Easter; simplified.

This year, with such a busy family, I wanted to keep Easter very simple. After all, simple is the new detailed right?

I've found that browsing Pinterest and braving the frantic chocolate-filled stores does two things to me; either 1. I become this crazed woman who pulls hair to get the best eggs in her basket and spends four hours seeking out matching bunny outfits for the entire family or 2. I shake my head in disbelief and disgust at the hype surrounding holidays and the loss of meaning in such things.

My default of course, is to do the crazy mama thing and go berserk. It's in my creative minded nature and OCD tendencies, but this year I decided to chose the latter. No, I haven't banned chocolate and yes, I do have an Easter board on Pinterest. But I am not letting the preparation and expectations of this holiday smother me. I am not letting this be a stressful Easter. (I'm a stress-free mama, hear me roar!)

Each child or couple within our family is getting a very simple brown paper bag, filled with very simple and average sized Easter eggs. Nothing the size of a saucepan, nothing shaped like a bunny with ears on steroids and nothing stamped with branding not at all related to the meaning of Easter. (I am working on a post about what Easter means for me and for our family, it will be here soon!) I jazzed up the bags a little with some very cheap craft supplies and now, three days out from 'bunny day' we are completely organised with having only stepped foot in a supermarket and a craft store.









However, I couldn't escape a few creative details that my heart was desiring. I let Stella paint some polystyrene eggs in purple and beige and we went crazy with superfine silver glitter. The result; a pretty centrepiece to sit on our table for the Easter holidays. I've also got plans for my first ever cake-pop making experience and have made some seriously sweet bunny ears for my little bunnies to wear, both of which I will share with you soon!

Easter Sunday itself will most likely be very simple too; a casual family BBQ. As long as the girls are surrounded by people who love them, the smell of chocolate is in their hair and the sun is shining, I am happy.

Perhaps this will be my new motherhood mantra; Everything Simplified.

What are your plans for Easter? Do you at times feel overwhelmed from the 'hype'?
Plenty of love,

Glitter in the coffee.

Some days call for glitter. Or Splarkelys as Stella likes to call them. Splarkelys make everything much brighter on dreary and funky days, you can't scorn children with glitter on their little button noses!

As a parent we all have 'those' days, 'those' days tend to be my everyday some weeks. But, what if you could turn the day around? Throw a spanner in the works of a glum, tension-filled household? I know that once I am in a funk I find it super hard to get out of it, if our morning is filled with food-spilling accidents, sibling rivalry or a lost piece of jewellery it's pretty easy to write the whole day off as 'one of those'. Self-fulfilling prophecy answers our call and there you have it... a bad day.

Pretty simple cycle to get caught in really and with young children, it is oh-so-easy to do. Lately I have been challenging myself to take every moment as a new one in order to turn our days around and tonight I thought I'd share with you four fail proof turn-the-frown-upside-down tricks to put the shine back in your day!

Glitter makes most toddlers smile. Yeah, it's kind of messy and it gets everywhere, but it makes everything look prettier. Even the mess will look pretty. I have every colour imaginable (Thank you Reject Shop) with a shaker top lid and let Stella shake it onto collages and paintings. When you're drinking that almost cold coffee and saying "Please don't wipe snot in your sisters hair" for the fifteen-hundredth time, the sight of a get away piece of glitter in your coffee has got to make you smile. Or cry. But lets hope for the smiles, at the very least you'll end up with a spot of glitter in your teeth and that will make someone else smile.

I'm a big believer in naps, it really is a shame that my children aren't. Never underestimate the power of a nap for your child. Over tiredness really does fuel temper tantrums and although it may be a struggle convincing them to go, it will be worth it for the refreshed bundles they'll emerge as. Some days, when luck is really going my way...both of my girls nap at the same time or at least for a cross-over period of twenty minutes. Twenty minutes of pure bloody gold. Tea, crackers, Pinterest and grown-up TV; a sure fire way to get you back on your game.

...to anything, for any reason! I've come to realise how much I sing as I 'do'. "Maaaakkking you a sandwich, oh you better eeeeeat it, don't throw it on the flooooor, or I'll probably lose my s#%t. Oh yeahhhhh." Obviously, sensor your raps and versus to suit junior ears. Singing seems to lighten the mood and dancing with a baby or toddler on the hip wards off negative energy.

Tickles fix anything. I promise.

What ways do you brighten a day that starts out dull? Ever found yourself sipping a coffee grainy with glitter?
Plenty of love,

Things that make my eyes smile...

My mood is highly dependant on the atmosphere surrounding me and I thrive on aesthetics, I try and fill every little space of our home with all the things I find beautiful. As simple as it may be, it keeps me happy; pretty things make my heart sing! These are snapshots from around our home that bring a smile to my eyes. I might even make this post a regular one, sharing with you all the loveliness.

