do it now.

If I had my child to raise all over again,
I’d build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I’d finger-paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I’d take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I’d take more hikes and fly more kites.
I’d stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I’d do more hugging and less tugging.

- Diane Loomans, from “If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again”

i think this is so beautiful. so much so that it made this sleep deprived mama sob at work today. and come home and squeeze my girl like there was no tomorrow.

yet another reminder to try and be here. now. in the moment.
one shot.

do it right, right?!
♡ ashley

durkey. tuck.

we encountered our very first turkey x duck today. i think it is just a duck but it sure didn't score in the looks department. perhaps if p was old enough it would have been a great intro into reading the ugly duckling. she was fascinated by it. not enough to share the stale bread which she scoffed down like it was going out of style. yum.

park life is a good life.

♡ashley

yum balls.

the house smells like paint. the soles of our feet a sweet shade of dulux white on white.

after all that painting we need some treats. luckily i made just the thing.

yum balls.

35g dried dates- soak overnight in warm water.

drain and dump into food processor.

add 3 tbsp honey, 3 tbsp tahini, 2 tbsp almond/brazil nut and cashew spread.

whizz until smooth.

mix with:

1/4 c chia seeds (keep 1/2 and bash in pestle and mortar before adding)

1/4 c sesame seeds (repeat pestle and mortar trick)

3/4 c quinoa flakes

1/4 c desiccated coconut

1/3 c raw/organic cacao powder

roll into little balls. roll in more coconut. savour.

perfect pick me up. seriously, imagine them walking up to you in a crowded bar. who could refuse?

back to the brush.

♡ ashley

spring sprang.

Got inspired. Needed a change. Bought some paint. Found a few pretty things. Shifted furniture. Home makeover on my hands.
Back when things are in place.
♡ ashley

all images from apartment therapy.

inspired.

This house makes me wanna pop some colour all over my home.
Or maybe its the amazing sun beaming down on us today.
Either way, pop here to see more.

the big Zzzs.

Last Saturday night we ventured out for our first dinner date since Piper was born. We had a blast (more than a few glasses of wine) and laughed a lot. One part of our conversation that wasn't very funny was in regards to the old sleep issue that haunts us in this neck of the woods. The words Issue and Haunts are never a good sign about how things are going.
This time we actually aren't sure if her sleep is wonky or not...
We don't know how we can feel sooo tired all the time. I thought she had been sleeping through most nights (with a start to the day at *shudder* 5:30 every day) but then realised that maybe the getting up and calming bub has become so common place I don't even know it's happening. Am I sleepwalking? Will the fog lift? We realised we aren't sure whether or not we sleep more than a few hours at night.
In the beginning I had people telling me, "Wait until she is 3 months/ 6 months/ 12 months and she'll start to sleep better"...alas, am still waiting. Except now am also working and that can be hard enough to manage without being on the slippery edge of that evil sleep deprivation slope.
At least I can pause and savour the best nuggets this week.




Molars coming.


She flies through the house with that felt ball and can whip it at us with deadly accuracy. The dog knows to take cover.












My trick for dealing with a tired mama day. A trip to the park, where she turns into a happy soul and climbs and contemplates life. Also, a latte in hand from local cafe is the icing on the playground cake.


Op Shop. $1. For reals.


Dinner. Frittata with smoked salmon, spinach from our patch and cherry tomatoes.

I am home alone as my man has gone to a hip hop show. So I am going to curl up with my knitting and rubbish tv and keep trying to convince myself that I am sleeping well at night. It's all the mind!

Happy weekend,
♡ ashley

this moment.

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Inspired by Soulemama.

mornin sunshine.

Today requires the pretty bits. Still blobby with evil spring cold and cough that makes me sound like a 90 year old chain smoker. Piper keeps on reaching in my mouth when I speak, think she's trying to find the weird person with the husky voice inside me.




Blooming...and chopped down on the roadside a few blocks from me, the farmers HATE these, I LOVE them.


Dreaming...we are overdue for a holiday.


Learning...double pointed needles, makes me wonder if I am missing a thumb.

And now off to working...
♡ ashley

cough.

I am a bit under the weather at the moment. Could happily spend 24 hours sipping ginger and honey tea and hiding away to rest under some warm blankets. Alas, I need to suck it up and keep participating in this whole child rearing thing. Letting her run amok in the house. Don't let those peaceful photographs fool you, she lay still for 30 seconds to recharge and GO for another 3 hours.

It's been a good week so far.









Fathers day rocked in our house. First, my dearest worked all day, then came home to a box of chocolates (which I helped consume half of that night) and a teething baby. But, he laughed it all off and loved that it was a real day. No sleep in, no silver lining, a real deal dad day! I did try and create a little present to frame for Dada, but Piper wanted no part of it.



In the end she did provide a very precious snuggle as a nice end to the day (I take back the 'no silver lining' call).

Hope your week is bumping along too.

♡ ashley

hump day nuggets

I have been busily soaking in some articles found on the parenting site kindred.

I am not a 'crunchy' or 'attachment' or a 'green' parent. I am the best parent I can be. I wear Piper in an ergo carrier, am still breastfeeding, try to avoid preservatives and eat loads of organic. To be honest, most of these things I do because it is easier for me.

I also let her watch Sesame Street sometimes, and have shared ice cream cones with her.

I don't feel we need to put ourselves into a specific category as parents, and really shouldn't as that type of pressure is just what a mama, or dada doesn't need.

We need good tips and advice to make us happy and, better yet, to make resilient and empathetic children who know they are loved no matter what crowd they choose to join.

hmm, rambling....

One article I did come across on this site is here, Five reasons to stop saying, 'good job'. Which has inspired me to take a new challenge on board to change the way I deal with my child, the children I teach and most of the other little and big children I speak to. After I read this I caught myself saying, 'good clapping', 'good eating' and 'good walking' about a hundred times that same day.

I have the 'good' verbal tic something fierce.

I know that we need to encourage our children and each other, but perhaps it is time to get creative.

The more we overuse this type of praise the more our children learn to rely on our judgements. If we say 'good sharing' every time out child shares, they stop sharing for the value it holds and start doing so to please us.

We need to provide unconditional support to our little ones. To tell them 'good job' is to show that there is a chance it could have been 'bad job' and that we are always judging them.

Our expressions need to be genuine, and the good tic needs to be left behind.

Pop over to the above link to have a deeper look.

Perhaps a good challenge for us all...

☁☁☁

This week's nuggets.

We have been spending more than our fair share of time hiding from storms inside. With spring about to sprung, we wait in anticipation for sunny days to dry our clothes and let us play in the dirt.

Piper set up her own game of peek-a-boo.

And managed to bite the head off a ladybug skittle...

This mama has been busy clickety-clacking the knitting needles, a head start for next winter.

AHhhhmmmm, as I said waiting to dry our clothing outside, as guest bedroom is not a happy place right now.

When I do sneak outside, I notice that everything is starting to sprout and bloom. Spring is a wonderful thing.

Off for a dinner date with my love. My other love will be in bed, with a neighbour watching over her for the first time. i will miss my good girl.

♡ ashley

more nuggets here.