Exploring Shipwreck Sygna, Tin City & Stockton Dunes!

Best thing about owning a 4x4... The first off road trip! Ours was up Stockton Beach! 

First stop along the Stockton Beach was the MV Sygna shipwreck. 

The MV Sygna was a 53,000 ton Norwegian Bulk Carrier, that ran aground during a 1974 Storm.

Unfortunately now after 40 years the Sygna is now fading from view. The metal is becoming brittle and breaking off. It is said it could be gone from view in the next 6 years. So if you have not made the trip to see it, don't waste anytime, get out there soon! 

Next stop.... Tin City! 

Tin City Is approx 10 shacks weirdly placed along Stockton beach, tucked away in the dunes. Even though there seems to be no sign of human life there, people do live there. 

They had started being built in the 19th century however the main reason is unclear as there seems to be many stories. One was to shelter  sailors due to shipwrecks in the area being so common. 

Tin City was used for several scenes of the 1979 Mad Max movie. 

Driving along and seeing the dunes is amazing, you get a semi sense of being in the desert with the water beside it. 

And that was our first off road adventure =)

Business Review: LITTLE TIN SHED MEDOWIE!

Once in a while, you may come across a business that you want the world to know about.... Although I am not to sure if this business would benefit from the world knowing, but more so from everyone in the Port Stephens area knowing, and tourists that are visiting the area! 

This business is the LITTLE TIN SHED MEDOWIE!

I have been here a coupe times now, and quit frankly I am extremely disappointed with myself that I didn't make the effort to go there sooner! I can not praise these guys enough.

They sell the freshest veggies ever! Everything is picked fresh every morning! It looks good, it smells good and most of it it has taste! Great taste! Yep you read that right you can actually TASTE it! Best of all, it doesn't go off within a week of having it. I had broccoli and cauliflower for nearly a month in my fridge and when I ate it, it was still crispy fresh. 

I live out at the bay, so its a half hour drive there and back, but it is so worth it! Don't believe me? Go and see for yourself YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! 

Today I got all this for...... wait for it...... wait for it..... ONLY $30!!!!!

Follow them on facebook! 

https://www.facebook.com/sarah.harris.9047506?fref=nf

You can find these guys at 643 Medowie Road, Medowie.

New Car, New house for our New adventure in the NT!

Everything is coming together quite fast for our big move! I have spent a little bit of the time over whelmed with it all but considerably handling it all well. 

The most annoying thing so far would have to be listening to hubby crap on about new cars. We decided it would be best to get a 4x4 considering we are headed to the NT! 

It didn't take long to find a new car that suited us =D

Its a little bit OHHHH LAA LAAA! Must say... I feel like the queen driving it, hahaha  have never had such a big car before. Not to sure on it being white, white and red dirt don't mix! 

We have also locked in our house! Bit smaller then what we are in now but we have started to down size a few things. We have a yard this time, a nice big one. Never again while I have kiddies will I get a duplex! 

I am dreaming of lots of outdoor play for Master Z and a big veggie garden! 

Best thing about the new house.... NO CARPET! Its a blessing. My little family is terrible with carpet! 

Now all that is left to do is continue to downsize, clean and dehoard!

Bring on the next few months! I am so excited!  

Baby Shower Planning #4 & THE BABY SHOWER!

Yep, I have been so very slack! I have quite a few posts to catch up on  hopefully will get through them today. 

We had my friends baby shower last weekend! 

It was so much fun.

Anther game i got ready for it was Pink the dummy on the baby. Originally I was going to print a baby off, but my printer decided to stop working and I had only about 24 hours left until the big night! So I thought what the heck I will quickly paint one! It ended up being so rushed and my worst painting ever. But was a good laugh. 

Next were the cupcakes. I love baking and decorating, and quit enjoyed these! 

Multi coloured swirl! 

The ladies got such a surprise when the chomped into them and seen all the color! 

The set up with all the pink looked really amazing, and we got so many lovely comments.

Everyone that came bought a packet of nappies! Which was so great, we ended up with 16 packets! No need for my friend to buy nappies for a while! 

