Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Newcastle


 
 

The Mr has been travelling for work for 7 weeks out of the last 10.

After several failed attempts we managed to get me to join him on one of them!

So I got 2 days in Newcastle.

Now I'll admit that Newcastle has never really been on my list of places to holiday...

But it was great!

Perfect little town for a getaway.

Wonderful beach views and several things to do in walking distance as we didn't have a car.

and the silence.. ahhh the blissful silence.

 

There should be some rule that says parents without their children should be able to sleep for 12 hours straight. What's the deal being sans kids and still waking several times a night and be up at the crack of dawn due to body clock and unfamiliar hotel beds??? Life is so unfair! All I want is some sleep! The upside is that is the ONLY bad thing that happened on the weekend! I had the best time I've had in a while.
 
 
We stayed here at Noahs on the Beach - gorgeous views from each room
 Ate the best dinner I've had in ages here at Jonah's on the Beach
Yum breakfast in cute vintage cafe Frankies Place 
 
 
It was super windy down there. In the blustering wind we visited
 
 

I enjoyed full days of sight seeing, walking and more walking, big breakfast at quaint cafes, beach views, dinners out, mid day naps, laying in and reading. I commented that it was sooo nice NOT to have to be anywhere. I can keep walking, keep sightseeing, wander down gorgeous laneways full of OLD beautiful houses and have no need to stop. I recalled that I haven't had this feeling since 2005 {when we were holidaying in the USA}

This might be the first year where in we reach a yearly goal we keep making and failing at. Each year we try to have one family holiday and 2 short overnighters/getaways for The Mr and I. I don't think we've ever reached our goal! This year we will! We had our birthday getaway, now newcastle and in a few weeks we are off for a family beach house holiday. Makes me so happy. This trip reminded me how amazing it feels for a little time out.

I also came to realise that my husband likes to read plaques. He even said "Stop for a sec...I like to read plaques".... Then you find out a town like Newcastle has LOTS of plaques! Several war memorials, old forts and lookouts and plaques on the ground.. they were everywhere. So cute to find out more quirky things about your spouse. He really is the most darling thing.
small collection of the many plaques he read...



Newcastle had an offering of everything -
nature : beaches, cliffs, rocks etc
historical: old homes, army fort with guns, convict works, a town with history dating 1797
industrial: fun ship spotting, cranes all about,  mining etc
lookouts: hills with views,
Food and rest.

A place that could cater to most peoples tastes.


and looking through all my photos makes me want to go on another holiday already!


I'm so greedy!


Monday, August 6, 2012

The Birthday Shirt



Last year I tried my hardest to convince someone to have their number 5 birthday shirt in tally lines { llll } I thought it clever no? However obviously my kids just don't get it, and there was a big NO WAY to that idea.

With another birthday looming and being a young easy going kid I made the decision to do 111
(not 'she's 111?' as The Mr pointed out - but 3  tally marks or fingers as kids are likely to show when asked how old they are!)

This is the easiest birthday shirt you'll ever make and could work well for number 1 and 2 ...
 or really any number up to 10. If you've got enough ribbon.

*****

Basically find strips of ribbon you like. Wider ribbon is easier to sew on in my opinion.

I used a little hemming tape to iron the ribbon into place.

Then sew around the edges of the ribbon.

And in 5 mins flat you have a Tally Count Birthday Shirt!



My previous Birthday Shirts found here:

Paint Stencilled Birthday Shirt

Letters {ONE} Birthday Shirt

Felt and Fabric Birthday Shirt

Reverse Applique Birthday Shirt

Zig Zag Stitched Birthday Shirt  {sewed mins before going to school}

Spotty Reverse Applique

2 Birthday Shirt

Recycled Corderoy Pants 5 Birthday Shirt

Felt and Fabric double layer 10 Birthday Shirt

Felt Cat and Reverse Applique 11 Birthday Shirt

Felt Snowflake and Stitched #6 Birthday Shirt

I started this tradition 4 years ago now. My third child was 2 and I saw freezer paper stenciling of numbers on shirts. I just used regular acrylic paint and it was so easy. Of course her older siblings {5 and 8 at the time} wanted them too when their birthday came. And thus began a tradition. Anyway I'm telling you don't think kids will think things are silly. Even older kids. I keep wondering when they are going to be too cool for it.. but at 11 my eldest still asks for her birthday shirt. Funnily enough its become such a family thing that the Mr said... I didn't get a shirt for my 40th! ha! that would have been so cool. Wish I had thought of it back in January!

I also like that it extends birthday presents. I buy $4 shirts to do these birthday shirts. Because it has now become a present, I often only have to buy  2 more presents and with their breakfast and candle ring the table looks oh so full of birthday delights.

Anyway just some thoughts if you thought you might also like to do similar.

Happy Birthday Traditions!

Do you have birthday traditions? Wanna Share?
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