{wordless wednesday} yoga..

joining in with faithhopeandawholelottalove

{quick three..} favourite items of clothing..

Feeling a bit under the weather today so this will be a really quick {quick three..} today.. but that's OK because these items are an easy choice for me.. 

{1} stripy bonds hoody/hoodies.. 

So comfy.. so versatile.. and the red/blue stripe always reminds me of dr seuss.. bonus!!

{2} jeans.. 

I say this term loosely at the moment as there is no particulair pair as my weight has been a little all over the shop since my first preganancy.. so till it gets a little more steady.. target jeans it is. Still love them nevertheless.

{3} bonds socks..

OK.. no 3 was a toss up between bonds socks and tshirts, yes I love my bonds, but the socks win.. 

Grab my {quick three..} button from my sidebar if you like and add your {quick three..} post below. Please add a link back to here in your post so others can join in the fun. This linky will be open all week.. we're all busy so no hurry.. For more info go to the {quick three} tab at the top. 

If you don't have a blog or haven't had a chance to do a post.. feel free to jot down your little list as a comment..

next week's theme will be 

{favourite shoes}

{snippets} from the weekend..

This year is seriously going far too fast for me already.. another weekend gone and so much to absorb its hard to know where to start. We had another awesome weekend that I'd love to bottle up. The perfect balance between household chores, family time, work, catchups with friends and I even managed to sneak in a (kidless) trip to the Grange Twilight Market and dinner out with a friend.

The kids are at that incredibly gorgeous stage where almost everything they do I just melt and say 'omg.. could you seriously get any cuter?' Hmm... yes there is a incy-wincy bit of cluckiness going on.

joining in with {week-a-boo} + {point + shoot}

happy valentines..

happy monday..

seth godin

{kasiabear designs} featured in ...is it friday already? treasury

Very excited to be featured in this treasury this week.. what a cool collection of red {my fave} and denim {my second favourite}..

{this week i'm grateful for..} my mother's group..

all but one.. 

A close friend of mine recently had her first baby and yesterday we had a pretty in-depth conversation about the ups and downs of the first few weeks at home with a new bubba. I gave her all the advice I could but made sure I highlighted the fact that this is just advice and that she is the mumma and to only go with what I said if it feels right in her heart. One of the bits of advice I gave her is to attend the mums group session that Child Youth Health organises as it provides a wealth of real information about looking after a bub.

As one does, I then thought back to those 6 weeks when I myself was a new mumma and attended the sessions with Ella. The time spent there was a time in my life I will never forget and I time I will cherish for the rest of my life. It was an eclectic collection of first time mums doing their best to try and figure out all the ins and outs of this new journey they have just started. It was fun, funny, informative, entertaining and a time where I made some incredible friends.

Almost 4 years on my eclectic collection of mums from my mums group still keep in touch. One of our gang has moved to the US and another to Sydney but the ones left behind in lil old Adelaide still get together when we can and we all make sure we keep in touch with the ones that have left. Some of us are onto our second child and some still on their first. Some of the things our first little one missed out on as far as illnesses etc, the second one has had {such as zaccy with his grommets} and its so nice to get the first hand info from the mums I know about the procedure etc.

All the kids go to each others bithday parties, we do a mum's group christmas party each year and soon.. I think we might just do a 'solo' mum catch up too. I look forward to each and every catchup and feel so comfortable around these girls.. after all, they were there when all our kids cried, vomited and pooed in unison. To top it all off one of the little boys from the first generation has not only known my little Ella from day dot, but has gone to the same childcare centre.. is now going to her kindergarten and will also be going to school with her.. I always wanted twins and although I was blessed with two non-twins.. this is as good as it gets..

So this week, I am so incredibly grateful for..

{1} Child Youth Health - for sending a nurse to my house who recommended and signed me up for a mums group.
{2} Fate - for bringing us girls together.
{3} The girls - each one different and each one so incredibly genuine and supportive
{4} The kids - for making me smile and laugh and go 'aaaaawwwwwww!!! you're so cuuuuute' in such an incredibly clucky way..

I really could write a novel on how fabulous my mums group is, but in reality I don't have the time right now. But to each and every one of you 'mum's group' girls.. You Rock!!

joining in with maxabella loves.. 

{let's do 52} week 6.. obsession + hearts

Just a little run down on this photo..
{1} it was a crappy photo from my iPhone
{2} the reason I chose it was that my little man is completely in love with his chuggington train set he got for christmas, so the photo fits the theme very well
{3} I used a range paint the moon's actions, touched it up a lot and finished it off with Moxie - Suede and then framed it with paint the moon's before and after frames..

{wordless wednesday} chilling out..

joining in with

faith hope and a whole lotta love

{quick three..} coffee shops i love..

Coffee would have to be one of my top rating pleasures in life.. I can't remember back to days when I didn't drink coffee and the quantity shall remain a secret for the time being, purely as its way above the daily recommended amount. 

