Hanging up the boots...

I sat down to write today; to creatively announce to the blogosphere and break the news to my readers that I was planning to 'hang up the boots'. I was going to write my last post and it was going to be about throwing in the towel.

Sadly, this was going to be it.

Blogging is something that has bought me immeasurable happiness over the past 18 months. It created an outlet for my ever accumulating thoughts and ideas and gave me something to strive for amongst the sometimes mundane lifestyle of a stay at home mother. I felt a sense of achievement when hitting publish on a post I had been working on for the night, more so it gave me a feeling of satisfaction, pride and excitement when my posts reached a wider audience. Maybe something I'd written had resonated with a mother...Heck, maybe it had even made a tired mother laugh, made a frustrated mother nod, or encouraged and inspired a mother in sadness. Developing this comfy space for mothers to visit was truly my passion.. You can read my post on why I blog here

About three months ago, I felt that I had reached a tiny milestone here on Winter Love. I began to offer sponsorship for the very first time, which not only opened up a new audience and paid some of my monthly credit card bill but it bought to me new faces and friendships. I wrote or planned nearly every day...I guess you could say I was high on blogging life!

Funnily, I just assumed this level of commitment would continue after little Isla came into the world. I was a super mama wasn't I? Wasn't I?! It wasn't long before the reality of parenting a newborn came and kindly shocked me. I have four humans to look after daily; A newborn to feed and settle 24 hours around the clock, a toddler to entertain, a partner to engage and connect with and, myself to keep alive and relatively healthy and happy. Oh and don't forget the household duties, friendships and sleep (What sleep!). In this crazy mayhem of motherhood my little blog had no space.

I attempted to put some dedication back into my favourite hobby numerous times, but felt disheartened and frustrated when after writing barely a sentence I was having to drop my train of thought in favor of a nappy or dummy.

Until today... Today something felt different.

I had been guiltily reflecting on my lack of writing and promised to write a short and sweet post letting my readers know that Winter Love was no longer. I opened my laptop and tapped out the words "Hanging up the boots..." When I stopped. I realised what had just happened. For one, I had the time to open the laptop, and two I had the motivation to mentally draft a post. That's when I realised; I couldn't let myself give up. And more importantly, I didn't have to give up.

I am a huge fan of the cute little saying 'where there is a will there is a way'. And today I had the will, and I am determined to find a way!

So, here's to hoping that my time management and multi tasking skills continue to improve and that the faint memory of routine begins to shine through in this busy families lives once more. Then, this comfy little space can be kept tidy and inviting for mothers to visit and love once again.

Are you still with me? I sure hope so!

Plenty of love,

3 simple goals a day

I am the queen of lists, I even have lists of my lists. Call it an obsession but keeping them makes me feel organised and motivated, and I'd be pretty darn lost without them! Lately, with the exhaustion of pregnancy and raising a toddler I've found that my extensive to-do lists rarely gets looked it. Instead of things being ticked off...there are constantly things being added. Sometimes looking at my list induces more stress than it is worth!

So, I have since decided that rather than going into a slightly mad-mama frenzy everytime I glance at my lists, I would instead create smaller and more friendly ones. Goals and to-do's that are more achievable, less daunting and simple...It's called my '3 simple goals a day' project.

Each night before falling asleep, I'll think about three enjoyable things I can do to make my day feel more productive. Sometimes they are important, other times they are purely things I want to do but wont if I don't make a conscious decision to 'get around to it'. To add a little more fun (and because, lets face it an iPhone is more efficient than a piece of paper) I've prettied them up using a new app and been posting them to my Instagram.



The results so far? Success! Knowing that I have those three little things to do that will improve my mood, my parenting or my productivity is a huge booster for days when motivation is seriously lacking.

I recently read a saying; "Every day may not be good, but there is some good in every day". My 3 simple goals a day project aims for just that...to put some good in every day.

If you are lacking motivation and drive and your to-do's are piling up around you, why not join me and create your own 3 simple goals a day project? Perhaps post them to Instagram or tweet them for extra determination, I'd love to see what simple things you come up with in an effort to maximise happiness in your days!

If you are interested in joining me, I have created a button for you to link up with. Grab the code and use the image to complement your own 3 simple goals a day post. Don't forget to tag me if you share them via Instagram (@natalie_winterlove) or Twitter (@winterlove_nat) so I can follow your journey along the way!

<a href="http://natalie-winterlove.blogspot.com.au/"><img src="http://i1165.photobucket.com/albums/q590/ngearman/simoplefoalswhitecopy.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>


I can't wait to see what simple goals you come up with!
Plenty of love,

A momentary lapse.

Some days I am up, some days I am down. Some weeks I fly at a hundred miles per hour, other weeks, well... I crawl. This is just how I am.

I have always had large bursts of motivation and inspiration...both creatively and just generally, when these bursts come they can last for a few days, a few weeks or even a few months. I am like a positive steam train, chugging along with my load in tow. No stopping, no hesitating... Just steaming along, quickly and productively. Then, My steam seems to fade and I start to slow. Sometimes for a few days, sometimes for a few weeks. I begin to crawl along dragging my load with resentment and struggle, until I find that steam again. This is just how I am.

Wouldn't it be lovely to always have balance within ourselves? To balance our energies and emotions so that no extreme ever took hold, and a happy medium of travelling was achieved. It would be lovely, but the reality is some of us rarely reach a happy medium and maintain it.

I've recently exerted all the positive energies I had waiting to be harnessed within. I spent weeks and weeks with to-do lists coming out of my ears. I was blogging daily, cleaning daily, baking daily and crafting daily. I was researching toddler development and adjusting our routines to best suit Stellas current learning patterns, I was creating new, fun and exciting activities for her and scheduling them in like clockwork. My manicure matched my pedicure and the bed was always crisply made. I was moving furniture, spring cleaning wardrobes, stocktaking paperwork and revamping finances. I was chugging along at the speed of light. Until... I just stopped. A week ago my train stopped.

I didn't want to get out of bed, I couldn't keep up with the washing or bother to cook a meal. I didn't want to face a lunchdate and grocery shopping seemed like a challenge. An unmade bed ruined my entire day and days and nights became one and the same. I slept in trackpants, that I wore the next day and my hair didn't get removed from its unwashed topknot for a week. I guess this kind of behaviour can be seen as socially unacceptable, as lazy and unmotivated, as strange and extreme. But, I am slowly coming to terms with the fact that this is just how I am. These momentary lapses, are just that... momentary. I burn and burn until I burn out, then... I flick my light again and climb back on that train.

I recognise when my lapses occur and whilst I let them take hold for perhaps a week or two, my conscientious nature soon tries to take back to control. I seek it from within, or externally. A few close friends said to me earlier this week... " You've just got to try and refresh your perspective of why you need and want to do things and see the results that will follow". "Sometimes it's a struggle, but you've just gotta do it." I looked for my push, and I got it. So, Here I go... jumping back on my train. This is just how I am.  

Sometimes we just need to accept the way we are. Let your energies and emotions take over... even if just for a little while. Don't question it, just let it. And then seek back the control to be the best you know you can be.

What about you? Do you maintain a happy medium? Or like me, are you very high when you are up and very low when you are down?
Plenty of love,

motivation, Is that you?

 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.