My Mummy Daze

The hard truth

2014-12-09T19:35:00.003+11:00

Last week I shared how I've been travelling with life now that I'm working full-time.

It felt really good to be honest about the challenges and that I'm enjoying the change too.

I've got to admit though - there was a time that I would have been ashamed to confess publicly that I was working full-time. My ideals have certainly evolved but for a long time I wanted to be a stay-at-home-mum and always be available for my kids. I thought I'd be neglecting them and I wouldn't be able to meet their needs if I was working full-time.

This is very much not the case and I've been so proud of how easily the kids have adjusted to me being around less.

I've always been told that kids are very adaptable and resilient and I can see that this is true for my children. Both Miss E and J-Man have taken the changes to home life in their stride and are very proud of their Mum.

I have to add though, that despite moving in a positive direction and loving this new life of mine, I haven't felt as resilient of my kids have.

There have been some really tough times.

I think if I hated my job or had lost my passion for a career than I would have thrown in the towel.

There have been several nights where I have sobbed to my husband out of complete physical and mental exhaustion. My favourite phrase in these moments is, "It's just too hard. It all just feels too hard."

But as is typical with me, a good teary and vent with my man makes me feel much better. It doesn't make the challenges any easier but the cry and the chat makes me feel like someone understands.

The first two weeks in my new role rendered me completely and utterly exhausted. I would get home and fall onto the lounge where I would stay until dinner was served. I'd then tuck the kids into bed after they were showered and crawl into bed myself. Sleep was priority and the only way I could survive.

I started to worry that this wasn't sustainable and that constant fatigue was going to become unbearable. But it was my sister-in-law who reassured me. She reminded me of what it was like when we would go back to school after the school holidays when we were kids. And I knew what she meant. In those school days I would feel so tired during the first week back after the holidays as I adjusted to the faster pace and the relentless routine of the school term. Being reminded of this made me realise that the exhaustion soon passed back in those school days and I quickly adjusting to school life again.

It just took a little bit of time to adjust.

I've got a better handle on things now, despite the long days.

This comparison really helped to reassure me with adjusting to full-time work. And it was so true. Within a couple of weeks of running the full-time work treadmill I felt on top of things and work and family life felt manageable (not perfect, but manageable) again.

It's all still busy, and there's still days that test me. I've just learnt to roll with them, knowing that a new day and a fresh start will come with the sunrise.

I'm much more realistic about expecting how much I can achieve and I've lowered my expectations around the state of the house. For the most part I don't sweat the small stuff.

My biggest challenge at the moment is enjoying my weekends. Working and travelling all week means that my weekends are jam-packed with washing, cleaning, housework, groceries, food prep, family admin, and the list goes on.

The result is me having a very short fuse and a low tolerance to pretty much anything and anyone. This makes me a cranky mummy (and wife!) because I'm so damned SPENT!

It's a juggle, and I'm not going to pretend that I've got it all together. But it's certainly all a lot more do-able than I ever imagined. A supportive family, and school-aged kids probably has a lot to do with it.

Above all, a positive attitude, ambition and stable mental health is essential.

"I was crying big, Mama tears..."

2014-12-08T20:24:00.001+11:00

Tonight I attended my son's preschool graduation.

Yes, you read right. It was a graduation for preschoolers.

But don't be too quick to raise that right eyebrow and angle your head away from your screen in a passive, "WTF?" kind of statement.

A couple of years ago I probably would have been the first to scoff at the idea of a preschool graduation. I'd be sitting right beside you wondering what the DEAL was with a graduation ceremony for... What? Colouring-in between the line?!

I can hear the sarcasm in my voice as I cynically questioned why on EARTH five-year-olds needed a formal ceremony (complete with capes & mortar boards) to graduate from pre-school.

Our happy graduand

But that was then, and this is now.

Now, I'm ridiculously proud of my almost-five-year-old boy for ending his pre-school years. He made it! But moreover, I'm amazingly proud and DUMBFOUNDED that I survived his early years. I made it through the sleepless nights, the toilet training, the endless questions, the constant coaching, and all the tedious moments in between that demanded ENDLESS patience.

We did it!

As over-joyed that I am that young J-Man has completed his pre-schooling and walked away with an adorable, pint-sized preschool diploma, I am equally DEVASTATED.

You see J-Man is my baby. He may not wear nappies or cry for me to pat him back to sleep, but he is still my baby. And I'm sure he'll loathe me for saying this, but when he's 16, 21 and (dare I say it?) 41, my J-Man will still be my baby.

By baby I mean that he is my youngest. My little guy who was last from my womb and last to be cradled to sleep in my arms.

He may be strong and tall now. He may be curious about bugs, trash packs and ALL things science, but he is my baby.

And it hurts to see my baby grow up.

Tonight when I proudly watched him formally graduate from preschool (it's OK I snigger when I say it too...) and be lovingly labelled the class "Park Ranger", I was crying big, Mama tears because my little Park Ranger is growing up.

He's got his own personality, his own crew of boisterous BFFs, his own talents and motivations and his own amazing life to lead. And tonight I got a glimpse of the big journey he's about to go on.

Seeing him leave pre-school made me realise that he's one baby-step closer to flying my nest. As proud as this made me, a selfish and maternal part of me doesn't like it...

Not one bit!

Christmas Craft

2014-12-04T06:00:00.000+11:00

* This is a sponsored post by Moose toys. All opinions expressed are my own.

On Saturday I took the kids into the city for our annual Christmas day out. We saw all the gorgeous decorations, met Santa and admired the giant Christmas trees. It was a big day.

When we got home the kids were SUPER excited about Christmas. I decided we needed to do a quiet activity to calm them down... And rest our feet after a long day out.

So we did some craft.

Normally the idea of doing craft with the kids puts my head into a spin, but this time it was fun and mess-free.

I mentioned Beados here a few weeks ago.

Ever since the kids discovered a delivery of these colourful craft beads they have been pestering me to use them. But I was worried it would be a stressful mess of sticky beads.

It turns out I was wrong.

We followed the instructions and created some Christmas decorations while taking advantage of our Christmas spirit.

Our Christmas Beados creations

A few beads rolled onto the floor but after I reminded the kids that ALL beads needed to remain on the family room table (I'm a drill sergeant with mess), they learnt pretty quickly to be more mindful with their creations.

J-Man enjoyed using the specialist Beados tools and investigating how the special 'tweezers' worked. He buzzed around us but wasn't really interested in making a design.

Miss E got right into it and made a colourful fish of her own design. She also used the template provided and made a gingerbread man, and made a love-heart.

Miss E and J-Man loved getting their craft on

I took the opportunity to ignore my huge pile of washing that needed to be folded and let my creativity take over.

I created a Santa, an angel, a star and a snowflake while we listened to Christmas carols.

I'm not sure who enjoyed this activity more - them or me!

Our gingerbread man, Christmas star, Santa and angel

I really did enjoy myself. I know it sounds hard to believe, but crafting with Beados together really allowed me to be present with the kids. I was calm and relaxed (for a change) and I could tell the kids were relishing in me just being with them.

We really needed a quiet activity like this.

We were out of the sun, away from our screens and happily and quietly together.

It would have been a different story a couple of years ago - those little beads would have made an impossible mess before the kids could follow my instructions. Another reason I'm thankful my kids are out of that preschooler stage!

If you're still looking for Christmas gift ideas for your school-aged kids definitely check-out Beados. They might even give you some peace and quiet over the long Christmas holiday break. Plus if you enjoy the therapeutic peace of quietly colouring-in pictures with your kids (admit it - you love it!) then you'll love the quiet process of designing with Beados too.

