It's beginning to look a lot like...

Christmas! No, wait...Summer...no, wait...I'm confused! Sydney has definitely started decorating for the Christmas season and it is very fun to see the decorations around town. However, today was also the hottest day since I have been here and that means that Summer is almost here. So confusing!

I started off my Saturday morning with what I thought would be a nice jog around the bay. It was nice, but was very warm and took probably 30 minutes after I got back to my apartment for my beet red face to cool down! At one point after I had showered, I looked at the temp on my computer...90 degrees, yikes.

Since my shopping adventure last weekend was so bad, I really wanted to do some shopping this weekend, so I hopped on the train into the city to head to the gorgeous Queen Victoria Building. It is an ornate Romanesque building that was initially built in 1898 as one of Sydney's first produce markets. It is now a gorgeous, city-block long shopping mall, with a chrome dome in the center and vaulted glass ceilings on the interior and gorgeous tile floors.

There was a gorgeous Swarovski crystal decorated Christmas tree that was in the domed center that started on the lowest level and went all the way to the top of the 4th level. It was beautiful! Here is the bottom...

And these gorgeous flowers were right outside the center dome on the lowest level...seriously, Christmas or Summer...so confusing!

And here is the top of the tree...and see the beautiful and ornate walls and dome? So pretty!

I was totally planning on getting a lot of Christmas shopping done...but, unfortunately, I only left the QVB with one gift for someone else...and about 4 gifts for me! Oops, ha ha! Oh well, I really haven't bought myself anything here so far and I was in the mood to go shopping...so it was fun!

When I got back to my apartment, I sat outside on my balcony with my book and a glass of wine. The weather can change on a dime here and it was down to about 78 and a storm was blowing in. It was very relaxing...until I heard the noisest birds ever. They were seriously so loud, so I knew they had to be close. I walked out to the edge of my balcony and saw these on my neighbors balcony...

They were so beautiful and I was glad that I had just happened to have my camera out there with me! Still amazes me that they just fly around town...

Anyway, great day, but will be a little strange to experience the holiday season in such warm weather. More shopping in my future, since I didn't really get any Christmas shopping done today!

Care packages, new friends and upcoming business trip...

It has been a good week in Sydney...well, despite a few more days of rain. I have to say a big THANK YOU to friends and family for the cards and care packages that I have been getting!!! You all have no idea what it means to get sweet notes, funny cards and comforts from home...

Right before Halloween, I got a hilarious card, some cute pictures and some candy corn from my dear friend, Katie! It has been fun to have that Fall staple candy to enjoy at work! Last week, my sister sent a care package with Grace's birth announcement, a cute pumpkin that Luke made at school, some other cards and my FAVORITE holiday lotions and hand sanitizers from Bath and Body. I have loved decorating my work area with the cards and now the holiday season can truly begin since I have my favorite lotions! This week, Katie really surprised me again and sent me two of my favorite things from the Junior League Holiday Mart...flavored coffee and chocolate covered cherries! I always love shopping and volunteering at Holiday Mart, so I was sad to miss it this year...was so fun to get a little taste of it!

I also got a cute and sweet card from my wonderful Aunt Peggy last week, but it made me a little sad. Peggy and Carl are getting married this weekend and I will be very sad to miss this special day in Peggy and Carl's life and I will miss celebrating with my whole family. I will be sending my best wishes to them from Sydney to Lawrence this weekend and will be so excited to see pictures and hear all about it at Christmas!

Thank you again so much for all of the cards, notes and care packages...I am so lucky! Here is a picture of my little shrine to Luke and Grace and some of my goodies and cards at work...

I have also had a great week because I finally feel somewhat back to normal and like I have a social life! Like I mentioned in my last post, several other Americans have started working in the Sydney office recently and it is so wonderful to have other fun people to hang out with! All of the locals in the office are very nice and fun to talk with at work, but they have their normal lives here and don't really want to do the touristy things.

Last Sunday, I hung out with a dating couple that just started over here and we met up with a girl who is here on a 2 week business trip, but is coming here for good in January. We headed across the bridge and shopped around at the Rocks market again. We also went to an awesome place for a late breakfast called Pancakes at the Rocks. This was a concept I had never heard of, but must admit, it was delicious...pancakes with ice cream on them!! I got one called bananarama...2 pancakes, grilled bananas, butterscotch sauce and vanilla ice cream...WOW! Not exactly a healthy meal, but we did lots of walking that day too! On Monday night, I went to dinner with the same girl who is here on the 2 week business trip. She is feeling lots of the same emotions that I felt when I first decided to do this, so we had lots to talk about. I think I helped calm her nerves and I can't wait for her to be here for good in January! For those of you who know Angie Lucas, good friend of the McBride family...her brother works at Cerner and he and his wife just moved over here for his work. I went out to dinner last night with his wife, Lisa and we had a blast! We have a lot in common and I know that we will hang out a ton! So, it has been a busy social week and I am just so happy to have new friends here to do all of the fun things that Sydney has to offer!

