Children see the bestest things!

Life through a child's eyes is so beautiful.

As an adult we forget how much fun you can have with the simple stuff.

A shadow can entertain a child for ages.

Mr 4 and I walked out of a shop the other day and he started looking around everywhere. Of course I thought he had dropped something - when in fact he was just looking for his shadow.

Giggles ensued as we chased it around and tried to see how "tall" we could be.

Something so simple and FREE had us entertained better than any toy!

Children see the bestest things! (Yes. I said bestest!) We need to step back more often and view the world through our child's eyes.

Letting go....

Idea pinched from Fox In Flats

As you all know I was dreading Mother's Day with. a. passion!


Thankfully we survived. It wasn't the day I planned at all - (I woke up rather ill)
But I forced myself to at least make the trip to the cemetery to pay our respects to mum and I am glad we did.

I feel a bit more at peace now. I feel like I have a way to release the unhappiness thanks to an idea from Fox In Flats in releasing a balloon, and we also blew some bubbles for nan.

We spent the day on Saturday making a little patch in the garden for nan and I know I have somewhere now to keep adding to on special occasions and just because.

I forget at times what a big hole has been left in the boys lives. I was reminded today when I asked Mr 9 who he wrote about for his hero in today's NAPLAN test. His reply .... Nanny.

He misses her dearly but holds it all so close. I need to stop wallowing. Hopefully our little garden will give us that special release we all need.

Coming up to the 12mth anniversary of mums death next month, until then I know I will still be battling the demons. But I feel once we reach that first year things will become easier.  I hope!

May the month for Mother's. Let the party begin!

Card from Down That Little Lane

So it begins...

The Mother's Day love has been coming early in the BZ household.  Mr 4 has been asking me everyday for the past month if it was Mother's Day yet. He can't wait to give me my pwesent!

So Wednesday after childcare he arrived home with a cute little potted plant and gorgeous card.

Reading the card I started to giggle. "I love my mum as big as the moon on the tips of my toes and as long as my couch (cause it's really long!)"

 As long as the couch!?  Kids do say the funniest things. 

Love my gorgeous boys and I truly am lucky to be their mother.  Even though they drive me batty and push all the wrong buttons at times. 

 

Are you a Picster?

Picster is an app for iPad and iPhone that creates professional-looking digital photo albums to share instantly through social media or via email links to a webview site.

This FREE app allows users to create tailor-made albums in just a few minutes from their photo library, organise their photos into albums of events – such as ‘Our Wedding’, ‘My Makeup Looks’, ‘My Favourite Meals’, ‘Summer Trip to Byron Bay’, ‘Josh’s 30th Birthday’ – and have a collection of professionally-displayed photos they can share with family and friends.

Clean lines, simple design and professional graphic design ensure Picster albums look sophisticated and are user-friendly, without advertising pop-ups.  Unlike Instagram, where the emphasis is on taking photos to share, Picster is all about photo sharing, not taking, allowing the focus to stay on displaying your images the professional and fun way. 

www.picster.me / FREE download on iPad and iPhone

What's in a smell...

Smells trigger so many thoughts and feelings. Some good, some painful.

• Hand sanitiser reminds me of the long hours spent in ICU with our first son.

• Coconut oil and Olive oil remind me of my mum. She often used it before sitting in the sun.

• Oil of Olay reminds me of dear old nan. 

• Roses remind me of mum. She often picked them and had them around the house. 

• Stella McCartney was my wedding day scent. I still love it today, seven years later.

• Old books remind me of hours spent reading books with my nan and aunts.

• Aloe vera moisturiser was often a scent you would smell after spending days on the beach near our family shack and getting sunburnt.

• A fresh pot of tea reminds me of afternoons spent at a dear old aunt and uncles. We would play outside in the garden while the adults chatted and sipped tea.

• Smoke from a bonfire brings back many childhood memories of cracker night. Best times!

• Fresh popcorn is a scent that belongs in every home. Movie snuggles are the bomb.

•  Deep heat reminds me of hubby's many cricket hurts

• Sea air means many days frolicking at the beach as a kid. And watching our boys do the same.

•  Fresh cut grass on a warm day

• Smell of rain after a hot balmy day

So many more that I could mention, but we won't drag this on anymore.


What scents bring back memories for you?

Things I love...

Wood Wood Vintage Brown Zip Wallet

Faux Bamboo Table - DTLL

Luxury Handmade Hammock - Small Size

Yellow Chevron Footstool

Black and White Typography love poster print, You and Me equals Awesome A3

Glass Top Coffee Table Lemon

Nan's Garden

Handmade Silver Chevron Boys Bloomers & Singlet set

Mini Quilt - Chevron

Turquoise Metal Basket

 

 Find these and so many more gorgeous items on Down That Little Lane!