Are you a craft lover or hater?

Working full-time is no walk in the park

2014-12-03T07:23:00.002+11:00

You know what? Working full-time and being a mum, a wife, a friend, a daughter, a grand-daughter, a sister too... It's not a walk in the park.

I'm really loving working full-time but my GAWD, there really is so much less time in my week to give time to my relationships.

In some ways the change to my life is good. Like I feel like a better mum, even though I'm around less for the kids.

When I'm with them I'm really with them. I'm not "over it" or exhausted from dealing with their demands all day. I love hanging out with them because I've missed them and WANT to hear their little stories and see what they've been obsessing over all day while I've been at work.

I've also realised how much I HATED the morning routine with them. Getting them up and racing to get them ready and out the door for school and pre-school each day made me snappy and stressed. I did the hard-yards with those crazy mornings, but now I don't deal with that at all. I walk out the door at 6am and the morning rush is up to their Dad and our Nanny to handle. No complaints here!

I've had a lot of people ask me how I'm coping with the daily commute to work. Living in Wollongong means a 90 minute trip to work in Sydney each day, and a two hour trip home from work each afternoon. I've had many looks of sympathy and concern from friends and colleagues when they learn of this. But you know what? I LOVE the commute. This is going to sound horrible, but after seven years of being a stay-at-home-mum and dealing with my (darling) kids all the time, the commute has given me freedom. FREEDOM!

I now get four hours each day all to myself. No kids hanging off my hip. No chubby fingers tugging at my skirt. No one calling "Muuuuuuum!" from another room. No one interrupting me just as I finally sit down. No whining and no demands for snacks or entertaining.

That's right, now I just get peace and quiet in a crowded train carriage. No interruptions. Just me, my podcasts and my social media feed. It's heaven for a worn-out mum!

But as much as I see the positives of working more, I'm also feeling the negatives too. Like I just don't have the time I used to have for spending time with my friends and family.

I miss them. I feel guilty for not being able to give the people I love more of my time. But the reality is I barely have enough time for myself.

I work, I travel, I spend my spare time with my kids, and squeeze running the house somewhere in between. Catch-ups with friends and family, dates with my husband, exercise, blogging, TV viewing, baking and anything else I once enjoyed doing all have been pushed to the side-lines.

I'm sure there's working mums who have completely nailed the balance of all these things, but right now I'm just doing the best I can - and it really looks far from perfect.

Christmas is for SHOPKINS

2014-11-13T20:25:00.002+11:00

* This is a sponsored post for Moose Toys. All opinions expressed are my own.

I know some of us are in denial, but Christmas really is just around the corner.

According to my calculations there's five-and-a-half weeks until that big guy dressed in red abseils off our pergolas and miraculously leaves presents under our Christmas Trees.

Or in grown-up terms; there's just three more pay cycles until that big fella surprises our kids with PRESENTS!

In other words? It's crazy-close to Christmas Day!

So if you haven't yet finished (haha!) your Christmas shopping, or if you're looking for some stocking-stuffers for your cherubs, you need to take note of what I'm about to say.

You see, Moose Toys sent our family these teeny-tiny toys last month that I thought nothing of.

"Meh! More colourful, plastic to fill our toy box with!"

Ohhhh how wrong I was!

These bright and happy toys of which I speak are called Shopkins, and they have brought a whole HEAP of joy to young J-Man and Miss E's world.

If you're familiar with Trash Packs, they're a less "yucky" version of these. They come in different sets to suit your budget and are complete with rosy-cheeks and happy smiles.

Shopkins, quite simply are tiny, personified grocery products that you'd find in the supermarket.

And my kids ADORE them.

They come in little collector packs (perfect for stocking-stuffers)...

Larger starter kits to kick-start your kids' collection...

And there's play-sets too with a mini supermarket, bakery or fruit shop to excite your kidlets...

I can't quite explain exactly what it is with this line of toys that kids love so much - but they just do! Perhaps it's the excitement of being encouraged to, "collect them all!"?

They don't break the bank either with a collector pack as little as $2.99 from Big W, Target, Myer and Toys R Us.

Take a look:

It's started...

2014-11-04T20:32:00.000+11:00

Last night my daughter and I had a bath together.

I would have preferred to enjoy a quiet soak in the bath on my own, but she insisted that I would have more fun if she joined me.

I doubted that, but decided to humour her.

She sweetly suggested we should wash each other's hair and put on a mud mask. "Sure!" I said, and she beamed. She loves doing girlie things - almost as much as she loves having one-on-one time with her mum.

As I was lathering the shampoo into her hair and explaining why people believe in different Gods (seriously, there's never a dull moment) she randomly pointed at her thigh.

"See this bit, mum?" she remarked.

"Yeah," I replied, expecting her to ask some anatomical question about the name of her thigh muscle or how her brain knows how to move her leg.

"I want this bit to be smaller. I need to lose weight because I want this bit to be smaller like the rest of my leg."

I was shocked. My throat constricted and my chest tightened.

My daughter is six-years-old and just matter-of-factly said those dreadful, damaging words; "I need to lose weight."

She said these words despite my efforts to always advocate a positive body image for her.

I've always been conscious of how I discuss my own body in front of her. She is young and impressionable and I've always been acutely aware that I am her main role model. I am responsible for modelling a positive body image to her.

I don't talk about losing weight. I don't complain about the way my body has changed since having children. I talk about the importance of exercise, being fit and "doing training" for my running events. And I often refer to foods as "healthy" or having "too much sugar" and needing a balance of each.

I remember too well my own insecurities about my body and the self-conscious period I went through as a teen. I never felt thin enough. I distinctly remember sitting with my friends in Year Five and grabbing the soft rolls of flesh below our belly buttons. We counted the little rolls of healthy fat reserves. We decided that for every roll of fat we should lose one kilogram... I weighed myself regularly for years after that, willing the numbers to go down on the bathroom scales.

I'm not in that space now and have come to terms with the fact that my shape and size is what it is. And I certainly never want to impart my own issues onto my sweet girl. She genuinely is perfectly healthy just as she is.

So how did this happen? How did my Kindergarten child come to her own conclusion that her thigh size was too big and that she needed to lose weight?

After reassuring her that her body was strong and healthy and just perfect the way it was, I gently asked her why she would think such a thing.

Her response?

That she had seen girls at soccer training with smaller thighs and she wanted her legs that looked more like theirs.

I was dumbfounded. Are our children really exposed to enough bodycentric messages that by six-years-old they are capable of comparing their bodies and determining whose looks better?

I explained that everyone is different. That every body has a different shape and size and there's nothing wrong with that. Her legs help her balance, help her run, and help her to stand tall everyday.

But she didn't seem convinced.

I can't deny that I'm not frightened about her thoughts. It's a tough road that she will have to navigate largely on her own. She must come to terms with the fact that in many ways according to multiple social and media messages the way she looks isn't good enough.

I don't feel proud of the world she is living in when this is the reality for young girls and women. It's not OK and it will never be OK for children to feel that they have to evaluate themselves based in their physical appearance.

I just wish I knew an easy answer to make a difference.

Boys will be boys?

2014-10-31T18:45:00.003+11:00

So it's Friday and I wish that meant I was sharing a Friday Fashion post today.

But I'm not.

I have been LOVING delving into some style in this space, but this week I just haven't had the time.

I mean, theoretically of course I have time, but by the time I've travelled to and from work, hung out from my kidlets, and attempted to restore the house to have some sort of order, all I want to do is lie in bed in a stupefied state as I scroll through my social media feeds.

Oh it's the high life!

Party central alright. Not.

For instance, let me tell you about Tuesday night.

