Mammajoy

The Time Has Come

It's time to embrace the fact that wrinkles are going to happen.

Phew.

That was a hard sentence to get out!!!

For a long time I've been in denial.  But then I turned 30, and then 31 and then I realised that maybe it's time to try some things that might help delay the wrinkles just a wee bit.

Enter Burt's Bees.

 
I love a natural product that doesn't try and win me over with it's slick advertisements or unrealistic promises or fancy schmancy packaging.

So when I saw this little jar sitting on a shelf at the corner Pharmacy near my sisters place in the city, I swooned.

It's natural (98.99% to be exact), affordable ($49.95) and hang on to your pants sista's it works!

The cream smells great without being too overpowering and doesn't have that synthetic feel that some creams have.

It goes on right before bed each night and I tell ya, when I wake up in the morning my skin actually looks firmer and smoother.  I wouldn't have believed it had I not actuallly tried it for myself! 

I've tried some other products made by Burts Bees, like their lip balm (so pepperminty!), this lip shimmer  in 'raisin', and this hand creme is just out-of-this-world delicious.  It leaves my hands so soft, isn't greasy and the moisturisation lasts for hours.

I think it's fair to say I'm falling in love with ye' old Burts Bees.

You can get their story here, and their website has details on all their products, most of which I've seen in stores here in Australia.  Actually their website even has a handy store locator.

Clever!

It feels good doing something kind for my skin.  But I'm still secretly hoping that the only wrinkles I'll get are smile wrinkles!

Amanda xxoo

 

*   This is not a paid advertisement.  Burts Bees have not approved nor endorsed my ramblings about their great products.  It's just me sharing what products I love because I care about your wrinkles.  Well, not really.  But you know what I mean.  *

Crescendo

My car pulls into the driveway and I pause.

There's always a hush, right before the loud roar of kids, bags, shopping, shoes, hats, and hungry bellies flow out of the car and into the house.

I soak up that hush.

Inside the house the swirling begins.  Hungry, needing, demanding, drinking little people, all wanting to be heard now.

Their voices seem to grow louder and louder, trying to be heard over siblings who want their turn first.

I retreat to the piano.

Mamma needs a moment.

She's just not sure she has what it takes right this second.

I see sets of eyes fall onto me.  Looking for food, comfort, a hug, a listening ear, a warm hand.

And it's there, my dear little ones

But just not readily accessible right this second.

I play some notes that reflect my heart.  The ebb and flow of my day poured onto the keys, cool beneath my fingers.

I feel my heart and it feels heard.

With each note I connect back to the space I'm in.

Sombre notes give way for dancing trios and playful scales, quick hands cause me to smile.

I hear the fluster and grunting of children behind me, but it no longer fills my vision.

Jesus please give me grace right now.  I'm not sure I can meet everybodies needs. 

I'm weary.

My hands fall still on keys I know by heart.

I close the piano lid, attend to the children.  One by one.  We'll get it done.

Matt's eyes tell me he knows what's going on, my time on the piano means it's been a hard day.  And I'm trying to re-focus and be present.  So my heart can be heard.  Can fly.  Can breathe.

I feel his firm hand on my back.  We're in this together babe.

What's for dinner?

I have no idea.  (Menu planning went out the window weeks ago).

You bath.  I'll cook.

When tummies are full, bodies are clean, stories told and giggled shared, we all collapse on the lounge room foor.  Books are brought in and warm, sweet-smelling bodies flop beside me.

We learn about fungi growing on bread, why trees lose there leaves in winter and what the Queen of the Rose Fairies will do with the fairies that keep sleeping in, missing their chores.

Little eyes light up and sleepy smiles fill the room with joy.

One by one, tucked into cozy beds, sealed with a kiss for a goodnight sleep, the house falls quiet.

I realise that somewhere along the way of balancing work and home the pressure to be better organised and super-productive and constantly tidy has begun to creep in.

That's when I struggle.

 

Just when I think that in order to get everything that matters done,

(I have to go faster and make everything better and be more to everybody)

 

Jesus reminds me that in order to get everything that matters done,

(I need to stop and listen and be present and be still)

 

It's that crazy upside-down-world grace where first will be last and poor will be rich that I'm still learning to live.

One day at a time.

 

Amanda xxoo

The Best Idea E-V-A

So my super-talented sister (from here, in case you're unaware of her awesomeness) was over on the weekend and we got to talking about bunting.

Any normal conversation naturally turns to the marvelous topic of bunting don't they?

