Thursday, December 30, 2010

101 in 1001 Update!

8# Create The "Rainbow Cake" For My Birthday!
COMPLETED!

After alot of this...

Then to the final stages of the cake...

Then the final result...


How awesome does this cake look!
It was super sweet! And yummy!

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Package Swap!!

YAY!! Jamie got my package!!

Wanna know what I sent her...
Pop over to Jamie's blog and check it out!

Someday I Will...


One day, some day, soon...
I want to learn how to ballroom dance.
I want to learn how to dance the tango
A dance of passion, lust and love
This clip is from "Take the Lead"
I would also love to salsa
Been once and would love to go again!

Quote of the day...

The world is full of temptations...
They're the wrong things
That seem right at the time.

-Jiminy Cricket- Pinocchio

Sunday, December 26, 2010

101 in 1001 Update!

16# Write a letter to my nana, send it to her along with flowers.
COMPLETED




I changed this one up a little bit.

In the spirit of Christmas,
And with my nana coming out for Christmas Eve dinner,
It gave me the perfect opportunity.

The letter was written, full of love and gratitude.
And a little present to match.

Angel of Remembrance
~Keeping treasured memories close.~

101 in 1001 Update!

62# Learn how to make origami
COMPLETED!!

I have always wanted to learn this talent.

So what better way then to teach myself...


I purchase a book and started from there.

And this is the end result...

Paper Crane and Tato.

And soon to do more.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

101 in 1001 Update!

49# Participate in "Gimme Your Stuff"
COMPLETED

When I found the website "Gimme Your Stuff"
Straight away I wanted to participate.
But unfortunately the website seems to have not been used since mid 2009.

But I wasn't going to admit fail quite yet.
Then I had a idea.

When I started this 101 list
I had joined a site called
"20 Something Bloggers"

So I started a forum topic
through which I then found the person

I was super excited to do a package swap with Jamie
She is a awesome person! And a LDS member.

On Monday 20th Dec I received my package...







These are my favourites from the package, the photo above and below.

I LOVE the package it was a awesome birthday/christmas present!
I am so grateful that Jamie agreed to do the package swap with me.

Looking forward to doing it again in the future with someone new.
Looking at someone from the UK next.

Another Year Older...

This year I turned 24 years old.

To begin my birthday
The night before my birthday we had the family around for dinner
Including my awesome friend Lisa.

With the help of my sister and my mum
The birthday cake was a HUGE success...


The next day- my birthday,
I arrived home from work to find this...

I then opened my bedroom door to find this...
That is about 3/4 of the balloons that filled my room

And in about 1/2 of the balloons I had little messages...
They were pictures, notes, quotes and things about me.
It was a awesome surprise.

Then it was off to dinner with my sister Cass and parents




Huge meals and yummy at that.
Cass's meal being the biggest for the smallest person.

In the end, I had a awesome birthday!
Thanks to my amazing family.
-Lisa, your basically a sister to me :)

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Time To Celebrate!!

Today is my Birthday!


I am having a FANTASTIC day!

Have heaps to share with you over the next couple of day from a AMAZING American package from a super cool chick, to a BRIGHT birthday cake to a AWESOME birthday surprises.

But first I have a announcement...

To celebrate my birthday I am going to hold...
MY VERY FIRST GIVEAWAY!!!

For the lucky winner they will win a Iszle Scrabble Tile pendant necklace!!

The giveaway prize is a silver ball chain and a scrabble pendant of your choice.

Check out her store of Esty or Made it

I am addicted to these pendants my collection is a pretty decent one.
I love them as the are made with the highest quality and there are some many to choice from.

So here is the deal,
Entries are open now until Sunday 9th of January 2011
It's a long one due to the holidays.

The each the following things will get you an entry each,
Each one you do increases your chances of winning.
~Follow my blog.
~Reblog the giveaway
~Follow me on Twitter (@jess_barnes)
~Twitter the giveaway

Then leave a comment and stay tuned!!
Winner will be chosen randomly
This giveaway is open to everyone, everywhere!


GOOD LUCK!

What better way to celebrate my birthday!!!

Quote of the day...

The most wasted of days is ones without laughter.
-E..E. Cummings

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Advice, Like Youth, Probably Wasted On The Young.

Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97:

  • Wear sunscreen. If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.
  • Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.
  • Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday.
  • Do one thing every day that scares you.
  • Sing.
  • Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
  • Floss.
  • Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.
  • Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
  • Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.
  • Stretch.
  • Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.
  • Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.
  • Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.
  • Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.
  • Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.
  • Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.
  • Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.
  • Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
  • Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.
  • Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard.
  • Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.
  • Travel.
  • Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.
  • Respect your elders.
  • Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.
  • Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.
  • Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

-By Mary Schmich.


This post is inspired by blogger friend, Jamie, thanks to her awesome package!


Sunday, December 19, 2010

The Australian Heros...


There are hundreds of unsung heros fighting for our nation over in Afghanistan.
Damien's story is inspiring and I'm humbled by his courage and the courage of his fellow service men and women.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Quote of the day...