I was tired. Because WORK and LIFE, and just wanted to get the kids showered and into bed. J-Man had a suspiciously long shower before I shooed him out and let Miss E jump in.

I had barely enough time to wrap a towel around J-Man before Miss E started bellowing. She was screeching through the steam and jets of the shower something about a gross smell.

I was flustered and OVER it because it was 7.30pm and I was DONE with parenting for the day. I took a deep breath and wandered back into the bathroom. I found Miss E dramatically flailing one hand around her as she pinched her nose with the other.

Through a squeaky, nasal voice she exclaimed that the shower STINKS and she had to get out "Immediately!" (hmmm, I wonder who she heard that emphatic directive from?!).

I opened the shower door to turn the taps off and was immediately met by a positively vile odour. Sadly though, I instantly knew what it was.

It was unmistakable. It was stale urine.

Yup. That old, stinky wee smell. Any parent who has toilet trained their child and neglected to mop up a lonely puddle of wee will know that the next day that withered old puddle smells positively awful.

Instantly I knew that J-Man was responsible. Afterall, he had just spent a ridiculous amount of time in that shower only moments before. There's only so much lathering of soup that one small four-year-old can do.

The answer came with a fluoro-yellow water pistol that lay abandoned on the bottom of the shower recess.

I tentatively picked it up... and my suspicions were confirmed. It also reeked of urine. A steady stream of yellow liquid trickled out of it's nozzle.

After an interrogation through gritted-teeth and many sighs, I was able to establish the events that occurred during J-Man's shower that lead to the putrid smell.

A shifty-eyed J-Man confessed that the night before he had decided that he would urinate into the reservoir of his yellow water pistol. Just to, you know, see if 'it' would fit.

He then replaced the lid of the reservoir and finished his shower.

After a full 24 hours of that urine sitting in our hot, stuffy shower recess, J-Man returned for his next evening shower. He then decided to play with his water pistol, spraying it ALL over the shower.

The tiles. The taps. The door. The ceiling. The soap rack.

He sprayed that stale urine everywhere.

The end result?

I was on my hands and knees at 10pm on Tuesday night SCRUBBING every inch of the shower with bleach to rid it of it's stink and bacteria.

I then had my own shower and went to bed feeling like I needed a holiday.

Isn't parenting FUN?!

The Christmas gift that makes everyone happy

2014-10-29T09:04:00.000+11:00

I'm trying to be organised this year.

You know, with Christmas being eight weeks away and all.

I thought the lead-up to Christmas was busy last year when I was working part-time... but this year, now I'm working full-time, things are going to be HECTIC!

The calendar is already filling up with end-of-year functions; school and preschool parties, school assemblies and various family and work Christmas get-togethers.

I've worked out that I have four free Saturdays until Christmas. O. M. G.

Four.

That's not a lot of time to organise the kids' Christmas presents, and shop for the pressies for secret santa and the kids' cousins.

So I've been scouring websites and toy catalogues and have already written my Christmas shopping list. I know, right? It's October! I told you I was trying to be organised.

One of the presents that's on my list is something I'm hoping will be more that just a five minute wonder on Christmas morning.

It's called Beados*.

Beados is a range of beading activities by Moose where kids create their own beaded picture designs that "magically" join together with a spray of water.

One of my requirements for Christmas gift-giving for kids is that gifts be purposeful. Beados ticks that box.

Playing with Beados will help keep my kids occupied and entertained (i.e. out of my hair!) during the long, summer school holidays.

Image Source

No heat, no glue, no mess... so this fun crafting activity is a win for everyone.

The kids will get to enjoy creating imaginative masterpieces that they can proudly display or play with afterwards. Plus, they get to have a break from screentime and the scorching summer heat in the process.

Image Source

Not bad for around $15 for a starter pack.

Plus did I mention that they'll be out of my hair?!

Take a look at how Beados works:

* This is a sponsored post by Moose toys. All opinions expressed are my own.

What gift ideas are thinking about giving to your kids this Christmas?

How to write a letter to santa

2014-10-24T06:00:00.000+11:00

Hey, guess what...

I know you probably don't want to hear this right now, but... there's only eight more Fridays until Christmas.

Yup! Crazy, huh?

Department stores have their Christmas decorations on sale, shopping centres have assembled their giant Christmas trees, and it's only a matter of time before the supermarkets start playing Christmas carols as we ~~stroll~~ race up their aisles.

In fact, if you check your letterbox you'll probably find that you have a Christmas card from Great Auntie Mabel because she's, "Getting in early this year."

But do you know what happens as soon as Christmas fever hits? So does the pester power from our kids.

Expect to find store catalogues scattered across your kitchen bench and lounge room floor, with large texta circles haphazardly claiming their coveted toys.

Anticipate random exclamations while they watch TV, as commercials become punctuated by, "Santa HAS to bring me one of those!!"

Very quickly your urge to want to deliver the best Christmas morning yet, will be clouded by concerns that you have forgotten exactly what that amazing toy was that they were hoping for.

If this sounds familiar, take a squiz at Letter to Santa.

It's a fun and festive website that will get your kids involved in some Santa magic in the lead-up to Christmas. And better yet, it will easily collate a simple wish list delivered to your inbox of all the wonderful toys your kids have politely ~~demanded~~ asked Santa to deliver.

Take a look:

Letter to Santa* is a great way to get gift inspiration for you to share with grandparents and friends wanting gift suggestions for your kids.

It's also a really lovely experience to share together with the Santa believers in your family. That magically joy that Santa brings is priceless.

My kids and I sat down together last weekend and they had an absolute ball trawling through the list of toys and popping them into Santa's workshop. They each took their turn at thoughtfully typing a letter to Santa and politely reminding him which was their MOST favourite toy.

I loved watching their joy and excitement!

Once they emailed off their letter to Santa (because Santa is tech-savvy these days) he delighted them each with a personalised video message from him and Rudolph.

And the icing on the cake of the whole experience? I now get to remind them that they have to be on their BEST behaviour if they want Santa to bring them their toys in eight weeks time.

After all, Santa has very good WIFI and can be emailed at anytime to be updated on any misbehaviour.

The magic of Christmas, right?

* I was sponsored to share 'Letter to Santa' with you. However. all opinions expressed are my own.

Friday Fashion: Casual Friday

2014-10-17T18:51:00.001+11:00

So it's been five weeks now since I started my new job and I've been getting a lot more comfortable in my new environment. I'm not feeling as much pressure to dress in corporate attire all the time, which is refreshing.

Sitting at a desk all day in a pencil skirt can get mighty uncomfortable!

So last week I decided to go with a more relaxed work look and embraced the concept of 'Causal Friday'.

I didn't quite bust out my sandals and cuffed-jeans, but pulled out my own version of work casual.

Thankfully, this meant hanging up my stilettos and wearing some super-comfy heeled sandals. And I've got much happier feet because of it!

This pair of Glamour Puss heels have a sturdy heel but still the height I like for work. But best of all the straps are made out of a thick, elasticised fabric so there's nothing painful cutting into my feet. Hurray!

This pant and top combo from Katies felt like I was wearing my PJ's into work.

It was comfort-plus! A much more enjoyable experience from the fitted dresses and skirts I had been wearing.

I added a colourful, red blazer to my outfit too. I had a meeting and wanted to be able to quickly formalise my look.

It worked a treat, and doubled as a comfy pillow on the train trip home. Bonus!

Big thanks to Katies for gifting me this outfit.

Have you been into their stores yet to suss out their new Summer range? Well worth the trip!

The winning birthday gift

2014-10-11T06:00:00.000+11:00

Last weekend J-Man was invited along to his preschool friend's 5th birthday party.

