Summer Bucket List 2016

Here is my Summer Bucket List. If it says 'we' on it, I am probably referring to Kieran and myself because let's be real here, most of this stuff is on the list because I want to do it with him. Also this list is going to be updated every time I think of something new (I make lists in my phone and also lists in my diary, but if I have it published on here I can't lose the lost (I am a genius I know). 

1. Beach bonfire
2. Paddleboarding
3. Ride a jetski
4. Try something new
5. Get a new tattoo
6. Get my full driver's license
7. Create something beautiful
8. Fill an album with polaroids of my adventures
9. Visit a new place 
10. Go camping 
11. Go kayaking
12. Mountain/bushwalking/hiking some place new
13. Visit Jellybean pool
14. Go fishing and catch fish that we can cook for dinner
15. Bike riding at the beach
16. Visit the markets
17. Road trip to the Central Coast
18. Say yes more
19. Try dirtbike riding
20. Do a pub crawl
21. Visit Cockatoo Island
22. Visit the aquarium 
23. Watch a beach sunset
24. Learn to surf (for real this time)
25. Attend a Marco Polo event
26. Try aqua golf
27. Try something different on a menu at a cafe instead of always ordering the same 3 things
28. Read at least 10 books
29. Do something nice for someone else
30. Grow a plant
31. Attend an 'outside' movie event
32. Use my birthday present and do the Harbour Bridge Climb
33. Attend a festival/ outdoor concert
34. Go swimming at a waterfall
35. Roadtrip with friends
36. Take one photo every day for all of Summer and make a mini-video at the end (December 1st until February 29th)
37. Have a picnic somewhere beautiful
38. Create tie dye clothes
39. Swim at a waterfall 
40. Visit delwood beach 
41. Visit Neilsons Point 
42. Visit Somersby Falls 
43. Visit Milk beach 
44. Rose Bay
45. Figure 8 Pools

Blue Mountains, Hiking and Waterfalls

Hey everyone! I finally have another post to make and I am very excited to be writing about this because it was so much fun!

Last Saturday, true to our promise on the bucket list, Kieran and I woke up early and picked an adventure we thought we were up for that day (unfortunately it could not have anything to do with swimming because I had gotten stitches in my arm the day before and was not allowed to get them wet or do anything that would over work that arm- including working out and swimming). So we picked something 'easy' travelling to the Blue Mountains to walk some of the trails! I was extra excited that I got to cross two things off my bucket list in one go because we went on an adventure to the Mountains to go hiking and we found a waterfall (we found quite a few actually, but the bigger and better ones I wasn't coordinated, nor strong enough to climb to- especially with my weak arm). 

The first waterfall we found- small but beautiful

In the end, we ended up hiking for just over 2 hours and our legs felt like jelly by the end of it. It had recently rained, so unfortunately it was slippery and muddy but that didn't stop us. I'm not too clear on all of the names of the trails we took, but I know we started at Echo Point (where the lookout of the 3 sisters is in the Blue Mountains) and we walked around another trail towards Katoomba Falls.  

I love the things that nature can create

The day started off freezing cold, despite how hot we knew it was back home, but we were in the Mountains so it was expected. By the end of our walk, we were sweating because the temperature had jumped up about 15 degrees Celsius. 

I love this photo because we were mid-adventure, exhausted but so happy to be doing something fun together  

Doing the walk (we estimated we walked about 14km that day) left me feeling so great by the end of the day. I had been lacking in my workouts at the start of the week, so by ending the week with this exercise filled adventure, left me feeling amazing!

I am so in love with how green and lush everything was in the national park (and so in love with this boy)

Short, yet sweet post because I feel the pictures say more about the adventure than my words ever could. Keep your eyes out for more posts coming soon!

Thanks for reading, 

Stelle xxx

Bucket List Review

Hey everyone! So I thought it was about time I go back and revisit my Summer Bucket List and actually see what I have/haven't accomplished this Summer. As a little side note I want to say I really didn't think that all of these things would be done in Summer (mostly due to the fact that my boyfriend has a full-time job and worked a heap of overtime and I was basically working every day during Summer with two jobs!)

