Brilliant Birthday

I celebrated a big birthday today wherein I officially started my third decade on this planet. Most of the celebrations however happened Saturday night when a lovely mixture of school and work friends joined me for a fun filled evening in an Italian restaurant. Thankfully everyone headed my request for no gifts and some very kindly donated to charities as per my suggestion as an alternative to presents. These included Médecins Sans Frontières  (doctors without borders) and an equine/donkey sanctuary in the UK. How great are these guys?!

Fab birthday card collection

My oldest school friends sneakily got together at 9am on Saturday morning to go to the stable when they figured I wouldn't be there & take birthday pictures with my two girls to include in a wonderfully personal photo album of our times together. They also gave me an awesome doggy bank to help me save towards future puppydom ♡
One of them who is a cupcake making wizard,  made me super tasty lemon flavoured cupcakes *swoon*

Nancy kept trying to "hold" (aka eat) one end
and Kika apparently couldn't make up her mind
between being curious and afraid of the sign lolz

Some of you may remember my belated posting of a 30 b4 30 bucket list back in December (i think) last year. Needless to say, I have failed rather spectacularly at fulfilling many of my hoped achievements. Mostly because the majority of my income every month is being split between ponehs, house & feeding myself - no complaints here as these are all things that keep me very happy but rather broke and unable to achieve many of the tasks I set myself. However, I am not disappointed and here's the two main reasons why ;-)

My puppy bank needs a name,
any suggestions?

One
I technically shouldn't be turning 30 till January 4th. What can I say?! I was a pretty early baby, born after only 7 and a half months cooking. I don't think it has impeded me any and for that I am super grateful; but i am using this as an excuse to extend my 30 b4 30 deadline for achieving some of the tasks I set myself lolz. That and the fact I was a couple of months late posting my bucket list last year so I figure a grace period isn't too far fetched an idea.

Delicious lemony-goodness

Two
I am seriously considering changing this endeavour into a decade long attempt at goal setting and upgrading it to a 40 b4 40 challenge to give myself a bit more wiggle room and maybe set myself some loftier goals with plenty time to make savings and budget for them over the decade. ;-)
Anyone want to join me in a decade long quest?
The more the merrier :-)

Amazing hand-caligraphied piece my aunt and uncle
sent me with all my cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents 
and immediate family's first names intertwined
in a Family Ties portrait.
 Both sides of my family, such a beautiful gift that is being framed tomorrow and will have pride of place in my flat. #love

Ps: if one of you awesomely techie wiz kids wanted to whip up an epic graphic for a 40 b4 40 undertaking. This artistically challenged individual would be forever grateful and would obviously give credit where credit is due each and everytime said graphic would be used *scouts-honour*