Wednesday, July 20, 2016
what's so bad about the colour pink?
Poet at her party | gorgeous floral dress by printebebe and face painting by the very talented party-hosting girls, Sahri and Emily
Somewhere along the way, the colour pink got a bad wrap.
Perhaps we can blame Barbie who made pink so sickly sweet or the slew of toy manufacturers who opted to coat all manner of dolls and prams and tea sets in the candiest shade.
When Poet was born I refused to fall into the girly trap of ghastly pink. Just because I had a daughter did not mean I had to conform to a certain colour palette! For her first year I dressed her in lots of neutrals with pops of red and blue and hints of pink here and there. But then she grew up and her independence shone through and all of a sudden she wanted to wear layers of pink - in all the shades, all of the time.
I resisted, of course, and tempted her with blue florals and love hearts on her overalls, but she was adamant that pink was her favourite and therefore it should be a vital part of our everyday. Subsequently, pink is peppered throughout our home; she paints with it, draws with it and wears it in her hair.
But our experience with pink is so much more than just a girl wanting to wear her favourite colour. It's about the ideals I created for myself as a parent and the ones I've let go of because I realised how ridiculous they were. For some reason I thought there was something wrong with pink. If I dressed my daughter in pink was I falling into a pre-conceived gender trap? Was I adhering to stereotypes?
Um, it's just a colour! And if she loves it, how dare I place all these rules and regulations on it. More often than not she chooses what she wears (although some days I need to add or subtract a layer to ensure it's seasonally appropriate) and sometimes she wears pink, sometimes she doesn't. Right now we're all about skirts and dresses and necklaces and hairbows but somedays she wants nothing more than a day in her PJs with mismatched socks to boot.
On Sunday just gone we hired the local hall for her birthday party and invited her friends along to celebrate. A few days earlier we went to the shops and bought pink streamers, pink bunting and pink balloons. I looked down at her in the supermarket aisle and soaked in her excitement; it was palpable, she was squealing with glee, her eyes were wide and bright and absolutely delighted. And all because she was choosing the party decorations that her heart desired.
It was her 5th birthday and I let her paint the day pink. There were princess cups and pink cupcakes, face-painted flowers and glittery hair decorations, pink wrapping paper tied with pink ribbon. We danced to Taylor Swift and Frozen and when it was time to go we bellowed a passionate rendition of Annie's Tomorrow.
I'm not sure what it is about (some) girls and the colour pink but if Poet loves it, I love it too.
Tell me, is there a pink obsession in your household? Does it bother you or do you embrace it?
Sunday, July 17, 2016
"A portrait of my youngest children, once a week, every week, in 2016."
Poet: waiting for her friends to arrive at her party.
Percy: safe in Popa's arms.
Thursday, July 14, 2016
breastfeeding after the first year
I'm heading into my fifth (not consecutive) year of breastfeeding. It doesn't deserve an award or recognition - it is what it is, it's just what I've done. I've been comforted by the connection of breastfeeding my babies and frustrated by the relentlessness of it. Indeed, it's often an all night affair and it takes its toll, especially when newborn hormones are long gone and nipples are tweaked and pulled and bitten.
Percy is now 16months and while he doesn't feed as consistently as a newborn, he'll still feed at least eight times in a 24hour cycle - sometimes more, sometimes less. Lately I've noticed that the late night, long feeds are starting to irritate me; I often feel agitated when feeding him, especially if I'm tired. It's a potent reminder that breastfeeding really can drain you of your stores and leave you feeling depleted and exhausted.
But still, I'm not ready to wean just yet. And if I'm honest, I'm feeling a lot stronger and healthier at this stage that I did when feeding Che and Poet (who didn't really gain an appetite for food until I weaned them). Percy is and always had been a food lover - he only really seeks breastmilk for comfort, even though I'm well aware of the fact that he's getting so much more than that every time he feeds. Studies show that breastfeeding toddlers provides them with 29% of daily energy requirements, 43% of protein requirements, 75% of Vitamin A requirements and 60% of Vitamin C requirements.
Every time he feeds I think of it as a big immune boosting cuddle and I admit, it comforts me to know that it's the perfect remedy when he's unwell. Indeed, breastfeeding can heal sore hearts.
A few things to keep in mind:
- wear supportive bras : I find that supportive maternity bras are just as important now as they were in the first few months of feeding. My essentials include this sleep bra (this is all I wear in the first few weeks after birth and continue to wear it at night now), this Esprit bra, this design from Hotmilk and this sports bra (because there's nothing wore than inadequate support when you're exercising).
- eat well : it's easy to forget just how important a good diet is when we're breastfeeding but we really do need to keep ourselves nourished so we don't end up completely depleted. For me that means lots of good fats and proteins as well as a top-up from Franjo's Kitchen cookies and a seasonal visit to my naturopath for some immune + energy boosting tonics.
- stay hydrated : breastfeeding = dehydration unless you drink lots of water and herbal teas. I drink a big glass of water before I go to bed at night and first thing in the morning and take my water bottle with me everywhere. But still, I find it hard to stay hydrated, especially at this time of year.
- release tension : movement is so important at every stage of breastfeeding to make sure there's no unnecessary tension in the upper back, shoulders and chest. When your prana (vital energy) is flowing freely, your milk will do the same! Movement, massage and non-restrictive clothing is also key to relieving blocked milk ducts. A simple technique that I always use to release tension and encourage energy to flow in and around the chest:
Flowering Lotus
Stand upright and bring your fingertips to the centre of your chest. As you exhale, take your arms wide, bending your elbows and gently pushing your chest forward. On the inhalation bring your fingertips back to the centre of your chest.