Here I am explaining the parcel game to the ladies =) 

My friend opening the gifts! So many ohhhh and arrrrrrs. 

Such a beautiful night for a beautiful friend <3 

Baby Shower Planning #3! -It's this weekend!-

Not long now until my friends Baby Shower! 

Here are the new goodies I have made. 

Late Night Diapers.

I will get guests to write advice, funny comments ect on these so the Mummy to be can have a laugh on late night diaper changes. 

Don't Say Baby game.

Everyone will get a dummy necklace. When you hear someone say baby you steal their necklace. Person with the most will win a prize. 

Guess How Many Maltesers are in the bottle.

Thing is, Is that it is not complete full of maltesers. bahahahahaaa. I have hidden a gift in the middle!

And of course my printer had to die so I had to hand write the sign. =(

 Tinkle in the Jar.

This game should be funny!. Trying to drop  a ping pong ball from the knees into the jar! 

I can't wait till Saturday! 

Change is coming...... BIG CHANGE!

Friday we got the official news! We will be moving from the lovely Port Stephens..... to Katherine NT! Its going to be a massive change. Sch a big surreal adventure for this little family. 

The big move will start in December. We will be taking a months travelling holiday so I can see Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and a few other places. 

So excited! Stay tuned to find out more! 

Baby Shower Planning #2 and a NEW COMPETITION!

This weekend I have been getting a bit crafty! Making decorations for my friends baby shower I am helping to plan. So far I have made a Butterfly & Ribbon tree! Its very cute I think. 

And also the BABY plaques! 

These baby plaques are 10cm tall, and I am taking orders! $20 a set (plus postage) and your choice of colors. I could also do different lettering more then 4 letter will be at an extra cost. 

email me at rbaker83@bigpond.com to order

Or if you are feeling lucky head on over to my facebook page and enter the like and share competition I have just listed! 

https://www.facebook.com/820347624669134/photos/a.826455827391647.1073741829.820347624669134/870741062963123/?type=1&theater

One week to go until the baby shower! I can't wait! 

It was, Just one of those days! .....

You know those days, where there just seems to be one hiccup after anther and nothing seems to go right. Yep well, that was me yesterday. 

It was nothing to drastic, but just enough to annoy the shit out of you.

It all started at 2.30am, when Master Z decided it was a great time to wake up and want to play. It ended up being around 6 before he went back to sleep. I hit snooze like a hundred times when i was due to wake up and J ended up nearly late for school.

My friend was coming over fora cuppa so i couldn't mess around doing the school drop off. Only for Master Z to crack a bit shit when we went past Mcdonalds because he wanted a frozen fanta. So around I turned and got him one. Today I just couldn't be bothered with Tanties! 

So the catch up with my mate was great, nothing beats adult conversations that dont involve kids and work. Once she left I decided I better go do some shopping. Master Z refused to take his boxers off to put on shorts. Then once I got to the shopping center I tried to park 3 times in 3 different spots but couldn't??? What on earth was wrong with me? I got the shits with it and left. Stuff the shopping.

Instead I went to the recycling center to see what goodies that might have.... nothing this time around. But Master Z was playing with a dirty broken doll house. Do you think I could get hi away from it.... nope. He cracked the biggest Tantie to date over this doll house. He wanted it right or wrong. Sorry boyo I dont think so. He screamed the whole way home. 

Finally he got over it. Then it was school pick up time! So I walked out the door locking it with out the car & house key... Omgosh, could I be so stuiped! Apparently so. Check all the doors and for like the first time ever they are all shut and locked. Just my luck! Now what. If i call a cab it might take ages to get here and while we go to get him he may have started to walk home and won't be able to find him. Couldn't really walk as i had no shoes, Master Z had no shoes and was only wearing his boxers and a top and it was quite cool. So I decided to wait and hope that J would figure out himself to walk home. 

I felt so terrible but he walked, he thought I must have fell asleep or something. Sorry buddy! We are locked out. Now what... Hubby wont be home for a few hours yet. So we ordered Pizza to kill the time! Yes Pizza is a no no for me at the moment, but it has been a stressful day so I made an exception. It was starting to get cold to, lucky we have a patio heater, so I cranked that up. Then Hubby rang.. and he was coming home an hour early! Yippie.

