6.28.2009

m.i.a.

i have not disappeared off the planet rather just been so relieved that M and i are finally together that i have been too preoccupied to post. we havent got around to doing too much, M is just getting over the jetlag and settling in. we have a few to do's and hopefully some time to catch up with friends and a day in the mountains is sounding pretty tempting.
i am off again to enjoy the sunshine, everything seems a little brighter since he has arrived.

images: slgdesigns

6.24.2009

two.

not much going on today except for a bunch of mixed up feelings. i am little bit of everything; sad, happy, worried, joyful, anxious, curious but mostly just floating somewhere inbetween with my head in the clouds. sometimes just looking on the brighter side of things helps.

image: laura george

6.23.2009

three.

travel is obviously the first thing on my mind. etsy's feature seller is currently groundwork and she has some of the sweetest artwork with vintage suitcases and all. this has got me more hooked on the travel theme and other great art.of course i cant help but think of other accessories. this little pouch is so cute.

images: groundwork, nestahome, pocketcarnival,

6.22.2009

five. four.

its done. the house is clean and i have left the keys for the new owner. the actual possession date isnt until tomorrow but it feels so good to have that part done. i am not even sure what to do next since i have been so busy. perhaps it is time to take a moment to relax but some how i am sure i can still find a ton of things to do.
i might take a few minutes to just catch up on some of my favorite blogs and a new food blog that i adore as well.

images: sprouted kitchen

6.20.2009

six.

today i moved the balance of my things to my parents home from my house. i have until monday and then it is no longer mine. i have been so busy preparing for the move and all the goes along with it that i havent had an opportunity to think about how sad it is that i am leaving the home that O and i shared together. it was the place he was born and his home for the last two years.




as last night was the last time we would sleep there and the house was virtaully empty it seemed a little strange. i am glad to be in a house with furniture again (my parents) and so i begin to daydream about decorating a new home. only fun times ahead.

images: design*sponge

who does she think she is?

as a follow up to my post regarding some of my fears about what is to come in my future. i stumbled upon this documentary also via boho girl that deals with similar issues that woman face. i hope to be able to see this very soon because the trailer alone has me inspired.


i can sense that this is a very powerful documentary and the topic of balance is one that many woman face on many different levels. the website also has more information on the artists in the film.

6.18.2009

seven.

mixed in with all the sadness of leaving those i love and joy in joining another that i love is also a little bit of fear. and it is only because of how vastly my path is going to change.

i have had the role of a single working mother and that has been some what time consuming so there has been little time left for me. as i move forward into my new life which will include having my partner by my side on a day to day basis things i imagine will change. also my role as Os mother will become even more full time because i will be able to stay home with him. i hope to find a better balance in the new slightly different roles that i will be in and with that i am able to rediscover some thing s about myself that i may have forgotten. i think many women and especially mothers strive to find that balance.
whenever i need some inspiration it always come my way. a few days ago i discovered a beautiful blog and her journey that she shares. denise lynette andrade is so brave in what she puts out there. in each of her posts there is nothing but complete honestly and the story of her path that she has so graciously shared with the world has been a difficult one. i would strongly recommend checking out her blog as she is also an amazing photographer.

image: boho photography

eight.

i have been telling M that i want a bicycle, perhaps that is what i will request for my birthday present this year.
i love this image, its just make me want a bike even more.

image: cicle

6.16.2009

nine.

yesterday i took most of the stuff that i am taking with me to oz over to my mums. all the material things that i have collected over the past eight years are to fit into six suitcases. as well i believe i have done with purging there is still more to be done because i do not actually think it will fit in just those suitcases. it is time to get brutal and break free of material possessions. something like Os baby clothes and such i cannot bare to part with, they are a reminder i need to keep as he is getting so big and looks less and less like my little baby.
i think one of the essential keys to simplicity is minimizing material possessions. and that is a huge part of this journey that i am on so i will keep that in mind when i repack my suitcases for the tenth time.

images: simply photo

ten.

so the actual count down begins today because it is getting oh so close to M arriving and i have finally allowed myself a moment to let the excitement creep in.
one sweet love by sara bareilles


and i listen to songs that remind me of us to keep my mind occupied.

