The Decompression Chamber

At night, when I get home from work, I am really tired. Sometimes it's just mediocre tired, but this week it's been bone tired. 

I've slogged off my workwear, crawled into bed, and become a sloth.

Tonight I did it again and wondered - is this my kind of decompression chamber? After a busy few weeks at work, I feel like I need to lie in bed and just be. I wander the internet, chat to my kids, I even eat dinner in bed. 

It may also because our house is bone chillingly cold. Bed is warm.
I feel bad, because I'd really rather be hanging with my little peeps (and Matt).
I don't do it all the time, but this week, my bones! 

But then I wondered, do other mothers seek this decompression chamber? 

Three of the best:: Patterned Dresses

I'm bringing three of the best back! Why? Because I keep finding things online that - rather than me buying them, I figure I can share them, and have less debt. And you can buy them instead. Hoorah! 

This week it's printed dresses. More to the point, printed frocks you could wear in the office. I am a mad fan of the frock (no kidding huh? Frocktober anyone?!). The ease of getting out of bed, and tossing a frock over your head. No thinking required. It means getting from slumber to spreadsheets is a cinch! Et voila! 

I have a great shift from Sussan that I wear ALL. THE. TIME. I bought it because it's colourful, easy to throw on, and when I'm heading to work, I don't have to think too much. It's a great cut, it's colourful, and the print is mwah - so great. Which is why I really, really love this one. A nice floaty cut, an almost Ken Done like print, and I gotta say, I love that sleeve length, that hem length, it's all good - oh and the price? Hello floral dress.
Sussan Floral Dress $119.95

I've never met a shift dress I didn't like. And this one - well it combines the shift with Fair Isle knit print - and silk. AND it has pockets. I've never met a dress with pockets I didn't like, either. There's so many ways you can accessorise this dress - with all those beautiful colours, you can really go bananas. And the even better thing? It's currently on sale. 
Obus Fair Isle Silk Dress $165 (was $299)

There's so many possibilities with this frock - and I love, love, love navy. And the length. And the pattern. And PS - this is on sale too.

Karen Walker Peter Pan dress $63 (was $242)

Also check out these:

A really cute purple silk dress 
A ray of sunshine whenever you need 
I love stripes 
Diamonds are a girl's best friend
I really love this tile print tunic 
It's not a print, but I still love it
This reminds me of shibori. And clouds. Clouds are good

Next week... What shall I look for? 

Yo Mama! An Interview with Beci Orpin

I've renamed Beci Orpin - Beci Awesome.

Matt and I spent a joyful afternoon together, lying on the bed (don't get any ideas), reading her new book 'Find and Keep'. It's full to overflowing with colour, inspiration, and pure joy. I keep it by my bedside because as soon as I look at it, it buoys me. It's like happiness in print.

I've long been an avid fan of Beci Awesome. Since her Princess Tina days, when I'd avidly await her new releases, to recently when I met her at a flower bombing class at The School and rushed over to her and introduced myself (I am SUCH a nerd burger). I was so thrilled to be breathing in the same air as her. In a non-creepy way.

Beci is one of those rare creatures that constantly creates - and wins with her colourful and enchanting ways - plus she's super humble. And to add to that she has an equally awesome sister, Emily.

So without further ado, let's get down to why we're here - let's talk hear from the woman herself.

PMM: Beci Orpin.

Beci Orpin: YES hello!

In your book 'Find and Keep' you thank your parents for encouraging a creative childhood. Tell us about what growing up in the Orpin household was like.

Well actually I grew up across two different households for most of the time, as my parents got divorced when I was three and my sister (this is her) was one. We used to live with my mum during the week and spend weekends at dad's house. We lived in a commune with my mum for a while and that was super fun. She was all feminist theory and no TV and whole foods, but my dad let us occasionally eat junk food and Hubba Bubba and hire as many beta videos as we wanted. I think it was a good balance. In between both of them they read us lots of books, took us to lots of different classes (classical ballet, jazz ballet, flute, improv theatre, basket weaving, judo) and took us on fun holidays and outings. And of course they always encouraged us to do stuff, rather than sit on the couch.I think that was a biggie in how we both turned out.

 
You have two sons - how do you manage to keep active boys active, and your professional life thriving?

