A Royal Hangover

Just when you thought it was safe to pop back over to PottyMouthMama, I'm still swooning over the Royal Wedding.

Like I said, I love the love.

How cute is this photo?

Did you know that The British Monarchy has their own Flickr and Facebook pages? Well wicked!

It's Love

Oh man. Loving the love. Love the dress. Love the coy glances. Love the lip reading of my sister who told me Will said to his bride-to-be: Hello, you look beautiful.

Hello Kate and William. You both look beautiful.

What a beautiful, amazing, ridiculously emotional wedding.

Now I'm awaiting the kiss.

PS - Come join me on Twitter or Facebook. I've been banging on about the Royal Wedding all week. Did you know Kate did her own make up?

ARE YOU WATCHING?

I'm in my pyjamas, hogging the couch, Matt's relegated to the floor. We're drinking champs.

Are you watching? Boy, you better be!

I'm Ready! Wedding Countdown Is On

I told you I'd dress for the occasion. We've hosted our own shoot and here I am, ready and waiting for 5pm to roll around.

My partner, Earl Grey and I will be attending the weddding together.

We're excited. In fact, I may even have butterflies.

Loving The Love:: Mario Testino

New pre-wedding shots by uber photographer, Mario Testino. I've clearly gone wedding crazy. I'm so freaking excited. I broke it to Matt last night that we'd be watching the wedding tonight. With some bubbles.

This is love! I LOVE LOVE!

Wedding Bells

It's no secret that I am so excited about tomorrow's big day.

For me, it's one of those days you will always remember. Yes, it is. Don't fight it!

Tomorrow I'm dressing up. I'm going to have to go and ransack my wardrobe and find something suitably bridesmaidy and wear it to work.

I don't have any gloves. Dang.

I can steal Tiny's tiara. She won't mind. Much.

Will you join me to celebrate? Pork pies and Pimms?

Best of British:: What Will Kate Wear?

I've taken it upon myself to appoint me as chief wedding stylist. Kate probably doesn't have time given she's busy polishing her tiara, so I've gone through the racks and pulled some dresses for her for the big day.

I tried to stick with British designers. I tried.

Untitled by lexlou featuring a tiara necklace

Two sleeps to go peeps, two sleeps to go.

What are you wearing on the big day?

Two Sleeps:: What Will PMM Wear?

And I've just decided on three outfits for the big day on Friday. Which one shall I choose?

What Will PMM Wear? by lexlou featuring bow jewelry

Life as a glamourpuss is fraught with big decisions... Alexander McQueen, vintage Halston? Which one people? Which one?

Tiny Goes To Rio (Tinto)

Yesterday I decided to take the smalls on a last hoorah to celebrate my final-day-of-very-long-weekend-spent-being-very-lazy-at-home.

Hop or Rio? The Doctor voted Rio. Tiny voted Hop. And then she decided on Rio Tinto, and was hell bent on heading to Rio Tinto until we gently explained it wasn't really a destination she'd dig on (boom boom!) unless she wanted to wear a hard hat.

And apparently she did not want to wear a hard hat. Rather, she'd prefer to wear:

3 x skirts

1 x dress

2 x tops

1 x net

Yep. A net. She really wanted to wear this net to the movies.

I am pretty darn liberal when I let my kids choose what they want to wear. But I stood there and started imagining walking into the cinema with this small child with a net on her head. I had to tell Tiny there would be no net wearing today. Save that for when Daddy wants to go out in public. He LOVES it when you wear nets out in public.

And Rio? We really loved Rio. Despite having to sit in the very front row, and damning the critics and their miserly star allocation. We three all loved Rio! And luckily Tiny's vision wasn't obstructed with the net.

If You Can't Be There...

In case you haven't noticed, I've got Royal Wedding mania. I'm crazy for it. And I'm crazy for this video.

Tiny and The Hidden Stash

What you are seeing here is Tiny's hidden stash of Easter eggs. Which I subsequently re-hid. Out of her bedroom. And a little bit into my mouth. Tiny, just like me, has very little self-control. The Doctor exercises restraint, he's still got most of his Easter eggs left. Tiny, on the other hand, has been working at her supply over the last two days, 'round the clock. It's chocolomania.

