Naming Ceremony

I am up to my armpits in plans for my beautiful Charlotte's naming day.

My Husband and I aren't really religious, so when it came to whether to have a Christening/Baptism we thought against it. We didn't get married in a church so we thought it would be a bit weird to have a Christening. So instead, we had a beautiful naming day for Isabella. So we are doing the same for baby Charlotte.


We have set the date (yayee) Easter Saturday. I have planned to have it over the Easter break so my Husbands family will be able to attend, as they all live interstate. It works out well so they can all travel up here and spend some extra time rather then rushing up for a night and then rushing back the following day. 


For Charlotte's naming day I have decided on a Rainbow theme.


I thought I would share with you some of my plans.


1. I have booked the most amazing photographer Rachel Richter - she does all our family photos.
2. I have booked 'our' celebrant, Clarah she is so lovely. She married us, she performed Bella's naming day ceremony. I am so excited that she will be doing Charlotte's. It's so special to us that she has shared such important parts of our lives.
3. I just need to decide on the location. We loved the park we had Bella's naming day in but the markets they had on at the same time made parking a bit difficult for our guests.
4. Deciding on Charlotte's mentors/godparents


That's the big stuff. Next on my list once venue is decide is invitations, decorations and other bits and pieces I am going to make.


Here is my inspiration board for the party...

Unfortunately, I can't give credit to where I found these pics as I have collected them since I knew I was having a little girl... yes way back then! If you own any of these images please let me know so I can give credit where its due or if you would like the images removed, I can do that also.

I'm so excited!!

And I just can't hide it!!!!

Tomorrow we are having family photos done by the most amazing 
photographer Rachel Ritcher. 
We were scheduled to have these photos taken a while ago but due to bad weather, sick bubbas, Christmas etc we had to keep postponing them. 

So, tomorrow is the day!! Pray for good weather for us!!

Proud Australian

How was your Australia day? Did you manage to get out and enjoy the beautiful day we were given?

Ours was great! It was a very special Australia day, as previously mentioned, it was Charlotte's first Australia day. We are proud Australians and love getting out and celebrating Australia day.

Here is some photos of our fun day!

Every Australia day I like to take a moment to think about how lucky I am to live in this Country. 

To me, being an Australian is being mates with everyone and harbouring no ill - towards others no matter where they are from. It's living in peace and harmony and being free and independent. It's helping out a mate when s/he needs you and above all its treating everyone fairly and with respect.

And this has recently been displayed by our nations generosity by donating and helping out a new mate or an old mate with the devastation of the Queensland Floods. In alot of other countries, there would of been alot of violence, not Australia. 

The most important aspect of being Australia in the fact that our nation grew from peace, not war, aside from the invasion of the indigenous people by the English. Australia has managed to prosper and grow with out civil war. I also think the greatest achievement Australia has ever made was when our Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd (love him!) stood up and said 'sorry' to the stolen generation. It really was a changing day in our country.

Lastly, I would like to share a poem with you all. This poem to me is Australia. There truely is no other poem in my eyes that describes our country as best as this. 

This poem is also a poem that I had to learn off by heart in Grade 3. Back then I really didn't understand the poem, and it's meaning. Today, I still know this poem word for word and now I do unstand it's meaning, what i

My Country

by Dorothea Mackellar

The love of field and coppice,

Of green and shaded lanes.

Of ordered woods and gardens

Is running in your veins,

Strong love of grey-blue distance

Brown streams and soft dim skies

I know but cannot share it,

My love is otherwise.

I love a sunburnt country,

A land of sweeping plains,

Of ragged mountain ranges,

Of droughts and flooding rains.

I love her far horizons,

I love her jewel-sea,

Her beauty and her terror -

The wide brown land for me!

A stark white ring-barked forest

All tragic to the moon,

The sapphire-misted mountains,

The hot gold hush of noon.

Green tangle of the brushes,

Where lithe lianas coil,

And orchids deck the tree-tops

And ferns the warm dark soil.

Core of my heart, my country!

Her pitiless blue sky,

When sick at heart, around us,

We see the cattle die -

But then the grey clouds gather,

And we can bless again

The drumming of an army,

The steady, soaking rain.

Core of my heart, my country!

