Thirty before 30: two down

A couple of months ago I started a Thirty before 30 list - a count down to my 30th birthday by achieving a few fun things I've thought about over the last 10 or so years.

Two months down and I've achieved two things off the list!

29. Learn to reverse park
Last month I took the leap (and my time, might I add) to reverse park a corporate car in the work carpark. I didn't have a choice really, there wasn't another easy way into the car space. With a little gentle encouragement from a colleague - I did it! And then a few days later, I did it again!

It's still not my favourite thing to do, I don't think I'll be making a habit of it :/ But none the less, ticked off the list. I'll turn 30 finally knowing how to reverse park. You know, if I have to.

18. Visit Tasmania
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting Hobart for a work conference. Now to be fair, I was only there two days and mostly saw the inside of an office, but I did get to experience some fine Tasmanian wine, some exquisite Tasmanian food and some fun Tasmanian hospitality and entertainment. Hopefully I'll get to see a bit more of it later in the year.



AMAZING food at Frank Restaurant, Hobart.

So that's two down, 28 to go! It's a bit of a slow start but I'm out of the gates and running! 

You can check out the full Thirty before 30 list here.

Is your 30th birthday fast approaching? Start your own Thirty before 30 list and join in the fun! 

Turning 17

Today, my baby brother turns 17. This is too weird. I'm 12 years older than he is (yes easy math, I know) and while 17 probably should seem like so long ago... it really doesn't. 17 years ago should feel like a long time ago too - but that also doesn't. I remember being there the day he was born. He came out with a squished nose and a blue tinge, but it didn't take long for him to be the cutest little thing ever with two teenage sisters to completely dote on him, which we did. From there, it seems it didn't take long for him to become this amazing young man of 17.

But today it made me think. What was I like at 17? What was happening in my life then. In the world (apart from it all revolving around high school dramas).

When I was 17:
I was in year 12 at Kent Street Senior High School.
I played the lead in my high school musical Little Shop of Horrors (bit sad, haven't performed since) - and I remember my brother, the only 5 years old bursting into tears in the audience when I got eaten by the plant. I had to leave straight after to go and calm him down!
I worked at my local supermarket as a check out chick for $6 something an hour.
I had a boyfriend I'd met working at the local supermarket.
I'd just discovered parties.
I wore halter tops and flared jeans.
I didn't have my licence, that took another year.
I lived in Forrestfield.
It was all about the Year 12 Ball. All we could talk about were our ball dresses,
I had lost my virginity (well it wasn't lost, I knew where it went - scandalous!).
I listened to Eminem - The Eminem Show, Milincolin - Pennybridge Pioneers, Red Hot Chilli Peppers - By the Way on high rotation.
I was watching Australian Idol and Sex in the City.
I weighed in at about 50kg... and did no exercise apart from walking to the bus and to work - wish it was that easy now!
I had a Nokia 3330 that you could only play Snake on, text and call.
I was doing 4 subjects at school Maths, English Literature, Drama and History studying for my TEE.
I dreamed of being a writer/actress.
I had a great bunch of loopy friends, a select few I've managed to retain and they are still my most favourite people and it's a joy to be growing up with them... even if some things were more fun at 17! 

Happy birthday little bro!

One of my fave photos of us - circa 2010.

What were you doing when you were 17?

Ten by six DIY: Mini succulent garden

Succulents are some of my favourite plants. It helps that they're hardy and hard to kill which is certainly helpful at certain times of the year when my garden gets a bit neglected. 

But the thing I love about succulents is how floral and colourful they can be. How you can just cut a piece off, plant it and grow another. For some time I've been growing succulents in small pots and old jars which is a look I love. But I've been meaning to do a mini succulent garden with a mixture of those from my garden for quite some time and a couple of weeks ago, I finally did!

It's now sitting pride of place by my front door, brightening my day every time I leave and welcoming me home as I return.

What you'll need for a mini succulent garden:
Making your own mini succulent garden is super easy!

• Variety of succulent cuttings from your garden
• A pot 
• Potting mix
• Gardening gloves

Simply arrange to your liking, make sure everything is securely planted and give it a little water once a week. It's the perfect, low maintenance, all-year-round floral arrangement!

 

 

What do you think?

Long weekend love - this weekend's pearls

I love long weekends! And the four day Easter weekend is the ultimate long weekend on the calendar. It might be a week ago now, but I'm still buzzing from my long weekend and what may have been the last few days of sunshine, it this week's weather is anything to go by.

I decided to abstain from the Easter themed baking pressure this year and instead focussed on a few things that truely made my weekend.

Loading all of my CDs onto my computer (because iTunes deleted everything when I got my new phone dammit!). It was so fun to go through all of my music, I've got a pretty random mix from 90s, through the norties up to last year really. Great reminiscing material that's for sure and can't wait to make up a few new play lists and revisit old favourites.

Baking banana bread. I love banana bread and MR loves it too so it's a cute thing I like to do... baking it for him. (Ofcourse getting to eat it is a welcome outcome.) Add loads of walnuts and blueberries - yummy weekend treat!

Family and friendly gatherings. Oh so many! That's the thing about long weekends, everyone wants to see everyone (and drink loads - eekk!) Lots of fun and laughter certainly had. 

15 minutes of us. Ok so it was more like an hour over breakfast, but in a weekend full of gatherings it was nice to take a short moment to have a wee breakfast out, on a windy day by the beach.

Harvesting and planting. Ok so I didn't do anything too strenuous but I loved getting this tiny chilli haul from our plants in the courtyard and planting a few other things around to bring our garden to life more this Autum.  
 

What did you get up to on your long weekend?