still going strong in my big girl knickers

Recently this blog has been all about school lunches and kids things. 

So I think I need to make this post 

ALL ABOUT ME. 

Just to keep things even of course.

Some many have been following or heard about my new healthier lifestyle. To date I have lost a disgusting 17kgs and 11 of those since I joined the gym. I say disgusting because I'm not really sure how I found all that weight to begin with. And I'm pretty sure when I look in the mirror I look like the same person just with added collarbones. So how does that work exactly.

Last night on the way home from the gym Lucy exclaimed that I didn't have any kilo's anymore! We asked her to explain and she said that apparently I am skinny now so I don't need to go to the gym. Unfortunately that is not true. The gym will have to be a part of my life forever I think.

That basically means that majority of the week I look like this:

and this

All panda-eyed and my makeup has completely melted off my face from sweat. Yes I wear makeup, basically because I usually have either just done school drop off or pick up and I'm one of those people who would hate for the other Mum's to see my natural skin complexion.  So yes that means I usually need 3 showers a day plus i have to do my hair and makeup twice. 

Don't judge me. Please. I only have a few vanity issues!

I have finally thrown out most of my big clothes and maternity wear (Those elastic waisted pants were my saviour, friend and hero for so long) with the intent that I will NEVER need them again.

Thankfully in my semi-hoarding way I still have heaps of jeans from over 10years ago, the last time I was this size, so I don't have to go completely broke buying all new clothes.

I am so close to my goal now that I can almost smell it. 

On that note I'm off to Zumba. Gonna shake and shimmy my booty off!

a little pressie for Lucy

This is just one of the presents that Lucy got for her birthday. I mentioned the idea to Clint and in his handy way just knocked them together one day. I painted them up and put some pretty paper inside to look like wall paper for the birdies. Each roof comes off so at night we drop little battery operated tea lights in and it is a nice alternative to a plug in night light.

So pretty. I still wish it was my room.

Finding reasons to dress up

I am generally a very casual kinda girl. I think in all honesty I find not only comfort in a pair of jeans and tee, but also a little bit of security. The funny thing though is that inside my head, my personality and the way I see myself is not a jeans and tee person at all. 

I am most certainly not all glitter and sparkle or over the top, but I do like to look pretty and dress up. So lately at every given opportunity I have tried to do it - get dressed up that is!

Last night we attended a cousins engagement party so heels and a dress were not out of place and I loved every minute of it. And even though this morning - the morning after - I am feeling tired and cranky at Clint for being hungover, I find myself going through my diary checking for the next event I can get tarted up for. 

The next time I think will be a 3 year old's birthday party! Stuff it if the kids are getting dressed up so am I!

Interesting how only now in my 30's I am embracing my girlyness.

Anyone else feel like this too?

the rest of December and 2011

Phew we finally made it. I had planned to post a blog every couple of days over December, but the month was out of control. So here are some pics of our December

the boys did some "boating"

Some cool off swims at a friends house

Passing out sitting upright

Putting reindeer food out on Christmas Eve

All the magic of Santa

Fancy feasts with cousins

Awesome Christmas day fun

Followed by more present madness

Passed out in the car before we made home

Getting dressed up for more celebrations



Such a pretty petal.





Cooling off in the paddle pool

falling asleep mid action man play

Finishing off the year with Camping-our-way. Also known as pitching the tent in airconditioned loveliness!

Day eight - and some serious restraint needed

Day 8 - on our advent and today is "decorate a gingerbread house"

I purchased the kit from Ikea. Even though some might think it is cheating - I honestly don't think the bother of it all is worth it in the end. The fun part is the decorating.

So much FUN

This will probably only last 24hours in our house - but eating it is the 2 most fun thing about the whole task. I will me meditating in the corner so that I don't join in on eating all that sugar. Wish I was a kid again, don't you?

Day 4

Day 4 on the advent and this mumma is already a bit tired. It could have something to do with the fact that I was woken at 5am by 4 very cute kids that were too stinking happy to be cross at.

Well after all the fun and playtime of a sleepover it was back to business and today's advent task was "make Christmas cookies"

This fits in perfectly with the fact that Lucy will be taking gifts for her classmates at school tomorrow.

