Happenings

I've been all over this country side in the past week. Well, not entirely, but it sure can feel like it when you travel nearly 800kms back to my home town and then another 200kms further to visit our family farm.

A little distance never stopped me.

I absolutely LOVED getting back to my home town last week to see my friends and family. It was the best week, and I managed to cram as much as I could into almost seven full days.

A few snap shots of what has been happening with me lately.

Firstly, I finished off Kate's Mary-Jane's which no longer resemble the typical "Mary-Jane's" but are adorable and comfy none-the-less.

I also managed to whip up a squishy cowl neck warmer for my dad on Tuesday afternoon. Dad spends some mornings on the motorbike on our property and it can get mighty cold this time of year. I hope this warmer will do the trick. I felt so at peace sitting and knitting in my parent's garden. I miss it just thinking about it. Sitting on the patio with our family dogs beside me and the sun going down over the yard is pure magic to me.

[Both project details can be found on Ravelry here.]

Also pure magic - visiting our family property. A few friends and I headed [further] west and spent two nights 'roughing it' in our swags in the bush. I love camping and it is becoming a tradition with our friends now. I love every bit of it. Even when my hair starts to smell of smokey campfire. I love it.

Seeing my horses was definitely a highlight. I miss them so much.

I can't wait to get home again. If we lived closer I feel like I'd be there all the time. There really is no place like home.

E, x

Brisbane Bound...

Last week the bf and I took a trip to sunny Queensland!

It was the most perfect time to get away as I hadn't had a day off work since Christmas and I was getting a little stir-crazy and needed some time to recharge.

We flew into the beautiful city of Brisbane on Thursday morning to meet seven of our friends for a long weekend adventure.

The bf has a long love affair with heavy metal music so we all decided we'd tag a long to the Soundwave music festival held on the Saturday. I don't go much on the heavy metal, but it was a great excuse to catch up with friends and have a weekend away in a new city.

Surprisingly I had never spent much time in Brissie (except for a night or two on a school excursion back in year nine!) It is a beautiful city, and so different to Sydney.

We stayed in the Bridgewater Apartments in Kangaroo Point and it was the most perfect location for what we were after. A good sized apartment will a beautiful swimming pool, a short stroll to the river with a great cocktail bar and restaurant on the corner. What more could we have asked for?

Now, let me get to the cocktails. Ah-mazing! We used the nearby Shelter Bar (part of the Story Bridge Hotel) as our "starting point" most nights and it was great! The presentation they put into their drinks (particularly the cocktails) and their food was fab!

My friend and I were drinking the $10 cocktail special (served on Friday nights as part of their 'Flavour Fridays' special) that were served in the cutest mason jars - I'm a sucker for a mason jar! And because we were drinking the cocktail special we got to enter into a competition to win a $125 Swarovski crystal voucher, and guess what??? I won the voucher on our first night at the bar! Suffice to say, the Shelter Bar is my new favourite hang out.

New earrings I purchased with my winning voucher!

Brisbane put on great weather for us too. I had been down before we left Sydney as I studied the forecast for the weekend and it said rain for all four days. BUT, mother nature pulled through and we had amazing sunshine plus cooler overcast weather for the festival. Winning!

We made a short trek up the coast on Friday to try our hand at Go-Karting! We visited the Big Go-Kart track only 21kms from Mooloolaba and we all had a ball (especially the boys who seem to always get their competitive racing faces on when anything with a motor is involved!)

We stopped in at my favourite beach in Australia (so far... I haven't seen them all), and had lunch at the Mooloolaba Surf Club (another of my regular hang-outs when on family holidays growing up).

I was surprised at how quiet Brisbane city was. Walking around the CBD and river on Sunday was so different to a day in Sydney. There weren't a lot of people, no rowdy noises, just beautiful scenery and lovely people.

On our final night the boys tried their hand at the casino (not me though, I was knackered and went home for an early night). It seemed a go on the pokies was "meant to be" for our friend Simon - he put $10 in for one hit (despite his gf telling him he'd spent enough that night!) and made himself a sweet $6,000!!!!

