A pretty picture and a racing heart.

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So, here I sit.

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

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

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

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

A metaphor.

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

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

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

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

Plenty of love,

Celebrate the Goodness!

Winter Love has entered the Sydney Writers 'Best Australian Blogs Competition 2012', what an exciting way to discover new bloggers and celebrate the goodness blogging brings us!

The peoples choice round is now open, and if you are a regular reader here at Winter Love, I would love for you to vote for me. I am so humbled to be able to take part in these experiences and celebrating successes is more fun when I can involve you in the journey with me!

Voting closes on Thursday May 9th, which gives you 25 days to click, click, clickety click and vote for me, it would really mean the world to me.




Thanks for being such loyal and wonderful readers! Lets celebrate!
Plenty of love,

Why, you ask?

Quite often I get asked, "Why do you blog?"

Many people seem to think that an online diary or blog is merely a waste of time and shows an excessive lack of privacy, equally as much I have found that people view bloggers as fake, and in turn are often accused of creating a perfect online persona not corresponding with the 'real world'. Of course this isn't every ones view, and it certainly isn't the most common view. But it is a view all the same.

When someone is curious as to why I put so much time and energy into writing and maintaining my blog, I can find myself stumbling for the right words, unable to justify why it is that I do what I do. I often walk away feeling slightly deflated that I couldn't put into words the passion I hold for writing, and why this passion doesn't differ greatly from the passion an author, magazine editor or poet holds. I guess that is the answer in itself.

Why do I blog? Because I have a passion for writing. I may not be writing for money, or for a very wide audience, I may not have a degree or qualification, but I love writing all the same. I love expressing my feelings and emotions (especially as a mother) in words. Writing for me is cathartic, healing and joyful. And writing as a mother, is all of that and more. Which brings me to this phenomenon that is mama bloggers.

Why do mothers blog?

Parenting is a beautiful, charming, sometimes horrid challenge. It doesn't come easily and doesn't always come pleasantly, with parenting and motherhood often comes isolation, guilt and fear. It is sometimes believed that all women hold some kind of maternal instinct that not only enables them to care for their children effortlessly, but to navigate the world that is motherhood with ease and confidence. I think that perhaps it gets forgotten that a mother is born when her child is born, we are expected to fall into this new found job position without training or probation periods and to succeed without help.

That's where the world of blogging has helped me most. I stepped into this great unknown called Motherhood and found that there were others out there going through the exact same problems as me, facing the exact same challenges. Reading blogs enabled me to seek comfort and empathy during difficult times as well as motivation and inspiration. Writing a parenting blog, has opened me up to an incredibly large community of  online Mothers and bought this support network right to my fingertips. Over the course of a year, I have formed some great friendships with mamas from the other side of the world, shared laughs, tears and triumphs with those who are stumbling along the path I'm also trying to navigate.

I believe mama's blog for support and inspiration. Mama bloggers are one large and powerful community and one that I am so proud to be a part of.

So... why, you ask? Why do I blog? I can now tell you in one sentence, in fact I can tell you in just  three words; Passion, Support and Inspiration.


Tell me, Why do you blog?
Plenty of love,

Oh so pretty!

I feel pretty, oh so pretty... 
Winter Love is now so pretty and witty and bright!

What you are now looking at is the new face of Winter Love, how beautiful is it?
The talented Kaelah Bee from Little Chief Honeybee has worked her magic to create a stunning new design for this little corner of the Internet; my little corner to share this journey called motherhood.

I am so very happy with the facelift she has given us and truly thankful, It makes me feel all renewed, refreshed and inspired.

Do you love it as much as I do?
Plenty of love, 

A Sweet Happy Birthday

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,

Find us on Facebook!

Winter Love is now on Facebook! 

The official Winter Love blog page will include all links to posts, exclusive information on giveaways and competitions and general parenting discussions! I am really excited to be able to 'reach out' to more of my readers.

If you are a stay-at-home-mother, a father, a working parent or a sole parent...any parent at all, call by and introduce yourself. I would love to hear from you.

Click HERE to 'like' Winter Love on facebook.