Favourite Find:: McKean Studio Silk Scarves

I love a good scarf, in case you hadn't ever noticed (in which case, how did you not notice this?!). For me, a scarf is an easy way to spice up an outfit, add a bit of personality, and best of all for me - colour!

When I was younger I used to scour the markets searching for souvenir scarves. I collected Canada, New Zealand, Fiji, and a couple of others that I can't quite remember. I have a bit of a *thing* for souvenir scarves - and clearly a thing for souvenir scarves of places I've never been (except for NZ, I've been there).

Sydney-sider Megan McKean, illustrator/designer/owner/maker has created a dreamy range of cotton-silk souvenir scarves digitally printed with her illustrations inspired by her travels.

Can you imagine my glee?

But if you're not into wearing scarves, then these are beautiful as a framed artwork, or the perfect gift.

And the palettes are so fruit tingle-y beautiful, I can imagine they'd work well with my wardrobe.

McKean Studio Palm Springs, California silk cotton scarf $75 (other cities available)


**Favourite Find is my new *thing* where I share something I fancy each week from an Australian retailer. They're not paid spots, it's truly things I find that I dig and want to share. And they all lived happily ever after. 

Talking and Texting and Driving and Being Distracted and Being an Idiot

Do you ever text while you're driving? Be honest. You can be totes honest here. 

I've been observing drivers lately, when I'm sitting in traffic - because I live in Sydney and there's plenty of traffic in which to observe. 

So many people texting or holding their phone while driving. 

I watched one car in my rear-vision, and could see the woman looking down incessantly to her lap. One guess to what she was doing. I don't think she was sewing a button on her skirt. 

23% of Australian drivers talk or text while driving. That's a little scary when I consider how many people are on the road - and how quickly accidents happen.

I know driving home from work, I sometimes want to chat with someone, because I'm by myself, it's a good time to talk because there are no little people to interrupt, and no distractions. 

No distractions? HUH?? That's crazy isn't it. 

So many distractions on the road.

This is not to give you a rap over the knuckles, dear reader, it's to say: I'm not going to answer my phone or text, or even so much as give my phone a glance when I am in the car, sitting in traffic, bored. 

Instead I will find a good song on the radio and engage in some in-car karaoke. 

Yo Mama! An Interview with Jayde Leeder

If you're living in Sydney - heck if you're living anywhere in Australia (heck - let's go for the world), Jayde Leeder is a great person to know. She is the brains and beauty behind Little Paper Lane - a store that you think you'll dip your toe into - and wind up swimming in all its goodness. 

Jayde's a livewire with a passion for life, family - and neon. A vivacious woman who lives and breathes stationery, 

I first met Jayde back when I was part of Etsy Success. She was there with her beautiful husband, Steve - aka the Baby Whisperer, her wee babe Minty, and her mum. I'd known Jayde via the interwebz prior to that, so meeting her in the flesh was super rad.  

Jayde and Steve work bloody hard running their gorgeous store in Mona Vale. It's worth the drive up to the beaches just to check out their selection, as Tiny and I recently did. I for one, love stationery, could spend hours in there amongst the cacophony of colour. It's that pretty. 

This week I am full-hearted when I say I am delighted to share an interview with Jayde. 

PMM: When and how did Little Paper Lane start?

JL: It was a magical dream in my head for many years, just sort of floating around in my brain. I have always been quite the stationery addict, and knew for so long I wanted to have a unique boutique (ha, cause I like rhyming) and if something is strong enough in my guts, I usually go for it!  About seven months before we opened we made the decision to open LPL. It took a good six months to set everything up and researching products and getting everything together! We opened May 20th 2010...Twas a happy day!

Before Little Paper Lane, you were a make-up artist (and still are) and nannied for six years. Was stationery calling you? How did you make the leap?  

Well stationery has always been close to my heart! I LOVE IT! I still love make-up though, that wont ever go, and as the boys who I looked after got older they didn't need me to work as much, so I was trying to work out what the next step would be for me. I was going to concentrate on make-up more, but for some reason, stationery started flashing in big lights in my head and I HAD to go for it! Once an idea gets stuck in my head, and my guts tell me its going to be good, I have to do it! I am VERY glad I did.

What's the best part of your job? 