Shoalhaven Heads Beach- South Coast of NSW

1. Go camping- We actually went camping twice, once over the New Year period for about 5 days with my family and then a second time when we went camping in Kiama!
2. Get drunk on the beach- This was probably done a few times actually (lol), but the one that stands out to me was on New Years Eve when we continued our partying and sat on the beach (slightly intoxicated) talking about life
3. Have a campfire
4. Learn to surf
5. Go paddleboarding- This was one of the standout memories from the Summer because it was a random day when we decided to do this and I was very nervous to give it a go but I actually loved it so much and we had so much fun
6. Go fishing- I'm not even 100% sure if I can count this as going fishing because we sat in the light rain (more annoying than actual rain) and we didn't catch any fish (extremely disappointing). But we still went fishing and had bait and everything. To be fair, the fish were smart and were eating the bait off the hook without actually getting hooked...
7. Do the Bondi to Bronte walk
8. Get a piercing- This was a total spur of the moment decision (even though it was on my bucket list I didn't think I would actually do it). I got my belly pierced, it got infected, took forever to heal and was getting knocked by Kieran constantly when we would muck around. But no ragrets. I should mention 2 weeks later Kieran also got his nose pierced when we were on holidays in Kiama. Totally random
9. Go for a bike ride
10. Have a picnic lunch- I am going to count our picnic lunch as the day when I was sad and sick so Kieran bought over a whole bunch of foods that I liked (including the best cheese ever) and he made us lunch (sort of). It was sweet and it was cute.
11. Go snorkelling
12. Visit the mountains in Summer
13. Get a new tattoo
14. Make a video of our Summer
15. Workout more- YES! done on both of our parts I think. He goes to the gym probably 5 times a week and I've been working out using the Kayla Itsines guides and I couldn't be happier. Progress is so easy to see on him, bit harder on me but I feel so much better!
16. Go to an outdoor movie/drive ins- We went to the drive ins, ate our food and watched Taken 3. Probably a bit different to how they used to watch movies at the drive ins, but we had fun with our mountain of pillows and my 1.5L of orange juice I deemed necessary to watch a movie.
17. Spend the day at a water park- We went to Wet 'n' Wild Sydney once, I think that should count?
18. Save up for 2015's holidays- In progress! I think I should let everyone know that this New Years, Kieran and I will be going to Bali! We both opened up savings bank accounts for the trip so that totally counts and starting to save
19. Go to a music festival
20. Do something crazy- Okay it might not seem like much but I totally think that this one for me would have to be when Kieran actually got me on his motorbike and when I rode the quadbike too. Totally not my thing, I never would of done it. But I was saying yes to new experiences and it was definitely crazy!
21. Messy twister
22. Carve our names into a tree
23. Make a homemade slip 'n' slide
24. Visit a waterfall and go swimming
25. Skinny dipping at night- story of this isn't appropriate, but I did it
26. Water balloon fight
27. Watch a sunrise

I'm kind of bummed that a lot of things didn't get crossed off this Summer. But Kieran and I have come up with a plan:

• every weekend when neither of us are working, we are going to ignore what the weather is like (unless it's really extreme aka thunder storming or torrential rainfall) and pick an activity and go and do it. It's what we have 'planned' for this weekend. Around my work, we are just gonna go for it!

I plan to re-update this post in probably a couple of months time. I know there are heaps of other fun things I want to do that I have totally forgotten to even include in this list- but hey you will probably see a blog post about them (or I will just sneakily slip them in my next update).

Hope all my fellow Southern hemisphere folks out there had an amazing Summer & my Northern hemisphere friends enjoyed their Winter. I know I love Summer and it is safe to say I am not keen on Winter (I hate the cold- but I might get to go to the snow *fingers crossed*).

Still one of the most amazing days I've had Paddleboarding @ Northern Beaches

So thank you everyone for reading and I hope I can continue to cross things off this list!
Stelle xx

Kiama

I was so happy to get away. Get away to my (second) favourite place. Not quite home, but home enough that I didn't want to leave. 

A week ago I went on a 'get away from life and life's drama' trip down the South Coast to Kiama. I sipped alcohol, I floated in the pool, I explored the towns along the Coast. I took photos (lots and lots of photos). I got lost so many times and I watched my boyfriend get his nose pierced. I ate lots of food and watched the clouds float through the air. I cooked, I cleaned, I camped. I sang. I danced. I laughed and I cried. I kissed and loved and I felt loved. It was a weekend where I felt at ease. 

I'm not much of a writer and I don't know if anyone out there even enjoys reading my blog but I just want to let you all know that I enjoy writing these feelings and capturing these memories. My life isn't perfect but it's an adventure.

