lazy weekends

I have been doing an online blogging course called 'blog with Pip' with Pip Lincoln of Meet me at mikes fame. It has been so awesome and I finally feel like I am getting my blogging mojo back. Not to mention all the awesome people I have (virtually) met during the course. (Hello!)

This week we had a little assignment which was to take 5 photos of our weekend. Our weekend was pretty lazy as I have been getting over a horrid virus that left me in bed for 4 days straight last week. Ugh! I have never been so sick in my life!

It did, however, give me a bit of time to catch up on lots of bloggity blogs (as my husband always calls them). Here are a few great posts I read this week:

+ 12 eco-friendly gift ideas -just in time for Christmas!

+ These beetroot, quinoa and chocolate muffins look amazing!

+ Check out Anna's awesome Brooklyn abode!

+ Excellent tips for getting a better nights sleep, and

+ A fabulous Christmas giveaway (if you are good at writing poetry!)

Would you like to share a link to something great you read this week?

P.s Look at the roses in our courtyard!

blog love

I remember when I first discovered the world of blogs. It was an experience that was similar to falling down the rabbit hole.. the discovery of one led to the discover of another and before I knew it it was 2am and I had been introduced to a whole new world of clever, cool and crafty people.

Back then (just after Sophie was born, almost 6 years ago now) there seemed to be only a handful of really popular blogs that everyone knew about and followed. I can remember putting Sophie down to sleep, making a cup of tea and easily scrolling through my favourite blogs in about 10 minutes.

At the time, I was a new mum, I had just taught myself how to sew and I was slowly (really slowly) learning how to manage this whole mummy/ wife role that I had (happily) landed myself in. It was so nice to read about other mums out there in the same situation as me.. trying their best to live simple, happy lives but still burning dinners, unpicking sewing projects gone wrong at two in the morning and still finding themselves in their pyjamas at 4pm some days.
They were my kindred spirits.

Fast forward 6 years (and after a year or so break from the blogging world) I'm finding myself a little lost. My old favourites are still there but there are SO many new blogs and most of them are so, so good!
The bar has been raised while I have been gone!

Soo.. I want to know.. What are your favourite blogs? The ones you love and read most often?

Feel free to leave your own link too (if you have one) so I can pop over and say hello!

Hey big spender

I have to admit that I have been doing a bit of online shopping while on bed rest. The majority has been for the little man (and I plan to do a post about all the cute little things I have bought him soon) but every so often the postman arrives with something exciting for me.

The funny thing is that despite my online spending sprees (not really!) we are still saving much more money every week than what we used to just because I am on bed rest. It's amazing how a coffee with friends, a magazine, picking up lunch from the local bakery to eat at the playground etc. etc. all used to add up so quickly.
If you are trying to save money I can highly recommend locking yourself in your bedroom for 6 months!
Just don't bring your laptop!

Here are some of the things that I have bought in the past few weeks..

Dress from Gorman.
Burts Bees 'Mama Bee Belly Balm' from Adore Beauty.
Sandals from Topshop. (Yes, I know it's winter here.. but I could not resist!)
Jacket from Topshop.

la petit magazine

If you like pictures of super pretty kids wearing clothes you can't afford..
Then check out the latest issue of 'la petit magazine'.

(I'm only joking.. I do love this online kids magazine).

*Photo via 'la petit magazine'

"Good God Lemon"

Source: mynewroots.blogspot.com.au via Katie on Pinterest

I just saw this cake over at 'My new roots' today and my mouth started watering on the spot!
I'll have to file this one in 'things to make when I am allowed out of bed' (or convince Tom to make it for me), but you could try it in the meantime and let me know how delicious it was..

Photo from 'My new roots' via pinterest

The title of this post has nothing to do with 'orange blossom sesame cake' and has everything to do with the fact that sometimes Tom and I watch too much 30 rock and end up talking like Jack Donaghy for the rest of the day.

A winner.. Me!

Last year I wrote a post about 'Oh Mabel!' A wonderful small Australian business that makes the most adorable organic bed linen I have ever seen.
I had been swooning over the sheet sets for some time and had convinced myself that there could not be a better time for me to indulge in some new sheets, when I WON a set!
I entered a giveaway over at 'Gallop Lifestyle' and won the yellow pinwheel sheet set.
I could not believe my luck!

'Oh Mabel!' bed linen is available online at 'Gallop Lifestyle' - a lovely online homewares store (their online shop stocks some really great products.. make sure you check it out).

Thank you so much to the girls at Gallop Lifestyle and Oh Mabel.

Image via 'Oh Mabel!'

Simplicity

My friend Maia from julia warr on Vimeo.

I came across this video yesterday. You must watch it.

"Shot in Fire Island, New York, this film captures the secrets of eternal youth as Maia Helles, a Russian ballet dancer turns 95 but still remains resolutely independent, healthy and as fit as a forty year old. Made by Julia Warr, artist and film maker met Maia on a plane 4 years ago and became utterly convinced by the benefits of her daily exercise routine, which Maia perfected, together with her Mother, over 60 years ago, long before exercise classes were ever invented."

|Video found via Simple Lovely|

My New Roots

I found this really cool website the other day called 'My New Roots'. It is a bit like 101 cookbooks.. awesome photography and delicious, healthy recipes but with loads of nutritional information aswell.

In other food news, 'KR Castlemaine' have finally produced a sodium nitrate free ham! I don't think anyone else will be as excited as me, but I have been waiting a long time for this day.. It's about bloody time!

If you know any other food blogs that you think are amazing, please leave a link in the comments and I'll check them out.. nothing like wasting an hour or two looking at pictures of delicious food!

Image via 'My New Roots'

Little Rose..

A few weeks ago my dear friend Bron (who I met at mothers group in Bondi when our preschoolers were just a few weeks old) had a beautiful little girl called Rose.

Bron and I would catch up all the time when I lived in Sydney and Sophie and her little boy were the best of friends. It was very hard for Sophie (and me) to move so far away from them.

So.. please head over to 'Baby Space' and congratulate Bron on her gorgeous little arrival.. (We wish we could come and visit!)

/Photo via Baby Space/

Secret Santa

Last month Chantelle from Fat Mum Slim organised a 'social media secret santa'. It was such a great idea and I got the best gift ever.. a Rob Ryan plate that I had been dreaming about for some time.. I could not believe it when I saw it!
So thanks for organising Chantelle and thanks to my secret santa.

You can find the same lovely plate for sale at Lark.

Louloueskimo

I found this beautiful French brand of kids clothes the other day called Louloueskimo.
I wish they made that polka dot skirt in my size.

Pear, chocolate and pistachio tart

How amazing does this tart from 'Cannelle et Vanille' look?
This is going to the top of my to do list!

Image from 'Cannelle et Vanille'

giveaway!

Are you excited? It's the first ever Grow. Cook. Sew. giveaway!



The lovely Allison from Lark (one of my favourite websites) has very kindly given me this gorgeous set of red polka-dot cake tins (valued at $49.95) to giveaway to one lucky person!

All you have to do is leave a comment below and I'll draw the winner on Monday 14th November.

Good luck everyone!