too many things in my head to blog right now

Greetings all,

Phew, what a week . . . rain, athletics, snow, shopping, wind, sneezing, hail, GCB . . . which my husband has already ruined by informing me that the GCB television series has been cancelled after the first season, damn it, such perfect timing with my 20 year school reunion later this year!!  Have to say, we didn't have mean girls in our year, but they were around in high school . . . so to see adults not moving on (albeit in a television show) & now being parents of high schoolers . . . was fascinating!!

I'm just signing off for a few days so i can get my head around next week (more rain, athletics, sneezing etc.)  Just did the groceries for the Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation, starting Monday, & bumped into 3 school mums (almost literally with my trolley, i was so focused on the shopping list) who are interested & ready to cheer on my transformation.  I've had a tummy irritation all week yet no weight loss, argh!!  

Winter is having a final hurrah, it's awful outside, mud everywhere & icey winds, we even put the ducks in the bath last night to clean up - now i'm going to clean up the bathroom!!

In the meantime, we're still dreaming of this & shopping for a farm . . .

have glorious weekends everyone, i'm starting Monday fresh & energised!!  Love Posie

PS want to win a family pass to Taronga Western Plains Zoo, check this giveaway.

good afternoon, come in to my office . . .

Greetings all,
Do you remember having an office job??  Or, an office??  Or indeed, a job!!  One where people would knock & wait to be asked to come in, not burst through a door open or closed, whether you're on the phone or deep in thought, squealing "muuuum . . ."  I haven't been in a meeting, board room or office chair since 2001 . . . & with a sewing machine on my desk ever since, i find different pockets & places to do the business-of-family administration.  These days, when all is quiet, i use the kitchen counter. 

 I pour myself a drink, light a candle, grab my note pads, phone, calendar & pen, flick through a cookbook & today . . . fill out orthopaedic hand surgeon paperwork. 

 Then label a million back-to-school-books/ folders/ stationery & wonder why i chose to have children with a man with such a long surname.

 Ponder the fruit bowl, needs some effort.  I want to get back into a routine of going to the fresh food market on Thursdays, farmer's markets are a chore on weekends with sports.

 My last paid employment (before sewing at home) was at a fuel farm, as an oil barroness, managing commercial services for the entire Northern Territory.  Yes, i used to be someone, meeting VIP oil, energy & gas executives from around the world & fine dining with my trophy husband!!  I was the only girl & heavily pregnant with twins when i finished - they were born the day after i left . . . sitting in my huge leather office chair in air conditioning was the only place i was comfortable, so i worked until the last moment.  I really enjoyed my work, the truck drivers (who drive those long road trains) would bring me homegrown mangoes & knock off early on Fridays for drinks.  As i had my first daughter months after finishing University, this was my ONLY proper full time job, then i retired aged 26, a mother of 3. 
I used to spend my afternoons checking transfers of millions of litres/ dollars worth of fuel & liaise with head office in Melbourne over the dozen departments i headed.  Now i spend my afternoons sorting laundry & preparing dinner before the school run.  I've never worked harder in my life, but i know what i enjoy more (i love housework, i find it relaxing).  My husband misses the grid girls though.
I love looking back & remembering what i used to do.  I remember all my part time jobs, Uni & high school so vividly.  I love listening to my eldest talk about her days/ friends/ classes & now (as she's in year 8) about how cute the little year 7s are!!  I have less than 10 years left in this school mother game, i honestly think life speeds up the older you get!!  I've designed an office nook in our homestead plans, i don't want an official office, just a little space, maybe behind doors, perhaps sound proofed??  Love Posie

i'm grateful for . . . 'the goodies of wrapping up the year'

Greetings all,

Maxabella Loves last I'm Grateful For the year . . . so it's a Christmas cracker of a finale!!
Lovely goodies sent to me this week (my postmistress Anna calls it 'fan mail').  A little house of love Christmas ornament from Leonie at Kiwi At Heart blog & this delightful red bird ornament from Ally at Everyday Miracles blog.  Thanks ladies, big smile on my face & warmth in my heart.

