Day Trippin' - Cockatoo Island

Hello! How are you?
February already can you believe it?
Schools are back, life is getting into a routine again, so now I can stop, look back at the holidays, take stock and smile at the happy times, {oh and breathe a sigh of relief too - hmmm, a little yes,  just a little... having 2 young boys, can be somewhat of a challenge when it's 24-7!!}...

One of the best things we did in the school hols was to spend a day with some friends visiting Cockatoo Island. It's not until now, (that the munchkins have gone back to school - or in the case of my littlest man, gone for the FIRST time!) that I have found time to post about this. You know how it is, right?

Cockatoo Island

So,  a few words on Cockatoo Island:
 ~ it is the largest island in Sydney Harbour (and just a 10 minute ferry ride from Circular Quay in the heart of Sydney, and luckily for us also from our home suburb).
The island has been home to a an imperial prison, industrial school, reformatory and gaol. It is also the site of one of Australia's biggest shipyards during the twentieth century. The first of its two dry docks was built by convicts and completed in 1857. Today the island contains remains of a convict prison, houses dating from the 1840s, immense workshop spaces, cranes and dry docks, when we went there was also lots of street style / graffiti art left over after a recent exhibition. The combination of the edgy art, the industrial spaces and equipment, the harbour views and large open spaces for the kids to run amok in, made it a sure winner for a day trip! You can camp there too, in pre-pitched tents, we may try that out next time...


Okay, enough words, here's our day told in pictures:

oh what fun? Are you in Sydney too? If so you must visit, if you haven't already - it was really very interesting!
Did you have any day trips / days out in the holidays?

Love,
Sally xox

Milk & Honey

Hello everyone!  Happy Australia Day!

If you are in Australia, how have you spent the day? We have been reading, playing (the boys), de-cluttering and having a good old Aussie BBQ!

... Anyway, I was thinking that today is a great opportunity to share with you, a celebration of our life here, (it's coming up to ten years since my husband and I immigrated)!
I love where I live, so when I won a fabulous photo shoot from the awesome photography studio Milk & Honey, {courtesy of Bondville}, I wanted to use it to have a visual reminder of our happy times here. I've enjoyed many an hour with my boys, at our various favourite local parks. Several of them have fabulous views, so I chose one that is quintessentially 'SYDNEY' with it's views of the city, the Harbour Bridge, Anzac Bridge and myriad passing boats, (including the lovely old Sydney Ferries). We've had many a picnic at this particular park!

Matthew took our photos, the boys thoroughly enjoyed the shoot and I felt relaxed and at ease too, even though I usually hate having my photo taken!
He even rewarded them with the hugest, stripiest lollipops they had ever seen, which were apparently also the yummiest too!!

I was thrilled with the results, and so were my husband, and my family in the UK, whom I surprised with prints as Christmas gifts. My favourite was the triple matted story of three prints which was part of my generous prize. I also bought hubs a fantastic little bound book full of images, which meant being able to take home 18 of the fab shots!

  I'd love to share some of the wonderful pics with you here.

ahhh, I do love my boys so!!


Steph, over at Bondville has also just shared some of the pics - you can see her post here.

I thoroughly recommend Milk & Honey - so if you'd like to see more of Anni and Matthew's fabulous photography, you can visit them on Facebook or at their website or their blog.

Thanks to Steph, Matthew and Anni, {three lovely, lovely people!}

Happy Australia day to all!

Love & hugs,
Sally xox

Finders Keepers ~ this weekend.

Hi, how are you?

The Finders Keepers Sydney markets are on this weekend. Hooray! I will have a little box or tray with a few of my products on the Etsy Australia display stand.

I was asked to submit this product for display in particular (see below)! 

The person behind this request was the lovely Kirsteene Phelan, she's the Community Manager for Etsy Australia 

Her job is to both support Australian sellers and to highlight Etsy to the Australian public, via events, press and marketing activities. She also has her own cool jewellery shop "Scrumptious"on Etsy.

'Summer Love' Bakers twine set

I just got back, it looks like it's going to be awesome ~ a little dangerous for my wallet, so I best stay away until near the end methinks!!!!
It's even just such a cool building, very industrial stylee and it lies in a lovely leafy street too!

Maybe I'll see you there if you are in Sydney!
Love,
Sally xox