{via dsamn via Pinterest}

No-one is seriously ill, no-one has lost their job, no-one’s relationship is breaking down. But it’s still a really shitty day.

Dog poo on the floor, teething kids, a headache or PMS, a messy kitchen, piles of laundry and just a bad. freaking. mood.

You know the ones, right? It’s not just me, is it?

Yesterday morning, as I felt the urge to shout at the kids (unfairly – they’re just being kids), to rant and rave at Sparky (unfairly – the man is a gem) and to write it off as a bad day before I’d even had breakfast, I found myself stopping.

“Surely the day isn’t destined to crappiness? Surely I can do something about this horrible, cranky feeling that’s welling up? Surely there is a way to make yourself happy?”

So I decided I would turn my day around. And here are three simple tips to help you make yourself happy:

1. Music Soothes the Savage Beast

What song makes you really, overwhelmingly happy every time you listen to it? It can be stupid, or make you want to dance or sing at the top of your lungs. Whatever it is, listen to it. Let it shift that crankiness from your mind. Even just a little bit.

For me, it’s Girls by the Beastie Boys (RIP, MCA).

2. Do Something

We all have endless lists of things to do. Sometimes that feeling overwhelms us and contributes to our overall shittiness by making us feel like there is no point. Why bother starting when the work keeps piling up?

Instead, force yourself to do something. Just one thing. Do that load of washing. Make that phone call. Pick up that dog poo. (No, seriously. Pick up that dog poo. Someone’s going to step in it and squash it into the carpet.)

And once that thing is done, allow yourself five seconds to celebrate. You just had a win!

Shitty Day = 0 You = 1

3. Tell Yourself that Today is Going to be a Good Day

Say it out loud. Say it while standing in front of the mirror. Say it in a ridiculous accent. I don’t know why, but it helps.

These three things worked in turning my bad day around. And, while it wasn’t all sparkles and unicorns, it was a hell of a lot better than crying into my coffee at 9am. If, however, these three tips fail you, it’s always helpful to go back and read the first paragraph of this post.

Do you think you can turn a bad day around? What do you do to fake your happiness until the real deal takes over? And what’s your favourite happy song?

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My kids Love painting. Isla would paint every day. Except I won’t let her. Because I’m a jerk like that.

It’s MESSY. And they have FUN. And get CREATIVE. It’s horrible.

Obviously I’m joking. But I do find painting one of those play time activities that I avoid more than I should. But last week via Pinterest I discovered something that will make Isla incredibly happy and me less concerned about what surfaces (or humans) will wind up covered in paint…

A Super Easy Homemade Paint Recipe

This recipe is for chalk or sidewalk paint. So as it dries, the colours become more pastel but more opaque. It’s actually really cool.

It’s incredibly simple and once we’d mixed it up (great little maths lesson) it occupied the kids for an hour! An hour of outside, creative play! An hour for me to clean the toilets! An hour where I could make phonecalls. Plus it’s non-toxic. And you likely have all the ingredients in your pantry. Bonus: it won’t kill the dog if he drinks it (scientifically proven fact). Incredible indeed!

All You Need is:

• 1 cup cornflour
• 1 cup water
• a variety of liquid food colouring
• a muffin pan or plastic cups
• paintbrushes or sponges

1. Mix the cornflour and water together, stirring to remove lumps.
2. Divide into muffin pan or plastic cups.
3. Add a few drops of food colouring to each cup or pan and mix.
4. Give the kids the paintbrushes, a patch of paving and carte blanche.

(The food colouring does stain the hands, but it washes off quickly. By the time shower-hour rolled around, it had already worn off the kids’ hands.)

Super simple and ridiculously fun.

Do your kids love painting? Have they painted anything/anyone inappropriate?

Last time Isla had free rein with some paints and a paintbrush, she turned herself into a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Hence my hesitancy with the whole painting thing!

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{via Pinterest}

*Alternatively titled, “Dear Brooke, Stop Worrying So Damn Much What Others Think of You and How Well You Live Your Life.*

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before:

930am. Phone Rings.

FRIEND/MUM/SISTER/DAD: “Hello love. I thought I might pop around and have a cuppa. Will you be home in ten minutes?”

YOU: “Of course! I’d love to see you. I’ll let the kids know you’re coming!”

