First Jazz Exam. Tick.

I have very vague memories of my first dance exam. I remember my Mum carefully criss-crossing the satin ribbons of my ballet shoes up around my ankle. I remember the old hall with wooden floor boards and the grand aged piano in the corner. But I don't really remember the emotions or music or flow of the day. I was probably around 5 years old.

My Mum recently told me that she had to take a day off work to take me to my first ballet exam, and she required a Doctor's Certificate to do so. So, off to the Doc she went....faking a bug of some sort. Oh, the things we do as Mums!

Today, was Ella's first dance exam. She's danced on stage and understands the notion of performing and entertainment. But until today, she had never been exposed to the experience of being watched and judged and assessed.

Our little sunshine did well.

She has been excited for weeks. Constantly blaring the song in the car and in the lounge room....practicing, counting, listening.

Dancing - always dancing her little heart out.

It was a quick exam. Four little five year olds - in and out of the room within a 10minute time frame. But she came out beaming. She had a medal in her hand and a sense of pride in completing something new. Something big and significant.

I felt so full of love for how awesome she is. Our little bug is growing up.

I love her!

And to celebrate, before heading off to school for the day.....we had a quick McDonald's treat...

Over pancakes and hashbrowns and chocolate milk; we talked about the exam and how great she felt. She told me all about the examiner.....all whilst clenching her medal close.

On arrival at school, {an hour and a half into the school day} a group of her classmates ran up to her, embracing her wildly. "Where have you been Ella?" "We missed you!" And I smiled and felt forever grateful for the wonderful life she has. Surrounded by so many beautiful souls, egging her on in this journey of life.

Happy Friday All.

We have a park play date organised for this afternoon followed by a weekend full of fun.

Cheers to that!

D is for - Dance.

This is my 'D' post for the A-Z All About Me challenge hosted over at Love Kate's place. You can read my other A-Z posts here.

Me - aged 7 - my 3rd Ballet Concert. I was a POPPY in the Wizard Of Oz. Dance has played {and probably will always continue to} a huge role in my life for as long as I can remember.

I still have little snippets of memories of my first concert, I was a butterfly ballerina with super rosy circles of blush on each cheek and big yellow wings. I felt like a princess! I was in my element!

As the years went on I continued to dance, and perform....and love it.

However, as much as I loved to dance. In those early years, it somehow brought out my super-shy side. Whilst all the other girls would run around, giggling and mingling....I sat perfectly still.....on my own. Which was weird - because at school, I had lots of friends. I was social & happy & chatty. Yet at dancing, I was so introverted & shy. I think now {with hindsight} as I look back, I felt intimidated by the other girl's talents and their 'out-there' personalities. Even at age 6, I was aware of this. In some ways I felt not good enough, and very self conscious. I never felt a warming love towards my teacher, and as much as I loved to spin & twirl & point my toes....and as much as I liked to get dressed up at concert time & see my family's smiling faces, I still felt a love-hate relationship for the actual dance classes!!

My Nanna sewed this whole ballet outfit :) And made a matching shoe basket to with :) So throughout my childhood, I dibbed & dabbed in different dance classes & dance schools. Sometimes finding my groove. Sometimes finding my fears.

In High School, I found my happy place with my love for dance. And that was through the school's dance company, as well as being able to study dance as a subject from Year 9-Year 12. Being a fairly prestigious school, you had to audition to get into the Dance Company. I was accepted in Year 9 at my 2nd audition. There, with my very best friends & a really cool teacher, I truly was happy! We studied dance techniques from all around the world and analysed the styles of many famous choreographers. I was there at 7am most mornings for rehearsals until 6/8pm most nights, and to be in the stage shows we had to sacrifice weekends, school holidays & late nights! But it truly was some of the funnest memories of my teenage years!

I got to perform several times in the Brisbane QPAC Hall in front of thousands of people. I danced in the Jesus Christ Superstar musical & Guys and Dolls. I went to Sydney to dance twice. We performed in so many places all around Brisbane. I loved nothing more than to dance! It's where I felt good, and happy....and ME.

