A Merry Christmas To You!

Well here I find myself with a million ideas and plans and thoughts and yet not the time to execute them.

Here I find myself with five half written posts but not one completed one.

Here I find myself planning to see out the year with a least three more weeks of writing scheduled.

Christmas, Consumerism & Chadstone Shopping Centre

Too Much?

I reckon we do a pretty minimalist Christmas.  But it's all perspective and context I guess.

Like when I think about how many toys my kids have, on one hand I don't think they have an excessive amount.

F Word::C Word {Feminism, Chauvinism & Hairbrushes}

{There are rude words in this post. You have been warned.}

The other night I was watching Survivor.  I'll just let that sink in for a minute.  Yes.  I watch Survivor.  I'm a bit of a die hard fan with a bit of an undying crush on Jeff Probst.

Could You Ever Eat A Turtle?

Sometimes it's hard to admit the weird shit that goes on in my brain.  But here goes. Stay with me, 'kay?

Head & Heart

The other week one of my favourite bloggers started a post with this quote:

What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life? 

The world would split open." - Muriel Rukeyser

Balancing Act

So there is definitely a link between my computer and social media use and my swirly out-of balance-ness.  

New Digs

Well Hello There.

Check out the new digs?  What do you think?

As you can see things are changing here at One Small Life.

Guest Post: That Summer Feeling: How to Live Simply {Byron Bay Style}

Guest Post: That Summer Feeling: How to Live Simply {Byron Bay Style}

Unless you've been living under a rock, or your internet connection failed for the past week, you will know that I have just spent four glorious days in Byron Bay. Whenever I visit a place like this I get a bit of a kick up the attitude pants. This trip has been no exception.

Guest Post: Little Bit of Thyme: Cous Cous Salad

I started Group Training with some of the mums from school.  Help me.  The only thing that is remotely okay about this is that since it starts at 6am, and my kids are generally awake by 5am I am the only one from the group who doesn't feel betrayed by being up at that hour.  In preparation for our first session our trainer sent us this completely irrelevant really helpful and inspiring list to stick on our fridge. Here's a look:

Guest Post: Seek Love Thrive: The Power of Small

Feeling Small?

I love this post by Clare at Seek Love Thrive. It is just what we need when feeling overwhelmed by world events, or just life itself.  It's a beautiful reminder that we don't have to feel helpless, we just have to do what we can when we can.  Small can be meaningful.  Small can be powerful.  Small is where it's at.  I hope you like it as much as I do and that you'll be inspired to dream big, but start small.

Guest Post: Days Careen: Timely Reminders

I do not live in a vacuum.  When I started blogging it was because of a long held desire to write. To get the words out.  To share.  To be understood.  To express.  

Guest Post: Polka Dots And Frocks: The Art of Embarrassment

Jean Leon Gerome Phryne Before The Areopagus

Good morning lovelies. How are we feeling today?  Not humiliated like poor old Phryne I hope.  In case you thought last weeks post was a bit heavy duty, a bit hard on your head and heart, this week we're lightening the mood.

Guest Post: Sarah's Heart Writes: Is Australia Facing A Terrorist Threat?

Sometimes where it feels we're headed.

Well hello!  How are you all?  How are you enjoying these Guest Posts?  Told you you'd be in safe hands, didn't I.  Well todays post is a real treat.  Buckle yourself in, it's a ride, a good one.

A Little Bit About Me & Another Guest Post: The Chronic-Ills of Rach: I See You

Peek-a-boo I see you.

So last week I hosted my first guest post.  And I liked it so much I decided to do it again!  

Only that's not true.  

Guest Post: She Who Rambles: Five Game Changers

Looking to the future, carrying the past. 

Hands down the greatest asset I gained from the Blog With Pip Course is being introduced, no embraced by the awesome blogging community it is home to.  Pip Lincolne made that, and I think she's pretty special for doing so. But we all make it up, so I guess that makes us pretty special too.  

Taking Stock: August

First Day of Spring in Melbourne

So there's a little thing that Pip Lincolne does over at Meet Me at Mikes and it's called Taking Stock. And you know what? It's a pretty super thing to do. I like reading them, because they give a nice little insight. But what's even better is doing them. Because despite that it may seem like a simple little question-answer type deal, it actually calls for a little introspection.

August Smile Makers

Smile!

I've needed a lift this month. I've had internal and external factors bombarding me, getting me down.  So it's great to take part in the Bear Loves Dove Smile Inducer Link Up just to help me focus on the good things in life, the things that fill me up, make me smile, make me happy.  Yes, it's good to do that.  We need to do that.  Don't you think?

Backwards {10 Inspiring Organisations Doing Great Things}

Sometimes I think we are living backwards.  Chasing after all the wrong things.

Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by everything I hear on the news.

Mostly I feel helpless to do anything about anything.  And that's a really crap feeling.

School Yard Days

My first year of school my Teacher's name was Mrs Smith.  She was old.  I've no idea how old she actually was, but from my five year old perspective "old" pretty much summed it up.

Seeking Balance

I have been feeling so out of balance lately.  Swirly.  Not in a good boysenberry ripple choc top at the movies kind of way.  More in a can't find clear space in my mind or in my life kind or way.  

Five Photo Safari

Gelati

Photography is not really my thing.  While I love looking at great images the creation of them has never been what I am about.  Words, that's what I've always focused on, that's where it's at for me.

10 Super 40th Birthday Presents

Kids Running Amok at My 40th
Image via Chris James at Seabreeze Films

I turned 40 last year.  It was great.  

I had plans to have a big lunch at a fancy restaurant, but my birthday is quite close to Christmas.  

