Get In My Bedroom. Come to Scandinavia

Matt and I gave our bedroom a Summer make-over, Scandi style! You can read more about it over at the Adairs blog. 

I was pretty excited to have the opportunity to dream up My Perfect Escape. My destination escapes the stifling heat, and gives our space a new feel. It's fresh as a lemon! 

Don't just take my word for it though. Even our kitten (Happy - see top picture, exploring) is into it. 

If you're looking for some new boudoir inspiration, I implore you to check out Adairs ever evolving range. There are some really beautiful pieces - it's actually hard to choose. 

Anyway - what are you still doing here? Get over here and read about my complete bedroom make-over. Eradicating dust bunnies and freshening up spaces since… well since a little while ago. 



* Adairs gifted me a selection of bed linen as part of this bedroom make-over. I chose all the pieces. I wasn't paid. I love the product. I wanted to share. 

HAPPY FRIDAY!

I've got 5 days of with my family. That's pretty awesome. Mid school holidays, and it's so nice to spend time the four of us at home. Not much to do, nowhere to go, it's actually my idea of bliss. 

School holidays are pretty rad. 

To keep my smalls busy, I've booked them into a MAKE.PLAY workshop at Object Gallery in Surry Hills for tomorrow. I think they'll love playing and talking worms, who wouldn't? 

And while they're doing that Matt and I are going to hang out together in Surry Hills. Squeeee!

I'm getting my haircut. Double squeegee! 

I'm listening to that song above, like it's nobody's business, and this one too. 

Our landlord wants to inspect our house - we've lived here three years and had one inspection and they're calling it a routine check up. HA! Anyway we're kind of freaking out because our house is what I'd classify a grade A pigsty. It's so small and there's nowhere to put anything. Someone. Send help. 

It's Been Quiet Here

But not quiet on the home front.

For example - Tiny slipped over in the bathtub last night. Matt took her up to ER with a nice little gash in her chin. I sat waiting for news. They sat waiting for five hours. She finally came home with her chin glued. Poor sausage.

I'm back into exercise. I know. Stop the press. I got sick and had to cut my C25K short momentarily. Instead of exercising I began pinning exercise motivation. I became obsessed. This served only to make myself feel even sicker, annoyed, sad I wasn't exercising, and to motivate others. Well it's not all bad, right?

In other ground breaking news, the house is a mess, I need to start organising a birthday party for Tiny, and Christmas is now only 99 sleeps until Christmas.

Just saying. 

Please send help. SOS. 

A Deeply Disturbing and Probing Investigation Into The Bread Bin

image via pinterest

It's true. Yes it is. 

I've been thinking about the humble bread bin - and what role it takes in our home. 

Because right now, our humble bread bin - is in fact, lying dormant. Neglected save for a few crumbs and a bread tie. 

Actually, that's a lie. Our bread bin is being used. As a bread shelf. Inside it might be empty, a vacuous space where you *could* store your yeasty goods. On the outside, ours is stacked with bread, bread rolls, five cookbooks and a box of Earl Grey tea. 

You look horrified. What kind of a bread bin am I running over here? 

I know, right?!

As part of my incredibly probing investigation, I cast the questions out to my Facebook and Twitter friends - do you have a bread bin? And if so, do you use it? 

In my years of being a proud owner of a bread bin (almost eight), I've discovered that rather than the bin playing gracious host to the bread - instead I forget the contents, and months later discover a plastic sack of velvety green stench-iness. Marie Curie I am not, but I'm sure we could bottle this and sell it back to our local pharmacist. 

Unsurprisingly, I had very few responses wound up getting quite a few responses. Actually I am surprised by this. Shocked even. But really, all I was after was quality. I was hardly ever going to ever get a sample of 1000: 

Exhibit A: This is weird - I was only thinking about a bread bin today, thinking should we get one as the bread is always on show! X

Exhibit B: Yep. It's filled with paperwork.

Exhibit C: Have one, don't use it. But I did when I was baking bread

Exhibit D: yes... and no.

Exhibit E: Yes, a Freedom one actually. Only had it for six months and I love it!

Exhibit F: Yep, I use mine.

Exhibit G: I have a bread tin but it has traditionally been used for storing cat litter. I haven't quite got over the fact that I don't have a cat any more.

Exhibit H: Yes, filled with half open packets of random biscuits, crisps etc which I totally forget about as they're hidden. Has never contained bread.

Exhibit I: ours was the unofficial 'third drawer' where school reports, old watches, red pens and overdue bills went to die #breadbin

Exhibit J: our bread bin is filled with chargers.