So many things. I LOVE searching for new products, and when new products get delivered its like Christmas opening the boxes! I LOVE how many amazing people it has brought into my life! I have so many new friends and my customers are so lovely, they are very supportive and come back often. Creating new things like window displays and helping design invitations and products with my husband (who is our graphic designer) is so fulfilling.  Each day is full of new surprises.

How do you manage a successful bricks and mortar and online business with parenting? 

Hmmm well it's a bit tricky, but I dont think I could do it alone! I have a really good husband. We work quite well as a team. I am no good at waking early, like I am a zombie in the morning. I work late into the night, usually doing emails and orders  until 1-2am so I get a lot of work done at night. My husband falls asleep early, so gets up early to Minty (Jayde and Steve's beautiful 6 month old) around 6am. Iggy is not awake until 8-8:30, so I wake with him. My Mum works in the shop two days a week, which helps us out so much! We can have two days in our studio. 

When I became pregnant with Minty, Steve came to work with me and left his job. I worked by myself for the first year, and we had so many Invitation designs needing to be done, it made more sense for him to work with me! I am also not a very good incubator when it comes to being pregnant and couldn't be in the shop during my pregnancy, so it was great timing! It has made things so much easier. I am able to pop to kindy and get Iggy or take Minty, or he can come and go with them. We can be so much more flexible. And he isn't the sort of husband to just pop his feet up after work and expect things to be served to him on a platter. He does laundry and dishes and vacuums and washes the bathroom and bathes babes (as should all partners). I would be going to bed at 4am if he didn't do as much around the house, so we seem to exist peacefully. It's always a bit busy and since little Minty came along things have accelerated - going into Christmas, there doesn't seem to be as many 'days off' but we try and make time in the day to stop and play with the kidlets. We just take advantage of technology! Doing emails one handed on an iPhone is tricky while holding a cranky baby all day, but it makes life so much easier! 

As a mum, what are your tips for managing the juggle of work and home-life? 

Your family has to come first! Sometimes I have to stop, step away from my computer, and go and sit and play play-doh. Or bake cupcakes, or blow raspberries on a bare belly for 10 minutes. It just means I go to bed a tiny bit later at night! It is important, that if you have a partner, that you both equally share in the responsibilities at home! Even stay-at-home parents should follow the same rule. 

When Iggy was first born, I took six months off nannying, and I was at home. I was 'working' all day...as a mum. I didn't get to pop my feet up on the coffee table at 6 pm every night, things like dinner and dishes and laundry and baths and so many other things needed to be done. I really don't understand how the person at home continues to work until bed time, then be the only one up with the baby! 

No matter what anyone says...YOU DONT SLEEP WHEN THE BABY SLEEPS! So everyone is tired! Yet the person who goes off to work, simply stops the minute they walk in the door. If you are a parent, you made half of that person, and you live in a house with your partner, then you share in looking after that person and house and once all of that is done and babes are in bed, then you both sit down and put your feet up together. I honestly think single parents are amazing! I take my hat off to them! Things work around here, because EVERYONE chips in. Iggy sets the table, I cook, Steve cleans, Iggy can even make his bed. Iggy sees his dad doing things around the house and that is normal to him, and I like that he gets washing out of the machine when it beeps without me asking because he sees that we both do that, and he knows this is something he will do as he gets older too!

Because there is equality in our home, there is harmony in our work. I can get so much more done with work because everyone does things around the house. Its not me just running around like a frazzled housewife because I have no support! I would ever get my work done if I only did house stuff! Being a house wife is full time. I wouldn't have time for my shop! I am not very into "boy" and "girl" jobs...except the bins....they are smelly and gross and I am NOT touching them, I am scared of spiders and I always think there will be one there EEEEK!! So I guess, keeping balance in home and work is all about everyone chipping in! But if you dont want to take the bins out you don't have to...the magic bin fairy will do it. ;)

What are some highlights from Little Paper Lane? 

Oh so many! Opening the doors in May 2010 was so exciting! The first Christmas was SO FUN! Being Featured in House and Garden last Christmas issue was a huge deal. Magazines are my addiction, and I use them as research and to keep me up to date with what's happening in the gift and design world, so that was just something that I felt proud of. It made me think that people actually really do like our happy little shop!

When do you get time for yourself? And what do you do? 

