My Bucket list!

Now I don't want to sound morbid, in fact I am trying to be far from it - but I am starting to write a bucket list.  Things that I want to achieve/experience in my journey through life. I don't want to have any regrets, I want to try and do as much as I can.  Life is too short, too short to drink bad coffee!! And a lot of other things too.
 I am a person that needs to have dreams, goals, something to strive for.  Life is about the experiences that you have along the way to achieving your little dreams. The ups and downs, the laughs, the tears - and hopefully along the way, I will have the support from my family and friends. So, as I think of things for my bucket list, I will add them to this spot of mine.  And if there is anything out there that you want to achieve, let me know - it may trigger my brain and heart to want to experience it too!!


 - To parachute
- Learn how to play golf (with all these beautiful golf courses on the Peninsula, I have no doubt that I will be playing on one of these courses later in life!)
Places to visit
-  Hawaii
 - Travel through Europe, experiencing the different coffee tastes!
- Travel America
- Maldives
- Bali again with the kids in tow
- New Zealand
- Thailand
- Dubai

- Learn how to fly a plane
- Run a marathon, the most I have ran in a race is 15kms and it was tough!
- Learn how to sail
- Kayak around the bay
- Have a go at stand up paddle boarding
- Be a mentor for someone
- Get involved in property development

So far my list is quite small, but I know come a couple of weeks time, it will have grown immensely.
What's on your "bucket" list?

Inspirational thoughts

That which matters the most should never give way to that which matters the least. Drink fresh water and as much water as you can. Water flushes unwanted toxins from your body and keeps your brain sharp. Listen, listen, listen and then ask strategic questions. Success is determined by how you handle setbacks. Write down your short and long term goals four times a year. Two personal, two business and two health goals for the next 1,5 and 10 years. Goal setting triggers your subconscious computer. Visualize your eventual demise. It can have an amazing effect on how you live for the moment. The pursuit of happiness is the source of all unhappiness. Jealousy works the opposite way you want it to. Breathe deeply and appreciate the moment. Living in the moment could be the meaning of life. Do one thing a day that scares you. Dance, sing, floss and travel. Friends are more important than money. Stress is related to 99 percent of all illness. What we do to the earth we do to ourselves. The conscious brain can only hold one thought at a time. Choose a positive thought. The world is changing at such a rapid rate that waiting to implement changes will leave you 2 steps behind. DO IT NOW, DO IT NOW, DO IT NOW!

Depression - The Black Dog

These days, everyone knows someone who has experienced some kind of depression.  I'm not talking about those days where your hair doesn't sit right, your bum looks too big in your jeans, you cry over something stupid - I'm talking about the ongoing kind of depression.  When day after day, it's a struggle to drag yourself out of bed, you don't want to talk to people, you have a cloud hanging over your head, no matter what you think about, you can't see the good things in life.
I know a lot of people who have experienced different kinds of depression, and it's not until those closest to you have it, that you realise that it really does exist!
The one's you love, are the one's that will try and hide it from you, when you clearly know something is wrong.  They won't admit it to you - maybe they don't even know what they are thinking?!
Let me tell you a story about a beautiful man who a few years ago, experienced depression so bad, he considered ending his life.
He was in his early 70's when it started - an old friend had passed away, a month later his sister died, and then a month after that, a close neighbour died.  Just when he felt like his heart had started to heal, someone else was ripped away from his life. Slowly he started to struggle with the daily things in life.  His happy go lucky attitude changed to one of extreme anxiety. He would not leave the house, he struggled to get out of bed.  He thought he was seriously ill - to the degree on numerous times we ended up in hospital with him.  He had every test under the sun, he had worried himself so sick, he believed that he had some kind of cancer.  He withdrew from his lifelong partner, he argued, he started to become a person who no one could communicate with.
After some time, his lifelong partner, was at her wits end. She pleaded with me to take him to the hospital and not bring him home.  And you know what, that is what I did.  We waited in emergency for someone to see us, a nurse looked at his previous history, we had been to this hospital a few times recently.  She started asking him questions, she could see he was suffering from depression - we all could. It's a shame that he couldn't.
One of the questions was "have you ever considered taking your life, hurting yourself".  Here I was thinking "of course he is going to say no".  This man was my hero, gave me everything in life that I needed. However, his answer was "yes, I have considered taking pills to end my life".  I was gobsmacked! My body started to shake, tears started to come, I had to make them stop.  I looked away, trying so hard to compose myself extremely quickly.  I could not believe what I had just heard. How could he consider leaving us, he used to be so happy, why, why, why???
I did go home without him.  The next day he was admitted to a psychiatric unit.  I felt like the worst person in the world.  He did not belong there, the other people there were dazed, crazy looking and some were completely crazy! I had to memorise the code to get in, make sure none of the crazy patients escaped.  Let me tell you, there were a couple that always raced for that door!
He was there a month - and I visited every day bar one or two.  He went from a man who thought he needed a million dollars, thought his licence would be taken away from him, thought he was dying, to slowly..........................being my Dad again. Depression-

