List 4: Things I love

in no particular order

•  choco tea

• scarves

• being barefoot

• tattoos

•  incense 

• coffee

• imperfection

• Kerouac

• dancing in the rain

• junk shops

• bonfires

• expressing yourself

• late, late nights

• authenticity

• books

• impulsiveness

• escaping Time

• candles

(4 down.... 48 to go!)

Rethinking Everything Magazine

I've just recieved a free trial issue of 'Rethinking Everything Magazine', which is a small, independent magazine dedicated to sharing stories of incredible, life-altering change.  It was co-founded by two inspiring women, both mothers and advocates of living and learning outside the box.

I've only had chance to read the first two articles so far, and scan through the rest of the magazine, but I am amazed by the effect this little has had on me already. 

Throughout the message that comes across is: owning our own lives, stepping outside our comfort zones, tuning into and honoring ourselves and loved ones, finding our own way  for change ready to emerge a happier, more whole and wildly passionate person.

 Go see what it's all about for yourself!!

{this moment}

inspired by SouleMama a single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week

Papier Mache

another rainy day here, so after thinking about what we could do that didn't involve getting wet agian, i thought that as lola and kiki both have an abundance of 'things' (jewellry, notes, pretty girlie things!) and they both love baskets/bowls (wonder who they get that from?!?) i thought it'd be fun to make them each a papier mache bowl

'papier mache' is french for 'chewed up paper' - hmm, doesn't sound quite so nice put like that! it dates back hundreds of years (for more history on papier mache go here)

so, we got our bowls, our adhesive (2 parts glue to 1 part water) lots of ripped up newpaper and  some clingfilm, put on our aprons and set about making a mess and having some fun!

a

all ready to start!

after we'd finished the bowls, we still had some paper left, so we made some beads, by wrapping a piece of paper around a straw. kiki needed some help as these were rather fiddly to do!

b

beads and bowls drying

now we just have to wait until they're all dry so we can paint and decorate them!

i found this site here that has some helpful advice about papier mache, as well as tutorials for various things to make.

Thankful Anyway Thursday

some days just seem to be hard. some days i don't feel like i'm the best mama, the best wife, the best me.

but today i am thankful anyway for:

a husband who gives me an extra hour in bed in a morning after i've been up all night with the baby

the look of happiness on said baby's face when she comes to find me in bed

 

2 girls busy amusing themselves while i'm on here blogging

little signs of love made just for me

More garden fun

We finally got our shed yesterday, so whilst my lovely husband spent the day putting it together, I spent the day sorting out all the outdoor stuff that was crammed into the conservatory!! The girls spent hours washing the slide, see-saw and anything else that was outside - someone poured a WHOLE bottle of washing up liquid ino the bucket! But hey, they had a great time!

  shed viewed from the woods

garden from the decking

Once the shed was all built, I moved all the bikes and scooters into it, freeing up the playhouse at  long last. The playhouse now has a new home in the woods, and the girls were all excited to finally have it back to play in.

Looking down the woods

Lola in the playhouse!

Now with the garden tidy, I need to get on with the raised beds in preparation for all of our seedlings we're growing!

International Postcard Swap update

We were so excited to recieve our email from Zoe at Playing by the Book with the addresss to send our postcards to! There are a total of 1170 to be sent out in the next week! We are sending postcards to:

• USA
• Canada
• England
• Austrailia
• Israel

We are wondering where our 5 will be coming from?

Rainy day fun!!!

It's been raining hard here all day long. After having made tents, and peg dolls, and cookies, the girls all playing together in the playroom while I painted for half an hour, we decided to go for a walk and splash in some puddles! Along the way we spotted a duck (cue much quacking from Baya!), found flowers to pick and a tree to climb in!! Sometimes I think we forget the simple pleasures - the girls love splashing in puddles, and fresh air after a day indoors is always enjoyable!

Words of wisdom

The Victor
Poet: C.W. Longenecker 

If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t
If you like to win but think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost.
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will
It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are.
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win the prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man.
But sooner or later, the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.

Giveaway at "Walk Slowly, Live Wildly"

Sara from "Walk Slowly, Live Wildly" is offering the chance to win a copy of “Not So Fast: Slow Down Solutions for Frenzied Families”  by Ann Kroeker.

