A - Z My child in one word

Constantly I'm clicking away and throwing a camera in the face of my littlelion, documenting every new moment, every facial expression, his first meal, his first steps, every outfit he looks adorable in etc etc. Every parent can relate. 

So before his first sentence is 'mum put that bloody camera away' I'm going to take a different approach this month. 

Over the next 26 days I'm going to use words to document his everyday life, I'm going to describe him or his day in one word. It will be a great exercise to document his learning in a different format. 

Over the period of a month I could throw a dictionary in the air and choose a word from the page where it falls open and it could relate to my littlelion at some point. 

A toddler is an amazing being, just think about what their little minds are absorbing, everyday they are witnessing or experiencing something new.

Please join me in this exercise, it will be a challenge to use just one word, maybe I will even learn a few new ones myself.   

AFFECTIONATE
This morning I tossed around a few words like amazing, adventurous and attitude that could easily describe my littlelion on any given day. However during the course of the day the most appropriate choice was affectionate.  He has recently mastered blowing a kiss and today chose to replace waving to random people on our walk with blowing kisses. He has been extra cuddly and emotional today, showing lots of affection towards me and getting it in return. His daddy has been away for work most of week and although he can't communicate it, I feel that he is missing him.

BLONDE

Littlelion has the most adorable blonde locks.  Today however it is now reflecting blue highlights after littlelion discovered a blue texta. 

CURIOUS

It's breathtaking to watch his mind consume everything this big world has to offer.  We could learn so much from these curious beings, the toddler and take pleasure from all the small things in life. 

DANCING
Littlelion loves to bust a move!  What a wonderful form of expression.

EMOTIONAL

Need more hugs! With four teeth trying to break free and the normal frustrations of a toddler, the tears can flow at the drop of a hat. 

FGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Mission: Merry Mama - Progress 2

The past week has been an epic fail!!!  A week ago I was so upbeat and happy with my progress and confident I would maintain and make further improvements.  Well that was all thrown out the window when I let somebody's comments affect not only my day but my week ahead.  

I took littlelion out shopping last Friday, we both dressed in our best clothes, had a little breakfast together at the local cafe and walked around the stores.  I was beaming with self satisfaction of the week behind me, so happy with the changes made and the outcomes I was already benefiting from.  

Then from nowhere a lady approached, we didn't know each other but seemed to always be on the same walking/shopping path and she stopped to admire littlelion.  We were happily chatting and then she dropped the bombshell, "so looks like you are adding to your family already"  I was gutted, after all my hard work and the fact that I felt I had looked the best in months someone thought I was up the duff!!!  I dismissed the comment with humour and continued our way.  

I was deflated by the comments and I know she meant no harm, but my heart was crushing.  

Unfortunately I let this one comment from a random stranger kill my buzz and instead of taking the bull by the horns I reverted to bad habits.  Drowning my sorrow in cake.  I didn't bother adding intensity to my exercise and on some days I didn't even bother going for a walk.  

Physically I feel yuck, bloated, lethargic and agonisingly over thinking what meals I can cook.  It's like I've lost all brain capacity to think of and cook a meal that's healthy for me.  

Mentally I am a little broken.  Whilst I am disappointed that I have deleted all my good work from the week prior, I am more angry with myself that I have let somebody else affect me so much.  I am angry that I found it so easy to just give up on myself, my goals.  It's these thoughts that make me think about how often I've given up on myself or sacrificed my wants and needs for others or because of others and then I get angrier and more disappointed with myself.  Then I eat more cake!

Generally on Thursdays I find my happy place and I know it's a new week ahead, but today I'm just feeling a little flat and pondering how I get myself out of this funk and back on track.  

Any suggestions??  

Mission: Merry Mama - Progress 1

No knickers!!! 
You heard me right, I refuse to buy new knickers, well that is knickers in the next size up.  It’s like admitting defeat.  It’s a good indication it’s time to lose some weight. 

A few weeks ago I shared how overwhelming life had become for me and the fact that I was on a mission to make some changes.   Check my previous posts Whirlwind Mama & 5kg to Christmas

Well in the background I have been working away at making such changes. 

