two + teddy

Travelog: New Zealand

2014-01-17T01:10:00.001+11:00

What a year it has been. Full of adventure, travel, and quality time with loved ones. We set a record for guests coming to visit us and traveling to more countries than we could have ever imagined in a year! So, you can understand why it has been quite some time since my last post. Picking up where I left off, it wouldn't be right not to share our anniversary trip to New Zealand.

Before we headed off to the sister island, we celebrated our three years of marriage at home starting with surprise breakfast in bed and a morning coffee run and ended the day on our balcony over a bottle of champagne and sentimental gifts.

I tried my luck at embroidery once again and made Ronnie this "always and forever" framed piece. I still have some of my mother's work from when she was my age, so it's something that makes me feel closer to her. This anniversary was bittersweet knowing that it was our last in Australia.

Since we will be moving back in the middle of this year, the "last time's" have already started (tear, tear). Until then, we will continue to see the world as much as possible and cherish this special time that R and I have been able to share.

Looking out the plane's window on our descent into Queenstown, NZ (the south island), I knew that we were about to be embark on one of the most picturesque journeys of our life. Disclaimer: the pictures you are about to see do not do this place justice…you must GO and SEE for yourself.

To spare you a heartbreaking airport security story...long story short is that you should take quarantine regulations very seriously and throw away that $1 mandarin orange that you forgot was hiding in your purse in order to avoid a heavy (like really $$$) fine. And no, simply saying "I promise it was a mistake" and shedding a few (or a lot of) tears will not gain NZ government's sympathy (not even a tiny ounce of it). Not speaking from experience or anything…

Luckily, we were greeted with a warm fire and afternoon tea at our fab accommodation to ease the pain. By mid afternoon, our airport disaster became a thing of the past as our day was transformed by the breathtaking lake and mountain views everywhere you turned. Queenstown is an upscale resort town with plenty of quaint shops, hip bars and restaurants, and action sports to dive into.

Lots of good food and drink, from gourmet breakfast prepared at our boutique hotel to "famous" Fergburgers to fresh seafood platters to many "cheers!" over our stay.

We were seriously in awe over these breathtaking views after a steep gondola ride up the mountain. If that wasn't enough, we got to zip our way down the mountain riding a luge! I had a hard time staying focused on the winding track in front of me while the turquoise blue water kept catching my eye.

In order to feel like real thrill seekers of New Zealand, though, we had to check out the world's first commercial bungee site at Kawarau Bridge. It was the perfectly cliche way to celebrate three years of marriage…by taking the plunge strapped together by the ankles and holding onto one another for dear life! Sounds about right. Standing 140+ feet above a rushing stream of water and committing together on the count of "3..2..1" to JUMP face first was an exhilarating experience that we will never forget! (But not soon to be repeated).

After making the most of the "Adventure Capital of the World" (which included an intense whitewater rafting experience as well), we hit the wide open road.

We fell in love. The miles of lush greenery, snowy mountaintops, sparking blue water, and open pastures populated by sheep and cattle were never ending. It was as if we had the south island all to ourselves and the world's problems had disappeared.

'Pure' is the word I would use to describe the feeling of this place…the air, the beauty, the people. As we made our way up north to Wanaka and then to Te Anau, we made frequent stops just to take it all in.

On the road:

A winery cave tour and cheese platter for lunch.

A walk across the historic suspension bridge in Fiordland National Park and a trail plentiful of flora and fauna. Being the intense nature gal that I am, I came prepared with my ballet flats and all (ha!).

A camera opp was not to be missed, neither was the cowboys game! It's all about compromise.

A walk through Arrowtown, a historic gold mining town.

A stand alone shelter (in the middle of nowhere land) selling organic eggs and fresh lavender based on an honor system seemed too good to be true.

…and my favorite obsession of them all, all of the little lambs and cows happily grazing!! I didn't realize I was so infatuated with these creatures until we starting driving and every 5 seconds I would yell to R, "Look! Baby sheep! Awweeee…Pretty cow! Stooopp I want to take a picture of them!!". R must have secretly loved them as much as I did, because he was very patient as we went off the beaten path to get the perfect shot of them looking through the camera lens.

Our trip had a memorable ending as we boarded an overnight boat cruise through the peaceful Doubtful Sound on the Fiordland Navigator. Our cozy bunk bed quarters for the night and matching tartan carpet were all part of the experience.

Although it rained for some of our trip, we benefited from the abundance of waterfalls falling from the tall fiords in this serene setting. Cruising through this World Hertiage Area of Fiordland National Park was a truly unique experience, and the fact that we were on the only boat who had access to the area made it that much more special.

Our favorite part of the cruise (besides the dolphins swimming alongside us) was kayaking in a cove where the boat docked overnight. After some uhhh "technical difficulties", I learned how to paddle properly and showed that this city girl can hang with the best. The best treat of it all, though, was the many wonderful people we met onboard. We all originated from different countries, spoke a variety of languages (luckily for us everyone also knew English…dummies we are for being the only ones knowing one language), and were of all ages, but we could come together in peace and agree on the beauty of this place.

New Zealand taught us openness. To travel off the beaten path, dare ourselves to jump (literally!) beyond our comfort zones, and see beauty among the purest things of the Earth like never before. Another anniversary trip for the books and I still can't believe I have the most incredible partner to share life with!

Much love,

Kels

Friendships Sail

2013-10-30T23:13:00.002+11:00

Not to get all sappy on you, but you know those friends that really get you…like deep down to the soul kind of connection? My friend, Danielle, is one of those people. Even though we grew up just miles from each other (but attended different schools), we weren't introduced to one another until freshman year at TCU. Little did we know at the time, but we were going to play a crucial role in each others' lives over the next four years supporting each other through nursing school.

Whether that be sitting next to each other in EVERY nursing class, studying side by side in the quiet section of the library basement at all hours, sharing notes and organizing 30 page study guides, or carpooling to 6am clinicals at the hospital, she got me. I can't tell you how many times I broke down in tears as D was dropping me off after a stressful clinical day or how many looks and giggles we exchanged during lecture. As I tried to keep my social life separate from nursing school, we would often go off and do our sorority thing with other friends. At the end of the day, though, we knew we could always count on each other….and have fun together too! I am so thankful for her friendship, guidance, and honesty she has and continues to give me.

Since college, we have put the textbook talk aside and grown our friendship independently of what initially bonded us. When D started talking about coming to visit, I knew it was going to be an unforgettable experience for us both.

I was so thrilled that her best friend Katy wanted to join the fun, too. While we knew each other as acquaintances, we had never taken the time to develop a friendship. I mean, how could we not get along if we both loved D?! Sure enough, it was a great success and all four of us really hit it off from the start. Another example of how Sydney has brought us closer to people (and ironic that we lived in Dallas together but it took the 8,000 mile distance to become friends).

Fresh off the flight and after a maxi dress incident getting off the escalator, we explored the Royal Botanical Gardens, devoured meat pies from Harry's, and toasted with bubbly at the Opera Bar.

Fun night out in Newtown! A bottle of "red hooch" wine solves all problems. I think this spontaneous night out had to be my favorite.

Total tourists doing the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk on a beautiful day.

You had to be there to understand the scarf pose…lets just say we were only repeating what we had seen from a group of eager tourists a day earlier.

Watsons Bay day!

Instagram hits.

Lunch in Paddington, sunny day on the Manly Ferry, and goodbyes to Katy and R as they made their way back to Dallas (total coincidence).

After we were down two members, D and I took time to relax and catch up. It's pretty obvious who else loved her company. Cuddle buds! I loved walking around a new part of town with her and cooking a fresh meal at home with the fish we picked out at the market. We were pretty proud of ourselves!

Since spontaneous is my last name (errr), we booked it outta town to wine country for our last weekend together.

After a whirlwind day of tasting, we treated ourselves to a fancy vineyard dinner…but not before scarfing down an entire cheese platter while chasing kangaroos from our hotel porch. Ya, we got a little goofy by the fourth glass. I couldn't have asked for a better time with these perfect house guests!

Right when I thought things would get lonely after D left and with R still in Dallas, a bunch of ships sailed into town. Over 40 warships and 17 tall ships from around the world to be exact. To kick off the International Fleet Review celebrations, Anne and I headed to Garden Island where we were able to go onboard the HMAS Sydney and HMAS Perth.

The weekend long celebration was to commemorate the first Royal Australian Navy fleet entering Sydney Harbour 100 years ago in 1913. It was quite a spectacle, and with a front row seat, I stayed glued to the balcony with camera in hand. Flyovers, salutes, flags, uniforms, music, and naval demonstrations were all captured as the crowds of people cheered and buzzed about the eventful day.

The star of the show, though, had to be the arrival of Prince Harry as the guest of honor. When I heard chatter that he would be attending a dinner at Kirribilli house (just three doors down from us), I went into full stalk mode. Sure enough, as the police force on water and land began to intensify, he emerged on the dock in plain sight with the prime minister and a mob of media waiting to greet him. The highlight for me was when his boat cruised just a few feet in front of us and he gave that cheeky smile and wave as if we were the only ones. I swear he looked right at me! Well played, Harry.

Insta snapshots throughout the day. A spectacular fireworks and lights display over the harbour bridge topped of the festivities for the evening. What an exciting day to be a part of!

I hated that R had to miss the monumental celebration that won't come around again until 2113. Better luck next time?! You never know with modern medicine…

Teddy was on camera duty all day, patiently guarding my tripod. He sure didn't know what to think of all the commotion, but was smart enough to let out a few barks when Harry passed. We were happy to welcome R home the next day, and it didn't hurt that a bunch of American goods were coming back with. Hello anthro candles and summer sale wear!

Night noodle markets in Hyde Park with friends before our early morning flight to Queenstown. I can't wait to share with you the beauty that is New Zealand. In other exciting news, my best friend since sixth grade will be here in five days!! We already have some exciting things planned for her birthday and I can't wait for it to be "just like old times".

In The Moment

2013-10-12T08:26:00.004+11:00

After a month hiatus, things are back into full gear. We've had a lot going on with visitors in town, weekend trips, Ronnie flying back to Dallas for work, and prepping for a busy summer ahead! R was even able to sneak away to San Diego for the weekend first with his dad and brother for some quality bonding time. I know they had a great time checking out the beaches and the Cowboys game (even though they couldn't come home with the W).

We are starting to feel the pressure now that we have LESS than a year left in Sydney. I know our families have already started the countdown. While we've grown so much over the past year, we also feel like a part of our lives has been on pause. We can easily get distracted by dreaming of our future, which is exciting, but can't be everything. That's why we have to constantly refocus ourselves to living in the moment.

Balmoral Beach days have become our favorite weekend hangout.

Since Teddy isn't allowed on the sand, we park ourselves on the grassy hill overlooking the beach. We have found that we don't lay out in our swimmers as much as we would on vacation now that we live near the water. Instead, we like to have picnics and find a shady spot!

Forgot to post about our 14K run, City2Surf, in late August. After doing it alone last year, I knew R would enjoy joining in the fun of the day!

While we aren't much of runners and didn't do any training, I'd say we ran about half the distance. It was all a bit of fun for us and a chance to be amongst the crowd. R was kind enough to stay at my pace (baby steps) and we ~~embarrassingly~~ proudly held hands across the finish line in true obsessive couples fashion.

Instagram hits this month.

Spring has brought us outdoors for long walks and laying in the grass.

Sunday afternoon BBQ at our place with great company. We loved the sunshine and a chance to be on the lawn after a chilly past couple of months.

I think Teddy agrees! He loves him some Jenny and Blake.

Miss Isabella made her debut into the world last month and we stole some cuddles from her here, at 1 week old. Doesn't she look like a doll?! I just love this family photo of our friends, who are now glowing as proud parents and have transitioned so smoothly into their new role. We couldn't be happier for this family of 3!

By coincidence, we bought Bella a panda bear in Shanghai…and when we showed up to meet her, she was wearing this perfectly matching panda onesie!

I always love an excuse to entertain, but rarely get to here in Sydney. When Ronnie's coworkers from Dallas had a few nights in Sydney, we decided to have the whole office gang over to welcome them.

Bubbles, babies, and some bubbly!

Ronnie has been a loyal Sydney Swans member all season, so it was about time I made it out to one of the playoff games. I was so happy that Rachel joined us, but it's a shame she had to go back to Dallas the next day! She was such a trooper for getting the full Aussie experience.

Full moons bring out the possums and dolphins I guess. Walking home, this little guy in the tree (that my neighbor, Anne, feeds every night) was just hanging out waiting for something to happen. Then, an hour later, a pod of at least ten dolphins goes swimming past the harbour in front of our apartment and under the bridge. It was an unbelievable sight that is very rare (never seen anything like it in the entire year we've lived here) as there is constant boat traffic and commotion.

Anne graciously invited me as her guest onboard Lady Hopetoun, a 1902 VIP steam launch who has seen many dignitaries during it's time. We enjoyed a nice half day cruise around the harbour, learning about marine life and conservation.

The vessel was quite impressive, with its copper furnishings and restored wooden planks. I couldn't believe the boat was still fully powered by a steam engine, with conductors constantly adding coal to the extremely hot boiler below deck.

Next week, I can't wait to share some of my favorite moments with my girlfriends who were visiting. We had a blast and I'm so happy they were able to experience Australia with us. Also, I have about a million photos from last weekend's International Fleet Review celebration. We lucked out with a prime viewing spot of all the warships, Prince Harry, and fireworks show. More on that later, don't you worry!

In the mean time, we are off to New Zealand (the south island) for ten days to celebrate our three year wedding anniversary. Thanks for all of the kind words this week…we are feeling the love!

