Goals: 30 before 30

source

At the end of last year, when I had just moved house and gone through some pretty tough times, I wrote this list. 30 things I want to achieve before I am 30 years old. Since then my life has changed drastically all over again - some positive but also many negative. For the last 12 months I have quietly got on with some of these tasks but for many others the list has been pushed aside and forgotten about. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I have been feeling very uninspired of late, so I have dug that list up and I've decided to post it on here! Accountability and all that!

So, a bit of preface to the list: I will turn 30 in July of 2018 that give me just over a year and a half to complete the list! Also, I've had to change one item on the list. Those who know me IRL know that I had a dog when I wrote this list, she was my very best friend, one task involved her and us working together, when she passed away in February of this year I was absolutely gutted. I did not intend on getting another dog and I thought my list would just stay at 29 before 30... But, a chance encounter with another puppy softened my resolve, enter Akela - This little boy has gotten under my skin and into my heart, he in no way replaces my beautiful Echo but he has helped me heal. Consequently I have changed my initial goal to one shared with him, in honour of my beautiful Echo.

With that preamble out of the way, here's my list! I promise to post updates between now and my 30th birthday!

1. Go on another overseas holiday
2. Move into a bigger house – preferably my own!
3. Get my blog off the ground with regular posts and readers
4. Perfect my blog design
5. Start an Etsy shop (or similar)
6. Get my arrow and snowflake tattoos
7. Get a good sized Christmas tree and fill it with homemade and special decorations
8. Get back into running
9. Complete one of my manuscripts
10. Make crafts from my Pinterest craft board – including learning new skills
11. Get back into scrapbooking
12. Holiday around SA (camping and pet friendly)
13. Get to know my local area
14. Get a new camera and learn to use it properly to take great photos
15. Be confident in myself and be more assertive (work through my anxiety)
16. Live a healthier lifestyle (run, eat better, drink more water)
17. Entertain more
18. Decorate my house – including a gallery wall and styled shelves/mantle
19. Read through my (current) Goodreads list (was 78 books now down to 47)
20. Organise my house and schedule
21. Get on top of the sewing/craft projects I have planned
22. Start a herb and vegi garden
23. Get a puppy and work to train it/ form a bond (Akela had not been named when this addition was made!)
24. Be a good bunny mum – make sure they always have plenty of toys and a balanced diet
25. Have regular ‘date nights’
26. Have regular ‘pamper nights’
27. Learn to make my own beauty products – bath bombs, scrubs etc
28. Spend time with family
29. Start a regular ‘smash book’ type journal    
30. Enjoy life!

Instagram // Twitter // Pinterest// Bloglovin   

Pupdate: Akela

When I first did my 'introducing' post for Akela I had had him for about a week and he was only about 10 weeks old. Now he is just past 5 months old and has been part of our lives for about 3 months I thought I would give you a little update on his progress. Here's what you need to know:

• He now weighs over 20kg and stands at 60cm tall (to the withers)
• His tail and ears are both still too large for his body.
• He is very smart and is picking up commands and general obedience very well - his puppy destruction has mostly been confined to cardboard and papers.
• He is very vocal and lets us know if anyone walks past the back gate or comes to the mailbox.
• He is quickly learning his own strength and to change it based on his opponent - he is very gentle when he plays with Jack but knows how to rough and tumble when he's playing with a larger friend.
• He now sleeps most of the night through, only getting up once to go outside.
• he's very snuggly and thinks he's a big lap dog... I may encourage him a bit! 

