Eye Am In Auckland

Eye am!

And this is my eye in Auckland!

It is disgusting. When I checked in, I am sure the guy looked at me part horrified, part disgusted. I hope tomorrow I wake up with out the junkie-eye.

As for Auckland - wow. This is a pretty city, and it reminds me of Melbourne. The houses - aye carumba. The houses. So beautiful.

And guess what?! Bananas are $1.49 per kilo. This is big news folks. I may have to eat my body weight in bananas.

Do you have any tips for my brief Auckland sojourn? Do tell!

Butterflies. Fairies. Pink. Purple. And so on.

A long time ago I stitched both the boys their own pillow cases. I love embroidering pillow cases. I could do it 'til the cows come home, alas I don't seem to get much time these days.

Last week I decided to start making time to do some stitching. I love the routine of unwinding. Of detaching from technology and colouring in using floss. I picked up a pillow case that I had started for Tiny forever ago, and asked her what she'd like.

Butterflies. Fairies. Puppies. Catties. Cakes. Ice creams. Pink. Purple. Water (blue).

And so it is that I find myself stitching in the most girlie palette ever - which, by the way, suits me fine. I love me some pinks.

Chunk-No-Itis

Tiny has been welcomed into the exclusive and elite club where all members must have Conjunctivitis to join. I believe I'll be joining that club later tonight.

Yesterday her eye started mucusing up a storm, and we couldn't clean it quick enough. Disgusting, no?

She woke up in the middle of the night, her eye fused closed. Impressive Tiny. So in the darkness of night, we cleaned it again, and again. And again. And put her back into bed. When she woke it was a little better, and we've been dealing with the eye all day. It's so furiously red, I've never seen conjunctivitis so cranky. I think the other eye is going out in sympathy.

In the morning she asked why she had: "Chunk-No-Itis". She hasn't complained and just gone about her day. Delighted when she caught a ladybird, she made it a little home, created a slide for it, and told it it was going to join the circus.

Poor Tiny Pink Eye.

Universe, right about now, we'd really like to shake the shackles of Winter sickness. April - August? Enough is enough. We're officially: Sick of being sick.

I Love Lace

Can you spot the smalls in this picture?

Dress by Toni Maticevski - phwoar!

On Sunday we went to the Powerhouse Museum to check out the Love Lace exhibition.

Swooning people. Swooning. This is such a beautiful, decadent exhibition. A collection of 130 lace works by 134 artists from 20 countries.

If I could have meandered a little longer, I would have. But the smalls called forth, so we played in the kids sections. Talked with the robot. Interacted with lots of exhibits.

I totes recommend this show - with or without smalls, Love Lace is a beautiful exhibition.

We haven't been to the Powerhouse for yonks, so it was a pleasant treat to check it out, all together.

Last Night An Audio Book Saved My Life

Actually, it was tonight.

Tonight an audio book saved me.

You see friends, you'll have to listen up real close because I've got something to tell you.

I've lost my voice.

Yeah. Great. Works a treat when talking with the Doctor. He's got blocked ears and can't hear. I've got no voice and can't talk. Match made in heaven. I have to clap my hands to get his attention.

Tonight Matt went out to catch up with some friends leaving desperate and voiceless at home. No bed time bookie wookies for the littlies.

Or were there?

I madly went through the CD cupboard and hauled out 'The Gruffalo's Child' on CD. Ker-ching!

They were happy. I remained silent. And all was well. Hoorah for audio books. End of story.

Awww Man!

Conjunctivitis! Tonsilitis! Fevers! Runny nose! Blocked ears! General lethargy! The Doctor sure knows how to get sick when he gets sick.

He's miserable and holed up in a birdie's nest* on the couch during the day, early to bed at night. Oh man. I hate the smalls being sick. It makes me so sad to see them so sad. He even asked me to come home early from work so I could be with him. Break my little heart dude.

