Linking up with Trish’s My Little Drummer Boys and Sarah’s Faith Hope and a whole lotta Love for Wordless Wednesday.
Head on over there to see other photos and to also join in the linky fun.
Happy Wednesday !
Everyday Experiences, Lifelong Learnings
By: mamagrace7119 Comments
Linking up with Trish’s My Little Drummer Boys and Sarah’s Faith Hope and a whole lotta Love for Wordless Wednesday.
Head on over there to see other photos and to also join in the linky fun.
Happy Wednesday !
By: mamagrace718 Comments
Finally ! Half an hour after I’ve tucked the twinlets in for their nap, the giggling and laughter has ceased !
I have a few spare moments to let my creative blogging juices flow and join the lovely Lulu at Cherry Blossom Adventures for the “Some Days (Are Tuesdays)…” link-up.
This is my first attempt …so here it goes !
Make sure you head over to Cherry Blossom Adventures to link up and check out what others are thinking about this Tuesday.
By: mamagrace713 Comments
Despite being a staunch republican (the Australian anti-royalist type, not the American right-winged kind), I do love a long weekend.
And although the Queen’s Birthday comes at a non-eventful time of the year weatherwise (Rain, rain and more rain), who’s gonna say no to an extra day off ? Even for a mum who’s job is 24 x 7, anyway.
This time last year, I was in such a hormonal daze, I honestly don’t remember how we spent the weekend. I’m sure it included three hourly breast feeds, maybe a recovery from nipple thrush and definitely sleep deprivation.
So, this weekend we took advantage of finally breaking from the chains of in-house confinement. We even braved the cold, wet windy weather to go ahead with a day trip to the south coast.
In fact, we made sure we were well prepared.
As pragmatic mountain trekkers and inhabitants of cold climates will tell you, as long as you’re well equipped and appropriately attired, then the weather shouldn’t be an obstacle.
It’s all about water-proofing and layering.
And the end result ? Two little eskimos – a blue and a red one.
Happily jumping in the puddles, slipping and sliding their way through a soaking and slippery playground.
During the brief intervals of the dancing in the rain, I managed to catch up with old uni friends who I haven’t seen in a lifetime.
Seriously. With one friend, we couldn’t place the exact time we last saw each other. Japan ? Australia ? It was never concluded.
So, hip, hip hooray for *ahem* non-important public holidays.
Yay for rare opportunities to catch up with dear old friends and their growing families.
God save the Queen, indeed.
By: mamagrace712 Comments
First of all, it’s important that I point out that I’m not a designer junkie. Coach handbags, Oroton wallets, Jimmy Choo shoes, Chanel suits…meh. Happily do without.
Give it to me fake. Give it to me cheap. That’s always been my motto.
But. And this is a very big but. After hearing whispers from my neighbour that a “Fashionista Garage Sale” was happening down the road, I ask you:
What’s a gal gonna do ???
So, I trudge down there while the boys were taking their nap (that includes Hubby) and the expectation was to have a quick fly-by through.
I was certain that an old chook like me – who was typically looking as unkempt as the two grubby children constantly hanging off her – was not going to find anything of interest. Let alone of suitable size.
Then, I walked into that garage as if it were a treasure trove.
Oh my, me hearties ! What awesome bargains we found !!!
Can you believe that this Bettina Liano jacket, almost brand spanking new – stopped my heart at $50 !!! Yeah, that’s right…no extra zeros after that price !
And look….oh look ! Prada shoes, but comfortable ones ! And an almost giveaway at…can you believe…$25 ! Again, hardly ever been worn !!!
Then, the piece de resistance…Dolce Gabbana leopard skin stilettos for only $65 !
I have no idea when I’ll wear these.
I don’t even know how to wear high heels anymore.
I’m sure to fall and twist my ankle or break my neck the moment I step out of the house in these.
But, I don’t care.
Because I bought a piece of treasure. It’s almost like artwork.
