• About
    • Meet Tara
    • Family Photography
    • PR & Advertising
    • Disclosure
    • Contact
  • Celebrations
    • Anniversary
    • Baby
    • Back to School
    • Birthday
    • Bridal Showers
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Father’s Day
    • Graduation
    • Halloween & Fall
    • Mother’s Day
    • Patriotic
    • St Patricks Day
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Wedding & Engagement
  • Crafts
    • Costumes & Wearables
    • Gifts and Toys
    • Home Decor
    • Jewelry
    • Kids’ Crafts & Activities
    • Papercrafts
    • Printables
    • SVG Cut Files
  • Home
    • Nehil Home Tour
    • Basement and Garage
    • Bathroom
    • Bedroom
    • Entryway
    • Kitchen
    • Living Room
    • Office
    • Outdoors
  • Lifestyle
    • Blogger
    • Favorite Products
    • Mom Life
    • Organization
    • Parenting
    • Pregnancy
    • Kids Activities
    • Travel
  • SHOP

Spot of Tea Designs

Crafts & DIY, Parenting, Home Decor and Parties.

TwitterFacebookPinterestInstagramShopContact

40 Before Forty List

Birthday, Celebrations

Today I am officially in my mid thirties! It’s my birthday and I am 35! I love to have a to do list or a goals list so I have put together a 40 Before Forty list to motivate me to get some wishes, dreams and simple tasks complete!

40 before forty list - the to do list for the next 5 years. $40before40 #40beforeforty #todo #motivation | spotofteadesigns.com

DISCLOSURE: Some of the links in this post contain affiliate links, which come at no cost to you. Know that I only promote products I personally use and stand behind. To learn more about my affiliates, please review my disclosure policy here.

Back when I was six months from turning 30, I published a 30 before Thirty list on the blog. Since I only had 6 months to do it, I kept the tasks doable but ones that required motivation.  This time around I have 5 years so I can think big and think small with this 40 Before Forty. Some are very specific things I want to do (example #24) while others (like #25) are general so it has flexibility to become whatever I want it to be.

The first half of my 30s, my body was dedicated to my daughters. I was an incubator then a food source and really I want my body back. You’ll see a theme that this second half is all about taking care of ME, as well as, building memories with my family.

