5 things I'm loving about Brisbane right now...

I have to admit as a Mother to a very vivacious and energetic toddler (um, btw he's almost 2!!!) and returning to (paid) work after maternity leave, the thought of packing a suitcase for a relaxing holiday at some exotic location is more than a little frightening. Anyone remember National Lampoon's Vacation? Eek, the horror!

Despite this, I'm in desperate need of a vacation/timeout/respite {insert appropriate escape word here} without my beautiful little boy. Yes, I love him but Mumma needs a break every now and then. FYI by 'exotic' I mean anywhere other than Townsville and by 'holiday', I mean just one night when I don't have to put E to bed at 7pm then go out.

Anywho, as a result of my hesitation to venture off on a family getaway, I've taken it upon myself to rediscover my city and holiday at home. I've decided I will just force myself in to a state of relaxation and tranquil calm in good old Brisvegas. If people come here to holiday from arond the world, why can't I? I might even contemplate wearing ironed clothes and applying make-up to leave the house. Jeepers!! 

Here are 5 things I'm loving about Brisbane right now:

1. Early morning coffee and savoury mince on toast at Pearl Cafe. No explaination required.

2. Cocktails and dumplings at Brunswick Social. A word to the wise, if you plan on eating, book a table or do as I did and arrive at 5pm without a booking. It wont matter that you haven't reserved a seat at a common table top in this hip new spot, you'll arrive so early no-one else in their right mind will be there (unless you go after work in which case you're screwed).

3. The sun is warmer. The days are longer and the drinks are in easy reach. Nothing beats watching movies under the stars at Limes Hotel thanks to its outdoor cinema and rooftop bar only a few feet away. Cosmopolitan anyone?

4. Packing a blanket, hat and the latest read for little R&R by the water in Manly followed by a stroll through the Jan Power Farmers Markets or splurging on a bucket of prawns and glass of bubbles at Wilson's Boathouse Seafood Restaurant.

5. Enjoying live music with friends on a Friday night at Brisbane Powerhouse. If you happen to pop in one week in November, you'll have the chance to catch fabulous folkies Women in Docs who take up residence at the Turbine Stage for the month. See the girls perform a range of their hits plus new songs from their upcoming album. P.S. It's FREE! 

What do you like to do when you can't go away on holiday? Any secrets for a little R&R at home?

Image: Limes Hotel

Hey Big Spender!

The EU isn't the only one battening down the hatches in an attempt to save its economy from going belly-up.

Teach and I are tightening our purse strings in preparation for Christmas and our upcoming sojourn to New Zealand.  

We're making the obvious cutbacks such as no meals out; drinking instant coffee at home instead of ordering two delicious take aways from the nearby deli; renting DVDs on $1 Tuesdays - and taking them back before they are overdue and spending another $12 in late fees; eating ALL the food we've got instead of buying more or dumping left overs because it's 'gone bad' (read: it looks icky because we didn't cover it before it went in the fridge); turning off lights when we leave the room; flicking off powerpoints after using the appliance; and we've stopped buying unnecessary extras during our fortnightly grocery shop.

Oh, those delicious extras. They are the hardest to say no to. You know the ones. The packet of Tim Tams or three you buy to have in the cupboard when girlfriends come over when in fact they magically disappear as you pass through the kitchen on your way to the bathroom / laundry / living room / any other room in the house!

I've also stopped myself from stocking up on products that are supposedly on sale. I tend to get sucked in to buying items with price tags declaring "Buy any 2 for only $5." How could I possibly pass that by? I'll save a bundle! As soon as I know I can get more for less I MUST have it even if I had no intention of buying it.

Teach caught on to my interesting shopping habits during one grocery expedition not long ago. "Why are we buying two 1 litre bottles of white vinegar? We've still got half a bottle in the cupboard which we've had for 12 months."

"But they're on sale, it's an awesome deal," I proudly declare. "I'm saving money!"

"We'll just spend more. Besides we don't need it." He was right. Of course. I put the two bottles of white vinegar back and walked away making every effort not to look behind me. I felt like I was abandoning a cute little puppy that needed a good loving home.

Another trap I'm slowly trying to change is paying up front for a group of classes before I've tried them.

