Is it Friday already?? Ha – I say that because I honestly have no idea what day it is half the time. My days consist of snuggling, rocking, one-handed eating and trying to do everything else in the moments of quiet.
I’m slowly getting back into things – Evs is transitioning back to full-time work and so the days that he is home I am taking full advantage and letting them have their daddy-son bonding time which gives me space to just…be. And sleep. Mainly sleep really. We’ve also managed to get out of the house a few times and even braved the shops to get Rehan some new clothes (he’s in that awkward in-between stage of being too big for his newborn clothes and too small for the 0-3 month ones).
One good thing about having a baby is the time you have to catch up on reading – I spend the times with Rehan attached to my boob scrolling through blogs on my iPad and attending to him as he makes cooing noises or somehow manages to fall off or asleep.
So, here are a few links that I have read and loved this week.
This made me snort out of my coffee in the morning – kids can be disturbingly creepy. My favourite – “I want to peel all your skin off”. I cannot WAIT till Rehan starts talking.
Being an Instagram addict – I love the idea of this DIY wall art. Am very tempted to get a frame and put this up in the hallway.
I’ve always thought that running is more than just a way to get fit and exercise. It’s literally a METAPHOR for life. Here’s 17 things running teaches you about life. I love very single one of them.
Dealing with a squealing baby sometimes (ok, most of the time) makes your nerves frayed and ends frazzled and the importance of me-time has never stood out so much for me. There are just MOMENTS where I know I just need to be quietly by myself before I can be a better person to those around me. Kinda like the oxygen-in-the-airplane scenario. This post from Tiny Buddha (one of my newest fave sites!) write about how taking quiet time for yourself helps people around you.
If you have not heard of Bad Lip Reading you need to go see THIS. It will make you pee your pants. And then when you’re done – watch the latest one for The Walking Dead. The exchange between Rick and The Governor at the end nearly made me split my stitches. You have been warned.
Happy weekend! I’m just going to come out and say it, because I know y’all are thinking it. Where did January GO?? I think in the drunken mess of holidays and getting back to work and getting back into a routine, the weeks have flown. I’m shaking my head now, but seriously.
THERE ARE HOT-CROSS BUNS IN THE SUPERMARKETS ALREADY!
It’s been a busy week for me, with something happening each night after work (which to this about 8-months pregnant lady is a lot!) and so Evs and I have been looking forward to getting our wind-down on. This week included meeting with a doula (more on this later!), swimming, dinners at the parentals, hospital classes where we attempted to learn how to look after a crying, screaming newborn and a wedding reception where I managed to squeeze myself into a dress (maternity at this stage now!!), some heels and even get up on the dance floor before conking out by 11:30.
Work has been fairly consistent and each week, my heart flutters because it means one more week until I am off on maternity leave! I’m considering starting it a little earlier, given I’ll be about to pop anytime when I go, so want to have some relaxation time before things potentially get moving.
Anyways. Enough about me.
How has your week been, lovelies??
I have some cute links this week, and I hope you get to sit down with your drink of choice and enjoy them.
I don’t want to make you cry on your weekend, but THIS. Brought tears to my eyes and melted my heart. A beautiful reminder to slow down in life.
Oh my lord. I am sure since the days of Mad Men, we have not seen a product like the “BIC Pens For Her”. And so, here comes the 10 best Amazon reviews of this wonderful, life-changing pen* (*That WAS sarcasm there ) I can’t actually decide what my favourite is but it will have you chortling away. (via ThoughtCatalog)
As I get older (and approach the big 3-0!), I tend not to give a shit about many things anymore. Don’t know if I am just getting crotchety in my old age (HA!) but this post from Thought Catalog about 25 things you don’t have to justify to anyone resonated with me.
Evs has been wanting to see Wreck It Ralph (we both have a soft spot for animated films!) and sent me this link to the short animated film made by Disney that I believe comes before or after the movie (can’t remember!). It’s classic Disney – beautiful animation, touching story and a hint of humour.
