Currently - The Autumn '13 Edition

Hello crisp mornings, dewy lawns, hoodies, scarves, gumboots and slippers. The seasons have shifted to darker, shorter days and soft sunlight. Sniffles are all around and big hearty meals are being cooked.

Autumn is here and as Jodi described in a brilliant post recently, I feel the change and every year it throws me off. I am still waiting on a diagnosis for my health issues, and the annual 'falling in a rut' feeling overcomes me. Healthy eating is out the window, social outings dwindle and I find myself feeling 'bored, stuck, on pause' when really I am completely the opposite right now. Life moving by so fast, baby growing, toddler developing, preschooler learning, that I realise I have to take better care of myself because I am responsible for 3 little people now.

Current Read

The course syllabus for a degree in Psychology. A dream of mine, to one day start (and complete) a degree in Psychology. Even reading the course outline inspires me.

Current Playlist

Albums:

• Phoenix - Bankrupt
• Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience
• James Blake - Overgrown
• Owl Eyes - Night Swim
• The Postal Service - Give Up
• Oblivion - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack complied by M83

Singles:

• Daft Punk - Get Lucky
• James Blake - Retrograde
• Foals - My Number
• Justin Timberlake - Spaceship Coupe
• CHVRCHES - Recover
• Pyramid - Wolf
• Bernard Fanning - Watch Over Me (I walked down the aisle to this song on my wedding day. I heard it on The Voice this week and it reminded me how special the lyrics are. James and I appreciate this song now more than we did 6 years ago).
• Rihanna - Stay
• Florence and the Machine - Over the Love. Flo's new single from The Great Gatsby soundtrack.

Current Colour

Yellow for Harriet's pram. Blue for my beautiful painted house. Spots for bed linen. I paired my doona up with black pillow cases and yellow sheets.

Current Food

Warm, hearty meals like meatloaf, cottage pie, pasta, stir fry and porridge. 

Current Favourite Show

During the night feeds with Harriet, I've been watching reruns of Seinfeld and Ice Hockey games. I don't watch as much TV anymore but when I do, it's the new season of Mad Men, The News Room, & The Voice. Girls Season 3 is already in production which is awesome news too.

Current Movie

James finally set up the Apple TV he received for Xmas. We have watched Les Miserables and The Bachelorette. Argo, Ted and Flight are on my list to watch this weekend. I'd love to see Django Unchained but concerned about how violent it might be. 

Current Wish List

• Gorgeous sunshine on mild Autumn days
• A positive diagnosis on my bizarre health issue.
• To be confident to take leaps. 
• To be confident asking for help.

Current Highlight

I'm really enjoying my therapy sessions for treatment of anxiety. I had a rough session last week but on a whole, I thoroughly enjoy venting my issues and seeking a better path to change the way I think. 

I was blessed to finally meet Amelia 2 weekends ago. I had been counting down the weeks until her arrival and meeting her was such a blessing. You can read more about it on her blog, from her prospective. I will be doing my own post about the family photo session we did with her. It moved me to tears and I am still trying to process how beautiful the photos are. She is a truly special soul and I am glad to have her in my life. 

Photo by Amelia

James graduated from Macquarie Graduate School of Management in December and last Friday, we attended his graduation ceremony. To say I was proud was an understatement. He was one of the youngest in the graduating class, most of his peers well into their 40's and even 50's so to see my husband there at 32 years old, receiving his Masters of Business Administration, my heart swelled with pride and admiration. 

The house has been rendered and painted a gorgeous dark colour. It looks absolutely brilliant. Neighbours have been stopping on the lawn pointing, people driving past to get a glimpse of our never ending renovation. All we have to do now is the landscaping which will start very soon.

Current Lowlight

• A potentially diagnosis of a bizarre disease looming in front of me. 
• Adjusting to becoming a family of 5, I have days where the sheer business of it all leaves me exhausted and out of my element. Then I have good days where I remind myself to go gently.
• Shorter days with less sunshine can make me a little batty. I crave lots of light, sunshine, breezes and warmth. Sometimes I forget how long the winter is.

Current Abigail

My eldest girl is just growing and learning and leaping in bounds as she approaches her 5th Birthday in a few months. Her writing skills have really improved and she loves to draw maps, write letters, colour in books, make craft and paint. She can finally swing on her own on the cubby/swing set. She loves her little sister Harriet so much and pretends to breastfeed her little dolls too. She is a wonderful helper, fetching nappies, burp clothes and toys. I am so grateful to have her in my life.

