What Happened To Blogging?

Early next year PottyMouthMama will be celebrating her fifth birthday. Five years of blogging - and by no means am I one of the foremothers of blogging. Nope. Not even close. But coming up to my fifth blogging birthday has made me very reflective. 

Back in those early days of blogging, it seemed a bit more fun. 

Didn't it?

Or am I wigging out on some acid (reflux) flashback? 

It seemed more fun, less competitive. 
More honest, less perfect. 
More unique, less of the same looking photos. 
More natural, less wanky.

Granted. The whole landscape has changed. 

And for me personally, it's changed. I've changed. I'm no longer a stay at home mum, I'm no longer on a drip-feed of blogs, I can't keep up with responding to comments, and I can't visit so many blogs. - STOP the blogging world - I want to get off, reply to some comments, and get back on.

Back in the day, I started blogging after reading my favourites: Dooce, Meet Me At Mikes, Georgie Love, Kootoyoo. I had a newborn baby and a toddler in arms, I wanted to keep writing daily, and be part of the blogging community. I didn't fit into my mother's group, and I was looking for like-minded souls. 

Back in those days blogging was a celebration of difference, about personalities, about meeting new people, sharing and having a voice and being part of a greater community.

But now blogging seems to be in a funk. Or is it me?

Has blogging lost it's fun?
How did blogging become more a competition and less a celebration? 

Who did put the bomp in the bompty bompty bomp?

Are you there God? It's me, Lexi-Margaret. 

I think I'm having a mid-blog crisis.

(PS Isn't that an ace image of Judy Blume's awesome book? Aww so Frenchy, so chic). 

This Is Me. Just Another Mother Blogger.

This is me.
Lexi.
PottyMouthMama.
Worker bee by day.
Mama and wife by night.

I was thinking about mummy bloggers and thinking how that tag does not fit me. Well I don't think so anyway. That tag makes me really uncomfortable. I get kind of itchy. I am no expert parent. And sometimes - a lot lately - I am sad how little time I have to spend with my children, that is quality time. I get home, I am tired. Sometimes snappy. I hate that. I feel so distant sometimes. There's a disconnect between work life and family life. I struggle with it. Battle with it daily. I don't find the work-family juggle very easy and it can sometimes make me feel immensely sad. Right to my bones. 

But we gots to live.

And someone once went to town on me in the comments section, saying that I chose this and that it's my own fault. Well. I guess she didn't read my blog very carefully. I work four days, and when I am home, Matt works. We have that one day together, and Sydney sucks you dry. To your very marrow.

But back to my blog. Life is this imperfect thing, and so is my parenting. But, I am a mama, but I am also so much more. And my blog is more than parenting and sometimes not so much about parenting. And since I've returned to the paid workforce, I feel distant from the mummy blogger tag. Actually I think I've always been distant from the mummy blogger tag (EEK!). I could go 'round and 'round in circles with this discussion by myself. I won't. But I could.

I think Anna sums it up well here.

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This is me wearing a necklace my friend Pip gave me, a few years ago. I love wearing it. It makes me think of her and all the awesome sauce she spreads throughout the world.

I have other things that have been gifted to me that remind me of special people in my life. My Mum gave me one of her vintage kaftans. I wore it throughout my first pregnancy, with the Doctor in my belly. I love that kaftan, though it's getting a bit threadbare, it's so loved and makes me think of my Mum.

I love wearing things that remind me of people. It puts me in a good mood and makes me think they're kind of looking after me that day. In a weird way. That might sound kooky. Apologies. I might be a little kooky.

End of rambling post.
At ease soldiers.

Support Your Local:: Shop Loyal

I am one of those people that loves bookshops. I love the smell of them. The look of them. I love spending time in them. I love meandering down the aisles, picking up books, flicking through them, finding hidden gems, smelling those crisp new pages, those new images. I love my kids being able to look at books, find new favourites. Explore classics. Feel those pages. I've got so many happy bookshop memories, and I remember where most of my books are bought from, which holidays, who I was with.

But apparently, you're not going to be able to do that in five years time if we keep spending like we do. I'm not going to be able to do that. You're not. My kids aren't. No one can.

Pip wrote about this a month or so ago. About supporting local booksellers. (I can't find the link but if you do, it's worth a read).

And we're all too aware of the demise of Angus & Robertson. The loss of local jobs. The loss of livelihoods. And the loss of books.

But it's not just books that are going to be burnt if we continue to spend our dollars offshore.