Travelog: Shanghai

2013-09-24T23:58:00.003+10:00

While Beijing was all about historical attractions, Shanghai was a luxury escape. It may have been because we were constantly on the move in the capital city, but by the time we got to Shanghai, room service was calling our name. We didn't come to China for this?! We reminded ourselves that it was ok to give up a few hours of sightseeing for a little R&R, which made all the difference. By the afternoon, we were refreshed and ready to take on the big city.

Finding a balance when traveling is always key.

Our hotel was the perfect backdrop to relaxation and we couldn't have asked for a better view of the skyline from our room.

First stop, The Bund. This promenade along the water is in the heart of the city and a widely popular tourist destination. There is plenty of eclectic and historical architecture to look at along the way!

While walking past the popular Oriental Pearl TV Tower, we came across this elaborate traffic circle where a pedestrian roundabout was built above the street. Random?

The most hilarious fail of the trip was The Bund Sightseeing Tunnel. It's like Shanghai didn't have enough tourist attractions, so they built this super cheesy tunnel to entice travelers around the world to visit (not!). Essentially, it's a slow-moving tram that flashes lights and plays 'Back to the Future' music as you scoot along in a carriage with other naive tourists. Major fail…but we got such a laugh out of it, that maybe it was worth the rip off.

To give you an idea just how fast Shanghai has grown over a 20 year period, these two images compare the skyline from 1987 to 2013. We found Shanghai to be highly westernized and a major modern city.

My favorite part of Shanghai, though, was exploring the streets of Old Town. The first part of our walk was down a street to the tea markets. I got my fix of China's signature green tea with almost every meal!

The image of an older woman making homemade dumplings stacked ten bamboo steamers high is one of my standouts of the trip. In the second picture, this woman is spraying down all the produce to keep them from wilting in the scorching heat.

Walking down this hectic residential street, we also saw everything from fresh vegetables and grains, to sleeping babies, to bicycles stacked high of unknown goods, and antique sewing machines.

The most bizarre thing we came across was this "pet shop". Men gathered around selecting the "perfect" cricket, which is a symbol for good luck in their culture.

We ended our walk at Dongtai Road Antique Market, which is full of junk, treasures, and random finds. Right up my alley!! And thanks to my patient husband for letting me do my thing as I sorted through miles of dust and history.

Where's Waldo? By Waldo I mean the Texas Tech nutcracker perfectly placed among the junk. Yes, junk. We survived the scorching hot day and miles of walking, but just barely. Do you see me hugging the hotel in relief when the day was all said and done?!

Food diaries.

Lots of fish, dumplings, peking duck pancakes, and afternoon refuels! We couldn't resist the DQ blizzard to make us feel a bit at "home".

Our short visit to China gave us even more reason to want to visit less popular tourist destinations and reminded us that we have lots of the world left to see! Speaking of traveling, my sweet friend from college and nursing school is visiting us with her best friend for the next week or so. So far, we have had an amazing time and hit all the must see attractions. I can't wait to show you their time with us! Personal tour guide at your service….

Travelog: Beijing, China Top 5

2013-09-05T00:35:00.002+10:00

Take this post as a timesaver for when/if (you really should) visit China's two biggest cities, Beijing and Shanghai. Per usual, I spent days on end researching the top sights, transportation tips, trendy and authentic restaurants, local markets, and everything in between to prepare us for the different culture we were about to immerse ourselves in. The same tidbits kept popping up like little red flags...Crowds! The scams! The language barrier! Questionable food preparation!! O boy! I was so anxious to test them out for ourselves (luckily not the food poisoning part).

Not even five minutes into touching Chinese soil, red flag red flag!! You know the scams I was talking about, well apparently black taxis run rampant trying to rip off naive tourists. I specifically had an escape route to avoid them while leaving the airport (following the tips of knowledgeable guides) by getting in the official taxi line after passing the many posers. Even then, we were still escorted to a fake taxi that didn't want to run the meter and instead use the "fixed prices approved by the government". Once he pulled out the rates sheet, we were shocked to find that he was trying to charge us seven times more than what was standard (and we had read that if they pull out a fixed price sheet, don't believe it because there is no such thing). I tell you this story because it's a great example of why traveling prepared can save you time, money, and frustration. We ended up saving US $80 by aborting that taxi by the way.

Now on to the fun stuff. Out of all the places in the world to visit, everyone keeps asking "Why China in particular?". Firstly, since R was fortunate enough to travel around Asia as a child, we always wanted to go back and experience the continent together with a different perspective now that we are older and have a greater appreciation. Secondly, we knew it would be more convenient to travel to from Sydney and our time here is running out. The flight was still ten hours, but that's nothing new for us these days. More than anything, we find it important to experience different cultures and I can definitely say we gained a greater understanding and appreciation for the Chinese people.

Our Top 5 of Beijing:

1. The Great Wall

Being one of the main reasons for wanting to visit Beijing in the first place, this was the highlight of our trip. The Great Wall is at least an hour drive from Beijing city, and instead of doing a cheesy tour bus, we booked our own driver and explored the wall by ourselves so we weren't rushed for time. Once we got to the base, a ski lift took us up through the mountains to the starting climb point. We were supposed to go down the longest luge slide I have ever seen, but it started sprinkling as we were leaving and they shut it down for the day. It's times like these that remind me I am still married to a child…R was so bummed that the "once in a lifetime" luge experience would never happen.

There are three main parts of the wall that have been restored and are open to visitors. Most tourists travel to Badaling, which is the closest section to the city and the most visited part by far. Wanting more of an adventure, we traveled a little further through the countryside to the Mutianyu section. There, we found a much steeper trek with less tourists in our path. Mutianyu's position allowed for breathtaking views between the lush green woodlands and mountains and you couldn't beat the smaller crowds.

It's all in the detail to realize the historical significance of this place…the ancient brick, boot imprinted steps, and cannons positioned to defend. In the bottom middle picture, you can see a section of the wall in the distance that has not been restored and has bushes filling the steps path.

We were surprised to find just how steep and windy the walk actually was. In the top left picture, R is pointing to our starting position (all the way up there at the tallest peak!). It was surreal to look back at our journey and we couldn't imagine how exhausting it must have been to build the structure through the mountains and forest.

My best piece of advice for visiting this historic landmark…go early and on your own!! We literally only saw two people for the first hour we were walking the wall. It was an unforgettable and surreal experience to have the wall all to ourselves and the morning was so peaceful as the fog settled so perfectly between the mountain peaks…well worth the painfully early wake up call!

2. Summer Palace

Summer Palace was the largest luxury escape for royal families to relax and entertain and is now a World Heritage listed sight. UNESCO described it as "a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design". The grounds were very extensive and had everything from a little village to grand buildings to a massive lake.

Like the Great Wall, we didn't realize that it was such a climb. The main feature is Longevity Hill where the focal point, the Tower of Buddhist Incense, stands three stories tall.

Beyond the temple and detailed halls, be prepared for a steep walk down through the rest of the grounds towards Kunming Lake. Look at those stairs!

The best way to end our tour of the Palace was being able to retreat in a paddle boat on the water. We are so glad we rented one, and for only $10/hour, you can't beat the price! Too bad (or lucky me) that I couldn't help R paddle because I was wearing a dress.

3. Markets

Panjiayuan Antique Market.

Loads of beads and jade jewelry, art, pottery, among other things. The energy was exciting and I'm sure you could walk away with some interesting articles if you had all the time and money at your disposal. We did not, however. But it was still fun to browse.

Wangfujing Snack Street.

Think exotic street food and crowds galore…where you can find scorpions and starfish on a stick, baby duck heads, dry ice drinks, candied grapes, and everything in between! This was one bustling street that reminded us of our cultural differences. Loved every minute of it!

Gui Jie or Ghost Street.

Over a hundred restaurants line this long street, but that wasn't the main attraction in my opinion. The sea of red lanterns hanging above the walkway continue to follow you for as far as you can see down the brightly lit street, and you can't help but feel a little bit luckier. This was what I pictured the busy city streets of Beijing to be like thanks to hollywood movies. We had a delicious food experience and I give the ambience five stars (duh).

4. Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square

The Forbidden City was the imperial palace where the emperors and their families lived. It was also the political center of China from the Ming Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, dating back to the 1300s! I loved seeing the traditional Chinese architecture that has influenced so many other structures worldwide.

We opted for an audio tour to work our way through the large complex. So much history here!

The wood and stone details were so intricate.

With the summer heat in full swing and the many miles walked before noon, we definitely worked up an appetite for an authentic Chinese lunch. At every meal, we found ourselves staring at the locals to see if we were using our utensils correctly and how the heck to eat noodle soup properly with chopsticks and manners (not possible by the way).

Across from The Forbidden City is Tiananmen Square. It is the third largest city square in the world and the site of many important events in China. As you can see, there were so many people visiting this site and everyone had to pass through a metal detector and bag check. The main attraction is the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, where his body is embalmed and displayed to the public for viewing. Unfortunately, we showed up fifteen minutes too late to witness this…and visiting hours are very strict and limited in the summer months.

R is standing in front of the Monument to the People's Heroes and I am posing with a sweet girl who asked to take a picture with me. No, I'm not that cool. Apparently this is a very common practice for Chinese who live in smaller towns and rarely see Westerners. We were warned that this would happen, but we didn't realize just how many stares and sneaky pictures would come our way! It was quite startling at first to have "all eyes on you" while packed like sardines on the subway, but we started to play along with the locals and enjoy the experience. The school kids really got a kick out of saying "hello!" to us, and if we responded, they would run off giggling.

5. Spontaneous Adventures

Hot pot for dinner and a talented show of acrobatic performers afterwards. We were lucky enough to find the theatre with no English signage and the written address in Mandarin by asking about every tenth person that walked by on the street. One lady was nice enough to escort us a few blocks to our destination. Lucky us!

Clutter and crowds started to overwhelm us, but we always saw interesting things walking around.

A random dog in the street reminded us of my sisters dog, Presley (without those scary teeth)…but when I went in close to take this picture, it snapped and started barking at me. Instead of walking away, I drew even more attention to us by screaming and running off. While we got a few laughs by the locals nearby, I literally thought those fang teeth were coming for me. I swear!

One afternoon was spent collecting some knock-off goods at the Silk Street Market. Score!

We found it common that restaurants would offer patrons sunflower seeds while waiting for a table…R loved it!

Beauty among the smog. A peaceful morning for a local fisherman.

Crazy crowds in the subway...so much so that we would fear the doors slamming in on us because there was nowhere else to move inside the carriage. Rookie mistake when R forgot he had a backpack on and it got stuck between the doors…good thing I was able to pull him in while toppling over a few others with my fast reflexes (not really, but I did act fast under pressure thankfully).

Who knew that a chopsticks shop could be so fancy and have so many choices?!

Next week I will write about our adventures in Shanghai and my overall thoughts on China. This has been a great way for me to reflect on our travels over the past year and we have another busy year of destinations coming up!

Travelog: Mudgee! Mudgee!

2013-08-19T11:41:00.001+10:00

A lot of our Australian friends didn't seem too impressed with our spontaneous weekend road trip destination…or maybe they were just confused as to why we picked the sleepy wine town of Mudgee over other popular destinations. We can thank the article that ranked this place as one of the top weekend getaways from Sydney for making our choice. Only a three hour drive, we hopped in the car with our good friends early Saturday morning wanting to make the most of our 24 hours away. This was a test of "are we good travelers together?" before our trip of a lifetime early next year. To keep the record straight, we all passed with flying colors.

By the time we checked into our hotel and arrived at the first vineyard, lets just say we were all a little cranky and impatient due to a lack of glucose and carbs. Good thing Lowe Winery knew just the cure…an amazing antipasto platter with fresh bread, local meats and cheeses, and produce picked from a few feet away.

I couldn't get over how fresh everything was! It was the perfect compliment to wine tasting on their deck overlooking the valley and vineyard.

We ended our day at Moothi Estate, a family owned operation, for the best views in the valley. Not only did we make great friends with the winemaker, but the boys really hit it off with their dog while us girls enjoyed a tasting.

If you didn't know, its like a rite of passage that any cool winery must have a dog mascot running through the vines and greeting customers. So much so that I have a book called "Wine Dogs" Australia edition hanging on my shelf to prove it (and I can't wait to collect the others). Ya, it's definitely a thing. I asked the owner if his pup was lucky enough to grace the pages…surprisingly he knew the book I was talking about and apparently he has been trying for years, but no luck.

After a good chat with the Canadian owner, he offered us one of his last 2002 reserve bottles to taste. Since he was so friendly and accommodating, J & B bought the bottle and we toasted to a perfect evening and beautiful sunset with great friends.

Life doesn't get much better. It's spontaneous moments like these that keep me going.

Once the sun went down, we headed to the Mudgee Observatory for some star gazing. To our surprise, it was run by a man who built the telescope domes himself, which were situated behind his house. The more shocking thing was the dark skies without city lights interfering with visibility of the Milky Way and constellations. The highlight was seeing Saturn, rings and all, through one of the telescopes. Along the dirt road home, we spotted plenty of kangaroo. After dinner at a wine bar and live music at a pub, we called it a night in our matching Texas gear.

Instagram hits from Mudgee and our road trip. One of our best weekends away yet!

Instagram at home.

We've been sitting on our front lawn a lot this week now that spring is starting to show it's colors!

A sweet Texas cowgirl package arrived from one of my best friends who is off to Alabama today to start her PhD in Child Psychology at Auburn!

A celebratory occasion over high tea…my friends last week of pregnancy before her baby girl arrives! As we speak, she is in labor so I am sending hugs and thoughts her way. Steph couldn't believe that I have never experienced a proper high tea experience. I was surprised to find that Australians definitely take their afternoon tea seriously like the English (I guess I shouldn't be too shocked knowing their British origins). One trend I'm ok with bringing back to the U.S.

