Lazy Sundays

Sunday is my day of rest. Everyone needs one, right?

I'm not great at slowing down. During the week I usually go go go from 5am - bedtime. Not necessarily a bad thing when my majority of my days are spent immersed in the things I love to do. However, over the last few years I've learnt that I need my downtime. When I forget to let myself relax, I risk going into burnout mode. When I'm burnt out, even the things I love to do the most stop being fun and fullfilling. This is somewhere I've been numerous times in the past and it definitely isn't a fun place to be. Gifting myself a rest day each week has really helped me to combat this. A day where I don't work, I don't set my alarm and I don't make any plans (other than the odd coffee or brunch date). A day where I can choose to paint my nails, potter around my apartment, draw a picture, go for a stroll… basically indulge in whatever I please guilt free - even if that consists of simply laying on my bed for hours cuddling with my cat, Lexi.

Freedom.

Sunday is my 'me' day. With very little exceptions. I've even blocked it off in my calendar just as I would with any other appointment. It's my favourite day of the week.

What do you do to help yourself relax and wind down? Do you have a 'me' day?
Ally
xxx

Slide Melbourne Sunday

On Sunday, my friend and I went to Slide Melbourne! Slide Melbourne? A massive water slide 400 metres long set up on one of the hills in the city near Fitzroy Gardens. We signed up online, booked a timeslot and then showed up there on the day to slip and slide for the afternoon. Upon registering we went and collected a colourful rubber ring to slide down the hill on. We then lined up and waited for our turn to slide. So much fun!

Melbourne turned on the perfect day for the event - beautiful sunshine! - and there were literally hundreds of other people there enjoying the water and the fun! There is another one being held over Labor Day weekend so if this looks like something you'd love to do then hop online and book a spot! I couldn't think of a more perfect way to spend a Summer afternoon.

What is your favourite way to enjoy Summer?
Ally
xxx

summer nights on the sand

I often find myself dreaming that I lived near the beach. I imagine that when I am 'grown up' and live in my very own home it will have ocean views and be within walking distance to the beach. I will wake each morning watching the sun rise over the waves and the sand. 

What I tend to forget is that I already live near the beach. Multiple beaches in fact! Ok, so perhaps I don't have ocean views, but I can easily reach the sand in a ten minute drive. Pretty awesome huh?

The past few days in Melbourne have been stunning. The sun has been shining, the heat turned up and finally it feels as though Summer 2015 is here! On Friday night, my housemate and I decided to head to Brighton Beach after I finished work. We took along a picnic dinner and ate it while watching the waves. Heaven!

We spent a good hour frolicking on the sand - star jumping in the water, cartwheeling along the shore and practicing handstands against the stone wall. It was so refreshing and invigorating - especially after spending the entire day inside at work. 

It was a good reminder to me not to hang around and 'wait' for my perfect life to happen. I can make it happen now. It's all about choice - choosing to see the magic in each moment and choosing to enjoy it! 

Melbourne - what a beautiful, majestic city you are! And what a perfect way to spend a hot Summer night. What is your favourite way to celebrate Summer?

Ally
xxx

taking time out - Peninsula Hot Springs

To celebrate Australia Day last week my friend Lauren and I went to the Peninsula Hot Springs. I hadn’t been before and after just a 90 minute drive from Melbourne found myself at the most beautiful natural hot spring and day spa centre. Natural mineral waters flow through a different pools ranging in temperature from HOT HOT HOT to the chilly cold plunge pool!

We spent around three hours there - relaxing, rejuvenating and rewarding our bodies. My favourite pool was the hilltop pool - it had amazing 360-degree views of the peninsula and ocean.   

Spending the day here really made me realise how important it is to take time out and chill. I'm not great at sitting still and doing nothing. I like to be busy and 'doing things' all the time. I like to have projects on the go, artworks started, emails to respond to and never-ending to-do list of things I'd like to achieve. There's nothing wrong with being ambitious and aiming to be productive, but I also need to remember that every once and a while my body and brain need a break. I came away from this afternoon feeling so totally zen and fresh - my mind clear and open to new ideas, inspiration and opportunities. 

I've made a commitment to myself in 2015 to take some kind of day away in nature at least once a month. What do you do to switch off, chill out and relax? Do you spend time with friends or do you prefer alone time? Do you like to be around excitement or the quiet of nature? How can you gift this more often to yourself?

Ally

xxx

a new chapter

It's Sunday evening and I'm chilling with my housemate, Lauren and my fur baby Lexi. It's February. Summer. And yet it is cold, windy and rainy outside. Melbourne.

Sunday is my chill out day. My time to relax, unwind and refresh for the coming week. I’m lounging on the couch and browsing my laptop when I stumble upon one of my old blogs. I started writing it in 2007 and I find literally 100s of posts a year leading up to 2012. I begin flipping through them, reading and revisiting memories and past moments. I’m filled with gratitude that I have these posts. So raw, honest and authentic. Captured moments from my past which I will never get the chance to relive.

This makes me ponder about blogging. I haven’t kept a blog for the last couple of years. Slowly the habit died and I immersed myself in my daily life without much reflection or journalling. I have Facebook posts and Instagram photos from the last few years but not the detail and the words which I have from the ones before them. This realisation inspired me to this point. It’s time for another chapter. 

A new blog. A chance to capture the new year. 2015. The place where I am now. My current interests, my friends, my passions, my creations, my daily life.

Let’s begin…

Ally xox