Anti-fashionista. For Lori...

I have just been over at Danimezza and discovered that there is a Polly Dolly challenge in honour of Lori from Random Ramblings of a SAHM. I'm sure Dani won't mind me stealing this little excerpt from her blog:

Last week tragedy struck a fellow blogger, a lovely lady named Lori from Random Ramblings of a SAHM, her husband, father to her two young children and sole income earner for the family was admitted to ICU after a very sudden incident that left him fighting for his life. Tony fought for 100hrs but passed away on Monday. Last Thursday only hours before the incident occurred, Lori wrote a post about being an Anti-Fashionista and one of her readers Sarah from Hawker Central, thought it would be fitting to do this week's Polly Dolly in her honour to help raise funds for the young family in need... of course I agreed! You can donate using  following the widget:

Please visit HERE to use the widget in the post to donate.

So in honour of Lori and her family, here is my Polly Dolly Challenge entry...

The dream:

I would love to be able to say that I get up each morning feeling fresh as a daisy and effortlessly throw together a magnificent ensemble like the red collection above. Team this with a deliciously "messy on purpose" up-do and some luscious red lipstick and we have my "dream"... For the record, I don't wear glasses but I do think they make this outfit look extra sassy! I visualise myself wearing this outfit while strolling through my favourite city laneways and eating colourful macaroons.. (are you with me on the imagery?!)

The Reality:

I have a four year old, I am 8 months pregnant. It is 10:44am and I am on the computer, in my pajamas, and I have a whole houseful of chores fun tasks to undertake today.. The red ensemble is very fun and sassy.. and perfect for city strolling and macaroon eating however, not so appropriate for doing laundry, washing dishes, vacuuming and mothering a grubby four year old. So, my every day attire consists of comfy Birkis, jeans or yoga pants (a classy way of saying tracky-dacks) a comfy t-shirt and sunnies (as opposed to cute glasses that I don't need). And my bag needs to be big enough to carry all my stuff plus a packet of textas, drawing paper and a baby doll so no tiny cute handbags for me.

If you would like to participate in this challenge head on over to Danimezza.

Pay it forward... sure, why not!?

A friend of mine posted a Pay It Forward blog post, so I replied and I am posting the same.

Hers is here: http://earthymotherhood.blogspot.com

I promise something handmade to the FIRST 5 people who leave a comment here. However, to be eligible, you must repost this message, offering something handmade to 5 other people. The rules are that it must be handmade by you, and it must be sent to your 5 giftees sometime in 2011. Ready, set, GO!

I can knit, dye fabric and wool (now, thanks to Amber), bake delicious goodies, make jam and other yummy food.. So comment away to receive some lovely handmade goodness from yours truly! 

Some of my home made goodies...

Advent activities- toenail painting and frozen beach walk

The message in today's advent pocket read "paint each other's toenails... even dads!"

I think Molly was more excited about this activity than any other we have done so far. 

John's a good sport.. he now has sparkly pink toenails to match ours.

Another advent activity was "eat fish and chips on the beach".. We pushed this one to tonight as there has not been a good time to do it however due to the freezing gale force winds coming off the water, we ate in the car and John and Molly ventured out for a quick walk (in completely inappropriate clothing!) before quickly retreating to the warm car!

Lets get this thing done!! 30 Day Meme

Day 16– Your celebrity crush.

Hmm, I'm not much of a "celeb" girl but I do like Dr. Chris from Offspring



Day 17– A photo of you and your family.
I will do this one from home as I have a particular photo in mind and I can't access it at work.. apologies!

Day 18– Something you crave a lot.

My most recent craving has been for radishes... before that it was apple cider vinegar in hot water with honey...
Day 19– Another picture of yourself.

This photo was taken in 2008 by Molly... I had a fringe for the first time ever and I thought it was cute... :)

Day 20– The meaning behind your blog name.
Umm.. I guess, mine really just reflects the kind of person I want to be.. Someone who is a loving mama to her babies but also has a go-get-em attitude when it comes to other areas of her life.

Day 21– A photo of something that makes you happy.
(this damn computer has stopped letting me upload my fave pic... Go visit it here http://picsdigger.com/image/e3bacb04/)
Right now, birth and woman art are making me really happy. Reminding me of the power of the female body and why we need to grow and change (physically and otherwise) in order to bring children into the world. I am becoming more curvy and round each day- much more than I feel comfortable with and birth/woman art helps me to remember that I am beautiful, strong and powerful however my body looks.

