bits + pieces >>>>

photos:

puzzles // banana bread in the making // tunes

pizza night // kiddos crafting // lavender and calandula oils steeping

silly kitty // lost teeth // beautiful sunrise

yummy breakfast //brownies {that last about two minutes!} // board games

candle-lit art journaling date with my eldest 

easing back into this online world.... i disconnected on friday, and took the weekend off. it was a much needed break from everything. as much as i love the amazing community i have online, sometimes all the extra noise can get overwhelming. a weekend without checking emails, fb, twitter, instagram, etc was bliss. we baked, we played, we crafted, we enjoyed a slow{er} pace of life for a few days. it gave my mind some peace and quiet, some time to mull things over, time to release some negative vibes, to shake off a few crazy feelings and time to regroup.

i plan on making it a more regular thing - either one day a week, or one whole weekend a month. i'm not setting it in stone, i'll take it week by week and see what feels right. 

hope that you all had a great weekend

blesssings

xo

pee.ess - there is still time to win a custom mantra bracelet!

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trust >>>>

last years word was 'brave'. it was a perfect word. i fought my fears and put myself out there. when i was tempted to say no, instead i said yes. i didn't stay back in the shadows or take the 'safe' road. instead i followed my heart, gulped back the fear and did it anyway ;) last year brought about so much personal growth, i feel like a totally different person to who i was as 2012 began.

this years word found me. mediating just before christmas 'trust' kept pushing itself to the front of my mind. i knew it was to be my guiding word for the coming year. trust for me means following what my heart whispers, trusting that i am on the right path. trusting in myself, in others and in the universe. allowing the road to unfurl ahead of me without questioning where i am going or why.

i have a habit of doubting myself, of trying to second guess my decisions. i know from experience that if i allow myself to follow my intuition it never lets me down.  letting go of what is out of my control, letting the world unfurl around me.

there is a whole new path ahead of me. i have so many new opportunities that have opened up for me in the coming months, 'trust' is just what i need to practice.

the top picture is the art i made of my word, i plan on building an alter around it, the second picture is the journaling i did {at 2am} after my word came to me.

if you haven't chosen your word for 2013 yet, and are looking for a little guidance - i'd highly recommend leonies incredible year workbook - you can find out more about them here

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threads & life >>>>>

coat - thrifted

lace top - vintage

floral top - thrifted

skirt - ebay

mocassins - h&m

threads >>>  i cleaned out my closet last week, and found a bunch of stuff i'd forgotten about. and after a few weeks of feeling a bit 'bleurgh', i woke up on monday morning and felt like dressing up. so i did. i've never been much of a long skirt kinda gal... but i'm quite liking how this looked {so much that i've ordered two more in different colours :) } the lace top is a vintage find i picked up a  fair earlier in the year. and my old faithful coat - cosy and snug i love it :) i'm happy the weather is cool enough to wear it again. i got these moccasin boots from h&m earlier in the year, comfy and pretty i'd been wanting a pair for ages. i'm trying to grow my fringe out a little, and i'm thinking about changing my hair up. i want to swap the black for a dark brown, and i'm considering getting rid of the red - either for turquoise or maybe blonde.... decisions, decisions.

life >>> life's been something of a rollercoaster ride the past month. so much is changing, and so many challenges have come our way. fingers crossed we're past the toughest and things are looking a little rosier. i'm feeling inspired and full of ideas right now. i've been doing some serious soul work in the intuitive heart sanctuary class that i am part of right now. also, i was lucky enough to win a place in soulodge - delving deep and exploring my shadow. so much of this is so perfectly timed, there is so much i need//want to work through, so much of me to explore and understand. i've been making more of a commitment to myself to drink water, to get enough sleep and to ground myself with plenty of outdoors time. i've been using the waterlogged app on my iphone to keep a track of my water intake. i'm aiming for 64oz each day, but the past couple i've been nearer to 72oz! my body is feeling good for all this fresh water :)

i've been reading a few herb books, ready for the apothecary circle that i signed up for. i'm looking forward to spending a year learning and working towards my certificate in home apothecary {there is still time to sign up - and if you use the code Herbs180 at checkout you'll save 15% off!}

i also finished the painting i mentioned on saturday - first time i've put brush to canvas in months. it felt so good and so healing. i'd forgotten just how much joy i get from painting. it's definitely something that i need to make more time for - what do you think of her?

