30. Take a photo every day until I am 30

I made it! I actually took a photo every single day!!! Looking back over the pictures, it really has been quite the adventure! It's awesome to go back and remember the little things from the last 6 months.
Some days there were so many photo opportunities it was hard to pick, and other days there was very limited photo inspiration (hence the photo of the wood on my work desk)!!

For my Birthday, I have been given a voucher to turn the photos from the blog into a book (thanks Aunty Jenny & Caro!) - such a fun amazing idea!!

And here it is, the final 'photo of the day'...............................

Monday 28th May - A picture says it all!

15. Keep a plant alive

After a not so successful start to number 15 (Viola the lavender plant died within the first month!) it was onwards and upwards with my second plant!

Back on January 23rd 2012 I introduced you all the Bam Bam! This is my bamboo plant back in January:



and this is Bam Bam now:

I think you would agree we have a live plant here!!! Bam Bam may not have grown much (if at all), but as long as it is still alive and kicking (and green!), I'm taking the win!!

Lesson's learnt - Number one, if you go away for 2 weeks over Christmas and don't water a plant, there is a good chance it could die. Number two, in order to remember to water a plant, put it somewhere you look every day!!

That's all from Burke's Backyard for this week, tune in next week for more great gardening advice!

Sunday 27th May - Happy Birthday to me!! Nothing beats a donut cake!

Saturday 26th May - Homeward bound to continue the birthday celebrations! (I have no idea why the photos have gone so small!!)

Friday 25th May - I'm having WAFFLES!

Thursday 24th May - L O V E hand-me-downs!! Thanks Leesh!

13. Go to Luna Park

We came, we saw, we conquered!!

It was the final day before the big 3-0 and my final challenge to be had!! What a perfect end to a great ride! My lovely Mum joined me for this last task and was a fabulous sport! In her words it was a perfect day, with perfect company. I second that!

Sydney put on fabulous weather for us and the views from this harbour side gem where amazing! For those of you that don't know, Luna Park is nestled right in the shadows of the Harbour Bridge - as they say, it's all about 'location, location'!

There was only one ticket option for two crazy dare-devils like us - two 'unlimited rides' passes thanks! Our wristbands were on and away we went! It was everything I had ever imagined and more - Ferris wheels, carousels, arcade games, clowns, mini coasters, fairy floss, super slides, shape changing mirrors!!!! FUN, FUN, FUN!

Thanks so much Mum for coming with me! It was a fantastic day and so glad to finish things off with a Sydney icon!

3. Drink a Martini

Shaken................not stirred!

My first ever Martini! The plan was always to find a nice cocktail bar and sip away at my Martini feeling very classy and 'James Bond' esk. This did not happen!

My 30th birthday party took place on Friday night (don't worry, I am still 29 so challenges all count!!) which seemed like a perfect and very appropriate time to sample my new drink! However, as the night rolled on and the hours got away from us the lovely, grown up, mature venue I had imagined was a distant memory, and Brisbanes 'delightful' Mustang Bar was where we found ourselves instead.

My fabulous friend Chazlet was lovely enough to buy me the cocktail, and made sure to insist on a 'nice glass' for the occasion (I was a bit uncertain as to whether a nice glass actually existed in this place, but we were in luck)! Big thanks to Chazlet for the purchase xx

I'm pretty sure only the best vodka and other spirits were used.......................................hmmmmm, not! Oh well, I'll save a quality Martini for my 30's!

I decided the best way to explain the moment was once again through pictures - as I am such a lovely friend, I shared the 'delicious' cocktail with those around me. Below you will see some before and after shots of how the drink went down!

Not even an awful Martini could shake the coolness from this guy!

Just call me Bond, James Bond!

Wednesday 23rd May - Origin day! Getting into the spirit at work - GO THE BLUES!!

Tuesday 22nd May - Birthday gifts from my staff at work. Spoilt!

Monday 21st May - Someone bought home made Arancini balls into work! How could I say no? Can't wait for Italia!

Sunday 20th May - Bringing out my inner librarian!

Saturday 19th May - Arnotts have combined two of life's greatest ingredients to make Kelly's ultimate snack!

Friday 18th May - Brisbane!

9. Make a Stoinker (cocktail) and then drink it!

If you are young and 18 heading out in 'The Shire', you have more than likely come across this little fishbowl of goodness at Cronulla RSL!

My friend Moose and I had many a good nights out with this delicious friend, and decided it needed to be revisited one more time before turning the big 3-0! Let's call it a 'toast to our 20's'!

Moose and Nelly bought me the most fabulous glass for my 30th - It is huge & very fitting for the Stoinker! We decided to make enough for four in the big glass and then share - sharing is caring after all!!

Not too much one can write about making a cocktail and drinking it however it must be said that I had the most fabulous night - so much fun with Mule, Moose and Nelly and our friend 'The Stoinker'!

Magical in fact!! Here is some of the fun -

Making of The Stoinker

Ta Dahhhh!

Team Extreme!

CHEERS!

4. Dine at Aria

Classy living, I have arrived!

I was lucky enough to link in this list item with a work lunch that needed to be organised! As a super efficient assistant, it took me no time at all to lock in a reservation as soon as I knew our boss was taking us out - I knew just the place!

What can I say? Amazing service, delicious food! Everything had been thought of!

To begin, we were each given a small complementary Potato & Leek soup - I LOVE Potato & Leek soup and was hoping it was like the Sizzler cheese bread where one could request a second serve (no, I didn't ask)!

For Entree I had the salad of witlof, apple, celery, candied walnuts and a blue cheese dressing. So so yum! So yum in fact, that I forgot to take a photo of it! Here however is a lovely image of the restaurant!

Main was the Chicken (Shock! to those that know me well). Roast corn fed breast with parsnip and vanilla purée, mushrooms and coffee infused sauce! Hello Masterchef!! This was accompanied with a side of steamed broccolini with chilli and garlic and hand cut chips.

We were then offered dessert however everyone was so full we decided to give it a miss. We were then presented with a small tasting tray of little desert treats to tie us over - AMAZING!

Definitely a great experience, and a huge THANK YOU to work for allowing us to go! Whilst I will always be a nuggets girl at heart - it was fun to venture out of my comfort zone and get all fancy!