Girls Weekend to Savannah Georgia - where we stayed, ate and what we did | spotofteadesigns.com
  • Go on an adults only vacation. DONE! My bestie Allie and I went to Savannah as a moms only trip! May 2018
  • Take a family road trip someplace we’ve never been before. I’m taking suggestions!
  • Renew and use my passport. It currently has my maiden name and an awful photo so it just needs all sorts of newness!
  • Have a “YES” day with my kids. Within reason of course. And I wouldn’t tell them that was what was going on. I’m thinking I should do this sooner than later when they’re more sneaky and have bigger requests.
  • Visit 3 new states. There isn’t many in the surrounding area that I haven’t vacationed at so this might be tricky.
  • Officially stop biting my nails. Been doing this since pretty much forever so it will take a lot of will power!
  • Host a multi course dinner party with food made from scratch. If you know me in real life, you know I’m not really a cook so this will be challenging for me to achieve!
  • Learn HTML so I can fix blog problems myself. Shout out to Darice and all that she’s done for my blog! But it’s about time I learn more HTML!
40 Before Forty list | spotofteadesigns.com
  • Read Gone with the Wind… again.  I’m named after it so I was due to read it again and did so by January 2018!
40 Before Forty list | spotofteadesigns.com
  • Upgrade my DSLR camera and/or lens. DONE! I must’ve been a good girl as Santa brought me a new Canon 80D! 12/2017
  • Get finances in order and write a will. Update: Hubby has all our finances now in order but we still need to write our will!
  •  Have a tech free day. Would love to pair this with #1 or #2 but when you’re in social media for a living, it can be a challenge!
Nehil family photos 2018 as shot by Heather Michelle Photography | spotofteadesigns.com
  • Book a professional photoshoot session. DONE! We started getting our family Christmas card photos shot in 2018 and I haven’t looked back!
  • Return to my pre-pregnancy weight. Who doesn’t wanna lose weight after having kids?
  • Be fit enough to wear a bikini again. I’m actually not 100% sure I want to wear a bikini as a 40 year old but I do want to be fit enough that I COULD be comfortable wearing one if I had one.
  • Go on a multi mile hike. Derek isn’t a hiker but I grew up completing many with my parents. Just feel like this long walk in the woods is due!
  • Try a new hairstyle. DONE! This might be cheating but I did get to go to a Blow out bar and got beach waves done for the first time! I loved it!
  • Try sushi. I’m not really a fish fan but I’m also not anti fish. Feel like I should at least TRY it and see if I like it!
  • Learn what the different knives in my kitchen are used for. Ya know, that kitchen knife set you get when you’re getting married? Besides a bread knife, I’m not 100% sure when to use the different ones in there. Derek always goes for the biggest and I always choose the smallest for every task. Rachel Ray, help!
Tips on how this mom of 2 trained for a 10 mile race | spotofteadesigns.com
  • Complete a physical challenge. DONE: I completed a 10 mile woman’s only race 10/2017
  • Start a new family tradition. DONE! In 2018 we started a sister to sister gift exchange for the first to exchange birthday presents. Now they do it twice a year for their birthday and Christmas.
Craft Room Tour - art gallery | spotofteadesigns.com
  • Find a personal mantra.  Creativity takes courage! A motto now hung in my craft room / office where I feel most creative!
  • Watch the sunrise in a beautiful place. Currently we are up before sunrise all the time but I wouldn’t say I’m in a beautiful place.
  • Binge watch a triology back to back to back. Derek votes Back to the Future but ugh that last one is tough to sit through!
Tara Nehil Spot of Tea Designs Family Photography Example | spotofteadesigns.com
  • Do something scary. DONE. 10/2020 I started a family photography side hustle photographing friends and then friends of friends!
  • Take a class to learn a new skill. DONE: Participated in a Paint and Sip experience with fellow NJ bloggers! 11/2017
Easter Egg hunt Disney World Reveal with free printable | spotofteadesigns.com
  • Pull off a big surprise! DONE! Disney World Vacation Reveal! 1/2018
  • Create a beauty routine that includes moisturizing. How boring is this one? haha. But really, I can get such dry skin but HATE putting on moisturizing cream as I hate how it feels on my palms. Maybe I just need to find the right cream or just suffer through it but my body aches for this!
  • Create a flossing routine. I just upped the boring factor!
Unicorn birthday girl t-shirt with free svg cut file | spotofteadesigns.com
  • Perfect a new craft. DONE! I think I’m pretty versed in iron on vinyl now! See all the free SVG cut files I’ve designed that you can turn into t-shirts and fun vinyl crafts!
  • Learn how to grill. I’m an impatient person when it comes to cooking which is really the root of why I’m not good at it. So grilling falls in that category. Ultimately if I at least learn how to turn the grill ON, this will be an improvement!
  • Publish something. An e-book? An article on a high level blog? A print magazine feature?
  • Try 50 new recipes. I know this sounds really ambitious and I hope that doesn’t end up being the case. But this is less than 1 new recipe a month. Surely I can add to our rotating recipe list in the next 5 years, right?
  • Learn a new makeup technique. I have freckles so I’ve always found it hard to wear makeup but there’s still cool stuff I can do with my eyes, right? or maybe something with my nails since I’m hopefully kicking the nail biting habit.
  • Volunteer my time somewhere. It’s been a long time since I’ve volunteered for something.
Toy Insider 2020 Holiday of Play Recap by Spotofteadesigns.com #holidayofplay
  • Attend another blog conference. DONE! 10/2020 I attended the Toy Insider virtual holiday of play!
Girl's bright and colorful bedroom tour | spotofteadesigns.com
  • Treat myself to an expensive experience or splurge item. DONE! I purchased a wide angle lens for the real estate photography I started doing for a local contractor.
  • Complete 5 random acts of kindness. 3 out of 5 complete!
Halloween baking gift basket, complete with a printable tag! Great for trick or treat alternative gift to boo a friend | spotofteadesigns.com
  • Complete 5 random acts of mail!
    1. package #1 sent Box of Sunshine
    2. package #2 sent Booed our nieces with a printable from Dylbug
    3. package #3 Wintertime Blues
    4. package #4 Halloween baking kits
  • Try a trendy new gym class. Not sure this will be achieved since I got a treadmill in 2020!

Follow me on instagram @spotofteadesigns for updates on my progress!

UPDATES ON THE PROGRESS OF MY LIST:

UPDATE: 4 YEARS TO GO

40 BEFORE FORTY: 3 years to go

1 year to go!