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spare us a vote??

mabon blessings >>>>>

source

happy autumnal equinox! today it's officially my favourite season. i love the cool, crisp mornings that autumn brings, along with the changing colours all around us. i feel the energy changing around us, and know that it's time to start preparing for winter. we'll be putting the finishing touches to our autumn season table today and preparing for a fire with friends this evening. i can feel the earth pulling me back, reminding what is important. i've been doing a little soul searching this week, i've been utterly exhausted all week long, and have given myself some time to sit back and reflect on my path. where i'm going and what is important. for more autumnal equinox inspiration head over the mama earth project.

i am not a wonder woman. my kiddos always come first. sometimes i try to do to much, spread myself too thin and end up frustrated and exhausted. while jewelry making is my passion, right now i know that i need to step back a little. take the pressure of myself to work at it full time, whilst my girls are so young at least. the shop will stay open - and i'll keep making. but making for love not because i feel i have to.

on that note - you can enter 'autumnlove' at checkout to receive 25% off your entire purchase! i really appreciate all your support! also - i still have a couple of ad spots left for october, i'd love to have you on board.

mabon blessings on you all 

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if you really knew me....

lace top -vintage fair

jeans - thrifted

dress - new look

shambala bracelets - c/o cutey

headband - made by miss lola :)

necklace - thrifted

freedom bracelet - c/o gypsie sister

i've seen this floating around the interweb... thought i'd join in and share a few facts about myself :)

you'd know that i used to be a wild child... now i'm happiest at home 

that i've battled depression many times. i'm amazed at how strong i am and how much i have overcome. i am an entirely different person to who i was ten years ago.

that i can be ridiculously self-conscious. sometimes that comes over as standoffish.... really it's just me being shy and freaking out that you think i'm a weirdo ;p

you'd know that i've been vegetarian since i was ten

that i never thought i wanted children....

now i can't imagine a life without them!

you'd know that i love sour sweets, marzipan and cherries most of all.

that i used to hate peanut butter but now i can't get enough

that i spent most of my childhood on a horse and i miss riding so much

that i never thought i could be as happy as i am now

secretly i'd like another baby {sshhh... don't tell the mr ;)}


leave me a link if you join in to!

p.s how cute are those shambala bracelets i'm wearing??! ashley contacted me recently to see if i'd like them to review and i was bowled over when i opened the envelope! though i think my girls are eyeing them up too ;) oh - and i took these photos yesterday before i cut my fringe short again!! so much for growing it out!

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circle game

Yesterday, a child came out to wander

Caught a dragonfly inside a jar

Fearful when the sky was full of thunder

And tearful at the falling of a star

And the seasons they go 'round and 'round

And the painted ponies go up and down

We're captive on the carousel of time

We can't return, we can only look behind

From where we came

And go round and 'round and 'round

In the circle game

And go 'round and 'round and 'round in the circle game.

this is one of my favourite songs... i love joni mitchell so much, but this song always stirs something deep inside me. it's a great song about the cycle of life, and being desperate to grow up to fulfill your dreams, only to grow up and lose the grandeur of the dreams that once drove you. i'm feeling a yearning inside me this past week... my emotions are all over. perhaps it's to do with last weeks full moon, and this month being a blue moon month. i feel the start of a new cycle approaching in my life.

xox

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what i wore

crochet top - new look

dress - new look

leggings - ??

shoes - new look

feather necklace - this enchanted pixie

happy august! unintentional new look themed outfit! i love this crochet top - i've been living in it since i snagged it in the sale a couple weeks ago! my fringe is starting to get a bit too long to wear down - i'm toying with the idea of growing it out but i can't make my mind up! every time i think i've decided i see a cute picture of a fringe and change my mind!

yesterday was a bit of a weird kinda day. one of those days when it all seems to much and nothing quite goes right. i think i got out of bed the wrong side or something... then tried to do too many things all at once. in the end, i gave up, took the kiddos to the library for an hour, they picked out a dvd, we came home, i went on the cross trainer for half an hour and then after dinner we sat and watched the fantastic mr fox with a giant bowl of popcorn!

exercise never fails to get me out of a funk and burn of a stressful mood. today miss lola has a full day drama rehearsal. there's a play day on in town that i'll take the little two to - usually lots of fun outdoorsy stuff to try pout and have fun - all for free! 

life's been crazily busy this week... hoping next week is a little more chilled out! 