It's all our local sellers that are hurting. Losing business. Losing their livelihood.

And you're there thinking - well I save dollars! I like a bargain. I like mail!

Ever wondered why all our retailers seem to be on this endless merry-go-round of sale after sale after sale? Oh yeah. Because we're all too busy online shopping and receiving the cheap thrill of a parcel in the mail.

And if you think it's ok to peruse the shelves of a local retailer - scout out the goods - and then go home to Google and buy it online? Think again. Show some integrity! As my sister so eloquently puts it here - you're using and abusing locals. Your neighbours. Your friends.

So despite the fact I couldn't find the book that I wanted on the weekend, and I could go online and buy it in a snap, I've called a local bookseller to order it in. It does cost a little more, but it's worth it to help keep someone's livelihood afloat. I'll miss out on mass consumerism happily, and enjoy the things I buy local, in the hope that my kids, your kids and our fellow Australians can keep on experiencing the happy joy of the smell of a bookshop, or that cute little shop you so love to visit.

Or if the lure of that parcel arriving in the mail is still there, indulge in some ace local shops that I know can more than fill the void:

- ecobabe

- Calico & Ivy

- Georgie Love

- The Children's Bookshop (Jodes is right, I visit here weekly, amazing selection - they have a bricks & mortar store, but you can order online and over the phone)

- Little Pinwheel

- Style Milk

Spend how you want to spend, but if we all thought about where that money goes, the end outcome, and the thought that if we don't spend local, we're going to move closer to a recession and less beautiful local shops to peruse, then we can all spend smarter.

image via

I'm Coming Up Empty Handed

Due to the lockdown that is life at the moment, we're stuck at home with the Doctor and his croup, Tiny and her snotties, me and my sinuses, I am in fear I have nothing, NOTHING to share. It's a bad old day when you have nothing of value to share, isn't it sausages? Oh yes!

So what to report... I'm twiddling my thumbs folks.

* I love the new Sia album (not to be confused with the Safety Institute of Australia - although I'm sure they're quite good too)

* I love the new Angus & Julia Stone album

* I have drunk three cups of tea today, with another on the way

* I have picked up countless crumpled tissues today (gee thanks kids)

* I have refereed countless wrestling matches between the smalls today

* I am going to watch the Young Victoria today. Or maybe Mad Men. But something. Because Glee isn't on

* I haven't organised dinner yet due to confinement

* I have mopped the floors

* I am up to date in the laundry

* The kids are in the bath at 4:00pm. The Doctor is crying because a) it has bubbles (which I thought he'd like tonight and b) Tiny kicked him. AGAIN.

* We have a very large old wardrobe currently eating all the room in our living room because we have nowhere else to put it. What to do with it folks?

On a more exciting front..

Check out Meet Me At Mikes for the Medina MumSpace giveaway. You must be in it to win it. (And for more chances to win a night at the Medina of your choice, head over to MumSpace - fo' realz).

And if you're looking for something absolutely, infinitely more interesting than this post, I might suggest this to you.

image via manataka

Five Faves

I'm playing along with Pip's Five Faves again.


1. Making and finishing (well almost) the above bunny. Which has rotated. Courtesy of Blogger. I just need to make his tail.
2. Having a quiet Sunday afternoon at home. That's been swell.
3. Everyone tidying the house this weekend and NOT leaving it just to me.
4. The sunshine today. It's not been so humid and it's been such a pretty day.
5. Watching this film. It was beautiful and oh-so moving. I dare you to watch with a dry eye!

What are your five faves?

The End.

Five Faves

I'm joining in with Pip's brand spanking new meme. Five Faves.

I'm letting you in on my very favourite funny websites. They each never fail to make me laugh. To the point Matt hears me laughing and says "Oh no Lexi" because he knows I will be on there for ages and ages and ages giggling to myself. Sad I know. But not sad. But sad. But definitely not sad. FUNNY!

Unhappy Hipsters.

Sorry I Missed Your Party.

Cake Wrecks.

Go Fug Yourself.

I Can Has Cheezburger

Hook yourself up and play too!

Reading?

Pip has been writing a bit about what she's been reading. And then I popped over to see Rach at Grandy and Baa, and she and Minnie have been reading Charlotte's Web. Everybody's doing it.

The Doctor and I have been reading Roald Dahl's 'The Minpins'. We're loving it (it's half read in one sitting), and I think it's one of the few stories by RD that I didn't read as a child. I was always a huge Roald Dahl fan and think I even cried when he died in 1991. I even remember we were on the school bus when the news broke.

