Operation 'Beach Holiday'

It's official 'Operation Beach Holiday' has begun. With the first glimpse of sunshine hitting London town {two days in a row, might I add} I have started to dream about the absolutely delicious European Summer.

Oh how I love Summer time on this side of the world. Most likely because I think I have learnt to appreciate it so much more than when I was living in the perfectly temperate land of Australia, where it's practically summer the whole year through.

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This year who knows where the tides will take me, but one thing is for sure, I'm going to have fun dreaming about it in the meantime. Hot on the top of my list this year are the sunny shores of Sardinia, the beautiful waters of Croatia and perhaps a little glimpse of the stunning Amalfi Coast. So excited for some sand {or in some cases, rocks}, sea & sunshine. 

Who knows if I will actually get there, but a girl can certainly dream! 

Happy Sunny days... Only 83 until summer {but who's counting} xx

And while we're on the topic...

So as you can probably tell from my previous post, I love the whole notion of 'kissing and making up'. So much so, that when I discovered these little treasures, I was ridiculously excited!

Now mock me if you wish, but seriously, who wouldn't want these delicious little face wipes as a part of their day? They are organic, they have a super-cute name and the packaging is pink! What more could a girl ask for?

One of my dearest friends got me on to the Organic Surge range a while ago. I have tried a few of their products and apart from actually doing their job, they all seem to smell so amazingly divine. Bath time has never been such a treat!

So, get your hands on a packet and get ready to 'kiss and make up'.

Much love x

Let's kiss and make up

I love the phrase, ‘let’s kiss and make up’. It seems to be such a sweet neutraliser. 

Let's face it, some days, despite our very best intentions, we get ourselves into arguments and disagreements with the people that we love. We live and we {try to} learn, we let each other down, we get frustrated and sometimes we even hold grudges {who would have thought?}

And although conflict is not fun, I must admit that the silver lining is indeed the 'kiss & make up' part.

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Sometimes the problems are significant and need to be worked through carefully {and fairly} and other times, the problems are trivial and we just need to get a little perspective on the matter. Either way, the manner with which we navigate the turns and trials in our relationships, ultimately determines the health of them.

No matter what type of relationship it is, forgiveness is always fundamental. Forgiveness is a verb {and for all of you who may be as gramatically challenged as I am most days, a verb is a 'doing' word} Forgiveness is an action not just a word. It is to grant pardon for or remission of an offence or debt. I find it interesting that the dictionary also sees that forgiveness is to cease to feel resentment against someone.

How many times do we say we are sorry yet continue to hold resentment and hard feelings? And likewise, how many fights have we had where we don't stick to the topic and bring up all the issues and arguments we have had in the past?

It's a tough one huh?

Robert Muller wrote that “to forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.” How true is this!

So if we find ourselves in conflict, let's commit to fighting fair. Let's commit to being the ones to say sorry and mean it. Then we can go ahead and enjoy the fun part.

Happy Kissing and Making Up xx

Are you happy?

So simple, yet so true.

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Much love & happy thoughts x

Boys and Girls

I love that boys and girls are so completely different. It totally intrigues me how we manage to come together and compliment each other so perfectly. I must admit, I do find the differences we have quite endearing and generally, fairly comical. 

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Here are a few truths I have found {or been told}...

I'm pretty sure that women have a dedicated part of their brain for remembering every piece of clothing that they have ever worn, where they wore it and who they wore it with. Men can't remember {or don't care about} what they wore yesterday.

A women will always know what to do when somebody starts to cry. A man will panic, grab the nearest women to help and run away.

Generally, women take 20 minutes to choose food from a takeaway menu, men will take 1 minute. When the food arrives, women always decide that they want to eat the man's food..... and subsequently do!

Men will answer any simple question with a long, boring and over detailed answer. They will also answer complex and important questions with "mmm" or "yep".

Men apparently have a 'nothing box' in their brain. When women ask men what they are thinking, "nothing" is officially a valid answer. This does not generally go down well with women. Mark Gungor amusingly validates this point.

A man will sleep through any sound. A women will hear any sound and be worried about burglars.

Men are generally good drivers. Women tend to believe they are good drivers.