Depression is one of the most common of all mental health problems. One in five people experience depression at some stage of their lives.  

I'm so grateful that with the support that we received, we managed to get my Dad back on track.  It was only just recently after numerous years, that he talked about his depression.  It was such a trying time for my family, so many tears shed - would we ever get back the man that we all loved? Or would we lose him before his job on earth was done.

Peninsula Hot Springs - massage = one relaxed mummy!

It's a place where time is forgotten - and they are definitely right about that!
Have you ever been to the Peninsula Hot Springs? It is practically in my backyard! Well, a quick 7 minutes drive from home.  I can't believe that it has taken me all these years to go there. I have paid for other people to experience it, but not myself!  Last year for my birthday, Will gave me a voucher for a Kodo massage - the only reason it has taken me this long to use it, is that I was 9 months pregnant at the time.  No way would you see me naked on a massage table so heavily pregnant!!! Plus, there is no way that I could have enjoyed the experience that I had anyway.  So, I was just waiting until I got my pre baby body back - I'm still a little squishy around the sides and tummy, but at least I am at my normal weight. Nothing like having to strip down to your undies and have someone rub their hands all over your body, and not in a sexual way either!
Back to the Hot Springs!
Peninsula Hot Springs is the first natural hot springs & day spa centre in Victoria around 1.5Hrs from Melbourne. Natural thermal mineral waters flow into the pools and private baths providing the idyllic setting for relaxation and rejuvenation. Peninsula Hot Springs makes it possible to bathe in the naturally healing waters of mineral rich thermal pools.
Entering the bathing area is like stepping into another world, a sanctuary where the mind and body are calmed by the steam, the sound of running water and the casual banter of bathers.
The 50°C hot mineral spring water flows from an underground aquifer 637 metres below the surface. The water runs untouched direct from the source to the pools, which range between
37°C and 43°C. Peninsula Hot Springs thermal mineral water contains a range
of naturally occurring minerals including sulphur, calcium, magnesium, potassium and many others and is classified as a “Sodium Chloride Bicarbonate Spring” (Na-C1.HCO3).

The therapeutic benefits of the mineral springs are said to include the alleviation of neuralgia, bruising, articular rheumatism, stiffness of the shoulders,  recovery from fatigue and muscular complaints and enhancing fertility. (For those friends of mine wanting to have babies - come on down and jump in the pool!!!)


I booked myself in for a mid week massage - which entitled me to a discount, so I had some extra money to spend on my voucher.  I sat in the cafe and had a chai latte until it was time to go in, my muscles were starting to relax already.  Sitting there thinking about my boys at home, I thought about how grateful I was that they had let me "escape" to have some special "me" time. I also bought a goats milk soap to take home - it smells devine.  Once my cuppa was finished, I went and changed into my white robe and then headed into the relaxation room until they were ready for me.  That room was beautiful, peaceful music playing, dim lighting, comfy couches, magazines...................the mind was starting to switch off.
Then it was time to wander down the hall to my massage room - again, dim lighting, aboriginal music playing, oils burning (the oil that I had chosen with my eyes closed, it was a detox oil).  
My therapist explained what the Kodo massage was all about - This rhythmic body massage is inspired by traditional Australian Aboriginal techniques which tone and re-align energy flow, enhancing mind and body balance and wellness. A combination of pressure points and spiralling movements ground and uplift, balancing the body's energies. A choice of native aromatic oils are selected to address individual client needs - to rejuvenate, reharmonise or detoxify
I definitely had to shed any inhibitions - my robe was removed, the towel covering my back was tucked into my undies as she worked away on my back and shoulders.  She commented my shoulders were really tight - of course they were, I have two little kiddies to carry around!! She dug deep in the shoulder area, it hurt, but at the same time felt great. I almost fell asleep as my mind and body were taken away from the every day worries of life.  The 60 minutes of Kodo experience was wonderful, I highly recommend it to anyone.
Afterwards I went back into the relaxation room, drank lots of water and had a revive tea - and read some magazines in peace and quiet.  No kids running around, no dora or abc shows playing in the back ground.  Just me, my cup of tea and my relaxed mind and body!! I'm definitely going back, time and time again - next time I am going to experience the pools....

