Queen's birthday weekend part 1

Life is such a strange thing. When you think about it, most of us are stuck in this pattern or routine which we can't seem to escape from. We live each day in this rhythm and most can't seem to drop a beat. They ride each wave as they come yet don't move when the sea is calm.

It's funny that I say this because I'm so guilty of it. I tend to stick to what I know and only work around some things rather than use all of my time efficiently. I used to see life as this massive adventure waiting for me but I've found myself doing things because I have to rather than because I want to.

It's a battle I have to deal as my lazy ass doesn't seem to have the energy to do things that I love and end up treating them as chores instead of hobbies. How silly does that sound now that I've put it down in words? RIGHT?

I did however end up finding a bit of time to actually go out there and enjoy the little things in life. With  the Queen's birthday public holiday, I grabbed that extra day with both hands and decided to put my exploring jacket on!

Next stop: DANDENONG RANGES!

Drove just over an hour to get to this beautiful and welcoming area full of green and wildlife. The first thing on our agenda was Sherbrooke Falls Walk!

Sherbrooke Falls Walk: A 2..4 Kilometres (return) track which is fairly easy with fairly flat gravel pathway. Started and ended at the Sherbrooke Pinic Ground.

Note: Slippery and muddy when wet including some deep shoe sinking areas along the track. Gumboots would be your best friend!


Very family friendly as tracks are suitable for all ages - just keep your kids from climbing on fallen trunks as they are slippery and they will end up with a muddy bum (saw it happen to this girl - the poor thing was freezing after)



After the hike we went down to Grants Picnic Ground (There's a lot of picnic areas around that place)

Grants Picnic Ground: Probably the biggest attraction of the Dandenong Ranges simply because it allows you to get closer to nature. You'd think that Cockatoos, Rosellas and Parrots would stay well away from loud humans but these guys know exactly where to come get a feed! Being only place where hand feeding native birds is permitted, it is a slice of heaven for animal lovers who would love to get greeted by a friendly pair of wings. A token from the gift shop gives you a tray of seeds to hold while the birds happily make themselves comfortable on your shoulder or head!

As it is winter, the night made an early appearance which meant one thing!

DINNER TIME!

A cute little restaurant/cafe (to be honest with you, I'm not quite sure as I am not fancy *struggles*)
Just the look of the place was enough to convince me to go in.

Located in the village of Sassafras, this classy establishment full of charm provided beautiful views of nature. Having natural light shine through made this place extremely relaxing and comfortable.

The friendly staff are accommodating in every way. Even though we got there late - we didn't realize that it was a breakfast to lunch place - they still worked around us and were able to provide us with an early dinner!



And don't even get me started on the food! Omg I'm still dreaming about it! It was delicious and left me wanting more! The cool thing is that they are a venue that provide services for special events like weddings, birthdays and functions!

Fortnums Restaurant
Opening times: 11:00am to 4:00pm
Location: Sassafras
Karine's rating: 8.9/10

So that's it from me for now, I thought I'd break up this trip into  two parts
Part 1 - Sunday and Part 2 - Monday

A big shoutout to my best mate Rob for tagging along and being my photographer! Much appreciated!

If you've ever wanted to visit Melbourne, I cannot recommend the Dandenong Ranges enough! Pure beauty and full of activities for the whole family!

Til next time, lots of love,

Karine xx

P.s. Stay tuned for part 2

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished

 "Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished" Lao Tzu

This post has been sitting in my draft for months as I lost all motivation to continue my writing for a while. Even though I am a huge fan of nature and how peaceful it all is, this day did not feel entirely right. Now this could possibly have been my sudden hayfever allergy reaction, the super long walk that left all my muscles aching for a week or maybe the fact that my mind could not connect with nature like it normally does due to certain pressures and disturbances. 

won't go into detail as to what they are - *erhm* who *erhm* - but it made me come to the realization that time itself is not important. Nature does not have a watch, yet everything gets done. Trees grow at different paces, leaves fall whenever they are ready and flowers do not rush to bloom. Nature takes it time and get it all done eventually.