 Canberra locals know & LOVE Erica Soy Candles.  Erica offers half price refills & lives arond the corner (home delivery) yay!!  My latest refills will make our home smell fresh (lime & sandalwood, lemon grass, Victorian rose, pink grapefruit, 'relaxation') & festive this Summer . . .10 tins of Christmassy smelling candles for teacher's gifts: gingerbread, spiced orange, mistletoe, frankincense & myrrh + more.  Wish this was a scratch'n'sniff blog!!

 I read on Tania McCartney's blog a neat review of Lotta magazine, produced in Australia & aimed at school holiday craft projects, delightful.  Better yet, $10 & ad free!!  I've been hanging out for the Christmas edition of Mollie Makes magazine.  Found myself with time to kill in the car the other day, so grabbed New Idea, i don't think i've ever bought a copy but i'd like to know how Rebecca Gibney lost the weight too!! 

 Thursday's Brindabella market was delightful . . . Mel from Canberra Airport organises the marquee, trestles, linen tablecloths & we just display our goods & sell, awesome deal right??  Thanks Mel!!  This time, after nagging Tania for 2 years, planets aligned & she was available to have a stall.  She had baked each of my children personalised GingerBreadMen.  They were exactly the kind of gingerbread we like (soft & chewy) & so cute!!  Thanks Tania!!

 My children's Christmas bikes have been the gift that keeps on giving - especially when they return with a bounty of flowers from the neighbourhood.  I expect their 'wanted' descriptions up on posters shortly, they promise they only pick flowers from the nature strips & paths!!

 Stacey from Cheeky Textiles blog had a 'shopping event' at her place on Friday, it was really great & we're all keen to do it again.  Inbetween the morning & evening sessions, i had a delicious P&C Thank You lunch & collected the children from school.  Jam packed day.  Rachelle from Orange Whisk was selling her incredible gingerbread & vanilla biscuits (you can find them at the Essential Ingredient in Manuka too).  She bought SO many things from my stall, the 3rd time she came around i insisted "take what you want & pay me in food".  Mmmm, so glad she did.  Thanks for having us Stacey!!

 My high schooler has wrapped up year 7 with a bang: parties, discos, gifts, sports ribbons, dancing with their teachers & she lost her last baby tooth (parceled up by a teacher with quite the demand to the tooth fairy).  Her much adored maths & science teacher "Mr B" is returning to Canada with his wife & 4 daughters, after a year long exchange.  He gave her a Canadian twoney ($2 coin) & i promised we'll go to Alberta one day & hunt him down.  My husband went to Canada on an adventure training exercise with the Army 12 years ago & i'm still jealous!!   

 I'll admit, Saturday started off with nibbling gingerbread on the way to athletics, then the Farmer's Market.  Picked up double of my regular purchases of fruit, foccacia, chocolates, sausages, dips & breads.  My fruit bowl is overflowing with apples & pears.  Should survive the first week of high school holidays, my little ones are stuck at school until Wednesday week.  They have 2 days off before the Christmas weekend??!!

 Yay, can you believe this bounty from Donna Hay??  She's offering very generous specials in the lead up to Christmas on line & at her General Store in Sydney.  Next week i'll have 4 prizes in a Donna Hay giveaway, stay tuned, i just have to bake first & we're spending the rest of the weekend in Bowral.

Sending you great festive vibes people.  Love to you all, lots of gratefulness for following me & supporting me this year, love you all & thanks Bronwyn from Maxabella Loves blog for hosting mucho appreciation this year!!  Love Posie

things i'm loving . . . 'athletics carnival, high school style'

Greetings all,
I have always looked forward to my children starting high school.  I LOVED high school, the friends, the sports, the work, the parties, it was so much fun.  I did 5 sports a year - softball, netball, tennis, cricket + athletics.  My husband was super sporty too - athletics, tennis, swimming, hockey & water polo.  I love that our children are naturally sporty, it's so healthy & great for self confidence. 

I can't believe i'm already attending high school athletics carnivals.  I was SO excited this week.  Handsome soldier took our daughter early to run the 1500m (she came a energy-less 2nd place, after her virus, i'm amazed she could run at all).  

I love the track & field centre at the Australian Institute of Sports, you can move around & watch all the events your children are (like discus way over the other side or triple jump along the edge of the track).

