tread lightly

To look at me, you wouldn't know that a hippy-greenie lurks beneath the surface. I am really, really suburban. But then we moved near this

(aah. so looking forward to summer really hitting)

and watched some of these guys make their merry way, quite literally, past our doorstep.

                                 

(picture from here)

Well, almost. We aren't quite posh enough to live on the water. But we did do some crazy shenanigan driving following a whale family up the coast, stopping at lookouts and beaches.

Now don't get me wrong, I've bought my share of Enyo cloths and had a go at scrubbing grout with baking soda. But in my deeply conditioned brain, clean isn't clean unless it burns your nostril hairs. The stronger the chemicals, the better. "Household Strength"- bah! Pass me the Hospital Grade. Just put on some gloves first. And maybe use some tongs. But I am changing. I am worried. I have concerns about the chemicals my family is ingesting, and the ones I am sending out for others to ingest.

So, I am on a mini-mission. To check out gentler products for the home.

First on my list: Laundry detergents.

Freshly washed clothes should smell freshly washed, like the artificial smell of "Fresh Linen" or "Wild Frangipani". I don't buy the super expensive detergents, I usually use a powder, and like to buy the same one because I like the smell. Summer Breeze I believe. I use fabric softener. I've bought the no-phosphate types for a long time because I used to put the grey water out onto the lawn, in a vain attempt to soften the clay soil in the suburbs.

Last week, the baby girl had some sensitive skin rash thing on her face. Perhaps it's the laundry powder! thought I, and into the shopping trolley I put these:

Picked up in Coles as part of my normal shopping, cool. Reasonably priced- in fact a bit cheaper per wash than my usual stuff, cooler. And it works, and smells like fresh laundry. Kid's clothes, my sweaty walking clothes, some cloth nappies, towels, everything came out like clean laundry! I'm happy. Because I didn't have to go to a great deal of trouble or expense to make a more gentle choice. I also like the gigantic bulk pack and the tap. It reminds me of a box of wine.

If you want to find out more about this particular brand, you can go here, and watch that ad.

And Jodi has some lovely organic, gentle things for bubs up for grabs at her place.

Oh. and the baby girl's rash? Gone!

S.

meaningful gift: quilt for abigail

Aaah, my beautiful little niece! Much like my baby sister and I, our daughters are opposites. One olive-skinned, dark haired, the other fair of hair and complexion. I bought the fabrics for this precious bundle weeks before either girl was born, and have taken a long time to finish the quilt.Technical notes: 100% cotton fabrics from Spotlight, with cotton batting. I am lazy, so turned over the backing to make the purple edge. I adapted the Crayon Box Quilt by Rae (on Sew Mama Sew) and cut the 7inch sqaures into four smaller squares, instead of triangles. I like it. I also like the kind of whimsical quilting, which was done on the machine, without a walking foot. Because I don't have one.

Anyway, I think my sis liked it, and I feel good for giving something meaningful!

I am also checking out the creative spaces over here.

S.

a vintage rainbow

...came to grace my front doorstep today.

 Do you see your pieces, lovely scrap fairies? Thank you. And thank you to the delightful Kel, who organised the swap- you are gorgeous!


 I have been eagerly awaiting this assemblage of pretties to make this little poppet's quilt. And perhaps some pretty bunting too. And some scrap dollies for all the little girls we know. And maybe a lovely apron for me. Can't wait to start!
S.

sometimes it's awesome when the car breaks down

...because that means you have to walk the boy to school, and pick him up. And that means

• you get the dogs out for a run
• you get some great exercise
• you clean out the pouch on the pram, finding two milky ways, a space food stick and book club catalogues from approximately 18 months ago
• you can practice a little mindfulness meditation (I am walking. I am walking.)
• you get to walk along a gorgeous beach
• you can stop and have a leisurely chat at the bakery
• you can meet the most striking Great Dane ever
• you can be told by several people "Gee. You have your hands full!", and feel sorry for them, that they don't have their hands full
• a kind man with a surfboard will tell you what a great job you are doing
• your baby girl will snuggle up comfortably in the carrier
• there are at least two hours where the two-year-old TV addict won't be whining about I watcha car doos mummy?
• you will sit on a cool sandstone rock under a tree and feed the baby while the middle boy plays at the park
• you will realise, yet again, how much you love it here, and vow to do it again tomorrow.

S.

weekly gratitude

Five images, representing gratitude for simple things in my life.

 Sharing this parenting gig with a loving man, awesome daddy to my babies.

 My Poppi. You can't beat a grandfather's unconditional love, can you?

 

A lifetime of gratitude for my dad.

 For long, important conversations; Sunday morning bike rides; family holidays and adventures.

Fishing with my Pop.

Much love, and more thanks than I can put into words, to the dads and grandfathers in my life!

Joining in with the grateful-go-round, this week at the Beetle Shack!

S.

found on friday: august

August was wonderful for feeding my rekindled op-shop fascination. I think I just love peeking into the lives of others. Finding strange objects and making up stories. Lots of times I just like to see these objects, not necessarily own them.

Like the decor wine cask cooler with matching plastic wine goblets. I imagined a very fashionable 1980's summer pool party, mum with a spiral perm, kids riding pool ponies. Or the super-cool picnic set I found, which was inspired by air-travel technology. Four stacking plates, which you loaded with a meal, then put in the cooling or heating box. To be ready when you arrived at your picnic spot.

Anyway, here are some lovely findings from the past few weeks:

 A vintage snakes 'n' ladders game, complete with moral lessons. Displaying vanity? Down the snake you go to loneliness. Showing kindness? Up the ladder to you go.

 This romper with veggie patch design was too cute to leave there, even though it probably won't fit the small girl until next Autumn!

Buy of the month: two bedsides, seen here in the process of making nicer. A lick of nice white paint and a silver spray to the handles, and now they are a little shabby beach thankyouverymuch.

Lots of fun had shopping.

S.

meaningful giving: father's day edition

I saw my lovely Dad early this year, and presented him with this giftInside is a framed photo of my sis and I holding our new baby girls born in May and June. My Dad adores photos. I recently scanned the entire collection of family photos he took with an SLR camera. You know, with actual film in it. And he has some skills. The frame I upcycled from an oppy. Also in there was a funky t-shirt, which I did buy new. I'm still giving myself credit on the challenge for this one though, because a) I bought it before starting the challenge, and b) it's made of organic cotton, in Australia. So well done me. And see how I wrapped the gift in an oppy tie? Cool, huh?

Now, I'm on the search for something to make with my kids for the husband. Here are some things I've been checking out around the interwebs: from here

from here. I like this idea, for my guy who commutes 3 hours every day. He goes to the same place though, so maybe a mix tape instead of maps?

yum. from here.

you can buy these here. Nice.

I do love to love with food, so there will probaby be some of these

recipe here

and more than likely a healthy dose of these

the buttermilk makes them good. recipe right here.

What are your plans for a meaningful father's day gift? Link me up if you have something I can steal take inspiration from!


S.

lucky you're good-looking

Because in the last week, you have

drawn an amazing piece of 'art' on the wall in blue permanent marker

tipped an entire packet of coconut into the cookie dough

made the computer go weird by pressing the on button repeatedly

locked me out of my phone by putting in the wrong password three times

dropped my camera, smashing the lens filter and I'm not sure the lens is working right anymore

But, you look like this.

So, I find it difficult to stay mad for long!

S.