Its that time of year again. The annual birthday panic! I’m turning 35 tomorrow and although last year I was struggling with being in my thirties and not being brave enough to say it, this year I’m a 30’s blogger and proud!
But there are so many things I thought I would have done or would feel by this age so as a twist to the usual 30 Before 30 posts. Here is my

30 things I thought I’d have done by my 30’s

1/ Had a baby. This is a big one. My mum was 33 when she had me and for me this became my cut off age, it’s kind of what prompted my birthday post last year with a sense of panic that I was hitting 34. This year I’m trying to focus on the fact I’m just not ready. Neither is my husband and at least in this respect we are on the same page. We love our life just the two of us and Eddie (our jack Russell) but I can’t help feel like there is a pressure on us to do it soon and this pressure comes from nothing else but time. It’s true that conceiving is extremely more difficult after 35 and we know this but for now all we can do is enjoy life and when the time comes and we’re ready then we’ll try and what will be will be.

2/ Stopped biting my nails. I honestly thought by now I would have kicked this bad habit. It’s something I’ve done since the age of 18 and now I wear false nails every day which I don’t bite but my natural nails are still pretty non-existent.

3/ Owned a piece of Matthew Williamson. He will always be my favourite designer and it truly is a dream of mine to own a dress or jacket by him. I was so over the moon to attend his SS15 LFW show and coveted so much of the collection. Sadly its still very much out of my budget. But I keep dreaming.

4/ Travelled more. I’m lucky enough to have been to New York, Orlando, Paris, Rome, Egypt and Tokyo all in recent years but there are still so many places I’d love to go to, most notably Iceland which is on my Travel Bucket list.

5/ Visited my family in Australia. Kind of follows on from the above.  Some of my family emigrated to Oz over 25 years ago and I’ve still not made the journey over there to visit them.

6/ Owned more than one dog. I love my Eddie to bits and it was a dream to finally own a dog at the age of 31 but I would love another dog too one day.

7/ Feel like a grown up!

8/ Not have nightmares. As a child I suffered from nightmares and sleep walking usually when I had a fever but my nightmares have continued into my thirties. I definitely think I have them more when I am stressed which leads me on to number 9.

9/ Learned to relax more. I am someone who finds it hard to relax and unwind and especially finds it hard to fall asleep at night.

10/ Be happy with my body. Of course everyone has their body insecurities but I honestly thought I would feel more confident in the way I look by my thirties. I don’t look in the mirror and see a womanly body I still see myself with a such girlish figure. Does anyone else feel like this ever? I’ve suffered in the past with extreme weight loss due to food intolerance’s and its taken several years to get to a healthy weight but I still don’t feel 100% happy.

11/ Understand Politics. I’ve only voted once in my life. I know, awful isn’t it?

12/ Speak another language. I do wish that I spoke another language, I did start learning Japanese before I went to Tokyo but I don’t speak anything fluently.

13/ Like my hair. No matter what I do to it I’m never 100% happy with the way it looks.

14/ Be my own boss. I love the idea of being my own boss and do wish that this was something I had achieved by my thirties.

15/ Be healthier. I’m sat here eating Reeses Peanut Butter cups whilst I’m writing this. Enough said.

16/ Be tidier. I can’t see the floor for my clothes. Also enough said.

17/ Know how to change a tire. Let’s hope I never get a flat eh?

18/ Like food shopping. I get annoyed every weekend when we have to go!

19/ Take criticism better. I know not many people take criticism well but I do tend to take a lot to heart.

20/ Stop buying things I never wear. So many items have been bought and never worn in my wardrobe.

21/ Be a better driver. I always thought I’d get more confident the more I drove but I’m obviously not destined for motorway driving!

22/ Know how to work a camera. I do ok with my SLR and my Pen but I do wish I understood more about camera settings and photography.

23/ Be better at getting out of bed. I suck at it. I am a relentless snooze hitter.

24/ Go to bed earlier. This of course relates to 23. I’m awful at going to bed at a decent time and not sitting up on the computer (writing long lists lol) for hours.

25/ Not cry at the film E.T when ET dies. Always.  Every time. Without fail.

26/ Have stayed on a canal boat. I don’t what it is but I’ve always wanted to go on a barge holiday. Maybe it’s a Rosie and Jim thing??

27/ Not compare myself to others. I do this a lot. From other bloggers to just women in general I’m forever beating myself up for not stacking up to others.

28/ Wouldn’t have to deal with bitchiness. I honestly thought by my thirties I wouldn’t encounter this anymore but I still do. From the blogosphere which can be full of it sometimes to my own day job its something I still struggle with as I’m someone who likes to be upfront and honest.

29/ Be better at remembering birthdays. I’m so rubbish at this honestly!!

30/ Feel better about getting older. Maybe. One day 😉

I’d love to know what things you hoped you have done by your thirties? Can you relate to any of mine?

Debs

x

A few notes about the photo. It was my 7th birthday party. Fancy dress, of course!! And I had the most amazing number 7 shaped horse cake made by my mum AND the most beautiful Supergirl costume also completely made by my mum. These are the things you honestly remember about childhood so lots of love Mumand thank you xxxx I also had the most awful bowl haircut. If you fancy a nosey at other embarrassing photos of me then do read this post.