Life Love and Hiccups

Today Will be Known Forever More as The Day I Jumped Off The Bridge

2013-05-17T15:59:00.002+10:00

This is a follow up to the story that begins here.

When I was about 13 I stood on the side of the bridge that crosses over a lagoon near where I live.

Down below in the water were some of my school friends who were splashing around, laughing and calling out to me to "JUMP SONIA JUMP".

I wanted to, like really badly wanted to.

With one hand holding on to the railing and one foot still planted to the edge, I leaned out dangling the other foot.

My heart was racing a million miles an hour and the noise of the blood pumping echoed in my head.
My chest almost hurt from the force of the adrenalin pumping through my body and my stomach churned with nerves and anxiety.

"COME ON SONIA, JUMP" they continued to call.

They had done it, the world didn't come to a stand still when they jumped and they were all OK, surely that meant I would be alright too?

I closed my eyes and poised myself ready to make the leap and then in a single split second I made a decision that possibly determined the type of person I would become from that moment forth and would continue to be for many many years ....

I turned around and climbed back over the railing to the safety of the bridge above.

I have always played it safe. I have encouraged others to take wild chances, to throw caution to the wind and chase their dreams and yet I gave all my encouragement from the safety of my position on the side of the bridge.

By nature, I am not a big risk taker. I don't like gambling and I don't like tempting fate. I'm superstitious and I believe in signs, in fact I search for those signs and wait for them to arrive and tell me that what I am doing is the right thing.

Today I did something so completely out of my nature. Something so huge that as I write this I am shaking and quite possibly will fall over at any moment with shock.

I jumped off that bridge.

Not literally THAT bridge, but the bridge I have been standing on for the past 20 years.

I let go of the railing and I leaped without knowing if the water was really deep enough to break my fall. I have gambled everything I have come to know on the hope that if I just jump, the net will magically appear.

Today I listened to the voices inside my head that said "JUMP SONIA JUMP" and so I did.

I quit my job and thus brought to an end a career I have invested my life into for the past 20 years.

So what's next?

What am I going to do?

Was the water deep enough and did the net appear?

Well the water was deep enough to break my fall. I survived the jump and not surprisingly the world didn't even flinch when I made that humongous leap.

And I am sitting here in one piece, completely in shock although at the same time I am surprisingly calm.

As for what's next, what I am going to do.....

I have ideas, plans and I have loads of dreams, which I will share with you in time.

But for now all I want to do is sit here on my couch, sip on the strong drink my husband just made me, catch my breath and wait for a sign that will confirm that jumping was indeed the right thing for me to do.

Are you a jumper or do you prefer the safety of the bridge?

In My Blog Reader - Beautiful Photojournals and Photographers

2013-05-16T07:30:00.000+10:00

I realised earlier this week that I haven't done any 'What's in my Blog reader' posts for a little while.

Since I still have a number of categories to yet to share, I had better pull my finger out and get started again.

This week it is all about the photography.

You know those blogs that you click on and straight away their images steal your breath and you just quietly but so slowly scroll through the photos trying to absorb it all?

Well I'm talking about those types of blogs today.

Most of them are obviously not restricted to having only photos in their posts. The words are there too, beautiful words to compliment the imagery.

But it's the photography on these blogs that truly inspire me. The ways they capture a moment, a thought, a look or the light. They make me want to pick up my camera and capture the beauty that is in the most simple of things that we usually overlook every single day.

I have to confess that I am often a bit of a silent lurker at these sites, only because I feel almost self concious and awkward, I feel almost intrusive if I were to comment, like I have been caught spying on a private moment. I know that is absolutely and insanely ridiculous, these bloggers and photographers so deserve to hear how wonderful I think their images are. But just like I have always been unco and clumsy and at a loss for words when I speak to a really hot guy, I get the same reaction with these gorgeous bloggers and photographers.

These are just some of the Photojournal Blogs in my reader, I will add the rest in the side bar really soon.

As always click on the name or the image to go to their sites.

Oh and I hope that the artists / bloggers don't mind me naively categorizing them as Photojournals as I'm not sure if that is the PC thing to do, but it is how I label them in my reader.

Regardless of all of my ramblings - Please Just Enjoy.

The Byron Life

Che & Fidel

Faith Hope & a Whole Lotta Love

To Gather and Love

Lemon Rhodes

Lisa Jay Lifestyle Photography

Here are the other Categories from the 'In My Blog Reader' series that I have covered so far;

My Morning Cuppa Reads,

Inspiring Woman here

Blogs That Make Me Laugh here.

Home Design and Styling

Do you have a photography blog I should visit or do you know of another beautiful photographer or photojournal blog I should check out?

Reflections of Motherhood

My Families Crazy Photoshoot - Capturing Precious Memories

A Guest Post From My Son Sam

A Guest Post From My Son Sam - AND His Writing Debut

2013-05-15T11:33:00.003+10:00

2 of my boys have a real love of writing which as you can imagine totally warms my heart.

Kai (11) and Sam (8) often ask me if they can have their own blogs. They think it would be all "like really cool or something" and that someone is going to want to send them to Disneyland to write an exposition on whether it be compulsory that all kids should go to Disneyland. (yes they really discussed that).

I said - Keep dreaming sunshine!

Sammy in particular love writing stories, so when he wrote me a book for Mother's Day, I just swooned. You know the real teary comehereandgivemeabigsquishycuddle kind of swoon?

Yep that one.

And then he asked me if his story was good enough to go on my blog?

Kiddo - it is good enough to go on ANY blog was my enthusiastic response.

Although I can't help but question whether there is a bit of an underlying message in his storyline in that Mum loses her voice.

Again keep dreaming sunshine!

So here making his writing debut is my little Sammy, complete with spelling mistakes and all cause spelling mistakes from a kid are so damn cute right?

So the question that Sam wants to ask you guys is

"what Should Mum sing the Mayor for his Birthday?"

Now be kind to me - I cant hit any high notes.

Reflections of Motherhood

My Families Crazy Photoshoot - Capturing Precious Memories

My Family's Crazy Photoshoot - Capturing Precious Memories

2013-05-14T14:06:00.001+10:00

I have for such a long time now been so scared of having our photos taken as a family.

My boys are not what you would class as the shy reserved types that will sit quietly and pose for photos. And truth be told, my last proper family photo experience pretty much scarred me for oh the past 10 years!

It's a scene I know so many of you will be familiar with, you are walking through your local department store, chasing kids and trying to get done so that you can get out of the shop and go and change your little stoinker with the pongy nappy.

You suddenly get that uneasy feeling you are being followed.

You spin around and catch a glimpse of a face and a clipboard as it hides behind a tower of bread makers and toasters.

Instinctively you speed up your pace, grabbing at what you need and distracting yourself with keeping little hands from breaking things and opening packets.

Then suddenly BAM, right at the end of the aisle you come face to face with the in store photo studio's representative and before you can say "Clear the floor I've got a stinker on my hands" they have you bailed up with vouchers for free photo shoots and free prints and yadayadayada.

I myself was suckered in to their spiel about how we were the lucky chosen ones and that they would love the honour of photographing my sweet little boy. Yep I took my free voucher home, fancied us all up and then went straight back to the store with baby and moaning husband in tow.

We were posed and positioned then re-positioned This arm was placed there while that arm went there and we were all instructed to smile at the camera and say "sushi".

The resulting photos were awful.

I looked like an asylum escapee who was stoned and smiling deliriously at the camera, whilst my husband looked awkwardly mechanical. And my beautiful baby boy? Ohhhhh my beautiful baby boy - he looked like he could be mistaken for the son of Chucky. I ended up paying over $500 bucks for the pleasure of that photo shoot, and to ensure that all those hideous photos were physically removed from the store, never to see the light of day again.

I have avoided putting myself and my family in front of the camera for a professional shoot ever since.

So when Steven and Irene from I love My Family | Family Photographers contacted me to ask if I would be interested in a family photography session, I have to admit I was really hesitant.

Apart from the scars of the past experience, I'm just more comfortable hiding myself behind the camera rather than in front of it these days.

But after a long chat with Steven about what I would want from the experience and the time he took to understand my boys, their personalities and our family dynamics, I began to relax and dare I say I was even looking forward to it.

We arranged to meet at Clontarf Beach in Sydney on a particularly gorgeous Sunday afternoon. The kids were encouraged to bring their favourite toys (aka balls, skateboards and more balls) and we packed a picnic with all the essential must haves like wine and cheese and wine.

The boys warmed to Steven straight away, and he will probably kill me for saying this, but I think its kinda because he is like a big kid himself. He and Irene are young and funky and they didn't just photograph the boys, they talked to them, got to know them, played soccer with them and just generally mucked around with them joining in the fun.

I asked for Steven to capture the boys true spirits.

I wanted the photos to be candid and unstaged, and for the boy's individual personalities to shine through.

I wanted to capture them and all their natural energy, out in the sun and in the water, having fun and creating the type of fun mischief they do so well.

I was hoping to get some nice photos of my beloved family.

What I got was the best damn Mother's Day present ever - precious memories frozen forever in time.

Steven and Irene are the incredible talent behind I love My Family / Family Photography in Sydney.

You can read more about Steven and Irene and their philosophies here, or you can check out their photography pricing and session packages here. Have a look through their gorgeous blog that showcases their incredible work here or connect with them on Facebook here.

Irene and Steven also run photography workshops in Sydney where you can learn how to take some stunning photos of your children yourself. Because let's face it, photography session are an investment and we can't all afford to have them done every year.

They understand that and want to encourage everyone to feel comfortable taking their own photos. So maybe you could save up for a photography session one year, another time ask your family and friends to all put in for a session as a gift for a special occasion or birthday and then in between you can learn how to capture beautiful family memories yourself.