She loves wearing these oversized toy glasses

Managed to catch this gorgeous image on my iphone, so beautiful

Current Edward

My little man is no longer little. This week he moved into his big bed and seems to be adjusting well. He loves to play with Abi and misses her terribly when she is at pre-school. He is very gentle with Harriet, stroking her head and calming her when she cries. His hair is a long mop of mess, very overdue for a haircut. He loves Monsters Inc and I dare say, his first trip to the cinema will be in 2 months when Monsters University is released. He enjoys having the tradesmen working on the renovation, he watches them all day and asks questions about the work they perform. He loves planes, trucks and helicopters, pointing to the sky when they fly over. We had a small intimate party for his 2nd birthday with just family and 1 set of friends, it was perfect. 

The boy on his 2nd Birthday

Photo by Amelia

Current Harriet

My youngest babe is 12 weeks old tomorrow. I'm still in the thick of the newborn haze and it feels like she was born last week. I already miss those squishy newborn cuddles. Her weight gain has been steady and she is nearly 4.5kgs. She smiles almost the entire time she is awake and is enjoying laying on the mat, swipping at hanging toys. She is a very easy going baby, seldom cries and feeds well. I feel like I've known her for years, and some days all I do is hold her on the sofa, kissing & talking to her. And I wonder why I get nothing done sometimes! 

Taken last week during bath time - 10 weeks old

Current Celeb Crush

Justin Timberlake + Suit and Tie = swoon. Jessica Biel is one lucky lady.

Current Blessing

• New clothes from asos that aren't maternity items. Hooray for new jeans and winter jumpers.
• Short, fun family outings. Taking 3 small children requires a level of planning but last weekend we hopped in the car and went for dumplings at Din Tai Fung and picked up some Zumbarons from Adriano Zumbo on the way home. It was a short outing, but thoroughly enjoyed by all. Other family outings have included fish n chips on Balmoral Beach, dumplings in the city, a wedding in Stanmore followed by a drive to show the kids the first house James and I lived in together, and various park and picnic playdates.

Balmoral Beach

Current Excitement

• Planning a little family getaway for Mother's Day, we all need a few days away!
• My husband, sister and father-in-law all celebrating Birthday's in May.
• Another family vacation planned in November to the Yacht Club Villas on Hamilton Island. Bring on the sun in the gorgeous Whitsundays!

Currently - The Summer '13 Edition

Welcome 2013! Tomorrow is the 1st of February, marking the last month of summer before the year really swings into action. Big things happening this week and I'm super excited to share it with you all.


Current Read
The manual for my new Canon 7D, my amazing Xmas gift from James and the kids.


Current Playlist

Albums:

• Flume - Flume
• Ellie Goulding - Halcyon
• Alt-J - An Awesome Wave
• Clubfeet - Heirs and Graces
• Toro Y Moi - Anything in Return
• The Rubens - The Rubens
• II - Unknown Mortal Orchestra
• Tame Impala - Lonerism

Singles:

• Clubfeet - Everything You Wanted
• Alt-J - Something Good
• Skrillex - The Reason
• Flume - Insane
• The Bloody Beetroots & Greta Svabo Bech - Chronicles of a Fallen Love
• Flight Facilities - Clair Du Lune
• All That Glitters - This Sound
• Gary Clark Jnr - Numb
• M83 - Outro

Current Colour

Green for long grass. White for the nursery walls. Yellow, just because. 

Current Food

Chicken, mineral water, cereal, fish, apple juice, popcorn.

Current Favourite Show

I am trying to get into Masterchef Professionals but it seems to lack something this year. HBO's Girls Season 2 started 3 weeks ago and I am love with this show. Please tune in now if you have missed the boat so far. 

Current Movie

After a mammoth week last week, James was exhausted so I relinquished TV rights and let him pick. We watched the newish Mission Impossible movie: Ghost Protocol which I didn't mind. Not too gory but still a little violent and intense for me being a pregnant wuss at the moment. 

I took Abi to see Wreck it Ralph last week as well, wanting to have a Mummy+Daughter day before baby makes an appearance very soon. She liked it but I think at 4.5 yrs old, alot of the storyline went over her head and by the end she was well and truly ready to leave.

Current Wish List

• Safe and healthy arrival of our baby coming VERY soon! Watch this space.
• Continued success at therapy sessions.
• A warm February to soak in the last of the summer.