Ok another video – but this is AWESOME. Somebody obviously much more talented than me made a flipbook of the video clip for Gangnam Style and set it to the music. Pretty amazing. You have GOT to see it.
“Too late, I found you can’t wait to become perfect, you got to go out and fall down and get up with everybody else.” ~ Ray Bradbury. One of things I struggle with a lot is getting started because the timing isn’t ‘perfect’ – so many other things become excuses to why I can’t do things. This great post from Em at Happy Tree Posedebunks the myth of ‘perfect timing’ and explains how to work through that crippling fear. (PS. While you’re there – check out the Real Life Yogi interview I did with Em about all things yoga, pregnancy and how I still consider myself a noob)
Oh man. I am looking forward to the joys that little children will give me. Truly I am. But I foresee many, many embarrassing moments (both for me and the child ) – this post over at Mamamia had be cringing and wondering if it was too late (yep, it is) and laughing my head off. The comments on the post are GOLD.
I actually hesitated in posting this post yesterday just in case, despite my practical side saying that the world wouldn’t end and spent my so-called last hours watching Pitch Perfect and wrapping Christmas presents. (By the way – watch it – it’s like a friend described it – Glee meets Mean Girls. HIL-arious).
That woohoo was also for another reason.
I have now officially finished work for 2012. Ohhhh yeah.
Bring on summer and days of heading down to the pool/beach, summer barbeques, long walks in the lasting twilight, copious amounts of food, family and fun.
I’ve been pretty quiet around here and the truth is that my energy hasn’t been the greatest and trying to juggle everything, especially as the close of work came near was slowly and quietly driving me insane. There may have been a meltdown moment, when I was on my laptop at night and Evs asked me how my day was. Cue the waterworks.
Gah.
Anyways, I got over it – things got better, the partners at the Firm gave me Lindt chocolates as a Christmas present (which was simultaneously a very bad and very good idea) and I have now waved goodbye for the next three weeks.
I’m also in slight panic mode because I feel like I have got NOTHING ready for the baby’s arrival.
Example.
Yes, I may have a bassinet, but I don’t actually have any sheets in it. Um, oops.
The poor thing only has maybe a couple of outfits to wear, which is truly horrifying, because I mean, who wants to be seen wearing the same outfit twice??
Anyways, with Christmas literally around the corner I am excited beyond belief.
For your reading pleasure this weekend :
Why you are never failing as a mother. This. YES. I worry a lot about how I am going to be and whether I’m going to be able to keep this mewling, tiny human alive – whether I’ll be able to give them the best and protect them and above all, make sure they are happy and good people. This post reminded me that, this overwhelming feeling is normal and the adage “it takes a village” is never truer.
Um, creepy Santa’s anyone?? Just to get into that Christmas spirit.
One of the things that has been on my mind of late is getting back to the origins of my writing. I MISS it. When I first started blogging about 5-6 years ago, I did it with abandon and shared parts of me. And I realised, then, probably too much, but I also miss the posts where I just wrote. This post about celebrating the style of slow-blogging hit home for me. (via Coffee and Sunshine)
As per the predictions of the Year of the Dragon, it’s been a tumultuous year for everyone I know. Insane changes have happened, so rapidly that it’s no wonder hat we’re all feeling a little drained and overwhelmed this time of year. This post (via Parita) about the top 26 touching moments from 2012 was just the reminder I needed to know everything wasn’t all bad this year. (and maybe made me shed a tear)
Like many people around the world, I was shellshocked at the tragedy that happened at Newtown. Then soon after, the gang rape in Delhi. My heart crumbled at the injustice and I felt so much despair at the world in those moments. This post from Sarah at Yes and Yes on How to stay optimistic, came at the most perfect time as I struggled to comprehend a world where things like this happened. A great read to help yourself from imploding with frustration and grief.
Another one to make you laugh (because we all need more laughter!) – the top 25 funniest autocorrects of 2012. I seriously cried when reading this and baby protested my laughing belly by kicking me hard. Make sure you are alone or in a place where you can howl with laughter.