As I grew older and stopped caring so much about what other people thought....or what other people expected, I became more comfortable in my own skin, and gained a bigger love to dance & perform. I only just stopped last year in fact....to give birth to Ryder :)

Me - on stage - 2010

Backstage - 2010

Having fun backstage - 2010

And....now that I'm a 'Dance Mum'....I couldn't be happier :)

My heart beams with pride as I watch my little bug...dancing....and LOVING it! She's social & bubbly. She loves her dance teacher, and has made some fabulous little friends. Not only is she learning to dance & all the right techniques & discipline that go with it, but she's learning so much more - about herself & others!

Ella - Jazz - 2011 - aged 3.

They say DANCE is a universal language. And I agree. It doesn't matter what language you speak or what talents/disabilities you have - dance is a way to communicate, to learn, to love, to express, to feel, to move and to have fun!!!

Wordless Wednesday......{Dancing In The Rain}

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, but about learning to dance in the rain!"

If you love that quote that I've featured above {it's one of my favourites!}, you can buy it as a large wall print here....in any colour!

I'm playing along with WORDLESS WEDNESDAY over here!

I hope you have a 'dancing in the rain' kind of day :)

A very quick, last minute GIVEAWAY to celebrate the Festive Season!

Hi my Lovelies,

So, my regular readers would know....I am a little obsessed and OTT with the Christmas Season! I love it! LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! So, to spread the love, share the joy & participate in the notion of giving ~ I have a last minute, very quick {as in drawn TOMORROW quick} GIVEAWAY for YOU!!!

The lovely Maxabella organised a mammoth giveaway for her readers & the prize was so damn good, if I do say so myself....hey, I wanted to win it....BADLY :) The giveaway prize pack was huge....full of heaps of lovelies from a handful of talented ladies :) {including some Scissors Paper Rock prints & paper goodies!}. A decision was made last night that the prize would not be randomly allocated but purposely given to Jane from My Pear Tree House, as she is going through a really rough {healthwise} time at the moment! I was so supportive of this notion, and will be sending those goodies her way :) But, I also want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to my lovely supporters, followers & blog readers.

So.....I have a PRINT giveaway on offer today!!!! Before I get to the details.....I have a few on-stage photos from my Saturday Night concert. One of my lovely readers left a comment saying she'd love to see some video footage :) Sorry Em, I don't have any video as of yet....but here's a few action shots:

{excuse the guy's head in the way of the camera LOL}

{and my 2 Loves, sititng in the audience ready to watch the show!}

Ok, now for the GIVEAWAY details :)

Simply leave a comment below telling me what you love most about this time of year!!! You don't have to be a blogger, anyone can enter! I will enter all the comments into a random draw at midday tomorrow. The winner will receive a LOVE IS THE NEW BLACK print designed & printed by me! It measures 30cm by 40cm and is printed on silk finished print paper. ENJOY! And thanks again for being apart of my blog & business!!

Happy Monday All!

Week~A~Boo.......{sequins, soccer & sugar}

Every December, our year's worth of dance lessons & rehearsals rolls to an end with our annual concert! Always my favourite time of year....and has been since I was a little girl....all blushed face & proud in my tutu's & hair nets :) Now, at 28yrs of age....I still rock out a face of blush & glitter with not-so-many tutus, but....still up there on stage....doing my thing'. 

On Friday night we had the first show....it wasn't perfect....but still a lot of fun! Then on Saturday we filled the day with 2 concerts & I'm pretty sure we nailed them!! Let's just pretend Friday was a dress rehearsal LOL!! By Saturday night I was completely exhausted, completely glittered out & completely sick of the sight of sequins! But also sad, to know that dancing for 2010 has come to an end :) Bring on next year I say :)

{me & my bestie...about to go on stage for our first dance ~ Seven Nation Army!}

{our street tap dance}

Today, Sunday was yet again SOGGY!!! This rain just won't ease!!!!!! But we still had plenty to do :) One of Ella's best buddies, Jet, had his 3rd Birthday Party today! Ella has known him since she was 5 weeks old & I just love watching their friendship blossom!! He is soccer mad....so the theme of the party.....SOCCER :) Ella wanted to dress up to suit the theme.....but Ella, being Ella.....the most girliest girl in the world, insisted she wore a "soccer dress that twirls when I spin". So.....Grandma came to the rescue by whipping up this gorgeous dress, teamed with some soccer socks & her Nikes....and we were ready to P A R T Y!!