Alexis at Knot Sew Crafty posted recently about Roald Dahl too. Made me think about how nice it would be to have my very own writing space, instead of sitting propped up on the couch, or stealing a slice of the kitchen table to shove my computer on, haphazard so I can punch out some words. Now wouldn't that be ace of base?

And see those dinos down the bottom? A gift from my friend Sal at Georgie Love. She sure knows how to make a small boy smile.

My Place and Yours: My Collezione

It's a two for one deal here today and here ladies (and gents?) is my collezione. I wracked my brain when Kate from Foxs Lane nominated this as her theme.. And here's my answer. My vintage clothing. I used to always wear vintage this or that, but since having bebes, some of it is a little less than practical, and other bits just don't fit these hips, and other bits are starting to fall apart.

Here are just a few pieces. I won't bore you with the lot. You might have other exciting things to do. Like housework.

Looking for more collections? Hit up this lady.

My Place and Yours:: My (Late) Front Door

Hello doves!

I am posting something that I should have done last week. And that is, show you my messy front door. Shelley from Femme de Montmartre chose the theme. She can rap me over the knuckles later Kelly Slater.

So here you have our front door. A doll house serves to house our shoes (thanks Mum!). A pram at the ready. And a basket full of stuff. Interesting stuff, non?

More front doors (which are undoubtedly more interesting) here.

My Place & Yours (Your Place Or Mine?):: SECRET WEAPONS OF MASS CONSTRUCTION

I hate bra shopping. I've talked previously ( a long, long time ago, when PottyMouthMama was just knee-high to a grasshopper) about my disdain toward lingerie. The fear and loathing that comes with lingerie. So you might be surprised that my secret weapon is my Pleasure State My Fit bra. You might be thinking, what the heck? But dear friends, it gives me some va-va-va-voom where (sadly) currently (following a highly fulfilling career in breastfeeding) my ladies have ga-ga-ga-goooone.

picture is, unfortunately, not me

You can see more My Place & Yours playerz at Mikes. Sign up now and receive a free set of steak knives.

My Bricole is the Theme Queen this week. She wanted everyone to out their secret weapon. What's yours?

My Place and Yours: Blog Headquarters

Ahem. Being incredibly late you'd think that my blog headquarters might be particularly tidy. Or particularly awesome. But alas, it's not to be. I work in the middle of the Doctor's 'art gallery' on an old breakfast table I scored at auction for $20 (including four chairs). I have all kinds of random stuff on this table. Because it's at my fingertips. And I have an incredible talent for knowing where things are. Some may call me a genius. At least that's what my reflection tells me.

And now I might go and tidy my HQ because of the shame.

Go visit the Theme Queen's space - Ninon - because she is one heck of a creative genius. Or visit Pippi to see who else is showing off their place. And your place. And their place. And yours. Oh I could go on.

My Place and Yours:: Bedside

I was lucky enough to be Theme Queen for this week's My Place and Yours. I chose bedside. Probably not a wise move on my behalf because my bedside is a breeding ground for unread reading matter and a petri dish of sorts for dust. Dust! (Marjorie Dawes can come and eat at my bedside if she likes?)

It must be told that I am pedantic about my bedtime regime. I can not go to sleep without applying lip balm (and this comes in the form of my favourite non-lip balm product Lansinoh - perfect for cracked nipples AND lip balm) and my L'Occitane hand cream. Will not go to sleep without them. You might think I'm crazy, and quite frankly, I will have to agree with you.

Other bedside matter, Tiny's 'radio' or 'phone' (as the Doctor calls it) because I can NEVER hear her through the walls), some pretty books, a hair piece made by Nan and a Moleskin notebook and pen. Because all the best thoughts come in the darkness.

What you don't see is a pile of ever-changing magazines. My favourite of them all is Australian Country Style. Every single month, I snuggle into bed and nights on end, devour each and every page. Such a dreamy magazine.

Blogtoberfest Day 21: Bedside

Before anyone gets their knickers in a knot, I have no idea whose this photo is. If it's yours let me know and of course I will fully credit you! I stuck it in my inspiration folder, and er, I didn't tag it correctly. I love it. I'd like it to be my bed. Maybe we could share? I come with a husband and two smalls. It'd be squashy. But as long as you didn't get your mattress off the side of the road, we're tight.

Anyway, what am I banging on about today? I am the THEME QUEEN for Pip's new meme. Are you a signed up member? If not, click over here (but not before you read this). My theme for this week - BEDSIDE.