Three months ago I enrolled and paid for E to attend a semester (yes a FULL semester) of Baby Sensory classes. I had every intention of going each week for an hour long class of singing, dancing, games and baby sign language for E to grow and learn.

In seven weeks, we've been to two classes! I really loved those two classes, we did have a great time - not to mention it got us out of the house. But I know in the deep recesses of my mind we're not going back.Why? Pure laziness. Sometimes I even try to fool my brain into thinking we're going and say, "I'm making an effort today." Then all of a sudden I look at the clock, we're 5 minutes late and I think, "Bugger. We can't go now we're already late."


What a brilliant way to save money Sian - good on you! What else can you waste hard earned cash on?

Give me half a chance and I can make money disappear faster than you can say 'Brittney Spears' underpants'.

Unfortunately my Buy-Now-Waste-Later lifestyle isn't foreign to me.

Four years ago I enrolled in French Language at the University of Queensland. I was so excited to have taken the steps to learn the language I'd dreamed of speaking since I was a kid, plus I was off to Paris in six months and wanted to know the basics.

The numbers were limited so I was very lucky to be accepted. Guess how many classes I managed to attend? Go on...

Un.

I made every excuse under the sun about why I couldn't go. Work was extremely busy so I could never make the 6.30pm start time. Traffic along Coronation Drive to St Lucia was horrific so my 10 minute drive always took closer to 45 minutes. And on and on and on....


Maybe I need to put a post-it note in my wallet that reads 'Hey Big Spender' as a reminder of the bigger picture. Unfortunately when I see it I'll be standing at the cash register waiting to pay for something else, I don't need and I won't use.

C'est la vie.

My Five Fave Spots In Townsville

E and I arrived in Townsville, my home town, yesterday to celebrate my parents' 40th wedding annniversary on the weekend.

I left 'The Ville' (as it's commonly called) more than ten years ago and have  no real desire to return. Not out of any dislike for the city, I should add, it's just that it reminds me of my teenage years. Each time I come back I remember the mischief, the late drunken nights, the first dates and the clubbing years. While some of those memories are fantastic, others I'd prefer to leave here, where they belong, not see them again at the shopping centre or in the queue at the pub. Eeek!

This town, in my opinion, is my parents town. Their life is here. I love coming back for a week to see them, but at 18 I knew I'd leave to create a home elsewhere. I did. I have.

All that aside, whenever I venture north of the equator, sorry I mean, to Townsville, these are the five things I always do, because to me they are an essential part of The Ville experience.

1. Have a beer at The Brewery:

Developed in Townsville's historic Post Office Building, this Restaurant/Bar is a great spot for a coldie. The onsite Brew House is visible to all patrons which adds a sense of participation to the brewing process, but it's the seven locally owned and made beers that have the beer connoisseurs coming back for more.  The pub grub isn't bad either, but the bar snacks will satisfy most. I enjoy a pint or two of the Belgian Blonde.

2. Have a BBQ on The Strand:

Arguably the most popular and well known city attraction, the Strand is home to free BBQ areas, a water park (pictured), a surf life saving club, a man-made rockpool and landscaped parklands. Several restaurants and cafes are located on the headlands with gorgeous views to Magnetic Island, but it's the space to have a picnic with friends and the afternoon sea breezes that gets me everytime. 

3. Walk up Castle Hill:

Many locals use Castle Hill as their daily source of exercise, hiking up and down before they go off to work. Once you reach the top stay for a moment to enjoy the panaromic views of the town and nearby islands. Insider's tip: if you plan to walk it, allow approx 1 hour for the return walk and do it either first thing in the morning before the heat of the day (approx 6am) or early evening (approx 6pm) - it could save you from severe dehydration and/or sun stroke. There is a goat track, but everyone generally sticks to the main road.

4. Enjoy dinner at A Touch of Salt:

This waterside venue (pictured above) has been my family's favourite restaurant since it opened several years ago. The menu is simple and elegant, the food is divine and the wine list is second to none. It is so popular that its sister property The Salt Cellar opened a couple of years back to keep demanding foodies fed. It's five stars for this top nosh!!