It wouldn't be the weekend without a meet up at The Grounds. Kait and I's "go to" and this time we brought the boys along. Always great coffee, pastries, and pretty things to look at…but never short of a crowd!

A refreshing afternoon in Manly. Four Pines Brewery, Hemingway's, and Mex & Co.

Taking care of business.

Note to self or anyone who owns a glass stovetop…beware!! So, R and I frequently joke about my "bad luck" with little things. Most recently, dropping a glass spice jar on the cooktop was added to my resume. Not only is that bad enough, but apparently our easy bake oven is over twenty years old and nowhere (I mean nowhere) still carries the replacement glass in stock. What do y'all think? Is it fair to make us pay for a brand new oven and cooktop as renters even though it's not quite our fault that the owner hasn't replaced the appliance in twenty years and therefore the glass just can't be replaced?! Or do you think the owner should fork over investing in a new stove and we contribute towards the purchase with the approximate amount of what the glass replacement would have cost? I hope you said the latter, because thanks to my persistent and bargaining hubby, we went back and forth with our agent to make the deal. So, looks like I will be cooking in this century by the end of the week.

Another big change around here…I finally got my haircut. Not much, but just enough to give me a little pep in my step. I had a great experience at the most charming salon, Barney Martin.

Last week, we celebrated the Breaking Bad (last) season premiere at J & B's. Good stuff! If the first episode is any indication of how quickly the season moves, then we better buckle up. They picked up fried chicken from Los Pollos Hermanos (aka KFC ha) and I brought the "blue stuff" (aka

Sarabeth's Deep Dish Individual Blueberry Crumb Pies)

It is no secret that I have an emotional attachment to Sarabeth's, and when my in-laws gifted me the cookbook, I cried. Not only because I love the food, but more importantly, it was a special place to my mom. So any chance I can try one of her creations, I put lots of love into her time consuming recipes!

Before our oven shattered, R and I continued the "No Technology Thursday" tradition by cooking dinner together. This time, R learned proper knife skills (goggles required for the onions) and the art of making dough. We used the Pioneer Woman's Pizza Dough recipe (I substituted for whole wheat flour) from this cookbook, and as much as I want to keep this A++ delicious and easy recipe to myself, that wouldn't be fair. Do yourself a favor…try it.

We went with pizza toppings of pepperoni, mushroom, onion, red bell pepper, and fresh mozzarella. Seriously better than delivery (and no, its not DiGiorno either). Making your own crust will never seem hard again.

Other kitchen staples lately:

Moroccan sweet potato, carrot, and chickpea soup (A++)

Caramelized fennel, roasted garlic, and tomato soup with lemon

Shrimp, avocado, corn, carrot, and tomato salad

Whole Wheat Spaghetti Bolognese

Tomorrow we will embark on our journey to China! Prayers for safe travels, patience with crowds, and open minds please!

Behind July

2013-08-07T22:59:00.000+10:00

Not too much has been going on around these parts. We just got back from the best two day spontaneous road trip with friends, but more on that later. I have been slacking on the blog lately so there is lots to catch up on in the past month…I've been spending some quality time with girlfriends and cooking like crazy in the kitchen. Our weekend winter routines have been shaping up to walking across the harbor bridge with Teddy and experiencing the festivals that the city has to offer. This is definitely the calm before the storm. In one month, our travels and visitors are really going to pick up!

It's a small world after all. I was lucky to be introduced to this sweet Texas gal (who lives in Sydney) when her twin sister/ R's coworker came over for a month of work. We hit it off ever since and always have the best time chatting and laughing with each other over wine and cheese. She is one of those people that I feel like I have known forever and it's nice to have that connection.

"No technology Thursday" is something R and I recently came up with to get away from our phones, television, and internet completely for an evening a week. I think it's so important to disconnect every once in a while. We have been playing cards, taking long walks, and getting back to the basics.

Kait is another American girl that I instantly had a connection with within minutes of walking into my interview at the Red Cross. She and I have developed a great friendship and lucky for me she and her hubby will be moving back to the U.S. around the same time. To make the most of Kait's day off, we enjoyed a leisurely brunch at Burnt Orange. This place really knows how to do quality food with a view and it doesn't hurt that they have the cutest retail shop below.

After lunch, we went bushwalking and explored a new area.

Another Friday movie and dinner date night with these two! It's a thing for us now.

Our weekend walk was taken over by Chinese tourists all dressed in bright yellow jackets. From far away, we thought they were a group of protestors because they were waving flags and chanting something. Instead, they were harmless tourists busy snapping photos of Teddy and each other as we walked by.

On Bastille Day, we checked out the French festival in the city. I just had to get a picture with this adorable older woman who was obsessed with Teddy. She was on her way to a show at the opera house and stopped to chat with us for a long time. It's amazing how many interesting people we have met through our dog.

The next weekend we took part in The Rocks Aroma Festival. We had no idea how popular this winter festival would be…so much so that we left empty handed without a cup of coffee that we originally went for. We were too impatient to wait in line, so we made our way through the crowds and people watched instead.

My sports man has really gotten into AFL, rugby, and soccer since he doesn't have his beloved Cowboys and Mavs close by. I'm really glad that he has learned to appreciate the local sport by being a member to the Sydney Swans, which is part of the Australian Football League.

A work perk. R was able to entertain clients at the final State Of Origin rugby game where NSW and Queensland battle it out every year for the top spot. The best-of-three series is known as Australian sport's greatest rivalry but unfortunately Queensland has taken the trophy for the past eight years.

Last week our trip to Beijing and Shanghai was made official with a visit to the Chinese Consulate. And per my application that R filled out for me, my occupation is officially a "housewife" over here. Umm weird?

To honor my mother on the anniversary of her death, I spent a peaceful day watching the waves roll in at Coogee Beach. While I really felt like hiding in the house all day, R encouraged me to keep my commitment by volunteering that morning and then enjoying a day outside.

The night ended perfectly with soup in bed, red velvet cake, and a full moon. She was definitely shining down on us that night.

Made with love in honor of my mother's favorite.

I used Magnolia Bakery's Red Velvet Cake with Buttercream Frosting recipe to create my first three layer cake from scratch.

Crazy in the kitchen!

Here, Blake is teaching me how to make pasta for our Friday thought for food at R's office. I was so amused and thrilled to learn how simple it is with a little extra time and the right equipment! I also made a mess with my baking and have been whipping up big batches of soup every week to get us through the cold weather.

Sheppard's Pie with Sweet Potato and Green Beans

Grilled Chicken with Zucchini, Cauliflower, and Kale

Toasted Sesame Ginger Salmon with Mashed Potatoes & Brussels Sprouts

Chicken Pot Pie
Green Bean, Avocado, and Tomato Salad
Brown Lentil and Vegetable Soup
Crispy Smashed Potatoes

Grilled Scallops Wrapped in Proscuitto with Asparagus & Pea Risotto

Penne Bake with Spinach & Tomatoes

Grilled Vegetable and Hummus Pita Wraps

Minestrone Soup

Twice Baked Potatoes

Beef Stew

Our sweet Abby girl.

She lived a happy 17 years... putting up with Kenz and I dressing her in our doll clothes as a pup and riding her like a horse when she grew taller than us to spending her last few years getting extra love and attention from her favorite human, Grandad. She also has Karen to thank for filling in as her second mommy. We knew she was special from the beginning…an impulse buy with lots of persuasion to our parents when we saw "lab puppies for sale" posted on the side of the road. We just HAD to have her. A month later, that wiry hair and big paws suggested anything but a yellow lab. Our guess to this day is that she was an Irish Wolfound/Lab mix. The gentlest, most easy going dog we could have asked for. One of my mother's last wishes was that our Abby go home to Abilene with Mema and Grandad so that she could have the love and attention she deserved. Grandad would always joke that he would curse my mom anytime he had to pay for expensive medication, dog food, or vet bills and look up and say, "Kathy, this is for you!". I know my mom was at peace knowing that they would take care of Abby.

Until next time! (and hopefully that won't be a month from now).

Travelog: Windy Wellington

2013-07-23T00:25:00.000+10:00

A weekend getaway to Wellington, New Zealand was the perfect way to beat the winter blues (even if it was even colder there than Sydney). Since R had work meetings scheduled in the beginning of the week, we took advantage of the weekend to explore before it was down to business.

After a late night landing, we awoke to a very wet, windy, and quiet city. The umbrella lasted about ten minutes before I realized why I was the only one carrying one amidst the rain..crazy winds! We sought shelter at The Crab Shack where they served warm clam chowder and fresh fish burgers on the dock amongst the cutest decor.

My favorite rainy day travel activity? Museum hopping! We were impressed by Te Papa, the national museum and art gallery of New Zealand. We were pleasantly surprised to find an Andy Warhol exhibit on display. Too bad I couldn't take any pictures while inside, but it was interesting to see his early sketches and learn about his troubled life, ideas on fame, and influences on pop culture.

Some other things we saw…the world's largest squid on display, a cow made from corned beef tins, holographic projections of pacific islanders, a section dedicated to the queen, and a giant interactive floor map of New Zealand. Random, I know.

Luckily, the afternoon cleared up as we walked along the harbor and explored the quirky neighborhoods. The authentic Italian pizza and pasta kept us warm for dinner and we couldn't resist the crepe stand on the walk home. I will never turn down a nutella crepe...ever.

Sunday brought lots of sunshine…and everyone who had been hiding indoors the day before. THIS is what we expected Wellington to be like. Locals, families, and tourists alike all buzzing at the markets for live music, fresh produce, and seafood. The fishermen docked their boat to display their morning catches, take orders, and filet your fish on the spot…now that is service that R and I are definitely not used to seeing!

If the crowds weren't gathered around the markets, they were being active and running along the pier or hiking up one of the many scenic trails. We joined in the adventure for a scenic hike to the top of Mt. Victoria lookout. Plenty of pine cones and err "road blocks" along the way (from high winds knocking the trees down!). They don't call it "Windy Wellington" for nothin'!

Instagram highlights from the top! What a view.

Our 360 degree view was a cool spot to watch the drastic changes in weather, but the wind got the best of us.

Winds up to 100 mph, y'all! Apparently the top of Mt. Victoria is the windiest point on Earth besides Antarctica (which has winds up to 200 mph). We both lost our footing a couple of times and had to hold onto whatever we could find! You can imagine what most of our pictures look like at this point…lots of hair, squinted eyes, and shaky lens. And don't even ask about flight turbulence on the descent in...

After feeling like we had been in a wind tunnel, we stopped at Mac's Brewbar to unwind over their selection of local brews. Earlier that morning, we followed the hipsters to a cajun-inspired brunch and tacky decor at Sweet Mother's Kitchen.

After a full day of hiking, we took a ride on the classic cable car up to the botanical gardens. Confession…after walking around the gardens for 5 minutes, we both gave each other the "I'm over this" look and ran back on to catch the car going back down without hesitation. Pretty scenery overload! We got it checked off the list, though (I'm all about crossing things off).

Speaking of lists, I accomplished a new experience…explore a new city ALONE for a day. This may seem insignificant to some, but when I thought about it, I had never gone sightseeing in another country by myself (besides Sydney). As much as I missed Ronnie while he was in work meetings, I found a great sense of inner peace and independence walking along without an agenda in this vibrant, coastal town.

Many people ask why I chose not to work as a nurse while living abroad. One of the reasons is not only so that I can travel with R without limitations, but I was also in pursuit of finding myself and taking a step back from a stressful time in my life. Not every day do I feel like I am taking full advantage of growing my character and making the best use of my time. On the days that I do, though, I am reminded that Ronnie and I are where we should be and I feel lucky to be supported in my decisions.

While I was up at the crack of dawn to fly back to Sydney, R had to board this small propeller plane to a town with volcanic activity, hot springs, and waterfalls. If you had to pick a place to settle, Wellington has got it all. The laid back capital city of NZ is a quaint town full of cafes and culture, has breathtaking views as the city is situated around water and mountains, and is occupied by friendly and active people. It is also where they shot all of the Lord of the Rings series' for any fans out there.

Another one for the books. We are excited for our return to New Zealand on our anniversary trip to the South Island in October, especially Queenstown.

Heavenly Day

2013-07-14T22:50:00.000+10:00

Blessings. What comes to mind when you hear this word? Prayer, worship, good wishes, and love are all terms I think of. Three years ago, the phrase took on a whole new personal meaning in the form of a "blessing ceremony". A day that will forever be the most "real" day of my life.

I haven't shared this sacred day with many, but as I woke up to an email from my mother-in-law reminding me with the slideshow of pictures and reminiscing of that day, a flood of emotions came back to me and I wanted to express myself. About two weeks before my mother passed, it was obvious that she wasn't going to walk me down the aisle in October.

I remember so clearly laying in bed with my sister trying to face the harsh reality of what was to come, but also wishing we could find a way for our mom to be a part of the wedding….and then the brainstorming for a pre-wedding ceremony in our backyard began. After very emotional calls to our preacher and photographer, Stacy Cross (who dropped everything from out of town to be there), we were overwhelmed by their immense support and encouragement that we knew this was the right thing to do.

Three days later, I was helping my extremely frail mother into the purple gown she had purchased six months prior with all intentions to walk me down the aisle in as the proud mother of the bride. Without any planning from my part, family friends pulled together to lend me a gorgeously detailed white dress (that was a family acquaintance's daughter's prom dress) and Ronnie a tux, while the Scherwin family brought the pretty flowers, cake, toasting flutes, etc. The chandelier that my mother picked out to swing above the trees during our wedding ceremony was hung in our backyard. Our preacher brought the candles that the mothers would light in unity and we said our vows before God and our immediate family that sunny afternoon.

