Central Coast Road Trippin

Two significant birthdays and an extended long weekend made for the perfect excuse for a road trip getaway with friends in late January. I took only a few photos - a telltale sign of a good time - but the ones that I did manage to squeeze in summed up the weekend in Pacific Palms pretty well.  We spent the mornings hung over eating bacon and eggs, nursing our paintball bruises and reliving tales of glory over cold beers by the lake. We danced to Whitney Houston until the wee hours and tired ourselves out playing in the surf at Elizabeth Beach.  There were afternoon naps on the grass, two adorable pups to keep us entertained and of course cake for the birthday boys, doesn't get much better than that. 

the weekend sessions

I'm sorry to say I've neglected this space recently despite every attempt not too. My priorities and head space have been elsewhere but I'm determined to get back here writing more regularly because if I don't this time will simply slip away from me, taking all the great memories of the past few months with it. Since coming back from the US, we've tried to embrace summer as much as possible with weekend trips to the beach, after work drinks at the Opera Bar, Blog Society madness, far too much time spent on Instagram, not enough Facetime with my nieces, summer nights on the balcony watching the world go by and as usual, time moving far too quickly.  I'm trying to slow down so that I can write the stories, take the photos and turn these words into memories that a year from now will piece together the puzzle that is our busy, crazy wonderful life.

All In The Family

I wasn't kidding when I said I spent most of my Christmas vacation in my pajamas. It was freezing outside, I was jetlagged, had a cold and really wanted to spend every waking moment chasing these little munchkins around the house. We played in the snow, read books, took naps, ran around the house, sang repetitive songs and laughed a million times. The fact I was able to do this without showering or changing out of my sweatpants was purely just a bonus. 

Even now I can see how quickly they've changed and grown in just a few short weeks. It makes me appreciate the time we did have and hold close those memories until the next time we're all together as a family. In the meantime thank god for social media - keep those instagram snaps coming.

On Turning 35

35. The days are long but the years are short.

I admit it, turning 35 feels a bit strange. Coming off such a mind-blowing, heart racing, pinch myself roller coaster that was 34 (hello engagement, travel adventures, new niece, business launches) and finding myself face to face with my mid-thirties was a bit unnerving. I'm not really that into birthdays - I shy away from big celebrations and welcome each new year for the possibility it offers and grateful that as I get older I'm still here to enjoy around ride. 

This was just the first time that I really felt like my age (and by that I mean the actual number) and my spirit didn't match. There was a strange urgency placed upon turning 35 and the realisation that life is indeed moving very quickly. I remember when my mother turned 60 she said the same. Like we all still feel 25 inside and that only when I'm speaking to someone younger does it dawn on me that 'wait a second, I'm not actually or anywhere near 25'  

Aside from that moment of personal reflection and a pep talk to really take some extra care of myself (yes, its time to get into the gym and perhaps cut back on the vino - hangovers at 35 ain't pretty) I embraced the day and have a feeling there are some pretty incredible milestones (big and small) still around the corner and adventures just waiting to be had. Luckily I was able to celebrate with family while I was still home and was surrounded by friends for a beautiful picnic overlooking Sydney harbour when we got back. Only my actual birthday, Jimmy spoiled me rotten with breakfast out, a day at the beach, drinks in Watson's Bay and a movie snuggled on the couch to end a perfect day. In true mid-thirties style I was in bed by 9pm...

Home For The Holidays: Boston Christmas 2014

This holiday was all about family.  

Coming home to Boston for me is an emotional journey filled with happy hellos and sad goodbyes - but Christmas anywhere else wouldn't just be the same.  This year was strangely different, the jet lag was all too familiar and the winter flu season hit hard with our entire family sick at one time or another but I happily immersed myself in the mundane and beautiful moments most people take for granted.  

I shared cups of coffee and long conversations with my Dad, wrapped presents and baked with my mom, cuddled with my new and perfect little niece Lela and laughed until I cried at the cuteness that is my eldest niece Fiona.  I spent the majority of my time at home in my pyjamas (I'm not joking) watching 'American Pickers' with my parents, chasing my niece around the house and reading her books, drinking wine with my sisters and forcing everyone to play Taboo - my favourite game.  

We had a hilarious girls day out trying on wedding dresses and a few token trips to Border Cafe for my margarita fix but the cold weather and our runny noses kept us from seeing many of our friends - something I regret and hope to make up for when we come back later this year.  There is a certain sense of guilt that plagues me while I'm home - guilt for missing out, guilt for not being there when the times are good and the times are bad and guilt that my family can't be there to experience our incredibly lucky life in Australia.  When I'm home I struggle with these feelings combined with homesickness and the feeling of complete and utter crazy love and annoyance that comes with being surrounded by family.

Seeing my nieces grow up before my eyes was especially moving and even now that we've been home for a few weeks my heart breaks not being able to see them daily - something I will no longer take for granted. It was a wonderful holiday - bordering on boring it was so simple - but something that I found to be completely relaxing and everything I hoped for.  It's crazy how much I miss them now. xx

Wiliams-Sonoma Holiday Instameet & Cookie Swap

Before we left to go home to Boston for Christmas, I managed to squeeze in one last event of 2013. I contemplated not doing it at all given how busy things were but I'm a sucker for anything Christmas related and when we threw cookies into the mix I was hooked.

I teamed up with my friend Jayde from Little Paper Lane and Williams-Sonoma to host a Holiday Instameet and Cookie Swap (which I didn't realise was virtually unknown here in Australia).  I had to explain the concept of a cookie swap to everyone and as you'd expect with anything involving sugar it was a huge hit.  

I always get extremely sentimental around the holidays (cue nonstop Christmas carols) and that's probably because being so far away makes me homesick this time of year but stepping into the Williams-Sonoma store in Bondi last month was like being transported back to New England.  Christmas music was playing and gingerbread cookies were baking in the office - it smelt like heaven. The rest of the night was really fun and the perfect way to end a busy year of Blog Society events - and yes I ate my body weight in cookies, can you blame me?

Sewing 101: Baby Quilt #2

I knew from the moment my second niece, Lela, was born in August that I'd make her a baby quilt. I made one for her sister, Fiona, and I was actually really excited to dust off the sewing machine and make something that (hopefully) she can treasure forever knowing that it was made with love from her aunt far away.

Now being an extremely impatient person means that my sewing skills are less than stellar and that attention to detail isn't my strong point (fingers crossed that when my sister washes the quilt it doesn't fall into a million pieces). Even if it doesn't stand the test of time I loved the process of making it and after a busy end to 2013 I found it really therapeutic to sit in front of my sewing machine (swearing and screaming at times) and to make something. I spend so much time looking at Pinterest and reading magazines filled with pages of beautiful things I'd love to own but rarely do you have the opportunity (or desire) to actually make it with your own hands.  It's quite an addictive process and one that I forgot how much I enjoyed. The end result was something I was really proud of and happily wrapped it for Christmas knowing that it was going to be loved by that little munchkin I hadn't yet met.  I'm happy to report that although I don't make new year's resolutions, sewing is back on my priority list and I'm already cutting material for my next project - watch this space.