The Most Wonderful Time

This was a lovely year of celebration leading up to Christmas and a beautiful traditional Ryan family day, all facilitated by mum's huge efforts. It was inclusive of naps for all and much reading and laying as the weather was unexpectedly rainy and grey and other adventuring was put on hold. Next year is the much anticipated 'Ryan Family Cruise' - where we have all opted for a no present Christmas and to instead enjoy the cruise as our gift. The kids are on board and excited with the plan. With that in mind, knowing Christmas will look different next year, I threw myself into all the Christmasy things I love with the plan to have a little breather from those next year too. It made for an epic and beautiful Christmas season. 

Birthday Twins

I have a birthday twin - Chloe Pailthorpe. It has been a surprising and very lovely addition to my life, who knew sharing a birthday could be so grand?! I recognised Chloe as a kindred spirit right from our first meeting and we have grown to be the very best of friends over the years. Every year that we have known each other, we have celebrated our shared birthday, the 12th of August with morning tea's, dinners out, going to the movies. I find I look forward to my birthday even more now and it is so true that 'happiness shared is happiness doubled.' Both of us also share the love language of gift giving so each year we have the fun of dreaming up something special for each other and then the joy of opening our gifts and watching the other open theirs. It is truly a highlight of birthday season and a special bit of magic in my life. 

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

We had a lovely and very full Christmas season this year. December kicked off full of all the festivities. Some traditions live on strongly in our house, like slowly putting up the tree and reminiscing over all of the decoration or our annual Christmas package from the Loker's which we dearly love opening. The house was packed to the brim with gingerbread, which I spent much of the month giving away and eating. And we had our now annual dinner with the Niven's full with great food and company. I love our traditions and the energy of the Christmas season. 

T H I R T Y E I G H T

Another year, another wonderful birthday season full of lots of friends, fashion and food. Some of my favourites. I say season because it really did go for weeks. On the actual day we had a lovely celebration at home with kids and cake, a must of course. I received some beautiful pink swarovski earrings and a Sass and Bide dress clearly mean't for me, giant puff sleeves, front on centre of the store, on sale, in my side, on my birthday - need I say more. 

Six Foot Track { Memories }

Many moons ago, Sarah and I got fit together. We would do boot camps and run in the Shoal Bay Park Run on Saturday mornings. It was such a great time of life. Our first little babies were soon to be two years old and we were both thinking of having our second. We saw the time as precious, a last hurrah before life got busier and more complicated with more babies on the way. We motivated each other ( probably Sarah mainly motivating me!) and set some fun goals to work towards like running in the women's 10km night run in Sydney and doing the Six Foot Track hike in the blue mountains. 

New York, New York { The Big Trip Part 2 }

Levi and I made our way to the train station Tuesday morning for the 3 hour trip to New York. It really did feel like arriving in the big city when we came out of the station to the high rises and bustle of the city. I had my own Marilyn Munroe moment first thing walking over the subway air vent and having my dress go flying! 

Washington DC { The Big Trip Part 1 }

This trip has been years in the mind and months in the planning, so to land in DC felt a bit like a dream. Levi had flights booked to head to DC in April of 2020. The pandemic hit in March leaving those plans uncertain at first and then completely cancelled for the foreseeable future. But a bit over two years later and here we are! 

A Dinner to Die for

It was my turn to bring the fun for the Canberra party goers with a 20's themed murder mystery party. I remember as the modern 20's were fast approaching thinking that the next 10 years would be full of 20's themed fun but with covid and just possibly not being cool enough to get invited, the 20's party invites never seemed to come ... alas make your own she said! With that and dear friends soon to depart came a 'A Dinner to die for'. 

All Aboard

I am very lucky to have a Sarah Southall - never ending energy, spontaneous, ride or die Sarah in my life. When she has an idea all I have to do is say yes and the rest is a very good time. So when she discovered train rides from Newcastle to Sydney were free in the school holidays there was nothing to do but meet up with the kids and have a great day together. 

Tis' the Season

                               

This Christmas season was probably the most magical that I can remember. After two years of cancelled plans, Covid lockdowns and home schooling I had lots of motivation to reflect on how I wanted life to look once the world opened up to us again. I really wanted to get out there and have lots of fun and I felt this really strong pull to connect with old friends and new. 

Besties in Kiama

I feel very lucky to have found Sig and Sarah. Our time together is always lovely and so reminiscent of the early days of our friendship where we spent day after day in each others company. As our families grow we decided to plan an annual trip together to make sure we keep the connection and have some fun time together as families. This year we chose Kiama and the fates were in our favour as Sydney was in lockdown, but the regions weren't. We were able to keep our plans but we basically had the holiday park completely to ourselves. We had beach front cabins and the weather was just perfect for us, so wins all around.

My Tribe

Eight years ago I was lucky enough to find two of the best friends a girl could ask for. Sarah, Sig and I were brought together by our first babies and all of the walks, exercise, lunches, park visits and fun we could think up together in the beautiful Bay. Those first babies are all grown up now and there are six more. The bond between them all is as strong as cousins and getting together is all adventure and fun.

Girls Just Wanna have Fun

I was so lucky to meet so many amazing women in Halifax and be welcomed so wholeheartedly into their lives. There was something about the culture and the combination of personalities that generated the best ideas for having fun. I honestly don't think I've had so much fun or made so many girlfriends since high school.