I'm sick of the sick. Roll over Winter, Spring and Summer need to make their grand entrance. I'm over you Winter. I usually love you. But April - August we've been sick. I'm over it. I'm done. Winter, you stink this year.

On the flip side of down and out in Beverley Hills *cough*, the Doctor saved up for a really, really long time to buy a Nintendo DSi. He finally reached his goal, and this has been a huge saving grace while he's been sick and I've told him he has to lay low and hang out on the couch. He's been playing 'Ready Set Grover' like crazy these last few days. Phew for this small grace!

* A birdie's nest in our house is when I plump up the cushions on the couch and tuck my wee little birdies in with a blanket, when they are feeling poorly.

You're Booked!

I found this super cute book the other day by Emma Dodd called "You". I mean, just look at it, it's got cute written all over it. I can't wait to give it to Tiny because I think she's going to love it long time - it has gold foil on every page, so. darn. cute.

The Doctor was home today sick as a dog, woke up with a raging 3am fever, and conjunctivitis. But I didn't realise it was conjunctivitis until a friend at preschool looked at him this afternoon and said "Oh you've got conjunctivitis" - and I went "BINGO!" - and then as an aside to myself "Der, why didn't I see that before?! Of course it's conjunctivitis". Poor little dude. Conjunctivitis is the pits, isn't it? So we stayed at home and I read him Cressida Cowell's "How To Be A Pirate".

What books are your big and smalls reading? And you? I have a big stockpile next to my bed, but none of them calling me right now. Any recommendations?

NZ Love

I'm swooning over this Karen Walker frock. Oh me! Oh my! In fact, I am swooning over all of Karen Walker's frocks. And tops. And skirts. And everything.

If only my credit card weren't so full, and my bank balance so empty.

But hmmm. I'm heading to Auckland next week.. Can Karen come home with me?

It's Sunday Love:: Tiny Loves Cussing

We got up early today. Well the Doctor always gets up super early. But Matt and the Doctor went bike-riding early. And about 5 minutes after they left, Tiny wanted to go meet them. So after my request of "five more minutes" in the toasty warm bed with seventy-eleven layers, we clambered out of bed. Half-dressed and hot footed it to surprise the boys.

It was wet and cold in the park. We found our boys and decided to go have a hot chocolate before coming back to enjoy the park. Maybe when the wet had dissipated. Ahem.

Tiny and I were perched at the cafe, drinking our hot chocolate and flat white respectively, when I spotted the boys. I said: "Tiny, I see the boys spying on us." To which Tiny so eloquently replied with an F-bomb.

Wow.

It's not the first time.

I've promptly gone into swearing rehab. I've gone cold-turkey on swearing, given my 3.5 year old swears so appropriately. And sometimes not so.

One morning before school, the Doctor and she had been having some biffo. She walked into me while I was getting dressed and said: "F*** man."

My swear word of choice now? Supercalifragilisticexpialadocious. Or however it's spelt. Trying saying that when you're furious.

Tiny, I'm sorry you have a PottyMouth. And it's my fault.

But how about those magnolias. That blue sky. AYE CARUMBA! (How was that for changing the subject?)

Tiny Style Tips:: Tiny Legs

It's that time again. Time for Tiny Style Tips.

Want fashion in a snap?

Want customised fashion in a snap?

Want couture colouring-in fashion at next to nix?

Lo and behold - colourful legs. Yes. The girl's got talent. Not content with just a couple of lines, or getting ladders in your stockings? Go for the full-colour-leg-colour-in. That old chestnut.

Who needs tights when you can just colour your legs in?

No more ladders, Tiny presents the full-colour-leg-colour-in.

Highly recommended. Change your colour when your mood changes. Tiny rates them 5 stars.

Addicted to Angry Birds

I have a confession to make. It's embarrassing, but I am hooked on Angry Birds. I borrow Matt's phone to indulge this addiction. I stay awake way past my bedtime playing Angry Birds. Matt wants the light turned out? "Nope, playing Angry Birds." The Doctor is hooked on Angry Birds too. It's a big angry cycle of Angry Bird lovers.