Land of the Rainbow Gold,

For flood and fire and famine,

She pays us back threefold -

Over the thirsty paddocks,

Watch, after many days,

The filmy veil of greenness

That thickens as we gaze.

An opal-hearted country,

A wilful, lavish land -

All you who have not loved her,

You will not understand -

Though earth holds many splendours,

Wherever I may die,

I know to what brown country

My homing thoughts will fly.

Seriously, how descriptively true is this beautiful poem that Dorothy wrote back in 1904. As a proud Australian with an immense love of my land down under, I think we must always be resiliently and accept the adversities of nature which we experience as well as the splendid beauty. Bless each and every Aussie currently battling the horrendous floods that are affecting three States now, as well as the western side of the country fighting fires. United we will always be as Australians to overcome the crazy the weather.

My Country Bush fires Dorothea McKellar

Created by Mike W after the 2009 Victorian bushfires

Happy Australia Day!!

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Just stopping by to wish you all 

a

HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!!!!

This year it's Bella's 3rd Australia day 

and 

its  Charlotte's 1st Australia Day.

We are having a good ole BBQ at my parents then we are heading 

off for a swim!

This is my favourite way to spend Australia day.

Here is a little song that I wanted to share with you.

Anyone one else get goose bumps and feel so proud to be Australian?

I will be back later with photos from our day.....

Movie Review

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On Sunday we took Bella to see Yogi Bear. We saw it in 2D (normal viewing) as we thought that Bella wouldn't keep her 3D glasses on for the entire movie.


We had our large Popcorn to share, drinks, we were all settled in to watch the movie that we had been talking up all day.


We had no idea if Bella would enjoy this movie. We have only taken her to the movies one other time when she was much younger and we saw Toy Story 3. Every other time was a babes in arms session where she slept so these times don't count. They were movies for me not for her.


As this movie wasn't an all cartoon type movie we weren't sure if she would watch the whole movie as she does tire of things if its not interesting.


The movie is light hearted and it really didn't hold Bella's attention for long. It really wasn't that funny. We didn't laugh once at the supposed funny scenes of Yogi bear and Booboo stealing the "pcik-a-nic baskets.


The movie is good clean fun but definitely nothing to rave about.


Here is some pics of Bella at the movies :)

As we left the movie, I asked Bella what rating she gives the movie and she said one kiss so, below is our rating in kisses....

1 kiss from each of us

Has anyone else seen Yogi bear? What did you think of it?

Monday....

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Urgh Mondays :( Even though I am not physically go into work, I still hate Mondays. Monday means its the end of our weekend family fun and Daddy is back off to work. Yuck!!


On a happier note, How was your weekend?


Mine was great! We had such a wonderful weekend!! All the housework was done so we were free to do whatever we wanted to for 2 whole days!!


Saturday, we spent the morning at home with the girls. After they had their sleeps we went shopping! Ok, I will be honest, shopping isn't as fun with 2 tots as it is on my own. But I am able to block out the tanties and focus on spending money... I heart shopping :))


We settled in on Saturday night for some fun games and sing songs. Bella is totally into music, dancing and singing. I am loving it! We can sing a song and before I know it she has the lyrics down pat and she is singing it on her own to her sister. Or to herself as she dances around. LOVING this part of her personality that is coming out. Its so much fun!


Sunday morning was a very momentous moment in our household. Our first born had graduated classes in Swimming lessons and was having her first lesson on her own!! No more Daddy in the pool with her! We were a bit worried at how she would be. So we pumped her up and talked her through what was going to happen. We weren't sure if she understood us or not and I think this was due to her being ok with the change.


When we got there, we got her ready for swimming. First time ever she had to wear a swimming cap. She has worn goggles but not for a long period of time and not during swimming lessons.  My parents came and so did my Brother and his gorgeous Girlfriend all to support our little girl and watch such a special time in her life. Adam took her over and popped her on the step where they sit during their lesson. 