Thank you so much Irene and Steven.

You guys were totally awesome and I can never thank you enough for the way you captured by boys in all their true spirit.

Oh and the boys want me to tell you that next time - it's Game on!

Have you had any Family Photo Triumphs or Disasters?

*Disclosure: I was not paid to write this post however I was incredibly fortunate to be gifted a family photography session with Steven and Irene. All opinion are my own and my boys want you to know that they kicked ass in the beach soccer that day!

Reflections of Motherhood

Reflections Of Motherhood - The Good, The Bad and The Downright Breathtaking

2013-05-13T12:23:00.001+10:00

As I curled up in bed last night with my bare feet warm against the soft fuzz of the flannelette sheets, I smiled in one of those totally content, life is really good kind of ways. And with another Mother's Day coming to an end I took a moment to reflect on what Motherhood means to me.

Behind closed eyes I pictured my life, my mothering journey as a music video clip.

What I saw was like a collage of memories of my Mothering journey to date.

It wasn't one of those completely sappy dubbed to tearful music kind of show reels that played out in my mind. Instead it was more of an eclectic alternative compilation, a marriage of varying styles and tones, because to me that is EXACTLY what being a mum is like. An explosion of sounds and tempo with soaring high notes evened out by a head splitting thump of low low low tones.

There were the tears of utter disappointment at yet another single line on a little plastic pee stick. And sad lonely days as I grieved for a dream that I felt the universe was denying me of.

Then, that breathtaking all consuming awe as I felt that first flutter, the first kick and then finally that moment I held that precious precious new life in my arms.

There are those moments of pure heart exploding overwhelming gooey love where you look at your child or children and you cannot believe your good fortune.

That child, those children, they are ours.
How did that happen?
What could I possibly have done to deserve such joy?

There are the times when your stomach churns with worry, your body aching with their pain and you feel like you are consumed with fears for their well being, state of mind and future. You sit in Doctors surgeries and hospitals, smiling to hide your concern from them and yet you feel like on the inside your fear is burning like acid through your veins and tragically for some, Motherhood brings with it grief and emotion that no human should ever have to endure.

There are days when you would beg to be committed to somewhere, anywhere. You just want to be anywhere as far away as possible from the noise, the chaos and the craziness that has become your life.

There are moments when you want THEM committed somewhere, anywhere that they cannot pinch each other, punch each other, or breathe ALL of each others air!

There are the feelings of utter pride as you watch them achieve big momentous occasions like awards and trophies. But more importantly the quieter achievements where you bear witness to acts of kindness towards siblings, friends, animals and strangers.

There are whole nights you spend crying, because you are worried that they are lonely at school or struggling with navigating the friendship minefield. You stress about their speech, their hearing, their growth, their weight and whether they are getting enough veggies and sleep.

And then there are the nights you spend replaying precious moments like births and birthdays and other key milestones. You desperately try to etch them deep into your mind so that they are never at risk of fading or God forbid being forgotten.

There are the quiet moments where you just sit and hold them. You breathe in their sweet smell, soak up their warmth and feel every little molecular being of that hug.

There are times you get angry and so frustrated to the point you want to kick that damn laundry basket / lego set / homework bag from here to kingdom come. You stare at them as they talk back at you, shout at you, snarl at you and question whether you have completely ballsed up this Motherhood gig.

There are the hilarious stomach hurting from too much laughing, nose snotting, mascara running funny moments where you find yourself gasping for air at the hilarity of toilet humour and mispronounced words. And all the while in the back of your mind aware that these kids are growing up too quickly, so quickly you can almost see them growing older as you sit there and laugh with them.

Amid all the triumphs of first steps and first words, are the humiliating public meltdowns and dummy spits and then the fist pumping pride as you watch them make new friends and venture outside of their comfort zone, you get a sense of just how lucky you are that you are experiencing this, and pure joy and gratitude that you are a part of something so wonderfully bigger than you.

Most importantly last night I reflected upon how fortunate I am to be blessed with this incredible gift of being someones mum.

You need the low thumping baselines to even out the high notes. You need the melody to intertwine with the story and you need the varying pitch of the soulful voices to bring it all together.

Motherhood doesn't fit into any one genre, it is as individual and unique as we are as mums.

I hope everyone found some level of joy in this Mothers Day just gone, whether it be through sharing the day with your children, your babes in bellies or your own Mums. Or whether it was relishing in the dreams of your future as a mother or quietly sorting through the memories you once made with your own mum.

How did you celebrate Mother's Day?

Did you wear your macaroni necklace proudly?

When Life Throws Stones At You

2013-05-10T14:29:00.002+10:00

When life throws stones at you, Just stop and take a moment to breathe...

Then pick yourself up, grab those stones and peg them straight back at the bastard.

Just saying!

Is there anyone you'd like to peg a stone at this week?

A Massive Mothers Day Giveaway - Winner Takes All!

A Heart Stopping Mum Moment

Some Pottery Barn Porn

Goodbyes Are Only For Dead People

Mother's Day Gift Wrapping Idea

Mother's Day Gift Wrapping Idea With Target TeaTowels

2013-05-10T13:47:00.002+10:00

This Post is Brought To You by Target

When I headed to Target last week to pick up some gift wrapping for Mother's Day, I wasn't looking for your typical paper gift wrap.

Nope, I had something a little different in mind and instead I headed straight in to the Home Decor and Tableware sections cause I was looking for tea towels.

I adore gifts where the wrapping is useful and doesn't just end up in the bin, and so I decided that this year I would be wrapping my mum's Mother's Day pressie in cute reusable tea towels.

Now honestly, I expected to find something kind of simple, classic and not too fussy. But when I spotted these gorgeous two packs of tea towels for $10 bucks each, I made a lot of noise. Good noise. But a lot of it. Just ask my oldest son Kai who was pretty much curled up in a little corner with his eyes glazed over and dying of embarrassment.

Oh I know what you are thinking. "Seriously WHO goes that loopy over tea towels?".

All I can say is these are not just any tea towels, these are THESE tea towels.

You like right?

Right!

And even better for you - whilst I paid $10 bucks in store a set (still a total bargain in my books), all of the teatowels I chose are online now for $7.50 for the set of two.

One for the pressie wrapping project and one for you! Score!

As for the gift wrapping part, just simply place the gift in some tissue paper in a little box or container and then wrap it all up in the tea towel and tie of with some ribbon or twine and voila.

Your gift all bundled up in a gorgeous but totally useful gift wrap.

Now anyone who knows me knows that I cannot go into my local mall without checking out the Target Homewares and in particular the cushions, especially at the start of each new season.

As far as I'm concerned, it is one of the simplest and cheapest ways to update a room for a new season. Now we are heading into the thick of Autumn and with Winter just around the corner I'm getting all Mother Bear like and preparing our home for us to snuggle down and hibernate through the colder months.

And so I humiliated my son for the second time that day (quite possibly more, but who's counting). I knew I was going to be doing a post for you guys for Target and so I wanted to show you all the gorgeous new cushions they have in store.

Now that doesn't sound too humiliating does it?

No the embarrassing bit for my son was watching his mum pull all the cushions off the shelf and piling them high all over the floor so that I could take photos for you.

There we were in the middle of Target on a busy Saturday morning and I had mounds and mounds of cushions all spread out and sorted by colour. Kai was instructed to act like a security or safety guard and keep people back so they didn't trip over the cushions (or mess up my display) whilst I clicked away taking photos.

To soften the blow I then paid him $5 bucks to pack them all back on the shelves for me whilst I went off to explore the flannel sheets in the Manchester section.

Ahhhh the life of a blogger's child.

All of these gorgeous cushions are available in store and online and ranged in price from $18.75 to $22.50.

On a final note, I just want to wish all the gorgeous Mothers the most wonderful of days this weekend. May your sleep in be long, your tea or coffee hot, children well behaved and your partners attentive. And to all of you who will be thinking of someone special who is no longer with you in person, we are all sending you much love.

Now tell me, If you could have anything in the world this Mother's Day, what would it be?

And I mean ANYTHING!

A Massive Mothers Day Giveaway - Winner Takes All!
A Heart Stopping Mum Moment
Some Pottery Barn Porn
Goodbyes Are Only For Dead People

Goodbyes Are Only For Dead People

2013-05-09T09:10:00.003+10:00

Just over a year ago I rang a cleaning agency and asked them to please send me someone who could come around and help me keep this house clean. I was working ridiculously long hours and I just wanted to steal back some time on the weekends to spend with my family rather than cleaning the bathrooms.

When I rang that agency, I was after clean bathtubs and non smudgy shower screens, what I certainly didn't expect was to gain a beautiful friend.

Lisa arrived at our house that first day and I knew within minutes as we stood in my kitchen gassbagging, that we were going to get along brilliantly.
Originally from England, she was now living locally with her absolute gentleman of a husband and her gorgeous little girl.

I honestly had no idea that morning as I showed Lisa around our house, just how big a part of our lives she and her family would become.

As you know I am very lucky to be blessed with 3 beautiful boys, but I have always craved a daughter.

One Thursday in the school holidays, this little 7 year old bubble burst into my life and into our home in the form of Hettie, Lisa's adorable daughter.

With her big smile and even bigger heart she totally won us all over and that gorgeous little girl could ask me to do anything, anything at all and I would, just because I adore her so.

Over the next year, my fridge became a gallery for the beautiful pictures and cards that Hettie frequently made me.

My boys became not only friendly with Hettie, but they cared about her in the protective way that big brothers do, and as a family our friendship with Lisa, Aid and Hettie became simply precious.

