the rise and fall of the party princess.

This weekend we went to our gazzilionth third birthday party this year. A pink and purple paradise. Excited and pumped to play dance freeze and gobble cake, Piper was ready two hours before our planned departure. Sure, at this point many would say, "wait to tell your little one about an exciting event until a few minutes beforehand." Not here, we had her geared up for days.

Behold, the rise and fall of miss party pants.

// The pre party pose.

// The sweet talking "one more piece of fairy bread" face.

// The massive game of chasey/bouncy on the trampoline. Knocked down fairy included.

// The first sign we are nearing the finish line. Both the cake and the slouch.

// The "you can't catch me, mom" chase begins to signal home time.

// The grand finale. Yelling, "I WANT TO GO TO BED"

This is followed by a two hour sleep, face first, in her tutu.
Party success.

♡ ashley

monday manifesto // week two.

This week is off to a cracking start.

In a very literal sense.

On Sunday night, storms ripped through our little town, and in their wake left the top half of a giant Marri tree split and lying on two separate fences, managing to crush the clothesline in it's movements.

So this week the manifesto is to get the clean up and rebuilding sorted.

A review of last week::

1 // Drink water and eat my breakfast. Done and habit formed.

2 //  Get out in the garden.  Moved veggie beds from backyard to front yard. boo yah!

3 // Clean out the freezer. Sorted and so good as we need to pinch this week. A great way to clean out the freezer for spring!

4 // Visit the ocean. Read above ^^

5 // Listen to what Piper has to say.  This needs to forever remain in my top 5 to dos!

I have said it before but // BRING ON THE SUN!

♡ ashley

stills // flouncy.

1 // life of the party. always laughing and flouncing about.

2 // 8 months.

3 // moments after snapping, you rolled and dragged over to eat the chalkboard. stillness is not your thing anymore.

4 // banana bread, neighbours lemons, and farmer market kale. winning.

5 // some exciting plans underway.

6 // on rainy days we ride the escalator. small town kicks.

joining em.

♡ ashley

38/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Piper:: you live to bounce. trampolines call you and you respond with huge & intensely joyful jumps.

Poppy:: hello little fang. you continue to melt me, your eyes sparkle. every moment of every day.

linking up with Jodi.

operation make this house a home.

It's funny. Although we bought this house and pay the mortgage every month, it has not been loved as a home. Like so many young families, we have spent a lot of time dreaming about a sea change {the ocean is a whole 10 minutes from this humble abode} where we have acres of land and large, airy rooms. This has been the stepping stone home. The home you live in while waiting to live somewhere else. 

A few weeks ago, I was out for a walk, pushing my mighty double pram past all of the homes on the "other" side of town. With lofty bedrooms where the occupants have views of the river. Perfect gardens and hedges. Pretty dogs chosen for their breed. I was staring and dreaming. Not speaking out loud. Not this time. A minute later Piper said with excitement, "maybe one day we can have a nice house like this." BAM. REALITY CHECK, 

My little person has learned that what we have isn't enough. 

We need more, prettier, better.

That's when the truth about what change is actually needed hit me. 

❀ Grow where you are planted ❀

Our home is perfect. We have a veggie patch, a yard to play, our own bedrooms, a cosy living area. All that any family needs. So let us begin Operation Make This House a Home.

A to do list to make our home somewhere we brag about and feel proud of. Somewhere we plant our roots, extend our arms and grow. 

I have started the ultimate to do list in my side bar. It will be ever growing, as are we. 

Some things will take a long time. Some in the next few weeks. All doable. 

Let the nesting begin.

♡ ashley

a 50 buck week // adventures in budgeting.

"Too many people spend money they haven't earned to buy things they don't want to impress people they don't like." -Will Smith-

The Fresh Prince is right. He also appears to be speaking directly to me {this week in particular}. Our month to month budget is pretty tight. We make due with necessities and op shop treats when needed. We eat well thanks to the local farmer's markets and a passion for good, frugal food.

This month our budget took a nose dive thanks to a very wet winter and some well used and loved fin heaters and a dryer on high rotation. When the electricity bill arrived that little padding bubble in my pocket that helps us feel just comfortable each month was popped. With one salary keeping us afloat and an ugly mortgage, 'clever' needs to be this mama's middle name.

So this next week I have $50 to survive with. Petrol, food, activities, besides the bills, the money needs to cover the rest. Four humans, two canines, and four avines are a few mouths to feed. We will be relying on our veggie garden for salad and veg, our chickens for eggs, our friends for fruit, and each other for entertainment.

Completely doable.

Sometimes these weeks are the best kind because it reminds us of what is important, and it ain't stuff.

Do you have any penny pinching tricks to help manage those sticky weeks?

♡ ashley

Irrelevant and fuzzy photo care of when my biggest was still my littlest. See, it ain't stuff that matters.

tiny spaces // design for kids // pretty pink and mint.

kenziepoo 

fru-anderson 

rafakids

I have always been drawn in by the pretty things. So much so, that I am constantly changing & rearranging things in our home in a relentless quest to calm my inner craving for new eye candy. 

As Poppy gets a bit bigger {and let's be honest, things get a {bit} more manageable} I am finding a new and very strong passion. 

Lately {more than ever}, I have been drawn to all things design for children. Maybe it's the whimsy, the way you can float away and imagine that fairies and talking squirrels are indeed real. That clouds taste like cotton candy and hugs cure everything. 

I digress...

As I find more sources of design for kids, I get giddy and excited. Little spaces for little people inspire me.

As I stumble upon new products and great design ideas I will be sharing them here in my own little space. 

