An Ethical Gift Guide // 5-7 year old.

I LOVE getting my Christmas on. From choosing gifts to advent activities (hello hot cocoas at sunset on the beach!) this really is a magical time of year. Last year I created a much loved gift guide for both my girls and thought it would be nice to share some more inspirations in case Santa is a bit stumped. Do enjoy!

BEST: The PolkaDotClub Classic Bear. Made by a second generation toy maker this heirloom bear is sure to be cherished on many adventures and passed on to your grandchildren one day. The lavender is divine.

1: A wheely basket for storing and pulling treasures around by Olli and Ella.

2: Maileg Mum and Dad Mice from Wild and Whimsical Things. Hands down the current most treasured toys in our home for both my girls.

3: The BonBon porcelain jar for hiding tiny treasures from KidoStore.

4: Mabo MaryJane Clogs handmade in Sweden.

5: Nailmatic Lipbalm and Polish 97% natural and made in France (oh la la) from Wild and Whimsical Things.

6: A linen apron dress from Yoli & Otis. Timeless and beautiful and coveting it hard.

7: Summer and Storm Calming crystal necklace.

8: Acorn Willow Hat from My Messy Room.

9: The George Truck from Such Great Heights. Piper loves driving her little toys around the house, away on caravan holidays and tucking them into sleep in the back of the pickup. This beautifully handmade truck should cover all the bases.

10: Jumper no15 in Flame, organic wool and handmade by Babaã.

11: Sunnies by Sons & Daughters. Swoon.

12: Grimms Fairydoor. Help the fairies find a way to visit your sleeping babes. From Honeybee Toys.

❤

taking stock // may.

Making : bone broth
Cooking : soups (this one is my all time favourite)
Drinking : tea (earl grey)
Reading: old favourite blogs and my book club book Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
Wanting: a hand knit cardigan
Looking: tired
Playing: with my girls, daily
Deciding: what to do with our kitchen
Wishing: for another three day weekend 
Enjoying: raw honeycomb
Waiting: for the kettle to boil
Liking: the colours mustard and russet
Wondering: if we will be blessed with another child one day
Loving: life
Pondering: some travel
Buying: organic vegetables and meat
Watching: american horror story

Hoping: mom can come next year
Autumn has been good to us. Hope for you too.

Marvelling: at how the universe will deliver what you wish for sometimes
Cringing: at all the runny noses in my home
Needing: some alone time
Questioning: my dreams
Smelling: our wood fire and the beautiful perfume I was given for mothers day (serge lutens-un bois vanilla)
Wearing: ugg boots and messy ponytails 
Following: poppy around in the garden
Noticing: the change of season
Knowing: that life is good
Thinking: about all the things we need to do to this old home
Admiring: my beautiful man
Sorting: the still not unpacked cardboard boxes
Getting: excited for the coming months
Bookmarking: beautiful kitchens and knitting projects
Coveting: an heirloom quilt
Disliking: grumpy + judgemental people
Opening: my heart
Giggling: at poppy and her imaginary (and occasionally ferocious) cat
Feeling: passionate and inspired
Snacking: on roasted seaweed and home dried apples 
Wishing: the housework would do itself today!Helping: myself to a square of dark chocolate
Hearing:  the beautiful voice of stevie nicks on repeat around here

inspired by meet me at mikes.

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. 

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.

you are clever. you are kind. you are important. you are loved.

Eons ago we watched the movie, The Help. It was a brilliant film {a much better book but that's the case 99% of the time} and left me with plenty to think about.

The biggest thing I came away with was the beautiful words that one of the characters said to the little girl in her care.

"You is kind. You is smart. You is important."

So simple and so beautiful. More than that, so important.

As a mum to two little women I am very aware of the impact my every action can have on them. The way Piper emulates me when I get ready for work/ play. Pretending to pout her lips and put blush on her cheeks. The way Poppy watches my every move. Giggling but taking it all in, every detail, already.

I am also aware of how often we women like to see the bad. To pinch our chubby roll. To stare at the spot on our otherwise smooth chin. To suck in our tummy, and stand tiptoed revealing some semblance of muscles left in our calves.

I don't want my girls to think that is who I am. Who they need to be.

This morning Piper looked at me in the kitchen and said, "you have a big tummy mama." Deep breath. "Yes I do, it was Poppy and your home and I am lucky I could grow you there." Cue a huge grin and hug from my little lady. My tummy being big means nothing to her. An observation, not a putdown. She sees nothing wrong with how I look. It's me with the issues.

And I don't want to pass them on.

So every night I say to my girl as I tuck her in

"You are clever. You are kind. You are important. You are loved." She repeats each line. With a look of pride on her face.

To make her believe it, I need to start telling myself the same. We are what we eat. We are also what we think. Love yourself.

You are clever.

You are kind.

You are important.

Xx

oh, and if you are feeling kind please pop onto the apartment therapy blog here to vote for piper + poppies as the family blog of 2014 (we got nominated- hooray!)

show + tell // humble hilo.

lately, i have been thinking a lot about the products i choose to bring into our home. being a conscious consumer can be a challenge. i can openly admit that i am often caught up in wanting stuff for no reason at all. even more vicious is that on a tight budget the urge to have 'things' can be filled with cheap and nasty.

things that don't bring joy, beauty or purpose to our homes.

on the quest for beauty, purpose & joy i present today's show + tell :: humble hilo.

HumbleHilo is a very cool business mixing fashion with philanthropy. Selling beautiful handmade and unique textiles from Guatemala. Humble Hilo changes lives by working closely with families in need of employment and donating a portion of each purchase to supporting projects in child nutrition, education and literacy for women and micro finance loans for women to start their own small business.

i have been carrying the small bag everywhere. fits a nappy, my wallet, wipes, 2 sun hats for small people, phone, a barbie, lip balm, keys, snacks and more! on my wish list are the lovely suede moccasins for poppy and the large bag to use for work. divine.

pop over here to learn more and score some amazing things without the buyer's guilt.

♡ ashley