A Whole Lotta Love.

Excuse the dodgey photo.....I snapped it on my iPhone early this morning whilst marking some school books.

I teach Grade 3. And lately, we've been learning how to write letters. We've started to move from personal letters to persuasive letters. One of their first writing tasks last week was to write a letter to anyone they knew, telling them something special. I prompted them to write from the heart & to write to someone who they felt very comfortable with. Some wrote to their best friends, some to their Grandparents, some to their next door neighbour....hey, 1 boy wrote a letter to his Apple....apologising for eating him...haaa love it! But this one caught my attention..... This girl wrote to her Mum.  This letter made me smile...it made my day:

"Dear Mum,  I love you so much, you don't even know. You are a sweet and very loving Mum. You make sure everyday that we do our jobs, first thing in the morning. At night time, you cuddle us so cutely, that I can't stop saying "I Love you so much Mum". I love you Mum. Sometimes you tell us stories or stories about us when we were little, I love it. We do chores when you don't ask, you love it. When I was little you use to dance to music with me {just like Dad used to}. I still have the photos from when I was little. I love you."

WOW!!! I can only hope, Ella cherishes the love I have for her & the love she has for me, when she's prompted to write from the heart & to express emotion!

Sweet hey!!?

Best parts of my job :)

Have a gorgeous Thursday!

Rituals......{Gorgeous Guest Post}

I am honoured to have another soulful & inspiring guest post from Vesna Bragagnolo again! Enjoy:

Each morning I start my day the same way; waking with the sun and marvelling at the way it slowly fills the night’s shadows. Sometimes an incredible crimson, tinged with gold spills across my garden, heralding the arrival of a new day, while other times it’s just a gentle glow. I breathe deeply and wonder what the day will bring and stretching gently wake every part of me.

Quietly my feet touch the floor and I open the doors, letting in the beautiful morning air; a gentle breeze plays amongst the palms, while birds excitedly twitter their news to each other. In the stillness of the morning, I light an incense and centre my thoughts, giving thanks for my life and all it’s beauty. The breeze picks up the delicate tendrils of smoke and I watch as they waft towards the sky. I close my eyes and focus within, clearing my mind of all thought and just sit in the stillness of my being. With a slow deep breath, I complete my meditation and rise to continue my day.

Barefooted I pad across the floor and put the kettle on. In a few moments, it ‘dings’, announcing that it’s boiled. So I pour the water and brew a strong cup of tea; brining it to my sleeping beloved. He stirs as I place the cup beside him, opens his eyes and smiles. Our morning ritual is sharing this first cup of tea and talking about our dreams. It’s our way of connecting each day and bringing awareness to our thoughts and actions. This moment sets the tempo for our day.

As I sit here and think about rituals, I realise that they can be anything. After all, what is a ritual other than bringing consciousness to a daily act? Every action, even the most routine when approached with intent becomes a ritual. It’s our awareness and intention that separates it from a habit or routine. And it’s when we do things from the heart, that it gives it meaning.

Things done without awareness slowly lose their meaning and become a chore, but as soon as we place loving thoughts into an act, everything changes. Even washing dishes can have a magical meaning. They symbolise the sharing of nutrition and not just food. It’s about the conversation, hearing what the other has done that day; sharing in each other’s accomplishments or providing encouragement when challenges present. These are the moments, simple moments, that can make the biggest difference in our day and how we feel about ourselves.

These are just some examples of rituals and there are so many more; reading a bedtime story, lighting an essential oil vaporiser, looking into each other’s eyes and saying ‘I love you’, walking on the beach together.

What is your ritual? What do you share with those around you?



A huge thank you to Vesna Bragagnolo from Holistic Kinesiology & Aromatherapy Massage for Women, for yet another gorgeous, beautifully written guest post!

Please visit Vesna's Facebook page here, her website here & store here.

And these amazing photos were taken by her talented, professional photographer Husband, John Bragagnolo. You can view his Facebook page here! John can be contacted at Studio38 Professional Photography – S38. Tel: 55766365 or 0488 056 995 E: john@s38.com.au

Enjoy your Tuesday all :)

Dear Santa......

This will be Ella's 3rd Christmas :) And although she has been happily involved & entwined with the magic of the last 2, it is this year {as she's near 3 yrs of age} where she seems to "really GET it!"

This year, she's old enough to know what's going on around her! And.....she LOVES it! I guess she has no choice in the matter.....being surrounded by my constant chatter & smiles & excitement of Christmas....it's all she knows! And I love that! I want her to LOVE Christmas, I want her to seep it all in! Because I really do believe this truly is the season to be jolly :) I want her to know that at the end of each year, there is this amazing period of celebration, reflection, appreciation, giving & loving! During the busy months & hard working seasons of each year......I want her to know there's light at the end of the tunnel! There's a time in December where we can all unwind, relax & LIVE! I want her to look forward to the traditions, the holidays, the experiences & the enchanting feel of this worldwide celebration!

In my pre-life {before Motherhood}, one thing I really looked forward to when I had the status of "MUMMY".....was to absorb my child/ren into the season of Christmas! I had visions of doing Christmas craft with my child/re, baking with them, wrapping presents, looking at lights & nativity scenes in the neighbourhood, reading books of Santa's adventures, singing corny carols & tunes and going totally overboard with decorations & traditions! And for the past 3 years, I couldn't think of anything better than seeing Christmas & summer & family through the innocent eyes of a child.....MY CHILD!

Earlier this week, we did our yearly tradition.....a letter to Santa:

We sealed it up in a sparkly-sticker infested envelope & mailed it off to the North Pole.....along with this year's Christmas cards to all our family & friends!

And with only 2 days until the School Holidays.....I'm loving the joy in the air at the moment :)

What do you love about Christmas? Is it one main thing.....or a string of them like me?

Have a fabulous Thursday my friends!