A (Really) Long Weekend

Five days at home seems so luxurious.

I've been back working for eight months now, so this time with my little family feels like stolen time. Ultra good for the soul. Perfect for recharding the old batts.

We've hung out together, I've sort of tidied, I've baked (and misread the recipe and inadvertently doubled the butter in the brownie recipe FAILWHALE), we've gone walking, we've played frisbee, we've egg hunted, we've tidied bedrooms, we've chatted, we've cuddled, we've stayed up really late, we've caught up with DVDs, we've curled up on the couch. We've had such a beautiful time.

And we've still got two days up our sleeves. Aye carumba. I am the luckiest girl in the world.

Where's My Invite?

No invitation to the Royal Wedding and I'm a bit peeved.

So in lieu of attending the ceremony, I'm thinking about going and staying here.

If you can't join them, be them.

More here.

Of Eggs. And Chocolate. And A Distinct Lack of Sleep.

Tiny missed the memo that informed her to sleep in. Actually, to sleep at all last night.

We were unceremoniously roused from our slumber at from around 2am onwards. Thanks Tiny. Thanks a bunch. I love it when you scream and go beserk in the fog of darkness. It's such a hoot. And then you keep going. And I feel like going beserk myself.

The Doctor woke early this morning totally ecstatic that the Easter Bunny had been. Once we all surfaced from our broken-slumber they went a-hunting through the garden. Man I love watching them. Cute attack.

And for the rest of the day, we hung out at Matt's dad's place and lunched with him, went for a walk. Tiny threw herself on the footpath. I stole the Doctor's scooter for a ride.

Tiny has been eating her 'Easters' all day. Hidden in the privacy of her little house, she has hidden her basket full of eggs, and has left a trail of foil all over the house. You can imagine what a winning combination a very tired preschooler, and a heck of a lot of chocolate is. WINNER.

And that folks was Easter Sunday. It's a wrap.

But what about this big bunny? What did he bring you today?

From Here To Japan: Frank Jazz Hands

Friends!

I'm so excited to share with you an update about Small Joys for Japan.

Frank has joined the Japan tour. Frank has been appointed the role of Cruise Director, and will be leading the other toys into some seriously great routines as they find their way to some small people of Japan (with Operation Angel).

Frank loves jazz. That's what his creator, Jess of Teddy Bear's Wednesday tells me. And when I saw him, he was madly doing his jazz hands. I couldn't help but watch him in astonishment.

Here he is, post cup of tea, chatting with my sister at Calico & Ivy. And again taking a rest on some fabrics. Frank does love to talk.

But peeps, it's NOT too late to send a softie to join the others who are forming a merry band to help brighten the day of little peeps in Japan. You have until the end of the week (Saturday 30th April).

Big, BIG thanks to everyone who has sent a soft toy already. We really appreciate it, and we just know that these little soft toys, made with BIG love, will make a difference. Thank you.

Easter: What Do You Do?

We spent our Good Friday, gardening, hanging out together, and best of all, playing frisbee.

The smalls both declared they hated fish. They wouldn't eat dinner.

I'm watching Glee and a bit bored. I think I'll put 'Once' on and enjoy Glen Hansard instead.

I'm thinking of starting a new little project. One that can lay unfinished for a couple of years.

Tomorrow my eyebrows are being restored to their groomed good selves.

I wear my PJ top as daywear. No one needs to know.

I can't wait to hunt for eggs on Sunday.

This is not me. I'm not a man. But I do have similar socks.

What are you doing this weekend?

image via History of Ultimate Frisbee

Big thanks to Molks for rescuing me tonight!

I'm Having a Mid-Life Crisis. And Other Crapola.

Today at work, someone told me that they thought I was like an older person trying to cling onto their youth (my youth, not theirs), because I abbreviate my words, such as "the youshe" (the usual), "totes" (totally - courtesy of Pip), and other words I use such as "ace", "awesome", "rad".

The person continued telling me what they thought of me. A kind of character assassination while I went about making myself a cup of tea. That's what old people do apparently.

I offered in response that I thought they were mean.

They agreed.

And I informed them that just because they were 12, didn't give them the right to dissect my vocab.

Now, on the flipside, I now feel like I'm having a midlife crisis.

