stills // and a little easter giveaway.

the weather has made a very sudden dip. we are starting to hide out more. the laundry is hanging inside. we are wearing warm pjs. welcome autumn, in a blink sir winter will be here.
1 // yup. molars pretty much suck more than any other whine maker thus far in her development. [that is banana on her chin {for the record}]
2 // a bit tired and the day was just starting.
3 // ready, aim...
4 // big girl now drinks from her own "caffee" mug.
5 // we have been pulling off the "no tv" thing pretty well so far. this movie is the second in 2 weeks.
6 // indoor washing.
7 // she is playing with the sylvanian family toys endlessly. my nostalgia is in high alert and i am soaking it all up too.
8 // our before bed story and benjamin.
9 // ashley g artwork and a frame a little bit wonky [this week's theme]
10 // she sits and 'reads' for a good part of the day.
11 // method home sent me these limited edition dulce de leche soaps to try. they smell like a caramel latte. a great option for a sweet free easter treat. you can win some deliciousness too just enter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

hoping for a week that is a little less wonky. fingers and toes crossed.
♡ ashley

linking up with em.

12/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014." 

Piper: following in mama's footsteps.

Poppy: living in the high chair. food is your love language. passionfruit in hair. 

♡ ashley

linking up with jodi. 

clearing the clutter // finding your style // back to basics.

this photo is totally not related to the post but man alive, this kid! so much goodness!

Me and an old girlfriend used to get such a giggle out of folks saying they needed to "find themselves." I used to think, you are you, it's pretty simple really. Then I had my girls and both times it changed me. As I try to redefine who I am I realise that I have lost myself. There is so much beauty out there and I have been endlessly inspired. Instagram and other bloggers have style galore. Rather than choosing a direction, the past few years I have been exploring, dabbling, searching. Until now. I have had a bit of an epiphany. An aha as to who I am now, again. 

Guiding this personal discovery is the combined force of drowning in crap alongside my go to guide for parenting, Simplicity Parenting. Each and every time I read it, it resonates with me. I believe in what is described yet somehow constantly deviate from the path of less. It is a human condition. The gathering of things. Which is wonderful if they bring happiness. All too often I have let myself be influenced by the {amazing} style of others. I am swayed from what I adore through the images and aesthetics of others. Like a teenage girl, not so much to fit in, but seeing something again and again until you want it. Need it. 

I worry about what this means for my children. The ever changing environment. Too much. This worry has led to some major soul shifting decisions.

I am taking a step back from the stuff. We as a family are clearing the clutter. Room by room. Keeping those things that we love. I am using my pinterest as a mood board. The inspirations I have pinned all have a lot in common. Beautiful artwork, wood, plants, recycled items, natural materials, space. 

The hardest part? Giving the rest of my stuff up. Letting go of stuff is a challenge all of it's own. We are entering a new level of it. I am calling it the gypsy decor. Not as in boho style. As in, if we were to pack up and return to living in a remote desert community or teaching in Spain for a year, what could we not live without? What things do we tremendously adore? What brings us joy and peace? 

I want a home filled with natural things, beautiful things, to make ethical choices, to create eco spaces. It is all possible.

I have a feeling my ways are somewhat aligned with a crazy person. A cat lady hoarder. But the bottom line is we choose our world. How we want to live. It is all a choice. There are times that we are backed into a corner {with money, jobs, etc.} but in the end we decide what we want from life.

This year and the next will be huge for my family. We are goal setting like never before. Prioritising. Focused for change and the space we crave to breathe.

Our journey begins today. With my admitting to being a wannabe. To embracing less. To clearing the clutter. Indeed less is always so much more.

♡ ashley

ps. This is not a judgement about you and your family. It is about me and my family. What we need and what works for us. Judgements don't exist in this space. I am sharing my choices. 

if you want something beautiful, useful and eco friendly enter to win some my gypsy child love here. 

11/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014." 

One portrait this week captured you both in your elements!

Poppy:climbing. anything. everything. everywhere.

Piper: you quit tv this week (not your choice!) it has meant a lot of imaginary play and a lot of moments of "i'm bored" while sulking in a spot. i think that within the week that tune will change when your system adjusts. i know peacefulness will follow.

♡ ashley

linking up with jodi. 

a 'to' list // links to love.

 things i have been clicking & coveting...

to print and hang {free!}: birds.

to eat: ginger balls.

to read: the game of thrones box set.

to listen to: bob dylan, desire.

to wear: the ace & jig sorbet top + terrace tee.

to covet for my tiny dancer: fade away tutu from tutu du monde.

to dream about: greece!

to do: after all the work decorating the girl's rooms we are planning to move them into one space. i am a nomad in my own home. let the decorating journey begin. some spaces i adore here and here.

to remember: in the wise words of winnie the pooh...

Have a wonderful weekend lovelies.
♡ ashley

don't miss out on the my gypsy child giveaway just below. i just adore their goodies.

show + tell // my gypsy child organic baby/ toddler/ mum products // giveaway.

