one claire day

here and now

2012-05-24T11:12:00.002+10:00

You would think, after a month long blogging break, I'd have something a bit more exciting to talk about than the weather.

Apparently not.

May, you are simply beautiful. Please stay like this forever. Warm enough to splash in salty water, yet just cool enough to slip on vintage woolens that have been stashed away for what seemed like an eternal Summer (this stripey number is on loan from Lalie's cousins).

These photos were taken at Townsville's main beach (don't bother stopping here if you fancy a surf!). Despite sometimes feeling isolated and uninspired in this largely suburban town, the view to Magnetic Island accross a tranquil ocean that gleams like a sheet of glass never fails to fill me with pure wonder. As I watch my daughter play quietly in the sand I find myself starting to appreciate this beautiful place for all that it has to offer - space, air, quiet, calm. For the first time in a long time I think I am starting to feel settled, or at least comfortably paused here in this sleepy town for the next few chapters.

Moments in earlybird.

2012-05-21T13:33:00.000+10:00

Thanks so much for the sweet comments on my last post - how lovely it was to come back to such a warm reception!

I'm still trying to get my act together in the blogging department but I have been hanging out on instagram lately - it's so fast, easy and visually satisfying! I thought I'd share some of my favourite snap shots here. I was tickled pink to discover one of my pictures has been featured on Pia Jane Bijkerk's gorgeous blog too!

If you like, you can follow my feed here (username oneclaireday).

Happy Monday - I hope your week is off to a good start!

A backyard picnic.

2012-05-14T17:00:00.000+10:00

Hello again! I didn't intend to post again so soon, but I thought I'd share some photos of our little Mother's Day picnic in the backyard. I went a little crazy as it's the first time I've taken proper photos in a while (I've been opting for the ease of my iphone), so I apologise for bombarding you with Lalie pictures!

Paddy asked me earlier in the week to keep Sunday afternoon free for a picnic - just the three of us. On the day, I told him that I didn't feel like heading out and would rather we just picnicked in the backyard. He smiled as he told me that was exactly his plan. We raided Lalie's room for gauzy drapes and generous floor cushions and set up 'camp' under a tree in the back yard. I pulled some creeping weeds from the fence and fashioned them into delicate crowns for Lalie and I (this is becoming our little ritual - these vines are taking over our yard!). We enjoyed a simple late lunch of salami, olives and sourdough and then finished up with a homemade cake - Paddy's stellar effort at Nigella's victoria sponge.

It was a perfect afternoon... some days there's nowhere in the world I'd rather be than our humble backyard. Yesterday was one of them.

To all the Mother's...

2012-05-12T22:24:00.000+10:00

Hello! How are you all? We are doing very well - I'm enjoying my little blogging break and hope to be back (properly) very soon.

I just wanted to pop in and wish a big, warm Happy Mother's Day to my amazing Mum and Mum in law, and to all the Mum's out there... to the Mother's past who brought us this far, to the Mother's who currently guide and inspire us, and to those who hope and desire to be a Mother someday - this one's for you! Relax, be generous to yourself - you deserve it!

See you soon!
Claire x

dogs, beaches and a blogging break.

2012-04-11T23:31:00.000+10:00

I have decided to take some time away from this space. Some time to slow down and catch my breath. There's too many words, pictures, emails, comments, pins and posts running through my head. I'm exhausted and wired at the same time and I've suddenly found myself in a very unhealthy place. So for next little while I'll be distancing myself from the computer in an effort to clear my head and get my sleep pattern in some sort of reasonable order.

There's other reasons, too. Lalie is fifteen months now, and we've been living off a single wage since we left Sydney. Financially, we just can't go on like this. I really need to start making an income again. I'm going to try to channel the time and effort I put into blogging into something more financially rewarding. I think it's time to get creative - watch this space!

Thank you so much for visiting me here and leaving your sweet words of encouragement, wise advice and friendly banter. Blogging has changed my life in so many positive ways and I really look forward to continuing this journey very soon, when I'm (hopefully) renewed and re-inspired.