I've hated being 31.

31 is like nothing. 31 is neither here nor there.

30 was fine. I loved 30. But 31 for me, it sucks.

I think reading "Revolutionary Road" perpetuated my little mid-life crisis, a little.

The idea that you think you're special. That something amazing is going to happen to you, the idea that by the time you're whatever age you imagined, you're going to have a house, life will be easy, life will be easier. You'll be all sorted. And yet, when you reach that oft imagined age, none of what you'd dreamt of earlier has been attained.

I've not won Lotto. I think it's my lucky day if I find $2 on the footpath.

I work 4 days a week.

I pay bills late.

I sometimes buy groceries and when I go to pay, my keycard is declined.

I often drive the car around on empty.

I thought that by now I'd be grown up. But I don't feel any different. I don't feel like how I imagined I'd feel. I don't feel like I am truly an adult. And yet here I am. 31. Two kids. And a kidult.

Apologies for the Emo post. I'll resume with upbeat posting tomorrow. Promise. I'll eat more chocolate and be happier. That's fo' shiz.

Allow Me Some Self-Indulgence

Actually, every day blogging is self-indulgent, right? I get to write about stuff I like, I see, I do, when I want.

But let me embark on this totally self-indulgent post. You can click away, it's easy enough to do, plenty of other blogs to see and read.

Today I hit the my personal style jackpot, in my book, because it was one of those rare days that everything I wore just worked. I mean there's no formula to pulling looks together. Well I'm not Trinny & Susannah, but I do love fashion. Not brands. Just fashion. And having fun with it.

Some days I plan what I wear, other days I'm in a hurry and just pull things out of the wardrobe and hope it looks ok. Other days I put on an outfit, and two minutes before I leave for work, I have to change. It's a hair flick. Tell me I'm not the only one?

Today was a triumph. Not only did I hit it (in my book - you might not think the same - maybe you hate wearing picnic basket gingham?), but I was warm too. Bonus.

Babies. Babies. Babies.

Well the big news in our house is...

Drum roll please.

Are you excited?

Yes. Yes you are.

Well the big news in our house is... I'm not pregnant.

BUT - I do have four family passes to a preview of BABIES thanks to Madman Entertainment, to give away to four rad people. (Event Cinema Macquarie, Sunday 1st May, 1pm).

A huge success in the US and Europe last year, it's now making its way to our own sunny shores. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Thomas Balmes, and dubbed the cutest film of the year, BABIES follows four babies around the world (Namibia, Mongolia, San Francisco and Tokyo) - from birth to first steps.

If you'd like to win a family pass to sneak all you have to do is comment on this post (25 words or under) and give me a tip on getting Matt to add another baby to our family. Easy az bro! And hey presto.

I'll draw the winner on Thursday at 8pm. Open to Australian readers only (sorry party peeps!).

PS - what the heck is blogger messing with my formatting for? I'm going insane. Slowly, but surely.

Check Ups

We caught the train into the city today for a dental and eye checkup. Yep, I've got all the rad school holiday entertainment totes lined up. This Mother's Day I'll be expecting one of those big ribbon rosettes with 'Rad Mum' on it. Who doesn't love going to the dentist? And getting their eyes checked?

Just check out the Doctor's pose. Hilaire.

And Tiny and those bad sunglasses. Who does she think she is? The Terminator?

Tiny Style Tips:: Moody Judy

On the odd (very odd) occasion, Tiny let's me style her outfit. We pretend I'm a fatter, less blonde, less orange version of Rachel Zoe sans cameraman and paparazzi following my every move. But no matter. Off I go.

This was her second outfit for today, Matt having prepped the first, had his selection wee'd on, then stripped immediately and tossed onto the floor. How's that for rejection?

And so it was that today was truly blessed. Tiny let me at her wardrobe, and to put her into some pieces she rarely ever wears. Halleluljah!

Like the little pink cords. Like the little vintage cardi that the Doctor used to wear. Man I love that cardi. My love knows no bounds when it comes to that cardi. I'd wear it if I was Rachel Zoe's size. And the piece de resistance - the scarf. Tres chic.

