On holiday

Playing in the sand 

1.2km of stairs at 5am. 

Colour

The best spot to enjoy hot lemon water at 5am

Chambray love.  Wearing it every day.

Stirring mum a drink

Sunrise from QT hotel

Grocer & Grind 

I don't think I realised how tired and burnt out I was until the stress of going on holiday was over. Repeated illness and running on empty. Not enough sleep. Not enough hours in the day. I was pulling myself together and faking it with good shoes and make up. That's just what you do. We all live in the same world. Attached to our phones and emails and petrified of people's reactions if we cannot be reached right then and there. Going on holidays stressed me out. Being away and having to pack to go away didn't seem worth it. I made a giant list of toddler necessities I needed to pack and another list of "maybe I also need this stuff just in case" which left room for about 3 outfits for me to wear for 3 weeks. And it's damn awesome to open up a suitcase and not have to make a choice about what to wear that day. I was up before 5 most days. I ran up countless stairs. I enjoyed sunshine and amazing food. I loved the early morning rising and early night routine. I even managed a siesta or two (or six).  There's a reason why we go on holiday.  I've already booked my next one.

Notes from Noosa

 I suppose it's fair to say that for the 11 years that I lived so close to the world's most amazing beaches I took it for granted.  When I moved away and began being tortured by the cold, I really began to miss it and eagerly awaited every chance to go back home.  6 years later, I still feel the same.   One of my favourite places to spend a couple of days on holidays is Noosa (but Byron Bay still comes first).  Noosa is simply beautiful, although can at times get hot due to being shielded in an inlet and can often be overrun by families and screaming children.  If it's not your scene, avoid the school holidays.  Or invest in some good headphones.

It has been a while since I stayed at a hotel, as I typically avoid them.  I don't enjoy paying a surplus to be harassed by overenthusiastic staff, turn down services and bell boys (as nice as being fussed over is, I prefer being left to my own devices).  I chose to stay at Noosa Heads Motel - a private and very reasonably priced accommodation, a short walk away from all the action.

The hours spent swimming, reading and walking did me a world of good.  There is nothing better than a beach holiday.

Early morning, post swim coffee at Bistro C

Sickly sweet and over indulgent serving of pancakes at Bistro C

Late night walk

Cooling off in the shade on a hot afternoon

My two lonely holiday purchases - new havs and a jewllery pouch

Cooling off with a coconut on Hastings Street

Arabian Threads caftan (a wonderful Etsy buy) and a Roberto Cavalli for Target bikini

Last days of summer...

I loved everything about this past weekend.  Not being in Melbourne.  Being with my parents. Seeing my brother.  Getting cuddles from our dog.  Eating figs from our back yard.  Sunbaking.  Swimming in the ocean.. so warm that I spent over an hour in the water body surfing and ducking under waves.

Wish summer lasted forever.

Sportsgirl ring, Tucker for Target cami - a very generous birthday gift from my dear friend Carrie over at this free bird