Going into Christmas, I don't get much time at all. After the Christmas Crazy we usually close between Christmas and New Years so we will just hang out around the house! We live two minutes from the beach, so I think we will have lots of beach days and usually the afternoons I have this weird thing where after we have the morning and lunch at the beach, we all come home and cool off in the outdoor shower, then while everyone (including Steve) has afternoon naps. I eat mince pies and play Xbox - seriously. Most people will be at Christmas parties sipping cocktails and chatting with people, I am going to sit on my ass for at least one hour each day for that week and play the crap out of that game... I may have a cocktail too, but I talk to people all day everyday of the year, and I love it, but I plan on letting my brain fry itself away with violent games. 

You can see why I was a nanny to four boys for six years! We got to play Xbox all the time. I am a walking contradiction. I really am! Magazines and shopping and wishing for Prada bags and fluoro nails and jewellery... and 'Call of Duty' expert. I hope Iggy doesn't want to 'share' my game. That's a whole new part of parenting I have to learn about!

What's next on Jayde Leeder's agenda? 

When we get back in the shop in the New Year, we are actually going to start workshops in our new space above the shop! We also have a new studio, so more time will be spent getting new products in the shop, designing new product, focusing on the online shop and one day I will get time to blog about the adventure I am on! There doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day! We will travel a bit and find new products and see whats going on in the world. 2013 will be exciting, Iggy goes to big school, Minty will learn to walk (maybe...I would prefer she didn't move for the next five years) and we will hopefully continue to grow LPL  and smile a lot :)

Be sure to check out Little Paper Lane if you're in the 'hood (Tiny and I made a day trip of it) for a magical wonderland of colour and some super excellent gift ideas - or if you're not nearby - hop online, new Christmas stock is being listed daily! 


This is the second interview in my Yo Mama! series. Interviews with creative working mamas. Look out for them weekly. 

Biennale of Sydney:: Cockatoo Island

On Father's Day we got up early, breakfasted and headed out to catch a ferry over to Cockatoo Island. Much (well deserved) ado has been made about the Biennale, we were keen to get up close and personal with it ourselves, and so our Sunday art adventure began.

Sydney blasted out a cracker of a day, and the Biennale itself did not disappoint. Particularly given the interactive nature of the show. It's clever, witty and fun. Each of us enjoyed the art - as well as the backdrop of Cockatoo Island.

Highlights included finding those two statues at the top of this post. I know. Real life little statues. So cute I took them home.

On the ferry back I chanced upon meeting Tony from Well Spotted. Tony and I have been conversing via the interwebz since 1975. Or for five years. We've never met in real life. But as chance would have it, we were seated next to each other on the ferry. I recognised his Well Spotted t-shirt and thought "Cool, that guy is wearing a Well Spotted tee". Then looked at Instagram and saw that he had messaged me that he too was at the same exhibit just minutes after me. "Hey... Are you Tony?" And so life goes. Shazam social media!

Check out the Biennale if you get the chance (finishes September 16). It's a fun day for bigs and smalls.

Giddy On The High: Etsy Success

Well that was the weekend that was folks. I'd been looking forward to Etsy Success for many weeks, and now #BOOM it's over.

I had such a blast meeting so many creative people, 300 of them, all buzzing in the one room. It was electric. It was such a coup to be part of it - one which I am grateful for. I got to meet so many excellent people - and on the flip side, endured the hangover from hell.

Someone really should have stopped me.

Hangovers are not my friend (are they anyone's?), and given I am a lightweight in the booze department, I feel they are totally unwarranted. I barely have a slurp of champagne before I've got to start tossing back the Nurofen.

But back to Etsy Success. The success of Etsy Success is really down to the people. I've said it before - Etsy has enabled so many creatives to come together and create a global community and business, that they would otherwise not have. Sure you can have a blog, and create community from that, or a Facebook page, but Etsy truly is the meeting place, the marketplace for creative geniuses to come together and share. And sell.

As a buyer, Etsy is like falling down Alice's rabbit hole. I can click through for hours finding more and more gold, right from the comfort of my couch.

In the coming week I'll be posting some more info on DIY PR. I promise I won't mention the goldfish again.