Are you fostering a range of dust bunnies next to your bed? Do you have a forest of used tissues tucked under the mattress? Is bedtime precarious because of your leaning tower of books? Or are you growing something in an old glass of water? We want to see it. Messy. Tidy. Styled. Whatevers. Just show! Ok you can go forth and click over to Pip now!

image via

My Place and Yours:: On The Shelf

I could show you my collection of stilettos given they've been put on the shelf because these days, I don't really want to pounce around the house in a pair of heels, only to trip over the Doctor's collection of trains, or Tiny's menagerie of softies. I'd need a stack hat for that, and that would ruin my eternal bad hair day. So I won't, because who wants to look at my collection of unused sad stilettos, only to be cast into a sad-on? Not me!

So I'll show you this shelf instead.

:: a deco mirror that was being tossed about by a colleague

:: a Sukie calendar

:: a shot of my Mum and Dad in courting days (I love the word courting)

:: a bird print from a church sale - 50 cents

:: soldier skittles found in the bin

:: vintage plate found no doubt in a church oppy

:: Matt's collection of beer bottle tops (ahem)

Are you playing My Place and Yours? You're not? Well got over to Mikes and hook yourself up with the fun-skis.

I'm this week's Theme Queen, but my crown has fallen off and I haven't figured mine out yet. I promise I will keep thinking.

Blogtoberfest Day 12: One Word

I got this off Pip. She got it off someone else, but you can click over to visit her and read her one worded scoop. Here's mine.

1. Where is your mobile phone? here
2. Your hair? short
3. Your mother? cute
4. Your father? funny
5. Your favourite food? chocklit
6. Your dream last night? rabbits
7. Your favourite drink? pomegranate
8. Your dream/goal? changes
9. What room are you in? living
10. Your hobby? computering
11. Your fear? spiders
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? loving
13. Where were you last night? bed
14. Something that you aren’t? camel
15. Muffins? please!
16. Wish list item? unsure
17. Where did you grow up? Tamworth
18. Last thing you did? choglud
19. What are you wearing? jeans
20. Your TV? fat
21. Your pet? bunbun
22. Friends? fun
23. Your life? slow
24. Your mood? calm
25. Missing someone? sister
26. Vehicle? white
27. Something you’re not wearing? lederhosen
28. Your favorite store? vintage
29. Your favorite color? blue
30. When was the last time you laughed? today
31. Last time you cried? yonksago
32. Your best friend? london
33. One place that I go to over and over? pantry
34. One person who emails me regularly? matt

35. Favorite place to eat? youngalfred

Are you going to play too?

Tidying

I've been tidying. When aren't I tidying? When aren't you tidying? It seems to be my mission statement.

PottyMouthMama: tidying.

Not exactly the aspirations I had when I was ten. I wanted to be a lawyer. Then I found out it was six years of uni, so I ditched that idea.

But anyway, back to tidying.

I found these plates and saucers that I bought nine months ago. I told my sister six months, then realised what a big fat lie that was. They've been sitting on our floor in a box, neglected for nine fat months. Oops. They could have had a baby by now. Oh and then good luck to them shifting that baby fat (I didn't mean to write that, my brain said no, my hands said yes).

I like that some have seen quite a large social life, while the others are happy still sitting on the shelf. No matter, they're all treasure to me.

And inspired by this lady, I've started using my vintage crockery. I've been too scared up 'til now, but we might as well enjoy them, instead of hiding them away, it's not like Hunca Munca lives here, right?

As an aside, I made Bills banana and choc chip bread. My goodness, I make it quite a lot and each and every time, it sucks me right in. I'm sure I've gained 2kgs just by inhaling it fresh from the oven.

It's Me: Day 7

Already I can conclude from this little project that I like a cardigan. Yes, yes, it's true. In each photo I am wearing a cardigan. Good? Bad? Ugly? Granny? I don't shy away from my inner-Nanna. In fact, I embrace it, as illustrated by this trait of mine. And one day I will be PottyMouthNanna, hopefully, so might as well get some main stays in my wardrobe early.

We spent another ridiculously glorious day with my sister and niece in the sunshine at the beach. We had the beach pretty well to ourselves - hello world, I'd like to build a little weatherboard shack on it and call it a day. Fair? Anyone got a problem see my lawyers. I don't have lawyers, but if I did, you could see them. Perhaps even wave.

See the sky writer? Writing something about Gorillas. Awfully wonky.