 I am loving my daughter's high school so much, their attitude is amazing.  They are all about participation & encourage girls to dress up (so they turn up), it's a party atmosphere.  While my children are competitive & try their hardest, in high school . . . some girls have no desire to compete in sports . . . so the school offers participation points just for entering.  They run serious races, then non-competitive, where you'll see girls link arms & run together. 

 It's a large school, split into 6 houses.  My daugther's house is the smallest & they don't win anything, not even debating or choir, but they are enthusiastic.  Their dress up theme was 'ninjas' & most were dressed in full black or karate outfits.  The green house were 'terror' so there were lots of zombies & vampires, which looked hilarious as they ran down the track, some with axes attacking fellow racers!!  The blue house were 'toys' so there were Bananas In Pyjamas doing javelin & Cookie Monsters doing long jump.  Not sure why but there were lots of red power rangers too.  EDIT: red house were 'aliens & astronauts'.  Also, the announcer/ teacher wore a scream mask all day & it was so hilarious!!    

 Our sweet daughter is officially the youngest girl in the entire school (she skipped a year) & she amazes me with her petit size that she finishes in the top 5 of most events.  She competed in a dozen jumps, throws & running races, even started off the relay for her house.  The year 12 relays were fantastic, each team included a teacher & the male PE staff stole the show.  Another really cool event was The Flash - where the fastest 100m runner from each age group, ran against each other, to find the fastest girl at school. 

My husband set up a picnic rug on the hill & we had a great view, far away from the screaming cheerleaders.  I tell you, 1100 high school girls can scream, loudly, all day.  Even i left with a headache.  For more Things I'm Loving visit Paisley Jade, love Posie

a career in design, presented by a scientist

Greetings all,

Wow, tomorrow i'm part of the Experts on Tap at my daughter's high school - to chat about my industry, design, to impressionable & wide eyed year 10 students who no doubt have hopes & dreams of fame & fortune.  I have no fear of public speaking but have warned the vocation teachers that my qualifications are in the sciences, i made up my own handmade sewing & design business from scratch in the last millenium.  Please don't let them ask me which courses to enrol in at university or college or tafe or life!!
I am sure the accountants talking about accounting & doctors talking about doctoring all had clear paths to their careers.  How do i talk about a career i moulded around the fact i had to create an job around a bunch of small children, at home, without help, moving interstate every couple of years, i couldn't do weekend markets & it was before the internet was in everyone's home/ phone/ workplace??  I know, i made it happen, somehow.  I guess i'll twist it around to a discussion point on how to move with the times, be flexible & constantly developing, embracing technology & accepting your family situation.  OMG, i can hear myself saying "it was so much harder back in my day" & pull up a rocking chair!!  The world of 'commercial design' has changed, mums sewing at home & small scale handmade cottage industry has made a come back (500 years after it started)!!

I really want to emphasise a basis of natural creativity, finding your own style, niche even & building on it.  I am spatial so made all my own patterns for everything, saves risk of copyright or . . . copying!!  Hope there is an lawyer there to chat about intellectual property & how someone can crush your dreams by stealing your unprotected idea.  You also have to have a good dose of confidence, you are kind of showing your heart & soul to the world with what you create.  You have to keep going forward all the time. 

 Keeping overheads down - i didn't start buying bolts until a few years into my business when i truly knew my style & what my customers would like.  It's tempting to take out a loan & buy up big, but i say "selling out is a good thing, your clients will be hungry for your next range".  Do small product runs, be exclusive & special.

 Make, make, make - your own gifts, products for yourself & samples for sale to get a feel for what the market is after.  Craft is no longer a dirty word, handmade is now cherished & small boutiques are really cutting into major department store sales these days.  Keep fine tuning your skills & tweaking product ranges.  Be careful to use words like "unique" or "original" unless you really mean "one off".  If you're making dozens of the same thing, make each one slightly different - be it fabric, a small ribbon detail or size.

 You're spoilt for choice these days for places to sell your products - etsy, MadeIt, eBay, FaceBook - all offer low cost/ low investment on line shops.  Not to mention the endless stream of gorgeous handmade/ craft markets out there, for stall fee.  Advertising - social media of blogs, FB etc are brilliant marketing tools.  I believe THE designer should be able to present the best PR for their own business, especially for those "you are YOUR product" businesses.  If not, there are plenty of fabulous companies who can help.