Vivid Festival:: ETSY Success

This weekend I am lucky enough to be involved in ETSY Success – part of the Vivid Festival. I’m talking DIY PR – a really, really practical guide to getting yourself out there. Because let’s face it, promoting yourself can be awkward.

Together with a host of ace speakers, such as Wee Birdy, the editor of Frankie Magazine – Jo Walker, and the CEO of ETSY, Chad Dickerson, it’s going to be a jam-packed day full of tips, tricks and case studies to help build creative businesses.
I am a long-time ETSY fan, and am really looking forward to this event both personally and professionally, as well as meeting some of the cleverest minds in the biz.
You can still buy tickets for the day here – and let’s face it – a day spent in the salubrious setting of the new MCA building, overlooking Sydney Harbour? Super fantastic. Plus there’s bound to be some top learnings from the day.
You can see how the day looks here.
If you can’t make it – the event will be filmed (eek!). You can read more over here.


image via the Etsy blog

How Great Is This? LEGO In Real Life

Did anyone get to see the LEGO in real life in Martin Place last week? How great does it look? I'd love it if it stayed there all the time. It's such a fun pop of colour in the bleak city-scape. And how great walking past that every day to work. 


Come on Clover. Do it! 


For more LEGO activity to celebrate 50 years in Australia, check out Festival of Play. 

It's Showtime, Baby

We went to the Sydney Royal Easter Show on Saturday - as guests of the new Samsung Galaxy Note. 


During the day we visited almost every animal known to man, including this heck of a cute goat, who we creatively named Billy the Kid - he slayed me. I wanted to keep that little kid. Tiny cried over Billy the Kid. The Doctor adored Billy the Kid. And Matt stood there like the Tin Man. He did not find his heart. Until I forced a cup of baby goat food into his hand and I damn well made him feed the baby animals. 


Finally we had to wean Billy the Kid from our tender-loving-care, and walked on to see ducks tumbling into ponds, chickens hatching, sheep headbutting other sheep, alpacas being judged, a cow doing a wee, and other amazing sights. 


We watched skaters shredding the rad at the Monster park. We had our portraits done at the Samsung stand (more on that laterz) - where I learnt I have a massive nose and huge, superhero like chin. Fist pump! The Doctor had a parrot on his head. We watched the pooches getting preened. 


And then I won worst mother of the year when I declared we were not, under any circumstances going to be getting showbags. Harsh, I know. Well the Doctor was so dirty at me, when we asked if he had had a good day he replied: "Not really," and then slunk off like an emo six year old. He didn't talk to me the whole drive home. 

The Very Serious Work of Clown Doctors

On Sunday we spent the most spectacular Autumn day at Luna Park. We were thrilled to be guests invited to celebrate Smile Day, which is the Clown Doctors national fundraising day. 


The Commonwealth Bank Staff Community Fund is a founding partner of the Clown Doctors, which was founded in 1999. They invited families to join forces for a really special day, and to help raise money for such a brilliant cause.

In case you didn't know - Clown Doctors play a significant role in children's hospitals around the country bringing laughter and joy to sick and injured children by parodying the hospital routine, while simultaneously offering respite for families and playing an integral part in the healing process.

And seeing them interacting with the kids on Sunday, and imagining the joy they must bring sick and scared kids in hospital - it made me more than a bit teary. They have a gift making kids giddy with laughter - and the health benefits that come from humour? Incredible! 

You can find out about sponsoring a Clown Doctor here. 

Or learn more about fun-raising here. 

And it's not just kids that are getting all the giggles. Now Clown Doctors are working with elderly people, bringing laughter and improving quality of life to those living with dementia or depression in aged care. That's pretty darn awesome I say. 

They touch the lives of a massive 100,000 people per year. They are in all major children's hospitals in Australia - and aim to have Clown Doctors doing the rounds seven days a week. 

Pretty darn inspiring. As a mum, I find it pretty heartening to see these amazing people investing themselves in lifting the spirits of others - and truly love their work (now how often do you honestly get to say that to someone?). 

Some Snaps: Some Week

I have had a crazy busy week and feel as though I have whiplash as a result.

Early to work, late home. Oh man - I have never felt so blitzed. Well I have. But not for a long time. Totally spent. I have barely seen the smalls and Matt his week - and that my friends takes the wind out of my sails.

