Winter Love

We have another winner!

2012-02-20T02:21:00.000-08:00

Thankyou to everyone who entered the second giveaway recently, I have been looking forward to announcing a winner very much! Using Random.org I generated a number to get a winner.

and the winner is...

Commenter Number 9!

Congratulations, I hope you enjoy your gift voucher and snap up a pretty little bag from Everyday Mae. I will be in contact with you very shortly with the details to claim your prize!

For those of you who weren't lucky enough to win, Bianca has offered readers a lovely discount instead! Use the code 'WinterLove' at checkout to receive 15% off the Everyday Mae Etsy store. How sweet of her!

Happy shopping and Plenty of love,

Let's talk about boobs.

2012-02-17T03:10:00.000-08:00

Knockers, hooters, boobies or breasts. We all know our boobs serve a higher purpose in life than getting wolf whistles from hormone driven boys or holding up that strapless summer dress. What we often don't get told is how much our breasts can and will change through life and what trouble they can give us.

Yesterday I went to be measured and fitted for a maternity bra, my first fitting since I was 12 years old. Long gone are they days of being a 12B and extensive padding, also long gone are they days of putting socks down my top as 9 year old and dreaming of how complete my life would be once I got boobs.

I walked away from the store in a slight trance, muttering the size I had just been given under my breath. One cup of the modestly large grandma-esque bra fit on my head like a beanie. Not only was I wondering how I had gotten to this point in life, but I was also left wondering why buying such an incredibly ugly, incredibly comfortable bra excited me so much. Getting home, whipping off the old and putting on the new was like Christmas.

My first pregnancy my boobs got to what I thought was 'pretty big'. They were a little tender and a little swollen, but nothing out of the ordinary. Then, post birth. Well, let's not even go there. My breasts weren't called boobs anymore, they were rocks. Big, hard, painful, throbbing, tear-inducing rocks. I hated them. I remember expressing whilst showering because of engorgement and just wishing they didn't even exist. When I weaned, the super rough massage with a facewasher in the shower three times a day became my routine. I was not kind to them and payed the price once my milk had gone.

Transition from here to 6 months ago. I had a one year old daughter, I was 21 and I had the boobs of an 80 year old. The thought of ever wearing a bikini without padding or god forbid ever getting into a relationship and having to expose the dreaded things... it was nerve wracking. This is when I realised the extent of the damage I had caused with such harsh scrubbing in a bid to get rid of my milk quickly. I had damaged the elasticity in my breast tissue.

Fast forward to now. I am 5 months pregnant and my boobs enter the room before my bump. Maybe it isn't that extreme, but gosh it certainly feels that way. Not only are they heavy and humongous, but they hurt. Hurt. Like. Hell. I splurged on ugly and comfortable bras and wear nothing but maternity underwear. I sleep with a support singlet on and take note of my slacking posture.

This pregnancy I am also booked in to see a lactation consultant. I am planning to meet with and talk through the problems I had with breastfeeding the first time around before the baby is even here. I want to arm myself with as much knowledge and support now, so I can utilise it best once the 'rock stage' arrives.

If you are still reading after all this graphic speak of my lady bits, (which if you are a mother, I think you might be) there are a few things I would like to remind you of. Things I wish had been drilled into me before becoming pregnant the first time.

The simplest and most important...

* Look after your assets ladies. Treat your boobs with care and respect. Be gentle.

* See a lactation consultant before problems arise, prepare for the worst and anticipate improvement

* Splurge on numerous maternity bras and actually wear them. Don't be tempted to squish into a deadly underwired thing for a special event- it wont be worth the pain.

* Still regularly check for lumps and consult with your doctor any worries.

* Look after your boobs. Did I already mention that one? No? well then, Look after your boobs!

The V word day.

2012-02-17T01:24:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day this year was re-named in our household. With a bouncy, vibrant and sticky toddler, attempting anything slightly romantic or relaxed would only end in disappointment. So instead, we decided to celebrate the love we share as a family; The V word was banned and replaced with 'family love day'. Corny? Very. Relevant? Much more than the V word.

We had a family breakfast at a sweet little cafe in the city, Stella loved the first ten minutes and even sat down doodling with a pen on paper for forty seconds. After that...she decided she didn't like cafes, or chairs, or anything for that matter. We inhaled our breakfast and kept sticky fingers occupied with some hollandaise sauce; that, it appears, she is a big fan of.

From there we sipped hot chai tea and made our way to the park, also known as sanity island for parents. Stella toddled her way from the cafe to the car sipping on a baby chino in a takeaway cup; a sight that made my little emotional mama heart melt.

Romance wasnt completely forgotten, afterall, it is the day of love. Nick and I exchanged little gifts and I even did some love-themed baking for him! We fed ducks, browsed the shops, napped in the afternoon and then shared dinner over some bad television. Romantic? No. Lovely? Very.

Family Love Day this year was a roaring, tiring, action-packed success! Family Love Day next year will be interesting...with two little mini cupids running around this house... we may well have to just 'go with the flow'!

What did you do for Valentines Day this year? Do you find it hard to celebrate such a holiday with family in tow? Did you customise your Valentines Day a little as we did, to better suit your lifestyle? Whatever it is that you did to celebrate, I hope it was love filled and sweet!

Plenty of love,

The big reveal.

2012-02-15T14:55:00.000-08:00

Twenty weeks of pregnancy not only marks the halfway milestone but also marks the time of a Fetal Morphology Scan. The scan is more commonly known as an Anomaly Scan, but 'anamoly' sounds so daunting. The scans main purpose is to check for abnormalities in the babies morphology; physical development and growth.

This Thursday we are having our Morphology Scan, I cant wait to see our little un-born bobbing about excitedly on the screen again. Not only are we excited to see our growing life on the screen but we are also anticipating the big reveal! I have had many people ask me throughout this pregnancy (and my last) whether we are finding out the sex or not, and have been quite surprised at the strong opinions of others about what should be done. I have had many people tell me that finding out the sex ruins the surprise and makes pregnancy 'less special', which got me thinking of my reasoning behind wanting to know the sex. Some couples will chose not to find out, other couples will chose to find out. Neither one is the right or wrong way.

These are some of the reasons that led us to decide on finding out the sex of our baby...

1. Organisation. I am a chronic planner, I write lists about my lists and have tomorrows schedule planned yesterday. The same principal applies to my pregnancy, in a time of unknown and uncontrollables, I like to feel somewhat organised. Preparing for the arrival of a girl or boy gives me a chance to prepare clothes, nursery design and names...plenty of time in advance. It helps settle my nerves.

2. Bonding. Bonding with baby, for me, seems to increase when I know the sex. It helps me visualise my little one and imagine life with them beyond birth. I feel closer to my bump knowing what little being it contains.

3. Personalisation. Similar to bonding, my partner and I are able to personalise our pregnancy experience, we can begin to collect the clothing and pick the final name. We can talk together about our little son or daughter and start personalising their soon-to-be surroundings.

Of course, finding out the sex of the baby is not for everyone. Some couples prefer the excitement and anticipation of finding out at birth, some family members would prefer not knowing. There are valid reasons for each and every persons decision.

Did you find out the sex of your children during pregnancy? Did you enjoy finding out after birth instead? Share with me your stories and opinions, as always I would love to hear them!

Plenty of love,

An open letter to my Valentine...

2012-02-14T01:43:00.000-08:00

Dearest Nick,

On this day, in this year, you are my valentine. On this day, in last year, you were my dream. On this day, in next year, you will be the Father of our two children.

I find it very hard to piece together romantic and soppy words, and I would most certainly embarrass myself if I tried. So staying true to my style, I'll try my hand at a little humour and wit and keep things honest and to the point...

I love you and I am in love with you, I am blessed, honoured and lucky to be yours. I look forward to experiencing all that this life holds with you. Be it midnight baby poop disasters, weekend dance lesson drop-offs or confronting childbirth classes. I look forward to growing with you whilst we watch our children grow, then watching our children's children grow. I look forward to the RSL club lunches we will go to with our fellow seniors during retirement year, I look forward to celebrating wedding anniversaries in the double figures.

Most of all, I look forward to just being. Just you and I living our lives by each others side.

Happy Valentines Day my sweet, may you be showered with kisses from a toddler, cuddles from your round-bellied partner and kicks from your un-born baby. I love you very much.

Yours forever,

Red; the colour of love

2012-02-14T00:58:00.000-08:00

Red; the colour of Valentines Day and the colour of love. Red is also my very favourite colour. Instead of a cutesy lovey-dovey collection of pretty things for Valentines Day I thought I'd create and share with you a collection of all things the colour deep, passionate, love-filled red. As Valentines isn't just reserved for couples, but families and children too these goodies cover all bases.

Plenty of love,

Red wine lollipops via pinterest

'Elephants on Parade' paper garland by Arts Delight

Satin newborn ballet shoes by litl luxuries

Love sign necklace by Vanessa Handmade

Valentines day cupcakes via The Party Animal

Our Journey; post 2.

2012-02-12T00:52:00.000-08:00

The last two weeks have called for growth! My stomach is feeling huge already and I have certainly put on weight in all the wrong places. I feel as though my energy is a little renewed some days, however on other days I struggle to even get out of bed. Blood test results showed that my iron levels are low, although I have been taking iron supplements for months and months. I am looking into iron infusions as an option and hoping that better iron absorption in my body will lead to less fatigue. I feel as though I can barely hold my own head up on a 'bad day'.

Pregnancy hormones must be in full swing because my mood is terrible! I find myself lacking patience and becoming irritated super easily. Once in a bad mood, it is very hard to get out of it. Sometimes just taking myself to a quiet room and fuming is the only way to get through a 'pregnancy tantrum'.

The most exciting pregnancy related event over the past two weeks has been feeling the tiny flutterings of movement. They are very faint and I can only feel them when laying down flat and concentrating, but still exciting all the same! I am really looking forward to feeling proper movement as the baby grows, it was one of my favourite things about my first pregnancy, I would lay on the couch most nights just giggling at the silly jolts, kicks and turns the baby would make.

I have been doing a little bit of reading here and there about labour, birth and breastfeeding. I know that experience is far more valuable than words on paper, but I still feel as though I need a refresher. This pregnancy, I definitely feel more relaxed and casual. I have planned less, stressed less and thought less. Not because I care less but simply because I am enjoying the moment. There will come a time for planning and last minute preparations, but for now I am just being.

Perhaps it is because I am so distracted with a toddler, relationship, work and household...but this time around I feel less pregnant. Maybe I am overlooking the tiny niggles that bothered me in the first pregnancy and my body is well adapted to the changes. So much so, that I don't feel changed as such? I am certainly looking forward to becoming more pregnant, feeling more pregnant and getting closer to the countdown to baby!

Looking forward to sharing weeks 17 onwards with you soon!

Plenty of love,

Work, life, balance?

2012-02-11T03:46:00.000-08:00

Working more often certainly has its upsides, not only is the extra money beneficial but I sometimes find the 'alone time' to be my sanity time, the time I regroup my thoughts and feelings, prepare myself for the days ahead and reflect on the future.

Stella now spends one whole day a week in childcare, starting at 9am and finishing at 5pm. Every time we pick her up she chatters a new song from the backseat of the car, complete with hand actions and giggles, she is exhausted and a little grotty but happy and learning. I am still finding the morning drop off to be an emotional experience, even four months down the track. Sometimes she will have a grizzle but then quickly round up a toy to play with or most recently, a little boy to kiss. Sometimes she will protest at being put down and sometimes she will cry and reach out for me. That is what I find the hardest, I am not one of those mothers with inner strength, I know she is fine when I eventually leave but I just want to pick her back up and head straight back home. A few weeks I have gone to work with hormonal tears in my eyes after a difficult drop off.

Regardless of the emotional mama meltdowns and separation anxiety, our childcare experience so far has been very positive. I am considering keeping her in a half day per week once we are graced with baby #2, to keep her socialising and maybe to help mama with resting? That will be a whole new story of balance then, one that I need to start mentally preparing myself for sooner rather than later, admittedly I am worried about how to successfully balance our new lifestyle in five months time. But for now, we got balance down pat.

Do you feel as though you have good balance between work, childcare and home? How did you deal with balance changes when expanding your family?

Plenty of love,

Care to Share?

2012-02-10T00:53:00.000-08:00

This weeks smile inducers...

* The Loudmouth Lifestyle. I stumbled upon this blog a few weeks back (I can't even remember how really) and haven't looked back since. My ultimate favourite post is called '5 Blogging rules to break' which gives a realistic answer to the rigid blogging rules that we have been subjected to at times.

* Congratulations to Sophie and Richard. Sophie is a mama friend of mine who with her partner has just launched an online baby store specialising in modern cloth nappies and organic and natural products for babies, mums and mum-to-be's. Like Baby2Green on Facebook and have a little squiz at all the wonderful products they are stocking online here.

* This pregnancy I am determined to have a maternity photoshoot, no matter how 'blah' I feel! I have decided to go with TK's Photography, the belly and newborn photos I have admired of their work are just beautiful.

* The Huggies website. It should be re-named; Your parenting manual. This website has absolutely every resource you could ever need in your parenting journey. Tips and tricks for toddlers, recipes for fussy eaters, baby name ideas, money saving section, pregnancy and health updates and activities for kids. My aim is to have the time to navigate this site thoroughly with one big cup of tea!

* Don't forget to enter the second Birthday giveaway! Be in the running by clicking here.

Another gift? For you!

2012-02-09T01:20:00.000-08:00

A birthday isn't a birthday without celebration. And a celebration isn't a celebration with only one giveaway! So here is the second giveaway to say thank you to you all and Happy Birthday to Winter Love.