Patty Griffin said it best in a verse from her song, "Heavenly Day" (which our photographer so perfectly picked as the picture slideshow song):

Oh heavenly day, all the clouds blew away…

Tomorrow may rain with sorrow

Here's a little time we can borrow

Forget all our troubles in these moments so few

All we've got right now, the only thing that

All we really have to do

Is have ourselves a heavenly day

Lay here and watch the trees sway

Oh, can't see no other way, no way, no way

Heavenly day, heavenly day, heavenly day...

This charm was gifted by our preacher and his family for my sister and I to give to my mother to hold as she walked me down the aisle (which was later carried as my sister walked me down the aisle at our wedding ceremony). As much as I loved the wedding planning process and spending time putting detailed personal touches on our October reception, THIS day was the real deal. Strip all of the materialism away, and there you have it…unconditional love, unfailing family, and binding promises.

Right after the most spiritual moment of us all coming together in a circle of prayer, I specifically remember Ronnie telling me, "Now THIS is what every wedding should be about". Amen! I praise God that my mother was able to witness us saying our vows, to give me away to the love of my life, and to pray over our marriage (and that we all had the strength to get through that day). As my father-in-law told me, this day reminds us how precious life is. Precious, indeed.

Blessing ceremony photos courtesy of Stacy Cross Photography

Timing couldn't have been any better on an invitation to see the Sydney Symphony's rendition of Verdi's Requiem at The Opera House. Anne is a regular symphony goer, so not only did she show me the ropes as her date, but we had the best seats in the house! First of all, the concert hall is so grand and breathtaking with the massive organ and cathedral-like ceilings. Oddly enough, the requiem is sung in Roman Catholic churches, at funeral services, and on the anniversaries of deaths of particular people and is known as the solemn mass for the dead. It was such a moving piece and really spoke to me.

When I realized the next morning that it was the three year anniversary of our blessing ceremony, I immediately told Anne about the irony and beauty of it all. That afternoon, she surprised me with a champagne toast and biscuits while I showed her the pictures from that intimate day. She will never realize how much that small gesture cheered me up and touched me. Speaking of blessings!

Catching up on last week…

A precious Independence Day e-card from Anne (Teddy included).

Just the usual late night chats with Teddy and his auntie, looking confused at the screen.

Random tree hanging from a crane on my walk home…save the trees!

Loved this "selfie" of these Austinites together…they're trying to make us jealous. We are so happy that my sister and R's brother are both in Austin now and can't wait to visit everyone together!

Burger joint and impromptu air hockey game before catching a movie…the usual. Haven't found a burger place that is up to our Texas standards yet, though. O, and we learned from experience that when you order a strawberry milkshake, you literally get milk with strawberry flavoring. A "thick shake" in Aussie terms is our version of a milkshake, so don't make the same mistake.

With the constant cold and rain, Anne bought Teddy a rain coat ha. Spoiled.

I am so proud of my sister for moving into her own apartment and hosting her first guests in her perfectly decorated place! The bachelor watching tradition continues.

Evening "walks" with Teddy are the best.

Like the tourists we are, whale watching has been on our list for awhile now. We heard that July was the best time of year to catch the humpback whales migrating north where they give birth and mate in the Coral Sea. The boat took us about an hour out past the gap where the searching began...

Bad luck for us, we hit rocky seas and a storm wall rolling past us. Can you tell that R is pleased? The positive in all of it was that we saw plenty of rainbows in our path. R said it best, "If we were on a rainbow watching cruise, we would have hit the jackpot!"

Instead, we did our best to catch a breeching whale. We saw a few pods and a mother and her calf along their journey, but not too much activity out of the water. R called me the whale paparazzi because I was waiting for that picture perfect moment, but that never happened. Maybe next time! It was still an adventurous way to spend a Sunday morning in stormy Sydney.

Travelog: Wellington, New Zealand comin' at ya next from last weekend!

Life Goes On

2013-06-26T00:30:00.003+10:00

Until this week, I haven't been in contact with anyone back home since my visit in May. A little mental hiatus (and sister time and Fiji fun) if you will. I'm becoming more comfortable with the realization that "life goes on".

As much as I love to catch up with friends and the grandmas for a mid week pick me up, its nice to know that we can also do our own thing and that doesn't mean we don't think about one another often. With that being said, keeping in touch is oh so important when living afar and usually takes plenty of coordinating on both ends! (i.e. Tuesday night at 9 pm your time/ Wednesday at noon my time work?!) Successful relationships are hard work my friends. I guess they're pretty rewarding too.

Old archives of the past month...

Plenty of packing and unpacking lately which leads to lots of laundry duty for me. R has been traveling a lot more frequently for work these days.

Rain and fog…lots of it! The winter blues have hit and the weather doesn't seem to be backing down anytime soon.

Which is why I don't feel guilty for picking up a little piece of Paris at Laduree.

And since I have been alone a lot, I don't mind being the third wheel at brunch with these two...

…or these two. Anne and Teddy have a sweet relationship and she always seems to take care of us when R is away. On this particular night, she made a thai curry. The best part is that she always brings out the china and fancy tablecloth for me. It's all about the special touches.

Last month was all about Vivid, a light festival that lit up the city skyline and projected creative colors and images on the opera house and cruise ships in port. We were lucky enough to have a front row view from our house.

Instagram happenings @kscherwin...

Thanks to my girlfriends for getting me back in the game (apparently I missed the memo a long time ago that it's now more of a social media site for sharing instead of keeping to yourself).

Any excuse to drive Teddy around town is a treat even if it's for a trip to the vet.

Anne took me to see an impressive private art collection and then to her favorite bookstore where we chatted over cappuccino.

We enjoyed a yummy Italian meal with the soon to be parents before the show. This is my friend at 7 months pregnant…be jealous because I am. We can't wait to welcome their little one into the world soon!

We couldn't turn down their invite to see Chris Tucker perform amidst a packed house. The night was full of laughs and his impersonations, especially of Michael Jackson, were spot on!

The next day, Steph put me to work! I love helping her on clothing shoots and it's a nice change of pace. After getting out early, she treated me to a lovely lunch over Darling Harbour and then showed me the Sydney Fish Market for the first time. I can't believe it took me a year to get here! Living on the coast is such an added bonus knowing that you can get the freshest of seafood..and much cheaper to do so! I was happy with the beautiful salmon I picked out for dinner.

I met R in the city after work at a retro pizzeria called Frankie's (the man would be happy eating pizza every day) and then we finally saw The Great Gatsby, which was filmed entirely in Sydney.

R also had the great joy of being invited to the World Cup qualifying game against Iraq. He has really enjoyed getting to know and watch other sports and had no problem cheering on the Socceroos as his own. The city was abuzz after Australia's win and I'm glad R was able to be a part of it!

The tales of Teddy…caught wearing a sweater, using folded laundry as a pillow, falling asleep sitting up, and getting love from our neighbor.

Saturday date night at the theatre. The production of War Horse was spectacular and quite emotional! On stage, the horses were of life sized puppets (that sounds so lame but it wasn't like that at all) that were so believable you almost forgot their life sized movements and sound effects were being manipulated by humans.

Before the show, we treated ourselves to some sweets…at a dessert train! How cool is this concept?! Think your classic sushi train, but filled with sugary confections. Um, yes please. While the atmosphere was modern and bright, we were unimpressed by the overpriced desserts themselves. O well, all for the experience and fun!

The weekend of non-stop rain was making us stir crazy, so we took to the streets on Sunday! I always have this fantasy of being one of those fit couples who jogs (and holds hands, smiling and talking all the while) side by side as an activity to do together. I'm not making this stuff up…I see these acts being committed all the time so I know it's feasible. The conclusion is that our afternoon run across the bridge was confirmation that after many failed attempts at jogging together, it just ain't our thang. I don't care how much training it takes, but these little legs of mine will never be able to keep up. I'll have to move onto bigger dreams for us now...

I have also come to the conclusion that my husband is a bad influence on me…in the form of a delicious hot dog and crispy fries. Once we ditched the high intensity/romantic workout, the next most logical thing would be to indulge in this greasy goodness. Neither of us complained. And that is why I love our rendezvous...you never know what you're going to get.

Until next time...

Let's Just Go...

2013-06-16T23:15:00.000+10:00

Hello followers, it's McKenzie here!

Kelsey has set the bar high with her writing and entertainment on this blog, so I apologize in advanced if this does not live up to "Two + Teddy" standards! ;) I am HONORED to be a guest blogger, and appreciate Kelsey for trusting me with this precious website.

As many of you know, I visited Kelsey and Ronnie in December. I completely fell in love with the city and knew that I just HAD to take my boyfriend, Junior, to experience it with him as well. I knew that he would love the atmosphere, change of pace, and food that Australia so beautifully presents! Well, when we finally figured out our "real world plans", the idea of going to Australia became more and more of a reality. We booked our trip the day after graduation and then two weeks later were off to Australia! We had the "Let's Just Go" attitude and didn't want to look back. Talk about a whirlwind of graduation, moving, Junior starting work, and packing for Australia! I swear we aren't crazy.... well, maybe I take that back. Here is some of our trip....Enjoy!

We had a VERY long travel day to get to Sydney. 26 hours to be exact. A curfew delay (whatever that is!), layover in LAX, and a delay because of fog in Sydney made for a very rough day. As soon as we got off of the plane, we met up with Kelsey at the apartment. We got to try the famous Harry's and indulged in a meat pie....the true Aussie way. After that we spent the afternoon in the Royal Botanical Gardens overlooking the harbour and enjoying a nice chat...along with some goofy pictures. After a 26 hour travel day, sometimes you just have to be silly with your best friend! Talk about deliriousness at it's finest...

While Kelsey was working at the Red Cross the next day, Junior and I headed off to Manly Beach for a nice picnic and people watching! I fell in love with Manly when I was there in December, and knew that Junior would love it as well. We made a picnic, enjoyed the scenery, ate some AMAZING ice cream, and met up with Kelsey at 4 Pines brewery! A perfect day.

After our visit to Manly, Junior and I kept talking about how much we wanted to go back for another visit. Junior had been wanting to do something adventurous (Surprise! Surprise!) and we thought that there would be no better place to learn how to surf than in Australia! Junior signed up for a surf class at Manly Surf School, and we were off for the day! I stayed back due to my fear of the ocean (I know, I am NOT proud of it) and enjoyed a nice day reading my book, listening to my iPod, and snapping HUNDREDS of pictures of my man! The second picture on the left makes me laugh every time. Junior caught a wave, but then ran into a traffic jam....so he decided to jump on the girl's board next to him for safety. Looks like that turned out well, huh? Junior's surf instructor (and new best friend) kept making fun of his "Texas golf tan" on his feet. Leave it up to Junior to make friends with strangers!

While we were in Sydney, there was a light festival going on called "Vivid". Every night, the city would light up with all different colors, including the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Definitely a sight to see!

Eats while we were in Australia. I think it's safe to say that we didn't go hungry. Lattes, eggs benedict, corn fritters, smoked salmon breakfasts, sausage dogs, dim sum, and meat pies.. Gym, here we come!

A day at Watson's Bay calls for a trip to Doyle's for some fish and chips! It's a cute little place right off of the wharf with a view of the water and the city. Pretty incredible! Kelsey Junior and I ate our lunch at this picnic table enjoying our view of the city! On the other side of the bay, there is a trail along the coast that is breathtaking. It looks out onto the Tasman Sea and is so peaceful. Definitely one of my new favorites of Sydney. On our ferry ride home, we discovered that a sailboat race was going on! Hundreds of sailboats passed by us...a very neat sight to see.

Another one of my new favorites is The Grounds. It is an amazing brekky place (that's breakfast for all you American folk)! They even have their own hens and piglet named Kevin Bacon! We enjoyed a nice brunch with Kelsey and one of her new friends. I loved getting to know her friends a little bit more....it makes my job of worrying much less when I'm halfway across the world :) Thanks Kait, Jenny, Blake, Steph, and Jackie for meeting up with us on our visit and for taking care of my girl! ;)

A very touristy day for Junior and I consisted of visiting Featherdale Wildlife Park and the Blue Mountains with a day tour. We got to Featherdale in the morning, just in time for feeding! We found a kangaroo with a joey in it's pouch, (see picture for cuteness) and instantly fell in love. Junior kept going up to the mum saying, "let me see that joey!" We could've spent all day hanging out with our kangaroo and koala friends. We ended our Featherdale visit with seeing two koalas cuddling in the tree together...precious!

All in all, my trip with Junior was amazing. We had a great time and really got to enjoy life in a different light than we are used to. I think the travel bug has hit Junior....and this girl ain't complainin'! But, I do have to say what I loved most was just being with family. I love every opportunity that I get to be with my sister and Ronnie, and it makes it so much more special when all four of us are together. I am incredibly blessed to have all of these people in my life and wouldn't change it for the world.

Kelsey, thank you for being such a great tour guide. We couldn't have seen the city without you, and I am so glad that you were willing to show us around all day! I know that it gets tiring, but we wouldn't have wanted to see the city without you. We have so many new memories and funny stories from spending time with you, and we are so thankful for that. Thank you for being an amazing sister! I love you to the moon and back!

Ronnie, my love for you is infinite and I cannot thank you enough for being my brother. Thank you for always taking one for the team and putting up with us Carroll girls. Seriously though, this man deserves an award. I'm glad that awkward 16 year old boy stuck around :) I love you, R.

And last but not least....my dearest Teddy. I mean, the pictures pretty much say it all. You guys do know that I love my nephew, right? (Presley, if you're reading, mommy loves you too).

Thank you all for reading this long post about our trip, I hope you didn't find yourself snoozing away! Love all of our friends, family, and supporters...thanks for sharing this journey with us! I'll leave you with some of my favorite pictures.

