Chic Mummy

Pregnancy Series: Maternity Exercise Clothing

2012-01-28T09:59:00.000+08:00

Last week in my Pregnancy Series, we talked about the benefits of exercising while pregnant. Today I want to talk about how you can look chic while still being comfortable while you are exercising. While there is nothing wrong with throwing on your hubby's oversized tee over a pair of leggings, having a few sets of stylish maternity exercise clothing is probably going to make you feel a lot more motivated to exercise, while also making you look a lot better, too!

What To Look For

Regardless of whether you are planning to keep on running, or are going to chill out at a yoga class, you want to look for items of clothing that are breathable to keep you cool, stretchy yet supportive, and hopefully something that can take you from the end of the first trimester right through to delivery and the post-partum months. If your body thermostat is anything like mine was while I was pregnant, than layering is the key. Easy layers make it easy to adjust your temperature as you heat up and cool down. I mostly wore regular, non-maternity zip-up hoodies since it was summer by the time I was really big in both pregnancies, but if you need a maternity one, check out Old Navy. Also think about what activities you are going to do. If you were a runner before you were pregnant you might still like running while you are pregnant, and your workout clothes are going to be totally different to someone like me who mainly did yoga and pilates. For the more active, you probably need "full on" active wear; for the yogalates crowd, try and find active wear pieces that are less "sporty" and can also double up as comfy and stylish loungewear.

The Yogalates Crowd

Lets start here, since this is what I was most comfortable with when I was pregnant. For the first few months, you can probably carry on wearing your regular non-maternity yoga wear, since it is by nature stretchy and fluid. After a point, though, you will spend your entire class yanking up your yoga pants as they try and migrate under your bump! At that point, you can look for outfits like these:

I love these pants from Fit For Mums, and wore them during my last pregnancy, and quite a while afterwards. I love the pants; the waist can be worn folded down during the first two trimesters (and during the last if you like pants under the bump) or rolled up for more support during the third trimester. The fabric was also nice enough that you could wear these as lounge wear as well, not just sports wear. The singlets were also great - the touch of spandex means they stretch with you as your belly grows, and then spring back into shape once the belly is gone. Add in a pair of slip-on shoes, easy to get off and on for the class, and you are all set to go.

Hardcore Fitness Fanatics

I call you guys hardcore, since I don't think I can think of anything worse than going for a run now, let alone when I was pregnant! However, for those of you who were fitness fanatics before you were pregnant, there is a lot of research showing that it is beneficial to keep up with your exercise regime once you are pregnant, with medical guidance.

This Reebok top is breathable and moisture wicking, so it will keep and you cool and dry when you are working up a sweat. Compression pants are great when you are not pregnant, so I think they would be even better when you are are, and these ones from Old Navy are a great price. Plus, like the yoga pants, the belly can be rolled up or down, depending on how much support you want. Don't forget some good supportive shoes, and check you fit - your foot size can increase by up to a size when you are pregnant. Make sure you are well hydrated at all times by toting along a refillable water bottle, and keep an eye on your heart rate with a quality heart rate monitor.

Wet and Wild

Exercising in water was one of my favourite and most regular fitness activity when I was pregnant. The water kept me cool, and the body's natural buoyancy in water made me feel less ungainly. I loved swimming, deep water aqua aerobics, and even just plain water walking.

I preferred a tankini when I was pregnant since it could take me right through from the early stages of pregnancy to the post-partum period, although you can also find maternity one pieces as well. Again, make sure you take along water - when exercising in water, you often don't seem as thirsty, but you still need it. Lastly, don't forget some cheap and cheerful flip-flops!

As you can see, there are now stylish and chic AND practical options for all sports and all stages of pregnancy available now. So no excuses - get out there, keep fit, and stay chic!

Back to School Checklist (printable) plus Giveaway

2012-01-26T08:40:00.000+08:00

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Can you believe it is back to school time already? It feels like we were just starting the summer holidays, and now it is the final countdown to the regular routine of school days (did anyone else start singing The Final Countdown by Europe, or am I showing my age?). This year marks the first time I have both kids in full-time school. Gone are the annoying half-days (happy face!) but also gone are the weekdays spent with my little ones (sad face!). It also means that I now need to be super-organised - I don't think flying by the seat of my pants is going to cut it any more...

This is my back-to-school checklist, available for you to download and print.

Back to School Checklist

Otherwise, you can access it here. And now, to my giveaway! So that Irini can tell her bag apart from everyone else's (since they have a "school" school bag) I made her, Stephen and their cousin a cute little bag tag.

tags on the school and library bag

front of tag

back of tag

I will make a set of two custom bag-tags for two winners. I can make tags for boys or girls, and the giveaway is open internationally. All you need to do is leave a comment with a back-to-school tip or hint. Giveaway ends at midnight on the 31st January. Goodluck!!

What I Wore Wednesday

2012-01-25T20:45:00.000+08:00

I would love to say that I didn't post last week because I was joining Wikipedia and Google in their protest against SOPA and PIPA, but I honestly just forgot to take pictures. There is something about school holidays that brings out the lazy in me!! This week, as we gear up for back-to-school, its back into some of our routines, so I managed a photo almost every day.

Wednesday 18 Jan - Today was spent at swimming lessons in the morning, and then running errands in the afternoon, including getting Irini's new school uniforms. I can't believe she is starting school in just a couple of weeks! It's really starting to get warm, so I'm going to have to rethink my jeans obsession soon. I love this top; it was a custom made top from Etsy seller ErinAlexandraKlym and comes with the cool necklace.

Custom navy jersey top: ErinAlexandraKlym

Skinny jeans: Ann Taylor

Leather sandals: Lands End Canvas

Thursday 19 Jan : Swimming lessons again in the morning, and then a shocker of a day afterwards. We had planned to take the kids to Adventure World, a water park about a 40 minute drive away, since they have just opened a section, Kahuna Falls, aimed at little kids. After driving all the way there, and paying our entry fee, we walk in a see a sign that the Kahuna Falls section is closed due to "unforeseen circumstances". Unfortunately, Irini cannot go on one. single. other. water ride (you need to be 110cm tall). And there was no way we were paying $150 to go and swim in the swimming pool! So we decide to try a local council run waterpark, but when we get there we discover it is just 3 swimming pools (20cm, 30cm and 60cm deep) and and a fountain. We then decide to cut our losses and try going to the movies. The kids really wanted to see the Muppets, but of course, for the one night the entire week, the last session is at 4.30 (it is now 5.00). We decide to see Hugo, and for the first time all day, something goes right, and the movie is amazing. Its our first 3D movie, and we definitely picked an amazing choice for our first time!

Printed shell: Coldwater Creek

Straight leg jeans: Gap

Leather sandals: Lands End Canvas

Bracelets: Pandora and homemade

Friday 20 Jan: Today was spent at swimming again, followed by another visit to Irini's school to pick up her booklist. On Friday's I like to spend as a "French Friday," a concept from the French Chic yahoogroup, so Irini and I spent some mummy and daughter time at a local cafe inbetween the school visit and her speech therapy appointment. I also like my outfit to be a touch French inspired as well, so chic and simple was my aim today.

Navy silk ruffle blouse - Talbots

Bootleg jeans - Gap

Black loafers - Louenhide

Enamel bangles - Coach

Saturday 21 Jan: A nice and easy day, with another visit to the movies, this time to see Alvin and the Chipmunks. The kids enjoyed it, but as an online friend succinctly said, "there is 1.5 hours of my life I will never get back".

Green tank: Basque by Myer

Navy vest: J Jill

Skinny jeans: Ann Taylor

Leather flip flops: J Crew

Bangles: Mai Tai Collection and Myer

Sunday 22 Jan: The weather is really starting to heat up, with temps above 38 C today and for the rest of the week. Did I tell you that I hate hot weather? I plan to spend as much time at home in the air conditioning, venturing out only when necessary.

Black tank: Basque

Striped vest: Sirocco

Skinny jeans: Ann Taylor

Bracelets: Pandora and homemade

Monday 23 Jan: Today was another day over 40C and I planned to stay home, but ended up having to go out and get some back to school things organised, as well as a quick meeting.

Navy and white jersey dress: Basque by Myer

White beaded necklace: Talbots

Tan and white leather flip flops: Lands End

See you all next week!!

Also linking to: Monday Mingle @ Glamamom

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50 Classics For Your Closet Part 3: Baubles

2012-01-23T08:55:00.000+08:00

So far we've covered footwear and accessories, so it's now time to tackle my favourite part of the list, Baubles! I'm going to confess, straight out, that my personal bauble collection is a lot larger than the five items listed, but I think what the original creators of this list were going for were the true classics and workhorses of a wardrobe, rather than the fun "extras" that can be used to keep a classic wardrobe fun and up-to-date. It also goes without saying that for these five items, if you choose to invest in them, is buy the best you can afford. This does not mean you need to buy "real" gems - I would rather have a high quality faux piece than a poor quality "real" piece.

Baubles

Diamond studs
Pearl studs
Pearl necklace
Signet ring
Watch

Diamond studs always make a "must-have" list and it is easy to see why. There is nothing simpler to wear, and more flattering, than a pair of diamond studs. The sparkle brings lightness and brightness to your face, and they really do go with everything. I tend to wear my diamond studs on a daily basis. It's just easy and thought-free to leave them in (almost) permanently. Like I said before, go for the best you can afford. If you can't afford quality real diamonds (see here for how diamonds are graded) that are of a decent size (anything below 1/4 carat looks juvenile, IMO), then go for a good quality substitute. You can now buy created diamonds set in real gold that look as good as the real thing, or look for a very good quality cubic zirconia. I really believe that a good fake looks a lot better than poor quality real diamonds, since the poor quality ones just won't have that sparkle and shine.

If I am not wearing my diamond studs, then I am more than likely wearing my pearl studs. Again, I find them wearable with almost anything, and a simple pearl stud can be the perfect finishing touch with overwhelming your other accessories. My advice for diamonds pretty much holds true here as well. Buy the best you can afford! While good cultured pearls such as South Sea and Tahitian are considered the best, don't rule out freshwater pearls. You can often find wonderful freshwater pearls much cheaper than cultured pearls. If you can't find good real pearls, then look for high quality faux ones. Faux pearls should have a great lustre just like real pearls. If they look plasticky, then pass them over. For size, I like small to medium pearls for studs (6 - 12 mm).

While smaller pearls are my go to for studs, my advice for a pearl necklace is the opposite. Go big or go home, I say!! Short strands of tiny pearls look like they belong on a 16 year old, not a woman, so go for a string of marble sized pearls for a short necklace, or ropes of pearls if you prefer long necklaces.. And here is where faux pearls really come in to their own. While I would love a string of real ones, at $20-$30 000, I won't be buying a real strand anytime soon! I haven't found a good faux short necklace yet, but it is on my wish list. I did just pick up a beautiful 36 inch rope of freshwater pearls at 50% off in a recent sale, and I am in love with them!

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A signet ring is a classic piece of men's jewellery that has been appropriated by women, but I am not convinced that it is a must-have. It could just be that a signet ring is just not my style, I'm not sure. I would love your thoughts on this one - maybe I need to reconsider...

Apparently most "young" people no longer wear a watch, since they use their mobiles to tell the time, but I would truly be lost without my watch. If I forget to put it back on after my shower, I spend the rest of the day looking at my naked wrist! There are lots of great watches around, at almost all price points, and to suit almost any trend. Since we are talking classics, though, I will stick with a classic recommendation. I like a classic men's style watch, either with a men's size face, or a scaled-down lady's face. Otherwise, I like the classic tank style watches. For real versatility, a two-tone gold/stainless steel watch is a great choice since it will go with all of your jewellery.

