Wow, first of all 2016 me was very ambitious. It seems that I was hellbent on giving myself long list of things to do or achieve before the time I was 30 and boy did I try and give it my best shot, but I think given that my 30th birthday is looming larger by the day, it’s safe to say that for my 30 before 30 update is not going to be full marks. But, let’s look on the Brightside and celebrate what I have achieved!
1. Buy myself a designer handbag (sorry, I know, terribly materialistic but I have to have one.)
Okay, this one I nailed – twice over! I worked my way up the career ladder and managed to bag myself my Gucci & Mulberry bags. It’s not a humble brag, but rather a token to myself to say, “look how far you’ve come from your low-paid apprenticeship when you were just 17 to now, 13 years later where I’m able to treat myself after hard grafting!”
2. Visit Edinburgh
Not got there yet, as much as I’d love to! This isn’t completely out of the question as we still have a few more weekends left before I do turn the big three-zero! It could be on the cards.
3. See a Comedian we love
Another big tick can go next to this because we saw both Micky Flanagan and Gregg Davies who are two of my all-time favourite comedians and they didn’t disappoint. But, if I had to choose a favourite, Gregg certainly pipped it for me!
4. Glastonbury Festival
Oh boy, after just watching the live stream on BBC iPlayer a couple of weekends ago I can only dream that I had been before I was 30. We did try, but sadly to no avail. The Glasto FOMO is a real thing guys. I have applied for the 50 pairs of ballot tickets so keep your fingers crossed that 2020 could be the year!
5. Go to New York (I can dream?)
Sadly this gets a big strike through it. We’ve not managed to get there, I really don’t know why – maybe I’ll make it there before I’m 40 instead. Who knows?!
6. Read 1 book a month (any apps to help track this would be super!)
Oops. This has not gone down well. I love reading and getting lost in books but I’ve just not had the time on my hands to do it. Maybe this is a little wake up call to put my phone down more and pick up a book instead.
7. Prepare for babies (CRIPES!)
LOL. Seeing as it takes 9 months to cook a baby I am nowhere near this. I’ll leave it at that.
8. Learn how to perfect the smoky eye!
PAH. I am so crap at make up, but I have got a little better this year after I was gifted a stunning Charlotte Tilbury parcel – I made a conscious effort to learn how to apply highlighter and contour my face to the gods!
9. Join a class – dance / pilates / yoga / basically something that makes me feel good
I joined Pilates for about 3 lessons, the same with Step & Tone. And, do you know what, it didn’t actually make me feel good so I’ve stuck to my solo gym sessions where I can power on and slow down if I need to. I can’t deal with being shouted at from the front when I’m hiding at the back of a class!
10. Actually follow through on a business idea that I get as I’m falling asleep
Nope, nothing has arisen on this front, but I have been monetising my blog now which I guess in some senses, is a business idea?
11. Buy an old caravan and DIY it up
I wish. This is still something very much a pipe dream but I am determined to do it one day. Hopefully once the house is sorted and decorated, we can concentrate on this plan too.
12. Grow both my Twitter / Instagram to 10K followers each
I am so pleased to say I surpassed this on both accounts, but since I wrote my first post I have come to the realisation that it’s not the follower count that matters but the real engagements that I have with people.
13. Pass my driving test and get on the road!
YES! This has made me happy no end. I passed my test around 2 and a half years ago and it’s give me so much more confidence and belief in myself – there’s no more relying on people to get me places. It took 3 attempts as my anxiety crippled me during my first two tests. I have Kalms to thank for getting me through my final and third test. I don’t have the fanciest car around and it only cost me £400 but she’s a lifesaver!
14. Decorate our bedroom
Well, this didn’t happen because we bought a new house instead! The plan is to start decorating our new bedroom when we get back from our holiday in November.
15. Finish the work on our kitchen
Again, we completed this a couple of years ago now which meant we could sell our house on for a tidy profit. It was such a relief to have it all finished and not feel like we were living on a building site. It seems so long ago now as I write this!
16. Do something special for my husband
Changing my job was a lifesave for me 3 years ago. It meant I could have the extra income to do nice things for my husband, especially after the early days of him helping me out when I was living on an apprentice’ wage. I can pay for holidays and I threw him a super special 30th birthday last year and I was so happy I got to do that for him. Seeing his little face light up (and it may have just been the beer!) was so lovely.
17. Possibly being able to write my blog on a more full time basis (not sure at what capacity?)
This is something that has never really taken off. I’m settled in my job and I’m happy to keep this as a sideline – one day it would be nice to be able to dedicate more time to it but I think that will be something when kids come around.
18. Write a short novel (that I finally finish!)
Nope, nope and nope. This never got anywhere but maybe our trip to Mexico might be the time for me to dust off my notepad and pen and brainstorm some ideas!
19. A music gig a year
Ticked off. Signed, sealed and delivered. I love music and I love experiencing live music. Aside from the festivals we’ve been to, most of the bands we have seen live have been Foals, Metallica and Blossoms. Long may that continue!
20. Get my Bloglovin followers up to 5000
I definitely fell short of this, but I realised it’s not a platform I wanted to grow over the last couple of years.
21. Perfect Carbonara (not my greatest dish)
Feeling like I’m on a run of “no’s” here! I can’t say I’ve tried to make this dish since I wrote this post, but ah well, I make a cracking roast dinner so that more than makes up for it!
22. Take my family on holiday
I didn’t get to take them on holiday but I’ve bought them holiday vouchers to treat themselves which has been a lovely thing to do for them. They booked a little weekend away to Southport for their anniversary with them which was so sweet.
23. Head on a European driving holiday
This is something we have had on our list for years. Whilst we never managed it, I’m hoping if I save over the next couple of years I can get a camper van to do up.
24. Buy a new lens for my DSLR camera
Yep, we got a fixed 35mm lens and it’s one of the most beautiful things ever. The photos it creates are so atmospheric that I sometimes get lost in the photographs I take with it.
25. Go Go-Karting
Nope, I didn’t do this one either – oh well!
26. Buy myself a Fortnum & Mason hamper
I haven’t bought myself one but I have been proud enough to buy one for my family at Christmas time, so I can sort of knock that off the list can’t I?
27. Work with another Travel / Tour Operator on content for my blog
I’ve worked on lots of content with hotels and accommodations over the last few years which is something I’m super proud of. I would like to keep chasing the dream of working with others – I don’t think this is something I’ll ever stop aiming for!
28. Go to Disneyland
YES! I did it, we got back to Disneyland Paris last year in 2018 during our French Adventure and it was still just as magical as the last time we went.
29. Lose a stone
I found a stone…. I’m currently on a “look after yourself better” phase, which is actually something I’ve been slowly working on since the middle of the year. Both mentally and physically which I think is way more important than losing weight now. That being said I have lost half a stone recently and it’s making me feel a bit more confident!
30. Book myself on a course, such as floristry or photography
Alas, I didn’t do either of these but I did book myself on a blogging course that I’ve been working my way through since last year. It’s really helped me step my blog up and run it as a business!
I’m pretty pleased with how much I did achieve in those nearly 4 years since I clicked publish on the original blog post. I feel so much more confident with how I treat myself, others and the world around me.
Bee
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