This giveaway is from the super pretty, very talented Bianca from Everyday Mae. I have started following Biancas creative blog 'Behind the scenes of Everyday Mae' and am in love. The second Birthday prize is a $30.00 voucher for her Etsy store which has a beautiful bag for every girl that has been dreaming of bags.

To enter you need to like Everyday Mae on Facebook and also like Winter Love on Facebook, then just comment below saying you have done so! As simple as that. Entry is open until Sunday February 19th at 8:00pm ADST.

A little birdy has also told me that there may be a special offer for those who don't win after entry is closed. Goodluck and remember, you must be in it to win it!

Plenty of love,

'Sticks of Obsession' ...A guest post

2012-02-07T01:42:00.000-08:00

How often do you hear of peoples conception stories? The tales of their struggles and triumphs? It's one piece in the large puzzle of parenthood that often gets overlooked. When a lovely lady I know confided in me that 'get pregnant' was on her to-do list, I knew her story would be one to share. Karen is a humorous, honest and well spoken woman...her words always make me smile, laugh and sometimes cry all at once.

...enjoy...

Dr Google and the Test Sticks of Obsession
or, Trying to Conceive

" The universe really does love irony.

There are so many people out there who have spent years trying not to fall pregnant. Taking all precautions, taking no risks. Then as soon as you decide to stop trying not to and instead try to fall pregnant, the universe often says “What, you thought this would be easy? Yeah, nice one,” because in my head the universe can sound a little sarcastic from time to time.

I’m one of those people now. I am twenty-seven years old and have wanted a baby since I was sixteen. At least, that’s the age at which I started dreamily compiling a list of baby names in my diary. (I have moved on from that list, thank goodness, for topping the boy/girl lists back then were Ishmael Sebastian or Guinevere Elizabeth. Ahem.) If someone had told my sixteen year old self that eleven years later, I would still not have a baby, sixteen year old me would have replied “Yeah, nice one,” because sometimes I can be a little sarcastic too.

I am actually glad now that I waited to find the ‘right guy’ and I have been married to him for a year now. We have been actively trying to start a family for coming up on eight months and I’m here to tell you that it’s getting somewhat frustrating. I can break the months down into single words for a brief overview:

First Month: Excitement
Second Month: Anticipation
Third Month: Annoyance
Fourth Month: Frustration
Fifth Month: Obsession
Sixth Month: Anger
Seventh Month: Resignation
Eighth Month: Acceptance

Excitement and anticipation were a good way to start. Nothing really changed, but I paid a little more attention to dates. It wasn’t until the third and fourth month that things started to change. A vast multitude of tests began to be purchased. Dates were marked in a diary and on a calendar. And the dynamic of our relationship began to change.

It is inevitable that things will change once sex has a bigger picture, a goal to it besides the obvious. There are many husbands, boyfriends, partners out there who experience a moment in which they realise the woman they love is looking at them and seeing nothing more than a big, pulsating, fertile sperm. For my long-suffering husband, that moment came during month five, which if you’ll refer to your handy month-by-month breakdown, you will identify as the month of Obsession.

To set the scene, it was a Saturday evening and we were getting ready to go to the birthday dinner of a good friend. My husband was dressed, showered, ready to go and innocently playing some epic swords and skirts game on his PlayStation 3 when he heard the bathroom door fly open and I burst into the room. Freshly showered, hair and makeup done, and clutching an ovulation test in my hand. “I’m ovulating.” I announced. “Come on. We have to be out the door in twenty minutes though. Oh, and you can’t mess up my hair and makeup". My husband stared with undisguised horror at the creature his wife had become. He cleared his throat. “Wow, there’s that dirty talk again,” he said mildly. I suddenly heard what I had said, and in that moment I realised that my obsession had reached fever pitch and that I really needed to tone it down. We laughed together and I promised to stop acting like a crazy person or Monica from Friends.

Look, I’m not the only one to blame for my slide into Obsessively Trying to Conceive, though. I also lay a lot of blame at the feet of Doctor Google. It is too easy to imagine every tiny tweak, cramp or change is an early sign of pregnancy, type it into Google and receive confirmation. Thus sparking more thought cycles of oh-my-god-I-am followed by yet another expensive, negative pregnancy test that leaves you with nothing to do but screw up the instruction sheet and fling it defiantly onto the floor. Oh yes, I fell down the Google hole quite a few times.

Anger wasn’t a comfortable fit either. It’s a known quirk of the universe that as soon as you start trying to fall pregnant, you see pregnant women everywhere and they seemed to double in my Anger Month. As the writer Kate Jennings once said, “Envy is a grubby little emotion,” and it’s very true. That month was not a comfortable fit and I was glad to leave it behind.

Resignation and acceptance are easier to deal with, but in their own way, harder to bear. My thoughts have turned more and more over the past two months to the baby we lost in 2010. It was quite soon before our wedding and entirely unplanned and in the brief period before the end I envisioned announcing it on our wedding day to our delighted family and friends. Some things are meant to be, and some things aren’t. I told my husband a few weeks ago that I was scared it would never happen. That I had been given my chance. That one of the most important things in the world to me has always been being a mother and that I had resigned myself to it never happening. His answer was blunt, but to the point and compassionate. “Don’t be silly. Of course we’re going to have a baby.”

I know he’s right, and it’s that knowledge that keeps me going. I have now relaxed a lot and have abandoned the obsessive testing and charting and ‘ovulation talk’ that he found so darn sexy and irresistible. I am keeping an eye on my dates, of course, but am letting things take their course. It is easier on both of us and all I can do is dream of that positive test, the joy, and all that will come after. I know it’s in our future.

Oh, and the evening before the birthday dinner? My hair and makeup did get messed up, and I didn’t even care. Sometimes you need to relinquish control and let the universe do its job, and let things that will happen, happen. "

I do...cakes.

2012-02-06T03:03:00.000-08:00

The inspiration behind our wedding cake is simple, elegant, romantic and modern. I love tiered cakes with neutral coloured detailing and contrasting textures, perhaps with the tiers off centre. Although I sometimes get carried away and dream rather big, a modest three tiers would be divine.

Here are some of my recent favourite finds from around the Internet...
Enjoy!

Giveaway Winner!

2012-02-06T01:53:00.000-08:00

The first giveaway to celebrate Winter Loves First Birthday has come to a close! Thankyou to all who entered. I used Random.org to generate a random number and correlated that with a commenter to give me a winner.

So, without further ado, the winner is ...

Lucy!

Congratulations Lucy! I will be contacting you shortly to organise your pretty bunting and sweet giraffes arrival on your doorstep!

Plenty of love,

...I do.

2012-02-05T01:11:00.000-08:00

Source

With the expansion of our family and growing of baby #2, wedding plans have been tucked away for a little while. That's not to say that the dreaming and scrapbooking has halted, I am forever saving images, reading blogs and creating the perfect wedding in my head. With between 18 months to two years up my sleeve, I have all the daydreaming time in the world and hope to take the planning and booking process slowly, calmly and stress-free.

Winter Love has yet to share any wedding inspiration with you, which seriously needs review! I will begin documenting my ideas and inspiration here with you regularly in a new segment called
'...I do.' Fitting isn't it?

A lot of my wedding inspiration can also be found on my Pinterest account. I hope you enjoy staring away into the distance with me and welcome you along the countdown to our wedding.

Today...

2012-02-04T02:42:00.000-08:00

Dishes on the sink, toys strewn from one end of the house to the other and piles of washing waiting to be folded. We could have spent today cleaning up and doing other enjoyable household chores and it was oh-so-tempting but, we didn't. I feel as though we needed a mini family holiday, some spontaneous fun and quality time with just the three of us. Finding that time when baby #2 comes along and sleepless nights are in full swing may be a little hard, and I swear if my pregnant body gets much heavier and any more fatigued I will probably start paying rent to the couch.

The day began rushed and hot, but once on the road we all breathed a sigh of relief. We drove only a short way out of town to visit our local 'Zoo'. Our local zoo is in fact our only zoo, and our only zoo is in fact a wildlife park. But what a wonderful wildlife park it is!

With over 80 species of birds, Tasmanian devils, penguins, crocodiles, wombats, echidna's, kangaroos and monkeys our humble little zoo is actually quite impressive! The first to tick off the list was watching feeding time at the devil enclosure. Stella chanted the word 'de-vil, de-vil, de-vil' over and over and was actually very enthralled with the whole experience. Nick and I call her our little Bindi Irwin, she really is an outdoors, adventure seeking and animal loving child. She picked up a stick from the ground and toddled her way around the park with sheer joy in her steps. She fed her cracker to the Alpaca and stuck her finger up the goats nose, then she came across a friendly yet cheeky cockatoo.

The fact that this cockatoo could say 'hello' was enough to send her into a million fits of giggles, but then he could dance? And laugh? Well, Stella was amazed. She reached out a little finger to pat him on the head and before I could catch it, chomp. We then learnt that the cockatoo could mimic a very loud cry.

I'm not sure whether it was just my intense pregnancy hormones or not, but I found myself feeling teary today. Stella was incredibly well behaved and Nick and I could feel the stress running from our bodies. Sometimes having two part-time stay-at-home parents can be more stressful than helpful, we may be in love... but oh gosh can we step on each others toes and breathe down each others necks that little bit too much.

Today was about appreciating the pretty little state we live in and enjoying the company of our family, seeing Nick get a childish grin from the sight of a crocodile and Stella gasping at the size of a kangaroo bought such happiness and emotion to this pregnant mama.

Plenty of love,

Thrifting Thrills...A vintage dolls pram!

2012-02-04T00:48:00.000-08:00

Last week, we decided to trawl a market we don't often go to. It's closer to home, but just seems to be forgotten about most weekends. And boy am I glad we did! There was a lot of junk and other mens treasures but amongst it all I found some thrills. A beautiful glass sugar pot, a soup tureen and a 1960's dolls pram!

The soup tureen will become a staple in this household, as my entire pregnancy I have been craving soup, soup and more soup. Vegetable soups, minestrone soups, chicken and corn soups, pea and ham soups...the possibilities are endless now that we have this pretty little soup holder.

The highlight of the day was definitely the pram, the vintage pram find excited me beyond belief. Can you believe it was only $12! Stella strolled around the market trying to manoeuvre the large wheels and it has now found a space in her bedroom, it looks beautiful in there.

Another weekend, another lot of thrifting thrills!

Plenty of love,

A gift for you!

2012-02-02T00:48:00.000-08:00

As a celebration for Winter Loves First Birthday and a thankyou to my readers, it is giveaway time!

The very first Birthday giveaway is open to all readers everywhere! All you need to do is become a follower with google connect if you aren't already and comment below to enter. You have until Monday February 6th at 8:00pm AEST, so get entering and spread the word lovely readers!

Your prize? A beautiful neutral bunting and giraffe plush by 2 Little Birds, handmade by a local Launceston small business.

I cant wait to announce a winner, goodluck!

Plenty of love,

A Sweet Happy Birthday

2012-02-01T14:36:00.000-08:00

I have been sitting her for quite some time wondering how to best start this post. With wit and humour? Meaning and conviction? Excitement and celebration? Casual and indifference?

Truth is, I am buzzing. Bubbling with a combination of happy, content, proud nerves and celebrating with a quiet smile inside and out.

Winter Love is celebrating something special today, Winter Love is turning one!

A year ago, with the encouragement of others I finally began what I had been dreaming of for quite some time. I had been reading parenting and mama blogs even before falling pregnant and felt the fire start within. As a child I adored reading, as a teen I loved writing, as a busy adult I was merely left dreaming. One day, February 2nd to be exact, I stopped dreaming and started being.

Everyday in this journey through the blogosphere I have felt passionate and comfortable. I have written from the heart, staying true to myself, my beliefs and my values. I have been blessed to have the friendship, support and interest from the community of mothers that this blog has surrounded me with. I would even go as far as saying Winter Love has changed me. Not changed who I am, but defined who I am. I have since found a confidence in myself as a person and a mother that I would not have found otherwise, I have met incredible people that I would not have otherwise.

More than any other emotion today, I feel pride the strongest. I have achieved the goals I originally set out to reach for and surprised myself. So today, is about reflecting on my successes, planning for the future and dreaming for the best. It is also about giving credit where credit is due...and that would be with you. My readers. I owe my success and inspiration to you. You have encouraged me, helped me and motivated me with your lovely comments and regular reading. Thankyou for your support and love, I love you all for it.

Happy Birthday to my humble little corner of the Internet...may you grow and prosper, bloom and flourish.

Plenty of love,

A Country to Celebrate.

2012-01-31T02:45:00.000-08:00

Australia Day. Hot weather, snags on the barbie, drinks in the eskie, Triple J on the radio and friends all around. Australia Day is the day to relax, celebrate and feel grateful for the beautiful country we are so blessed to live in.

This Australia day we decided to host the celebratory BBQ at our house with a few close friends and family. We filled pools for the kids, made a makeshift shadecloth for our courtyard with a bed sheet and Stella wore a not-so-Australian but traditional nonetheless Hawaiian shirtdress. It was casual and relaxed, with little stress or mess. Just good friends, good food and a good day all round. Nick fired up the new BBQ we received as an engagement present and I went a little overboard with the fruit, cheese and dip platters.

This Australia Day I am grateful and proud...

* To live in a country with such a wonderful public health system
* To be blessed with incredible government funded support networks for new parents such as the community Child Health Clinics.
* Of our passion for helping others in times of need and strong determination for recovery especially during times of crisis such as the Queensland floods.

