Today I turn 24! In amongst my small celebrations, it also marks the beginning of my 25 before 25 list. Some items have carried through from my previous list (some have been left behind), and some are all new challenges. I am still stuck on what to put for number 25 (it was going to be finish a crossword, but I completed that one too early) – let me know if you have any thoughts on what I should add.
- Run a half marathon. I am starting off with a massive challenge. To be honest I think this is going to be really difficult to achieve, but if I aim for the Melbourne Marathon in October next year, I have almost a year to get prepared for it. I used to run cross-country in high school, so I know I can run long distances, but a half marathon is something I haven’t even attempted before, with my longest run ever being 12kms. About half way through my year I should endeavour to compete in a 10-15k run to build up to the half marathon, but this date is yet to be decided.
- Read two books a month (in total 24 books). Now this proved an issue challenge in my 24 before 24, so I have upped the game this time round – two books a month. I am not going to be too strict on whether I get the exact two books in each month – but as long as it is 24 before the year is over I will be happy.
- Cook at least two recipes from every cookbook I own (and blog about them). I think anyone who loves food will confess to having quite a few cookbooks that they haven’t even opened (let alone cooked from), and I am no different. This challenge will get me looking through those cookbooks that haven’t been opened and years, and actually try some of the recipes inside – who knows what wonders I will discover.
- Host a miniature dinner party. Those around me know I have a slight obsession with all miniature sized food. So, to celebrate this fact, I would like to host a dinner party at my house where all the food is in miniature. (miniature burgers will definitely make an appearance on the menu)
- Completely revamp my work wardrobe. As with my previous posts on the work capsule wardrobe, I would like to pursue this and get my wardrobe to a stage where I am not perplexed what to wear every morning.
- Start a dedicated cooking/eating blog. I haven’t thought about what exactly yet, but I have been getting back into food in a big way and would like to chronicle this journey somehow. I hope to also improve my skills at food photography through this process.
- Fill all the walls in my house with art that I love. I am pretty close to achieving this one, but I still think it is important. I do still have a few tricky walls in my house that need some art love – I have some plans in the works but I’d like to get this ticked off.
- Make beautifully decorated cupcakes. This is another rollover from my 24 before 24 – I would love to attempt to make cupcakes that could mirror what you see in beautiful bakery windows. Nothing as fancy as miniature figurines on the top of them – but just beautifully iced and presented. Bonus points awarded if they are miniature.
- Pay off all my credit cards, and get in a comfortable financial position. Due to some unfortunate instances with roommates etc, I have been put in the red in regards to my finances. I would like to not only have no debt (other than my mortgage and HECS) but also have a safety pool of money for those unforseen events that have a habit of popping up.
- and to help with the above Keep to a budget. In my 24 before 24 I completed half of a budget by inputting all my incomes and expenses, but I didn’t get as far as creating a budget which I was to stick month to month. I’d like to set a budget which will hopefully get me to a better position sooner, and stop unnecessary spending.
- Go in for a professional bra fitting. I have ashamedly never done so and I’d love to be properly fitted for a bra. Bra shopping in general is something I usually loathe, so maybe taking the guessing out of it and getting professional help will make this a more pleasant experience.
- Become a market regular. The Preston markets near me have a fantastic range of fruit, vegies, meat, and deli items, and the prices are a lot better than your local supermarket, so I really have no excuse not to make this a regular part of my weekly food shop. Out of convenience I have always just done a one-stop-shop at Woolworths, but as I am getting more into my cooking and food I need to make the effort to get fresher produce to make those meals extra tasty.
- Eat at a hatted restaurant. The Age Good Food Guide rates Melbourne restaurants, and the very best receive ‘hats’. The hats range from one to three, and only four Melbourne Restaurants have gained the three chef hats. In order to expand my food experiences outside of my Cheap Eats, I’d like to once eat at a hatted restaurant. Whether it be one hat or three it should be tasty either way.
- Make gnocchi and ravioli from scratch. Both are dishes that I love, and I have heard that the home-made versions are infinitely better – so it is on the list to conquer. Also, both can be frozen, so I can make them in bulk and enjoy them for months to come.
- Play a board game – or even better have a games night. Where have all the board games gone? I can’t remember the last time I played one, and it makes me quiet sad that the kids these days (wow I sound old!) don’t really play board games. My preferred games would have to be Monopoly or Pictionary, but I will also accept Cluedo (did someone say Colonel Mustard, dibs!), Game of Life or Balderdash for this challenge. Now just to find someone who wants to play with me…
- Create edible gifts for my colleagues and friends for Christmas. I have always had a vision of having beautifully packaged edible gifts to hand out for Christmas, see here for inspiration. I won’t have long to get cracking on this one (can’t believe Christmas is in just over a month) but fingers crossed I can get it done.
- Plan an overseas holiday. This was also on my 24 before 24 list, and I crossed it off (Thailand holiday in Jan – yay!) however I am an avid traveller and I think this should be a constant requirement each year. Not sure what will be next on the agenda (there is still so much left to see) but my initial thoughts are maybe the US, or Africa…
- Speaking of Africa – Visit Weribee open range zoo: I love zoos, mostly because I love animals and our zoos in Australia have them in very good habitats. I am yet to visit the open range zoo though, and from their website it looks like they have an amazing array of animals and adventures you can get up to there, the Slumber Safari in particular looks awesome!
- Start a stock portfolio. I get the Barefoot Investors email updates every week, and often he talks about the advantages of having a stock portfolio, especially over other forms of investment. Even if the total value of the portfolio is less than 1k I think it will be a good starting point for me.
- Visit the drive in theatre. Strangely enough I live very close to a drive in theatre, and have done for over two years, and I still haven’t gone. I have never been to a movie through a drive in so it seems like a good opportunity to go back into the past just for one night. (I think they have a retro diner on site also…)
- Grow my hair to my waist. My hair currently sits just at my bra strap, given a year of growing (and refraining from cutting) I should get the longest parts of my hair to my waist.
- See more of Victoria. I have now lived in Melbourne for just under 3 years and I haven’t seen much past the city. I have been to the Dandenong’s and on half of Great Ocean Road – but I’d like to cross off Daylesford, Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island.
- Organise something for my 25 birthday. A quarter of a century, it seems like a long time but it has gone like a flash (so far anyway). To continue on with this years birthday celebrations I want to make sure my birthday is celebrated again next year.
- Dine alone. When I was backpacking across Europe often I would be left without travelling partners for a night or so, not wanting to eat only supermarket food for the night I would venture out and end up dining alone. It certainly was a new experience, but in a foreign country it wasn’t as intimidating as I have now found it being back in Australia. I think I just need to get over myself and take the opportunity now and then to go out a meal alone, whether it be a brunch, lunch or dinner, take a book and enjoy some amazing food on my own.
- ???
Phew – I am tired just reading over them all! But at least this time around I will have the full year to complete them and I promise to update you on any of the above as I try to make my way through them – fingers crossed I can get close to the full 25.
Have you created a life list? What is included on yours? Any thoughts on what I should put for number 25?
UPDATED: I have decided on my #25 – Begin studying for a new degree. I have been in my field now for just on three years and I am not convinced that it is for me – so to give myself more options in the future I would like to get a few more qualifications under my belt. It is likely going to be studying a degree via distance education, which will require a lot of discipline on my end, but I think I can do.
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