Making Memories:: Roadtripping with Toyota

I always remember road trips from my childhood. Those early starts when Mum and Dad roused us from our slumber to get dressed, get in the car, and leave home at 4:30am to get on the road.

I was the smallest, and therefore neatly sandwiched between my two sisters in the back seat.

Our road trips were punctuated by stops at the petrol station, a strong desire to reach our destination, and some sibling bickering.

Road trips, for me, were like the prologue and epilogue for a memorable trip away.

We were lucky to be guests of Toyota last week. On Friday we drove down to Thredbo, after Matt finished teaching, in the darkness. In the Toyota Prado we forged our way almost seven hours out of Sydney. When we arrived it was snowing heavily, something I've never seen before - and the kids were wide awake at 10:30pm, spellbound by the flurry of white snowflakes flying towards our headlights. It was their first time to see snow, and they were enchanted and ridiculously excited.

On the winding road into Thredbo we passed other cars that had had to pull over, the snow so heavy it had made it impossible for them to continue.

We finally reached our hotel, hurriedly unpacked the car out in the snow, and then went to bed. Ah bliss.

We awoke on the Saturday morning to such a beautiful and memorable sight. A thick, heavy carpet of the most pristine snow across the countryside. Banked up on our window ledge, icicles frozen in motion from the guttering, it was Narnia-esque.

We rugged up and headed off to get kitted out, then off to Friday Flats for a day of skiing delights!

The kids were booked into Thredbo Land, and Matt scurried up the hill as quick as he could to snowboard the morning away. Me? Oh poor me. I had to suck it up and spend the morning with Christoph. The hot Austrian ski instructor. I know. Poor, poor me.

Prior to this particular morning, I had been enduring great, great skiing performance anxiety. At one point I had talked myself out of it. Then back into it. Then out of it. Then back into it. I was into it, lucky for Christoph, and off we went. I had such a hoot!

In the afternoon we got back together again and went back to the hotel. It's no understatement that we were all k-to-the-nackered. We lay on our beds watching TV and recharging our batteries.

That was until we rocked up to dinner with the Toyota crew (where - I am sorry friends - I had to wear ugg boots because the size of the blisters on my shins were out of control - I know - the shame of it), where Tiny hijacked my phone and tapped into her inner food blogger and started Instagramming the dinner plates. If you follow me on Instagram you will know this to be true.

But let me go into more detail later in the week. When I can recoup my thoughts, and share the awesomeness of hitting the road and making memories as a family. Trust me - it was like soup for the soul. Snow for the soul.


Disclosure: We travelled to Thredbo courtesy of Toyota. We drove in the rugged luxury of the Toyota Prado Kakadu in the darkness and against the elements. Honesty is the best policy. We had a great time. I wanted to share.

Back Me Up Here

Whenever we go on holidays I seem to pack a lot of stuff. Matt hmphs and pmphs about it - but what could be worse than getting somewhere far away, and forgetting THE beloved softie, or some extra snacks for along the way?

Our car is always packed to the gills with lots of stuff. Portacot. Games. Books. Clothes for all sorts of whether. It's the nature of travelling with children. And even for myself, I like to pack some spare clothes in case someone *ahem* wants to take me out for a dry martini and a romp on the dance floor.

My tendency to overpack harks back to days of yore. I clearly remember my own mum being hassled by dad for packing so much 'stuff'. And now I've started our own version of this apparent family tradition. I even receive a few sly digs from my FIL about how full our car is.

Back me up here gals. It's a mama's perogative to overpack right? It's mandatory for road trips to not be able to move an inch because you'll disrupt the equilibrium of pillows, spare blankies, toys, books and a bit of crafty stuff just in case you get a chance.

To make myself feel inherently better - I found this website - Wheels Near U - which features a whole gallery of overpacked cars. At least I am not the only one.

I'm Back. And 20 Kilos Heavier.

Ahhh Easter, how we love you so. If only I wasn't prone to eating so much chocolate. I've finally overdosed and am on the search for anything salty to tame my taste buds. I'm sure though, I'll be ready for more doses of chocolate later in the week (like I need it).

Ahhh Easter, if only you could have given me some self control, rather than chocolate. I'd quite like that. The ability to say, no I couldn't possibly eat my 50th Easter egg. Or no, no, thanks that first piece of Easter cake was delicious, I couldn't possibly go another. Or even, no one glass of wine is plenty for me. If only.

So now our little family is coming down off the chocolate-y high that is Easter. After a wonderful weekend away visiting my family, driving home in the rain, bumper to bumper in traffic, curling towards the city, thoughts turn to normal life, and oh how I pine to escape again, once more out of the city.

Hello egg lovers, how was your Easter?


PS - I do believe I only have 9 (!) entries to the GEORGIE LOVE SUPERSONIC BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY. Yowsers. Where is everyone? Want to enter? It's super dooper easy. And chances of winning at this stage are ridiculoulsy good. 1 in 3 punters are going to win at this rate. If you know what's good for you, enter now (pictured above is one of the three gorgeous prizes - this one is a ridiculously cute wooden bead bracelet from Dick & Dora)!

Do You Love...

Augie March the way I do? If you don't know them, you really should, they are super dooper good. Go on and check them out. They're a cool Melbourne band.


There are lots of good things in Melbourne. The hub of cool. And it's for this very reason that I think I need a trip. A small family holiday. Or even a long weekender. Soon-ish.

Oh - and if you're looking for me, I'm sometimes over here. You should check it out. Perhaps you can help?

This Is...

This week's theme comes from Flossy-P and is: This is something I got, but still haven't used.

This is my fabric stash. I've got a whole box going on of beautiful pieces. Just waiting for me to learn how to sew. I have a few ideas and really want to start with a very simple quilt for my little bebe, but it's just a matter of getting into it (and getting my sewing machine serviced first!).

So many delightful little bits in here - I LOVE going through it. Lots of pieces were bought on a girls' weekend to Melbourne last year with my sisters and my Mum. We did a pretty good job at getting around town - Amitie, Patchwork on Central Park, Meet Me at Mikes.. Oh it was a fun weekend - if only I didn't get struck down by gastro on the second day. Well I'm looking forward to the next trip!

I have lots of things I have got, but just haven't used. Wedding presents - including a beautiful Jasper Conran vase, some great Ittalla pieces. I think I'm just waiting to move into our own space and bring them out. Luxury every day, mmm, I like it!

'This Is' is hosted by Three Buttons.