We have been working hard to bring you some amazing products created by passionate people. My Gypsy Child is both of these things. It's creator, Sacha, is a fellow mum of two girls and has daughters with sensitive, fair skin. After seeking natural products for her little one's precious skin and failing to find any that fit with 100% natural baby skincare she decided to make her own.
My Gypsy Child makes products that are holistic and 100% natural and organic. They contain NOTHING artificial or synthetic. Harnessing the power of nature to heal and care for skin and what lies beneath it, My Gypsy Child is on a mission to provide 100% natural ingredients at affordable prices.
Carrying products for mamas as well, My Gypsy Mum, you can be pampered too.
I was sent the Organic Time for Me Bath Oil and Organic Just Gorgeous Moisturiser and was blown away by the quality of both. The bath oil is calming and smells amazing. It is an antidepressant, an aphrodisiac and a sedative [hello floating away to your happy place.] At the rrp of $15.95 it is the perfect way to spoil yourself or a mama to be [yup, pregnancy safe too.]
The moisturiser is infused with mimosa absolute oil from Australian Wattle and is sweet and floral with a woody undertone. Suitable to sensitive skin, the moisturiser left my skin soft and smooth. Vegan, fair trade, eco-smart, preservative free. Ridiculously gorgeous.
My two peas were sent the Organic Grumpy Gums Teething Oil and Organic Sleepy Baby Bath Wash.
Poppy is not the greatest teether. She wears amber around her neck and has a fist firmly jammed in her permanently rosy red cheeks. The Organic Grumpy Gums Teething Oil. The essential oils it contains are known as anti-inflammatory and pain relieving, cooling and soothing. Because it is applied externally poppy biting off my fingertip is not a threat [phew.] After using it I can notice within 10 minutes. She is happier, more peaceful and more settled. In fact, the site says you can use it on "spirited" toddlers to help them find a bit more balance, naturally.
My girls LOVE their bath in the evening. The Organic Sleepy Baby Bath Wash is 100% natural and can be used to wash top to toe including hair it bubbles up when swished. The perfect bath wash for little people. The smell? Amaze balls. Perhaps the combo of lavender, rose geranium, sweet orange and roman chamomile essential oils is the key to the soothing, happy aromas.
Beautiful Sacha is offering one lucky reader the chance to win a No Bugs on Bubs Outdoor Body Spray (RRP $29.95) to one lucky reader. Sasha uses this spray in tropical North Queensland to successfully ward off mosquitos and midges. Natural and works = what mamas need.
To enter:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Open Australia wide. Winner must reply to contact within 48 hours of email. Questions? Contact me on [email protected]
♡ ashley

conquering mount life // a glimpse at a messy home & striving to find order.

I am a tidy person by nature. Or I was. Until my kids came along.

With Piper, I was always following along behind her, putting things back in their place. Wiping down. There was order maintained. Mostly.

With Piper and Poppy, I catch up to them a few times a day and throw the things in baskets/drawers/piles to deal with later. Sometimes we pack away together. This means I pack away while Poppy undoes my work and Piper discovers new found toys and books to devour. Good times.

Along the way I seem to have adopted some childlike organisation skills. I have a kitchen table half covered in wipes, books, paperwork, ballet gear, and the like. Folded washing that we have been choosing our outfits from in the middle of the living room. Books, letters, invoices, programs for teaching in a mammoth and very unsteady pile at my elbow next to the computer.

Out front I have managed to create the ambiance of a crazy cat lady hoarding found objects. Op shop finds I need to repair, wood and branches for a piece of art yet to be created teeter precariously on a wooden table near the front door. With an added sprinkling of unranked leaves (everywhere.) Piper adds occasional flowers and found objects to our impromptu artinstalment.

It's a fine balance. Finding the time to spend playing with the people most important but not ending up overwhelmed in clutter and 'to-dos.' In the next few days I am determined to rein supreme in simplifying. Creating order. Space. Peace within my home.

I used to have a single notebook for recording shopping lists, to do lists, writing ideas and inspirations. Then I started scribbling them on any paper I could find. Arranged on countertops and fridge doors. The first step today is collecting the bits and writing them into one place. Contained, neat, orderly.

Sometimes it feels good to find your feet beneath the chaos. To take the time to arrange and cleanse to bring order to a space and order to your mind.

Do you find you have mountains to climb at times or are you an order as the day ends type of soul? I could use some advice for how to keep on top of things. Perhaps a recommendation for a book/ website on simplifying? Off to conquer Mt. Life.

♡ ashley

ps. last chance to win some ecostore goodies. click here.

10/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014." 

Poppy:a 30c cone bought me 30 minutes and peace during a run to the big smoke. you sat and savoured every lick only taking your eyes off the prize to track your sister in the playground.

Piper: sunday morning. you are all dressed up in one of your precious tutus and sat staring and sniffing your lovey waiting for a birthday party to start.

♡ ashley

linking up with jodi. 

life's yins and yangs // the changing blogosphere // thoughts.

