13/52

 

{A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013}

Ryder: In his throne. Feet dangling. Those delicious legs. Lunch time.

Ella: Saturday night. Easter preparations complete. Buzzing with excitement.

Joining in with Jodi.

And one of my fave photos from another participant, from last week; to share with you. {Rebekka Seale}

P.S. During the week, I discovered my blog was up for a nominee in the PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD in the Australian Writers' Centre - Best Australian Blogs competition. I'd love so much to win this - the prize is a writer's dream come true. Please spare me 20seconds of your time - on the 4th page of the blog list, you'll find me {Scissors Paper Rock}, click VOTE and then keep scrolling through next until you're DONE. THANK YOU! MWAH!

Happy Sunday All. Wishing you all a HAPPY EASTER!

Morning Walk.

At 6:17am this morning, Ryder and I headed out for a morning walk. Just the two of us! Chris left at 4:30am for fitness training and Ella slept at her Grandparents last night.

It's been a while since I went out for a morning walk. And I was reminded why I should do it more often.

The air was cool, in a soothing Autumn way. The atmosphere felt so still.

Apart from the rolling of the pram wheels, and the {very} occasional passing car, we were almost in complete silence. It was reviving.

Every now and then, the silence would be broken by a chirping bird or the pounding feet of a passing jogger. And every few minutes, Ryder would point at something and jibber quietly to himself.

It was perfection.

I didn't power walk or burn many calories - it was more about getting out of the house and seeping in some calm with my boy.

We were elated to discover the new playgound down the botton of our street was almost complete, and open for 'playing on'. So we did.

Ryder swung and swung and swung. He lulled into a relaxed state of swaying back and forth, back and forth. The crisp air chilling his face, and then nothing but joy spread across his lips. The sparkle in his eyes shone like diamonds, in the perfect morning light.

Two alert little wallabies appeared from the bordering forest and basked quietly just metres from us. Ryder was fascinated, as was I.

The sky was scattered with fluffy, thick clouds....sprinkled by pink, and blue hues. A butterfly fluttered from grass stem to flower - and I got thinking about the transformation it had been through. From an egg to a caterpillar to a cocoon and to now; this. It got me thinking about the transformations we go through - not as dramatic as that of a butterfly - but still as meaningful and significant.

I felt present and aware. I felt grateful for where we live, and the beauty around me. I felt inspired and restored. After a draining day yesterday - emotionally, mentally and physically....today, started with a new perspective and an open mind. Today was a new day - a fresh slate - another chance to live well.

We're off to lunch at my parents house today. A mother's home-cooked meals can fix anything, I'm sure of it.

Wishing everyone a love-filled Easter weekend, with plenty of chocolate and squishy hugs too!

Linking up with Village Voices 52 weeks of Grateful this morning.

Questioning.

I've been thinking a lot lately.

Who am I kidding?......I'm always thinking! I'm an over-thinker. Always have been, probably always will be. My brain rarely rests.

However lately, a lot of my thinking has actually been more a series of many questions.

Some of my questions are a waste of brain space....as they'll never have answers that satisfy me wholly.....such as: why does my baby sleep 40mins a day, when other bubs' his age sleep up to 3 hours a day?? Or; why don't my children sleep through the night until they're almost 5 years old...and old enough to be bribed?? Or; why does chocolate have to taste so damn good?? Or; why can't there please be more than 24hours in each day??

But most of my questions, are quite valid and need to be addressed. I'm literally buzzing with to-do lists, ideas, inspiration and jobs right now.

I'm accepting that no matter how hard I wish for it - I'm probably not going to find more than 24hrs in each day. Therefore, I have to find ways to better utilise those 24 {that we all equally have} and prioritise. I need to break down my massive to-do list and come up with a plan with how to achieve all these goals - while keeping my sanity, and whilst raising my family.

I've been questioning ways to improve or change my business, my blog, my goals, my time spent being present with my family, my home-keeping skills and my upcoming book launch. Some balance is needed so I can juggle all these balls a little more successfully.

Being driven and inspired and full of hope, can sometimes be tiring :)

Are you an over-thinker?

Do you ponder on questions? {even stupid ones!}

To Market.

On Friday night, I packed the boot of the car with baskets and decor and a huge pile of my prints. My little helper {Ella} and I headed off to my school's Market Night. {I say my school....but I'm currently not working there.....so I wonder when I should stop referring to it, as MY school haa}

My helper - keeping track of sales, accounts and my social media sites!! {or maybe just playing Monkey Preschool?}I rarely do markets with my business. I love the atmosphere of markets and the potential they have to grow my business....but with young kids, I just find them not always worth the effort and time away from home. However, I wanted to support my school and my best friend Monica who organised the whole event....and if I could make some extra cash out of it too....then, we're winning aren't we?!

