Aspiring Mum

To The Distracted Mum.

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 20:30:00 +0000

To the Distracted Mum,

Every morning, as I drive my children to school, I see you.

Every afternoon, as I drive home, I see you.

Your little one sits in the pram while you walk fast, on a mission.

Headphones in your ears, lost in the music.

Oblivious to the world around you.

One hand guides the pram, the other holds your precious phone.

And then I notice your son, running behind.

A heavy bag on his back. Struggling to keep up.

Always running. Always behind you.

Struggling.

But on you stride.

One hand on the pram. One hand holding your phone.

Oblivious to the boy behind you.

Running. Struggling.

He stops to look at something.

But you don't notice.

He calls out to you.

But you don't hear.

You have headphones in your ears. Oblivious to the world around you.

You don't hear the Mumma from the pram.

You don't hear the Mumma from your son.

It breaks my heart to see his little legs, running to keep up.

It breaks my heart to see you so disconnected.

To be lost in your music.

Missing the opportunities to talk.

Missing the moments of discovery.

Missing the little hand showing you something.

Missing the voice calling your name.

Missing the connection.

Just for one day I dare you to take a moment.

Turn the music off.

Take the headphones out.

And walk slow.

Hold your son's hand and talk.
Savour your precious children.
Remember the blessings they are.
And bask in their wonder at the world.

I dare you to connect.

Diary of a Stay at Home Mum {Review and Giveaway}

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 02:26:00 +0000

I have a love/hate relationship with parenting books. Over the years, I have read my fair share of them and they have often been my go-to during each stage of parenting - from trying to help my children sleep through by 6 weeks (ha!) to How to use creative discipline. But I have to admit that the majority of parenting books often leave me feeling confused, conflicted and inferior as a parent.

(I also think that many parenting books are written by so-called experts who either have no children, or whose children are fully grown, and are therefore out of touch with the nitty-gritty of daily life).

I was recently given the chance (a wonderful privilege) to read Diary of a Stay at Home Mum by Jess Newman. You would know Jess from Essentially Jess. And I just have to say - what a breath of fresh air her book is!

Diary of a Stay at Home Mum is one mum's honest account of motherhood without the gloss or the façade of perfect parenting. It is by no means a 'How to' - which is what I love so much about it. In fact, it is more of a memoir that offers hope and encouragement from a perspective that resonates so well with me.

Jess shares the ups and downs - the real, the tough, the every day stuff that motherhood is made of. She shares her mistakes and her victories - all with a sense of humour injected throughout each page. Like her blog's tagline says - she is authentic, hopeful and a little crazy.

Jess writes from a Christian perspective, interweaving her faith throughout her daily life. She uses every day circumstances as teachable moments, both for herself, her family and the reader. Her writing is real and inspirational, like I said, a breath of fresh air.

Diary of a Stay at Home Mum will have you nodding and laughing in agreement, but most of all, you will be encouraged by Jess' wisdom and down-to-earth stories.

I am giving one person the chance to receive their very own copy of Diary of a Stay at Home Mum. For your chance to win, complete the entry form below. Or, if you would like to purchase your own copy, you can do so here. Also check out Lisa's review at Mummy's Undeserved Blessings.

This giveaway is now closed - and congratulations to Rachel Thompson who will receive a copy of 'Diary of a SAHM'!

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Mums on Monday {Mums and Friendships}

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 21:31:00 +0000

Mums on Monday: A feature on Aspiring Mum to encourage, promote discussion and build community.

Years ago, pre-kids, my husband and I were part of a bible study group with other hip, young things. It was a great group of people and we enjoyed hanging out together. I have fond memories of those days - sharing meals together, celebrating birthdays together, a weekend away and plenty of laughs. They were good times. Our mentor at the time spoke some words I'll never forget - Your friendships are so important. These are the guys you'll do life with.

Do life with.

I often reflect on that phrase and wonder who I'm doing life with. My husband and children, for sure. But who are the friends that I consider to be life-long? And whatever happened to the friends that I thought would be there for the long-haul?

My husband and I were the first ones married amongst our group of friends. We were also the first ones to have children. Something happens when children come on the scene. Relationships change. Friendships change. People change. Some people move away. And for some reason or another, the connection is lost.

But life goes on.

My friend (of 30-ish years) and I.

To be honest, I've struggled with friendships since becoming a mum. The loneliness, particularly when my children were quite little, was quite incredible. I spent some time grieving over lost friendships, until I realised and accepted that we have friends for different times and different reasons in our lives. Some are there for short-term, while others are in our lives for the long-haul.

I think a common struggle amongst mums, particularly those of preschoolers, is a sense of loneliness and of being disconnected and isolated. The loneliness makes it easy to think that we're the only ones going through what we're going through. We long for someone to share life with and understand us. A special friend or group of friends who get us.

But it's not always easy to forge new friendships, particularly when we have small children. Often we're tired. We lack the time. We're embarrassed to have anyone over. We pre-empt a brush-off. We fear that our efforts won't be reciprocated. We assume no-one else has the time for us. And the older we get, the harder it can be.

The thing is, we are not meant to be islands. We were made for relationship and connection.

So, how do we make and keep those friends?

As clichéd as it is: To make a friend, you have to be a friend. Look out for others. Do things for others that you would want someone to do for you - make a meal for a new mum, offer to babysit to give another mum some breathing space. Plant the first seeds of friendship by reaching out to someone else.

Find something in common. What about the mums at playgroup? Are there other mums at the gym? Are there other mums with special needs children? What is the common ground that could be the basis of a new friendship?

Don't be possessive. Different people meet different needs in our lives, so don't suffocate your friendships. Allow your friends to be friends with other people as well. (It sounds so high-school-ish, but believe me, the possessiveness can carry well over into adulthood.)

Some friends are seasonal. Friends move away. Some friends remain single or childless. While other friends pursue different life paths, and suddenly there's no common ground any more. Not every friend is meant to be our best friend. And not every friendship is meant to last.

Don't write friendships off. I have made some strong friendships with people that I would never have dreamed of choosing for a friend. Older women, women with different life circumstances, women with different beliefs. But because I share something in common with each of them, and I was willing to give the friendship a chance, I am that little bit richer for having them in my life.

Be prepared to be vulnerable. It's hard to step out of your comfort zone and ask someone for coffee. It can be awkward, almost like a first date. But your potential friend may just be feeling the same way and unless you put all vulnerability aside and take the first step, you may miss out on a wonderful friendship.

Mums need friends too. Mums need other mums/women in their lives to do life with. To walk through the hard times, share the joys and to know that someone else understands them and has their back. We are not meant to be islands. We were made for relationship and connection.

Do you have some life-long friends?

Have you find it hard to make and maintain friendships since becoming a mum?

Why We Are Mostly Screen-Free.

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 04:54:00 +0000

As a child, it was always so exciting when my Grandparents came to visit. Not because of the chocolate they would sneak me when my parents weren't looking. Nor was it because they would come and cheer me on in the school's athletics carnival. No.

It was because they always brought their tv with them.

You see, our family never had a tv when I was growing up. The only time I got to watch tv was at a friend's house or when my Grandparent's came to visit. Or, if I was really lucky, when my parents hired one for sporting events like the Olympic Games.

I remember watching The Sound of Music for the first time while we were huddled around the tiny box that my grandparents had brought with them; My Grandfather adjusting the antenna to reduce the amount of snow on the screen. And memories of my Mum cooking dinner in the kitchen while the music to Happy Days blasted from the tinny-sounding speakers at 5pm every afternoon now make me smile.

But growing up without a tv sucked. Or so I thought at the time. I thought my parents were so unfair because I missed out on a lot of things that my friends were watching. My Grandfather even told my parents that they were being unfair and that tv was in fact, very educational. And he watched documentaries (which I thought were oh so boring) with me to prove his point.

image

The thing is, now that I'm a parent, I can definitely see the benefits of being tv-free. Personally, I don't watch a great deal of tv. (The only reason I am watching The Voice this season is because we know one of the singers). I am not up on current shows - and you will more than likely receive a blank look from me if you start a conversation about Offspring or.....see, I don't even know what shows are on these days. To be honest, it doesn't bother me that I don't watch tv. Instead of relaxing me, it usually winds me up due to the constant bombardment of ads and rubbish reality shows. Not to mention the fact that it is a huge time-waster.

