when clean eating is hard

I'm slowly, slowly losing weight. Probably a little TOO slowly, but I'm confident I can more easily keep it off if I lose it slowly. Problem is, though, that I have hit that part of my journey where I'm losing momentum, losing motivation, losing inspiration and just finding things altogether too hard. I haven't given up by any means. I know I just have to keep plodding along, but I'm just going through the motions half heartedly and I'm succumbing to temptation too much with my strong cravings for sugar and junk food. Why can't clean eating be easier? Why can't I love and crave whole foods all the time? Stupid sugar.

Anyway, my goal for now is to find some inspiration to reignite the fire within me to reach my health and fitness goals. I need to find something that can get me passionate about it all again. The gym date I have lined up with my personal trainer in less than a week might get me going!

today i love....

this

and this

and this

i won i won i won!

I spotted this Papercookie giveaway last week on Facebook. I don't often click on things to enter on Facebook, but this one looked GOOD! And it was only open for a few hours. First thing this week I decided to check back just to see who had won.....there was my name staring back at me! It was just the pick me up I needed too. I've still been feeling mostly low and out of energy, and lacking inspiration due to all the kids still taking turns being sick and a non-sleeping-at-night, certain 10-month old. Low funds around these parts, too, has meant very little impulsive shopping for me, so this was a great treat!

Here's what I bought:

 

 

Love You Bear card | Hello Bear print | Love You Cheeky Monkey card | Washi Tape Hooks

What do you think?

Can't wait for it all to arrive now. The two Love You cards I plan on framing and putting on in each of the kid's rooms. Just a little friendly reminder of how much I love them, even when I'm a cranky mama bear.

And now, I'm looking forward to a (hopefully) relaxing weekend.

Adieu!

coming out of hiding

I'm coming out of hiding today, and will hopefully start to re-use this little space again. It's been months of a sleep deprived fog for me, which I am still in, but I can see a tiny little light at the end of the tunnel. Well, at least I hope that's what it is and not just sun glare!

I'm going to try and do a little more of this today - eat, drink and enjoy!

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declutter and simplify

I'm on a mission. This year I'm hoping to really simplify and declutter our house. I'm sick of storing stuff that we don't use or need anymore, or things that are broken. I'm tired of sifting through all the useless stuff to find the stuff we actually DO use and need. I'm tired of cluttered up spaces. I just want what we need around us and for everything to have its place so we can live efficiently and so that things can be easily tidied up at the end of the day.

I started this mission in earnest when we first moved to this house but quickly I let things slide a bit with the busyness of life with two children under 5. Now that I have Josh at school all week and Zoe at preschool for two days, I've found that even though Ben is now here, I have a lot more time to start getting organised at home. So far I have cleared most of the main spaces in the kitchen - bench and pantry. Clearing out the pantry was so cleansing. The way we eat has even changed in the last year or two, and there is a lot less pantry type food now than what we've been used to in the past. I now have more room in there to store other things which has allowed me to clear most of the bench space in the kitchen.

I've also tackled most of the lounge room, and most of the bedrooms. Above are some pics of my bedroom after I'd done some spring cleaning in there. It feels so relaxing, peaceful and calm in there now, which is exactly what I wanted out of a bedroom, especially with having the baby rooming in with us at the moment.

I'm feeling more on top of things at home now and less bogged down in mess and clutter, which has been great for my mood and is making it an easier space to use and live in. I still have a growing list of things I want to achieve, but I have all year to slowly plough my way through. Next on the list is wardrobes. I'll be culling clothes from our wardrobe as well as Josh's. I did Zoe's wardrobe a few weeks ago, and I feel like I know what is in there now! Clothes don't get hidden and I can see everything that she has available to wear, and I know it all fits too! Can't wait to do that for my room.

How often do you declutter? Do you have a plan for how you do it? Any tips? Or are you a bit of a hoarder perhaps?

grateful for a happy, smiley school boy

It's been a big week here. I've been too pooped to blog. My big boy, nearly 5 year old boy, started big school this week on Wednesday. And so far, it has been a super smooth transition.

