7 days

Other than building some Ikea wardrobes and taking walks around the new neighborhood I've spent the entire past week staring at photos of my niece. I kid you not. I get about twenty thousand emails a day from my family all containing updates and new photos, each one cuter than the next. I love them. So consider yourself warned, if you come within 10 feet of me in the next few weeks (or months!) you too will get a complete run through...

fiona

She finally arrived and was worth every anxious minute of waiting which I suppose is easy for me to say since I wasn't the one actually in labor.  My sister was a warrior, battling it out for what seemed like an eternity and my hat goes off to her and her partner for enduring such a long physical and emotional battle. In the end, my sweet little niece arrived happy and healthy and bubs, mom and dad are resting, recharging and getting to know each other on this brand new adventure called parenthood.

Thanks to technology and luckily for me, both J and I were able to be with my family via Skype while they waited for news and got to see pics and videos of Fiona right from the hospital. It eased the pain of not being there but I'm still counting down the days to our trip home in August to meet the little munchkin. Until then, there are presents to buys, crafts to make and I'm sure countless photos to gaze at. I'm in love already...

the waiting game

Oh, the waiting game. We've been anxiously awaiting news from back home about my new niece or nephew's impending arrival, seems the little bubba is a stubborn one. To pass the time we've explored the new neighborhood, headed out for breakfast, did a bit of work around the apartment and currently I'm lounging on the couch, feeling a tad under the weather and a whole lot of homesick. 

Excited, nervous and anxious to meet this little one and at the same time feeling so very far from home and sorry to miss such a pivotal moment in my sister's life. Thank god for Skype. The wait continues, I'll keep you posted...

say my name

Choosing a highlight from this past weekend's Easter getaway to Smith's Lake is proving more difficult than I expected. Some would argue that discovering the sheer joy of playing Taboo would take the cake, others might say the seafood extravaganza that we cooked up was a real holiday memory maker but for me it had to be the late night sing along to Destiny's Child mega hit, Say My Name.  I mean, who seriously wouldn't want to join in on some vocal harmonies and a few dance moves to one of the all time greatest female R&B groups? I rest my case.

The rest of the holiday seems tame in comparison, but we enjoyed our lake house to the fullest. The boys took off each morning to explore the surf and hit the waves and us girls enjoyed stacks of trashy mags, chick flicks, trips to the beach and frozen pina coladas - need I say more? We laughed, ate way too much food, drank a bit too much, managed to take the kayaks out on the lake and squeeze in a few cheesy photos all before settling in for some competitive game playing, hilarity ensues.  

Oh and no holiday would be complete without some personal insight or self-discovery and for me that moment was realising (with Abby's help) that when I don't dry my fringe straight I begin to resemble Hugh Grant. Happy Easter...

newtown

We've been without Internet connection since moving in (the horror) so I just wanted to pop in, say hello and post a few pics. Connection should be back up and running late next week so unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) I'll be taking a blogging break until then.  

In other news, our apartment is finally taking shape and starting to resemble an actual place of dwelling instead of just bags and boxes scattered around. It's busy, bustling, a bit loud and we love it...

movin' on up

We're moving. finally. After what has seemed liked four million years of apartment searching, we have finally found a great little unit in the wonderfully gritty and glorious streets of Newtown. Or at least I hope so. Truth be told, after viewing the unit for a full five minutes I really can't recall what it looks like. I just remember 'balcony and city views' in the description. I was sold. 

As I've mentioned here a few times, the apartment searching process is pretty soul destroying and by the end of it you question your own judgement. "Do I really care if the apartment is next to a methadone clinic?" you might ask yourself or "maybe a refrigerator in the living room is kinda of quirky?" So honestly I have no idea if we're moving into an urban oasis or a crack den, but you know what? I don't care. If it means that at least for the foreseeable future I can enjoy my own space and avoid the god awful cattle call of the real estate world, I'm happy.

change

Yes, it's true. My second column over at the CWC is now live and this month takes a look at change. No, not the change but rather the often feared, rarely followed ability to shift your thinking, step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Go on, have a read...

the birthday boy

Wishing the most beautiful, kind, amazing man in my life a wonderful, happy birthday.  Sorry Jimmy, I couldn't resist the photo...x

food for thought...

Long hours, endless rain and feeling a bit 'blah' seem to sum up my week. Not very uplifting I know, but then I saw this photo and the message struck a cord with me. Perfect food for thought considering today is International Women's Day...

p.s - image found here

the little sister

Sending my little sister birthday wishes for an amazing 30th! You have always made me laugh, saved me countless times by doing my hair and make-up (because even at 33 years old I still have no idea how to do either!), listened to my stupid songs, long distance voicemails and countless embarrassing dance routines. You have always impressed me with your ability to look good wearing scrubs, undying love for Carrie Underwood, ability to make buffalo chicken dip without eating it all yourself, amazing voice, sense of style and for introducing me to the unbelievable skinny girl margarita. 

I am so proud of the woman you have become and admire the strength and determination you put into everything you do. Being far away I miss you like crazy but wish you nothing but happiness in the years ahead. Here's to an amazing birthday...love you!

running on empty

After two crazy weeks of working long hours I was running on empty and looking forward to a complete weekend of relaxation, the kind where you don't ever get changed out of your pj's and avoid leaving the house at all costs. It was perfect, the rained poured down most of the weekend which washed away any guilt I felt for lounging in bed, looking at magazines, making homemade pizza, doing laundry and endless reruns of trash TV.  J and I managed to look at a few more depressing apartments before heading home to drank wine and watch 'Midnight in Paris' all the while planning a trip of our own to South America later this year. It will be the first solo trip we've taken without family in ages and I can't wait to spend the next few months planning and dreaming of our adventure.

On Sunday the sun was shining - a shock to my system considering the recent monsoon weather we've had.  I moved my laziness outside and sat by the pool, met up with Alexia for a walk down to Manly and even managed to finally begin the next sewing project.  I felt relaxed, recharged and ready for the week ahead...

almost famous

I'm famous. Well sort of. Kind of. Maybe only a little bit. Okay, let's face it I'm not remotely famous in any way, shape or form but for one teeny, tiny second that is how I felt when seeing my first blog column go live on the CWC website last week. I got a tad bit excited. It was my Carrie Bradshaw moment (minus the NYC apartment, designer clothes, shoes or face on the side of the bus) but give a girl a break and let me enjoy my moment!

I've posted about the Creative Women's Circle website before and have enormous respect for Tess, who runs the site, and the concept in general that encourages and inspires creativity in women so to be an official columnist is something I'm really excited about. Each month I'll be rambling on about Sydney's creative ladies and other random tidbits I happen to discover along the way. It also means the pressure is on to come up with interesting things to write about (eek, panic setting in!) but I've got a feeling there will be no shortage of material anytime soon...