Enjoy. 




{ Vintage camera and suitcase }
{ Tiny deer and twigs }
{ Silver platter and willow tree family }
{ High tea, fruit and citrus }

What things make your eyes smile?
Plenty of love,

The Tock of our Clocks.

Patience. It' a virtue that gets pushed to the limits throughout our lifetime. It's waiting for that cake to cool so you can pipe the frosting on, It's constantly refreshing your online bank account waiting for pay day. It's sighing in frustration at the rate of growth since last months bad haircut.

It's...being a parent.

Nothing pushes your limits more, stretches your patience further than children do. Our sweet little innocent beings run on entirely different time zone, they tick the tock of their own clock.

Patience then, it would be assumed is every parents greatest asset. Assumed being the key word. I don't know about you, but for me... patience is a skill I am yet to master.

I can only say "Please sit down" so many times, put the dummy back in so many times or pick up the bowl full of peas strewn across the floor so many times before my boiling point is reached, when every molecule of patience within me has been exhausted of it's abilities. And then what? I need to have patience with my patience?

I put the burning question to my online community of mothers a while back, "How do you be patient?" If you aren't a patient person how do you learn, practice and master such a skill that is necessary for calm parenting and good role modelling? Or perhaps more true to my style of parenting...How do I fake patience and fake it enough to make it through the day?

I was relieved to hear that many mamas out there share the 'steam coming from ears' symptom and could empathise. "This too shall pass...say it over and over and over again", one SAHM soothed me. "Remember in the heat of the moment how quickly they grow up, and savour the moment now before they move on, away from the nest", encouraged another. Wise words from those who also hear the irregular tick tock of their little ones clock clashing with their own.

In true mama blogger style, I took to the world wide web and searched for more answers reading many a tale of stretched limits, patience improving advice and parental coping skills. I read until I had the patience to read no longer and some of the answers I was looking for. The verdict? Patience is not a given skill. It, like any other mental muscle needs to be exercised regularly. It can be built up, strengthened and defined...all with practice and determination. Unfortunately, there is no easy supplement available for building this mental muscle, just old fashioned patience. So yes, (cringe) we must have patience with our patience.

Having recognised I need some major help in this area I have set myself a little daily workout for building up my lacking skill. Simple steps I can take to reduce the steam and fake it until I make it. If you feel yourself steaming up regularly as I do, why not take the challenge with me?


* Step away. Away from the patience testing situation and breathe. Come back with a chest full of air to continue pumping along calmly with.

* Eliminate the distractions. Patience is harder to come by when there are too many variables vying for its attention. At patience testing times, switch off the television, turn down the music and focus attention where it is most needed.

* Set the example. Remember to be the parent you wish your child to one day become, you are the role model and you are the example. Set the best one you possibly can.

* Forgive and Forget. Ever noticed how quickly childrens moods can change? From extreme tantrum to elation in just minutes? Take a leaf from the book of a toddler and move on quickly. Forgive yourself for losing it and get back on track, or forgive your child for pushing your limits and move forward with the moment.

* Pretend someone is watching. We are always more patient with an audience or in public, just channel into this skill at home. This tip I found on a wonderful post titled "How to become a patient parent". Definitely worth the read.

* Remember the cliched L's. Live, Love and Laugh. Live in the moment and remember how quickly it passes. Laugh at the frustrations and niggles that challenge us and Love your child unconditionally and with understanding.


I hope these little exercises may give me a boost, and perhaps they can give you one too. Especially when you've picked up the peas from the floor for the ninth night in a row, put the dummy back in for the fourth time or chanted "Please sit down" for a third.

Now repeat after me...This to shall pass!
Plenty of love, 

Bribery and buoyancy

Ever bribed your child with a biscuit? Welcome to the club. Ever bribed your child with a biscuit so you can take a cutesy photo? Don't worry, I promise I won't tell anyone!

Stella was a bouncing bundle of polka-dots on Sunday, and sadly there was no way my overly confident toddler was going to let me anywhere near her with a camera.

"Stella can I take a photo of you? You look really cool."
"No, mummy. I'm busy. Maybe anuvva day."
"Stella please?"
"I said no please. Don't wanna photo!"
"If you let me take a photo of you, you can have a biscuit..."
"ohhhh... K."

Mission accomplished. Points for healthy and conscious parenting? 0. Points for a sweet girl chomping a biscuit and some super cute photos for my own guilty pleasure? 10.

Sometimes, a mamas gotta do, what a mamas gotta do!
Plenty of love, 

Lovely Links of Late

{ I love discovering new artists, and even more lovely is discovering artists that are local. Michelle from Rock My Roll has some beautiful and unique mixed media works to her name, all of which come from her humble little home in Wynyard Tasmania. 