What did you do to celebrate? What are you grateful for this year? Happy belated Australia Day!
Plenty of love...

Care to share?

2012-01-31T01:05:00.000-08:00

This weeks smile inducers...

* An honest confession from a super lovely blogging lady. Sometimes being pregnant isn't enjoyable and beautiful, sometimes you just feel blah.

* "To live an authentic existence..." This is a beautifully written post about not setting goals and resolutions, but rather living a life that strives towards being the best you can be. Of all the 2012 resolutions of the blogging world I have read, this one is my favourite.

* This. Is. Hilarious. A friend of mine shared it on my Facebook and it really made me giggle. Porn for Pregnant Ladies.

* How did you announce your pregnancy? Rather than a traditional "I'm pregnant", these are some quirky, creative ways of announcing your pregnancy to the world.

* I love children's parties and have a soft spot for event planning. This website is my ultimate favourite; Theme My Party is an event planning organisation specialising in sweet children's parties. I need more children so I can have more parties! (I did not just say that)

Nom, Nom, Ninner time.

2012-01-24T02:50:00.000-08:00

Source

Stella has taken to shouting out "Ninner ninner ninner!" in a very cute tune when she knows dinner is ready, or is anticipating its arrival. This is a significant change from the dinner time dramas we were having two months ago.

Stella would refuse to eat anything that wasn't mashed, or familiar. If it looked new, forget it. It would get thrown and screamed at. For three whole weeks she lived off nothing but yogurt and crackers and I was beginning to get very, very, very frustrated. Dinner time was dreaded in our household. After doing a little research and speaking to our local Child Health Nurse, I felt reassured that her food strikes were quite normal, and with a bit of encouragement would most likely correct themselves. I read a lot of information and received lots of advice that just seemed like common sense, but didn't actually work regardless. In the end, I threw away the rule book and sat down with pen and paper.

I analysed our dinner time antics, trying to pinpoint problems and reflect on rare successes. I wrote list after list of foods that were disliked, rejected, not yet tried and well loved. I then wrote a big grocery list and highlighted some meal ideas in a government funded information booklet I had received. Armed with an abundance of food ideas and new found inspiration, I was ready to tackle the D time. I had the resources to help me through this horrid phase, but what I couldnt find in a book was my attitude. I knew that Stella was picking up on my frustrations and stress which was in turn making our troubles worse. With a deep breath and a fresh mind, I honestly think that over 50% of our new found happily munching toddler came from mamas attitude change.

I thought I would share with you some of the ideas I had and changes we made in our household that have got us to this final point of success. Some may be different to what you have read in your mad frustration fuelled google searches and I hope that maybe I can give you some sense of relief that it will get better. Sometimes reading advice from the 'experts' can be more disheartening than helpful, I am no expert...Just a mother like you, hanging out for drink at the end of a long toddler taming day (well, a mocktail in my case)

Dreaded Dinner Time tips...

* Rest assured how normal this is. Be it caused by teething, new-found independence or a developmental phase...It is normal.

* Remember that all children are different. Little Freddy down the road may eat wonderfully every day, but little Freddy isn't your little Johnny.

* Resist the urge to show anger or frustration in front of your child, this will only harbour negativity during meal times and children very quickly pick up tension, making dinner anticipation stressful for all.

* Pretend not to be phased. Try to adjust your attitude; even if it means faking it. Sing songs whilst cooking dinner, do a special 'dinner dance', get overly excited about the colours of certain fruits and vegetables. It may not seem like its working, but it will make a difference eventually.

* consider the eating environment. Is the child too far away from the rest of the family? Too close to a television or playroom? Also consider eating times, Is your baby too tired? Simply not hungry enough? If possible, can you eat alongside them?

* Practice what you preach. Yep, that means eating all your veggies too ma! And not pushing your peas to the side, otherwise you'll have a toddler making airplaine noises whilst directing them up your nose.

* Never underestimate the power of a bright new bowl and a funky new spoon. Boon have beautifully bright colours and suction on the bottom of bowls to prevent spaghetti style wall paper.

* Praise, Praise, Praise! If your child does eventually (usually in their own time) try something new or finally eat all that potato, praise them wholeheartedly. Stickers are great treats, as are cuddles and kisses. Sometimes a little sweet treat is totally warranted too...shhhh.. I won't tell anyone!

If all else fails, visit your Child Health Nurse or Doctor and get some advice from an outsider. Avoid talking to other mothers in too much detail about what their children eat, you'll find yourself unnecessarily comparing and worrying. Do however, ask about sneaky little tips and tricks that may have worked for them.

How did you survive the food wars of toddlerhood? Was there a piece of advice that stuck with you and helped you through?

Happy, messy, toddler 'ninner' time!

Ombre Obsessed.

2012-01-24T01:30:00.000-08:00

Ombre is simply a french way of saying 'shaded'. Usually with colours graduating from light to dark or dark to light. Trending would be an understatement for Ombre in the world of hairdressing, however now Ombre love is expanding into fashion, homewares, jewellery and wedding decor.

I am a little Ombre obsessed at the moment, probably a little slow to the bandwagon, but nevertheless I'm jumping aboard. Here are some super pretty Ombre finds for you to enjoy...

* Ombre felt wreath in sage, mustard and hunter green by Burlap and Blue

* Ombre blush feather headband by Mignonne Handmade

* Sky's clearing dress by Modcloth

* How-To for an Ombre manicure

And probably my favourite Ombre trend; Ombre cakes!

P is for...

2012-01-23T02:08:00.000-08:00

P is for Pregnancy and Pinterest.

Pregnancy insomnia is in full force at the moment. I am unable to fall asleep before midnight, only to be awake again at 2am for a few hours. Considering there is no baby here yet needing to be fed at these hours, they are becoming unproductive and frustrating. I was lucky enough to sleep quite well during my pregnancy with Stella until the very last two months, I was also super lucky to be on maternity leave and be to able to spend my afternoons napping freely. I know this is my body's way of training me for the late night and early morning feeds that are to come, and I feel as though this time around I will be much better prepared. I can cope a little better with lack of sleep and interrupted sleep, I am just wishing the time along so that when my body calls to wake up, its to hold and feed a tiny newborn and sneak a kiss from a toddler, not to wander around the house like a lost puppy.

Which brings me to... What have I been doing at one and two in the morning? Exploring Pinterest mostly! It's a lovely, inspiring, mindless task that can be done no matter how tired I feel. And, it is becoming slightly addictive. I found myself in a slumpy, grumpy mood this afternoon and dreamt of hiding away in a room somewhere with Pinterest. It's a hormonal, pregnant, tired mamas best friend.

Did you experience any pregnancy insomnia? What did you do with all that sleepless time?
Do share all your pregnancy woes with me!

Plenty of love...

Care to share?

2012-01-21T00:44:00.000-08:00

This weeks smile inducers...

* I love this loose, rambling and down right wonderful post about discipline in parenting. Do you feel unwanted pressure to discipline your child in ways you don't feel comfortable. Mumma and the Kiddo is one of my new favourite 'real reads'. She keeps it real.

* Birth stories are incredible, I love reading other women's experiences. This birth story however, is insanely incredible! The story of a woman who didn't even know she was pregnant when she went into labour, well worth a read!

* Little Chief Honeybee. How I didn't discover this lovely lady and her beautiful blog earlier is beyond me. Read and be inspired by pretty things.

* This is crafting heaven! If I need a little creative boost and some inspiration this is certainly the place to go. Take a little trip to the pearly gates for yourself; Wild Olive.

Art to smile about.

2012-01-21T00:40:00.000-08:00

Remember when I introduced you to My Dad; The Artist? Well it has been a while since I shared with you some more of his incredible works, and work incredibly he has done! These are some of the latest paintings that have surfaced. Many inspired by the time he has spent with his granchildren and the joyous moments he has witnessed them experience. Gearman Gallery artworks can now be found on Facebook, so you can oooooh and aaaaahhh over there also!

...enjoy...

The story of Malachi.

2012-01-19T01:56:00.000-08:00

Being the mother of a toddler which can be challenging enough in itself, I find myself wondering how parents of children with special needs manage to stay so positive and strong. I have a friend with a three year old son, who has Autism. She manages to keep a brave face, remain calm and speaks about her experience in a positive light.

I thought I would share with you her story, The Story of Malachi.

" I was overjoyed the day Malachi was born, it was one of the happiest days of my life. He was a happy baby and completely healthy. He was born a little earlier than I'd like, a little yellow but soon enough he was just a normal baby. A close friend had a little boy the same age so for the first year they grew up together before we decided to move.

When Malachi turned one I started to notice his speech wasn't were it should have been at all, however I decided not to worry I'd take him to see the health nurse. I visited our local health nurse and she barely even looked at him! She said to give it a year or two then we'd do something about it. I decided that that was just not good enough for me. I rang St. Giles (A provider of children's therapy services) and asked if I could please be put on the waiting list for a speech therapist. In my mind his speech was his only problem. After being on the waiting list for a year we finally got the call we'd been waiting for; SPEECH THERAPY TIME! Also around this time I noticed that Malachi was not a very social baby when it came to other children. For this reason I decided to put him in family day care so that there weren't many children and after a while his family day care career got concerned.

After 6 months of speech therapy we went back for a usual session. The therapist seemed nervous... She sat me down and told me that Malachi had made very little progress and believed he had some symptoms of Autism. I thought very little of it. Then he was refereed to see a occupational therapist and a teacher. Both when they met him had concerns. More time went on and in some areas he showed no signs of improvement. We then were referred to see a pediatrician who said he was on the Autism spectrum and that we need to get into the Autism assessment team as soon as possible. Before we can do that Malachi needs to have blood and urine samples to make sure that he hasn't got any genetic disorders before they make their final verdict on his condition. They all believe he is mildly Autistic.

This year Malachi starts pre-kinder so his therapy will become more intense and he'll be starting on a programme hat teaches him how to use visuals to communicate with me, called the PECS programme. So he can communicate to me without frustration which causes alot of tantrums when he can't explain what he wants or needs. We have been granted funding to get a private specialist. In Malachis case early intervention will help him be ready for the future.

Every time I meet someone new I get asked a million and one questions. The thing I struggle with the most is taking Malachi to a playground and watching as he tries to play with other children. The other children ignore him because he can't communicate. It hurts that my nearly 3 year old has to deal with that. My personal advice would be if the professionals don't take your concerns seriously, don't give up. If I had not had this feeling and stuck with it we wouldn't be able to have early intervention. My advice would be follow your heart. If you know that something is wrong with your child or you have fears don't seek just one opinion but see two or three people to make sure ."

These links may be helpful if you suspect your child has difficulties or are concerned at all about their development. Early intervention and incredible support networks can often help parents deal with the challenges of raising a child with special needs.

St Giles
PECS programme
Autism Tasmania

A shade to love.

2012-01-19T01:41:00.000-08:00

Lately, I have been in love with all things prettily peachy coloured; Peach, Apricot and Coral. I have collected quite the supply of peachy dresses, nail polish, earrings and children's clothes over the past few months and my appetite still isn't satiated. Mama wants more peach!

I have put together a little online wish list of the prettiest shades for you to enjoy...Now you can get your fix too!

Strike a Prose heel by Modcloth

Convertible peach dress by Dalina from Etsy

Coral Mesh Bra by Urban Outfitters

Lauren Moffatt dress from Modcloth

Bubble lace romper by Chica Bootique from Etsy

Revlon top speed nail enamel in Peachy

Resolutions to keep, resolutions to break.

2012-01-17T02:38:00.000-08:00

I specifically didnt set any New Years Resolutions on New Years eve, or New Years day. Actually, I didnt set any at all for the first two weeks of the new year! I didnt want to set unrealistic goals for myself that may create unnecessary guilt, pressure or stress. Infact, the only resolution I briefly thought of was not to have resolutions. Well, that resolution was one to break. Because here I am...well...making resolutions. *Sigh*

I have had some time to reflect whilst doing a spot of housework today and realised that there are infact a few things I would like to change, improve and eliminate in this new year. All in different aspects of my life, all to different degrees of difficulty, priority and challenge. I thought I would share with you my list of resolutions to keep.

I recently went through a brief period of complete deflation. I felt totally uninspired and not challened creatively. I felt very down about my achievements surrounding my passion; writing about parenting, crafting and creating and maintaining this blog. In fact I very nearly gave up Winter Love entirely. I dont know where I pulled the inner strength to continue on or how I managed to find some inspiration, but I am very happy that I did. This year I want to stay inspired by reading the works of others more regularly, jotting down fleeting thoughts more often and keeping a clear vision of the goals I want to achieve with passion.

When things are feeling busy, hectic and I start to feel rushed and stressed...I am going to breathe. Sounds simple but it really is something I need to work on. Don't necessarily stop what you are doing or slow down but just breathe properly. Slowly and thoughtfully, calmly and controlled.

I never understood the phrase "Are you a feeder?" in parenting until now, because now I have become a feeder. I seem to get some kind of satisfaction from feeding my child, which I am sure all parents do to some degree. But it can get a little out of control. If Stella has been a really good girl, I will feed her something indulgent. When she is sad or upset, I will feed her something comforting. When she does something clever and new, I will feed her something celebratory. See what I mean? Out of hand. Tomorrow I am going to the newsagency and bulk buying some shiney stickers. I am going to stop being am emotional feeder!

Nick does a LOT around the house to help me out, sometimes he does things so often and quietly that I forget to really say Thankyou. A well meant, from the heart, thankyou.