Day 22– A letter to someone who has hurt you recently.
I am very blessed to be able to say that there is no one in my life right now who has hurt me enough to warrant a letter. Very blessed...

Day 23– 15 facts about you.
1. I don't like brushing my teeth but still do it twice a day
2. I have worn clothes in every size from 10 to 24
3. I am a social worker
4. I don't like lamb... hate it!
5. ... or roo
6. I love mangoes
7. When I was a kid I wanted to be a vet
8. I have a polycystic ovary
9. I dislike can openers. So much so that i bought an electric one.
10. I love being in the garden
11. I am not good at finishing projects
12. I have only slept with one man- my husband
13. I am a Jesus follower... I say it this way because I no longer feel comfortable with the term "Christian" and all the baggage...
14. I love lifting weights (even though I haven't done so in quite a while)
15. I am trying to love my body.. really I am

Day 24– A photo of something that means a lot to you.
Damn computer... photos still not working... so I am going to just say it.. Something that means a lot to me: Love... not romanic love... that's nice and all, but I mean real LOVE. Compassion, justice, equality, heart.. real love- self sacrificing, gut wrenching, painful love. That means a lot to me

Day 25– What’s in your purse?
A whole bunch of crap (papers and what have you) plus my purse, phone, keys, moisturiser, lip balm and work keytag...

Day 26– A photo of somewhere you’ve been to.
http://www.foodbowlmusicfestival.com.au/ Here is the link for the music festival we went to last weekend. My hubby played some music there. It was wonderful.. and we stayed here: http://www.glenarron.com/ Glenarron Dairy Farm... It was bloody brilliant!

Day 27– A picture of you last year and now and how have you changed since then?
Will do this at home with pics...

Day 28– Your favourite movie.
Fave stupid movie?? Yeah why not.... Anchorman... (what can I say, I'm a goof-ball at heart)

Day 29– Something you could never get tired of doing.
Smelling newborn babies..

Day 30– A photograph of yourself today + three good things that have happened in the past 30 days
Will post the pic later... but 3 good things to have happened in the past 30 days are: 1. My beautiful niece Clarabelle was born 2. Receiving news that we don't owe money to Centrelink 3. We had a lovely family trip as mentioned above...

Hey!! I just finished something I started... not in the conventional way, But I did it!!

:)



I have not been very good at this 30 day meme!!

I've been a little busy as my gorgeous sister-in-law (and best bud from way back) has just given birth to a little girl! It was amazing to be there while she birthed... I will do a proper post about that soon. 

But first, here's a few days worth of meme...

Day 11– What’s in your makeup bag?

• Natio mineral foundation
• Natio bronzer & brush
• Natio eyeshadow
• Tweezers
• Dove tinted moisturiser (for when I can't be bothered with the mineral powder
• Innoxa eye define stick
• Massive (or something) mascara
• Lip gloss (I'm not a lipstick kind of gal)

Day 12– A photograph of the town you live in.

Footscray Park

Our local (awesome!!) library/neighborhood house (I think this may just be the concept visual thing from before it was built.. but it's pretty much the same!)

Day 13– Your favourite musician and why?

There are so many I love!! Right now though, I am rekindling my love for The Smiths.. I think the melancholy vibe offsets my general perkiness nicely.. :) 

Day 14– A TV show you’re currently addicted to.

Embarrassingly I am loving Offspring! I didn't think I would.. and the main character Nina drives me crazy with her OTT awkwardness.. but I do love Dr. Chris!

Day 15– Something you don’t leave the house without.

My iPhone! I feel absolutely naked without it!!

Day 10/30- our favourite place to eat...

We are proud Footscrayites (or Footscrazies) and our idea of a perfect dinner out is to visit one of the many Pho' places in the area... this is our fave..

Day 9/30- My last purchase and some extra pics from our day..

My last purchase- wheat free, yeast free bread from the Warrandyte Bakery

John's last purchase- a universal remote... we are always losing our 4 remotes! Hope it works!!

And here's a few pics from our little trip to Warrandyte today.

We had a competition to see who could find the longest piece of bark.. Molly won and is pictured here using the bark as a long dinosaur neck so she can reach the leaves at the top of the tree and eat them for lunch.

Here Daddy is holding Molly so she can fly on her  broomstick like the witch from her favourite movie The Wizard of Oz. Daddy is going to photoshop himself out.