(SILENTLY): Shit. We’ve had a slow start today. The kids aren’t even dressed, they’re in there watching a movie. The kitchen’s not packed up from breakfast and there’s food on the floor. The laundry’s not hung out and the play room is a mess of toys, books and crumbs. I can’t let Friend/Mum/Sister/Dad see the place like this. They’ll think I’m Not Coping. Or that I’ve Let Myself Go.

I race around, tidying, dressing the kids, shoving toys into cupboards, brushing my hair and teeth, shouting, sweeping and stressing. Then I consider quickly whipping together something to bake. (Seriously.)

All because I don’t want to look like I’m failing.

But being real, and being realistic is not failing.

By all means, be organised, be efficient, be on top of things. That’s a wonderful way to avoid many of the stresses of life and I’m all for it.

But when things don’t go to plan, CHOOSE TO BE OK WITH THAT.

Don’t perpetuate the myth that stay-at-home mums need to be domestic goddesses all the time. To be visitor-ready at any time of day. To have something freshly baked, just waiting for a knock at the door. And that anything less is a failure.

Because that world only exists online.

And comparing yourself to that fake world, is even worse than comparing yourself to other people.

I think we owe it to our Friend/Mum/Sister/Dad to be real. To be honest. To be OK with less-than-perfect. Because when we are OK with less-than-perfect, we give ourselves the room and freedom to actually LIVE our lives. Not just exist in them. Don’t you think?

When was the last time you pretended?

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{via Pinterest}

Does anyone here have fussy eaters in the home? Kids who will. not. eat. that. thing?

Or even more frustratingly, stubborn fussy eaters who will gobble something one night, but refuse point-blank to even try it the next?

Yeah. We have one of those. So my vegetable-disguising skills are under development. I’m hoping to reach the level of Ninja-Cook by spring.

This recipe is one of the greatest ever invented, because:

• you can hide all manner of veges in it
• the kids can still see the evidence of veges (I’m a big proponent of the fact kids will eventually begin eating well regularly if they keep trying new foods. It’s just the trying that’s, well, trying…)
• they taste delicious to kids and adults alike
• I feel satisfied that the kids have eaten a good, nutritious dinner

Needless to say, it’s on high rotation in our meal plan.

You need:

• large tin salmon, drained and flaked
• 2 eggs
• 4 Tbsp self-raising flour
• small onion, grated
• small carrot, grated
• 2 potatoes, grated
• handful chopped parsely
• canola or vegetable oil, for shallow frying

I also add some or all of the following, depending what’s in the fridge:

• sweet potato, grated
• brussel sprouts, finely sliced
• zucchini, grated
• frozen peas
• pinch of cumin

1. Heat oil in a hot frypan.
2. Mix all ingredients well, to combine.
3. Using your hands, take about one tablespoon of the mixture and form a loose ball in the palm of your hand.
4. Cook in batches, pressing down lightly as you place each patty into the pan.
5. Cook approx 3-5 minutes on one side (until golden), flip and repeat.
6. Drain on paper towel.
7. Serve with salad or homemade, oven-baked sweet potato chips and a dollop of mayonnaise.

And presto! Dinner. And everyone’s happy.

These also keep quite well for lunches the next day or leftovers the next night. Which makes them even more awesome.

Do you have any good strategies for fussy eaters? Or just good, healthy meals in general? This mum would love to know!

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Hands up who actually enjoys this task? Anyone?

Anyone??

Bueller?

Bueller?

I dislike it more than ironing (and I dislike ironing a whole lot). But it is something that needs doing occasionally. And it’s certainly better to do it sans chemicals. (Oven cleaning chemicals are among some of the most toxic in our homes. I’d highly, highly, strongly reccommend you kick them to the curb.)

