wishlist #3

Finders Keepers Telling Tales top- This Summery little number would look equally good with a pair of denim cut-offs or dressed up for after dark with some tight cropped trousers and statement heels.

Revlon Just Bitten Lip Stain & Balm- Seeing as my daily make-up routine is low maintenance to say the least these days (read: moisturiser, concealer, a dust of mineral powder and some blush) dual purpose products are king and I like the look of this flattering shade.

Donna Hay Fast, Fresh, Simple- The latest tome by the Australian cooking maestro and food stylist. I've been watching the accompanying TV series and these recipes are seriously good (and fast, fresh and simple).

Frankie 2012 Daily Journal- Though I usually try and use the calendar on my ipad for day to day scheduling, I still love carrying around a paper diary in my bag to scribble down appointments and reminders, especially when it's one as pretty as this.

happy things

The coconut scent of sun cream
A chai latte bought by a generous friend
My sweet baby falling asleep in my arms
A glass of wine whilst making Summer plans
An ice cream at the beach
Stealing a turn on the swings at the playground
Stretching out on the sand and feeling the sun warm my skin
A freshly baked bread roll with butter and raspberry jam
Neon pink toe nails and lightly tanned toes
Sharing a bean bag with my love
A package of treats received from home

Making Christmas cards with Lila

These things all made me smile this weekend, and although the weather has since turned and we seem to have waved goodbye to Summer in the past few days, hopefully it's just a temporary blip. I thought I would share in any case seeing as it's the time of year for giving thanks and all that.

And because it's always good to keep it real, I also managed to sun burn my left cheek to a fierce shade of red and Lila added to the ever growing collection of bumps and cuts adorning her legs when she tripped over at the park. The poor child seems to have inherited my ridiculous level of clumsiness and tendency to bruise easily.

In other news, Rose is still fighting off the remnants of her cold and has suddenly decided that she doesn't like sleeping very much anymore. It feels like she woke up about fifteen times last night. Hopefully this is also a temporary blip as I am a walking zombie today. No amount of under eye concealer can conceal these dark shadows!

the great gatsby

Getting very excited about these pictures from the set of The Great Gatsby which is currently being filmed in Australia. It is one of my all time favourite books and I can't wait to see director Baz Luhrmanns take on it. If you haven't read it yet, now is the time! All of Fitzgerald's novels are classics. The casting looks promising with Leonardo DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby, the enchanting Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan and Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway, the story's narrator. Other cast members include Australian supermodel Gemma Ward (pictured in the sparkling ensemble below) and red headed bombshell Isla Fisher.

The roaring '20's were the decadent decade of dapper gentlemen, glitz, glamour and good times and the fabulous costumes will no doubt be influencing how we will be dressing next year, as already evidenced in a number of collections for Spring/Summer 2012 from designers including Ralph Lauren, Gucci and Alberta Ferretti. Bring it on.

Images from Daily Mail and Grazia UK

motherhood

Being a mother is frustrating, exhausting and all consuming. On the more challenging days I try to remind myself that I am not dealing with an inconvenience but raising a human being. There is no recognition, chance of promotion and certainly not a yearly cash bonus. Despite this, shaping the mind and future of a little person must be the most important job in the world. The rewards come in other forms- a beautiful smile from your baby when you lift them from their cot, a hug from your child when you least expect it and watching them learn and grow every single day.

There are many things I want to teach my children. That they can do anything, achieve their wildest hopes and dreams if they are passionate enough about them and work hard enough to make them happen. I don't ever want to clip their wings. I want to show them the world and all the inspiring places and people we come across on the way. Teach them to recognise and search out beauty in nature, in the night sky, in music, art and literature.

Already there are many things they have taught me too. Patience for one. To always stay curious, to take time to stop and really look, to be silly, to remember to be kind and to love with every ounce of my being. Like every mother, I want the best of everything for them and instead of worrying that we can't buy them a great many toys and gifts for Christmas, I would do well to keep in mind that when they look back it will not be this that stays with them.

They will remember the times we kicked off our shoes and ran along the beach together, when we made forts under the table and I read stories to them for hours and the time we ate ice-cream for breakfast The most important thing is that they know that they are and always have been loved to the stars and back. All that really matters is love.

Picture of Lila and I from the archives.

rosebud

It's hard to wrap my head around the fact this little girl is already five months old. Where has my tiny baby gone?! During the past week she has started sitting on her own (surrounded by a safety guard of cushions!) and she is trying all sorts of pureed fruits and vegetables like a champion. So much so that she gets in a frenzy of anticipation whenever she sees her little pink bowl and spoon and cries if I don't spoon it in quickly enough.

She has now moved in with her big sister, who thankfully seems to sleep like the living dead and only the loudest of cries from Rose will half raise her from her slumber. However for the past two days Rose has been suffering from a particularly nasty cold and has been struggling to breathe easily at night so Curt has decamped to the sofa and she has temporarily nabbed his spot next to me in the big bed until she gets a bit better. She better not get too used to it!

This weekend she had her first go on a swing at the playground which she took in her usual calm stride. She loves nothing more than hanging out with Lila and they read books together (when Lila is in a cooperative mood), which is the sweetest thing on Earth.

And her Daddy, being an incredibly mature and responsible parent at all times, thinks it's really funny to take pictures like this...

rose tinted world

I thought it was about time for a heady dose of unashamedly girly, soft focus, ultra pretty escapism. Enjoy.

All images by A Child Woman.

stella's country house

Currently obsessing over the beautiful British country home of fashion designer and daughter of Sir Paul, Stella McCartney and her husband Alasdhair Willis. The gardens take my breath away. What an utterly perfect country idyll for their four children to roam in. Places like this are why I will always love England and remind me how lucky I have been to grow up in a gorgeous old house in a stunning rural setting. If only my sister and I had of had a teepee like the one pictured below to play in!

Photos by Bruce Weber. Read the full article and see more images on Vogue

being content

I really believe that happiness is all about mindset. Some of the happiest people I know don't have the most money, the biggest homes or the most desirable jobs. However, they know how to make their own fun and have a good time, they laugh easily, appreciate the simple things in life and value their family and close friendships. It's not rocket science, but an impromptu barbeque with a couple of packs of sausages, some fresh bread rolls, a bottle of wine and a few friends can be just as good - and often a lot more enjoyable- as an overpriced meal in a fancy restaurant.

I reckon that contentment is actually more important than happiness. Let's be honest, living our lives in a constant euphoric state is not exactly a realistic goal, but learning to appreciate what's around us and what we have is an awesome skill. It also sits well with living in the present and fully appreciating the moment, rather than always looking to the future- when times will be better, money will be more abundant and so on. This is something I've had to consciously train myself to do as I've always had tendencies towards 'the grass is always greener' syndrome.

I'm embracing going back to basics and enjoying home-made simple things. I don't want to have to rely on entertainment which costs a lot of money. This Summer there will be lots of time spent outdoors and creative projects for the home, getting crafty with Lila, enjoying time spent relaxing with friends and family. Now let's just hope the weather cooperates :)