So there you have the baubles that make up part of the 50 Classics. Apart from the signet ring, I think that this list of 5 pieces is a good starting place for building up your fine jewellery collection. I would probably add a stack of gold bangles, a pair of hoop earrings and a classic cocktail ring to this list to round out a classic jewellery wardrobe.

Linking to:

Monday Mingle @ Glamamom

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Pregnancy Series: Exercise and Pregnancy

2012-01-20T09:03:00.000+08:00

For our next instalment in my weekly pregnancy series, I have a wonderful guest post from Maria Barker on exercising and pregnancy. Stay tuned next Friday for some great things to wear while exercising while pregnant!

Exercise and Pregnancy

Some of us have never considered the wordexercise in our lives, or at the worst the only exercise that we’ve everconsidered is the inevitable cleaning of the house! When we fall pregnant we all know that ourlives our about to change, but should we also consider changing ourlifestyles? There is no doubt thatexercise during pregnancy can be a real benefit to you and your experience, sowhy not consider trying it? Even a smallchange in your exercise regime can lead to great results for you later on!

Stamina,Me?

You’re probably thinking, why would I wantto do exercise? Well there is no doubtthat if you consider how it can help your body you will probably be runningdown to the shops by the end of this article! Doing exercise during pregnancy can help in various different ways. You’ve probably read some horror storiesabout women in labour, but it is proven that doing some slight exercisethroughout your pregnancy can benefit you when you reach this stage. Making your more flexible and doing somestretches can aid any problems with pushing during labour, and doing slightexercise will also give you more stamina. More stamina is a bonus for anyone in labour, we all know how tough itcan be, so that little bit of extra effort you can put in at the birth could bereally important. And for the sake of 30minutes of exercise every other day, why not?

Whatexercises can I do?

With prevention of things like gestationaldiabetes also helped by exercise, there are many reasons why you might begin toconsider that jog. What exercise couldyou begin to consider that would actually help though? How about something like Yoga and Pilates? These kinds of exercises can give you theextra stamina that you need, and also give you the opportunity to make yourbody more flexible. With the bonus offlexibility, you can be sure that the back pain you are experiencing will becut down. For many back pain is a reallyfrustrating part of pregnancy, and if doing some slight exercises throughoutthe pregnancy can help, why you would you not even consider it? If you don’t want to consider Yoga orPilates, then why not just a gentle walk, run or jog to the local park or shop. Anything that you can think of which will addto your exercise can be a real benefit, so don’t count anything out!

OK,so where can I do it?

So why not consider trying something out? We all worry about lots of things from ourfirst pregnancy symptoms so a little advice can be a real benefit. I’m not advising that you go to the gym andtry and become a body builder, but some gentle exercise can really help youout! If you visit your local healthcentres, gyms or swimming pools, then there is no doubt that they will offersome classes for pregnant women. Even ifyou don’t want to do this, a jog to the park is free, and any little bit ofexercise that you want to consider can really help. Remember, it’s only going to benefit you, itwont be a hindrance at all, and if it can cut a few minutes of your labour,then you know as well as I do, that is a massive bonus!

image source

Six Ways to Instantly Look More Polished

2012-01-16T09:30:00.000+08:00

Its easy to get into a style rut when you are mostly at home and looking after the kids, but one of my aims this year is to look more polished on a daily basis. Here are six quick and easy ways to instantly look more polished!

1. Throw on a blazer

This is one of my favourite tricks from autumn through to spring. Throwing on a fitted blazer or jacket over a pair of dark jeans and a tank or tee will instantly make the outfit look more put together and polished. Check your wardrobe to see if you still have one left over from your working days. Otherwise, invest in a jacket with simple, clean lines, and few details that will date (eg gold buttons). Black is a classic, but I wish I had a navy one instead, and a dark charcoal blazer is a mainstay of my wardrobe. It doesn't even have to be woven fabric. My charcoal blazer is a knit fabric, and is as comfortable as wearing a sweater.

2. Wear a dress

This is my summer version of the above. Even in a casual fabric like jersey, wearing a dress just seems, I don't know, dressier! In summer, I find there is nothing cooler and more comfortable than throwing on a tailored jersey dress. The tailored style, versus, let's say, a t-shirt style, automatically looks more polished just by its design, and yet, it is just as practical as anything else you could choose to wear.

3. Add a hair accessory

A simple ponytail or an artfully messy chignon can be instantly upgraded with a chic hair accessory. A cute trick is to pin in a jeweled brooch by sliding bobby pins under the brooch closure. For something less dressy, a simple but stylish ponytail holder will upgrade your do to a hair-style instead of a busy mom-style. Note, I am not talking about a scrunchy here! I have the ponytail holder, above, from France Luxe, and I love it because it is very simple and classic. However, you can get a thousand different types to suit all types of fashion styles, from boho to glam.

4. Keep your manicure fresh

There is nothing brings down a look more than chipped nail polish. As a busy mum, a nude or pale pink shade will last the longest as will show the chips a lot less than a bright red lacquer. Make sure you refresh you polish at least weekly, or skip the polish all together and buff your nails instead for a simple and stylish look with minimal maintenance. If you really like the look of brights on your nails, but not the almost daily touch ups, then invest in a Shellac manicure, which will last up to two weeks if done properly at a good salon. My nails above are in CND Shellac in Wildfire, and I had it done just over a week ago. I usually get one more week before the nail growth shows and I need to do it again. If this was regular polish, it would already have been chipped the day I had it done!

5. Add a stack of bangles

I love this look - a stack of gold or silver bangles on your arm automatically add a glam and polished touch to even the plainest outfit. A simple white tank and skinny jeans look amazing when paired with gleaming bangles stacked high. And the best thing? Bangles like these never go out of style! I have ordered 2 sets of these from Nor dstrom; I love that they are just a little bit different to plain gold bangles, but are classic enough that they won't look dated in 6 months.

6. Focus on your base and add a swipe of lipstick

Even if the rest of your makeup is minimal, make sure you focus on achieving a polished base. Use a brightening primer to even out your skin, and top with a tinted moisturiser or light foundation, and then a brightening concealer over any undereye circles. Lipstick looks more polished than gloss, and look for a nice creamy one in a colour that brightens your face. If you have another minute, add a swipe of blush, and a slick of mascara for an even more finished look.

Also linking to:

Monday Mingle

Pregnancy Series: What To Expect When You Are Expecting

2012-01-13T09:40:00.000+08:00

I was just watching TV and saw an ad for the new movie, What To Expect When You Are Expecting, and made me think about how much I loved all of those books when I was pregnant and a new mum. That TV ad made me think about doing a whole pregnancy series (even though I am NOT pregnant!) so over the next month or so, expect some book reviews, some health and beauty tips, and of course, some ideas on how to be a Chic Mummy!

For today, though, I thought I would start by reviewing that all time classic, the original What To Expect When You Are Expecting. This book is now into its 4th edition, and has more than 14 million copies in print. A lot of people call it the pregnancy bible, and it certainly was for me. This thick book was my constant companion through my pregnancy with Stephen. As a first time mum, and having suffered a miscarriage just months before falling pregnant again, pregnancy, especially those early days, were fraught with worry and anxiety and fear. As a book lover and researcher by nature, it was so reassuring to be able to follow my pregnancy along with the book and know what symptoms I should be concerned about, and which ones were perfectly normal.

This book is not a warm and fuzzy, airy fairy guide to pregnancy. It is fact-filled, down-to-earth, and tells you the honest truth about pregnancy. Pregnancy is not all about the "glow"; let's be honest, there is a lot of not so pleasant stuff and What To Expect does not shy away from any of it. While some of my friends found this book overly clinical and overloaded with information, for someone like me, I found it struck just the right balance. I also liked that certain sections were clearly labelled as "not for everyone" such as the complicated pregnancies, and miscarriage section. This way, the information was there for people (like me) who needed it, and for those lucky enough to not need it, they didn't need to read it and freak out.

What I loved most about this book was that it really had something for everyone without being condescending. It outlines the various birth options, encourages you to consider what kind of birth you would like, and then plan accordingly. It does not recommend one over the other, or make you feel guilty for considering a hospital birth or guilty for considering a home birth. It simply presents the facts and allows you to decide without feeling pressure one way or the other, unlike a lot of other pregnancy books I have read. The book treated medical interventions (such as amniocentesis, etc) in exactly the same way; it give reasons why to consider them balanced by the risks, with no judgement either way. In this day and age when pregnancy and birth has become extremely polarised between the "natural" and the "medical", it was nice to find a book that took the middle road.

So overall, I highly recommend What To Expect When You Are Expecting to any pregnant mum-to-be! In the meantime, I will be waiting for the movie to come out.

What I Wore Wednesday

2012-01-11T09:45:00.000+08:00

Another week, and another What I Wore Wednesday! I am loving this linky - putting my pics out there every week is really great reminder to focus a little bit on my style everyday. This week, I did indeed manage to get a pic everyday, and even two pics for one of the days!

Wednesday 4 January - A pretty boring day, running a few errands and doing housework at home. This outfit was perfect because it is easy to move around in while cleaning the house (and is machine washable and doesn't need ironing), but still looked good enough when I needed to duck out of the house.

Jersey dress - Basque by Myer

White sandals - Talbots

Ivory and navy bangles - Myer

Thursday 5 January - I spent today running between our new warehouse, Ikea and office furniture stores looking for ideas for the fitout. Like always, I wanted something comfortable, but still stylish. So flats and yet another jersey dress - are you getting bored yet?!

Jersey dress - Basque by Myer

Raffia flats - Tory Burch

Wooden black necklace - Witchery

Horn cuff - Mai Tai Collection

Friday 6 January - Today I had a couple of meetings with the telecommunications guys for the warehouse, so hence the heels! I loved this top so much, I bought it in two different patterns, and to be perfectly honest, if it came in more colours and patterns, I probably would have bought it in even more!

Tie neck blouse - Coldwater Creek

Skinny jeans - Ann Taylor

Black heels - Urban Soul

Bracelets - Pandora

Saturday 7 January - Looking at this pic, I think this outfit makes me look a lot heavier than I am, but gosh, I love this colour, and I love the colour of the cardigan with my new favourite top.

Cardigan - Coldwater Creek
Tie-neck top - Coldwater Creek
Skinny jeans - Ann Taylor
Black leather flip flops - J Crew
Bracelets - Pandora

Saturday 7 January - I told you I managed to even get two pics on one day. On Saturday evening, it was Nick's cousin's 40th birthday. I love this outfit, but I was freezing all night - it was so cold, and the party was next to a swimming pool, which made it even colder, I think.

Navy silk ruffle top - Talbots

Skinny jeans - Ann Taylor

Black heels - Urban Soul

Cocktail ring - House of Harlow

Gold cuff - Peter Lang

Turquoise bib necklace - Ann Taylor

Sunday 8 January - I had planned to spend the day bumming around the house, but we ended up going into the city to buy some sheets and blankets in the Myer sale. This is not usually what I would wear out and about, but we were in a hurry, so I grabbed a stack of bangles to funk up the outfit a bit.