Left to right: Ronnie and Junior enjoying an Australian beer after dinner. The sun over the harbour, reflecting off of the water. Junior and his Aussie flag. Junior and I with the 3 sisters at the Blue Mountains. Lovebirds after dinner. J and I in Hyde Park....incredible trees. J and I overlooking the harbour minutes after landing. Bridgeclimb!! Like the outfits?? ;) and last but not least, Junior interrupting 2 Aussie celebrities during dinner for a picture.... Reece Mastin and Rhiannon Fish.

Cheers, Sydney! You've been good to me again.

xoxo,

McKenzie

Travelog: Fiji

2013-06-15T08:56:00.004+10:00

Bula!

I would be happy if I never had to say that word again. This Fijian greeting word means everything from hello, goodbye, welcome, bless you, etc. Bula literally means life. And boy do the friendly Fijians mean it. When all else fails, just shout "Bula!" with confidence and you will be sure to get a few smiles and greetings returned.

The Fijian people are some of the nicest I have ever encountered and their culture fascinates me. They are very spiritual and religious people (99% of native Fijians are Christian) who put an emphasis on family, music, dance, and food. There was not a day that went by that we didn't hear a local singing and playing the guitar, either around the pool at the resort, in the villages, or on a tour boat. I was taken back by their genuine tone when asking simple questions like "How was your day?" that are all too often empty conversation fillers.

Our resort, just a short drive from Nadi off the main island of Viti Levu. We love the predictability of our Starwood properties.

Hotel details of the pool and view from our room.

Lots of sand and sun time!

O, and of course, how could my husband not go without watching the NBA Finals?! Luckily it made for a nice lunch break in the shade where they were playing it in the golf clubhouse.

And don't forget about pool time.

I don't know about you, but we are generally "pool people" when it comes to this type of vacation.

Gotta stay hydrated. If you were wondering, all they serve is the Fiji brand of water. So authentic! Ha.

To keep my active man entertained, we battled it out on the putt putt course one afternoon.

He won by one stroke (barely). Maybe next time we'll act like adults and play a real round of golf..maybe.

Our nightly routine of watching the sunset. Afterwards, as part of our ritual, we would head to the hotel bar where an amazing acoustic duo played cover songs of all genres. I was seriously obsessed and R kept joking that he wanted to sign them. It was the perfect ending to our days.

When in Fiji*…fire dancers and a traditional ceremonial dinner with fire walkers! Super cheesy but we had to.

This day was a dream come true of mine to check off the bucket list…relax on an uninhabited island. After a two hour boat ride and snorkeling onto the shore, it was all ours to explore the 1.5 acres of paradise!

So surreal with the pristine sand and crystal clear water surrounding the private island. We were literally off the map.

Instagram favorites of the day.

There is no person I would rather experience the world with.

The day ended with us feeding some baby black tip reef sharks at our feet. Talk about conquering your fears!

Pampering day at the Heavenly Spa complete with open-air therapy rooms and outdoor showers. Look who I spotted in the distance waiting for their massage. Sneaky me!

Dinner at the hotel, Steakhouse by Peter Kuruvita. We didn't venture out much this time to try the local fare as there were plenty of options on the property to keep us happy. In typical "resorty" fashion I guess.

Our last full day was one of our most memorable. We took a jet boat safari up the Sigatoka River to a nearby village where we experienced the authentic Fijian culture firsthand. The river is the main source of life for the surrounding villages and it was interesting to see everything from horses and cattle wading and farming to local people washing, bathing, and toileting along the banks.

People of the river.

And I love that no matter what they are doing, they still stop to give us a wave (see little girl at bottom right popping a squat).

The village was named Koroua, which means "Grandfather", after the chief (usually the oldest member) relocated his family to this land in the 1960's after a terrible flood washed away their previous land. This village is special because it is composed of eight families who are all related. Once the women are old enough, they marry and leave their home villages. The spokesman for their village told us that they only work (farm) early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Their days are for socializing and helping their neighbors out. The women were provided a sarong (to cover above the knees) and the men were asked to take off their hats as a sign of respect to the chief.

The visit started with a traditional kava ceremony, with men entering the room first. We sat on our knees quietly as they conducted a 20 minute ceremony to welcome and offer us their national drink. Looks and tastes like mud, no joke. After that, we were considered part of the family and that's where the eating, dancing, singing, and clapping ensued. Lots of dancing to R's dismay.

Faces of the village.

The children were so interested in my camera and loved looking at their picture on my digital screen.

Lunch consisted of fresh fruit, fried dough, curry wrapped in roti, chicken, lemon drink, and more.

I was worried we would be making a spectacle out of them, but it was great to see that the people were more than happy to have us into their homes. To make sure the villages are not overcrowded with tourists, each day the tour visits a different village. I was also glad to see that the tour company was putting some of our ticket money back into improving the villages, and not degrading them. At the end of the day, we will all go back learning from this village of warm people who live by the simplest, yet purest principles.

Our last dinner in paradise at the neighboring resort restaurant, Flying Fish.

Before we knew it, Sydney was calling our name once again. And Teddy was pretty happy to see us too. He was spoiled with my sis and J while we were gone and it worked out quite well that they had a few days alone to explore the city. Too bad their flight left the same day we got back. We had the nicest greeting once we landed, though...a kitchen stocked with groceries, a clean house, and a sweet letter from the house guests!! They know the way to my heart.

I can't wait for my sister to share their trip with you! She will be guest posting soon. In other wonderful news, we were awoken in the middle of the night to a giddy girl who not only signed her own apartment lease, but got a job offer!! She will be working at the Rise School of Austin as a child development teacher. Lots to be thankful for!

Travelog: Nashville, TN

2013-06-01T23:07:00.003+10:00

I miss my Tennessee home…Nashville! I had the best five days visiting a girlfriend from college (who I hadn't seen in a year and a half) in her hometown on my way back to Sydney. It wasn't a first visit for me, but I always enjoy driving down the tree lined country roads admiring the beautiful colonial homes and cute shops. I felt so loved because my dear friend, Katie, took three full days off work to show me around and spend quality time together. Talk about hostess with the mostess. The week couldn't have been better…

Home sweet home with perfectly picked peonies, a romantic bedroom fireplace, her precious golden doodle Dolly, and a "haters gonna hate" embroidery wall hanging that served as our trip motto.

Fresh off my early morning flight, we knew where we would be headed to first…Pancake Pantry. Regardless of the line wrapped around the building in the pouring rain, we managed with our sweet pancakes and bacon just fine. More than fine. After that, the week of getting little to no sleep in Dallas finally hit me. Bad timing. Nothing that a nap won't fix, though!

After a Saturday morning sleep in, we walked with this horse to the neighborhood morning hotspot, Star Bagel. How convenient and delicious.

An afternoon at Yazoo Brewery was well spent with a fun tasting and tour! Apparently everyone else in N'ville had the same plan. I'm not much of a beer drinker, but this place gave me a better appreciation for what they do..and it was actually tasty.

A few of my favorite classics.

Lucky, lucky me…another college friend just so happened to be moving in with Katie for the summer to do her PT clinicals while I was there! It was SO refreshing to spend time with these two and I will cherish it forever. Good thing we all love each other, because this duo will be visiting us in Syd come November. Cannot wait.

We hit up Arrington Vineyards for a wine tasting and picnic on the grounds for the most relaxing afternoon.

We also had to pay a visit to the quaint town square of Franklin for some window shopping and browsing. My kind of day.

I also scored a chance to see Katie's mothers garden with her peonies in full bloom. You've gotta time it right as they are only in bloom for a couple of weeks out of the year. Obsessed.

Just a normal Monday….cruising on the boat at Katie's lake house. Some of her friends were sweet enough to take the day off to enjoy with us. Lucky us!

I seriously felt right at home with her friends and it was so refreshing to meet a group of women who I felt as if I had known for years. And it made me feel better knowing that she has so many wonderful people around her. More reason to want to move there someday!

The trip wouldn't be complete without catching a show at the historic Ryman Auditorium, the former home of the Grand Ole Opry. The stained glass windows and wooden church pew seating made this intimate venue extra special.

It didn't hurt that it was Ellie Goulding in concert! Love her. She is one of those artists that you really respect more after watching perform live…so talented! And I wish I were as cool as her…or at least hip enough to be her friend. Not even close.

I am thankful for a wonderful friendship that has grown closer with tragedy and distance. People can surprise you and when the two things that can cause you to grow apart actually makes you stronger, that's the making of a great relationship.

Spotted: Rayna James home from the TV series, Nashville.

After almost a week of being together, we really established a routine and Dolly accepted me as part of the family. Isn't this pampered pooch the cutest thing you've ever seen?! Dolly is so goofy, cuddly, and forgets she's the size of a miniature horse. Loved my cuddle time with her while I was missing Teddy.

Our last day together was a very special one indeed. Not only did we drive out to Leiper's Fork for some delicious southern cooking at Puckett's Grocery, but we were granted a bonus when spotting a special someone. After devouring our fresh buttermilk biscuits and smokehouse slab bacon, Katie had the brilliant idea of turning down some random country road that she thought was pretty.

(See country road at bottom right). With our windows rolled down and no other car in sight for miles, there it happened. Two people walking with their backs to us..fit dark haired male and skinny woman with a large brimmed hat. As we passed, I turned back to catch a glimpse. Was that Nicole Kidman?!?! I kept it to myself...until Katie confirmed, "Kelsey, I think that was Nicole." Remember, we turned down this deserted road eventually needing to turn around to go home. Good thing. A few minutes after composing ourselves, we made a quick u-turn and this time we would be face to face. We were probably going 5 mph and staring obnoxiously because they waved to us as we passed. The male wasn't Keith btw. I feel like I could leave Nashville completely satisfied now.

Of course, storms started rolling through just hours before my flight out. It was goodbye hugs and see you again soon! Spotted: Scarlett from the TV series, Nashville, at the neighborhood bar down the street from my friends right after I left.

Borrowed a fun read for traveling. Pretty L.A. sunset. Spotted: Connie Britton (Rayna James on the show Nashville) on my flight to LAX. Geez, could have found the whole cast there!

And while I was away, R kept me up to date with Teddy's happenings. Waiting patiently outside the bottle shop, weekend exploring, and sleeping in the sun. It was lots of kisses when I returned Thursday morning.

Teddy will be doing the same for R tomorrow when he gets back from another week in Dallas. In the mean time, my sis, J, and I will continue to enjoy our time together. Glad I have them to keep me company!

Deep in the Heart of Texas

2013-05-25T17:07:00.004+10:00

How many important events can you fit into three days time? Let's see, shall we….

Goodbye hugs from Teddy before the long flight.

Neutrals much? I guess I was in a certain mood when packing.

Fresh off the flight onto Texas soil, we hit the ground running for a weekend of graduation, wedding, mother's day, and birthday festivities.

The Prigel family hosted my sis and her roomies to the most fabulous graduation party Fort Worth has ever seen.

Precious memories with the ones we love.

No detail was spared from super frog's appearance, babe's chicken catering, purple and white everything, and purple sugar rimmed champagne toasts.
Lots of love!

Not that it was about R and I, but the party was a perfect welcoming back home with our loved ones. And a first meal of fried chicken, biscuits, creamed corn, and sweet tea was the perfect treat!

TCU Graduation Day!
It wasn't too long ago that my spunky mother was running around campus to capture those forever framed pictures in our purple robes. That was the last day I remember her being a "normal" mom. Three years later, with heavy hearts wishing she could do the same for Kenz, we pushed on as my mom would have wanted to celebrate our wonderful grad. It was a beautiful day and one that was definitely worth celebrating.

Graduation is a time to reflect on your academic achievements and hopes for the future. We are so proud of her and Jr. for overcoming obstacles that most twenty somethings wouldn't know how to handle…and all with grace. I really do look forward to seeing what the "real world" offers them as their journey continues. It has been so great to see my little sister blossom into an independent woman and carving her own path.

Gotta have the cheesy cap and gown pics.

The moment I was most looking forward to my whole trip was sharing a piece of my mother through a special note and gift that she had left my sister for this very day. Even at the end of her life, my mother was always thinking of everyone else.

Brunch at Brewed with the family before the big ceremony!

I love this new coffee house/pub/eclectic eatery on Magnolia. Fort Worth has changed so much since I graduated and I'm loving all the new spots that keep popping up! Our cousin and his sweet wife, who I haven't seen since before they got married last year, made a special trip to spend the day with us.

Commencement ceremony!

I felt like a proud parent and understood that sense of relief feeling they talk about as pomp and circumstance played.

Look at all the wonderful people that love the graduate! We missed some of the family as they had other important business (like getting married) to attend to…I guess we will let that one slide. More on that later...

I love my Grandad. He showed up wearing a "Sydney, Australia" embroidered polo that I gave him for Christmas and it made my day.

Lots of love!

So I mentioned a while back I was working on an embroidery project. Here is the finished product, a gift to my sister. My mother learned cross stitching at my age, so I thought it would be a great way to connect us. I had so much fun teaching myself and it was surprisingly easy once you gather all the materials and know the different stitches. Yay for YouTube! Coming from someone who didn't know how to thread a needle a few months ago (yes, my Gappy laughed when I didn't know what that was..and yes, she taught me how before I moved), that's saying a lot. I have so many designs I want to make now!

That wedding I mentioned earlier…it was my cousin's! After saying our goodbyes at graduation, we booked it to Southlake to celebrate the happy couple with the rest of my dad's side of the family. Talk about great timing for R and I to see everyone! Although we thought the day was going to be hectic, it turned out to be the perfect ending to our festivities.

We showed up right as the ceremony was ending, but were still able to catch the sunset over the lake and the beautiful reception. We danced the night away (even grandma), caught up with family, and celebrated the newlyweds. Kenz and I are happy to have another amazing woman join the Carroll crew!

