GOODBYE + MOVING

I started this blog back in the autumn of 2009 mainly documenting DIY projects around our house, writing about my family and my daughter. Maybe because of this space I also started my little business - sarah & bendrix. My life evolved massively and work which started as a little part time job is now a small business which I'm very proud of. 

I've mentioned here a few times previously that I'm not sure if I should continue this blog, what to write about and feeling overwhelmed by it all. I have been thinking about this for long and hard and decided to say bye to this space. It feels quite scary as it was a huge part of my life for the past 5 years. Also I feel very grateful for the support, help and advice I was given via this blog. So thank you all!

BUT....

with our new website which we've just redesigned almost by ourselves, yeh pretty good isn't it? ( it has all the fiddly bits, like personalised products menus, boxes for almost everything you can think of and design I'm very happy with.)...back to the subject...

I decided to move this blog on our website. I love having a space where I can share my finds, tell you about our work and lives. So really it's not saying goodbye, just hopefully you will move with me?

This blog will be a bit different, I will introduce someone else as well and we will also write monthly reviews of films, TV and music. 

I can't wait, it feels like a fresh start! are you coming with me? 

NEW BLOG 

.....and yes that's our William, he loves to be photographed....

trip to Iceland

Last week my parents, my sister and I went to Iceland. It was very unusual and incredibly fun experience. We purposely wanted to go without our partners just sort of "old family" like when we were kids and it felt like it. There was so much laughter, just a brilliant time. 

I have never been to Iceland before,  its an amazing place. We stayed for 3 days  in Reykjavik ( in this hotel, great location in an old port) and made trips into countryside. Unfortunately there wasn't time to see all places I planned, but still we managed to see loads and come back full of memories. 

It was cold and rainy for a bit, felt like early March, but we had couple of sunny, clear days so we were taking photos like crazy. Some places felt like landing on a moon, actually quite a lot of them, almost surreal, black lava fields everywhere you looked, steam coming out the mountains, hot lakes to bath in....hardly any trees....The grass wasn't green yet in most areas so it evoked the feeling of emptiness and contrast even more, I imagine that in summer when everything turns green it must be wonderful. 

For me this video perfectly captures the island http://vimeo.com/64835157.

Truly unique country, do visit if you can.......

we are going to.....

Inspired by Iceland Video from Inspired By Iceland on Vimeo.
only for a few days, my parents, my sister and me, Christmas present from my husband.  I will post on my Instagram....

my week in 5 photos

The sun has been out which is absolutely wonderful, we have been busy with starting wedding season and changing our website, I also danced quite heavily this weekend at a friends wedding and now I have a horrible cold. But all feels good and I hope for you as well?
all photos my instagram

william

We have a new family member, William. I love cats and wanted one for ages. So this was my birthday present. He is 9.5 weeks and so adorable.....

Australia 5. - Good Bye

Last week of our trip took us to Queensland. We stayed in place called Rainbow Beach about 3 hours north of Brisbane. A small town surrounded by nature, deep forest and ocean. As it was after summer season the town was very quiet, so our two teenagers felt a bit bored. But selfishly I didn't mind at all. I loved it. I managed to read  a few books, swam every morning, slept long hours...just paradise. We stayed in this place which was luxury itself. Seriously perfect...
We visited Fraser's Island, which was just 15 mins drive. It's a World Heritage site and the largest sand island in the world. Magical place.
Unfortunately the weather was a bit changeable but still very warm.
I'm sorry to everyone who is fed up with me going about our "perfect " trip to Aus but I wanted to share with you my experience and some of my thousands photos.

Just last couple notes :

Australia is bigger then you think, I know sounds  banal but you don't realise how huge it is until you are there.

At the moment their dollar is very strong so everything is very very expensive for Europeans.

Check your flight details, not once but twice even more....you save yourself lots of trouble.

I personally think 4 year old is bit too young for a long trip like this. A. was fantastic, really enjoyed it, but she still feel a bit tired now from the constant travelling and moves.

Don't care if someone tells you what to pack, make your own choices:)

If members of family don't pack any books for long flights pack it for them. Or make them to buy some in duty free. You save yourself sanity.

....

so Good Bye Australia!

Australia 4. - Blue Mountains

Yes it wasn't all just wonderfully sunny and hot. We had about 4 days of rain and very cold weather. M. told me not to pack any jackets or jumpers. Trip to NorthFace was necessary, I get cold and grumpy really quickly....
Shame we couldn't enjoy Blue Mountains more, but still - I loved walking through the rainforest and staying in a pretty village called Leura. 

Australia 3. - shops I enjoyed

We got back couple of days ago and after spending almost 30 hours on plane I felt awfully jet legged and exhausted. Due to a wrongly booked flight we had to travel from Brisbane to Melbourne, then to Bangkok, wait 4 hours and then to London. Simply, we left lunchtime on Monday from our apartment and got home on Wednesday morning. Not recommended with 4 year old :) But hey...
Back to this post. When in Melbourne and Sydney I discovered a couple lovely shops which I would like to share with you.
In Melbourne I found MUD which sell beautiful ceramic, the first photo. If I could I'd have bought the whole lot but I'm very happy with a few lovely bowls I purchased.
The second photo is from Little Salon where I bought these cutest neon earrings. Both definitely worth a visit if you are in area.
In Sydney I very much enjoyed Aesop, (3rd. photo) and Seed where I bought way to much clothes for Anya...And the last photo is of lovely Brooke from elementsilove, our Australian stockist. They store wonderful mixture of French and Indian antiques and vintage inspired pieces. Beautiful shop.....

Australia 2. - Sydney

We spent most of our second week in Sydney. We enjoyed quite tropical weather, misty, muggy and hot. We did the usual touristy things like taking a water taxi to a few places, seeing Opera and climbing the Harbour Bridge. Bondi Beach was busy but still absolutely wonderful. I have been taking way to many photos, so here is a few from that week. We also stayed in this place, gorgeous two bedroom apartment, with oozes of style and space. Highly recommended, plus it had a huge roof terrace which reminded me High Line in NY. Five stars from me.
Since then we moved to Queensland and through a couple really rainy days we arrived to very close to Fraser's Island. But more about it next time.....