Getting into magazines/ published is such a thrill, once you're on their 'call out' list, it's the best glossy magazine free advertising you can get (free = cost to send them the products).
So as i put my 'key messages' together in my mind & worry about what to wear . . . i mean . . . what i should tell these girls, who might be overwhelmed at the thought of being 15 years old & ever confident about anything, versus those who diss me & insist they'll be the next Sass&Bide, i think i'll approach them from the good old Q&A session.  I'll do an introduction about how/ when/ why i started to my journey to where i am now, where i want to go & then ask them what they want to know & how to grasp opportunities, if a mentor might help & who to trust or include in their business.  I'm all about 'love what you do' but it has to pay the bills & be realistic about covering costs - or should i leave them dreaming?? 

I have to do this 4 times for 30 minutes to 4 seperate groups.  Should i take props??  If i feel i'm losing them, should i let slip my daughter in lowly year 7 was the cool one putting up the super popular "You're Awesome" posters to gain some street cred??  Wish me luck, teenagers are lovely & keen to learn that this is one career built on a lot of hard work, long hours & a dash of failure, aren't they??  Love Posie

things i'm loving 'the most awesomest idea'

Greetings all,

I am SO impressed with my high schooler this week, ok, more impressed than normal.  She emailed me from her bedroom & asked me to print out a few copies of this poster she created.  She has been putting them up around school for fun . . . no one knows it's her & everyone is talking about it!!  Each morning she finds all the "i'm awesome" tags pulled off & girls giggling about how cool it is.  Who's Awesome - my daughter!!

It's kind of sneaky & cheeky, a whole lot of fun & makes people feel . . . awesome.  It was her own clever idea & i'm pretty confident she will be one happy teenager in this world.  So Paisley Jade, that is what i'm loving this Friday, love Posie

PS like a copy of the poster - leave a comment, i'll email you one & have your own fun!!

. . . last few days to enter my paper packaging giveaway, oh yes, goodie bags, itty bitty paper bags, stickers, twine & why not, i'll toss in your very own awesome poster too, 6 prizes to win . . .

things i'm loving 'high school sport'

Greetings all,

As i defrost this afternoon from a long day at a high school touch football gala, i am really loving my daughter's high school sports.  She struggles with the fact her school day has increased by an hour yet sports time has decreased (as her sports chauffeur, i assure you she is getting plenty of sports time!!) 

Today started like this . . . fog & mist & a very Scooby Doo Mystery Machine kind of road trip to the Touch Football Fields in Deakin (near the Mint & via the Prime Minister's Lodge).  We couldn't tell who was getting 'touched' down the other end of the field, it was so spooky/ creepy.  This photo was taken at 11a.m.!!

My children are sporty, but at the primary school level, i'm happy for them to stick to the school organised carnivals & not seek out extra weekend sport besides local Little Athletics.  The thought of splitting myself into 4 all over Canberra for each child & their chosen event, it just doesn't compute & car pooling is great but i'd want to watch them play - neverlone the after school practice sessions at various locations, it would kill me.  They have been very good about this, knowing high school sport is where they'll shine.  So i'm loving the sporting opportunities that high school is providing.  This touch football was a one-day-only affair, but so exciting & she'll be back next year, no doubt in an even better coordinated team (before today they didn't even know each other's names!!) 

After the state cross country finals next week we're off to try our hands at Volleyball.  

Between the 5 matches they played, we froze in the grand stand on the waterproof picnic rug & wrapped in various layers of school jackets.  I'm discovering there aren't many housewives when it comes to high school.  I find this stage of raising children is a much bigger deal - homework, sports, personal development - as teenagers, i think they need you much more than when they are in primary school.  Anyway, I have no idea why i didn't compute "football" with "mud" & wore leather ballet flats in 5C & heavy fog??  I have the prettiest gum boots, i'll know for next time, see i'm a novice too!!  I'll also tuck my jeans into those boots, look at them, i'm off to the bath - I've never returned from a gala in this condition before!!
What is everyone else loving at Paisley Jade today??  Love Posie
EDIT: her team came 3rd & she scored a great try!!

i'm grateful for 'naturally sporty children'

Greetings all,

'twas a full on week of children's extra cirricular activities - 3 full days devoted to . . . running my son to a nerdy GATEWAYS programme (learn to speak like a computer & binary code), my eldest daughter to ASC cross country (ACT private high school finals) & twinnies to primary school regional cross country . . . ALL in different directions criss crossing Canberra.  I have a wind/ sun/ cheer/ spinning headache & empty fuel tank.   