I have also found that tv has the potential to have a negative effect on our family, and so, at the beginning of the year, we made a decision to go screen-free with the kids during the week. That means - no tv after school (we've never had it on before school), and no wii, computer games or other devices. The only exception to the rule is the use of the computer for homework or if someone is home sick.

Since instilling the screen-free boundary, I have also found that the tv/screens are rarely used on the weekends.

Are my kids missing out? Only on the ads and rubbish shows that networks choose to broadcast, and that is absolutely fine by me. I don't miss the noise and I don't miss having to be wary about the appropriateness of the shows or what ads come on.

Since being screen-free during the week I have made the following observations:

More outside time. Because my kids know that screens are no longer an option in the afternoons, they will head outside to play when their homework is completed. Even now that it is winter, they are still playing outside until dark.

Playing together more. Yes, there are still disagreements over who had what first, but I am seeing my children bond and negotiate on a deeper level than they did when tv was an option.

Increased creativity and independence in play. It never ceases to amaze me where imagination takes my children. They have also become more independent with their play/spare time - rather than asking me what they can do, they find things in the craft cupboard, in their rooms or outside to include in their play.

Greater interest in cooking and helping with dinner. My older 2 girls are quite independent in the kitchen now, so they enjoy baking together one afternoon a week. And each child helps with dinner one night a week. When screens were a part of our week, spending time in the kitchen was never an enticement.

Reading, reading, reading. Every evening after dinner, I find the 3 eldest lying in the lounge room engrossed in a book of their choice. This really warms my heart, especially since my almost-8 year old has been such a reluctant reader. I have also noticed their enthusiasm in sharing their books with each other - talking about the characters, the storylines and even re-enacting some of the stories when they play.

Greater connections. We are talking more because there is nothing else vying for our attention. This is something that I am appreciating so much at the moment, particularly as my eldest approaches her tween years and maintaining that connection is vital.

Our family values are upheld. With the tv off, my children are not influenced by suggestive ads, subliminal messages, negative media or materialism that is broadcast from the tv networks. This is so important for our family and what we value.

What are the negative effects of no screen time?

The only possible negative effect is that my children may miss out on watching shows that their friends talk about. Whoop-de-do. In the bigger scheme of things, I don't think that's such a bad thing. After all, there is more to life than talking about tv shows.

Does your family go screen-free?

Mums on Monday {Perfection vs Perspective}

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 00:48:00 +0000

When my youngest was a newborn, our pastor's wife (at the time) dropped by our house to see how I was faring, now that I was mother to four children. That day is forever etched into my memory for being both highly embarrassing as well as one where I felt quite vulnerable as a mother.

We had boxes throughout the house from having moved in a couple of months earlier. Toys were strewn all over the floor, thanks to my very active toddler son. And the kitchen bench was barely visible due to the dishes (both clean and unclean) covering it. I hadn't showered that morning, my hair was dishevelled, and I answered the door with a crying baby in my arms and a spew-covered burp cloth draped over my shoulder.

Mine was not the face of a Huggies commercial that day.

I was both embarrassed and vulnerable because someone was seeing my home (and me) in a terrible mess. My façade of having it all together, crumbled. And while I knew that a perfectly tidy home with little children underfoot was a near impossibility, I still strived for a standard of perfection and placed expectations on myself that were unrealistic given the season of life I was in.

That day, I realised with certainty that there is no such thing as perfection in motherhood. I realised that striving to look the part and trying to keep up with everything, adds nothing of value to our lives. In fact, striving for perfection sucks the happiness right out of us and has the potential to destroy the very things we value.

As mums, there is so much external pressure these days to 'look the part', to show the world that we're doing okay. Society tells us that we must bounce back from birth with a size 8 body. We must juggle motherhood with keeping a spotless house, returning to the workforce, looking like we stepped out of Vogue magazine - all with a smile on our face like everything is okay. The reality is, living that way is not viable. Or fulfilling. Or truthful.

Perfectionism is a myth.

Perfectionism clouds our perspective. When my children were smaller, I really struggled with wanting to prove to the world that I was doing just fine. My façade served me well - however, inside I was crumbling as I compared my circumstances with those of people in different seasons of life. My strive for perfection left me feeling empty because I felt I was a failure. My standards for everything were beyond reach and reason, and my efforts of striving for perfection left me feeling worn out and defeated.

Perfectionism skews our thoughts and values. It places unrealistic and unachievable expectations on everything from our home, to relationships, to our children's behaviour. It contributes to a sense of failure and can cause us to become defensive and resentful in our interactions with others. I know that my perfectionist ways probably contributed to the demise of several friendships.

On the other hand, perspective gives us freedom to understand that a fulfilled, happy life isn't dependent on high standards of cleanliness, perfect children's behaviour or looking glamorous each time we step out the door. Perspective in motherhood allows us to enjoy the process of creating and maintaining a home, experiencing family life, and pursuing personal dreams - as well as celebrating the outcome of our efforts.

Perspective means that circumstances may still annoy us, but it also allows us to recognise that things will change and the season will soon pass. It allows us to be inspired but also real. It allows us to admit our mistakes rather than beat ourselves up. It recognises that there is no such thing as "failing".

Perspective means that we can allow people in. Rather than pretending that everything is okay, perspective allows us to recognise when we need help and not be afraid to ask for it. Perspective gives us permission to say, Hey, I haven't got it altogether, and it gives us the opportunity to learn from others.

Perspective - rather than perfection - gives us the freedom to enjoy the ups and downs, the laughs, the adventures and everything else in between that motherhood brings.

Do you struggle with perfection?

Do you find it hard to find perspective?

How do you keep perspective in motherhood?

Inspiring Me....{2}

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Fri, 31 May 2013 04:34:00 +0000

Inspiring Me....

{A series of posts sharing what is inspiring me each week -

from around the internet and also in my world}

This week, a long-time friend sent me the following video. It's something I've seen before, but obviously I was meant to see it again. The clip offers some great food for thought about making necessary changes and pursuing our dreams. (And, being the word nerd that I am, I also found the script - from here - and printed it out to put in my journal.)

50 Ways to Waste a Life - Need I say more? (If you have some spare time, have a read through the other articles on this site.)

8 Ways to nurture a child's soul - I particularly like the point about being your child's best friend. I don't know if I would personally use the term best friend with my children, but I am certainly choosing to be their friend. There are many parenting "experts" who say it is not the parent's role to be their child's friend. To them I say boo. Obviously common sense prevails, but if my relationship with my children is not built on love and friendship, then what kind of relationship do we have? I believe that it is possible for parents to be friends with their children whilst still maintaining their parental role.

Library for all - An awesome initiative founded by a friend in conjunction with a team in New York. Library For All exists to unlock knowledge to the developing world. Their mission is to provide tools for individuals to learn, dream and aspire to lift themselves out of poverty. To reach those who have little or no access to books, we are building a digital library and educational platform, designed for low bandwidth environments. An amazing opportunity for those in the developed world to help those in the developing world have access to millions of ebooks, course materials and resources. Check it out (and if you, or someone you know would like to be a part of this, there are contact details on the website).

A Year of Dates - My eldest daughter keeps on asking me when we can go out together for some one-on-one time. It's been far too long between "dates" for us and it warms my heart that they obviously mean something to her. Life can become crazily busy, but if we're not intentional with our time, our children will be grown up before we know it, and those special moments will be gone. I really like the idea of planning a year's worth of dates - something I intend to sit down and do this weekend.

This quote:

What has inspired you this week?

Mums on Monday {Using Natural Consequences in Parenting}.

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Mon, 27 May 2013 00:58:00 +0000

Mums on Monday.

A new feature on Aspiring Mum to encourage, promote discussion and build community.

My daughter couldn't find her school hat the other day. I had reminded her a few times throughout the morning to find it, and after looking without any success for a few minutes, she had pleaded with me to help her. I obliged for a few minutes before I continued with my own morning tasks. By the time we left, there was still no hat to be found, so she went to school sans hat. There was sulking and a few tears in the car because no hat means no outside play.

Did I feel terrible? Yes.

Was I a mean mum? No.

I was teaching responsibility through natural consequences.

