Solar Eclipse and Kamikaze Kid

On Wednesday I burnt out my retinas trying to see the solar eclipse.

It was a 92% or 95% eclipse of the sun on Magnetic Island. The optimum place to view it was in Cairns, 4 hours north of Magnetic Island. Even though it wasn't a complete eclipse, it was still an amazing thing to see, very eerie when it went quite dark.

I thought if I looked through my iphone screen I'd might be able to see it happening without retina burn but this was as good as I could see it.

Until an elderly man saw me struggling and gave me a piece of welders glass to look through. it was pretty cool to see, well worth the effort of getting up early........

But the week didn't start out that great.

Our Indi 'Boy' took a nose dive, Kamikaze style......

off his scooter and onto rocks below the marina walkway.

He took this corner at warp speed and didn't make the turn, hit the lip with his scooter and went over the edge head first into the rocks. As you can imagine Syd and I were a bit hysterical to find him starfished on the rocks with blood everywhere....... I thought my worst nightmare had come true.

But we were lucky he managed to avoid any major head trauma (thick skull). He was taken from the Island clinic, to the mainland Hospital to get his head sutured and arm set in plaster. He was well looked after, We're so grateful.

His loving sister, while waving to Indi and her dad leaving on the ferry, took herself out on a pole "Tom and Jerry" style (out of sympathy I'm sure). I then had two injured children! We went to the store to get cupcake mix to bake some cakes and got some other treats for him for when he  came back from the hospital the next day. I must have still been in shock, I don't bake for anyone.

Those who know me would be falling off their chair seeing the proof that I baked these. Maybe my baking instinct takes over in times of crisis? This is the full batch I baked,  I must have had a few too many tasters of the batter....maybe my cravings for chocolate kicks in times of crisis too?

Here he is now, back doing boy things again. Doing his best to keep me on my toes and scaring the cr#p out of me at the same time!

Sarah Woods x

Struggling with my 'About Me' Page

In my last post I had hinted that I'd been holding off publishing a post for a few weeks and I'm going to explain why. I'm in the process of refreshing Squeezed Daily, lots of ideas and I've also found someone to contribute to the blog, Sarah Radhanauth. She's also an interior designer and shares my love for the beach, travel and design which is really cool. So expect to see some great content appearing on a regular basis. 

Another thing I've been working on is an 'about me' page. This is where I've become stuck. I've done about 20 versions of it and am getting nowhere!!!! So I thought I'd just dive in, throw up one version in the hope that I'll get some feedback. 

I plan to condense it down but I had to start by just writing it out first.  

So be honest with me, I'll only curl up into the fetal position and cry, haha - not really, (maybe a little). I'm thinking it might be a case of breaking the 'too much info' rule, but I have a burning urge to tell my story so allow me to get it out of my system......  

About Me

Greetings! My name is Sarah Woods, and you may already know that I live on a boat with my family on Magnetic Island, Tropical North Queensland, Australia. This is our starting point for our around the world adventure. 

What you may not know, is the story on how I got here. 
(this is the part in the bio where I start to get a bit sweaty)

It's a somewhat complicated story, but the pivotal moment was when our 'collection' of businesses (my husband is a prolific entrepreneur), that ultimately turned pear shaped caused by a combination of family, (valuable lesson there to not go into business with family again), and the current economy.

Forced to sell our properties, we moved onto my Father-in laws boat as a temporary solution (it was only sopposed to be for two weeks), one and a half years later we're still on it and couldn't be happier, much to our and others disbelief!

The first boat in this image is the small 35 foot canal boat 'Summer Dream' that we have managed to live on for the past year and a half. Manly Harbour, Brisbane.

When it was time to sell the house was a bit traumatic at first, we had put so much into it and we saw it as being our dream home. But once we decided to sell everything in the house it became an unexpected cleansing process, we piled all our 'stuff' ( being a designer, we had some pretty awesome stuff!) into the garage and stood there looking at it all, I felt physically sick about how we were so stuck in the 'consumer' way of living. Since then I have been obsessed with keeping things simple, and try to live by a new "collect memories not things" way of living.

Our house on Armytage street. My favourite area of the house, I love these pendant lights I found at Lavish essentials. Yes, we sold everything you can see here.

I'm not saying I'm completely free from the hoarding mindset, I do love pinterest, and when I pin something, it kind of feels the same as if I've bought it, which is great as it costs me nothing and I don't have to find a space for it. (It keeps the mini hoarder inside of me content).