Honestly it's a constant struggle, but i have i've learnt a few tricks with boys (might apply to all kids but I have only had boys so I'm not sure) - keep them fed and take them out for a run - just like a puppy. My boys also thrive if you are able to give them one on one attention - which can be hard when you work from home and are an obsessive compulsive email-checker. But I find if I do the one-on-one thing, whether it be a bit of Lego building or reading books or drawing or talking about their day then that keeps them happy. I have also learnt that it's unfair to expect them to amuse themselves while I work. Neither of us ends up happy doing that. So I hang out with them when they get home from school and until after dinner and bed is done, and then go back to work when they sleep.

It was hard going to develop this kind of working routine for a while but now I am quite used to it, and even look forward to my night time sessions - it's really quiet and free from distractions. It almost disguises itself as "me time"! And it won't be like that forever. In the not-too-distant future they will be thinking I am completely uncool, so I'm going to lap up their demanding-ness while it's still happening.


Colour is so much a part of the Beci Orpin we know and love. Does it apply to all facets of your life?

YES for sure. Even without me noticing I find myself obsessing over what colour plates should go on that green table cloth, or an arrangement of scraps of colour paper on my desk. It can be quiet distracting really.


What's your favourite part of your job?

Without wanting to sound too sucky - almost every part. I do really like the beginnings of projects, getting all the bits together and experimenting. Subsequently I can suck at finishing things. I get it done eventually though. And variety. I like that I get to work on lots of different things.


And the best part of your day?

After we drop the kids off, Raph and I usually get coffee together. Even if it's just take-away we can talk in the car (his work is just around the corner). We are so busy independently, and Raph often works nights and weekends, and goes to bed early, so it can be hard to see each other aside from the daily routine. So coffee feels like a nice treat. I feel lucky we get to do things like that.

Do your children love creating too?

Ari definitely has the drawing gene - he creates literally hundreds of drawings without any prompting from me, or he is always asking to do painting or make something. Tyke is a bit older now (almost 10) and interested in different things - but he is creative in other ways - like writing stories, and of course Lego/minecraft creations. His mind is far more technical than mine will ever be.


How do you re-charge your batteries? What's time out look like for you?

I do have to work a lot so my "me" time has to be pretty well planned. I see a personal trainer once a week and have been doing that for almost three years - I never thought I would love exercise as much as I do! So much that this year i'm also doing bootcamp with some school mums! But the ultimate me time is riding my bike - I love it because it can fit into my day - I can ride to meetings and it feels like a bit of meditation on the way. We also go on a family holiday every year. That has become a pretty important ritual to us all now.


Juggling work and parenting is a crazy, crazy thing. What's your best tip to share?

YES IT IS. There are no tricks - it's hard work that's for sure. My tip is allocate kid time and working time and try not to overlap the both. As I said I try and hang out with my kids when they get home, and if I can't or need to go somewhere at night I tell them in advance so they don't get bummed out too much when I can't be there. Routine is kind of important to us - especially Monday to Friday - knowing what is going on in advance makes everything easier for everyone. Being organised is good too - but actually we are pretty crap at that. I can see how it would make our working/kid life much easier though. Getting organised is deinftely on my "to do" list.


What's coming up next for Beci Orpin?

Another crazy year - just how I like it. I'm working on one or two new books (can't say what or with whom just yet), and I have an exhibition planned for April with the amazing Kat Macleod, and a few other exhibitions later in the year too. Raph and I are also working on a new project for him - an exciting one which should launch in June. I'm trying to squeeze in bit more blogging, but most likely I will be wasting time on Instagram, Pinterest and Etsy instead. And then of course freelance work and my other usual follies.

In my dreams we will renovate our house this year - we even have the plans drawn up - but I think we will be too busy with everything else. So I might have to blow all our budget on a HUGE 40th birthday party (or series of parties). Yes that birthday is happening for me this year too! At first I was scared of it, but now I'm all BRING ON THE 40! Can't wait!

• Beci's book 'Find and Keep' is published by Hardie Grant and available in good bookstores or here.
• Check out Beci's website here and her blog here
• Raph runs Melbourne-based Taco Truck. Follow on Facebook (I do, and I don't even live there, I'm just living vicariously).

Want even more good news? The very good folk at Hardie Grant - together with Beci are kindly giving away three very awesome copies of 'Find and Keep'. 

To enter, all you have to do is comment on this post, and tell me why you need 'Find and Keep' in your life. 


