Peek at my Week: I’m on holidays baby…

My lovely sister over at Live. Love. Create. Imagine. has started up a new blog meme called ‘Peek at My Week’. Basically, since she and I are both avid instagram users, she has decided that it would be awesome to make a collage of our weekly instagram photos and post them on our blogs. She is encouraging everyone and anyone to join in so head on over to her blog and join up!

But here’s a peek at my week:

If you want to follow me on instagram my username is: alexieb

Hope you’re having a lovely week and Happy New Year!

Alexie xx

Lovely Luggage

In November I am heading over to Perth for 40 days!! 3 weeks by myself for schoolies. Well not exactly by myself. I am heading over to a very large extended family most of whom I haven't seen in a few years. I’m pretty excited. Then after my schoolies break, the rest of my family are coming over for another 3 weeks – our first big family holiday in quite some time.

So I’m starting to get ready for my upcoming trip. First on my list of priorities, some carry on luggage. I wanted something really nice, not black, not ugly – but really pretty. At the moment I’m in Toowoomba, visiting Zoey, Pete & Mayana. Most of you probably don’t know this, but Toowoomba has a pretty decent shopping scene. Every time I come here I manage to find awesome bargains. Anyway, we were just casually shopping on Tuesday afternoon when we stumbled into Strandbags. As always I go and have a casual glance at the carry on luggage and low and behold I find the luggage for me! It’s purple, it has a beautiful pattern and it looks like a handbag!! Oh yes, this luggage was obviously made just for me. I quickly text my mother and some minutes later I am the proud owner of this baby:

 

I can’t wait for November! Lookout Perth – Alexie is coming.

and the 'slackest blogger of all time' award goes to...

Me!

I am well aware its been weeks since my last post. But I have an excuse I promise. The life of the busy grade 12 student totally takes over and can I just say... when people told me that term 3 was going to be busy they weren't joking. For example, week 8 I had seven pieces of assessment. That's seven big year 12 assessments in 5 days. Joy of joys. But hey I've made it through and I'm back to blogging. It's holidays now so hopefully I'll have lots of time to post things.

So I thought I'd share with you a list of things I have to do on my lovely 2 week holiday:
1. Finish updating my resume - I'm applying for a full time traineeship at the hospital next year so this one is kinda important.
2. Fill out my QTAC preferences - aka apply for uni. Still debating which uni to put as preference number one. I'll let you know which one I end up picking.
3. Hang out with my friends - most of them are going away but there are a few that I desperately need to catch up with, the ones who are not in year 12 and have been constantly ditched in order for me to do school work. Having no social life sucks.
4. Celebrate my parents 25th wedding anniversary
5. Visit a different youth while my youth takes a break over the holidays
6. Sleep in - seriously need to catch up on some zzz's
7. Spend some time with my lovely big sister, her husband and my gorgeous niece - I'm really looking forward to going to Toowoomba by myself for once. I wont have to share Mayana with anyone!
8. Do a massive clean and chuckout of my cupboard - my theory is if I get rid of all the clothes I dont actually wear that are taking up space in my wardrobe, my parents will see the lack of actually wearable clothing in there and be required to buy me some more.
9. Finish writing a song that I started weeks ago - need some lyrical inspiration.
10. Finish reading my english novel - The Power of One. I'm liking it a whole lot better than the Lord of the Flies (which was last terms english novel).

So thats my plan...

Have a good day!

Bunya Mountains

Day 1
Was awoken at 6am by my father. Lovingly told him to 'get lost' before being equally lovingly reminded to 'up and at em' as we needed to 'get this show on the road'. Rolled out of bed onto my sister who has been sleeping on my floor due to my Oma currently occupying her room. Finished packing, ate breakfast and hopped in the car.
Looooong car drive interspersed with chronic coccyx pains, sweet tunes from my iRiver and feeling woozy from the windy roads. Finally arrived at Bunya Mountains. Checked in. Drove up the driveway of Pademelon Lodge and was greeted by lots (when I say lots I mean up to 17 being visable at any one time without even moving your head) of Pademelons. Like this little guy:
Explored the house (which was really really cute), claimed and made my bed before heading downstairs to relax in front of the fire. Took a walk to the general store and Cafe where we had coffee before going back home. Ate dinner. Attempted to watch NCIS but reception sucked so I went to bed.