I often find myself just rushing around trying to get things done which results in my stress levels rushing through the roof! My to-do list often looks like Santa's naughty and nice list and my room looks like the inside of a dumpster! I run in and out of the house, throwing clothes in piles and beating myself up for not having enough time to get everything done! 

If you're anything like me then you will understand what it's like to have a million things running through your mind at once and not being able to focus on one things.

Yes, I often look like this waterfall... except not as mesmerizing or alive - I'm more a sloth looking human - so tired that you wonder if I'm even alive sometimes!

Through it all though, I have learnt one of the most important lessons ever and that is to 

BREATHE

Take a bit of time off to just stop, take a deep breath and be in the moment.
We often get so caught up in our deadlines, society's expectations and the pressure we put on ourselves that we forget to actually live in the moment.

Your schedule is not in control of you.

The situation does not control you.

You are in control of you. 

You need time out to breathe and re energize yourself to be in order to work properly.
How many of you like to see the 100% battery icon on your mobile phones? I know friends who refuse to leave the house unless their phones are on minimum 95% yet run on 4 hours of sleep and have not had some time off in days!

How is your phone more important than you? Why do you feel the need to rush around and not get the proper rest you should be getting? The human body should not be stressed all the time. It isn't healthy.

I know the feeling of needing to get things done and the pressure others can put you under because they think you are slacking off when really you are trying to juggle million things at once! Yet I've learnt that my happiness is more important.

We are part of nature and just like the rest of nature does, I will get things done at my own pace.

Breathe in and out. 

Meditate. 

Walk slow. 

Look up at the sky. 

Stop and smell the flowers. 

Be in the moment.

Stay cool and hydrated!

Hello lovelies!

For those living in Australia, unless you have been living in your fridge for the past few days, you would know about this horrible heat wave happening at the moment!

Australia is literally over heating and I have been lying on the floor for the past 4 hours as it is the coolest place that doesn't stick to me (I'm talking about you sofa!)

I found this image on the Australian Bureau of Meteorology website and I thought that I'd just show you just how hot it really is here.....

Extremely hot weather can affect different people in numerous ways, some more than others. So during this hot weather please

• Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water!
• Light clothes: Wear light and loose clothing as they will help let your body breathe!
• Check and take care of others: Older people and young children may be affected by the heat so make sure they stay cool and hydrated.
• Stay away from the sun!:This is pretty self explanatory- right? The sun is hot. and if there is a heat wave, stay cool by staying away from the sun!
• Pets: They are affected by the heat, just like us so please check on them and make sure they get plenty of water and stay cool!
• Seek medical help: If unsure of anything, it would be a good idea to check with a professional and look out for heat related illnesses.

Stay safe guys! We wouldn't want you to melt, now would we?

Lots of Love, Karine xx

Flowers :)

Hello!!

I'm back! YAY! :)
Haha anyways, I've been spending a lot of time in my garden outside. No, I don't plant BUT I love looking at the flowers and seeing all the little insects here and there! Is that weird?

Yesterday was Valentines Day and since I didn't get any flowers :( I decided to go out and smell the ones out in my yard! woo!!

The first one that caught my eye was the bright yellow marigold. These flowers are just so bright and will definately lift up your spirit. They also smell amazing and I wish I had more of those around but sadly, I have just one plant :( Its vibrant colour is sure to light up your garden and bring a positive vibe to it!

 These flowers are all roses. Who doesn't love roses? Different types of roses planted next to each other to create one big bush of different coloured roses. They are actually so beautiful and having them next to my window means that I can smell them all day! With the casual visit from bugs and insects... lovely!

Another type of flower I found was the gorgeous Geranium. We have two types, the hot pink and the light pink. They make everything look so much nicer and really stands out from the others around them! They don't really smell... I don't think... they don't have a strong sweet smell to them but I love how they are so bright and different!

And what really got me excited about these flowers is that you could put them all together and create a bouquet at home! It's beautiful and FREE!! You can arrange them in any way you like!

This is what my dad made for my mum yesterday for valentines day!

How sweet... but... where's mine? :(

Do you like flowers? Do you plant? What did you get for Valentines day?

Please do tell me! And I'd love to hear your opinions :)

~ Lots of love, Karine xx