Khaki green tank - Eddie Bauer

Cuffed jeans - Ann Taylor

Bronze flip flops - FitFlops

Bracelets - my mum!, Ann Taylor, Coldwater Creek

Monday 9 January - Another day spent looking at furniture for the warehouse, and planning out the kitchen at Ikea. I felt a bit French-inspired in this outfit, and I think it was my favourite of the whole week.

Striped knit wrap top - Ann Taylor

White denim crops - Lands End

Red denim ballet flats - Lands End

Red coral bracelet - my mum

Charm bracelet - Pandora

Tuesday 10 January - Today we spent going to Ikea to pick up all the kitchen cabinets - I love Ikea, but having to self-pickup ALL the items is pretty annoying, even if it does keep the cost down. Thank goodness I had hubby there to do all the heavy lifting!

Silk and jersey tunic - Banana Republic

Cuffed jeans - Ann Taylor

Black leather flip flops - J Crew

Pearl necklace - Pure Elements

Also linking to: Monday Mingle @ Momtrends

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50 Classics For Your Closet - Part 2 Accessories

2012-01-09T08:33:00.000+08:00

I covered footwear a couple of weeks ago from the checklist 50 Classics for Your Closet, so today its time to turn to accessories. The accessories list is over double the size of the footwear list, and for must-haves, I think this is probably about right, but unlike the footwear selection, I am not convinced that every item on their list is a must-have

Accessories

Silk Scarf
Shawl
Tortoise Sunglasses
Straw Hat
Umbrella
Opaque Tights
Leather Handbag
Evening Clutch
Casual Tote
Colorful Skinny Belt
Wide Leather Belt
Lace Underpinnings
Black Bikini

I love the concept of silk scarves, and indeed, have 5 beautiful ones from Hermes. However, I am not convinced that these are must haves for everyone, or even everyone with a classic wardrobe. While I love them and think that they are works of art, I can't help but feel either a little bit frumpy or a little bit like an old-fashioned air-hostess when I am wearing one. I am getting better, trying out different methods of tying them, learned at Mai Tai's Picture Book, and I love one tied on to the handle of a handbag, but I still wouldn't consider them a must have in my wardrobe. Rather, I prefer long skinny scarves in fabrics like chiffon and jersey, and in cooler, less humid weather you can find my wearing one almost everyday.

A shawl, on the other hand, I can thoroughly endorse for just about everyone, especially in the winter months or when travelling. In fact, I never travel without one (not that I travel that much anymore!) as it is such a great multi-tasker. It takes the place of a scratchy airplane blanket, acts to ward off unseasonable chills in the air, and can be used when entering a place of worship if you need your head or shoulders covered. I also love them in my regular life for their versatility. They can be used as a scarf and tied a multitude of ways, or as a wrap for a touch of old-school glamour. I have a few, but the two I wear the most are vaguely ethnic in pattern and combine or co-ordinate with the main colours in my wardrobe. One is shades of brown, grey and black, and the other is shades of blue, grey and taupe.

I really hope they mean Faux Tortoise Sunglasses! Again, I am not convinced that this belongs on the list. I have a pair and love them, but I really think the colouring of tortoise shell suits those with warmer colouring rather than those with cooler colouring. I think this entry really should have been for a pair of classic, semi-oversized (ie not huge like the Olsen twins used to wear) glasses a la Jackie O, in a shade that suits. My colouring is neutral to cool, so I look much better in my newish black sunnies than I do in my tortoiseshell ones (check them out in this post) image source

I like the inclusion of a Straw Hat in Matchbox's list, especially in this day and age of rising skin cancer rates. But, and it's a big but, I honestly feel a bit poxy whenever I have worn one, and so while I have bought a few over the years for holidays in sunny locations, they pretty much get worn by the pool or the beach and then get left behind on the return journey. I might try again if I see a nice one in the summer sales - I'll let you know how it goes!

I am assuming that when they list an Umbrella, they are not talking about the dime-a-dozen black fold-up variety, but a stylish and more durable one. I don't think I would go so far as to call this a must-have, but I can say that my umbrella makes me smile every winter. I have had it for over a decade, and got it for free when I used to worked for Aramis fragrances. They used to give away a free one every year and they were quite the collectors item. They were of amazing quality and always had a quirky and unique design. Mine is classic black on the outside, with a wooden and metal handle, but the inside is a vibrant blue sunny sky with fluffy white clouds floating across it. I didn't realise at the time that the design was "inspired" by MoMA's classic sky umbrella (the pic above), but I still love it and use it nonetheless, even though I don't like copies.

I love wearing skirts and dresses (as you can see here!) and cold weather doesn't change that, and that is where Opaque Tights come in. Despite Kate Middleton supposedly bringing pantyhose back into fashion, I still find it a bit old-fashioned for me, whereas I love a matt black opaque. The key, IMO, is to buy opaques that are thick enough, but not too thick. I've seen opaques at about 30 denier, but they often look like sheer pantyhose that are too dark. Conversely, I find 80 denier opaques too heavy, and they remind me a little too much of school uniforms. My personal fave are around 50 - 60 denier (with just a hint of sheerness) and they have to be a true matte. Avoid any that look even remotely shiny when you wear them. While I have only worn black, brown and grey opaque tights in the past, I am planning to experiment with coloured tights this coming winter. image source

You can't go wrong investing in a good Leather Handbag, so I definitely think this is a good addition to the list of 50 items. In fact, I think the only place that Matchbook erred was only listing one! For me, I think you should work towards having a basic neutral bag that works with your wardrobe (eg black, brown, taupe, grey, tan), and a bag in an accent colour that also works with a lot, if not all, of your wardrobe. For a go-with-everything pop colour, I love an olive to mid green, a cobalt blue or a Hermes orange (like the Kate Spade bag above). These three colours will co-ordinate with most colours and can really elevate your outfit. When choosing a leather bag, again, choose the best you can afford. Go for a simple shape that suits both your wardrobe and your lifestyle, and try and pick minimal embellishment for a bag that will stand the test of time. For your neutral bag, most people say go for black, but I disagree. Unless you only wear black, you will probably find that black is not as versatile as you think. I find a tan or a taupe to be the most versatile colours. They go well with black, but they go just as well with navy, camel, white, brown and beige. Also consider the shape carefully. While size is an obvious consideration, a lot of people forgot to consider whether the shape will go with their wardrobe. If your wardrobe leans towards the casual side, then a slouchier, perhaps hobo-style, bag will look better than a structured lady-like tote, and vice versa.

I don't have an Evening Clutch, and at this stage of my life with two preschoolers, I probably don't need one, but it is something that I am keeping my eye out for. I want a black, beaded number that is vintage in style, or a simple black satin envelope style. It needs to be just big enough to fit my phone, some money, my compact foundation and a lipstick. I want it to be a clutch, but to also have a long strap that can be tucked away. And lastly, I want it to be totally unmemorable, so I can use the same clutch over and over again without people realising that I am using the same clutch over and over again. image source

When Matchbook is listing a Casual Tote, they are talking casual as in going to the beach or the pool or on a picnic, not everyday running-after-the-kids casual. I have classic Lands End totes (both monogrammed and in classic navy/natural like above) in medium and extra large, and I use them all the time in summer. They are great for carrying towels and drinks and the myriad of other things you need. I also love using one when I am in a super casual, summery outfit and one of my leather bags (which tend towards the more structured) would not look right. And they are so cheap, that when the natural coloured canvas starts getting grimy after a few years and are beyond washing, then you just replace them. Do I think they are a must-have? No. Like the umbrella, you could easily get away with an even cheaper and more utilitarian type of bag, but sometimes that small investment makes you feel so much more stylish and elegant. image source

So, for the above items, I generally have no problem with them being listed as part of the 50 classics for your closet. It is pretty sound advice that if followed (with a bit of tweaking regarding colours, etc) would provide the backbone for a well rounded accessories selection. If you had each of these, you would pretty much be covered for most occasions, and would be adding in those little extras that help elevate a wardrobe from basic to sophisticated and stylish. The following four items, however, I am not convinced about...

I love a Colourful Skinny Belt. On someone else. These can look great and add a touch of colour to a basic outfit, but they can be a disaster if you are busty, short-waisted or plus sized, and I am all three! They also don't look great on those who are apple-shaped (women who carry their weight around their tunny) and on rectangle shaped women, they can highlight the fact that the woman doesn't have a true waistline, rather than "creating" a waist as the belt is meant to do. If you have a waist, are relatively slender and are well proportioned, then go for it. For the other 80%, I would think twice!

Everything I said about the skinny belt pretty much applies to the Wide Leather Belt, except I think there are slightly more people who can wear one and look good.

I would love to have sexy Lace Underpinnings as part of my closet, so if you know of somewhere that sells these, that are supportive for larger cup sizes, and don't cost over $50 each, then let me know! Joking aside, I think good underpinnings are vital to every closet. I don't think they need to be lace, but supportive (and hopefully pretty) lingerie can make a world of difference to both how you feel and how you look. The real key is to make sure they fit, since the majority of women are wearing the wrong size. Most often, the cup size is too small and the back size is too big. Get fitted yearly, or if you gain or lose some weight.

The Black Bikini is probably the one item out of the fifty that I really don't agree with at all. Firstly, black is definitely not the most flattering colour for most women, but that fact notwithstanding, a lot of women would still go for black since they think black is slimming. Which brings me to my second issue; if you are wearing black because you think it will make you look slimmer, then is a bikini really such a great choice? I am so surprised that the list didn't include what I think of as a classic, the simple tank style maillot. I've gone for a tankini style, in navy with white trim, and I find that much more flattering than a black bikini could ever be.

So what do you think? Are these accessories must-have classics for your closet?

Linking to:

Monday Mingle @ Glamamom

What I Wore Wednesday - Festive Edition

2012-01-05T10:32:00.000+08:00

Happy New Year everyone! I hope your festive season was filled with happiness and joy for you and all of your family! I've had a lovely self-imposed computer break but I am back and super refreshed!

I've been pretty good taking pics over the holidays; I didn't manage it everyday, but I managed almost everyday! Enjoy!!

Thursday 22nd December - This dress was a new buy and something a little bit different for me. The neckline is about 2 inches higher than I usually buy, and I do think it makes my bust appear much larger. However, the long beaded necklaces create a long vertical line that I think helps to visually reduce them a bit. But overall, I really like the dress. You can't see it in the picture, but there is some gorgeous broderie lace trim along the neckline and down the centre front of the dress.

Navy Dress - Boden

Green Sandals - Kenneth Cole Reaction

Necklaces - Witchery

Cuff - Mai Tai Collection

Friday 23rd December - I really love this outfit, because I can fit into the top and the skirt again!! There is still a bit of a tummy roll, but losing a couple of kilos has made a huge difference. Ignore my hair - it was still mostly wet from the shower and that's why it's totally flat around my head.

Navy Tank - Ann Taylor

Denim Pencil Skirt - Ann Taylor

Tan Handbag - Kate Spade

Nude Sandals - Wittner

Silver Necklace - local boutique

Christmas Eve - I mostly spent this day running around at home, wrapping presents etc, so I wanted something comfy but still relatively pretty. Seeing the pic now, though, I am not sure I will wear this top with the pants again!

Cotton floral Blouse - Boden

Skinny Jeans - Ann Taylor

Christmas Day - I know they say pictures don't lie, but I got a heap of compliments from my in-law side of the family on this outfit (my Mum and my Dad hate me wearing black, so no surprise on the lack of compliments there!). So even though it looks a bit sack-like in the pics, I really liked this outfit.

Silk Tunic - Coldwater Creek (it is still available, in their outlet section for $29.99)

Cropped Leggings - J Jill

Tote - Kate Spade - new Christmas present to myself!