Holiday paid for. Lucky duck!!

All in all, it was the best weekend away! Brisbane, you put on such a good show, I am falling for your sunny charm. I hope we meet again soon.

E, x

... And they're off!! Races Wrap Up

I love a good day at the races. I love horses and I love an excuse to get all fancied up during the day.

Spring racing is even better and the weather here in Wagga for the annual Ag Races day was divine. The weather couldn't have been better! Warm, sunny, little to no wind and not a cloud in the sky!

It was the first day I felt like it was actually Spring time down here in the Riverina!

Besides all of the gabbing about the weather, the races themselves were awesome! It was a massive day for the uni Ag organisers and people were out in force! I loved it! I had some friends visiting for the event (including the BF) and we partied through the day and long into the night (with a quick stop to change into some more comfortable flat shoes after all day in heels, ouch my toes!!)

I love the races!

Fit for a King or Queen!!

I was rambling on a while ago about how you know when you've finally grown up. Well, if last weekends events didn't prove to me that I'm officially a "big girl now", then I don't know what will!!

One of my best girlfriends of all time is having a baby in July (possibly later this month if she goes early!!) and we threw her a baby shower fit for a little King or Queen (since we don't know what the little tacker is just yet!)

I've only ever been to a couple of baby showers before and mostly because they were friends of my Mum's and I tagged along and I may be biased but I have to say that this shower definitely took the cake for me!

Tegan is the most organised and driven girl I know! She knows what she likes and knows what she wants when it comes to a party and I love that! She is one hell of a party planner and kicked ass at organising her own baby shower!! Because my girlfriends and I live so far away from Tegs, we unfortunately couldn't do a great deal of prep before the party, so all of the funky decorations and ideas for food were all Tegan's doing and she killed it! (She even made the cute little clothes line deco on top of her party cake!)

I am even convinced that she should start doing party planning on the side because the place looked so cute, I loved it and so did all of her guests!!

Tegs looked stunning and in some photos you can't even tell that she is pregnant! Getting together to celebrate the impending birth of this baby made me reminisce a little about how much we have all been through as friends. We've been friends since early primary school and with out getting all soppy, it really made me proud to be apart of Teg's shower and to know that I will get to be apart of another gorgeous little life very soon!

Congrats Tegs! I can't wait to meet your little bub very very soon!!

It's Race Day!!!!!

Hey bloggy friends, how has your weekend been? Mine has been fabulous!!

For starters, I managed to finish my Friday uni classes early so I could hit the road and start the 500km trek to my home town for my favourite day on the "social calendar" .... the Races!!!

I love the races and a great country race day, I've been going to our local races since we were young kids and my Dad has been one of the major sponsors of the day for as long as I can remember so we all make a big effort to get "dolled up" and hit the track.

This year was extra special however, I was coaxed by my sister and cousin to enter the "Fashions on the Field" ladies competition even though I was planning to stay kind of low key this year. We entered along with about 70 other dressy local ladies with our paddle-pop numbers in hand. It was a little intimidating staring into the sun waiting for the judges to scrutinize our outfits but it turns out that I must scrub up pretty nicely because I won!!!!

(My cousin Callie and Sister Kate as they dragged me into the comp!! lol)

I was so shocked and very surprised and feel SO lucky! I won 4 return tickets to fly to Sydney from my home town (which is quite a long drive and can be very pricey to fly!) I am stoked!!!!

The whole day turned out to be a great one, the weather was perfect (a little breezy but nice and sunny) and we had lots of friends and family around to celebrate such an awesome day out!

Today I am spending some quality time with my mum for Mothers Day before I hit the road once again to head back down South for uni.

(My Aunty, My Mum, Me and My Sister Kate - family love!!)

How has your weekend been? Have you spoilt your Mum yet?