And like any gal who loves a combination of fashion and a good bargain hunt, I had to share these special gems with my gal pals 🙂
So, how about you ? Found any absolute steals lately ?
By: mamagrace717 Comments
Happy Friday, gorgeous peeps !
I can’t believe how the week has flown by ! This time last week, my fingers were nervously typing away at the computer for my first “Things I Know” linky and now…Wow !
I’ve ‘met’ some awesome mummy bloggers through the week and I just had to come back for more 🙂
Back again to hear what other pearls of wisdom all you lovelies have to share.
Head on over to Shae’s Yay for Home! to find out with me.
This week, I know:
Ah, the joys !
Have a fabulous weekend, everyone ! And see you all again next week…Mwah !
By: mamagrace711 Comment
I’ve made it public last week about my sordid love affair with Salt ‘N Vinegar chips. In the past, it has gone beyond control.
After spending a long extended stint in Japan (namely, almost a decade), the first thing I did when I arrived back in Australia was crash on my parents couch, watched Foxtel and ate bag after bag…after 175 gm bag of salt and vinegar chips. Yeah, I know. Disgusting, right ?
While living in Tokyo, my folks always sent care packages with an abundant supply of these sodium-rich, mouth watering snacks. Opening the boxes, the packets had inevitably burst open from the high-altitude air-freighted journey, leaving me with broken chips scattered everywhere. It didn’t stop me from picking up and savouring each and every tiny little precious crumb.
So, here I am today. On my running and fitness kick. I know there shouldn’t be any room for my beloved crispy pals. But breaking away from them is oh, so, so hard.
Going to Coles for our weekly grocery shopping on Sunday, I managed to achieve the unthinkable. Walking by the confectionary aisle, I noticed an inviting bright yellow sales tag under my source of addiction:
“2 for $4”
I walked by that aisle three times. Despite all the pacing, I stayed strong.
I left Coles without those extra snacks.
The drive home was excruciating.
I could only think about how terribly delicious that combination of salt and vinegar always is. And how I was missing out.
Last week I mentioned how motivation and encouragement comes from others. It takes friends, peers maybe even family to give you that hearty kick up the butt to get moving.
But when it comes to will power…that is all you.
No one else. And although that can be a lonely concept, the rewards are again, only for you to reap.
Not buying those chips was a small triumph for me, but it lead me to avoiding bigger regrets.
Instead, I was able to enjoy this week’s highlights and achievements.
Highlights:
No major weight loss this week, but I can feel my body changing.
Wearing my pre-pregnancy jeans, they no longer feel tight. There is a certain sag in the bum and in the legs. Although I don’t need to yank them up all the time, when I do need to pull them up, they don’t stop in the same place. My jeans can actually go a little higher on the tummy. Amazing.
As for that post-natal rubber tyre stomach ? It’s still there. But that stubborn bulge is less prominent. It’s no longer a tyre. More like a billowing cushion…
I even got to wear new slinky jeans on date night !
Achievements:
One of the mums from my personal training group suggested we go for a run last Saturday morning.
Jeepers. I am so not a morning person. Yet somehow, I agreed.
So, she texted me at 6am. It was pitch black outside. I grumbled getting out of bed to put on my running gear.
Then, getting outside I realised just how magical early mornings are. There was a pink sunrise. Only cyclists and the milk delivery truck on the road.
We ended up having a great time.
During our run, this mum made a great point, “This is the only time in the day when I can truly say it’s just time for me…”
No screaming tantrums. No smelly nappy changing. No unpredictable family or children-related dilemmas.
We’ve arranged to go for another run tomorrow morning.
Tune in next week for more running and fitness adventures 🙂
By: mamagrace7125 Comments
Hello Lovelies !
Joining up with My Little Drummer Boys and Faith, Hope & a whole lotta Love for my first (eeks !) Wordless Wednesday…
Make sure you check out the other links !
It’s wild and woolly in Sydney this morning, but rather than drive up to my local coffee shop for my much needed daily dose of caffeine, I decided to walk and take a quick detour…
It’s nice to be reminded that you don’t always have to be in a hurry to get somewhere.