6.15.2009

curiosity

you can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.
~anonymous

its not goodbye

for the last four year i have shared a little corner of the world with a handful of very lovely people that are my neighbors and also wonderful friends. i am not sure how it is that such a group of like minded people were placed together but i know it was for a reason. on friday evening we all got together for dinner as this is really my last weekend in my home before i head over to my parents house before i leave. 
i know that this will not be the last time our paths cross but its just as i have mentioned before i wish i could just keep all the good parts of now and take it with me to what the future holds. 

6.11.2009

early to bed, early to rise

i mentioned this blog before and i was reading this post which i really enjoyed. i have always attempted to put O to bed and it has worked until recently. he has boundless energy so even by bedtime he still wants to keep on going, i am sure that this is nothing new for most parents. there are so many parenting books that i want to get right now but i think this one may go on the list as well “The 7-o’ clock Bedtime: Early to bed, early to rise, makes a child healthy, playful and wise”  by Inda Schaenen. 

the portion of the post that i really enjoyed was that carrie tells of how her and the children put the house to bed and sometimes sing it a lullaby. that is just the sweetest thing that i have heard in awhile because i can imagine O as he is getting more and more chatty saying good night to things around the house. 
or maybe he just needs a new bedroom, one with things on the walls and furniture. perhaps i purged too soon.

images: ohdeedoh

sixteen days

M arrives on the 25th and will be spending a week in calgary before we head back together. i cant say enough about the fact that he is coming here to bring me home with him. besides being completely romantic its going to be wonderful to have help with the almost two year old O on the way back.
i am having one of those days where i am day dreaming a bit more than normal. i believe it must coping mechanism as my to do list seems to be getting longer but really its not long now and this list will be a thing on the past. 

today

the future is carved out of the present moment. tomorrow's harvest depends upon today's ploughing and sowing.

~ swami chinmayananda

6.10.2009

the stone soup

my mum pointed me in the direction of this wonderful food blog. the name caught her attention as it did myself. the authors story of the name for the blog is very sweet just as the original story is as well.
Sydney based, Jules Clancy shares wonderful recipes and complete menus (which i love) including some really great aussie classics. this pavolva sounds devine with mango and of course passionfruit. 
but i think it is the twists on the classics that sound ever so tempting. this fig and walnut version is fit for winter as the post explains. there are a heap of recipes that i am sure to use for future meals in my new life in Oz.

images: the stone soup

feist

i am attempting to not allow myself to get too distracted so i will only share what i am playing to keep me on track.
 since i am purging the past i thought it fitting to listen to tunes that i have loved from the past as well.

 gatekeeper


mushaboom

6.09.2009

busy bee

so much to do and so little time. i have exactly two weeks left before i am to move out of my little house.  i feel like there a million things on my list but slowly i am getting there. purging has been the most difficult thing for me and i occasionally stumble wishing i could take it all with me but it is liberating when that feeling passes. 

i just wanted to share one of my favorite projects with you from the purl bee, for me the best source of craft inspiration. 


i adore these sampler pillow cases. and as always the step by step instructions with photographs included would make these a breeze to make. these are on my (fun) list of things to do when i get to Oz that is. back to packing and purging for me.

images: the purl bee

6.06.2009

world environment day

this article from the dalai lama was written many years ago and yet we still face the same problems through out the world. at times it seems like people are more aware and the green movement has be come more popular but we still have alot of work to do. the future is only borrowed from our children and future generations as they are the ones that will continue to live in it after we are gone.

An Ethical Approach to Environmental Protection

Peace and the survival of life on earth as we know it are threaten by human activities which lack a commitment to humanitarian values. Destruction of nature and nature resources results from ignorance, greed and lack of respect for the earth's living things.