I'm so proud of where he has come. He started at preschool at 3 and we spent most of the year with him clinging for dear life on me when it was time for me to leave in the mornings. By his second year there, he had matured a lot and in the mornings would run off and play with his little mates. He had lots of ups and downs at school - people telling us that he may not be ready for school, that he would benefit from staying back a year, being made to feel worried that he wasn't mature or emotionally ready to cope with a big school, etc, etc. In the last few months he has grown in leaps and bounds, and although he is not in his set class yet, to see him so happy when I've picked him up these last few days, makes my heart sing. It reassures me, that at the end of the day, I know my child, I know what he can and can't cope with, I know how beautiful and delightful and bright and smart he is. Being at school so far, seems like it was the perfect thing for him. He is really relishing in the sense of feeling more grown up and I can see how proud of himself he is to have made it there too.

I'm oh so grateful for my happy, smiley schoolboy. He makes me smile.

first day of preschool

So here she is. My baby girl. Now the big sister. I've dropped her off for her first day at preschool. I'm not much of a teary mama with milestones like these. And actually I still haven't cried, I just feel sadder than I thought I would be today. For so long I've been looking forward to this year when I would have Josh at school, Zoe at preschool and a few days of breathing space with just the baby. But as much as I've been looking forward to it, there is lots of sadness as well. She's not my baby anymore, she's grown up enough to be going to preschool finally - a little bit more independence and a little further out in the world on her own. It always seemed such a long way off but we are here already. I'm sure I will feel the same way about Josh when I drop him off at big school on Wednesday.

Even though I have had days of just being at home along with Ben already thanks to my mum, today feels a bit different. The silence is more obvious somehow, since it's the first time Zoe has been left with anyone but family. She is totally fine. I stayed with her a little to get her bearings and put her bag and lunch away. But she is familiar with the preschool already since her big brother lead the way for her. Finally I said to her 'are you ready for mummy to go now?' and without hesitation she said 'goodbye mum'. I feel sad without my little miss, but I'm sure she's having a great time and I'll be used to it in no time.

Love you baby girl. xx

it's over

Yes. My hairdresser. She is pregnant and leaving very soon. She has been my hairdresser for the last two years, and is the only hairdresser I can remember having who has cut my hair perfectly, and the way I like it. I don't want to go anywhere else. I've never really been a person who has bothered about who my hairdresser is, but since finding her.....well, she is a gem! She even knows the right balance of being chatty and leaving you to read your mag in peace. How do you find the perfect hairdresser again?

I'm going to make sure I book in for a cut before she is off, and then maybe as we chat I will find out her plans. Maybe I can convince her to cut my hair while she is on leave? Do hairdressers sneakily do that, or even want to? Maybe I will just have to grow my hair until she is back? Will she ever come back?

What have you done when your hairdresser has walked out on you?

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you know you are sleep deprived when.....

you nearly pour the coffee over the dummy to rinse it, instead of the boiled water from the kettle.....

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things I'm going to do this year

I was hanging out with Zoe and Ben this afternoon, enjoying the last light of the day. I suddenly remembered the days from when we first moved here, when I used to hang with Josh while Zoe slept, and how nice those times were, and I was usually armed with the camera, trying to capture our moments together. There were some great photos from that time. I did this a little less with Zoe, and then came the iPhone. I realised all the photos I have been taking were on my phone. So this afternoon, I grabbed my DSLR camera and made the most of the afternoon light, and took some snaps of my two littlest people, and just enjoyed 'being'. It was lovely.

