The Big News

Hold your horses. I have big, BIG news.

Not only did we recently purchase a new fridge - but today I bought a new washing machine. I know. Hold the presses. I have gone whitegoods mad.

But that's not the big news.

Nope.

You know how I have been decluttering? Well. I have. My Mum, my awesome, awesome Mum came down for the weekend to help me - and I've been listing stuff on eBay.

As a result, I listed my Olivetti typewriter (remember that post), and sold it last night.

Stop what you're doing. The drinks are on me. It went for $5.50.

I know. Right? Totes loaded.

It is for this reason I will be doing a sponsored post. Gotz to pay my bills ladies. I hate bills. Even worse, I hate not being able to pay bills. I knew you'd understand. MWAH!

image of flying fish from I'm Just a Bee

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day mamas!


I hope everyone enjoys a cold cup of tea in bed, some lukewarm toast, and my favourite - the hand-made cards. They melt my little heart. Every. Single. Time. 


I'm hoping for snuggles in bed, sticky kisses and a very low-key day. 


Have a wonderful day - see you on the flip-side, and hope the sun is beating down on your back. 


And a very special Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful Mum. She's taught me so much, loved me so much and supported me so much, if I can be half of what she is, I will be a good woman! 


very cool and cute card from Wit & Whistle

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.

Owl Be Good To You

Prepare to have owl envy. This is THE cutest clip. I'm not one for posting animal-y type videos, but this one? This one you gotta have. That little owl getting all schlompy being patted? Reminds me of my Mum when you play with her hair. Too, too cute.

via Mr Jason Grant

When Life Hands You Lemons

I'm not even going to pretend.

The last few weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster. And I really want to get off it, pronto.

My Mum is sick. And I'm worried.
Work is stressful. And I'm not coping.
I miss spending time with my smalls.
Some a$$hole broke my rearvision mirror - and 5 others in our street
The kids fetes are on - stress. Baking. Donating. It's never ending.
And Matt's show opens this weekend.
Right this minute, I've drunk half a bottle of wine (yep, way to control stress) and I'm dancing to this.

How are you holding up? For realz, I want to know.
And so what I was going to say is: when life hands you lemons, make a peach and raspberry tart to sell at the preschool fete. Ok? (Trust me, it's easy)

Frocktober (Retrospective - Day 10)

People have asked about my frocks, particularly people at work, while I was on leave. Well this post is for them, as photographed by the Doctor, this is Frocktober Day 10. My Mum's vintage dress, vintage belt, scarf given to me for my 30th, silly pose my own.

Oh Hello Darling

Camellias are in season. I love a pretty camellia. So many hues of pink. My Mum picked these for me.

I'm having my hair cut today.
It's bitterly cold.
I'd like to be in bed.
I want to bake a cake but am too cold to move from near the heater.

But the camellias are in season, and they're one of nature's prettiest creations.

Everyday I'm Shuffling

So as promptly as I posted about eating more salads and stuff, I fell off the apple-cart, grabbed an ultra late lunch at 4pm which was take-away because I was in the middle of nowhere, completely and utterly famished and about to commit a heinous starvation-induced crime, and this was the only option. I didn't succumb to a big fat-drenched burger, but pasta with a caramel slice chaser. Oops. Someone scrape me up off the footpath and put me back on my high-horse.

My Mum is still here helping us out, and she's been an amazing help. A God-send. To come home to two happy little peeps, a house smelling of something great in the oven, and ironing done - I feel like I've gone to Utopia. Thank you Mum.

What's your Utopian experience right this very second? Not tomorrow. Not yesterday. Right now.

OOOOH - Winner of the Nintendo DS and LEGO Ninjago is.... Mrs Smith aka Si-lent Butviolent, Master of Stealth and Scent. So many good entries though gals, thank you for playing, and hopefully I'll have something else rad to give away soon! Promise.

image from Ben Quilty's beautiful and inspiring website. I love those rich slathers of oil paint so much I could eat it.

An Interview:: My Mum

It's Mother's Day today. I thought who better to talk to about being a Mum than my own Mum.

She didn't actually want to do it, I forced her. Sorry Mum. Sometimes mums have to do things they think suck. Like sitting in doorways to block night wandering toddlers. Like cleaning up vomit (high five me!). Like cleaning the toilet (oh yeah baby). Without further ado, I introduce my Mum, we like to call her Triscals.

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What's the best part about being a Mum?

Holding my babies and marvelling at the miracle; watching them grow up with lots of treasured memories, and now receiving the most wonderful unconditional love and care from them.

What's the worst part?