One of the things we are big on in our home, is second chances. We extend grace, even when it's very hard to do, and we give our children a chance to explain why they made the choice they did. We also use natural consequences a means to teach responsibility and accountability to our children. It's not always easy, but it's the way we roll and our children are learning that there are consequences as a result of the choices (both good and bad) they make.

Obviously, for natural consequences to be effective, children need to know the ground-rules, or boundaries, and any resultant consequences should be explained.

So, back to the hat story....In our home, the children need to bring their school hats inside each day and put them with their bags. They each have a box allocated for their bags and hats, so that come morning, they just grab their bags and hats and off we go. I decided to use this system rather than leaving hats in the car, because the hats get dirty, trodden on and stuffed under seats. So, when a child 'loses' a hat because they haven't taken the time to put it back in the right place, it is not my responsibility to look for it. The child knows the rule (or boundary), they make the mistake, they suffer the consequence and learn for next time.

Yes, that might sound like tough parenting, but life is not about providing a band-aid solution for our children when they do the wrong thing. Rarely are there second chances when we make mistakes as an adult. If I speed, I pay the fine and lose points. If I'm late paying a bill, I have to pay extra the next month. There are consequences when we make the wrong choices.

One thing (among many) I take seriously as a mother, is the role I play in teaching my children responsibility. I don't want my children to grow up to be lazy, irresponsible and expecting to have everything done for them.

So, while the consequence at the time may upset my child (and hurt me to follow through with it), I know that the hard yards will pay off.

Some examples of natural consequences in our home:

- If a child destroy's another child's lego/toy construction/play, the destroyer is not allowed to continue playing with the hurt child.

- If a child is whinging and defiant - they lose their screen-time privilege.

- If a child dawdles when getting ready for bed - they miss out on reading time with me.

- If a child complains about and refuses to eat their dinner - they are excused from the table and won't eat until breakfast.

- If a child doesn't complete their homework in time - they hand it in, unfinished.

- If a child leaves toilet paper all through the toilet - they clean the toilet.

Does this make me sound like a mean parent? Yes!

Do my children get upset? Yes!

Do my children learn from their choices and actions? Yes!

But it's not about being mean and controlling. Rather, the use of natural consequences places the onus of responsibility back onto my children. It allows for me to be consistent in a firm, but loving environment and it also allows for many teachable moments. By using natural consequences I am a much calmer parent - I am less likely to raise my voice/lose my temper, which also means that I am less likely to damage the relationship I have with my child/ren.

Do you use natural consequences?

Inspiring Me....{1}

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Fri, 24 May 2013 01:19:00 +0000

Inspiring Me....

{A new series of posts sharing what is inspiring me each week -

from around the internet and also in my world}

* Simple Mom - Around the world. This is something I dream of doing - to pack everything up and travel with the family. To have the freedom to see the world and experience new cultures/places is definitely on my to-do list and something I would love to do before the kids are too much older. Have you travelled much with your kids?

* Home Life Simplified - Grace for ourselves. I never fail to be inspired by Deb's work. Extending grace to myself is something that I find hard to do - the expectations I put on myself don't always leave me with much breathing room when I fail. This post came just at the right time.

* Under the Sycamore - Goals...How to make 'em and break 'em. A post about setting not only daily goals, but also weekly goals. I really like how she breaks her goals up into four categories (Home organisation, Project completion, Something for someone else, Each kid)."...they are things that often get overlooked in the daily grind of keeping up with my kids. I have to be intentional about them or they don't get done." I too find that things get lost in the daily grind - and all too often another week goes by without x, y or z being achieved. The key word is intentional.

* Using paint sample cards and punches. This is one of those "Duh, why didn't I think of that?" moments. I love the effect of this and it's such a simple way to make gorgeous cards - something my girls are really into at the moment. (Image from Pinterest).

* This quote:

What's inspiring you this week?

We Can't Rush The Seasons.

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Mon, 20 May 2013 23:11:00 +0000

Winter is not my favourite season at all. It's cold. It's dark for far too many hours of the day. And without fail, I always end up with a dose of the flu.

During those long, cold days, I find myself yearning for the warmer weather. The days pass by so slowly as I watch and wait impatiently for the first signs of Spring - the first green shoots sprouting on the trees, the scent of jasmine on the air and the sun greeting me earlier in the day. There's something about the cold weather that dulls my mood and makes me want to hibernate until the warmth of Spring arrives.

Thankfully, it's not all doom and gloom. Winter also provides me with moments I enjoy - hot chocolates with marshmallows, snuggling under blankets, warm clothes and woollen scarves, and even the occasional walk along the beach. If I don't fill my wintry days with moments of enjoyment, it becomes far too easy to dwell on the negative, and winter becomes a season to endure rather than enjoy.

I was recently reminded by a friend that parenting is no different. Sometimes I am so impatient for my children to reach the next phase of their development, that I miss the beauty of the one they are in now. Some days I long for them to be all at school, but then I realise that my days of having someone at home with me will be over for good. I plan ahead for a career change and all the things I would like to achieve, only to be reminded that I still have plenty of time before I will have complete freedom to do so. I grow impatient with my circumstances, but then remember how much of a privilege it is to invest in my children's lives and watch them grow into who they were created to be.

At times, the wintry days of parenting leave me feeling numb and longing for something better, something more enjoyable, more exciting. But then I am reminded of the seasons and how they change. And just like a long, cold winter, I know just how important it is to find enjoyment in those long days of parenting; To look for the smallest of pleasures on the hardest of days; To enjoy rather than endure motherhood; To be patient and not rush through.

Because I know that all too soon, this season will be gone.

Linking up for IBOT at Essentially Jess.

Changing What I Don't Like.

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:26:00 +0000

Failure.

Quitter.

No direction.

Stupid.

Indecisive.

These negative words swirled around my mind, taunting me. Belittling me. Reducing me to tears and leaving me wondering how I could admit that this was in fact, me. Am I really a quitter? Am I a failure? It all seems so....harsh.

For the past few months, I've felt the weight of the world on my shoulders as I've taken on further study to be something I thought I might like to be.

Not that long ago, I had moments of being torn - being indecisive about whether or not to continue, if it was something I really wanted to do, or was even passionate about. I knew deep down that my heart wasn't really in it, but the potential was there to provide a different opportunity for our family. And when those initial doubts set in, everyone kept spurring me on -

You can do it.

You'll be great.

You've come this far, not long to go now.

It will be great for your family.

Just finish it, or you'll regret it.

So, on I went. Not sure if it was something I really wanted to do, but I thought I would still give it a chance.

How would I know if I didn't try, right?

The thing is, I was trying. I was trying so hard. I just wanted to know how much longer I had to try. And even though I was giving it my best, I knew it wasn't what I desired.

And yet I persisted.

I persisted because I didn't want people to think of me as a failure. A quitter. Someone with no direction. I persisted because I wanted to be an example to my children - to show them how to do their best, to keep going and not give up. I persisted because I thought it was the right thing to do.

Until, after another night of tears and my stomach knotting from stress, I realised enough was enough, and I made the hard decision to quit.

To admit to people that you're quitting is so very hard to do. Awaiting their response, ducking from their judgement - it's such a lonely and vulnerable place to be. I don't want to be known as a quitter. But I also don't want to be known as miserable.

And so I quit. I closed the door on that particular chapter of my life. No doubt there will be other doors that will open in time. But for now, I am learning that there is also strength and humility in quitting. It's not necessarily a bad thing admitting that you can't or don't want to do it any more. Being bold enough to acknowledge that something is not the right fit is a powerful catalyst to change. And I am so looking forward to what lies ahead.

I tried it, but I didn't like it. I didn't like it, so I changed what I was doing.

A Day In My Life {ListMania}

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 02:21:00 +0000

I had a lot of fun with this list. Keeping track of my day was quite empowering and it was interesting to see what I accomplished in the space of 24 hours. I still managed to feel good about the use of my time despite feeling like I was running from the time I woke until the time I went to bed.

5am - I fumble in the early morning light to turn off my alarm...despite being a morning person, I still wrestle with the temptation to sleep in. A few extra minutes in bed and then I'm up, getting ready for the day before the kids wake. I feel a sore throat and ears niggling at me, I'm hoping its nothing sinister.

5:30 - Quiet time and journal, check my diary for what the day entails and write a quick 'to-do' list.