Which is why I was overjoyed when Matt shared this with me. Barcelona + life-size Angry Birds game. AYE CARUMBA!

How fun is this? How good-looking is the crowd? Looks like I will have to relocate to Barcelona where all the beautiful people are playing Angry Birds.

via atome

Bribery & Parenting 101

I've taken to bribing the smalls to do mundane everyday things that they're just not that into.

1. Like brushing teeth. A couple of weeks ago I introduced "The Toothbrushing Time Trials" in preparation for "The Toothbrushing Olympics". The smalls don't know that they are the only competitors - and quite frankly, they don't need to know. But heck. This idea works a charm. I get Matt's iPhone, prep the stopwatch and BOOM! Two minutes of teeth brushing bliss for both of them. No wrangling with Tiny. No whinging. No lightweight brushing.

Gold star to mama.

2. In the interests of keeping the peace, Matt has decided to keep the smalls bathing separately. But I can't be bothered waiting for two rounds of bath-times, so I've been bribing them to get into the bath with a squirt each of this Imperial Leather Foamburst. Have you seen this? It's lush! Like washing myself with rich shaving cream, well that's the consistency. And the smalls - it gets them every time! Boom! Straight into the bath.

Gold star to mama.

3. When the smalls aren't asking for food, I feed them. A snack bowl full of celery, grape tomatoes, carrot sticks, whatever's on hand. Those smalls don't see me coming. Sneaking vegetables into them. Making them less fractious before dinner time. I swoop in there like a secret vegetable avenger.

Gold star to mama.

4. The Doctor came home from school upset. He needed some coaxing, but finally told me that someone had punched him in the tummy. Again. And that because I had drawn a love heart on his yoghurt, half the class laughed at him and made fun of him - and the poor little dude, he cried. The worst thing? I've always put hearts on his lunchbox - because I LOVE him - and that morning, I had thought, hmm, maybe I shouldn't. Then I thought - shucks, he's in Kindergarten. He's six. It's ok! It's love! Wrong mama. Wrong. So I wrote a little note to his teacher to let her know. He came home triumphant. Everyone in the class HAD to come to school with hearts and love notes from their parents in their lunchboxes. How cute is that? And the puncher. He got reprimanded very swiftly. School is the HARD YARDS!

Gold stars all 'round.

And here ends my bribery & parenting and ranting 101.

Image is Tiny looking scary.

Oh Man!

Thanks to my friend Deb who shared this clip on Facebook - and now I just have to listen to it because it puts me in such a sunny mood. It sounds like a big band. I like that. Yep. I really do.

I'm heading to Auckland in a couple of weeks - for work - if you've got the heads up on Auckland - let me know. Apparently I need a North Face jacket because it's so blinking freezing, and I'm not prepared!

In other ground breaking news, I've not had an alcoholic beverage pass my lips since July. This is my 17th day of no-alcohol. Go me! (And go Matt too, because we're doing it together).

Have you found any new music lately?

Handmade Revolution

Holy cow! I never knew there was such goodness about 20 minutes from home.

On Saturday the smalls and I headed to the Powerhouse Discovery Centre for their Handmade Revolution open day.

We had such a lovely time. I wish both my smalls were less grumpy - particularly the bigger small, but not to worry, I can't wait to head back.

We made paper lace, participated in the outdoor weave in (I loved this), watched as ladies made lace (something I would love to learn), and had a go of 3 metre knitting needles. And I even got to chat with Shane Waltener, the artist behind the weave in. That was pretty thrilling.

This place is the business!

The Powerhouse Discovery Centre also hosts a number of activities during the school holidays. Amongst them, Lego workshops. I'm sure you can guess who's being booked in. Unfortunately - not me. But I know the Doctor will dig it!

+++ Check out the Mexican-stylie wheelie bin: it serves as their solar powered PA system. How cool is that?!

Holy Cow!

