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Hi friends, it’s time to link up for the July edition of Share Our Lives. Today, we are sharing our best vacation memory. I’m a champion overthinker, so when I read the prompt, I thought, “Hmm, one vacation memory — only one? That’s a bit like picking a favourite child.” Also, we don’t usually say vacation here in Australia — we say holidays. For us, anything that involves not being at work or school is a holiday! But of course, I understood what the prompt meant. And I also love that one of the fun things about these link-up prompts is that there’s room to make it your own. So instead of choosing just one, I’m sharing three of my best holiday memories. It’s no surprise that every one of them involves family or friends — travel memories stick best when they involve your favourite people. So, here are three of my best holiday memories — starting with a trip from way back. Budgewoi I wish I had some photos to share, but this trip happened way back in the good old ’80s — when cameras were chunky and mobile phones didn’t even exist. I guess nobody thought to bring along a camera for this trip, because I don’t have any photos. That’s okay, though, because the memories swirl in my head like snapshots from one of the best childhood holidays ever. Let me take you back. Picture this: Sydney, 1985 — it was a scorching hot summer, and Madonna’s Like A Virgin album on tape (yes, cassette tape) was my favourite! My family went on holiday with two other families who had daughters around my age. We were all friends, and we rented caravans at a caravan park in Budgewoi. I had never heard of Budgewoi before, but I remember being so excited because I was going to hang out with my Madonna-loving friends. Back then, Budgewoi was a quiet, laid-back spot on the New South Wales Central Coast. I don’t think it’s ever really become the beach holiday destination, even today. But I did a quick Google search, and I can see the caravan park has had a good makeover. When we were there, it had a bit of a Bates Motel vibe — not in a creepy way. But the décor was definitely from that time. The four of us girls spent the whole trip giggling, swimming in the pool, playing the only arcade game in the milk bar, and talking endlessly. I remember one night we were playing a board game and laughing so hysterically. A lady from the caravan next to us banged on our door and told us to keep it down. Yikes — we were good girls who weren’t used to getting in trouble! So we had to keep laughing in silence, which of course made it even funnier. We laughed so hard we snorted! Fast forward to a completely different kind of holiday and one that’s very close to my heart. Hawaii in the year 2000 My uncle (my mum’s brother), aunt, and their three grown-up kids moved from Australia to New York and eventually to Hawaii in 1982. So, for the first 12 years of my life, we had family living close by. We spent weekends together, celebrated Christmases and birthdays, and went on camping trips. They were my world. Then one afternoon, my uncle came over to tell us they’d finally had their U.S. visas approved. WHAT??? Amazing news for them… but not so much for me. A few months later, they packed up and left. Waaaahhhh! My mum and I visited my family in Long Island, New York, two years after they left Australia, in 1984. That was a wonderful trip full of fantastic memories. But the visit that really stands out is the time we saw them in Hawaii in 2000. We spent a whole week with them, and once again, I felt like a kid, surrounded by family I loved and had missed so much. This is me with my mum and my uncle, standing right outside my uncle’s home in Hawaii Kai. It also stands out as one of my most treasured holiday memories because, little did we know, it would be the last time we saw my uncle. He passed away in 2004 from a massive heart attack, leaving us all devastated. And then there’s the most recent trip — an epic adventure with my family full of incredible moments. Cousin Connect Adventure 2025 Oh gosh, if I never went on another trip again, that would be okay — because this one was everything! So many memories, all still fresh in my mind — how do I even pick just one?? The road trip, meeting up with my family in LA, walking the same paths where Luke, C-3PO, and R2-D2 roamed in Death Valley, driving through Las Vegas, hugging Minnie, getting dropped at what felt like 100 km/h on The Guardians of the Galaxy ride, snorkelling in Waikiki, hiking The Narrows… But out of all those amazing experiences, there’s one day that truly stands out for me. So, here goes — I’ll pick one of the best memories from the trip: walking through Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland. The Force is strong with our family — we’re huge fans, especially my cousin J and me. But I never, ever in a million years thought I’d get to experience this with them. I can confidently say it was one of the best days of my life (shh — just between you and me, maybe the best day!). I know, I know — that’s a big call, and I don’t want to take anything away from my wedding day or the birth of my children. But this day really tops all the rest, and it’s definitely my number one best holiday memory. Thanks for coming along on this little trip down memory lane with me. I hope it brought back some happy memories for you,