Black leather flip flops (not in pic) - J Crew

Wednesday 28th December - another outfit I can finally fit back into to! As my son would say, "Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah!" I really like this outfit because it feels a bit more fun and fresh compared to what I usually wear, and I love the mix of the neutral colours - its not too far out of my comfort zone, but is jazzier than all black.

Brown sequined tank - Ann Taylor

Grey cropped pants - Ann Taylor

Tan suede wedges - Moda Pelle

Cuff - Mai Tai Collection

Thursday 29th December - today we took the kids to see Disney Live! Irini loved it, and I think Stephen enjoyed most of it, but he found the concert and the hundreds of screaming kids too much, and complained that it was too noisy for most of it! I picked up this top in Coldwater Creek's 50% off everything sale, and I think it is my new favourite top! It is a lovely and light georgette material, perfect for the humid summers here in Perth, and is a gorgeous print, with a vine green print on a ivory background.

Vine print top - Coldwater Creek

Skinny jeans - Ann Taylor

Tan wedges - Lands End

Silver necklace - Pilgrim

Cuff - Mai Tai Collection

Saturday 31st December - No, I didn't post the same pic twice. Yes, this is the same outfit as two days ago (including accessories), but with different shoes - see, I try to mix it up a bit!! I love these shoes - they are super comfortable, especially for high heels (shoes - Urban Soul).

New Year's Eve - Every year we go to the Greek club for their New Year's Eve Dance with my in-laws. It is a great night, and really family friendly with lots of organised children's activities. It's great to be able to have a bit of a dance, some food, a few drinks, and still be able to spend NYE with the kids. The evening is not super dressy (no ball gowns or cocktail dresses here!) so I went for a navy and white jersey dress with navy and white espadrille sandals. Ignore the necklace in the pic - after seeing the pic I realised the necklace didn't look great, so swapped it out for some chunky faux pearls which looked much better. I am in love with the dress! It was a super bargain at Myer's Stocktake Sale, but it is so flattering I would happily have paid full price for it. I love how the navy pattern lightens towards the bottom - it adds interest and the darker parts minimise my heavier parts.

Jersey dress - Basque by Myer
Navy espadrilles - Lands End
Bracelets - Pandora
Red Coral Bracelet - handmade by my mum!!

Monday 2nd January - a pretty casual day, with a lunch at Nick's grandfather's house for his name day, and then seeing my parents for the afternoon and dinner.

Black and white jersey dress - Basque by Myer

Black leather flip flops - J Crew

Black wooden beads - Witchery

Tuesday 3rd January - a lazy day at home!

Navy knit dress - Ann Taylor

Also linking to: Monday Mingle @ Glamamom

50 Classics For Your Closet - Part 1 Footwear

2011-12-26T10:31:00.000+08:00

The checklist 50 Classics for Your Closet, found at Matchbookmag.tumblr.com, has been repinned (including by me!) endlessly on Pinterest, and is one of those "items you have to have" lists that I don't really like as a whole, but often follow loosely. Just like the 10 classic items in Parisian Style that I am working on collecting!

So I thought I would take a really good look at the list of 50 Classics, and see what I already had, how often I wear said piece, what pieces I don't have, and whether I would like to get these missing pieces. Today, I will look at their Footwear selection:

Footwear

Ballet Flats
Loafers
Sneakers
Sandals
Black Pumps
Tall Boots

I have to say, I really like this list of "must have" footwear, and I do indeed have all of these. Plus, I think if you have at least one of each of these shoes, you will be set for almost any occasion. The only shoe I would add to this list is a heeled bootie. Not necessarily a classic, but definitely a great way of keeping your shoe wardrobe nice and current.

I am in love with ballet flats - they are great for mums who are running around, but they are still nice and feminine. When buying ballet flats, make sure they have some arch support. A lot have perfectly flat insoles, and after a few hours, your feet will be killing you! I love the Emma ballet flats from Lands' End; they are reasonably priced (and are on sale now!), super comfortable and come in a range of colours and styles. I have pairs in classic black, denim and tan and these three colours go with almost my whole wardrobe. I would love to add a pair of leopard print ones, though!

Loafers absolutely fall into the classic category, and I think for a lot of people, they may be too classic. However, I love them! I have two pairs of driving shoes (rather than true loafers), one in black and one in espresso brown, and these two colours work with almost all the colours in my wardrobe. Like ballet flats, they are great for running around in. My one bit of advice regarding loafers is to mainly wear them with pants (even crops); I think they can look a bit frumpy with skirts. My current faves are pictured above, from Australian brand Louenhide. They are also on sale at the moment!

I think most people have a love/hate relationship with sneakers, especially when they think of the white athletic type. I want to state from the outset - white athletic sneakers are not shoes, they are sports equipment, and therefore should only be worn when engaging in sport/exercise. However, there are literally thousands of "fashion" sneakers that are a great addition to a casual wardrobe. Paired with casual pants, like jeans or cords, sneakers are a great option, especially for mums that are constantly running after young toddlers! I am not against white sneakers, but I generally prefer either black sneakers, or brightly coloured ones. Mine are from Ecco, but Puma, Adidas and numerous other brands also make some great ones. I also like the old-school tennis shoe type, like the ones by Bensimmon or Superga.

What would summer be without sandals? I really believe you need two types of sandals - one for day and one for night, or at least one that can cross between both, like the metallic wedge above from Talbots. In my opinion, go cheaper with your day sandals. If you are like me, you tend to wear them at the beach, at the park, as well as your general day-to-day business, and so, they get grotty and worn out much sooner than other shoes on this list. My current day sandals are from Talbots, a simple white leather T-strap sandal with a super-summery cork insole.

For evenings out, I like either a heeled sandal, or a jewel-embellished flat. I had a jewel-embellished flat from Talbots, exactly the same style as my white ones but in a champagne metallic with bronzy gems on them, but unfortunately the gems started falling off almost immediately, so they were returned. The pic above is the ones I am currently wearing. They are a bit day-time for me (and I wear them a lot in the day time), but for now, they will do. I do like the nude colour, as they go with almost everything and make my legs look like they go on forever!

Black pumps make their appearance on almost every "must have" list, and there is a good reason why. A true classic, they really do go with almost everything, and if you pick a very classic piece (mid-heel, plain leather, little embellishment and almond shape toe) they will last you a long time if you look after them. Mine were a serious investment from Salvatore Ferragamo (like the ones above, but regular leather, not patent) but are still going on strong 4 years after I bought them. Shoes like this can be bought at every price point - follow the tips above, and buy the best you can afford. I wear mine with everything from casual outfits with jeans, through to skirts, and on evenings out.

A love me a pair of tall boots, but out of the six shoes listed, these are the ones I wear the least. I think this is because they are so season specific, and here in Western Australia, our winters are just not very long. Despite that, I still have two pairs, a black flat pair, and a brown suede heeled pair. I love wearing them over the top of skinny jeans or with knee-length skirts. I also think they would look amazing with this season's mid-length skirt, too.

So there is my round-up of Matchbook's footwear selection in the 50 Classics For Your Closet, and so far, so good. Not only do I have all of them, I wear all of them as well. Stay tuned for the second part when I will go through their accessories selection!

Linking to:

Monday Mingle @ Glamamom

What I Wore Wednesday: My Parisian Style Haircut

2011-12-19T11:10:00.000+08:00

No pics again, but I do have my new hair cut to share, and that's kind of what I wore? Right? Work with me here, gals!

I was so inspired by the images in the book Parisian Style by Ines de la Fressange (see my review of it here) that I actually took the book into my hairdresser and told her that I wanted hair similar to Nine's hair throughout the book. And here is the result:

So far, I am in love! It is just long enough to tie back when needed, it's truly wash and wear, and it feels so light and springy. And in a "it's such a small world" co-incidence, as I was getting my hair done, the owner of the salon came up to me, and goes "I know you..." It honestly took me more than a few seconds to realise that he was a really good friend in primary (elementary) school, and one of my high school BFFs dancing partner. We have not seen each other for at least a decade - it was so weird to just run into someone from the past like that.

Anyway, back to the hair - what do you all think? Friends and family have mixed opinions so far - some are loving it, my teenage nephew hates it (thinks it's a "mum" cut); but I love it, and that's what counts!!

Also linking to: Monday Mingle @ Glamamom

Four Ways with Blueberries

2011-12-18T15:30:00.000+08:00

Summer is my least favourite season, but one thing I do love about it is the abundance of berries. There is just something so summery about tucking into a bowl of refreshing blueberries, blackberries or cherries! But just in case you are sick of eating them plain (can you ever be sick of that?!), then here are four more ways you can enjoy them.

4 Ways with Blueberries

Mash and fold into spreadable cream cheese and top bagels or English Muffins with the mix for fun and fruity "purple" bagels.
Toss with washed baby spinach, chopped chicken breast, crumbled goats cheese or feta and raspberry vinaigrette for a quick and easy lunch full of antioxidants.
Add to any muffin or quick bread recipe. Blueberries are great with banana bread or muffins.
Make a quick blueberry sauce: simmer 1 cup blueberries with 3 tbs water, 1/4 cup honey and a squeeze of lemon juice for 10 minutes. Stir in another cup of blueberries and simmer for 5 more minutes. Perfect with icecream or waffles (or both!)

image source

Book Review: Parisian Style: A Style Guide

2011-12-15T09:59:00.000+08:00

I read Parisian Style: A Style Guide months ago (pretty much as soon as it came out) but I have only just realised that I never posted a review. I love reading style and fashion books (not necessarily the same thing!) and have quite a growing collection of the ones I think are keepers. A greater collection, on the other hand, have been given away since they are, to put it plainly, a waste of my space. I am glad to say, that Parisian Style has staked out a space on my bookshelf!

Parisian Style is by the legendary French ex- Chanel model and Karl Lagerfeld muse, Ines De La Fressange, who was also selected to represent Mariane, the symbol of the French Republic. As we all know, the French, and the Parisienne in particular, holds an almost magical place in the imaginations of most women. There are countless books on how to look like the French, dress like the French, diet (or not) like the French, and many of them are also sitting in my bookcase. But this this probably one of the first books written by a true "insider"; a Parisienne who is recognized throughout the world as a style icon in her own right.

This book is beautifully packaged in a charming red leather-like cover embossed with gold lettering that for some reason reminds me of the classic Moleskin journals, especially with the ribbon bookmark. The information inside is just as charming. There are plenty of pretty illustrations done by Ines herself, and numerous photos (of Ines' daughter, Nine) to demonstrate the principles Ines is laying out. The book is basically divided into two parts. The first part is what most people would call the style guide, including how to build a wardrobe from 7 key pieces.

a man's blazer
the trench
the navy sweater
the tank
the LBD
the perfect jeans
the leather jacket

I don't usually like lists of "must-have" items; yes, I think a trench coat is a wonderfully classic item, on some people. However, on a short-waisted, plus-sized, full-busted gal like me, a trench coat is never going to be a great choice. However, trench coat not-withstanding, I have to say that I have almost completed acquiring the list, and they (especially in winter, not so much in our humid, hot summer) made my daily wardrobe dilemma much easier!

What I loved most about the list of 7 must haves was Ines' further suggestions for each item, including how these pieces can meld into anyone's closet, fashion faux pas, celebrity style and examples of the perfect "hall of fame" item, such as Eric Bompard's classic navy cashmere sweater.