Here’s What you Need to Clean your Oven Without Toxic Cleaners:

• bicarb soda
• vinegar in a spray bottle
• clean, damp cloth
• dry microfibre cloth
• elbow grease

How to Green Clean Your Oven:

1. Remove the trays and shelves, as these need to be washed by hand, and wipe out (or vacuum out!) the loose crumbs and crap on the bottom of the oven.
2. Sprinkle the inside of the oven door liberally with bicarb, and a little on the inside of the oven itself.
3. Spray the whole internal surface of the oven liberally with the vinegar, as well as inside the door. You’ll see the bicarb fizz and bubble.
4. Leave for 15-30 minutes.
5. Use the damp cloth to wipe the inside of the oven thoroughly. You will need to rinse the cloth out multiple times.
6. Use the cloth then to scrub the glass inside the oven door. This is where the sticky build-up is worst, and it will take a bit of elbow grease to lift the grime off.
7. Once the glass is clean, rinse the cloth thoroughly and wipe out the inside of the oven.
8. Use the dry microfibre cloth to clean up any excess and clean the glass.
9. Use the microfibre cloth to wipe over the front of the oven, removing fingerprints, drips and smudges.

Sparkly McGee!!

Tell me, is there an easier – GREEN – way to clean an oven? I’d love to know. Because while this is green and super effective, it takes time. Time I’d prefer to spend drinking cocktails. Ha!

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This (as yet, unnamed*) little guy joined our family yesterday. And while his floppy ears and gorgeous puppy-dog eyes are insanely sweet, the best part of his introduction has been the joy and immediate love shown by the kids.

We can all see and relish in the beauty of a new puppy, or an incredible sunrise, or an amazing song, but to take a moment and see how that beauty affects those around you is where the joy really lies.

We hear so often (and rightly so) that contentment lies in the ability to be grateful with what we have. To find joy in the everyday, beauty in the mundane. But to find the hidden joy in something that is already beautiful, is to share it with others.

In doing that, we see instantly that we are all connected. That no man is an island. That what we do, what we create, what we say and what we build has a direct impact on others. And that we can have a lasting effect on those around us by introducing them to beautiful experiences.

But also…he’s just a really freaking cute dog, right??

*Currently struggling on the name front. Isla has been adamant that his name is HoHo. I suggested Artie. Then I suggested Artie HoHo by way of a compromise. Sparky dislikes both of those options and has suggested Slash. Or Cash (The Man in Black). I’m happy with Cash. But now Isla is convinced his name is HoHo Marty. Or is that Marty LoLo?

Cash HoHo?

I don’t KnowKnow.

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{Stunning Vege Garden - via Pinterest}

If we don’t eat good, nourishing food, we get sick. We become weak. We have poor energy. But if we feed ourselves healthy, nutritious, satisfying food, we become happier, healthier, more energetic.

This is not rocket surgery.

And yet, so many of us (myself included) forget about feeding the parts of ourselves that drive us. The parts that define us. The parts that set us apart, make us ‘us’, make us happy or make us content.

We forget to feed our soul.

Feed your soul by giving yourself time. Feed your soul by putting that need high on the priority list. Feed your soul by finding it’s best food and relishing in it.

Here Are 3 Simple Steps to Discovering What Feeds Your Soul:

1. How Do You Know You’re Soul is Nourished?

There is a feeling of contentment. Of fullness. Of pride for having done something for you. Something that will sustain you for days. It will carry you through difficult times, tantrums, sleep deprivation, sickness. And it will make the good times feel even better.

2. Question: When Was the Last Time Your Soul Felt Well Fed?

Take a pen and paper and jot down the last five times your soul felt like this. (And do not refer to things that serve others first. These are about you and only you.)

• Where were you?
• What were you doing?
• What were you thinking about?

3. Take Time and Do Each of These 5 Things

Talk to your loved ones, tell them you need time. Tell them you’re out of the house for an hour on Saturday morning, or that you’re taking a pilates class every Thursday night. And tell them that their support is important.

And as you try each of these nourishing activities, you will discover what it is that is your ultimate soul food. You will find that thing, that activity that makes your heart full and your spirit happy.

Then – and this is the key – do that thing. Often. As often as you can.

It may be:

• writing for 30 minutes every day
• jogging 3 times a week
• gardening, digging, weeding, planting
• painting
• building model planes
• renovating old furniture
• singing
• mountain bike riding
• going to church
• playing guitar

Whatever it is, make a promise to yourself that you will care for your soul as much as you care for your body.

You and your family will reap the rewards. Promise.

Please share with us, what feeds your soul? For me it’s gardening. The feeling I get after spending an hour or two with my hands in the dirt, working the earth and growing some of our own food, it is indescribable. I feel restored.

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{via Pinterest}

Except, it isn’t the internet that makes me feel like shit, is it?

