A Spot of Tea for my Birthday!

I try to do something different for my birthday each year, and this year was no exception. This afternoon, I and three of my friends went to Government House for their Christmas Tea!

This is a bit of a special event. First, there is only one was to get tickets. You fill out an application form that is entered into a draw. Second, this is done in September when almost no one is thinking about Christmas at all. I'd say this also explains why I've missed getting my application form in each of the last dozen years or so. Third, you have to be one of the lucky ones chosen. And, guess what? I was!

The tea was a lovely affair, and Government House was decorated to the hilt for Christmas. It was beautiful to see and lovely to experience - finally!

I'm glad I got the opportunity to attend a Christmas Tea. We had a wonderful time! Happily and surprisingly though, I prefer the regular monthly teas that aren't near as hard to get tickets for.

My 45th Birthday is Coming Soon!

The last couple of months I've been sensing that a change is coming. You know how it feels when a chapter of your life is closing or a season is ending? Well, it's like that - but more! I feel like a whole book - a large bound volume with brass buckles - is closing.

I can best describe it as the first 45 years of my life were Volume 1, and now Volume 2 is beginning. Look out world, here comes Jill 2.0! Exciting, hey?

Just like drawing a line in the sand and stepping from one side of the line to the other to signify a new beginning, I believe the second half of my life is just beginning and it will be even better than the first half!

What's somewhat surprising is that I've really enjoyed being 44. It was a fun age to be. It was an easy number to remember (this gets more important the older I get). I didn't miss being 43 and neither did I rush forward to 45. Age 44 felt like me. But, onward and upward we go! Bring on chapter 1 of Volume 2...

Happy Birthday to Me!

My birthday wish this year is to add more items to the '40 Things & More' list. Here they are...

The '40 Things & More' List!

1. Go snowshoeing.
2. Serve a meal in a soup kitchen.
3. Eat something I've never tried before.
4. Visit a town in Saskatchewan that I've never been to before.
5. Plan my dream 40th birthday trip.
6. Start running again.
7. Visit a US state I haven't been to before.
8. Read a classic novel.
9. Create and complete a scrapbook for one of the trips I've taken in my 30s.
10. Do up a will.
11. Complete one of my cross-stitch projects.
12. Go kayaking.
13. Get my website business off the ground.
14. Take a self-defense class/course.
15. Go horseback riding.
16. Visit a museum or historic site in Saskatchewan that I haven't been to before.
17. Give blood regularly.
18. Attend a Victorian Tea.
19. Ride my bike in the city.
20. Stop and smell the flowers at a garden I haven't been to before.
21. Try an activity that's new to me.
22. Walk a portion of the Trans Canada Trail that I haven't been on before.
23. Learn more about my family history.
24. Visit a park in Regina I haven't been to before.
25. Participate in a fundraiser that involves a physical activity.
26. Simplify some area of my life that needs simplifying.
27. Learn how to change a tire on a vehicle.
28. Explore Regina's backyard - see what's just outside the city limits.
29. Learn more about Canadian history.
30. Visit a natural site in Saskatchewan I haven't been to before.
31. Learn to play the guitar.
32. Visit a Canadian National Park I haven't been to before.
33. Climb Wascana Hill in Douglas Park and watch a sunset.
34. Visit the observatory at the Science Centre.
35. Attend Mosaic - a multicultural festival held annually.
36. Play my first solo concert on the bells.
37. Attend an outdoor movie event.
38. Go fly a kite!
39. Play a mini golf course I haven't been on before.
40. Go on dream 40th birthday trip!
41. Attend a Regina Red Sox baseball game.
42. Visit Saskatchewan's only lighthouse.
43. Run a 5K.
44. Visit the Great Sandhills in Saskatchewan.
45. Visit a Canadian province or territory I haven't been to before.
46. Attend the annual kite festival in Swift Current.
47. Visit a major US city I haven't been to before.
48. Watch a sunrise.
49. Try another activity that's new to me.
50. It's a surprise (even to me!) - I'll know it when the opportunity presents itself.
51. Take a ballroom dancing class.
52. Watch an old black & white movie I haven't seen before.
53. Experience a WARM birthday!
54. Experience a WARM Christmas! (not necessarily in the same year as the previous item)
55. Attend the annual Dickens' Village Festival in Carlyle.
56. See the polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba.
57. Visit the east coast of Canada.
58. Jump out of an airplane! (in tandem, of course!)
59. Experience a 4th of July in the United States.
60. Visit a US National Park I haven't been to before.
61. Write a book.
62. Watch the Rose Bowl Parade in person.
63. Attend a spring training baseball game.
64. Buy something at an auction.
65. Drive part of Route 66.

It's T-10 days until my birthday!

Wow! This month is not only flying by, but really snuck up on me! I can't believe it's only 10 days until my birthday! It must be the fantastic fall weather we've been having - until today, that is. I'm still hoping it will warm up enough to melt and I can have what would be only my sixth (I think) birthday without snow. It's been a while since I've had a brown birthday, so that would be pretty special.