I drink instant coffee at home, purely because its quick, easy and we don't have a fancy pants coffee machine {yet}. I can't be bothered cleaning the plunger and the bialleti machine just takes too long and always burns coffee as I am never there to turn off the gas when its done. But I do love my coffee and although I would drink almost any coffee, I much prefer a good coffee. 

My top three for this week are:

Soul Food Espresso

because I'm a mumma who likes to drink coffee with kids in tow.. 

A little tiny gem discovered by one of our mum's group girls. Its tucked away in a tiny shopping complex in the burbs. Its super kid friendly as it has a massive play corner with an abundance of toys and they kids just disappear, leaving us mumma types to partake in one of their fab coffees. They also make THE best pancakes and have an awesome Sunday brekky. 

soul food espresso on facebook.. soul food espresso on little lates..

Endue Cafe and Gift Shop

because mumma likes to shop while waiting for her coffee..

My little local coffee shop. It has the perfect set up.. a coffee shop which makes great coffee and food with the added bonus of being a gift shop full of fab quirky little treasures. Its the place I go if I cannot think of a perfect gift and its a great hang out spot for me and Ells as they have a doll house. Hunky could do some major damage there so we keep him away for the time being.

endue cafe on facebook..

East Terrace Continental

because mumma like damn good brekky and coffee..

Not a coffee shop I go to often as its in the city and not all that kid friendly. Its a special occasion sort of place where we go for birthdays etc. These guys make fantastic breakfasts and the coffee is just perfect. I love the rustic look of the place, its gloomy feel and old wooden chairs. I love how the sun floods the place in the mornings and I just love taking pics of my kiddos there. When they're a bit older I think we'll spend a few more mornings there. 

etc website.. 

what's your favourite coffee shop?  where do you like to hang out?

Grab my {quick three..} button from my sidebar if you like and add your {quick three..} post below. Please add a link back to here in your post so others can join in the fun. This linky will be open all week.. we're all busy so no hurry.. For more info go to the {quick three} tab at the top. 

If you don't have a blog or haven't had a chance to do a post.. feel free to jot down your little list as a comment..

next week's theme will be 

{favourite items of clothing}

this can be your fave pair of jeans.. that red dress you no longer fit into.. or your old tshirt full of holes you just can't bare to part with.. 

image from here and here 

{week-a-boo} bowling + building..

Another action jackson weekend.. Mother nature was lovely and turned down the heat a little in Adelaide..

My weekend started off on a day with my boy on Friday.. He got his grommet put back in early morning and we were home by 10:30am.. Again the effects were instant!! Zaccy sang and danced all Friday.. We played with water outside most of the day trying to stay cool and just hung out. I am just so incredibly blessed to be able to spend a solid day with one kiddo at a time. Its pure quality and I love it!!

Saturday was all systems go.. We continued with our building projects outside while the kids slowly emptied the soil out of pot plants (as you do).. My brother popped in so the kiddos got some uncle time and terrorised his car yet again..

Sunday was family day.. We braved the bowling alley for a 4th birthday. All the other mums did the sensible thing of leaving the smaller sibling at home.. but not us.. no.. not us.. The big boy's nerves were shot. Being a bowler {yes.. i have a smirk on my face} himself, he was all paranoid about kids ruining the lanes with street shoes, yada, yada.. I promise I didn't laugh too loudly and I only rolled my eyes a few times. No.. really, it was cool and Zaccy enjoyed the actual bowling far more than Ells did. She just hung out in the Daytona car most of the time till the birthday cake came out. Yep.. that's my girl. 

joining in with scissors paper rock + fat mum slim

happy monday..

seth godin

{shadow shoot sunday} old school antenna..

morning shadows on our wall.. 

this is our old school antenna on our telly.. 

joining in with hey harriet's shadow shot sunday.. 

{kasiabear designs} a new collection of cards is in the making..

As I earlier explained in my little mini crisis of.. "omg.. what next", followed by a trip to the country to clear my head... This is the outcome..

Introducing the beginnings of a new collection.. 

yet to be officially named..

A set of inspirational greeting cards and/or postcards matched with some of my photography... 

at this stage these will be available to purchase through my red bubble store..

and here is a little sneak peak of another style I am working on.. 

and last but not least.. 

{art prints} 

will also be stocked in my red bubble store and available as greeting cards or post cards..

a very cost effective way to get a small size to frame

{this week i'm grateful for..} the world of medicine..

image from here.. 

A very broad thing to be grateful for yes.. but it just has such a huge impact on our lives. Its a job for many people whether it be a nurse, chiropractor, physiotherapist, surgeon, midwife, paediatrician, and so, so many more. Then there is the alternative medicine such as naturopaths, acupuncturists, kinesiologists.. again the list can go on here too.

This week my little man went back into hospital to have another grommet inserted in his ear as he managed to lose his old one already. It was a much smoother session for us than last time. Still not a nice thing to go through but hey.. in years gone by kids used to suffer with fluid in their ears, chronic ear infections and hearing problems and it all went unnoticed. They were often labelled as problem children for the simple reason of being grumpy.. and why.. because they were in pain and discomfort for most of their little lives.