Happy weekend friends, and happy Mothers day to all of the beautiful mothers out there! We couldn't be who we are without you!!!!

When you realise that you're all grown up

I don't know how it was for you when you realised, but for me, over the last couple of months I have started to realise that I am not a young girl any more.

I know it might sound funny since I havent really been a "young girl" for quite a few years (I'm 23 currently) but I think I have only just started to see things like an adult. My life is becoming and "adult" life not a care-free little girl one.

Over the last week I spent time visiting one of my closest and oldest friends (I know she subscribes to my posts via email so here's a big shout out to you Tegs!! lol). She is a little older than me and we have been friends since we were in primary school. I love her to bits and she has been there for me through many years of growing up even though tonnes of kilometers has seperated us.

Before this week I hadn't seen my friend since last May! OMG!! That's ages! I couldnt believe that we hadn't seen each other in the flesh in so long, but as always when we got together it was like we hadn't been apart at all, we all picked up where we left off.

So much had changed in both of our lives since our last get-together. A LOT has changed. Firstly I had seen myself through a hard break-up, a massive trip over seas to Europe, I re-discovered my passion for design, followed my dreams back to uni and relocated to a new town and to start a new path in life. Tegs life has changed even more! Her and her boyfriend of 4 years became "fiance's", and now they are expecting a gorgeous little baby, due in July!

As Tegs, me, and another of our close friends sat around talking about our lives in general chit chat, I started to realise a few things. Our conversations aren't about young girl-y things anymore, we don't go on and on about the latest massive parties we have been to (even though I still love a good party! *wink*), we were talking about buying houses, renovations, mortgages, insurances, cars, weddings and of course the imminent arrival of a new baby!

After our first night at Tegs place I laid in bed thinking about how my life has changed, and is continuing to change but I am definitely not going down the same path as my good friend.... not yet anyway!

We're growing up so fast but I feel like I'm lagging behind a little. I'm just at a very different stage in my life right now and I think I'd like to cling to my adolescent youth that little bit longer!!

I'm not saving to buy a house, I'm saving to buy my next groceries on my current uni budget! I'm not getting married, I'm just happily dating and I'm definitely not having a baby any time soon but I know these are things that I have to start to think about at some stage. I'm not a little girl anymore and I guess I've only just realised!

I think I might just pretend for a while! I know I'm growing up and getting "older" but I'm still going to have my not-so-grown-up times thrown into the mix.

I'm not a grandma yet afterall.... right?!

(image source)

This week so far...

We're on the countdown folks!

 The countdown until I don't have to come to work in the morning (until the new year), until we can drink and eat festively (and become festively plump!!), until I can kick back on the beach in the sun AND the mighty countdown until Christmas!!!

This week for me feels like it has been dragging on and on and onnnn!

Its only Thursday, I mean what the?!

Anyway, here's my week so far in pictures!!
What have you been up to this week?

 

 

 

This week has seen me put up Chrissie lights at home on Sunday, kick back trying to relax before things start to get really hectic at home (we're having Christmas at my parents place with my aunt, uncle and their kids so we are all preparing for the big day!), I had a catch up with little "Tan" the calf who is still residing in the paddock behind our house (she is finally off hand bottled milk!! Woo hoo!), I gave myself a quickie fix up mani for a dinner last night and added some "sparklies" (I think they look festive!), I spent last night celebrating my friend Hope's 18th birthday (she's in the piccie with her 2 sisters Zoe and Brooke - they remind me of me and my sisters! Happy Birthday Hopey, finally legal!! hehe) and lastly Bazzie our Blue Heeler was feeling the love and tried to snuggle up in my lap at home and got snapped by the camera!

Ahh, still so much going on this week! Tonight we're having a "pre-Christmas" get together with my mums entire family as my aunt and uncle and their 4 kids have come to visit for a few days before Xmas, tomorrow night my little sister Jessie flies home for Christmas (YAY!) and then Saturday Santa comes and I'm off to "slip-and-slide" (yes I'm still young enough to do this lol) at a friends place for a Xmas Eve BBQ! Hopefully I can snap some embarrassing pics of the event! haha

Gotta love the holidays!!

