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

Kate's Mary-Janes: a WIP

Happy Easter friends! I hope you are spending it with family or friends. Unfortunately I couldn't be with my family this year with the distance too great for me to travel for just the weekend, so I am bundled up in my house doing the 'house-y' things and about to get stuck in to some more crochet!

I have rekindled the flame that is my love for crochet. I knew it would happen sooner or later and I am loving it!

Thanks to the second instalment of the Jellywares autumn yarn club, I have a yummy skein of Malabrigo Rios yarn in the shade Jupiter all the way from Peru (via Cobar, NSW, hehe) to use for my next project.

I have been promising my big sister Kate a pair of these Mary-Jane slippers since about 2010 when I first started crocheting (slack sister award goes to….), so when parcel two of the yarn club arrived I knew it would be the perfect time to make a pair for her.

So far I have completed the bulk of the first slipper, I managed to get hooking last Sunday afternoon while procrastinating uni studies ( and the slack student award goes to...)

I am loving how they are turning out! The variegation in the yarn adds a little something special too. What do you think???

I am hoping to have the pair finished this weekend so I can pop them in the post first thing next week!

Enjoy the Easter break! I'm off to eat some warm hot-cross buns and sip on a cup of peppermint tea I purchased from these lovely farmers at the Orange producers market a few weeks a go.

I'll see you soon,
E, x

A thought for the farmers

Although I am no longer living in rural NSW like I have been for the majority of my life, the stress and sadness of the current drought gripping rural Australia still affects me.

A lot of city-folk might not realise how bad things in the bush are right now and it's easy to forget how others live when we get caught up in our own day-to-day rituals.

My family are the owners of a property in far western NSW on the Darling River. (I've mentioned our property in many posts before - check the 'farm life' labels on the right hand side of my page if you're keen to see more!)

Dad's plane on the new airstrip on the property.

Lately my parents have been working overtime to de-stock (sell off extra numbers of cattle) because we just don't have the food or the water to keep them all.

This week my mum emailed me a picture of the thermometer under the veranda at the house on the farm and it was hitting a high temperature of 48'C!!!! And that was in the shade!

My dad was trying hard to move our small calves to another paddock where they would be able to find shade under some trees because they were suffering in the heat. Other cattle were yarded and trucked off to be sold.

Here is a movie dad sent me today show the "mighty" Darling River - how sad that it is almost dry.

My dad sends me regular emails and photos via text to keep me updated with the property which I love. He keeps and eye on my beautiful horses and makes sure I get to see them at least once a month through the inter webs.

My horse Splash (on the left), and Dad's horse Ben.
Both looking skinny and not liking the heat very much!

It pains me to see our beautiful property in such dry and sad conditions, but I know it's apart of farming, as we all do.

I love rural Australia but it is suffering currently, and it pays to reflect on the hard times those are having in this drought. Some farmers are far worse off than us, some have even had to sell everything they have just to get by! I just hope the rains come soon to help save the livestock and the farmers from these terribly dry conditions.

Keep our farmers in your thoughts this week, and lets all pray for some much needed rain.
E, x

The Christmas Chronicles

Merry Christmas!!
I know I'm a few days late but we all know it takes a bit to get over the hype. And the food. Oh the food!

I have been very spoilt this year, like most years - I always feel incredibly blessed with the gifts that I am given. This year I was gifted my first proper designer piece.

I was given the gift of Chanel.

Thanks to my incredibly generous Mum and Dad and their trip to Hong Kong in November, my Mum wanted to spoil my sister and I and give us a Chanel wallet each as a super special present. She was armed with a great friend in HK who knows the designer stores well so getting there was no problem.

I was sooooo surprised when I unwrapped the little black carry bag with the letters CHANEL on them. I was even more surprised when I realised it was a classic black wallet, complete with authenticity card and the yummy leathery smell (this is not a fake peeps!).

Dead Lord I am a lucky girl.

I was also gifted some new towels for the house, a Mimco phone case in one of my favourite colours, some new Nike joggers, a new Pandora bracelet, a gold bangle, a BBQ for my apartment patio (I can't wait to BBQ when I get home!!) and lots of other goodies.

If you follow me on instagram, you would have seen a few more snaps of the big day! How did you all fare in the Christmas haul?