It was a superhero theme and the kids were invited to dress in their favourite character's costume.

Of course I missed that 'minor' detail on the invitation though.

Oops.

Instead, I kitted J-Man out in a button-through shirt (that apparently resembled a tablecloth), jeans and desert boots.

I wet his hair and combed it into submission. There was not a cow-lick or defiant strand in sight.

When we arrived at the party a small troupe of masked five-year-olds flocked to J-Man. Spider-Man (the birthday boy) asked if he was dressed as Peter Parker. Elsa asked if he was George from Peppa Pig. The Incredible Hulk suggested that he was a cowboy.

J-Man was puzzled. He just thought he was J-Man.

Fortunately, he was holding a colourfully-wrapped gift and decided to offer it as his explanation. Nice move son!

This seemed to be a language that all the kids understood and the birthday boy proceeded to unwrap the gift like a shark in a feeding frenzy.

So what was the gift?

It was this talking parrot, complete with his own little cage.

Introducing Friendly Frankie

He is "Friendly Frankie" - one of the pets from Moose's Little Live Pets range*.

Now.... I have an addictive habit of wanting to give the 'best' gift to kids at birthdays and Christmas. I get great satisfaction in knowing that I picked a pressie that turned into a favourite.

Much to my delight, this talented bird didn't disappoint.

Other gifts were immediately discarded and Friendly Frankie instantly became a hit.

Every child at the party, young and old, took pleasure in holding down Frankie's button and talking into his beak. They then excitedly waited for him to parrot-back what they had said in his bird-like voice.

It should come as no surprise that Frankie was heard parroting lots of childish things like, "Poo!", "I have a bum!", "Girls smell!" and numerous fart noises.

Noticing a few raised eyebrows from the parents looking-on, I quickly pointed-out Frankie's concealed "mute" switch. This was met with relief as the knowing parents relayed stories of toys that made repetitive sounds that mysteriously went 'missing' or 'accidentally' broke in their houses.

So after a rocky start with his small fashion faux par, J-Man quickly elevated his party guest status and was able to proudly wear the glory badge of being the best gift-giver.

Oh wait, maybe that was me? #winning

::

Moose have a wonderful range of interactive toys in their Little Live Pets range.

The parrots and butterflies delight both girls and boys and come in a variety of colours.

Miss E and J-Man are really hoping that Santa brings them a bird and a butterfly of their own this Christmas.

Take a look at the Little Live Butterfly:

* This post was sponsored by Moose Toys. All opinions expressed are my own

The working life starts with a YAWN

2014-10-08T19:40:00.001+11:00

Hi. Remember me?

I used to write here from time-to-time... Ring any bells? Yeah, it feels like a lifetime ago for me too.

I used to have an elusive (and highly-valued) thing called 'spare time'.

Ha!

Now I have a 'little' thing called a full-time job and an unrelenting commute.

In my spare time I once liked to write blog posts, to connect with my blogging community, and share photos in Instagram.

Now I barely have time to write a shopping list, connect with my hubby and share cuddles with my kids.

But I'm not complaining. Much.

I'm tired and a little emotional, but generally I'm really happy with the new path I'm on.

I know this is probably nothing new for many mums. And I fear there's some women doing some eye-rolling as they read this, but it's SUCH a big change for me and my family.

A massive adjustment.

This is what my days look like at the moment:

5.20am - Alarm goes off. Squint through tired eyes at my luminescent phone screen and scroll-through Facebook feed for news and mild entertainment.

5.30am - Stumble into the bathroom. Spend ridiculous amount of time plastering on make-up to conceal bags under eyes and stress pimples.

5.55am - Ambitiously attempt to do professional hair style. Fail. Brush out inferior hair style. Punish hair with inferno-heat of hair straightener. Spray hair into place like life depends on it.

6.10am - Make tried and true, exhaustion-correction elixir, i.e coffee. Decant into travel mug.

6.13am - Tip toe into kids' rooms and snuggle their covers around them. Kiss them on their cheeks and choke on a sob that I can't see them again until dinnertime.

6.15am - Walk out the front door and curse under my breath that my feet hurt (already). Heels are torturous but ironically sexy. Clip on seatbelt and drive out the driveway.

6.55am - Attempt to find car spot at train station. Find one spot half a kilometre from my platform.

7.00am - Hear train chugging up the tracks. Try to make dignified-corporate-non-mumsy dash to meet train. Curse at heels. Grunt unattractively. Trip in cursed heels. Miss train.

7.05am - Dab away sweat moustache with baby wipe and wait for next train. Dream of bacon and egg wrap. Roll eyes because it's not going to happen.

7.15am - Pile onto train. Assume stoned-zombie face to match expressions of fellow commuters. Avoid eye contact. Look at phone. Never smile. Preferably wear ear phones.

7.40am - Arrive at destination. Follow fellow commuters like muted livestock off train, up escalator and through turnstyles. Continue to avoid eye contact. Apparently these are the rules.

7.45am - Arrive at office having walked passed temporary 'beds' of seven homeless men. Frown at the world.

7.50am - Pretend to enjoy a bowl of sugar free, salt-free, fun-free cereal.

7.55am - Begin working. Insert headphones and tap away at all things digital and social media.

2.00pm - Look up. Realise food should be consumed if I want to survive the afternoon. Eat re-heated spaghetti bolognaise at my desk and attempt to clear my inbox.

2.10pm - Lunch break over. Keep working. Tappity tap at the keyboard. Reply to comments. Publish content. Produce images. Edit more stuff. Do stuff that swallows way too much time than it should. More stuff.

4.00pm - Realise my train leaves in 10 minutes. Resign myself to fact that I will miss it. Tidy desk.

4.05pm - Take elevator down nine stories then proceed to run to make train regardless of the fact it's two blocks, and three pedestrian crossings away. Flash opal card at opal-card-reading-thingy. Run to escalator cursing misogynist, punishing-but-sexy heels the whole way. Stomp down escalator, narrowly missing two pashing highschool kids.

4.10pm Breathlessly march onto platform as the guard blows the whistle and my train departs in front of me.

4.15pm - Hop onto crammed, all-stations train. Practically sit in random, business woman's lap. Pretend to be seriously interested in my podcast as I avidly listen to the eye-raising conversation about my seat-mates sexcapades from last night.

4.45pm - Arrive at my train station. Fight urge to remove heels and walk barefoot back to my car. Heels are the enemy. Must. Not. Let. Them. Win.

4.50pm - Reach parked car which is now covered in bird poo and bottle brush blossoms. Amble home as fast as my little hatchback can legally take me.

5.25pm - Pull into drive away. Brace myself for onslaught of bitter-sweet love and affection from my adoring children.

5.26pm - Am accosted in my car seat by adoring children waving artwork and random Monster High paraphanelia.

5.27pm - Embrace husband and pour self generous glass of chilled, white wine. Enjoy chat about grown-up stuff that doesn't relate to work, which is sporadically interrupted by random statements and cuddles from adoring children. Punctuations of poo humour are commonplace.

5.55pm - Make dinner. Remind self that it's all worth it and that it's not good to think about this crazy juggle when you're hungry. It will just make you h-angry.

6.15pm - Eat dinner with family. Enjoy pleasant chit-chat about each other's days. Realise that this 15 minutes together is probably the highlight of my day. Try not to cry.

6.30pm - Proceed to clean up the mediocore dinner and make lunches for tomorrow.

7.00pm - Assist husband with wrangling children through shower and bedtime ritual. Resist temptation to claim to have "something important" to do downstairs.