5. Swim at Balgal Beach:

Balgal Beach is approximately 40 minutes drive north of Townsville past several other beaches that remain well known to locals but hidden gems to visitors. Those keen for a dip in the big blue will have to swim in the netted enclosure during stinger season (October to May) however the laidback atmosphere and refreshing waters will make up for it. I know Teach can't wait to take E here for his first swim in the ocean.

Any other recommendations?
For further information go to Queensland Holidays.

A whale of a time at Cabarita

Each year two of my favourite girlfriends and I catch up for a fun-filled weekend of gossip, shopping and wine tasting half way between Coffs Harbour and Brisbane. Typically this means a weekend in Byron Bay, however this year, we all agreed Byron was too expensive, busy and seriously overrated, so we decided to explore further afield and set up camp at Cabarita. 

Awww...Paradise at Cabarita Beach!

Only 40 minutes drive north of Byron Bay on the Tweed Coast, Cabarita (the original name for the town is Bogangar, an Aboriginal word meaning 'place of many pippies') is a quaint seaside village young (in tourism terms) enough to be a family friendly, affordable destination but still old-fashioned enough to provide its visitors a warm, hospitable retreat. 

Despite our growing displeasure with the Bay, we were slightly anxious to venture away from the comfort of its well known beaches and cafes for a place we’d never heard of, let alone been too. We soon discovered our worries were unfounded.  

My girlfriend Ed had booked a two-bedroom family unit at The Hideaway, a clean low-key hotel located less than a five minute stroll to the beach and the centre of town. The six of us (Ange and her two daughters, Ed, myself and E) settled in to our rooms before getting our feet in the water - we knew if the beach was up to scratch we’d struck gold! 

One foot on the pure white sand had us praising the heavens for this hidden treasure. The beach is everything you’d want and more. Long as far as the eye could see, pristine waters, clean uncluttered sand with hardly any people on it AND lifeguards so you knew you’d be looked after. We made our way to Norries Headland for a few happy snaps before making our way back to the hotel via the main road to double check that our dream find was true. 

I’m proud to say Cabarita has it all. Restaurants, cafes, shops, a surf club, walking tracks and a lookout over the ocean...sound familiar? The rest of the afternoon was very relaxed. E slept while the big-girls shared a bottle of bubbles and the little-girls made arts and crafts by the pool. 

Several other guests at the hotel said Hello as they walked by our patio to the beach and made small talk about the weather. One couple and their four-year old told us they lived in Cabarita but needed a little getaway. The Mum explained, “everything is in walking distance from here and the views are so good you automatically feel like you’re on holiday. We don’t need to go anywhere else.” I couldn’t agree more.  

We’d found paradise - a spot yet to be over populated with holiday makers from all corners of the globe and a beach not spoilt by developers selling its picturesque lifestyle only to destroy it in the process...again, sound familiar? 

Sunday came all too soon and it was time to say goodbye. Procrastinating the inevitable, we watched surfers and swimmers take to the water over a coffee before our final walk along the beach. The younger girls collected shells while the rest of us admired the views of a pod of whales playing in the distance, obviously delighted with their holiday destination too. 

E having a little quiet time

Our weekend was all to brief, but we agreed Cabarita would be the destination for our annual catch-ups from now on – just as long as one of us could wrangle a few whales to show up again too!

IN BRIEF:

Cabarita Beach is between Byron Bay (40 mins north) and the Gold Coast (20 mins south). Follow the Cabarita Beach exits from the highway.

The Hideaway is located at 21 Cypress Cresent, Cabarita, NSW. Phone 02 6676 1444

*Cabarita Beach image originally from The Age

Darwin or Bust

Our holiday was not going well and we hadn’t even left the airport yet.

Teach, E and I were off to Darwin for five days to celebrate a friends wedding. We’d been looking forward to our little getaway since the couple announced their engagement six months earlier. I’d been to the top end once before and knew what to expect, but for Teach and E this was a new adventure, plus it was our first family holiday.

Yep, it was going to be great. A trip we’d always remember and have fond memories of. The gorgeous weather, pictures of a happy family living it up with friends away from home. Oh, how we’d laugh and share memorable moments when we returned....