The only thing that I am sad about this Christmas is how overwhelmed and stressed my family felt. I'm being honest when I say this Christmas didn't fly by in a sea of joy and happiness. There's the food prep, the cooking, the cleaning, the setting of the table, the organising and the chaos of a bunch of family all hoping to get a long, with the clash of personalities at least once since deep down we are all very much the same.

I'm sure it is similar in some people's households, but if you are one of those family's that get a long like a house on fire and there are no tears or tantrums, then I salute you.

I only wish that at our next Christmas we can all remain calm and remember what the day is about. Because for me it is about family spending time together, eating and laughing and being happy to be in each others presence. Of course I'm a realist and there will always be a little tiff, but I hope the stress of the 'big day' doesn't take away from how special all of us being together really is.

(My Christmas tree in Sydney)

This year having our family together is especially important. My Grandfather is in the early stages of battling lung cancer and his treatment has begun over the Christmas break so having him here with us, and still healthy is a true gift.

I hope wherever you spent your Christmas, and whatever gifts you were given, you realised how lucky and blessed you are to be with people that you love.

(Our family Christmas tree at my parents home in our home town)

Now it's time to look toward the new year celebrations. Oh boy, another year is on the door step. Is anybody else a little freaked at how quickly 2013 has gone?

2014 is shaping up to be another cracker of a year for me. I am planning, but only a little, because in my experience every year has thrown me so many curve balls and changes that I can never plan too much! But, this is exciting! Not knowing sometimes is a great thing!

I've decided that I am going to do a 'reflection' post on all of the amazing things that have happened and that I have accomplished in 2013 rather then a post about new year resolutions because mostly every year they are the same for me!

More to come soon.

Happy holidays! x

Feed Your Soul

Are you on instagram, or twitter or any other social media device?

Well I am! You can find me on twitter here, and my instagram handle is elliemaree12.

I love my instagram, and twitter keeps me hella-entertained. I am devastated that Big Brother has ended this year because it has been one of my favourite trash TV shows to tweet through! (Yes, I need a life!)

Anyhow, I mentioned instagram for a reason. I follow the very inspirational fitness and health entrepreneur, Ashy Bines and she announced a few months ago that she and two of her health and wellness friends, Sharlene Fletcher of Live Love Eat Raw and Nicole Joy of Nicole Joy Inspire will be hosting a health, fitness and wellness event on the Gold Coast for ONE DAY ONLY!

When I first saw the event advertised I instantly dismissed the thought of going because I didn't think I could get to the GC in time. Turns out, I can go! 

(Mental note, Ellie you don't live in a remote country town anymore - Sydney is only a quick flight away from anywhere!! Hooray!)

My big sister and I are going together which I think is even more special since we can experience it all together. We're only spending the one night in the GC and have decided that our only free day on the GC will be spent on the beach (since I haven't made it to the beach yet this season - shame on me!)

The event will involve learning to cook clean, raw desserts (OMG YUM!), a fitness training session with Ashy (which I am particularly excited about!), a question and answer meet and great with the three lovely ladies hosting the event, motivational talks, a yoga session and SO much more. It's the perfect excuse to deck myself out in my exercise gear and get an extra boost of self-love.

I am beyond excited!!!

Are any of you attending?! Let me know! I'd love to see you there :)

E, x

The weekend that was

Its already the middle of the week and I haven't even had a chance to share with you my fabulous weekend that just passed! (WARNING: I've gone a little photo mad on this post!!)

I travelled home on Friday morning so I could attend the annual horse race meet in my home town. I go every year so this year was no exception.

I was SO overly excited to get home because I hadn't seen my family or boyfriend in over three weeks! I even got a special surprise when I arrived home to see that my little sister and her boyfriend had driven all the way down from Townsville to surprise us all with a visit! I was so happy! (They were pretty tired, it was a 22 hour drive!!!! OMG!)

Me on the right with my sneaky little sister Jessie who surprised us all with a visit!

The races did not disappoint either. The day was warm and sunny, just perfect! It was made even more special because my entire immediate family was together again for the first time in five months so I was sure to get snap happy and get photos!

With my older sister Kate

My family *love*

My dress, shoes and gloves were from Witchery (my favourite store clearly lol!) and the fascinator was purchased from Myer. This year I felt more comfortable in my outfit than any other race out fit I had ever worn! It was warmer than usual but I made sure I wore nude stockings anyway.

I love a good day at the races, I got to spend some quality time with my family most importantly and caught up with my awesome friends and gorgeous work colleagues at our business tent!

Some of the team I work with when I am not at uni! Awesome bunch!