And when it is time for me to wean, Daniel will take over settling at night time, I'll cry because it's just another metaphorical cutting of the cord (bye bye babyhood) and I'll drink sage tea to dry up the milk.
A few breastfeeding posts that may resonate:
Monday, July 11, 2016
let's let go of simple living ideals
Oh goodness, please don't think for a second that I find it easy!
I may practise simplicity but in no way have I mastered it. I suppose it's a little bit like practising yoga; somedays it all just flows and at other times everything is clunky and disjointed. And when you're attempting to live simply and raise children and work freelance and keep a home ticking along, the clunk is far more pronounced than the flow.
If you came to my house you may frown upon the decidedly un-minimalist bookshelves or the laundry basket that is never not overflowing. You may wonder where the abundant vegie patch is (I've got grand plans for spring seedling but for now they're planted firmly in my head) or question the takeaway coffee cups that are most definitely not reusable. Sometimes the produce at the bottom of my fridge is beyond saving in any soup or broth so it goes in the bin because we don't have chooks or a compost. I'm proud to say that I use disposable nappies because the thought of more unnecessary washing is beyond ridiculous and scraping poo from cotton cloth may just send me batty. And the wardrobes that I decluttered in a moment of clarity have once again become higgledy-piggledy thanks to a house move and turning a blind eye.
That's the thing about simplifying; it's ongoing and always evolving and while it may serve you well for a while, your priorities can easily shift. But what is wonderful about living with such mindfulness is that one little change inevitably inspires the next. Sure, it's often a case of two steps forward, one step back and sometimes it all falls in a heap, but it's a productive heap all the same.
For me, the biggest leaps have been creating good intentions and subsequently changing habits. And knowing that when I lose a grip on a new-found habit, the world will keep on spinning regardless.
So many of my simple living goals are inspired by environmental awareness and adhering to a budget but they often require more time and effort than I have in the tank. And it's in those weary moments that I come to see simple living as letting go of ideals and being in the now, takeaway coffee cup in hand.
We're all doing our best.
Sunday, July 10, 2016
"A portrait of my youngest children, once a week, every week, in 2016."
Or portraits, as the case may be. Sometimes culling is just too hard and I do love the story captured here. After days of dark skies and rain I took them to the beach while Daniel and Che went off to do their own thing. Happy as clams these two were. And Percy's little legs walked the entire length of the beach. They're growing up fast. Too fast.
Labels: 52 , the 52 project
Thursday, July 07, 2016
photos from sunnier winter days / Poet wears the Janis Jacket from Fabrik (get 10% off storewide with the code: PS10)
Just as I know that winter will bring the cold, I've come to expect a seasonal lull around this time each year. Word on the street is that some of us (most of us?) are feeling a little lacklustre of late; a tad uninspired, a little bored of the run-of-the-mill.
I've been so busy these past few weeks that when I looked at the calendar yesterday I realised that the little party I'd planned for Poet's birthday is only 10 days away. The days are flying by and the weeks are creeping up on me and before I resort to any more cliches I'll tell you that the invites are now out, regardless of how haphazard my crafting may have been. Now to find a bike with streamers and gather a picture book or two (I think this and this will do just fine) and plan a few party treats....like butterfly cakes and fairy bread and fruit skewers.
I've fallen drastically behind on the home front these past few weeks so today, when I woke to rain and grey skies that had undoubtedly set in, I declared a catch-up day. Granted, my enthusiasm has waned as the hours have passed but I'm four loads of washing down, there's only a few dishes to go and I've made three important phone calls and subsequently scheduled three important appointments.
It's surprising what a clutter-free kitchen bench and confirmed appointments in the diary can do for the mind.
Now, once my tea is finished, I'm moving onto the bedrooms which are, shall we say, in a state of flux. You see, when we moved in eight weeks ago we decided to give the kids the main bedroom and we squeezed our king bed into the (very small) second bedroom. It worked for a few weeks until we decided that bunks were the answer to all our squashed problems. Serendipitously I searched Gumtree last week and immediately found a set of sturdy white bunks one suburb away. And now? The beds are up and the rooms are swapped but the wardrobes are in dire need of sorting (perhaps my least favourite of tasks).
Slow school holiday weeks are good for crossing things off the list. Like wardrobe sorting and tea drinking and park going and library visits.
How are your school holidays going? Do you know the secret to making bunk beds? - because I'm failing!
Tuesday, July 05, 2016
I stepped in front of the camera late last week to capture a few of Fabrik's latest designs. I've been wearing the Everyday Romper a few times each week with a simple long-sleeve tee, a peasant blouse or a fine knit underneath. I've always been tempted to buy overalls but I've never found a pair that really worked. But these ones are perfect - comfortable and flattering - and I'll keep them on high rotation right through spring, too. The straps are easily adjustable so no matter your height you can play with the length. If you're pregnant I think they'd be a great winter option and, of course, they're ideal for breastfeeding mums. See them on a new mum here, a gorgeous mum-of-four here and worn with a knit, here - they're also available in Khaki + Washed Denim.
I'm wearing the Khaki Skirt with the Silk Trapeze Tank - again, a flattering design that doesn't cut too low under the arm (my pet hate) and its A-line silhouette means it's a perfect shape to wear with pants. I'm not usually one to wear silk but since Daniel and I are making a point of going out to dinner more frequently, a dressier option was required.
Fancy adding a piece or two to your winter wardrobe? Enter code PS10 at checkout to get 10% off storewide. And a little note on sizing: Fabrik's sizing is generous (I'm a size 10 and wear Fabrik size 1).
This is a sponsored post, thanks so much for supporting the brands that so generously support me.