Like that wasn't enough, we were able to celebrate R's mom on Mother's Day in downtown FW the next day! We had a nice brunch sharing mom stories over mimosas and migas. A happy mother with her kids..minus one who we missed! I'm so lucky to call this selfless, compassionate, and strong woman, Mom.

Birthday fun! 25 candles. Obsessed with that cake.

Nothing says a birthday party quite like BBQ and red checkered table cloth. I was looking forward to a casual gathering with Dallas friends accompanied by my favorite food groups, sweet tea and barbecue sauce.

I love my friends! Thanks for making me feel special and spending the evening with us.

On my actual birthday the next day, we hit up our lunch spot for the usual...limonada berries and queso verde. Leftover cake for breakfast is acceptable too, right? Then I played around with the new lens that R gifted me...MA and Matilda were cooperative models. The best gift he gave me though was letting us be his personal shoppers for the day without hesitation!

On the way to drop R off at the airport that evening, we stopped for drinks at Bar Belmont. It was the first time for us to check out this cool little spot tucked away from the crowds with the city skyline in the background.

Margaritas, sliders, and cacti…yes please!

Many thanks to this couple for being great hosts and putting up with our crazy schedules!

The rest of the week I caught up with friends, coworkers, sleep, doctors appointments, etc. Other highlights included a lunch date in bed with a friend who is recovering from back issues, a sleepover where my friend's bf graciously kicked himself to the couch, an afternoon with friends in their gorgeous new home, a pancake brunch date, a dinner on the patio where it hailed and we lost power, and many late night girl chats. Business as usual.

Bottom left: my sister and her bf booked a trip to Sydney..they arrive next week and stay for 2 weeks. Yipeeee. So glad they get this opportunity together!!

I also spent a good deal of time remembering how frustrating Dallas traffic is. Having a car is convenient in so many ways, but then it's not. Don't worry, I haven't gone all hippie thinking I can survive in Texas without a car. But I have changed my feelings towards the laziness (or whatever it is) of driving a half mile down the road to my destination and spending more time finding a close parking spot than it would have been if I just walked. No bueno. Ross, I get it now.

Anyways, I headed out to Frisco one morning to see a friends new house and growing not-so baby boy. Isn't he precious? We enjoyed catching up over bagels and playing with sweet Gabe.

To really solidify my Texas trip, my Aunt and Uncle invited us to the Rangers Game one evening. This was no ordinary baseball game, though. The main event was my Uncle and his quartet singing the National Anthem. They were amazing…such a special evening!

Fireworks, cotton candy, "Deep in the Heart of Texas", and a Rangers win.

Successful trip. "Y'all come back now! Ya hear?"

Next stop: Nashville, Tennessee.

Arriba!

2013-05-07T02:59:00.001+10:00

I think our apartment is officially a lower temperature than the outside air. It's 65 degrees out on this lovely autumn breeze day and I'm wrapped in a blanket wearing a sweatshirt and uggs around the house. Time to invest in a heater before it actually gets chilly!

My first week at Red Cross was a great success! I am basically a child development volunteer, watching babies and toddlers who have all experienced some trauma in their lives. The goal is to have one to two children assigned to each volunteer worker so they can get the special attention they need. I am amazed at how wonderful this program is for the young families and they even had a training session afterwards to educate us in play and speech therapy for these special cases.

Last Sunday we had a picnic lunch in the neighborhood with friends! It has definitely become our go-to spot on the weekends when we're feeling lazy but want to get out of the house and take advantage of our surroundings.

It was a great day to chat and test our trivia skills over a game of bezzerwizzer. Me and trivia are not friends…maybe I need to hit the books again!

Date night in the city at Mr. Wong! After debating whether it was worth changing out of our comfy sweats and dealing with the hassle of "getting out" (wow, we're such an old married couple), we were both glad we did and ended up here!

I loved the urban chic decor of exposed brick and rows of hanging ducks. Since they sat us at the kitchen with the poor duckies staring at us, it was only fitting that we ordered their signature peking duck pancakes…and they were delicious! Can't wait to go back.

Afternoon coffee date in Neutral Bay with Anne and Teddy!

More park time and sunshine!

Confession…I have never seen any of the Iron Man series. So, I had to redeem myself with the latest movie. I joined the boys for a night at the IMAX and I was more than pleasantly surprised!! I was one of those weird kids who wasn't interested in cartoons or super heroes and I hate to admit that I never gave those "boy" movies a chance. It's a shame that I have been stereotyping because I was SO wrong.

On Friday the ISN crew gathered to say farewell to a co-worker moving back to Dallas. Cheers, tears, slideshows, cake, and karaoke! Lucky to be a part of this family.

We wish you all the best, Jess and Dave!

Cinco De Mayo celebration with new friends and the Sydney Expat Americans group! The event was well organized and packed with crazy costumes, "margaritaville", street tacos and corn, and a terribly awesome mariachi band. It was a fun way to acknowledge the popular day back home…and to connect with a lovely couple.

Teddy this week.

Exhausted after an afternoon run, trying to nibble on my pretty sunflowers, enjoying morning cuddles, and posing for the camera.

Can you tell that this furry thing brings me lots of joy?!

Still so surreal.

Still Have Yet To See

2013-04-30T16:07:00.001+10:00

Eleven days and counting…

Yes, I am getting anxious about my trip back home. It's the longest I have been apart from my loved ones and I think I have done a pretty good job. Up until now, I haven't really been "homesick". Now it has set in. Where have the past ten months gone?! Ahhh so many mixed emotions.

Recently found on my pinterest boards…hints that I may be missing the cowhide and fiesta decor.

I threw this little board together using my super skills I learned in photoshop class to highlight some of my recent pins that reminded me of home. And no, this wouldn't be considered a "skill" in photoshop if you were wondering. Since I finished my photography classes a few weeks ago, I have been really bad about practicing and editing photos. I actually never edit any of my photos for the blog…not worth the effort.

Since my classes are over, I have been looking for other things to keep me busy. I seriously lucked out completely with an opportunity at Australian Red Cross. They interviewed me last week for a volunteer position with their Young Parents Program. Essentially, I will be watching newborns to four year olds for a couple of hours once a week (and more if I want) while their teen parents are getting education classes. The staff are lovely and they are doing wonderful things for less fortunate mothers and children in the community. Right away, I was introduced to one of the social workers who happens to be an American (from Virginia)!! We had instant chemistry so naturally we exchanged numbers and agreed to meet up soon…

…which takes us to Sunday morning at The Grounds of Alexandria. A coffee research and testing facility (per their website) complete with a gourmet cafe, lush garden, chicken coop, lemonade stand, and lots of outdoor seating. Let's not forget the amazing architecture and delicious treats that won me over in an instant. By the looks of the hip crowd, I wasn't the only one who thought so.

Lucky for me, Kait lives nearby and has a car! She is also married to an Aussie which makes her way cool (sorry R). We both admitted that we weren't usually one to reach out to a stranger, but I reassured her that it wasn't creepy. One of the biggest (and best) changes that living abroad has brought out in me…putting myself out there and being open to others, striking up conversation with strangers and genuinely caring, and actually following up with acquaintances when you say "ya, call me sometime and we can do dinner?!".

We both enjoyed a fruit cup (more like bowl) with yogurt and granola, but I can't wait to go back and try their lunch. How could we not walk away with a few nutella and jam filled doughnuts hot out of the oven for the boys at home?! More than anything, though, we enjoyed each others company. It was so refreshing to hit it off with someone who I felt like I've known for years. Even after being here ten months, I was reminded that Sydney has so many cool places that I have still yet to see…and interesting people that I have yet to meet!

Later that day, R and I headed to an area called Hunters Hill since we had a rental car on hand for R's work trip the next day. Having a car gives you so much freedom and we felt invincible around the city! Am I being too dramatic?

We ended up at Clarkes Point Reserve where we watched people fish and fly kites…and admired all the fancy boats at the marina.

Saturday morning love…Lemon and Ricotta Pancakes.

Random iPhone happenings…

1. Starting a new project/hobby

2. Two sleepy boys on a rainy day

3. Rainy days are followed by Teddy baths

4. With daylight savings in full swing, the sun is setting too early for my taste. I document the sunsets for R since he gets home after dark now.

5. I started a new thing by washing/cutting/preparing all my vegetables at the beginning of the week. I was trying to cut back on wasting produce while eating more green at the same time...and the method actually seemed to work!

To keep them fresh all week, I wrapped the sliced veggies in a damp towel and then sealed them in an airtight container in the fridge (for most of them). This healthy meal literally took ten minutes to whip up! No excuses now. Put the chicken on the grill with a pesto marinade, sautéed the onions and peppers, slapped some pb on the celery, and the beetroots were already ready to go! Yippee. And I wasn't going for technique or gourmet for all you food critics…just wanted a simple, healthy, and quick meal. Side note: Australian cuisine is a fan of beetroot…even McDonalds burgers have them. My only recollection of beets was soggy and out of a can. Such a shame. If you are like me and never gave this great veggie a try, think again…but go fresh! I boiled mine and then sliced it to eat again cold on salads or as a side full of antioxidants among many other benefits. Ok, thats my rant.

To make the most of the Aussie holiday called Anzac Day (and a day off work for R), we met up with friends at Balmoral Beach. We were so thrilled to see these two after Jackie was away on tour for four months. And Steph is now halfway through her pregnancy and has a tiny belly to prove it. Pregnancy definitely looks good on her!

Teddy and I watched from the hill as they went for a dip. We couldn't have picked a more perfect day to bask in the sun. The evening ended at their place for a delicious teppanyaki dish and a girl chat while the boys caught up with fifa. Some things never change...

Like I said before, my list of things to do in Dallas keeps getting longer. I just have a hard time justifying shopping in Sydney when everything is so much cheaper in the U.S. Thanks to pinterest, here are few items that I will be eyeing for my fall wardrobe and our upcoming trip to Fiji.

one. JOIE flats.

two. Rebecca Minkoff clutch

three. Perfect travel flats

four. Straw beach hat

five. Sunnies

six. Coral bikini

seven. Tory Burch reversible bikini

Miss Independent

2013-04-22T13:14:00.000+10:00

The cliche phrase "absence makes the heart grow fonder"…blah blah blah…hate to say that it's the truth. Just a few short years ago (seven to be exact..wow I feel old) R and I put our relationship to the test by doing the long distance thing our first year of college. Well, we all know how that one eventually turned out. Even though it was tremendously tough being apart during that crucial year (yes that's what I blame my "freshman fifteen" curse on), I stand by the fact that it was THE best thing we ever did for ourselves, and in turn, our relationship.

Here we are now, attached at the hip, and spending more quality time together than we ever have. So, when R was gone all last week for work travel, I had a freak out moment. I haven't been alone alone like this for a while now (please don't judge). It was only four days, but it taught me a lot!

1. I can be independent..and enjoy it!

2. Having R gone made me even more appreciative of what we have and what he does for us.

3. Living alone, I can get away with being more lazy around the house..but it also makes me more motivated to get stuff done at the same time.

4. I am helpless when it comes to feeding myself a substantial meal. Let's be real, I only cook for R's satisfaction.

5. Life is better with my partner.

I found myself doing those extra little things that I always think, "wouldn't that be lovely if I"...poured myself a cup of tea…made a fresh pumpkin soup…picked up coffee and snuggled in bed by candlelight…went to the beach alone to people watch, etc. Insert any other cheesy thing you can think of. I did it.

I also did this. Organized my teeny tiny space of my so called closet. I give it two weeks before it becomes a black hole again…

Teddy also struggled without his partner in crime. He kept R's spot warm in bed at night and looked forward to late night FaceTime chats. Maybe it was a lack of male dominance, but he seriously was so stubborn to the point that he assumed this [see third pic] position when I tried to put a leash on him to go outside. I give up.

If you really want to know what our sleeping arrangements are like when R is home, see above. No joke. Whoever came up with this sketch must have had us in mind.

I think Anne "felt bad" for my pitiful self and invited me over for dinner one night. I love that she still gets out her nicest china and goes into entertainer mode for me. We had a beautifully plated chicken curry with rice and veggies.

We also had time to catch up with Belinda and Emilio. She drove us to Balmoral Beach, where we had a picturesque picnic lunch and playtime! I couldn't get over how lovely it was.

The little guy is almost one already!! Such a cutie with a big personality. He mastered eating chips with a fork and sharing them with Teddy. What a giver. We also had surprise guests show up…a family of kookaburras! Only in Australia.

We lucked out with beautiful sunny weather and had a great afternoon. I can't wait to go back to this quaint spot!

Who knew sunglasses could be so entertaining?! I love watching the mother and son bond they share.

After a week away, we were ready to have R back. He surprised me with breakfast in bed and then it was off to the park for the day! Guys, I think my husband has officially become a man. He likes coffee…and I do too now for that matter. What is Australia doing to us?

We also checked out Manly last weekend…and got our mexican food fix. And what were the odds that we sat next to a couple from Dallas who just moved to our neighborhood in Sydney?! Small world.

The sky on the ferry ride back. Ombre effect.

The sweetest.

Date night at Hugos Manly! We can't wait to go back. And for no reason, R gave me this cute card and opal earrings! I couldn't get over how thoughtful it was…and that he picked them out all by himself. Or was it Kevin Bacon? Ha. I'll let you decide…

The West, Texas plant explosion made the front page of Sydney's Daily Telegraph. See, I told you that the Aussies care about our news. Anne always points this out to me..this time we were shopping for groceries when she found the paper. I am so saddened for the close community of West, but it is encouraging to see so many people reaching out to help in times of disaster.

