Stuff I Do

This weekend was wildly exciting. WILDLY! 

You will never, ever in a million years guess what I did this weekend. And you're going to be insanely jealous when you find out.

Because guess what.

I cleaned out my kitchen cupboards.

I know. I am wild. I am a party animal. I have such a compelling social life. 

But to be completely honest, it was quite satisfying. 

We live in a small rented house. It's actually no bigger than a Kleenex tissue box. When we moved in, in order to be able to move around, we just put things away - thinking "We'll come back to that and organise it once everything's unpacked."

And it's been four years. And we never did. Until this weekend. 

I sorted out my vintage vases. Yes. I have a collection. I found all this old paperwork, warranties etc, I find little pieces of family history. I tossed out some things. Like vitamins dating back to 2009. I made a few cupboards look pretty, yet I am still not finished. 

BUT on the way home from doing a little family walk, I saw an antiques store closing down. This is basically like walking a cat past an open tin of sardines. I had to have a look around, though the words from Matt rang in my ears. "Lexi, we're meant to be decluttering. You can look, but you can't buy anything. AND we don't have any money."

Well that bit was true. And yes the other bit was true too. But vintage things are my weakness. I love other people's old stuff. This is well documented from my bin diving days. 

So Tiny and I went for a quick snoop around, and in just 35 minutes I fell madly in love with these vintage shelves. Well I knew we barely had any money in the bank. But they were pulling at my heart strings. 

Everyone got really mad at me (everyone in my family, not the shop) so I took everyone home. Then (shamefully) asked Tiny if I could borrow some money from her money box, and pay her back with interest. That little dolly let me. 

So I snaffled one row of those tin shelves. And yes, Matt told me they were dysfunctional, nothing fits in them properly, but I got them. I know I am ridiculous. 

But I really love them. 

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.

Hoooooweeeee mama! 

How was your weekend?
What did you get up to?
Are you sad it's Tuesday?
Do you love three-day weekends as much as I do?
Would you vote for me if I ran for PM to advocate three-day weekends ASAP!?
I'm back into the week full-tilt. That weekend did wonders for me. I'm a new girl. I'm a real boy Gepetto. Ok I've gone ker-azy.

But do tell. How was your weekend? What did you get up to? And what are you wearing right now? (say that last bit in a really creepy voice).

Helloooooooo Autumn!

Over the weekend Sydney showed weather extremities to the max. Saturday - bone chillingly cold, with horizontal sheets of rain slaying us. Sunday, nary a cloud in the sky, warm, and perfect for an explore around the harbour and an impromptu gelato.

Ok. Maybe not so impromptu. Truth be, most of the adventure hinged around the gelato - but there's a reason why.

It was my first time to Gelato Messina. Stop the press. Saddle up birds, because if you're going to break a diet, this is where you want to do it. 

Let's take a look at the orders:
Me: Salted Caramel + Bounty
Tiny: Chocolate (that had peanuts through it - yu-um)
The Doctor: Choc mint + choc chip
Matt: Salted Caramel + Italian Nougat

Holy toledo Batman. 

Well. Speaking of Batman, we did come across this car. How's that for every kid's fantasy? Well most kids. Well some kids. Well it was my dream ok?? How rad is that? 

So for the cost of four gelatos and a drive to the harbour, we explored backstreets, behaved like tourists in our own town, decided which boat we wanted and guessed how many bedrooms were onboard (there's probably some lingo I am missing out on here) and fantasised about moving into one of those empty oversized harbourside apartments (squatting anyone??). It was the perfect way to spend Sunday afternoon. 

Oh Sydney you cheeky, cheeky minx, you've got me wrapped back around your finger. 

Making Memories:: Roadtripping with Toyota

I always remember road trips from my childhood. Those early starts when Mum and Dad roused us from our slumber to get dressed, get in the car, and leave home at 4:30am to get on the road.

I was the smallest, and therefore neatly sandwiched between my two sisters in the back seat.

Our road trips were punctuated by stops at the petrol station, a strong desire to reach our destination, and some sibling bickering.

Road trips, for me, were like the prologue and epilogue for a memorable trip away.

We were lucky to be guests of Toyota last week. On Friday we drove down to Thredbo, after Matt finished teaching, in the darkness. In the Toyota Prado we forged our way almost seven hours out of Sydney. When we arrived it was snowing heavily, something I've never seen before - and the kids were wide awake at 10:30pm, spellbound by the flurry of white snowflakes flying towards our headlights. It was their first time to see snow, and they were enchanted and ridiculously excited.

On the winding road into Thredbo we passed other cars that had had to pull over, the snow so heavy it had made it impossible for them to continue.

