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The final 30 before 30 goal I'm ticking off is one I really completed way back in February:
11. Have my own, specific area for scrapping. Maybe even a room.
I kept meaning to write some long post full of pretty photos and details of my organisation. Somehow that never quite happened. But, I do have a scrap room of my own and I love it.
It may not be decorated and pretty, but it's well used and suits me fine.
And you never know, maybe I'll get that detailed post written some day. ;)
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After work on Friday I flew to Brisbane, joining Boyf who is up there on a 3 week training course. The weekend was relaxed, cruisy and pretty wonderful.
On Friday evening we walked along the river, finding a pub for some drinks.
On Saturday we headed to Movie World to ride some rollercoasters, then to Wet'n'Wild where we drifted on the water in inflatable tubes. (Love year-long tickets from our last trip!)
On Sunday we walked and walked. And ate. To breakfast, along the river, to the market, further along the river, to lunch and finally back to the hotel.
So much talking and laughing. A pretty wonderful weekend.
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Despite not yet finishing my December Daily album from 2011, I've started thinking about this year's. :)
I'm planning on using a Studio Calico Handbook album, the same 6x8 inch size as last year. As there was no one Christmas collection that I loved this year, I've picked papers and embellishments from Crate Paper's Sleigh Ride, Echo Park's This and That Christmas, Studio Calico's Wonderland and Carta Bella's Merry and Bright.
The papers I've chosen seem like a hodge-podge (and it just gets worse when I add in the embellishments) but there is a colour scheme in there.
Accents of black and grey. Cream/taupe, lime, dark green, turquoise, aqua, light blue, pink and red.
I'm excited. But I'm not ready for Christmas - December can wait a while yet!
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After what seemed like weeks of preparation (although I admit painting rooms and framing photos probably isn't standard party planning!) party time was finally here.
Yellow House was polished and scrubbed, looking her finest.
Food was laid out. Drinks were on ice. Fairy lights were sparking outside, even though it was still daylight.
After a hectic day getting everything organised, suddenly there was nothing to do but wait for guests. Sometimes I think that is the hardest part! :)
A few minutes before the appointed hour Mum and Dad arrived, bearing chocolate mousse (which people raved about) and other goodies. At 7:05pm Lucy and Chris walked in, with Chris claiming they were late. :) I had time to open their present then more and more people were arriving all at once. My 30th birthday party had begun!
For many people it was their first time visiting Yellow House. The peacock blue dining room isn't for the faint-hearted but it got a lot of compliments. Some people even assumed I'd purchased the photos on the wall; incredibly good for my ego! ;)
With the weather forecast predicting rain, I'd been concerned about everyone fitting inside. But, it all worked well in the end. People moved about and interacted - there was that wonderful buzz of conversation.
Boyf's mother and mine, laughing away. A worrisome sight!
The party seemed to race by, with the last guests leaving a little before 1. I think it was a really good night. I must have asked Mike that at least 5 times after everyone had gone home. 'You think everyone had a good time?' I certainly had.
A lot of work, a bit stressful. But I'm already looking forward to holding the next party. No house painting next time though!
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The night before my birthday, at about 11pm, I completed one last 30 before 30 goal:
24. Finish a travel scrapbook. Any of them.
How's that for cutting it close? ;)
But, only 16 months after beginning, my Scrapbook on the Road album is finally complete!
I thought I'd make a little video, showing the pages of the album and talking about some things that I did and didn't like.
I posted my thoughts on Scrapbooking on the Road and working on this album just after I returned from my trip. (I also posted what supplies I took with me and my reasoning, plan and pre-prepared pages.)
There are just a couple more things I want to remember for next time:
It may have taken me 16 months, but I got there in the end. One travel scrapbook, complete.
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Two weeks before my 30th birthday I finally completed one of my easiest, and prettiest, 30 before 30 tasks:
20. Fill my home with fresh flowers.
Why on earth did I wait so long? One trip to the market, $30 and five bunches later I had smile-inducing flowers in almost every room.
These roses, now sitting on my bedroom dresser, are just loosing their pretty now - almost 4 weeks later.
I didn't even have enough vases and needed to put a glass storage jar, jug and ceramic mug into service.
This was such a lovely splurge - seeming bright and cheery arrangements everywhere. Definitely a reminder to treat myself to flowers more often. Probably not five bunches though, that's a tad too wonderfully excessive!
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Wanting: to get my internet back.
Anticipating: a trip to QLD this weekend.
Needing: to tidy up at Yellow House. When my scrap room is among the most organised spaces, you know it's not good!
Eating: chicken drumsticks, leftovers from a birthday lunch at Mum and Dad's.