Time was with most of us,
When Christmas Day,
Encircling all our limited world like a magic ring,
Left noting out for us to miss or seek,
Bound together all our home enjoyments, affections and hopes,
Grouped everything and everyone round the Christmas fire,
And make the little picture shining in our bright young eyes,
Complete.

-Charles Dickens.

Friday, December 17, 2010

101 in 1001 Update!

75# Mail out christmas cards
Completed!!


Ten christmas cards sent out.

But with a twist, oh how I like giving people surprises.

I like to see people smile.

I like to make people feel like they are important

And that they do have a effect on people lives.

Most of the time they don't even know that they have that effect on people.

Basically theses cards were to thank people for being them.

Only one card had a sender on it.

The rest well if they find out it was me, then so be it.

But I would rather it be a secret.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Trade in...

May I please trade in my body.
It seems to hate me.
I'm sure it's still covered by the warranty.

Back in early October I hurt my back and had to get it strapped by my phsyio.
Well since then it has still been giving me heaps of pain and problems.

During my during my two weeks of holidays the other week,
It was spent it going from appointment to appointment,
having tests and getting results.
All up had 4 blood tests, 1 CT scan, 1 MRI scan, 6 doctors appointment.
Results- 5 bulging disks and spine degeneration.
What means- PAIN, PAIN and MORE PAIN.

Where to from here...
Tuesday I have to go and have another blood test and a ultrasound, and a bone scan.
The blood test and ultrasound is in regards to a old problem with my thyroid.
And the bone scan is of my left foot- earlier this year I sprained my ankle twice in the same month, and also developed Plantar fasciitis, but over the last week, my fasciitis has flared up again as well as potential causing a stress fracture to my foot as well.

In regards to my back, in January i'm off to a Rheumatologist and he will take it from there, the suggestion at the moment that my doctor has requested is a Facet blocks- injections into my spine.

Hopefully by the end of January I will be back to my old self, and be loud back to the gym!


Saturday, December 11, 2010

101 in 1001 Update!

80# Complete a colouring in book


The book that I picked to achieve this goal was 'Tangled'
Which is the upcoming disney movie.
The movie looks good!

Here is what I have completed so far...



101 in 1001 Update!

50# Take part in PostCrossing

My aim it to participate in PostCrossing 10 times.
PostCrossing is where people send postcards to people all over the world.

So I have my 10 post cards and 10 oversea stapes...
Now all I have to do is to write on them and post them.

Someday I Will...

Spend Christmas in a white wonderland!

Inspired by Someday Hopes.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Talented!


This is one talented guy, he built this and can play so many awesome tunes!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Quote of the day...

I will honor Christmas in my heart,
And try to keep it all the year.
-Charles Dickens.

Music of the moment...



End of leave...

Back to work on Monday, my two weeks leave now at an end.

The past two weeks have been flat out. Today I went to my work christmas lunch, and realised that it feels like I have been away from work a lot longer then 2 weeks.

My holidays have consisted in helping my mum out with things, playing with my gorgeous 3 & 1/2 month old niece, and lots of doctors appointment and test- trying to sort my back.

It's been good to rest up and just have time to go to appointments, knowing that I would be free to go to appointments whenever I could get it, and not having to work it around work.

December is my favourite time of the year. My birthday is on 22nd of December, but more so, December to me is about family.

This year it's going to be awesome, my sister will be down, I haven't spent Christmas with my sister Cass for quite a few years, it's exciting cause we nearly have the whole family together! All we are missing is my sister Jaci and her husband Sam.

I can't remember the last time we had the whole family together for Christmas, it won't be this year but we're getting closer, maybe next year.

I'm excited about seeing my sister, we have so many plans for this month, with our mum still recovering from shoulder surgery, me and my sisters will be doing alot of the cooking this year. Me and Cass have a lot of idea already, one of which is to make my birthday cake.

Another special thing about this Christmas is that it's Zoe's first Christmas! And it'll be Cass first time meeting Zoe in about a weeks time when Cass arrives.

It's beginning to feel alot like Christmas, and I have a feeling that this is going to be a very merry Christmas!


Reality...

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Pink Fever

At the moment I am going through a stage of listen to Pink, and I'm loving her two new songs- "Raise Your Glass" and "Fuckin Perfect".
I love that Pink is honest and open about her views, she doesn't try to be the normal "pop" singer like Britney, Christina etc that also became famous at the same time as pink, they changed who they were to become more popular, but Pink stayed the same.

*Please be aware that there is some swearing. Mostly only in "Fuckin Perfect".

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

What Do You Got?


Had to share this song with you from Bon Jovi.
One: I LOVE this man, seriously I swear he just gets better with age!
Two: I LOVE his songs, this lyrics actually have meaning to them and I love this song.

And I also like his new song "No Apologies"

Hope you enjoy!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Someday I Will...

I want to swim with great white sharks.
Of course with me being in a nice strong cage.
I have always had a amazement with great white sharks.
They are a beautiful creation.

