Number 6 ~ A herb garden

The countdown is on to the big 4-0.  The party is organised, the invites have been sent and this is only the 9th thing I am crossing off the 40 things list.  Yep, 9 of 40. 

 

But i'm not giving up yet.  I'm on a mission to see how many I do get done.  (The rest can get rolled over to 50 before 50).

 

So number 6 on the list was to create a herb garden. 

 

Now I can assure you that the purpose of this said herb garden was always intended to be purely visual.   I'm not really that into herbs for culinary purposes.  And using them for medicinal purposes is just taking things too far for me.

 

So pretty herb garden to look at and water and pray it survives.  I'm not that bad with plants.  I'm no green thumb but I go alright.  I'm very casual when it comes to maintenance tho.  The whole fertiliser/bug control/plant diseases thing - nah-uh-uh, not this little ducky.  Sure I know how to throw out some snail pellets and spray around some white oil but beyond that it's survival of the fittest...

 

But back to pretty... 

 

So what I had in mind originally was a grand spiral herb garden made out of bricks.   Unfortunately I have already pushed my luck and created an unapproved garden at my rental property so this is out of the question for now...

 

Instead I decided on pots.   So off to Bunnings I went and bought pots, herbs and some plant markers.

My trip to Bunnings

A cute herb garden needs cute signs right!?  So I hand stamped these little babies ready for my little herb garden. 

 

Next step... pot up herbs in cute pots and display on gorgeous cake stand.  Add cute little handstamped signs and place on front patio on old chippy desk.  CUTE CUTE CUTE!

 

 

 

So visually I am pleased with this little number!  But then I got to thinking about the herbs...

 

We've got chives, parsley, sage, thyme, mint, basil and oregano.

 

 I'm feeling that the chives, basil and oregano may get a culinary run.  And possibly thyme.  (My mum once made these amazing chicken and thyme rissoles so it might come in useful).  As for parsley I only see it as a garnish and I don't know if they kids will appreciate it on their party pies or fish fingers (but mumma might get fancy with that yet - stay tuned).  Mint is just as useless but smells great.   And sage... seriously what is sage?!?!?!?  It looked good so it made the cut but I have no idea what to do with it!   I tried to google it but it mentioned fertility and I got scared and x'd out of it... Ain't nobody got time for that...  

 

Oh well, I guess even if they never get used at least they look good!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

So there she is.  Number 6.  A herb garden. 

Number 5 ~ Create a blog

 

So this is a blog post about a blog...

Number 5 is a late entry.  Added after The Road Block.  It replaces "planting a rose garden"...   I dream of a glorious rose garden... Unfortunately it's just not going to happen before 40.  But fear not, its on the 50 before 50 list, right up there with buying my mumma shack... 

For a while i've toyed with the idea of having a fun blog.  Realistically its something that I know will only be read by a handful of people, but its somewhere where I am leaving part of my thoughts and who I am... something I can reflect on in years to come if I want.  I like writing so I figured a blog and I could be friends.

You can see my new blog here.  Mumma Shack Dreamin'.  I don't know how often i'll get to post but the goal at the moment is at least weekly.  We'll see.  No promises.  

Number 29 ~ be pampered

So I am here... beginning another post... which means I took option 2 at the roadblock.  I'm going on the alternative route...  I'm going to add some things to the list and i'm going to give this a good go... (I am also going to try and not focus on doing this in less than 5 months)...

Today I took some "me" time.  I absolutely love being pampered.  It doesn't happen often enough but when it does I love it. 

So today I was booked in for the following:


Spiritual Garden -

Allow your mind to be still as you are cocooned for your comfort on our relaxing warm massage bed while our psychic healer calms you as she assists with life stresses and challenges. Followed by a deeply relaxing and balancing massage pamper. Float home feeling calm, relaxed and soulful.(includes psychic reading )

Reflexology Oriental Garden -

Begin with a foot soak and scrub and warm towel compress, scented with a stimulating refreshing mix of lemon, mint and lavender. Then allow your therapist to clear any blockages, using the reflexology points of the feet, to knowingly guide you through your bodies weaknesses and challenges. Float into this Chinese ritual with a green tea infused with cleansing ginger and honey.