Exhibit K: My mum used one every day of my childhood. But she was a Virgo so that may explain a lot of things.

Exhibit L: used to but didn't use. Bread never lasts long enough to be put away now

Exhibit M: We've got one and use it - agree w above that it can make the bread go off quicker but we eat it pretty fast 

I could go on with more prime examples, probably right through the whole alphabet, but I'm calling it (even if the figures don't reflect the same - who says surveys have to be accurate?!). 

The bread bin, my friends, seems to be in the decline. Nearing extinction.  And I'm not alone! WAHOOO! 

Unless of course you decide to utilise your bread bin for other purposes, such as: 

- bread shelf

- filing bills

- cat litter

- stale biscuits and crisps

- chargers

- school reports, old watches, red pens and overdue bills

- or bread, if you're a Virgo

In which case - the bread bin is on the rise - buy a bread bin straight away, do not pass GO, do not collect $200. Just grab the bread bin and run. 

But friends, for now, my probing investigation is here to deliver you the very disturbing news: not many people use a bread bin for its intended use. And for me, it's just taking up room on my bench. 

Three Of The Best: Cushions To Update Your Home

Three of the best this week brings me into the home. There's no quicker ticket to update your living room than a couple of new cushions to liven things up. There are so many good ones around, to suit whatever personality or style. Our sofas quite dark, so I like to lighten things up using throws and cushions. Plus it means I have a super comfortable sofa (even if Matt hates my multiple cushion palaver).

What's my personal cushion sitch? I have a few different ones - that I rotate around the house. And every so often, I bring a different one home to join the roost. And sometimes I evict them and pass them on to someone else. 

My Bearded Pigeon Antarctica Cushion $55 (cover only): These beautiful organic cotton cushion covers remind me of beautiful watercolours. They make a statement - and with such a great selection of places - you can pretty well choose where you want your cushion to be! It's like GPS for your couch - except you're going nowhere fast, except reaching for the remote. 

Freedom Pops cushion $19.95: We all know my well-documented love of spots and polka dots. It's enduring love. It knows no bounds. And these cushions feel good in hand, and are ridiculously well priced, so you can mix and match colours and have some fun! 

Adairs Mercer + Reid Indigo Dip Dye Cushion $39.95: Shibori is so hot right now, and I've always had a weakness for indigo, so I love this cushion - and can't imagine it ever going out of fashion. You could pile it up with a bunch of other blues, or make it pop with some yellow - can you imagine?!

Also check these out:

- Emerald - Pantone's colour of the year - this cushion is a jewel

- I just absolutely adore this - save the travel expenses and bring the Swiss Alps home

- I am really, really bananas about this cushion! 

What's Happening In Our House

Tonight my eight year old commented: "Mum, I love how your bottom wiggles every time you move. It's so funny. It's like two cheeks, wibble wobble."

My ego is wildly out of control now.

This may have been the motivation I needed to get back out and exercising. 

In other breaking news - Tiny is taking a pair of summer pyjamas to school for news tomorrow.

PS - how beautiful is this owl?! 

Behind Closed Doors: In My Bedroom

This is a sponsored post.

I love sleep. Being in bed is almost my favourite thing. I don't get enough sleep - therefore I covet it. And it's well-documented that I really love bed linen. It's even in my bio. Obviously sleep and bed linen go hand in hand. I love them both. 

So when Adairs asked me if I'd be interested in reviewing their bed linen - well I could hardly turn them down in the pursuit of a better night's sleep, right?! I even got to peruse their bed linen online and choose what I wanted - hello!

After spending most of my weekend tidying our bedroom, moving furniture (one of my favourite past times) and re-making our bed - this is the end result. I'm pretty chuffed with it - and so is Matt - and that's pretty important given we share the bedroom. 

And before you say - "Hey PottyMouth, you didn't iron the cover" - well let me just inform you that I like a relaxed look in the boudoir. I can assure you nothing matches in our home - and that's the way I like it. An eclectic patchwork of pieces we've found on the side of the road (actually, I've found, and Matt's begrudgingly helped me re-home), and pieces that have been passed on to us - mixed with a few newer pieces here and there. I like linen to look comfortable and lived in. And PS - I don't have time to iron my quilt cover - who does (however I DO iron my pillowcases - I know, go figure).

So the pieces I chose are:

Vintage Washed Linen quilt cover:: oh aye carumba! This Home Republic quilt cover feels and looks like luxury. I am SO in love with this - it's pure linen, lightweight (perfect for Summer), and will last a long time - the more you wash linen, the luminous and softer it becomes. FACT!