The worst part was when they started to leave home on the next stage of their 'journey' - a most gut wrenching, sad yet happy time. I mourned before they left and after!

Did you ever want a refund?

NEVER EVER EVER.

Having three girls must have been an, ahem, handful?

Only when you had to jump into swimming pools to fish PMM out or having to nag Choccy and Anna to come home before dark... hardly 'handful' problems though.

Do you remember celebrating Mother's Day with your babies? What made it special?

Reflections of wonderful home made cards, the lovingly wrapped (and sometimes made) gift and the wonderful breaky in bed with flowers on the tray!

What's one of your most memorable moments as a Mum?

Anna bringing home the Hungerbeasts - what craziness!!!

Choccy as a little tot - every meal time spilling her water.

PMM all dressed up and going trick or treating with her school friends.

The girls phoning me at work to say that the cat was having kittens on the back lawn and the cat didn't seem to know what to do!

Three most beautiful brides, gorgeous husbands, and absolutely splendiferous weddings; the arrivals of seven most fabulous little people (ok so that goes into the grandmother file).

These are just a few of my favourite things!

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I can barely believe I am uploading this photo to share. I am the completely dorky one in the Jonathon Sceats uber massive glasses that look like owl eyes. Uh huh. Awesome. Er thanks Dad for scanning that beauty for me.

Thanks Triscals! Happy Mother's Day!

And On The Weekend

We enjoyed a crazed choc-fuelled egg hunt.

My parents are embracing renovation madness (with awesome and inspiring results) and so it was that the Doctor was able to dig for dino bones. Here are his finds. Don't tell the museum because my parents house (and all their new renos) may be dug up for more dino bones.

The Doctor rode in the go-kart my grandfather made for me, yikes, must be about 20 years old!

My Dad called me Johnny Cash.

Tiny slept. Momentarily. And then woke revitalised and ready to rumble. Until she finally went to sleep in someone's arms.

And my Mum and Dad celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary. GO L*O*V*E!

Favourite Past-times? Hanging Out With My Parents

My parents think that because I didn't put 'hanging out with my parents' in my profile, that I don't enjoy spending time with them. I totes do. See above. That's me and my sisters spending quality time with my folks. In matching dresses. That match my Mum's. That's how dedicated we are to hanging tough. Clearly my sister has just broken free from the roller derby to come and hang tough in our matching dresses because she's wearing skates. My other sister just looks plain angelic.

Hi Mum and Dad!

Ends

Yesterday was the Doctor's end of year Christmas concert/sing-a-long at pre-school. I signed up to bake cupcakes, foolishly so, why did I commit to making so many cupcakes so early in the morning. I know better next year (just jokes, I love making and baking cupcakes, a little patty pan of joy in each one).

In the lead up to the concert the Doctor had very animatedly demonstrated his moves. The lyrics. It was big stylie exciting in our house. I was excited, and also feeling a bit sad. I still can't quite pinpoint it, but I felt that stinging of tears whenever I thought of it.

Is it because my big boy was finishing his first year of pre-school?

I don't know, but yesterday was so exciting for him. Three of his grandparents came to watch him, along with Matt, Tiny and I. There was standing room only. It was a sell out.

On another front, my Mum was a little shocked to see Tiny wearing an outfit she had made for her. It's pictured above. My Mum said 'But it's pyjamas!' Trust me Mum, too pretty for PJs, all that work is too pretty to be hidden in the darkness. Plus, Tiny digs the whole ensemble, she doesn't want to take it off!

But We Didn't Find A Circus

So we ran away. We're up visiting my Mum and Dad and it feels so good. Country air. Freezing cold nights, chilly mornings, so many cups of tea. The smalls playing in the dirt. Op shops. Cups of tea! Cake! Lights! Camera! Lions.

I've hidden my camera at home so well I can't find it. I always seem to do that. I put things in 'special' places. So 'special' they're soon forgotten. Aye aye aye.

Thanks for all the kind comments. We're all good. I'm giving the first half of July the bird, but the rest is pretty darn good. I made an ace pear butter cake from here, and if you have it - do it, it's totally delightful.

So no photos today. But you'll be ok, won't you? Meditate on the cake. Trust me, it's worth it.

A Problem As Old As Time Itself

Would you believe, my camera batteries ran out in the middle of the party? Hmph. Big, fat, HMPH! It is dear friends, a problem older than time itself. No wonder there's no photos of dinosaurs, they always were running out of batteries themselves.

However, I have managed to snaffle just four frames from my camera before it decided it was outtie.