6:00 - Washing hung out from the night before. Put another load in the machine. Start to unpack some of the dishwasher. The kids start to surface and the morning routine begins for them. Breakfast for me is the same every morning - a berry banana smoothie. The kids have cereal, toast and fruit.

7:30 - Heading out the door early today. Our street is super quiet and it feels like we're the only ones around. Any quiet neighbourly slumber is soon shattered by the sounds of Miss 3 tripping over on the way to the car. It's amazing how much the noise carries at this time of morning. A few tears, a quick kiss and hug, and all is right in her world again.

7:40am - Drop Miss 7 at school for her first strings ensemble rehearsal. She meets up with a friend and they walk down to the music room together. And then it hits me - I have reached the stage of parenting requiring early mornings and late afternoons for extra-curricular activities. Most of my week will now be spent in the car.

8:00am - Sign Miss 3 into kindy. It's anyone's guess how long it will take to do the drive from school to her kindy. Some days we sit in traffic for an eternity, but this morning we had a smooth run, which means that we will make it back to school in time before the bell. Miss 3 was a bit teary and clingy (read: throwing a tantrum) this morning when I left. I put it down to the fact that I had the other children with me and she wanted us to stay. Never a good thing when you leave your child kicking and screaming.

8:20am - Making good time today, very little traffic on the roads - which always makes me wonder for a moment if it's a public holiday and I forgot. Walk the other two into school and spend some time with Master 5 in his classroom and talking with other parents.

9am - I decide to head to the pool for some laps. It's been many years since I've swum for fitness, but if I'm going to kick this triathlon later this year, then I need to start somewhere.

There must have been a senior swimming session before I arrived as there are quite a few elderly people hanging around having a chat. Three elderly ladies are in the change rooms having a gossip and organising their social lives. From the sounds of it, their social lives are a lot more active than mine! As it turns out, there's also a swimming carnival at the pool in a couple of hours, so there are gazebos being erected and tables being set up. I'm the only person swimming which always feels weird. Soon enough another person hops in the pool...in my lane. Thankfully he realises that the other lanes are in fact usable and he swims in the one next to me. Time for my competitive streak to kick in.

11am - Showered and a quick cup of coffee, I head to the school to help out with maths in my daughter's class. The teacher asks if I can stay for spelling as well. Sure, why not.

1-2:30pm - Home. Lunch. Make some phone calls. I am pleased that I was able to change the day for my children's swimming classes, and they can all be in the pool at the same time. Winning. I am hopeless at just sitting down and enjoying my lunch. I think it's because I want to make the most of my time while everyone is out, and multi-tasking sometimes achieves this. Quick vacuum and mop. Bring washing in. Prepare afternoon tea.

2:30pm - Quick trip to the shops to pick up a couple of things before doing the school/ kindy run. I never seem to remember my enviro bags. Note to self: keep them in the car.

4pm - Cracking the whip through a late afternoon tea - we need to head out again to my daughter's netball training at 5pm.

5-6pm - Netball training. I am thankful that my other children have an oval to run around on and kick a ball on. I take my Kindle and continue reading 7:An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess (Jen Hatmaker). Loving the little pocket of time to just sit. And I'm sure the kids love the complete freedom they have for the hour.

6:30pm - Slack mum tonight. The Golden Arches for dinner - hopefully I will be more organised next week. I enjoy a coffee and send a few texts to my husband (who is still interstate) - he is working late so we will call him tomorrow.

7:45pm - The bed run starts late, which means that everyone's bed times have been pushed back by at least 45 minutes. I'm thinking this is going to be a regular occurrence when my daughter trains late. The joys of extra-curricular activities. I just hope the tireds don't impact Miss 3 too much tomorrow.

8:45pm - All is quiet once again and I begin preparations for the next day. Lunchboxes, uniforms are all at the ready. Another load in the washing machine. Seriously, I feel like I live between the kitchen and the laundry.

9:00pm - Sometimes the house is just too quiet at night, so I put on an episode of CSI, mainly for background noise, and I settle on the couch to do some work on a draft (the old-fashioned way) that has been glaring at me from my desk for far too long. A cup of green tea keeps me company.

10pm - My yawns are becoming far too frequent, so I decide to call it a night. My brain can't focus on what I'm writing and it probably won't make much sense in the morning. My ears are also really sore (perhaps that swim wasn't such a great idea), so I down some panadol, snuggle into bed with my Kindle and once again become engrossed in Jen Hatmaker's book. I am inspired and convicted by her writing, and I can see some future changes happening in our family.

10:30pm - Lights out and hoping for a decent night's sleep. Ready to do it all again in the morning.

Linking up with ListMania at Home Life Simplified.

Grateful For...The Sweet Moments.

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 00:58:00 +0000

Life is in full swing again now that the kids are back at school - it's no mean feat trying to fit homework, music lessons, swimming and team sport training into our week. Parenting, huh! When will I breathe again?!

This week, the words from someone who has walked the path before me sunk in - It's busy when they're babies, but you will be a lot busier when they are older. Yes, yes I am busy. Perhaps through choices I've made but also the territory that comes with life in a big family. I have to be careful that I don't become so focused on the next-thing-to-do that I miss out on the sweet moments in my day.

This week, I've taken the time to appreciate some of that sweetness....

Reading For Enjoyment. I've rekindled my love affair with my Kindle. (Yes, that was intentional, and yes, it was poor.) Since receiving it for my birthday last year, I've downloaded at least 20 books. (Most of which remain unread. Much like the physical variety stacked on my nightstand.) This week has seen me heading to bed earlier than usual to spend some time reading something other than online articles. I'm not quite sure when I stopped reading for enjoyment, instead opting to get lost in the time-sucking abyss of the online world. Suffice to say, being engrossed in a book to the point where it's hard to put down is something I've really missed.

Swimming. Last year, one of my goals was to compete in a triathlon. Unfortunately, that never eventuated due to a number of reasons. (Reasons schmeasons). However, I am determined to do one this year. After I had done the school/kindy run earlier in the week, I decided it was time to visit the new-to-me local pool (a mere kilometre away) and swim some laps. I haven't swum laps for fitness in many, many years, so of course that little niggle of self-doubt crept in: What if I can only manage 2 laps? What if I can't breathe? What if the pool person thinks I am completely uncoordinated?! All needless worries that entered my mind...It felt good to be back in the pool. Half-an-hour of focusing on my stroke and following the black line was enough to clear my mind and allow those endorphins to kick in. I'm looking forward to making it a regular part of my week.

Blossoming talents. My eldest daughters started their music lessons this week. The unique sounds and the squawks have certainly made it *interesting* listening, and we have become *that* house in the street where the off-key notes emulate from. But I am enjoying my daughters' enthusiasm and love that they chose the instruments themselves (viola and saxophone) without any prompting from my husband or myself. I am enjoying watching their new talents unfold and am grateful for the opportunity for them to learn something that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Music adds another dimension to life.

And this.

I just had to capture the colours. What a sight to wake up to! (It rained not long after I took this photo).

What are you grateful for this week?

Joining in with 52 Weeks of Grateful at Village Voices.

(Make that 50 for me as I have missed the last 2).

Banana Chia Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:31:00 +0000

I am forever hunting around for healthy and appealing lunch box options - rice crackers are only enjoyable for so long, right?!

Yesterday, I whipped up a batch of banana chia muffins and posted a photo on Instagram (as you do). I received a few comments asking for the recipe. I think the draw card was the #nooil, #nosugar, #nobutter, #cleaneating tags I used for the photo. It was the first time I'd made the muffins and the recipe really is too good not to share. (To give credit where credit is due, it's not my recipe, however I tweaked it a little to suit Australian readers, AND it's easily adaptable and one I will definitely be using for other healthy muffin options.) The muffins are very moist but oh so delicious. And because there is no rubbish in them, I don't feel guilty about popping one in the kids' lunch boxes for school.

Banana Chia Muffins. (Printable Recipe)

(Makes 12)

Ingredients:

3/4 cup plain flour
3/4 cup oats
2 tablespoons chia seeds
2 teaspoons bicarb soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
3 ripe bananas
1 egg
1 cup applesauce
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon vanilla

Method:

Preheat oven to 180*C.
Line (or grease) a 12 cup muffin tray.
In a large bowl, sift flour and bicarb soda together.
Add chia seeds, oats and cinnamon to flour and mix well.
Mash the bananas in a separate bowl.
Add egg, applesauce, honey and vanilla to the bananas. Mix well.
Add wet and dry ingredients together and mix until just combined.
Spoon into muffin pan and bake for 18-20 minutes.