Hotel Royale Cotton Blanket:: Matt and I constantly tussle over bedcovers. I like layers. He doesn't. But a cotton blanket is mandatory in our household - and this one ups the stakes in luxe in high quality cotton. Plus it's oversized so it fits our queen bed generously. It washes well and the charcoal colour is lush! It's probably a little unhealthy just how much I really love this blanket. 

Stella Zig Zag 250tc cotton percale bed sheets:: I'm a little nutty about chevron - and what better way to bring it into the boudoir (they also come in aqua) than with these Mercer + Reid sheets?! You can mix them back with a block colour too to change the look.

Vintage Paris cushion:: Once upon a time Matt and I went to Paris. He spoke French. I did not. I loved this Mercer + Reid cushion for its simple graphic - and love that it works with our whole room.

It feels so good to go to bed! 

The good news for you is that Adairs is offering PottyMouthMama readers 10% off across the site (includes full price and discounted items). The offer is available online only - and valid until January 31, 2013. (Can only be used once per user and can not be used in conjunction with any other offer). Promotion code is MAMA10. 

Tired

The last couple of nights I've come home from work, Matt and I have fed, bathed and put the smalls to bed, and then I've crashed into a heap into my own bed. 

I am k-to-the-nackered. So freaking tired. 

And no. Before any wild speculation begins - not pregnant. 

I think it's the time of the year. There's too much on, work-wise it's chaos, school wise - there's loads on, and there's just lots to do leading into Christmas. I've barely even started my Christmas shopping. Ouch.

Plus our house is one big gigantic mess. You might have this idea that it's pristine with some clothes scattered hither and thither - but let's not beat around the bush. We live in a super tiny house that is so small you can very literally see into each room from the front door. And we've got no storage. I'm starting to think we should look for a new abode to rent. But I just can't muster the energy to think about moving pre Christmas. Meh. 

Anyway - it makes me think of this book Matt loved as a small boy, that we read to the kids, What-A-Mess. Often on my drive to work I see a lady walking two large Afghans and think of this book. And then I think of the messy state of my house. It's clean. And yet, it's a gigantic mess. But you should read the book. It's a funny book.

How are you going in the lead up to Christmas? Coping better than me? 

Things I Love and Making With The Smalls At The School

Last week I was lucky enough to attend the launch of Megan Morton's brand spanking new book 'Things I Love'. It's beautiful, and if you don't already own a copy - get your mitts on one, Christmas list it, buy it as a gift for yourself, whatever it takes - just get one. It's sheer brilliance.

Full of beautiful homes - and even more beautiful inspiration, and ideas-a-plenty Megan once again trumps it with her own brand of beautiful. There's a lot to love.

And on the night itself, she was glowing.

 Absolutely take it from me, and put it on your Christmas - or treat yourself. You can buy 'Things I Love' here.
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I took the smalls to make God's Eyes with Little Nicki at The School on Saturday. Megan met us at the door, and was doing her thing, charming the pants off anyone who came in.

The Doctor hears me talking about Megan quite frequently, so knew meeting her was kind of a big deal. He was SO cute and chuffed to be talking to her.

We spent such a lovely morning sitting together creating amidst a sea of coloured wool. It was such fun. 

If you've thought about doing one of Megan's classes - do. It's such a rare treat to sit and make. And for me, it was so good for me (and no doubt my smalls) to sit with them and not have any other distractions (other than the need to Instagram what they were doing every now and then) - and be.

Check out the timetable here for The School.

Really Very Pretty

I've recently just finished making the Doctor's quilt. It took such a long time, and I have such immense respect for those who make things with their hands.

Which is why I love this Kantha range that's new-ish to Freedom. Hand made in India, no two pieces are the same. There are throws, cushions and bolsters. I love the look of them layered all together, the nuances in each piece, the stories that those stitches can tell. Plus they are perfect for Winter, for layering onto your couch, or over the end of your bed. There's nothing I love more than snuggling under the blankets - layers and layers of them, whereas Matt protests, I feel like I am in my cocoon.

In fact, our bedding is a constant tussle with us. A bone of contention in our marriage. I pile them high, Matt prefers just a doona. I like an old school bed. Matt likes just a doona. I like bunkering down under 87 layers. Matt likes just a doona.

Someone talk some sense into the man.



Ice-Cream Sunday

How was your weekend? 
What did you do? 
Did you do anything exciting? 


I made raspberry ice-cream with the Vitamix. It took me approximately three minutes. 
I will make a video and show you how, because my goodness, that was soooo good and made a pretty hideous Sunday turn the beat around. Ice-cream has a knack for that. 