 The ASC was at Weston Park in Yarralumla (where the Governor General lives) it is stunningly beautiful.  After the girls disappeared into the bushes, they popped out 3km later at the finish line.  She's now running faster than handsome soldier!! 

My children have always been runners, climbers, jumpers, naturally sporty, keen to be outdoors & they run for fun.  I can assure you - this mummy is not an ugly sideline crazy parent either.  Can't say the same for the undelightful stranger next to me who kept telling me her daughter would win (& she did, bugger).  Yes, one of those parents who live through their children's accomplishments.  Avoid!!  She didn't have a camera but screamed "smile as you cross the line" & thoughts of pageant mother ran through my head.  I'll avoid her at the state finals next month, she's not from my daughter's school, stop talking to me weirdo!!   

Then my twinnies had their cross country at the rehabilitated-from-bush-fire Mt Stromlo.  It will be stunning when the trees grow back.  I was a little too excited cheering to take photos of my girls crossing the line, especially when my middle girl came from getting the baton in 6th place to storm home for the relay in 3rd place.  That was extra exciting as the other mummies of the relay runners were with me cheering her on & ALL our girls get ribbons.

My sweet boy, he won his 7 year old age group at school & was fast enough to run with the 8 year olds at regionals, but not allowed.  I'm just not competitive enough to adjust his birth certificate!!  I would have sent him to school as he's SRC/ class captain & was hosting assembly but overnight he had a fever & although nothing happened, better to keep him with me than at school.  He has come every year anyway with all his sisters running - this time he was hanging out with the year 4 boys reading 'choose your own adventure' stories & chowing down on my picnic.  They are such nice children at our little primary school, hungry but nice.

So i'm very grateful that something so healthy, fun & free, comes naturally to my children.  They are not only great runners, they are great sports too.  Watching my 3rd daughter zoom off on her 2km cross country course & realise she'd left her school mates behind, she stopped to run with them - adorable.  That warms my heart far more than a first place ribbon.  I was chatting to a sports teacher about pushy parents & she said they don't realise that they actually destroy natural talent & kill the fun of the sport (+ embarrass their children).  My 4 are proud of themselves & the second they cross the line they turn to cheer on their friends. 

Handsome soldier called to say good luck, he wishes he was with us.  Well it's the real world, it's a luxury to be a stay at home parent & witness these school day milestones - i'm just extra lucky.  We all car pooled & took photos to email the parents who missed it.  Maxabella Loves will tell you what everyone else is Grateful for this Saturday, we're off to a high tea, bliss!!  Love Posie
PS check out this Lego Giveaway, ends Sunday night, don't miss it . . . &
win an all inclusive ticket to the amazing Handmade Small Business Summit on 10th June.

i'm grateful for 'knowing my breaking point'

Greetings all,

Oh boy, am i grateful for knowing my breaking point.  Let me use this bed break as a metaphor for my week . . . snap.  No, i didn't snap, i'm very patient & calm under pressure, but a child's bed snapped (the children all got new-expensive-to-last-to-adult-investment-beds & mattresses only 6 months ago, argh!!)  I've had a few niggles of annoyance building so i've taken action & struck another job off my list-of-committments . . . the P&C . . . farewell volunteer work, meetings & fundraisers.  I've always enjoyed the P&C, but it's time for a break. 

Previous breaking points/ wake up calls have included . . . hitting a huge kangaroo at midnight between a must-attend-family-event in Sydney & a must-attend-Tournament of the Minds contest in Canberra the next morning; parking tickets; being burgled; & most recently . . . the neighbour's wall jumped out to clip & blow my tyre, so a creepy tyre repairman could announce in front of my children "you really f***ed the rim, i'll have to bash the s*** out of it to fix it, that's $400".  When i lose focus, crap happens, expensive crap, often insured but still crappy!!  I loathe being distracted, unfocused, over committed & rushed.  This week we almost lost a fish as i forgot to clean the tank, not on my watch little fishy!!