There is even a quick 10-point lesson on how to master that je ne sais quois, the off beat, effortless look we all aspire to. Some, I think are achievable: wearing jeans with gem-encrusted sandals rather than sneakers, for example, or a sequined sweater with men's trousers and not a skirt. Others, like toting a straw handbag with an evening dress rather than a clutch, probably need more French-style self confidence than I can muster! Ines also includes a small, but informative section on home decor and entertaining, as well as beauty, so this gem of a book not only encompasses "fashion" style, but Parisian style overall.

The second part is a guide to Ines' favourite stores, museums and hotels in Paris. While it was interesting and often inspirational, I didn't find it as useful as the first part. If I was off to Paris in the near future, though, I would definitely pay closer attention to this section!

Overall, the book is a simple guide to looking effortlessly chic. It is squarely aimed at the more classic dresser (which I am), rather than the more eccentric Left Bank style that I have seen many Parisiennes sporting. While there is not a lot of new information in this book, the info coupled with the presentation has earned it a spot in my home.

For further French style inspiration, I can also recommend two other books - A Year of Style by Frederick Fekkai, which is more serious, and Entre Nous by Debra Olliver which is more light-hearted, both of which I re-read on a regular basis.

Product Review: Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick

2011-12-13T08:44:00.000+08:00

While I have mostly moved my makeup to more natural options, every now and then I want to experiment with a vibrant colour of the season that just isn't available from a natural brand. For this summer, I really wanted to find a super hot pink matte shade, and I found it in the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet lipstick in 37, L'Exuberante.

Here is the lipstick on me, about an hour after I first applied it, without an lipliner. Chanel describes the lipstick as luminous matte lipcolour, "elevating matte to a new elegance, this next generation, non-drying matte lipstick glides on lips with intensely rich color and a sumptuously soft velvet matte finish." I have to agree that the lipstick is intensely rich in colour, the finish is gorgeous. It feels lush going on, and while it appears creamy initially, within a minute or so it has dried to a finish that can truly be described as velvet matte. However, while it didn't feel dry on the lips like other matte lipsticks I have worn, it did dry my lips out. I don't know if this would happen to everyone (I have chronically dry lips!) but it was really noticeable that after a few days of wearing it, my lips were drier than usual. Since I love the colour and the look of the lipstick so much, I am still wearing it, but alternating it with days of lipbalm wearing!

A lot of reviews I have read mentioned how long lasting this lipstick was. It was definitely longer lasting than my regular lipsticks, but I only got a few hours out of each application. However, not once has the colour bled into the fine lines around my lips, often a problem for me with bright/dark colours if I don't wear lipliner. As for the colour, I love it! It is a true hot pink, and it looks amazing with my tanned skin. But I could also see it on just about every skintone, from pale right through to dark. It is really that universally flattering. It is also the type of colour that I can see myself wearing now in the middle of summer with my patterns and brights, and then later in winter to add a pop of colour to my greys and blacks.

Teacher's Gifts

2011-12-11T23:30:00.000+08:00

It is the last week of school and I can't believe that day is here already. Stephen has finished his first year of formal schooling, and Irini will be starting hers next year. How did we get here so fast? It's a cliche, but it really did feel like just yesterday that they were both just little babies. But lets stop worrying about time flying; I have more pressing concerns, like teacher gifts!

This is the second year I've needed teacher gifts, and like last year, I wanted to make something home made. I found a great recipe for hot chocolate on a stick at GiversLog (which is a great resource for handmade gifts of all sorts) and adapted it to suit. Instead of putting it on a stick, I used some great Santa icecube molds, and I used a mix of milk and dark chocolate. After they set, I packed them into some cellophane in some Santa mugs. Tucked into some cute gift bags, and I had the eight (yes, you read that right!) gifts for Stephen and Irini's teachers, and all in less than half an hour's active work and for less than $4 each.

Real Food Meal Plans from The Fresh 20 on sale!

2011-12-09T20:19:00.001+08:00

I have mentioned the free meal plans over at 100 Days Of Real Food before (Lisa has another one available now, for email subscribers) and how wonderful they are, but if the four plans are not enough for you, then she now has an exclusive offer of 50% off an annual gift subscription to the meal plans from The Fresh 20. I just bought one (since you can "gift" them to yourselves!), and at $24.50 for the whole year, you can't really go wrong. Even better, especially for those of us in the southern hemisphere, when you have an annual subscription, you gain access to the archives as well, meaning you can utilise plans more in tune with the current season. So if you are interested in having someone else do the meal planning for you, then head over to 100 Days of Real Food's Exclusive Offer for more info (but don't take too long; offer ends on Monday!)

PS: there are no affiliate links or compensation here - I just thought you gals might be interested!!

What I Wore Wednesday

2011-12-07T07:44:00.000+08:00

I have been super slack taking pictures, and that coupled with a bout of illness and Stephen's birthday has resulted in this post showing a few pics taken over the last few weeks. But, overall, I have been pretty happy with these outfits. Summer is well and truly here, and that is making my outfit choices much harder - keep an eye out next week to see how I handled a week of plus 35 C (95F) temps.

These are in no particular order, mostly since I can't remember when each pic was taken!

This top is quite unusual for me, because I don't usually like blouson style tops. However, in person, I think this top camouflages my tummy quite nicely without making me look bigger all over like a lot of other blouson tops I have tried. It is a semi-sheer fabric with a subtle grey, black and white print. Paired with my regular Ann Taylor skinny jeans. No shoes! So I either stayed home all day (most likely) or I put on my fave Nine West flats later.

This dress is a recent buy from Leona Edminston's dedicated plus-sized range. I generally love the look of Leona Edminston dresses in her regular higher priced range (I've never bought any, even though she often does up to size 18) but I have to admit that I have been disappointed in the plus-sized range. Most of the dresses I have tried have been very frumpy and dowdy and not at all flattering. But this dress, I adore! And it is not just me; whenever I wear it, I get an amazing amount of compliments.

I paired the dress with these two bangles, picked up a long time ago. The colours look absolutely perfect with the dress.

Another new dress, this time from Perri Cutten. It is also jersey, which makes it so easy to wear, and even easier to launder - oh, how I love clothes you don't have to iron.

This outfit felt better in real life than the pic, but they do say pictures don't lie, so I will think twice before wearing it again! Black ruffle top from Basque Woman, with Ann Taylor skinny jeans, and cage heels from Urban Soul.

Also linking up to :

Monday Mingle @ Glamamom

Stephen's Lightning McQueen Cake

2011-12-05T08:24:00.000+08:00

It was Stephen's birthday a couple of weeks ago, and (in a bad, bad move!) we have created a tradition of having homemade birthday cakes for both the kids. Mostly, the kids pick from our favourite Women's Weekly Birthday Cake cookbook, which come with pics, instructions, and templates. This year however, Stephen was adamant that he wanted a Lightning McQueen cake, and, in his words, "a proper Lightning McQueen, NOT a picture of him on top of a cake." Wonderful!

After getting myself massively stressed out, having two of my cake batches fail miserably and having to run to the supermarket at 8.30 on a Friday night to buy more ingredients to make another batch, Mum and I finally managed to knock out our version of Lightning McQueen that looked good enough that even Stephen was impressed!

Guest Post: Tips for Staying Chic During Pregnancy

2011-12-03T07:27:00.000+08:00

Today I have a guest post for you on staying chic while you are pregnant from Isabella Woods. Enjoy!

There was a time when if youfell pregnant it would mean dressing for the next nine months either like a carmechanic in some hideous pair of dungarees or like an ageing aunt in a horrible floral maternity dress.Thankfully, the world of maternity wear has moved on dramatically, andexpectant mothers can now look just as elegant and chic as before. However,it’s not easy, as not only does is each new mum to be different, with someblowing up like a balloon the first few months, while other don’t start to showuntil the third trimester, but also the extra weight and changes your body isgoing through, sometimes means sacrificing style for comfort. There are, however,lots you can do to stay as chic as possible during your pregnancy and stillremain as comfortable as possible:

Keep snug - Just buying larger sizes of your usual brands won’t at all beflattering, as the shoulders will look saggy, as will other parts of your body.Also, avoid trapeze shapes and too many layers, which will automatically makeyou look far bigger than you are. The truth is, pregnant women look far betterin clothes that fit snugly. This is where all those old style maternity dresseswent wrong, making women look like they had a tent wrapped around them. Thesecret to comfort and chicness with modern, maternity wear is the stretch.Clothes that stretch are perfect as they fit snugly but don’t make you feel tooconstricted. Maternity jeans are fantastic and perhaps essential for anymum-to-be. They are best if cut below the tummy so they won’t itch as you getlarger unlike the waistbands that go over you bump. These days, maternity jeanscome in a wide variety of cuts and colors so you can remain just as chic inthem as you did before you became pregnant, while remaining comfortable as yourelax on sectional sofas or armchairs.

Keep sexy - as mentioned, baggy clothes do little for a pregnantwoman’s chicness, but by accentuating your additional curves and the parts ofyour body that haven’t changed, such as the curve of your spine or beneath yourbust, you can still look sexy and elegant. On a night out, consider a long,flowing bohemian dress cut tight beneath your bosom to highlight your bestbits, which will also make you feel just as sexy as you did before becomingpregnant. Another great way to accentuate your bust is to wear a necklace,which helps draw the eye. Also, don’t hide away in dowdy colors. While blackmay be slimming, it’s also dull. Don’t shy away from patterns and brightcolors, which can help your feel brighter too. Maternity underwear has alsocome along way and can make you feel quite sexy, so shop around.

Don’t overshop - while it’s tempting to get a whole new wardrobe, you have toremember pregnancy only lasts nine months. And while parts of you will gothrough dramatic changes, not all of your body changes so all that money willend up wasted (it’s not as if you’ll wear any of it once the baby is born).Choose half a dozen or so key items such as a stretch jersey, jeans, leggingsand an evening gown cut below the bust. As many of your regular clothes maystill fit, even during later stages of pregnancy, mix and match and see whatworks. Many tops, especially those that stretch, can still be worn duringpregnancy, as can skirts. Okay, you may struggle a little during the last monthor so, but for such a brief amount of time it isn’t really worth spending allthat money on clothes that will possibly be never worn again.

Look after your feet - many pregnant women end up going up a shoe size, so you’llprobably need new shoes (yippee). Of course, your feet take most of the burden duringpregnancy and heels or platforms that are too high will not only hurt your feetbut also aggravate backache. Have two new pairs, both made of soft fabrics that will not constrictyou if your feet happen to swell a little, which is common because of hormonalchanges; perhaps something special and with small heels for nights out, and apair of flat soles, such as trainers for relaxing at home.

Baking together

2011-11-21T18:11:00.000+08:00

On the weekend, we had Irini and Stephen's cousin over, and I thought that baking was the perfect activity for us to do together. I had this recipe jotted down, and I know it is from a blog, but I cannot remember who it is from - if you know, or if it is your blog, please let me know so I can update and link to you accordingly!

This recipe is perfect for baking together as it is a) easy, and b) really easy to have the kids individually involved, rather than having to take turns.