This is something I didnt do with my first pregnancy. I had every intention but just didn't end up doing them, at all. This lead to slight discomfort after Stellas birth and that dreaded "Oh my god I'm going to wet my pants" feeling when I walked or coughed. Over time, this improved almost back to a normal state but since becoming pregnant again, I can feel the weakness re-occuring. Instead of saying "I should", "I will", "I need"...I am saying to my self daily I AM practicing my pelvic floors today, and tomorrow and you know what? I did it yesterday as well!

And they are my 5 resolutions to keep. Achievable, managable and totally un-breakable!
What resolutions did you make this year? Have you broken any? re evaluated any? If you have blogged about your new years resolutions, feel free to leave a link so I can read them for myself.

...Plenty of love...

Sleeping Stella.

2012-01-17T02:32:00.000-08:00

I am obsessed with taking photos of Stella as she sleeps, it is the sweetest way to see the how dramatically she changes from month to month and year to year. I call it my 'Sleeping Stella diary', weird or wonderful? Either way, it's so beautiful to look back on.

Our Journey; post 1.

2012-01-16T01:44:00.000-08:00

This is my new regular space to share with you the journey of my second pregnancy and the road we travel to meet our baby. I hope you enjoy the ride!

The past four months have been extremely tiring to say the least. I can be described as a sleeping, eating, zombie mama bear. I struggle to sleep at all during the night and could quite happily snooze the days away if my lifestyle allowed.

During my first pregnancy I was lucky enough to experience no morning sickness, this time however, is a different story. I have felt sick from the minute I wake and it lasts until the minute I finally fall asleep. I find the only thing that helps a little is (again), sleeping, eating and sipping water. Now that I am heading towards the fifteenth week the sickness has subsided and I am almost certain it will be gone for good. This makes for a slightly less grumpy mama and far more productive days!

Physically, I feel huge. I am a whole 7 kilos heavier this time around than I was with Stella. I am convincing myself it is a combination of age and maturing...My body is no longer 19 years old. Although, I'd be kidding myself if I didn't partly blame my relaxed eating habits and less physically active lifestyle. I am looking forward to 're-claiming' my body once baby#2 is born, not straight away, but perhaps five to six months down the track. This will be my chance to focus on looking after me and achieving the healthier, fitter, trimmer body I desire. I'm not advocating a total lack of good health or intense indulgence in pregnancy (perhaps semi-intense?) but, I know that it is far more realistic for me to focus solely on raising my children and nurturing our newborn until breastfeeding is hopefully well established and routines have been achieved.

We had our first ultrasound in week 12, and boy does our baby move! He or she was wriggling, kicking and turning the entire time making it slightly difficult for the Sonographer and somewhat funny for Mama and Dad. We saw an outstretched little leg and a gulping little jaw, resembling a baby with a bad case of the hiccups! I found the ultrasound (as I did with my first pregnancy) to be a wonderful bonding experience. Not only for Nick and myself, but for the baby and myself. I have seen a glimpse of the little life growing inside me and heard the strong heartbeat of a developing child.

The books promise me that the next few weeks will call for an increase in energy due to endorphin releasing hormones. These books had better be right, I want that 'bounce off the walls with energy' feeling so badly! We have plenty of exciting appointments with the midwives and another ultrasound in a months time. I look forward to sharing with you weeks 14 onwards as our pregnancy continues and the countdown begins!

Plenty of love...

Jellybelly and Bellybean

2012-01-16T00:22:00.000-08:00

Sleep and pregnancy don't get along very well, never have and probably never will. That is why the 'Bellybean' exists, to save mamas like myself from eating the house out of cheese at 3am due to insomnia! I ordered my Bellybean online four days ago, and today it arrived!

Unlike regular pillows, the Bellybean has a hollow middle and two round pillows at each end, meaning you can have a pillow under your bump on each side and roll without adjusting the seven million pillows surrounding you that we seem to need to sleep comfortably. It can also be used length ways, with one pillow between your knees and one under your bump.

I am so excited to sleep with this pillowy-goodness tonight and can't wait to report back to you on the comfort levels and effectiveness. And the best bit? Bellybean is Australian owned and made, designed by an Aussie mum, just like you and I.

Pass the sugar please?

2012-01-14T16:16:00.000-08:00

Whats sweeter than Sugar Skull pyjamas? Sugar Skull cookies of course! I found this recipe online after a reader commented that "Sugar Skulls are awesome, but I'm always upset when something with 'sugar' in the title has no actual sugar!"

So here are sweet sugar skulls, with sugar! I think a sugar skull themed party is totally necessary soon, don't you?

Sweet Sugar Skulls

2012-01-14T02:34:00.000-08:00

I recently acquired a new pair of pyjamas adorned with pretty pretty sugar skulls. Since then I have been admiring and searching for all things sugar skull over some quality Etsy time. I thought I would share with you some of my favourites.

..enjoy...

1. Sugar Skulls decoupaged vintage phone by Love Kitty Pink.

2. Sugar Skull mary janes by Em and Sprout (These would make adorable slippers or house shoes!)

3. Sugar Skull display plate by Tongue in Cheeky

4. Sugar Skull nursing pillow by Babies Rawk

And of course, my sugar skull pyjamas! I also shared with you some skull finds back in September last year if you missed them.

Stella Winter; 18 months old.

2012-01-14T01:00:00.000-08:00

The age of new found Independence and the age of tantrums. Quite possibly the age of humour too! Stella is now 18 months old and in her second year of life.

The past month has bought about incredible change and we are definitely now in full blown 'toddlerhood'. Stella is no longer a baby but a fast-paced, inquisitive, forever busy, constantly changing little girl. I am enjoying this age more than I initially anticipated, I love her quirky sense of humour and her sly 'have it my way' ways. Her personality shines through brightly in every little daily activity, she has distinct likes and dislikes and can certainly vocalise them well!

Our mornings consist of self fed breakfast at the breakfast bar, she loves Weetbix. Devours it in seconds every single time! Mess is far less intense than it was a few months back, and she is slowly learning that when she is finished the bowl doesn't need to be dramatically thrown to the floor or splattered to the walls. A cute and clear "All gone" pipes out sometimes followed by demands for more "aaaapppple".

"Apple" and "Bubble" take the crown for being the cutest damn words that come out of Stellas mouth. Both the P and B are emphasised and the vowels drawn out. Apples and bubbles are favourites in this household, if Stella could eat apples and blow bubbles all day long she would be one content girl.

Her vocabulary has increased tenfold. She will have a try at saying any word that she hears, some are far clearer than others and some are far more inappropriate than others ("faaart", for example). Nick and I often talk around the house in code, using the classic 'spell it out' method.
"What time would you like d-i-n-n-e-r sweetheart?" or "Just popping to the supermarket, we are out of M-i-l-k". This is all well and good until she starts to recognise the letters involved in her favourite words, and believe me this is not far off! I have noticed that toddlers are far more alert, cluey and intelligent than we give them credit for.

Her vocabulary now includes attempts at sentences and phrases. Albeit jumbled and shortened but adorable all the same. "Need to do a weeee!", "Go in the car?" "Have a bickie ma?". That would have to be my ultimate weakness, I just die with cuteness overload when she speaks with such determination. I think the day she answers the question "are you ready for bed?", with "no thankyou mum!" I will relent and let her stay up to all hours!

Stella loves the pool, she loves animals, she loves showers, she loves being outdoors and loves any toys with wheels. She dislikes the pram, dislikes socks and hats, and dislikes with a passion having her face washed. She is tall for her age and has the biggest foot of an 18 month old I know! She has a talent for rhythm and song, pumping out a tune whenever the chance arises.

I find myself becoming more (if this is possible) proud of her as the days go by. I often watch her from behind when she sits on the floor and draws in her scrapbook, I look at the length of her hair, the size of her hands and the character she exudes and just breathe it in with awe. That tiny 6 pound something baby that I held 18 long months ago is now an independent and absorbent little being. I didn't think it possible, bit I love her more and more with each passing minute.

Toddlerhood is challenging yet comfortable at the same time, I have reached a stage with my parenting in which I feel confident and controlled. I feel as though I can relax a little more, enjoy a little more and experience a little more. I am looking to the future with nothing but enthusiasm for my growing daughter. I wonder what the next 18 months will bring my sweet Stella?

plenty of love...

The body of a mother.

2012-01-12T02:44:00.000-08:00

With the weather being a lot warmer, we have been swimming quite regularly. Stella has a red and white polka-dot bathing suit that is to-die-for adorable and has developed a distinct love of the pool. She shows no fear (much to her mothers fear) of splashing about and navigating the shallow children's pool until her tippytoes are stretched and she can no longer touch the bottom...she is overly confident and uber excited about it. Over-confident toddlers call for alert and also bathing suit clad mothers.
This makes me incredibly nervous. Nervous about flaunting pale skin that I have never been entirely happy or comfortable with, nervous about flaunting that awkward 'not quite a baby bump, more a bloated post Christmas stomach'. Nervous about flaunting hips and thighs that clearly show the signs of motherhood; the dreaded stretchmarks.

However, this story was soon to change.

Upon arriving at the pool, I saw children screaming with laughter and mothers smiling with approval. The most significant sight my eyes noted, was the amount of mama bodies on show. There were older mothers, younger mothers, mothers of babies, mothers of four children, mothers of grown boys. All these mothers had no body shame. They splashed without sucking tummies in or adjusting board shorts. Their bodies were just that, bodies. Vessels of life. And they were all truly beautiful. Why, when your body has not only carried you through life but harboured, nurtured and cared for another (perhaps numerous) lives would you bat an eyelid at a pretty purple stretchmark?

Being a 'younger' mother I do at times feel pressure to look like my non-parent, supermodel-esque friends. But then I have light bulb moments like this one at the local pool; We are mothers. Our bodies should be congratulated and honoured. I am learning to love the extra 10 kilos I now permanently carry since my highschool years, I look at my hips and remember my incredible journey through pregnancy not only once, but now twice. I thank my body for growing my children and appreciate what incredible achievements it has enabled me.

The body of a mother is the vessel of a life, something to celebrate. Congratulate and appreciate it for you are beautiful.

Plenty of love...

Care to share?

2012-01-12T01:38:00.000-08:00

This weeks smile inducers comes courtesy of my readers, sharing the creative writings of the faces behind my followers!

* Skye Boat- This birth plan is so beautifully written with conscientious thought regarding the mothers beliefs and well being of her baby. It is written positively, with a hint of determination and confidence. It has inspired me to start seriously thinking about my birth plan for baby#2.

* Creative world- Creative Kate shares her love for crochet, cooking and crafting. Along with snippets of the journey taking her to motherhood for the very first time!

* Behind the scenes of everyday Mae- The blog documenting daily life of the lovely lady behind 'Everyday Mae'; handmade bags crafted with beautiful textures. My favourite blog feature is the Inspiration Friday, sharing beautiful finds from across the Internet.

* I love to Op Shop- We all know how good a little op-shopping and thrifting is for the soul! This blog shares news and reviews about op-shops around Australia. Its is like the thrifting bible!

* Home Bird Economics- "Home is where my passion is..." This homely bird shares her adventures or studying, being married young and dreams of creating for a living. I love her thoughtful quotes and crafting mind.

* A lot like love- A sweet little local gem sharing her love for family and passion for craft with dashes of fashion and scrumptious dishes.

P.S If you are a follower and would like to make yourself known, I would love to hear from you too!

Plenty of love...

Hi, Ho, Hi Ho...

2012-01-09T16:52:00.000-08:00

It was off to the City Mission store I went!
I found more glass dishes and silver coasters. These are items I am currently trying to stock up on, and am constantly on the look out for. My hidden agenda? They *may* just feature as centrepieces for the wedding...but Shhhh!

I also found these two iron candelabras. I've always wanted one of these and I imagine they would look pretty amazing on a decorated dining table. Next thrifting mission; a dining table!

What have you picked up lately from a thrifting adventure?

Plenty of love...

motivation, Is that you?

2012-01-09T02:59:00.000-08:00

I am currently sitting at the laptop (9:53pm) with my eyes hanging out of my head. My body wants to be in bed, but my mind wants to be writing, creating or crafting. Lately, I have been so exhausted with pregnancy and mothering that I haven't had the chance to dream. I haven't had the chance to craft a simple card, write a simple blog post or plan a little project.

The effect this has had on my mood is intense; I am a big dreamer, always planning. I am craving to craft, I want to write so badly. But the motivation is not there. I have plenty to write about (growing a baby for one), but I just cant. I wish I knew where this inspiration could be found, where my motivation lies. Perhaps it is just a flying phase due to tiredness, illness and deflation.

In the meantime, I am 150% open to suggestions! If you write a blog, I want to read it. Introduce yourself and I'll stop by for some writers inspiration. If you pin beautiful things on Pinterest, I want to follow you. If you have any suggestions for relieving creators block, I would so love to hear them. Someone please, inject me with the creative buzz I miss so very much!

Plenty of love.

Lights of the season.

2012-01-07T02:04:00.000-08:00

I'm the Queen of better late than never, so it would really be fitting of me to post about our pre-Christmas light adventure in January, would it not?

We bundled Stella up in PJ's and blankets and took my favourite fellow mama Ali along for the ride. This was another first for Stella, Christmas season always seems to be full of 'firsts'. Seeing Stellas face light up with pure joy gave me a little lump in my throat, these memories we are creating are going to be the highlights of her childhood, things she may look back on and smile about. Things she may want to one day share with her own children.