I also got some crazy and fun news at work this week. Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays and I have been pretty worried about how I will handle that week emotionally. While I know I will still get a little sad and will miss being with my family...I think my mind will be spinning and trying to take in everything because I will be going on a business trip that week to...Singapore and Malaysia!!! Wow, 2 places that I never thought I would go in my life, but I am so excited about it! So, more new and exciting adventures to come...

Rain, rain, go away...

This entire week has been a chilly, rainy week and I am starting to get a little sick of the rain. Now, when it quickly turns to the 80's and humid, I may wish for another one of these rainy, chilly days...but for now, I am sick of it!

I ended the week at work by going to Beer Friday, as usual. At one point, those of us that were left looked around and laughed...it was only Americans left! We were saying that everyone else had their families and friends to get home to, but the 9 or so of us Americans obviously had nothing better to do, ha! Several of us headed out to a fun dinner after we closed Beer Friday down. We hopped on the train and headed North...I hadn't been farther north than our office yet, so was fun to see a different area. And, I am starting to become much more comfortable with the public transportation here!

Today it pretty much rained on and off all day. I really wanted to get out though and have really been wanting to explore an area here called Darling Harbour. I headed out mid-afternoon and caught the ferry over to Darling Harbour and I have to admit...this was the first time that I was a bit let down by something here. I feel like I have heard and read so many great things about Darling Harbour, so was really excited to go there. I'm sure the dreary weather had something to do with it, but I just wasn't very impressed. Looks like there are lots of great restaurants there, but again, not the kind of day that you want to grab a table outside for a drink and a nibblie!

Darling Harbour does have some big Sydney attractions, but I wasn't planning on doing those today, as they have parts that are outdoors. Instead, I was mostly excited to go here...

because it is all shops in that lower, front building. And the thing in the middle is one of the most iconic spots of Darling Harbour. I was kind of in the mood for some shopping, but it was all just crappy mall stores in there. So disappointing. Oh well, at least that means I only spent $11.20 on the ferry ride over and back!

There were some cool fountains... (see, I was trying to find the positives!)

Oh well, I suppose everything in Sydney can't be like 'the most amazing thing I have ever done'! I am still very excited to head back to Darling Harbour sometime soon to go to these 2 major attractions, the Sydney Aquarium and the Sydney Wildlife World...but otherwise, I don't think you will find me hanging out in Darling Harbour much!

The race that stops a nation...

Today was Melbourne Cup Day! The Melbourne Cup is a horse race...similar to the Kentucky Derby...and it is literally called 'the race that stops a nation'. The race is held in Melbourne, Victoria and the whole state of Victoria has the first Tuesday of November as a public holiday every year. The rest of the country doesn't get an actual holiday, but everyone does stop what they are doing to watch the race.

It has been fun to watch all of the hype leading up to the race and the sweeps (betting on the race) began at the office around 10 this morning. At 2:30, everyone stopped working and gathered by our big tv's to enjoy some champagne and 'nibblies' (one of my favorite Aussie words).

Just like the Kentucky Derby, the race was over in just a few minutes...but it was fun to see everyone cheering on the horses they had bet on. None of my horses won, but I had a great time drinking champagne and participating in one of Australia's biggest sporting events with my colleagues!

Sanctuary by the Sea...

So, today I took a 6 km (little less than 4 mile) coastal/cliff walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach. There are 2 executives here right now from the US and they mentioned earlier this week that they were thinking about doing this walk this weekend. I have been wanting to do one of these, but was a little hesitant to do one on my own, so I basically invited myself along with them. We then had someone in the office ask us if we were interested in doing something called 'Sculpture by the Sea'. We eventually found out that we were talking about the same thing...the coast walk that we were planning on doing anyway was also playing host to the first weekend of an art fesitval where over 100 sculptures were displayed along the first piece of this walk. So, we joined forces with another few people from the office and we set out for an amazing day out in the Australian sun!

We met for an awesome yum cha (dim sum in the US) lunch and then headed to the starting point...the famous Bondi Beach!

Starting to head up higher and away from the beach...

An example of the sculptures along the way...

Me along the walk...check out all the people! And, it was a bit windy up on these cool cliffs!

I think this was my favorite sculpture along the way...so cute and creative!

Me sitting along a cute little rock wall along the walk...

Stunning view of the eastern beaches of Australia...

This is a shot of Tamarama Beach...smaller than Bondi, but better waves!

These were the types of views we had on the other side...the wildflowers reminded me of Colorado!

Me along the walk as we got to Bronte Beach...

On the other side of Bronte Beach...and this picture shows these cool bath things that each of the beaches had...basically just pools where people could go swim laps and the waves came right up into the pools...so cool!

The cliffs that we were walking along were just amazing!

A picture of Waverley Cemetery coming up...

Looking back at Bondi Beach way off in the distance...we have come a long way...but not done yet!

The cemetery up close...it was beautiful...

This is Gordon's Bay...it was one of the most beautiful parts. It was more just pretty and scenic than an actual swimming beach. This was also towards the end of the walk and there were some absolute killer hills during this part. We were up pretty high when I took this picture, but went all the way down to sea level and then back up to where those houses are on the other side...we were pretty tired after this part!