This year i've reduced my work load by culling my on line website, closing my wholesale label Edna&AliceMay (i had products in 50 stores around the world, did you know, i didn't until i counted) & only scheduling 6 markets in 2011. Working at Shop Handmade makes me happy, especially with my husband away (read: adult contact) & doing big markets are a blast. I've been going to the gym & increasing my cooking skills - i want to spend more time doing these positive things, which benefit me & my family.

 I don't have time to hunt down facts & figures for reports or begging volunteers to stand behind a school BBQ.  I don't have the need to please & i do say "no", i find the work easy, but dealing with negativity for free??  If this bed didn't break, i think i would have banged my head against it - it's how i felt last weekend, a new term looming with unresolved P&C stress. 

 I need more time up my sleeve to put out 'fires'.  I actually don't like being busy - there is a difference to being a high energy person who gets a lot done each day . . . i like to do things properly & enjoy them, not rushed or half hearted.  I also believe there is a big difference between responsibility of committments (self imposed have to type things to keep a family running) & stress (beyond your control).

First 'fire' . . . this Charlie&theChocolateFactory grandparent style bed sharing situation . . . i'll undo the bed frame & march it into Harvey Norman to demand a new one.  That's this weekend, i wonder what 'fire' i'll have to 'put out' next weekend??  Please not the washing machine, car, fridge, vacuum or dishwasher, they are my lifelines.  But if there is something, i'm available.

I marched into Shop Handmade on Monday & declared my plans to reduce my committments, to find Rachel had made us curried egg & cucumber sandwiches for lunch, glee!!  Then Julie invited me to Mother's Day dinner so i didn't have to make my own, joy!!  True friends, they read your mind, they know when to deliver & help before you do. 

So this weekend i will finish my P&C reports; tax; buy groceries; cook & bake; housework; yoga & pump; write letters; answer emails; press uniforms & sew market stock.  This is an 8-day-weekend right??  I feel so much better when my life is up to date, under control & smooth, just saying outloud "i'm at breaking point" it's not failure, i think it's success: identify what needs to change.  I don't like losing my sparkle, i'm sure i'm not alone in my desire to take control of my time & energy.  More Gratefuls at Maxabella Loves.  Love Posie

EDIT: Woke up feeling energised & stress free.  This time next week handsome soldier will be here for a whole 9 day holiday (yahoo).  Don't miss this IKEA giveaway either, drawn tomorrow, ah, Mother's Day!!

social commentary Sunday 'stalkers & security'

Greetings all,
On my drive home from Brisbane, i popped into see my brother, his wife & 4 children, in the country.  We were talking about blogs, on line profiles & their children on FaceBook.  They don't mind their children on FB as two are in boarding school, two are at University, it's a way to keep in touch, although children can naively advertise where they go to school/ university/ socially + full names & birthdays (5 points of identification).  I won't reveal on my blog my husband or children's names or any of our actual birth dates, schools, uniforms + i delay actual times of events involving my children (like sports) to maintain their privacy.  If my husband had his way, i wouldn't have a blog or images of our children.  Anyway, i asked my sister-in-law if any of their teenagers (all social, smart, sporty) had suffered at the fate of stalkers??

