Just Like Martha

Cruising the Northern Beaches...

We have a visitor from the UK staying with us for a week. Gillian is very familiar with Sydney having lived here on a teacher exchange many years ago, but it had been a while since she had visited the northern beaches....so that is exactly where we went on my day off this week!

Sadly no that is NOT my car, pretty cool huh! It seems there were other people 'crusing the beaches' too!

First stop my favourite coffee shop to visit in Mona Vale... Armchair Collective, with its amazing coffee, tea, milkshakes, treats etc (the list goes on - very yummy place to visit for breakky!)...

Gotta love a bathtub filled with wonderful flowers and plants to purchase..

Lots of yummy treats for sale...ahhh and the homewares are to die for! If you are ever in Mona Vale make sure you stop by for a visit!

We then drove up to Palm Beach driving past lots of wonderful beaches on the way (Newport, Whale Beach and Bungan just to name a few) I had never really noticed befor how the sand changes colour from beach to beach, by the time we had reached Palm Beach the sand is quite an orange colour..

We had a good look around, ooohed and ahhhed at some of the amazing houses then headed on over to The Boathouse for lunch.

Thoroughly enjoyed my roast vegie panini..

Definitely glad I ordered the Chai tea...

Although it was cloudy and overcast the view was still very pleasant...

The flowers on display and ready for sale inside were amazing...

and the putside view pretty good too..

Enroute home we called in to Freshwater (or "Freshie" as we affectionately call it - best beach in the world!!)

Hope you have enjoyed "cruising" with me, I loved showing Gillian our special part of the world xx

Good Life Wednesday

I am playing along with Sarah and her "Good Life Wednesday". Now I must confess Wednesday is my 'day off' so every Wednesday is a good one, they are busy as I stuggle to fit way too many things into the one day....

 

Every Wednesday I train with a group of lovely ladies for an hour down at Clontarf, our trainer is tough but I have come to enjoy the sessions, its a great way to start my Wednesday!

Next on the agenda was cleaning the house....washing.....more washing...did I mention washing???? Quite a sense of achievement when everything is clean and tidy, even remembered to change the water in these beautiful lillies that my dear hubby bought home last week as we celebrated our wedding anniversary.

 

These flowers smell AMAZING!

 

I managed to escape from my chores for a while and catch up with a friend for coffee.

 

Then it was back home to whip up sme of these yummy chocolate chip muffins in time for the girls to come home from school...

 

Thank you to Melissa from One Crafty Mumma for the wonderful (and easy peasy) recipe...some big ones for afternoon tea and mini ones to pack in school lunches as a treat.

 

So, all in all it was definitely a GOOD LIFE WEDNESDAY, how was yours?

Good Life Wednesday

Its always nice to be reminded to be thankful for the "good stuff", the everyday ordinary stuff that we sometimes take for granted......enter A Beach Cottage and "Good Life Wednesdays".

 

After running a few errands today Lilly and I stole some time alone (Taylor was at a sleepover) and went for a drive along the beaches......it wasn't long before we pulled into a favourite haunt for cake and coffee.... Alfresco Emporium ...yummo!

 

Thankyou Sarah for reminding me that sometimes its the simple things that remind us of our "Good Life".

 

 

 

An Easter debrief ...Hello Good Life Wednesday!

 
Yes, I know what you are thinking Easter was weeks ago...well I have finally caught up on washing and ironing, the kids are back at school and settled back into routines, John is back at work (not after he had a painting frenzy and redecorated two rooms!!) and I have been busy working four days a week.....

I have managed to do some blog hopping and came across GOOD LIFE WEDNESDAYS over at A Beach Cottage and have decided to join in (never mind that is is now Thursday..oops) at least it will encourage me to post something mid week and after all we do live the good life and hey it is worth celebrating!

Our recent celebration was of course Easter and a Mills Family Reunion. John's dad was one of 16 children (yep..16!) and many years ago John organised the first reunion when he realised he hadn't met half of his first cousins! Years later (and loads of extra additions) we reunite every 3 years in Coffs Harbour where the family grew up.

 
Image Courtesy www.dashanddapper.com.au

This year 215 made it along to the three day celebrations which were kicked off my a seafood bbq on Good Friday evening, followed by a church service (just for us) Saturday lunchtime then group photos and dinner Saturday night and finally a picnic on Easter Sunday and loads of old fashioned games. Relatives come from far and wide and we all wear name tags to save confusion, its lots of fun.

 

On the Saturday night after dinner we have an official' cake cutting ceremony' and the eldest remaining sibling (just happens to be Jack, John's dad) has a photo with the youngest addition (tiny baby just two weeks old) Not sure where I was when this happened so I missed out on a photo, did manage this one though the following day - John's dad having a 'rest' with the new addition to 'our chain' of the family, little baby Memphis just 4 weeks old..

 

Sunday was a little overcast and rainy but it didn't stop all the fun games that had been planned...

Good old fashioned "tug-o-war"...(Taylor looks like she should have joined in with the adults!)

 

Nothing like a gool 'ol "egg toss" to bring out the cheeky ones..

 

All the kids loved the "egg and spoon race"...

 

And the little ones didn't miss out...for them there was loads of bubble fun!

 

So that's it over for another 3 years, I wonder how many will be at the next one?

Don't forget to visit Sarah over at A Beach Cottage, tell her I said hi!