Mix In Cookies

500 g butter
1 cup sugar
1 tin condensed milk
5 cups self-raising flour
mix-ins of your choice (i used choc chips, rainbow mini choc chips, and 100s and 1000s)

Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in condensed milk and flour until a dough forms. Split into three bowls, and add individual mix-ins to each bowl, and then get the kids to mix in the mix-ins. Scoop tablespoons of mixture onto a greased or lined baking tray (i used a separate tray for each variety), and get the kids to flatten their cookies with a fork. Bake for 10-15 minutes in a preheated 180 C (350 F) oven. Cool on oven rack and then devour!! One batch literally makes over 100 cookies.

image source

Flo Dancewear

2011-11-19T09:51:00.000+08:00

Irini is in LOVE with ballet; she loves waltzing around the house, she loves her ballet class, and most of all, she loves wearing her ballet outfits. When she's not pretending to be a princess or a superhero, she is pretending to be a ballerina. Since she is still in kindydance (and not "real" ballet classes!), the kids are still allowed to wear what they want, which means a various assortment of tutus, princess and fairy outfits. Irini very quickly decided that she wanted a "ballanina" (her pronunciation!) costume, too, so for the last two years I have relied on an Australian brand, Flo Dancewear. I picked this brand since the clothes look like "real" ballet clothes and are all machine washable and breathable (despite being delightfully frilly and fluffy) and I have continued with it since Irini has grown out of her outfits, rather than wearing out of them, and they take some pretty heavy wear during the classes.

This is the first outfit Irini wore. She still wears it occasionally (including today!), but it really has become way to short for her so I think it is probably about to become relegated to her costume rack. Not only is it adorably cute, but after nearly two years, it is still going strong. The tutu part of the dress has little diamantes scattered over it, and not one has fallen off, despite it being only machine washed.

This is the outfit I recently bought for Irini. It has more of a sylphide feel (for those of you who did ballet yourself) than her last tutu-y one, but it is still very beautiful and elegant with its shoestring straps. Little details like the straps crossing at the back so they don't fall off make all the details. We have had the bolero since the last dress, but it's more forgiving in size, so it still fits.

If your little one is into less frilly ballet things, then Flo has a great range of more "casual" dance wear, like harem pants, jazz pants, tracksuits and basic leotards. If you are looking at buying some high quality but reasonably priced outfits for your baby ballerina, then I highly recommend checking out this great Australian brand.

Note, this is not a sponsored post, nor does Flo know that I am writing it.

Let's set a good example!

2011-11-17T20:08:00.000+08:00

We've all seen typical mom outfits of running shoes, crops and a tank or tee, and possibly even been seen ourselves in these outfits. But really, it doesn't take much to turn an adequate but boring and run-of-the-mill outfit into something with some style. With a few well chosen accessories, not only will you look more put together, you will be setting a great example for your children.

"Hang-on", I can hear you saying, "what does looking put together and stylish have to do with setting a good example for our children?" Well, I think looking stylish has a lot to do with it. Motherhood (and SAHMs in particular) can get a pretty bum rap, from the media, from other moms, and from society in general. It is seen as the lesser option, the lesser role, and really, when you see a lot of us running around looking like slobs, moaning and complaining all the time, it's pretty easy to see why that is our image. Look at it this way - would you go to "work" (as in paid, outside employment) dressed in runners, cropped pants and a tank and expect to be taken seriously? Of course not. But we moms run around like this and expect our role to be taken seriously.

Now, I'm not suggesting that we start wearing suits - we still need to be practical for what our role entails. But taking an extra ten minutes in the morning to accessorise, fix our hair and add a touch of makeup can make a real difference in both how we look and how we are perceived. Let's show our children that motherhood is a valuable role, and that just like an "outside" job, we take it seriously!

Take these two summer outfits - they are comfy and practical, and great for running around after little kids. But, and it's a big but, these are pretty boring and you are guaranteed to blend into the background. They don't look bad, per se, and I've definitely seen worse, but with a few well chosen accessories, you can turn these blah outfits into something chic and stylish, and yes, still just as comfy and practical.

My first piece of advice is to keep your accessories relatively current. The clothes in the above pic are pretty timeless and will last a long time. By updating some of your accessories seasonally, you can inexpensively make your wardrobe look more current and more fashionable, without having to overhaul all the clothes in it. So let's start with the shoes. I love me my heels, and will often wear them almost everywhere, but for most moms, a great pair of flats is much more practical. I love the gladiator style sandals on the left - they look modern and really add some edge to a basic outfit, but are still as comfortable as a pair of flip flops. Sandals like this would also look great with a date night outfit or with skinny jeans. For the right outfit, I went for a classic pair of ballet flats in an updated metallic. I adore a gunmetal metallic, rather than a silver or a gold, because it will go with a lot more things in your wardrobe. Another option is a champagne metallic, since it sits kind of in between gold and silver.

Next, invest in a great bag in a neutral colour, in a size and shape that works for your lifestyle. I really think you need two, one in black, and one in a lighter colour like tan or taupe that can work better in summer or with lighter colour clothes. For mom's with young kids, I don't think you can go past a roomy tote. It will fit all the things you need to tote around like sippy cups and wipes and a bottle of water for mom. I prefer a tote that also has an over-the-shoulder strap since it frees up my arms.

Lastly, add in once more accessory to add some colour or texture. Both outfits are at the uber-casual end of the spectrum, so don't go over-the-top, but some simple touches will really take the outfit from blah to polished and pulled together. A long pendant necklace on the left not only adds a pop of colour to a neutral outfit, but helps to visually elongate the body. This is particularly great for this outfit, because the crops and the shoes can often do the opposite. For the right outfit, a soft scarf in tones that pick up on the colours of the top add another little bit of colour, and some textural interest as well. If you are not confident with scarfs, then check out this youtube series, How To Tie A Scarf 25 Ways.

So by simply adding in three accessories, you are really taking your outfit from looking like you quickly grabbed a couple of things out of your wardrobe, to looking pulled together, and like a professional, intentional mom-about-town!

Linking to Monday Mingle

What I Wore Wednesday

2011-11-02T22:09:00.001+08:00

Two weeks in a row! I'm on fire with a pic everyday. Summer well and truly feels like it is here, with temps above 30 pretty much everyday except late last week. Meanwhile, you guys in the northern hemisphere are having snow in October - what is going on!!

Thursday was nice and cool and now that the hot weather is here I wish I had savoured it more! Stephen and I watched Irini's ballet class and then we all went and had lunch with Mum and Dad at our favourite cafe, Fez. Now looking at this pic, I think the tunic would have looked better with a black rather than white tank underneath. Purple tunic from Flower, grey leggings from Isabella Oliver. Wittner black ballet flats and Costume National bag. My favourite silver necklace and horn cuff from Mai Tai Collection.

Friday was warmer, so I though sheer chiffon polka dots was nice and spring like. I grabbed this pic before I went downstairs, so no shoes yet! My fave skinnies from Ann Taylor, with Flower Clothing tunic. Wooden cuff bangles, and a silver Tree of Life necklace from Pilgrim. I used the same bag as Thursday.

These are the shoes I ended up wearing, my trusty Nine West Flats. Excuse the bad pedicure - will definitely be fixed this weekend!

These are my new Roberto Cavalli sunnies - a super bargain on Modnique. Is it sad to say I was inspired by a TV show?

I saw Sarah Michelle Gellar on the first episode of Ringer with these oversized sunnies, and had to have a pair. I love the whole look, but I don't think a white coat is that practical for a mum of preschoolers! I can't say I am loving the show, but it sure is food and interior design porn!

Saturday was the start of the warmer weather so hubby and I took the kids with us on some deliveries and then went for lunch down by the beach. Dark skinnies from Ann Taylor (will I ever be able to wear boot cuts again?) and a black tunic length tank. Cream silk jacket with grey and black feather print from Virtu (a great source for casual plus sized clothes) and wooden beaded necklaces from Witchery. Black cage heels from Urban Soul.

We did not leave the house on Sunday - I was catching up with housework and Nick was catching up on bookwork. So, comfort was the order of the day. I wore the skinny jeans again (be assured, I do wash them!) with a silky top from Piper Woman (retail speak for Piper's "big girl" line - are skinnier girls not women, too?!).

I started Monday with the best of intentions and had even booked a session with a trainer at the gym when 20 minutes before my appointment, Nick asked if I could come in and help at work. Luckily, the trainers at Contours Yokine are great, and let me reschedule without any penalty at all - they are that fantastic! Pink tank from Basque, Old Navy pants and Reebok Tone shoes.

This is what I changed into after my non-gym attendance. White denim crops from Lands End, black and white silky top from Ann Taylor, Dyberg/Kern necklace, Kate Spade bag and brass bangles from Gap and Coldwater Creek. Tan wedges from Country Road.

Tuesday is Melbourne Cup day, the so-called "race that stops the nation" even though those of us in the west don't actually get a holiday for it. Our playgroup decided to have a casual lunch after our usual session, so we could all have a chance to watch the big race. Lucky I didn't bet - my pick came in fourth! Since this is traditionally a day to get all dolled up, I thought I would go a bit more dressy than usual. Ruffled tank and striped linen skirt from Talbots. Same tan bag as yesterday, and my Pandora bracelet.

Here is a close-up of the necklace I wore, from Talbots. I love this necklace, it is just so summery!

I love these shoes - really comfy and the nude colour is almost the same as my skin colour, unlike most of the "nudes" out there. Plus, I can prove that I did actually give myself a pedicure, with a beautiful Rimmel colour, Misty Jade.

Today was super-hot and I have to laugh because me and everyone I talked to was complaining about the heat, but how short our memories are...it was only a few weeks ago that we were all complaining about the winter weather! It was also my birthday - so Happy Birthday to Me!! Black ponte pants from Ann Taylor, Eileen Fisher grey tank, and grey mesh vest from Flower Clothing. I wore my tan Kate Spade bag and my Urban Soul cage heels. Usually these heels are super comfy, but today (maybe it was the heat!) they were killing me!

I bought a few dresses today (a birthday present to me!) so I look forward to showing them to you next week.

Also linking up to :

Monday Mingle @ Glamamom

What I Wore Wednesday

2011-10-26T21:40:00.000+08:00

Yeah! This week I did get a pic everyday! I know that there are a gazillion bloggers out there that manage that every week with absolutely no drama, but for me, it's quite an accomplishment.

Thursday was such a lovely day - the sun was shining, the sky was blue, just perfect for a day out and about with the kids. Black ponte pants and painterly silky top from Ann Taylor, with Dyberg/Kern necklace, Lambertson Truex tan bag and tan Lands End wedges.

I wore these Coach enamel bangles. You can't really see in this fuzzy iPhone pic, but the big bangle is gold, and the smaller one is silver, but I wasn't too fussed. I just love the multi-coloured stripes and how they picked up the colours in my top.

Friday was another lovely, warm day and I can almost feel summer in the air! Black cupro pants and black sleeveless long vest from Flower, with a black tank underneath. I wore a long art deco style bronze and black necklace from Ann Taylor, with a stack of gold bangles from Gap. Same bag as Thursday, with my super comfy Nine West black gladiator flats.

On Saturday I did not leave the house for even one second! So, no shoes, bags or jewellery for your viewing pleasure today! I spent the day doing housework, packing away most of our winter clothes, bedding etc, and making the house feel more "spring" like.

Sunday was spent doing my hour on the school fete stall, and then wandering around with the kids for a short while afterwards. Coffee back at my place with my parents and then a lazy afternoon, followed by fish and chips down by the beach for dinner. My kind of day! Navy layered tank custom made from Etsy seller ErinAlexandraKlym which also includes the necklace. I have a couple of pieces from here and will buy some more as my budget allows as they are very well made, totally unique in design and made to measure. I paired the top with dark skinny jeans from Ann Taylor and my favourite Nine West flats.