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related

Tagged: 40 before forty   |   6 Comments

Super Cute and Easy Butterfly Breakfast Favorite Arts and Crafts Supplies for Toddlers
Spotofteadesigns.com Signature Design showing ways to socially follow this DIY/Parenting blogSpotofteadesigns.com Signature showing how to follow on twitter. Username: spotofteadesignSOTD2019SignatureFollow4FacebookSpotofteadesigns.com Signature showing how to follow on pinterest. Username: spotofteadesignSpotofteadesigns.com Signature showing how to follow on instagram. Username: spotofteadesignsSpotofteadesigns.com Signature

Sign up to stay inspired with new posts!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Meet Tara, author of Spot of Tea Designs

STAY INSPIRED

Sign up for the Spot of Tea Designs Email Newsletter and receive an email each time a new post goes live! Privacy Policy
Shop the Spot of Tea Designs Amazon Store front | spotofteadesigns.com

Follow Me on Instagram

This summer I tried @lillunakristyn M&M cookie rec This summer I tried @lillunakristyn M&M cookie recipe and trick to add chopped M&Ms inside the batter and extra ones on top AFTER you rolled it into balls on the cookie sheet. Genuis! Been adding those extra candies or chocolate chips on top of my rolled dough ever since and love it!
.
What recipes or cooking/baking hacks have you been loving lately?
Just remember that ANYTHING personalized is fun fo Just remember that ANYTHING personalized is fun for a party, prize, reward, or surprise. These cheap plastic drink containers used at the girls outdoor get together last summer were easily personalized with some vinyl and my @officialcricut machine.
.
PS I know they won't last forever (and let's face it, most of us moms probably chuck them the second the kids get home from the party, but it's fun the day of and encourages them to drink more water!
.
Personalize something for your kids today and see the excitement to see their name!
This is our guest room also known as "Grammie's ro This is our guest room also known as "Grammie's room." And while we haven't had any guest stay here in a really long time it still can be one of the sunniest places in the house in the morning. 
.
I dressed up the walls a while back with this unique canvas cut out project featuring a @custompictureframes canvas frame. Learn more on how I create this layered piece of wal decor over on their blog. 
.
.
.
Direct link --> https://www.custompictureframes.com/how-to-create-cut-canvas-wall-art
Mark your calendars the series #BloomingWithDIY re Mark your calendars the series #BloomingWithDIY returns Monday March 8th 🍀🦋🐣🐰🌿
.
There will be weekly prizes (thanks to our amazing sponsors @xyroninc and @resincraftsblog 🙌🏻), features, and lots of inspiration!!! 
.
So get your projects ready and say hello 🙋🏻‍♀️ to our fab and fun hostesses:
.
🦋 Beth @thekingstonhome
🌿Christina @sunshinetulip
🦋Katie @katieinthedetails
🌿Laura @destrophoto
🦋Lexy @lovinglifewithlexy
🌿Lydia @lydioutloud
🦋Mariah @giggles_galore
🌿Michelle @michellespartyplanit
🦋Paula @frogprincepaperie
🌿Tara @spotofteadesigns
.
We can’t wait to see your Spring inspired DIY decor, parties, treats, and crafts! {📷: @giggles_galore} #crafts #diy
Wake them up this March with a St. Patrick's Day b Wake them up this March with a St. Patrick's Day breakfast buffet!
.
Party hacks:
- Use parade wearables as the decor, like these festival hats hung on the window curtain rod for the backdrop
- Single serve cereal cups means no need to do dishes!
- Photo props make a great centerpiece! Stick those themed props in a glass vase and add a bow tie!
- A few drops of green food dye makes for magical green milk!
- Plan a fun activity! See yesterday's reel for a fun printable leprechaun scavenger hunt from my friend @indigoinkb
This one is so eager to get her first wiggly tooth This one is so eager to get her first wiggly tooth while her sister, age 7.5, seems to have a new jack-o-lantern looking mouth each week! 
.
Luckily they both have unique tooth fairy pillows at the ready for any lost tooth occasions.
.
Grab the free printable template to see this one up over on the blog!
.
Tutorial --> https://spotofteadesigns.com/butterfly-tooth-fairy-pillow/
Follow on Instagram

ASSOCIATIONS

Blog Meets Brand

Amazon Associates Disclosure

Tara Nehil is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Spot of Tea Designs

...is a lifestyle blog showcasing crafts, home decor inspiration, party planning and parenting.

TwitterBlogLovinPinterestInstagramShopContact

Things I Blog About

  • ⇧ UP PLEASE
  • About
  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • PR & Advertising
  • Contact

© 2021 Spot of Tea Designs · All Rights Reserved · (FC)

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.