Til then, take good care.
Claire xx

easter sunday : part ii

2012-04-09T16:51:00.000+10:00

...and some more in black and white.

easter sunday

2012-04-09T16:38:00.000+10:00

I hope you have all had an enjoyable long weekend. Unfortunately, we came down with colds and so our plans to attend a big family gathering were cancelled and we spent the weekend in quarantine (although we did have Grandma and Nono visit with chocolates and treats on Sunday morning!). We didn't want to spend the whole weekend moping around at home, so we decided to pack a simple picnic lunch and head out on a little road trip to Lake Paluma, just a little further up the mountain from Crystal Creek, where Tim photographed us earlier this year.

It really is a beautiful spot, and Eulalie thoroughly enjoyed it - but to be completely honest, it was a bit too long of a drive for a day trip (especially when all the passengers are poorly). I think next time we'll pack some camping gear and stop over for the night.

What did you get up to over the weekend?

happy easter

2012-04-06T17:10:00.000+10:00

Just quickly popping in on this Good Friday to wish you all a safe and restful long weekend - may it be filled with lots of love, laughter and chocolate! xx

14 (and a bit) months

2012-03-30T17:21:00.000+10:00

Ummm... who is this little girl and what has she done with my baby?

Life with a 14 month old Lalie Bug is fun, exhausting, hilarious, challenging, beautiful, chaotic, happy, not-so-happy, turbulent, adventurous, unpredictable and evolving at rapid speed. I'm struggling to keep up! (hence my poor effort on the blogging front lately).

There are so many beautiful, sweet moments but I am finding now, more than ever, there is an added dose of absolute misery. Poor babe is in the midst of some serious teething, and to add insult to injury she's also cutting back to one day sleep. The combination of over-tiredness and teething symptoms makes for a Lalie who isn't always the most pleasant company. When she's feeling good, she is pure joy. When she's grumpy, she's an absolute nightmare!

I have to admit, the emergence of a tantrum throwing toddler caught me totally off guard. I thought we were a good ten months clear of the 'terrible two's'. Apparently not. Don't be fooled by her cute, coy demeanor... if you don't give her what she wants, she will throw herself on the floor, screaming and banging her head on the floorboards. At first, I was completely shocked by this behaviour, and in desperate attempts to assert some kind of authority, I met her with equal drama in my voice and actions - which of course only exacerbated the situation. I have since learned that taking her away to a different area, getting down to her level and talking very sternly and direct to her about her behaviour seems to have the most positive outcome. Now I am (mostly) able to divert the situation pretty quickly before we get to the back-arching, head-banging stage. She's certainly exploring and testing boundaries, and I know that it's very important to give her the freedom to do so, but I am also very conscious of this being a crucial stage for setting those boundaries. And despite her being so small, I am also aware that she understands more than enough to handle a little discipline. Being firm with her feels strangely and unexpectedly good, it even seems to be doing her some good as well. She doesn't dispute my tone - she stops, listens intently and follows up with affectionate gestures like hugging or kissing me which seems to imply she's sorry, without being asked. I'd almost go as far to say that our bond has been strengthened, and I'm sensing that Lalie is feeling very secure within the family unit. Of course, there's still tantrums, they're just not quite as... epic.

There's a lot of tears, but there's a lot of laughter too. She's such a quirky little thing, and I spend most of the day trying to conceal my amusement at all the ridiculously cute things she does*. Suddenly I have this toddler who understands just about everything and is becoming so clear at communicating her wants and needs. She's a chatty little thing, exploring her voice and developing a little vocabulary consisting mostly of words beginning with B (book / 'boo', bag / 'baa', blue / 'boo', bubba, birdy / 'bidi'.. and has an impressive crack at banana / 'ba ba ba' and butterfly / 'bit bu ba'). I'm still waiting for her to call me Mama, instead she opts for 'bubba' (which paddy so often calls me). But that's okay, being this bubba's 'bubba' is pretty sweet indeed - and despite my whinging, I am grateful every day for the chance to be spending all my minutes with this sweet, funny, determined little girl.

* so as not to offend her while she's doing very serious and grown-up things like walking around with handbags, using a spoon as a phone, blowing her nose on a wash cloth, hanging out laundry on the drying rack etc etc. She takes all these things VERY seriously!

snippets

2012-03-26T12:19:00.000+10:00

1. Lalie likes to sit in the sunroom and talk to the birdies through timber louvers. The gorgeous rocking horse was a first birthday gift from her cousins.

