How We Did With Our 2016 Bucket List

Each year we make a bucket list of things we’d like to achieve or try during the year. They’re a mixture of big and little things and they make us say yes more, adventure more and just do more.

Here’s how our 2016 Bucket List looks at the end of the year:

And here’s are the things that we managed to tick off:

Have extension plans drawn up

This time last year there is no way I would have thought we’d even have the finance in place for our extension but, a year later and not only did we secure finance but our extension is very much underway. It has been a big year for our house – and I hope I’ll have more to share with you on that front soon!

Get hall/stairs carpet

We replaced the carpet on our stairs and through our upstairs hallway halfway through the year and it finished off the hall – having decorated it the year before! Sadly, the cat has snagged a hole in one step so we need to get this replaced at some point.

Sort bathroom lights

This was another of those jobs that needed doing and we finished our bathroom early in the year. It’s now one of the only finished rooms in the house and still one of my favourites.

Go abroad/Go on a plane

We had our first family holiday to Mark Warner’s Lemnos resort at the start of the summer holidays and it was amazing. It was just the break we needed and I would love to go back – just for two weeks instead of one next time! It was the children’s first time on a plane too and they couldn’t have dealt with it any better – they were super stars!

Start Little Man’s swimming lessons

Little Man started his swimming lessons in September and loves going swimming. He’s finding kicking his legs a bit difficult, preferring to flap them about randomly. But he’ll get there!

Go to a gig/Have a night out with Dave

We went to see Coldplay in June and it was a highlight of our year. Such an amazing concert and after literally years of no live music, after years of living for concerts, it was just the break we needed.

Go on a boat

When we went to the Isle of Wight in the school holidays we went on a ferry there and back but also went on a boat ride to see The Needles whilst we were there. The children absolutely love boat rides.

Potty train Little Man

Little Man decided just after his third Birthday that he would wear pants, not nappies and within a couple of days he was dry both day and night. It has been a breeze and we are just so proud of him.

Go on a spa day/Get dressed up/Eat somewhere posh

I have not only been on a spa day but I have been on lots of spa days and breaks away. Spa days are my one source of complete time out and relaxation and there is nothing better than a spa break with a good friend. I already have a few booked in for next year too! These breaks away were a good excuse to get dressed up too for grown up dinner and drinks.

Go to Scotland/Visit a Castle

We had an epic road trip to Scotland in February half term last year. We spent the weekend with Steph and her gorgeous family in Cumbria, then stayed in Scotland for a week seeing friends and having days out and then we spent a night at Pamela’s house before taking two days to drive home. It was exhausting but amazing in equal measure.

When we were in Scotland we visited Stirling Castle with a friend and her children. Scotland has so many castles and they are all full of history and look like proper castles – the children loved this day out.

Go to a new National Trust Property

We have been to so many National Trust places now and have really been making the most of our membership. I can’t wait to visit more National Trust places now I’m not restricted by a day job.

Go to a Museum

We love a museum and this year we went to Chiltern Open Air Museum in the summer and Fleet Air Arm Museum on a bit of a rainy day – but as that one was indoors it didn’t matter at all.

Have Afternoon Tea Somewhere New

Dave and I had afternoon tea at The Grange in Godalming a couple of months ago. It was lovely and so nice to spend some time together. But, Lucy and I also went to Moggerhanger Park for afternoon tea last month too. You can’t go wrong with afternoon tea – that and spa days make my world go round.

Go to the Cinema

We’ve been trying to take the children to the weekend cinema more often as its something we all really enjoy and it’s a definite part of our routine now. But, as well as our typical weekend cinema trips we’ve also been invited to a few cinema based events in London which the children always love.

Get to 10st

Amazingly, this year I have got down to just over 9st and I am at a pretty comfortable weight now that I can maintain. I never expected to get under 10st – it was always a hope rather than a realistic aim but I feel so comfortable being the size I am now. It’s pretty much down to me going to the gym – something I wouldn’t have even been able to imagine a year ago!

Read a book a month/Read Harry Potter again

I didn’t actually read a book every month this year but I did read over twelve books. My intention at the start of the year was to read more and I definitely did that – after having ‘read a book’ on my 2015 bucket list. I am definitely back into the habit of reading – I just need to make time for it.

Have a Girls Night Out

My bestie and I went out for a meal and to the cinema. It was something simple that I hadn’t done in so long and we had such a nice evening. I’m looking forward to doing this more next year.

Go Somewhere New at Christmas Time

This year we went back to a place of my childhood – Chessington World of Adventures – to see Father Christmas. We had such a nice day and the children loved it. The Winters Tale Father Christmas part was so lovely, realistic and definitely worth the money. We’d definitely do it again.

Have a proper Birthday party for LP

This year instead of our typical party at home we had a soft play party for LP – followed by a barbecue at our house for our closest friends and family. LP loved having a party and being able to invite all of her friends. I loved how happy it made her and we’d definitely have a proper party again.

Do something for Dave’s Birthday/Have a Family night in a hotel

This year for Dave’s Birthday we went for a family weekend away, stayed in a hotel and went to Paradise Wildlife Park. It was freezing but we had such a lovely weekend and I’m hoping 2017 brings lots more weekends away.

Go to the beach/paddle

We went to the beach on the Isle of Wight but then we went to Greece – and the beach there was lovely! A little bit different to a beach in the UK! We paddled here too – as well as doing water sports and swimming in the sea. It was lovely.

Have an Easter Egg Hunt

We spent Easter at our bestie’s parents’ house and they put on an amazing Easter ehh hunt in the garden for all the children. It was so lovely to be invited and we all had such a nice day.

Make Ice Cream

This year we reviewed an ice cream maker and have made ice cream quite a few times since. Next year I’m hoping to invest in a proper electric ice cream maker and to get more adventurous with flavours!

Fly a kite

Whilst we were in the Isle of Wight the children had a chance to run around on a hillside and fly a kite. It was their first proper experience of flying a kite and although it was only a tiny one they really enjoyed it. We’ll be flying kites again as soon as the weather improves!

Plant something

Usually our garden is a big focus but this year with me working over the nice weather months and us focusing so much on our extension we didn’t really get to appreciate the garden at all. But, over the summer we planted sunflowers. They weren’t the most successful of plants but it gave the children a sense of accomplishment anyway.

Go to a new blogging conference

Up until this year I had only been to Britmums Live and although I had a ticket to go to it this year I wanted to try something new too but due to my work restrictions I knew i wouldn’t be able to go to as many events as I wanted. So I chose Blog On and am so glad that I did.

It’s without a doubt my favourite event now and I ended up going to both Blog On conferences in May and September this year. It has a different mix of bloggers and is a lot smaller than BML. It was so friendly and welcoming that I can’t imagine not going to it again in the future.

So that’s our list for this year – done. There are a few things we didn’t tick off but overall I’m pretty pleased with how much we achieved this year – especially the extension that was a dream I thought would take us a bit longer to fulfil.

I’ve carried some of the things we didn’t tick off over to my 2017 list and will be adding to it ready to publish in January. If you have any ideas of things we can put on it leave a comment to let me know.