Looking for an easy, DIY gift idea for friends and family?? I loved these granola nut clusters from Angela at Oh She Glows. And even better? They’re sugar/fructose-free! (well, don’t add the extra sugar haha, but because she uses brown rice syrup – all good )
I’ve decided to take a little blog break as well and focus my time away from the computer. I have so many plans for 2013, and some of them are within reach of manifestation. I just need the time to focus. I’ll be posting still sporadically throughout the next couple of weeks (and you may argue I’ve been on a break already for a while ) with my pregnancy updates and whatnot, but I hope you also get the chance to relax and refocus too.
I’ll also be around on Instagram (gah for a little while at least!) and Twitter in between as well
I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday season – eat well, enjoy your time off and I’ll see y’all soon!
Blessed week – you have ended again. I really shouldn’t sound so gleeful about it, but I do enjoy my days off.
This week has surprisingly gone fast for me, which I didn’t think was possible because it seemed to drag a bit at the start. Maybe that’s just Mondays, but I’m not complaining.
Breaking news – yet another friend has had a baby girl just yesterday! I am surrounded by little people. Unfortunately she lives in Geelong, a good hour and a half away from Melbourne so am not going to be able to see her until at least next weekend.
Why not this weekend??
Well, Evs and I are off to Sydney!
I, for one, am excited. The boy? Not so much.
It might have a little bit to do with the fact the sole reason we are going to Sydney is to attend the HANSON concert!!!
So lame, I know. But I HAD to – this was my only chance to see my teenage heartthrobs bring me back to a place of nostalgia and have me legitimately Mmm-bop along to their music. #sorryi’mnotsorry
I’m just a little freaked out that my once-true-love Taylor, is now married with FOUR kids.
What the WHAT?!
Despite Evs’ grumbling and threats to stay in the hotel room and watch anime, he is coming with me and we’re going to make the most of it. I’m also looking forward to the Sydney sunshine so that will be something we can both enjoy
But not to leave you behind either and compensate for the insane jealousy I am sure you are all feeling (I mean I could be just fingertips away from Taylor Hanson!!), here are my reads for the week:
I have been known, in the depths of desperation (and sometimes even not) when I can’t find chocolate to dive deep into a jar of Nutella and eat it by the delicious spoonful. And now Not Quite Nigella has fuelled my hidden obsession by coming up with a recipe to make your own nutella. For extra induglence she also has a white chocolate and dark chocolate version too. Get on this NOW.
With the onset of Spring, there comes an urge to clean and declutter – both in an emotional and mental sense as well as a physical one. And when life is getting that little bit crazy, we can find ourselves needing a time-out from life and its demands. Here is a great guest post from Rachael of In Spaces Between at The Wellness Warrior on 4 soulful ways to support yourself when life gets crazy.
I remember when I was a kid growing up in a predominately “white” school that I was teased for how I looked, my skin colour and anything they perceived as different. The bullying hurt and I thought that if I could change myself that things would be different. But as time went on, I cared less & less what they thought of me. High school was just that…high school. But for this 14 year old girl, her only solution was plastic surgery. Would you have done this if you were in her position?
If there is anything I love more about vintage movies – it’s the fashion and the hairstyles. And finally trawling through Pinterest, I found a site that shows me how to do the top 10 retro hairstyles at home. Definitely one to try.
Often I get looks of surprise when I tell people that I’ve been married for almost 5 years. They exclaim with some disbelief “You guys act like newlyweds!” (In fact it was this very behaviour that caused many people to think we were on our honeymoon in Vietnam last year and keep giving us cakes lol). That being said, there are many, many moments of ordinary in between. This wonderful post looks at one of the truths about marriage – that in fact it’s not that exciting after all via Where My Heart Resides
Speaking of marriage, here is THE most funniest post I have read in a long time on picking your battles. I’m not going to give it away except to say Knock, Knock Motherfucker.
Who were your favourite band/singer when you were a teenager? Would you go see them again now as adults? (or am I just really lame?? )
There’s a big reason why I love yoga. I’ve often had people ask me WHY I do yoga and the answer is always the same.
