Life

Yesterday at work, a colleague was talking about creating her 30 before 30 list. The first thing I thought was ‘I don’t have time for that!’

I turn 30 in nine months and six days.

Is it too late for me to start a 30 before 30?

The answer to that is yes if I wanted to include big and expensive things like go to New York, sky dive, or go on a cruise. However, it’s got me thinking about what I could achieve before reaching the big 3-0.

At the moment, money is a bit tight because we’re paying off our wedding. Once this is cleared, the plan is to pay the same we’re currently paying off our loan into a savings account so that we can get a house deposit. I seem to be planning my life for four years in the future. When we have a house we can get a dishwasher, we can have child, we can move away, etc, etc. I’m inadvertently wishing my life away.

Rather than focusing on these big life goals that I can’t do anything about right now, why not choose 30 small but achievable goals? So what could my 30 before 30 be?

Read 30 books? I could choose 30 must read titles. But even that’s probably unachievable because I’d need to read one book every nine days. Mmm… next?!

Last year, I stopped going to WeightWatchers. Again. Since stopping I’ve pretty much put back on every last pound I worked so hard to lose. Again. I’m planning on celebrating my birthday on the beach in Portugal. This means a swimsuit. Perhaps the best option for my 30 before 30 is to lose 30lbs before my birthday. It’ll be a good start towards a healthier, happier me.

This is me on my honeymoon in Turkey. It’d be nice not to feel so self-conscious in a swimming costume.

Why not start my thirties ready to embrace life with the knowledge, experience and love that I’ve gained during my twenties? But perhaps a little lighter.

If you had nine months to get in your 30 before 30, what would you choose to do?

Rachel x

It’s the last day of 2014 so it must be time for the obligatory post reminiscing about the year gone by! It has been an odd year with both ups and downs.

January

It’s hubby’s birthday on 30th January. This year, I baked him a massive chocolate cake!

February

We’d been meaning to try this new Indian fusion restaurant in Folkestone for a while, and our visit coincided with Valentine’s Day.

March

In March, I was shortlisted for stage two of TrekAmerica’s #Blog4Trek competition. It was exciting stuff! Unfortunately, I didn’t win but it was so much fun taking part.

April

I started making homemade pizza in April. We do it all the time now: I’ve even branched out into calzone! Click on the photo above to get the recipe.

May

May saw two bank holiday weekends, with the latter spent with family in the New Forest, Hampshire. I’d never been before so it was lovely to explore. I also took part in Blog Every Day in May – you can read all my BEDM posts here.

June

This month saw the return of the Folkestone Airshow. The last one was in 2012, and the time before that was about 10 years ago. It was a great event and really hot! We had to go home to get changed before popping back out for a walk along the coast and fish and chips on the beach.

July

In July, I travelled to God’s own county with work colleagues to attempt the Yorkshire Three Peaks. It was scorching, difficult and emotional. Click on the photo to read my account.

August

It was all about Blogstock! The world’s first blogging festival happened in a damp field in Hertfordshire. It was wet but so much fun! Roll on 2015!

September

In September, we went on holiday. We had a week in the Lake District followed by a week in Scotland. It was bliss. We loved it so much, we’re thinking of moving to Scotland!

October

I turned 29 on 13th October. Having an October birthday is just one of the reasons that I love Autumn, although next year I might have to escape the UK to celebrate my 30th in the sun. I’ve got my heart set on the Algarve.

November

This has been me recently. I’ve been feeling a bit “meh” recently, which is why the posts on this blog have been pretty much non-existent. I’m hoping that with the new year, I’ll start feeling a little better.

December

Christmaaaasss!! I’m a sucker for Christmas. I love everything about it; eating too much, seeing family, and, of course, giving and receiving presents. I’m still steadily munching through my homemade Christmas cake and I think we’ve got enough chocolate to see us through until Easter!

Well, that was just a snippet of my 2014. How was your year?

Happy New Year everyone!

Rachel x

It’s nearly Christmas everyone! Have you got your tree up yet? We haven’t as I want to try and tidy the house up as much as possible before we cover it in glittery stuff! My grandparents, auntie and cousin are coming for Sunday lunch so it’ll have to be done by then.

I love Christmas! Although now I’m no longer a child the day itself is a little bit of an anticlimax. Of course, except spending time with friends and family, one of the best things about the festive period is the giving and receiving of presents.

Before my birthday, my Nanna was asking me what I wanted for Christmas. But I had no idea. I think now I’m getting money but I’ve since thought of lots of things I’d like. Hopefully I’ll be able to pick up some bargains in the January sales.

I’ve been sifting through lots of gift guides and watching a few on YouTube, particularly FleurdeForce’s. Who else wants that handbag? If you don’t know what I’m talking about, watch her gift guide for her 🙂 As usual, Next have some lovely bits. Their candle votive set even featured in Fleur’s stocking filler guide.

As they’ve got such nice gifts (and there’s a prize at stake – see bottom of post!), I’ve created this Christmas wishlist.