As an aside, I mentioned that I was selling stuff on eBay. I have and I have some PayPal money burning a hole in my virtual pocket. Well Pippy blogged about this yesterday, and I read it, I dug the whole idea and I did it. Perhaps if you have some money that you could spare you could help too? You can click through via Pip or see over yonder, I added a button. Thanks to Pip for the heads up.

Green

I met this green-eyed guy once. He was ridiculously cute. Beautiful actually, cute doesn't do him justice.

We were at the same party for NYE. I'd just rolled up and decided I was going to pretend I was French for the night. I don't know where this harebrained idea came from (it could have been the alcohol - nooo, say it ain't so), but I know very little French.

I met this green-eyed beauty, went and made him a punch (three parts vodka to one part punch) which he refused to drink. I kept telling him to drink it. He wouldn't take it. I introduced him to a group of people (who incidentally - he already knew and I didn't) as my husband - and then I forgot his name three or four times.

We chatted and chatted. I finally lost my silly French scheme and merged into myself. We relocated inside from the balcony, looked at the fish, kept chatting and then I whispered in his ear, 'I'd like to kiss you' to which he replied 'Well why didn't you?'. And then he kissed me.

I like green-eyed boys who become my husband.

Go Green friends!

Ahem.

Before you start reading, please open this in a separate window/tab. Mood music, if you will.

I've been going on walks with Tiny. Once we get the Doctor off to pre-school we pack up the pram, a number of food items (for Tiny, not me, because damn fool, that girl sure likes to eat) and head off into the big chill.

I won't lie. I have ulterior motives. I've been circling houses like a shark, looking for garbage. I'm looking for a kill. I'll toss anyone out of my way in order to get it. Tiny and I. We're rebel garbage looters. It's always on my mind. When's my next big score.

And yet, here's the problem, again. There is no garbage. Council clean up is monthly around here. And nothing except - gasp - garbage is being tossed.

Feeling totally despondent we walked up to the library instead. Three overdue books clasped sweatily in our little hands. The librarians have taken to calling us at home to retrieve their books. Guilty.

We snuck out of the library and back to the icy air. Lucky Tiny is rugged up and merrily munching on banana.

Part of keeping our walks enjoyable is exploring different areas of our 'hood. Yawn! We walk back through a large park - and to the playground for an impromptu swing. It's about as spontaneous as life gets at the moment, so we grab the swing by the horns and both Tiny and I enjoy some time looking back at the grey sky above.

Have you been walking? Exploring? Adventuring?

Oh - Tiny started walking last week too. Muchos excitement here at Chez PottyMouth.

The Paps Are Following: Less Talking, More Walking

Yesterday, before the sun left the sky, before my breath froze in the air, before my blood froze because oh-yeah-it's-really-bloody-cold, the Doctor, Tiny and I went for our afternoon walk. I've written before about my own personal cheer squad. It being - the Doctor. Well yesterday, he came out in force and told me that I looked like a rockstar. Kudos to you small man. Then he grabbed a few *secret* things and we walked out the door.

I urge you to enlist your own ego-leader, after the Doctor gave me my pep talk I could barely get out the front door because my head was so inflated. I just awaited the flashbulbs, alas they never came, so we just went walking. BUT - not before the Doctor quickly transformed himself with his *secret* sunnies and *secret* 'train-driver' hat and told me he was now a rockstar too.

Together we were going to rock the world.

Instead we went to the nursery, bought some seeds. And then it happened. The Doctor scammed me.

Feigning fatigue (we'd walked a grand total of 100 metres) he told me he was feeling very hot.

Impossible I say - yesterday was close to blizzard temperatures (ok not really, but it might as well have been). If I had left the Doctor outside too long yesterday he would have turned into a snowman. The Doctor then informed me that if we were to continue walking, he really would need an ice cream to cool himself down.

I say just stick your tongue out and you'll grow your own icicles, but that didn't cut it. So the Doctor scammed me. Tiny had a pink fit and wanted a bite. Lucky for Tiny, our little Doctor is a good sharer and loves sharing with Tiny. She scored too.

On our walk the Doctor crunched in the carpet of Autumn leaves. We looked and admired our long Wintery shadows. Tiny called the neighbourhood dogs. We played with the 'helicopter' seed pods for a while (I was still walking!). We admired two small boys taking out the garbage. Well, we lauded them at least. For me, walking is a nice way to end the day, talk about what we're going to do the next day. A sort of reconnection. And then whizz home and get dinner on the hob.

No paps, but some pretty snaps.