Current Highlight

So many to mention these last few weeks. I was sick in hospital 3 weeks ago and James rose to the occasion like never before. All my family were interstate or overseas so we had literally no help except my sister. I was truly grateful for the little help I had. 

I have overcome my desire to need to be in control so much and have hired a cleaner for the next 6 months to help keep the house in order and I have a nanny working for me 1 day a week. I don't feel guilty because I have learned to not push away help anymore. I feel comfortable knowing that the nanny won't be forever, it is a temporary hire and I am relieved to know the kids won't miss out on attention while I settle and adjust with the new baby.

Current Lowlight

I have been feeling sick on and off for the last month of pregnancy. My ears have been blocked which has lead to dizzy spells and vertigo attacks. 3 weeks ago, I spent 2 days in hospital with a virus + dehydration + migraine. It was really unpleasant and took me another week to full recover from. I am more than ready to have this baby!

My Ob/Gyn whom I adore required heart surgery over New Year and is no longer delivering the baby. I am seeing another Dr who I trust and admire but the initial shock of changing Dr's so late in the pregnancy really rattled me. 

My parents will be overseas when baby will be delivered. I can say I am at peace with the decision now but again, the initial shock and lack of help really threw me a few weeks ago. I discussed these issues with my therapist and I feel confident that we will cope with what little resources we will have during the delivery and aftercare of the birth.

Current Abigail

My little angel is growing up so much. She seems to have a growth spurt every few weeks and she matures so quickly. This year, she is attending pre-school 3 days per week and seems to adjusting well to the extra day of learning. I shed tears as she proudly put on her sports uniform for her new kindy at her prep school, she was so proud dressing herself in a "real uniform". I'm glad I still have another 12 months to prepare myself for the REAL kindergarten! Abi is beyond excited about baby's arrival. She talks about it most days, and is very excited as her bedroom is across the hall from the nursery. 

Abi and Ted on her 1st day at the Early Learning Centre Kindy at her Prep School. 

Abi loving the leftover sparklers from New Years Eve. I see myself as a child in this photo of her.

Current Edward

The little man of the house isn't very little anymore. At 23 months old, he is blossoming into the most gorgeous boy. His language is coming along really well and he is linking words which is fantastic. He spends most of his time playing outside on his scooter, digging in the garden and following his Daddy around the house. The playroom is full of trains and trucks and books much to his pleasure. Abi and Ted amuse themselves for hours which is such a blessing to watch. I don't think he understands that he won't be the baby much longer but I am confident he will adapt quickly to becoming a family of 5.

Ted wearing his DJ Lance hat from Yo Gabba Gabba. 

My Super Ted!

Current Celeb Crush

Paul Rudd. I have loved him since 'Clueless'. I recently watched 'Wanderlust' with him and Jennifer Aniston. The movie was woeful but Mr Rudd is a sexy sexy man. 

Current Blessing

• James has taken an unexpected extended break over January to help with the kids while I've been sick and I couldn't love him more for his generosity.
• Enjoying the last few days of pregnancy. While I really want 4 children, I am still considering the idea that this could be my last time carrying and nurturing a baby in my body. I am so blessed to have this joy in my life.
• We had some small renovations take place last week which actually ran ON TIME with no delays. We have new windows throughout the house with new sliding doors and louvre windows too. Now we have more natural light throughout the house than ever before, it looks amazing.
• On a personal note, I have only gained 2.5kgs during this pregnancy. I did gain more but lost it when I was in hospital recently. I was very careful what I ate this time around and am glad all my hard work at the gym hasn't gone to waste with a huge overeating binge during these last few months.

Current Excitement

• Baby's imminent arrival very soon.
• Sharing my joy with no less than 6 other friends who are all due in the next few days/weeks. A dear friend of mine gave birth to a boy on Saturday and I love that we can share the amazing relationship that is motherhood.
• Ted's 2nd Birthday coming up next month. No party is on the cards yet but he will have a terrific celebration I am sure of.
• Change of seasons is almost here. While I love summer and all her glory, I do love the change every 3 months. I am looking forward to wearing jeans and ugg boots and rugging up with my loves.
• I received an apple green Kitchen Aid for Xmas and I am in love with it. I'd love to hear of your favourite recipes or creations as I am quite the novice baker. 

Currently - The Spring '12 Edition

As spring draws to a close and the year wraps itself up, I find myself with so much on my mind but can't find the time to put it down.

