Friday 17 October 2014

LIFE: 30 Before 30

Fall

On the eve of my tenth birthday I remember walking home, wondering if life would be any different with my age in double figures. Waking up the next day and taking the walk to school, I realized everything remained the same. Ten year old me probably imagined I would feel different turning 28 with all the responsibility being 28 entails - things a ten year old probably couldn't really comprehend. Now that I'm 28, yeah nothing has really changed.

In a little under two years, I turn the big 3.0. The least said about this is probably for the better. But at least Joe reaches that dizzy height in little over 6 months so he can tell me how scary it actually is. Anyway, I thought I'd jump on the old *insert number here* before *insert age number here* wagon and have myself do some challenges.

And I actually came up with 30 of them;
  1. do a 365 photo challenge
  2. visit falling waters (pa)
  3. decorate the bathroom 
  4. establish a butterfly garden
  5. read 101 books I've never read before while doing my yearly goodreads challenge
  6. complete a blog every day for a month challenge
  7. get my own blog url and prob change the blog name again 
  8. strip wood paneling from the back room
  9. reach 1000 blog readers 
  10. learn to drive
  11. visit the motown museum 
  12. read gone with the wind
  13. get business cards (for blog and/or store)
  14. visit cedar point (oh) 
  15. learn to knit 
  16. try 10 new (to me) whiskeys
  17. visit canada 
  18. get another tattoo
  19. bake something using pumpkin
  20. get the house wallpaper free
  21. grow and eat something from my veg patch 
  22. embrace a more organic/green eating, products and lifestyle 
  23. try at least one new recipe a month
  24. crochet a new blanket 
  25. add 10 new pieces to my embroidery hoop wall
  26. put up a bat box
  27. make a wreath 
  28. add 20 vintage powder compacts to my collection
  29. successfully grow a plant from a cutting 
  30. work on self confidence // self love
None of them are out of the way things, hopefully things I'd be achieving anyway, this is just a way to remember what I want to have achieved by then. I want my list to be realists (like no "visit 5 countries" because lets face it, I don't have the money to do that).

Two weeks into life as a 28 year old, I'm already still on task with my photo a day challenge (basically disguised in my instagram uploads), I have a plant growing from a cutting (yey), I've read one new book (The Lodger) and tried three new recipes this month (including the raspberry cake - my late birthday cake) already.

No doubt I'll be blogging about them over the next coming two years and I'll actually get around to ticking off a few of them!
 

28 comments:

  1. I have a 30 before 30 list though I can't remember what is on it, I should probably post it on the blog, might make me do it! Number 19 made me laugh. It seems the US goes pumpkin crazy this time of year!!

    Amy at Amy & More

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    1. Haha yeah, i've never tried anything that features a pumpkin, bar some kind of pumpkin beer (i think lol).

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  2. Falling Water is pretty cool. It is definitely worth the trip. I've been there a couple of times. A 365 photo challenge is tough. I've done 100 days straight before, it is tough to come up with new ideas. I did do a couple projects where I got pictures each month at different places. And speaking as someone who's been there....30 is just a number.

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    1. It's like an hours drive from the husbands home town, just never had the time to make it there yet.

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  3. This is an interesting topic Rachael! My husband turned the big 30 on Monday! And jeez I know it's kind of scary, but like you - I'm lucky I can follow him in a few years time.
    For me it's always been a bit of a mish mash my twenties - tough doesn't even cover it. And still I have 5 years left, I feel a little bit daunted and troubled. Though age is only a number and I firmly believe life is what you make it.
    Number 30 on your list definetely rings bells for me - that's one I wake up everyday wishing I could achieve. One day xxx

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    1. I've always thought I was a little old before my time, especially when it came to be able to craft and things when I was like 10. That's when it all wasn't cool. Plus university and moving countries, that made me grow up in certain ways.

      I think no. 30 will always be one of those work in progress steps but I really need to work on it a lot at the moment, I don't think my self confidence could get much lower.

