Time is all they need... (it's been one of those days)

I've had a week of days that I don't like my kids all that much but I love them anyway. The days we all know too well; that start great.. get a little shall I say, horrible in the middle, and end with cuddles and gorgeous sleeping children. So this week I tried out some new tactics to settle down the horrible middle we all hate so much... here is how I went.

Ignore them: Worked well until I was told my one of the builders in the house (note constant renovations and 17 builders roaming around) I should really pick him up and give him a cuddle now. Guilt rushed over me and I said "sorry baby, I love you but can you please stop winging now, its slowly killing me"... he hit me in the face and laughed it off. FAIL

Distract them with toys: Once they had realised what I was doing when creeping away for a coffee they started throwing toys at each other... toys were a fail.

Feed them: Great until the food ran out and I wasn't going to over feed them!

Take them out of the house: Surely fresh air will work a treat! All went very well... the park became my new hero and I thought if anything ever happened to this park I would be distraught. On the way back we needed to pick up some milk... I should have known better. All went down hill quicker than they ate their snacks! Home we go.

Match them: At one point in this day the noise was so loud I thought how in the world can I calm this down. And then I thought how about I just join them. So I did ... Terrible I know but it was soothing. That was until they wanted to beat me instead!

So I gave in, it was a day for cuddles, love and time together. Sometimes there is no amount of distracting you can do that surpasses the need for YOU. Makes for a good story and a strong heart at the end of the day.

For my nanny children,
C x

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A post about Autumn (before it's over already!)

Autumn; in recent years I have realised what a treasure Autumn is in this part of the country. Unlike some other parts of the world, Autumn here in sunny Queensland often only lasts for a few short weeks. Summer here lingers. It stretches into March, usually April, over enthusiastic with it’s relentless scorching heat, doggedly carrying on until we are all begging for relief; “just a smidgen of cool, please?! Winter, where is winter?!” 

my favourite view from our backyard: up

The only hint of change comes in the slightly later sunrises, and the earlier nights. But finally, rather abruptly, it arrives. One morning you’re suddenly pulling on your uggs and you realise it’s here - Autumn. Autumn; with it’s crisp mornings and evenings, but-not-giving-up-just-yet hot days. It is glorious picnic weather and sun showers, breezy days and quieter evenings. Grab it while you can, because any day now the biting winter cold will show up and Autumn will be done for the year.

Sunny backyard picnic.
See what I mean? Hard to believe it's autumn.

First in line, calling for the cooler months, is usually where you can find yours truly. Typically my favourite season, I’m usually counting down the days, itching to get out my boots and scarves…  but this year, I’m uncharacteristically… hesitant. This may be the first year that I am hesitant about winter. I think it has something to do with not being pregnant this summer and being able to enjoy it more (read: being able to be outside and not just want to spend the entire season in a freezer room…  and being able to fit into my shorts..). I’ve really loved all the outside things we’ve been doing with the kids this year too. Summer is fun with kids. And I still have so many things I’d like to do while it’s hot.

#bringoutyoursoupspoons

So I’m soaking up the sun a little longer, wearing shorts and dresses and such while I still can. But I’m slowing bringing out the cardigans. Soups have started making their way into our kitchen again and the pantry is packed with pumpkins (yes that is fun to say); the dressing gowns and scarves are coming out of storage; and I’m being slowly but surely reminded why I love this chilled, cozy, snuggly time. 

Autumn is here. But before I know it, it will be gone. Time to embrace it I suppose! The cool reminds me to slow down and enjoy warm company. To get more cuddles in. So that is what I’ll be aiming for these next few months! …. Just let me pop outside for a while more… See you next year, Summer… Autumn, bring me my slippers….

H x

Live Life or Capture It?

Something that has been on my mind for some time is a debate I would say most people have with themselves regularly. Should we enjoy the moment or is it 'ok' to capture it? Do I watch this event through the screen of my phone or camera so that I can relive it or do I just enjoy the moment and hope my memory holds up? It feels like a question that needs to be answered.