Best weekend in a long time! But I am definitely back to reality now and back to uni in the chilly Riverina! We had a cold snap here (as did much of the state) and I am rugged up on the couch as I type.

Also, before I go, I have a car update! My Barina is apparently not worth that much if I want to trade it (which I kind of expected even though I had everything repaired and she is running fine now!) so I am selling it privately and putting the money towards a new VW Golf! I went car shopping with my Dad yesterday and I think that's definitely what I want! Pretty fancy looking small car!

I am hoping that my car sells quickly, comment below if you happen to be in the market for a second hand Barina *wink*

Ellie XO

There's no place like home

A belated happy Easter to all of my bloggy friends out there! I have had a big, busy weekend! I just got back to Wagga to finish off the remainder of the week at uni before heading home again on Friday (seems silly but that's the way the holidays fall for us!).

I spent the weekend with my family and boyfriend. On Sunday and Monday I spent my time on our family property breathing in some sanity with that fresh country air. Of course we got some work done too and as tiring as it can be, it feels so good to do some farm work. There is nothing in the world like it!

We mustered up some of our gorgeous cows and calves to move them into another paddock with more water from the creek. Unfortunately things are getting increasingly dry on our property despite some rain about a month a go. We are having to shift our cattle around to release pressure on the bore pumping water to the paddocks for the stock to drink. The joys of the dry season!!

As always, it was a family affair with my Mum, Dad, my older sister Kate and her boyfriend James pitching in to get the work done on Monday.

I always feel good after spending time on our property. It may not be every ones cup of tea but I love it. I feel refreshed and grounded again. All of the dramas of normal everyday life seem to become non-existent and I can hide away from the 'real world' for a short time out in the bush. 

The best part about it all is spending the time with my family. There is something beautiful about working together working towards something like the family farm.

I am a country girl at heart, no doubt about it. I have travelled roughly 1400kms this past weekend and am feeling a little wrecked but can't wait to get this week done and dusted to get back home for some holiday time. 

I hope your weekend was a beautiful one spent with loved ones too.

Back in the land of technology

Hey friends! I am back!

I took total advantage of the long weekend that we just had and made a last minute decision to head back home to spend the weekend with my parents.

We spent the entire weekend on our farm which for most people would seem like it is in the middle of nowhere, and most people would probably be right by saying this!

Our farm is 200km from my home town and is located about half an hour from the small rural "township" (more like a village) called Tilpa on the Darling River, NSW. I had no mobile phone service and out internet isn't quite set up yet at the house so I was totally disconnected from the online world! (We do have TV though so I managed to catch the final scores of the AFL, woo go Swannies!!)

This is where we stay when we visit our farm. Mt grandparents live in the original farm homestead so we built this. We call it the Quarters and it was originally just 3 old donga's (aka shipping containers) put together and now reno'd! We are slowly getting our garden and trees growing! 

I love the farm. I am a true blue farm girl at heart and I enjoyed every minute of my time out there. Things are so much more peaceful on the farm.

Its quiet (except for the mass abundance of pretty birds whistling all through the day and into the night), its calming, and since we had no major "farm" work to be done while we were out there, I got to spend time with my mum cooking and drinking cups of tea and I managed to get some drawing/painting done and spent some quality time with my horse (whom I'm sure has missed me even though she clearly shows little affection when I bring out the halter and lead rope which equals work for her! lol)

Splash finally showing me some love! lol

Spending time doing things that I really love makes me feel so grounded again. It really makes me re-think my outlook on life sometimes and I'm starting to learn that in life it doesn't matter what you do, how much you earn or whether you live in the big city or a small town, all that matters is that you are truly happy in yourself.

When I am with my family, friends, boyfriend and lucky enough to spend days on our gorgeous family farm I am truly happy.

How was you long weekend? Did you take a trip or make the most of the free time to stay at home and relax?

I can't believe that it is October already! And "Ocsober" has commenced! That means no alcohol for the entire month of October for me! Are you joining in too??

Realisation

Happy Monday friends!!!

I hope you have had an awesome weekend wherever you may be in the world! Mine was amaze-balls!

I travelled down to Victoria on Friday afternoon to spend a weekend with my entire extended family at my Uncle's 50th birthday bash! It was the best weekend that I've had in a while! I love spending quality time with my family, I am a true believer that people come and go but family is forever.

My extended family with my Uncle. We got commemorative jumpers made so we could surprise my uncle with a slogan printed on it about the party! We were like a flash mob, I loved it!! 