A few months ago circumstances for Lisa and her family changed and they were forced to make a decision to prepare to leave this country they adore, and return home to England. And as hard as we try to tell each other that this is the way it is supposed to be and that things always happen for a reason, the reality is it just sucks.

It is one big sucky situation all wrapped up in a whole lot more suckiness.

Last night Lisa and her family came to say Goodbye to us except we decided that Goodbyes are only for dead people and that we would rather go with more of a See you Later approach.

It was supposed to be less painful that way.

But it wasn't.

After they left I sat and read through the bag of letters and drawings Hettie had made for me as a farewell gift.

Bless her, this little girl who has already given me more than she could ever imagine, made me pictures and cards so that I wouldn't forget her.

As if I could.

She also gave me this.

Her bracelet.

I will wear this proudly as a constant reminder of the little girl who totally and completely won my heart and her Mum and Dad who we are so blessed to call our friends.

Lisa,

I know you will be reading this and I just want you to remember this is just the way it is supposed to be.... for now.

Distance can't erase a special friendship, nor can it ever break a precious bond.

Now make sure you give that little girl of yours a special hug every single day and tell her it is from me.

(please excuse the red eyes I'm blaming both the crying and the camera)

Have you ever had someone special move away, like far far away?

Or have you ever been the one that has had to move away?

And have you ever a found a special friend in the most unlikeliest of places?

A little Visual Porn for your Morning Cuppa

2013-05-07T11:59:00.000+10:00

OK I know you have all been overwhelmed with all the incredible amount of Pottery Barn porn in the past week and unless you live under a rock, used up all you internet download or your electricity has been cut off, you will of course know by now that The incredible Williams Sonoma group have opened all four of their gorgeous stores (Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids and West Elm) in Bondi Junction Sydney.

By now you will pretty much know everything there is to know so I am not going to harp on and on about how you can sign up for their catalogues to be sent directly to your home, or how you can enter here to win a $5000 home makeover.

I will not keep singing about how they have a one on one complimentary design service to help you with all your decorating and entertaining needs, or how you can flip through the West Elm online catalogue here.

You would have heard that each of the stores have gift registries for births, weddings and pretty much any occasion and that Williams and Sonoma have an in house cooking school.

Oh and of course you MUST already know about the group's plans to open more stores Australia wide, but until then (and beyond) the stores will ship anything in their range to anywhere in Australia so NO ONE has to miss out!

Nope I will leave all that alone and instead I will ply you with some of the photos I took from my time at the stores. It is a little top heavy with images, but I am hesitant to apologise. Only really for the reason that since I was totally overwhelmed with sensory overload on the day, I feel that it's only fair that if you haven't had the chance to go to the stores yourself, you get a little of the experience yourself right here on your computer.

I'm generous like that ;)

P.S: There is a link to each of the stores websites at the bottom of this post in case any of my fellow shoppoholics need a fix.

You're Welcome!

Apart from the fact that you can tell how much of a short ass I am next to those two glamazons, Do we look a little stunned, overwhelmed and totally high on gorgeous homewares?

(Mel - Georgica Pond, Fi - My Mummy Daze & Moi)

Click on the images below to go directly to their websites.

Tell me - Have you been to any of the stores yet or checked out their websites?

A Heart Stopping Awful Mum Moment.

2013-05-06T17:14:00.000+10:00

I had my first heart stopping moment as a soccer mum this past weekend.

Except my heart didn’t actually stop, it more kinda pushed its way up to my ears and started pumping all beserko in my head and oh yeah I was at Rugby and not soccer when it happened.

My oldest son made the move from Soccer to Rugby Union last year, much to my hubby's delight and to my horror.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Rugby... about as much as I like any of those kind of sports. In fact it’s actually a pretty classy game as far as any game that involves throwing a ball around a field and shoving each others face into the dirt goes.

It's even almost interesting to watch - not that I for one minute will pretend to know what the hell is going on out there.

Its just that I would probably like Rugby more if my baby was not in the front row being crushed underneath a pack of testosterone raging youths.

I have never really been one of those over protective mums sitting on the sideline glaring at anyone who dares to look sideways at my kids....

Bahaha Who am I trying to kid, I am SO one of those mums!

Why I even went so far as to abuse my power once when I was on BBQ duty at one of the boys soccer games.

A kid from the other team had mouthed off at one of my sons and when that kid turned up to the BBQ where I was holding fort with a pair of tongs, justice was mine. His grubby hands shoved two pieces of bread towards me and without a single please or even hint of manners, he demanded a bacon and egg sandwich.

Well can I tell you, that kid certainly got his bacon and egg sandwich.

It just happened to be the crispiest, most well done (aka severely burnt) scraps of bacon and egg that I could find from the rejection pile on the side of the BBQ, kind of bacon and egg sandwich.

Cause I’m nice like that and clearly I am very mature too!

Back to my story, which I do apologise for taking such an awfully long time to get to.

So the game was in full swing and I was sitting on the sidelines with some friends who also have kids in the team, and we were chatting away all the whilst keeping one eye permanently on the action .

I heard some of the other parents go “oooohhhh” you know in that low voiced, scrunch your nose up and buck your teeth, grimacing kind of way (you totally just pulled that face didn't you?).

I stopped the conversation dead and turned my attention to the poor kid lying on the field. When he didn't get straight up we all held our breath and watched and waited and willed as his team mates stood over him.

It was in that very moment that I noticed the boy’s boots, they were lime green just like my son’s boots……

Holy crap that IS my son, I realised as my head began to spin.

When he finally stood up I began to breathe again but my eyes did not move from him as he stumbled off the field holding his head. When his team manager put her arms up in the air to signal something, (something that I had no idea what is was being the complete Rugby ignorama that I am) I began to panic a little.

OK I panicked a LOT!

I looked on from across the field as my son was laid down on the ground, his legs were stretched out and something was put onto his head.

I literally threw up in my mouth.

Somebody said to me “Sonia, I think he is really hurt”.

I don’t know who said what to me, it didn’t really matter as everyone was suddenly speaking alien.

All I knew was that there was a bloody big football field between me and my child and I needed to get to him, like RIGHT NOW.

And so I did something that I have not done in the 8 years since my accident.

I ran.

OK I more stumbled really.

I part ran, mostly awkwardly tripped with the sole purpose of getting to my boy as soon as was humanly possible.

One of my friends ran ahead of me so she could tell him I was coming and I have never been more grateful for someone being able to run faster than me in my whole life.

I literally wet my pants as I ran and although I would like to say it was out of fear and panic, but the truth be told after having not run for 8 years I had no idea how weak my pelvic floor muscles are.

Thankfully when I reached him, he was OK.

Overwhelmed and sporting a very big headache, but OK.

His gorgeous team manager had laid him down to catch his breath and have a moment to himself to recover away from the eyes of his team mates and the opposition.

Suddenly my big boofy boy reminded me of the shy sick little boy he used to be and the mother in me began to shake and cry with relief that he was OK.

Through my tears I tried to tell him off for scaring the bejeezus out of me, but all I really wanted to do was hug him and take him home.

We didn't go home and I didn't humiliate him by throwing myself all over him in front of his team mates, and after a little while he rose to his feet and went back on the field and played his heart out.

Meanwhile I sat on the sidelines and took a mental photograph of the faces of every kid on the opposing team.

I was on BBQ duty that day.

You don't need to be Einstein to work out the rest of this story.

I'll most likely be relegated to the canteen from now on.

Are you a Sideline Helicopter Mum?

Are you tempted to run out onto the field and defend your child?

A Huge Mother's Day Giveaway - Winner Takes All!

A Massive Mothers Day Giveaway - Winner Takes All!

2013-05-05T22:29:00.003+10:00

****THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED****

Thank you for entering, please see the bottom of this post for the winners details.

When I was a little girl my Grandmother came to live with us. She had suffered a stroke and was unable to live alone anymore, so she moved in with us and my Mum and Dad cared for her.

Sadly she is no longer with us, but man she was one awesome Nanna.

She could knit, sew, garden and cook like a total pro and I had zero interest at that time in being taught ANY of those skills.

She tried. Frequently. But I just was not even slightly interested and it is something I regret to this day.

I could have learned so much from her, and I have lost count how many times I have killed a plant, flopped a cake and nearly gone demented trying to figure out how to crochet, all the while saying to myself "I wish my Nan was still here".

She was also a good sport and you could totally take the piss out of her and she would just laugh.

Like the time I caught her giving the Taxi driver a peck on the cheek. Well I of course proceeded to tell everyone that I saw her tongue pashing the taxi driver and she copped so much stick over it, but she just laughed it off with a "Oh Sonia".

Another time when she was in the hospital, she asked me to bring her in some magazines to look at. Being the dutiful granddaughter I did indeed take her some mags, that had plenty to look at. It just so happened that the magazines I chose to take in for her were the Woman's Forum magazines. Remember them with the full nudie shots and raunchy stories?

The nurses nearly required their own form of medical intervention when they discovered what reading material my Nan had on her bedside table.

Again she saw the humour and laughed it off in the way she did so well.

One morning when I was about 10, I went in to sit on her bed for our usual morning chat. After a little while she asked me if I was making Mum breakfast?

"What for" came my preteen genuinely shocked anyone would expect me to make anything reply.

"For Mothers Day. You do realise it's today?" she said.

Oh Crap. Crap, Crap Crap. I had forgotten Mothers Day.

You know that feeling you get when your heart starts pounding and you have a little bit of vomit in your mouth?

Yep that.

Luckily Nanna has some little lace handkerchiefs she had made, neatly tucked away in her drawer just screaming to assist me in my conundrum.

I felt awful giving my Mum those handkerchiefs, not because they weren't pretty as they definately were. It was just because Mum knew that those hankies had come from Nanna and that I had forgotten Mother's Day.