2. Fallen palm branches, collected and wrapped with coloured yarn.

3. A basket of vintage fabrics waiting to be given a new life (now I just need a sewing machine!).

4. A delightful 'tiny happy' velveteen rabbit, handmade by Melissa from rosey vintage velveteen and floral cotton.

5. Where the sun and stars collide.

6. Just add water. Nudie babe playing with her fishy friends; Wally the walrus, Lucille the leopard seal, Octavius the octopus, Steven the stingray and Squire the squid.

Happy Monday! I hope you had a relaxing weekend :)

sunshine award...

2012-03-24T22:31:00.000+10:00

The rain has stopped. Yay! It's quite possible that I owe the sudden (and very welcome) change in weather to two lovely blogging ladies - Lou at Little Green Shed and Leigh at Lover of Vintage. Thank you for sending me some warm, sunny rays in the form of a sunshine award!

The idea is to answer a few little questions and pass it on to five other bloggers. Here goes...

Favourite colour? How does one possibly choose? I tend to gravitate toward muted, earthy tones. I'm loving rusty browns, misty ocean greens and dusty pinks at the moment. I'm not too adventurous with bold colour.

Favourite animal? Horses! I rode horses for many years and still own my very first pony, Goldie. I've had her since I was six years old!

Favourite non-alcoholic drink? Good coffee or a cold, freshly squeezed juice - apple, pineapple, carrot, celery, beetroot, ginger.

Facebook or twitter? I don't really do either, although I do have a very neglected and outdated facebook account!

Favourite number? 3. It's the magic number :)

Favourite day of the week? Sunday

My passions? Family, collecting beautiful things, creating beautiful things, photography, styling, music, fashion and textiles, travel.

Getting or giving presents? Both. I particularly love wrapping gifts :)

Favourite pattern? Hmmm... you can't go past the classic stripe or a teeny tiny polka dot (preferably on beautiful linen).

Favourite flower: Again, too many to choose! I love Irises, daisies, wax flower, Australian flowering gum, Kangaroo paw.... I love rustic native Australian flowering plants!

Okay, I'm spreading the sunshine on to these five lovely ladies:

Rachel // Tea With Lucy

Bianca // Fast Times in M ü nchen

Jess // Hello Milky
Kesh // Kesh and Tim's House on a Hill

Joanna // Miette Handmade

the water

2012-03-19T13:42:00.000+10:00

Oh, the water
Oh, the water
Oh, the water
Let it run all over me
- Van Morrison, 'And it stoned me'.

It's been pouring rain for days. We've kept ourselves entertained by dancing in the lounge - Fleetwood Mac, Van Morrison and Billie Holiday have been our loyal companions. If there's a break in the rain we venture downstairs to splash in muddy puddles and play with the dogs. Then it's into the tub where the clear, cool water rinses her clean.

Of course, amidst all the sweetness and joy, there's been tantrums aplenty... but that's a story for another day.

What do you when it rains and rains and rains?

*Photos taken with my iphone.

table for three

2012-03-14T21:44:00.000+10:00

The girl's got undeniably good taste in handbags, and even better taste in cuisine.

We occasionally eat out at our local Japanese restaurant and she loves it. We literally need to order enough for three adults and I barely get chance to eat anything because she demands to be fed continuously with the chopsticks.

Her favourite? Agedashi tofu. (yum!).

Chopsticks make everything taste better, though. Don't you agree?

obsession

2012-03-12T19:41:00.000+10:00

Crazy bag baby.

(the apple doesn't fall far from the tree).

bug and beetle - sale

2012-03-11T21:55:00.000+10:00

If you're in the southern hemisphere, chances are you've noticed the change. A slight chill in the air... the promise of winter*. To celebrate the change of season, Em and I have updated the shop with a colourful array of vintage knitwear for little people.

While we were at it, we thought it might be fun to have a sale - pop on over to receive 20% off everything! Yup, the whole shebang! Simply enter the code 'BUGANDBEETLE' at checkout.

Go on, don't be a knit-wit (har har har!) - have a little looksie. Your kids will be cozy and your wallets content!

* Unless of course you live in Far North Queensland, where chances are you're still sweating like a pig! Needless to say, I don't need these woolens - they're all yours! ;)

findings

2012-03-09T14:17:00.003+10:00

Some recent op shop finds. Don't they look cute together? There's a real 70's-80's boho vibe going on here! You really can't ever have too many little denim dresses (Lalie will be a mini Alexa Chung in no time!), brown leather accessories, and vintage kids books. And I'm a bit obsessed with that leaf dish!