We finally reached our hotel, hurriedly unpacked the car out in the snow, and then went to bed. Ah bliss.

We awoke on the Saturday morning to such a beautiful and memorable sight. A thick, heavy carpet of the most pristine snow across the countryside. Banked up on our window ledge, icicles frozen in motion from the guttering, it was Narnia-esque.

We rugged up and headed off to get kitted out, then off to Friday Flats for a day of skiing delights!

The kids were booked into Thredbo Land, and Matt scurried up the hill as quick as he could to snowboard the morning away. Me? Oh poor me. I had to suck it up and spend the morning with Christoph. The hot Austrian ski instructor. I know. Poor, poor me.

Prior to this particular morning, I had been enduring great, great skiing performance anxiety. At one point I had talked myself out of it. Then back into it. Then out of it. Then back into it. I was into it, lucky for Christoph, and off we went. I had such a hoot!

In the afternoon we got back together again and went back to the hotel. It's no understatement that we were all k-to-the-nackered. We lay on our beds watching TV and recharging our batteries.

That was until we rocked up to dinner with the Toyota crew (where - I am sorry friends - I had to wear ugg boots because the size of the blisters on my shins were out of control - I know - the shame of it), where Tiny hijacked my phone and tapped into her inner food blogger and started Instagramming the dinner plates. If you follow me on Instagram you will know this to be true.

But let me go into more detail later in the week. When I can recoup my thoughts, and share the awesomeness of hitting the road and making memories as a family. Trust me - it was like soup for the soul. Snow for the soul.


Disclosure: We travelled to Thredbo courtesy of Toyota. We drove in the rugged luxury of the Toyota Prado Kakadu in the darkness and against the elements. Honesty is the best policy. We had a great time. I wanted to share.

Tired and Elated, Blistered and Bruised. What An Ace Weekend.

We've just arrived home tonight from our brilliant weekend in Thredbo - all with great thanks to Toyota.

The four of us had such a great time, and I can't wait to share our weekend in more detail.

I'm sporting some really racy blisters on my shins - and a nice big blue bruise on my thigh, but I can't help but feel on top of the mountain.

Thanks for all your brilliant tips. I applied a lot of them and they were ace to the power of rad.

What was your best bit of the weekend?

What Today Looked Like

We woke up early - but not too early. The Doctor is an early riser (usually 6am, if not earlier) - but today gave us a sleep-in 'til 7ish. Maybe it's a new seven for 7am thing. 


We opened presents in bed, then he requested breakfast. In bed. He wanted pikelets, so I set to work whipping them up to be devoured amidst a mess of flannel sheets, wrapping paper, and presents. 


A lazy day at home was enjoyed. We watched Diary of a Wimpy Kid (gosh that is SUCH a funny film - highly recommend), hung out together, I mustered some energy to bake (I've got a cold. Poor me) a birthday cake. Cuddled. Reminisced. Cuddled some more. And altogether had a lovely day at home.


I tried to get the Doctor to go ten pin bowling but he wanted to stay home. So what's a mama to do?


We did as he wished, then went out for Chinese (as his heart desired) at our local. Because that's the way we roll. I estimate the Doctor ate about a bowl full of fried rice before declaring that he was ready for cake. READY FOR CAKE! We hurried up with the eating - and then brought out his dream cake... A Freddo ice-cream cake. I know I've talked about this cake before - and I struggle with this cake! 


So above is the cake we're having after dinner tomorrow. To celebrate both boy's birthdays and to continue the birthday festivities. Because that's the way I roll. 


You can read the Doctor's birth story here. (If you're that way inclined.)

I Don't Know About You...

But I feel KO'ed this afternoon. We had dancing first thing this morning, (well Tiny did, not me) after dropping Matt to work, then we seemed to be in the car for the four hours following. Not much chop.

The smalls are kicking back watching a movie, while I've been pottering about in the garden, and feeling a bit weak and tired - I'm yearning for a cat nap.


Can anyone identify that pesky blue flower in the top picture? It seems to be a weed that's impregnated my front garden with itself, and is now rife with this dirty blue flower thing. Anyone? 


Meanwhile, back on other matters, I've finally joined Instagram. You can find me under PottyMouthMama. Quelle surprise! 


Finally, here's a song to send you on your way. You dig?

PottyMouthMama: Reporting For Domestic Duty

This weekend was going to be all about me being a domestic goddess and surpassing my motherly duties. Ticking every box and getting a gold star. 


And do you think that happened?


Er. A little.


I had plans to tidy the whole house. To ditch all the junk hovering around our house. It's mounting. In piles. In bags. In boxes. And I can't seem to get on top of it. Well wait - I can get on top of it, I can lie on top of it, I just can't control it. 