7.35pm - Tuck adoring children into bed. Kiss them goodnight. Say sweet things.

7.40pm - Tuck children into bed. Say sweet things.

7.50pm - Tuck children into bed. AGAIN. Resist urge to say not-so-sweet things.

8.05pm - Bellow at children to GO TO SLEEP!

8.15pm - Have scalding-hot shower in attempt to wash off all the crankiness before bedtime. Apply face wash to remove make-up mask. Hear facial pores breathe sigh of relief at feeling light of day.

8.25pm - Crawl into bed clad in cosy jammies and NOT high heels. Tell yourself you'll have a quick look at Facebook before going to sleep.

9.05pm - Wake-up from micro sleep with phone on face. Realise you've fallen asleep with Facebook. Again. Lean over bed to put phone on charge. Fall asleep before head can hit the pillow.

They say you shouldn't drink and text. Maybe I shouldn't have an exhausting day and publish a blog post...

Fi xxx

Friday Fashion: Your MUST-have dress this season

2014-09-26T06:00:00.000+10:00

HELLO!

Working full-time these days is certainly eating into my beloved blogging time. But fret-not! I found a small window to quietly sip some tea, nibble a couple of squares of chocolate, and tap out this post.

Today's fashion post is courtesy of a gifted dress from Katies that I am completely in love with.

It's called the Pop Ikat Maxi Dress.

Katies Ikat Maxi Dress - $79.95

This maxi is a dream to wear.

It's feminine, pretty, pink and so very ME.

This dress is soft & comfy to wear, and most importantly; it hides my wobbly bits!

I LOVE it's halter-neck and the elasticised waist. A waist like this is such an fantastic feature to flatter any figure - just like the jumpsuit that we all know how much I love!

All of these qualities make me stand tall and feel confident wearing the Ikat Maxi.

Plus (but wait, there's more!), it's quite versatile. It's easy to dress-up with heels and some bling, or dress-down with sandals and a straw hat.

Katies Ikat Maxi Dress. I'm wearing a size 8 here.

This maxi will see you through Spring Carnival, Christmas parties and into those balmy January BBQ with friends.

Definitely head in store to check it out, or take a look online at the other Summery dresses that Katies have this season.

And speaking of Katies - little old me is featured on their Style Thread Blog this week. Check out my interview HERE.

Happy weekend!

Fi xx

The music video that is all about the BODY image

2014-09-21T08:04:00.002+10:00

* Edit: for a truly AWESOME and spot-on version of this song head over to Bustle. Alex Kritselis has written some lyrics that are much more PC and body-friendly for ALL shapes and sizes. His version is more inclusive with no body-shaming. Check-out the pre-chorus for a quick taste of his genius song re-write:

Yeah, my mama she told me don’t worry about your size

She says, “Boys like a little more booty to hold at night.”

I said, “Mama, it’s not about whether guys think I’m hot,”

“‘Cause true body acceptance means I’m lovin’ what I got.”

::

I was up early yesterday morning and started channel-surfing as I sipped my morning coffee.

I came across the ABC's music program. It seems that times have changed and it's not RAGE like it was when I was a kid... But I digress.

As I sat and watched the music videos play (and savour every mouthful of my latte) it became more and more apparent that music videos are in no way G-rated. I know I'm probably a bit slow on the uptake here, but after years and years of being subjected to ABCKids and ABC3 my TV viewing has been relatively limited.

I became uncomfortable and cross with the messages contained in those music videos. Their common themes that I felt subjected to included;

1. Be thin.

2. Be sexy.

3. Be provocative.

But mostly, everything I saw in those videos was telling me to be thin.

What worried me most about this is that I'm a grown, educated woman feeling influenced by these messages. What is the impact that such videos have on our young, impressionable girls and boys?

But this morning as I leisurely flicked through my morning Facebook feed I found THIS...

It's is a music video you can feel proud to show your daughters (and sons).

With lyrics like these ones -

"Yeah, my mama she told me don’t worry about your size.

She says, “Boys like a little more booty to hold at night.”

It's Meghan Trainor's 'All About The Bass'. I LOVE it - and so does my Miss E. Although with lyrics including 'skinny bitches' it's still not exactly G-rated.

Watch it now and you'll agree it's catchy, has a great message, and is pro plus-size!

Big week. BIG news

2014-09-16T06:00:00.000+10:00

This is a big week for me. Huge in fact.

And it's just as big for my family.

Yesterday morning I pulled on my most conservative of skirts, slipped on some heels and threw on a classy blazer.

I kissed my babies goodbye, gave them the biggest of hugs, and closed the door behind me.

You see, yesterday I started a new chapter. A chapter that is FINALLY all about me.

Because yesterday I started working full-time. In fact, yesterday I started work at my dream job.

I'm beyond excited. I'm happy beyond words. As I sat at my desk yesterday (yup, MY desk) I felt an overwhelming wave of happiness wash over me. An intense happiness that I haven't felt since that amazing, euphoric joy of meeting my first babe, almost seven years ago.

I'm happy because I had been lost for so, so long.

I had felt trapped by motherhood. As much as I adored my children and loved being their Mum, I felt tormented by my constant yearning for MORE.

I felt confused about who I was and what I wanted to be doing with my life beyond caring for my babies. I didn't want to be defined by my role as their mother, yet I felt so confined by it.

I was waiting. Waiting. Waiting. Just waiting for my time.

The time to pursue my dreams. The dreams I'd been putting off for so long.

And now, I've pushed my mother's guilt aside and I'm making those big dreams happen.

My eyes prick with tears just to type those words, because I'm so proud that I'm finally at this point in my life. It's been a long time coming.

BUT! As excited and overjoyed as I am, I am also equally anxious and terrified.

The changes we have to make as a family unit are BIG - not impossible - but big.

I am having to let go of a lot of my own expectations and nurturing instincts. I'm relying on new routines and a network of people to support my decision and help our family make it through this transition. But I'm SO ready for this change.

Despite my readiness, of course I have doubts and a very unhelpful inner critic. But to that little voice that tells me a four hour daily commute is RIDICULOUS, I say, "Watch Me TRY!" And to that cynical, little voice that tells me I should be with my babes because I am their mother, I say, "I'm doing this BECAUSE I'm their mother!"

I want to send the right message to both my daughter and son, and I think I am doing that... Hey kids! Women can do big things!

For so long I've been letting my burning ambition simmer under the surface. But finally, I'm allowing that ambition to bubble up into a boiling energy that I can use to drive forward in my career.

Let's do this!

Friday Fashion: The Must-Have Jumpsuit

2014-09-12T11:52:00.000+10:00

If you've been following me on Facebook and Instagram, you would have noticed a recent post about my new love; the Katies Jumpsuit.

This is a jumpsuit that you HAVE to buy.

Seriously!

Now, I wasn't very convinced about jumpsuits for quite a while.

I'd seen them in catalogues and on gorgeous girls on the street, but I thought that I would look a lot like I was wearing something between a potato sack and a clown suit if I donned one.

But not in this gorgeous jumpsuit. It is UH-MAZING!

Here's the three main things that I LOVE about this Katies Jumpsuit:

1. How FLATTERING it looks on all bodies thanks to the elasticised waist and loose fit.

2. How COMFY it is to wear because of it's soft, stretch fabric.

3. How AFFORDABLE it is at only ~~$39.95~~ $19.95 on SALE!

Seriously this is a must-have wardrobe piece. I promise!

You can check it out online while it's on sale, or try it on in store.

If you're not convinced, I've styled it three ways to show you how versatile this one jumpsuit is.

You can easily wear it to the playground with the kids in flats or sandals, out with your girlfriends with wedges and a statement necklace, or to work with a bright blazer and heels.