Sounds good right?  And I had the perfect me day planned... Shopping on my own, lunch, then an afternoon of relaxation... 

Unfortunately for me the day had other plans.   I was on my way to the shopping centre when my oldest son calls.  We had been dogsitting the most adorable pomerian for the past 2 weeks and he calls to say she has got out and was missing.   I was frantic!!!  So I turn my car around and fly home.  We drive the streets, we walk the streets, we ask people and we called the RSPCA and vets.  We did this for hours.  And by this time I am in tears and my appointment time has arrived.  Frantic text to the day spa to cancel.  Next we make signs and go to put them on telegraph poles.  Putting up a sign and like the image of a God coming towards us is our saviour.  Pom pom the pomeranian has been found!!!   So I call the day spa and tell them I am on my way!




I arrive there frazzled and an hour late.  So my hour and a half relaxing "Spiritual Garden" turns into a 1/2 hour back massage and quick psychic reading... No floating home feeling calm, relaxed and soulful for me today... and really no reading either because she wasn't getting much because we were rushed... "Do you hate your job"?  Me: "no, I love my job"... "oh"... "Are you having money troubles"?  Me: "no, not really"... "oh"...

But hey, it was what it was... I was late... I accept that...

Next up is the foot pamper... it was nice... and I was relaxed.  I almost went to sleep.  But I did not float into this Chinese ritual with my tea... I didnt even get offered it... Although as I was coccooned with an eye mask on I am glad I didnt have to deal with that awkwardness...  Tea by IV drip anyone?

So at the end of the day it was a bit of a flop, but it was still a me day... I'm crossing it off the list for now but if I get the chance to do it again before 40 i'm taking it.

Road block...

It's July... As in now less than 5 months before deadline... and poor old 40 things before 40 has hit a road block...

I can't believe it was in December that I last posted!  Or the fact that there are not more things crossed off the list...

So what does one do when she comes to the road block?  Does she end the mission there (scrap the entire list)?  Does she find an alternate route (modify the list)?  Or does she just barge on through that big old road block (race out and find a rich lover with a big house who is willing to let her rip walls out)? 

Option 1 has been playing on my mind as the one to go with... but a little voice in me keeps bugging me to take option 2.

(Option 3, sorry, I'm sure you're a great guy but i'm just not interested)...  

 

Before we go on tho lets take a squizz at the roadblock...

So April 2014 I had the opportunity to go to Europe for work.  BIG FAT HUGE step out of my comfort zone.  I never imagined I would leave my children for 10 days, let alone to go on an international trip on my own.   But I did.  And it was amazing.  And I realised that I am part of a big world and I don't have to be caged in by things that my heart doesn't want to do anymore.  I can tell you Europe changed my life.   For the first time in a long time I was just ME.   I met strangers who become amazing friends in a short period of time.  I met people with a passion for travel, for life.  I stood in places that had been through the horrors of war, places dripping with history.  Castles and countrysides.  People and travellers.  And it changed me.

Fast forward to May and the decision was made that my husband and I would separate.  Enter 40 things before 40 roadblock.  This year we had planned to buy a house together.  So there's one thing on the list that won't be completed.  And at this house we had plans... gardens and animals and decorating and... well plans... so cross another 6 or so things off the list...  Paintballing and a weekend away at a B&B with hubby... off the list too...


There's also a couple of things on the list too that I just don't think are going to happen... I mean seriously, in the past 15 months do you think i've seen a single gecko!?  I do not WANT to see a gecko, but as its my fear I NEED one to have a photo with.  *Hyperventilating at the thought*

So now the decision is down to option 1 or option 2... 

Number 40 ~ make madeleines

The last thing that was added to the list was 'make madeleines'...  Might seem like a simple thing to those who know what they are, but for me I felt like it needed to be added for it to actually happen!  You see, 3 (yes 3) Christmases ago I put a madeleine pan on my Christmas wish list and one found its way to me (thanks Lorinda)... I will admit right now I have a baking pan obsession - I have all shapes and sizes - square, round, rectangle, friand, flowers, big, little etc etc, so it only seemed right that a madeleine pan join the family!!!


 

 

BUT WHAT ARE MADELEINES??? 