Monday I started my membership at Contours, a female-only circuit-style gym. I am planning to go twice a week when the kids are both at kindy. This pic was taken after going, hence the bright red face - I am seriously unfit! Basque black tank, Old Navy gym pants, Reebok Tone sneakers and Marc by Marc Jacobs tote, with my trusty Sigg water bottle. I came home and got stuck straight into housework, and then before I knew it, it was nearly time to go and pick up Stephen. I had a super quick shower, and then grabbed yesterday's outfit.

Tuesday and the weather took a turn for the worse. I know you have Indian summers; is there such think as Indian winters? Because I think we are in the middle of one. We are back to full on winter - I'm talking rain, wind, cold. Tuesdays are mummy and me days for me and Irini. After dropping off Stephen, we go for breakfast at a local cafe, then to playgroup for the morning, followed by lunch with my parents in the city. Its just a nice day where the two of us get some one on one time. Black ponte pants and leopard cardigan from Ann Taylor, black tank and black loafers from Louenhide. The grey pearl necklace is from an old Etsy seller, Anneliese. I wish she was still around, because her jewellery was stunning.

Wednesday rounds out the week - I still can't believe that I managed to take a pic everyday! Today was another cold and blustery day - I'm certain winter is back! Navy sweater from Lands End Canvas, with dark skinny Ann Taylor jeans. I felt like going for a French vibe (I just finished reading Ines de la Fressange's book, Parisian Style) so I went for black ballet flats, and my Louis Vuitton Alma bag. I think a bucket/duffle style bag would have been perfect, so I am putting one on to my wardrobe wish list.

Overall, I was pretty happy with my outfits and there wasn't much I would have changed. Here's to another week of pictures!

Also linking up to :

Monday Mingle @ Glamamom

What I Wore Wednesday

2011-10-19T22:03:00.006+08:00

Another What I Wore Wednesday, but this time I actually managed to take pics almost everyday!

Thursday was a glorious day; nice and warm but not too warm. I love this jersey dress from Jane Lamerton (one of Myer's house brands) - it feels so light to wear, and I can throw it in the washing machine, hang it up to dry, and it is ready to wear straight away, without even needing ironing. The perfect dress for a busy mum! I love the colours, too - teal, grey, black and navy. Black Wittner ballet flats and Costume National bag, with a moonstone and silver pendant.

This is what I started off wearing on Friday, since the forecast said drizzly, and a max of 22 degrees. I know weather forecasters are not the most reliable people in the world, but I ended up wearing this outfit, as is, for about two whole minutes.

This is what I ended up wearing for most of the day, since it turned out to be a beautifully sunny and warm, almost hot, day. You can't see it well on the pics, but the jersey knit cardigan from Flower is actually a navy and grey mini stripe. The white drapey top is from J Crew, the dark denim skinny jeans from Ann Taylor. I'm wearing the outfit with same black flats and bag from yesterday, with a Pandora charm bracelet and my favourite silver necklace. I spent the day at home, and running a few errands so this was a nice and comfy outfit.

Saturday really felt like summer with temps in the high twenties. We spent the day looking for furniture (fruitlessly) so I wanted something comfy and cool but still relatively chic. This navy knit dress from Ann Taylor fits the bill perfectly. The draping across the front adds a nice touch and camouflages my mummy tummy nicely. Paired with my favourite silver necklace (again!) and tan and white leather flip flops from Lands End.

Sunday was a super hot day, especially for October, with temps over 36 C, so light layers were the order of the day. We tried to stay inside for most of the day, not venturing out until the evening for kebabs down by the sea. Cupro pants from Flower in a greyish sage colour. I love Cupro, which is a man made from natural fibre, that looks like silk but is machine washable. It is great in hot weather since it is so breathable. It's paired with a pale grey loose knit linen vest, and a black tank underneath. Nine West flats, Witchery snakeskin print scarf and black Costume National bag.

Somehow I missed taking a pic on Monday (even though I was sure I did...), but you didn't miss much. I wore an electric blue jersey underdress from Taking Shape, topped with an black overdress also from Taking Shape. I spent the day working from home and didn't venture out once, so no accessories or shoes!

Tuesday was the first day back at school after the holidays for Stephen, and playgroup for me and Irini. I also did some furniture shopping, or should I say looking, since I still can't find what I want. These black ponte knit pants from Ann Taylor are my new favourite. They are so comfy, like wearing yoga pants, but look polished like tailored woven pants. The silk leopard print shirt is also from Ann Taylor, over a black tank. Red shoes are from Tod's, and it just goes to show that some items you really can keep forever. I nearly didn't buy them 6 years ago, since I wasn't convinced that patent red high heel loafers would be a good buy, and they were expensive. But I really loved them, and after thinking about them for a month or so, I went and bought them. I've worn them a lot over the years, and now they are right back in fashion!

Today was spent running a few errands and then swimming lessons for the kids in the afternoon. This is one of my favourite outfits - it is really comfortable, but I still feel pretty stylish in it. Flower chiffon tunic over a black tank, with Ann Taylor skinny jeans. Horn cuff from Mai Tai, black cage heels from Urban Sole, and the same black Costume National bag I've used all week. Gold and silver pendant from Dyberg/Kern.

Also linking up to :

Monday Mingle @ Glamamom

Summer Shakes

2011-10-18T22:25:00.000+08:00

I may be slightly optimistic talking summer, but the last few warm days have me in a summer mood! And when the warmer weather comes, instead of porridge or another hot breakfast, I am usually in the mood for quick and easy, but refreshing, breakfast, and this is where my summer shakes come in. Plus, bananas look like they are coming back down in price, so bring on summer!

Green Banana Berry
This is my favourite and the one I have most often. It's dairy free, and that means it is lacking in protein, but it is just so refreshing. So for a complete meal, I usually pair this with a cold boiled egg, or a small pot of homemade yoghurt. And if you are not used to using greens powders, start with half a teaspoon and build up from there.

1 peeled banana
1 peeled kiwi fruit
6 hulled strawberries
1/4 cup apple juice
2 tsp greens powder - I am using a blend of wheatgrass, barley grass and spirulina
1/4 cup ice

Breakfast Pina Colada
When drinking my breakfast pina colada, I can almost imagine that I am sitting on a tropical island. If that tropical island had screaming kids and a messy kitchen...

1 peeled banana
2/3 cup pineapple chunks (fresh is yummiest, but drained canned is good too)
1/4 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup plain yoghurt

Chic Mummy's Orange Julius
Bear in mind with my version of an Orange Julius that I have never had a "real" one, since I think they are a uniquely American thing, but even if it is not the same, this one is yummy! You may need to add some extra orange juice depending on how juice your oranges are. For a sunset Orange Julius, add a handful of hulled strawberries.

2 peeled oranges, diced
1 peeled banana
3/4 cup vanilla yoghurt

PS: these are great anytime, not just breakfast! My kids love them as afternoon snacks.

image source

Irini's Dollhouse

2011-10-15T09:16:00.000+08:00

I made this dollhouse for Irini for her birthday (which was in March) but it has taken me this long to get around to taking all the pics and posting it to the blog! I found an Imaginarium dollhouse on super-clearance at Toys R Us, simply because some of the furniture was missing. They usually retail for around $300, but they were selling it for $99. However, the dollhouse looked like this:

which is just not my style. at. all! On top of that, the furniture was huge (I think it is designed for Barbie-style dolls) and left no room for playing. So I donated the furniture to Goodwill, and set about "renovating" the dollhouse so it was more classic in style. The first thing I did was clad the outside "walls" with wood cladding. I then painted all of the wood with crisp white glossy enamel, which is both hard wearing and easy to clean. I also added base boards, mouldings and trim throughout the house.

I then added windows and doors painted in hot pink gloss enamel and finished off with flower boxes and hanging planters.

To finish off the exterior, I covered the existing plastic roof with French grey coloured asphalt shingles. Next was the really fun part, decorating the interior. For the inside of the house, I really let my Shabby Chic inclinations take over. I really think this is how I would decorate my house if I had free reign and didn't have to worry about husband's or kids!

Starting on the top floor, we have the master bedroom, decorated with a pretty rose and green ditsy wallpaper on the top, and matching stripe on the bottom. The bed is a "vintage" (read second-hand from eBay!) Fisher-Price piece, and the rest of the furniture is a wooden set found at Early Learning Centre. The carpet is dollhouse carpet, and feels and looks exactly like plush pile carpet.

Next to the master bed is the bathroom, "tiled" with vinyl tile wallpaper. You would not believe how realistic the tiles look - people have actually asked me how I tiled such a tiny space! The bathroom set matches the bedroom set from the Early Learning Centre.

On the other side of the dollhouse on the top floor is the nursery. I originally meant it to be unisex, but it came out quite boyish with the navy carpet. The wall paper is a pink and blue stripe with a matching teddy bear border, and the furniture is more "vintage" Fisher Price. If you ever need kid's dollhouse furniture, then check out eBay. Gently used pieces are going for a song, and with a good wipe with disinfectant, they look as good as new.

Next to the nursery is the office, with a lavender and pink wallpaper, and purple floor made from modge podged scrapbook paper. The furniture is (are you sensing a theme?) used FisherPrice.

The middle floor is made up of only two rooms, and have sliding walls at either end. One room is the lounge room, and has a grey patterned floor made from more modge podged scrapbook paper. The wall paper is a lemon yellow and white diamond pattern above the moulding (real wood painted gloss white) and a blue, white and yellow plaid wallpaper below. I found the darling yellow and blue floral sofa and chair at a hobby shop, as well as the miniature rug. The "window" was a picture I found on the internet and printed off.

On the other side of the lounge room is the kids' bedroom. This is actually a real wood plank floor, made from tiny little planks sanded, stained and then poly sealed, just like a regular hardwood floor in a full-sized house. The wallpaper was picked to co-ordinate with the lounge room and is a yellow and cream stripe below the moulding and border, with a yellow and blue floral above (small scale on the main wall and a larger scale on the sliding wall). The window was another pic from the internet.

On the bottom floor is another 4 rooms, with this little piano room tucked under the stairs, with another wood floor, and a pink and cream striped wallpaper.

Next to the piano room is the dining room, with beige carpet, the same yellow diamond wallpaper as the lounge room, and a pink, green and yellow floral paper above the moulding. The furniture is a darling set from French company Le Toy Van that even comes with a dolls' sized tea set.

On the other side is the laundry, with a slate floor, and blue, yellow and white patterned paper on the walls. The border is a gorgeous pattern of laundry drying in the sun on an old-fashioned washing line. For some reason, the cat and the dog seem to spend most of their time in the laundry!

The last room is my favourite and is the darling kitchen, with crisp white cabinets and and island, and a white and black tiled floor. The wallpaper is yellow and cream striped on the bottom and a yellow and blue floral print on the top. I love the "view" out to the garden from the french doors.

Lastly, the two sets of dolls I bought. The first set took me ages to get as I wanted each doll to kind of look like our family. They are all used Fisher Price dolls, and mostly from their now defunct Hispanic range, since they looked the most like our multicultural family. Unfortunately I couldn't find a Hispanic boy, so the one I got was the closest I could find. There is also a baby doll, but when I went to take the photos it was, of course, missing. The second set I had made for me by the fabulous Etsy seller, The Enchanted Cupboard. You send her photos and she will paint the dolls to match. If you look closely, you will see that the little girl doll has pink glasses just like Irini.