Tell ya what! I was glad to get into bed and go to sleep thats for sure.  

Baby Shower Planning #1 & a NEW COMPETITION!!!

I'm so so excited! One of my beautiful friends is having a baby!!! YAY! So I am helping plan her a baby shower! I never had one so I am very excited about it! It in a couple weeks so keep an eye out on the post of awesome games & food =)

So firstly I have made the invites! So So Super cute! 

(Please note the address and phone number have been changed so we don't get any gate crashers or prank calls)

If you would like to purchase these super cute invites off me please just email me for a quote!

But to celebrate my friend having a baby I am going to give away a pack of 10 of them! 

Head to my facebook page to get the details! 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Looking-Forward-Looking-Back/820347624669134

Update #1 on my Isagenix Lifestyle change!

Well, I have now completed my first 4 days of  Isagenix! So far I am loving it. The worst part so far, is the headaches and the constant runs to the loo, and i am pretty sure these colder days at the moment are making that worse.

To start off with I was a bit worried as I didn't like the taste of the shakes, BUT lucky enough it has started to grow on me, when I mix them with strawberries and spinach.

So when I started the Isa program I weighted in at a massive 97kg. Not my finest hour on the scales let me assure you. However it was not completely my fault, but my health issues and medications have had a huge part to play in it. This is the heaviest I have ever been in my life. I didn't even reach that heavy when I was pregnant.

So far on the program I am feeling great, and although it has only been 4 days  I am noticing changes in my body. My face is looking clearer and blotches are becoming lighter, my skin is also so soft. I am meant to wait until day 9, but I am impatient and i did a sneaky weight in and I have already lost 2kg! So I can not wait to see what the end of 30 days result is.

But in all honesty, its not about the weight loss. Its about the lifestyle change, and being able to make the most of my every day with energy and feeling great. The weight loss is just an added bonus for me. 

Let's just say to sum it up nicely, the last few days have been amazing. The house is cleaner and I am becoming alot more clearer. Bring On life! I am ready xx

Stay tuned for more updates in a few days <3 

Today I Got A Parcel! ..... #betterlifechoicesforme

So a few nights ago, I made a decision. That with my health issues I wanted to make better life choices so I can make even more out of life. I guess you could say I am addicted to the taste of feeling better I have got the last week, that I never ever want it to end or go backwards again! EVER! 

So come with me, and follow my new journey! My Isagenix journey. I'm so excited!

The box of goodness turned up today! So I will start my first day tomorrow. 

Oh and don't tell hubby, he doesn't know yet! 

Last Day Of School Holidays...... *sad face*.... *sad face*.... *super sad face!*

Last day of school holidays, and the weather is shit! Cold windy and raining. Was hoping to get out and do something fun but I think we shall stay indoors!.

I never look forward to the holidays ending. I feel they are never long enough! Yes some would call me crazy, but thats the way I have always been. I love spending every day with my kids. Oh ok and I love the sleep ins. 

So these school holiday while hubby has been away I was able to take the kids to Inflatable World and Snow Time at the Hunter Valley Gardens. 

So the Inflatable world we went to is in Thornton. and they boys had an absolute blast! Worth every dollar! We only stayed for an hour as it was quit crowded and bigger kids generally don't have the patience for small kids and master 2 did get pushed around a bit. They did have it split into 2 sections and there was an area for kids under 5, but master 2 preferred the big slides in the other area.

Then there was Snow Time @ HVG. All I am going to say is I am glade I won those tickets because I would be been extremely annoyed if I had paid for them. After the Hour and Half drive there, we only ended up staying for about an hour. For such a large event the things to do were limited and the line ups long! The snow globe wasn't working properly, the staff didn't monitor the people on the jumping castle and the bigger kids trampled the smaller ones. Most of the shovels and buckets were broken in the Snow pit, and did i mention the line up for things? Yeah not that great with such young kids that get impatient quickly. The highlight was a pie I had to be perfectly honest. It was very tasty.  But anyway the kids got to have a little bit of fun. 

