Minti Summer Collection

I love finding and buying clothes for my kids. Even more than I love buying clothes for myself. 

One of my favourite brands 'Minti' just released their new summer collection for kids and I love it. I could do some serious damage on the credit card but will try and restrain myself. I have bought things from Minti in the past and the quality is really fantastic which is really important when buying kids clothes. 

Here are some of my favourite items on my wish list:

Minti Girls Relax Cat Playsuit

Minti Girls I Am Awesome Frankie Dress

Minti Baby Peace Owl One Piece

Minti Baby Peace Owl Envelope Tee

Minti Happy Face Comfy Pant

Minti Boys Circus Elephant Tee

Minti Boys Cloud Face Burglar Tee

Minti Boys Rainbow Lips Tee

Minti Boys Hello Friends Burglar Tee

Minti Girls Scoop Rainbow Tee

Minti Girls Heart Hugs Dress

Minti Girls Happy Face Layer Dress

Tangled

Abi and I recently discovered the Disney movie 'Tangled'.


I bought the DVD for her in Woolworths a few months ago when it was released and kept asking her if she wanted to watch it. But stubborn Abi, wanted to watch her usual favourites like Toy Story 3, Beauty and the Beast, Dumbo and The Lion King. Finally, after my sister Louise chimed in how much she would like it, Abi sat down with me and watched it.


And it hasn't left the DVD player since. I can honestly, and almost shamefully say, that Abi watches it nearly every day. She is IN LOVE with this movie. We have the soundtrack on my ipod and on days when I say no to the movie, we listen to the soundtrack on the ipod dock, dancing around the house.


I'm a big kid at heart and love watching the movie too. The songs are adorable and Mandy Moore was the perfect choice as Rapunzel. My sisters and I can sing all the songs from Annie, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Aladdin, we like Disney movies in our house, ALOT!


I have no idea how long this obsession might last. Toy Story 3 was the last movie to leave the DVD player, and that was on high rotation for nearly 12 months.


The last song of the movie is probably my favourite. I love Grace Potter from way back and fell in love with this song even more when I found out she co-wrote and sang the song.


Have a fantastic long weekend, and if you need something to dance to, I highly recommend this.

Happy Friday

Wishing you all a very happy Friday. This video should help.

Enjoy!

xx

Weekend

Did some painting in the sunshine on Friday afternoon.

Woke up early on Saturday and headed to Palm Beach.

Found a lovely shady spot and enjoyed the sunshine and fresh breeze.

Abi and James went to the playground and Abi made friends while I fed Ted and we cuddled on the rug.

We devoured some simple cheeseburgers and headed back home.

Detoured on the way and signed up to a new gym in our area, Virgin Active.

James and I both need to change our lifestyles to include alot more exercise.

Am already looking forward to swimming and yoga and pilates.

Am sure I will bump into both my sisters, because they both work out there.

Headed to my niece's 2nd Birthday party yesterday.

Tried to stay cool in the shade with Edward while Abi climbed the playground with her cousins and friends.

Made bacon and egg rolls for dinner and read the papers.

Went to bed early and watched a few episodes of Arrested Development.

Enjoyed every moment of the weekend with my loved ones. This weekend is going to be busy. We are off to a wedding in the Hunter Valley, cannot wait!

Currently - The August '11 Edition

A few changes this month, hope you enjoy xx

Current Book

There is so little inspiration out there at the moment. I was in Borders today and honestly couldn't even pick one book that sounded enticing. Still want to get my hands on Tina Fey's Bossypants and Keith Richards "Life" autobiography.

Current Playlist

Alot of great new material this month. These albums have been high on rotation lately;

• The Weeknd - House of Balloons
• Lupe Fiasco - Lasers
• Drake - Thank Me Later
• Gotye - Making Mirrors
• Florence and the Machine - What The Water Gave Me (single)
• Feist - How Come You Never Go There (single)
• M83 - Midnight City (single)

Current Colour

Blue for swimming lessons. Green for baby food. Yellow for sunshine.