All it took was a five minute stop over and a couple of deep breaths to enjoy this view and make sure that I was in the right mind set to make the most of today.
Just to embrace another day and be gracious for a blessed life.
Have a great Wednesday, everyone !
By: mamagrace7114 Comments
A fellow mummy blogger wrote a post last week that compelled me to write this one. Sare from “Getting From Here To There” talked about her decision to breastfeed for as long as possible. She felt that it should be the norm not the exception.
Speaking as a mum of twins, it’s not uncommon to breast feed for a maximum of 8 weeks.
It initially takes a lot of patience, persistence and help.
It’s a trickier business to continue.
It was a mixed blessing that our 5 week premature twins had to stay in the NICU for two weeks. It broke my heart to leave them behind when I was discharged. But, that time gave me the opportunity to enter – as I like to call it – The Special School of Twin Breastfeeding.
Yes, I had icy cold hands constantly touching my once precious puppies. But I will forever grateful to the NICU midwives.
At 35 weeks gestation, babies know how to suck. They know how to swallow. Both as separate functions.
So, babies who are born at this age need to learn how to co-ordinate the two.
To breastfeed successfully, took a concerted effort from mum, babies and outside help. Nothing about it was a breeze.
We had their Helpline on speed dial – 1800 686 2 686 (1800 mum 2 mum)
When the boys were two months old, I found myself bowling over with shooting pains in my right breast. I suspected nipple thrush. I feared mastitis.
We called the ABA in the middle of the night for help. For guidance. For some moral support.
Suffering from nipple thrush for almost two months, not only were there regular trips to the GP, we also made dozens of calls to the ABA.
Sometimes I heard what they had to say (“You’re doing a great job…Hang in there !”).
Sometimes I wanted to throw the phone across the room (“I know it hurts, but you have to continue breast feeding !”).
Overall, they were there. Listening. Offering help.
When Hubby went back to work, I was left with the daunting task of figuring out how to feed the boys on my own.
It took a couple of attempts.
At first, I had to feed them seperately. Not only did it become time consuming, I constantly had a baby latched to a breast. I wasn’t far off being a milking cow.
Then, the boys got a little bigger, with better head and neck control.
The feeding routine then went like this:
(Now for the tricky part)
Now tell me that sounds like riding a bike…
My boys were naturally weaned – three weeks shy of their first birthday. Ironically, out of the entire experience, that probably felt the most natural.
Breast feeding in general is no easy feat.
Adding another baby to the boob can change the whole equation.
By: mamagrace7111 Comments
Despite having this blog up for ages, I didn’t really seriously start delving into the community of mummy bloggers until a couple of weeks ago.
And I’m so glad I did.
I’ve ‘met’ some new people and read posts that make me smile.
I’ve reacquainted myself with others and realise how this network can help get over those stay-at-home mummy feelings of isolation and boredom.
My journey has only started. But I know the friendships can only get better from here.
Then, the sweetest of icing on the cake…
Last night, the lovely Sare at “Getting From Here To There” has passed on the “One Lovely Blog” award to me. Sare is one of the lovely mummy bloggers I’ve met recently. She writes from the heart. Talking about her concerns on parenting, spirituality and life in general, her posts are raw and honest.
Sare – as I like to say – shoots straight from the hip. And we wouldn’t have it any other way !
Go check her out. You won’t be disappointed ! 🙂
The rules are, upon acceptance, I write a list of 7 things about myself.
So here it goes:
I’m turning *ahem* 40 this year and hope to throw a disco-themed party. Everyone’s invited !
While living for two and half years in Aomori, Japan, I grew a love for the snow and I learned how to snowboard.
Located in the most northern tip of Honshu, Aomori is famous for its apples and rice fields.
Surrounded by breath-taking forests and having made some life-long friends, I loved every minute of my time there.