Day 8/30- A song to match your mood

I am skipping day 7 as I am not much of a wedding person... Sure, I had one but it was really just so we could be married and for family to be involved.. so I am going to move straight onto day 8.. which is perfect for me.

I am choosing "Golden Slumbers" by The Beatles (Paul McCartney)

Once there was a way to get back homeward 
Once there was a way to get back home 
Sleep pretty darling do not cry 
And I will sing a lullaby

Golden slumbers fill your eyes 
Smiles awake you when you rise 
Sleep pretty darling do not cry 
And I will sing a lullaby

Once there was a way to get back homeward 
Once there was a way to get back home 
Sleep pretty darling do not cry 
And I will sing a lullaby


And here's a clip in case you're not familiar with it..

Day 6/30- A pet I would like to own

This is purely because of the dog with human hands on Sesame Street... The Weimaraner..

Look at those eyes!!

Day 5/30- A picture of me 2 years ago

Here is me before a 10k fun run at Albert Park in August 2008

Day 4/30- A picture of your bestie...

This is my best friend Mezz... We have been friends since 1998.

This photo is from Molly's birthday picnic last year. Right now she is patiently waiting for her baby to be born. She is 40w 4d. Please send lots of labour vibes!!!

Day 3/30- Perfect first date..

I had known John for several years before we were actually "on" together- He is my best friend's brother.. yeah, that was an awkward time... lol...That said, many of our first "dates" went like this:

1. Catch train from opposite ends of Melbourne and meet under the Flinders Street Station clocks

Flinders Street Station

2. Have a cuddle under the clocks



Degraves Street Cafes



Degraves Street, Melbourne



3. Meander to our favourite coffee drinking spot- Degraves Street (for those of you who are not from Melbourne or don't spend much time in the city, Degraves Street is an eclectic enclave of cafes, restaurants and boutique bars- the architecture is wonderful and mostly original and the smoke from the chimneys of wood fired ovens billows above your head as you walk through. It can get really busy at lunch time but it is well worth the visit. There is also some wicked street art in the laneways around) 



4. Wander around the city/botanical gardens/along the river



Melbourne City and the Yarra River



Track from Richmond to the city along the Yarra



5. Head to one of our houses to spend the evening together











Day 2/30- something I ate today

Apple cider vinegar and honey drink..

Porridge with banana and Mum's special home made cereal topper (buckwheat, ground flax seeds, sesame seeds, chopped almonds, goji berries and sultanas) 

And Molly just came in to report that she "ate too many berries from the freezer"... 

Day 1/30- A day in the life of us!

I started my day feeling not too flash.. Sat in bed for much longer than I should have while Molly pottered around and got ready for her day. One of my Twitter status updates was "Hubby knows what I need when I'm sick; hot drinks, bed and Twitter".. So that's what I did until he needed to leave.

Thanks to Charlie and Lola, Molly loves "pink milk"... When I looked at the back of the tins of commercial powder stuff I decided making it with real strawberries was a much better decision. We both drink it regularly- Ut's delushus!

Molly's contribution..

Cupcake decorating time! We decided to make cupcakes to celebrate my sister-in-law's estimated due date and share them at a picnic later today.

Buckling up and heading off to Pipemaker's Park for our picnic.

Cousins enjoying the pipes together!

Happy EDD Mezz... (nothing yet!)

The cupcakes were a howling success!

Upon our return home, I set Molly up with a DVD and I watched an inspirational doco about a doula who works with disadvantaged teen mothers in Chicago (see post below for the film).. I had tears streaming down my face for much of it.

Cuddle time...

Molly cleaned her workspace...

I cleaned the kitchen..

Molly cleaned the coffee table..

One of the small joys in my life is to have a clear sink... It's not that much to ask is it??! Yeah, I need a life, you're right...

Feet up after a busy day..

John got home all excited about Brownlow night tonight. He is holding a score sheet and he is making us all participate in a competition. The thing is, only he and his friend Gareth know enough about Footy to have any real chance of winning.. Oh well, he's excited!

Then I fed the worms.. Our 20,000 pets.

Hung out some washing... Yup, we have odd socks.. We just cannot seem to keep our socks together.

Watched Mol on her bike for a while..

John was inspired to clean for his exciting night in..

Our housemate Mayra cooked us dinner- a delicious spicy pork dish with brown rice..

And I finished off my meal with one of these.. This is for you Nicky!

Now I am waiting for our guests to arrive for football's "night of nights".. I am sure I will retire to bed before the winner is announced.

Thanks for joining us!