This year has been full, cup runneth over full, but also messy, sticky, staining full. You know, the good, the bad, the beautiful. We have been living in chaos, juggling jobs and home. Pets and children. Friends and [no] family. It is exhausting and rewarding. I have a notebook for list making. All the to dos/ want to dos. The pages filling quickly, without many ticks. I feel snowed under at times with the things I have to do. On the flip side, I am aware of what a blessing it is to be busy. To have.
I am also trying to find my way in the changing landscape of blogging. I dove in at the end of last year to accepting sponsorship, gifts and partnerships without much thought. It was exciting and new. But new gets old and starting this past month I have made a very conscious effort to work with businesses and products that are good for my family, your family and the earth. I am working with some amazing small businesses this year. It is a choice I have made because I am able to use this space for my thoughts, my memories and also to share good. There is a lot of it. The products I share... eco skin care or cleaning products, reusable food stuff, amazing australian decor or lovely handmade clothing, I am happy to open up my arms to these types of products and in the process help them find you, and vice versa. I also offered ad space to some charity and change making businesses, like thankyou, an initiative I believe in.
I hope you, dear reader, still find something good in this space. I know change is hard. I know that many bloggers are frustrated by the commercialism that is creeping in. I vow to keep on bringing things I would want to have. Things that can make the world better. Things that are beautiful, useful or meaningful. Not just things.
♡ ashley
p.s. speaking of not just things. ecostore [goodness in so many ways] is giving away three gift packs. read more and enter here. x

every weekend should be a three day weekend.

this past weekend we packed the car up. followed in convoy with some of our dearest friends and hit the open road to a hidden spot beneath some pine trees. we could smell the salty ocean from our pitched tents and sat and soaked in not having our phones/jobs/or housework with us. for this canadian the combination of pine and sea salt was perfection. my homes old and new together.
it was pure bliss. by the time monday [public holiday] rolled around we still had a whole day to do washing, cooking, shopping, tidying and all the rest to make the week roll out smoothly.
if i were prime minister my first item would be to make every weekend three days long! seems a no brainer.
♡ ashley

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE AMAZING ecostore GIVEAWAY HERE...

happy music for parents and kids // top 5 albums.

I remember one of the first moments monsieur and I looked at each other and realised that we were in the throws of being owned by parenthood [not counting the first nappies, vomits, sleepless nights, etc...]
Driving along next to green lush rolling valleys, sun beaming down, open road ahead of us, and the inch windy spider being belted out from the speakers. If life has a soundtrack, there are moments like those where clearly the wrong song was chosen. Piper still has plenty of exposure to her kids music. She has a little music player and can bop around to "the song that never ends [arghhh]" or "old mcdonald" when the mood strikes.

The rest of the time we have found some great albums that are kid friendly, can allow for singsongs, but keep sanity at an all time high.

Here are our current five family friendly albums on high rotation.

1 // elizabeth mitchell // you are my little bird // cherished folk songs and world music sang by one of the most peaceful and pretty voices i have ever heard.
2 // ziggy marley // family time // cruisy and fun. with guests like jack johnson, toots and the maytals, and paul simon both mom, dad and kids will be happy.
3 // van morrison // moondance // i listened to this growing up. irresistible for lazy mornings around here. piper calls him "the van man."
4 // jack johnson // sing-a-longs and lullabies from the film curious george // this album is packed full of beautiful messages of loving our world and each other. plus jack's voice is a win for all.
5 // billy bragg & wilco // mermaid avenue // easy listening. amazing music.

what do your kids and you enjoy listening to together?
♡ ashley

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE AMAZING ecostore GIVEAWAY HERE...

ecostore love // + an amazing giveaway.

 We have been using ecostore products for a long time. I make a lot of our cleaning products from scratch but use their items in-between. I first found them on the shelf of the supermarket and fell in love with the simple packaging. Then the ingredients list [where every. single. item. they use is listed {no hiding}] They do constant research to make sure their products are healthier for you and the environment against leading brands and package them in the most eco-friendly and minimalistic packaging they can find. 

The products themselves are lovely and very high quality. I trust their baby products on the skin of my little people and trust their cleaning products to care for my home and be safe for us to touch and breathe. Don't get me started on how delicious everything smells. It could be the perfect combinations of scents or the single most delicious solo scents. Like manuka honey & kelp, coconut, vanilla, grapefruit & mint, or bergamot & orange. Not your thing? They do fragrance free too. 

Have a look at all their products here. 

ecostore have teamed up with us to offer three of our Australian readers an amazing prize pack [rrp $95] of new products including ::

// geranium + orange laundry powder 1kg

// lip balm

// grapefruit + mint soap

// foaming hand wash + refill

// volumising hair care pack

// ecostore organic cotton bag

// ecoman book

// ecostore jute bag

Enter via rafflecopter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway  
Winner will be drawn one week from today. Any questions, contact me on [email protected] 

Good Luck

♡ ashley

9/52

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014." 

Poppy: the bigger the space to run the happier you are. this place was your dream playground. shells to collect, sand to eat, dunes to climb. omen year old dreams are made of these things. 

Piper: a short pause before running down another dune. you ended our camping trip begging for a nap and covered in scratched and bruises. a successful adventure written all over you.

♡ ashley

linking up with jodi.