Back in January, my husband, our son (20), my cousin, her husband, their two kids (15 and 13), and I—all seven of us—jetted off to the USA together for a fun trip travelling with extended family. Now, if you’ve ever travelled with a bigger group, you’ll know there’s always a chance it can turn into a logistical nightmare. Or at best, a mixed bag of good and not-so-good moments—yikes! But thankfully for us, it was neither. We had the best time and just clicked. The whole trip felt easy, and that is exactly what you hope for when you’re on a fun holiday together, right? It would be so disappointing to spend all that time planning, daydreaming, and counting down the days, only to have it turn into an awkward experience. That definitely wasn’t our story. We’d do it all again in a heartbeat — and if the stars align, we’re hoping for round two. Yay! Why Our Extended Family Trip Worked So Well So what made it all run so smoothly, and how did we manage to have such a great time as a group? Good Vibes From The Start In a nutshell, I’d say we already genuinely enjoyed each other’s company before the trip, so that was a bonus. Our kids were probably at the perfect age for it, too. One was already an adult, and the younger ones have a really nice relationship with him, full of friendly banter and playful teasing in the best way. The Group Dynamics We also had a great mix of personalities. Some of us were super laid-back, others were happy to take the lead, and there was always plenty of open, easy communication. Things like “Do you guys want to do this?” or “Should we eat here?” or “What do you think?” were asked often. Nobody felt unheard, and there wasn’t anyone trying to control the schedule or insisting we do this or that. It just felt really easy and respectful — everyone pitched in, but no one was bossy about it. Quick and Clear Decision Making Oh yes — and we also had great decision-makers, which you one hundred per cent need when you’re travelling in a group. Everyone was heard, and then a decision was made quickly… 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 — decision! We all loved that. There’s nothing more stressful than trying to please everyone and ending up stuck because nobody can decide. Be Flexible: How We Handled the Unexpected Even when you plan everything carefully, you have to leave room for the unexpected. For us, it was the LA fires — they started the day we landed. Definitely not something any of us saw coming! Universal Studios, which we had planned for day one, was suddenly closed for two days. On our first night, we found ourselves in our pyjamas, sitting in the hotel lobby, figuring out what to do. My cousin came up with a great plan, and we shifted things around. In the end, we still did everything, just not in the order we had planned. That’s the thing about travelling with a group — being flexible is key. Communicate Openly: Making Room for Everyone’s Wishes Communication is key when travelling with a group. I had one big bucket list item: eating at the Blue Bayou in Disneyland. I’d dreamed about it forever! I shared this during our trip planning, and everyone knew upfront that I needed my wish-come-true moment. So we booked our table and spent a few hours apart. While my husband, son, and I enjoyed the Blue Bayou, my cousins rode the Incredicoaster and a few of their favourite rides. It’s perfectly okay to split up sometimes, especially when there’s something you really want to do. Being open about it means no regrets later. Respect Different Energy Levels Travelling with extended family meant we had a wide mix of ages — some younger, some in-between, and ahem… some of us a little older. My husband had a knee replacement just eight months before we set off, so throughout the trip, he paced himself and took breaks whenever needed. He also (very sensibly) stayed back at the hotel instead of doing The Narrows hike and a couple of other more adventurous walks. I shudder to think what might have happened if he’d pushed beyond his limits. That hike through The Narrows was one of the most incredible experiences I’ve ever had — but also one of the most challenging. We navigated stronger-than-expected currents over slippery rocks, all in below 0ºC temperatures! Plan Logistics Early to Save Stress and Money My two cousins were the major force behind all the planning — and I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it: they were total rockstars! And when it came time to book the flights, accommodation, and tickets to theme parks and experiences, they came over to my place and we did it all together. They booked for their family, I booked for mine, and it made the whole process so much easier. No confusion, no crossed wires — just a clear plan, as well as the peace of mind knowing we were locked in as a team. We booked well in advance to get the best deals and avoid the inevitable price hikes that pop up the closer you get. There’s real money to be saved by planning ahead — prices for some of our accommodation had jumped by over a thousand dollars when we checked back later. Safe to say, we were incredibly glad we made our bookings early! Pack Smart and Light for Easier Travel Less luggage meant less hassle. With seven of us on the trip, that meant seven suitcases to haul through airports and fit into the van for our road trip. We all used the same size suitcases and made a conscious effort not to overpack — and wow, what a difference it made. Since we were on the go every few days, packing light made