Oooft! We’re flying through the new year already, aren’t we? Before Christmas I toyed with the idea of changing the name of these monthly round ups but I can’t think of anything short, sweet and snappy so for now, they’re remaining the same and still starting with a big ‘Hello’.

I hope you’ve all settled into 2020 nicely and the new year is being kind to you? We started the year waking up at home - something we haven’t done for the past 6.. maybe 7 years now! But after our lovely Campervan Christmas adventure, we decided on a quiet night in at Sunshine Towers with the cats (who were not impressed we left them over Christmas!)

new years eve

We enjoyed a lovely sunny walk through Thetford Forest on New Years Eve before heading home with ALL THE SNACKS to build a fort in the living room and watch films until we fell asleep… which was definitely before midnight because we are so hard core.

I was particularly pleased with my platter of cheese + pineapple and cheese + pickled onion sticks… if only I’d been organised enough to turn it into one of those fabulous 80’s hedgehog arrangements, my 5 year old self would have been over the moon!

Although I missed being outdoors, in a tent (or Buddy) to see in the New Year, it was rather nice to have such a relaxed evening and watch some fun films. I definitely didn’t cry when watching one of my all time favourites (it always get me!) 10 points if you guess the film from the next photo…

back to work

Over the past few years, I’ve always decided to take January slow as it’s often a time when sales drop and I like to use it to ease back into things and plan a couple of little trips if I can get away. This year was no different… or so I thought!

I had an awesome trip planned for the end of the month (more on that later!) and we had a fair few adulting tasks and bits around the home to sort out, starting with putting the danglies away for a another year!

So for the first week, it was all going to plan but somehow the rest of the month whizzed by as work turned out to be a tad more hectic than planned! Suddenly I was dealing with lots of commission enquiries, wholesale orders, wedding portrait requests and trying to get my head around some great collaboration opportunities.

I’m not complaining at all but the days whizzed by so quickly I barely remember what happened and when! I do know that it was very nice to be back in the studio again after nearly 3 weeks off though.

Watching the fires rage over in Australia recently has been heartbreaking for so many reasons and other than personally donating directly to several charities I wanted to do something more to help. So I was super thankful to the lovely Shoal team (Natelle & Serena), who decided to dedicate their monthly seconds sale to WIRES in January, meaning my pin seconds could go towards helping raise more funds.

I join in regularly with the monthly seconds sale Shoal run, as do so many other fabulous pin designers. Not only does it mean I can support lots of amazing charities, it helps me clear some stock and gives you guys chance to treat yourself to some Sunshine bargains AND help others in need! I donated 100% of my profits to WIRES at the end of the sale, which was over $80 AUD in the end.

If you want to get involved you can donate directly to WIRES and make sure you keep your eyes peeled over on Shoal’s instagram (@shopshoal) for reminders about when their sales go live each month.

As well as packing up lots of lovely wholesale orders and orders for my online shops, there was a lot of tea consumed throughout January and I really enjoyed planning for my trip at the end of the month.

I was going to be spending the last week of January in one of my favourite places and you lovely lot gave me some fabulous recommendations to scribble in my diary.

play time

I won’t waffle on too much here because the following photos sum up the fun times I spent outside in January.

The Winter sunrises and sunsets have been just stunning and I always feel so lucky when I can enjoy them on the water. The first paddle of the year was a BEAUT!

It was also really nice to be able to join the Heron & Hush gang in Bedford again for one of their sunny Sunday SUPper clubs…

As well as the sunshine, there was plenty of rain too, which made for some excellent muddy runs down by the river and meadows near our house. I don’t run as often as I used to but when I do get out I LOVE it. I don’t think I’ve smiled and laughed so much to myself when slipping and sliding about over the meadows!

grubs up

Towards the end of last year I really enjoyed documenting tasty food treats in these little round ups so I’m going to keep it up this year. It’s always nice to remember amazing meals or snacks and most of these are from fellow small businesses and indies, so if sharing them helps you discover new places to eat and enjoy food then everyone wins, right?

SO MANY AMAZING food vans and local eateries around here, it’s hard not to be tempted out of the house every day! BUT despite what it looks like, I do stay home and cook once in a while too…honest!

I’ve worked up an appetite now so I’m going to leave you here and go raid the fridge. I hope you enjoyed that little monthly round up, it feels a little shorter than normal but that’s only because I’m missing the final week, my week in Scotland! That deserves its very own post though and will be coming soon…

Keep ’em peeled!

☀️