Do you ever think products have been made especially for you? Today Fisher Price sent over a Doodle Bear for Tiny. If there was ever a toy that was destined for Tiny, this is it.

A bear that you can draw on, then pop into the wash, then start all over again? Genius. Tiny had to reconfirm a number of times that she could indeed draw on this bear. Yes. Yes. And only this bear. Not the others.

Doodle Bear better be made tough, because Doodle Bear has a lot of doodling ahead of it.

Great diversionary tactics while I clean her drawings off the: sofa. Coffee table. Wall. Her legs. Bills. Bedside table. Fridge. Clothes. Floor. Kitchen bench. Oh heck, I'll just be cleaning everything. Hopefully not anymore. WOOT!

I Heart Sundays

Beautiful, beautiful Sundays. How I love them. Come Monday, they are merely memories, but while you're in the thick of Sundays, rejoice! For Sundays are Sundays! And that means one thing! Family day.

We wandered the Lisgar Gardens together, looking for sneeches aka leeches - and celebrated the lack of them.

By now you should understand that I love gardens. The Hunter Valley Gardens. The Royal Botanic Gardens. Lisgar Gardens. They are my oasis in a busy city-life. I'm always blogging about gardens. And yet I am a failed gardener. An ex-composter. A wannabe green-thumb.

This is the four of us. Together in the gardens. Where the Doctor told us he didn't want to be, and then stumbled upon koi fish and was turned around. Where Tiny declared her undying love for 'flowlas'. Where Matt and I explored the layers of flowers, fauna and found a bush turkey.

Hello and goodbye Sunday. Until we meet again.

Is Anyone There?

Oh man it's oh-so-quiet around (BTW - did you know Spike Jonze directed that clip??!) here these days.

Where are you?

What did you do this weekend?

What are you wearing right now?

Are we breaking up?

Any excuse for some cool Bjork shots. Right?

Spring Cleaning

After a day out discovering (more on that tomorrow), I got all my cups and saucers out of the cupboards, washed them and rearranged them. It took me longer than anticipated, and half way through I regretted starting this exercise. Nevertheless, I kicked on, and am lying on the couch checking out the new set up.

I must admit, it was quite nice washing such pretty pieces. Each of them different, with a story all of their own. I love my pre-loved pieces, it's a shame I don't get to use them and admire them more often.

I'm beginning to think eating from a really beautiful plate is far more of an experience than eating from a plain white dinner plate. What say you?

Keep Aaron Cutting

image courtesy of Getty images. Photograph taken by Dan Kitwood

A resident of Tottenham for 41 years, 89 year old Aaron has been devastated by the damage to his livelihood following the riots.

He arrived back to his shop where it had been smashed up, hair dryers looted, even his kettle stolen.

If you've got a little bit of dosh you can help Aaron get back cutting. That's cool.

You can read more here to help keep Aaron cutting.

Comic Relief?

Squeeze those pelvic floors tight ladies, this website is the only good thing to come of the London riots.

All images via photoshoplooter

Smell Like A Monster

If you need some comic relief on this Wacky Wednesday, then this clip is for you.

Did You Know?

One of my all-time favourite John Denver songs is: You fill up my census.

Booty-Licious

I am one of those rare women that detests shoe shopping.

Really.
Really.

Detest it.

I've always resisted shoe shopping. It's not that I don't love shoes. I love shoes. I admire a beautiful shoe.

It's just that they never fit. Growing up with a size 12 - and that's mens' 12, in Tamworth - there wasn't much of a selection. Couple that with a triple-A width. And you've got yourself a big, fat headache. Even when we'd travel to Sydney we'd have to scour store after store looking for something to fit my foot - and usually have to resign to some bad looking shoe that I had to make do with.

Fast-forward 10 years and Matt and I were in London or Paris looking for shoes for me. We're so cosmopolitan it seems. Well the cosmo stops here. I asked the sales assistant for shoes and she looked at me as if I'd asked her to trim my toenails. Horrified I scurried off.