I really enjoyed today and vowed that I want to get back to time I remembered. Enjoying life a little more. Doing the things I loved: being the moment with my family, not distracted by technology, blogging, taking photos, being inspired by others and that motivating me in my life. I started thinking about what I want to try and accomplish this year. So here's my list of what I'd like to achieve:

+ visit thrift shops
+ frame and hang artwork around our house
+ de-clutter our house
+ make my house more homely creatively
+ enjoy my little family more while I'm not working
+ take more photos with my DSLR and stop relying on Instagram
+ enjoy and spend more time in our backyard
+ lose weight
+ have a family session with tim coulson
+ get organised with structures and routines now I have 3 little people to look after
+ sort out what I want to do career-wise once I finish raising the little people into school and work towards it - I'm close to finalising what that might be!
+ bake a little bit more.

Do you have a list like this? Please share if you do!

fashion sos

Ok fashionistas! I need your help. In a few weeks time, I'm going to be one of those school mums who race around morning and afternoon dropping off and picking up kids. Now thing is, every morning I will have a newborn plus two little peeps to help get ready, leaving me probably about a fraction of a second to get myself ready for the school run. Now while it would be lovely to do the school run in my pj's and bed hair, I'm not sure my kids would appreciate it too much, and I probably wouldn't be giving Josh much of a flying start in making new friends at big school. Plus, we can't all be as naturally stylish as Zoe (see above).

So I need some fashion help from the school drop off fashion experts out there. What do school mums wear? Normally this wouldn't be such a big deal for me either, only I'm yet to shift this baby weight too, so I'm not at the point of feeling confident with just throwing something on and walking out the door. Getting dressed in the mornings is rather stressful, as I don't fit into much and I'm desparately trying to hide everything around my middle.....

So, how can I look half good when I only have half a second to get ready every day? I need some trusty outfits that look good without the effort (and without the smell and sight of possited milk on my shoulder). I'm thinking jeans/tops etc might be a good option? What do you wear everyday? Any tips you can share with me?

hello, goodbye

Memories last forever, never do they die,

Friends stick together and never really say Goodbye
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

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peonies

Peonies. My most favourite flower ever. These sat atop our tv unit for about a week.

And since they are only available for a short window each year, here they are for me to enjoy just that little bit longer.

sleep is for the weak or something like that...

There was never a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him to sleep.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I wish there had been a little more of this last night. Someone decided to stop doing longer blocks of sleep overnight and did lovely three-hour stints last night. So, anyway, I'm rather ridiculously and stupidly tired today. Sleep deprivation sucks. Especially when you can't 'sleep when the baby sleeps'. Yeah, that kind of only works with the first baby.....bit tricky with a four and three year old in the mix! Hallelujiah for my mum again though who has taken the older two to the park this morning to give me a little time to rest (ie. blog). I've just fed the little cherub (doesn't he look so innocent when sleeping!) and put him down, hoping he will settle and then I can make that second cup of coffee to drink while dunking my choc chip cookies, and then a doze on the lounge is in order!

Here's to a better night's sleep tonight!

finding my feet

Hey, I'm actually all showered and out of my pj's today. At the moment, that is a major accomplishment! I'm still finding my feet with adjusting to life with three little babes to look after. My hubby is around this week and next so that has been a huge help. And tomorrow I will get the doc's all clear to finally drive again post csection which will be a big weight lifted, and I won't feel so trapped here at home. In a way, I'm kind of looking forward to the start of the school year already. For a person who doesn't normally like strict routine, I really need it in order to get organised and to feel like I'm in a good groove with life. And I need to be organised this year! One starting school, one starting preschool, and a small baby.

This month is going to be a super busy one too in the lead up to start of school year. I've got doctor's appointments to make for catch up immunisations and baby's first lot, dentist and eye appointments for Josh before starting school, school uniform and shoe shopping to do, as well as a few holiday entertainment activities too.

I'm so torn about Josh starting school. Part of me can't wait because he is just such hard work at the moment, and the other part can wait as I know I will miss his little face around here everyday.....

If you've had little ones start school, how did you go with the adjustment? Any tips you can share?

In the meantime, I need to keep finding my feet here in this new little family of ours. Finding it harder than I thought.

welcome to the world.....