Men learnt very quickly in childhood that small house spiders are not going to eat you in your sleep. A woman never learns this.

Men forget almost every birthday, anniversary or appointment. Women have a built in diary that triggers a 'card alert'.

Women must attend bathrooms in multiple numbers. Men use the tag team technique.

A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel. The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. {A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items}.

A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and football games and romances and best friends and favourite foods and secret fears and hopes and dreams. A man is vaguely aware of some little people living in the house.

And just while we are on the point, here are a few random conversations we {girls} have overheard. Don't worry boys, it secretly makes us love you even more.

Guy 1: How was your weekend, mate?
Guy 2: Not so good.. my van caught on fire.
Guy 1: That sucks.
Guy 2: Yeah.
End of conversation.

Boyfriend: Look at that massive puddle over there!
Girlfriend: That's a river.
Boyfriend: Are you sure?
Girlfriend: Yes, that's why there are boats on it.

Man1: Has your sister had her baby yet?
Man2: Yeah, a couple of days ago, it's immature.
Man1: What?
Man2: A baby girl. She's immature.
Man1: Do you mean premature?
Man2: Er, yeah, probably.

Hope this made you smile xx

Breathe

Breathe [breeth] /brið/breathed .breath·ing.

to take air, oxygen, etc., into the lungs and expel it; inhale and exhale; respire.
to pause, as for breath; take rest.
to move gently
to live; exist
to give utterance to; whisper.
to allow to rest or recover breath: to breathe.

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Some days all you can do is just breathe. 

So breathe, be still, grow strong again. Tomorrow is a new day. 

xx

Goodbye Grandma

This morning I woke up to the news that my beloved Grandma McBride had passed away. As tears welled up in my eyes, I began to think about this amazing lady who I had the privilege to call my Grandma.

Jean McBride was a woman of great beauty, kindness and grace.

Grandma McBride was my last living grandparent. She was married to the absolute love of her life until he died in 1981. With much determination, she then went on to live another 30 years, and chose to live a full and happy life for the remainder of her days. Just as she kept her husband's legacy alive in the beautiful life that she lived, it is my endeavour to do the same thing for for her.

A legacy of open arms and warm smiles. A legacy of unconditional love and hospitality. A legacy of joy and inspiration. A legacy of courage and of hope.

I remember so fondly time spent with my darling Grandma. One of my most vivd memories of my Grandma was during a family holiday at our beach house on the South Coast. My sister and I saw an eligible {not so young but very handsome} bachelor sitting on the beach near us. In true style of the McBride girls, we thought it was about time that Grandma got herself a boyfriend. It must have been about 15 years since my Grandpa died so we thought it would be perfect! I remember her blushing when we suggested the date and then I will never forget what she said next. She said that there was no need to meet anyone else as she had already found the love of her life and that was more than enough for her. How special that she found such true love. A love that lasted a lifetime.

I love how she used to take such delight in her grandchildren. Many a weekend we would find ourselves over with the cousins at Russell St. Many a happy time happened in this house. We would play for hours in the garden and swim so happily in the pool. We even invented a game {well actually I think one of my lovely cousins did} which was so perfectly named 'roll the ball down the hall'. Ah, many hours of amusement that were had playing this game in Grandma's hallway. I loved that until even recently {despite the fact that all us grandchildren were well and truly grown up} she would sit and watch us all play, with a contented smile on her face.

I remember so many fun, beautiful and sweet things about my Grandma.

I remember that she always sent a card for our birthday.
I remember her sweet smile.
I remember that she was always the first to say a prayer at Christmas.
I remember the Olay face cream she always used.
I remember anzac biscuits & her yummy caramel tarts.
I remember her zest for life.
I remember her love of tennis.
I remember her sweet little old fashioned swimming caps.
I remember her love of Johnson & Johnson's baby powder
I remember her kindness.
I remember her Christmas puddings.
I remember her loving and feeding the kookaburras.
I remember feeling so special when she'd get out her baby brag books of all of us.
I remember that she was the coolest Grandma and that she was so affectionately named GG Mac {Great Grandma McBride} by the little ones.

She was a woman who loved without regret or restraint.

I love you, Grandma. You will be missed x

Psalm 91:1-2 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”