And well, Bella she was AMAZING! No amazing is not a justifiable word. She was brilliant (does brilliant over rank amazing??)! No tears, no tantrums, no being naughty and no splashing! It was Bella just being herself and making us oh so proud of her. There were tears admittedly, but they were from me and her Daddy <3 Gosh seeing her sitting on that step with her swimming cap and goggles on, I couldn't help but feel so overwhelmed with how proud I am of her. She is such a good kid and today, when looking at my little 2 year old girl, sitting on the step in the pool,  she really looked and acted so much older. She is no longer a baby. She is growing up *sniff*


Adam and I were meant to go and see Wicked at the Performing Arts Theatre on Sunday afternoon, but it had been damaged by the floods so the show has been postponed and until further notice :( So, we thought it would be a great opportunity, to treat Bella for being so great at Swimming lessons, by taking her to the movies. She of course loved it. We had a great time. Missed Charlotte lots though.


Now we back in full swing on Monday ready and waiting for Wednesday to be here so we can have some more family fun :)) Can't wait for our Australia Day celebrations  :)


The best part of my weekend was during Bella's swimming lesson. Just after Adam walked away from sitting Bella on the step, she looked over at us (My brother and his girlfriend, my Mum and Dad and Adam and I) and gave us the double thumbs up! *Tears*


There is no way that I can rave on about how awesome Bella was with out sharing pics.... So....Here is some photos of Bellaboo..... 

My Amazing girl :))

Just sayin...

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I hope you are all having a great weekend :)

Craft Room

Do you have a craft room?

If so, I am so very envious! Is it bad that I fantasise about one day having my very own craft room? Having the luxury to be able to leave out unfinished projects and know that they will be there when I am ready or have some spare time to work on them. Not having to pull everything out and put it all away when I am done. Ahhh sounds like heaven right? 

To be able to organising all my supplies, my ribbons, papers, stamps, paints, knick and knacks.... I get giddy just thinking about it hehehe 

I love to scrapbook, make cards, paint, make jewellery, sew.... Anything!! If it grabs my interest then I will give it a go. Unfortunately, I don't have time these days to do any of the above. Maybe I would if I had a craft room :)

Here is some inspiration that I have collected along my travels fantasising about my very own craft room!!

Unfortunately, I can't give credit to where I found these pics as I have collected them over the years. If you own any of these images please let me know so I can give credit where its due or if you would like the images removed, I can do that also.

Blog this Challenge 66 - Best day ever

This was taken back in the day

Well.... this is a hard challenge. Hard to choose which day in my life has been the best day ever..?..?


I have been so blessed to have some good things happen to me in my life.


Uhmm the best day ever, so hard to choose. Gosh, I think I might talk about the day I met my soul mate, my Husband. Since meeting him, every day is the best day ever! Ok maybe not everyday but honestly, most days are.


How it all began, our love story.


Once upon a time.... Nah just kidding....


We had been talking on the phone for months. He was a supplier and I was a customer. We had never met but I had visions of what he would look like. We flirted, and teased back and forth whilst trying our hardest to concentrate on work. Knowing that I would speak to him everyday made it so easy to get up and go to work. He was the first person I spoke to and he was the last person I spoke to as I left work each day. I loved our chats and was so amazed that for someone I had never met before he could make me feel so crazy in lust.


One day I had planned to visit his work place. I told him I was coming in for a visit. He didn't believe me. 


After spending what felt like hours that morning choosing the right outfit, I turned up to his work with some work colleges and it was weird. Boy was it weird. I had no idea what he looked like so I had no way of identifying him. I knew his voice though, it gave me goose bumps! 


So, I chatted with my work mates and we watched the demonstration on the products that they had there. I didn't hear a thing except the sound of my heart beating VERY loudly. To say I was nervous is an understatement. 


As I stood there pretending to be interested in what ever thingamajig some Rep was raving about, I was waiting for him to introduce himself...time was ticking by, I kept looking at my watch. Nothing. No one called Adam came up to me. I glanced up and I could see into the offices. There was a clear glass behind the counter. I looked up for a second to see if I could see him. I saw alot of people in there and everyone staring in my direction! OMG! I looked straight away. I was sooo embarrassed! They were all looking into my direction. I blushed. 


After wasting more time and prolonging the visit as much as I could... It was time to leave. I was so, bummed, let down, sad that I didn't wasn't going to meet him. As we all walked outside, I could hear the thud of shoes running. I turned around, there was two guys running towards me. One was hot the other wasn't. The first thing I did was hold out my hand ready to introduced myself. I knew he was one of these guys, just not sure which one. I hoped he was the hot guy....... He was <3


At the time I didn't know I was meeting my soul mate...hmmm maybe I did. Who knows. This day really was the best day ever. My life changed in so many ways after I met him on that day. Wedding, 2 kids later, and we will be celebrating 8 years together this year. 