The Weekend Jumpsuit:

I'm wearing it here for a casual look with the cuffs rolled-up, my Saltwater sandals and a gorgeous floral garland from Sportsgirl. You could also wear it with ballet flats or espadrilles and a denim jacket. I thought I'd keep it simple and not wear any jewellery for this daytime look.

The After-Five Jumpsuit:

I've styled the jumpsuit here for an evening look. I'm wearing a bright lipstick, a statement fringe necklace from Lovisa, a leopard-print bangle from Sussan, and a simple pink clutch from Jag. To add a good amount of height I'm wearing some black espadrille wedges from H&M.

The Office Jumpsuit:

Finally, to style a work-friendly look I simply added a bright, structured blazer from Valleygirl. I love bright colour, but you don't have to go for a bright blazer. I'm wearing my never-fail work wedges from Betts and a Sussan necklace.

Shop the Jumpsuit Look:

If you get a chance this weekend, definitely pop into your local Katies store and try this jumpsuit on. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Let me know if you love it as much as I do!

Fi xx

Friday Fashion: Step into Spring

2014-09-05T11:33:00.001+10:00

I'm so happy that we have said goodbye to Winter, and lovely Spring sunshine can brighten our days again.

I'm looking forward to packing away my boots and jackets until next year now.

Bring on sandals and tee shirts for a pleasant change!

Today I'm sharing three cheery Spring looks with some on-trend pieces... It's all about the stripes and citrus yellow this season.

Take a look…

The Casual Outfit

This is a super-comfy everyday look. It's casual and carefree and perfect for a trip to the playground with the kids, or racing about doing errands.

I love the cut of this Sussan top - it's made for Mums who don't have the tummy they once had. I love that I can wear it without feeling like I'm constantly sucking my tummy in. Comfort plus!

And speaking of comfort - if you haven't yet discovered Katies* jeans, it's time you head into your nearest store. These are their biker jeans and they have loads of stretch in them. I also have a Just Jeans pair, but these ones are SO much more comfortable. Katies just get that Mums don't have the figure of a teenager anymore.

I'm wearing my staple yellow Saltwater Sandals and my favourite new Katies citrus scarf and I feel like a burst of Spring sunshine.

1. Yellow Original Saltwater Sandals - $85
2. Katies Biker Jeans - $59.95
3. Katies Textured Scarf - $19.95
4. Sussan Stripe Tee - $59.95

The Classy Outfit

With heels and black pants, this look is a little more sophisticated. Wear it to lunch with your girlfriends or add a blazer and wear it to the office.

I featured these Ruched Pants from Katies last week, and they are a winner. So comfy and great for work or after-five.

I love this Katies Colour Block top too - I'm a huge fan of yellow (can't you tell?!) but my skin tone means I can't over-do it. So a simple citrus stripe is perfect for me. Keep in mind that this top is a smaller cut, so if you're ordering online definitely go a larger size than usual.

My FAVOURITE part of this outfit though is - you guessed it - the Katies Bucket bag. It's a fantastic size for packing in all your Mummy paraphernalia as well as your usual handbag essentials. And the bonus is that, yes - it's YELLOW!

1. Payless Carlotta Biege Heel - $41.99 (Online SALE)
2. Katies Colour Block Top - $39.95
3. Katies Ruched-Leg Soft Pants - $59.95
4. Katies Bucket Bag - $49.95

The Weekend Outfit

A great weekend outfit, this ensemble is bright and sunny and perfect for Spring's uncertain weather.

OK, so this outfit isn't going to be for everyone. If you still have babies or toddlers I'd say straight-up to not even bother with white pants - it's only going to end in a messy disaster of mushy pea stains and crayon artwork.

This outfit would still look great with your favourite dark jeans and wedges though.

I'm wearing it with this Sussan striped tee because STRIPES (!) and because Sussan just get the cut right every time with their tees. Of course I'm wearing yellow beads too because YELLOW, and with my favourite Springtime accessories - aviators and a trilby hat.

1. Gap White Khaki Pants - $21.99
2. Betts Pacific Baby Blue Wedge - $89.99
3. Katies Bright Rope Necklace - $29.95
4. Sussan Natural Trilby Hat - $29.95
5. Sussan Aviator Sunglasses - $34.95
6. Sussan Stripe Tee - $59.95

* The items from Katies were gifted to me - but all opinions expressed are honest and my own.

So the take-home message this week is to keep an eye out for stripes and yellows this season. Also definitely try on a pair of Katie's jeans and see what I mean about their amazing fit, and the same goes for the tees from Sussan - although they are a little pricey.

Have a great weekend!

Fi xxx

Meeting the Prime Minister

2014-09-03T06:00:00.000+10:00

Seven years ago my family farewelled my Uncle as he departed Australia to serve in the War in Afghanistan.

Tragically, barely two weeks later he was killed in action.

My Uncle Dave, or Trooper "Poppy" Pearce as he was known to his army mates, paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Our family then gathered together to farewell him forever at St Stephen's Cathedral in Brisbane.

This was the horrid reality of war.

His funeral was intense and emotional as we felt the full effects, along with the rest of the nation, of Australia being at war.

#77358403 / gettyimages.com

We weren't the only Australian family to feel this heavy loss. Sadly, my Uncle was the first of 41 Australian soldiers to be killed in Afghanistan. A further 261 Aussie soldiers were seriously wounded.

Fast forward seven years and his two sweet daughters have grown into young women now, and as reality dictates, life has gone on.

Australian troops have withdrawn from Afghanistan and we can rest easy. For now.

With the conclusion of Australia's role in the Afghanistan War, the Australian War Memorial wanted to memorialise the soldiers who served in this war.

It was decided that the terrace cafe at the Australian War Memorial would be named "Poppy's" after my Uncle. This was quite fitting, as after he was killed in Afghanistan his Army mates also named the recreation area at their army base "Poppy’s" in his honour.

The cafe at the Australian War Memorial was officially opened by Prime Minister Tony Abbott last month. In his speech he acknowledged my Uncle;

“He loved to be with his mates, he was great company, he loved them and they loved him and that’s why they chose to name the place where they gathered to talk, to relax, to think of home, Poppy’s Cafe.”

My Aunt and two cousins with Prime Minister Abbott at the opening of Poppy's Cafe.

It was a bitter-sweet occasion for us, but still a wonderful acknowledgement for our family.

Poppy's Cafe is also a tribute to all of the soldiers that served in Afghanistan and is filled with many curated photographs and symbols of this period of Australia's military history.

My little Miss E came with me to Canberra for the day for the Cafe opening.

She was very excited to see her big cousins, but nervous and shy to meet Prime Minister Abbott.

She bravely posed with him for a photo, and now proudly shares that she has met two Prime Ministers of Australia. She says she much preferred meeting Julia Gillard though!

And in case you were wondering what one wears when meeting the Prime Minister in cold, old Canberra.

Well, I had no clue either. So I put an SOS out to Sonia Styling.

And this is the outfit she came up with -

Katies Box Pleat Dress - $69.95
Sussan Mixed Floral Necklace - $49.95
Katies Trenchcoat - now on sale for JUST $20!
Target Black Tights - $8
Corelli Lace-Up ankle boots from Williams - Out of Stock

Wearing this outfit, I felt cosy and sophisticated.

I was warm enough to deal with Canberra's Winter weather, and fitted the 'Smart Business' dress-code for mingling with military and government dignitaries.

Big thanks to Sonia for her styling advice!

Fi xxx

Cotton On Kids Bedroom Range

2014-09-02T06:00:00.000+10:00

It wasn't that long ago that I shared my love of kids' bedroom design.