It was an awesome night. So much fun catching up with my teaching friends and families. Seeing past students all grown up. Mingling and laughing. Lots of supportive friends and co-workers cheering me on my upcoming book launch.

Two of Ella's prep friends came along {thank you Tahnia and Naomi} and she had an absolute blast running around with them, painting and shopping and enjoying sweet treats. She was knackered {as was I} by the time we rolled into our driveway at 10pm.

Thanks to everyone who bought a print or two, and popped by to say Hi. It was lovely to chat with the gorgeous Sarah, and see lots of awesome businesses doing their thing. It's inspiring seeing people working hard and sharing their passions with the world!

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Saturday, we had our usual morning of housework and dance lessons - with our cute little bunny.

Later in the day, once Chris was home from running training, the four of us headed up to the local forest to burn off some energy {the kids.....not ours....in fact, Chris and I were both exhausted & would've much preferred an afternoon of couch lazing lol}

But, the afternoon was perfect.

Koalas, birds, shade, room to run free and a ball. Happy kids = happy parents.

I love where we live.

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And then Sunday was the perfect concoction of relaxation, family time and great food.

We had lunch down at Chris's parents house and his Mum put on the most amazing meal. {which I Instagrammed of course!} 

Followed by swims and sunshine!

On returning home, we were bombed with a HUGE storm! We lost power at 5:30pm and didn't get it back until 3am this morning. {hence why this blog post is later than normal!}

All good....just a lot of debris around from the nearby forest. The streets are littered with leaves and broken branches! With news that another storm is forecast for this afternoon?!

Wishing you all a HAPPY MONDAY!!!

12/52

{A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013}

Ryder: Burning off some energy up at the local forest. Fresh air, space to run and a ball - he's happy!

Ella: The cutest little tappin' bunny around :) It was come-dressed-as-a-bunny at dancing yesterday - luckily we had last year's ballet costume still on hand :)

Joining in with Jodi.

And one of my fave photos from another participant, from last week; to share with you. {Brenda - from Mira Narnie}

Happy Sunday All x

Some Exciting News.

For a couple of weeks, I've been dropping annoying cryptic hints that I was busily working on something exciting.

Well...finally....I can reveal what that is.

Since I was old enough to pick up a pencil and swirl it around on paper, I have had a love of writing. Overtime, as I learnt how to write words and sentences and then weave those sentences into stories and paragraphs and essays; that love grew deeper and bigger. As a child I would spend many hours off in my imagination - scripting stories, developing characters, reading, writing and dreaming. I wondered what it would be like to be a 'real writer' when I grew up. A real published Author.

And now, in my 31st year of life; I will discover what that is truly like. To be a real writer - a published author. 

Because in late May/early June my first children's picture book will go live.

Huge happy dance happening here. So much to be grateful for.

At first it will be available to purchase only online - Amazon, The Book Depository, BookTopia, Barnes & Noble plus a heap more awesome online bookstores. It will come in a printed paperback and as a downloadable eBook / Kindle app. Copies will be available in libraries and schools. And then eventually in physical book stores, around Australia....and if the stars align....maybe around the world. 

I seriously couldn't be happier. And it wasn't all a stroke of luck - I have not been offered any huge million dollar deals :) It all came down to:

* meeting and working with the right people.

* putting myself out there

* following my dream and heart

* working late nights

* shelling out money {and for that I am forever grateful that I have a supportive husband who has financially supported my choice to be a stay-at-home Mum and a writer}

* And...beliving in myself!

My editor; Penny, has been AMAZING!!!! And my 'agent/mentor' Anthony, has been a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. And a lot of this drive, as well as the signed, sealed deal all started to take shape and bloom on that fateful Saturday morning!! Wow!

As we speak, my illustrator; Trevor is working away madly at bringing my words to life. The front cover will be completed first, so I can show you all and start the promotions and advertising. As soon as that's done I will post it up here, on my blog; and tell you more about the book's title, storyline and publication.

Until....then....I have a lot of work still to do.

My Author website needs to be made and resources uploaded. Blurbs to write, as well a lot of 'buninessy/legal/behind the scenes' related stuff to complete.

FUN TIMES HERE! I seriously am soooo excited!

Stay tuned, because over the next month I will launch my Author Website and will notify you on how you can join my mailing list - so you are kept up to date with when the actual LAUNCH DATE of the book will be, as well as some special offers. I will be hosting an actual BOOK LAUNCH party {aimed for kids...we'll have a champagne and cheese one another time LOL} one Saturday morning in June in the Logan/Brisbane area too...so for any locals....I'd love to see you there :)

I'm hugely grateful right now. To my family and husband and friends for always cheering me on when I chase dreams and take risks. I have so many people holding me up, and for that I am buzzing with appreciation! I'm also grateful to YOU my blog readers, who have left comments - urging me to write and share and create. THANK YOU!

Linking up to Village Voices in 52 weeks of Grateful.

Happy Friday All.