Hopefully 2013 will be a better year for me to put words down on a regular basis. I have missed reading and writing blogs in these last few months.


Current Read
Real Living, Christmas catalogues, cooking books.


Current Playlist

Albums:

• Flume - Flume
• Triple J's Like A Version 8
• Triple J's Like A Version Anthology
• The Weeknd - Trilogy
• Calvin Harris - 18 Months
• Lamb - Fear of Fours
• Of Monsters and Men - My Head is an Animal
• Sarah Blasko - I Awake

Singles:

• M83 - Outro
• Josh Pyke - Endless Summer
• Porter Robinson - Language
• The Bloody Beetroots & Greta Svabo Bech - Chronicles of a Fallen Love
• Gold Fields - Dark Again (Lights Out)
• First Aid Kit - Wolf
• Chet Faker - No Diggity
• Feist - Fire in the Water

Current Colour

White and yellow for peaches. Purple for agapanthus. Red and green for Christmas. Neon decorations from Little Paper Lane. 

Current Food

Fruit, cereal, banana bread, skewers, raita, wraps, BBQ chicken, salads. 

Current Favourite Show

Just finished the latest season of Downton Abbey which was brilliant. The new season of Geordie Shore started last week, my only trashy indulgence. After watching it, I involuntarily use words like "mortal, mint, birds, knob and slapper". It's trashy TV of the highest decree. 

Current Movie

I saw the latest James Bond movie today, Skyfall which I quite enjoyed. It wasn't too violent for me. My husband is a fan so I treated him to Gold Class tickets. Javier Bardem played a brilliant villain. Last week I saw the final installment of the Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn II. It was probably the best of all the movies, but I outgrew the series awhile back.

Current Wish List

• A simple but essential family break over the holiday season. James has just set up his own consultancy firm and has been working days, nights, weekends, almost in his sleep. A break is on the cards for everyone.
• I've had a few vertigo attacks lately which are debilitating. I hope it's a very long time before I have another one.
• Good health and holiday spirit.
• Backyard/landscaping renovations to begin and END on time. 

Current Triumphs

Not me personally, but James is about to sit his final exam for his MBA. Which means many things. He will hold his Masters of Business degree. No more uni classes or exams ever! He also started his own consultancy firm with his father. And they have already signed on a big client in their first few weeks of operation. To say I'm proud is an understatement. He took that leap this year and left a multi national company where he had worked for nearly 12 years! And now he has the freedom to work for himself doing what he loves. Life changing year for him.

Current Abigail

Little miss Abi is growing into the most gorgeous little soul. She loves playing with her brother, although we have had some heated moments lately. She enjoys going to pre-school and spending time with her friends. She loves swimming lessons and riding her scooter. Her book collection has overtaken her chest of drawers and reading is one of her daily vigils. These photos were taken a few weeks ago on a family trip to Hamilton Island. 

I see a teenage face when I look at Abi in this photo. 

Current Edward

Ted is a fully fledged little toddler. He requires haircuts more often than Abi needed at this age, his hair just grows and such a rapid rate. He worships his sister but has friendships with a few kids closer to his age and plays quite well for a 19 month old. He loves dominos, blocks, nuts and bolts, books with sound effects, his Brio train set, and riding in his Cozy Coupe car outside. He is interested in bugs, ants, butterflies and anything airborne like planes and helicopters. 

Brother and Sister sitting on Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays

Playing at the beach house on the coast

Current Celeb Crush

Matthew Crawley. The sexiest do-gooder on Downton Abbey.

Current Blessing

And blessed I am. This week marks my pregnancy at 28 weeks. I have to admit, this pregnancy has been the hardest of the 3. Indigestion, carpal tunnel, vertigo and sheer exhaustion have slowed me down but not deterred my excitement that in 11 weeks, James and I will welcome another baby into the world. We know the gender which we are trying (and failing) to keep secret. Abi is beyond excited to become a big sister again. I fear Ted might struggle with the new baby, as he will be 22 months old when he becomes the middle child. We will take those first weeks slowly as we adjust to a family of 5. 

Current Excitement

• Summer will be here in a matter of days. I cannot wait for late afternoon swims, fish n chips, freshly cut lawns, flowers blooming, decorating the house for my favourite festive holiday and enjoying the last few weeks of 2012.
• Trying to decide on a name for baby.
• Watching the kids want to help out in the kitchen and help around the house. 
• Celebrating James's MBA completion next week.
• Only 31 sleeps till Santa comes to town.

