A recap of 2018

I love looking back over the year to reminisce on all the amazing things that happened. Birthdays, wonderful travel, family celebrations, new career opportunities and changes around the house.

This year flew by so fast but we managed to fit a lot in!

January

A holiday to the Gold Coast + Byron Bay

February

Noah started school.  For the first time in 15 years I didn't have a child at home!

March

We gave our pool area a revamp with artificial hedges.

Noah turned 6

April

Simon and I teamed up and added Property Styling to our repertoire.

May

Camping on the coast

Jasper turns 11

June

Our Hunter Valley weekend

August

Finn turned 16 and got his L plates!

September

Simon and I had a trip to Bali, just the two of us.

My cacti grew so much this year!

October

Finn and I went to New York. It was an amazing trip together!

I shared my favourite art around my home.

December

Our Christmas Home Tour

Catch up with our QLD/Gold Coast family

What a great year!  So many firsts + new experiences! 

Obviously this was just the highlights but overall it was a pretty easy year for us all.

 We made travel and time with each other a priority in 2018. I especially made a point in not getting caught up in being "busy" and really tried to be in the moment and slow down life as much as is possible with 3 kids + their full lives, a business and other commitments. It's the first time I have reached the end of the year without feeling exhausted and stretched in many directions.

Not every year will be like this but it was definitely what I needed this year.

How was your 2018? What was your highlight?

Sea, Salt, Sun - Bali 2018

A couple of weeks ago Simon and I were lucky enough to escape the winter cold and enjoy the sun and heat in Bali. We left the kids at home with the grandparents and really got to relax and recharge.

As it was just Simon and I on holiday we chose somewhere different than from where we had stayed previously in Bali with the kids. We wanted to stay in a resort that had everything we needed so we didn't have to leave! We came across the Ayana Resort + Spa and it ticked all the boxes.

The grounds of the resort were beautiful, there were plenty of places to just chill without the crowds and we loved spending sunset at the bar overlooking the ocean with a couple of cocktails each night.

I've popped up some photos from our trip below.........

I was obsessed with the bougainvillea! It was so pretty cascading down the walls.

Kubu Beach is Ayana's private beach and bar. When the tide is high and the swell is up you can't swim here as it gets a little wild but you can still lay on the beach under an umbrella and relax. 

There is a shuttle bus that drives you around the resort to wherever you need to go.

Below is the Ocean Beach Pool which is only for adults and has the best cabanas to while away the day.  Plus the view is amazing!

Simon and I took a couple of trips to the Day Spa where we discovered the Aquatonic pool.

It's a pool with various underwater jets that give you a full body massage under a rain of warm and gentle seawater. We chose the 60-minute experience and loved it! You move throughout the pool under different jets that are targeted towards different body parts. It really eases any aches and pains and leaves you floating on air. We couldn't get enough of it!

If you're staying at Ayana you must experience Rock Bar at sunset at least once. It is open to the public but all hotel guests have preference when being seated.

You take the inclinator down the cliff to the bar, enjoying the view over the ocean. It was lovely to watch the sun set over a drink and some tapas. 

We had an amazing dinner one night at DAVA. The staff thought we were on our 2nd honeymoon as we had come to Bali without the kids. They arranged a little cake and  card for us. Too sweet!

It was just the break we needed and we came home feeling rested and ready to jump back into reality.

Have you got a holiday coming up? I'd love to hear your plans! x

Byron Bay 2015 - a little holiday before Christmas

We just finished up our annual December trip to Byron Bay and as always, it was the perfect, relaxing time we crave at this time of year.

It was all about blue skies, warm water and endless hours spent on the beach.

We had delicious Acai bowls for breakfast on the deck. It was a lovely way to start the day. 

Breakfast looking out to the frangipani trees and the ocean.

We visited The Farm for a coffee and enjoyed a browse in the shop, picked up the best Linseed and Sunflower seed sourdough and had a walk through the Macadamia orchard. My city kids were fascinated with the old tractor. It's the simple things.

I also couldn't resist a little shopping. I especially love popping into my favourites Ahoy Trader and Hope & May. I also loved everything in the Moroccan pop up shop Marr-Kett. Especially the peacock mirror. Swoon!

And of course a trip to Byron wouldn't be the same without a trip up to the lighthouse and an ice-cream whilst enjoying the view.

This trip was memorable for the fact that Jasper paddled into a wave by himself for the first time.

And Noah stood up and rode the surfboard for the first time alone. He doesn't need Simon on the back anymore.

I even caught a few waves myself. No photographic evidence though ;)

I need to keep up with them!

I love these lazy days before Christmas. It starts the holidays off right and helps melt away the stresses of the year.

I love taking photos of the boys each year in the same spaces. It's great to look back and see how much they've grown. You can see my holiday post from last year here

And also my post on Byron Bay and all of our favourite places here

Do you have a holiday coming up?

Have you been to Byron?