November in review

November has been a fun and busy month. Shortly I will post my collage of my photos from the month. Today I finished my Christmas shopping so yay for being done before December. The remaining gifts are all planned just need to make them in the week before Christmas.

Bean is looking as expected at this stage which is a nice thing to know. Boo is now able to walk some distances, such as partway to the shops. He also happily toddles around at the park and is perfecting climbing up and down the stairs which is a great help to me. He is much keener on down than up unfortunately. 

I have also acquired a new pram which is gorgeous I am so happy with the colour. Unfortunately our current pram was discontinued and we couldn't get the second seat any more. I also learnt how to make soda scones which were very successful the afternoon tea they were part of is pictured below.

Well on we go to December I am so excited and feeling nice and organised.

Don't drop the baby

Last week I unfortunately fell down a step while carrying Boo. As it happened my only thought was "don't drop the baby". I successfully managed to brace myself in such away that Boo did not come in contact with the ground, though he like me got a big fright. I also managed to roll onto my back so as not to squish him or Bean (20 weeks gestation).

I am partially scraped up and bruised on both knees and my left elbow (pictured above) but now 3 days later my swelling in my knee has dissipated.  

This all made me realise: All mums (and dads) are superheros and conduct remarkable feats everyday to protect their families. Even if it is turning a clutzy moment into an impressive save (like Superman)or reaching that little hand just before it is jammed in the drawer (The Flash). We are always looking out for our little ones and thinking of them when we aren't there. To all parents go you, you are my hero and your child's superhero.

(We have all been checked by the doctor and declared well and unscathed, despite the scrapes. The osteopath even marvelled that I wasn't more out of alignment.) 

Taking Time

Today I treated myself to a cake and smoothie while out. I was really proud as I  waited till everything arrived before I started and sat without distractions while I ate. It was lovely to take my time to taste, enjoy and people watch. 

Next time I will work on putting the fork down between bites. I recently realised that the only thing eat at a truly luxurious rate is my Mum's pancakes, not sure why. So I am working on slowing down  my eating of all things.

Stuff!!!! Junk etc.

After a busy couple of weeks I am finally able to get back to reading the lovely JL Scott's book At Home with Madame Chic. I am using this book as an opportunity to work on creating both an environment and mindset that fosters enjoyment of the everyday. As a Domestic Goddess in the making I have a desire to finesse my housekeeping skills and reacquaint myself with being present in each moment no matter how everyday the task. As I take this quality over quantity idea on I am represenced to how much I dislike clutter and excess stuff. So here is my current dilemma around excess stuff.

As a life long tidiness freak (read 'house proud goddess') I  am having issues with the accumulation of stuff both in adult life and in relation to children. I have had a lifelong rebellion to not be a hoarder (family would say collector or curator, love their collections but not for me).  Since I was about 13 I have regularly (every 6 months) rearranged, reorganised and overhauled my space. This includes donating fearlessly of items no longer used, rearranging furniture to produce a new feeling in a room, reevaluating the place that everything lives to be more efficient and creating a study/health planner for the coming 6 months. 

At the end of this project I am left with a 'new' space mentally & physically and a greater energy, in between these overhauls I live the principle "a place for everything and everything in its place" rectifying any lapses within a week. Usually due to a major mental slump expressed with me being messy.

Basically you can walk in my room (and now my house), see the state of it  and you will know how I am feeling that week. Yes the two go hand in hand, feeling crappy and being slovenly, then tidy up and feel better. It sounds nuts but it works for me.

So onto my stuff issue. I have very dear friends and a well meaning family who love to gift items over the various birthdays and celebrations in the year. Useless stuff or stuff I didn't choose drives me nuts. We are talking giant canvases of cute cats, toys that are not appropriate to our philosophy with our child (I explained our preference when asked & they bought Boo lovely gifts that are appropriate then topped it off with something so not for us) so what to do? At this stage I intend on giving inappropriate toys to the wishing tree so I know they go to homes where a child can love and appreciate them. 