Merry Christmas

New beginnings... Or old ones that are finally starting!

With the end of the year fast approaching I seem to get that feeling of "new beginnings", New Year resolutions and I start thinking of how I am going to tackle the new year that is about to unfold.

 I find myself writing out Christmas cards to people that I love and don't get to see very often. I read out what I have written and often they read similar to last years cards, mostly about how I haven't had a chance to spend much time with these friends and hope to see them more in the New Year.

Its sad that as you get older you start to realise that those good "old" days spent frivolously with friends at school or at home soon become the good "current" days where things change and we get older and busy and the days roll on by so fast that even last Christmas felt like yesterday! (OMG 20 days until this Christmas!)

I'm starting to understand that even though things change and people grow apart (or more so move away from each other) it doesn't always mean that its a bad thing.

Change can be good.

 Don't you think?

(image) 

As I sit down and look at what new things have happened in my life towards the end of this big year I can safely say I have a big smile on my face and feel content.

Change has been a really big constant in my life this year and although at the time some changes felt kind of yucky, I am accepting that the new changes are good if not great!!

The end of the year brings people together and always brings me a sense of new beginnings, or I like to think of them as old beginnings that  were suppose to happen but just haven't had a chance to start until now! lol

What "new" (or old things) are you looking forward to this year or into the new year?

Firstly I am trying to get all of my Christmas shopping done!!!

Oh and P.s, on random note, I am currently trying to sell my electric guitar on eBay!

Its a whole guitar start up pack with and amp, stand and guitar bag included!

The link to my eBay site is here, if you know of anyone keen to start learning or someone who just wants a guitar for the hell of it please check  it out! Sadly it turns out I am not the musical "guitar" type lol and  I want to sell it to someone who will use it rather than it just collecting dust in my house!

Drop me a comment if you want any more info!

Happy Monday! x

Weekend Wrap Up

Tomorrow is Monday isn't it?! Oh crap! It comes around so fast doesn't it?!

This weekend I got up to some fun things, but still feel like the time has flown by way too quick (why can't it do that when I'm drowning in paperwork at the Office on a Tuesday arfternoon at 3pm when it feels like the week will never end?!)

For starters I finally got my car back from the mechanic!!!! Hallelujah! I'm sure I haven't mentioned this before but lately I have been having the hardest time with my cute little Barina (Beep Beep is her name). Her brakes were failing and causing me grief (even though she is only 6 years old!!) so I had to truck her off to the closest Holden Service department (which happens to be 300kms away. Gee living in the bush has its perks *wink*)

After a few weeks away she is finally home and running like a champ! Here I am taking her on a "victory lap" (the 300km trip back home). Reunited again! haha

Also this week I lashed out and got another manicure (I am sooo addicted to these now.) They are so cheap (because I only get my real nails painted and don't go with any acrylic add on thingys) and they look so good, it saves me trying to do it myself! Once again I chose an OPI colour called "Barefoot In Barcelona". I love the name, especially since I was barefoot in Barcelona this year back in August - ah memories! I've already ordered this colour online to add to my own collection I love it so much!

Last night I had a great night out with my good friend Jess.C. We haven't been out on the "town" together in such a long time it was nice to catch up over some wines and get our dance on!

This is what I wore out last night. I was trying to take a picture to send to my sister in Townsville to see if she would approve of the outfit or tell me if it looked terrible (I've never worn high waisted shorts out before so this was something new! I am in love with them now! So comfy, especially on a warm night when you're dancing around everywhere! lol)

Please excuse the state of the bathroom bench and the "crinkly-ness" of my clothes. (This shot was pre-iron!)

So today was spent lazing around watching re-runs of my favourite show, One Tree Hill with a slight headache from those darn wines last night! lol

I'm not too excited that its Monday tomorrow, but hey, everyday is a gift. I'm going to embrace this week!