Fast-forward another five years and here I am, curled up on the couch trawling Westfield's plethora of shoes. All. Available. On. Line. STOP THE PRESS!

No more scaring sales assistants. No more contemplating Kumfs. No more tolerance of sales assistants saying: No I don't have a 12, but I do have a 9 - want to try it? Er, want to hack my toes off? Bind my foot? No. It's not going to fit me. Not now, not ever.

Check it out home girls! Westfield has answered all of my dreams. Trawling the interwebz for shoes. By style. By store. Hello shoe shopping. Humiliation free. WOOT!

Midas. Mollini. Flats. Heels. Trainers. OH MY!

Can you imagine my jubilation when I went shopping and found these babies in a charming size 42 ready and waiting to be delivered to me? Hell to the yeah!

The only downside is that the shoes aren't searchable by size. But you can search by price, stores, colour and style. And a lot of the stores offer free delivery. And rather than the 3-7 days, Midas took a total of 8 days to ship to me. But if they're not right, you can return them. Sound good. Comfy on the couch? Mouse at the ready. Yeah. Me too. This could be addictive Imelda Marcos.

In the interests of full disclosure, I received a gift voucher from Westfield to trial this new service.

Help Me Help You

So in a couple of weeks I'm doing a little talk at a conference. It's about PR. And PR agencies/consultants and the world of blogging and bloggers.

Secretly I am hoping no one turns up, because every time I think about it, I feel really, really queasy.

Nevertheless, I am doing a little research beforehand. Whether you read blogs, blog, or are new to blogs, I'd value your feedback. But I'm not doing some hardcore survey, because:
a) I just don't have the time
and
b) neither do you

Let me cut to the chase. I'd love it if you had a spare five minutes, if you can tell me:
- If PR agencies contact you: what works? what doesn't?
- What do you love?
- What do you loathe?
- How many companies contact you per week?
- Do you ever get any really random requests?
- And does anyone ever nail it - like really hit the nail on the head, and get you and your blog, and how to work with you?
- As a reader: what works for you? And what are you sick of?

Or if you're more comfortable emailing me, that's ace: lexipmm (at) gmail (dot) com

I'd appreciate any insights you can share with me - and if you comment on here, please don't name any agencies or companies.

Help me out peeps!

Caught In The Rain

Weekends. Ah weekends. How I love you!

Yesterday we went to the beach, hung out on the sand, enjoyed some time just the three of us. Bliss.

Today we went to see my MIL for her birthday. Then came home. Did a frenzied "tidy" of the house - and when I say "tidy" the term is very, very loose - but you can now see we have floor. We went walking in the afternoon - a brave move, the Doctor on his bike, everyone else walking. And of course, on our return trip, it bucketed down. Thunder cracked. Sheet lightning. The works. Tiny cried. I carried Tiny under the umbrella, like a koala. The Doctor kept riding his bike. Matt was soaked. We all were soaked. But it was fun. And funny.

And this weekend we kicked off a new family tradition. I've been feeling out of the loop on family life for a while now. Struggling to get involved. Exhausted by my four days of work, sad that I'm missing out, desperate to still be in touch with my smalls.

So I picked up my copy of Amanda Soule's 'The Creative Family'. I'm no Soulemama, but when I need some inspiration - who am I gonna call? And it ain't the Ghostbusters.

Our new family tradition is one that was picked up with gusto and the Doctor has already asked to do it every single night. Halleluljah! We sat and did family drawing for 45 minutes. So. Much. Fun. I can't wait to reprise this as often as possible.

WINNERS::

These peeps should email me (lexipmm (at) gmail (dot) com) ASAP to receive their tickets to the Powerhouse Discovery Centre. Hope to see you there!

- Permanently Twenty Three

- Aneets: Meandering Through Motherhood

- Lisa Tilse: The Red Thread

- Sarah at The Super Whites

- Sarah at ChoccyBangles

Life Is Beachy

Ah - the sneak preview of the Summer to come. Welcome.