Some of the houses we admired had interactive adventures for the young and young at heart, including Santa and lollies. We managed to tour our small city and stay bright eyed until 11pm, before tucking the little elf into bed. This is a family tradition I'd like to continue for as many years as we are able, no matter how many children are sleeping in the car seats or chattering from the backseat.

Baby, me and a bug.

2011-12-29T02:27:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning I woke feeling queasy and unsettled in the stomach, yet put it down to a re-appearance of the morning sickness I have been experiencing for the last two months with this pregnancy. I attempted breakfast and rushed off to work, only to be met by more grumbles, gurgles, cramps and nausea. I lasted 3 hours at work before coming home and well to put it as pleasantly as possible...being very ill and bringing up all that I had tried to eat.

Luckily for me, not being a single mother any longer, I was able to spend the next 4-5 hours sleeping off my nausea whilst Nick and Stella played with blocks and drew crayon pictures. I can't imagine what I would have done if I was single and working, trying to juggle motherhood with working then throwing in the odd unexpected sickness. After plenty of sleep and very little food I am still feeling quite queasy but thank goodness the vomiting has stopped. I've come to the conclusion that baby#2 and I have caught a 24hr bug, but we'll push through it!

It's times like these (gruesome and unpleasant as they may be) that I think to the strength we parents possess on a daily basis. Day and and day out, we are caring for not only ourselves but for another, smaller human being. Sometimes even two, or three. We wipe little faces after bellies are full, scoff down some food quickly for ourselves then sing songs whilst changing nappies and clothes. After having experienced a year of single parenting, I cannot express how grateful I am to now have an extra pair of hands. The strength we possess as two parents rather than one on a daily basis is not doubled, but multiplied by the million. I now have a chance to catch up on lost sleep, spend an extra five minutes fixing my hair and even resort to an afternoon in bed when having come down with a bug.

Baby#2 and I are now sipping on hot soup and sucking on lemonade icy poles, I think we'll be feeling much better soon and we owe much of our thanks to Mr K.
Partnered parenting is truly a blessing!

A word from the MIL.

2011-12-28T02:23:00.000-08:00

I received these beautiful words folded into an envelope last week and have been waiting and waiting to share it with you. The power of family and the love and support that can result is a very valuable thing. Something I vow to appreciate forever.

The gift of family

"Call me old fashioned, but I do believe in 'the love of a lifetime', 'eternity' and 'one and only'. I do because I live it.

Perhaps I should introduce myself, I am the soon to be mother-in-law. Winter Loves MIL. However, I like to think of myself more as the Mum, the Grandma, the Confidant, the bubbachino maker and the "old girl" (At 48, I need to work on this one).

Really, all I want for my children and their partners is to experience what I have been fortunate enough to experience for myself when it comes to the 'The gift of family'. You see, I live with the love of my life, Garry, and I am so very proud of the offspring and all that has come along since their arrival during the 80's. (tears in eyes).

Most recently we observed Nick find that special someone and very quickly realised that this was the real deal and another happily ever after was looming. Although our time has been brief in the world of Nick and Nat, it has been warm and familiar...comforting really. Like the moments when you arrive home after holidays to see your pets or the family trinkets of your life right there, safely where you left them. Easy and relaxing like a good read of the newspapers on a Sunday morning.

So imagine our reaction when they nervously, timidly, informed us after only three months together that our next grandchild was alive and kicking in Nats tiny belly. Shock? Dismay? trepidation? Actually it was quite the opposite. It was more a feeling of calm which settled over us, that Nick, with an action packed past, had found Nat, with an action packed past and together inadvertently they created a life together, while planning their life together.

It sounds simple to me, but I have quickly realised that Gen Y have quite 'oldy worldy' opinions on such things. Hilarious really as I had always been led to believe that we baby boomers were the old fashioned generation.

So, I explain it to others who look at me with eyes that say "Oh my god, are you serious?" quite simply like this; When a loved one dies; Your Mum, your Dad, a grandparent, sibling, close friend, as has been my unfortunate experience in life, a little light that keeps your soul ignited and warm dies right along with them. You are still the person you always have been but unexplainably different. When a grandchild comes along, as has also been my experience, a little light flickers and reignites inside bringing a joy and warmth that I can honestly say takes your breath away (tears in eyes, again).

Nick and Nat are not only blessing this earth with a beautiful child, but they are now also responsible for another flicker of light warming my soul. And that is a beautiful gift, the gift of family."

With love, Mumma.

Care to share?

2011-12-27T02:53:00.000-08:00

This weeks smile inducers...

* Not just another wedding blog, Elizabeth Anne Designs is a BEAUTIFUL wedding blog. I could sit and adore for hours and hours and hours.

* Tattoo tumblrs really take my fancy for a light read when I cant sleep or need a rest. This is the newest one I have found; We call it art.

* This Etsy store sells the most intricate, delicate and lovely Mexican paper banners and flags. I found it via a wedding related search and have fallen in love with the chandelier banner.

* This was one of my Christmas gifts from Nick, I love it. It is so very fitting!

* I have finally joined Pinterest, I am still trying to navigate it, but cant wait to start pinning some seriously pretty things. Follow me, or look at my boards (when I create some) or whatever it is that you do on Pinterest!

From us to You.

2011-12-26T01:28:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas

I hope your day was full of quality time with family and friends. I hope you ate until you couldn't eat anymore, and laughed until you rolled on the floor. I hope your babies slept and your toddlers smiled.
From my family, to yours.

Mr K's Shortbread: Recipe for Success

2011-12-24T03:41:00.000-08:00

I welcome myself back to the blog to share with you the recipe used to create our Christmas shortbread in this post.

I find this to be the most simple, clean, cheap and of course, satisfying recipe I have yet to come across.

MR K's SHORTBREAD

Ingredients:

500g butter
500g plain flour
200g caster sugar
2-4 tsp vanilla extract

Method:

1. Preheat fan forced oven to 180 degrees (360 fahrenheit) & line oven tray(s) with baking paper.

2. Cream softened butter and sugar with clean hands in a large mixing bowl until a thick "paste is formed.
(I find the softness of the butter to be a crucial part of a successful recipe. Too hard (refrigerated) and it will not have the ability to be creamed with the sugar creating a lumpy and uneven texture & too soft/melted which will create an unstable and unworkable liquid. I find the best method is to slice butter into 1-2cm pieces and rest on a chopping board while measuring the other ingredients.)

3. As palates vary, fold in the desired amount of vanilla extract to suit your liking, until combined.

4. Add the flour (unsifted is fine) and fold into the mixture until combined and evenly distributed. A ball of dough should form in the bowl once this step is complete.

5. On a floured bench, knead the dough lightly before rolling.

6. Using a rolling pin (or anything somewhat cylindrical) roll the dough to a 50mm thickness and trim the edges, creating a large square of dough.

7. As we decided to place small squares in jars, and after getting frustrated with a knife, I found it fast and easy (and overly enjoyable) to use a pizza cutter to cut the dough to the required size.

8. Once cut, pieces were placed on trays & trays & trays and placed into the oven. Oven heat was then reduced to 150-160 degrees (celcius) 302-360 (fahrenheit).

9. Cook for approximately 30 minutes or until golden brown. (I found some pieces towards the edges of trays were required to be pulled out early due to the airflow in the oven.)

10. EAT! EAT! EAT!

A fast and simple way to create a recipe for all the family to enjoy this festive season!

I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and hope this can bring lots of happiness and full bellies into your little corner of the world!

Until next time,

Mr. K

Born for Boon.

2011-12-22T01:42:00.000-08:00

Its no secret I love Boon! I've posted about my love for Boon here before, but haven't purchased anything else for quite some time. This week however, I am in love with my mail man.

I ordered some babylicious new Boon plates and bowls in an effort to break Stella's current food strike. What toddler wouldn't want to eat out of gorgeous colour combinations like 'grape and kiwi', 'cherry and berry' and 'raspberry and tangerine'. Not to mention they are BPA free, dishwasher safe and throw and drop proof. And they arrived this morning! It's easy to see why I get so excited about some baby gear.

So far our Boon collection included the suction catch bowl, the snack ball and the squirt spoons. But, we lacked anything suitable for an older toddler. So now we are the proud owners of the saucer plates and the interlocking plate and bowl set. I test-drove them tonight and low and behold... the food was eaten!

Not only is it exciting for Stella to eat from colourful and practical feeding gear, but its exciting for me to fill them up with colourful food!

And whats very dangerous? That I have just discovered a new range available in Boon. Oh look out mail man!

Gift guide for little musicians.

2011-12-20T01:54:00.000-08:00

Stella has become more and more intrigued with music. She will move and groove to any kind of tune that plays and strums Nicks guitar whilst singing a little tune. She really does have ryhthm! More recently we have started getting out the big keyboard for her to accompany Mr K on the keys. We can spend a whole afternoon playing the instruments, singing songs and having a dance. Its one of my favourite things to do as a family and I just adore seeing my little musical bunny enjoy herself so.

I've put together a quick gift guide for little musicians you may know this Christmas and in the process had some ideas for Stella myself.

...enjoy...

* Jingle feet by Robot Holidays

* Natural wooden zylophone by smiling tree toys.

* Antique wooden childrens grand piano from Simply Chi.

* Lullaby renditions of Christmas rock classics by Rockabye Baby

* Musical Baby App for iPhone.

* Baby's musical hands App for iPad.

Happy musical Christmas days!

A moment.

2011-12-20T01:07:00.000-08:00

I'd like to take a moment to say Thankyou to everyone for their congratulations and warm well wishes. I am so grateful to have not only the support of friends and family, but the support from complete strangers. People whom I have never met, yet stumbled across in this blogosphere...other digital mamas and papas.

I am so excited to be sharing this journey with you and cant wait to bring weekly and monthly updates along with the exciting countdown to baby #2 gracing us.

An announcement

2011-12-19T02:39:00.000-08:00

The word on the street is...

...Is that we are having a baby!

We are thrilled, excited, surprised, nervous, elated, clucky, content and proud.

Happiness to the Eye

2011-12-19T01:43:00.000-08:00

I snapped these photos a while ago and have been meaning to share them for quite some time. It really is the little things that bring happiness to the eye around my home. Something as simple as a brightly coloured rose just blooming or some pretty new thrifted silverware,crystal and glass.

I like to use simple and vibrant colours around our home along with plenty of black and white. Anything that reflects light such as mirrors, silver and glass seems to brighten everything and allow the sun to dance in all directions.

Interior designers have long known that room decoration affects mood. What pretty things do you surround yourself with to induce a state of calm and happiness? Is it a certain smell you like to burn? A lamp you like to have lit? Or a colour you have in abundance? The psychological effect of your home decor truly is amazing. Who would have thought that adding a colour or moving a vase could actually improve your mood!

A Christmas DIY

2011-12-18T17:54:00.000-08:00

With all the Christmas organisation going on around this house, it leaves a little extra time to let the mind wander to more interesting things. Things like creative projects and DIYS. What better a way to spend an evening than baking, crafting and creating with your loved ones? One night last week, Nick and I set to work making small Christmas gifts for our family and friends. We giggled and chatted whilst baking, taping and taste-tetsing!

Over time, I have quite the collection of glass baby food jars and wanted to put them to good use. We decided on a cute, packaged up jar of homemade Christmas shortbread. It was a small and simple gift that was low on cost and totally handmade.

I washed and scrubbed all the baby jars and dried them thoroughly. Then it was a matter of simply wrapping gold paper around the jar, taping, then adding a cut off doily tied with twine. I had cut out 'tag' shapes in card, written greetings on them and also attached these with some thread. Its as simple as that!

...Almost! Nick, being the better chef out of the two of us, baked 25 small serves of shortbread. (He will share his recipe with us later on) We then placed around 7 pieces in each jar and covered with a small circle of cling-wrap. And there you have it! A Christmas DIY.
Baby jars + shortbread + gold paper = Sweet Christmas gifts.

Giving something handmade this Christmas has helped to quell my unease with the excess of materialism and consumerism surrounding us at this time of the year. Call me a party pooper, but I just cant help but think of how much wrapping paper, how many store-bought cards and how much packaging ends up in landfill come boxing day. I wander through the shops and see people bickering over prices and the quantity of products, I see tired, over-stimulated children nagging at their parents for the latest version of 'such and such' and the must-have brand of 'such and such'. It makes me feel deflated and if honest, quite nervous. I don't like thinking of incredible amounts of waste and flamboyance in purchasing. Don't get me wrong, I too enjoy giving. I get excited about the buzz that hits stores in the form of carols and decorations, but there is something about this excessive gift-giving that makes me incredibly uneasy. I think it partly comes from growing up in a household of not many "things". At times, money was stretched and material things were sacrificed, it bought me up with a conscientious mind of waste, want and need.

Giving handmade and using recycled resources makes me feel good, I often hold onto supplies and bits and bobs for this purpose entirely, so that I can re-use it to create and give. If you are creative minded and enjoy crafting, why not do the same this Christmas? Make your own decorations, create your own gifts. Buy less and give more, all it takes is a few resources and some time in 'the zone'.

Happy handmade Christmas!

Care to share?

2011-12-18T01:18:00.000-08:00

I thought it was about time I shared with you some things I am "oooh-ing" and "aaaah-ing" over. There are so many inspiring creatives out there that I struggle to keep up to date with all the beauty!

* This sweet, sweet Tumblr belonging to a fellow digital mama. I love looking over her pretty vintage finds or glorious manicure designs. She is the definition of sweet, she lives and breathes it!

* I've really missed catching up on the readings of this wonder woman and her family. She raises two children, works, maintains a marriage and manages to do all whilst looking super glamorous. I finally caught up on a few months worth of posts whilst having a date with my couch yesterday afternoon.