I'm just so very grateful for modern medicine and so grateful to all the people on this little world of ours who have chosen to do this as a job.. to go to university and study these areas.. to get into debt so they can attain their diplomas, certificates, degrees and doctorates. It takes a certain type of person and a big heart to do this job and you guys just do it so well!! Thank You!!

There is also the alternative medicine.. when the modern medicine doesn't seem to work people often try out these alternatives.. and my.. have I been surprised when I did..

Thank you to all you medical types.. yes there is that ranking system and hierarchy but to me, you're all a part of a big team and I think you all rock!

joining in with Maxabella Loves.. 

ps.. hunky is a super dooper trooper.. apart from showing his real aries/ox personality he seems like nothing ever happened.. 

{wordless wednesday} jump the waves..

joining in with faith hope and a whole lotta love..

{a little bit of me} a day of mixed emotions..

Today started off like each day does in our household.. mumma getting brekky ready for everyone while getting frustrated at the little man for getting into the fridge because all the locks we install seem not to be zaccy rated.. Ella fussing over which outfit she would wear this day and what shoes would go the best.. etc etc..

But me, I was a stressed mumma on edge.. you see, today we had Zaccy's ear specialist appointment in the morning and Ella was starting big girl Kindergarten in the afternoon...

I was relieved that we were going to the specialist and pretty certain of what the outcome of the appointment would be and I was right. The little man is going back into hospital to get his grommet put back in. It's good, great, nice that he will get some relief again, that he will hear a little more clearly and that his ear infections won't be as dramatic. In the same moment I feel anxious about taking my little man in to the hospital, knowing that again I will have to hold him while the anaesthetist does his business.. wait till he feels almost lifeless in my arms and the walk out and wait for him to come out of surgery.

Don't get me wrong... I am so incredibly thankful that its just his ears that are giving him trouble with a little dose of eczema sprinkled on his body.. I'm incredibly grateful that he is a tough little kid and seems to plough through life as if he was invincible.. but I still worry and feel so sad that he has to go through this again.

On the up-note, my little girl is currently in her very first session of big girl kindergarten. The drop off went well, she was so apprehensive that she was going, but in the same moment so excited to be taking the last step before school. I think she dreams about school already to be quite honest. She wondered quietly up to kids she had never seen before and joined in with their games. She sat at the table and introduced herself to the little girl that was sitting there.. She was unsure of her new surroundings but sure that she wanted to be there.

I on the other hand, had that big moth in my stomach.. omg.. my girl is going to kindergarten. I no longer have to sign her in and out, she is responsible for putting on her own hat, going to the toilet yada.. yada.. She's super great at all those things, almost to the point of OCD, but I'm normally there to watch her or get super detailed feedback from her carers. On the other hand a part of me peeled off like an layer of onion does. Deep down I know she's ready and so incredibly excited about being ready... so it was time for mumma to suck it up and let her enjoy this next step of her life.

My tantrum throwing hunky spunky little monkey took my mind off the fact that I was leaving my little girl behind though.. He really wanted to stay, and was over tired and there was a water play tray outside..

She often drives me nuts when she's here, but I so can't wait to go and pick her up today and hear all about her day..

{quick three..} flowers i love..

This quick three was a tough one for me. I like so many flowers and to narrow it down to just three some of my all time favourite had to be left out. Nevertheless.. here are the top three..

tulips... without a doubt are my all time favourite. So incredibly simple and so incredibly beautiful.. 

photos i took back in my uni days... very crappy scan.. sorry!!

poppies... come a very close second. Such a delicate flower.. it just chills me out looking at it..

proteas... are on my fave list just because they intrigue me, they fascinate me and astound me.. that a flower as beautiful as this can grow natively in such a harsh climate as Australia and need so little water. There are so many varieties and they each have a personality of their own. 

What flowers do you love?

For the visual aspect or because of their perfume?

Grab my {quick three..} button from my sidebar if you like and add your {quick three..} post below. Please add a link back to here in your post so others can join in the fun. This linky will be open all week.. we're all busy so no hurry.. For more info go to the {quick three} tab at the top. 

If you don't have a blog or haven't had a chance to do a post.. feel free to jot down your little list as a comment..

next week's theme will be 

{coffee shops i love}

this can be because you love the coffee they make.. you love the staff.. its local.. it has a great area for your kids to play in while you have a bit of chill time.. 

{let's do 52} week 5.. delicate

joining in with paint the moon's 'let's do 52' project.. 

here is my photo for this week.. 

I thought I'd share the before and after shot.. I used paint the moon's actions and a texture on this image and it just did the trick.. The reason I chose this image for the theme delicate was because it describes my little girls personality perfectly.. she is a delicate soul, she has simply delicate features and she is my little delicate treasure.. 

happy monday..

seth godin