But what I didn't style was:

- the poses;

- the tantrum that took place at the park, where Tiny lay on the ground screeching for what felt like forever;

- the beserko that happened when Matt tried to put her pyjamas on (on her, not him)

Tiny's Top Style Tips:

- don't be afraid to accessorise - pink does not stink!

- pose with your brother! Don't be shy! And work that leg to make it longer! (and like you've just come back from holidays in Florida)

The Worst Day Ever

Raining and cold, we woke this morning bummed about the weather.

Never fear. Matt was off to work and the smalls and I settled into some crafting, with the Doctor taking the lead and creating gardens for each of us. We were then to customise them as we pleased.

We pasted. We coloured. We cut. We stuck. We marvelled at one another's handiwork. We used straws as power lines, as flower stems, as pipes.

Then we watched a movie together, and the smalls started to get restless - so I suggested getting out of the house and go for some afternoon tea. Tiny was Pumped with a capital P. The Doctor, however, was not as excited. He was boycotting our outing.

We finally muddled our way out of the house and drove off to enjoy a cupcake and a coffee. By this stage I almost required toothpicks to keep my eyes opened. That rain was conducive to sleep, baby.

Tiny chose her cupcake, I ordered a coffee, and the Doctor's boycott continued. And continued. And continued. Until he was finally wooed by the fact that his sister was so into the cupcake it had disappeared - icing AND cake (unheard of!) in mere minutes. He finally succumbed to the cupcake.

We sat in the cafe for a little while, and then went for a quickbeforeitrainsagain walk, and returned to the car. Where the Doctor got a foul temper and declared today "the worst day of his life".

Must have been the chocolate cupcake.

Mix Master Easter

I have not done one single speck of anything in preparation for Easter. EEP! I haven't bought any eggs (except for a packet of Crunchie eggs that Tiny managed to devour), we have no plans, and I always get a bit stressed because Easter means being organised. I don't want the smalls to eat too much chocolate, so I'm going to look for some clever alternatives to distract their attention from chocolate eggs.

I spied these eggies in the window on our date night. I can feel some Easter craft coming on. This weekend the little peeps and I might crack out the craft box, and get, crafting.

Date Night:: It's Love

My littlies have gone for the week up to visit my Mum and Dad. They were BUSTING to go. They love spending time with my Mum and Dad. And I cried.

I welcome the chance for date night, but the house is unusually quiet, and life feels awfully empty without my smalls.

We've called. We've Skyped. I've missed them. I've even kind of missed Tiny's midnight visits.

Nevertheless, Matt and I have enjoyed hanging out together. Date night. Dinner at Fratelli Fresh, meandering the streets afterwards. Window shopping after the shops are all closed. Chatting. Hanging out in book shops. Curling up on the couch watching a movie uninterrupted. An impromptu dinner in the city together.

Tomorrow the little peeps come home and I'm so excited to be spending all weekend with them. I can't flipping wait.

The Day The Doctor Scored A Goal Against Wendell Sailor

Sponsored by Nuffnang

We headed to the Marrickville PCYC on the weekend to check out the Tetra Pak Kids event hosted by sport start Wendell Sailor and chef Darren Simpson. You can find out more on their Facebook page.

If you know me, you know I am not an exercise junkie, I wish I was that way inclined, but Lycra and I just aren't great friends. I was thinking we'd check out the action for an hour or so, but it was two and a half hours before we headed out with two totally pooped kids. It was that much fun.

The smalls had a great time getting active - playing soccer, racing against one another in a jumping castle obstacle course, playing some kind of skittles game in teams - or drinking carton after carton of milk (Tiny).

The Doctor took on king of the kids, Wendell Sailor, and scored himself a goal. Proud moment - even though the Doctor has NO idea who Wendell Sailor is. The photo is stuck on his bedroom wall - ready to go to school for news.

Darren Simpson demonstrated just how easy it is to make rice paper rolls - and eat them in one mouthful. I was salivating and a little dirty I didn't get to try one. But thems the breaks folks. I'll just have to make my own with the little people.

There were people streaming in throughout the afternoon, it's a free event, and it really does reinforce how fun being active can be and how quick and easy healthy eating is (and how the smalls love being involved making quick eats!).

You can check out a whole repertoire of Darren's easy and delicious - nutrilicious (see how I made that word up?!) recipes here.

