H-E-L-P! you know I need somebody...

I've spoken before on here about my extreme fear of needles, or trypanophobia - what I haven't shared is that, for the past few months, I have been having some counseling sessions to help me overcome my phobia. Mainly cognitive behavioural therapy, and exposure techniques.

I won't go into the specifics, but what I will say is that, pre-therapy, I:

- could not look at a photo of a syringe

- could not listen to someone talk about needles/blood tests etc

- could not stand to be in a room with a capped needle

- felt nauseous, shaky and panicked anytime I was faced with a scenario involving needles

And the list goes on

Thanks to my counselor, I have recently been able to look at photos of injections and blood tests, handle/touch needles and other needle-related paraphernalia, and, most exciting for me, have a vaccination done without any fuss or hysteria, without even a support person there to hold my hand! I even drove myself to and from the appointment. Sounds like no big deal but, for me, it was huge.

Meet Chubby, my mascot!

My counsellor gave me this highlighter a while back - and at the time, I could barely look at it without feeling ill, let alone play with it. What a difference a few months can make! Now Chubby goes everywhere with me, in my handbag (and does raise some interesting looks at times, which is fun)

I cannot emphasise enough how amazing this process has been for me, and how helpful I am finding it. We still have a way to go, but even if this were as good as its get for me, I would be thrilled with the results.

I know that some may consider this a strange/revealing/embarrassing type of post for a lighthearted little blog like mine - the truth is, I think that admitting you need help with a problem, reaching out to grab the hand that is outstretched to you, is such a beautiful thing, and something to be celebrated, not hidden. I would encourage anyone who suffers from a phobia to seek professional assistance in dealing with it.

xoxo

5 things that made me smile this week...

1. Ballet class! I went to ballet class this week, for the first time in nearly 20 years, and it was FABULOUS! I had so much fun, even though I was completely lost nearly 99.9% of the time LOL. Another ticked off my 30 before 30 list!

2. A long-overdue upgrade to plasma...

3. Jasper on his tower - King of da world!

4. Little lamby-print drink bottle...

5. Drinking Twinnings afternoon tea in the morning - 'cause I'm a rebel like that

relaxing winter weekend...

Sometimes, the best weekends are those where you just relax and do nothing much at all!

V and I kicked off the weekend with breakfast at Owls cafe on Saturday...

We shared some fruit with yoghurt and honey

And some nommy sourdough toast with avocado, lemon juice and cracked pepper

V bought me flowers! Always guaranteed to brighten up my day - these smell amaaaazing

Nothing is more cosy than kitteh-snuggles!

Jade kept my legs warm on the couch last night

Today, V and I enjoyed the unseasonal sunshine - gotta love soaking up that vitamin D when its so scarce!

♥ Sass&Bide jeans

♥ Country Road shirt

♥ Wrangler shadows knit

♥ Diana Ferrari ballet flats

♥ Jag leather tote and Oroton silk scarf

I whiled away my Sunday afternoon re-reading the Harry Potter series - starting from the beginning and working my way through, as per my 30 before 30 list!

xoxo

scones on a sunday...

This Sunday just gone, I felt like baking! And I thought it was as good a time as any to give scones another try, as per my 30 before 30 list

I whipped out my cat-print apron, and prepared to whip up a batch of scones!

Many thanks to the lovely Mrs McAwesome for her truly awesome lemonade scones recipe!

Mixing, mixing, mixing...

They were supposed to be heart-shaped! But they became a little munted in the baking process LOL - still tasted fantastic!

We ate the scones with raspberry jam and thickened cream, accompanied by a good pot of tea. Delish!

xoxo

30 before 30...

So I recently turned 29 years old - and am enjoying it immensely so far!

I have always been a bit of a ditz where age is concerned - I can never pick how old other people are (I generally tend to shave several years off peoples' ages when I take a guess), and I often have to count up from my siblings to remember exactly how old I am. I guess that age, to me, truly is "just a number", and I don't classify people as being young or old based on how many years they have been around, but more based on their attitude and outlook on life.

That said, I am turning 30 next year (obviously!), and it is becoming increasingly apparent to me that this is a Fairly Big Deal. To tell the truth, I'm kind of excited about it! 30 is such a nice, round, even number to be! And given that it is apparently some sort of milestone, I thought it would be fun to evaluate my life and think about what I might want to achieve in the next 12 months, before I turn 30. (Yes, I am all on my own this weekend and utterly BORED right now LOL)

Just because I lurve lists so much, I made a list! Of 30 things I would love to do before I turn 30:

1. Bake scones ✓

As much as I love eating them, I have never successfully baked a batch of scones. My one attempt, 5 years ago, resulted in crumbly, disastrous dough which disintegrated as I tried to mould it. I think I'm ready for another shot

2. Finish knitting my scarf

I have had a gorgeous grey Merino wool scarf on my knitting needles for over 12 months now. Must Finish Scarf!