She said a resounded "YES, every single one of them".  From varying degrees of on line FB stalking directly, indirectly via 'friends' FB pages & yes, finding out they had been broken-up-with-via-a-FB-status-update . . . all the way to one hunting their eldest son down in Europe!!  This nephew is a catch, friendly, handsome, elite athlete, studying medicine . . . troubled girls find him.  His high school girlfriend was attacked by a girl who was having an imaginery relationship with him (??) & other crazy stalking incidents followed.  What is that saying about a woman scorned "hell hath no fury"??  These are teenagers with hormones, imaginations & the internet!!  We've seen in the news, through real-life-dumb-actions-by-sports-stars . . . mixed with on line social media, professional reputations & careers can be crushed.
We don't plan to allow our children to have FB or on line profiles until they are adults & aware of consequences on what can happen to your information in the big bad world.  I'd rather promote actual telephone calls & seeing friends as their social entertainment.  Once they are home, that is family time, limited emails & internet, no mobiles & no on line chit chat time wasting rubbish which can wait until school the next day!!  Surely with the volume of homework & assignments my children have in junior high & primary school, there isn't enough time for anything other than sport, eating & sleeping when they are full blown teenagers??
I asked my brother if his children were clued in that everything on line - not necessarily on their own profiles, but anything about them in any social media capacity - were they aware it's there forever, for future employers, friends, partners to see & judge, for stalkers to piece together where you live, play, party etc??  What about a new boyfriend who turns out to be jealous psycho & check out your history of parties, holidays & love with ex-boyfriends??  OMG, does anyone think about this??  My brother said teenagers have no clue, they don't think about it, it's teenage impulse of here & now, must share everything immediately & no thought for future consequences. 
Even on our sweet-mummy-crafty-type blogs where we innocently post about holidays, births, events & funny family stories, people can follow your child's history & who knows what crazy things they might use it for, manipulation, connection, research.  I think about this every time i post & try to be vague about details.  Christy from Little Betty was telling me at Sew It Together all sorts of weird sites her blog images have turned up on, some very unsavory weird fetish sites??!!  Yes, eeww.  Christy cleverly doesn't  post her children's names & rarely their cute little faces!!  
You can never be too careful, even in 10 years time, something you post might come back to bite you or your family.  Incredibly scary but it's just not the same world we grew up in, with so much information available at the touch of a button.  Love Posie

i'm grateful for 'charms & travel'

Greetings all,

Thoroughly exhausted after a big term of school.  Finally on holidays, yahoo!! 
So many things to be grateful for this week, like fabulous schools, wonderful teachers, the vouchers i get in the mail from where i buy sneakers, school shoes & uniforms (read: i spend THAT much on these items, they send me $50 sympathy vouchers).  But, this week i'm going to be grateful for an unsung piece of jewellery from my childhood - my charm bracelette, filled with trinkets & memories of my travels.

Now i was one very lucky girl who went on a dozen round-the-world trips with her family before i even started university, i had travel crazy parents - my father in the Australian Navy travelling the high seas & his dream to take my mother back to England to see her family + their love of Asia (on the way to Europe) & always ALWAYS home via America, so we could double the baggage allowance, just in case my mother's holiday shopping couldn't spread over 6 people already??!!
People tell me they chose to have children later in life as they wanted to travel first.  I thoroughly appreciate my travelling childhood - but we also have the 'have children, will travel' attitude of my parents.  I often get strange looks when i say we take our children with us on holidays or board a plane with them - have to say, their best behaviour ever is on the plane, in hotels & the joy or being tourists on a new adventure.  They eat anything & will try new customs, we're pretty thrilled how flexible they are.  They have even worked out who is studying which language at high school so they can travel together - i absolutely love that!! 

 Let me share some of my journeys . . .
Carribean sailing ship, German cow bell, Welsh dragon, some French tower, San Diego zoo dolphin, Cornish pixie, Belgian deer . . .   

 . . . Hawaiian pineapple, Australian slouch hat, Singaporean rikshaw operator (sans rikshaw), St Christopher blue medal - patron saint of travel, Hong Kong lion, silver half frank coin . . . 

 Dutch clog, Hawaiian cultural centre, Chinese san pan, Austrian eidelweiss, New Zealand kiwi, tennis racquet from Wimbeldon, Mickey Mouse from LA Disneyland, mototaxi from Macau, Mexican hat & a royal carriage from London.

 I have more charms to add from additional countries in Europe from two massive European trips since university with my husband (honeymoon & 2nd honeymoon).
I was so thrilled when my non-stop-travelling parents insisted on starting my 3 girls with charm bracelettes of their very own.  They have been lucky to gain charms on their own travels to Hong Kong, China, Macau, Singapore & Disneyland.   