Oh I have to share this!!

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Pls note if you love Fruit cake this is said to be one of the best recipes around!!

I am not a fan of traditional fruit cake at Christmas time, on its own, if it comes with warm custard or icecream or what ever else you want to add to it to make is sound appealing. I'm Just Not A Fan!

Now THIS is my type of Christmas cake!! How amazing is this cake?? Not only does it look good but it looks sooooo yummy!!! If only I found this before Christmas I would of loved to of given it a go at making it. Hahaha yeah right!! hmm ok honestly, with a new bub and a toddler, I highly doubt I would of given it ago. But I like to think that one day maybe, I might be able to make such a work of art.


Whilst, catching up on Amanda's blog, I saw that she has some fabulous ideas for valentines day which is coming up. How cool is THIS idea?? Gosh I wish I had the patience and the time to make my Husband something like this. 


Amanda's blog is full of some wonderfully, yummy, creative ideas. Seriously, you need to go make yourself a cuppa,sit down and have some quite time (kids are in bed now?) to look at all her wonderful creations.... She is so talented!!


I just wish she was local so I could get her to do some stuff for me!!

Pls note, to respect Amanda's copywrite of her images, I haven't copied them for you to view. You will have to go to her site to see it all for yourself. I was going to email her to see if I could use one or two, but I thought she must be so busy and inundated with emails, I didn't want to add to her inbox.

Summer is.....

To me, Summer is.....

Home 

Watching a storm roll in whilst having a swim in the pool...

Wanting & Wondering

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So this is what's constantly on my mind these days.

This is how it goes:

......should I go for #3? (kids that is)

I would LOVE to have another baby....

Two is easy. I have two hands.

I'm in crazyville most of the time with two...

Then again, even though its manic and crazy its sooo much fun and I love every second of it!

I didn't get my body back after the last two...

No one expects you to look good after 3 kids!

Charlotte will be soon sleeping through the night...things could get nice!...

I'm just being selfish! Am I not put here on earth to multiply & replenish the earth!!

I'm too old!!....

Celebrities do it all the time.

We would need to upgrade our car...

Yayeee I can get an SUV

We would definitely need 2 hotel rooms on trips...

Mummy & Daddy could have their own room....Hmmmm...

My back and pelvis would not cope

I plan on getting a new body when I'm done anyway lol.

I've already got plenty of girls clothes, so I wouldn't need to buy much...

If it's a boy, I could go CRAZY buying all the darling little boy stuff....

I hate being sick & fat!

But I'm soooo baby-hungry!!!!

Is it the post baby hormones going crazy? 

I always wanted to have two kids. Two is easy. I have two hands. Plus I am an evens person. If we have 3 we would most likely go 4 to even things up. Yes, I do know that I am weird. 

Do you ever feel like your family is complete? 

I would like to mention that these are just thoughts in my mind at the moment and I am just getting them out. This post is in now way meant to be offensive or disrespectful to anyone who is trying to have a baby and or who has been trying for some time.

I have crossed to the dark side

Yes, it's true I have crossed to the dark side...or should I say sweet side..?..?

I have always been a savoury girl. Cheese and biscuits, biscuit and dip...Yum yum yum! I love loved it all. I never really understood the love for Chocolate people would have. I rarely ate it. I could go years, yes years with out even a teeny tiny Cadbury square. When it did come to sweets, I was more of a lollie person anyway. I think I was the only person in the world who was able to keep a packet of Tim Tams in the fridge just in case people came over. I never ate them! 

When I was pregnant with Isabella, I ate really well right up until 6 weeks before she was born. I was struck down with a killer chocolate craving. IT. WAS. BAD. I tried everything to not crave it. I told my Husband to stop buying it for me. I even told him to take the keys to my car to work to stop me from buying it myself. And even that didn't work. I would hike my BIG fat pregnant butt down to the local shops. Now this might not seem like a big deal to some... well it was. I had the worst pelvic pain, I could hardly walk, and when I did walk, I walked like I needed a hip replacement badly. Me the pregnant chick who was in so much pain just laying on the lounge, walked to the shops, hills and all to get my fix. 

