. "the doors we open and close each day..., 3. Smile, 4. The Happy Monday Dance., 5. leftovers, 6. Before..., 7. I am Indifferent to your 'Time Outs', 8. week eighteen, 9. Untitled, 10. all dressed up and not a damn place to go, 11. .., 12. Untitled, 13. Bited, 14. Tightly..., 15. The Red Tights, 16. spine

30 Things To Do While I'm 30 (Things I Love Thursdays!)

I love making my lists, checking them twice (!) and the satisfaction that comes from crossing things of them!

Just before my thirtieth birthday, I was inspired by some other list lovers (Elise Blaha - 24 and Hula Seventy - 38 Things To Do Before I Turn 39) to put together a list of things that I want to do before my next birthday.

1. Untitled, 2. the full wall, 3. Great Wheel Apocalypto - The Last Ride, 4. Spirito bollente.., 5. rose cupcakes, 6. japanese autumn, 7. Necklush, 8. sneak peek, 9. we are all giants in the worlds we build, with the powers to create and destroy

Today's Things I Love Thursdays! collection is inspired by all of the things on my own list of 30 Things To Do While I'm 30.

1. Start running again and enter the Liverpool 10k.
2. Complete my photography portfolio for my Beginners Photography course. (Check.)
3. De-clutter, de-stash and stick with the Use What You Have philosophy as far as possible.
4. Drink more water.
5. Start a blog. (I'd already done it. Check.)
6. Throw a big garden party.
7. Spruce up the garden in preparation for the garden party!
8. Go camping and sleep under the stars.
9. Go to the fairground. Yeah baby. (Check.)
10. Make these lovely necklaces, this fantastic skirt and this beautiful bracelet instead of just drooling over the pictures.
11. Build sandcastles on the beach.
12. Spend more time with my parents. (Check.)
13. Have cocktails with some good friends.
14. Plan a weekend away; take a road trip or just go somewhere new. (Check and Check.)
15. Refashion my wardrobe, mend old favourites and donate old clothes to charity.
16. Send a message in a bottle.
17. Dust off my bicycle and get my groove on.
18. Go to the cinema at least once a month. (Check.)
19. Take some craft classes. (Check and Check.
20. Learn a new beading stitch. (Check.)
21. Climb a mountain. (Just a small one to begin with!)
22. Start the family tree.
23. Organise my life and home.
24. Display more photographs - get them off the hard drive.
25. Take some photographs of Me and 'The Steve' - using these fabulous people as inspiration.
26. Learn to make pretty cupcakes.
27. Do something that scares me.
28. Clear out and organise our little shed. (I started, I really did. But the bottom fell off!)
29. Put up an inspiration wire or board.
30. Laugh more. (Check & Check )

About Me

Thirty year old dreamer with own home, own teeth and bizarre sense of humour seeks:

Contentment;
Answers;
New adventures;
More time in the day;
A self cleaning house;
And a life full of small pleasures.

Loves:

Mum, dad and the rest of the family;
The 'Steve';
Crafting;
Laughing with friends;
Lists;
And beans on toast;

Dislikes:

Bad manners;
Ignorance;
Being late;
Cucumber;
Train delays;
And grey, miserable weather.

I just wanted to you to know - and to have a proper 'about me.'