I felt like the lousiest daughter in the universe that day and I swore to myself that never ever again would I ever forget Mother's Day or miss the opportunity to spoil my Mum.

SO on that note, fancy winning some gorgeous prizes? You know just in case someone forgets to spoil you next weekend or maybe because YOU want to make it up to your Mum for once giving her handkerchiefs for Mothers Day?

These gorgeous prizes are up for grabs, but this time there is something a little different to my normal monthly Giveaways post.

This time the winner takes all!

First of all we have a gorgeous Felt garland from Felt Foxes.
I completely adore this shop I discovered a few months ago on Etsy.

Ruth the owner of Felt Foxes, sells the most gorgeous rainbow coloured felt balls and garlands and you cannot help but smile every time you see one of these gorgeous bright garlands draped over something in a little corner of your home.

I have quite a collection going now and I wrote a post about how I use Ruth's felt balls with my kids which you can read here if you are interested.

Ruth has kindly offered up one of her 3 metre rainbow Felt Garlands as part of the prize pack, so you or someone you gift it to can brighten up a little corner of their home.

Fancy trying for yourself the fabulous Olay Regenerist micro-sculpting cream Moisturiser?

This stuff is da bomb!

I have been trying a number of different moisturisers and face creams over the recent months, you know all in the name of ~~stopping~~ slowing down the aging process and I am in love with this product.

The rich scented cream gives your skin a really youthful and dewy feeling. It is formulated to help to reduce fine lines and wrinkles as well as exfoliating and smoothing your skin.

Olay is a brand that has been around for as long as I can remember, so it is a brand that I trust my nearly 40 year old sensitive skin with.

The lucky winner of this prize pack will receive a Jar of the Regenerist Micro sculpting cream and trust me on this - your skin will be sooo grateful!

What Mum doesn't dream about hiding herself away and chowing down on a big block of Cadbury chocolate? Or how about 10 blocks of Cadbury chocolate for that matter?

To celebrate the launch of the new and improved Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate blocks range, Cadbury have offered up a gift box full of their mouthwatering chockies. Part of the changes to the range include;

· New rounder shaped chocolate pieces

· The inclusion of whole nuts in all nut varieties

· More generous blocks including a new 220gm pack size – with the extra chocolate not affecting the RRP!

· And a new look, easy to use resealable pack

Ahh seriously - what is not to love about this!

I don't know how I came across Amanda's beautiful online store Brown Paper Packages but I am one happy lady that I did.

Brown paper packages has the most gorgeous range of products, including soft furnishings, gorgeous home decor items, to party supplies, washi tape, prints, wallpaper and adorable drinking straws.

This is yet another store you are going to have a hell of a time choosing from - I warn you now.

Luckily for the winner Amanda has given me a $50 voucher for you to spend in store. Am I jealous much? Ummm yeah!

Many of you will already know the gorgeous Tania who blogs at Scandi Coast Home. If you haven't yet had the pleasure of reading Tania's blog GET YOURSELF OVER THERE NOW! Tania has a knack for decorating that makes her home look like a permanent tropical oasis and she vignettes like a Queen!

Now Tania doesn't just have a gorgeous blog and talent for decorating, she is one clever chick to boot and creates her own gorgeous range of jewellery which she recently launched on Etsy.

Tania has generously offered for the winner to choose any item from her store. Um set aside some time to choose as you are gonna have a tough time narrowing it down to which piece you want.

Now picture this, you are lying in bed enjoying a well earned sleep in and upon waking (naturally waking and not because there are kids jumping on your head), your brood brings you in some hot toasty crumpets dripping in Capilano Honey & Vanilla Infusion.

Are you in your happy place?

Good cause now I am craving crumpets and honey.

There is something so comforting about honey, whether it is on toast, in hot tea or as a glaze in cooking. It just screams winter and toasty toe curling warmth to me.

The gang at Capilano honey have put together this hamper of goodies from their range to be included in our Mother's Day prize pack and the pack includes;

Capilano creamed honey
Capilano Honey Fusions (Honey & Vanilla, and Honey & Lemon)
Capilano Bee Vital Active Manuka
Capilano 1kg squeeze pack
Capilano Honey & Ginger twist & squeeze
Capilano Snap n Squeeze
Capilano Honey Shots
Capilano Blue Gum honey

Kitchenware Direct will deliver to your door just about everything and anything you need for your kitchen and entertaining. The range of brands they carry is HUGE and they are an online kitchen store I frequently love to lurk at.

Brad from Kitchenware direct has given us this gorgeous Kissing Stag Anorak Picnic Blanket to included in our prize pack which is Perfect for a Mothers Day picnic!

This is a machine washable rug with a cotton front and water resistant nylon backing. It rolls ups into a neat compact size and can be stored away in the boot of the car for those impromptu picnic stops.

Are you in love with the stag print on this rug as much as I am?

Alright so entering this month's review and giveaways competition is super easy. All you need to do is enter your details into the Rafflecopter box below, and for every Participating Companies Facebook page you like, you get an entry. If you like all 7 companies, BAM you have 7 entries.

Oh and if you tweet this post - whammo you have yourself yet another entry.

You can have a total of 8 entries all up.

Competition closes at 7pm AEST This Mother's Day 12/05/13 and a winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter.

GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Post Hair Massacre After Shots

2013-05-03T16:54:00.000+10:00

I promised you an after shot didn't I?

One post kitchen scissor massacre repair. (Thank you Beckie for fixing me).

So I've worked out that NO hairdo is going to turn me into anything that even remotely resembles one of my favorite actresses, but I'm OK with that.

I feel good and light and fresh and airy ... like an airhead.

Hey if the shoe fits ...

This MLC (Midlife Crisis) is turning out OK after all, and I'm contemplating just sitting back and enjoying the ride.

Possibly even making it into an annual event.

Tada!

By the way, I have two great giveaways running at the moment. Have you entered yet?

Oh and keep your eye out for yet another one you are gonna love over the weekend.

Win a Roses Only $100 Gift Voucher - closes 7pm (AEST) Monday 06/05/13

and

Win a Method Smarty Pants Dishwashing Pack - closes 7pm (AEST) Tuesday 07/05/13

Delivering Love on Mothers Day - Win A Roses Only $100 Voucher

2013-05-03T07:30:00.000+10:00

This Giveaway is now closed. Thanks for entering and you can see the winner's details below.

This post and Giveaway is brought to you by Roses Only

I remember the Mother's Day when I was heavily pregnant with my oldest son Kai, like it was yesterday .... or at least last year.

Just to set the picture right in your mind, when I say heavily pregnant I really mean looking like an obese Teletubbie ready to tip over with the next gust of wind.

You get the gist right?

Anyway it was the day before Mothers Day and I was sitting on my couch feeding my face with one of my many calorie loaded cravings - Sara Lee Cookies and Cream ice cream.

Whilst I cant remember for sure, I was most likely watching something like 9 months or Father of the Bride Part 2 which were both on high rotation at that stage of my pregnancy and I was jumping at every little Braxton Hicks I felt, totally convinced I was going to immediately go into full blown labour like they do in the movies.

As was the case whenever my husband wasn't at home with me when I had these mini contractions, I was sure this was it, and I was going to have to run out onto the street gushing waters everywhere and try to hail a cab, but end up giving birth on the driveway with all the neighbours chanting '"PUSH PUSH PUSH". And then I would have to name the baby Alfred or Pierre after the taxi driver who finally showed up in time to catch my baby as he pinged out of my hooha.

Yes I have always been a bit of a Drama Queen and clearly being my first pregnancy I had NO idea just how freaking long giving birth can take.

I was feeling fat and hormonal, fat and tired and fat and sick with stomach cramps from all the ice cream and it felt like I had been pregnant for 13 and a half years.

When the security door buzzer went off for our apartment I was tempted to screech "Unless you are here to perform a completely painless baby removal on me, GO AWAY!!

I didn't though.

Instead I paused my movie, put the ice cream tub down and dragged my weary backside off the couch and over to the intercom.

"Hello" I half enquired and half bawled into the speaker.

"Hello is that Sonia?" came the cheery reply.

"I don't knowwwww who I am anymore" I sobbed to the poor stranger on my intercom.

"Um well I have a delivery for you if you are Sonia" the voice meekly stated.

I reluctantly hung up and made my way down the flights of stairs to sign for what I presumed would be yet another one of my strange Danoz Direct products I had oredered whilst I was up at 3am eating bowls of cereal.

When I opened the door to find a woman holding a big bunch of the most gorgeous flowers ever, I was confused.

Who would be sending me flowers?

I accepted them with a teary smile and a thank you and closed the door behind her.

Unable to hold out from reading the card until after I lugged myself and my bouquet back up the stairs again, I sat down on the steps and carefully opened the little card.

Dear Mummy,

Happy 1st Mothers Day.

I can't wait to meet you soon.

Love from Grub

I think in that moment there was more water from my tears than there would have been had my waters actually broken there and then.

My 1st Mothers Day.

Wow.

It hadn't even crossed my mind that even though my little Grub was still merrily baking away in my teletubbie sized tum, I could actually celebrate that Mothers Day. Because even though my baby wasn't yet in my arms, I was already well and truly a Mum.

I know I'm a bit of a mad flower lover, but every time I see a flower delivery happening, I get all sentimental and think back to the special delivery I received and the day I realised I was a mum.

Flowers are such a gorgeous way to to show a special mother figure in your life that you are thinking of them on Mother's Day.

It doesn't actually have to be for the person who gave birth to you, it could be an adopted mum, a step mum, a mum to be, someone else's mum who is precious to you or just a special lady who has been there for you and you want to say "Hey Thank you and I'm thinking of you this Mothers Day".