After about 600km of traveling over the weekend I had plenty of time to 'get inside my own head' to think a few things over.

I've come to a realisation or even a 'revelation' about my outlook on body image, fitness and health. I've decided to give myself a break from mentally beating myself up about my body image.

I don't eat junk often at all. In fact, I have no bad food in my house at all so it is rare that I splurge. I'm over obsessing about the thought that I am suppose to be so skinny and I am accepting the fact that I am no model and don't need to have bones sticking out to look good.

Plus, I believe moderation is good for everything (except water, I think we should drink more of that!) and if I have a slip up and eat a chocolate once a week, I don't need to mentally punish myself. If you don't eat it everyday, its OK.

Source

I think exercising is awesome and more people should do it more often but there is no need to punish ourselves if we couldn't get to the gym for an hour session one day, a 4km walk around the neighbourhood is better than an hour on the couch, its still exercise after all and calories are still getting burnt.

I wish there was more emphasis around the world about accepting who we are. Yes, we all want to look like Jen Hawkins and have long, slender bodies with no fat content, but the reality is that we can't all be like this and thats OK.

I'm OK with it, I am going to continue to exercise and eat healthy, organic foods that nourish my body but I will not punish myself for being a normal size 10 woman.

Ahhh, it feels good to vent about it! Sorry for the rant peeps! I hope you all have similar outlooks, but its OK if you don't! Drop me a comment with your thoughts!

Have a great day! x

Weekend Wrap Up!

This last weekend just past was a BIG one!

For starters it was my last weekend of the university holidays (boooo *sad face*) and Saturday night was the night for the big football/netball presentation night for my boyfriend and close friends footy and netball club (according to my boyfriend it is "the biggest night of the year" lol).

I was a big night! A big, fun, tonnes-of-dancing-and-drinking kind of night! I loved getting all "dolled up" for the occasion and spending time with my close friends.

I even got to fake tan my legs (the first fake tan of the warmer seasons!! lol My poor legs needed it BAD! They were a little ghostly to say the least!)

Here are some happy snaps of my outfit and the lippy I chose to wear! (See my last post for details!)

I went for the coral lippy (a little more subtle with my outfit - it doesn't look as bright in this picture as it did on the night. I still love the colour though!)

Unfortunately I have my jacket on in these pics so you can't see my dress fully but you get the idea :)

My sister did my hair in a Lauren Conrad inspired up-do for the evening and I loved it! I don't often wear my hair up when I go out so it was a nice change! 

Sunday was a late start (maybe a tad too much wine the night before, cough!) and of course it was Fathers Day!! My family celebrated by having a BBQ lunch with my aunt, uncle and their three kids plus my Pop and my mum and Dad of course. We ate soooo much food and I made some yummy dessert treats for after (mini pavlovas and cream brandy baskets with fruit!)

Today I had to drive 500kms back to the Riverina to start uni again for term 4! I am hoping to smash the next 7 weeks so I can get this uni year wrapped up, then I only have one more year to go and I can graduate!!! Fingers crossed I can put my head down and bum up!

How was your weekend?! 

I hate goodbyes

My little sister dropped me off at the Townsville airport yesterday and started to cry when she had to say goodbye. This of course, set me off too. Tears were a'rollin' down my cheeks.

I hate goodbyes.

I hate that my family and I can't all live in the same post code and town where all of our dreams can come true and all of our ambitions can be met.

I hate that my little sister is a million miles away in another state, sometimes on a different time and definitely in different weather (it was warm and sunny up there just like Summer!!).

I phoned my mum once I checked my bags in at the airport and after I had a little cry to myself in the ladies toilets. I said to mum, "Life is so cruel". She said to me, "It's not always life that's cruel, we make our own decisions and thats why we cant all be together".

She has a point.

Sometimes I find myself blaming the universe or God or something else for sad things happening, friends moving away, sad goodbyes or bad karma but really is it our own fault? Is it just that we have made certain choices in our lives that make us sad and make our lives the way they are? I mean, if my little sister hadn't had moved away with her boyfriend for work and I hadn't moved away for university we would all still be together in the same small town, doing the same old things. But we wouldn't be achieving what we want out of life. I guess you must take the good with the bad.

Either way, I hate goodbyes and I miss my sister.

Come home Jess?? (I know you won't but it can't hurt to ask right?? Heheh) x

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!!!!