How do I impress on my BFF that just a small appropriate gift or a clothing item will be perfect for Boo or I, not 5 different lovely things plus a yet to be disclosed framed item. It isn't that I don't appreciate the thought, the thought is lovely, I just don't have anywhere to hang it. Small place not a lot of walls.

I have recently been contemplating the stuff dilemma as previously I would have donated fearlessly, but now I have a concern that people may take offence if we don't have something they gave us. How does one deal with this in a civil manner and have people save their money/time giving only what is needed?

As someone who loves to gift I have recently been applying my own dislike of stuff  to my gift giving so have been baking instead of buying, consulting prior to purchase and applying my own anti-stuff feeling to avoid piling others with unwanted items. Having undertaken the 10 item Wardrobe thanks to Madame Chic (J. L. Scott) and now reading At Home with Madame Chic I have become further acquainted with my own preference for quality over quantity. A lovely wooden toy over a flashing plastic one etc.

So please tell me what would Madame Chic do? How does one deal with this in a civil manner and have people save their money/time giving only what is needed or wanted?

15 tidbits about me

Hello lovely readers in lieu of a post here are some odds and sods tidbits. I am working on the collage for November the end of which is approaching at a rapid rate.

1 . Were you named after anyone? Yes, my Mum's cousin/best friend.

2. Do you still have your tonsils? Yes.

3. Would you bungee jump? Never, ever.

4. What is your favourite cereal? It is discontinued but Grinners which were a honey flavoured cereal. I don't really like cereal and haven't eaten it much since then.

5. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Yes, I want them to last.

6. What is your favourite ice cream? TipTop a New Zealand brand, we can't get it in Australia thankfully (I would eat too much). My Favourite flavours are hokey pokey (vanilla with honeycomb pieces) and goody goody gum drop (a mild bubblegum flavour with gummy drops, sounds gross but delicious)

7. What is the first thing you notice about people? Their smile or lack of smile

8. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? My little toes have almost no toenail and it is weird.

9. What was the last thing you ate? Red icy pole, it is hot here today.

10. What are you listening to right now? The bedroom fan and my phone keyboard clicking as I type.

11. Last movie you watched? Twilight, it gets worse every time I see it.

12. What did you dream about last night? That my mums dog was severely injured and we hadn't noticed. ( I have weird pregnancy dreams on hot nights)

13. What book are you reading? At Home with Madame Chic by Jennifer L. Scott and Creative Discipline: Turning Tears into Laughter by Lou Harvey-Zara 

14. Summer or Winter? Summer Beach time

15. Do you have any special talents? I am an excellent baker. Oh and could likely talk under wet cement :)

Welcome to November

Big month November.
Firstly Boo learnt to walk!!! now moving on to the other things:
We have our 20 week scan for Bean this month which is exciting. This is also the month I start Christmas planning preparation and shopping. I am blessed with a large extended family which means lots of the planning is about what I will bake for kids and adults. I often pick gingerbread but like to try at least one new thing each year. This year 2 of my cousins will be moving out so I am gifting them each household items of their choice.

   Hubby has been his usual amazing self and I have been to Lush to buy my bubble wand I have been waiting for 3 months for this to come back, so very exciting. (I definitely bought the bubble wand for Boo ;) mostly) I have made 2 additions to my summer wardrobe these are a dress and a pair of very hot weather/prgenancy feet friendly thongs/sandals. I also finally got all my clean out donations from last month to the op shop such a good feeling to have them out of my house.

I have also taken on the #FMSphotoaday challenge for this month and am loving it. Thank you Chantelle for this lovely joy. I will pop a collage up at the end of the month. (Which gives me time to work out how to do it) 

Today after 6mths in our new house we finally put curtains up and it is such a blessing in the Melbourne heat we are experiencing.
The blind pictured below is one of my favourites it is a roller blind from IKEA called Liselott. My marvelous mother helped us to trim and install it as I am atrocious with power tools in my pregnancy fog, let alone trying to follow instructions.
Thanks mum you are the best.