My husband and I got engaged on a small island off eastern Bali called Nusa Lembonggan. After spending the entire day surfing, Hubby returned to our little bungalow and made me follow him to the balcony. While overlooking this view he got down on bended knee, and as tears welled up in his eyes, he proposed.
Altogether now: “Nawwwwww…”
Breaking away from tradition and pomp, our first dance as man and wife was the disco classic, “Got To Be Real” by Cheryl Lynn.
For all you SATC fans out there, it was the song that Carrie strutted to on the runway while wearing not much more than sequinned panties. Then, tripped over half way, but picked herself up and finished the walk, minus one shoe…
“Me likey…”
One of my earliest memories is the plane ride to Sydney from Jakarta when I was around three. We were making the life changing move and migrating over. I had spilt a drink of orange juice on my lap cushion. My 10 year old brother scolded me, telling me that if the flight attendant found out, I would be kicked off the plane. I was so frightened that I sat on the soggy patch for the rest of the trip and arrived in our new country with a orange juice soaked bum.
Welcome to Australia !
I’m hopeless at baking. No, I lie. I totally suck at it. But since the boys turned 1, I have made *ahem* attempts to become friends with the oven. And despite the early disasters such as the one below, I am building my confidence by baking humble scones and banana loafs…
We’ll get there.
As a teenager, I was a hopeless Duran Duran fan. My dream was to marry John Taylor and being complete love-sick fool, I used to throw birthday parties for him at our high school quadrangle.
Unable to shake my teenage obsession, I have seen them live in concert three times…The last concert being only three years ago…
Do I need therapy ???
In continuing to spread the love and as a small token of my appreciation for all the community has done for me, here is my list of five lovely blogs that I’m passing the award to:
Happy Monday, everyone !!!
Hope the start of your week was as perfect as mine ! 🙂
By: mamagrace71comment
As some of you may have gathered from my Things I Know post on Friday, I was darn excited about going to the movies with Hubby for date night.
As it turned out, there was nothing showing in the cinemas that could entice either one of us (‘Hangover Part 2’, ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 4’ ???)
Besides, we kept the arrangement for our beloved Nulla Nanna to come over as she had happily volunteered for baby-sitting duties. We just couldn’t waste an evening by staying home. Despite the miserable weather.
Dressed in my new slinky jeans, Hubby and I decided to tread some old territory. The past haunts of our pre-twinlet yesteryears.
We went to our old pub where we spent many a drunken Saturday night with other child-free couples – drinking, talking and socializing. Nothing out of the extraordinary for Sydney savoir faire.
But six years on, things definitely felt different.
The same table was there to take our usual order. Inviting us to still enjoy our familiar, favoured beverages.
Yet, the pub noise was a little too rowdy and raucous for what we were now used to. I was appalled with the rambunctious crowd next to us. Their arrogant behaviour was full of profanities.
What was really happening ? I was just showing my age.
My inevitable lean towards becoming a, dare I say, conservative mother.
Four years ago at this very pub, my future husband and I would occasionally have a private, yet polite dinner together. We would tip toe around the topic of commitment, marriage and children. He wasn’t ready. I was eager and keen.
Now we were comparing twinlet photos on our phones, discussing their latest learnings and most recent cute moments.
Tonight, we talked about our future: where were we going to move to, in a city that was already so unaffordable for young families to maintain an urban lifestyle; what were the best options for day-care for our boys; what were my career plans beyond motherhood.
Breaking into the surface of planning for a young family with all its potential choices and paths.
Keeping all options open, yet staying as pragmatic as possible.
What a giant leap four years can do.
And besides now being a mother and holding responsibility for two precious souls, I still could enjoy the thrill of having a drink.
The warm, tingly feeling of a crisp white wine and the comforts of conversation that come with.
Walking back to the car in the rain, hand in hand with my beloved, I could see how all that was familiar has stepped into a time capsule of the past.
Life now is good. It’s not complete. But it’s certainly happy and content.
The movies can wait until another time.
Musings of Mama Grace © 2011