My Mum and Dad came as King of the Jungle (a funny little lion) and Queen of the Hive (a fab bumblebee). So cute. And it was a surprise, not even the bigs knew about it, so big and small were all surprised when they buzzed and roared in. This is what memories are made of. My Mum and Dad are super good!

The Doctor had an ace time. I searched high and low for a tiger costume for him, to no avail. We then downgraded to looking for a tiger, but only came up with adult versions (hello, hole in the market??), so I made him his very own tiger tail. Photo will come later as no photos available. Double hmph.

I think we're all still recovering from the party. I certainly am. But it was a wonderful, fun and memorable weekend for all the right reasons. And the smalls had super fun.

Oh and here's the cake we finally settled on. A dinosaur attacking a train. Super.

Blogger - please stop flipping my photos around. Tres annoying.

Happy Mother's Day

Here's to all the mummies, the mamas, the mothers and the grandmamas - all of you, all of us. I hope you've had a wonderful day and that you've been cherished.

To my own precious Mum, I hope you had a super dooper day, and we all can't wait to see you soon!

Yo Yo Yo It's Mother's Day

Well not yet, but Sunday it will be. And just by the skin of my teeth, I got to the post office on time and posted off my Mum's present (the Doctor and I crafted together for the card).

What are your doing to celebrate Mother's Day?

I'll be leaving the recipe for Bills ricotta hotcakes out somewhere very in plain view. Ahem.

Knitting: On A Roll

I have news to report people. In the time that I've been away I've watched the entire second season of 'Love My Way'. Man oh man, do I love that show or what?

And - my MIL taught me how to cast on. Did I tell you that I always required either my mum or my sister to do this for me? Well now folks, I am doing it! It probably doesn't look like much, but I've been knitting up a storm. In the photo is what I've managed so far. Slow far, slow good. The Doctor has selected that pale blue for a scarf for him. I'll aim to get it done before the end of Winter.

I now also have developed a mean yarn fetish, while Debbie Bliss is definitely a firm favourite, who could deny that ridiculously addictive soft touch (?!), when I graduate to something a little tricky, I have my sights set on the impossibly cloud-like softness of Alpaca. Sheesh, is that soft or what?!

In other news I've dumped Ashton and Demi on Twitter. We weren't seeing eye to eye. I just never knew what they were banging on about. You know when you hang out with people and they seem to have a plethora of in-jokes? Well it felt like that. Ashton and Demi, it's not me, it's you.

Knit-Wit

I'm about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. I'm going to learn to knit. While I do know how to knit, I don't know how to cast on (my Mum and sister have always got me started). I am a very talented knitter - I can go from starting with 30 stitches, and wind up with 61. Takes a talent, kind of like making something out of nothing, right?

So this weekend, I'm going to learn to knit. Well start to learn how to knit. Good and proper. So I can make more than a scarf (that gets thicker as the knitting continues).

And how good is this? I won a super good giveaway on Knot Sew Crafty (that Alexis sure knows how to put together a kicking fun-pack - will you marry me?) - and what should arrive as part of the goodies? Two balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. Delicious!

And speaking of winners, three winners have been drawn for the Georgie Love Bouncin' Birthday giveaway by the random number generator. I can't do screen grabs, but here are the lucky punters:

- JessicaNeale

- Hoppo Bumpo

- Pepper

Please email me with your addresses and I will post your prizes out ASAP! I will have the Doctor randomly draw the prizes out lucky dip stylie.

Magical March: Day 30

Today is particularly magical. Want to know why? Because - I finally finished the top I started stitching three months ago. I'll wait a moment while you pick yourself up off the floor from the shock.

Tick.

Tick.

Tock.

Incredible. I know. I even thought about listing it on eBay as a project for those who like only to do half projects. You know, they could do the end half, and as a result have a new top (rather than start a new top and never finish it).

I have plenty more great ideas where that came from.

Like why don't doonas have clips inside them to clip onto the doona cover so that they don't all crumple up? I always wind up with the bit of the doona cover without the actual doona.

I should possibly become an entrepreneur. Although I don't know what that would entail.

So tomorrow, I will come bearing gifts. A photo of me, PottyMouthMama in my top. Roll up, roll up, you will be amazed. You will be astounded.

In the meantime, be astounded by my Mum's super tidying effort in organising my collection of vintage cups and plates. That woman is a genius. (She also tidied our house - I can very obviously now see we have a floor - who woulda thunk it?)
My parents were visiting on the weekend which was super great. The Doctor was ridiculously excited (heck so was I!), and Tiny scored loads of cuddles.