From the shift in mindset from selling all our stuff, we found living on the boat to be sort of a loop hole, a way we could still have a fantastic lifestyle and have very little overheads, we had no intention of renting a crappy little house and starting again from scratch. We talked about taking the opportunity of not having any more ties to business etc to do our world cruise now instead of waiting till the kids grow up or when we would have enough cash to sustain ourselves during the trip. 

Moreton Island is a stunning sand Island about 2 hours boat trip from Manly Harbour in Brisbane. We would spend our weekends here every chance we got.

We decided why wait! the thought of cruising and discovering amazing places with the kids was an opportunity we couldn't pass up. What kid wouldn't prefer to be schooled  with 100% attention from two teachers (Carlos and I) till noon, then spending the rest of the day swimming, surfing, fishing and exploring? 

 Best friends.....for now anyways.

I could now see we were going down a road that contradicted our core values and further away from our original dream when we met in our early 20's, to travel and explore the world on our own sail boat. 

"It's only when you loose everything that you are free to do anything" - Tyler Durden, Fight Club

The funny thing was, we had thought the only way to achieve our dream was to make copious amounts of money semi-retire and then set off. Even though we were making a lot of money through property and the building company, we had our heads stuck in the sand. 

I now have a hunch that the universe has a way of changing things to set you back on the course you were sopposed to be on. Not quite the road map we were looking at before, but definitely a more creative/exciting and surprising course. As soon as I stopped fighting it, things just started to happen and fall into place.

From there, we came to the conclusion that we don't need much to live, much money or the need to spend much either.
If nothing else, the kids have had a total mind shift that was also not expected, they don't want for anything, and not having a TV hasn't hurt either. They are thriving with the new lifestyle, with most time spent at the beach, fishing and discovering. From having a giant toy room to now, a very small tub of toys, and they are perfectly happy. We also enjoy being in such close quarters, we are constantly interacting and learning to work things out like a mini tribe. 

The kids toy room. They don't miss all their toys, in fact, they had a ball selling most of them at our garage sales and at the market.

Syd and Indi (the two kids with the curly hair) playing with a friend at Picnic Bay, Magnetic Island. They love to play with what they find that has been washed up on the beach.

Though we enjoyed living in Manly Harbour, we loved to take the boat to the nearby Islands, we just had to leave, to start moving and to start our new adventure. The longer we stuck around, the more unlikely we were not to go. 

Another big thing was that I needed to remove ourselves from the 'dream stompers.' The ones that say "you can't live on a boat", "you can't home school" and my personal favourite, "there are pirates out there you know". All a lame-o attempt to try and make sure we don't achieve our dreams, as their own dreams are shrivelling up and dying.

Syd and me, about to head out dor a surf. There is something for everyone, I get to go surfing, Carlos loves his kite boarding and the kids have boogie boards. I look forward to going surfing with the kids at remote islands on our trip.

Now we're here, the very start of our trip, on a tropical Island that seems to have it all, even surf in the right conditions. The only problem is I think we will miss living here when it's time to set sail. I can feel my body unknotting itself a little bit more every day, allowing me to finally breathe freely. 

The self imposed barrier to our dream we had before has been broken down, the money is flowing in so we are well on our way to owning our own sailboat and my recently launched online business is coming along nicely with help of the government grant I was lucky to receive, has taken a lot of the stress out of the developmental stage, which is giving me such a kick start to my business. I try my best to be creative with my work locations, taking my MacBook and Ipad to the cafe, park, beach and pool so the kids can still get out.

 One of my favourite spots along the beach to work.

A unexpected biproduct of boat life is living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle, it gives me a very nice feeling that we have a small impact on the environment, I'm sure we are all a lot healthier too as we catch fish almost daily, I have a learnt to be creative, trying different fish recipes. Best of all we are doing it all together and having a ball in the process.

Mud crab caught in our crab pot, freshly picked cherry tomato, basil, fetta and Chia seed salad.

Now you know were I've been and where I plan to go, what happens in between is not set in stone, but I have a feeling it will never be boring and anything is possible.


A bit of a novel isn't it? Would you give it a thumbs up or down and why you think so? It would be extremely helpful ;)
Enjoy your week,

Posted by - Sarah Woods

The Chai Project

I'm ditching my 'happy hour' post today and swapping it for some Chai tea instead,

as weather is getting very chilli here and I'm in need of a pot of hot Chai on the stove.

