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?

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.  

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.  

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.

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.

Be a Ninja Cardio-thoracic Surgeon Poet.

Image: Cameron Russell Speaking at TED

Or be my boss.  This is the truly awesome advice model Cameron Russell gives young girls in her recent TEDx talk.

Don't be a model.  Models "are not in charge of anything...Saying you want to be a model...is akin to saying you want to win the Powerball...it's out of your control, it's awesome and it's not a career path" she says.