 Only a few people have seen the entire 40 things before 40 list, and every one of these people asked "What are madeleines'? Well let me fill you in...  Madeleines are a French tea cake (thought of as a cookie) that are instantly recognizable with their scalloped shell shape that is ribbed on one side, and smooth, with a hump, on the other. Direct from the oven these buttery sponge cakes have wonderfully crisp edges and such a moist and tender crumb that they are best eaten right away.   (Please note the above is a copy/paste in case you thought I turned all formal and factual there for a minute and actually wrote that)     

 

 

So after obsessing with these little babies for a long time I have finally made them!  I have made madeleines!!!  And I will make them again - tucked away on pinterest I have recipes for lemon ones and lavender ones!!!   They were SO easy and quick!!!   

 

The ingredients are general pantry items so there was nothing special to buy! 

 

Double shift that flour!!! 

 

Fresh from the oven!!! 

 

 

 

And here they are!!!  Another 40 things before 40 thing crossed off the list!  

Number 12 ~ Get a tattoo

It's the 14th December which means... HOLY CRAP... not only is tomorrow my 39th birthday but it also means that I have only 12 months left to complete another 35 things on the list!  Thankfully I am on holidays next week for 3 weeks so hoping to cross off a few more... And today I crossed another one off the list! 

For ages my oldest sister and I have talked about getting matching sister tattoos but never really locked anything in...

Number 12 on my list was to get a tattoo...

Today my sister and I got our tattoos! 

We have toyed around with ideas for a long time... words, phrases, something French, Italian or Latin, pictures...



But before I continue let me tell you two facts here:

1. My sister and I are so different in every way.  EVERY WAY... We used to be in conflict with each other a lot in our young adult years but as I matured I realised that all the arguing in the world wasn't going to change who she was just as much as she couldn't change who I am... We might not be the "TV show perfect" kind of sisters but she is definitely someone I love wholeheartedly who I trust beyond trust, who will always be someone I can turn to and who knows I will always be here for her.   We have also been known to laugh until we've cried on more than one occasion..

2.  I am not a sheep... I didn't want a "sister" tattoo that EVERYONE has... (well the ones you find on google when you type in "sister tattoo" anyway).   The infinity sign with sisters in it is clearly a popular choice, followed closing by variations of this featuring hearts and things... Just the word "sister" seemed a popular choice... All fine and well but just not for us...

So finding the perfect tattoo was going to be a challenge...  (But hey, i'm always up for that... unless its skydiving that is)...

So the origin of our tattoos that we got today?  Well Easter last year the above facebook conversation happened... and became "our thing"... This picture is on hussy's fridge.  (She IS the one without pants on).  We mention this regularly.  We love this.

When I started to think about tattoo options this kept coming into my head.  It was cute and different, and I guess brought out our inner children...  But it would also be a complicated and weird (and I imagine somewhat expense) tattoo. 

Fast forward and an epiphany strikes.  It was cute, it was different and it was... perfect.  And when I told my sister she immediately envisioned it and loved the idea. 

We were originally going to also have text and each others names but didn't end up doing this...  Because we know what it means...

And here it is:

 

 

DIFFERENT FLOWERS FROM THE SAME GARDEN

 

We are wearing colours that mean something to us ~ i'm in the pink!  We are also holding each others flower... My sisters is on her leg and mine is on my arm - again significant of accepting each others differences.

 

I don't think it could be more perfect if we tried!!!

 

 

 

 

Number 22 ~The Great (AMAZING) Race

Number 22 ~ do an AMAZING RACE

Many years ago whilst in Sydney we were on a monorail and there was a family in the same carriage (are they called carriages on monorails?) who were part of an amazing race, and I thought it was a fun family thing to do... fast forward about 10 years and I have finally done the same!!! 

Sunday 29th September was marked as amazing race day... And for us the race started early by getting to the train station with only minutes to spare... nothing like a crazy dash to start the day for "THE GREEN NINJAS'...

So we met "WE THREE KNIGHTS" at Cardiff Train Station at 8.48am (to catch the 8.50am train).
And the day began...

Toot toot, we arrive at Morriset train station and "CRK N HARD" join us on board... Custom T's and silver glitter in their hair these girls were ready to race, complete with team chant.

 

Chug chug onto Wyee and 1/2 of "THE LET IT RIPs" hop on, complete with youngest team member Sophia.