Happy Weekend, folks!

P.S - So many encouraging and supportive comments on my last post, thank you. It's nice to see that so many of us share similar goals. It's not easy to break bad habits - I thought by writing it down and putting it out there, I'd trigger some action. If not, I guess that's going to be, well... just a tad awkward!

change

2012-03-07T21:59:00.000+10:00

"...I hold the power to try to change it" - wise words, Kellie.

Now that I'm a parent, saddled with the extra responsibility of raising a child, I'm starting to become much more aware of the choices we make and how our actions are shaping our child. In particular, I've been thinking a lot about our current lifestyle habits and the example we are setting for Lalie and any subsequent children we may be blessed with in the future. It's quite alarming to know that our daughter is forming habits and establishing values based on what she observes every day. And although a large majority of what she observes is good, there's definitely a few areas that could do with a good overhaul.

Despite reality being quite the contrary, we tend to fancy ourselves as rather left of center when it comes to food, health and lifestyle. We're completely romanced by the idea of eating organic whole foods, living sustainably and so on and so forth... but the truth of the matter is - we shop at major supermarkets, drink softdrink, eat more processed food than we'd like, don't recycle as much as we should, leave lights and appliances on for no good reason - the list goes on and on. And yet we so often talk of moving to Tasmania and buying a plot of land, building a modest home and supporting ourselves by growing and rearing our own.

Honestly, though? We're kidding ourselves.

We certainly have an idea of the type of people we'd like to be - the life we want to live. But we're not there yet. Not even close. And moving to some idyllic rural setting with a couple of cows and a veggie patch isn't going to miraculously transform us into those people. There are so many habits to turn around, cycles to break, new values to be established and nurtured. And it all needs to start happening here and now - right where we're planted.

It's time for change. It's time to bring more positivity into our life. I want to feel good about the food we're eating and the way we're living. I want to try to break bad habits before they're passed on to our children. I don't want to set double standards in the home - it's not fair to expect more from Lalie than I do from myself. I simply want to lead by example.

So, these are some of the changes we are going to try and implement over the next year and beyond:

Immediate Goals:
- Start composting.
- Buy organic and/or local produce wherever we can (by cutting out rubbish food we can allow more in the budget for quality food).
- Cut down on our waste (it's appalling how much food I throw out each week because I've been too lazy to work it into a meal plan).
- Reduce processed foods.
- Put more thought into meal plans and preparation.
- Establish a substantial herb garden.
- Reduce energy usage in the home.

Short term goals (1 year +):
- Introduce chickens to our suburban backyard.
- Plant fruit trees.
- Establish a seasonal vegetable garden.

Long term goals (5 years +):
- Install solar panels.
- Install a rainwater tank.

It doesn't seem like much, but it's a start. We're not about to go on some extreme departure from who we are. This needs to be an achievable transition, not a plan that simply overwhelms us. I think these goals are certainly enough to make a noticeable difference to the way we feel about our life, our health and our family's future.

a birthday at the aquarium

2012-03-05T08:32:00.000+10:00

The week before last, I took Lalie along to the local aquarium for her cousin Keeley's 3rd birthday. Reef HQ is the world's largest living coral reef aquarium and is brimming with slippery, scaly delights. We all loved it, kiddos and grown ups alike. Everyone purchased (insanely cheap!) yearly passes, and with children under 5 going free, we're planning to see lots more of our new fishy friends over the coming few years!

lighter

2012-03-01T08:46:00.001+10:00

New season, fresh start.

I'm feeling a bit better today. There's always light beyond the clouds.

...but you know something's really wrong when I say "sorting out clean laundry is just about as good a therapy as you'll get".

Ummmmmmmmmmmm... what was I thinking??!?

Retail therapy is just about as good a therapy as you can get! So I went a little crazy buying prints and stationery at seventy tree. I'll brag more about my loot when the postie delivers!

* photos taken last week at the beach while the three of us ate fish and chips under an iridescent sky.

expired

2012-02-28T09:48:00.000+10:00

Expired petals scatter themselves over an expired issue of frankie, symbolic of the way I've been feeling these last couple of weeks. A little weary and past my used by date. Stagnant.

Perhaps it's just post-holiday blues. Or maybe it's Paddy working night-shift that has me all out of whack. It could be that I'm not fully recovered from the draining experience that is looking after a sick bub. I can't really pinpoint what it is exactly - I just feel a bit, well... off.