My Happiness

In the aftermath of Nick Kyrgios winning his fourth round match at Wimbledon all eyes were on the teenager.  He carries the sporting hopes of the nation now, and I love the fact that he's as much the medias darling for appearing "normal" as actually winning.  But while all the hype and hyberbole was being heaped on him something else was happening. A champion had lost, in an upset, to a newcomer.  

July Smile Makers {My Kids and 10 Fun Holiday Activities}

Making my kids smile is making me smile. (This is not my kid. Cute though, huh?)
Image Licensed Under Creative Commons

There's a lovely little blog link up happening at Bear Loves Dove.  It's all about what's making us smile right now, which is such a sweet idea that I wanted to be involved.  And when it came to thinking about things that were making me smile in July it was pretty simple.  My kids.  And spending great quality time with them.

Magnetic Island {And "Holidaying" With Kids}

Horseshoe Bay Magnetic Island
Image Courtesy of Craig Slaney Photography

As winter wraps her arms around us and squeezes tight it's hard not to be drawn to thoughts of warmer climates.  

Don't get me wrong, I actually quite like winter.  

I love jumpers and scarves and now that I have my fab jean + boot combo going I'm happy as a clam, whatever the weather.  

A Cup of Tea {With Pip & Me}

 Welcome to One Small Life's first non Sunday post.  Hold on to your hats, things could get a little crazy around here!

Writing Process {A Blog Hop}

I'm pretty excited to be invited to my first blog hop. And even more excited because that invitation came from Rachel at The Chronic-ills of Rach.  The reason I am excited to be invited by Rachel is that I really admire her writing.  She is witty, poignant, intelligent and thoughtful.  If you haven't been to her blog, haven't read her words you must. Do it.

My Most Recent (Adult) Reads

My reading this year has been scattered hit and miss eclectic. Yes let's go with eclectic.

I'm The Best And Nine Other Kids Picture Books I Love

I love reading with my kids. I love it because I know it's good for them.  Reading builds vocabulary, can help children with learning more broadly, it sparks their imaginations, aids communication and generally makes them better human beings.  That's scientifically proven, right?

Worry Worry Smile

There are a lot of worried looking people around.  Don't you think?  So many frowns and furrowed brows I see as I go about my day.  I'm not judging.  There's a pretty healthy crinkle in my forehead too.  But sometimes I just wonder, what are we so worried about?

Taking Stock

So I've been a little secret squirrel lately, yes I have.  

Little Things

Every now and then I notice that the little things in life become bigger than they need to.

The last week and a half has been one of these weeks.  I don't know why this is.  Why all of a sudden do I feel overwhelmed and on edge?  Nothing major has changed and yet small things become a tipping point.  Frustration is at the ready.

Mindful In May - The (Nearly) Halfway Mark

The gorgeous Mindful in May Challenge is at Day 11 and I thought it was time to take stock a little.  To have a look at what I've achieved, what I've struggled with and what I've learned so far on the path.

Creativity is Messy

Well in my house anyway.  Maybe I'm doing it wrong.

I took this photo the other day of the destruction wreaked in the kids play area after a particularly robust crafting session:

Mindful In May

 I was lucky enough to be offered a ticket to the Mindful In May Launch last Wednesday night.  That's what happens when you count someone as awesome as Kate James among your closest friends.

Nine and a Half Hours

Nine and a half hours.  That's how much freedom I got.  Freedom from the voice inside my head telling me I couldn't, I shouldn't, I won't.

Giving In

Last week a friend and favourite blogger of mine wrote about the chaos of her kids bedtime routine.

I really liked this post by The Mother Load Australia, because I related.  Hells yes.

Winners and Losers

There's been a lot of talk this week about winners, losers, resiliance and the possibility that we are inadvertently raising a generation of wimpy dimples.

Perfection

Many, many years ago a very good friend of mine asked me if I thought I was a perfectionist.

I think she was doing some therapy sessions of her own at the time and the topic had come up.  I know she was reading The Road Less Travelled by M. Scott Peck.  I remember because she gave me a copy.

Mindgames

Today I went running.

It's been awhile.  We've had a few things going on at home.  Which made it really easy for me not to prioritise something that is really important and good for me and instead stay home and drink wine.

Grace

I remember going to this corporate event once.

Some girl talked herself in - she wasn't supposed to be there enjoying the open bar and catered food.  But there she stood, having sweet talked the host into letting her in.

I'm not a perfect parent

Earlier in the week a gorgeous friend of mine (you know who you are) posted this article on Facebook.

I read it and "liked" it.  But you know what I "liked" more?  The comment her friend added underneath that read "Hmmm, do they have an article titled "Love your Parents. Leave them Alone"? I would like to read that one!!"

Girls Are Lovely

So the other day my little girl came home from school and said something really alarming.

"Boys are smart.  Girls are lovely." she said.

Swallow The Toad

There is a popular phrase used as a remedy for procrastination, "Swallow the Frog".

Look For The Light

I love this TEDx talk by Karen Walrond of Chookooloonks. 

It's not new, but it's always relevant because of it's simple but sweet metaphor.

Beautiful Sad

There is a beauty in sadness.  Some sadness anyway.

I dropped my little (big) girl off at school for the first time this week.

And it was beautifully sad.  

Embracing Regret

I have two tattoos.

Even writing that sentence fills me with a sort of cringey embarrassment.

Locking Horns

This week I had a fight with someone.  Not an angry fight, but an emotional one.  

It's been a while and it reminded me how much I hate it.  

Lace Up

Running makes me more decisive.

It's weird, right?

Riding the Wave

Sometimes I feel like I'm operating at a higher frequency.  

By which I mean not that I am somehow above anybody else, but rather that my needles are jumping.