24 Hrs in Byron Bay

I was annoyed that we hadn't been on holiday in over a year.
Nowhere on the Easter Holidays, nowhere on Christmas, nowhere in September Spring holiday...
The Mr was away for work so I took a quick solo holiday with the girls.
I have never done this before so I was actually anxious! Can you believe it? Gah.

We arrived around 3pm Monday and left just after 3pm Tuesday. All up it was only 24 hrs!
But we achieved alot in 24 hrs. Byron Bay is the perfect spot for that.

We stayed at Discovery Parks Byron Bay . Mainly because it was cheap and slept 6. Got a cabin.
The girls loved it (kids don't often need fancy. Its lovely that they think anything is awesome ha.)
They were a bit devastated that we were only doing a short stay and it was a bit too cold to utilise the 2 pools and splash pad. They did dip their toes in. The jumping pillow did get a bit of a work out though. Town was only a short drive. Park had some old parts, but some lovely new bits. Reasonable.

We jumped on the jumping pillow, put our bags in unpacked and jumped in the car to beat the sun so we could watch the sunset while up at the lighthouse. Byron Roads are a bit small so traffic is always interesting. We got a park in the second carpark on the way down luckily. Then ran up that hill. We saw so many Whales splashes! The girls didn't believe me at first when I said look a whale! Wish we had binoculars but we sat and watched whale splashes for quite some time. So fun to think that just a little ways away are a bunch of whales having a grand old time.

^Next to our restaurant for dinner. Fun.

Next day we woke and headed off to macadamia castle for pancakes for breakfast. Yum.
Then the scenic route up to Minyon Falls. Road had some potholes and dirt for the last few km but we made it! I'm always surprised to see buses at these types of places. I feel scared enough in a car let alone a bus going up tiny roads. Minyon falls is about a 100 m drop. If we had time I would have loved to walk to the bottom. Next time!

^sneaky photo bomber fingers

The night before we went to main beach in the dark after our dinner. I promised we would go back to the beach. I wanted to try another one (insert sads from the kid who wanted to go back to the beach playground.) I missed the first turn off to the other beach and we ended up 6km out of town at Broken Head. Turned out to be awesome as we had the beach to ourselves except for some surfers floating on boards out to sea. score! Two of the girls got into the water. Winter or not nothing was stopping them.

 ^^ Panorama - Byron Lighthouse headland this end. Broken Head the other end.

 ^^ Heart rock. Byron beaches are just sand - clear of most debris. Lucky to find this one.

Towelled off, stopped by the Farm and headed back home via Ikea (of course!)
And that was our 24 hours in Byron Bay.

Winter Solstice 2017

I have been feeling very out of sorts lately. 

I am a spontaneous person who is up for anything but lately I feel we are missing out on everything.

Especially in regards to the children, family time, taking time, holidays, hikes, long car rides.

I so feel like our schedule runs our life, not us running our life. And there is a disconnect.

Don't know what it is about holidays, traditions etc but I find it puts a light under me.

We've done solstice for a few years now, and just a few days ago I realised its here again! 

Put this together this morning and it was really nice to have candlelit dinner with the kids, talk about seasons, write intentions and burn them in the fire, have kids build fire and take charge and spend some time together away from computers.

 ^^ A badly drawn Queenslander in our snow globe:) Love Winter Here.

^^ Easy to see both Sunrise and Sunset on the shortest days of the year

 ^^Early sunset 4:50pm

^^ Cause we love candles. Been a while actually

 ^^ Mac and Cheese. It's gotta be hearty on Solstice :)

^^ I'm pretty fail at fires. Our kindling died out too quick. Bless firestarters to stop sadfaces.

^^ Mega American Marshmallows kept us going for ages. One is enough!

 ^^ Writing things we want to let go of, and then positive things we want to bring into our lives

 ^^ A burning intention

So technically solstice is at 1pm on the 21st June. We were 20 hrs early. But our only free night.
The long nights last all week, so all forgiven right ;)
Now if there was only no schedule and lots of time to enjoy long dark nights.

Welcome Winter. Funny thing is - it wasn't very cold tonight :)

Ssssweet Ssssixteen

It's been a while since I've done a themed birthday party.

This one all started with a chameleon top from H&M.
It's so hard to buy the miss things and I thought she likes reptiles, she might like this shirt.

Then I thought hmmm maybe we should do one of those reptile parties for her 16th

To which she replied a resounding yes!

So with a weeks notice we put together a Ssssweet Ssssixteen reptile party.

Our host from a True Blue Reptiles was great. Short Notice and everything.
A wonderful woman who engaged the teens so well.
She asked questions about them and taught them a few things. I was impressed.

When I mentioned a reptile party people told me these parties are only for small children
(I even had several people mock me?! That it was a baby idea for a 16th. Really I was shocked)
 However it turned out so great. I was so happy.
The teens were interested, discussion flowed and everyone enjoyed themselves.
It was easy as work for me! bonus! I literally just had to take photos.

We had a water dragon, water python, blue tongue lizard, turtle, another python.
I requested the baby crocodile but it was on its registered day off!!

^^ See my nervous face up there. I'm not deathly frightened but I've had chances before to touch a snake and the entire idea freaked me out big time. I do not like snakes in the least. However I was glad that the host made it so easy and so comfortable even though I thought I would give it all a wide berth and just be serving food, I soon was giving it a go too. Completely surprised me. I don't think I ever need to do it again but the lovely snake felt like the softest leather. I am so glad I held a snake. I would really recommend a party to anyone esp if you have a small fear. I felt pumped ha.

The little sisters pretty much thought it was their party too.

Fun, entertaining and educational. And maybe a dose of healthy fear :)
Thanks True Blue Reptiles