After being road raged at on the way to Balmoral this morning, we enjoyed a couple of hours with the sun beating down on our backs.

Such a civilised morning - grabbed a takeaway coffee, propped ourselves up on the beach, sand toys, dinosaurs, shell-gathering a-plenty.

It was all going so well until an unexpected wave toppled Tiny from her feet. What came out of the water was a very wet, very sandy, very sad little Tiny. Nevertheless she picked herself back up, nuded up and resumed walking along the waterfront.

Thanks for turning on the sunshine for Saturday at the beach.

My Name Is Trouble

Last night I was so exhausted I went to bed at 7pm and didn't resurface until 8am. I was one tired mama. I ignored all calls for dinner, got into my PJs and fell into the deepest sleep.

It's Saturday, and who doesn't need a good song to propel them into a weekend of goodness.

We're off to the beach - or the "island" as Tiny calls it, to dig in the sand, play and hang out together. Despite the Doctor's six year old-man grumpiness and much to his disgust, we're going. I even bribed him with 50c. It's all about stocks baby. Apparently he's buffering against the GFC. Sadly the same can't be said for our bank account, but heck, that's a whole new (and boring) story.

The house is a mess. There's grocery shopping to be done. Too bad - we've gone fishing.

Skater's Dream House

Did you ever draw dream houses when you were a kid? I did. I spent hours drawing floor plans, a really big bedroom, an indoor swimming pool - and by indoor, I mean it was in the heart of the home, large wardrobe, big kitchen, probably a spa, all the bells and whistles. I loved drawing those little floor plans in multi-coloured textas. A wannabe architect.

Well imagine my glee this morning when I stumbled upon this ace house - the PAS House. Everything in the house is skate-able. The walls. The furniture. The whole kit and kaboodle. But you can only skate in there if you're a pro-skater. The PAS House is only a full-scale model of one room of the house, but I'm already saving my pennies.

When the Doctor's bigger, I think we'll invest in this home (ahem). I can imagine teenage boys digging on this idea. Heck, I dig on this idea. Uber cool!

Handmade Revolution:: Special Giveaway

I'm pretty excited to learn about the Powerhouse Discovery Centre at Castle Hill. I didn't know something so cool existed - and just a stone's throw from me.

To amp up the cool, they're hosting UK contemporary artist and designer, Shane Waltener, to create an amazing, awe-inspiring outdoor art installation titled 'Outdoor Weave In' at the Discovery Centre's Open Day on Saturday 13th August.

But that is not all folks. As part of the Handmade Revolution program there's so much on - and I am sure there's something to pique your fancy: weaving, spinning, bobbin lace demonstrations, and activities for children including paper lace and mini rag-rug making - oh my!

The good news for YOU - dear reader, is that I have 10 family passes to give away. Tell me what you like doing with your smalls that is part of your very own handmade revolution. Lego? Playdough? Sandplay? Do tell!

To enter:

- comment (25 words or less)

- must be an Australian resident

- enter before Friday 5th August at 11:59pm

- winners will be contacted on Saturday and announced on pottymouthmama

Back In The Habit:: Days 1, 2 & 3

I've snuck into my 21 day time trial by omitting to blog about it.

I've been walking for 3 days in a row. Only 18 to go.

This last week I've realised I've been putting myself last - and exercise, oh woeful exercise, it was way down the list. Actually, it wasn't even on the list. I have a hate-hate relationship with exercise that I am so keen to turn the beat around on. So 3 days in a row - go me!

Music that got me walking (and I may have even cracked into a wee jog):

- Sam Sparro

- Rihanna

- Prince

- Salt n Pepa

- The Strokes

Tonight I walked on a wayward route to the supermarket. And got chatted up by an almost-70 year old. Now that does not happen when you don't exercise. Right?

I'm wondering if I can crack my phobia of early mornings and do a morning walk. In?