How was your weekend? Fill me in, drop me a comment below! :o)

This week I am grateful for...

This week I am grateful for having such amazing friends.

Through everything that I have gone through this year family and friends have been the most important thing to me.

They are there through ups and downs, they make you laugh, drink with you until you are stupid, dance around silly with you, drag your sorry ass off the couch when you're feeling down and they never cease to surprise you.

I've made so many new friends this year in Australia and overseas and I never forget the ones close to home that keep me smiling all week.

I feel so grateful to have amazing friends there for me.

I'm thinking of you all this week (you know who you are!)

 Thankyou!

(image)

Playing along with Maxabella over here.

Ow My Head!

Okay, I know people say this frequently but, why do we drink?! Ow my head hurts from last nights festivities!!!! lol

Alright, I admitt... It's kind of a good hurt since I had such an awesome time with some great friends!

 This was me before I hit the town with my girl friends for a six course dinner and some yummy wine (maybe a tad too much wine! haha)

It has been another busy week with work and exercise and socialising with friends but it has ended nicely and I am feeling super happy which is great! I haven't got a great deal of news to share and am a little boring with my blog updates this week but I'll try and kick back into full gear next week!

Oh, also I have been admiring my "green thumb" work watching my hydrangeas plants starting to flower - they are in full bloom at the moment and are just gorgeous! These are my favourite flowers and I can help but smile when I see them.

How have you been this week?

Make what you would buy!

I LOVE being a crafty person and I love being able to share it with friends and people that I care about.

While out tonight for a dinner date (at the chocolate shop!!! hehe) with my good girly friend Heidi, we went into one of her favourite retail stores Witchery to browse (since we both currently cant afford a mega shopping spree lol)

Whilst scoping through the store "Ooohing and Ahhing" at all of the cute things we wished we could buy tonight she pointed out to me a gorgeous mega chunky and mega long khaki knitted scarf that she LOVES!

Much like this one...

(image from here)

Oooh it was yummy, but at a price of $79.95!!! Whoa!

I reassured Heids not to worry, there was another way to get the pretty scarf and that would be for me to make one (and at a fraction of the cost!!).

She was stoked.

So now on my ever growing "list of things to make" is Heidi's "witchery-knock-off" scarf. I can't wait to cast on!! Isn't it an awesome feeling knowing you can make garments you'd lust over in big expensive shops?! I think so!

Ellie..........x

In search of the perfect birthday card...

It's a very good friend of mines birthday coming up very soon (this week to be exact - I'm a little slow on the organisation side of things!!) and I've got her present all ready to go but I wanted to find a sweet little handmade card to go along with it.

Where else to look than the place that houses all of the great handmade things... Made It of course!!

Here is what I found from Misiu "Handmade Thingmebobs"

I'm loving the cutsie owls and the real "handmade" look it has. Too cute and perfect for my bestie. Go check the store out, you might find a neat little gift as well! :o)

Ellie.........x

Friends and a weekend away...

This past weekend I had such a nice time spending it with my two closest girl friends in Bathurst! Because my two best friends live in other towns we rarely get to catch up and just chill out!

It was a girly weekend with lots of yummy wine, food (thanks to Teegs and her bf Leigh slaving over us in the kitchen! hehe), cosmo cocktails, shopping and LOTS of chatting which I love! I miss being able to have some "girly" time with friends every now and then! Roger has moulded himself into the couch since the World Cup Soccer is on so he spent his weekend watching the TV! lol

Not too much to report on the crochet front due to my weekend away, except I have ALMOST finished one of the Baby Bear beanies!! How exciting! It looks sooo cute and the colour is just gorgeous! I was following the pattern and getting a bit lost at first but ended up figuring out my way there and have finally made the beanie part. All I have to do is make the two ears and sew them on!! I can't wait to post finished pictures of it!!

More updates on the finished project soon! :)

Ellie x