Current App

• Weatherzone for my daily weather forecast.
• What To Expect When You Are Expecting for my daily/weekly pregnancy updates.

Currently - The Winter Edition

Long time no see. Winter has led me into a blogging hibernation. Sickness plagues our home this week. The days are short but seem long. Big changes are happening right now, to each and every member of this household. Read on.

Current Read

Online hotel websites, blogs, new books from Abi's 4th Birthday. 

Current Playlist

Albums:

• Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs - Trouble
• Django Django - Django Django
• Van She - Ideas of Happiness
• The Cast of Cheers - Family
• Beach House - Bloom
• Last Dinosaurs - In A Million Years
• Twin Shadow - Confess

Singles:

• Alpine - Gasoline
• The xx - Angels
• Tame Impala - Elephant
• Cosmo Jarvis - Love This
• Lana Del Rey - Summertime Sadness
• Van She - Jamaica

Current Colour

Neon and pastels for jeans. Blue for those cold wintery Sydney skies. Orange for citrus fruits growing on my trees. Yellow for the sunshine, which is almost here.

Current Food

Curries, stir-frys, cereals, buttery toast, iced coffee, veggies and the odd burger here and there.

Current Favourite Show

The whole family has been watching the Olympics together. We like the Weightlifting, Archery, Hockey and can't wait for the Athletics to begin. The new season of True Blood is as boring as ever. Seinfeld re-runs are keeping me sane. 

Current Movie

Nothing but classics here. Weekend at Bernies, Dirty Dancing, Dodgeball, Heavyweights.

Current Wish List

• Winter be gone. I don't usually wish things away but winter is something I am ready to see the back of. Bring on spring and all her glory.
• Direction. Our family is in a rut, going through some massive changes and we have had to re-adjust many aspects of our lives. 
• A simple birthday celebration for my 31st Birthday in 3 weeks. 

Current Triumphs

The weight loss has slowed down a little, but at the moment I've lost 18kgs since January. That's 3 dress sizes. I'm wearing old clothes that haven't fit me for years. I still have a long way to go, but I have to be proud of what I've achieved.

Current Abigail

My big girl just turned 4 two weeks ago. We celebrated with a lovely 'Belle and Boo' themed tea party. The guest list was small, the food was simple and the day was effortless. My in-laws helped out which was a blessing. My parents are on their annual European adventure and missed the party but we face-timed them and Abi got to see her Nanna and Pa, live from their balcony on their Mediterranean cruise. Technology really amazes me sometimes. 

She likes playing with Barbies, doing craft every morning, colouring in and playing Reading Eggs on my Mac. She has started to wear little high heels around the house, which scares me most days. 4 going on 14. She received lots of new books for her Birthday which we have been reading every night. 

Current Edward

The baby has left the building. Teddy is officially a toddler and the tantrums come and go. He is walking, climbing, singing, laughing, eating like a machine, and growing in front of our eyes. He is cutting 3 new teeth at the moment, oh the joys. Lots of new words like yes, yum, bye bye, hi and shoes. He is a little blessing who worships his sister and missed her terribly when she is Pre-School. Cuddles, hot showers, long baths, In The Night Garden, books, blocks and the cubby house are his favourite things right now.

Current Celeb Crush

Christian Bale. The sexiest super-hero that ever lived. 

Current Blessing

The kids are happy and growing, my husband is the happiest he has been in a long time, spring is almost here, and all in all, feeling very grateful for what I have in life right now. Yes, there are unknowns ahead but I know I can embrace them head on.

Current Excitement

• Did I mention spring yet? Sunshine, salty air, fresh cut grass, warmer evenings, growth, new beginnings, everything that comes with spring.
• We are waiting to see if Abi has been accepted to the Early Learning Centre at her new Prep School. 
• Another round of renovations is about to start. This will finally conclude all the work we had planned for this dumpy dwelling. It's now 80% finished and we can't wait to add the finishing touches.
• New furniture coming from Oz Design, Domayne and NEW wallpaper that has been ordered. Check it out here. I needed advice before making such a big choice and Beth helped me make my decision. Thanks girl. 
• 3 weeks till my Birthday. All I want is dumplings!
• My whole family is heading to Hamilton Island in October for a week. 9 adults, 4 kids and lots of smiles. We are all so excited and talk about it weekly. 

Current App

Shazam for new music.

Scramble with Friends. My sister and I have been playing this like crazy!