This week in the kitchen:

Strawberry Banana Breakfast Sandwich for a sweet Saturday morning surprise for the hubby

Quinoa Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Scotch Fillet (even better as leftovers).

Lemon-Ricotta Whole Wheat Pasta with Seared Scallops and Pan-Seared Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries and Pecans

My best friend celebrated her 25th birthday last week…and it was the first one I have missed in seven years!! I will admit that I shed a few tears with her over a FaceTime session when it hit me that I wasn't going to be there for her. When I went back through my pictures to find a few for this post, I couldn't believe it….all of her cakes from 19-24 years perfectly telling a different story. None can top her 19th bday…the infamously slaughtered "eiffel tower" cake that ended in tears. You had to be there.

I am so lucky to have this incredibly caring, loyal, and hilarious friend in my life! My college roomie and sweet friend also celebrated her birthday a few weeks ago. I couldn't help but laugh when I came across this picture from her 21st birthday dinner. In college, our group of girlfriends always went above and beyond to make everyones birthday special and memorable. None will compare.

April Showers

2013-04-16T14:58:00.000+10:00

This morning I woke up to the shocking news of The Boston Marathon explosions. There have been a lot of things said on social media sites, so I don't feel like exacerbating the topic.

But, I will say that once again after seeing a tragedy like this unfold in America from afar is alarming. By taking a "foreigner's" perspective and watching the Australian news coverage, I am so saddened for our country and the violence that has been shown lately. It's hard to feel safe anywhere now and that's the reality R and I will be facing when we move back and fear for our future children. I have noticed that the Australian government and media are always so supportive and in tune with what is going on in the U.S. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims' families, the injured, and the medical staff and volunteers helping at the scene.

On another note, I wanted to share this picture that my grandmother emailed me the other day.

This is a page out of a Montgomery Ward's Catalog in 1934…it puts into perspective how much change can occur over an 80 year period. $1.98 for loafers (which are back in style) and $2.98 for a silk gown. What a steal!

The past two weeks...

Weeknight shenanigans. Opera Kitchen for dinner.

To the world it's a full moon, but to me it goes way beyond that. A ferry ride home I will never forget!

Where does an unmarked door in an alley way lead you to? The Baxter Inn. Duh!

…followed with perfect sushi at Toko and a movie to complete our date night. We always have fun with these two!

Emergency! Last week I woke up to Teddy looking pitiful with one eye closed shut. After a few hours of no change, Anne and I rushed him to the vet where he was poked and traumatized all to find out that he was okay. A foreign object must have irritated it and enabled a pain response which was healed with some anti-inflammatory meds. The next day he decided to be stubborn while I was making the bed…so I made him part of the pillow display. Fair enough.

A week of chocolate experiences with Anne and her Japanese friend that we are helping learn english. We enjoyed our tea paired with a fancy chocolate and mousse.

Random moments.

Admiring my new sandals, dumpling love, an owl on our street corner, Queen Mary cruise ship in port, and a fluffy cotton candy sunset.

We have been meaning to invite our neighbor and dog sitter, Anne, over for dinner and finally got around to it! I love this action shot that R got of me teaching her how to use a potato ricer all while cuddling Teddy. Such a special lady and a wonderful friendship we have developed!

Using my new Fresh and Light cookbook by Donna Hay, I served Lemon and Mozzarella Roasted Chicken with Green Beans and Garlic Mashed Potatoes for a classic dinner. We enjoyed her company and need to have her over more often! And you can tell that Teddy doesn't mind the attention either.

Rain or shine….the view never gets old. Rain seems to be the current theme in April. Unfortunately for us here, April showers do not bring May flowers like the saying goes.

To go with the rainy days, I whipped up some Chicken Tortilla Soup to keep us going for the week. I always tend to make double for leftover lunches but R always forgets to bring his to work so it's more for me!

Last week in the kitchen was all about leftover produce and meat...

A hearty bowl of spaghetti bolognese and salad, roasted peppers and chicken kebabs, vegetable stir fry and brown rice, and breakfast for dinner.

Travelog: NSW South Coast Roadtrip

2013-04-09T01:28:00.003+10:00

To be quite honest, I didn't think I would make it two weeks into this blogging thing before giving up. Now 55 posts in, I'm so glad I've stuck with it (sort of). Originally, I wanted to do a quick post every day…and that realistically became twice a week…and now it's just whenever I'm disciplined enough to sit down and think about it! I've been slacking lately and have weeks worth of adventures I need to catch up on.

My trips to Texas and Tennessee in May are distracting me…R and I are already salivating over the bbq and fried chicken we will be consuming. Every day I continue to add to my "To Buy in Dallas" list and I fantasize about going to Target for one stop shopping. I'm glad I miss home. It makes me realize that we will be ready to move back next year. In the mean time, we are still trying to comprehend this amazing opportunity. This little road trip down south reaffirmed our love for this country and simply how beautiful it is!! We couldn't get over it…

Rise and shine! Early morning drive through Royal National Park. I also learned my lesson to never turn down a brekky roll at a hole in the wall cafe. Luckily the hubby was nice enough to share once we realized how amazing it was (even though he should have made me suffer for initially being a brat and saying "I'm not eating here, it's dirty!").

About two hours in, we hit Sea Cliff Bridge for a windy road that led us along and above the coast.

If you don't call this spoiled, I don't know what is….Teddy seriously loved every minute of the journey!

There were so many national parks and lookouts to drive through that we had a hard time narrowing it down. Luckily there were road signs everywhere and points were clearly marked. We chose to catch a glimpse of Fitzroy Falls and all 262 feet of rushing water to the bottom.

Then, we ventured to nearby Kangaroo Valley to drive across Hampden Bridge and enjoy a quaint afternoon. The bridge was built in 1897, making it the oldest suspension bridge in Australia. Don't blink because the ride across sure goes fast! Good thing we actually stopped at "The World's Best Pies" shop off the main drag out of curiosity. The Texans in us saw the sign and thought, "yummy I would love to try the apple pie!! Just like home…". After about two seconds of walking in, we realized the joke was on us. R and I looked at each other with big grins both trying to play it cool that duhhhh we remembered we were in Australia, and here they do pies with meat and veg! I am serious when I say this…best "pie" I have ever had!!! Obsessed. And to think we almost drove past it (we actually did drive past it at first glance, but quickly made a turn around).

A long dirt road separated us from this breathtaking lookout over the valley. Not going to lie, though…R and I literally sprinted back to the car after we thought a cheetah (irrational I know) was chasing us. At least that's what it sounded like! We never figured out what it was. Probably a bird in the trees ha. See, we try to be outdoorsy and adventurous..but you put us two together with our irrational fears and it ain't pretty or rational whatsoever. Isn't my man supposed to be the one to protect and calm some sense into me? Instead, mine just runs right behind, encouraging me to go faster. Gotta love him!

Roadside pit stops…farms, dairy sheds, and cheese shops! Sometimes I fantasize about country life. Do you think I could pull it off?

After calling about a million places that couldn't accommodate THE dog (or us for that matter) on the popular Easter weekend, we finally found a spot 4.5 hours south of Sydney. We were pleasantly surprised with the town of Narooma and our motel-esque accommodation (with a private, fenced in yard for Teddy).

My favorite moment of the trip was this. Aimlessly walking to find a bite to eat, we came across this scene right next to a crowded fish and chips shop. Wow is all I can say. The water was so calm, a flock of birds were taking a dip in the distance, and two dads and their young sons were hunting for crabs on the shore nearby. The sign to the park read "A good days fishing with plenty more for tomorrow". I think I loved it so much because it was unexpected and unplanned.

Day 2 we ventured 20 miles farther south to Tilba for the village's annual Easter festival. Another spontaneous thing that we're glad we found! R referred to it as "Westchestertonfieldville" in regards to it's perfectly quaint and surreal surroundings. If you've ever seen Mr. Deeds you would understand the name.

I mean come on…"The Tilba Teapot", baby calves just hanging out, giant clowns blowing bubbles, vintage cars, fairy floss (aka cotton candy), french homeware stores, and the most picturesque "parking lot". Ha we sure got a kick out of this refreshing take on life!

Maybe we were swayed by our love for the countryside and quaint towns, but when we got to the capitol city, we weren't as impressed. Here we were now in the middle of nowhere bush land with a futuristic structure built in central Canberra where Parliament stands. Hmmm…in unison, R and I both agreed we felt like we were in The Hunger Games, arriving at The Capitol of Panem.

The structure itself was quite intriguing and the architecture surrounding made it fun to run around and snap a few shots. That was about enough of the city…maybe we just didn't give it a chance.

Dashboard confessions...

Cows!! Feels like home….but not. I appreciate them more now for some reason..and I think they are purrdddy.

Life on the road, featuring divo Teddy. We successfully managed to bring the dog along without leaving him once all 72 hours plus! Call that obsessive or accommodating…and we really had no choice otherwise. It worked out well for our low key weekend but I don't see it happening anywhere else.

Other than that, I finished my photography/photoshop classes last week so now it's on to the next thing. It's about darn time I get out there and volunteer where I am needed most!! I'm almost embarrassed to say that it has taken me this long to find a way to give back to the community. I am really excited for a few potential opportunities that have come up!

More reason to miss home, our good friends DD and Lacey just became parents! Their baby girl is healthy (and super cute and snuggly in this pic!) and we are so thrilled for these two who are going to make a great team. We wish them the best and can't wait to meet her!

Too Easy

2013-03-28T09:14:00.000+11:00

"Too easy" became the theme of our latest visitors stay. From their professional traveling ways to their openness to trying anything, we had a successful weekend with a great couple. Just wish they could have stayed longer!

One of the most surprising things R and I have learned about being here is that some of our friendships have strengthened now that we're half way across the world! Funny how that works…

We started the day in Watson's Bay to take in the skyline from afar..

..and sample on one of Sydney's staple fish and chips stops.

Thanks to my lack of timing, we had an hour to waste until the next ferry..so afternoon tea at the Dunbar House it was! Thanks for being such a good sport, Justin.

A very breezy ferry ride! Makes for uncooperative hair.

Harry's Cafe De Wheels. Justin's only request for the trip…and he approves!

One of the many reasons why I love this girl…she gets pooped on by a bird, and instead of getting upset, she laughs it off! Glad I could catch the moment. Mind you, it was way more important to capture the moment on camera than to run to her assistance and help. Shows you how good of a friend I am. We deserved that hot dog btw.

Then, it was off to the Opera House and Royal Botanical Gardens for some sightseeing.

Some Opera Bar action at sunset to greet R after work! You have no idea how hard it was to get this group picture of us…but it made for a fun memory.

One more walk around the house before dark…why not.

Cheers to Pizza e Birra! The boys and their fancy, fruity drinks. This mixologist had skills.

And you can't beat their authentic Neapolitan style wood-fired piizzzzaaaa.

In keeping with the Italian theme, it was off to our favorite sweet spot (and 50 other people in line with the same idea) for gelato! A great night.

The next morning, we hit the ground running, starting at Bronte beach for an Aussie brunch.

With happy bellies, we started the coastal cliff walk to Bondi…taking in the views along the way.

And of course posing for pictures!

Love this set of action shots…tough guy thought he was all brave to get out on the rock…until a huge wave ran him away! The waves were the biggest I have ever seen them here.

We made it! Beach time it is. And out of all the spots we could have picked to set up camp, it happened to be right behind a dear friend and my yoga instructor! Such a great surprise for the day. Us girls baked in the sun while the boys jumped waves.

We went from lying on the beach in our swimmers to dining at one of Sydney's best steakhouses within one hour flat! Don't we clean up nicely? We were impressed with our timing…and thoroughly enjoyed our meal and company.

The night continued on..one place being too snooty and charging too much for their drinks and another too crowded to stand. So, back to our place it was! We were happy to have our other friends join in on the fun and celebrate their last night.

Such a bittersweet ending to their stay!

This week I was sad to miss three very important gatherings…Grandma Scherwin's birthday party, my bro-in-law's birthday, and soon to be Mrs. Carroll's bridal shower.

It's times like these when I really appreciate Facebook and iMessage. I have never depended so much on technology to feel connected! And thanks to my sis and girlfriends for always keeping me in the loop. Tomorrow R and I are hopping in the rental car for a road trip down south along the coast for the Easter weekend. Should be an adventure. Many blessings to everyone this Easter and love to all!

Summer's End

2013-03-20T11:37:00.002+11:00

This whole living on the water and a stones throw from iconic beaches really works with the summer thing. To me, summers used to be running through the sprinklers in our front lawn, riding our bikes through the neighborhood until dusk, and eating watermelon for breakfast. While all of those things bring back wonderful memories, I can now understand how Aussies take the summer season to a new level. The city comes alive. Festivals, beaches, boats, concerts, shows, markets, patios….all thrive here in the sunshine. Now, it has come to an end. I will always cherish my first Sydney summer….this season was oh so good to us, packed with weekend adventures, amazing visitors, and fun times. While there is still plenty of sunshine, the nights have turned cooler and life seems to be slowing down. Maybe that's a good thing.

Last weekend, we celebrated a friend's birthday at her family's cute beach house! A beautiful 2 hour drive took us south to Jervis Bay for the celebration. It still baffles R and I that you can feel transported to another country within a 2 hour drive from the city.

Cheers! Happy (real) birthday to Izzy today.

Close-ups!

Good friends and great memories. The trip was short but sweet.

Late night fun on the beach! I would call that human pyramid a success. Trivial pursuit on the other hand..won't even go there.

One last hooray for summer on the sailboat! We feel pretty spoiled.

We finally had perfect weather, sunshine, and clear skies for the boat.

1..2..3...Jump!

Happy with our yummy burgers and chocolate cake!

The crew. Couldn't have asked for a prettier sunset to end the day. Maybe one of these days I will actually learn how to sail...