{ Mothers are so busy nurturing, they often forget to nurture themselves. Real Mantras For Real Parents gives some positive self-talk for any stressed out mama to live by.

{ I have fallen in-lady-love with this sweet blogger from New Zealand. I am probably very late to the party, but there's something about the atmosphere over at Here Comes The Sun that makes me feel all warm and cosy. Plus, Amanda is so holy-moly gorgeous!

{ The amount of times my thoughts have trailed to "What is my life purpose?" while hanging the washing or shampooing my hair is crazy. 'How to discover your life purpose in about 20 minutes' certainly caught my eye! As sceptical as you may find it, maybe it's worth a try! (I'm yet to find that 20 minutes to even attempt it, perhaps I need to look for a post titled 'How to find 20 minutes'!)

{ No matter how busy we are, having a clean house is still quite high on most mamas list of priorities. This Cleaning Calender by Pixingo sheds a little light on the never ending pile of work and creates a schedule that enables you to have a stress-free tidy and clean house almost everyday. Bliss!

{ What your child wishes you knew when he acts out. Thankyou Aha! Parenting. This article has helped me diffuse many a potential toddler meltdown lately.

{ Amanda Mocci is one of my favourite artists, so much so that her Athena design was the inspiration behind my tattoo. I am totally lusting over these iPhone cases over at Society6 and am having a seriously difficult time chosing my favourite. They are all so beautiful!

{ I've felt like giving up, and I'm sure many mamas I pass by in the street have too. It's a difficult gig. This post gives six reasons to never give up on motherhood and an insight into the bigger picture. A perfect read to clear the frenzied parents head.

{ Can you believe that in four months time I will be planning a first birthday party for Isla? Nope, me neither. This party has me dreaming of a career in event styling and gathering burlap like a crazed collector.

{ Dreaming of a high-tea styled afternoon at home? These high tea stands are handmade by a lovely lady using pre-loved china ware. I have one in my bathroom for hair slides and one in the kitchen holding apples and avocados. P.S. The lovely lady is my Mother-In-Law!

Plenty of Love, 

A pretty picture and a racing heart.

source

So, here I sit.

My sweet girls are sleeping and I am experiencing this thing called silence. It is truly, understatedly amazing. These moments are so rare, diamonds of stillness.

As I was sitting amongst all the quiet and soaking it up millisecond by millisecond, my mind began to wander in search of pleasant places. Creative, inspiring, intriguing places. Places where wisdom is shared, knowledge is gained and above all, passion is reverberated.

I started thinking of my happy place, my blog. Rather than feeling a little deflated and a lot disappointed like I have been when Winter Love has popped in, I started feeling breathless. My heart was racing and I couldn't keep still. I feel like it is finally time again.

The image featured above is one I have on my bedside table, it really doesn't represent anything to me. I just found it on an Etsy trawl and it found its way into my shopping cart (and then it found its way into my letterbox, Funny that!). And now it sits in a pretty frame on my bedside table. Just a pretty picture, with pretty colours. And a pretty birdcage too, which we all know I find lovely. This morning, when Stella came bounding into the bedroom to say her goodmornings she pointed at the pretty picture and asked me "Mummy, why is she sad?" Before I could think of an answer that would be suitable for a such a teeny little girl she said quite matter-of-factly, "She's sad 'cos the birdy went away!", and la-di-da'd on her way to the kitchen. Pretty bland story really, but when coupled with the overwhelming feelings I have had this afternoon, it all seemed to have a higher meaning.

A metaphor.

Sometimes, we need to let things go. In seek of better things. Perhaps in light of more important things, the real things. You set the bird free, because it is the right thing to do. It upsets you, but pleases you simultaneously. Whilst my love for connecting with the creative world and passions for writing, motherhood and children were a pleasant thing to keep, I needed to let it go. It was the best thing at the time. While I say that having two children under three is busy (Ha! Busy doesn't seem to do it justice) I could have fit Winter Love in there somewhere over the past 6 months. However, to give myself wholeheartedly to one passion in sacrifice of another is true to who I am. And so I did.

But now something feels different. I don't really have more time, nor do I multi-task any better than I used to. But I feel that recently I have began to find myself again. I've been excited by creative ventures, moved by inspiring articles and have began drifting off to that familiar happy place once again. I have re-kindled with a beautiful friend who always kept me creative and dreaming and brushed the dust from my favourite muses. Beneath all the mother (Which I love), me has began to surface again. And it feels so good. It makes perfect sense to return to what once got me excited, got me reading, writing and connecting with intense passion and interest. It makes perfect sense to return to Winter Love.

I know it is going to take hard work to build up readership again and to set goals and aspirations for this little wonderland of mine, but the first step is always the hardest right?

I hope you are still reading, let's take up where we left off!

Plenty of love,