“Life is not a sprint. Yet, we live in the land that values and even glorifies speed — mind numbing, adrenaline-churning, distracting, dangerous speed. And few families can sustain that pace over the long haul. Those that try end up with indicators that it’s time to slow down. Is that pace of life inevitable? I don’t think so, because as I look to Christ and try to discern in Scripture His pace, there’s something I can’t help but notice. Jesus never seemed to be in a hurry.”

-Excerpt from Not So Fast, by Ann Kroeker

If you'd like to be entered into the giveaway go here to read Sara's post and leave a comment!

our weekend..

We've had a great weekend, my niece came down from London on Friday night. Having not seen her for over a year we had a lot of catching up to do!!!

We went out for a wander round some shops and a bite to eat on saturday, then came home where the girls kept her busy colouring in and reading!

Saturday night, Roxanne and I watched 'The Time Travellers Wife' which I've been waiting to see for ages, loved the book and the film was pretty good in comparison!

This morning we went to a car boot in the underground carpark of a local shopping centre - did seem a little strange not being in a muddy field! I did manage to find a few bargains however. We stopped at starbucks on the way back for a much needed caffeine boost.

The girls (and I) were a little sad to wave her off on her train tonight - does make me wish we weren't so far away from everyone!

And now... after a busy weekend, and two late nights... I'm off for a soak in the bath and (hopefully) a BIG sleep! x x

International Postcard Swap for families

I came across a link the other day for this 'International Postcard Swap for Families'. Basically if you sign up, come May you're given 5 names to send postcards to, and in return you recieve 5 postcards from families around the world! Since L and K love recieving mail, I thought this would be a great thing to be part of. There's still time to register if you want to join in, you just need to head over here: Playing by the book

List 3: Things to be thankful for

:: My 3 beautiful daughters

:: A husband who works so I can stay home with the girls

:: The time to paint and create

:: The lovely people I’ve met through this virtual world

:: And the lovely people I've met in the real world

:: Finding myself, regardless of the pain from leaving the past behind

:: The freedom to unschool my girls

:: A world of limitless possibilities

I can go from being all "Happy, Happy" one day, to totally and utterly miserable the next. At times like that it's hard to see that there is beauty and good all around me. I might add to this list as I think of more, just to remind myself that life is good ALL the time x

Gardening

Found my mojo hiding somewhere, have given myself a kick up the butt and got going on some gardening (a little later than I planned but still..)

We've decided that we just don't have the time to commit to our allotment and do as much there as we'd like, it's difficult for me to do much on my own there with the little one, it's a half hour walk there and back, so it takes a big chunk of time out of my already full days to even pop there for a 'quick' watering session.

So we're going to do our growing at home, we have onions and garlic in the allotment so when they are harvested we'll make a final decision as to whether to keep it or let it go.

I managed to find some great bags in town the other day, similar to what I'd seen in an organic gardening catalogue, to use to grow our potatoes and squash in (and for a fraction of the price!)

We got the first lot of potatoes in yesterday, and the next bags are filled up and covered, soil warming watiting for more things to be planted in them.

Also yesterday I sowed lots of seeds: peppers, mint, oregano, butternut squash, chili peppers and sunflowers for the girls! Am going to buy some new strawberry and tomato plants as I lost all last years babies when we moved house.

A little weaving....

One of the gifts I was given for my birthday last week was a peg loom from my mum. I managed to find half an hour to have a quick try of it yesterday!

(ignore the small sleepy looking child in the background!!)

I just put a few of the pegs in, so that I could get it finished quickly and see how it went...

 was really fun and easy.. .girls have plans for me to make lots of rugs and blankets for their dolls and cuddly toys!

List 2: Yummy things I like to eat

• These delicious little earth balls that I discovered here
• cherry and almond tart
• oatcakes and houmous
• No Cheese Vegetable Pizza
• greek salad

• BBQ food
• Bagels
• Avocados
• Blackberries

2 down; 50 to go!!!

29 Things

 So, I'm 29! Last year of being a 20 something. Taking inspiration from Tara and Andrea here's my list of 29 things I want to do this year. also i love ShaktiMama's list here. how about you? what's your list for the year?

I want this year to be a year of self-discovery, a year of fun, and a year conscious living.

1. Allow myself to be who I am, in full colour (I'm  learning to do this)
   
2. Leave messages of love in random places (inspired by this)
3. Pursue my art (ongoing)
   
4. Live for now
5. Play!
6. Have a midnight picnic
7. Have a hammock in my garden
8. Paint my plaster cast of my belly and breasts
9. Swim in the sea
10. Lie in the grass, look at the sky, and feel the wind.
11. Lighten up (I've lightened up soooo much!!!!)
    