* These dinner plates and tea-cups made me squeal over enthusiastically aloud. They are too-flippin-cute! Want, want, wantity want!

* Have you checked out Amanda Mocci illustrations yet? This is the artist that inspired my tattoo, she is one talented lady and all her illustrations inspire me. I think it is safe to say that my next tattoo may also be an Amanda Mocci masterpiece!

Another year older

2011-12-15T03:27:00.000-08:00

Apparently it was my birthday last week. If it wasn't for the efficiency of Facebook for reminding me of such things, I would not have remembered. Being so busy and pre-occupied with the life of being a mother, a partner and a worker...this year seemed to just roll around unexpectedly.

However, my Fiance Nick, made my day incredibly special from start to finish. It began with a sleep in and a cooked pancake breakfast special. I even woke to find a pretty doily birthday wish on the wall (doily announcements on the walls are becoming quite the tradition in this household!) We had lunch with my soon-to-be-in-laws and I was showered with lovely gifts. Then it was ice cream out of town and a relaxed family afternoon at home.

These are some of the totally sweet gifts I recieved, along with an updated wardrobe and a long overdue trip to the hair salon. I am ever so lucky to have this little family bringing happiness into my life each and every day, that is my real gift. The gift of love and family.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for...

2011-12-15T02:57:00.000-08:00

Stellas first ice cream. Watching her eat it was better than eating it myself. She held it like a seasoned ice-cream eater and gave herself a white creamy moustache. Although she didn't last long eating it, I think that perhaps, maybe, possibly... she enjoyed it. Just a little!

One of the many things I swore upon before giving birth to my child, was that he/she would only eat natural and organic food. I told myself that I would avoid giving processed food or food with additives and preservatives at all cost. In my head I seemed to have this vision of a perfectly well behaved child sitting at a table eating greens without even a hint of mess. This, was one of the many things that I like to call "Pre-baby delusion".

When reality started to become, well, real...many things changed. Not only was my child messy and fussy but I also found my own opinions and ideals changed. I went from being over-controlling and naive to being realistic and relaxed. Needless to say, my child does have the occasional sweet-treat or quick fix. But, as long as she is healthy and more often than not eating home cooked, preservative free, natural and fulfilling meals, then I too am happy. I'll let you in on a little secret... If you look in my handbag and find her lunchbox during a day out shopping and running errands, you will usually find some store bought crackers and a pre-packaged jar of Heinz fruit puree.

I don't think its a matter of lowering our standards as parents, but more about learning as we go along. Our ideals may change slightly, but our morals and values usually remain stable.

So after a going off on a very long tangent, my conclusion is; let them eat ice-cream. And let them smile whilst you eat one too!

Strength, Wisdom and Warefare

2011-12-15T02:26:00.000-08:00

Remember me talking about a new tattoo in the planning stages that I was very excited about? Well, Its here and ready to be shared!

I found this Amanda Mocci piece on her website and immediately fell in love with it. The artwork depicts Athena; the goddess of strength, wisdom and warfare. Strength and Wisdom are two distinct attributes that I feel I have gained over the past two years. Through turbulent times of single parenting and separation along with filtering friendships and forming relationships. The beautiful picture represents perfectly to me, who I strive to be.

After two and half hours of magnificent work by a local tattoo artist, I now have this. And I couldn't be happier with it! I am hoping to return shortly for a colour session and a further touch up and fine-tune. I have chosen natural and earthy colours to shade through the wings of the owl and the windblown hair of the girl. I cant wait to share the final finished product with you!

Christmas is coming!

2011-12-15T02:01:00.000-08:00

Tinsel and glitter mean Christmas and family, and this year couldn't be more perfect. Stella had her first tree adorning experience and we are playing 'DJ Santas' dance track on repeat. The shopping has been completed and the present lay prettily-wrapped under the tree. Being organised feels so...relaxing!

This year, I am looking forward to a memorable and joyful day with family friends. What about you? What do you have planned this year? Are you organised? Or still running the mad season rush?

'Tis the season to be jolly!

The venture into Childcare...

2011-12-11T02:04:00.001-08:00

Over a month ago I took the leap from my safe mothering waters and enrolled Stella into a Childcare centre. It was a decision I had been dwelling on for quite some time, based on a combination of work becoming available for me and the desire for Stella to be in a social and stimulating environment. It was never a question as to whether or not she could happily be away from home one day a week, but more "Can I cope with her being away from me?". They say that children can experience separation anxiety? Well, I say Mothers can experience even more severe separation anxiety!

After a lot of thinking and embarrassingly a few quiet tears, I decided that the separation would be healthy. Stella needs to experience a social environment and perhaps experience other adults in a different aspect. Maybe she'll learnt that other adults think she should eat all her lunch as well! Or maybe she'll even come home toilet trained. Ok, so maybe not. But, the conclusion is, this is a healthy move for the both of us.
Step 1. Making the decision; tick, tick, tick.

For two very long weeks beforehand we toured centres, each one not being quite 'right' for us. When we walked into the centre she now attends, I knew it was the one. Stella held confidence and intrigue whilst exploring the room and meeting the carers.
Step 2. Finding a centre; tick, tick, tick.

I then went on a crazed buying spree. This is also perfectly healthy, I call it 'Mamas way of coping'. New drink bottle, super-cute new backpack, new lunchbox. Oh, and name tags on everything. Label, label, label. This also made me cry; seeing her name on grown up little girl items.
Step 3. Emotional melt-down.

Soon enough, her first day rolled around and we packed the sweet bag with spare clothes, a hat and a drink bottle. I tried to get her to pose for photos and failed miserably. But the snapshot of her all ready for a totally new and exciting experience is embedded in my mind forever, it was added to the large, large memory book in my mind, filed under "Moments that induce tears for intense feelings of pride".

When she entered her room, called the 'Diamond Room', she didn't even glance backwards. She spent the next five hours playing happily amongst new friends, and Mama survived!
Step 4. Childcare attended; all in one piece.

Now, each Wednesday follows an organised routine and smiles all around. She's happy to go and even happier to come home. She even brought home a fingerpainting to proudly stick on the fridge!

The main challenge we face is how to deal with childcare sickness. She comes home with a new sniffle every week and although it doesn't seem to distress her much, I'd hate for it to develop into constant colds and flu's. Other than getting enough sleep, an abundance of fruit and vegetables and a clean environment how else can I avoid the dreaded snotty nose? Does anyone have some suggestions or tried and tested tips?

I am so proud to see Stella making friends and being socially educated. Childcare for us so far, has been a very rewarding and positive experience. I cant wait to watch her continue to play, laugh and grow!

Plenty of love...

To market, to market, to buy...

2011-12-08T01:59:00.001-08:00

To market, to market, to buy... A tick-tock puzzle, some vintage buttons, Rose Quartz and silver coasters.

I love Sunday afternoon market trips with family. I love the leisurely drive out of town, the smell of dagwood dogs and the kids holding ice-cones. I love the old ladies selling fruit and vegetables and the slightly wacky selling their knick knacks and treasure.

This weeks market trip I picked up some amazing goodies, I shall endeavour to share with you my finds each time we visit. What have you picked up lately whilst thrifting? Is it just me, or is the thrill of finding something old and pre-loved just that little more intense than when buying something new and shiny?

The thrill of thrifting!

Chubby, chubby goodness

2011-11-30T01:51:00.001-08:00

Look at all that chubby goodness! This photos gives me the warm and fuzzies inside, her smile is so big, showing how happy and content she is. One of my favourite parts about mothering a toddler is the sheer joy and pride I feel when watching her experience something new, watch her learn a new skill, grow a little older and become even smarter. Seeing a smile and a laugh is like the motherhood version of getting a good report card, you feel relieved and confident that you are doing something right.

Stella and her little friend Evie enjoyed a lovely splash on a very hot day last week, it was a totally spontaneous trip to the local outdoor pool and she just loved it! I am hoping to start swimming lessons this summer for her, which gives me a perfectly good excuse to buy some adorable new bathers. Tis the season for new experiences and plenty of smiles!

Oh, and did I mention how adorable all that chub is?!

A two minute DIY

2011-11-28T01:30:00.001-08:00

This year I decided to hand make all our Christmas cards, I seem to hoard cheap and nasty cards from over the years and end up throwing out rather than using them in the bid to purchase something a little nicer. I bought a few pieces of brown card and a packet of white doilies and spent half an hour in front of the TV making these sweet and simple cards. I folded the doilies in three and cut out small shapes to make a snowflake (think back to your kindergarten days!)

The result was very simple, yet very pretty. And they match this years wrapping colour theme of brown and gold.

doily + scissors + brown card = Christmas cards!

Romance and Roadtrips.

2011-11-26T01:21:00.001-08:00

It was a whole month ago that we ventured to the capital of our state for my Dads wedding. I can't believe, 1) How quickly time has flown and 2) How slack I have been (again) with my blogging. Someone needs to kick me, or give me an extra pair of hands or an extra 3 hours in my day. Anyway, does the saying "better late than never" still stand in this instance?

Lets pretend it does, and without further distraction, delay or procrastination here is the long-awaited post about my dear Dads wedding.

We packed 5 bags full of clothing, baby bowls, nappies and dress shoes and managed to fit it all in the family size car with a little push and shove. We headed on over to my Sisters house and picked her and my Niece Ruby up for the trip. I was hoping that Stella would sleep for the entire two and a half hour drive but was secretly enjoying the chit-chat coming from the back seat. Her and Ruby held hands, shared snacks and conversed in babble for the first 40 minutes of our trip. Soon enough Stellas head became too heavy for her little shoulders and her eyes gave in to sleep.

The end of our road trip was taken up with applying fake nails, talking outfits and sipping chai lattes. We arrived in our families homes and shared many a cuppa over old photos and reminisced.

The wedding day was just beautiful. Dad and Janette exchanged vows in their home with a small gathering of family and friends. The atmosphere was casual enough to be comforting and formal enough to be exciting.

I feel I must mention the significance this wedding has on my family...My Dad has always been a caring, humble and honest man, yet never managed to receive anything but grief and hurt in return. Until he met Janette. They exude Love. You can see it in their eyes, see it in their embrace. They constantly talk of one another when separated and avoid being separated at all costs. Since having Janette by his side I have seen my Dads face change with the imprint of smile lines and seen his figure fill out with content. Seeing him so incredibly happy, has in turn made all around him incredibly happy.

I held back tears whilst hearing them declare their love in front of all. I was so lucky to have my own little family there by my side for the day.

It just goes to show, that no matter what age, no matter what life journey you have taken...love never dies.

...Plenty of love...

Inkspiration

2011-11-10T03:19:00.000-08:00

This months obsession; Anything cameo. Cameo tattoos? Even better! I would love a cameo tattoo to celebrate my marriage after the big day arrives. Here are my favourite Cameo tattoo finds of late;

...enjoy....

MILS and FILS

2011-11-06T02:13:00.000-08:00

Today I experienced the less talked about side of marriage, the MIL (Mother-in-law) and FIL (Father-in-law). It isn't often that MILS and FILS are discussed in a positive tone, how many people do you hear complaining about their in-laws? Avoiding family get-togethers?

Well, there is not a negative tone to be heard here, not a moan or grumble, nor a worry or a trouble.

Today, I spent the day trawling the craft fair in the sunshine with my Mr, his Mother and his Father and we had the loveliest day ever. We were able to share a joke, talk about family history and my partners childhood.

I am so very lucky to have this family be accepting of me, and also my daughter. They have welcomed me into their lives and see me as being the light of happiness in their sons eyes. They are tolerant and understanding of my situation and have never once made me feel an ounce of guilt, shame or awkwardness. This is what family should be about, I am not only marrying my soul mate and creating and developing our own family, but I am sharing in the family that has always been.

I feel as though my MIL is perhaps offering me the support and happiness that I did not receive as a child and young adult without a Mother. We can gossip about wedding venues and cakes, and plan rose bouquets.

I cannot wait to bring these incredibly beautiful people more grandchildren of their own. The talent and motivation that their son holds will be projected through to his children. They will mirror the same great strength, wisdom and morality that was instilled in him as a child.

What greater gift than to create, develop and share in family!

What kind of relationship do you share with your in-laws? The stereotypical tension stricken relationship? A casual and relaxed relationship? Do you have any crazy MIL and FIL stories to share with me? I'd love to hear them all!

...plenty of love...

sweet gratitude

2011-11-06T01:11:00.000-07:00

Sweet words and congratulations from sweet friends and family make this very special time of my life even happier. I am so grateful to have the unconditional support and love of a very special few.

Lovely Love Story.

2011-11-03T04:00:00.000-07:00

I have been drafting this post in my head for the last nine days, and each time I come up with something I mentally scribble it out because I just cant do it justice. I can't recreate one the most incredible experience of my life in words. Just believe me when I say it was incredible.

It started with Mr Perfect blindfolding me after a long day at work and driving me to a secret destination. I tried to guess the corners and bends and estimate the distances, but this boy sure is good at putting me off the scent. After a leisurely blindfolded drive we arrived at...well, I didn't know where. I was led by his helping hand and stumbled through a doorway where I was instructed to remove my blindfold.

I was standing in my own home. The curtains were drawn and rose petals scattered the floor, leaving a sweet smelling pathway from the front door to what would usually be the playroom. I opened the playroom door, not really sure what I should be expecting, inside I found the most beautiful, romantic and tear inducing restaurant set up. Complete with the most amazing table decor I've ever seen. Everything that I loved adorned the table. There were even doilies on the walls with love notes and love words written. I was speechless and breathless.