Currently - The Autumn '12 Edition

Current Book
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Mums


Current Playlist

• Adrian Lux - Alive
• Last Dinosaurs - Andy
• Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - That's Whats Up
• Hot Chip - Night & Day
• Miike Snow - The Wave
• Snoop Dogg - Beautiful feat Pharrell
• Beach House - Wild
• Friendly Fires - Hawaiian Air
• Robyn - Dancing On My Own

Current Colour
Blue for jeans. Black for paint. White for snowy alpine dreams.


Current Food
Porridge, soup, teas, yoghurt, fresh fruit, protein shakes.


Current Favourite Show
New seasons of Mad Men & Downton Abbey. I am enjoying Masterchef so far. About to start Game of Thrones too.


Current Movie

• My Blue Valentine - I had Tivo'd this ages ago and thought I would watch it. While it was harrowing and sad, the acting was brilliant. Yet I didn't find myself enjoy the film.

• The Ides of March - This was James's pick and I thought after hearing the cast list, this would be a sure thing. Alas, it was not. The characters were not detailed enough, it skipped in sections and I felt like vital parts of the story were missing. Ryan Gosling was the star. Clooney felt arrogant and boring. Evan Rachel Wood was a standout too.

• The Hangover Part II - I attempted to watch this on the flight to LA. It was so terrible. The story was exactly the same recipe as the first movie. The same lead roles but the supporting cast was terrible. I skipped through half of it and even then, I still knew what happened in the end.

Current Wish List
* More downtime
* Tropical holiday with my extended family
* Patience and forgiveness
* Do a creative course at Apple about making videos


Current Triumphs
This is the big one. I lost 12.9kgs on the Michelle Bridges 12WBT program. I finished in the Top 8% of the program. I am currently sitting at 15kgs lost since January 1st, which is just amazing. Granted, I still have a long way to go till I reach my goal weight, but I am pretty stoked that my hard work is paying off, well falling off! 


Current Abigail
My little love dove is turning 4 in less than 3 months. I cannot believe it. She is quite the comedian, cracking jokes and talking in funny voices. She hates showers and loves baths, although this changes every week. She loves Masterchef and watching people cook. Ironically, meal times are a real struggle at the moment. She shuns most new things until she sees her baby brother try it first. She loves jumping and dancing. Her favourite books at the moment are Finding Nemo, Dig Dig Digging and The Tiger Who Came to Tea.

Abi + Ted posing at Kiama Blowhole last weekend

Current Edward
14 months old and we have a walking baby! He recently had his first hair cut too. On the weekend, Teddy ate tuna sashimi and prawns. He eats absolutely everything, especially if it's on my plate! He sleeps 13 hours a night, loves the bath and water. We started Gymbaroo last week and he seemed to like it. Not too many words yet, but that's ok. He's a listener, I can tell. The slippery slide, wheely bug, blocks, arrowroot biscuits, custard, bananas and ham are all other favourite things.

Half asleep at brunch @ Berry SourDough Cafe last weekend

Current Celeb Crush
Don Draper/Jon Hamm

Current Blessings
Good health, a supportive family, fresh air, sunshine, time for the gym, new friendships blooming, cocooning myself in the doona every morning.


Current Excitement

• Starting Round 2 of Michelle Bridges 12WBT in 3 weeks. I am aiming to lose 15kgs.
• Birthday extravaganza has begun. Many birthdays on the horizon, lots of shopping + cards + cake.
• Planning a trip to the mountains in August for some skiing and alpine R+R.
• Having just attended The Nursery Workshop hosted by Tim + Kesh Coulson, I have never been more inspired to take photos and feel connected to photography. I have a separate post with more debriefing coming soon. Here's a photo I took my with newfound skills!

Current App
Instagram for photography
Weatherzone for my necessary weather report before leaving my bed
Virgin Active to book gym classes

Currently - The March '12 Edition

Where have I been lately, you ask? I'm here. I've started 2012 with a huge shift in the way I live my life. I am super active, exercise every day, visit the gym at least 5 times a week and prepare healthy, fresh meals for the family. I am seeking help for my anxiety. I am seeing old friends, making new ones and ditching the toxic ones. I was so sick of the way I was living my life, so I changed it. You can find out more by reading below;


Current Book
Michelle Bridges 'Crunch Time' cookbook.