Healthy, tasty muffins. #cleaneating

Print recipe.

Original recipe from here.

Working It {ListMania}

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 04:04:00 +0000

I remember sitting in my Year 11 Physics class listening to my teacher, Mr S, talk about the 40 or so jobs he had held before he became a teacher. He laid rest to the notion that life was all about formal education and one career for life. I felt inspired by his rebellion (in a sense) against the status quo. His life experience through many careers made him knowledgeable about a wide variety of topics, and his encouragement for the group of teenagers in his class made him one of my favourite teachers.

Mr S's words of encouragement have always stayed with me. You don't have to do the same job for the rest of your life. It somewhat put my mind at ease - it didn't matter what career path I chose, I could always change.

Looking back over my working life, my jobs haven't been overly remarkable. No scuba-diver instructor, or working on a cruise ship here. My jobs have been more about making money, paying bills and working to live rather than for an awesome time as such. In saying that, each job has given me interesting experiences, many learning opportunities and have opened some doors for me along the way.

image

Past:

My first job was as a "secretary" for my Dad. We had moved to a country town for my Dad's work at the local car yard, and moved in to a rental home owned by his boss (which just so happened to be right next door to the car yard/mechanics where he worked). The workshop windows opened onto our backyard, and all day we would hear the pneumatic pumps and drills and other mechanical noises. Out the front was a petrol station, so the windows in our house were always closed to keep out the petrol fumes and smell of grease and oil. Dad got me to come in to his office and file all his paperwork. I wasn't officially called a secretary, but as a 14 year-old, I called myself that because it made me sound important. Plus, it earned me some nice pocket money to spend on cassette tapes, lollies and TV Hits magazines.

I then moved up the ladder to Coles, one of the few places to work in town at that time. My Thursday nights and Saturday mornings were spent working the checkout while I dreamed of days where I would be back in the city. I hated that country town.

For one day I worked as a farmhand, picking capsicums. We started work at 4am to beat the heat of the day and it was hard, backbreaking work. It was good money, and another positive was that we were home just after lunch. But the stench from the capsicums that lay rotting on the ground was enough to turn me off eating them for 5 years.

After I finished high school, I moved to Brisbane to begin my nursing studies. I landed a job at the local Coles and I also gained some work as an Assistant Nurse in a nursing home (back in the country town). So I was working 2 jobs and studying full-time. Weekends saw me working the graveyard shift back at the nursing home. I remember working night duty one Christmas Eve, (feeling a bit ho-hum about being back home and working the night shift) and waking up to my boyfriend (now hubby) from my nap after work. He had skipped some of his Christmas Day to drive out and spend Christmas with me and my family. That meant the world to me.

After I left the job as Assistant Nurse, I landed a job caring for a cancer patient in her home. I spent most of the time talking with the husband as the wife was bed-ridden and had private nurses come and look after her. My job was to prepare their food and mop the floor. It was the first time I had come across vegetarian or 'clean eating' (before it became all the rage). While I enjoyed my time there, the husband was very pedantic about their food preparation, and if I didn't cut something the right way, or didn't put enough of something on the plate, then he'd be sure to let me know. It was very easy work and good money (and they let me swim in their pool!) But the husband's finicky ways and psycho-analysing my every move (they were both psychologists) eventually led me to leave their employment. I heard through the grapevine that his wife had passed away a few months after I had left, and I didn't hear from him again - until I arrived at my wedding, where I saw him out the front of the church - he had come to watch me get married.

At one stage, I worked as a Census collector. Once again, good money for a student. I was attacked by a dog whose owners tried to blame me for upsetting the dog. And I also got to meet some very interesting members of society....

Meanwhile, I was still working at Coles. By this stage, I was an awesome checkout chick. I could scan those groceries so fast and pack those bags just right. Frozen in one, cleaning in another. Bread and eggs on top. I must have been quite good, because I once had my checkout closed down to serve a VIP. (Needless to say, those days served me well, because I rock the self-scan checkouts now!)

Working at Coles saw me through until I graduated and landed my first nursing job as a qualified Registered Nurse at an aged care facility. I decided two years into my course that I didn't really want to be a nurse. I wasn't convinced that it was what I should be doing, or if I enjoyed it. But I persisted, graduated and took the job in aged care for awhile. From there I progressed to working in an orthopaedic unit at a Brisbane hospital.

Present:

Since then, I have worked in Emergency, Infection Control, Surgical units, Orthopaedic/Neurosurgical, Sports Nursing and general nursing, all the while umming and ahhing about the career I have chosen. In saying that, I have seen many interesting things and have also learned that not everyone has the same enthusiasm or iron stomach for sharing medical stories over dinner time. I have seen the vulnerable side of life. I have seen heartbreak, hope and healing. I have been angry at people's lack of self-care and self-respect. I have copped abuse from patients. I have been disillusioned by the politics and decision-makers. And I have been burnt out. My love/hate relationship with nursing has made me realise that although there are some really crappy days, my desire to help people is still there.

Future:

The end of this year will see me graduate as a teacher which means another learning experience and another path of opportunity. However, nothing is set in stone, and with the words of my physics teacher ringing in my ears, who knows where I will be in years to come.

What jobs are on your CV?

Linking up with ListMania at Home Life Simplified.

You Are Super, Mum.

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 21:46:00 +0000

10 steps to organising your bathroom cupboard.

5 different ways to floss your teeth.

8 things to do while cooking dinner.

50, 000 ways to clean....

Anyone else feel a bit inadequate? These 'how-to', 'should-do', 'must-do' posts have started to annoy me of late. Don't get me wrong, they have their time and place, and heck, I have been guilty of writing some of them myself. But at times, they can feel a little overwhelming, can't they? As though you're going to miss out on something if you don't do it a particular way. Or even worse, you're doing it all wrong because you're not following the 10 steps to achieve the perfect end result.

Those type of articles resurrect the mother-guilt, don't they? The lies start to come thick and fast and lead us to believe that we must be doing something wrong because we're not keeping up... We're not good enough...

We're failing as a Mum.

I want to tell you this: Don't buy into the hype.

Don't for an instant believe that your house is any less homely because you haven't learnt to fold fitted sheets properly.

Don't feel like your child is missing out because you haven't told them the 15 things they should have known before they turned five.

And don't let the guilt take a foothold just because you don't like messy play.

There is so much stuff out there that can easily clog up our Mum-esteem filter - that thing that has the potential to make us feel good about ourselves as a Mum, or completely inferior when we look at what all the other Mums are supposedly doing. (What? You mean you don't make lamps out of doilies and string?! What do you do all day?!) There is so much fluff that can get caught and make us begin to doubt our capabilities.

If you don't care for an immaculate laundry cupboard, then so be it! Don't lose sleep over it. It doesn't make you any less of a Mother. Your kids will not notice that you don't fold their sheets with the pillow cases. Nor will you scar your children if you didn't adorn their birthday cake with fondant flowers. That stuff doesn't matter!

The values you hold for the well-being of your family are what matter. Invest in them. Make them the foundation of your family life. These how-to's, should-to's etc. are just extras. They are not what make you a wonderful Mum. Great! Your toilet sparkles, but did you read with your child today? So, you can cook quinoa 50 ways? Awesome! But did you lie on the grass and cloud watch with them when they asked you to?

You know what makes you a great Mum?

YOU!

No-one else can do the job that you are doing of raising the children you have been blessed with. Your unique talents and abilities are just what your children need. No-one else knows the feeling in your heart while your watch them sleeping, nor the pride that wells up when they show kindness to their sibling. You are the perfect choice for your children.

Don't doubt yourself. You are not failing. You are super. You are doing a wonderful job and your children love you, simply because you are their Mum.

The Courier Mail Mini-Book Collection {Review}

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 01:59:00 +0000

Over the weekend, I mentioned on the Aspiring Mum Facebook page that The Courier Mail and The Sunday Mail are currently offering a mini-book collection, consisting of 8 children's classics from Australian authors (Mem Fox, Graeme Base and Hazel Edwards) and New Zealand author, Lynley Dodd.

