Yes that's right, just forty days and forty nights left until the big day, I can't wait and am so excited as I have four days of celebrations planned plus a day of rest tagged on to the end! On the big day I will be having a makeup lesson at Bobbi Brown, dinner with my parents and boyfriend and going to see the Wizard of Oz at the Palladium, the following day Mum and I are visiting a craft village, the third day is for some serious baking and food prep ready for day for....PARTY!!!!  I am having a 1950s themed party and I cannot wait, I am almost beside myself with excitement actually.

As I said in my last update blog, I am not doing so well with my challenge but I am also not going to stress over it, life is too short so rather than feeling like a failure, I have switched my list to a "complete in my 30th year if possible challenge"....we shall see!

But here is an update so far...

1.Own a sewing machine, - I almost have enough John Lewis vouchers to cover the sewing machine that I would like. I will wait until I have enough but who knows what my birthday might bring.

2.Learn to knit socks – I think I am going to put this off until Winter.

3.Visit Buckingham Palace – Done!!!!

4.Swim in a lake or stand under a waterfall - "postponed"

5.Own a home (the BIG challenge) – Who knows what my 30th year might bring.

6.Be debt free except from a mortgage if Num 5 happens – this will be sorted out next month!

7.Visit Dickens House – DONE!!!

8.Go to a soap making workshop - DONE!!! and on sale in my shop!

9.Learn to hang wall paper – postponed until Dad wants to decorate!

10.Spend a night on the Norfolk Broads – Sort of DONE, twice! I have been to Norfolk twice, and been on a tour of the Broads, just not spent the night on an actual boat.

11.Learn to make pastry – There will be lots of baking involved for my birthday party.

12.Learn the succession of kings and queens from William the Conqueror in 1066 – I have been given a few hints and tips on this, just need to learn it!

13.Make and wear my own dress – I wont be making my birthday dress as I will be treating myself to something very special for my party, maybe I will make a dress to wear on my 31st birthday!

14.Read five books from my bookshelf - Two and a half down and two and a half more to go!

15.Have a make up lesson – DONE!!!...and being repeated on the big day.

16.Do something every day to make me smile – I cant stop smiling lately, I guess that's what happens when you are totally in love.

17.Learn to change a car tyre – I'm still laughing about why I included this! - cant see this happening yet as I hopefully don't need new tyres. I have however learned how to check my water levels.

18.Be able to jog a mile without stopping - after the issues with my back, and physio I am now allowed back to the gym and am feeling as unfit as ever but I will persevere.

19.Go to Rome or Sorrento – DONE!!!

20.Sleep for 6.5+ hours sleep a night consistently – Some nights are good, others are bad, and some are unmentionable.

21.Visit Giant's Causeway – Well, I'm off to NEW YORK in August so Ireland will have to wait. Perhaps a road trip next Spring is in order.

22.Have a dinner party - DONE!!! I have hosted dinner for my parents at my boyfriends house and prepared lunch for his parents too. Party planning is also coming in to play for the big bash!

23.Have Butterfly-Crafts mentioned in a newspaper or magazine – DONE!!!! not only have I been mentioned in the local paper but have also had a piece in Craft Seller magazine.

24.Sleep under the stars - I have an option in mind for this, watch this space, just need a mozzie net!

25.Live as much of a handmade/homemade/economical life as possible - I am aware of this every day and so far this year I have been making all the cards I need to send people and gifts where possible. I am now also starting to think about Christmas presents and what I can make for people.

26.Begin to have the stamina, strength & body shape from pre-leg issues – the gym is definitely helping. I will never be a ‘gym bunny’ but I do feel much better to go after work and at the weekend for a little brain space. I really miss rowing but that’s off limits at the moment, one day though, one day.

27.Watch: Casablanca (done), Dr Zhivago (done - yawn), Gone With the Wind (done), The Philadelphia Story (done), A Street Car Named Desire (done - yawn), The Godfather (done), Citizen Cane (done) and Ferris Beulers Day Off (done - crap film) so just Goodfellas and Schindler's List to go.

28.Go to a comedy club – This will now be happening when we go to NYC in August.

29.Finish my knitted patchwork blanket – This will definitely be a "30th year" project

30.Visit 15 exhibitions at museums and galleries – Well there was Handmade Tales at The Women’s Library, Afghanistan at The British Museum, Out of this world at the British Library, Eadweard Muybridge at Tate Britain, Electroboutique at the Science Museum and a few others I've currently forgotten!