This last picture isn't great...it was the end of the walk, late in the day, I was tired...but this was our stopping point, Coogee Beach.

I call this post 'Sanctuary by the Sea' because those of you who know me well, know that I don't go to church often...or really, at all. I think I have decided that mountains (like in Colorado) and oceans are some of the things that make me feel closest to God. Seeing the intense power and the expansive beauty of oceans like this just amaze me and always make me think of religion and God. He must be a pretty awesome God to have created these amazing things!

All in all, we saw 5 beaches, 1 beautiful bay, tons of amazing art, lots of different types of stairs to get us up and down the cliffs, an old cemetery, some crabs, lots of cute dogs (including a cute Westie named Stanley), 2 weddings, an airplane writing a marriage proposal in the sky, lots of surfers and a few sunbathers with not enough clothes on, ha! It was an absolutely amazing day and I am so glad that I got to see more of the beauty of Australia!

PS...I also have my first Australian sunburn! You could see the type of shirt I was wearing from the pictures...I basically look like I have a red bib necklace on now, ha ha! I think I will actually have to break down and buy some sunscreen if I want to have a real day on the beach...this Australian sun is strong!

Trip Home!

Being half-way around the world for 6 weeks really makes you appreciate and cherish all of the joys of your family, friends and home! Words can hardly even describe my time at home, but hopefully, some of the wonderful pictures I captured can help explain!

I got to take a whole week off work and my sister and I decided that this was almost more special than if I would have been home when Grace was born because I never would have been able to take that much time off at once. I got to spend my whole first weekend with just my sister, Luke and baby Grace and I enjoyed every single minute of holding and hugging my precious niece and nephew and I loved the way that my sister and I could slip back into our easy, finish each other's thoughts type of conversations that we always have.

Here is the first picture I took of baby Grace, as she and I shared a few minutes of quiet time on the floor! Look, she is even looking at me and trying to figure out who I am and where I have been!

On Sunday, my mom came in town for a few days...mostly to bring MY big baby home to me, Evie! I know that she is having the best time with my parents and Izzy and they are taking such good care of her...but she looks pretty happy to be back home (and back on her red chair), doesn't she?!

That whole first week, I spent every waking moment that I could with family and friends. One day, I even got to take Luke to the zoo for some special Aunt Becca and Luke time! We had so much fun and it was a beautiful day. We especially loved seeing the elephants and giraffes, riding the train and seeing all of the fun Halloween decorations at the zoo!

I mean, seriously...look at this face?! Luke has always been a very sweet little boy, but he just keeps getting sweeter and cuter and smarter and funnier by the day. From reading him books at bedtime...to his hugs and playing with my hair...and his sweet little voice saying, 'Becca, I miss you when you go to Austwayia'...and his constant creativeness and funny sayings or songs...I am pretty obsessed with him right now and he was definitely the hardest person to say goodbye to...

I got to meet one of my best friend's new baby...also named Grace! We had Katie and her Grace over to Allison's for lunch one day, so that the 2 Graces could meet. They are both so precious and we all know they will be good friends! Their mamas are both so special to me and I am lucky to get to have 2 little Graces in my life! Here I am with the 2 beauties...

I got to spend lots of good time with my girlfriends too! Coffee with Maggie, dinner with all of the Kappa girls, park time with several of the girls and their kiddos, dinner with my Jr League girlfriends (we missed you, Kate), time with Katie and baby Grace and a very special goodbye party for one of my best friends, Nikki. Nikki is moving with her family to Switzerland for 3 years and I am so thankful that I got to be back in the States to help see her off. She has another week to go before their big voyage...Nikki, I am thinking of you all the time and know that things will be so amazing once you are settled in there. Kansas won't be the same without you...

Here are the girls at Nik's goodbye party...

I was so lucky to be able to celebrate Luke man's birthday right before I left also...he had a great day! I don't have any pictures of the birthday boy on his big day...but I did get lots of last minute holding and cuddling time in with Miss Grace!

My time home was amazing and it really made me realize how much my family and friends do mean to me! As I have said before, I am very thankful for this great opportunity to live and work in Australia for 6 months, but I do miss and think about you all every day! Luke and Grace, try not to change and grow too much while I am gone...or at least have your mommy take lots of pictures to send to me!

I am planning on having a pretty relaxing weekend for my first weekend back in Australia, but I promise I will get back to more fun Australia posts and pictures soon!

Melbourne

We were able to take a nice long lunch on Tuesday in Melbourne and got to do some more exploring...and shopping! I remembered to take a few pictures this time.

This first one is just a view of a normal city block...

Then, right in the middle of these big city blocks, there are these little 'lane ways' that cut right through the middle of the blocks and are just lined with shops and cafes! Some are open air, some were enclosed and they all just led to more and more shopping! Here were some of my favorite little 'lane ways'!

Was really fun to see another part of Australia and I am sure I will go back to Melbourne another time or two during my 6 months here. I was happy to get back to my little life and routine here in Sydney though...and now, almost time to come back to the States for my visit!!!!!