Planning: a 3 topic, catch up on 2012 blog feature for November.
Feeling: protesting muscles after climbing last night.
Reading: nothing but blogs. Really want to get to the library.
Making: a little caravan cross-stitch.
Thinking: I can't believe it is already the end of October. Where did the year disappear?
Snapping:
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7am last Tuesday, I woke up as a 30 year old for the first time. Oih.
Although none too enthusiastic about leaving my twenties, I was easily consoled when Boyf handed me a present, telling me it was my first. He was off to a good start right there. ;)
I unwrapped the parcel to find a birthday card.
I make cards, so he had made one for me! We laughed and laughed - such an absolutely joyful moment. Boyf told me he'd laughed as he made it, and that I should blog about the card. Happy to oblige. :) I absolutely love it.
Next, he'd wrapped up a bottle of 30 year old port, from the year I was born. It is actually one from his own collection - he was born in March of the same year - but he decided we should share it. Definitely a way to make a girl feel appreciated.
Then he handed me my last present.
Yeah, he did good! As Boyf reminded me, we'd actually been talking about iPads a few weeks prior, but I hadn't twigged in the slightest. I was absolutely surprised. And delighted. When I commented that he was spoiling me, he firmly agreed. I'll claim I'm worth it though! ;)
Then it was back to reality and a day at work. It was a little odd - I work in a small section, just me and one guy, so we aren't big on hoopla - as I walked around all day feeling like I had a secret that no one else knew. But, I did receive many lovely birthday calls, emails and messages.
That evening Boyf and I went out for dinner with my parents and I was further spoilt with more presents. The big one - the 50mm lens
And I finally took some photos, my first of the day. I really wish I'd taken some that morning, but I didn't. Too busy enjoying the moment I suppose, and I need to be okay with that.
It was a lovely night, full of stories, laughs, good food and no hesitation about ordering dessert. (A wonderful caramel crème brulee by the way.)
All up, a day of feeling very special. And spoilt. Turns out, turning 30 rocks!
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Before:
After:
We actually finished painting this room back at the end of September, but I didn't want to share it until I had some big frames on the wall. There's no denying it's a lot of blue! Although, I think these photos are showing it a little too royal blue - in real life the colour is a little more peacock. It's called Lake Louise, by Taubman's, and I love it!
I had headed to the hardware shop with an intended colour, one that I'd sampled and displayed. But, when I saw a very similar colour in a Taubman's Colour Confidence brochure, I ummed and ahhed and ended up changing my mind at the last minute.
The frames are from Ikea, the biggest size of Ribba frames. I had so much trouble deciding what photos to get printed, and was incredibly apprehensive about how they would look. I've never seen any of my photos so large before!
I love the layer and depth that colour has added to Yellow House. There are so many different spots where you now get glimpses of colour through archways and around corners.
Both bold colours I've painted, the green and the blue, seemed like disasters after the first coat of paint. Blotchy and garish and horrible. Thankfully, the second coat has turned them wonderful. I can't help thinking, however, I'm about due for an absolute colour disaster!
And to finish, I'll slip in this photo of the gorgeous bunch of flowers I received for my birthday from friends. They're the perfect pop of contrast colour for this room. :)
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On a Friday afternoon (four days before my birthday, because I don't leave things to the last minute at all!) Boyf met me in the city after work and we headed up Eureka Tower to the 88th floor, intent on ticking off another 30 before 30 goal:
14. Go out on the Edge.
My first time on the Eureka Skydeck, I'd never been this high in Melbourne before. It was wonderful getting off the lift and seeing these incredible views of Melbourne; picking out Federation Square, Flinders Street Station, the MCG, my work... A different perspective on so many places I know so well.
The Arts Centre spire looked tiny, and that long shadow you see - that's us.
I loved being on the Skydeck - it's definitely something that I want to do again. (That's been my favourite part of this 30 Before 30 list by the way - finding things that I love and want to do again and again.) I will get back to see the city at night, all lit up, sometime soon. (Just now realised it's a perfect December activity!)
But, this 30 Before 30 goal was actually to go out on the Edge, which is this:
When the box starts to travel out (with a cracking glass soundtrack that I could have done without, thank you very much!) the glass is opaque. Suddenly it changes to transparent and you are looking through the glass floor, down almost 300 metres to the tiny cars below.
I went out on the Edge, I promise, they just don't let you take photos in there. It was a pretty incredible experience. Encouraged by a lady in our little group, I even laid down on the glass floor, looking straight down. Such an odd sensation!
Ah, see - I have proof! I survived the Edge. ;)
We stayed awhile to watch the sunset, before heading back down to have some dinner. A simple, easy and wonderful evening in the city.
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