3. Learn to crochet

Are you sending a distinctly craft-y theme? Its something I've always wanted to do, and its apparently easy enough to learn. Perfect for fumble-fingered me

4. Join a book club

V finds this one hilarious for some reason, but I have ALWAYS wanted to be in a book club! Hey, English was my fave subject in high school, and then I spent 4 years studying English literature. Nothing floats my boat more than sitting in a room with other book-nerds, dissecting and arguing over some fantastic literary tome

5. Learn to braid my own hair

Again, I am a fumble-fingers and all past attempts have resulted in a big fat mess. I am sure, with the aid of youtube tutorials, this can be achieved!

6. Start a herb garden

I had one years ago and nothing beats being able to duck out into the garden for fresh mint, basil or thyme

7. Learn to do the cryptic crossword

My boss will appreciate this one, he's been trying to teach me!

8. Incorporate yoga practice into my daily life

I normally get 3 to 4 classes in each week, but I would love to take it to the next level of daily practice, in my own time

9. Go whale-watching

I live on the picturesque South Coast of Australia and have never been whale watching! Travesty!

10. Overcome my needlephobia

This is a topic for a whole other post, but I am currently having counseling sessions involving cognitive behavioural therapy, and its going very well so far!

11. Run in the Australia Day Aquathon

Ok now I'm scared Rob (the event organiser) is going to read this and hold me to it! I've been involved in volunteering at the event for years now, and have always wanted to run (ahem walk/jog) in the mini event, but have never had the guts. So 2012 is my year, baby!

12. Take ballet classes again ✓

The single thing I regret in my life is having to quit ballet, when I got sick as a child. Its something I've always loved. I've found a local studio which teaches adult ballet classes, and I'm excited to give it a try!

13. Sew a quilt

Kind of self-explanatory. I just think they're so gorgeous!

14. Start taking film photos again

I miss real photography! And my poor Pentax has been sitting gathering dust for far too long

15. Get our framed wedding photo enlargements

Its been nearly 2 years since our wedding day, we have PAID for the darn things, seriously! I know, I'm embarrassed by it, trust me

16. Start doing Make Up Free Mondays every week ✓

I love going sans makeup already, but I'm going to try and participate in this new movement and ban the blush and concealer each Monday

17. Cook a souffle

Something I've always wanted to make, but have always been a bit scared to try

18. Become a morning person

I have no idea how this can be achieved, but I've always wanted to be one of those (crazy, annoying) people who jump out of bed when their alarm goes off, refreshed and ready to face the day. I suspect going to bed earlier might be key

19. Stop driving my car so often - walk and bike more

Its everyone's planet, and I'm making a conscious effort to try and be more eco-friendly. This seems like a good step

20. Make my own pasta

My parents make fresh pasta and its seriously the best thing I've ever eaten. I need to steal their pasta-making paraphenalia for a weekend and give it a whirl myself!

21. Watch every Audrey Hepburn movie ever made

She is a goddess, what more can I say?

22. Hit up the local Op Shops

I love finding bargains and hidden gems, and its been far too long since I've been!

23. Go caffeine-free for an entire month

Be afraid people, be very afraid!

24. Read the entire Harry Potter series from start to finish

I am such a nerd, I love it

25. Bite the bullet and have my gremlin-infested iPhone sent off for repair ✓

The warranty on the handset is up on 3 July, and I simply cannot put it off any longer. It shits me to tears, and there is nothing more embarrassing than having a barrister call you on your mobile, only to be greeted by the sounds of screeching, chattering gremlin noises

26. Have a night at the Royal Australian ballet

See number 12, above. My ideal way to spend a night out

27. Watch the sun rise

Sad as it may sound, I have never done this!

28. Research my family tree

Like, properly research my anscestry, not just a few generations back

29. Do my Senior First Aid

As I get older it kind of freaks me out that the last time I learned CPR was in high school! I feel its irresponsible of me not to brush up properly on the skills required to save someone's life

30. Get my fortune told

This one will make me friends laugh because I am the world's biggest sceptic (seriously, I'm a member of the Sceptic's Society!) But I think it would be such a laugh to have this done

Ok, so there you have it, my 30 before 30 list! My apologies if I've bored you all to tears in the process! It will be interesting to look back on this in a year's time and see how I went

Have any of you ever done something similar?

xoxo