Current Drink

Water. Ginger Beer. Iced Coffee. Passionfruit juice. Lime cordial.

Current Food

Thai takeout. Porridge. Broccoli. Lasagne. Rice Pudding. Meatloaf. Baby food. 

Current Favourite Show

True Blood is almost finished, only 2 episodes till the finale. The whole season has been quite lacklustre. The new season of Australia's Next Top Model has started off slow. I wish Charlotte Dawson was the host, she is super hilarious. Come Dine With Me, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Sesame Street have also been favourites in the last few weeks.

Current Wish List

Same as last month. A new neck and upper back. A tropical holiday. A cleaner. 

Current Triumphs

James and I finally had our 1st date night since Edward was born. We went to Rockpool for my Birthday dinner and it was amazing.

Current Abigail

She can dress herself head to toe. She loves Katy Perry. She wants a pet dog. She is ALREADY talking about Christmas and Santa. She can move around my iMac like a pro, opening apps and taking photos of herself on the camera. She is 3 going on 13.

Current Edward

My little champ is onto solids now, 2 meals a day. He loves brocoli and pumpkin. He rolls over but his favourite place to be is laying on my lap. He loves to cuddle and bath time is his favourite thing in the world, besides the boob!

Current Celeb Crush

Jason Bateman. Super cute 80's child star turned movie superstar. I love him in Arrested Development.

Current #1 Blessing

I turned 30 last week and was completely spoiled by my family. It really took my breathe away how loved everybody made me feel. 

Current Excitement

A few friends have recently had babies or are about to give birth. I'm super excited for them all. James is nearly finished Grad School for this term which means a few weeks of uni at nights and on weekends, no text books or study groups, yay!

Current App

Woolworths Supermarket app is awesome. You just scan items around your house and it adds them to a shopping list. It even saves your local Woolies in the app so it tells you where each item is in your local store. Pretty impressive!

Tokyo Rising

This short film about life in Tokyo, post tsunami, is just brilliant.

Having been to Japan 3 times in my life, I admire and respect their way of life very much. They are amazing people and I pray they can rebuild and start again after the devastating events in March this year.

If you watch only one film about the rebuilding of Japan, I highly recommend this one.

xx

30

The big day is here. Today I'm 30. I feel better today, much better than I have the last few weeks. I've been dreading today, like I dread my Birthday every year. But here it is, and there's nothing I can do to stop it.


I feel ready to move on from my 20's in a positive way. I plan to lose all that tension and anxiety about who I am and what I want to be.


I am going to embrace life. Did I think my life would be like this 10 years ago? Probably not. But I love what I have. 2 gorgeous kids. An amazing partner. A fantastic family who care about me. A new home that I feel blessed to call my own and my health. At the end of the day, what more can you ask for.


Tonight my parents are minding my babes while James and I are heading to dinner at Rockpool in the city. Tomorrow, no plans yet. We will see where the day takes us. Mathildas Market, the beach, who knows. Sunday, my whole family are heading to Bather's Pavilion at Balmoral Beach for a gorgeous lunch. Hopefully the sun will shine, the salty breeze will blow and we will laugh and be merry.


See you on the other side. xx

July - In Photos

I've been so lost lately. Can't find my mojo. My blogging mojo. My friendship mojo. I'm barely holding my wife mojo together too, while focussing everything on my 2 tots.

Here is what I did in July. Easier to show you then to tell you.

She played with her toys

We went to Fagan Park in Galston,

where we had a picnic and cuddles.

My new double pram is amazing!

We drove to Glenorie and enjoyed the scenic back roads

Edward rolled over and loves tummy time on the mat

Abi is in love with Masterchef and made me play-doh cupcakes for days

We are really settled into our new place now. I have a love affair with my kitchen.