Basically i'm a sucker for charms (like this pretty pendant from Schmooks at Shop Handmade) & i am constantly told how charming my husband is too!!
Happy gratefuls with Maxabella Loves this Saturday, i am promising myself to wear this gorgeous charm bracelette more often & finally add all my charms on (from Switzerland, Croatia, Greece, Italy.)  Love Posie
PS for those of you who visit Shop Handmade in the school holidays - i play full time mummy to my 4 children & only work there during school terms - so sorry if i miss you!!
EDIT: thanks for no comments so far saying i was spoilt - we knew we were very lucky to travel so far & wide & often.  My husband didn't travel until he was 21 & considered me incredibly spoilt & unworthy of EVER having the window seat again.  He often gets upgraded to business class on our family trips & i happily sit in economy with all the children, so who is spoilt now??  I said he was charming!!

a day trip with fabric on my mind

Greetings all,

I have a brother & a sister both born on the same day, many years apart.  Seeing my sister is only 200km away (compared to the birthday brother who is 1000km away) i opted to visit my near by Bowral sibling. 
It's such a lovely trip from Canberra, we stop to get up close with the cows . . .

 made the poor decision to take our German Shepherd . . .

 who sat between/ on the twins in the centre row!!

 But all the while, in the car, i was dreaming of the fabrics which arrived earlier this week.

 I don't think there is a Babushka fabric i have been able to resist!!

 I can not wait to sew with these sewing themed fabrics!!

Have yourselves a lovely wrap up to the week.  We're crusising into school holidays (finally), it's starting to get very cold here in Canberra . . . which reminds me - i need to purchase the Winter uniform for high school.  Kind of dreading the tights part of the ensemble, i constantly ruined my expensive official/  school/ regulation Winter tights, must have driven my mother crazy!!  I remember having to put nail polish on the ladders to prevent them from going the full length of my leg.  Classy but handy.  Love Posie

i'm grateful for 'my big one & little one'

Greetings all,

Ah, my first born, she was off on high school camp this week, i missed her.  She packed strictly to-the-list with the recommended day, cabin & camping bag must-haves (no hair straighteners like some girls!!)  No wonder some had huge suitcases on trolleys??  Her Infantry Daddy would be very proud, we follow the soldier's mantra "only pack what you can carry".  Even with 4 children under 5 i had the world's smallest baby bag & we've been overseas as a family of 6 with 1 suitcase, not kidding!!  Get it, we pack light.

 She went off looking like she was sponsored by The North Face.  Please take note of her shoes, handsome soldier took her shopping for hiking boots & seeing he's used to spending big bucks on footwear for you know, important things like patrols in desert war zones . . . i considered $300 (after 20% off) was a tad pricey for high school camp shoes??!!  They will last all 4 children though (twins have different sized feet) so we'll squeeze every cent out of these family heirloom solid gold hiking shoes for years!!

I like this image from dawn Wednesday morning - bossing me around 'til the last second.

 

 I cleaned her room & left a new pair of jeans & her new typewriter key necklace as a surprise on her desk.

 My happy camper is home.  She told me every single moment & detail on what they ate, how they slept, where they swam, the groups, the conversations, the new friends, the private jokes, the sand flies . . . even said "you can tell me to stop talking if this is getting boring".  OMG, i was loving it, a high schooler who talks, please stay this way!!

 While we were waiting for the coaches for a couple of hours, oh yes, mischief was found!!

 Look at this cute soft furry possum's big gorgeous eyes, now look at the claws!!

 What else can i say, a 7 year old boy in his natural habitat.

 Possum's curly tail for balance & hanging out in the school grounds.

 My son found a few other little boys waiting for their big sisters, he was showing them the amazing 'hover' leaf (yellow leaf near his left shoulder) i know, AMAZING!!

 Perhaps time to move on when our friendly possum climbed onto the ground??

 So we found a wall to defy injury on.

 When our possum went back up his tree . . .

so did my son, my very own Bear Grylls.

Spending my Friday night tucked up on the lounge with my big one & little one, while their twinnies are off horse riding on a friend's farm this weekend - what a lovely way to soak up my precious first & last born.  We Skype'd Daddy the moment we got home too, had to show him all the sand fly bites, share the stories & show him just how big the backpacks are!!
For more 'Gratefuls' check out Maxabella Loves.  Love Posie
Oh oh oh, great giveaway over at my 300th post, good luck, only 10 days left to enter!!