 

I spend my days mostly in the company of children, so there are plenty of moments I wish would last forever but they don't. When I don't catch the moment on camera, I often later wish I had. So I doubt myself. But then there are the moments that only happen once, that I never managed to capture but they've stayed with me anyway. So what's the difference? It makes me wonder, does my memory know to work harder when I haven't captured it? And know when I'm aloud to forget it?

Many new mums have the moment when they profusely thank their Mother (or apologise for all the years of pain!). I am not a Mother, but as a Nanny to 4 children, I have these moments day in and day out!  I grew up in a house where our mum had the video camera at the ready and her commentary perfected. For this I am so grateful, I can still hear my grandparents voices and remember all the amazing memories that my parents created for us ! The more I write the more I realise how much I have to say is influenced by her!  She is the queen of happy mediums, the "it all works out in the wash" statement preacher ! So, as always, taking on my mothers wise words, I have created a way to decide whether I should "live life, or capture it".

The Happy Medium - What is more important?

1 - Is this something I really need to be present for? This is simple really, is the person on the other end of the capturing going to be upset, if I watch through my camera? Or further more, are you? No one ever wants to only remember something through the lens of a camera rather than in real life! Imagine showing off your photos from the Grand Canyon when getting home and not actually remember seeing it yourself.

2 - Is this a  'never again event'? Sometimes these 'events' need to just be taken in, so this can be a tricky one. Ask yourself; is this the only chance I have to get this on video?  Will I regret not having a copy?

3 - Be realistic, ask yourself;  is this something you would never re-watch but would value more through your own eyes? Regardless of it being a one off or a regular occurrence.

Notes if you have time to consider it;
-Will it bring me joy? If I take this image/video will I enjoy looking back at it.
- Do a bit of both! Take some unnecessary images, who cares!
- Recognise what can't be captured. Sometimes there is just no point, an image just doesn't do it justice.
- Everything in moderation. I have over 100 photos of my grandparents standing beside the signs that say "Welcome to ....." from every holiday they went on. Don't do this! Your family won't know what to do with them and they are irrelevant down the track.

I recently went to New Zealand. It was the most spectacular place. I took plenty of photos, but this was the first time I really put into place my new found way to answer this debate! The reality is sometimes you just can't capture a moment or do it justice.

I acknowledge that some of these moments happen so quickly you don't have the time to go through 'pros' and 'cons'. Don't think too hard about it or try to take the perfect image, otherwise you may be creating a moment that isn't authentic, just capture it and move on! In the end just remember that it doesn't matter if you can't capture it, you were there, you were present in that moment anyway. I still take plenty of images and videos and have to cull regularly, but I am learning and slowly making this a new habit. So that I can both live life AND capture it!

Happy snapping!

Ps - All the images in this post are authentic, they are all moments that I knew I wanted to capture! Moments that meant something and that I would look back on with joy. Look at my little nanny baby giving me a hug! I am inundated with hugs daily but just this once I wanted to capture it! I never want to forget my feelings in that moment, and that's a photo I will never regret taking!

Love C x

Hoarding and Sorting

Image by Bartholomew Cooke

Somewhere in that strange period between Christmas and New Year, where I lose track of days - because surely it's still Christmas but we are wishing each other ‘Happy New Year’ instead now? Righto! - where my body is still in food coma mode but my mind is buzzing with “crapsicles, its nearly NEXT YEAR already?!” - I got a chance to do a little spring (summer?!) cleaning of my office. You really can’t tell. It still kind of looks like the long forgotten storage room at the back of the house that SHALL NOT BE ENTERED. But I promise I got some stuff sorted, however much mess is still waiting to be dealt with. 

Like many people, the new year for me brings on an urge to get organised. Or at least a little bit of breathing space after all the rush of last minute present wrapping and baking of the week before. Or a good dose of guilt.  Probably a healthy combination of all. So I satisfied that urge just a little by tackling the disfunction in my work space. 

And boy were there some goodies to be found, it’s no wonder I’m out of room. The list of ridiculous things I’ve been stashing away to sort out ‘some day’ goes on and on. There were piles of blank CDs that I really would never use - with cd folders (really?). CASSETTES!! Old oil paints with their lids dried shut. Boxes from items that will never go back to their boxes (that was a big aha moment for me). There was a spring from a broken pen chucked in there for goodness sake!! And I finally went through that embarrassing bag of paperwork from I won’t say how many years ago… but it included some bank statements of my husband's, back from when he was still my boyfriend if that gives you any clue.