Terms and conditions: 
- Open to Australian residents only.  
- Entries are open from Monday 4th March - closing Sunday 10th March 2013 at midnight. Three winners will be announced on Monday 11th March.
- One entry per person
- If you have trouble leaving a comment on my blog, please try a different browser. If problems persist, please let me know.
- You must leave your email address on your comment. I'm not Sherlock Holmes.


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

images courtesy of Beci's website and via Save the Children website.

We're A Black School Shoe Down

We are back in the throes of school life. Back, arms flailing, struggling for breath, amidst the white sea ponies, the flurry of water, gasping for breath, we're back. Dramatic? Moi? Of course I am.

But that's how it feels. Out of my control, a disconnect because I'm at work - and yet -  we're cast back to the frenzy and almost Draconian routine that school life entails. 

It makes me sad to my stomach just thinking about it.

So the Doctor started Year Two today, and Tiny, well she's beside herself excited - next week she starts Kindergarten and she can barely contain her excitement. It's beyond cute, and so *almost* contagious. That girl is thrilled to be amidst all the learning. She was a little disappointed not to be starting today. 

But it's good news that she's not starting today. Why? Well not just to drag out my sadness and guilt, but because we're a black shoe down. 

Last week she got her shoes fitted. This week we can only find one shoe. This is going to be interesting.

Matt and I have both turned her room completely upside down searching for that lone, lurking Mary-Jane - to no avail. 

It's no surprise we can't find it. Her room is an overwhelming mess. Piles and piles of clothes, Lego for me to tread on at midnight, and dolls clothes. Not to mention the leaning tower of books. And the pencils tipped out on her bed. 

I overheard Tiny proclaim to her cousin during the holidays - when asked why her room was such a mess: "Because I like it that way!"

Let's hope that lone shoe turns up in the next few days. Otherwise she's going to be Hopalong Cassidy meets Tiny the Pegleg. 

image  - Walk to School 1954 by Willy Ronis

Yo Mama! An Interview with Jayne Hughes

Back when I first had babies, many, many years ago, I went hunting for eco-friendly solutions for parenting problems. What I came up with was Ecobabe - a family-owned online store chocked to the brim with quality products with minimal impact upon the planet. I was pretty chuffed with this discovery - and frequented the online aisles perusing the goods. 

Over the last few years I've been fortunate enough to get to know the brains behind Ecobabe, Sydney-based Jayne Hughes. An intelligent, quick-witted broad who's devoted to her family - and dedicated to her business, she's fast become an inspiration in small business. 

Today I'm sharing an interview with Jayne, to give you an in on her daily life. Let's go!

PMM: How did Ecobabe start?

JH: I started ecobabe nearly 7 years ago when my big girl Olivia was 14 months old. I knew that I didn't want to go back to the sort of work I'd been doing before having children and I had this insane notion that I could start a business that would bring the same financial stability to our home as I could if I worked at a full time job outside of the home. I look back at those early business plans and wince, my bank manager must have laughed his head off when I left his office!

My first experience of internet shopping was the purchase of modern cloth nappies, I became quite obsessed about cloth nappies, natural fibres, chemical free products and eco-sensitive lifestyles and I discovered that there was a gap in the Australian online market and that I could be the eco-warrior to fill this gap.


How do you find working online VS working in an office? What are the pros and cons?

I love working online, although Facebook and blogs can become massive black holes that eat away at my valuable time, under the guise of 'research'. Fortunately I have to take my big girl to school each day so this gets me out of pjs and keeps me out of tracky dack mode and I'm generally dressed at my desk with a hot tea in hand by 9am like most busy worker bees. The big pro for me is the flexibility that working online and from home gives me. I am responsible for my time, I can work when and where I want, so if it's a stunning morning I will pop down to the beach for a walk after school drop off, or I can work remotely - my parents live in Far North Queensland, just over the Daintree River on an isolated beach so I will often pack up the kids and my iPad and head to Queensland for a couple of weeks where I work for a few hours in the morning while Mum looks after the girls and then I join them once my morning chores are complete.

The major con is that working from home, I get distracted by the domestic front, the kitchen and particularly the fridge... and laundry are unfortunately my greatest distractions. Unfortunately for my husband and family I don't touch housework on a working day :) I do see and talk to a lot of people during my workday so I don't experience the isolation that many work from homers can feel.


Working online can wind up being a 24 hour gig. How do you manage that while parenting two daughters?