Roses Only is a gorgeous website that you can rely on to deliver the most beautiful gift to a special woman you would like to honor this Mothers Day. Their flower delivery service is Australia wide and you can send flowers or a combo of flowers and a special something extra.

As I write this post my husband wants me to tell you that their website is super easy to use and if he (my technologically challenged love of my life) can use it anyone can.

So here's a thought - fancy a delivery of flowers to your home this Mothers Day? Send your partner this link, and then hope for the best. You never know, a little subtle hint could lead to you receiving the most beautiful bouquet of flowers you have ever seen this Mothers Day.

Roses Only have kindly offered up a $100 Gift voucher as a giveaway so that one lucky winner can send some flowers to someone special .... or themselves ;)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So tell me, who would you like to buy some Roses Only Flowers for this Mothers Day?

I found My Village

The One That Makes Absolutely No Sense Whatsoever!

Doing The Drop Off - Like a Boss!

The Day I Hacked at My Hair With Kitchen Scissors

2013-05-02T15:37:00.002+10:00

So many things at the moment point to me being smack bang in the middle of an atypical mid life crisis.

The signs are all there amid the meltdowns, life changes and desperate bolts to Bali (I'll tell you about that soon).

I have been busying myself lately putting together my 40s bucket list (a list I will also share with you in the next week or so) and this list includes a whole stack of things that I have always wanted to do and try as well as some totally 'out there' changes I have only ever dreamed of making.

Initially I wanted to actually do all of these things before I turned 40, but seeing as I have spent so long bloody procrastinating and now I have just over a month left until that happens, I have decided I am going to spend my 40th year working through that list.

Why the hell not I say!

Why rush these things?

Why not spend the whole year of being 40 doing the things I have always dreamed of. Fabulous things, things that make me pee my pants with fear but also make me feel alive and hopefully even a couple of years younger than 40.

I'm excited.

Perhaps a little too excited given I launched a late night assault on my hair with the kitchen scissors two nights ago.

You know when you get those late night ideas in your head and you get really amped up and can't wait a second longer to act them out?

Yep those!

You want an example?

How about when you are quietly watching some random soppy Hallmark movie and the lead actress has a hair style that you really like ... like really really like, and then because you have had a few too many wines you're suddenly all "Oh I would look so awesome with her hairstyle". And so you go into the kitchen and grab the scissors out of the drawer (the same ones you use to cut up chicken carcasses and flower stems) and then you start hacking at your hair?

ahhh yep one of those ideas.

I am so not a naturally gifted hairdresser OR someone who should make ANY kind of decision after a wine or 3.

But I didn't go completely unskilled into this hair styling charade.

I did commit to doing a crash course in hairdressing in the 5 minutes before the hair assault actually took place. I googled (of course) "How to cut your own hair" and ended up following a "Cut Your Own Bangs" You tube tutorial.

Cutting edge stuff I tell you! (pardon the pun).

So now I am sporting a weird uneven hairdo that desperately needs fixing and I have come to the conclusion that this is the right time to cross the first thing off my 40's bucket list.

Get a New Do!

I have had long hair for at least the past 14 years and it is time for the big chop. I've booked myself in tonight and I am armed with loads of pictures of gorgeous movies stars who I will NEVER look like in a million billion years.

But I'm gonna beg the poor unsuspecting hairdresser to at least try and make it happen!

Not that it really matters, because pretty much any style has to be better than the current 'LateNightDrankTooManyWinesAndShouldntBeAllowedNearSharpObjects' look I've got going on.

I'll reveal the new do on the blog tomorrow.... or maybe a sneak peek on instagram tonight if I'm feeling game.

Midlife Crisis Bucket List - I'm Ready for ya!

Have you Ever given yourself a Home Hair Job? If so how did it turn out?

Any budding hairdressers in your family that shouldn't be allowed near sharp objects?

I found My Village

The One That Makes Absolutely No Sense Whatsoever!

Doing The Drop Off - Like a Boss!

Doing the Drop Off - Like a Boss!

2013-05-01T17:41:00.002+10:00

Yesterday was officially my first day of being Mum.

Crap, that came out so wrong cause I didn't actually give birth yesterday and I have been a mum for nearly 12 years now. So give me a sec whilst I pull my slipperless foot out of my mouth and start again.

Yesterday was my first official day of doing nothing else but concentrating on being a mum.

There that's better.

For the first time in a long time I woke up excited about getting the kids ready for school AND actually taking them there myself. I have fantasized for like forever about walking my kids into school and not rushing off to get back to work. Just a relaxed drop off with no where to be but there with them.

This is of course as opposed to the days when I would actually be able to steal 10 minutes from work to drop the kids off to school.

On THOSE days I would screech the brakes on outside the kiss and drop zone, and twist and lean awkwardly into the back of the car to separate the tangle of kids who would be busy engaging in something that looks frighteningly like an out of control illegal cock fight.

Sheesh AGAIN with the bad use of words!

Our usual farewell ritual would involve me shoving them out of the car with a silent kiss and a wave, and mouthing quietly but sternly about being good boys. I would then drive 10 metres down the road where I would slam the brakes on, again, this time to avoid taking out the lollipop lady, honk the horn and throw a forgotten school bag out the window, all the while trying to hold a semi intelligent conversation with a client on the phone.

I am exhausted just thinking about it.

But yesterday was different.

I enjoyed school drop off yesterday.

The four of us walked hand in hand to school with big smiles on our face chatting about what they will have for afternoon tea before they head out to sports games.

Oh OK, I may have forced them slightly to hold my hands and my smile could possibly have been mistaken for a bells palsy grimace as I tried to decipher 3 loud children's voices all shouting at me at once about wanting crumpets, no - scones, no - pavlova for afternoon tea ..... but I am pretty sure the sentiment was there.

I walked into that school with my shoulders back and my chin higher than it has ever been ... correction, I walked into that school like a boss!

I took my place among all the other parents who were kissing kids goodbye, double checking lunch orders and if teeth had been cleaned and then pretending to watch assembly while we whispered about school holiday ~~hangovers~~ activities.

Yesterday was different.

I felt different.

I was really a part of it and I felt more there than I ever have been in the whole time my kids have been at school.

What does your morning school drop off ritual look like?

Is it Crrrrrraaaaaazzy too?

I found My Village
The One That Makes Absolutely No Sense Whatsoever!

The One That Makes Absolutely No Sense Whatsoever!

2013-04-30T14:05:00.004+10:00

I have been known to frequently misplace things, or lose them temporarily as one of my boys so aptly puts it.

I think it is probably a symptom of trying to do too many things at once, or it could be an early onset of senility given my *ahem* progression in years... either or.

I leave things in the most bizarre places only to find them later and think to myself WTF?

Take for example the car keys I found in the freezer, the nail scissors in a pot plant, my earrings in the letter box, and a brand new unopened packet of Buscopan in my sewing kit.

I honestly have no idea what I was thinking or if I was even thinking when I put those things there.

I know I must have been distracted but I cant help but wonder what happened to whatever I was supposed to put there instead?

Like what was in my other hand when I put my car keys in the freezer?

Is a packet of frozen corn or sea scallops going to show up somewhere smelling like a bucket of amputated feet when I least expect it.

If the Buscopan is in the sewing kit, did I give the kids a couple of buttons to ease their tummy cramps?

Scary prospect really and to be honest I have no idea why I have even started this post by telling that story as it bears very little relevance to what I actually intended to write about.

There go the Squirrels again.....

What I did intend to talk about was how I seem to have misplaced my sense of humour this past week and then found it again in a pair of rank smelling slippers. My Slippers.

I was going to talk about how I was sitting on the couch and I got a whiff of something so putrid that I immediately upturned the couch expecting to find a decomposing something or other under it but found nothing.

I was going to admit to making my boys wear socks when they snuggled on the couch with me as I was convinced that their feet were somehow staining the fabric with a foul smell.

And then I was going to tell you how it was in the moment that my loyal dogs refused to snuggle at my feet and watch Ellen with me that I realised the stench could in fact be isolated to the pair of fluffy slippers I had been wearing for the past 5 days straight.

Yep, the stinker wink was me and when I took those slippers off and stuck my nose in them for a good old sniff, you know just to be sure they were indeed the culprits, my life flashed before my eyes and I saw angels.

Slight over exaggeration with the angels bit, but I did start laughing, like hilariously snorting, cross your legs and try to breathe kind of insane laughing.

And just like that after a week of moping I found my sense of humour where I had left it, in a pair of rank smelling sheepskin slippers.

So what was the point of this post?

Your guess is as good as mine.

Tacos anyone????

I found My Village

I Found My Village ....

2013-04-29T10:56:00.001+10:00

In the past few days I have cried oceans and oceans of tears.

Who needs botox when you can achieve a similar puffed up effect by bawling your eyes out.

Ok so the effect my leaky eyes sculpted is not so much an artistically puffed look, but more of the swollen blood shot type of puffiness.

But oddly enough when I look in the mirror at those puffy eyes, I feel more me than I have in God knows how long.

Now before you go and feel sorry for this crying blubbering puffy eyed mess, can I just say please don't!
You see these tears have been the most therapeutic tears of my entire life. They weren't all sad misery stained tears. On the contrary, they have been tears of relief and shock, but mostly relief.

When I had that meltdown last week, I triggered this whole chain of events and I kind of liken it to standing back and watching myself lighting one of those homemade bungers you made as a kid. You know the ones that you shoved into a poor unsuspecting neighbour's letter box and watched as the old rusty and weathered tin letter box blew up.

No?

Ummmm....

Well for a moment as you waited for the explosion to happen you stand there with your blood pumping in your ears and adrenalin roaring through your veins, the excitement wetting your mouth and making your feet jump up and down on the spot ready to bolt.