And if you're like me, and need some hints to get active - in a fun, foolproof way, Wendell's got it tapped here.

And if you'd like the opportunity for your children to be worn out, you can check out the Tetra Pak Kids events at two more Sydney locations:

Penrith

Saturday 16th April 2011

Penrith PCYC, 100 Station Street, Penrith

12-4pm

Campbelltown

Saturday 23rd April 2011

Campbelltown PCYC, 95 Minto Road, Minto

12-4pm

Details

Stepping out in Surry Hills I spied these beauties. Ornately decorated tiles, juxtaposed with the strong checkerboard. I love that stylie. They don't make 'em like that anymore.. Or do they?

Me. Medina. You.

After much deliberation, and seriously - this was hard work trying to figure out who the winners should be - I roped in Matt and we came up with three winners after much hmphing and pmphing.

So the three lucky ladies heading to the Medina of their choice are:

- the blogless Kym S

- Chunky Chooky

- 2

All winners have now been notified.

If I had it my way, all 49 of us would be heading to a night at the Medina. How fun would that be? We could read mags together, hang out, chat, drink a bottle or 12 of wine, and sleep a blissful sleep. That would be amazing. Medina, you hear that? What do we want? A sleepover! When do we want it? Now!

AND if you are interested in checking out Medina's Cracking Easter deals, click here.

Dreams can come true. Gabrielle sang it. It must be true.

Thanks to everyone for entering - a very rad competition. LOVE!

Xylophone Love

I love any kind of xylophone. But this one? This one is rad to the power of fully rad.

via SwissMiss

Tiny Cranky

Tiny loves to pretend that she's wildly cranky at me. I know when she's fake crying. Trying to get the Doctor into trouble. Or when she's just plain old mad at her mama.

Magical Mystery Tour

Despite the triathletes best efforts to thwart our morning trip to the city, we finally arrived at the Sparkle Cupcakery half an hour late. I hate being late. But so it was, after gridlock, driving in bus lanes, running red lights, and generally getting harried and cranky, we found a parking spot and made our way in to meet Sparkles the Fairy and William the Wizard from Magical Tales .

If you've not heard of Magical Tales, then you should. The Doctor told me all about it. He's apparently an expert. And me, not being an expert on children's programs, looked to him for guidance.

As soon as we walked in (late), Sparkles and William made the smalls so at ease - they were hooked. I can't rave enough about how comfortable, funny and rad they were. They are both a rare breed that are so at ease with communicating and interacting with small people - and making the big people laugh.

William, I am convinced (though after a thorough Google background check - nope, I'm wrong) is Hamish Blake's younger doppelganger.

Sparkles is a vivacious, effervescent and infectious (in a good way, not like she's got chickenpox) fairy.

We had a beautiful morning tea with them. The smalls enjoyed morning tea, decorated cupcakes and had so much fun with Sparkles and William.

After a big weekend the smalls enjoyed curling up on the couch watching a few eps of Magical Tales.

There was silence. And it was magical.

Small Joys for Japan:: An Update

So cats, today I bundled the smalls into the car and headed off pronto to see my sister at Calico & Ivy.

I needed an update on the softies that have been flowing in from all you rad people. I'd heard lots about them, but hadn't had a chance to get in there. And today... WOW!

My oh my - so much cuteness, so much love - thank you! I can't wait to bundle them up to send off to Operation Angel to be flown over to those in need in Japan.

But don't let time deter you - because if you'd still like to send in a little cutie (and I'm not talking any wayward toddlers), there's still time! We're collecting until the end of April, and we've got a drop off point near you. Or at least, almost near you. Check 'em out:

SMALL JOYS FOR JAPAN DROP OFF POINTS:

SYDNEY

Calico & Ivy

10 Birchgrove Road

Balmain, NSW 2041

PERTH

Calico & Ivy

10 Glyde Street

Mosman Park, WA 6012

BRISBANE

Hello Owl 43 Miles Street Bald Hills, QLD 4036

ADELAIDE

Nest Studio

147 Magill Road

Stepney, SA 5069

(Thursday to Saturday 11am-3pm)

Thanks to everyone who has sent in a piece of love to send to the kids of Japan. You are something else. (Something else good that is.)