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Fave reads of the week

This week there have been some interesting stories around the big wide web. A few of the ones that caught my eye the most are.....


50 outdoor activities every child must experience 

The astonishing names which parents wanted to give to their newborn babies

Hilary Duff: “I’m obsessed with being a mum!”

Pink reveals the worst day of her life as a mum

25 Common Facebook Status Updates and What They REALLY Mean

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon shut down Disneyland to renew wedding vows 

20 Hilarious Pinterest Fails

What to expect in Nina Proudman’s maternity wardrobe

Share your interesting reads for the week below...

Can the real me please stand up?

As I mentioned we celebrated our 7th wedding anniversary yesterday.

Monday is one of Mr 4's childcare days, and Mr 9 decided to go mowing lawns with pop, so we actually ended up going out for a romantic lunch just for two.

Well not so romantic really.  There was no romance involved.  Just lots of small talk and silent moments.  Where did the conversation go before kids? What the hell do you even talk about if it is not kids, work, or the house??

As I sat there in silence looking around the other tables filled with families and their children I actually wished the boys were there with us.

Mr 9 was actually part of our weddding, so he really should have been part of the anniversary celebrations. Right?

I felt like I was hiding the real me, sitting at a table kid free.  It was NOT who I really am. I am a mum, that very, VERY rarely spends time away from the kids.  I was living a lie at that table right then.  I felt like a fraud! I wanted to stand up and say I'm not really someone who gets to wine and dine often, you will most likely find me in the kitchen with food splattered all over me while cooking dinner for four.

Maybe it was because it was the middle of the day. Maybe I have just hit that stage in life where you realise who you really are. Maybe, just maybe I am so content being a mum that I don't let myself enjoy ME time.

Maybe I am totally crazy!

Compare the difference...

I took the above image today to help decide if I really wanted to chop off my long locks.  Then I flicked through my wedding album and noted that I do look thinner in the face today than I did seven years ago. Don't I? I dunno! Maybe I have just lost the smile and glowing cheeks?

The things is I struggle with the scales. Always have and I am resigned to the fact that I always will.

People look at me and see a BIG girl, assuming that I eat lots.  Only thing is...  I don't!

I often skip breakfast and lunch realising late afternoon that I should eat.  (I am getting better with this lately!)  I don't eat all day like people think. I don't eat rubbish. My weakness was (until the past month or so) chips with a glass of wine after dinner. I now rarely touch these and limit my alcohol intake. We eat meat and veg most days in one form or another. (Served with rice, pasta or spud)

I can't eat dairy. I can't eat nuts, seeds and grains. Which makes it SO hard to find a good healthy snack.

I should be happy with me as I am and stop worrying about what other people see when they look at me. I know I can do more but really - do I want to?

A lady served me the other day and told me I had a beautiful face.  My instant thought (after saying thanks)  "Is she thinking - shame about the rest?!"  Why didn't I accept the compliment as just that?

I have always struggled with compliments though.

Maybe the slight changes I am making is doing more than I realise.  I will just keep swimming and time will tell.

Do you look in the mirror and smile? Or turn away and cringe?

Best day of my life.....

Today we celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary. How time flies when you are married to your best friend. Love him more today than I did on our amazing day in 2006 if that is even possible!

On this day (29 April 2000) 13 years ago we also had our very first date. Hubby took me to lunch at the local pub and then we watched a dvd together.

We welcomed our first son in March 2004 and then finally tied the knot two years later and made Logan a big part of our wedding day.

I wouldn't change a thing about our special day, or the past 13 years we have spent together. 

It was fantastic to have our son involved and he still calls it "OUR" wedding day. So true!

He made it special with his little antics, and everyone loved fussing over him.

I only wish I could do it all over again!

 

Happy Anniversary babe xx 

Fave reads on this mundane Tuesday...

Image via We heart it

 

I have found some interesting stories to read this week so far. Some funny, some sad, some down right crazy!

I thought I would share my faves on this mundane Tuesday.


15 Differences Between The First Child And The Next One - So. SO! True. I agree with every point Scary Mommy made.

Divinyls at No.1 on iTunes album chart with best of album Essential - What a beautiful tribute to a rock legend!


RIP Chrissy Amphlett  - So sad to see another great soul lost to cancer.

The story of Brave little Levi - Such a strong little man, fighting the hard fight.

Beauty back in time - I loved looking at the old products and remembering dear old Nan.

Will I remember those I love? Early onset dementia on the rise - Such an important read we all need to take note of. Too close to home for me and something I fear with all my might.

Kasey Chambers and hubby call it quits - I NEVER expected to read this that's for sure!

Kate Middleton to move in with mum post-birth - Shock horror! Kate plans to move home once bubs is born.

What interesting reads have you discovered lately?