Then as the letter box explodes and all the junk mail, newspapers and cobwebs are blown into the air and start fluttering down, you are momentarily frozen and stare in awe of what you have just done.

As the shock subsides it makes way for the panic to set in and you start waving your arms around in the air turning to run this way before spinning on your heels and instinctively bolting in a totally different direction. All the while you are gobsmacked at your audacity of what you have just done, not sure of what to do next but knowing you need to get away for a moment and contemplate your actions.

That was the past few days for me, minus the bungers and rusty old letterboxes of course.

At this point can I just say that if my boys are ever reading this and ask me what a bunger is and if I ever blew up a neighbours letter box, I will totally deny everything and my answer will be "I don't know" and "I have no idea what you are talking about".

Moving on.

After I shared my story last week I was so incredibly touched and overwhelmed by the outpouring of support, and every time a new comment came in on the blog or a new email or text came in, a fresh wave of tears would come. Good tears, happy tears and I would sit there all watery eyed and snotty nosed saying over and over again "Oh yes you get it, you get me, you understand what I am talking about".

My husband ushered the kids quietly out of the room to allow me to relish in peace, the relief I felt that you KNEW EXACTLY what I was talking about and where I was coming from.

YOU guys with your beautiful words held me up and inspired me. YOU wonderfully brave woman of all ages from all corners of the globe, who took the time to write to a messed up and confused Aussie woman, sitting in her lounge room in her stinky slippers and puffy bloodshot eyes. YOU have given me the courage I doubted I had in myself and you showed me how the sisterhood truly works when one of their own cries out for help.

I will never be able to thank you enough for what you have done for me over the past few days.

I feel like last week I finally found my village.

YOU are my village.

All of you amazing people who I am so blessed to have in my life. Some who were already a part of my every day, and some who I have been connected to via this big old interwebs. Some who are my own flesh and blood and some whose lives are so tightly wound within my own through my children and my husband. Many of you who I have never actually met, but you fatefully wandered into my village with the kindest of words and encouragement on a day when I needed you the most.

That's how a village works.

I have never really felt like I belonged in a village before. I have seen the villagers in action and watched as they united together to support one of their own.

I would frequently wander into a village and do my part to help out, but I never asked for any help in return .... I was too proud for that and instead I would quietly leave and continue on my way. I would check back in to see how the villagers were doing, to stop for a while and share a story or two, but I always felt too rushed, too busy to stay for long and inevitably I would make a reluctant departure.

Too busy?

Too busy!

Too busy thinking I had to live a life of perfect, pleasing all but not really giving entirely to anyone.

Too busy controlling everything I could in the waking hours and too busy wallowing in my self induced guilt at night.

Too busy organising the party and never actually being a part of it.

Too busy creating the ideal life without actually living it.

How foolish have I been.

So please forgive me when I don't attempt to cover these unsightly puffy swollen eyes, or hide the tears when they begin to flow. In the past few days I have covered great distance in my journey and every tear helps to wash away the past and prepare me for what is to come.

Like a weary soldier finally returning home I will wear my war wounds proud, a reminder of the long standing battle I have waged with myself. A battle that I have finally lost, but ultimately won.

***Thank you so much for the beautiful emails and comments and text messages you have so kindly sent me over the past week. Every single one of them has made me smile in a way I haven't smiled for so long and although it may take me a little while to respond to you all individually, I just wanted you to know how precious you are and how grateful I am.

And So with a Deep Breath The Journey Begins

2013-04-24T13:41:00.000+10:00

Before you read this post I just want to be completely honest and tell you just how nervous I was about hitting publish on this post. How terrified I am about baring my soul in such a raw way and how afraid I am of the judgment i may provoke upon myself.

But I know that you cannot begin a journey without taking that first step.

And so with a deep breath The Journey Begins.....

Have you ever longed for something with your entire soul and with all your sense of being, without actually knowing exactly what it is you so desperately want?

Have you ever woken in the morning from a dream so deliciously inspiring it has left you intoxicated with a sense of joy? Joy you so desperately want to stay with you, and yet in the daylight try as you might, you cannot recall the intricate details of the dream or pinpoint what it was in the dream that gave you such a sweet taste of hope.

Have you ever let your mind wander too far into darker places and let your guard down long enough to allow the demons in your mind to devalue your self worth, and rape you of your confidence?

Have you ever invested your heart into an idea that you have only ever dared to play out in the safety of your imagination. An idea that is so desirable and so close to a possibility that you can actually smell it and taste it and yet you are afraid to reach out and grab it for fear of it disappearing forever in front of your eyes?

Have you ever lost yourself within yourself? Stared into the mirror and not recognised the person who is reflected back. Have you leaned forward and looked into those strange eyes searching for some familiarity, a hint that the someone you once knew is still in there?

Have you ever stood on the edge of a void and dared yourself to lean forward, and then again just a little further – tempting fate, but too scared to actually lift your feet and leap blindly into the unknown?

Have you ever piled so much on your plate that you can do nothing more than sit there staring at your greed, unsure of where to even begin?

Have you ever pushed yourself a little too far out of familiar territory and then the reality and fear of the unfamiliar landscape grips you so tightly you cannot move and you cannot breath, and yet you realise you have gone too far to turn back again?

Have you ever given advice to others, advice about courage and seeking joy, advice based on wisdom you have gained from past experience and then laughed at the irony that you value the wisdom enough to gift it to others but are not courageous to use it for yourself?

Have you ever been in that precise moment where your tongue will not release the words you so desperately need to say? Words you have rehearsed in your mind over and over again and yet in that crucial moment you freeze and the precious window of opportunity passes?

I have.

Yesterday in the lonely hours of 2am I finally dared to whisper those words out loud.

I spoke quietly to no one, to nothing but the darkness around me and I held my breath and waited for the universe to respond.

I waited for it to punish me, or reward me for my courage to speak. A sign, Anything, just something to acknowledge me and the words I had just spoken.

I was met with a resounding silence broken only by the sound of sobbing. An urgent cry that needed comforting and reassurance that everything is going to be ok.

My husband who was resting beside me rose instinctively to attend to the cry and as he wrapped his arms around me I wept in the security of his arms and I let it all go.

I deliberated over sharing this post on my blog as it is so deeply personal and yet I feel compelled to share it in the hope that by saying out loud what I have kept inside for so long, that it will help not just me, but someone else who is reading this and feeling the same way.

For the past 12 years I have tried to do it all and be it all. To fit the costume of Supermum / Superwoman, a costume I had painstakingly crafted out of threads of who I thought I should be and who I thought people wanted me to be.

The hardworking employee working full time, a survivor of a life changing accident, and a happy homemaker. A doting hands on mum, a nurturing and loving wife, and an active member of my children's school and sporting community. A supportive daughter, sister and aunt. A friend who is always ready and willing to be there for others, to help those who need help and more recently someone who is exploring her creative side through writing and crafting.

Something had to give.

And it has.

Maybe it is a 'midlife crisis' or perhaps it is just exhaustion.

Maybe I caught a whiff of the old dog lurking around, or it could just be that for too long I have just fooled myself into thinking you can have it all and be it all without major sacrifice.....

I don’t really know.

What I do know is that life is too short to spend wondering "what if?" or waiting for the answers to magically fall from the sky.

I have to trust that the universe does not punish the courageous and believe that it is not greedy to want to be truly happy.

I cannot and will not give up anything to do with my family. That's a given.

I am not the type of person to turn my back on family, friends or others in need, so that is not even an option.

So it leaves in one hand my career and in the other my interests and the creative things I get joy from doing.

If you stop doing the things you love and only focus on work, you are left with nothing more than an empty shell that robotically goes through the motions.

That's not living.

That's not the life I suspect I am craving and the source of joy in my dreams.

I considered closing up the blog for a while to focus on clearing my head and getting myself healthier mentally and emotionally. But I can't leave this blog, I love writing here too much.

I love the way I can share my triumphs and my fears and I love the way it helps me to laugh at my failings. I love the community we have built here and I love that through written words I can so freely express what I cannot at times find the strength to actually speak.

And so I am burning that Supermum costume. I am taking a big match and setting fire to the ridiculous notion that I have to be everything to everyone.

I am taking a few weeks away from my career to mend and recover and to reassess.

I am going to use that time to nurture my health and my mind, to search for the answers and make decisions, life changing decisions. Decisions that I hope will allow me to live a life without constant stress and anxiety, and free from the feeling that I am always running from the dog, trying to outsmart him and just praying he doesn't catch up to me.

I want to explore the possibilities of living a simpler life, one that doesn't revolve around how much I earn or what I can afford to do or not do. and to hopefully find the joy I crave in that much simpler life.

I am hoping that with rest comes clarity and that clarity will bring answers.

I hope to stand before the mirror and see only the person I am truly meant to see.

I have faith that if I trust in the universe it will lead me to where I am meant to be and who I was destined to be.

In my Kitchen - The Evening Clean Up Battle - And a Method Giveaway

2013-04-23T08:55:00.002+10:00

***This Giveaway is now closed. Please see the bottom of this post for the winners details***

This post is brought to you by Method

It's a dilemma that often turns into an argument that men and women have night after night in households all over the world.

To clean the kitchen or to not clean the kitchen?

And more importantly - who is going to clean it?

In our house, I'm team clean and my husband is team nah stuff it lets go to bed.

I get it where he is coming from, I really do. He's tired, the kids and work have worn him down, I've pretty much nagged him to death and he just wants to chill out on the couch and watch some TV before hitting the sack.

See I AM an understanding wife, I get it.

The problem is I just cant relax on the couch when there is mess that I can see.

No seriously I am one of these weird anal retentive people that cannot work in a cluttered office, cannot sleep in a messy room and cannot relax with the kitchen in a mess.