I love the fun you can have with bright pops of colour and playful pieces to transform children's bedrooms into happy and imaginative personal spaces.

So, understandably, I was completely thrilled when I heard that Cotton On Kids are releasing their new Bedroom Range this month. Yay!

With a variety of colourful sheet sets, doona covers, cushions and throws, this range is deliciously-sweet for both girls and boys.

The range will be available online and in select store from late September at very reasonable prices.

Doona covers will cost from $49.95, cushions from $19.95 and sheets from $29.95. The pillowcases will be $14.95.

I don't know about you, but I'm counting down the weeks until I can get my hands on these gorgeous designs for my kidlets.

Take a look!

Red Liquorice Doona Cover & Pillowcases with Black Sprinkles Bedsheets, Tassel Cushions, Silver Lining Cushion & My House Cushion

Geo Nights Doona Cover & Pillowcases, with Black Sprinkles Sheets, Batting Mad Cushion, Silver Lining Cushion & Awesome Today Cushion

Happy Tales Doona Cover & Pillowcases with Pop Sprinkles Sheets, Awesome Today Cushion, Silver Lining Cushion & My House Cushion

Whale of a Time Doona Cover & Pillowcases with Black Sprinkles and Pop Sprinkles Sheetsets, Awesome Today Cushion, Silver Lining Cushion & Whale of a Time Cushion

What do you think? Amazing yes?!

I think the My House Cushion is adorable!

My Miss E has had a peek and she LOVES the colourful, Happy Tales doona cover best. J-Man had no real opinion when I showed him the photos - he just asked me if it was afternoon tea time yet.

What's your favourite?!

Fi xxx

An announcement...

2014-08-31T09:15:00.000+10:00

Hello Sunday!

It's gorgeous and sunny in Wollongong and I can't help but beam because today is the LAST day of Winter! Yay!

I'm hoping that today's gorgeous sunshine is a sign of what Spring has in store.

I'm also pretty excited today to share some news with you.

I'm now a proud member of the Katies family - the Katies Collective.

Katies have been working on a re-brand of their store. If you haven't already, you'll soon be noticing how on-trend their pieces are. No more can we describe Katies as a store where our Mums shop. I've be pleasantly surprised so far.

And while I'm making announcements, I thought I should probably add a little extra comment. You may have noticed a shift in focus on my blog recently. I'm now including more style and fashion posts, as well as my usual blog posts about juggling modern motherhood.

I'm still the same old Fi, just now I'm sharing the fashion and beauty side of my life with you too.

SO, if you're taking it easy this Sunday morning, why not jump over to the Katies Collective, and have a browse through the blogs of the other gorgeous member of the Katies family.

I think you'll like the lovely ladies that you find!

Fi xxx

Friday Fashion

2014-08-29T06:00:00.000+10:00

Hello to FRIDAY once again, which means another outfit post (yay!).

I've had a few people requesting I feature this top after seeing me wear it in my Instagram feed.

It's a Spot Peplum Shirt from Sussan and I've been getting loads of wear out of it for work and play. I've been wearing it with different coloured necklaces to keep things fresh, and have worn it with black jeans and heels for after-five, or denim jeans and flatties for the school-run.

I love that I don't have to contort my body to wear it, or give myself indigestion from sucking-in my tummy all day. It's floaty and soft, but still flattering by accentuating my waist.

My favourite way to wear it is with these ridiculously-comfy pants from Katies*.

They're a ruched-leg soft pant, or 'slouch' pant and I could honestly wear they as pyjamas - they are that comfortable. I've fallen in LOVE with them!

I like wearing them best with heels for an extra feminine touch and to give the illusion that I've got long pins! I'm wearing them for the office today in my season-favourite Betts 'Kaluah' Black Wedges, but they would look great with pumps too.

* Katies gifted me these pants and necklace. All opinions expressed are my own.

What have been your favourite, wear-almost-everyday shoes this Winter? I've got my eye on these comfy, KAOS leopard slip-ons sneakers from Betts.

I think they would be perfect for trips to the playground and running errands. I'm tempted to grab them while they're on sale.

What do you think…?

Have a great weekend!

Fi xx

Friday Fashion: The Versatile Dress

2014-08-22T06:00:00.000+10:00

Huzzah! We've made it to FRIDAY, lovelies. Finally!

I'm sharing another slice of my wardrobe with you today to hopefully inspire some weekend shopping for y'all.

Katies gave me this new Black Tribal Print Dress. It's a great dress in a lovely, light fabric and a super-flattering cut.

I thought I'd see if I could create a couple of different looks with it.

I have a pretty limited shopping budget. So, when I do buy new clothes they need to be versatile so that I can dress them up for the office, AND I can wear them for taking the kids to the playground too.

So here's what I came up with.

My Office Look:

I paired the dress with some sturdy Betts heeled boots, thick tights, my new Katies Tuxedo Blazer, and a favourite statement necklace from Sussan.

I felt really confident wearing this look. I can tell I'm going to get a LOT of wear out of my Tux Blazer!

My Playground look:

I felt very summery and causal in this outfit - and desperately in need of a tan!

I paired the dress with an old Sportgirl faded denim jacket (now a wardrobe staple), a sunshine-yellow rope necklace from Katies, and a bargain pair of ankle boots from Payless Shoes.

Check out the epic scuff mark my boots made on the floor. Ooops!

You can recreate either of these looks with the one, reliable dress and just a few extra wardrobe favourites.

Too easy, right?!

1. Sussan Statement Necklace - $49.95 2. Katies Tux Blazer - $69.95 3. Betts Heeled Boot - $54.99 4. Katies Tribal Print Dress - $49.95
5. Katies Rope Necklace - $29.95 6. Sportsgirl Denim Jacket - $89.95 7. Payless Ankle Boot - $29.00

What do you think?

How would you wear this dress for work or play?

Fi xx

The Liebster Award

2014-08-20T12:56:00.001+10:00

Well hi there!

Happy Wednesday to y'all.

My kids told me I looked like a rockstar yesterday when I picked them up from school. Ha! I felt anything BUT a rockstar - more like a mucus-making zombie thanks to them sharing their colds with me.

I humoured them by taking a duck-face selfie. As usual, they photo-bombed the opportunity. J-Man has some work to do on his 'duck-face' though!

Once we got home I checked my overflowing inbox and was reminded of some happy mail I received over the weekend.

The gorgeous Sonia from Sonia Styling had nominated me for a Liebster Award. If you're an avid Aussie blog reader you would no doubt have noticed lots of bloggers being awarded this 'honour' over the last few weeks.

Basically the award is given to bloggers by their blogging peers, and it's our bloggy way of introducing our readers to our favourite bloggers.

So Sonia has given me these ten questions to answer about yours truly.

1. Which song do you consider your Personal Anthem and why?

I can't claim just one song to be mine but I'm certainly a big lover of pop songs that make me feel happy, sing-out-loud and dance around the kitchen like there's no tomorrow. Haim's "The Wire" and Group Love's "Ways to Go" are RIGHT up there.

2. What is the kindest thing anyone has done for you?

Winter is always a tough time for me, and try as I might, I inevitably end up with a intense, short-lived bout of depression. I don't like worrying my family about it, because I know it will pass. But last week my Mum's intuition was spot-on. She could just tell that I wasn't in a good head-space. She sent me a text message to say she had bought me a voucher for a facial and it was sitting on the front counter at my favourite day spa. It was JUST what I needed. Thanks Mum!