After making many valuable discoveries like these, I had to face the truth, and I’ll level with you guys so you can keep me honest with myself ok? ….. I have hoarding tendencies. Now, It’s not that bad. I’m not fearful I will end up on next seasons “Hoarder next door” * Because balancing out my collecting habits is my love of a good purge - I can regularly swing strongly between “KEEP ALL THE THINGS!!!!”  and  “GET RID OF ALL THE THINGS!!!!”. I don’t know what you call a half hoarder, half minimalist - but that’s me.

It’s clear though, looking at this list I found, that I certainly have some habits to break: the first eight I am guilty of. EIGHT!  (Though I’m not convinced how accurate this list is. I’m quite sure those are just completely regular things that all regular, perhaps slightly disorganised, people do. Right?! )

I like to think that a lot of the (other) things I own are very useful, so I am aiming to cull the unnecessary (see-ya, old packaging) and the ridiculous (the pen springs and such….) and then organise it all so that it’s easy to access and actually USE. Enter the pinterest organisation tips stalking. Here are some of the things I’ve found that I may or may not put to good use this year. I’ve listed them in case anybody else is after some handy tips to get their New Years organising resolution under way (and good luck to you!!). We have also been collecting ideas on our Pinterest board if you’re interested in any more ideas!

....

Camille Styles' Gorgeous Office

- Now I fully intend to get on this “Marie Kondo” band wagon the whole world is excited about - but deadlines and, you know, LIFE are keeping that well at bay for the foreseeable future - so intention is what I’ll hold onto for now. Perhaps you can give it a go first and let me know how it goes?

- Start small

- THIS is something I need to tackle, my photos are a mess, and I know I’m not alone. Maybe next year? ;) 

- Oh THAT’s why…. 

- The Organised Housewife - That sounds nothing like me. But there so many ideas here I don't know where to start.

- And for the craft stash

 - I am a massive Kikki K fan. And happily they have a pile of gorgeousness on sale right now to get you sorted.

Happy resolutioning!

H x

* not to make light of the genuine struggle that those with a serious hoarding disorder or their families face. That’s no joke.

A NEW New Years!

We haven't yet wished you all a very merry christmas, but we hope it was a safe and very happy one! We took a little brain brake ourselves to refresh and start a new before the New Year arrives. 

Every year we all try and take a step towards, a better you or a better way of doing things within yourself or your family! But why don't they ever work? I feel quite confident in saying that we all scratch our heads and wonder why we didn't achieve our New Years Resolution but yet every year we jump back to the habit and make another, maybe even with the same one, determined to achieve it this year! 

Chantelle - I like to start any new years resolutions on the 26th! It means by the time it becomes an official "resolution" I am well on my way to creating the new habit! However I know it is too late to tell you this now but for future New Years, keep it in mind. 

Hayley - I think it's twice as hard to achieve a new goal when there is something from the past year still needing to be let go of. So take a moment, if you please, to reflect on what is holding you down before you take that next leap. Allow yourself to let go of any regrets or guilt you carry from the year past (or longer!).  Be it an elaborate candle lit ritual or a silent moment to yourself when the clock strikes 12. It's the perfect time to forgive yourself and make some room.

Now our Mother has shared with us a NEW idea for New Years resolutions and we wanted to share it all with you. Knowing our family, this NEW idea will now become a tradition for us, so jump on board and see if your family get anything out of it (originally inspired by this post on Sunlit Spaces).

Our Resolutions for the Year.

First let's talk about writing that promise. Instead of just telling yourself, or even just saying your resolution out loud, how about you write it down, and how about trying to write it different to the usual resolution. A resolution is often oddly written/said in a way that is already discouraging, when you say "I want to loose weight" does that really encourage you? or how about "no more arguing"? Try to write it down in a positive and encouraging way, like, "I will loose weight" or "we will do our best to stop arguing, especially over little things". If making a resolution isn't working for you, try it in a new way. 