In the early years of ecobabe I used to work at night and on the weekend because during the day I was very busy parenting 2 children. This worked well for me at the time. As my children have grown up, they're now aged 5 and 8yrs, I've clawed back most of my nights and weekends and try to keep ecobabe within business hours purely so that we can function as a family. My husband and I are massive nerds though, we both have an ipad and phone plugged in on each side of our bed and the first thing I do after morning bed snuggle cuddles with the 5yr old is check my site and check what orders have come in overnight. Because even though I've been sleeping I have customers who don't ever seem to sleep. There's a lot of midnight breastfeeding shopping that goes on out there!

What's the best part of your day?

The best part of my day is the wakeup cuddles I have with my 5 year old, every morning she comes thumping through the house to crawl into our big bed for cuddles. She's seriously the best snuggle cuddler on the planet.


Workwise, the best part of my day is the cup of tea after all orders are packed and the Australia Post courier has left each day. That's when I allow myself 10mins of personal time on Facebook or to read an awesome blog.

Retail is hard in Australia right now - how do you keep motivated?

I had some motivational issues mid this year when the market was really tough for me. I just couldn't see an end to the negativity in the market, so we went to Bali for a couple of weeks, forgot about everything on our plate and amazingly since we've been back things have improved - starting with my attitude. I am now very proud to be a business that has survived the GFC and have a very positive outlook for the future of ecobabe and online retail.

What do you do to treat yourself?

Where do I start? That lovely glass of wine at 6pm is a pretty good treat. I love a good girls weekend, that's my ultimate treat - sorry husbandos. My daily treat is good music and good candles or Nag Champa incense in my office. A good hot cup of tea is a regular treat. Yoga is another treat, the peace, the quiet, the listening to my body, to my breath, that is a delicious treat in itself. Another treat is a good book, I love reading a good book and always have a pile ready to go on my dressing table. I'm currently reading "Crossing to Safety" by Wallace Stegner, a good book gets me off the couch and in bed at a reasonable hour each night.

Any tips on how to manage the work-family juggle?

I'm not the right person to answer this question, my family will tell you that the only way to get me out of work mode is to get me out of the house, so we tend to get out of the city for a weekend away quite regularly. I think the best way to manage the work-family juggle is to give everything 100%, when it's work time - give it your 100% and when it's family time give it the 100% it deserves and when it's you time give it 100%, tune out all the other demands and give yourself 100% to what you're doing, we call this "setting yourself up for success" in our house which basically means remove all the distractions or obstacles before you do something and then you can do it properly. Children don't understand multi-tasking, they want you 100%, they don't want a parent absently answering their questions about life death and the universe while you're busy scrolling through FB on your phone :(

What's coming up next for Jayne Hughes?

2013 will be a year of big change, my youngest starts school and I will have 5 childless days each week. I have some big plans for ecobabe and I'm personally really enthused about retail and the 'eco-friendly' market, what was once a quite niche market is becoming more and more mainstream and there are great opportunities for me personally and for my business www.ecobabe.com.au out there now. Oh and I bought a 'luxury travel in Thailand' magazine in the newsagent this morning, I think a trip to Thailand is definitely coming up next winter.

Be sure to check out Ecobabe here. It's not only baby/parenting products, but a vast array of awesome things that can help you live a lighter life. 
And hear more from Jayne on the Ecobabe Facebook page here. 


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

Five Ways To Get To Work On Time

Over the past two and a half years I've figured a thing or two out about getting out the door - or more likely - not getting out the door on time. It's been cause for studying my routine - or more likely - lack of routine, and share this trivial list of five ideas to get you to your office on time. And if you have anything to add to this list, feel free to in the comments and I'll add them in. Together we can knock the proverbial socks off our bosses with our punctuality.

1. Dress Ups: Forget getting me to the altar on time - that was a cinch, but getting to the office on time while wrangling two small children and the breakfast rush? Sheesh. I deserve a payrise for mother of the year. Every night I get my clothes out ready for the next day. Call me crazy - but I even look up the weather forecast for the next day to figure out if I need a cardi. I hang it all up - including accessories, so that in the morning, the only thing I have to think about is - where'd I put the cornflakes? 

2. Break up with your make-up: I love make-up. But in my rush to get out the door, I was applying foundation at home, then doing the rest in the car on the way to work. After watching this, I've realised it's dangerous. So I've broken up with some of my make-up and streamlined. Now it's primer, foundation, blush, eyeliner. And boom. Done. If I'm lucky - a quick slick of lipstick. 

