(almost) dirty thirties

{french macaroons with raspberry-rose buttercream via bon appetit}

Tomorrow I turn twenty-nine. Twenty-nine, as in almost thirty years old. Before I turn thirty here is a list of things I would like to accomplish. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

in no particular order:

1. Make macaroons from scratch. Not the coconut-chocolate kind, I've made those. I'm talking about the fancy French kind. So tiny yet so intimidating.

2. Read a novel by Charles Dickens. Never have, always wanted to. They are just so dang long. I think I just need to find one with a more user-friendly font - why do long novels always have tiny print? I am wide open to suggestions as to where to start.

3.  Run a marathon. I've run two marathons before. Once I didn't train (naivety and age were on my side) and once I did. I felt worse when I did. I would love to qualify for Boston someday. That is one nice thing about getting older, the qualifying times will only increase. Cheers to Boston at forty?

4. Go on a honeymoon. Jeff and I had a sweet little mini-moon in PEI right after our nuptials, but we are really looking forward to a proper honeymoon. It doesn't have to be far away, but it does have to be more than two nights long.

5. Organize my digital photos. I haven't printed a single photo since Violet was born. Only recently did I buy an external hard drive to save the thousands (and thousands and thousands) of pictures I have snapped in the last three years. I really owe this to my sweet girl.

6. Send our remaining wedding thank-yous. Emily Post must have known how busy we would be when she permitted newlyweds up to one calendar year to send their thank-yous. We still have time, but it is ticking.

7. Spruce up our bedroom. I think we deserve more than a bed and a few tables. No idea what vibe I (oh sorry, we) want but the prison cell look isn't working for me.

8. Learn how to apply eyeliner. A grown woman should know these things.

9. Grow something and eat it. Tomatoes maybe? Basil? Both? Mmmmmm caprese salad. (note to self: mould on cheese does not count)

10. Buy jeans that I like and stop pretending that leggings are pants. I have always hated shopping for pants. I have to get over this. No one wants to see my almost-thirty-year-old-butt in a pair of tights. Yoga pants are revealing enough for a woman of my age...

11. Perfect making coffee in our caffettiera (stove top coffee maker). I love the idea - very 
continental, but I am a little afraid of it in practice.

12. Learn how to french braid. I have insane hair. I think I am at the point where I either learn how
to french braid or I give myself dreadlocks. Since I have an aversion to strong smells I think the
former will be a better match.

I reserve the right to add to this list as the year progresses, but I will do my best not to take anything off of it.

Have a cupcake for me tomorrow!

xo

Em