Day Two
Was awoken early morning by my niece. Oh well she's cute. Got ready for the day, ate breakfast. Family decided it would be fun to go on a bush walk.

Pete carried Mayana on his front. She was adorable. She fell asleep by resting her head on her
shoulder and remained that way for a good 45 minutes. Wished I was a baby and could sleep instead of walking. Dodged the Pademelon poop and finally arrived at the beginning of the bush track.



Had fun being Zoey's walking buddy. Got sick of walking. Started cramping. Got pushed up hills by Pete. Laughed very hard at my brother risking his life to help Mum across a beam:
Got sick of walking again. Rested. Walked. Rested. Walked. Etc. Finally reached the end of the track. Resolved never to go on a walk labelled 'short' by my father ever again. Relaxed at home. Ate scrummy dinner consisting of: dips, crackers, a selection of cheeses, cold meats, sundried tomatoes, Turkish bread, olives. Watched Closing the Ring. Went to bed.

Day Three
Was awoken early by niece again. Oh well she's cute. Family decided to go on a day trip to wineries and Kingaroy. Off we go. In the car with Mayana. Looked after Mayana while the over 18's sampled a selection of wines from a selection of wineries. Got to Kingaroy. Looked in Information Centre, museum and Art Gallery. Discovered something that makes Mayana very happy:
Basically, you grab her hands and make her hit Jordan in the face while he jumps back and makes grunting/ouch! noises. She laughs and laughs. Couldn't help myself. Made them pose for this photo.

Now everytime she starts to get a bit upset we pull out this trick and she is extemely happy again. Oh how I love my little niece.

Went out for a lovely lunch at RimFire Winery. Yummy yummy yummy.



Went to Lavender Farm.


Was really cute sort of French Country style with a nice view. And very expensive country styled things to buy. Therefore didn't buy anything. Walked around with Zoey. Took pictures of flowers. Took pictures of furniture that I will one day buy.
Went home.



Found a really pretty view. Dragged Zoey, Mum and Mayana over to it to take some nice pictures.


Ate dinner very similar to Day Two. Played Scattegories with the family. Has to be one of the best games of all time. Went to bed.

Day Four
Was awoken early by my niece. Nothing new here. I'm used to it. Packed up all my stuff before heading downstairs to eat a very nice breakfast of bacon, sausages, eggs, hash browns, tomatoes and musherooms (for those that actually eat them). Helped Oma with the kitchen. Packed up the rest of the house. Checked out. On the road again. Stopped at another winery. Arrived at Toowoomba. Went shopping. Brought 3 new bra's and new PJs. Went to Zaraffa's. Had a White Chocolate Fusion. Went out to dinner at the City Golf Club. Had fettucine with roasted lamb, sundried tomatoes, garlic, basil and parmesan. And Lemon Meringue for dessert. Felt sufficiently full afterwards. Went back to Zoey's. Watched tv. Went to sleep. Slept pretty poorly due to a combination of my snoring brother and teething niece. She's cute and can get away with it. He's not so cute therefore he gets kicked and told politely to 'shut up'.

Day Five
Woke up. Watched Hannah Montana and H20 - Just Add Water. Packed up my stuff for the last time. Said goodbye to the Friend's. Gave Oma a big hug as I wont see her til November. Got in the car. Stopped at Kilcoy. Ate one of the best pies of all time. Got home.

End of Holiday. Back to the real world.

Family Holiday

I really love hanging out with my family so I'm pretty excited for this week's adventure. We are off to the Bunya Mountains which, according to bunyamountains.com, is "a mountain paradise, peacefully nestled adjacent to 11,700ha of subtropical rainforest National Park".

Pademelon Lodge - the place we're staying

Pretty sure there isnt actually all that much to do there, maybe a few national park walks or something. But I'm pretty content to just hang out with the family, read a good book in front of the fire place (yes!) and eat all the yummy food we are taking.

Will update with pictures and all the details when I get back.

Love Alexie.