Clacketty Clack, next stop Wyong and the other 1/2 of "THE LET IT RIPs" have joined us and completed the Great Race crew.

 

Fast forward (no amazing race reference intended) and we arrive at Central station and meet our team hosts in the park. 

We are pumped, we are ready, we are off and racing...

We Three Knights

The Green Ninjas

The Let It Rips



Crk N Hard

So the first challenge is to put together a puzzle to receive your first card... No surprises that WE THREE KNIGHTS solve this first, being a family of puzzlers.  We (ie THE GREEN NINJAS) are second off the mark, followed by THE LET IT RIPS then finally (with some guidance) CRK N HARD are away... GAME ON BITCHES...

 

 

One of the challenges along the way is to photograph another team without them knowing.  But there were rules surrounding this!... Most importantly the other team could not know you photographed them, but the photo also had to be taken over your left shoulder and it was essentially a 'selfie'

 

 

 

We head to Chinatown on the hunt for a chicken foot... One would imagine that chicken feet are readily available in Chinatown, but this little baby took some hunting down... finally Jess finds one in a shop and SERIOUSLY... one word ~ WRONG!   Do people EAT these?  REALLY???  Please, if anyone has tried one and wants to let me know how that went for you feel free... I'm sure it tastes like...um... chicken.  But its a bloody foot for goodness sake!  A FOOT!  People eat feet???

 

First checkpoint and THE LET IT RIPs were first to arrive, followed by THE GREEN NINJAS then WE THREE KNIGHTS ... as for CRK N HARD, well I believe by this stage they are on the motorway, minus one team member who left the race!!!  For those who checked in there's a challenge involving a tim tam, a dry weet-bix and a balloon...

And we are off again... There was a choice of "paint" or "faint" for this leg... THE GREEN NINJAS and WE THREE KNIGHTS chose paint and went to the art gallery... For those who chose "faint" it involved a "comprising position with a pig"...And for those walking on the motorway it involved a rescue mission by our team hosts...

Next challenge is a series of trivia questions and Damo is described as a 'genius'... A genius??? My Damo??? More like one lucky guess and a few easy questions... but he's claimed the title of genius and I know the grandkids are going to hear the story time and time again...

 

 

Next we are off to Circular Quay for the next clue card, and an embarrassing photo of where one of the ferries go - which was Taronga Zoo.

The next part of the race our team totally missed where to find the clue, along with a photo challenge, but thankfully the LET IT RIPS offered assistance...  By this time we are at the Rocks and there's markets and I am on a race... There's MARKETS... like MARKETS where I want to leisurely stroll through and buy goodies... but it's a race and after a quick choc coated strawberry for Cal we are back on track.  (What? It was a market, I had to buy something)!!!

 

Our last clue card leads us to a pub and it's the finish... THE GREEN NINJAS are last to arrive but we haven't done our "Guess Who" clue to stop the clock... We might have been given a heads up at this stage by CRK N HARD tho and the race is finished!!! 

So first to the finish line was CRK N HARD, followed by WE THREE KNIGHTS then the LET IT RIPs and last us... but this order didn't mean you won, as along the way there were time challenges... so while the hosts added up the scores we had a hard earned drink and relax...

DRUMMMMMM ROLLLLLLLLLL...

In last place... CRK N HARD... only due to getting lost and missing 2 legs of the race... fantastic effort tho and team spirit and outfits were outstanding!!!

 

In third place... WE THREE KNIGHTS... these guys won a packet of tim tams (which is normally awarded to last place in honour of the Tim Tam challenge)... Good on Berna at this stage for piping up and asking "what tim tam challenge"?  Um... that would be the one you missed whilst cruising the streets with one of the game hosts...

We One Knight

Second place ... THE LET IT RIPS... fantastic effort by these guys too and only 6 minutes behind the winners... If only they hadn't gotten that 10 minute penalty at one of the checkpoints...

 

 

And the winners are THE GREEN NINJAS!!!  Congratulations to us!!! 

 

 

What a great day with fantastic people!  Lots of laughs and heaps of fun...

 

Thank you to all racers for making it a perfect day.  You have officially assisted me in crossing off 'do an amazing race' off the '40 things before 40' list.