Therapeutic Monday:: In The Garden

I spent some time in the garden yesterday. Actually a lot of time. With secateurs in hand. 

The reason for this spate of Gardening Australia? I had to find the water meter for the water meter reader man. Do you think I found it? Nope. Despite hacking into everything - and being completely disgusted with the weeds that think it's ok to procreate in my garden. I still have not found the meter. 


However I did find my inner gardener, my inner Peter Cundal. It was sprinkling and cold and yet - I was stalwart and continued hacking into those overgrown bushes (not that bush, manners, please). I must be channeling my mum. And my grandmother. Both keen gardeners. Now there are piles of clippings all over our garden. And nowhere to put them. Novice fail. 


It was good to do physical work - to feel the physical tiredness, and see tangible results. 


In other ground breaking news Tiny went back to preschool today - and I got to spend some time with her and her classmates, decorating picture plates. Boy it was funny, I was chuffed to spend time there, and today was a triumph. Tiny wore jeans. Crumbs. She gave me a cute attack. 


Tonight Tiny told me she wanted to climb onto my back and never hop off, no matter what, she'd just ride up there on my back - and never-ever- everlet me go, then she would yell: "this is paradise". Chris Martin has been brainwashing her. 


Sigur Ros. This is beautiful. A good reason for me to move to Iceland. Good music and crazy knits. 


Tomorrow, on ANZAC day, we're planning to head into the city. I enjoy seeing the diggers, waving, acknowledging them. I'd like to take the smalls to see that, with rosemary pinned on. 

Neighbours. And I don't mean Kylie, Scott Michaelson or Madge

Do you have dodgy neighbours? For a while there, we had great neighbours. We had a bunch of IT guys that lived down the back of our house and we barely heard a peep from them. Our neighbours on another side are a young couple renovating the cutest weatherboard cottage you've ever seen. And then on the other side are some people that always have their blinds closed, and I only ever see their dogs out the back when I hang the washing out. 


Life was good. Life was simple. Life was quiet.


Until the IT guys moved out, and we had this bunch of junior burgers move in who drive up and down, up and down the driveway. Blast out their music starting at 11:30pm. Have a spot of biffo at 3:30am outside the front of their house - which coincidentally is right outside our bedroom window. Not so rad. 


And then the young couple with the ever-so-cute weatherboard invited us in for dinner one night. A good night was had by all. A few months later they asked us if we wanted them to trim their huge - beautiful - oak tree that leans over our driveway. We said yes! Yes please. The possums get in there, along with the bats, and they have one big pooping and weeing party all over our car. So they said, yes, yes we will do that. And then nothing. And then two days after Christmas one of the branches - actually two - fell on our car and gave it three big pock marks on the roof.


We let them know. They said they were waiting to trim the tree because it was too expensive to have the tree trimmed - it was $600. We got a quote to fix our car - it was $600. And then they started to avoid us. Like the black plague. 


Now they're not talking to us. As soon as they see us drive in, they go inside their house. And since the tree branch falling on the car thing happened, we have to park on the street. 

Totes awkes. 


And now the flipping across-the-road neighbours are parking right outside the front of our house, which - as we all know, is the holy grail of car parks and in a highly sought after parking situation, that park belongs to the correlating tenant. RIGHT? Isn't it some unsaid thing? But no. Not for them. It's like they're staking us out in their big white Tarago. 


I'm thinking about moving into this pink caravan that I spotted while we were away. At least I could move it every time someone got too close. 

What Do You Do All Day?

Richard Scarry. One of my all-time favourite children's author/illustrators. 

Our Onegirl fleur. It is so loved. And a lot of love comes from me.

My knitting. Which is going nowhere fast. Mum, I need you to fix it. 

I don't have much of any value to share with you. 

So tell me, what do you do all day? 

Working. And What Does This Mean?

I've been giving it much consideration lately - I was formerly a stay at home mum (SAHM) - and found it immensely tiring, but in the same breath - immensely satisfying. You got to see the outcome of what you put in, and, for me, that was my proudest achievement. Daily you reaped rewards in the form of sticky cuddles, sloppy, wet kisses, and the pinnacle of parenting - high-fiving after mastering potty training. It was full of daily simple pleasures, and sometimes it was mundane, but mostly it was full to the brim of a gentle kind of happiness.

When Matt and I decided to switch things around so he could finish his studies, I returned to the paid workforce. I had been freelancing for five years, which was getting more and more tricky with two small kids, but it had its rewards too. But it was inconsistent, so I started looking around.

I went back to the coalface, working 4 days a week, and have been there now for 18 months. It's not been an easy transition either. I am riddled by mother's guilt. I always feel like I am missing out. I always feel like my kids are missing out on their mama.