What followed was a three course meal, a bottle of wine and some romantic music. It was like everything I had imagined as a little girl. It was the way love was described in fairy tales, movies and picture books. It was perfect.

After our dinner (Which involved no shoes and relaxed table manners) we took to the 'dance floor' for a little groove. Mid waltz Nick paused to reach for his pocket, I felt his grip loosen and his knee start to bend, before he even made it to the floor my hands reached for my face and a squeal escaped my throat. Here was the most beautiful soul I have ever met, before me on bended knee, holding a small box with a glistening white gold diamond ring inside. My mind and heart wanted to cry but all my body could do was squeal and giggle.

So, here we are. 9 days engaged and 9 thousand times in love. I never thought I was worthy of such a true, honest love....let alone believed it existed. But it does. This person is who I want to spend the rest of my life with and I knew this right from the very start. I want to share every experience, every high and every low with this man. Not one thing about it is wrong, there is not one thing I would change. I have never felt so sure, so right and so confident about anything.

Ahhhh love, you struck me when I least expected it. Raise your tea cup, wine glass or baby bottle...here is a cheers, to love!

...Plenty of love...

Sand, water and Stella.

2011-11-03T02:13:00.000-07:00

We recently took a road trip to spend the weekend with family and to celebrate my Dads wedding (A wedding post to come soon I promise!) While the sun was shining we ventured to a nearby beach. This was Stellas first impromptu beach experience, and she was both in awe and terrified at the same time. Watching her tentatively wriggle her toes in the sand and curiously look to the water was priceless.

These are the experiences that make parenting wonderful and magic-filled.

busy busy family of bees.

2011-11-02T01:49:00.000-07:00

One word, nine letters, three syllables. NEGLECTED.

Every day for the last few weeks I have said the word blog, "I must blog, I will blog, I want to blog, I need to blog". I have missed it so very much, but finding a spare second in a day, any day, has been like finding a needle in a haystack. I envy those who are able to lead busy lifestyles and run demanding families and still manage to find time to blog, perhaps I have been letting my priorities slide a little and procrastinating more than usual.

Tonight, I am leaving the basket of washing unfolded and skipping dinner. I have sent the baby to bed and the partner out for a run and I am spending some quality alone time with my laptop, my iPhone, my glass of red wine and my block of chocolate. These are certainly not the order of my priorities at all times, but tonight they are. I have missed writing, expressing, creating and inspiring so very much. As over-emotional and dramatic as it sounds, I need to blog. I need this creative outlet, for both my sanity and my motivation. It opens me to a whole new world of communication, with Mothers from the other side of the country to families the other side of the world. Because of this blog I have discovered many a serving of empathy, many a cool baby product, many a developing friendship and many a smile.

No matter how darn busy life is, I want to tap these fingers on the keyboard and document my life as a mother, my philosophies as a parent and my feelings as Natalie.

I hope you haven't given up reading and I thank you for your patience in waiting for me.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's off to blog I go!

...Plenty of love...

Happy parents equals happy children.

2011-10-17T05:09:00.000-07:00

Happy parents equals happy children; equals happy parents.

I have heard a lot lately on the effect that a parents attitude, mood and behaviour can have and does have on children. Children read us. They are far more intuitive than we give them credit for.

After reading the quote "Happy children equals happy parents equals happy children" and having a particularly testing week with Stellas attitude, I decided that I would make a conscious effort to change my reactions to certain situations around our home. Instead of showing stress and frustration on my face and in front of Stella, I would put out an aura of cool, calm and collected. Whether I felt that way or not, that is the way my face looked, the way my attitude seemed. It's like the contagious smile theory, smile on the outside and you will feel a little happier on the inside. Pretending to be cool, calm and collected actually made me a little more C, C and C.

Sure enough, being the intuitive little bean she is, Stella picked up on my new found mood and reflected it for herself. I saw an ever so subtle, yet unmistakable change in her temperament. She seemed easier to manage during a tantrum and during 'arsenic hour'. Either that or I was managing with my own temperament a little easier. It is incredible the effect that such a small and easy change has made to our days. As simple as erasing a frown and adding a smile or replacing a sigh with a whistle.

If you do one thing today as a parent to make your days a little more pleasant and the hard times a little easier, let it be smile. Pretend you are calm, pretend you are carefree and relaxed...Your attitude, behaviour and your childs attitude and behaviour should follow suit.

Lesson of the week; If you think you are, then you are. Repeat after me... "I am cool, calm and collected".

Threads and Trends

2011-10-17T04:17:00.000-07:00

Stella wears; Coat, tights and shoes by Pumpkin Patch, Dress by Cotton On.

Post Natal Depression; Increasing awareness.

2011-10-07T03:24:00.000-07:00

Post-Natal Depression has over the years become more acceptable to talk about. We all see the advertisements on the television and hear our midwives questioning our feelings, but how often do you hear a 'real' mums story? Someone who is your age? Someone who lives in your neighbourhood. I think that these stories reach into our hearts and touch us far more significantly that the odd rehearsed acting staring at us from the TV.

This is Zoes story, a young woman who is local to me and is the same age. I hope her story may help you understand Post-Natal Depression a little better or perhaps even help you recognise signs of PND in yourself or your loved ones. Thank you so much to Zoe for being so brave and sharing.

"Post-Natal Depression. When most people hear this, they think of a mother that has lost control, who can't handle the cries of their baby, and is at risk of seriously hurting their baby or themselves. This is not totally true. Yes, there is a risk of the mother hurting themselves or their child and the crying is always hard to handle, but they usually seem fairly normal and in control.

My name is Zoe, and I suffer from Post-Natal Depression.

Not long after my first born came along, I suffered the 'baby blues' - the baby blues are different to post natal depression - and I got over that pretty quickly. I felt on top of the world. My relationship was fine, my daughter was beautiful and we had just moved into our own little place just for the 3 of us. Life was fantastic. Then when my daughter was around 8 weeks old, something hit me. Almost like a tonne of bricks. I was feeling tired, sad, confused, but mostly angry. I would get so mad I would cry. I couldn't understand why I would feel that way when my whole life was coming together perfectly.

I tried to deal with it on my own and bottle up how I was feeling. I found it hard to connect with the gorgeous little girl I had around me all the time. I felt like I was baby sitting, and not actually being a mother. Finally I went to an appointment for my daughter at a Child Heath Clinic just for a general check in. While I was there they asked me to fill in the Post-Natal Depression Quiz. So I did. One of the Questions was "Do you feel like you may harm yourself or your baby?" 3 options to choose from - Sometimes, always and never. When I got to this questions I stopped and hesitated. Right then and there, I knew something wasn't right with how I felt and I had to be serious and truthful. I answered "sometimes". Not to hurting my daughter, I would never in a million years hurt my children. But it was for me. I wasn't well, and after accepting that I sought help.

I went to the doctor and got medicated. I was on the road to recovery. I was only 18 at the time, and thought I could handle things without the medication. I stopped too early, but with a supportive family I made it through and was on top of the world again.

September last year I was blessed enough to give birth to another beautiful girl. This time I was with another man. An amazing, supportive, generous man. Things were yet again great. I barely got the baby blues and thought this time I was going to skip the depression. But, I knew the warning signs and sought help straight away. I was breastfeeding at the time, so took a small dose of my medication. But something I did different this time, was I spoke to a professional. I went to a social worker. I think this decision was the best one I could make for a full recovery. I stopped my medication again for a while and stopped seeing a social worker due to car problems. I wasn't ready to stop and went down fast.

Yesterday I went back to the doctor, I told him exactly how I felt. And he was understanding - it is not uncommon to have PND. I am going back to my social worker starting next week and I am actually looking forward to it.

I thought I'd share with you some of the practical and 'real life' things I am currently doing in order to tackle my Post-Natal Depression. I hope that this information is far more helpful for you than the hard to connect with stories seen on television or in magazines. These things aren't life changing or dramatic, they aren't hard or unreachable. They are simple and achievable steps you can take right this very minute to start making yourself better.

3 things I am currently doing to help myself are;
* Eat better
* Get out of the house
* Seeking the help I need

If you don't feel comfortable seeing a social worker, choose a close friend or family member. Talking really helps. So many emotions go around when PND arises and talking helps ease the burden.

The steps I found easiest to take were:

* Talking to my local Child Health Nurse - they can give you pamphlets and make necessary appointments for you

* Talk to a family member, be it your partner/mother/friend - someone you trust

* Actually go to your appointments. Most doctors will tailor a medication around your needs. Small dose, large dose, if your are breastfeeding, not breastfeeding. Its well worth it.

Seeing a doctor may be a little daunting and confronting, but not going could bring a whole new set of problems. It is normal to have the 'baby blues' a week or so after the baby is born, but remember it is not normal to continue feeling that way. Confide in someone, they won't judge you. Ever. It is your job as a parent to make sure you look after yourself as well as your baby."

Shhhhhhh....

2011-10-06T15:57:00.000-07:00

The most adorable thing in the world; a sleeping baby. The most enjoyable thing in the world; watching your sleeping baby. The most comforting thing in the world; sleeping with your baby.

Cousin love.

2011-10-06T03:52:00.000-07:00

A few days back, Stella and her older cousin Ruby spent a day in the park together. It was beautiful to watch them laugh, run and play together.

One of my earliest and happiest memories as a child is playing with my best friends. My best friends being my younger Sister and my older Cousin. My cousin and I rarely fought and experienced many a family birthday party, BBQ and Christmas together. The days before school yard politics were bliss. Friendships were simple and almost always pleasant.

The close relationship between cousins is irreplaceable. It is the first bloom of friendship, and one to be cherished. I can't wait to see these two little girls grow up together and play the same games I too played with my cousin.

Threads and Trends

2011-10-06T00:49:00.000-07:00

Mama wears: Tights by Cotton On, dress by Filo from Mi' Lili Boutique, Nailpolish by Rimmel, pendant by That Vintage

The Three P's by Mr P.

2011-10-05T03:11:00.000-07:00

I have introduced you to Mr Perfect here before. He's still here, and still as perfect as ever. Even more perfect when he asked me to guest post on my blog. Yep, he asked me. He had already written a draft and was nervous about sending it to me. I must admit, when I read it I smiled like a child at Christmas, and smiled and smiled for hours later.

Without further ado, here is his first post. My heart is swelling just reading it again!

Three (P)eas in a pod

I always struggle with first liners, however so many precede mine that I’ve found it easy to go with the flow. For those who are up to date with this blog, I need not give myself an introduction. For those who are not, I suggest you do some reading as I assure you, you’ll be better off for doing so.

It’s not too often a person finds themselves in the situation I have, falling in love at a 1st birthday party...so I wish to share the story and insight from my perspective in dating a single mama.

Not only does the title of this post refer to obviously Natalie, Stella and myself...it refers to three defining “P” words that are important in sharing my experience..

The first is required in everyday life, irrespective of the context or situation you find yourself in. However, PATIENCE is required to be mastered when dating a single mother. Prior to Nat and I being “official” as a couple, I found it important to demonstrate this to myself and to Nat. I understood the situation and knew that my patience was required. I knew that in doing so, I would be welcomed into her own, and Stella lives. Baby steps.

When the time came to bring Stella into the equation, not just verbally...but physically I found myself learning new skills and patience for which I did not know I had. For example, it takes a lot longer to get ready, or to pack a car when heading out. I found myself required to venture into an aisle in the supermarket I never had to prior, or the need to constantly say “excuse me” to strangers whilst pushing a pram. Speaking from a new experience, I assure any reader that the enjoyment that is brought is definitely worth the wait..

And so, my second point; A “rule” that is required in dating a single mother...PRIORITIES & PLANNING... Let it be known I like to be somewhat romantic, and like nothing more than wining & dining or cuddling on the couch while watching a movie. As a male in my instance, dating a single mother however has its restrictions. You need to be someone completely unselfish and open to the fact that you are not going to be put first in a lot of situations. Before committing to this kind of relationship, it needs to be known that another’s child is always going to come first, therefore I found it extremely important to always plan ahead. As I understood the situation early, I asked Nat to go to dinner with me three weeks before the intended date. Time spent catching up on sleep or with other friends, planning someone to mind Stella, work commitments etc were only some of the possible restrictions to cross my mind. (For the record, the date was everything I had dreamed and as far as I am concerned, from that night on Nat was now no longer a “single” mother)

I know that my last point remains the most crucial, and important to everyone involved...a PASSION for PARENTING...I consider myself to have always been a family man and hold this as the most important aspect (after my own health) in my life. Parenting is for some people, and for others it is not...I for example, have always completely loved children. However being directly involved in all the “nitty gritty” in caring for child was no exception, I was sucked in.. I fell in love with the connection I witnessed between Mother and Daughter, and with the one that was created between the three of us for ourselves. I fell in love with two girls and knew my heart was sold on not only the idea of continuing it into the future, but the excitement of becoming a father for myself one day.

I have found the experience nothing but rewarding, and give the following advice to readers:

• To people curious of the idea on dating a single parent – Do your research, learn and understand the situation. If you are prepared to wait, you will find yourself in a completely honest, loyal and extremely loving three (or more) way relationship
• To any single parents – NEVER give up hope. If your heart so desires, I assure you that the right person is out there for you. Give him or her the time to understand your situation, and to work out for themselves what is required. Trust me, we’re out there!

As expected it can be difficult at times, but at the end of the day I know that we have the love and patience to get through anything. Together.