First world problems - I know!

You see our family room is where we sit and watch TV at night, and it is part of a big open plan area at the back of our house. The kitchen is part of the open space so if there is mess to be seen, well rest assured I will be sitting there eyeballing it like no man's business.

I will fixate on it and huff a little, eyeball him and the kitchen and then huff a little more and hope that someone gets the hint and cleans it up.

Anyone?

Gawd I am so tired - Anyone but me PLEASE!

OK in the interest of full disclosure I am going to come clean.

I am truly a sucky wife.

The poor man not only cooks at least 4 nights a week, he is expected to either clean as he goes or clean up his mess too.

I do clean the kitchen as well, in fact I clean it at least 3 times a day, 7 days a week. After brekkie, lunch and afternoon snack time. But I hate cleaning up when someone else has cooked and even worse, I hate the argument we ALWAYS have when the dishwasher is being unloaded and the plates come out dirty.

You see apparently there is a right way to stack a dishwasher and there is a wrong way. No prizes for guessing which category my husband thinks my technique falls into.

I try to blame the dishwasher machine or the dish washing tablets, but to be fair - I just over load the poor machine and chuck all the dishes, crockery and cutlery in randomly and cram everything into every available space of the dishwasher.

Even my best efforts, the ones where I actually try to do it his way, end up being restacked by Carl the dish washer nazi.

He has tried to coach me, but despite his enduring patience it's a losing battle.

A battle I choose to lose.

... because I hate cleaning the kitchen after dinner and packing the dishwasher.

Last week I gave Carl a gift - cause that's the caring kind of slack dish washing wife I am.

OK so it wasn't something I actually went out and chose for him with love, but it was something super cool that was sent to me try AND I even put them in a cute little jar just for him with their own chalkboard label and everything.

I know right!

GEN-ER-OUS!

I gave him these aptly named Smarty Dish dish washing tablets from Method - because he is a very special smarty dishwasher packer. *ahem*

He may not have overly appreciated my thoughtful gift and he may have only spoken few words to me that night, but we both sat comfortably watching tele in a tidy silence.

Me happily eyeing off the clean and tidy dish free kitchen and him enjoying the break from my huffing and puffing and eyeballing.

We were already HUGE fans of the Method Dish Soaps and these Smart Dish Dish washing Tablets are equally as impressive. Free from dirty chemicals like bleach and phosphates, perfumes and dyes they are safe option to wash your families dishes.

They don't have all that extra packaging, like the little fiddly packets you need to get open and then chuck, so even the laziest dishwasher like me can't complain.

The Method Dish Soaps come in the cute environmentally friendly packaging that Method do so well and the scents ... Oh The Scents!

Pink Grapefruit, Fresh Currant and Ginger yuzu - good luck choosing, they are all divine. Lucky for you they are on sale anyway until the 30th April so you may as well just stock up and buy them all.

Now if you would like to win a gift for the special dishwasher packer in your life (even if that would be yourself), you have to enter to win this Method Dish washing Pack.

To enter just follow these steps;

1. Make sure you like Method on Facebook here and say hi whilst you are there.

2. Leave me a comment telling me your best tip to keeping a clean kitchen OR how you get out of doing the dishes.

Now for the Boring Bits -Terms and Conditions

Competition is open to Australian residents only
This is a Game of Skill and the winner will be chosen for their creativity, saviness or ability to make me laugh ... or cry.
Prizes will be sent to you direct from Method
The winners will be announced on this post right here on my blog and contacted by email. They will have 5 days to contact me to claim their prize. If the winner does not make contact me the prize will be redrawn and a new winner notified by email.
PLEASE PEOPLE - either register to comment or leave me an email address. I hate in when winners miss out because I cant get in contact with them.
The Competition is open now and closes at 7pm AEST Wednesday 07/05/13.

CONGRATULATIONS


Anna M (Guest): How do I get out of doing the dishes? Are you serious?? I think I would have to be pronounced Dead for that to happen.
And keeping my kitchen clean...hahaha Oh you are sooooo funny.
Ok...so my kitchen is not 100% spotless and never has been...doubtful it ever will be BUT no one has ever had food poisioning from anything thats been prepared in my kitchen. Now perhaps thats because over the years my kids have built up this amazing immunity. My kitchen is not dirty but it is disorganised and well...its lived in. Sometimes the dishes are piled up...because Im the only one that does them and today is my day to have a minor breakdown and pretend im dead to get out of doing the dishes :)

Exploring The Hood - Manly

**Disclosure: This is a sponsored giveaway on behalf of Method. All opinions are my own and I take full ownership when it comes to admitting I'm a sucky wife.

Exploring the Hood .... the Neighbourhood.

2013-04-22T07:00:00.000+10:00

As Autumn sets in, the days are starting to get shorter and I know that before too long it will be cold enough that it will take a lot of convincing to get me out of the house on weekends.

The weekend mornings will be spent in scarves and wellies watching the kids play sports, but come the afternoons I will make any excuse at all to curl up inside all toasty and warm with a book or something creative to distract me from the cold.

The weather in Sydney this weekend was ... kind of confused and didn't know which way it wanted to go. Saturday was one of those blah days - cold and wet. So wet. But come Sunday, the sun decided to pull rank and threw a little light and warmth on the matter.

The kids were showing serious symptoms of cabin fever and after one too many arguments over ridiculous things we knew we needed to get them out and release a little energy.

We had no plans, nowhere to be and no time constraints. The kids were in charge (God help us) and with skateboards under their arms they led us into to Manly on an adventure, their adventure.

We trekked along the gorgeous beach front, wandered down the Corso and traipsed through the grungier back streets. We stopped to feed some Pizza to grumbly tums and a grab a Corona for a thirsty Mum and Dad. But we didn't stop for long. There was too much to do, too much to see and soon we were on our way again.

They were thoughtful enough to allow me to linger a little in front of shops that housed beautiful things, bright things, things that caught my eye and my breath. But they allowed themselves to linger longer in front of the surf and skate shops, totally spurred on by Dad of course.

There were stacks, and there were laughs. There were meltdowns, tantrums and moments.

But there were memories being made and that's what explorers are all about...... apparently.

What did you get up to this past weekend?
Did you explore anywhere or anything?

Excuse Me While I Take a Random Insta Dump!

2013-04-19T11:02:00.000+10:00

Like squillions of other people, I am addicted to Instagram.

There I said!

For a naturally curious (aka nosy Parker) like me, Instagram gives me a little hit every time I tap that little app button.

I get to check in on friends and what they have been up to and I am inspired by what people are wearing and creating from gorgeous vignettes and clever crafts to drool inducing images of food.

I have discovered some fabulous websites and blogs that I would never have known existed if it wasn't for Instagram.

I get to peek at their homes, their family and their day. I can check out the new reno, and find out where they scored that gorgeous rug or fabulous pair of shoes.

Maybe it is a little creepy or stalkerish in some sense, but I also love the window it gives me into other peoples lives.

I've talked before my evening walks around our estate and how I love hearing the happy sounds that families makes as they go about their evening, and instagram is a lot like an evening walk for me, except I don't have to move my lazy butt or put my glass of wine down.

I do have to control my addiction though, as this app has the potential to be the single biggest procrastinator for me and whilst I am working during the week I try to limit my check in to just once or twice a day. Except for a quick peak at my nieces account, because she is currently travelling around Europe and sharing her trip with me on Instragram so my jealousy can really completely run a riot!

I'm curious though - about how you use Instagram and if you don't mind, I have a couple of questions I'd like to ask?

Are you on Instragram and if so how often do you check in?
When someone is private and you don't know them but they follow you - do you request to follow back or is that just weird?
What do you love most about Instagram, what do you like to see?
What are your biggest Instagram peeves?

Ok because it wouldn't be a proper instadump without an actual ceremonial dumping of photos into a post, here's some of my fave pics from my feed this past week.

If you are on Instagram I'd love you to come and say hi to me @LifeLoveHiccups.

Knitted Cushions Brought to You by Martha Mudguts
I've Gone Stark Stamping Mad
When I Grow Up I'm Gonna Stop .... Oh Wait!

The Fine Line Between Having An Opinion and Judging
In My Blog Reader - Home Decorating, Styling and Design Blogs

In My Blog Reader - Home Decorating, Design and Styling Blogs

2013-04-18T10:00:00.000+10:00

I was getting all sweaty and fidgety as I put this week's blog list together. Not because I have any weird kind of fungal infection or nervous tic, I just freaking love Home and Design Blogs and I found the task of trying to choose just a few to share with you, well damn near impossible!

Home decorating is just one of my many addictions.

OK, the shopping for home wares and the purchasing of Home styling Magazines is a slightly bigger addiction, but I am a very much a major devotee to the art of foofing around my home.

I have 'The Look' down pat. You know 'The LOOK!' That thing us women do where we stand with our hands on our hips, narrow our eyes and survey the room around us, looking for what we can move, paint or redecorate.

'The Look' usually sends the males in my house running like Harry Holt because they know they are about to be hit up for a loan of their muscles to move things around the house. And so they bolt before I can ask.

They so have me sussed!

Is it any wonder my family are happy to let me hide away with my iPad and pour over my favorite Home styling and design blogs?

It buys them time.

As long as I am reading blogs and magazines, they aren't moving furniture.

I'd call that a Win / Win!

Now I have only picked some of the blogs in my reader from this category because well frankly I didn't have enough hours to copy, cut and resize ALL the headers of ALL my favorite Home Blogs.

But I have added them and will continue to add them to my Blog Roll on the Side Bar.

And in case you missed the first 3 posts of this In My Blog Reader Series, you can find My Morning Cuppa Reads here, Inspiring Woman here or Blogs That Make Me Laugh here.