Trying to be a good wife by ironing…but all I wanted to do was get outside and explore with the pup.

Afternoon picnic for ~~one~~ two (if you count Teddy). Our spot in the shade was perfect for reading and glancing at the opera house.

Days like this make me realize how lucky I am to have the freedom to just be.

Some special people that I am celebrating lately.

My Mema just had a milestone birthday and I just love this picture she sent of her and my Grandad with her cake. True love.

My best friend and college roomie not only just celebrated a birthday, but also an acceptance into Auburn University's PhD Clinical Psychology program. I am beyond proud of her and look forward to visiting once she gets settled in!

And then you have those lifelong friends where the relationship is effortless and nothing changes no matter the distance and time spent apart. We have known each other since we were four years old, and now I am celebrating her 25th birthday today! Sending my love to Colorado…

Also, my little B just turned one and I seriously cannot believe it! I'm so sad to have missed his "The Lucky One" birthday party on St. Patricks Day (how cute is that theme?!).

We just said au revoir to the most amazing house guests ever! Our friends from college stopped through Sydney over the weekend on their tour of Australia and we just had a blast. It was so nice to spend some alone time with them and show them a condensed version of the city. More pics to come of their whirlwind weekend...

To Bake Or Not To Bake

2013-03-11T13:24:00.000+11:00

Catching up this week and getting back into the groove…here is what has been going on lately. I don't want the summer to end!

Tranny Bingo! There's a first time for everything.

The life of Teddy.

Proof that my neighbor, Anne, spoils him…she is holding his ears back as she feeds him raw meat.

The best time of the day for Teddy...when R comes home from work! Happy pup.

Mail time! Little surprises this week from the coolest vintage valentines day card, to a bag of stylish valentines goodies, to a fancy wedding invitation. Also, R's mom shared this timeless photo of her parents on their wedding day. Love.

A cute neighborhood find, My Little Cupcake. I found these adorable heart measuring cups and cupcake liners that inspired me to get to baking.

Mid-week stretch! Teddy admired R playing basketball from afar while I dove into a new book on the sideline.

So much for baking..I picked up this cookbook/guide called "I Quit Sugar" on a whim to see what it was all about. No bueno. I mean, the book is great and has a lot of helpful information, but it made me realized just how much sugar R and I consume. I thought we were doing so much better with eating plenty of fruits and natural foods…but this lady doesn't think so. Sugar is sugar and she claims that some of the highest fructose snacks are found in health food shops. Blahhh. There is an 8-week program to quitting sugar (omg) but I'm not convinced yet. I have never done anything extreme when it comes to my eating habits.

Another spontaneous fireworks show! I love this city.

This week in the kitchen:

Brown Rice with Shrimp and Avocado

Cold Tomato Zucchini Pasta Salad with Sherry Vinaigrette

Great to make a big batch for a weeks worth of lunches.

Spinach and Rocket Salad with Avocado, Feta, and Egg with Potatoes and Fruit

Whole Wheat Pasta with Zucchini, Tomato, and Basil and leftover turkey meatballs.

Carrot and Apple Cinnamon Streusel Muffins

Family Matters

2013-03-07T15:39:00.000+11:00

The idea of a blended family is quite interesting to me. We are raised to believe that family is forever and irreplaceable. Nothing can come between a family bond. But what about death? Marriage? Divorce? Addiction?

As a child, I didn't account for any of these things in my lifetime. Maybe it's just me, but my parents censored me from the "evils" of this world and painted a picture of what life was supposed to be like in this perfectly gift wrapped box with a satin ribbon on top. (I'm being a bit dramatic because I do understand where my parents were coming from and their desire to give me the most positive outlook and opportunities in life.) Now, at the age of 24, I'm already having to rewire the once set in stone family structure that I thought was never to be broken. Hmm. This isn't to say that I don't appreciate the changes, but instead, it has made me a stronger and more open person. It has been an interesting learning process…with no owners manual attached.

To the Carroll, Batson, and Daniel family readers, no need to worry. Whether you like it or not, you're stuck with me and are in no danger of being replaced. :) Just thought I would clarify. However, you all can understand just as much as I that with death, marriage, children, etc. family structures change. The whole process of taking R's family into my own was unique. For goodness sakes, they watched me grow from a shy kindergartner to the awkward, self doubting teen that fell in love with their son to the person I am today. It would be an understatement to say that it was easy to feel accepted and loved by them!! (Seriously, I am the luckiest in the "in law" department). Even then, I still felt like I was "cheating" on my biological family when I would spend holidays away from grandmas. Now that I'm such a pro with this marriage thing (HA), I understand the importance of fully letting yourself love "new family" and breaking down those walls..for yourself and your spouse! And now that my parents are unfortunately not around, I feel blessed to have been given an extra set (or two!) in these guys. Not to mention I gained two amazingly loving older brothers and a bonus sister (in two ways) out of the deal. That worked out well, didn't it?! I think so.

All rambling aside, I just couldn't help but share my hopefulness in the future for our "not so dysfunctional-functional blended family". This trip for the five of us really solidified that the joining of families is a journey, but as long as you are willing to accept one another, make compromises, and put in the effort, anything is possible...

...Just like climbing a bridge. The iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge to be exact. R and I watch the little ants walk on top of the structure every night from our apartment and always had it on our to do list. Leave it up to our sis, with her newfound adventure seeking ways, to get us up there! We only picked one of the windiest days, but that didn't matter.

Spectacular views of the city and harbour! We made sure to do the twilight climb so we could capture the views at sunset and at dark with all the lights. Well worth the 3 hour climb. Lots of prep and very well organized tour.

This is us crossing over the very top of the bridge! Couldn't resist the urge to show our college pride with what felt like the top of the world.

To get a completely different perspective of Sydney, why not in a boat? This was one of our favorite days of the trip…sailing in the harbour!

Very windy and overcast, but that didn't stop us from having fun.

Cuties. That yacht is only worth 40 mil. Our driver knew all the boating gossip…what a life!

Close-ups! Love them all.

Proof that R and his dad jumped in and didn't get bit by a shark! Char on the other hand did get in, but not long enough for a shark to even spot her. She did it, though!

See, they're not fun at all. I love this series! Wind, laughter, crazy hair, wine, "O wow, there's the opera house and harbour bridge" moment.

Lucky us got caught in the middle of the World Series of sailing race. I don't think we realized how big of a deal it was until our knowledgable captain got super excited to be witnessing the whole thing right beside us. That boat "7" was in first place, with a "camera cat" following shortly behind to catch all the action.

Model material. Having fun as the sun begins to set!

Make new friends, but keep the old….

This is what happens after a day on the water…you almost get kicked out of a restaurant and find THE cutest Aussie boy for your sister to complete her checklist. (Thanks to J!). Hook 'em and Gig 'em.

Lunch at Ripples with my neighbor, Anne! What a lifesaver she was for us Teddy this week.

Afternoon "pub crawl" with the fam. First stop, the super cool Palmer & Co for a speakeasy feel. Obsessed with the decor and alley way/basement entry.

Skipping past R's office to the next place! A little bit of rain and wind didn't stop us from the rooftop bar deck.

Our weekend getaway to the Hunter Valley, wine country. Super fun and memorable.

Like father, like son. Happy to be at our first winery of the day! And all Char could think of was books. I am happy to say that I walked away with the book "Wine Dogs Australia"…and for anyone who is listening, there are multiple volumes and countries if you want to start me a collection. Just saying.

Speaking of, this pup Cooper greeted us with mud and sweet kisses at the next winery! I wonder if he's in the book?!

Thanks to this crazy lady holding the sign, we had a little too much fun at our last stop. Just what we needed...

After wine tasting, we crashed in the hotel for a few hours and were back at it again for dinner! We took them to where R and I dined a few months ago, Botanica. Very consistent, fresh, and delicious food.

We couldn't resist making one last stop before our drive back to Sydney the next morning!

Love! These ladies were more interested in the dogs than anything else. Who can blame them? There is just something envious about a dogs life living on a winery….free range to run through the vineyard, wine sippings, and beautiful women greeting you everyday. Maybe in my next life…

Teddy was jealous. His life isn't so bad either I guess.

Champagne brunch at Petersons House.

Family movie night in the hotel! Aren't we just the cutest.

Our loot from the weekend.

Saying our goodbyes and see you soons!

Party Of Five

2013-02-25T23:57:00.000+11:00

I guess you could say we have just been having too much fun...and that explains me waiting until now to blog about our visitors' trip! We kicked Ronnie's dad, stepmom, and sis off to Queenstown, New Zealand for the week ahead until they return to Sydney this weekend before heading back home (yes, you should feel very bad for them!).

Now that we've had three sets of visitors, R and I realize that our experiences with each of them have been far from the same. The exact same city and beautiful locations bring new experiences with fresh eyes. Extra bonus for R and I! We love seeing our visitors reactions when they first walk onto our balcony or learn to ride the train for the first time. That constant reminder that it wasn't too long ago that we were right there with them….and how far we have come in this short six months adapting to our new surroundings. One thing is for sure, though. The view never gets old.

We couldn't wait to show these three around town! R's dad has been before, so we were anxious to see if the city was like he remembered. Also, we decided that we don't like the term "step" as it gives a negative connotation…I'm just sayin'.

Have I mentioned that we don't go easy on our visitors?! After a happy greeting at the airport, a nauseous cab ride, and a clean up and wardrobe change, we were off to conquer the city as a family!

A walk across the bridge led us to an afternoon open air market and a few drinks. We wouldn't let Teddy miss out on all the fun either. Then it was back to the neighborhood via ferry, where the boat was named after that pretty blonde above. She wasn't excited about it at all!

Take-away indian food in our pjs was a good choice for a relaxed and jet lagged evening in.

A rainbow over the opera house, no big deal. We took them to see Sarah Blasko with the Sydney International Orchestra, and even though none of us had ever heard her music, we all enjoyed it. She has a unique tone and style and was actually quite shy and humbled by the experience.

Perfectly Paddington. Fresh bread, boutique shops, cool architecture, and THE Lon-Don.

Like father, like son. Betting on horse races and playing pinball at the pub on the same game that R's dad grew up with! This is what a Tuesday afternoon should look like...

Ok, you caught us. R and I are on a total detox this week after eating too well. That would include this amazing gelato from Messina. Obsessed.

Sunny day in the gardens for Tropfest, the worlds largest short film festival. We were some of the first ones to show up to this popular event that eventually filled the park with picnic blankets and people by sunset.

Since we couldn't go without a meal (duh), we left our blanket/spot at the festival only to return a few hours later with a packed house and a random girl with "our spot" wrapped around her. Serves us right.

Ferry rides are fun!

Just ask R's dad who was befriended by a very disturbed drunk man while the rest of us watched and giggled in disbelief. It was 2 pm on a Monday mind you.

Love Watsons Bay! Pretty views everywhere you turn. O, and more food of course. And flying dogs.

More take-away food (thai this time) on the balcony! Just in time for the sunset.

It's no joke that the sun is more intense here. Even with the many sunscreen stops along our cliff walk, our skin still hates us. We didn't let that stop us, though.

Our "functionally functional" family (minus a few!)

Beach time at Bondi!!

After a long day in the sun, we opted for cooking fresh and light at home! Watch out, the three of us girls make a good team in the kitchen. On the menu…fish tacos with sautéed peppers, avocado salsa, garden salad, and fruit.

The house sure was quiet around here today, but I will be able to catch up this week before we enjoy another fun last weekend with them! After that, I will share part two of our adventures that includes the harbour bridge climb, sailing, and wine country. Life is good.

Color Me Pretty

2013-02-17T23:26:00.000+11:00

This week was full of color…starting off with Sydney's first Color Run 5K event.

I have always seen pictures of these runs and thought they looked super fun so we were interested to see for ourselves. While we enjoyed our company and the silliness of the event, it didn't exceed our expectations.

Maybe it was the hot sun beating down or the 1.5 hour wait just to get to the start line or the fact that there was no water along the way. We still made the best of it and had fun with our friends!

Afterwards, we treated ourselves to a trip to the famous Harrys Cafe De Wheels for some pies. Like Americans do hot dogs and burgers, Aussies do meat pies. Add some mash, peas, or gravy on top and you really start to become a true local. Super healthy after our run...

Photography assignment of the week: exploring color to convey a particular mood

Same subject, different white balance settings on the camera make for different tones and feelings.

More photography! This time helping my friend shoot and style a pastry chef's creations. We were tempted by the homemade marshmallows and rocky road, but we managed to get some great shots before taste "testing" them. She definitely showed me the perks of getting to work from home..and we managed to have a lot of laughs and fun along the way. I just love the flexibility and go at your own pace attitude that allows you to be creative and relaxed.

Valentines Day…over commercialized, cheesy, and cliche comes to mind. R and I have never been big on the holiday, but we always end up doing something special for each other to show our love. We both agree that appreciation for your loved ones shouldn't be reserved for February 14th…cheesy I know, but true. To start the day right, I surprised R with strawberry pancakes and scrambled eggs before sending him off to work. After work, I came home to a beautiful bouquet of garden roses and some goodies.

Then we celebrated with the other cliche couples at Garfish with a delicious 3 course dinner. Prawn and scallop croquettes, grilled barramundi and potato and leek gratin, and passionfruit brûlée. A perfectly romantic evening.

Loving our neighborhood flower shop around this time!

Teddy had an eventful week as you can see. He got a flower stuck on his eye and made a trip to the groomer, which always exhausts him. Rough life.

This week in the kitchen: Baked Salmon and Dill Yogurt with Roast Vegetable and Farro Salad.

Look who has arrived!!! We greeted R's dad, stepmom, and sis at the airport yesterday morning and have been going ever since. Updates to come on our adventures soon!