I have to say though, your kind words and votes really did cheer me up - thankyou!

I think today will be about throwing out vases of decaying blooms and decaying food in the fridge and replenishing with all things fresh. And sorting out clean laundry is just about as good a therapy as you'll get, right? I think that's a good start.

tickled pink - apartment therapy

2012-02-27T13:01:00.000+10:00

Hello! I hope everyone had a fab weekend!

Just popping in quickly to share my excitement. Somehow, this little blog has wound up on the list of nominees for apartment therapy's best family blog award!

If you've got a minute to spare, you can check out the list of amazing blogs here. And if we take your fancy, we'd be tickled pink if you voted for us! :)

Image credit - Tim Coulson

inner west - marrickville market

2012-02-23T09:00:00.000+10:00

We spent many a Sunday morning at these humble little markets. They're situated on Addison Road, at a community centre housing -among other things- artists studios, a gallery, a yoga space, a creative recycling center called 'Reverse Garbage' and a second hand store called 'The Bower'.

The Market held on a Sunday is predominantly food stalls (amazing food stalls!) and organic produce with bits of vintage clothing, bric-a-brac, pre-loved books, handmade preserves, wines and ports, fresh breads and pastries, damn good coffee and completely random crap thrown in for good measure. What it's got oodles of though, is positive energy. That place never fails to put me in a lighter mood and motivate me to live simply and healthily. Maybe it's got something to do with the chai tent where you can lounge on floor cushions and drink freshly brewed chai in the sunshine as you watch people stroll past with straw baskets overfilling with organic green stuff. I'm not sure what it is, but it's the kind of place that takes years off of you.

It's a slightly scruffy little place (just the way we like it) that attracts a real mixed bag of people including lots of young local families. This time, we were the young non-local family. The tourists. And that made me a little sad. But it did cheer me up to see Lalie enjoy the vegetarian dumplings just as much as she did when she was in my belly!

I would go as far to say the Marrickville Markets are the ritual we miss most about living in Sydney.

Pssst - and little shout out to two lovely readers who approached me on that particular market morning - Astred and Cecilia - hello! And would you believe it, I also ran into Gaby, I recognised her from her blog! It's such a small world after all!

inner west - part 1

2012-02-22T15:49:00.001+10:00

Our old stomping ground - Newtown, Enmore, Marrickville.

As much as we enjoyed our stay in Bondi, we felt instantly relaxed and at home as we wandered about these scruffy suburbs. We like things a little bit rough 'round the edges. And the food around these parts is honestly some of the best we've ever eaten. Although it's always a tough decision - with exceptional Turkish, Greek, Thai, Vietnamese, Lebanese, Pakistanti, Indian, African and more all dotted within a 1km stretch of Road.

And the shopping... sigh. Turkish, Afghani and Moroccan homewares stores a-plenty (my favourite), seriously great mid-century furniture (Paddy's favourite) and vintage clothing stores galore. Beautiful little boutiques brimming with delightful handmade items (everybody's favourite). Insanely good coffee. Unpretentious, effortlessly cool folk. Industrial architecture. Young families everywhere. And doggies, lets not forget the abundance of furry four-legged friends (I couldn't resist that lovely old fella with the funnel around his neck - dogs always look so gorgeous and vulnerable with those things on)!

Most of these photos were taken walking down King Street from Zia Kel's (the lovely lass in the green top) apartment and along Enmore Road to the Marrickville Market. I took some photos of our favourite Sydney market which I will post soon.

Oh, and see that building in the last black and white photo? Our old warehouse apartment building - they very first home we owned - A very special place!

the other apple

2012-02-21T21:02:00.000+10:00

Same day, different apple product. This time it was a custard apple from the tree in our back yard. The real deal. No cardboard cut-out here. Although she did take a bite, just to be sure. She won't be fooled twice!

Sooo... custard apples. Weird little things. I don't suppose any of you fine people know what to do with them? Any recipe ideas?

mi-phone

2012-02-20T20:50:00.000+10:00

The singing plastic toy phones just don't cut it....

...so I cut it, literally, from an old iphone box. It had her fooled for a good ten minutes.

Please note I cannot take credit for this ingenious idea. Lalie picked up the box on her own accord and held it up to her ear. I just made the proportions a little more realistic :)