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  4. I would LOVE to do a 365 photo challenge but I just know I'll forget... maybe I should have more confidence in myself and give it a try anyway. I love how there are lots of blog goals on this list! I'm excited to see the new URL and name! :)

    Oh and good luck learning to drive... it is a scary world out there as a driver... lol

    Jessica
    the.pyreflies.org

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    1. I started one 365 back at the start of the year and yeah, that didn't go so well. Hopefully with having this new phone and having instagram will keep me on the track (two weeks plus and it's still going strong).

      Hopefully the URL thing will happened, it's not a biggie for me, but yeah. maybe!

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  5. Come see me in Canada! Love the whisky one. I hit 30 this year. It is as horrific as they say it is! Maybe even worse actually, because the thoughts you have secretly harboured about old age not being something that can happen to you vanish! Grey hairs, yup, sporadic facial hair, yup, wrinkles, yup, sagging, yup, no more cream cakes, yup. It sucks.

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    1. Oh i've been welcoming the grey hairs since my early teens (sad but true)!!

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  6. Excellent list - I'm trying to make my 25 before 25 at the moment.

    Lizzie's Daily Blog

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  7. I would love to visit Canada but we cant afford it right now (or for a while at least). If you do manage to go you will have to make sure to blog all about it. I'm thinking of attempting a 365 photo challenge next year to replace my Monday Musings but it might be a complete failure! Haha. I also plan on doing a 30 before 30 list but I think I'll wait a couple of years before I get writing that!
    Debi x

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    1. With Canada being literally down the road, it'll probably be more of a day trip - but I need to sort out my passport first. Would be great to see Detroit from the other wise of the river and wave at the US rather than all the times I've waved at Canada already!

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  8. Girl, you should definitely get your own blog URL, like, tomorrow! You have such a professional blog and a wonderful voice. I bet it would help people take you more seriously (as silly as it sounds).

    I don't typically set goals for myself, but I like the idea of setting a goal to make one new recipe a week or something like that.

    Cat
    http://oddlylovely.com

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  9. I don't feel any different at 30 than I did at 29 (or 28. Or 27. Etc.) The only changes I've noticed with age are (a) I can't drink as much without getting hung over and (b) I get way more grumpy if I'm sleep-deprived. Getting enough sleep and drinking in moderation aren't exactly bad things though, so I'm not too upset. Good luck with your list!

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    1. Yeah after leaving uni, I noticed I can't drink as much as I use too and I certainly need more sleep lol

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  10. What a great idea! I think this is a great way to motivate yourself and such an inspiration to me, too! If you need help with #22, be sure to check out my blog! And as for visiting Canada? Well...let's just say I'll be spending most of the summer in Michigan next year so we could definitely go together - I've never been there either! Just food for thought :)
    ~ Samantha

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    1. I'm being very slow and steady with #22 and easing myself in - hopefully once I get growing my own veg (all organically or at least that is the plan) it'll help me out. And yes, we'll def have to do something next summer!

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  11. Loved this post and you inspired me to do the same ! I'm just starting my twenties now so I think it'll be fun to make a little challenge list and see if I accomplish everything ! :)

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    1. I think if I had more time before 30 I would have more ambitious/bigger challenges but 30 is enough to try and get done in two years!

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  12. sounds like you've got a good start! And you've never been to Cedar Point or Canada? WHAT?

    Sarah
    Midwest Darling

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    1. I've met lots of people that have never done either ... or even left Michigan. I didn't think it was that odd to have not done either.

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  13. I love this idea although I just realised my next big birthday is 40...ugh. Admitted I've only just passed the 30 mark but still...ugh! X

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  14. This is a wonderful idea! It's nice to set goals that aren't totally outrageous, now I'm feeling inspired to make my own goal list! :D

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    1. Yey! I'm not a big fan of lists but this is actually one I think I might be able to work from!

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  15. Have to admit, this is one band wagon I love reading. I like seeing what peoples goals and I'm excited to see if you can complete them all.
    I want to do one of those blog every day things, I don't know why, but I like the challenge, but I never have that much time. I'm slowly putting my list together for my 26 before 26 :)

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