H - That was all a bit much for me...
so here are some more realistic things I should really aim for.
That last one is a lost cause really. Memory, where are you?

The next step is to place it into your stocking so that you know it will be there waiting for you when the next christmas arrives! Sit down with your family, it could be your 2 children and husband, your cat and your dog or just you but it is important anyway. Try to come up with a few goals for your family as a whole and have everyone choose something important to them. When you have done this write them down and put them into a stocking, but also write them somewhere everyone can see it! Let's just say its a new take on family rules! Its easy to just say what we want to achieve the new year but it is much harder to actually achieve it if you are not accountable for the progress.

Good Luck!

Happy New Year!

H&C x

The Lunch Box Curse

Packing lunches would have to be high on my "really do I have to this" list! The yogurts that come home hot and I throw away, the squashed fruit! The never ending change in what they 'like', drive me totally crazy. Sometimes I think I will spice it up, add something new, be creative, surely they will eat it today... NOPE, into the bin it goes.

Tuckshop is my hero! When I really need them to eat for brain power in an exam or a sports carnival it always saves the day, I choose the semi healthy option for the 9 year old and just pray the 12 year old makes the right choice while in line.

Now, I hate wastage, not just of the food but of the money.... mention to them that "there are children who don't even have food" and the normal response I get is "Well it is sad but, that isn't me". I used to give that response to my Mum and I always got the 'I'm not angry I'm disappointed face' starring back at me. We are lucky we have chickens to give the food to which makes it feel slightly better but seriously! How much perfectly good food that the kids could have eaten do the chickens need? They are the best fed chickens around. All I can say is at least the chickens are eating all their food groups right?!

I love the "I did eat something"... to which I respond, Eating the treat i put in there doesn't count! I tried the you don't get any treats until you eat your 'real' food thing. I tried the you only get half your lunch until you show me you even eat that thing! I tired the 'you have to eat it for afternoon tea then' thing. All of it worked... or so I thought, until I put the treat back and they are back to old tricks and the chickens are well fed once again! I don't think I am bad lunch packer but apparently others do. I think it is officially time to admit that I have the dreaded 'Lunch Box Curse'.  Now I will also admit my mum (love you mum) always packed my lunch, I'm not sure I had ever packed a lunch until I made them for other people, maybe that is the stem of my curse... thanks but no thanks mum (love you). I definitely understand why they don't want to make their own but it doesn't make them want to eat it any more if I make it and take away the hard work involved. In Fact they sneakily use their birthday money to buy tuckshop they hate what I pack so much, maybe simply because I pack it?!

As I said I hate wastage so one day when I found another lunch box full of food to throw away once again I asked very kindly... "Please go and get $10 from your room" sure enough he returned with the $10 and held his hand out to give it to me. "No, I said, you can do the honours". I opened the bin and pointed "There you go, put it in". He literally jumped "There is no way I am putting my money in the bin" ... "Go on I said"  He put it in with a look of total life destroying pain. "Does it hurt" I said. He just looked at me... "Well that is how Mum and Dad feel when we throw food away, its the same as throwing money away. "Yeh I get it" he mumbled as he dragged his feet all the way back to his room. As he walked away I felt rather chuffed and accomplished, like the lunches I pack from tomorrow onwards would be eaten. When I go and pick up the youngest school goer I mentioned this to her... she turned and looked at me with an are you serious face... so of course I start to explain as she obviously doesn't understand the concept. She talked over me and said "um no are you serious... that's just silly, now we have wasted $20! Give them money to mum and dad" and with that she turned to look back out the front windscreen and said "so how was your day? by the way I didn't eat all of my lunch either".

Ok I get the point the lunch box curse has me and it isn't letting go! The 9 year old has out smarted me and I'm not sure the 12 year old has learnt his lesson. The chickens are back to being well fed and I am left scratching my head!

Sorry to admit it but there is no advice in this post, in fact... can anyone help me cure the curse! Help! Maybe I need to hire someone to make the lunches for me or buy shares in the school tuckshop!


Chantelle x



And now for H's weigh in...