1. Cream Stand Mixer

I’ve wanted a stand mixer ever since I started watching cake baking tutorials on YouTube back when I was considering making my own wedding cake. (I didn’t do it – thank god!) However much I’d love a bright pink KitchenAid they’re over £400. This lovely one from Next is £99 so a bit of a bargain really.

2. Skyline Black Sparkle Jogger Pyjamas

I love the legging style jammie bottoms because they keep my legs warmer. Plus these ones are just so cute! I adore glittery things and the print on the top is actually quite stylish, you could probably wear the top out and no-one would bat an eyelid.

3. GHD Wonderland Straighteners

I have naturally wavy/curly hair and straightening it is a bitch. It takes me about 45 minutes. Part of me thinks that if I had GHDs the time would be reduced and my hair would stay straight for longer. My hairdresser uses them and gets a much better result than I ever can at home. Plus, these are gorgeous! I love the ombre/iridescent colour. Sadly, I don’t think anyone will ever buy me a pair of these 🙁

4. Cadbury’s Treasure Box

Because chocolate. ‘Nuff said.

5. Berry Chelsea Boots

How gorgeous are these boots? I bought some black Clark’s boots for my birthday and I’ve barely taken them off since. It now looks like I’ve had them years. I could do with another pair of ankle boots so I can mix it up a bit. The berry colour of these is so lovely. They’d be perfect for autumn/winter wearing.

6. Beaverbrooks Silver Bow Earrings

Last on my list is this pair of earrings. I’ve got lots of cheap pairs of earrings but not really any decent ones. I’ve had some nice ones in the past but I always seem to lose one of the pair! Usually when trying on clothes in shop changing rooms. These bow earrings are really cute and I really like them.

What’s on your Christmas wish list?

Rachel x

*This post forms my entry into the Next Blogger Network’s #NextmasWishlist competition*

I know. I’ve been a bad blogger. I’ve let this blog, that I worked so hard on, slide.

Well, no more. Normal service will resume shortly. Two people who were at hubby and I’s wedding just last year have recently passed away. Both from cancer.

One was in his 80s so, although it’s sad, you can kind of think that he had a good innings. The other was about a year older than me. How is it fair for someone so young to be taken away?

I’m sorry that I didn’t make more of an effort to see you. I’m sorry that I took our lives for granted.

Live is for living. Don’t put things off.

I am going to make more of an effort to blog. I’m going to stop being lazy. I don’t want to waste my life anymore.

Rachel x

I decided that it couldn’t possibly by right to visit Scotland without going to a castle. The nearest to where we were staying was Blair Castle.

Situated outside the village of Blair Atholl, near Pitlochry, stands the pretty white castle with a history that spans 700 years. The current castle is Victorian and the east wing is still home to the family of the Duke of Atholl.

We arrived at Blair Castle just in time for the piper.

The rooms accessible to the public are beautifully decorated and take you back in time. There’s something a bit voyeuristic about peeking into the lives of others but, perhaps because I’m extremely nosy, I love it! Just like Through the Keyhole or the fabulous home tours on The Everygirl! (By the way, if you want to see how young, professional women live in America, you should definitely check out The Everygirl!)

No photography was permitted inside the castle, except in the ballroom but that was one of the least interesting rooms. The main stairway was adorned with weapons and there were stag heads lining the corridors. This was most definitely home to some serious hunters. But then hunting is one of those country pursuits that is still very much enjoyed in this part of the world. Deer stalking is carried out between July and February to both bring money into the estate and to keep the deer population under control.

After we ate our lunch sitting on a wet bench (picnics and Scotland in September don’t really mix!), we got to exploring the grounds a little. Close to the castle itself is the Hercules Garden. This walled, ornamental garden is gorgeous. It’s full of bright flowers, fruit trees, topiary and sculptures, all surrounding a huge pond.

I love photographing flowers. The colours always come out so well.

Blair Castle is sat within the expansive Atholl Estates. We walked just one short path that took us through ancient woodland, alongside a gorge of a river and inside a Victorian folly.

We just about spotted a red squirrel before it scuttled back up the tree. This meant spending a long time with our necks craned trying to find more squirrels but to no avail. We did meet a friendly German Shepherd though!

Having spent a few hours at Blair Castle, we continued down the road towards Pitlochry and visited the famous Killiecrankie. Here at ‘Soldier’s Leap’ a fleeing Jacobite soldier evaded the enemy by leaping from one side of the gorge to the other. I think it was about 17 feet! Aside from being a place of historical significance, the Pass of Killiecrankie is a pretty stunning location.

Before heading back to our cosy cottage, we did pop by Pitlochry but the shops were closed and it was starting to get late so we didn’t stop long.

We loved our holiday in Scotland. This is just one of the days out we enjoyed. Have you been to Scotland? Where did you visit?

If you like castles, you might also want to read about Dover Castle in Kent.

Rachel x