12. make my own affirmation cards
13. Ride a horse again
14. Make playlists on my ipod for my everchanging moods
15. Make paper boats to sail on the river
16. Create a magic jar 
17. Get a new tattoo
18. Take the train to see my sister
19. Say what I think. Ask for what I want.
20. learn to love myself.
21. throw more parties
22. Say 'YES' more
23. find forgiveness.
24.  Use my sewing maching more
25. Write real paper letters to people rather than emails
26. Learn to play a song on my guitar (changed my mind on this one, so many other crafty things to do!!!)
27. Meet in person some of my 'online friends'
28. Re-read 'Wild Swans'
29. Dance in the rain

Knitting!

I've had this wool on my needles for weeks, slowly being knitted into a headband to hold my dreads out the way. And finally it's finished!!!

My knitting skills aren't great, knit one, purl one is about all I can manage, so I'm wondering how many things I can make out of simple, straight pieces of knitting LOL

The Birthday Girl

Live a passionate life

Embrace each day as if it were the lst. Follow your heart and dream big. Live consciously and enthusiastically with your focus on what you can bring to the moment. Life is precious. Each heartbeat is a gift. Allow care, compassion, empathy, understanding, forgivesness, generosity, and kindness to guide your decisions, actions and life.

One year of love

Happy Birthday Baya! I can't believe that you are 1 already. It doesn't seem possible that it's a whole year since I first held you in my arms, 3 weeks earlier than we'd expected.

It's been a wonderful year, and you've made our family complete (for now ;-) ) You have two very excited sisters this morning who seem to think now you're 1 you'll be able to walk and talk properly!


You are such a sweet chilled little baby, happiest when you're with your big sisters, them making you giggle or bouncing with you on the trampoline.




Hope you have a lovely day sweetie

Mummy x x

List 1: 10 Words I love

Here it is - the first of my 52 lists!!!! Maybe I got slightly carried away on the lists thing - oh well!

• Sublime
• Fabulous
• Scrumptious
•  Awesome
• Bohemian
• Squishy
• Fancy
• Lush
• Exuberant
• Hullabaloo

1 down... 51 to go!!

lastest painting

Here's what kept me busy last night, and reminded me how theraputic painting is...

I'm back!!!

I hadn't meant to leave it so long between posting, but the last couple of weeks have been tough. I've barely been keeping my head above water. But I'm feeling a little more positive now, and hopefully I'm coming out the otherside of my despair.

I've been doing lots of journaling the last few weeks, but not much painting/crafting - always a sign I'm not coping. This week however I've felt the return of my mojo ;-) After a very stressed morning yestereday I decided to spend half an hour painting when Baya was having a nap. I'd forgotten how theraputic painting is for me - so spent another hour last night working on it!! Should hopefully be finished today if I get half an hour to myself.

I'm busy planning for at the weekend, then it's Baya's 1st birthday on Tuesday (where did that come from??) and my birthday the week after!

I also have a couple of plans for my blog - having seen the ideas on hula seventy, I'm going to do 52 random lists - one a week, and also a post of 29 things to do before I'm 30 (ssssh, don't say that outloud tho).

I shall be back... in the next couple of days I promise x x

Painting.....

I'm still not feeling great and need to keep my mind occupied in an evening when it's quiet in the house. So I've been painting and writing... lots!

Things I've made

Here's the first two paintings I've done, not brilliant but the girls like them!!! At least they will brighten their room up a bit! You can't see in the photo but the sun is very glittery!

And a couple of birthday cards I made last night..

A day out to Liverpool (and a little bit of crafting!)

We went to the World Musuem yesterday. We haven't been for a few months and the girls had been asking to go back. So off we went! Enjoyed an hour looking around the dinousaurs and Ancient Egyptians again, and then after lunch we headed to the aquarium which we hadn't had chance to see last time. 

Baya really loved the fish, she was very excited!

 

  

We then had a walk in the rain to the shops as we wanted to go to Lush, got there only to find it was shut as they had no power :-( But we did spot a tiger on the way...

And they obviously weren't worn out from their day out as when we got home they made some birds..

Difficult times

I haven't blogged for a while, I'm having a difficult time at the minute, and haven't wanted to blog unhappy thoughts. Hopefully I'll be back to my usual self soon and blogging some happier things x x