Well my sister told me about weatherproof bunting.  That you can hang up outside.  And you can leave it there.

Say-what-now?

So I googled and I found it and here it is.  Originally from this lovely blog.

image source

 

I may make 10 or a thousand.  What's even better about this pattern is that you recycle old plastic shopping bags.

My afternoon cuppa in the backyard is about to become oh-so-more-pretty!

Thank you Pepper and Hannah.

Amanda xxoo

 

P.S  We had a gorgeous day on Saturday at Miss Rachael's 5th Birthday Party.  Once I find my loungeroom floor and finish scraping cake icing off the kitchen benches (rock solid stuff) I'll post some photos.

Today

Today I am....

 

Marvelling  ::  at the orange orangy-ness of the flowers growing in my garden.

 

 

Wondering  ::  just when I'm going to finally finish these pants for Joseph.  I think I started them in January.

 

 

Hoping  ::  that Matt and I can find a moment to put up my fancy-schmancy hanger from Ikea.  That I bought in December!

 

 

Enjoying  ::  a cup of delicious tea given by a friend.  I do believe there is a tradition of letter-box gift giving about to begin....; )

 

 

Loving  ::  playing my piano.  Hearing music fill the air is just magical.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend!

Amanda xxoo

Snow Cones

My boy Joseph loves to race.

I'm thinking it's a boy thing because I don't remember the girls wanting to race each other up the stairs each time we arrive home.

But Joseph loves it.

The first thing I learnt about boys was this - why just walk, when you could run AND make fun motor sounds at the same time!  It's boy utopia!

So as you can imagine the race up our front stairs (and there's quite a few stairs) is complete with motorbike sounds and loud thuds as he tries to out-do his sisters.

He gets very cranky if someone beats him.  A frown comes over his chubby little face and he protests....

'Nooooo.  I can beat you...I'm a big boy now'.

But if he wins and beats everybody up the stairs he does a happy dance and says...

'Ha-Ha, Ha-Ha, you are a snow cone.'

A snow cone? 

Sure!  Why not.

For a long time I just thought he was being his usual, slightly off-centre self (takes after his Dad you see).  Being all cheeky and cute and adorable.

But today when we walked up the stairs and he beat me and did his little dance while chanting..

'Ha-Ha, Ha-Ha, you are a snow cone!'

I realised what was happening.  He's a little confused with the saying that (I'm sure) he heard his older sisters say....

'You are a slow coach!'

Oh Joseph, you crack me up.

I laughed so hard when I realised what he was trying to say, that I nearly wet my pants.  Don't judge me I've had four babies.

Joseph really thinks that if you lose the race you are a snow cone.

 
Sweet boy.  I love you so much my heart hurts.

P.S. Just noticed the girls in the background of this picture!  They do love each other, really.  But it would appear that Jessica is standing on Rachael's head?  *sigh*  Tender memories.

Birthday Dentist Trip

 

It's funny when history repeats itself.

Here is Rachael, sitting in a dentist chair today, being extra brave and listening well and giggling about the 'funny sunnies' she has to wear.

(I love how she delights in the unusual.)

She needed a filling and was so patient and forgiving when that dentist drilled away inside her little mouth.  Is there any other sound quiet as nerve-racking?  I don't think there is.

What makes this trip to the dentist a strange mix of nostalgia and serendipity is that today is Rachael's birthday.  And today she got her first filling.

Around 26 years ago, on my birthday, I got my first filling.

I can remember clearly walking up those rickety fold-out steps of the school dental van, the smell of the toothpaste and linoleum and air-conditioned air.  The dental nurse smiled at me and wished me a happy birthday, and how about having to visit the dentist on your birthday?

Yes, today has been a strange mix of memories and last-times and first-times and of holding and squeezing little hands, watching little brown eyes look at me through the funny sunnies, needing to know if everything is okay.  And tasting the fear again, offering soothing words and promises of fruit smoothies and ice-creams.

It was sweet and strange and wonderful to be sharing those moments with my daughter, knowing that the exact same thing happened to me all those years ago.  I see so much of myself in Rachael, and even more so today because she was where I've been and I knew how she felt.  Serendipity.

And now she's all better.  Her cheek woke up after a while (the needle put it to sleep, you see) and is full of stories and pictures to share at school tomorrow.

And I am relieved that the cavity is filled.

And thankful for this chance to remember a day from my childhood, and to offer my girl comfort and grace. 

(But no more lollies for you Miss Rachael Bear!)

Amanda xxoo

 

Surreal

It's like something out of a Hollywood blockbuster.