I have certainly taken some well deserved quiet time for myself.  I have got some creative relief from a few craft projects with littlelion which has been fabulous fun as well as maintaining my aim to write daily.  But I have made weight loss a priority goal at the moment.  When I bought home some new knickers in my normal size that I’ve been for at least the last 5 years I was horrified by the fact that they were a little snug.  Yes I might be sporting a little VPL at the moment but I refuse to go up a size and give in to the flab monster. 

From little things big things grow

Recently I posted about being overwhelmed and stuck in a whirlwind of negativity and judgement upon myself.  It made me reevaluate my expectations. I need to make some changes. 

I know I won’t maintain big changes, it’s unrealistic to think that I can, so instead of setting myself up for failure and feeding the procrastination monster so much that nothing changes, I am going to be kind to myself and allow small changes. 

Here are a few goals in mind;

• Read more.  Reading is a great outlet to relax and take time for myself.  So whether it be a book, a magazine or a blog, I want to allocate some time each week to read.
• Learn.  I love to learn, but for now I’m going to learn about a passion not for employment opportunities or because I have to.  So each week I want to find time to learn about something of interest, something topical.   This will give me subjects to read!!!  For now it will be around parenting, blogging, writing, photography, craft. 
• Increased family time.  Aim to improve household systems to provide more harmony and more family time. 
•  More creative time.  Growing up I treasured the times spent with my gran doing craft, it gave me great joy.  I still like to dabble and it is something I want to share with my littlelion.  For now I am really enjoying writing so my aim is to write 100 words a day.  This might be blog, an entry into littlelion's book or just random nattering’s. 
•  Lose some weight.  I need to get more active!  It’s not so much of a vanity concern (although it will definitely make me feel better about myself) but becoming more of a health concern.

5 kilogram to Christmas - Merry Mama

Okay so one of my goals is to drop some kilo's!!!

I have never lost weight!  I have been blessed with good genes, well I was up until the age of 30 and then progressively over the past decade I’ve blossomed into a buxom mama.  So I think I am really going to struggle with this. 

Ideally I should be dropping 10kg, but I need to start small.  So what is greater motivation than Christmas and long hot summer days!!!  I’ve given myself the very realistic challenge of dropping 5kg before Christmas. 

In order to stay motivated I really need to have a clear purpose or I will find it too easy to eat more cake.

Why do I want to lose weight?

Whirlwind Mama

Have you ever felt stuck?  So overwhelmed by life you can’t see the end of the line?  I have!   In my mind I was trying to be the best mama possible, a domestic goddess, a caring wife and to continue the development of my skills to make sure I remain employable in the future. On top of my desires I was dealing with the guilt of not working and not providing financially for my family.  I had worked for the past 25 years and always contributed so it's difficult to become somewhat dependant. 

I wanted a new house, a home that littlelion would have all his childhood memories in and ofcourse all our family memories.

At the same time I had hit a milestone birthday.  However wonderful turning 40 may be it made me reflect and take stock of my existence, where I have been, where I wanted to be and where I am.   And whilst I am very blessed, when you are stuck in that whirlwind you can only see the negative. 

Holy candy cane people

I walked past a sign today in front of a cafe that kindly reminded us all 'only 20 Fridays until Christmas' 

The pelican ate my lunch

As parents of a busy toddler it's easy to allow distance to creep into your relationship, so on this glorious sunny day we took advantage of an afternoon to ourselves.  First on our agenda was a lunch with no interruptions.  On route to our favourite cafe we decided we would grab takeaway and sit along the river.

Our favourite meals in hand we strolled along the rivers edge and the found the perfect sunny position to sit. We had unwrapped our perfect foccacia's and made comment on how peaceful the surroundings were before we noticed a couple and their child hurrying to their car only to expose a pelican waddling towards us.  I'd grown up with pelicans in my backyard and dismissed the approach telling my husband 'don't worry it will just walk around us'.  However we could sense fear in two teenage girls sitting nearby as they screeched 'watch out for the bird'.

my interpretation of crazy eyed pelican

Being a mum....a few things nobody told me....