My kids were very excited to receive these books to review. They have always enjoyed books from an early age, and reading together is one of our favourite things to do. Most of the books in the collection were familiar to us, and my children enjoyed reading them again (and again and again).

Here is what my children had to say about the books:

Miss 9: I love Animalia and Uno's Garden. Animalia is clever and the illustrations are nice. I like finding everything in the pictures. Uno's Garden is good because it reminds us to look after our world.

Miss 3: My favourite is Hippopotamus (and don't I know it - having read it at least 3 times a day!). He eats cake and rides a bike!

Miss 7: I like all of them because of the animals. The stories are nice.

Master 5: Hunwick's Egg is good because he was happy with his friend even though it wasn't real.

Whenever we go out, I am prone to encouraging my children to take books in the car instead of hand-held devices, so these books have lived in the car with us since receiving them. Their size makes them easy to just slot into your handbag/nappy bag and are perfect for little hands.

The first book, Animalia, and a library book bag were free with the purchase of The Sunday Mail. The seven remaining books are available for $2 each with a token from The Courier Mail between February 4 and February 9, and The Sunday Mail on February 10. (Also available for $2 with a token from the Gold Coast Bulletin, Townsville Bulletin and The Cairns Post).

The books in the collection are:

February 3: Animalia (written and illustrated by Graeme Base)

February 4: Uno's Garden (written and illustrated by Graeme Base)

February 5: Koala Lou (written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Pamela Lofts)

February 6: Hunwick's Egg (written by Mem Fox and illustrated by Pamela Lofts)

February 7: There's a Hippopotamus Eating Cake on Our Roof (written by Hazel Edwards and illustrated by Deborah Niland)

February 8: Stickybeak (written by Hazel Edwards and illustrated by Rosemary Wilson)

February 9: Hairy Maclary's Bone (written and illustrated by Lynley Dodd)

February 10: Hairy Maclary From Donaldson's Dairy (written and illustrated by Lynley Dodd)

This is such a great initiative (and affordable!) to encourage a love of reading with your children. I was excited to see such good quality and well-known books chosen for this collection.

For more information: www.couriermail.com.au/kidsbooks

I received these books as complimentary in order to review them. No monetary payment was given and opinions are my own (and my children's!)

Connecting Daily With My Children.

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 20:00:00 +0000

The recent school holidays were a huge eye opener for me. With a busy last term of school, my husband away for 3 1/2 months, and other commitments and responsibilities, I had unknowingly switched into survival mode as a means of coping. I had become quite the routine sergeant, with little room for spontaneity or fun as I soldiered on through each day and collapsed, exhausted, into bed each night. And in all that busyness and rigidity of routine, I had somehow become disconnected from my kids.

It wasn't until we were enjoying the slower pace of school holidays that I realised just how little time I had spent with each of them while my husband had been away. Sure, I was with them, physically. But at some point, I lost connection with them as individuals. In hindsight, I now realise I was probably at the end of my coping capacity and as a result, I made little conscious effort to spend time with them one-on-one (other than what was necessary), or to really invest into their lives. Life had flown by, and I wondered how many moments I had missed just because I wanted to get through and survive each day.

This year, I have resolved to reclaim my connection and engagement with my children by prioritising at least 10 minutes a day of uninterrupted Mum time with each of them. Ten minutes per child sounds so pathetic, really. When my children were younger and weren't attending school, I found it so much easier to spend time with them on an individual basis. But now, with after school activities, homework and life, the afternoons can all but disappear without any real connecting.

There are two key elements for making uninterrupted Mum time a part of our everyday: intention and organisation.

Intention:

It is so easy to let the day slip right through your fingers. The afternoon comes around fast, and before you know it, the evening routine is over and done with, and Autopilot Mum has won again. To maintain a connection with each of my children, I need to be intentional about it. It is up to me to think, plan and act on when, where and how I will spend my uninterrupted time with them. For days when we have organised activities and/or we are home late, our one-on-one time will often be a lingering chat at bedtime. The time doesn't have to be spent doing an activity, it's all about nurturing a relationship with my child.

Organisation:

To be intentional, I also need to be organised. This could just be my need for routine rearing its head, but if I want to be intentional about my time, then it also requires some forward planning so chaos is minimised (or at best, avoided).

My simple ground-rules for uninterrupted Mum time:

- Turn off the computer/laptop/ipad, put the mobile on silent and out of sight, and ignore the phone if it rings. This is uninterrupted time.

- Prepare the majority of dinner during the day so the time is focused on the kids rather than in the kitchen.

- Allow each child to choose what they want to do with me (eg. play a game, do a puzzle, read a story, talk etc). This is their time, so I will allow myself to be guided by my child (which is not always easy!)

- The other kids can play quietly, play outside or do an activity that I have set up for them until it's their turn. They are not to interrupt another child's Mum time (unless in an emergency), or they will lose some of their own Mum time. (This is also a lesson in self-control and patience!)

Benefits of this time:

- Connection. Any relationship takes time and effort. The same is required of the relationship I have with my children. How can I really know my children if I'm not taking the time to connect?

- It allows me to know where they're at, what's going on in their lives at school, with friends, in the family. What makes them tick, if they have any concerns or questions. It is their time to talk to me.

- Building this connection now will lay the foundations for the teen years when they are less likely to open up to me. If I don't invest the time now, they may see me as a complete stranger in years to come and my influence in their life will not matter to them.

- I have personally found that a child's attention-seeking behaviours decrease when they receive this time with me. Each of my children have their own way of getting my attention (whining, disagreeing, hovering etc), but when they have focused time with me, I find they are happier to play on their own or with their siblings, they are less argumentative and other positive qualities (kindness, helpfulness etc) are demonstrated.

- A positive family environment because love tanks have been filled and connections have been nurtured.

How do you intentionally connect with your child on a daily basis?

This Season {Listmania}

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:32:00 +0000

This week, I'm sharing my love/hate relationship with the current season we're in - summer. It's definitely not my favourite season - that honour is given to spring. However summer does run a close second.

What I love:

1. Summer Holidays. The lazy, carefree days of summer are what I eagerly anticipate in the last term of the school year. Summer holidays mean that for about two months, there are no lunch boxes to pack, no pressing deadlines to meet and no school uniforms to wash or iron. The excitement of Christmas fills the air, adventures are planned and time with family is unrushed. It's a time when I feel I can truly relax.

2. Beach days. I adore the beach. It's one place that always refreshes and invigorates me. And I enjoy it so much more now that the kids are that little bit older - we just pack towels, a small picnic and head off. No lugging of nappies, bottles, wipes etc. One of the things that I value about our beach trips now, is that Miss 9 and I will often swim out past the shallows and wait for the waves. I have come to treasure this time with her - the uninterrupted moments of time bobbing in the ocean and chatting about anything and everything.

3. Balmy nights. Summer means BBQ's with friends. Night swimming. River cruising. Windows open. Fans blowing. Warm breezes.

Summer in the city.

4. Summer clothing. Summer is all about dressing light and cool - singlets, dresses, shorts, sandals. I appreciate the fact that it only takes a minute or so to be completely dressed, rather than wrestling with layers, jackets, socks and boots.

5. Food. One thing I absolutely adore about summer is less cooking. I can't stand being in the kitchen slaving over a hot stove, so we enjoy lots of wraps, salads and fresh fruit. The variety of fruit available is also so much more exciting to the palette than apples or oranges.

What I don't like:

1. The humidity. Waking up in a pool of sweat is gross. Putting makeup on in front of the fan so it doesn't slide off my face certainly takes away from any glamour. And not being able to get comfortable because of the suffocating heat drives me insane.

2. The pests. We enjoy eating outdoors a lot in summer, but I can't stand the flies or mosquitoes, especially the ones that like to continuously buzz in close proximity to my mouth or ears. The constant swatting and smelling of insect repellent detracts somewhat from the enjoyment of the meal.

3. Crazy Australian weather. The downside of summer in Australia is the diverse weather. I recently wrote a status update on Facebook saying: QLD: perfect one day, tornado warnings the next. Crazy, right?! It never ceases to amaze me how we can have cyclones and flooding in one area, and extreme heat and bushfires in another.