Current Playlist

• Duck Sauce - Big Bad Wolf. This song is quite annoying but it pumps me up at the gym. 
• Florence and The Machine - Shake It Out (Benny Benassi remix) I love Flo's original but this is tres awesome for the gym. I usually play this on the drive to the gym.
• Above and Beyond - Sun & Moon. Another gym song. I love the uplifting trance, don't I! One thing about working out at the gym, it has re-ignited my love for dance music. 
• Ben Lee - Kids (Originally by MGMT). This song isn't new but it's an amazing cover. 
• Lily Allen - Womanizer (Originally by Britney Spears). Again, not new but a truly awesome cover. I love Lily, I've seen her perform twice and she is sublime live.
• The Temper Trap - Rabbit Hole. They are back with a new single and I love it. 
• The Black Keys - Gold On The Ceiling. HUGE BK fan here. This is one of my favourites on the newish album. Cannot wait to see them live in 3 weeks at Coachella.
• Boy & Bear - Walking On A Dream (Originally by Empire of the Sun). B&B are growing on me. They sound very similar to Mumford & Sons. This cover revives a great song and gives it a mellow twist.
• Bluejuice - Video Games. Lexi at PMM has superb music taste because she loves this as much as I do. I love Bluejuice, great Australian band and while I'm still not decided on Lana Del Rey, this cover is fantastic!
• Bluejuice - Act Your Age. While you're checking out Bluejuice, listen this super fun song of theirs.

Current Colour

Green for Edward's eyes. Yellow for sunshine. White for foggy autumn mornings.

Current Food

Rocket/spinach salads. Curries and stir-frys. Wraps. Protein Shakes. Fresh juice.

Current Favourite Show

Mad Men is BACK, finally! The 2 hour opening episode last week was fantastic. The Biggest Loser and Curb Your Enthusiasm are also being watched. Game of Thrones and Downton Abbey are starting again soon too.

Current Movie

• Moneyball with Brad Pitt & Jonah Hill was surprisingly great. Brad Pitt looked hotter than ever, and I loved the story for all its highs and lows, maybe because of my love for baseball. 
• The Descendants was really different. George Clooney played a clueless father being cheated on by his wife. Tragedy strikes the family and the story was quite intense and emotional. Some of the scenes were pretty raw. Filmed in Hawaii, the landscape of this film is out of this world.
• I saw Twilight Breaking Dawn Pt 1 with my sister at the movies but I watched it again with its release onto DVD 2 weeks ago. I liked the books a few years ago but feel I have outgrown the whole story. I guess I feel obligated to see out the movies. The soundtracks for these movies are always stellar.

Current Wish List

• Overcome immediate stress and anxiety
• Dumplings at Din Tai Fung
• Good weather for Easter

Current Triumphs

• Am now exercising every day of the week with only 1 rest day.
• Have lost a mammoth 9.6 kilos in 7 weeks and 31 cms from my body. 
• Actively seeing a new therapist who I feel comfortable and confident with.
• Feeling fitter and healthier than I have in years. 

Current Abigail

Abi is 3 one day, 13 the next. She seems to be growing up right in front of my eyes. Her days are spent at swimming lessons, pre-school, the park, the cubby house in the yard and playing with her brother. She is now swimming unassisted and diving/jumping into the pool. She loves her weekly swim class. Her swim teacher also teaches my kickboxing class and Abi likes knowing we have a 'teacher' in common. Things have calmed down at pre-school and she has made some new friends. Her favourite things at the moment include Shrek, talking about the Easter Show, painting, drawing outside, riding her scooter, playing educational games on my Mac, and helping her brother learn to walk.

Enjoying a milkshake at the gym after swimming lessons.

Helping to feed her brother dinner.

Current Edward

Ted turned 1 a few weeks ago and we celebrated with a small party of family and friends. He seemed to enjoy every minute of it. He is *almost* walking. He cruises around furniture but doesn't have the confidence to let go which is fine. He loves bathtime, going for walks in the double pram, cars, trucks, watching planes and music. I'm still breastfeeding him although I think I will wean him soon. He loves to eat and drink and play with his food. His hair is long but I'm not sure if I want to cut it yet. He is a little prince, we adore him more and more every day.

Trying his first corn on the cob and loving it!

His first taste of egg. Wasn't 100% keen on it yet.

Current Celeb Crush

Brad. Just getting better with age.

Current #1 Blessing

I am blessed that my husband can work from home as often as he wants. This means, with a little organising and scheduling, that I can go leave the kids with him while I workout. We go on family walks every few days and overall, he is less stressed than when he commuted to the office. Our family is in a really good place right now.

My boys...