People in big white jumpsuits being scanned for radiation.

A man clinging to a roof, drifting in a sea of debri and angry water.

An entire town swept away by a swelling ocean.

God, what is going on?

It is so hard to imagine the depth of devastation the people of Japan are experiencing right now.  My heart is heavy for all those people crushed  by the earthquake or swept away by the ocean and lost forever.

I'm lost for words.

 

This Picnic is Going to be Okay

I love Doris Day.

I know, I know.  It's a little-known fact about myself that I've kept quiet for many, many years but now......it's time.

I can't keep my love quiet any more.

She's just..... perfect.  And so wonderfully lovely.  And beautiful.

When I'm having a bad day, hearing her sing makes my heart smile.  She lights up a room when she glides in, all grace and soft curves and twinkling eyes.

She's uplifting, funny, alluring, cheeky and audacious all wrapped up in one.

I was 18 when I watched my first Doris Day movie.  I was working at a boarding school (as a House Mistress, best and worst job ever, but that's a story for another day), it was school holidays and April in Paris was the midday movie one day.  I loved every minute of it.  The songs, the innocence, the humour.  The perfectly neat hair and well-pronounced grammar.  The way people said what they wanted and meant what they said.  Men were manly and women were feminine and that's the way things were.

Because I'm currently sick with a head cold and have foregone all notions of exercise I'm scouring YouTube, watching my favourite movie scenes of Doris.  See?  And you thought I was cool.  I'm really a dork at heart.

I have many, many favourites.  This one is from The Pyjama Game.  Every time I watch this clip I smile.

It's just so, elaborate.

The dresses are fantastic, the dances are amazing and the fact that the scene is set over an entire picnic ground?  Makes me want to picnic Doris-style every weekend!

Who's in?

 

P.S.  And OH MY, all that lovely bunting!!

 

Good Words

 

Can't Talk, Must Exercise

That's what my life has been like since 3 weeks ago when I started this.  Me and exercise haven't always been friends.  Actually we've barely been acquaintances.

But oh how that has changed.

Like this last week?  I've done 7 workout sessions!  SEVEN!  I like the gym now (except for the slightly intimidating muscle-clad men that strut around like peacocks), I LOVE to run and the highlights of my week are the two Zumba classes I do.

This girl's learn'n to shake her booty y'all.  :-)

Each Wednesday is weigh-in day.  Week 1 - 1kg.  Week 2 - 900g.  I've lost 1.9kg so far.  I have 8.1kg to go.

And just quietly? (Only not because this is a blog after all) 

I think I've got this weight-loss in the bag.

I mean, I've NEVER been this committed.  Or determined.  Or excited.  Or inspired.

After years and years of being overweight I'm ready to meet the size 12 that is hiding within me.

I know she's there.  At the moment only my legs look about a size 12.  But my thighs?  Not so much.  My neck has become thicker (what the?) but my tummy is shrinking.  My butt has a long way to go.

Is it too much?  Talking about my butt on my blog?  Sorry.

After I did the 'Butt & Thigh Workout' DVD on Friday morning it hurt every time I sat down.  Or walked, or bent over.  Anything really.  It all hurt.  But as they say, pain is gain.

However the past few days have been frustrating as I've come down with a nasty head cold (is there really any other kind?).  And so I swing between pushing myself to exercise and feeling truly awful afterwards, and not even bothering to get up off the couch.

It's been a week of extremes.  I'm proud to say though, that I have avoided my I'm-sick-and-need-comfort-food trips to the pantry for a bite of chocolate here and there.  And I honestly haven't even missed them.

I do believe that's a milestone people.

I'm learning to love the body that I have and it's so refreshing to have a positive opinion on my physical appearance - instead of the usual beat-myself-up buffet with a side of guilt please.

It may sound cheesy?  But when I smile it kinda feels like it comes from way down inside me now.  Instead of just on the surface.  I'm more okay with the way I am then I have been in a long, long time.

Having said that, it's hard work.  Sweating isn't exactly enjoyable and having aching muscles every day isn't a walk in the park.  It's barely a walk anywhere really, more of a moaning shuffle.

But it's worth it.  Totally worth it.

The kids are tucked up in bed (2 healthy, 2 with Mr. Snuffles also here for a visit), Matt is asleep and the electric oil burner is keeping me company with it's eucalyptus goodness wafting toward me.

Ahhh.  Peace and quiet.

Good night world.

I'm going to take my 27th homeopathic cold & flu tablet.

I'm beginning to doubt if they even work.