3. If you could only wear one colour for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

OK this is just too easy! It would HAVE to be coral. I'm a girlie-girl at heart and adore wearing pinks. And luckily for me, coral hues really compliment my skin-tone. I'd love to wear more yellows, but they don't suit my pale skin

4. If you were invisible, where would you go?

This is probably a bit cheeky, but I'd love to go skinny dipping. I can't see me ever having the guts to swim at the beach without a cossie. If I could miraculously be invisible, I'd love to strut down Bondi Beach, walk between the buff and tanned bodies of the Bondi Hipsters and enjoy a glorious Summertime splash in the waves in my birthday suit!

5. You’ve just won the lottery. What would be your first money-is-no-object indulgent purchase?

Well, it's no secret that I'm pining to own a house of my own. If we were suddenly flush with cash I'd love to buy a cute weatherboard bungalow just a stone-throw away from the beach. I'd install a huge deck for outdoor living, and renovate the kitchen to mirror all my Pinterest fantasies.

6. What are you famous for in your group of friends?

I'm definitely known for being an over-sharer. Apparently there's an invisible line that I always seem to cross. Especially when a cheeky cocktail (or two) are involved. Be it sexy bedroom details or gross bodily functions, I always take it too far. Sorry ladies!

7. What is the one thing that should be taught in school that isn’t already?

How to change a tyre! Nothing makes me feel more like an incompetent girl than being stranded on the side of the road with a flat tyre waiting for a man to rescue me. I'm sure I could manage it if someone taught me how!

8. Which restaurant would you most like to dine at – anywhere in the world?

Right now, I'd love to enjoy some tapas and a cocktail in a swim-up bar somewhere very tropical and warm. I can feel the Summer sun warming my back just at the thought of it...

9. If you were a cocktail, which one would you be and why?

I would be a sweet & bubbly fruit punch served in a pineapple with a pink umbrella in it. A happy, girly drink, for a bubbly, peachy girl.

10. How do you want to be remembered?

If I am remembered as a loving mother and a thoughtful friend who lived the best life she could, I would have died a happy woman.

And in the spirit of the Liebster Award I'm nominating the following ten bloggers:

Daisy from Daisy Roo and Two
Julie from All For Love
Cherie from Raising Master Max
Eden from Edenland
Sonia from Life Love & Hiccups
Hope from Nanny Shecando
Yvette from The Stylist Splash
Natalie from Mummy Smiles
Anne-Maree from The House that A-M Built
Deauvanne from Mama Stylista

What to do next:

Link back and recognise the blogger who nominated you
Answer the 10 question given by the nominator.
Nominate 10 other bloggers for the award.
Create 10 questions for nominees to answer.
Notify your nominees.

My 10 questions for you all:

When are where was te last time you swam in the ocean?
What phone app could you not live without and why?
If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
If you could share dinner with any celebrity or public figure (dead or alive) who would it be and why?
You've been given $10,000 and 10 days off work. What do you do?
What do you secretly love about the way you look?
What is the best advice one of your parents gave you?
What browswer windows are open on your computer right now?
What was your first car?
What's the best/worst Dad Joke you've ever heard?

What is the kindest thing anyone has done for you? Do tell!!

Fi xxx

I Want to Own a House

2014-08-19T07:25:00.001+10:00

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For what seems like an eternity now, we have been saving to buy a house*.

It's been a case of two-steps forward, one-step back for the last few years, but our goal has remained consistent; we've been dreaming of having a home of our own.

Some lovely walls to paint and put holes in wherever we choose. Some sturdy floors to re-carpet as we see fit. The ability to install a shelf or two. The freedom to rip-out a hideous bathroom/kitchen/tree...

All. WITHOUT permission.

It's a simple dream really. To have a space of our own that we can transform as we choose.

I want to own the space we live in and make our house feel like it's truly is our home... Make it homely with finishing touches that make it feel like ours.

But more than anything, I want to enjoy the permanence and peace of mind that owning our own home brings. I want to give my children the security and reassurance that yes, this is your home and this is where you will grow-up.

I want that certainty for them. And for me.

And I'll just take this opportunity right now to have a First World whinge... It is bloody HARD to save enough money to get into the housing market as a First Home Buyer.

A ten percent deposit.

Lender's mortgage insurance.

And a decent-wack of Stamp Duty on top of that...

It's no wonder it's taking what feels like forever for us to make our dream a reality.

Sometimes I find myself blaming my own choices for why I'm almost thirty and still without a ~~four-walled status symbol~~ home.

I've felt guilty - like it's my own fault that we don't have a mortgage.

The thoughts swirl around my head tormenting me during those sleepless nights.

We should have bought a house instead of getting married.

We should have bought a house instead of having babies.

We should have bought a house instead of starting our own business.

We should have saved harder.

We shouldn't have taken those family holidays.

I should have gone back to work sooner.

As much as these unhelpful thoughts bombard my insomnia, in the cold reality of day I know that my guilt isn't necessary. The fact remains that houses are just damned expensive.

I don't yearn for a McMansion. I don't even long for an ensuite. A dishwasher would be a pleasant change, and I wouldn't mind a decent wardrobe. But even then, I could live without them.

I just want a clean and tidy little space for my family. Where I can add my own splashes of style and colour without worrying we'll lose our bond. And feeling secure that we have a permanent home for our family to live.

So as we continue to syphon our dollars into our "House Deposit" account, I'm looking forward to enjoying the great burden of debt and responsibility that home ownership will bring.

Who wants a thirty year debt? I DO!

Did it take you a long time to get into the housing market?

I'd love to hear your perspective on this whole home ownership thing!

Fi xx

* This post was sponsored by Mortgage Choice. All thoughts & ideas expressed are my own.

Friday Fashion: Sophisticated Work Wear

2014-08-15T06:00:00.000+10:00

I've really been enjoying having some fun with fashion lately.

Now that I'm working outside of home I get to wear fancy work clothes instead of my yoga pants and favourite hoodie... not that there's anything wrong with that!

I had thought that the novelty of dressing-up in business clothes would wear-off, but it really hasn't. I love it!

It's such a confidence boost to pull on a sleek skirt, a structured blazer and some feminine heels. And it's fun to play around with accessories to get my outfit just right, too.

Of course all of this happens in between buttering toast, packing lunchboxes, negotiating screentime and finding a clean pair of socks for J-Man to wear to daycare.

Somehow I manage to slap on some make-up and run my GHD through my hair before racing out the door to get to work on time.

This week I had an important meeting, and wanted to feel extra confident as I met with colleagues.

So how to inject some extra confidence into a girl? A new outfit - of course!

Katies and Sussan have lots of items that are perfect for mums. They are my go-to stores right now.

Since having kids I feel best in clothes that don't hug my tummy too much. Looser-fitting tops with relaxed cuts mean that I'm not constantly having to suck my stomach in to feel confident in my clothes.

So, on the hunt for a new work outfit I found this super, light-weight coral spice top in Katies. It works well tucked into a work skirt or worn out with jeans for a casual look. I love the bright colour, and how comfy it is to wear.

I instantly fell in LOVE with this Katies black, tux blazer too. It's very light-weight so perfect for heading into Spring when you need something on your arms but nothing too heavy. The cut is JUST right - you really have to try this it on to see what I mean. The length is fabulous, and it's open front shows-off your top underneath.

I paired my new Katies pieces with a favourite Sussan layered necklace, black tights, a faithful (el cheapo) stretch skirt from TEMT, and my staple winter heels from Betts.

Feeling like a sophisticated Mama I was able to walk into my work meeting feeling like I could conquer the world.

Mission accomplished!

It's amazing what a new outfit can achieve!

What stores are your go-to shops for clothes lately? I'd love to check them out!

Fi xxx