Work is satisfying and exciting, and of course there's the thrill of hitting targets and weekly wins, I get to utilise my years of experience, but it's definitely not the same as parenting.

Sure there are tantrums. Arguments. Petty office politics. But on the flipside, I do get to go to the toilet cubicle solo.

I race hither and thither so I can be doing my job to the best of my abilities, and race home so I can spend as much time as possible with my smalls.

And recently, it made me think:

What do other mums think?

Is it more important to work in a job that stretches your brain (in a good way), and let's you blossom professionally?

or

Is it more important to have a flexible job?

And

Is it possible to have both? Or is brain-stretching distinctly separate to flexibility?

I'm undecided.

PS - I don't know why I felt the need to post a picture of Tootsie. I just did. I love Tootsie. I just can't even rationalise why I put that picture there.

Naked? In Front Of Your Kids? *GASP*

A couple of years ago I heard of a couple who never got naked in front of their kids. This isn't an urban legend. The children had never seen their dad naked, and according to the parents - they weren't ever going to either.

I was a little shocked  because - well nudity is a feature in our house. We're not nude all of the time, but we're not not nude all of the time.

But what I found most shocking was the organisation that this would entail.

I re-enacted it in my head. I would have to take all my clothes to the bathroom when I showered. I would have to close doors. I don't usually close doors. But above all, I wouldn't be able to stand at my wardrobe, in a definite state of undress, deciding what to wear for the day. This startled me. I usually walk around the house in the morning in various states of dress before finally getting my stuff together and getting it on. I thought about how small our house (smaller than a shoebox) and how difficult life would be if they never saw me naked.

I think it's good to be nude in front of my kids!

And this is part of the naked upside down breastfeeder talk. People, generally men, didn't like the idea that she was nude! And she was breastfeeding.

But for me, being nude is good. It's a positive! Being nude shows children real bodies. Bumps, lumps, hips and dips. Everything. I have thought about all those perfect images of women and men being presented perfectly in the media - airbrushed, over-styled, and after sitting in a make-up chair for a couple of hours. 

While my body isn't perfect it is pretty awesome. It's grown babies. It's birthed babies. It's fed babies. It can run up and down stairs. It does so much cool stuff. And my brain drives it. Pretty rad when you think about it.


image of Chilli Peppers via

Christmas Gift Guide: Home Lovers

It's time for me to pull out another gift guide for you, this one is for those friends and family you know who love their home.

French iron herb dryer. So Frenchy, so chic - Heaven in Earth $30

Limited Edition Threadneedle armchair in Royal Silver - it's bound to be the best seat in the house - Freedom $999

Wooden serving spoons - Father Rabbit $39

Sea mobile - rainbow colours - Puka Puka Design $65

Travel in the comfort of your couch - Nomad by Sibella Court from Berkelouw $50

Check out this fab Trim telephone in turquoise - Lark $149

Hand blocked polka dot tablecloth - Sally Campbell $150

Marimekko 'In Good Company' bowl - Funkis $27

Vintage European map cushion in organic cotton - My Bearded Pigeon $55

Voluspa White Currant Quince 100 hour candle - Saison $55

Et voila. 10 ideas for the home lovers in your life.

Holy House Envy!

Have you seen this book? Aye carumba. I have house envy to the max.

I thought The Selby was top of the pops. Well he is, let's face it. But Design Sponge has me salivating. I may even throw some of my stuff out. Some may call it junk. I call it stuff. It's feasible that it could be stuff. It's stuff from other people's bins.

But whatever you want to call it, get your filthy doggone mitts on this book. You will not regret it. Mark my words homegirls!

PS - Check out this Neon Wedding. Be still my boom-ba-da boom-ba-da heart. I might have to get married all over again. (To you Matt, of course.)

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!

Mondays Are...

Sometimes running around doing odd jobs and paying bills and running chores.

Today is tidying the house for the week ahead, because by the time I get home from work on all the other nights, I am too plum shickered to even lift a broomstick. This afternoon I make meatballs and some biscuits to throw into the pantry.

And before you think, but PottyMouth, life from the outside looks glamorous. Or maybe you don't. But these shots here are testament to the fact that life ain't one inch of glamorous. Unless you count the one inch of lipstick I have left that Tiny hasn't smeared all over her face and hands.

Raking.

Tossing clean clothes onto my bed to be folded.

Washing.

Vacuuming up the dust bunnies. Dust. Dust. Where does all the dust come from? Please - no one reply with - dead skin cells. EEP!

I hate the work/homelife juggle. I know you know where I'd rather be.