These stained glass cookies do look cool - I really hope the kids like them. In all honesty I just hope their parents are impressed cause they were bloomin' fiddly to make and well out of my usual patience ability. All because I stupidly refused to follow the candy cane and card tradition. I wonder if I'll ever learn?

I hope day 5 is something like "give mummy a foot rub" or "make mummy dinner and pour her a wine" or "sit around and do nothing" Who made this advent anyway? Oh yes, crap that was my idea.

day 2 and 3

Day 2 on the advent was write a letter to Santa and Day 3 is to play a Christmas game on the computer(easy - that should give us a nice quiet half hour today)

Also on today's agenda is more work on the "BLACK" project

our tree from Day 1's task

Oh and don't you just love a tree decorated with love. Our tree is not symmetrical or organised or have ornaments of just a particular colour scheme. It is however loving decorated by our whole family and that's just how we roll. (I do have one rule though - NO TINSEL! Hate the stuff. Even the thought of it makes me sneeze)

We rescued a glass chandelier this year and made some extra decorations. The lights catch through them at night and sparkle light all around the room.

It was destined for the garbage - but I knew all that cut glass that wasn't ruined still had another life intended for it.

home made Advent calendar

Last year we bought our first advent calendar for the kids. The biggest kid in the house (Clint) had opened all the windows and eaten all the treats before the end of day 2!

This year I thought I'd make something myself. It's not pretty but it is personal.

I made up a list of things to do on Word and cut them out

Then I numbered some envelopes and Lucy and I filled each number with a different pattern. Then in each envelope I put a task and 2 treats



mmmmm cadbury yumminess with popping candy

 No real surprise that Lucy is the boss of opening the envelope

And today's task was - to put up the Christmas tree (I may have not been so random in placing some of the activities in certain days) 



Which of course ended up with posing!

Wonder what we'll get to do tomorrow?

Black is the new black PART ONE

We have moved away from all the beige and decided to do something a little bold in our kitchen. It has been on our "gonna-do" list for some time now and we finally got the balls the go ahead with it. I like having a little bit of time to think about things first. Makes me less nervous about big changes. And going from beige to black is a big change in my eyes.


BEFORE


At first the idea was pure black board wall. Black board paint is a bit expensive and annoying because it isn't a water only clean up task. So off to bunnings for some black paint. The look on the colour assistants face when we told her we were painting a wall black was priceless. It didn't bother us because we are used to people not being able to forsee our visions.

I jumped straight in and started edging

Then Clint took over and did all the proper preparations

And he did all the rest!

How exciting

So we now have one coat on! And stage one is almost complete. A few more coats and then the pantry door is next on the transformation list. Stay tuned for Stage 2..........

a wedding to end the month with

Well as promised November has been very busy for us. And we topped it all off last weekend with a wedding.

We started the weekend off with a spot of painting... But I will tell you more about that in another post. I love the suspense! Then I had some gal pals over and a super clever friend spray tanned us. (she has a beauty business - nothing dodgey and no oompa loompa results) So all bronzed up we got dressed in our party clothes on Saturday and headed to the ceremony.

The bride was beautiful. And the men in their suits were so spunky. I really enjoyed the fact that everyone was dressed up and looking their best.

BH's before we murdered the dancefloor.

The Groom's sisters made the cake. There are so many clever people around!

He is so handsome. And all it takes is a suit. NY resolution is to find more reasons for him to weat a suit!

The tanning goddess - for Movember.

The whole thing almost made me want to get married again - to the same man of course. Although in all reality I would still prefer to run away to the Mauritius and elope. I'd let the kids come with us.....maybe.

A playground all to ourselves

Don't you just love it when you go out to a playground and no one else is there and you get to just be silly and not politically correct or polite. We found this playground down on the foreshore and it was completely surrounded by soft white sand, which was great because it was particularly high for our kids so we could worry less about injuries from falls. We were the only ones there for the hour or so we played - and by we I mean that even myself and Daddy bear got into the action.

And we even got a great photo that will definately be framed on our wall of fame-ily. Great photography spunky husband.