The kids were on the BIGGEST sugar high by the end of the party, but boy oh boy, they were happy & loving every moment of it! At one stage Ella even said "This is the bestest party FOREVER!" And I was happy, surrounded by hypo children, smiling faces, gorgeous babies & beautiful friends!! The rain didn't put a damper on this birthday bash!

Ok, I've gotta say it.....THE GIRL'S A FREAK!!! But a clever freak! A freak I love way tooooo much! 

Every time we wrap a present & write in a card, I ask her to draw a picture inside the card for the recipient! This morning as we wrote Jet's card, I slipped it her way & asked her to draw a picture for Jet! She sat there in thought....I suggested she drew Jet playing soccer or a fish or a whale! "No Mummy, I'm going to write my friend's names!!" "Ok" I reply, watching her scribble away in true toddler style.....UNTIL....she writes her OWN name!!! I have to put my Mumma-bragging-cap on for this one.....she's 2 years old for Pete's sake!!! And, she was pretty proud of herself when Jet opened it....and I was proud as punch too :)

To wind down the evening we headed down to Chris's parents house for sushi & wine....the perfect way to spend a Sunday rainy evening!! And we hung out with Gumby:

Later this evening, we received a phone call to say that my 2 yr old niece was in an ambulance on her way to The Children's Mater Hospital to undergo emergency surgery on her bowl! We're worried sick about her and hanging out for the call to say it all went well & she's recovering perfectly!!! Off to visit her tomorrow afternoon if all goes to plan :( If you're religious, please say a little prayer for her....or just some sunny, positive thoughts will have more power than not!! THANKS xo!

Please, tell me....WHAT DID YOUR WEEKEND ENTAIL?

I'd love to know what antics you got up to.....and with only 1 week til Christmas, I'm sure you had an interesting one :)

Add to the linky below if you're a blogger! Have a fabulous week my friends!

Week~A~Boo.......{At Play, out & about}

Holy Moly, has it really been a week since last Sunday's week-a-boo? Coz, it just feels like yesterday!!!!

The rain continued to fall this weekend! However, every now & then, the showers would ease, the ground would start to dry & the sun would peer his way through!

{the view through the car window this evening....the rain had stopped!}

The weekend gracefully kicked off on Friday afternoon, when Ella & I headed to our local bayside village for an impulsive picnic dinner! I blogged about it here.....it was BLISS! We were waiting for Chris to get home from his business trip....and it was the perfect experience to 'buy the time' & enjoy some Mummy & Daughter time :)

Saturday....my niece & nephew from 1 of my Brothers, were spending the weekend at my parents house! My brother, his wife & their 2 gorgeous kiddies Hunter & Jayla, live in the Solomon Islands....so we only get to see them every few months! So, as you can imagine, we were VERY excited to spend the day with them on Saturday! The rain didn't scare us off....we still enjoyed the beach & park!

Two cousins reunite again!! So sweet!

{Great little buddies from the start!}

{3 cousins in a tree! Jayla, Ella & Hunter!}

{At play ~ Hunter}

It was so lovely to see them, to hug them and to chat to them about important things like crocodiles, nail polish & Christmas Trees :) It made me even MORE excited that in just over 1 week, we will be holidaying with not only these cousins of Ella's....but her other 3 belonging to my other Brother! Yahhoooo! 6 kids under 5 all in one holiday house....some think that's CRAZY....but I can't wait :)

Today....Sunday..... I had an all day studio dance rehearsal for my upcoming concerts! So.....Ella had "Daddy/Daughter Date Day"! Her & Chris dropped me off at reharsals & set off for breakfast at the Coffee Club & a spot of pre-Christmas shopping :) He sent me this photo during the morning....Ella waiting for her pancakes....

Tonight we planned to head to the local community Christmas Carols...which we were really looking forward to! But, with this rain lingering & our busy schedules ahead, we decided to stay in! And Ella's daycare reported a case of Whooping Cough in her class :( So, while she's a little runny-nosed & congested...we'll keep her close :)

So, please, tell me....WHAT DID YOUR WEEKEND BRING? Rain & Puddles? Sunshine & Warmth? Adventures? Or cozy time spent at home? Just leave a comment below telling me all about it....or blog about it & link it back here :)

Have a great week my friends! There's only about 12 sleeps til Christmas.....Yeeeehah!