I love Stella, and I am in love with her Mother.. There is a future for us, I have never been more certain... and in good time I see myself asking the penultimate question...also beginning with “P” *wink wink*

Watch this space!
Nick.

Coping with not coping.

2011-10-04T18:24:00.000-07:00

Parenting is without a doubt, hard. And at times it is hard to cope. Some of us struggle quietly, some of us struggle loudly and publicly...the moral of the story being that at some point in time, some of us, a lot of us, perhaps most of us, struggle.

That's part of parenting! It's OK to struggle, it's OK to not be coping. But what is important is how to cope with not coping. I'm not talking about the more serious struggles of post natal depression; that is something that shouldn't be swept under the carpet. But, more so the day to day struggles and "Im not coping" moments a lot of us experience.

In complete honesty, The last fortnight has called for screams of "I'm not coping" far too often. Blame it on hormones, blame it on the increasing tantrums or even blame it on the incident where apple puree was squirted up the entire length of a perfectly white wall. And then rubbed in for good measure.

I had a lightbulb moment right in the midst of an "I'm not coping" moment, I don't know where it came from or what induced it but a feeling of control came over me and I found myself saying, "You know what? I can cope with not coping". I am going to run with it, let it finish its course. I'm not coping overly well right now, but dammit, I am coping with not coping!

In my lightbulb moment, I thought I'd share with my readers my favourite ways of coping with not coping. Not everything works for everyone, parenting isn't a OSFA. But in moments of "Im not coping", I hope this may help a smidgen or even a smidgen plus some!

How to cope with not coping.

1. Remember; This too shall pass. Whatever the woe, whatever the worry, It will soon change dynamics. Teething will be over and tantrums will begin, tantrums will be over and toilet training will begin. Parenting is forever changing, whatever your woe is now remember that all too soon it will pass and something else will begin. Perhaps you'll even wish back time to a previous woe!

2. Let it out. Call a friend and moan until you can moan no more, e-mail another mother for advice, vent your frustrations in a diary. In any way that you can, let it out to a third party. Being a single parent, I sometimes find myself venting within reason to my own daughter. "Mummy is sad, Stella is sad and we are both grumpy. We are just not getting along very well today are we baby?" However, if like me you are going to vent to your child who has no idea what you are talking about...do so within reason. No swearing, use simple words, don't hurt their feelings. Common sense really.

3. Get out. This is the most valuable way of coping with not coping for me. I know i'll procrastinate about it, but I also know how good it will feel later on. Get out of there. Drop the mess, grab some shoes, grab your baby, take a deep breath and go. Go to the park, the supermarket, the city, a friends house, even to the backyard. Just go, get out.

4. Cry. Crying makes me feel refreshed, calmer and almost detoxed of my sadness. Have a good, therapeutic cry. Preferably not in front of your child. This week my cry was subjected to a Optus mobile telemarketer.

5. Junk food and a glass of wine. Sometimes, this is the only way that coping with not coping feels achievable. I'm not advocating poor eating habits or bad drinking behaviours. But, when the baby is finally asleep and the house is silent. A glass or three of wine and a piece (or block) or chocolate makes everything seem a little more 'ok'.

I know that very soon, in fact almost already, the not coping stage will pass and parenting will seem a little more manageable and a little brighter again. If it weren't for the lows of the roller coaster, the highs wouldn't feel so euphoric. And there are plenty of highs to feel euphoric about; the kisses and the cuddles, the sleepy little snores and sighs, a little voice saying "Mummy", the realisation that you are doing the most important job of your life, raising the next generation. And, the total, unconditional love you hold for your child...that, is euphoric.

Threads and Trends

2011-10-04T18:20:00.000-07:00

Mama wears: Tights by Cotton On, skirt by Supre, blouse and bolero by Just Jeans, nailpolish 'sheer satin slip' by Maybelline, pendant by That Vintage,

Drum roll...

2011-10-04T18:12:00.000-07:00

I am sorry for my lack of blogging and web presence of late, I have had some very frustrating Internet issues which forced me to have nearly two weeks of Internet hibernation. It was both lovely and horrible at the same time, I was enjoying the break but also craving to write!

But, never fear. I'm back! Somewhat slower, but still back! And without further delay I MUST announce the winner of the 100 followers giveaway!

Using RANDOM.ORG, The $50 That Vintage Etsy store voucher goes to.....

*insert drum roll here*

...Pam!

Congratulations Pam, I will be in contact with you very soon to organise the finer details of your prize! Thank you to everyone who entered and hello to all the new readers and likers. Here's to hoping my hibernation is over and may the blogging begin!

plenty of love...

Play, fun... Ugh

2011-09-24T02:47:00.000-07:00

These pretty little toy boxes used to say "Play, fun, laugh". Stella decided to do a little altering and they now say "Play, fun Ugh". I cant help but empathise with her... There's so much play, so much fun, and a little ugh in every day. I wouldn't want it any other way.

Mi' Lili and Me.

2011-09-23T22:08:00.000-07:00

With Stella finding her independence more and more each day, I have found myself feeling at times a little under stimulated myself. Sometimes a little restless. I feel as though she needs more child interaction and I feel as though I need more adult interaction. For us, this small step away from each other for 2-3 days extra a week is healthy.

Now that my sweet Stella is 14 months old, I feel comfortable enough to take another leap from our comfort zone and start working a little more. I recently acquired a new job as a sales assistant at a beautiful clothing and shoe boutique close to home, Mi' Lili. I am thrilled to be working in fashion and the visual merchandising aspect of a fashion boutique excited me! It is a slight change to the dynamics of a bustling shoe store, but I enjoyed every minute of my first shift.

Not only did I love chatting with regular customers and helping young girls with formal dresses, but I also loved snapping up a few bargains of beauty myself. I went home with a bag full of peach, coral, lace and natural toned pieces. I cant wait to keep sharing with you my journey in another casual job, my pretty purchases and my experience with childcare and balance.

If you are local to Launceston, 'like' the Mi' Lili Facebook page and call in to say hi sometime!

...Plenty of love...

Baileys Birthday.

2011-09-23T21:43:00.000-07:00

This year, I have been so lucky to have attended so many wonderful childrens birthday parties. The intense amount of preparation and lengths that mothers go to, to ensure that the party day is just perfect is inspiring and exciting all the same. I love seeing proud mothers on party days. Over the months I've shared with you Arden's party, Evie's party and of course Stella's party. Now, I'm sharing with you Baileys 3rd Birthday Party!

Baileys mother Tahnii did the most amazing job at making us all feel as though we were aboard a pirate ship. The food, the decor, the atmosphere...it was very pirate-like. Here are some happy snaps taken on the day!

...enjoy...

pretty, pretty skull brooch.

2011-09-22T05:52:00.000-07:00

One of the purchases I made at the Salamanca Market during my weekend away was this brooch by Two Daisies. I love that the colours are so neutral that I can wear it with almost everything, and wear it with everything I certainly have! Since purchasing this brooch I have developed a slight obsession with all things 'skull'. I thought I'd share some beautiful skull related finds with you that I am currently oooohhing and aaaahhing over!

1. Macabre machined messenger bag by Plastic Land.

2. Cream wallet by Plastic Land.

3. Sugar Skull Party dress by McLaine O

4. Baby booties by Pitter Patter baby gifts

5. Sugar skull necklace by Hungry Designs

5. Skull dummy from Pink Diamond.

One Zero Zero!

2011-09-22T05:08:00.000-07:00

one hundred Followers!

It feels as though it has taken an eternity to get to this milestone. Although, when I think more realistically, it was very quick. I started blogging in February of this year, which means I have been writing almost daily for 8 months. My raison d'etre being to connect with other parents travelling along the same unknown path and to express this journey in the way I know best; with words.

It gives me warm, fuzzy feelings of happiness each and every time I accumulate a new reader or receive the odd e-mail from half way across the world. I want to continue to write about what I feel passionate about; parenting, motherhood, love, beauty and creating. In my ideal world, I would have hours of uninterrupted writing time each and every day, but alas, with a toddler and two casual jobs this is not possible. I am determined to keep writing in the hope of bringing smiles, nods of agreeance and sighs of relief.

So, to thank YOU for reading I have a giveaway for you all to take part in!

To be in the running to win a That Vintage Etsy store voucher all you need to do is;

Step 1. Like the Winter Love Facebook page and/or
Step 2. Become a follower by clicking 'follow' in the side bar.
Step 3. Comment below telling me you have done so! (Including your e-mail address)

The competition is open to national and international readers alike, please make sure you are contactable via e-mail so I can let you know if you are a winner and organise the finer details of your prize! Competition closes Friday the 30th of September at 7:00PM AEST. The winner will be selected using a random number generator.

Goodluck to you all, I have such appreciation for each and every one of you.

Plenty of love...

A two minute DIY

2011-09-19T05:15:00.000-07:00

I've always envied those with pretty laundries, those who bring their personality and style all the way down to the detail in their laundry baskets. Now that I am a mother I spend more time in my laundry than what I do in my bathroom, incentive enough to pretty it up a little.

formula tins + fabric stickers = pretty laundry organisation.

I used three old washed formula tins and covered them with these incredibly pretty fabric stickers from Etsy. Then tied some doilies with handwritten labels to the front, so easy it could be done with your eyes closed (ok, maybe one eye closed). The wall decals added an extra touch of pretty, I am now a little happier when stuck in my laundry for hours on end.

Happy two minute DIY-ing! Be inspired to spend two minutes making something simple that will make you smile, rather than two minutes thinking about what your unattractive to-do list!

...Plenty of love...

Circle of Mothers.

2011-09-16T03:32:00.000-07:00

If there is one thing that I would tell an expectant mother, it would be to surround yourself with those who also have children. One of the most incredible, and sometimes the only, support network that mothers can have is other mothers. When you find a positive circle of mothers with similar lifestyles, ideals and morals...embrace it. See them often, enjoy time with the children around, sneak away without the children around. Gossip, moan and gloat.

However, be aware of a positive circle versus a negative circle. If things get competitive; move along. If things get draining; move along. If you leave a visit feeling like you haven't taken a sigh of relief home, haven't exhausted every giggle and tear or haven't smiled; move along. Because that is what your circle should be about...it should leave you feeling relieved that you are not alone. It should leave you smiling.

I have a wonderful circle of motherly support, some I see often, others not so often. Each and every one of them have a positive effect on my parenting, something I am truly grateful for. Recently I added to my circle, by catching up with Danielle. You may remember the feature I did on Danielles home business 2 little birds. We caught up and talked about school, childcare, friendships and tantrums.

Here are some happy snaps of Danielles beautiful children playing with Stella.

Do you have a support circle? If not, take steps to create that circle for yourself. Whether it be meeting a fellow mother for a coffee, attending a playgroup or e-mailing a mother you know. (I am always open to mail!)

...plenty of love...

A trip away...

2011-09-15T16:57:00.000-07:00

To celebrate my heart being stolen, I ventured away for the weekend with its thief. I had the weekend off 'mama duties' as Stella was with her Dad, so what perfect opportunity to spark some romance without a sippy cup in my handbag!

We drove a short and sweet 2.5 hours, in which time I managed to inhale an entire packet of skittles and a kit-kat. Mini holidays must be accompanied by sweet and naughty treats right? It was late when we arrived at our destination, so we checked in, dropped our bags and headed out for pizza and pasta. Being the intense party animals and thrill seekers we are, we then bought two cheap bottles of wine and proceeded to watch bad TV, drink from the hotels finest plastic and talk until the early hours of Saturday morning from the comfort of a hotel bed.

Saturday started with a big breakfast. I had the most incredible smoothie my taste buds had ever experienced...Toasted muesli + banana + Yogurt. We then browsed the Salamanca Markets, If you are ever to visit Tasmania, or are lucky enough to be located on this humble yet beautiful island, the Salamanca Market is a must. I purchased something special for myself and something special for Stella, both of which I will share and review with you very soon!

Next came MONA. I am still unsure as to which the best way describe MONA is. I was planning on sharing some photos with you, but once there for ten minutes decided against it. MONA is the newest attraction to grace Tasmania and attract it certainly has. Showcasing ancient, modern and contemporary art, visit with an open mind and be prepared. And visit I would recommend.

Saturday night luck was with us. We had booked in for a night at the Henry Jones Art Hotel and were looking forward to a little luxury for our moneys worth. However, the Henry Jones had decided that we deserved more than a little luxury and upon check-in we were told of our upgrade! The Peacock Terrace. An overflowing spa, Tasmanias oldest spiral staircase, original artworks and views of Hobarts beautiful waterfront. It was luxury all right. How lucky we were!

We decided that instead of wasting time away from this amazing terrace that we had all to ourselves, we would settle in for the night. Again, in true class and style we got takeaway butter chicken and bottles of wine. We wined, lazily dined and reclined. All whilst in our Henry Jones bath robes. Thank you Henry Jones for an amazing night.

Sunday, was my favourite out of the whole trip. Stellas Dad bought her down to meet us as he was also having a trip away (small town), we exchanged the baby gear and said our hello/goodbyes and then spent the rest of the day as a threesome. Mama + baby + boyfriend. It was the most enjoyable day I have had in a long time. We visited the museum, shopped in the city and then spent late afternoon and night with my Dad and his fiancee. It was the first time since Stella had been born that I felt truly complete. The picture had been finished, the missing gaps filled in. It was perfect.

That, was a long-winded description of my weekend away. If there is one thing you do regardless of budget, regardless of lifestyle...let it be exploring your own home. Visit your own state as though you are a tourist, see the beauty and experience the attractions with fresh eyes. And do it preferably with a loved one. Or a loved two!

...Plenty of love...