list

in just over three weeks M and i have accomplished alot on our to do list. we got the house and now i have a car and a mobile phone too. i feel a bit more settled now that i have a few things that connect me to the outside world and as of wednesday when the car is dropped off i will be able to venture out by myself with O. i am very excited about the car, it is much more spacious than my last and has 4 doors so no more leaning over to get O in the back seat... my back will be saved. well aside from that i am thinking craft stores and thrift shops will be a good start on where we can go as i want to start getting a few more things to fill up the house since we are only two weeks away from taking possession.

we have also had to start planning so of the specifics for the renovations for our new home. we are going to be doing a bit of work before we move in and then continuing on the not so tricky things later on. the three big things on the list are refinishing the hardwood floors, repainting the whole house including trim and doors as well as a new kitchen. i think the kitchen is the most fun part for me because i really want it to be the center of the home and have dreamed of the style i wanted for sometime. to finally be able to get it. the feel that i want throughout our home is for it to be calm and organic by using natural and rustic materials.

rediscovering

another wonderful part of finally being together is that i get to cook for more than just myself and o. it helps that m like to eat and seems to very much appreciate the meals i put together. last night i made a sweet corn and chicken soup recipes from the newest real living and it was a huge hit. and yes i said chicken, the once vegetarian lifestyle is no longer. i have not switched over to eating huge quantities of meat but it has crept back into my diet over the past few months as i wasnt feel it as much of a health benefit as i once thought. i am finding a new balance with this addition but i still love my veggie food so i cannot guarantee non-veg in every meal. the ideal that i want to focus on and make sure o understands is more about being conscious of what we eat and where it comes from. i am really enjoying some of the new discoveries here in oz even at the super market. i pick up an organic yogurt that i thought looked wonderful and upon using it last night as a garnish to the soup realized that is actually not only organic but also made by a biodynamic farm in the adelaide hills.

the nicest part of some of these discoveries is having the time to explore them further and cooking is definitely on the top of the list. i used to get stuck making the same old things but now having a little bit more time for it i am really getting back into it. tonight i am making tacos but not just any tacos. some years ago on a trip to california we stopped at a little beach side taco stand and they made the simplest but most wonderful pulled pork tacos so you guessed it, thats what i am making. i dont follow recipes well because i would rather improvise but the general idea is create something similar to the ones i had back in the day. pulled pork topped with shredded red cabbage and a few fresh made salsas. i will probably throw together a guacamole as well just to make it a little more interesting.

image: real simple

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

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