Saturday nights are for takeaway and DVDs

Edward's favourite place to fall asleep, on my lap

Abi is delighted that she still fits in the bumbo baby seat!

My little mermaid at swimming lessons

A very generous gift from my inlaws! Abi turned 3 and this is her awesome new cubby/playground. I never have to visit the park again!

Edward tried his first meal, organic rice cereal. He wasn't thrilled.

Here is my angel on her 3rd Birthday. She was so inspired by Cadel Evans winning the Tour De France that she wore her helmet around for 3 days.

We went to the beach house for 4 days. Why on earth do we need so much stuff?!

James and Abi swam at the indoor pool and enjoyed the quiet family time,

until I ended up here. 6am, Monday morning, Wyong Hospital ER. Was picked up from the beach house by an ambulance with chest pains and difficulty breathing. Once I arrived at the ER, I was more frightened by the general filth of the ER wards and the mental patients roaming the aisles. Avoid Wyong Hospital at all costs.

Edward loves sitting in his bumbo seat

Where did my other baby go?! 3 going on 13 sometimes

My crazy outspoken lady with my quiet prince, what a pair!

Siblings. Best Friends. Love.

Edward and I playing around with photobooth on my iMac

Currently - The July Edition

Current Book: No new books this month. Have been reading some magazines though, Donna Hay, Real Living, Home Beautiful and Masterchef.


Current Playlist:

• M83 - Midnight City
• Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know
• Yeasayer - Crazy (Seal Cover)
• Avicii & Sebastien Drums - My Feelings For You
• Portishead - Over
• Sarah Blasko - Hey Ya (Outkast Cover)

Current Shame - Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Chocolate. My cocoa friend and I have been having a serious affair. 

Current Colour: Gorgeous blue winter skies. 

Current Drink: Water. English Breakfast tea.

Current Food: Wraps, oats, cheerios, eggs, pasta bakes, spinach, feta.

Current Favourite Show: Curb Your Enthusiasm has started a new season and it is brilliant. Larry David is a genius. I laugh till I cry watching this show. If you have never seen it, I highly recommend it.

Current Wish list: A tropical holiday. A healed back. Willpower to stick to a diet. 

Current Needs: Must make time to get to the pool and swim laps. My physio has ordered me to. No excuses now!

Current Triumphs: Abigail's 3rd birthday party was a complete success! 32 guests, lots of food, wine and laughter. She is STILL talking about it, 2 weeks later.

Current Bane of my Existence: Laundry. I hate you. I often walk past you and just ignore you for days.

Current Celebrity Crush: Leo DiCaprio. I recently watched 'Inception' and 'Revolutionary Road'. He totally deserves the top spot on the Forbes Highest Earners list. What a god. Kate Winslet, you should totally seduce him!

Current Indulgence: Long showers. Sitting in the sunshine.

Current #1 Blessing: My inlaws and parents have been real troopers the last few weeks. I barely had to lift a finger at Abi's party. They did most of the catering and cleaning on the day. They mind Abi and Ted when I need to duck to the shops and run errands, they clean my house and fold my washing, they let me whinge on the phone and still offer stellar advice. I feel pretty blessed having them in my life.

Current Slang or Saying: Random movie quotes from Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, Annie and Goonies.

Current Outfit: asos, bonds, peter alexander, nike.

Current Excitement: I'm turning 30 in 3 weeks. I can't believe it. I am excited, but also a little sad.

Current Mood: Feeling sorry for myself and my recent bad bouts of health. I know I'm the only one who can fix it and overcome my health problems, but in the mean time, woe is me.

Current Link: 

• asos.com - for great ideas for spring fashion
• ittibitti.com - I am considering making the switch to modern cloth nappies. These are the cutest for sure!
• qantas.com - I am always browsing on here, calculating where my frequent flyer points could take me.

Current App: 

• Instagram - very cool photo app. Love seeing my friends creative photos.