This lack of respect extends even to earth's human descendants, the future generations who will inherit a vastly degraded planet if world peace does not become a reality, and destruction of the natural environment continues at the present rate.

Our ancestors viewed the' earth as rich and bountiful, which it is. Many people in the past also saw nature as inexhaustibly sustainable, which we now know is the case only if we care for it.

It is not difficult to forgive destruction in the past, which resulted from ignorance. Today, however, we have access to more information, and it is essential that we re-examine ethically what we have inherited, what we are responsible for, and what we will pass on to coming generations. Clearly this is a pivotal generation. Global communication is possible, yet confrontations take place more often than meaningful dialogues for peace.

Our marvels of science and technology are matched if not out-weighed by many current tragedies, including human starvation in some parts of the world, and extinction of other life forms.

Exploration of outer space takes place at the same time as the earth's own oceans, seas, and freshwater areas grow increasingly polluted, and their life forms are largely unknown or misunderstood.

Many of the earth's habitats, animals, plants, insects, and even microorganisms that we know of as rare or endangered, may not be known at all by future generations. We have the capacity, and the responsibility. We must act before it is too late.


This message, dated June 5, 1986, marks World Environment Day, and that year's theme, Peace and the Environment. Reprinted from Tree of Life: Buddhism and Protection of Nature, 1987

resources: world enviroment day website & more

image: istockphoto

6.05.2009

how to catch a star

O loves his books, he has been flipping through board books for as long as i can remember. i came across this book that has been at my mums house and it is one of the few that is going to make the trip overseas with us. it is such a great story and i think O will really enjoy this as he gets older. 
it is a very lovely story about catching your dreams and what little boy doesnt need a star to play hide-and-go-seek with.

6.04.2009

shop {tuesday mourning}

a few days ago i posted about party themes for O's second birthday and came across some very inspiring ideas. but didnt realize that the actual invitations could be found so easily. holly from decor8 posted yesterday about the creator and her etsy shop. and of course the loveliness doesnt stop at the invitations. 
she does custom couple portraits and even won a free people illustration contest. i have a feeling i may have to commission her for one of these portraits, they are just so wonderful.

merrilee also has the most beautiful blog with inspiring finds. we also have something in common, she has her own little O.

images: tuesday mourning

6.02.2009

snails

one of my favorite songs that i have played and attempted to sing to O since he was a tiny baby is snails by the format. 

this song still has the power to stop O in the middle of what ever mischief he is getting into for a little wiggle dance. 



shop {madeleine sargent}

in my quest to find pretty bunting flag i stumped upon some other sweet items in this lovely shop


not only do they carry wonderful mobiles but these little quilts called hankey blankeys. this is a wonderful one for boys. 

images: madeleine sargent

party planning

O's second birthday is fast approaching and with all the other planning i have to do i thought i should get a head start on a theme for this year. for his first i made a rocket ship cake which was a huge hit and because of how successful it actually was i have pledged to make a cake for him every year. i needed a bit of help with inspiration this year and of course the perfect blog appeared.

this is such a cute theme. since we will be in Oz by then and in the midst of winter i have to find an indoor theme that i love. and so the planning begins.

images: party perfect

shop {inky pots}

these beautiful hand formed pieces of clay are made by inkypots and they are so stunning.

there is a great balance between rustic and cute. who doesnt need mushroom growing out of their pot or a hedgehog to live on the kitchen window sill.

images: inkpots
original source: bloesem

6.01.2009

bloesem kids

sometimes i am blown away by the fact that i havent come across a specific blog before but that might be because there are just so many good ones out there. i had heard of bloesem before but never taken the time to look further until i found bloesem kids. i love the feature knock knock which are open houses! this post in particular caught my eye, can you guess why?



this is the home of roddy & gingers owner virginia. i would really like to have a studio space to work in such as this as i imagine it would be very easy to get inspired. both sites are pretty great so two more go on my reading list!

images: bloesem kids