It's been quite a year. I'm closing in on my first year of being an entrepreneur and that's gone pretty well. I've shared some special times with family and friends, and I've very much enjoyed having a summer free to do whatever I wanted to - after the work is done, of course.

As I look back over the posts I've done this year, what stands out to me is that almost everything I crossed off my list has to do with getting outside and enjoying the great outdoors. Interesting. It's not something I've made a big priority before, and I really enjoyed all the experiences I had this year. Here's to many more in the coming year!

Hooray! It's My Birthday!

Another year has come and gone, and while I haven't accomplished near as much as I wanted to on my list, I know I've accomplished more than I would have without having it. And, I've decided that I'm going to continue adding to the list and keep working on it throughout my 40s. I'm having such a good time, why stop now? So without any further ado, I give you the '40 Things & More' list! Happy Birthday to me!

The '40 Things & More' List!

1. Go snowshoeing.
2. Serve a meal in a soup kitchen.
3. Eat something I've never tried before.
4. Visit a town in Saskatchewan that I've never been to before.
5. Plan my dream 40th birthday trip.
6. Start running again.
7. Visit a US state I haven't been to before.
8. Read a classic novel.
9. Create and complete a scrapbook for one of the trips I've taken in my 30s.
10. Do up a will.
11. Complete one of my cross-stitch projects.
12. Go kayaking.
13. Get my website business off the ground.
14. Take a self-defense class/course.
15. Go horseback riding.
16. Visit a museum or historic site in Saskatchewan that I haven't been to before.
17. Give blood regularly.
18. Attend a Victorian Tea.
19. Ride my bike in the city.
20. Stop and smell the flowers at a garden I haven't been to before.
21. Try an activity that's new to me.
22. Walk a portion of the Trans Canada Trail that I haven't been on before.
23. Learn more about my family history.
24. Visit a park in Regina I haven't been to before.
25. Participate in a fundraiser that involves a physical activity.
26. Simplify some area of my life that needs simplifying.
27. Learn how to change a tire on a vehicle.
28. Explore Regina's backyard - see what's just outside the city limits.
29. Learn more about Canadian history.
30. Visit a natural site in Saskatchewan I haven't been to before.
31. Learn to play the guitar.
32. Visit a Canadian National Park I haven't been to before.
33. Climb Wascana Hill in Douglas Park and watch a sunset.
34. Visit the observatory at the Science Centre.
35. Attend Mosaic - a multicultural festival held annually.
36. Play my first solo concert on the bells.
37. Attend an outdoor movie event.
38. Go fly a kite!
39. Play a mini golf course I haven't been on before.
40. Go on dream 40th birthday trip!
41. Attend a Regina Red Sox baseball game.
42. Visit Saskatchewan's only lighthouse.
43. Run a 5K.
44. Visit the Great Sandhills in Saskatchewan.
45. Visit a Canadian province or territory I haven't been to before.
46. Attend the annual kite festival in Swift Current.
47. Visit a major US city I haven't been to before.
48. Watch a sunrise.
49. Try another activity that's new to me.
50. It's a surprise (even to me!) - I'll know it when the opportunity presents itself.
51. Take a ballroom dancing class.
52. Watch an old black & white movie I haven't seen before.
53. Experience a WARM birthday!
54. Experience a WARM Christmas! (not necessarily in the same year as the previous item)
55. Attend the annual Dickens' Village Festival in Carlyle.
56. See the polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba.
57. Visit the east coast of Canada.
58. Jump out of an airplane! (in tandem, of course!)
59. Experience a 4th of July in the United States.
60. Visit a US National Park I haven't been to before.

The 'Big Day' has finally arrived!

Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday, I'm 40... Happy Birthday to me!

Today is the big day - the year of lead up, of creating and then crossing items off my mini bucket list, has come to this - I am now 40!

It's been a good day. Today, for the first time ever in my adult life, I had the day off work - on a weekday! I tried to make this happen ten years ago when I turned 30, but my plans fell through. This time around it worked, and so I spent the day with friends.

To begin with, I had breakfast at Smitty's with four special ladies - Helen, June, Debra and Kathy. This has been our thing we do the last few years - get together a few times a year over breakfast and catch up on each others' lives.

In the afternoon, I met another friend Dorothy at a newer coffee shop I hadn't been to before - Le Macaron. Sounds yummy, doesn't it? It was - check out this French-named concoction I devoured!

To cap off the day, I met three friends for supper at Boston Pizza. We enjoyed a good meal, had a wonderful visit, and I went home full - and blessed!

It was wonderful to see so many people I hadn't seen in a few months and have them help me celebrate this rather momentous occasion - definitely a special way to spend a special day!

And, thank you to friends near and far who followed along with me on this journey. It's been a lot of fun, and I'm not done yet. The mini bucket list is only half done and I have a whole year of being 40 ahead of me, so I'm going to attempt to finish off this list in 2014.

Stayed tuned...