Notable 'grams: Hamish Blake takes on Humans of NY

This guy seriously cracks me up. I love following Hamish Blake on Instagram because of his unique commentary on the normal. And I am particularly loving his cute-as pictures of his little one, Sonny, who is just a few months younger than my daughter. Enjoy. 

"I grew up on a ketchup farm in Mississippi. We would go out all day and dig up bottles of ketchup then sell them by the side of the road for 10 dimes, which most people just call a dollar now. It wasn't till I was 18 that my pappy told me there's no such thing as a ketchup farm, he was buying those bottles in town and burying them in the middle of the night just to give us something to do the next day. They cost him two dollars a bottle, so we were losing a solid dollar every bottle, plus the time spent digging them up and him sneaking out every night to bury them. After I found out I moved to New York to become a jazz dancer. I became a hit and danced privately for many well known celebrities and world leaders. I would sometimes dance quietly for Einstein in his study, he said it helped him think. I was dancing softly in the corner when he came up with the E equals Mc Squared stuff." "You seem quite young to have danced for Einstein" "You're very kind young man". @humansofny #hamishsofny

A photo posted by Hamish Blake (@hamishblakeshotz) on Dec 12, 2014 at 12:39pm PST

Why we all want Pinterest Perfection

It's a relatively new phenomena, but it's growing at a staggering rate. It is a desire. An ambition. For some of us, all consuming. 

The desire to portray Pinterest Perfection. 

Photo-a-Day Challenge

I've really enjoyed FatMumSlim's photo-a-day challenge for December. I've never done a photo challenge before and, in the past, have found it a bit annoying when my Instagram friends have spammed my photo feed with pictures of apples, grass or an artistic shot of their car keys. BUT, I had never tried it. I am particularly enjoying following #fmsphotoaday and seeing how much better blogger photographers have interpreted the day's challenge. Chantelle over at Fat Mum Slim also does a top 4 post each day of her favourite pics that have the challenge's hashtag. Pretty cute. 

So head over to Instagram to see my latest daily photo and maybe even jump on board with the challenge yourself!

Notable 'grams: Kylie Purtell - A Study in Contradictions.

A shout out to a recent blog discovery. Kylie is a mum of two girls and tells it like it is. I particularly like this post on Instagram of her daughter on the eve of her third birthday. A picture's worth a thousand words...

Asleep in one of her two Frozen dresses. On the floor. I think it's safe to say she had a pretty good day! When she wakes up she'll be three! #punkyturns3 #punky2014

A photo posted by Kylie Purtell (@kyl21z) on Nov 11, 2014 at 3:17am PST

A Teacher's Rough Guide to Starting Big School

Dear Parents, 

Do not worry. Do not panic. It is all going to be OK.

With love and care from

Your-Child's-New-Kindergarten-Teacher

Photo credit, Isaac Boateng 

Notable 'grams: Brooke Fraser

This lady is my hero. Anyone who's known me for a month or more knows that I LOVE her music!!! Brooke Fraser.

She's just released her fourth album 'Brutal Romantic'. 

I'm heading to her Sydney show March 18 next year and can't wait!!!!

📷 by @scottligertwood

A photo posted by Brooke Fraser (@brookefraser) on Nov 11, 2014 at 12:48pm PST

You can check out her website here! 

My Top 7 Baby Discovery Baskets

I don't know why I didn't do discovery baskets sooner.

They sound difficult to organise and fiddly and time consuming. They aren't. And babies love them.

Essentially, the idea is to fill a basket with everyday items (baby safe items, of course) from around the house or garden and make it accessible to bub in their play area. That's it. And my bub absolutely adores her basket. It is the go to play thing above so many other toys (that cost us a lot more than the contents of that basket). I would say they are better for a baby six months or older who can sit up and grasp objects easily. And make sure the basket is light weight and baby safe too as babies are often attracted to this as a toy as well.

Mix up objects from across different themes or have a specific theme in one basket.

Here are my top SEVEN discovery baskets:

Photo credit, D, Garding

So you're going to have a baby.... A rough guide of what to do first

A faint pink line, a plus sign, a digital read out that screams PREGNANT. However you first discover that there is a little life growing inside you, it's a moment you'll never forget and comes with a huge range and mix of emotions. After chatting to a few friends (new mums, hopeful mums, not too far off mums and any other life stage centred around 'two becoming three' mums) and reflecting upon my own experience, I've realised that there can be a fair bit of confusion about what you should do when you find out you're pregnant straight away. So here is a rough guide of what to do first (and a bit before and later)...

Note: I've tried to include a few different perspectives here. AND, this information is specifically for women based in NSW, Australia as other states and countries may have different systems and ways of doing things.

Photo credit, Ryan

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Baby and Family Menu

I am often scouring Pinterest and searching on Google for family friendly meals that will easily convert into beginner finger food for my nine month old daughter. In my search it seems that there are many many other mums out there who are doing the same. I decided that since my daughter is not currently starving that I would track a week or so of foods that have happened in our house and share them here. Maybe if a few of us did the same there would be some excellent, practical resources out there for sparking creativity in the kitchen (and easy ideas!). I hope the list encourages you that you're probably already doing a great job.

Photo credit: Donnie Ray Jones 

I try to avoid a lot of packaged food and always love things that are simple. I try to include variety but this is by no means a perfectly balanced meal plan. It is me doing my best during a pretty average week with its normal change ups and routine. Enjoy!


Sunday

Baby Breakfast ~ weetbix and boiled water with some cows milk added, dry toast fingers
Mum's Breakfast ~ coffee, mashed avocado on toast and a hard-boiled egg (3 leftover hard-boiled eggs go in fridge for later. I write the date on them with a marker.)

Reflections on Wardobes

Ergh. We all know that sound we make when we're fed up, trivially annoyed at something or slightly disgusted at ourselves or our situation. 

Just ergh. 

Like when you open the fridge after feeling sick for a week and you still don't want to eat anything inside it. Or when you have just spent an hour making amazing pumpkin soup and the very first mouthful ends up on your light-coloured T-shirt. 

It was exactly the sound I made when I pulled down the stashed space bag from the top of our wardrobe and started sorting my pre pregnant clothes. 

Notable 'grams: Love My Bambino

This lovely lady's online store is making me all excited for Christmas with the littlies. My notable 'gram of the week goes to these gorgeous chrissy baby girl headbands!!!! Get on down to Love my Bambino to pick one up or just oggle the very gorgeous baby and kids range.