Date night was Monday night and it was one of our best ever. Without doubt, date night was the highlight of my week.
Matt and I even held hands. ZOMG! WTF!

Outrageous I know. A PDA on date night. Well, around these parts it's mandatory.

The Darling Bird

Check out my new mani ladiez!

It's called 'The Bird' for reasons only known to me. And you, if you like to occasionally flip the bird too. Like it?

I truly love playing with beauty products. The ability - and the accessibility to change how I look - I create different personas witheven  just a slick of lip colour, or a different eyeshadow. It's fun and playful and I like it.

One of my totes favourite, bestest ever beauty quick fixes is nail varnish. I can change it as often as I wish and be a new person with shiny nails with colour dripping from them - et voila.

Last night I concocted 'The Bird' - my very own manicure. I created it with two colours from the brand new Darling (Showpony - which is the best pink ever, and Trophy Wife - a Limited Edition metallic glitter like none you've ever tried).

Created by two Sydney gals, Darling applies beautifully -  even with just one coat. Can I get a bit nail-nerdy on you and tell you that the coverage is sublime - I didn't use a base coat and it applied smoothly, and chip-free.

Besides a range of rad colours - the Darling nail lacquers are 3-free - NO toulene, formaldehyde, DBP or camphor and they're animal testing and cruelty free. I am so loving all of this after searching for a quality nail varnish that comes in hot colours.

This is it baby. Darling.

Out and About

Did you know that one of my very favourite times of year is January? Not only is it a bright and breezy time of year, it also happens to be the month that hosts the Sydney Festival. I love the Sydney Festival. There's so much goodness happening all around this city - and it's for this fact that I love this city. For the Sydney Festival and nothing else.

Last week we took the smalls to see Holly Throsby perform her kids album 'See' at the Spiegeltent. It was so ace, and we had such a brilliant day out. I took the day off. We watched Throsby perform, then had a relaxed lunch at Bill & Tony's, then had gelato and a walk near the harbour. SO, so good for the soul.

This week we're going to see Beth Orton. I haven't seen her perform since our courtship days.

Are you checking out anything at the festival?

A Really Great Day:: The Day Before The Night Before Christmas

Today was a cracker.

It was my first day of holidays.

We got up early, the Doctor had a haircut, we caught a ferry to Circular Quay. Then we four split up - the Doctor went with Matt to Art of the Brick, and Tiny and I headed over to Sydney Opera House for everyone's favourite dancing mouse, Angelina Ballerina.

Cracker.

Then Tiny and caught the ferry back, she had a hair cut, and we hung out together waiting for the boys to meet up with us.

I had such a blast hanging with my little-big girl, being on the ferry, chatting, so good for the soul. For both of us.

And the Doctor came back, giddy with excitement, having spent quality time with Matt, and doing something together that he really loves. LEGO.

If you have a LEGO fanatic in the house, this show is highly recommended by the Doctor. I booked tickets a couple of weeks ago, and made sure I booked the Stay & Play at the end. I figured the inspiration from the show might as well get a workout straight away!

Of course Angelina Ballerina didn't disappoint either. What a beautiful and enchanting show. Pity they sold those glowing, flashing wand-sword-things that flash in your peripherals and distract from the dancing. But besides that, really beautiful - Tiny told me it was her "BEST EVER".

30 Sleeps:: Christmas Countdown

Back when I was a little girl, when we were visiting Sydney from the country, we always, always visited the Queen Victoria Building. It is one of those places that always left me in awe. All the people buzzing through, the many shops to peruse, the architecture - a real slice of Sydney history, the stained glass windows, the tiled floors, and that clock. I always lingered for that clock at midday. It is such a great memory, and even now, as an adult, I love hearing that clock, and I always race up the top of the QVB to see it swing into action.

But duty called this week, and Tiny and I raced up the top of the QVB for a different reason altogether. Santa.

Actually: Santa, reindeer, and two huskies. Hell-o QVB.

But firstly, let me start at the ground floor, where you'll see the base of the 24 metre Swarovski Christmas tree, the largest Christmas tree in the Southern Hemisphere, it's pretty darn beautiful and pretty darn sparkly. If you know me well, you know I love sparkles. Unfortunately, the tree is not for sale. So we left it there and caught the escalator up to the second floor.