 Until next time take care xx

Life's Little breakthroughs...

Have you ever reached a point in life, where you feel that, that's as good as it's going to get so it's time to give up...

Now for starters. you could take that anyway you want. 

But 2 weeks ago that was me. For the past 3 years I have felt so darn shit. Why? half the time I wish I knew. 

Post Natal depression, you feel so shit because of post natal depression. Yeah ok I admit, I was depressed. I just had a baby he was like 8 weeks old. Then I had to pack up and move 10 hours away from my family and friends. I didn't want to go. I cried nearly every day because of it. The hardest part was leaving my 96 year old Great Grandfather, my 'father' figure. I loved him so much.

So we moved to the beautiful Port Stephens. I was in heaven, what on earth did I have to be depressed about! Nice big house, that is a 2 minute drive from the beach. The scenery is amazing. I loved this place, but I hated it to. 

Every day was a struggle, the biggest was getting out of bed. So tired, so lethargic, so unmotivated by life. Moody, cranky, frustrated, tired, tired, TIRED, were my common feelings of every day. Most of all I felt useless. 

I went on like this for a couple months before I went and seen a doctor. I was in denial about it all. I didn't see how a little tablet could make me feel better.  I remember going on them after my first son was born and I hated it. I stacked on the weight and hung out on the couch all day. I didn't want to be that person again. I wanted to be a fun mum. Not this shit... again.

So I went on the medication, a low does. Ok it helped, i was less frustrated and cranky all the time. The dosage went up. Although I was less frustrated, less anxiety, I still felt like shit. I barley had good days where I actually felt like doing stuff. Then fuck my life, I started packing the weight on. 

Not just a couple of kgs either. We are talking nearly 30kgs. It just wouldn't stop no matter what I did. No matter how much I watched what I ate. I could barley do much exercise cause i felt like shit, I had no energy. 

Blood tests after blood tests after more blood tests, and nothing, all clear. According to these little bitches I am healthy as. In myself I felt there was something more wrong. There were other things to, my hair just keeps falling out. My memory is not the best. No sex drive. Worst part is I am happy with my life now, I love my family, I have gotten over being so far away from everyone, my pop has passed away, but i am still low/ depressed. Overall feel like SHIT! I just kept thinking it had to be my Thyroid. 

I remember laying awake at night thinking, wow this is as good as my life is gunna get. I am going to feel like shit nearly every single day. 

My friend did a couple sessions of acupressure on me, it gave me a little bit of relief I was no longer constipated all the time, and my headaches were nearly gone. 

I went back to the doctor for more blood tests. Finally, this time we got some news! Under-active Thyroid! I friggen knew it, and my cholesterol is a little high however that could be from the thyroid.

I have been on a low does tablet for they Thyroid for a week now, and oh my, I am like a new woman! I can feel the change already. Its amazing. Although its not a massive change and I am generally feeling like shit again by the afternoon again, but i can defiantly notice it. 

I'm cleaning, I'm walking everyday, I am driving into Newcastle by myself to do stuff with my sons, I'm sleeping, and hubby is away for working and I am coping so well! 

I feel like its a breakthrough for me, a second chance really. I'm excited to see what the next few weeks bring and how much more I improve. It just annoys me it took so many blood tests for it to finally show. 

Bring it on life! xx

Kooragang Wetlands, Ash Island

School Holidays mean more exploring of places! 

We decided to head to ASH ISLAND and checkout the Kooragang Wetlands. 

Unfortunately we only stayed about an hour as Master J didn't have much to eat before we left and was hungry. 

First stop was the WW2 Radar Buildings.

This radar station would monitor any enemy airborne threats during WW2. 

They appeared to be like cement Igloos! 

We then went for a stroll along the Mangrove boardwalk. 

It was a calming easy walk, of about 15 minutes. 

Came across this rare Thong Mangrove! =P

At the end of the boardwalk is the Schoolmasters House.

Of course there are many other walks on Ash Island and many more sections to explore.
If you would like to view more of whats to offer head to http://kooragangwetlands.com/