To inspire, covet and make you smile along with me.

Happy humpday friends.

♡ ashley

stills // {mj edition}.

1 // my 52 outtake. pretty young thing. 

2 // i love those toddler pudgy elbows and arms. 

3 // my busy artsy bee. one day little one, we will paint the town so pretty.

4 // a quick fix for a raspy throat. mixed with lemon tea. recipe found here. 

5 // wellness in a jar.

6 // pretty scraps. lucky chooks.

7 // if i turn my back for a moment, piper manages to find the berries and scoff them down like it's nobody's business. a smooth criminal.

linking up with em.

♡ ashley

monday manifesto // living with intention.

So often, Monday rolls along and I shy away, looking for distractions to keep me from facing the lists of 'to dos' that keep creeping up. I ride through the first half of the week filling time with {lovely} plays with friends and long mornings in pjs sipping tea and contemplating the washing.

From Wednesday {hump day} onwards I scramble to catch up with the piles the weekend and lazy start have left in their tracks.

I was on facebook this morning {Monday distraction 101} and noticed a post by the naughty naturopath mum where she mentions some simple and lovely things to focus on this week. A fresh approach to each new week. It spoke to me. Living with intention is important {as are pj days} and something I want to grasp as 2013 marches forward. 

So I declare Monday the day to create a new manifesto. A simple declaration of things I intend to accomplish this week. 

1 // Drink water and eat my breakfast. These are two of the top priorities and items I forget to prioritise. By the time the kids eat and I have sorted the home for the day, I have scoffed the crusts of leftover toast and two coffees. Not a good idea to help a breastfeeding mama navigate the day. 8 large glasses and 2 little pills {breastfeeding gold} are to be consumed.

2 //  Get out in the garden. There are so many reasons behind this but the best is to soak in some fresh air and sunshine. The rain has been relentless this winter and it is time to get my fingers dirty with soil. Tend to the precious seedlings and pot/repot our house plants.

3 // Clean out the freezer. I watched Jamie Oliver's new show this week and realised that my freezer has become a very sad dumping ground. Ends of bread, leftover soup, tiny end bits of ginger, brown bananas, all unlabelled and unappetising. This week I vow to clean out the freezer so it is easy to cook with. 

4 // Visit the ocean. No explanation for that. 

5 // Listen to {really listen} and write down some of what Piper has to say. I am watching the little lady grow up {far too quickly} before my very eyes and want to hold on to some of what makes her the coolest three year old EVER.

Care to join me?! Would love to know one thing you hope to achieve this week. Monday means you have plenty of time to get there.

♡ ashley

37/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Poppy:: drool. chew. drool. chew. even on the change table your only thoughts are whether to chew your shoe or giraffe. drool.

Piper:: rocking daddy's fedora & a rag doll.

linking up with Jodi.

r u ok ?

yesterday was national r u ok day. reminding us to regularly ask our friends and family if they are okay. asking with meaning and waiting to hear are the keys.

as a woman who can dip my toes in the scary waves of anxiety, i know just how important it is to feel supported and know that it is 'ok' to not be 'ok'.

remember to ask. remember to tell.

so, r u ok?

♡ ashley

links to love // nearly friday.

thursday. good for so many reasons. mostly it is one day off of friday. we have climbed the humpday hill and are on upside. the weekend plans begin.
a few online goodies for your thursday pleasure.

to eat //
a healthy sweet tooth solution. chia & honey pudding with fruit. num.

to make //

a feather crown for a little one.

to covet //

spots. jumper. spring breeze stopper. drool.

to inspire //

as i slowly create a design board and search for inspiration for the impending redo of both the little ladies' rooms, i stumble upon clever ideas. this is a nice list of things to do for your kid's room that don't cost a cent.

to read //

adults sag. but everyone is beautiful. a massage therapist's take on the body.

♡ ashley

be {stills} my heart. welcome spring.

oh spring. welcome. we have been waiting for you and the moment you pulled out your golden rays we dropped everything to worship you.

1// that wild hair. and a best friend that happened to be at the playground. the best kind of surprise.

2// poppy is most happy surrounded with toys.

3// one little monkey.

4// little blooms have been made into tiny toddler vignettes around the home. i find a new pile every day.

5// seaside joy.

6// the three year old and her rusk. no wonder poppy watches you like a hawk.

7// girls & bonnets, indeed my heart be stilled.

a few fuzzy photos lately, been {trying} to get my manual on. these things take time.

linking up with em.

♡ ashley

36/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Piper:: how i find you every. single. time. i poke my head around the corner and peak into your bedroom.

Poppy::  as a professional commando crawler you are spending far less time jumping in the jumperoo than navigating your way around and beneath it.

linking up with Jodi.

35/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Poppy:: we have reached the mama stage. as in mamamamamamama. you love everyone you meet but prefer to stay in my arms for the time being. reaching for me from whoever chooses to cuddle you. your eyes sparkle when i speak to you, or dance with your sister next to you. i am butter for you, melting me with every giggle and every smile. you are divine.

Piper::  you are our animal whisperer. you cannot turn away from them. patting every stray cat, or dog waiting outside of the shops. chasing the birds at the beach. and ponies, your heart skips a beat at the sight of them. you tell me they talk to you and tell you their needs. this morning there was a little poodle, looking worse for wear, outside the grocery store. while i was busy at the checkout you sat patting and whispering to it. on the drive home you told me all about him. that he was okay because his mummy left him there for some fresh air and would be back soon. your heart is so pure. this is your monthly pony ride. you are amazing.

linking up with Jodi.