Instagram // Twitter // Pinterest// Bloglovin   

10 things that have made me happy this week

Those that read yesterday’s post will know that things have been a bit hectic and overwhelming for me at the moment, this is all the more reason I need to keep focusing on these posts and focusing on the little happy things going on in my life at the moment, so let’s dive right in, here is this weeks 10 things:

1. Reading one of the best books I’ve read in a long time The Hate List by Jennifer Brown – I was so engrossed I read it in two days.
2. Looking at pictures of Akela from when I first brought him home – where has my little puppy gone!
3. One Facebook groups attempt at flooding out all of the American election coverage on our newfeeds – made my Facebook feed such a happy place for the day (think cute animals, geekery and crafty goodness)
4. Wearing my acetylcholine necklace to work – I’m sure no one else recognised it but it felt rather fitting.
5. Getting my hair done last Saturday – including requisite puppy related conversations with my lovely hairdresser.
6. Crossing things off of my to do list – gives me a little room to breathe.
7. Ending the working week with more days lined up for the following few weeks.
8. Wearing a skirt and short sleeves and not getting cold.
9. Seeing my little rescue bunnies Scully and Mulder get comfortable enough to flop down and snooze out in the open after breakfast.
10. The service we got from the vets when Akela had his little accident, they were kind and accommodating and even sent us a quick text message this morning to check up on him.  

*** Happy sharing inspired by Rosie ***

Instagram // Twitter // Pinterest// Bloglovin   

Life Lately: Thursday Update

Hello, thanks for stopping by for this little life update. Those that know me IRL know that I’ve had a lot going on at the moment and not all of them have been good things, consequently this little place on the internet has had to take the backseat. I have missed devoting time to my blog but I also will admit to feeling a little uninspired lately – I think I’ve just been too tired to think up new ideas!

So what’s been taking up my time lately: paperwork, paperwork and more paperwork! I’ve had applications for work, some legal documents and so much budgeting (trying to make the dollars and cents add up was hard this year!) I’ve also been trying to get on top of the mess that is currently my house, trying to sort out all the stuff I brought with me as well as all of Mark’s things that were left at his parent’s house until this past month. It’s been hard work and we are having to leave a reasonable amount of stuff packed away just to be able to move around the house! It’s been a lot of hard work and I’m just relieved that I’m starting to get on top of it all! Here's an update on the little things I've been up to lately: 

Watching: Old episodes of the Gilmore Girls in preparation for A Year in the Life.
Reading: The Hate List by Jennifer Brown - I just finished it this afternoon, two days after I started it!
Listening to: Revolution Radio by Green Day. On repeat.
Cooking: Nothing today! Had a pub meal for dinner.
Feeling: Overwhelmed - I've had so much on my plate recently and it just doesn't seem to stop piling up!
Planning: A relaxing weekend at home without needing to drive down to Adelaide!
Loving: Walking around without a thick winter coat on - I feel so light!
Enjoying: Getting out walking with my not-so-little puppy.

Little things of note:

• We booked our trip to America (specifically California) for the July holidays next year.
• Akela has turned out to be quite the little terror and needed ANOTHER trip to the vet - this time someone bit him a little too hard while there were playing on a rather sensitive part of his anatomy. 
• I've been getting back into the kitchen and cooking up some simple little meals - nothing fancy but it's good when I get the time to actually cook!

Instagram // Twitter // Pinterest// Bloglovin 

10 things that made me happy this week

Well, here we are again, another week has passed, another hectic week I might add! I'd tell you all about my week but this post is suppose to be the happy things and this week hasn't been the best. So this weeks list is the epitome of finding the silver lining, let's get straight to listing those little bright parts of the week:

1. Going to a 'Stranger Things' exhibition that was on in the city last weekend.
2. Finishing 'What Alice Forgot' and crossing another book off of my 'to read' list.  
3. Spending some time bonding with my bunnies over a banana.
4. Cups of tea with apple tea cake.
5. Crossing things off my to do list - I've felt a little snowed in recently and crossing off some tasks has been such a relief.
6. Catching up with some of Mark's family after our visit to the city.
7. A really successful class at work on Thursday - everything just clicked into place and left me feeling really focused.
8. Wearing my new overalls, comfy and stylish.
9.  Finding three pairs of jeans at Savers for less than I would have paid for new jeans. 
10. Finally being able to walk Akela - getting out in the fresh air and walking off some of his energy.   

*** Happy sharing inspired by Rosie ***

Instagram // Twitter // Pinterest// Bloglovin