The push up challenge

So, Will has given me something to get me motivated- not a gift, no new diamond ring or car- a challenge!
It's the push up challenge. One push up on the first day, two on the second etc till I get to doing 100 push ups on the 100th day! And they must be full push ups, none of the lady on your knee's kind! That's a whole lot of push ups, and some extremely sore arms. But god damn it, I should be ripped in time for Summer.
Who else wants to join me on the push up challenge?
Come on!!!

Tough times!

A friend of mine is going through a major change in her life at the moment. I can't even imagine deep inside her broken heart, how she is feeling. Her voice, body language, tear stained face, pretty much says it all.
She is hurting, her life feels like it is at a standstill, her soul mate has moved on.
This friend is an amazing individual, over the past year, I have seen her grow as a person.  She has become stronger, gained more confidence, has started to do things that would have held her back in the past.
She amazes me, and I know that she will get through this challenging time in her life.
She has hit a fork in the road, a change of direction - she is now starting to take one day at a time, baby steps on the "yellow brick road" to happiness, a new beginning, a new home, a new life!
I saw this beautiful friend last night, and I almost shed a tear, my eyes started to well up.  But I remained strong, she needs all the support that she can get. There are so many people to support this friend, and it makes me proud to stand beside her, to hug her, to be there for her - to be a friend when she needs one the most.
Stand tall my friend, take baby steps, in time your heart will heal.
Love you
xx

Our first family of four mini holiday!

Over the Mothers Day weekend, we decided to get away for a few days - our first holiday as a family of four.

We headed to my sister's holiday house at Ventnor, Phillip Island.  Basically we just swapped our everyday beachside living for another beach!

It was what was needed for all of us, a chance to escape the everyday ground hog stuff.  The washing, ironing, cleaning etc etc.  A time for us to spend together, just the four of us, relaxing, laughing, playing with not a care in the world. Apart from us all being or getting sick!  But, we still had a great time.

The little boys bonded even more, if that is at all possible.  The hand holding, cuddles, whispering of secrets in the ears, our two little men are such great mates already.

And it looks like Charlie is already hooked on coffee too, he would not take his eyes off my latte glass, check out the photo's.

We came back feeling so refreshed.  Three nights away in a different surrounding, rejuvenated our bodies and souls (apart from us having colds!)

Can't wait till we can do it all again, might wait for the warmer weather so we can have some more beach time though.

Happy Mothers Day

A big Happy Mothers Day to my beautiful mum.
A woman who drops everything at the drop of a hat for anyone. A woman who is caring, sharing, full of love and lots of laughs.  A woman who loves to flick peoples bra straps and undies.  A woman who gave me the happiest childhood that I could ever ask for.
A mother of four daughters - she deserves a medal for raising all of us!! And putting up with us! A nana to 11 gorgeous grand children - and always the first person to introduce them to the taste of chocolate!
Mum - I can never thank you enough for everything that you do for me and my family, the love you give, your generous heart and soul, just for being YOU!
I love you and hope that you have a wonderful Mothers Day - everyday for you is Mothers Day, all year around, you are my one of a kind, special mum.
Thanks for giving birth to me, nurturing me, letting me be the person that I wanted to be. Your guidance, dirty sense of humour, gentle soul makes me love you every minute of every day.
Happy Mothers Day for Sunday Mum
xx

Beautiful beach day in May

Who would have thought that we would be able to spend some quality time on the beach at the beginning of May?
I took the boys to the beach the other day, could not resist the blue sunny skies and the fact that we were still in shorts and t shirts when it was supposed to be cold and wet!
We are so lucky that we have the beach just at the end of our street.  I loaded up the pram with the kids and some towels and off we went.  I did not expect Cooper to go swimming, I should know him better.............he went in clothes and all.  But I didn't mind, childhood is all about having fun and experiencing everything out there.