Argh I hate waste of any kind with a passion. Happily though the lunch boxes returning here are often all emptied. Maybe you need to take lessons from me lil’ sis! Tehehe kidding!! There are plenty of unfinished containers that come home here too. Though I think what helps a lot is that there is no other options for him - there is no tuckshop at daycare! Also, the staff are the ones throwing away the leftovers so I don’t feel the pain…  I’m sure once school starts things will be very different.

Browsing La Internet, I have found a few helpful tips, some genius lunch packing hacks. See the links below for some great ideas, and make sure you follow our Pinterest board “Full of Food - Kids” for plenty inspiration! 

  -  A FULL YEAR!!! worth of lunchbox ideas.

  -  Would you consider creating a lunch packing station at your place? or do you already? 

      Seems to me like it would make life a bit easier… Another set up here, and more school organising tips

  -  The lunch cooler bag we use is by SoYoung - its gorgeous, well designed and not at all tacky, if that’s important to you ;). The design we have doesn’t seem to be available, but this red scooter one looks fun. 

  -  Also just spotted these sweat free ice packs by SoYoung - how cool do they look! (Pun not intended. But I’ll take it!)

  -  And lastly, Did you know you have been cutting Apples all wrong?! 

Mummies can be scared of the dark too.

(and by that I mean mothers, not the ancient mummified version. Glad we could clear that up.)

I was woken up in the wee hours by a scream coming from my sons room; a nightmare. I made my way to him and found my upset little guy trying to get out, scared by something he’d dreamt about (I can’t remember what it was now, but whatever it was had obviously truly terrified him). I picked him up and cuddled him as he calmed down. As his breathing became slower, I noticed my heart still pounding. Worried for him as I was, there was something else - part heartbroken for the poor little man, part terrified of the “monster” in the dark myself. As much as I was comforting him, I needed reassuring too.

Now, the occasional and forgivable white lies such as “No I don’t know where your *insert name of excessively loud and irritating toy here* could have gotten to!” aside - I’ve never felt much need to lie to the kid. He’s switched on and curious, and we chat about nearly everything. But that night, I flat out lied. Because the truth wasn’t going to help him right now: that mummy was scared too. Obviously I knew (deep, deep down) that we were fine. But it was pitch black in there, and paranoia was setting in quick. So a string of comforting words flowed out that, as intended, soothed him, but they also helped me feel bolder. 

Truth is I’ve never been great with the dark, my imagination is far too lively to let the dark be boring. But I’ve largely conquered that fear in the last couple of years; after all the night time house wanderings with a newborn, I’ve learnt a skill or two (HA! perhaps the understatement of the year…). But every now and then it will catch me again. So I realised something - sometimes mummies can be afraid of the dark too. And sometimes mummies lie. It makes me wonder how often my own mother hid her fear to help me feel safer. It makes me wonder how many times I will do it again under this title of Parent/Protector/Monster fighter. Amazing the trust these little beings put in us as parents. The best reason to be brave. 

 So how 'bout it? Surely I can’t be the only one?! 

 H x

And now for C's weigh in...

I am a self proclaimed, scared-of-the-dark adult! Nothing else to it but that I am petrified of what is there when I open my eyes in the dark. I am lucky, I don't do the midnight walks to children very often and I certainly don't get up in the middle of the night for the toilet, by choice! Yes I said it... I sleep through the night. Sorry to all the mums reading who haven't slept through the night since... well, since they can't remember, or to all those who wake up to go to the toilet. A little tip from a friend of mine who is renovating: she recently put a dimmer in her toilet and while at first I thought 'who needs a mood light for such a room?' it eventually clicked... it's for all of us people scared of the dark!   x C

Morning You, will thank you for it tomorrow!

There is nothing more frustrating than waking up feeling angry with past you. I don't know about you but Morning Me is the hardest one to please! Maybe you woke up feeling great until your brain kicked in and you realised all the things you need to do not to mention the mess that is waiting for you once you open your eyes and sit up. Things that you could have possibly avoided with 5 minutes (I wish haha) of shuffling before bed. Days are often hard to start, prying your eyes open most of the time I'm sure, I certainly do! I can speak from experience that sometimes at night we just want to crawl into bed and forget the day that turned to rubbish after 4pm. However, I also know that doing a couple of simple things that can make it even one dribble easier are totally worth it!