Loving on him from the lookout near Gerringong. Most beautiful sight (and a lovely bush/beach background too)

Again, I love this

Our typical selves. Not much else to say

Shoalhaven Heads. I love this picture I took of him

Kiama Lighthouse at night

The trip with my favourite person was great. Our padlock near the Blow Hole was still intact (if still very rusty). We ate ice-cream and snuggled up under trees in the park. Ate lunch in the RSL surrounded by old people where he told me "this will be us one day Stelle".

Thanks for reading everyone, not much to read but a single picture does tell a thousand words.

Stelle xx

Valentines Day

I want to start this post by wishing everyone out there a very happy (late) Valentines Day! I have always had mixed emotions about this day as I believe we shouldn't need to be told there is a day that we show our boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife/partner/family/friends/fiancé/person that we love them. We should show it all the time. But it is a day to celebrate love. And for that, I can stand behind it and join in.

I don't need extravagant gifts and flowers and chocolates and teddy bears to know I am loved. I enjoy seeing how happy these things can make everyone else, but it's just not for me. Last year my boyfriend and I agreed on no gifts and instead spent that money that we would of bought presents and dinner on a weekend away camping together. Each other's company and the beach were all we needed (beach was a bonus).

Down at Monoooooooo (inside joke, Kieran please laugh if you read this)

It was a good view up here even if I felt like I was going to fall off a cliff

I was lucky enough for my boyfriend this year to plan a day with me full of things we both love. Together. I enjoy the beach and going places and doing fun things, but doing this with him makes it an adventure.

We sang (loudly) the whole trip and rediscovered that Anaconda is literally our jam. I laughed so hard at times I nearly wet my pants. We lounged around in the sun, went for walks, swam in the ocean and ate Subway and chips for lunch. I was on top of the world and even better it was all our home.

We went driving after lunch and went to the lookout (pictured above). We took a bunch of photos. He insisted it was a yolo moment and we should take topless pics (we did but lets leave them off the Internet). He took me to a beautiful place where his family friends got married and talked about what our wedding would be like. I don't know if it is possible to fall anymore in love but I did.

That night he had booked a table at our favourite restaurant and he took me out to dinner. We ate so much and laughed when we told the waiters we didn't want wine because we feel like we are fifteen again. We spent the entire day and night together and it was beautiful.

I hope everyone else had a magical day filled with love and laughter the way I did. Life is too short to not love. People have always mocked me for being so 'in love and whipped' but I say if it makes you happy just do it. Go crazy. Love too much. Wear your heart on your sleeve because love is the best feeling ever. 

Thanks for reading,
Stelle xxx

Spontaneous

I'm not quite sure why (but then again who ever knows why they make spontaneous decisions) but I have been making a few 'spur of the moment' decisions lately. Whether it was in anger, sadness or drunkess or simply 'just because I can' I've done a few things recently that I though I would like to share. 

1. The belly piercing
2. The plane ticket to Cambodia
3. The random trip to the beach by myself
4. The "lets get my life together right now"
5. Let's buy anything (and everything) I want that I see in the shop 

Well. I'm sure some of you will look at that list and be like 'pfft no big deal' or have the other view 'umm are you crazy'. But the way I am choosing to look at it is living. Life is too short (although ironically it is the longest thing we will ever experience) to go through it worried about everything. Normally I am a very rational person and I will not make a rushed or hasty decision. Everything is well thought out (for the most part) and the most extreme thing I will normally ever do is decide I want to eat some bad food and go and get it.

I have quite literally wanted my belly button pierced since I was about 14 years old. I turn 20 this year. One morning last week I simply woke up and said to my friends, "let's go and get my belly pierced today". After 2 years of waiting to be old enough to get my belly pierced by myself (legal age is 16 without parental consent where I live) and then another 3 years of being too scared to do it, I finally did it. Yes it hurt and yes it was probably a dumb thing to do but I am happy I did it. 

The second one is a funny story. I have been wanting to go on an overseas holiday for quite some time. I have been saving up a lot of money but I am very cautious about what I spend it on. I don't know many other people my age who even think about "what about when I want to buy a house I need savings" but... that's just me. So when my bestfriend's dad asked me (when we were all slightly tipsy) if I want a ticket to Cambodia with them next year I simply said "what the hell, yes just do it". That's pretty much the whole story of how I got the ticket to Cambodia. Another decision I am quite happy with. Have to be young and reckless at some point.