It was there at the Swarovski strewn Crystal Garden we were greeted by a real live Nutcracker. I love the traditional Nutcrackers. And well, all of this love - this excursion was pretty much a match made in heaven. Tiny got to see a fairy, feed some reindeer, pat two huskies, and sit on my lap while I sat and chatted with Santa. Because she got so shy. Fair enough I say old chap! So I got to have my photo with Santa too.

This is the first time Santa has ever appeared at the QVB and it's a pretty dreamy experience. If you're looking for something to get your smalls in the spirit of Christmas, definitely check it out. I'm all a-buzz still, and have promised to take the Doctor much to his delight. You can check out days and times here.

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.

Together. In the Sunshine

Sundays are my favourite days of the whole week. It's the one day of the week when the four of us spend the whole day together. It's bliss.

It doesn't matter what we do, and rarely do we do anything fancypants, but we always just enjoy that time together. We might be schlepping around at home, doing the grocery shopping, or like this weekend, checking out the Archibald/Wynne/Sulman with hoardes of other people, then hanging about like sunflies in the sunshine at the Botanic Gardens.

Bliss I tell you!

So there we were. The four of us. In the sunshine. At the AGNSW, then hanging out at the Botanic Gardens - I do now declare, my favourite part of Sydney. The smalls spotted a dirty eel. And then another. And the eels seriously swim over to you. Gross man.

That top photo slays me. I have a cute attack every time I see it. My smalls checking out that filthy eel. So cute it brings a wee tear to my eye.

Details

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

Saving Sydney

This week I had the great joy of receiving an email from my MIL containing tips on "how to save".

I abstained from responding all manner of responses. Right now, Sydney's sucking the marrow from us, all that's good and positive is being drained straight out. Right now, Sydney sucks.

Sydney is a shining, dazzling city that's fooled itself into thinking it's bigger than it actually is. When a 2 bedroom apartment on Sydney's outskirts is on par with an apartment in Manhattan - well you've really got to think, Sydney you're a bit of a bloated over-rated money whore.

And as if SMH was keyed into my thoughts, this week a piece on Sydney's lowdown ugly-ness.

Where to next?

Jesus saves. But not on my wage, and not while living in Sydney.

Art & About

Despite me being down on Sydney and chastising it for being so damn ridiculously uber expensive, it is a beautiful city.

I had the smalls all to myself on Sunday afternoon, Matt was studying, so we ventured out into this pretty city of ours.

First stop - Art Gallery of NSW. They hold a whole host of kids programs - some of which are free. Definitely worth checking out. It only goes for around 1/2 an hour - which is such perfect timing to hold the attention of the smalls. And the Doctor chose his favourite painting. He'll be saving up a while for that one.

After the gallery, we meandered our way through the Botanic Gardens. Man oh man, a slice of heaven - aye aye aye! I always fall in love with this part of Sydney - and wonder why I don't visit it often enough.

And of course - the smalls loved that crazy travel-ator thing at Domain carpark. Maybe next time we'll just ride on that all afternoon.

But Baby It's Cold Outside

For once, this song is strangely appropriate to Sydney.

Today I went to work in jeans, a wool knit, knee length boots and a scarf, and didn't take a stitch off. The girls were laughing at me, in the middle of 'Summer' (and I use that term veeeheeery loosely), rugged up for Winter.

Weather - let's get it together!

Which is one reason we dressed the house early for Christmas.

And while I'm on the topic of it being ridiculously cold and wet in Sydney, when it should be blaringly, glaringly hot, Tiny has been having tantrums because she wants to see the snow. Not just one isolated tantrum either, it's been a series of tantrums on seperate days. The first day she put her gumboots on and we all got into the car and drove to the supermarket. Then she asked where we were going when we got back into the car. "Home." "No we're not! We're going to the snow!"

Way to let a toddler down. I had to educate her on the fact that snow was unlikely - however, who knows with this weather, but heck, I'll keep her posted.

Following days Tiny has requested to go to the snow. And has stood outside with gumboots on waiting to see the snow. Alas it's just rain and jacaranda flowers. Prince sang 'Purple Rain', perhaps he could record 'Purple Snow'? Anything's possible with this weather. Right?

image is from the ever awesome Kiddley - I think Tiny, the Doctor and I might make our own little Christmassy snowglobes!