One of the best things when we went to India was the Chai tea served in abundance 

by Chai-wallahs when we were shopping for rugs and wall hangings, although they

make them very sweet, I think I will cut back on the sugar when I make my own 

brew. I love this very cutely wrapped Chai started kit from T2, you can get one here 

Enjoy your weekend!

Back to the "Real" World

Hello! I got back from the 10 day Vipassana retreat on Sunday and it's taken me till Wednesday to start getting back into technology ie: blogging, mobile phones etc. I was a great opportunity to unplug from the fast pace and information overload, I didn't realize how full on it all really is till you spend 10 days without laptop, mobile, no reading or writing materials and not uttering one word to anyone till the 10th day.   

I wasn't planning on saying too much about what I experienced or what I got out of it, but after completing the full 10 days, if I can inspire at least one person to make time for and be open minded throughout the course, then it's a good thing! I'll be brief I promise....

The leap

The hardest part was actually getting to start it, I'm married with a 3 and 7 year old, one in school the other I have full time with me. I'm also currently studying, building a website on home building and decorating so I had plenty excuses not to go. All you need is someone that fully supports you and knows when you need to start taking care of yourself, I'm so lucky to be married to an amazing man.....(misty eye moment).

The Discovery 
-Not speaking for 10 days was the easy bit
-it's not just for hippies
-I can survive without dinner
-it is possible to live from moment to moment
-it is possible to sit for 1 hour without moving 
-that your mind needs to exercise to stay healthy
-that Buddha was awesome 
-that there is a very easy way to become free from misery and to be happy for real. 

The reality 

On the last day when we were allowed to speak I got to share the experience I had 

with others, it was quite amazing how different everyone looked, so happy and

contented, I got used to seeing everyone with an expressionless faces for so long, 

so that was an eye opener how easily we pass judgement on others. 

Of course, after such a big heigh I had to come down and the result was  the shock 

of coming back home and having to switch my mind back onto the day to day chores 

and work that have not magically disappeared while I was gone. It's the same feeling 

when you get back from holidays, having to cook, clean, drive, work, all the fun stuff 

after you haven't had to do it for so long. I'm determined to not undo all the good that 

has come from the course, so I'll keep living from moment to moment till things settle 

and I get back in the groove. It will be interesting to keep applying this truly amazing  

technique to my life and observe how things unfold, and we'll  just see what happens.... 

A Little Retreat

Hello! Squeezed Daily will be quiet for the next 10 days.....I'm heading to the Sunshine 

Coast Hinterland for a 10 day meditation retreat. I'm not sure what to expect, but 

I know for sure it won't be a holiday resort like the one above that I sketched when

I was last in Bali, Ubud. The biggest challenge will be that you're not allowed to talk

for the entire time!.......if I'm back before the beginning of next month it means I've 

bombed out and couldn't hack it. Wish me luck and I'll be back soon!

Hiding Out

I'll be hiding out for a few days, got some serious studying to get through over 

the next few days...Oh yes!, I'm a student again can you believe it,  the last time I 

studied  was when I finished my interior design diploma 14 years ago! This time it's 

more business orientated study, and I'm surprised I'm actually enjoying it. 

When I come back I'm hosting another juicy givaway so be sure to enter for your 

chance to win one of three prizes.......one of them being some body and home 

products from India Hicks Island Living, so keep your ear to the ground.

sleeping flamingo

Hang it up and squash it in

There are a few things I had to come to terms with since we moved onto a 

boat, and one of them is the serious lack of storage! Going from a 480m2 

house with built in storage in every room, to a 36 foot long and approx 22m2.

Sooo apart from the obvious culling of almost every thing we really didn't need,

I've had to get creative with how I store the things we do need...... like, food etc.

'the original net bag' $29

I hang things up on hooks and fruit is hung in net bags (like the one above). Food

 that needs to be refrigerated can be a bit tricky to try and squeeze it all into a bar 

fridge, but the most tricky stuff to try and fit on the boat happens to be my clothing. 

We all have one drawer and even though I also got dibs on the small hanging cupboard, 

 I still had to donate over half of my clothes to Vinnies. We have a rule, whatever you 

take onto the boat, something has to come off it, the kids definitely think twice about

 wanting to buy "stuff". Living on the boat has made me realise how much crap we 

had and didn't need, and how resourceful we can be.

  

Green Tea and Chocolate Eggs

Over the past few days I've picked up a nasty habit of dunking mini choc eggs into my green tea.....and I don't think I'll stop doing it till the kids supplies are exhausted. And the Easter bunny hasn't even arrived yet!  