Feeling lonely and sad definitely warranted a beach trip by myself. I don't think that one had much thought process other than "do I need petrol right now? No, good let's go". It was peaceful, it was nice and I got to clear my head and be alone for a while. 

I thought I was happy with my life but I have been growing tired of some aspects. My working aspect has become dull and I need a challenge in my life. More will be on this later but this is what I am working on right now (not sure if this is classified as a spontaneous decision, but I did decide I wasn't content with things so I am making a drastic change???)

Now last but not least, I am all for spoiling yourself. Just normally I wait until I have an extra large pay week before I can justify going out and spending maybe $100 or so on things for myself that are wants. But this time, no. Let's just literally buy everything that I can see that I want. And I did. And I didn't feel guilty. And I didn't check my bank balance afterwards to see how much I spent. Because it was spontaneous and I am happy.

On the most positive note I am happy to say that my spontaneous decision making is helping me to achieve things I actually want to cross off my bucket list for the Summer. I am proud of myself.

Thanks for reading,

Stelle xx

Paddleboarding

I got to make a real start on my bucket list the other day. I was so keen to go paddle boarding and my boyfriend was excited to try it, so we made a plan to go and spend the day at our favourite beach (aka home), where there is also a lake where we were able to hire the paddle boards and give it a go. We were so lucky the weather was nice to us that day, because I usually find that whenever I have plans to venture outdoors, the weather is horrible.

Kieran takes good photos- me out on the lake

I can honestly say I had more fun than I could have expected paddle boarding. I was a little freaked out at first because I have awful coordination and balance and I had no idea how I would not fall off. My boyfriend teased me about it, but then he fell off (so karma is a b*tch). 

Pulling my bikini bottoms up while he apparently took a photo and went for a sneaky butt grab (just before we jumped for it)

I am so lucky that I live in such a beautiful country and have the opportunity to experience so much. Australia is amazing. I am a water baby. I love the ocean. I would be a mermaid if I could.

My favourite photo from the day. I adore how happy he looks

We paddle boarded, we jumped in the ocean, we watched the fish jump out of the water. I had a strong urge to go fishing (because of all the fish that we saw). I am still in awe over how amazing this day was. The simple things tend to make me happy. I love ducks and I am obsessed with convincing my mum to get me a duckling. So you can all imagine how excited I was when I saw a family of ducks wondering my the water, I even made my boyfriend take a photo of me with them. 

He made me hold his hand so we wouldn't float away from each other again (this was just after he fell off hehe)

Other fun things for this day included the cute cafe lunch, the road trips, the awful singing, the hand holding and laying in the sand. I am so in love with not only Kieran, but with my life. Happiness looks good on me and I feel great.

Thanks for reading my short and sweet post.
Stelle xx

Summer Bucket List

It's that time of the year again and I honestly couldn't be happier! Summer is by far my favourite season. When I think about it, it's actually kind of crazy to love summer so much where I live. The weather here is absolutely insane during summer. Some days it gets over 40 + degrees Celsius and other times it storms like crazy for days on end (just hopefully went through that stormy period- it stormed every single day and I went through losing power, to working in the rain all day). But I suppose that's Australia (Sydney) for ya?

I have a number of things that I would love to do/achieve this Summer that involve myself and my boyfriend. Recently when we were having a night in we sat down and thought of a bunch of crazy and fun things we would love to do together by the end of Summer and I am 150% determined that we make our way through the list. At the end of Summer I will make another post about what we actually did get through on the list!

Favourite place, hopefully get to spend some of Summer here

1. Go camping
2. Get drunk on the beach
3. Have a campfire
4. Learn to surf
5. Go paddle boarding
6. Go fishing 
7. Do the Bondi to Bronte walk
8. Get a piercing
9. Go for a bike ride
10. Have a picnic lunch
11. Go snorkelling
12. Visit the mountains in Summer
13. Get a new tattoo
14. Make a video of our Summer
15. Workout more
16. Go to an outdoor movie
17. Spend the day at a water park
18. Save up for 2015's holidays
19. Go to a music festival
20. Do something crazy (not sure what, just has to be crazy???)
21. Messy twister
22. Carve our names on a tree
23. Make a homemade slip n slide
24. Visit a waterfall and go swimming
25. Skinny dipping at night
26. Water balloon fight
27. Watch a sunrise

That's the list for now, I'm sure I will edit this post several times and add more to the list as I think of them, but that's all we have for now.

Keep reading to see my Summer adventures!
Thanks for reading x