6th Street Design School

The House That A-M Built

OK people - Are you harboring any other Home Design Blogs that I have missed but I really SHOULD know about?

If you are - please please please - leave me the link or tell me the name of the blog in the comments so I can check them out.

Thank you :) and Happy Blog Reading!

Knitted Cushions Brought to You by Martha Mudguts
I've Gone Stark Stamping Mad
When I Grow Up I'm Gonna Stop .... Oh Wait!

The Fine Line Between Having An Opinion and Judging

The Fine Line Between an Opinion and Judging

2013-04-17T10:00:00.000+10:00

Recently while I was watching my boys run riot in one of the local playgrounds, I was eavesdropping (as you do) on a conversation that was going on between a couple of mums next to me.

Whilst I can't recall word for word the conversation, it did go something like this;

From the Redhead with the mean looking eyes:
"It was crazy, I mean WHAT kind of mother sends her daughter to netball with a drink bottle full of cordial?"

From The Group: various giggles, ooooos and tut tut noises

From the Redhead with the mean looking eyes:
"Obviously a totally irresponsible one who has no idea how to be a proper mother."

At that point I couldn't help myself and I turned around and butted in with:
"Well I suppose the pie and beer my boys get after soccer is a a tad inappropriate then"?

They all stopped and stared at me and I had to control the urge to go and give each of them a gentle uppercut to permanently close their mouths that had dropped wide open.

I chose to laugh and walk away, but afterwards I was kicking myself.

Why didn't I ask them what gave them the right to judge another mum?

Why didn't I defend the sisterhood and that poor woman who probably thought she was giving her daughter a special treat sending her to netball with a bottle of cordial?

Maybe she didn't know any better?

Just recently I was judged on Facebook when I posted this picture of my son on his birthday.

I had a commenter who basically told me I was awful and that sugar overload on any day is not OK!!!

Its OK, I am comfortable enough in myself to cop the comment on the chin, but I may as well have been that mum with the bottle of cordial, because I felt judged!

I would have much rather heard her opinion on why she thinks you shouldn't give kids too much sugar. But instead I copped her judgement all neatly wrapped up in a couple of harshly written words.

Too often I see this going on, woman judging other women, mums judging other mums and it really gets the steam blowing from my ears.

Once upon a time (code for pre children), I was one of those women who would say things like "When I have kids I will never let them play with plastic guns, have snot dripping out of their nose, eat takeaway food, play video games, ***insert a zillion other things here***

Yes I know - Gulp! I was naive and being childless at that point I was in NO position to judge another woman with child.

But I did.

I didn't just have an opinion, I judged!

When I was chatting to a friend about this the other day, she said she couldn't see any difference between having an opinion and judging someone, and as far as she is concerned they are one and the same.

Now feel free to correct me if I am wrong or offer me an alternative way of looking at things, but I think there most definitely is a line between having an opinion and judging, all be it often a very fine line.

Case in point 1;

Opinion: I don't think it is a good idea to let your child have too much sugar.

Judgement: That woman is insane! What a moron for letting her child have all that sugar!

Hmmmm I can see a difference.

But let me try again with another example.

Opinion: I don't think children should play too many video games or watch too much TV.

Judgement: Only lazy mums let their kids play video games!

Yep Sorry, but I can still see a difference.

How about I use an example of a totally non child related situation.

Opinion: I'm not really a fan of those high heeled sneaker wedges women wearing.

Judgement: Women who wear high heeled sneaker wedges are try hards!

You kind of get my drift right?

I see this kind of judging going on everywhere, in the playground, at school, and on Facebook.

Sometimes people just throw a comment out there without thinking how it effects the person on the receiving end and then when challenged they are quick to defend themselves by saying "But that is my opinion".

It comes down to one simple thing - Its all in the way you say it.

In my opinion, judging isn't helpful to anyone. Simply put, I think it makes the judger look like a complete tool and the judged feel ... well judged.

It doesn't offer an alternative way of looking at something that one may not have considered, and it doesn't present your opinion in an open and intelligent way that encourages discussion or varying points of view.

It does nothing except make the judged person feel like crap.

I'm interested in what you think about this?

Do you think there is a difference between having an opinion about something and judging someone for their choice?

Am I just completely over-reacting?

(FYI - I don't really give my kids a pie and a beer after soccer. They are totally happy with $2 bucks worth of mixed lollies and can of high sugar content fizzy drink I let them buy from the canteen.)

Knitted Cushions Brought to You by Martha Mudguts
I've Gone Stark Stamping Mad
When I Grow Up I'm Gonna Stop .... Oh Wait!

When I Grow Up I'm Gonna Stop ....... Oh Wait!

2013-04-16T10:19:00.003+10:00

Me at Age 20 - before someone stole the next 20 years from me!

Do you ever have that moment when you are just going about your day doing your thing like the funky young mum that you are, when all of a sudden reality rears up and slaps you 3 or 4 times across your face and says "Wake up you Noob - you're not funky, you're sooooo old now!"

I do.

Frequently.

You see in my head I am still in my twenties, the thirties didn't really happen and forty - well forty is for old people.

It happened too quick, this getting older thing I mean.

One minute I was standing outside Club 28 at my local pub, cursing the bar owners for the injustice of them creating a nightclub for old people, people that were *shudder* over 28. Then BAM next thing I know I am scrolling like really far down on websites trying to find my year of birth that is buried somewhere below the shiny newness of the 2000s, and the enviable hipness of the 80s and 90s.

I DON'T FEEL MY AGE!

And there lies the answer.

Once upon a time I used to say "When I Grow up I'm gonna do this and I'm going to stop doing that".

But Why?

I may not be able to avoid the fact that very soon I will have a number 4 in the wrong place of my age.

I may not be able to avoid the necessary appointments to see Drs for mammograms and grease and oil changes for my other rusty parts.

I may not be able to avoid the daily pill popping marathon of vitamins, digestion aids, joint lubricants and bone supplements that body needs these days to function..

But damn it - I am NOT going to start acting my age!

I WILL wear Chartreuse like it is my Freaking Badge of Honour and I will make NO apology for any unattractive tinge it reflects on my skin or your skin as you stand next to me!!

I WILL dance in Skater HQ if a funky song comes on even if my boys insist on pretending I am someone elses mum and start calling me Mrs Someone elses Mum.

I WILL continue to flip my finger every time I drive past the cranky old neighbourhood grinch's house and I won't give a damn for a single moment that I am being totally immature.

I WILL continue to put Britney Spears Believe perfume on my Christmas list because I LIKE the way it smells and I don't care that it is designed for a generation for whom bra stuffing is a normal part of getting dressed in the morning.

I WILL poke my tongue out when I pull up next to a bus stop full of pouty glossy lipped preteen girls who are giving drivers their best hair tossing smirk.

I WILL press all the buttons and play with the dials as I drive in my car like I am preparing to fly a 747 and I WILL keep doing the ready for departure spiel to my imaginary cabin full of passengers as we prepare to take off.

I WILL insist on the RTA counter staff retaking my photo for my license renewal because Its not my fault you clicked the button before I had a chance to adjust my hair.

I WILL continue to spend a fortune downloading songs sung by gorgeous young things whose thighs look more like my upper arms and I WILL still strut through the house to those songs like I am the freaking star of the catwalk at Fashion week.

I WILL skull soda straight from the bottle in the fridge and I WILL insist on the old "do as I say not as I do" spiel as my kids jaws drop to the floor.

And I WILL lie on my teenage niece's bed and make prank phone calls to the cute boy in her school just so she can hear his voice ..... OK no I wont cause that would be a little creepy, but I WILL give her my phone with its blocked number so she can make the call herself.

You see its all in the mind, or at least that's what I am telling myself.

If I don't want to act like a woman staring down the barrel of 40, then I don't have to!

I don't know what happened to the past 20 years, I'm pretty sure someone stole them but I am not going to get my hot pink polka dot Bonds boy cut hipsters into a twist. I am going to LIVE like I'm 20, act like I'm 30 and grab forty by the balls before it whizzes past my eyes like its 20 predecessors.

40 - Pfft! Bring It!

Me and my skull print jeggings are ready for you.

Do you feel like you accidentally dropped a few years somewhere?

What immature things do you insist on doing that you will not let age take away from you?

Knitted Cushions Brought to You by Martha Mudguts
I've Gone Stark Stamping Mad

I have Gone Stark Stamping Crazy!

2013-04-15T10:19:00.000+10:00

In my opinion there is nothing nicer on a rainy day than tucking yourself away somewhere cosy and putting your arty farty duds on.

OK burying my face in a bucket full of prawns and a platinum credit card that I do not have to pay off is probably classed as nicer, but beggars cant be choosers and all that.

Recently I discovered this cute little Etsy store that sells the most gorgeous stamps. I have no idea how I ended up there.

You know how you are just clicking away on the Internet following one link that leads to another etc etc? Yep that!

But whoever was responsible for leading me to the Talk To The Sun store on Etsy - thankyou!

Now anyone who is crazy enough top say that paints and stamps are just for kids, needs to be grabbed by the shoulders and shaken .... in a gentle but persuasive manner.

Why should kids have all the fun?

I am having an absolute ball making up little gift tags, covers for notebooks, wrapping paper and just generally going crazy stamping anything in my way.

It's oddly therapeutic and who could resist making little villages out of these gorgeous little houses!

I have been so inspired but the gorgeous work of Riyo from Talk to the Sun, that I have even ordered myself some stamp blocks and lino cutters to have a go at making some myself.

Yes I have the stamp bug THAT bad!

So if I may now be excused, I have some children that would look absolutely adorable stamped all over in little colourful houses.