It’s me making me feel like shit.

We’re surrounded by images of perfect homes, perfect parents, perfect kids. We are bombarded via Pinterest, Facebook and hundreds of thousands of lifestyle blogs, magazines and websites. It is so easy to believe the photos, the light-hearted way perfect lives are described.

But come on. We’re intelligent people. We know that everyone has crappy days, weeks, months. Everyone yells at their kids. Everyone fights with their partners. Everyone has stages in life where the clutter and the mess and the stuff that doesn’t feed our souls takes over. And you feel overwhelmed, undervalued, absent.

I love a good lifestyle blog, a good Instagram feed, a good few minutes perusing Pinterest. But it is not real life. It’s no-one’s real life – but it’s particularly not mine.

We are choosing to give these myths credit. We are choosing to compare our lives to these edited, censored glimpses. And it’s wrong.

We are left sapped of our energies, feeling inadequate, less than. And do you know what, folks? We are doing this to ourselves.

I propose we put these beautiful images, these perfect glimpses, these wonderful ideas and magazine-worthy lives where they belong. As entertainment. As “sometimes” fun and occasional frivolity. Let’s stop allowing them to make us feel like shit.

Because you are enough. And if you think you’re lacking, then looking at images of impossibly perfect toddler birthday parties on Pinterest sure as hell won’t help you get any better.

{Full credit for this post’s inspiration goes to Beth at Revolution From Home. I came across this amazing post on Twitter and really wanted to share my thoughts.}

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{From the archives: This post was first published early 2011, but is making an encore because it’s so insanely helpful}

Week in, week out, this annoying, thankless task needs to be done.

When I was pregnant with Isla I became super-sensitive to commercial bathroom cleaners and their horrible, toxic smell so I had to find a natural alternative. It’s taken me a couple of years to perfect it, but I wouldn’t consider any other option these days.

You’ll need:

borax
white vinegar in a spray bottle
damp cloth
microfibre cloth or old, soft rag

1. Spray your shower walls and floor (or all tiled surfaces) with undiluted white vinegar.

2. Sprinkle a couple of spoonfuls of borax over your damp cloth and use this to scrub your tiles and grout, concentrating on any dirty/soap-scummy/mildewy spots. Leave the vinegar and borax while you clean the rest of the shower.

3. Give the shower a quick spray to rinse off the vinegar and borax, being sure to concentrate on the floor to rinse out any excess. Also give the glass surfaces a quick spray with water.

4. Spray the glass surfaces with your undiluted vinegar and wipe over with a clean damp cloth, concentrating on any shampoo or soap scum around the bottom.

5. Wipe over the whole shower with your microfibre cloth to dry and remove drips and streaks.

Fun? No. Green? Most def.

For those who don’t like the smell of vinegar, it’s good to know that it does not linger. Once it’s dry, the vinegar-y smell is replaced by a freshness. Alternatively, you could spray your shower tiles with tea-tree spray afterwards (10 drops of tea tree oil in 500ml water). This will mask the vinegar smell and also stops mould/mildew forming on the tiles.

Do you have a green-cleaning solution for your shower? I’d love to hear it!

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You didn’t think I’d forgotten, did you?

I may have taken a break recently but the 2012 in 2012 Declutter Challenge is still going strong.

Here is what I have rid our home of since my previous update:

Items Donated or Given Away:

• linen (blankets, towels etc) x 44
• kids clothes x 163 That was a big one, folks!
• my clothes x 12
• accessories x 7
• home decor x 14
• baby items x 37
• books x 6
• magazines x 6

Items Thrown Away (Beyond Repair or Use):

• odd socks x 11
• miscellaneous crap x 9

Total = 309

Add that to the 407 items already gone, and we’re at a total of 716 items of clutter, eliminated. 36%.

But now, I think we head into the hard stuff. The amount of things I can reasonably throw away is diminishing, as we’re at a point where lots of the easy-to-spot useless crap is gone. I haven’t been a hoarder for a long, long time, so I’m going to have to start making decisions – real decisions – about things soon.

Do you have trouble letting go of certain things?

You can follow my progress for the 2012 in 2012 Challenge here. If you’re new to the challenge, you can learn more about it here:

• The Challenge Begins
• January Update
• the most recent challenge update

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