Our backyard - a mini swimming pool thanks to ex-cyclone Oswald -

the photo doesn't do justice to the intense winds and driving rain that swept through.

4. My husband's hay fever. It wasn't until my husband returned from a 3 month stint in Melbourne that we worked out a trigger for his hayfever symptoms - the humidity. While he worked and lived in Melbourne, he had absolutely no hayfever. The minute he returned to Queensland, the sneezing, dry eyes and runny nose started. We joked about moving to a less humid climate, but at the end of the day, I think Claratyne and Rhinocort will have to suffice.

5. My short-temper. The heat reduces my tolerance for everything and I can become quite snappy if I literally don't keep cool and well hydrated.

Summer - love it or loathe it?

Linking up with Home Life Simplified for ListMania.

Grateful For...Those Who Make A Difference.

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 20:00:00 +0000

The title of this post was going to read: Grateful for big hearts, big dreams, strong bodies, faith, technology and inspiring people - but that's a tad too wordy, don't you think?! So, Those Who Make A Difference it is.

Last year I wrote a post - (It's Not About Me) - about a friend (B) who had a vision to run across the nation of Haiti in order to raise funds to build a much-needed maternity centre for the Haitian women. (I completed the 10km Bridge-to-Brisbane and raised some money to support this amazing cause. My 10km was a tiny drop in the ocean...)

After much planning, preparation and training, the last 14 days have seen B's vision realised. Over the past 14 days (12 running and 2 rest days), B has achieved the incredible, the amazing and the absolutely inspiring. For 12 days, he awoke, put on his running shoes and ran a marathon. Not just a 5 km jaunt around the block. Not one marathon spread over 12 days. No, 12 marathons in 12 days. 42 km per day. A combined total of about 506 km (or 315 miles).

A Haitian woman receiving care during labour.

Images courtesy of Run For Life Haiti (facebook)

For the majority of people, the thought of even running a marathon is terrifying. Serious runners might set their sights on the challenge of completing one marathon a year. But to run 12 consecutive marathons in the world's poorest nation? I cannot even begin to imagine the level of pain - both mental and physical - B's body went through.

But day-by-day, one step at a time, he ran.

Seeing countless photos - of the run, of pregnant/labouring women who will benefit from the maternity centre, and of school children lining the dusty Haitian streets to cheer B on - has been truly amazing. What an incredible journey.

I can easily talk myself out of going for a run, but to commit to and persevere for such a cause is truly inspirational. B's tenacity and faith will make a difference in the lives of Haitian women who will have access to appropriate maternal health services that we so often take for granted.

This week I am grateful for the privilege to witness B's huge heart and the inspirational legacy he is living.

What are you grateful for this week?

Joining in with 52 Weeks of Grateful at Village Voices.

Make Bunting From Old Books.

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 20:53:00 +0000

We had some old classics sitting on the shelf gathering dust. The pages were yellowed, the covers worn and the English language used in them was outdated (as in, words we don't often use now). I didn't want to just throw the books out, and they were too worn to give away, so I decided to make some bunting with the pages.

To make book page bunting, you will need:

- old books

- bunting template (There are many bunting templates on the internet - just Google them. I got mine from here.)

- pencil

- scissors

- twine/string

- sticky tape/glue

Instructions:

- Trace the bunting template onto some card and cut out.

- Select the pages from the book and tear/cut them out. I used a combination of pictures and words.

- Using the bunting template, trace onto your pages and cut out.

- Fold the top part of your 'flag' over and crease.

- Work out the order/pattern you would like your flags to go in.

- Put the twine underneath the folded edge of the flag and secure with tape.

- Repeat with each flag, ensuring that the string is flush with the edge of the page. (I made 13 flags, but the amount is completely up to you.)

- Hang. (Ours is hanging above our craft table).

I am quite happy with how the bunting turned out. The classic pictures give it a unique look and preserve a bit of childhood nostalgia.

What do you do with old books?

Currently I Am...{Listmania}

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 04:08:00 +0000

I don't normally post twice in a day, but I can't pass up a fantastic opportunity to make a list.

I am a chronic list-maker. And that's why Deb's (Home Life Simplified) new Monday List Mania appeals to me. Not only is it about scratching that little list itch of mine, but I am looking forward to taking the time to pause and think about my answers to the prompts she will offer.

So, Currently I am:

Reading: I have about 5 books on the go at the moment (thank goodness for my Kindle).

Listening to: Splashes from the neighbour's pool. My running playlist which is a mix of 80's, Pink and the occasional doof-doof beat.

Laughing at: My cheeky 3-year-old. She is definitely unique and has her older siblings wrapped around her little finger. She is also very feisty and strong-willed (and tests my patience on an hourly basis). But she will always have me laughing at her antics.

Swooning over: Storage solutions after rearranging bedrooms and decluttering. (Nothing exciting like a new dress or shoes...)

Planning: Two things: This year - It's scary when you look ahead at the year and can already see December. And an overseas holiday - My husband and I have decided that we will combine our 40th birthday celebrations (in a few years' time) and celebrate with an overseas holiday with the family. So we are starting to look at places we would like to go and how long we will travel for. I may just be a little excited.

Eating lots of: Salads. I just don't get hungry (or feel like cooking) in the heat.

Feeling: Content. Blessed. Positive.

Discovering: A love for gardening. I have been getting outside most evenings when it's cooler and pottering around in the garden (read: weeding and pruning). I have some big plans for our garden, which surprises me because I've never really given gardening much thought in the past.

Looking at: Inspirational quotes. I write anything inspiring down in my journal and regularly read it to keep me motivated.

Wearing: Dresses/skirts (a bit of a first for me - I'm usually a shorts/shirt girl) and lots of shorts with a loose summer top.

Cooking: Not much of it lately. Have just been opting for simple meals on the really hot days with a few BBQ's throughout the week.

Wondering: How I can make a difference.

Trying out: Cleaner eating. We've always eaten reasonably healthy, but I know we can always do better.

So, what are you currently doing?

Sunraysia Organic Juices {Giveaway}

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 22:00:00 +0000

Competition is now closed!!

Towards the end of last year, I was fortunate enough to attend a Bloggers brunch with Sunraysia, Bauer's Organic Farms and Biological Farmers of Australia. I previously shared a little about the brunch and how my eyes were well and truly opened to organic farming and the benefits of an organic lifestyle. The attendees of the brunch walked away with some samples of Sunraysia's new range of organic juices - which were quickly slurped up by my kids!

Now I am not someone who will keep harping on about brands, and I don't like touting products just for the sake of it. That's just not me and I personally think it compromises the reader/writer relationship when everything becomes about brands and products.

In saying that, I do like to inform you about products that I have had some personal experience with and can vouch for their practicality and quality. When I come across products like that, I want you, my readers, to benefit.

Which is where this post comes in.

I was impressed with the Sunraysia line of organic juices, and pleased to find something I could give my kids that wasn't full of nasties. So I approached the PR rep and asked for some packs to giveaway.

Why was I impressed?

- The fact that Sunraysia Organic is 100% organic fruit juice with Nothing Added, Nothing Taken Away.

- The juices are made from certified organic fruit, so they are all natural, with no nasty numbers listed in the ingredients. There are no artificial colours, no chemical pesticides, no genetic modification, no added sugars and no preservatives.

- They are available in 4 great flavours (apple, orange, apple & blackcurrant, and tropical).

- The juices come in a cute 200ml pouch and can be popped straight into the school lunch box - frozen or straight from the fridge.

- The pouches are 100% recyclable.
- They taste delicious.
- And most importantly from a parent's perspective, I know exactly what is going into my kid's bodies.

With back to school time looming, I thought it would be a great time to offer some prize packs to my readers.

I have three prize packs to give away. Each prize pack consist of 16 juices (4 of each flavour) and 1 x eco shopping bag.

For your chance to win, please leave a comment telling me your child's favourite thing to eat in their lunch box.

Please read all terms and conditions before entering.

Terms and conditions.

1. This is a giveaway of 3 prize packs. Each pack is valued at $33.85.
2. There will be 3 winners.

3. Entry is by comment and judge's decision is final.

4. Entry is open to Australian residents only.

5. A valid email address must be included with your entry.

6. The winner will be notified by email.

7. Competition begins at 8am (AEST) Monday 21st January, 2013 and ends on Friday 25th January at 8am (AEST).

I received no monetary compensation for this giveaway. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to Claire at Birds of Prey PR for this giveaway.