I was going to get wildly domestic in the kitchen. I had grand aspirations.


Instead Saturday I had a wee hangover, and shuffled around the house like a hermit crab. What kind of young player am I? 


I did sort out some clothes. I did bake choc chip cookies. 


And tonight, Matt went out to do some painting, while I stayed at home - and thought - yes! I will make pasta. Then it all went to poo. I was rolling pasta, I had the water bubbling away - the pasta was rolling, rolling, too long to hold in both my hands - I felt like Big Anthony out of Strega Nona. Pasta everywhere. I finally got it into the pot and kept rolling out extra pasta - and then the pasta went bloaty and gluggy. Poor pasta.


So the smalls wound up with toast and baked beans for dinner. 


And then I hurried them through dinner, tucked them into bed and felt irate with myself for being such a grump. 

I'm Closing Down

I'm shutting up shop.
.
.
.
.
.
.
For the weekend.
I'm taking a wee break. Back on Monday.
Let me know what you're up to this weekend. I'd love to hear.

image via here.

So Long, Farewell: Weekend

What a whopper weekend!

It started with Tiny's preschool fete on Friday evening for three hours of action, and ended with the four of us on the sofa watching Toy Story, Matt and I trying to squeeze in some zzzz's.

Saturday morning we dropped in to check out Mr Jason Grant's new collab with Murobond paints. The beautiful new palette is called 'Road Trip' and was a pretty apt name, because after spending some time there perusing the Maker's Market, we drove down to Bowral for Matt's exhibition opening.  (Smalls above pictured out the front of Murobond - drop dead cute set up).

After mingling for almost three solid hours, we had a picnic in a nearby park - which was spectacular despite all the dead tulips, and let the smalls free-range for a few hours.

We left Bowral on a high, perhaps incubating more of a desire to flee the big smoke for a simpler, slower way of life.

I could totes get with that.

Life Is Beachy

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

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

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

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

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

My Name Is Trouble

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

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

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

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

Kind Of Down

I seem to spend half my life feeling a bit flat and I'm kind of sick of it. How to shake these blues baby?

We spent our Sunday in the sunshine, and man it was so good for the soul.

Sorry I've been quiet. But better than clogging your mainframe with a whole bunch of boring crap, right?!

In the meantime, treat yourself and listen to this song. Amaze-balls.

How was your weekend?

PottyMouthMama: Where The Bloody Hell Are You?

I've started fifty million different posts this weekend. And then got disenchanted with each and left them writhing in boredom in my drafts.

Lucky them.

This weekend is a bit haphazard. Matt's studying, so I'm parenting solo just for the day. And it just happened to coincide with the commencement of toilet training for Tiny. This climaxed today, while at the library, when Tiny was sitting in a (thankfully) vinyl beanbag. Lucky for me (and her) I had a spare change of clothes. What was I thinking hauling Tiny out on her debut of new knickers? I don't know peeps, but if I had to hang for much longer in our messy home, I would have done some damage to the dishpig aka the dishwasher. We've been searching for swimmers for the Doctor. I've been tidying and re-organising our bedroom. I've been washing. I've been doing a whole lotta boring stuff. I am inspiring, non?

Here are some random facts about me:

Reading - Slow Death by Rubber Duck: Rick Smith/Bruce Lourie
Have you read this book? It's pretty intense. And insane what we humans have created in our bid to 'improve' things. We're just killing ourselves. Classy.

+ simultaneously reading: Naturally Better Kids: Written by a Melbourne mama, Kristen Morrison, this book is inspiring, amazing, and just bloody awesome. I'll write more about this later in the week. And you can click over and read more about Kristen. She's intelligent and a beautiful mama - I just can't say enough good things about her.

Watching - Offspring. This is the only thing I am watching religiously. It's one of the best Australian programs I've seen since 'Love My Way'. And Don Hany? PHWOAR. And Asher Keddie? Delightfully mesmerising and goofy. She is D to the VINE!

Eating - (too much of) this new Cadbury Bar of Plenty - I've tried both the Berry & Shortcake and Roast Hazelnuts and Honey Roast Cashews. I have to tell you, I am nutty for the nuts. But I should go to some sort of rehab for chocolate addicts. I hear Betty Crocker's Rehab is particularly good?

Listening - Lady of the Sunshine - Angus Stone's 'solo' album. Beautiful.

What has kept you busy this weekend?

Hey Baby!

It's almost the weekend - yeah baby. This weekend I think I am going to get a hair cut - I'm rocking a shocking fright wig. I'm growing it out, and yet, I can't stand this in between stage. Do I stay or do I go?