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dreaming big

i've spent the past ten days or so soaking up the sunshine, living life and dreaming. i've been away from the computer for the majority of each day, and that's given me lots of time to think. i've been trying to figure out what it is i want, where i want to go and how i'm going to get there. business wise i have a few ideas and i feel like it's time to refocus a little.

a couple months back i was throwing myself into my little shop and working my ass off. while i love designing and creating jewellery, i find the selling side hard. i want to sell, but i don't want to push it down peoples throats. also, i found that too much time focusing on that side of things created a cranky mama.

i want to spend my days with my kiddos... not focusing on figures. i've been trying to figure out a better way to make things work. happiness to me is not selling a zillion pieces of jewellery.... it's not being uber rich{though a little extra moolah wouldn't be unappreciated!}. happiness is living this life of mine, spending my days crafting and learning along side my girls. taking them on adventures, creating, making, LIVING, spending time with friends, and enjoying the ride.

i figure that i have all that i need. i get to spend my days doing what i love most, with the people i love the most. i get to create and design the jewellery i love. and that is key. I LOVE MY LIFE.

i've made some decisions on how i want my shop to be - it will always be a love of mine, but i don't want it to rule my life, at least while my kiddos are little. you can lend me a hand by helping me clear out some of the current stock - enter bloglover for 50% off everything here

thanks for reading my rambles :) i'm focusing on being happy and the rest will surely follow!

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pretty things - motherhood

one // two // three // four

strange as it seems, i'd never planned on having children. i don't know why... as a child i loved playing with my baby dolls, but as i grew older i just felt that i wouldn't have any. not that i would *choose* not to - just that i wouldn't.

looking back now i think that thought came from fear. but when i was 22 lola came along, she wasn't planned, but was very much wanted as soon as we knew she was on her way. i found myself on a path i had never expected to walk. i was smitten with motherhood - it felt like that was what i'd been destined for all along. she held my hand and helped me find my way as a new mum. she taught me so much that i will for ever be grateful for.

motherhood opened up a whole new world for me, a world full of smiles, and happiness, hugs and kisses {and a fair few sleepless nights too!} now as a mum of three beautiful girls i can't imagine life without children. it hasn't always been easy, as a fairly 'young mum', with not many friends the same age with children of their own, there were times it was hard to see them out enjoying there twenties while i was home changing nappies. but truly i wouldn't change a second of it.

my children have made me. they helped me grow into the woman i am today, and took me far away from the life i was heading towards. i am so incredibly lucky to be home with them all of the time - spending my days playing, laughing, teaching, creating with them is the best life that i can imagine.

it would be fair to say that i am feeling pretty broody right now! miss baya is three and not such a baby anymore.... as someone who never thought she'd have one child - the thought of number four is pretty crazy!!! though i don't know if we'd actually have another.

 

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what i wore // a new 'do

i *finally* went through with it and dyed my hair! i've been thinking about it for months.... but never quite could make my mind up. in the end i jsut went for it and stuck some black on there! it's been three years of red hair and it was time for a change... time to mix it up. the reds still on the ends {for now} though i'm thinking of switching that for a different colour at some point.. perhaps turquoise.

it's going to take a little getting used to - i got a shock the first morning when i looked in the mirror ha! but so far i'm loving it - i had really itchy feet {hair?!} for a change and i'm glad i finally did it! what do you think??

dress: handmade

cardigan: primark

tights: ???

boots: thrifted

necklace: thrifted!!

 

 

 

 

 

doesn't the Mr look thrilled to be dragged into my photos?!

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