30 notes in the post

Does getting writer's cramp and posting 30 baby introduction cards mean #82 is almost completed?

30 thank you/announcement cards sent to family and friends

Mad for Mandarins: Homemade marmalade

I still have 20 of the mandarins Nonna dropped off last week, and I can only eat so many a day. I've always wanted to make jam and number 66 on my 101 in 1001 is just that.

Marmalade, jam - given the amount of sugar in both of them I figure they're practically the same thing. But making it wasn't as easy, or healthy, as I thought.

When life gives you mandarins...

Mad for mandarins: Zesty Mini Mandarin Muffins

I love this time of year, and its not because of the jackets and scarves that hide all of your sins. I'm obsessed with mandarins.

Those little orange orbs just brighten the boring winter fruit bowl and are so tasty.

Every year I vow to use the juicy fruit that overloads my grandparent's mandarin trees in my cooking. But we always seem to be overseas when they ripen.

This year I'm tied to the house thanks to Mini Me, so I can finally achieve this dream (sadly not one of my 101 in 1001 though). First up Mandarin Muffins.

Zesty Mandarin Mini Muffins

It's a mystery

A cryptic email tells you where to meet and what to wear, but what you're doing is a surprise. Welcome to our Mystery  Days.

Flying high on our mystery day

My 101 in 1001

Here's what I'll be doing from now until 6 March 2016.

I wanted most of my 101 in 1001 list to be fun and embrace being a kid again, to laugh and explore my own backyard (minus Japan - I've just always wanted to go).

Feel free to post a comment on what would be on your list. Visit the Day Zero Project if you'd like to start your own list and please let me know if you do.

Here it goes...

Fun
1: Ride in a hot air balloon
2: Go strawberry picking
3: Send a message in a bottle
4: Get dinked on a bike
5: Fly a kite 

6: Spend a weekend on a houseboat
7: Kiss under mistletoe
8: Make a daisy chain crown
9: Be in a flash mob
10: Visit Japan
11: Carve a pumpkin for Halloween
12: Go rock climbing (indoor or out)
13: Go trapezing
14: Tour a lighthouse
15: Shoot a bow and arrow
16: Build a blanket fort and sleep in it
17: Go to a food festival
18: Ride a Segway
19: Go skinny dipping

Explore Home
20: Visit the WA Museum
21: Hire a scooter and drive along the coast
22: Swim with dolphins
23: Go whale watching
24: Sail on the Leeuwin
25: Visit Wave Rock
26: Visit Perth Observatory
27: Bare all at Swanbourne Beach
28: Visit Penguin and Seal Island
29: Visit five country towns I've never been to before in WA
30: Go to a WAFL game
31: Swim with the whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef
32: Go to the Kimberley Moon in Kununurra
33: Visit the Maritime Museum in Fremantle

Me
34: Get my eyebrows threaded
35: Write a letter to the editor
36: Start writing again
37: Wear red lipstick confidently

38: Get a different color nail polish on each toe when I get a pedicure
39: Get a hot stone massage
40: Buy my dream reading chair
41: Buy wine barrels and turn into outdoor bench / bar
42: Start a hobby business to help plan parties
43: Make a big change to my hair
44: See a movie alone
45: Floss every day for a month
46: Have a personal shopping / style consulting done
47: Participate in five fun runs

Health
48: Run around Lake Monger without stopping
49: Be able to do 100 sit ups
50: Be able to do 10 pull-ups
51: Take a self defence class
52: Go vegetarian for two weeks

Family
53: Date night with hubby once a month
54: Make my family tree
55: Go on a weekend trip with my sisters
56: Create a family cookbook
57: Time capsule of Amelia's first year

Create
58: Successfully grow a fruit or vegetable I can eat
59: Complete the Project 365 photo challenge
60: Take a picture for each letter of the alphabet
61: Arrange holiday photos & mementoes properly (frame/box)

Food
62: Make my own cheese
63: Make a rainbow / zebra cake
64: Try butter beer
65: Go on a progressive dinner
66: Make jam from scratch
67: Learn to make macaroons
68: Bake loaf of bread
69: Bake every cupcake in the Hummingbird cookbook - and give them away!
70: Make a three course meal with chocolate as the key ingredient
71: Make a pie from scratch (or a Beef Wellington)
72: Filet and cook a fish
73: Eat 101 different fruits
74: Successfully poach an egg

Give
75: Donate blood
76: Send flowers anonymously to a friend in need
77: Send Christmas cards
78: Donate $5 for every goal achieved
79: Take part in BookCrossing
80: Compliment someone everyday for 30 days straight
81: Take part in 10 charity events
82: Send a hand written note once a month (33)
83: Sponsor a child

Grow
84: Don't complain about anything for a week
85: Identify 100 things that make me happy
86: Not log into Facebook for a whole week!
87: Don't swear for a week
88: Finish a Sudoku puzzle
89: Don't text in the car for a week
90: Say yes to everything for one day

Learn
91: Learn to handstand
92: Learn to cartwheel
93: Learn to surf - at least go on a lesson
94: Complete a first aid course
95: Learn to play the 'Cups' song in Pitch Perfect
96: Learn how to use Photoshop / Lightbox
97: Learn 10 recipes from nonna

Party
98: Throw a surprise party
99: Host a high tea (and make everything)
100: Host a hot dog party
101: Host a picnic party

Hello!

I started a year work siesta two months ago. At first the lady of leisure thing was fun. Lunches, shopping, sleeping. Doing what I wanted, when I wanted.

Then Mini Me joined our family.