....becoming a mum has seen many changes to my life, some incredibly fulfilling, some a little harder to accept.  Regardless it really is the most wonderfully, rewarding and exciting role I have ever undertaken.  However just when you think you have it all under control, sleep routine down pat, good systems in place they go through the next development stage and it can all be turned upside down.

I attended the parenting classes offered by the hospital, I kept my reading prior to birth to one book, I wanted to have a more organic, nurturing, make it up as I go approach.

Personal goal met

Well it's been a month since I entered the world of blogging.  No longer an innocent bystander keenly reading the wise words of other mums and organised beings, now I too have embarked on a blogging journey.  I am so happy that I had a go.  

I have achieved what I set out to do in my first month and that was to blog at least weekly, every Thursday.  

I realise my content hasn't been cutting edge by any measure, but already I feel like I'm growing as a writer.  This journey, the process has opened me up.  I have been writing so much, sticking to my goal of 100 words each day.  Some that I will share with you in the future, some that are words only for my family.  I have even started to write that book!

It's time to set some new goals for the months ahead. 

How are your goals coming along?  It's difficult to stay motivated in winter.   

Simple organisation system to create harmony

In my perfect world my home would be neat and tidy at all times.  But with a busy toddler, a husband that does not share my organisation gene and a time poor mama it's not realised as much as I would like it to be.  

Some evenings it feels like every surface disappears under books, hats, toddler shoes, toys, paperwork, keys, phones, sippy cups, bits and pieces from our various hobbies etc etc.  It was doing my head in!!  

So I needed to introduce a new system that worked for us all. 

I simply purchased 3 boxes, I made sure they matched our decor nicely.  Each member of our family was allocated a box and they were placed in a high traffic area of our home.  I just used different washi tape to identify which box belonged to each person.  

During the course of the day if I come across anything that was left lying around I would simply place it in the relevant box.  For example if my husband left a magazine on the couch I would place this in his box.  

Not only does it make me happy because I can see surfaces free of clutter but it has become a 'go to' area.  When we come inside from playing in the park for example, I will place littlelion's hat and sunglasses in there and then when we go outside next we know exactly where they are.  No more turning toys upside down looking for things when we are rushing out the door.  

At the end of the day we simply walk around with our respective box and place all the items away.  It makes it easier for me to make one trip into littlelion's room in the evening and put his collection of clothing, books and shoes away.  

My husband and I agree that we can use our boxes to store any items we are working on during the week.  But every Sunday it must to be cleared out ready for the week ahead.  

This simple system has provided so much harmony to our family.  Whilst I purchased my boxes you could have some fun making some or revamping some old boxes with new fabric.  

Let me know if my system helps you at all or what organisation system you could not function without in your household.  

7 things about me

Recently I have discovered an informative blog, please check out a recent post The Sharpest Pencil - 7 things you never knew about me.

As a newbie to this exciting blogosphere and struggling with the concept of writing about myself I thought it might be a good idea for me to attempt this.

So here are 7 things you didn't know about me;

1.  It irritates me when people make reference to putting in more than 100% effort.
2.  I cry when fictional characters die on television or in movies, I don't even know these people.
3.  As a child I wanted to be a dancer, but unfortunately I was not blessed with rhythm.
4.  I must put my left shoe on first.
5.  I like to smell print products ie. magazines, brochures, catalogues etc
6.  The door to my walk in robe must be closed before I can sleep at night.
7.  My favourite noise is listening to my littelion laughing

Try this yourself.  I didn't think I could list seven but once I started they kept coming, it was a really interesting exercise.  Please let me know if you can relate to any or add any of your own.

My backyard choir

Yay it's Thursday again, but what a cold miserable one at that.  We have had a hectic week and one we would like to put behind us, so in light of that I've chosen to share a little poem this week.  It was written during Spring of last year, I was sitting in my favourite spot in my garden having a well deserved rest whilst littlelion was napping.  Some local parrots sat above me in our tree and I just started to take in the sounds around me.  As you read along think of your favourite place in your garden or your favourite place outdoors, now use your imagination and feel the warmth and listen to the sounds.  Maybe it can make us feel warm and cheerful during this cold snap.