We're going to rock some serious time in the outdoors and make the most of the sunshine, if it sticks around.

I'm thinking of re-reading this book. It's one of my all-time favourites.

I'm going to listen to this CD by Luluc. Matt gave it to me this week as a surprise, he knows I love love love them. And this CD is a knockout.

And I'm going to play catch up on my thank you notes. I am way behind, but I have managed to bang out a few here and there, and it's been fun.

What are you up this weekend?

Carousel Dreams: Ended By A Mean Carnie

See that top photo. My goodness. Tiny is hilaire. Seriously. Look at her face! I left her for one moment and she was horrified to be riding the ponies by herself. But holding her around the waist was not enough. So I sat on the back of her pony, and together we were going to gallop through green open fields, our horsie eating oaten hay, basking in the sunshine, trotting 'round the lakes, or even just going 'round and 'round in circles on the Carousel.

You see, I don't ever remember going on such a lavish Carousel. Look how pretty it is.

When Matt and I went to Paris - about two hundred light years ago - we visited Montmartre, and the darn Carousel was closed down for repairs. I mean, dudes - I want to ride the Carousel. I want some Amelie action. But it was not to be. *Cue Melancholy and the Infinite Sadness*

Saturday at Luna Park. It was bound to be different. Vive la difference!

So there we were, ready to ride, and the carny comes around to do his last check before sending us on our ride - and then the damn man told me that I couldn't ride with Tiny. That I had to stand next to her. That this was a one person pony ride. Clearly he didn't get the fact that Tiny is called Tiny for a reason - she's a featherweight.

Thanks carnie. For taking my dreams. Smashing them to the ground, then stomping on them. Then letting your mongrel dog pee on them. Thanks for nothing punk.

3-2-1: Welcome To The Weekend

We were relaxing into the weekend. Enjoying a wee sleep-in. And then were rudely awoken by a small child who thinks lipstick, bright red lipstick, all over her hands is a fab idea (note to all 2.5 year olds: it's not). Then spend half an hour removing the aptly named 'Stop Traffic'. It certainly did just that.

Saturday afternoon and we headed to Luna Park in the afternoon. I've never been. Not in the ten + years I've lived in Sydney. Clearly the smalls hadn't been either (unless they'd been sneaking out late to go ride the ferris wheel).

We didn't tell the smalls 'til half way there, and then they were excited. Well mainly the Doctor because Tiny wasn't in the Luna Park loop.

We only bought four tickets (Luna Park is not the most budget friendly activity), so we could ride the ferris wheel together and watch the sunset. We climbed into the cage and rode 'round and 'round, admiring the pretty city - while the Doctor and I clung to each other. We are two little fraidy cats.

We scored two bonus tickets and rode the carousel - which I have to say - is the most charming ride of all. Except for the fact I got booted off. Yeah thanks to the carny for that.

Birds Don't Whistle, They Just Sing

It's Friday. Halleluljah! I wish I knew ya! This is the weekend, so roll up your sleeves and step out into the sunshine, feel the rays on your back, whistle while you wander. Whistle while you work, is that what I can see, a vague smirk? Do something that makes you squirm, don't even contemplate getting a perm (unless you're Dan Single, and you're ready to mingle or you just want to eat Pringles.) Walk barefoot on the grass, say in your best Scottish accent, 'my you're a fine lass'. Eat a cake or two, look at the sky so blue, don't go around sniffing glue, when you were small - did you say boo hoo? It's the weekend, it's time for freaking, let's go!

title of post from Angus & Julia Stone

image via The Sartorialist (wish I rolled out of bed looking like this, instead I am lily white and growing my hair out - ack! the pain.)

Back In The Habit:: Day 7

What a beautiful weekend. Made even more beautiful that I got to do some jobs that I have been putting off forever. I even did some gardening, yanking out all sorts of weeds, fertilising weary looking plants, it's hard to believe, I know, I know, but I really did enjoy getting dirty in the garden this weekend.

Speaking of gardening, Kirsty at Coffee, Cake and Sunday has been forming her habit in the garden. Check out her edible yield.

This weekend I have:

- clocked some exercise

- tossed out more than 21 pieces to charity - and even dropped it off

- drank some water

- housework has increased exponentially and I should be due for a payrise and promotion pretty soon

- flossing - done

- I have not won a single Cheery Ripe. Tres disappointmente.

How is your habit forming going?

I am also on the hunt for silver footless tights. For me. And I need to find them by the end of the week. EEK!

image via

A Happy Place

I love this clip. I love Katie's headdress. I want Katie's headdress.

What's your HAPPY PLACE this weekend?