Be like a Jellyfish

Living on the the water, you can always tell when the wind is blowing

from the North, the bay fills with thousands of vibrant blue jellyfish. I

 spent the late afternoon being mesmerised by these amazing creatures.

 I have an overwhelming urge to bust out with some epic Jellyfish poetry to 

celebrate their grace and splendour, but  I find writing hard enough as it is!!!

My mantra for the week: "Worry less, go with the flow" - Jellyfish Style!

Ooops he did it again

I'm having a heap of fun (not) trying to work out my new MacBook. I hate having

to relearn and  re-customise a computer. I was happy with my last one but...... 

 my 3 year old Son knocked a cup of water onto my laptop last Saturday, bringing

his tally of mass destruction to: 5 DVD players (including portable),  3 mobile 

phones, 1 speaker and now my laptop! I'm actually amazed it lasted this long 

really, there were a few keys missing, he ripped them off a year ago. Well, I've had 

enough for the day, I'm going to mosey up to the Yacht club bar and order something

that looks like this Pink grapefruit margarita via there goes the cupcake    

Hope you all had an awesome Christmas day, I had to work for

most of it but I did get to see the kids open their presents in the 

morning- the best bit! I did try to cull some of their toys before 

Christmas, but I think I will have to get more off the boat, which 

is overflowing with toys now...it's ridiculous. Now it's time to chill

out for a few days, recharge the batteries and enjoy our Summer.

Luck be Ukulele this Christmas

Ok, I know what you are thinking...and you're not the only one, every year I ask 

for a Ukulele, aka 'Uke' for Christmas, and every year I get told I'm a dork by Mr S.

 I think I'm wearing him down, and I might just hit pay dirt this year. I would like 

to think I can serenade him on a tropical beach somewhere in the Pacific, but there 

is a small glitch in my master plan.......I can't sing to save myself.

Images and video via portable tv, to check out their list of awesome

Ukulele songs: Luck Be Ukulele Tonight

The Lady 'B'

Image

 Now that my boy is no longer at day care, (I have him everyday now), I'm not able

to do much in the way of interior designing these days, so I've got myself a part 

time job on the weekends on the 'Lady Brisbane', a classic timber cruiser. Besides

the extra cash, I wanted to get some experience working on boats for when we

sail around the world. More chance getting a job on a cruiser when in port than a

interior design job, but you neeever know! Have a great week.

Find a happy place

My son (3) has started up a nasty habit of saying "mummeeee" about a thousand

times a day. I'm trying to get him to say "excuse me mummy" as it's harder to

drag out the mummy bit, which is driving me up the wall. I'll be trying to picture

myself sitting on the bottom of the sea meditating, where it is nice and quiet. 

Image via myway

Banana crop

Our first Banana crop (and last), we chopped it from one of our banana trees in

the front yard last Saturday. It was a nice 'moving out' present from our garden,

there would have to be over 100 of the little suckers! Now just have to wait for

them to ripen, anyone have any good recipes using bananas?

New wheels

Like my new wheels? I don't have a car, been without  one for over a week 

and walking everywhere and enjoying.....but this electric scooter will be handy

on those stinking hot and humid days, and when I'm running late to pick up my girl

from school. I'm hoping I can fit the two kids on it too....going to find soon enough!

The kids love to scooter on the pontoons before school.

Fraser Island

I'm having my overdue annual "me-cation" at Kingfisher Bay Resort

on the A-mazing Fraser Island. If you ever come to Queensland, I highly

recommend Kingfisher Bay Resort. It's so chilled here, on the largest sand

Island in the world. Lucky for me, Mr S has let me spend a few days on my 

own, while he looks after the kids, so I can indulge in narcissistic heaven. 

To take long walks and sketch and paint as I go. It's also really nice to spend a few 

days to wake up when I want and to do anything when it suits me! Selfish? of course!, 

but it's only for a few days and I'll come back fresh and shiny!

Believe it or not, this is a lake! Freshwater Lake McKensie. 

Marvelling at all the flora and fauna here.

Enjoying soaking up vitamin D and chill'n

Ambient board walks.

The resorts Eco apartments blend in to the natural vegetation.

Hoping to post some sketches and paintings when I produce the goods!

New moorings

We've shifted our home (boat) over to the next Yacht club,

and I have to say how great it is to be able to change location

and all you have to do is untie the mooring lines and away you 

go. No packing all your stuff away in boxes, and all our friends

and family were spared having to help load up furniture into utes.

I think I gonna love it here!