Our littlest man arrived on the 14 November. This is little Benjamin Jesse. Well, he wasn't so little really. He was 3.94kg but he is still little to me.

His arrival and our week in hospital went smoothly. Josh and Zoe adore him as does his daddy and I.

Unfortunately within two days of us arriving home, I was struck down with a mild case of pneumonia and have had a rough few weeks recovering from that as well as the csection all while caring for this beautiful little newborn. Fortunately, we have had loads of friends pitching in with meals for us and my mum has tirelessly been helping out each day with laundry, keeping my house tidy and entertaining Josh and Zoe. I'm still not out of the woods yet, but am hoping by Christmas to be back to my jolly self!

Ben has been coping very well amidst the drama around here. This mama just wishes she had more time to sleep! But of course I knew that was coming.

so grateful for my mum

I can't tell you how grateful I am for my mum. Words just wouldn't be able to cover it. When I am having 'one of those days' she is always there ready to rescue me should I need it. I'm fortunate to say that we are the best of friends too. We enjoy one another's company and I don't often go a day without talking to my mum.

J & Z both love her dearly too. There is nothing I love more than seeing them all snuggled up on the lounge together reading books. It warms my little heart. My body is tired and aching most of the time at the moment, being 28 weeks pregnant now, and the energy and breath of fresh air my mum is for my kids is truly appreciated.

My favourite thing this week: hearing Zoe look up at my mum who she was snuggling with, and saying 'love me yiayiaka*'. Her way of saying, give me cuddles and kisses.....<3

* Greek for 'nanny/grandma'

a trip down memory lane

Well, I'm kind of back.....

I've been thinking about leaving this blogging caper. Pregnancy and life with all its busyness of late have left me with very little 'me' time, and what time I have had to myself, I've preferred to just curl up on the lounge once the kids are in bed for the night and watch trashy tv.

While I was thinking about it all one night (and hubby had probably hijacked the tv watching the cricket!) I found myself at the computer, on my blog page, reading my blog from the very start, right through until very recently. Wow it took a long time, but it was actually quite lovely reading it from a distance to when it was all originally written. I had forgotten all the beautiful messages I had written about my kids, beautiful memories recorded forever, inspirations and longings. It gave me a greater appreciation of what I had started here and what I now know I want to continue. It made me appreciate the readers I had more, when at the time I think I was too consumed with comparing myself to others and still feeling like a little lowly blog, even though I've never wanted to be a big amazing blog anyway. At the heart, I've always wanted to continue blogging, but I have been so sapped of' 'me-ness' lately that I haven't felt like I have anything to give, and didn't have the confidence that I really had anything much to say anyway.

So I wanted to put it out there, that sometimes a big break might be just the thing you need from a project/hobby/task, etc. A chance to look at something with a bit of distance in between so you can really appreciate things for what they are, instead of being blurred by being in that moment.

I love the keepsake this blog is for me. And I'd like it to keep growing with me for longer. I hope you will stick around too, whoever is still reading. xx



today is awesome

Found this little print on my Etsy trails. I think it will be fitting for my life. A bit of a mantra I should take on. Especially with baby number three not too far away now......

Do you have a little mantra you swear by daily? Something that gets you through the day? Please share, it might just inspire me more!

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it's a boy!

We recently had an ultrasound and were delighted to find out we've been blessed with another little boy. Time to sort out and pass on all the girly things that Zoe has grown out of now, and to dig out all of Josh's old clothes I've kept.

I'm nearly half way through this pregnancy and now that I'm feeling more well in the second trimester and the kids are settling down more and getting along, I'm really starting to look forward to having a new little newborn to snuggle with. I think at first I just felt overwhelmed by the thought of having to juggle the three children, especially since J and Z have been challening lately, but the are in a good phase at the moment, so I'm able to see the more beautiful images of the future now than I could before.

This will be our last baby too, so I'm trying to enjoy every moment of this journey as best I can.

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