It’s the peace. The serenity. The feeling of complete surrender and ultimate abandon.
You know, getting all enlightened dude.
But sometimes it’s hard to feel all zen when someone lets out a stinker in the room.
Even worse – when it’s YOU.
Yep. That just happened.
After going to yoga for a few weeks now, you catch on really quickly what they mean there really is no judgement in the room. While technically we are all adults, the thought of unwitting bodily functions is still enough to make me giggle and lose my balance from tree pose.
There’s a lot that happens in a yoga class and while I can’t guarantee you can avoid everything, there are a few ways to at least lower your chances for public humiliation.
What’s that smell?
People sweat. Even women (even though I know a few who deny it vehemently and only refer to their discomfort as ‘perspiring’). However, in a small room full of other people (especially when it’s heated and everything seems amplified), you don’t want to be the one that people move their mat away from. When you sweat, bacteria mixes in with your sweat making you not so pleasant smelling. Deodorant definitely helps, but also – and I know this sounds like common sense but I know sometimes we’re in a rush and just pick up anything that looks remotely wearable off the floor – make sure you wear clean clothes. Get the stuff with that fancy schmancy anti-sweating wicking stuff – it really does help not only to keep you feeling dryer, but smelling a lot nicer too (err…did that just sound like an ad for sanitary napkins?? Just me??)
Unmentionable noises out of your rear-end
Yeah…so, let’s get this straight. It happens. It’s natural and I read somewhere that apparently humans fart on the average of FOURTEEN times a day. Unfortunately, if that so happens to happen in yoga class, especially when it’s all serious and quiet – it can be so, so mortifying (funny after – but at the time, not). So here’s my advice. Skip the burrito before class. Or the tuna can or anything that you know makes you a little gassy like beans, meat, onions and broccoli (or Brussels sprouts – seriously. No sprouts. Those little bastards are potent!). Maybe don’t try anything new until you know how your stomach reacts to it. There are also certain poses that you might find put a little extra pressure and make you want to toot – anything with a forward bend, twist or when you pull your knees into your chest lying on the floor (*blush* I don’t think the instructor was expecting what happened when she urged everyone to Puuuuuuushhhhh. She started it). Don’t avoid them…just be wary. And if it happens, no biggie. Just laugh it off
Unmentionable noises out of your, err, lady bits
We ladies got it tough. And noises seem to come out of bloody everywhere. So, THIS can happen too (even if we never talk about it and pretend it never exists). Air can get trapped there during poses where you are inverted and your legs are out wide (like that happy baby pose). All you need to do (now that you know it’s there) is slowly release it by shifting your hips, moving slowly or doing whatever you can to ensure that you don’t accidentally make an announcement out of your hoo-ha.
Err, I think your bits are showing. No? My bad.
It seems that yoga classes is an invitation to wear as little as possible sometimes. No judgement – especially when doing hot yoga where everyone is pretty much wishing they were nude by the time they get down to the mat poses, so it’s not uncommon to have a bit of a nip-slip here and there. Or look up to see yourself staring right at an old man wearing too baggy shorts. (Sorry for the visual. You know I had to go there). I actually made the mistake in one of my earliest yoga classes of wearing an oversize t-shirt to only find that every time I went into downward dog, my shirt went upwards. To avoid copping and giving an eyeful, wear clothes that fit well. Loose clothes or those that don’t cover so much WILL move when you do and especially if you’re a little top heavy and can’t keep those puppies down, you will pleading a Janet Jackson moment before you know it. And for those who don’t wear underwear, please please PLEASE make sure your clothes are not see-through when you stretch into positions. Butt cracks are not helpful for achieving zen.
In the end, shit happens (Although, that’s a whole level of embarrassing that I’m not even going to get into) and we’re all human. Yoga is a time to literally let go and if that so happens to manifest itself as a puff of gas, maybe you’re not that far off enlightenment than you thought.
What’s the most embarrassing that has happened to you in class (doesn’t have to be yoga – Spin or Body Pump maybe?)
) I can’t actually decide what my favourite is but it will have you chortling away. (via 
)