From this time on, I have been so addicted to chocolate, I would describe myself as uncontrollable, not all the time but most. Well, I fought off the cravings post birth and I was clean. I was clean and sober from Chocolate for a good year until I was pregnant with baby number two. I did my best to eat well when I started feeling better (I had the worst morning sickness 2nd time round - but that's a whole other story). Then same as last time 6 weeks out BAM! It hit me again. The chocolate cravings returned. I will admit that I was able to control it this time. The cravings were no where near as bad as first pregnancy. 


Even after going through this I still considered myself as a savoury girl. 

Anyway, yesterday morning I was out to brunch with some of my girlfriends. It was a choice of eggs on toast OR pancakes... I was faced with a sweet or savoury option. And I uhmmed and ahhhed over it for ages. I still hadn't made my mind up when I was in line ordering. When put on the spot I said pancakes.

When walking back to the table I then thought to myself, I am now a sweets person. No longer savoury. Pregnancy changed me. Introduced me to the sweet  side and here I am.... overweight and forever craving sweets!! Grrrrr how on earth is one able to loose weight when you always want sweet foods?

My husband he's no help. He is an out and proud Chocoholic. He will laugh and tell you how many chocolate bars he can eat in one day. He would eat it all day every day if I had it in the house. He can sniff out chocolate a mile away. This has not helped me. He is an enabler and he knows it! 'Hmmm I feel like a chocolate' he would say, 'do you want one?' How can you say no? It's chocolate.He loves the sweeter me hehehe He loves that chocolate gets bought and is consumed. Prior to all this there was never bad food in this house...never.

I want to get back to being a savoury gal. I liked it over there. I rarely ate bad foods and I was slim, much slimmer then what I am these days :(


HELP!!! Anyone know of a good sweets detox?

Mister Maker

Mister Maker is a huge hit in this house. Don't know who or what Mister Maker is? It's a children's arts and craft show and Mister Maker is the guy doing the crafts (pic above).

Bella just loves him. And I can understand why. He makes craft look so fun and cracks us up! He is quite funny and a bit silly. He makes all sorts of things out of everything and anything. To do his crafts you really don't need to buy alot of equipment as its usually stuff you would find in most homes like cereal boxes, fabric softener bottles etc etc

The other day Bella asked if we could do a 'Maker' craft. We just happened to of just watched an episode where he did some bubble painting. I thought that this one would be perfect. When I told Bella that we would do the bubble painting, I had one VERY excited girl on my hands :))))


Here is the instruction sheet 

To say I was worried that Bella would suck the straw and not blow was an understatement! I kept repeating it over and over again to her. I didn't even get a chance to demonstrate to her how to do it before she grabbed a cup and started blowing the bubbles. 'See Mummy' she said. The whole time I did keep on reminding her about blowing and not sucking as I was scared (ok freaked out) that she would forget. I am happy to report that we didn't have any problems. She did great!! She follows direction well and she must of watched that episode at least 10 + times so she knew what she was doing before we had even begun. I can confirm that this 'Maker' craft was a success and we will be definitely doing it again. 


Here is some photos of Isabella in action doing her bubble painting...

Twins!!

This morning I am going to share a happy news post. No, I'm not pregnant and having twins hahaha......


Overnight the gorgeous Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederick left hospital with her new bundles of joy!!!

I am so happy for them both. I was on bump watch for ages. She certainly had me on the edge of my seat, with all the false alarms that she was having. 


Whilst doing their 'walk and talk' with the babies, Princess Mary said that the Princess was alot calmer of the two. She also advised that the babies sleep together. She also said that the babies haven't slept much but are feeding well. They are doing their best to get the babies feeding and sleeping at the same time. She didn't go into details of the birth but mentioned that is was an amazing experience and that it all went so well. 


Awww... I just love Princess Mary. I think she is a loving and caring person. I love her style and well... who wouldn't want to be a princess?? 


Photos are from here and here. I love how the huffington post's article reads...


When asked if she plans to have any other children, Mary responded, "We have our hands full right now." The couple also has two toddlers: Prince Christian, 5, and Princess Isabella, 3.


Umm, people, she just had twins!! Let them all settle in before they think about having more! Geez!


Now is the dreaded wait to see what they are called....I'm in agony! I'm so impatient hahaha