Grateful....For Quiet Mornings and Fresh Beginnings.

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 04:33:00 +0000

The last two weeks have seen a gastro virus work its way through two thirds of our family. One-by-one it knocked us down, leaving each person out of action for two days. It was unavoidable that it would strike me too - as I was the one doing all the to-ing and fro-ing from bedroom to bathroom to laundry. Thankfully we seem to have seen the last of it. Despite being housebound for a good part of two weeks during school holidays, everyone has remained in quite good spirits - which has made feeling less than ordinary that little bit more bearable.

In the midst of washing sheets and emptying buckets, I have found there are still many things to be grateful for - in particular, quiet mornings and fresh beginnings.

Running: I have enjoyed four early morning runs this week. While the first one back after being sick was extremely hard (feeling like lead, sucking in the air and feeling so uncoordinated), I am finally finding my rhythm and once again am enjoying the quiet of the world at that time of that time of day. It's also been my sanity saver as I'm finding this 8 week stretch of holidays quite a test on my need for some time alone.

New friendships: Some pestering from my daughter and her friend finally saw them get together for a play date this week. The girls have been scheming about a play date since the end of school last year, but due to the busyness of school holidays, Christmas and trips away, we haven't been able to set a date until now. Their friendship meant that I was able to spend some time getting to know the mother over lunch and while the kids swam. Three and a half hours later, we headed home. I felt happy in the knowledge that this was someone I could trust with my child and am thankful for the seeds of friendship being sown.

Decluttering: My husband and I have been on a half-hearted mission to declutter and simplify for quite awhile. I wouldn't consider us hoarders, however we both get a bit on-edge when there is too much visual clutter. The thing is, with six people in the house, there is always going to be something lying around contributing to the clutter. At the end of each day, I've always picked up bits and pieces and put them into my 'sorting box', with the plan of sorting later. However, the box has been growing and not too much sorting has been happening. This week saw us become quite ruthless, filling our trailer with "stuff". I didn't realised we had so much "stuff". It's amazing what you become accustomed to. We haven't finished yet, but the process has started and it has been so cathartic to get rid of things we don't need and also an interesting insight as to what we deem to be sentimental.

What are you grateful for this week?

Joining in with 52 Weeks of Grateful at Village Voices.

Back-To-School With Stuck On You {Giveaway}

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 11:30:00 +0000

Competition is now closed!!

This is a sponsored post.

This will be my fifth year as a school mum, and with three kids at school and one at kindy, I'm getting to be a bit of an expert in all things back-to-school. However, that's not to say that I get it right every time, or that it doesn't stress me out a little making sure that I have everything ready for that first day.

There really is so much to organise for the beginning of a school year, isn't there. Uniforms, shoes, lunch boxes, drink bottles, bags, hats, books, stationery, book coverings...and then ensuring that everything is labelled properly. There is nothing more deflating than having a child come home from their first day of school informing you that they've lost their drink bottle/lunch box/hat.

Thankfully, Stuck on You can help minimise your time searching through the lost property box by being the go-to place for all things personalised.

I was asked by Stuck on You to review some of their products for back-to-school. It was something I was more than happy to do because I have been a big fan of their products for many years and from previous experience, I can highly recommend the quality and practicality of their products.

For our back-to-school organisation, I chose a variety of products:

Small name labels - which I use for labelling lunch boxes, snack boxes and also the children's school books. The kids had fun choosing the colour, font and icon for their labels.

Classic small name labels - seahorse icon, chic font, colour: groovy.

Bag tags - for all the school bags. These come in a variety of designs and can be personalised. We chose some classic bag tags (made from durable plastic) and my older girls chose the designer bag tags (which attach to the bag with a keyring)

Classic Personalised Bag Tags

(L) Spring Nest design with Cocoa font. (R) Oui Oui design with Cocoa font.

Personalised drink bottle - I like the fact that these are stainless steel and BPA free (with very cute designs) and my kids love them.

In Owl Design with Pancake font.

Kids Designer Value pack - A very generous pack which includes name labels, clothing labels and a bag tag all with great designs to choose from.

Stuck on You products are absolutely gorgeous and we spent quite a while browsing their site and oohing and ahhing over all the designs and products - which I'm sure you will do too.

Thanks to the lovely people at Stuck on You, I have 1 x $50 gift voucher to give away.

For your chance to win, have a look through the Stuck on You website and leave me a comment telling me how you would spend your $50.

You can find Stuck on You on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest.

For the technical stuff:

Please read all terms and conditions before entering.

Terms and conditions:

1. This is a giveaway of 1 x $50 gift voucher from Stuck on You.

2. Entry is by comment and judge's decision will be final.

3. A valid email address must be included with your entry.

4. The winner will be notified by email.

5. Open to Australian residents only.

6. Competition begins at 9:30pm (AEST) Wednesday 16th January, 2013 and ends on Wednesday 23rd January at 9:30am (AEST).

I received product from Stuck on You for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Every Girl Needs A Planner {Giveaway}

noreply@blogger.com (Deb M) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 20:00:00 +0000

The start of a new year always excites me. Not just because of the potential that lies ahead, and not just because of the plans and dreams that I look forward to seeing come to fruition....but because I am a paper girl at heart.

You see, I have a thing for stationery. I really, really, really love paper organisational products and a new year means that I get to choose a fresh, new family calendar as well as my yearly planner. There's something about the crisp, clean pages that inspires me....

Over the years, I've tried a few different planners - ranging from the el-cheapo diaries to others that cost a little bit more - in order to find one that suits my needs. It's been a bit hit and miss at times. Usually, there have been too much of one thing (such as too many address pages), or not enough of something else (inadequate room to write each day's activities).

I like things simple and don't always need the extra fluff that comes with some planners. So, my checklist for a planner goes something like this:

- Looks good (of course).

- Needs to fit in my bag - so not too big or bulky, because it has to fit in amongst the wipes, toy cars, lollipops and hand sanitiser.

- A week to view with adequate space for each day's activities.

- A blank monthly planner.

- A blank yearly calendar template so I can 'pencil it in'.

- A short contact list (my important contacts are in my phone, but it's still nice to have other numbers handy)

- A birthday list.

- And bonus points for more than one page of notes.

Call me picky, but because I rely on my planner every single day of the year, it really needs to be efficient.

Enter Personal Planner.

One of the things that really impresses me about Personal Planner is that I can design a planner to suit me - making it practical for my needs, and not everyone else's.

Designing a planner with Personal Planner is so easy - with the click of a mouse, I can change the colour, text and design on the front/back cover as well as the inlay. I can choose a favourite photo or inspirational quote to adorn the front/back cover if I want, making it completely unique and personal.

There are also plenty of ways to design the inside to suit my style and needs: boxes for to-do lists, gym sessions, ideas etc. Friend's and family member's birthdays can also be added to the inlay directly from Facebook. There are 4 different sizes to choose from, so choosing a perfect size to fit my bag is not an issue. And I can also pick the start date. Personal Planner will print and deliver the finished product directly to my home. How fun and easy does that sound?!

Pop over to the Personal Planner website and facebook page and have a look for yourself.

Now, here's the best part.

With thanks to the generous team at Personal Planner, I have one gift card to giveaway. The gift card entitles the winner to choose and design a planner in any size (value $35-$45).

To enter, please leave a comment (in 25 words or less) telling me a favourite tip for organising yourself and/or your family.

Please read ALL terms and conditions before entering.

Terms and conditions:

1. This is a giveaway of 1 x Personal Planner gift card (value $35-$45).

2. The prize (ie. gift card) cannot be exchanged for money.

3. Entry is by comment (in 25 words or less) and is a game of skill and will be judged accordingly.

4. A valid email address must be included with your entry.

5. The winner will be notified by email.

6. Open to International entrants.

7. Competition begins at 6am (AEST) Monday 14th January, 2013 and ends on Monday 21st January at 8pm (AEST).

8. Judges decision is final.

*This is not a condition of entry, but it would be nice to show a little love to Aspiring Mum and Personal Planner on Facebook if you don't already follow them :)