Story of Stuff

Sure, it's a 20 minute video, but it's worth a watch. A good reminder about our crazy consumer culture that's out of control. At least for a little while, when I'm trying not to retch from re-experiencing Ivy's nappies at washing time, I can feel good about it. Change starts at home.

♥ Es

Fairies Live Here

As a kid, I was always playing in the garden; making things then imagining that tiny people would live there. Now I have a little person of my own (and many little people visitors), I am inspired to make a 'real' fairy garden, to add a little magic into our little home. The inpiration also comes from a part of my Tafe course, where I've chosen to lecture on children and 'creative play in nature' so I've been Googling boats made from leaves, rock people craft and sea shell art a lot.

I am thinking I will make our wee fairy garden within a terracotta pot, so it's transportable when we eventually move. I am going to try and make everything from scratch too, unless of course I see a tiny weeny chair or something adorable and I just have to have it...

Here are some inspiration pics to get me going. It's probably not going to get done very soon (thanks Tafe course and small child responsibilities), but it's something to plan anyway. Fun!

Pinterest is great for this. I'm talking here, here and here... just as examples!

♥ Es

Wall Art - decided!

So way back in April last year, I wrote about trying to find an artwork that would go in our bedroom. Well, we moved (again) and there was a still a space begging for some picture-love in our bedroom. Since it's unlikely we will change our bed covers in the near future, I decided to match with the muted and earthy tones of our bed-frame and blanket. Out of all the pictures we took in Tasmania in 2011, I chose one from Cradle Mountain, looking up at it from the other side of the lake. I love this shot. It makes me really calm (perfect for a bedroom) and I feel kinda proud because I took it.

Anyway, thanks to Snapfish and a discount coupon, we had a fun delivery the other day and here it hangs! It'll come with us to the next place and hopefully sit above our bed.

♥ Es

Test Your Vocab Quiz

A fun quiz... how good is your vocab, eh? If you read a lot, and what you read is fictional and old-timey, you're likely to get a good score... try it now! If you're game, leave your score in the comment box :)

http://testyourvocab.com/

Es ♥

Paleo Craze-e-o?

Yep, that's the best I got. Paleo craze-e-o. The lack of bread, sugar and certainly caffeine is clearly having an impact on my thinking skills.

Why would an idiot subject themselves to no chocolate? My gym is doing a 'challenge' for 6 weeks. The aim is to improve fitness markers and overall health. Maybe inspired from people over-indulging over the festive season. Whatever the reason, I decided to ride along, so I've ditched the coffee, the bread, the dairy and the sugar in favour of all things almond meal, vegetable and meat meat meat. Oh and eggs. These paleo junkies go through about 1000 eggs a week.

After the first few days of 3pm sugar headaches (oh yeah, chocolate had definitely become a bit of a daily ritual, much to the dismay of my dentist), I have to say that I did start to feel really good. I mean, it's not carb-free because you can still have potatoes, pumpkin etc. so I don't feel like I'm starving. Certainly when you have 'bunless burgers' (read: giant rissoles) and home-made potato hash browns for dinner, you feel very satisfied.

I normally do have a great diet, but when I fell pregnant, salads just weren't filling me up. If the meal didn't have bread, rice or potato alongside, it didn't even register. And once our little miss was born, well, getting through those long days after many sleepless nights.... chocolate became my new (old) best friend.

It's been about a week and I think breakfast is the hardest. I often just want a small piece of toast and fruit in the mornings, but paleo is all about eggs, bacon, sausages every goddam day. It's just too rich for me (and heart-attacky). So I'm hunting for options. Hence this morning I had a smoothie with almond milk and frozen mixed berries, and one of these muffins below...

Paleo muffins with bacon

I used this recipe, but omitted the honey and added a cup of already cooked bacon (cut into small pieces). It worked quite well. You need to cook on medium heat (about 160 degrees) or you'll burn the outside and the middle will be still wet. Also, I would probably add some herbs next time for added flavour. Being almond flour, it was quite rich so I only needed one (although, I'm sure a morning tea snack may involve another).

I have plans to make sweet muffins (using coconut flour) and even some paleo biscuits. That should get me through!

♥ Es

2013 - It's A Wrap.

2013.

We added someone to our family.

We got engaged.

We moved (again).

We travelled, ate, danced and sang our way through this year with beloved friends and family.

We are totally blessed. 

Here are some final 2013 snaps from the last couple of weeks; up the coast at Bonny Hills, road-tripping through Mudgee and the Blue Mountains, and New Years Eve. Best wishes to everyone for a safe, healthy, happy, productive and all-round satisfying 2014!

♥ Es 

Blue Mountains

Just chillin'.

Bush bashing hi-five

Dad down at The Patch with the chooks.

Ma and Pa, evening stroll.

First Christmas

Daddy and Uncle pool times, Mudgee.

Addicted.

Happy New Year!

The Power of Empathy

What a beautiful little video that helps describe empathy (over sympathy). Pinched it from A Cup of Jo and found it really wonderful. We so often get it wrong I think, so it's nice to get a clear idea of what it means to really show someone you care.

♥ Es