Current Excitement

• The countdown is on. Less than 3 weeks till Coachella Festival. I still can't believe I'm going. 
• Easter is next week. I will definitely be treating myself with some chocolate goodness. All things in moderation is best. 

Current App

Nike GPS run tracker. I use this on my daily walks around my suburb. I have used many exercise apps but I find this app has the most accurate GSP signal. It shows you where you walked the slowest, how hard you walked and overall calories burned too.

Currently - The Summer '12 Edition

Summer in Sydney? Hardly. I can count on one hand, the days of sunshine and temps over 30'c. This has been the coldest summer since the 1960's. While the rest of Australia has battled heat waves, flooding, cyclones, fires and storms, Sydney has been wet and humid and drab. It's so sad and miserable. 

So I'm declaring summer over. With only 3 weeks till Autumn arrives, I am looking forward to the change in seasons. 

Current Book
Donna Hay magazines, Michelle Bridges 'Crunch Time' cookbook and Bill Granger 'Basics'.


Current Playlist

• Lana Del Rey - Summertime Sadness. This song is so fitting for our drab weather. Love her or hate her (and there are alot of haters!) her voice is haunting and beautiful at once.
• Bon Iver - Michicant. I've proclaimed my love for Bon Iver many times. This song is so beautiful. I am counting down the weeks till their show at the Opera House. 
• Givers - Up, Up, Up. This song is adorable. Listen now!
• Active Child - Hanging On. A dreampop chillwave song if I've ever heard one. This is so lovely.
• The Joy Formidable - Whirring. Cute as a button, this Welsh band have a distinct indie/alt sound. This reminds me of watching Recovery on ABC as a teenager.
• Yuck - Get Away. These Brit rock lads sound like 90's rockers Sonic Youth. Great track.
• Florence and The Machine - Take Care (Drake cover)
• M83 - Wait. One of my favourite songs from the new album, this is dreamy.
• M83 - Midnight City (Live in Sydney at Laneway Festival). I was there, and this was brilliant. AND I get to see them again at Coachella in 10 weeks!

Current Colour

Grey for clouds. Green for my lawn which is growing at Olympic speeds. Red for the gym.

Current Drink

Water. Up n Go Vive. Coffee. But I'm dreaming about mexican beer that I'll be drinking whilst in LA.

Current Food

Yoghurt. Cereal. Buffalo Mozzarella. Tuna salad. Dumplings. Noodles. Chicken schnitzel. Fresh rolls.

Current Favourite Show

Gossip Girl, Wife Swap, One Born Every Minute, Spicks and Specks and Modern Family.

Current Wish List

* Faster metabolism

* Edward's teething pain to subside

* Sunshine

* Lunch at Cafe Sopra

Current Triumphs

* Went to the gym EVERY day last week except Friday. Did 2 x spin classes.

* Have lost nearly 3kgs since 'Operation Get Fit' began.

* Booked in to see a new therapist to get some advice about my anxiety. This is a BIG deal for me & I'm excited and relieved.

Current Abigail

She had a rough week last week at Pre-School. Her little friend was absent both days so she was a little lonely. And a boy with behavioural issues was bullying her all day last Wednesday. She came home with some red marks on her and I discussed with her teacher. Apparently this boy hits several children and requires 1-on-1 attention so hopefully things will calm down soon. At the moment, she loves Shrek, Toy Story books, saladas for lunch, and had the best time with her Aunty and her boyfriend who babysit the kids on Sunday. 

Current Edward

The little man is teething at the moment. Which is hellish. Lots of tears, pulling of the ears, irritability and general sookiness. He eats MORE than his older sister and devours whole sandwiches, pasta, meatloaf, spag bol, and veggies. He loves bathtime, clapping, playing with Abi's toys like Woody and Buzz Lightyear, and going in the car. 

Current Celeb Crush

Clooney. Getting better with age.

Current #1 Blessing

Edward and Abi are my blessings each and every month. But over the summer especially. Spending so much time together over the Xmas/holiday period makes me realise how truly blessed I am. Here they are, playing in the playroom together.

Current Excitement

* Going to the beach house next weekend for some R&R. Hoping for some sunshine too.

* Going to the gym with a friend. It's much easier going to a class when you have company. Thanks Leesh!

* Edward's 1st Birthday in 1 month which is going to be vintage circus themed.

Current App

Calorie King. Now I think twice before hitting the pantry. Did you know a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese has 852 calories?! Oh the humanity!