A reminder that spring is just around the corner.
(Photo courtesy of my personal library)

My Backyard Choir

I listen to them chatting amongst themselves
Sitting high within the swaying branches,
Blue sky in the background,
Warm rays of sun hitting my skin.

We share the space that surrounds us,
They entertain me,
The occasional car along the road,
The wind moving through the trees,
Just close your eyes and soak up the song.

In the post

For some years now I have followed a handful of blogs on a regular basis and many more randomly.  Mainly relating to organisational tips, parenting topics, home renovation and I love the insight others have to offer.  All in the pursuit of running my household more efficiently to give me more time doing things with those I love.

I have toyed with the thought of starting my own blog on numerous occasions but have always talked myself out of it.  Why would anyone be interested in what I have to say?  What would I write about?  I don't even know how to blog....the negatives continued!  But on a whim I completed a blogging course recently and I'm feeling a little more confident to dive right in and have a go.  I'm not entering the blogosphere to gain fame or thousands of readers, in fact I'm doing it for more personal reasons, this is for my own personal gain.  However with an open mind one never knows how this may evolve?

I feel that I will have random offerings, no set topics, however I do love organising and parenting topics, so I think that's what my focus will be.

Share...
I would like to share some of my life lessons, my skills and my fears and use this platform to support like minded others albeit from a distance, maybe even help others like I have been helped by reading other blogs.  I have had a blessed life in many ways but have also had to overcome many obstacles and by sharing my lessons maybe I can give someone else the confidence to make changes or see the good in every day (especially Thursdays)

Its a chance to reach and share with a greater community from the comfort of my living room.

Support...
When I think deeply about the why and if I was honest with myself (and you) I'm hoping a blog might make me more accountable and reduce my procrastination levels.  This might be the support I need to make some positive changes.

To be honest I need a good kick in the backside, I'm too comfortable.  I could plod along being a pedestrian, but I feel I have more to contribute.  Being a new mum it's easy to put your own needs aside and focus on your child and family.

Often I'm too tired to drag my backside around the house let alone go for a 5km run!!! Sometimes my lunch is my toddlers left overs.  If I set some goals and send them out into the blogosphere then maybe, just maybe I will feel more inclined to work towards achieving them instead of dismissing myself for the benefit of others.

Express...
Yes I'm a mum that has chosen to stay home to raise her littlelion and that will remain my priority but I feel a need for an activity that allows me to keep my mind ticking over and for me to connect with the outside world.  I need to know that other adults value my input, my opinions.  Look I can cut a mean Shimmy Shake with the Wiggle team but sometimes I'd like to chat without rhyme and jazz hands and I can't imagine sitting down with Dorothy the Dinosaur and discussing the state of favelas in Brazil.

I would like the chance to express my views, a release, I'd like to be thought provoking, learn something about others and myself and start a conversation

Learn...
Since I was very young I've wanted to write a book, more so a picture book for children.  I enjoy writing and have used it quiet often as a therapeutic outlet.  I'm not sure if I am any good at writing but i enjoy the feeling of getting lost in it, the opportunity to express myself without judgement.  So my aim is that blogging will give me a chance to improve my writing skills.

Life is a work in progress, everyday is a great day to learn something new or something about yourself.


One of the biggest factors that has held me back from blogging years ago is privacy.  I savour my privacy and that of my family's. Am I able to write a blog without exposing too much about myself and more so my family, yet be open to put myself out there and enjoy the benefits of such expression? It's important to me not to exploit my family and write with integrity, so please keep me honest and let me know if I cross that line.

I do have concerns that blogging may take my attention and time away from my family, so it's important that I set some ground rules for that from the start.

How did your feel when you published your first post? Has your blog remained on the path you first intended or has it evolved into something very different?

It's all in the name

red letter (thurs)day:
by definition a red letter day is used to describe a special day; a memorable, important and happy day; any day of special significance.

For some reason Thursdays have been my favourite day of the week.  I can't say for what specific reason, but on Thursdays I always feel at my best, more motivated, more confident.  Maybe it's the gateway to the weekend, the closure of a working week, I'm not entirely sure but I like Thursdays.