So here goes... time to be kind to Morning Me!

1 -  Choose your space -For me I spend most of my time in the kitchen so this is a very important spot to have right before I go to bed. It can be as simple as stacking the dishwasher or even placing the dishes in the sink so you can't directly see them when you walk into the kitchen in the morning. Clear benches and no random piles make a big difference to my mood in the morning. Decluttering spaces, declutters my mind. It might not be the kitchen for you but choose a place in your house that you know affects your overall mood and then focus on that. Just give yourself a time limit... spent 2 minutes clearing the bench, trust me it will help you get started in the morning.

2 - Choose another space  - If you have children the hardest thing to keep in order is their toys! The best thing I ever did was put a nice but practical large box/basket in the lounge room to throw all of the toys in when I'm on the run! You don't need to spend hours organising just for them to rip it apart before you wake up. The less time you spent tidying up the mess the less you will get frustrated when they make it. If this space doesn't suit you choose another that you know will effect morning you. 

3 - Style - I love waking up and loving the space I am in so try fluffing the pillows on the couch, straightening the rug and even putting the remote away. The lounge is another space that can create clutter. It is usually a dumping ground or an everything area for EVERYONE and I imagine you see it when you wake up! So don't let it build up, simply move the 'dumped' items to a space that you dont stare at when relaxing with your coffee and whatever else pleases morning you.

4 - Mind and Body - Yoga does wonders, if you already practice it you will know what I am talking about but if you don't.... give it a go. It really is wonderful for your body and your mind. Many people preach the benefits and they are right! Now I have to admit I am the person who says "I don't have time to excersise" ... of course I do, I just choose to eat pasta and have a wine to please whichever me is most frustrated with the day. I do however enjoy practicing some minor poses at home to help my mind and body relax when I need it.  Check out more on the benefits of the shoulder stand (my go to) at http://www.elephantjournal.com/2012/08/ten-reasons-to-do-a-shoulder-stand-every-day-marcus-julian-felicetti/

5 - Past and Future you - Be kind to yourself, sometimes we don't achieve everything, sometimes we dont achieve anything but.. hey, don't worry you are not the only one! Get a piece of paper or just the paper you wrote your to do list on (dont use your phone to do this before bed http://ikeepsafe.org/be-a-pro/balance/no-screen-time-before-bed/) . If you don't have a to do list ... make one. Put everything in your head down on paper before you want to go to sleep. Leave it beside your bed so you can add to it when you remember something new. Don't leave your mind thinking and telling yourself to remember something in the morning or you will never get a good sleep. If you didn't achieve something today put it on the list for tomorrow. If you really want to achieve it tomorrow put the words "I will" before it, the power of those two words will astound you. This to me is the most important, be ready to tackle your day tomorrow, be kind to yourself and assess your day to get the most out of the next one.

Its not hard to do and I know it works for me. I am a very organised person and find it hard to wind down if I didn't achieve my goals for the day, so these little tricks have become my best friend. It may not bring Morning you joy to fluff your pillows, maybe sleep does that .. in that case do that and forget what I said!!! But if you wake up in the morning angry at past you for not making Morning you happy then you know where to turn! 

And now for H's weigh in....

As much as my night time, already-half-asleep Me hates to say it, the lady is right! A little bit of something - for me usually tidying the lounge room - before bed helps Me feel a lot better not just in the morning; as its the first thing I see outside my bedroom door, but even the night of, helping me to relax a whole lot more with a little less clutter. A little habit I try to practice (though trust me, I regularly find excuses not to) is something a wise woman once told me (ok, it was my Mum. Thank heavens for mums right?) was the 15 minute tidy - for just 15 minutes at the end of the day tidy up as much as you can - its super duper effective. Oh and Yoga? Yes. A billion times yes. I don't know how I live without it, but sometimes I do and it is a silly, silly move, let me tell you! 

Love Chantelle and Hayley xx