Inspired by Someday Hopes.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Invisible drum


Gotta love Rowan Atkinson, he's such a crack up!

Friday, November 26, 2010

The list!

Have you ever wondered what you achieve in the next three years? Or where you will be?
Do you like making lists and goals for the future?

Then you should try the Day Zero Project!

The Challenge:


Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.



The Criteria:

Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on your part).


Why 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple challenges such as New Year's resolutions or a 'Bucket List'. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organising and timing some tasks such as overseas trips, study semesters, or outdoor activities.

So here is mine:

Start Date: 26th November 2010
Finish Date: 23rd August 2013

Items in normal font are not yet started
Items in Blue italic are in progress
Items in Purple bold are completed

The List:

Service:
1. Babysit for free & send the parents out on a date night.
2. Send a care package or a "just because" package.
3. Leave a inspirational note in a book for someone to find.
4. Complete 10 random acts of kindness. (0/10)
5. Volunteer somewhere.
6. Take part in the 40 hour famine.

Cooking:
7. Cook 20 new dishes. (0/20)
8. Create the 'Rainbow Cake' for my birthday!
9. Make a fancy birthday cake for someone else.
10. Try 10 new foods I have never had before. (0/10)

Church:
11. Go the the temple every year.
12. Do a talk in sacrament meeting.
13. Bare my testimony out loud.
14. Read my scriptures & pray daily.
15. Read D&C from start to finish.

Family:
16. Write a letter to my nana, send it to her along with flowers.
17. Frame a family photo.
18. Take flowers to my grandfathers grave.
19. Write letters to my sisters.
20. Babysit my niece or nephew for the day or overnight.
21. Treat my mum to a pamper treatment.

Home Improvement:
22. Buy myself flowers every week for a month. (3/4)
23. Organise my Itunes and create a play list of 101 of my favourite songs.
24. Grow a vegie or herb garden.
25. Organise my room.

Health & Body:
26. Reach my goal weight of 75kg.
27. No fast food and drink only water for 1 month.
28. Walk the full length of seven mile beach.
29. Exercise 5 days a week for at least half an hour for 1 months.
30. Drink 1-2 litres of water a day for 1 months.

Travel & Outdoor:
31. Go to wine glass bay.
32. Go camping.
33. Build a snowman.
34. Go on a train ride.
35. Go to the theme parks.
36. Go paint balling.
37. Go see a AFL game.
38. Go jet skiing.
39. Go scuba diving.
40. Go white water rafting.
41. Swim with sharks(me in a cage).
42. Go cloud watching.
43. Go star gazing.
44. Watch the sunset & rise in the same day.
45. Climb a tree.
46. Plant a tree.

Projects:
47. Complete the "Urban Alphabet" project.
48. Complete the 365 photo project.
49. Participate in "Gimme Your Stuff".
50. Take part in PostCrossing at least 10 times. (10/10)
51. Complete a DIY project.

Blog:
52. Write a "100 things about me" blog post.
53. Have 5 people guest post on my blog. 10 Simple Things Guest posts!
54. Host 5 give-aways on my blog. (4/5)

Personal Growth:
55. Write a letter to myself at the beginning of this project, seal it and open it on the last day.
56. Make a list of 101 things that make me happy.
57. Learn to couples dance- such as latin, ballroom etc.
58. Make myself a item of clothing or bag.
59. Write in my journal often and fill a journal.
60. Get my drivers license.
61. Read 101 books. (10/101)
62. Learn how to make origami.
63. Record everyday for 1 months the things that I am grateful for.
64. Learn how to change a tire.
65. Buy a 2011 diary and actually use it!
66. Learn to tie a tie.
67. Milk a cow.
68. Learn to juggle.
69. Knit a scarf.
70. Create a "inspiration" board.
71. Find myself a snail mail pen pal.
72. Subscribe to a magazine.
73. Listen to someone else ipod.
74. Fill a book full of quotes.
75. Mail out christmas cards.

Entertainment & Fun:
76. Dance in the rain.
77. Kiss someone in the rain.
78. Tie a note to a helium balloon and let it go.
79. Go on a picnic.
80. Complete a colouring in book.
81. Go to a drive in movie theatre.
82. Write down bad memories on a piece of paper... and burn them.
83. Make a wish at 11:11 on November 11, 2011.
84. Crave my name into a tree.
85. Go to Tasmazia & complete all mazes in one day.
86. Go to a live concert.
87. Attend a play.
88. Write a letter to someone I admire, but have never met.
89. Host a dinner party.
90. Get photos taken in a classic photo booth.
91. Send birthday cards to all my friends.
92. Wish on a shooting star.
93. Listen to christmas carols everyday from 1st Dec till christmas day.
94. What 26 movies that I have never seen, each one starting with a different letter of the alphabet. (10/26)
95. See a live comedy show.
96. Complete a puzzle larger then 1,000 pieces.
97. Go to a museum.
98. Kiss someone at midnight on New Years Eve.
99. Design & have a t-shirt printed.
100. Go go-karting
101. Go for a ride on a ferris wheel or a carousel.