3. Wake Up Half An Hour Earlier (and go to bed earlier): It's a no-brainer, right? But do you know how long it's taken for me to get this through to myself. I've talked about it before - I'm. Not. A. Morning. Person. But now I've got myself waking up without an alarm clock at 5:45am. Yep. Crazy. But that way I get an hour of exercise in before anyone's even woken up, and I come home and help everyone get ready.

4. Enlist help: I give my kids small jobs to do - as part of our morning routine. We iron the Doctor's school uniform on the weekend so the week runs (sort of) smoothly - and his gear is all kept in the same spot so he can easily find it. Tiny chooses her preschool gear and gets herself organised (sometimes). Well that's the plan. The smalls make their beds (they don't have to be perfect) and we try and incorporate the smalls into the morning routine so that they are part of it - rather than being waited on. They've got the routine down pat too. 

5. Eat: One of my biggest mistakes in my haste to get out of the door is not eating breakfast. I arrive at work ragged and with the distraction of an empty stomach. Then I get hangry - and, well, the day goes rapidly downhill. Every night I prep my cheat's bircher muesli - super simple, super yummy, and super healthy: oats and some rice milk left overnight in the fridge. Come morning - et voila - I add some fresh fruit, slivered almonds - or walnuts, whatever floats my boat, some LSA and some yoghurt (or my new food crush Coyo). 

And I also try and pack my lunch when I pack the kids lunches. Then I am guaranteed to have lunch - and not have to resort to the vending machine. I hate the vending machine. 

Do not forget to kiss your kids before you leave for the day. Without fail. A missed kiss makes me sad! 

image source 

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. 

Tides Are Changing

Last time I wrote about the juggle of life - of working, of parenting, of wife-ing, I received a comment from a helpful anonymous commenter that "you chose this and you should suck it up". Clearly that wasn't verbatim - but it might as well have been.

Needless to say, I shut up about talking about family life - and since then I've shied away from sharing family life.

But the thing is, I think that's what most people can relate to.

This term brings another new change for our little family. A new and fresh load of guilt for me to either drown in, or choose to swim to the surface, flap about and save our souls. I'm choosing the latter.

Recently Matt was announced a semi-finalist in the Moran Portrait Prize (bravo Matt!), and within the same week he scored a really, really great job. It had been a long distance between good things for us. It's been a tough year, despite all the hilarity I can muster, it's stretched us to our limits trying to make ends meet, and trying to juggle the mundane.

The flip side was this.

Tiny goes to preschool Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.
Matt's job is going to be Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. 
I work Tuesday - Friday.
The Doctor goes to school five days a week.
Can you see the gap there? The gaping big hole in our week?

Luckily I could switch my day off. So I did. I'll be hanging with Tiny on Thursdays now, and joining the hordes battling Monday-itis.

By design we both work part-time so someone is home with the kids. That is our choice. We chose to have less of an income because family life is the priority for us. And now things are shifting, and we've got to shift with them, and move, like sands through the hourglass.

We've got Tiny going to a different preschool on Fridays - which weighs heavy on my heart. Her current preschool couldn't take her for another day, so I see this as a test. If it doesn't work - we will have to shift again. We'll change things around, switch things up. And I still need to find a solution for an afternoon school pick ups.

I wish I could ask someone at school to pick up my kids one day a week. But since I work - I haven't really struck up any relationships with other mothers to go out on a limb and ask. And it's a big ask, isn't it? To ask someone to take my children home once a week. Is it? Isn't it? I don't know. I've lost perspective now because this change feels so immense for us. I feel the distance even more acutely I think because I am at work. I leave early and don't get home 'til late. The distance and disconnection between work life and family life can be spectacularly damning.

The whole idea that it takes a village to raise a family is an awfully romantic notion. But Matt and I are playing dual-triple-quadruple roles of Mayor, Town Crier (that's me), counsellor, worker bee - we are the village people.

I wish things could have stayed as they were. They were hard, but we had our routine. The smalls had one of us. But I guess this is an evolution of our family life.

This is not a pity party. This is me grappling with what to do next. What's our next move?

the image is Tiny and her cousin P's culinary adventure in the garden this morning. They were cooking. Boy, those little girls, they love to cook.