I had a lot of fun "renovating" this dollhouse, and I find Irini and Stephen playing with it almost every day, which makes the enormous amount of hours I put into it all worth while. To be honest, this dollhouse ended up costing me a LOT more than if I had gone out and bought a nice one ready made. But Irini know that I made this for her, and I hoping it will not only give her years of pleasure, but maybe her children as well, and really, no amount of money can buy that.

What I Wore Wednesday

2011-10-12T19:41:00.000+08:00

This week was a big fail in capturing a week's worth of pics for What I Wore Wednesday at the Pleated Poppy. I spent the week spring cleaning my house, so I literally spent most of the week dressed like this (or some variation):

Seeing this picture made me realise that this tank is definitely only for exercising and cleaning, and not to be seen out in public, which is a shame because I love the fabric. But, while I may love the fabric, the fabric clearly doesn't love me! The tank is a slub linen-blend from J Crew, and the work out pants are from Old Navy.

Yesterday I had a much needed break from housework, and went out for lunch with my MIL, SIL and the all our kids. I don't know why I didn't notice how blurry the pic including my bag was, so I've included this pic without the bag as well so you can actually see the outfit.

The black jacket is from Ann Taylor - I just bought this in their 40% off sale and I can see it being a great addition to my wardrobe. I love how a jacket can add polish to even a relatively casual outfit. Underneath I wore a black and white patterned shell (also Ann Taylor) and white jeans from Talbots. The horn cuff is from Mai Tai Collection - not only does MaiTai have an amazing blog showing a gazillion ways of tying a scarf, she makes some pretty fantastic jewellery. My bag is a fabulous tote from Kate Spade from a few years ago. I love the bright pop of colour, and its size means it fits everything. I even used it as a baby bag/diaper bag for a while! My shoes are nude suede wedges from Pelle Moda. I tried something different with my hair, and straightened it and then tied half of it back. I quite liked it, and will probably wear it this way more often from now on.

I'm also linking up to:

so make sure you check out her posts and the other outfit links there as well!

Product Review: Skinny Shirts

2011-10-07T08:56:00.000+08:00

I love the look of a sweater over a crisp cotton shirt, but as a busty, plus-sized gal, what I don't love is the lumps and bumps I inevitably get (maybe this is a problem for smaller, petite girls, too!) so it is not a look I wear very often. However, a while ago I saw an article about the Skinny Shirt, and right there on the page was a game changer. This winter, I have probably been in a shirt and sweater or shirt and dress combo at least once a fortnight.

So what is a Skinny Shirt? It basically takes the best bits of a cotton shirt, the collar (and neck yoke) and cuffs, and adds it to a smoothing undershirt. So instead of the bulk and bunching I get with a normal shirt, the parts under the sweater are wonderfully smooth. I bought a long sleeve version (in white) and two sleeveless versions (one black, one black/white leopard) and I have been really happy with all of them. They wear fantastically well, wash even better and are quick and easy to iron. My only complaint is that the long sleeved skinny shirt's cotton fabric is in a V-shape rather than across the whole chest like their sleeveless versions; I tend to wear wide v-necked or scooped neck sweaters, and the fabric around the neck isn't quite wide enough. But this is a pretty small complaint and not particularly noticeable by anyone except me!

I just checked out their website, and not only do they also offer shapewear and maternity varieties, they have a discount offer running until October 31, 2011. Use the code FALLFASHION to get 20% off any style.

Disclaimer: this is not a sponsored post, and I have not received any form of compensation, nor do they even know I am writing this post, I just love these shirts!

What I Wore Wednesday

2011-10-05T17:53:00.000+08:00

Today I am joining in with What I Wore Wednesday at the Pleated Poppy for the first time. Since I decided this yesterday, I only have two pics for this week, but I promise I will have more next Wednesday, maybe even a whole week's worth!

Yesterday looked like it was going to be sunny and warm and it didn't disappoint! Looking at the pic, though, I think I will wear this outfit with skinny jeans rather than bootleg in the future.

Tank - J Crew

Mesh Vest - Flower Clothing

Jeans - Gap Long & Lean

Shoes - Nine West

Necklace - Silver from a closing down homewares boutique

Leather wrap bangle - Peter Lang

Brass bangles - Gap

Today was another sunny day, but a little bit cooler. I thought I would try the colour blocking trend that is huge at the moment, and I really liked it. I got heaps of compliments on this outfit today.

Tank - Basque

Cardigan - thrifted (was a two-in-one top, but the "top" was nasty so I unpicked it)

Jeans - Ann Taylor

Wedge sandals - Kenneth Cole Reaction

Cuff - green and blue enamel from a few years ago

Necklace - same as yesterday

I'm also linking up to:

so make sure you check out her posts there as well. I especially like her description today of the outfit dilemma she's called playground posh. Love it!

Here's to happiness

2011-10-04T10:52:00.000+08:00

I just saw this great idea on Rockstar Diaries called here's to happiness, where you list 10 things that are making you terribly happy. So here is my

10 things that are making me terribly happy this week

Stephen and Irini giving me "licky" kisses then laughing uncontrollably.
Stephen coming down the stairs at least 10 times after bedtime to tell me he loves me.
Irini coming down the stairs at least 10 times after bedtime to tell me "mummy, you're an ooby, booby, kaka". I don't know what it means, either!
Glee is back on - and its followed by Hawaii Five-O - my Wednesday nights are perfect.
Seeing my clean and tidy laundry. A couple of weeks later and its still making me happy!
Stephen and Irini giving each other the biggest hugs and kisses at school drop-off.
Not having stepped into a supermarket for over a week and a half.
Watching Stephen get his first soccer trophy.
His first soccer trophy also means no more soccer until next year and no more early Sundays. Am I a bad mother for being happy about this?!
Nick and I on our date night.

PS: both of these pics were taken by Stephen!

Back on track!

2011-10-01T22:59:00.000+08:00

As regular readers know, I had been trying to follow a real food lifestyle, but over the last 3 or 4 months, just like everything else has gone to pot, so had my (and the family's) eating habits. Not only did it show in my kids' behaviour, it showed on my health. Months of poor eating habits and no exercise left me at the heaviest I have ever been - even heavier than when I was nine months pregnant! (94kg/207lbs) - and feeling the worst I have ever felt - no energy, sluggish, and all the things I felt before I moved towards eating real foods. So now that I have been perfectly honest about how far down I fell, I'll share what I am doing to pick myself (and the rest of the family) back up again.

Firstly, I rid the house of as much processed foods as I could. I kept some breakfast cereals and some fruit juice for the kids, but that was pretty much it. I debated about what to do with the stuff I was getting rid off; do I give it to charity knowing it is not good for you, or throw it away? In the end, I gave it to charity and figured that people in need could decide whether they want to take it or not.

Secondly, I started menu planning again. When I menu plan, we tend to eat much, much better, without relying on takeaway or unplanned dinners out. However, since I was pretty much starting from scratch again, I have been relying on 100 Days of Real Foods. You have to check out this site! It is truly amazing with a plethora of info, recipes and ideas for transitioning to a 100% real foods diet. But better than all of this great info is her four FREE menu plans. The plans are for a family of four - breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack - and include the shopping lists budgeted for around $167/week, not including extra savings you can make from specials or coupons. What I liked most is that all of the plans are designed for busy families. There are no complicated recipes and time-saving tips are included. If you would like access, all you need to do is head to 100 Days of Real Foods Facebook page and "like" it. Then click on the image of the menu plan you would like to download.

Thirdly, I signed up for the Huggies 12 Week Body Transformation from the Australia's Biggest Loser trainer, Michelle Bridges. This is unfortunately not free, but so far it seems great and is pushing me much harder than I would be able to push myself. It comes with exercise and nutrition plans; the exercise plans have three options, including working out at home, at the gym or outdoors, and the nutrition plans so far seem to based on real foods, so I am combining the nutrition plans with the meal plans from above. The first week's exercise plans were doable, so I have a feeling that Michelle is easing us in to the program for the first week. The nutrition plan also showed my just how much I have been overeating, and I have found it tough to follow, but am sticking with it. Her fitness test left me in no doubt as to how unfit I really am, so I am hoping that hard work over the next twelve weeks will bring up to a better (and healthier) level.

So hopefully these combination of changes will have a real impact on my health and how I am feeling. I will give you updates as I go along.

image source

Review: Coles Online Click n Collect

2011-09-28T21:26:00.000+08:00

I've noticed recently that my grocery bill has been getting larger and larger, and I can honestly say it is because of impulse buys and buying things my kids (and husband!) ask for while we are shopping. When I saw that my local Coles supermarket was now offering a free "Click and Collect" service, I though that it might help me save some money since I would have no choice but to stick to my list!

The service is pretty straightforward to use; you register, giving your postcode, and the site will let you know if you are eligible for a) home delivery (for a $8-$13 cost) or b) for click and connect (free). At this stage, Click and Connect is only available from 4 stores in WA, while their delivery service covers a much wider range. Once registered, you go shopping, as per most online grocery sites. With Coles, you can browse by aisle, or do as I do and use their express list option where you create a list either with generic names such as "milk" (which will bring up all their milk products) or with a more brand specific name such as "Bannister Downs Milk" which brings up just the specific brand I am looking for. You can put a number of items in this list and you just click through the various options. Lastly, all items you order will be placed in a master list, to make reordering easier.

I used Coles' Click and Collect method last week for the first time, and I was very happy with the service. I took me about half and hour to place my order (which is much shorter than what a regular in-store shop would take me!) but it would definitely take much less in future once your master list is set up (updated: tonight's order took just over 10 minutes). For Click and Collect, you can order up until midnight for collection between 9am and 4pm the following day, or up until 11am for delivery the same evening between 4pm and 9pm. When I went to pick up my order, everything was ready to go and they even loaded it into my boot for me.

Unfortunately, when I unpacked my groceries at home, I realised that I was missing 9 (of the same) items (I had ordered 12). However, I rang their customer service number, they apologised and asked me to hold while they made sure my local store had enough stock (I was also offered the option of a credit). I was on hold for just a few minutes before they came back on line and let me know that the items were ready to pick up at my convenience. When I went back to the store later that day, they were very apologetic, and even gave me a box of chocolates to apologise for the inconvenience. So even with the stuff-up, the follow-up service was excellent.

I do want to add that I did not order any fruit or veg (since we have a fruit and veg shop!) so I can't vouch for the quality you would get with these type of products, but I did order milk, juice and meat and all the products had plenty of time left before they would go out of date. But overall, with the products I ordered, I was very impressed with this service and I think it will definitely become part of my regular routine. It is convenient and free, and I think it has the potential to not only save me a lot of time, but also a lot of money.

PS: This is not a sponsored post, and I did not receive any compensation, etc for it.

Irini's Nursery

2011-09-25T09:54:00.000+08:00

I just realised that while I had shown you Stephen's room quite a long time ago, I had never posted pics of Irini's nursery. Since I am sure it won't be a "nursery" for much longer (why does times fly so fast?), I thought it would be best if I posted it sooner rather than later! Like Stephen's room, I wanted to go with something classic that would be easily updated as she gets older. I am just not into cartoon characters or anything too "juvenile" as I think they are just so quickly outgrown. The same goes for furniture - classic pieces in neutral colours will be able to transition to whatever decor the room has as Irini grows up.

This is the view into Irini's room. The cot is only used for daytime naps since Irini still sleeps with us in our bed at night. The cot used to be Stephen's, and can technically be converted into a toddler bed with one extra part, but since Irini can climb in and out of the cot as it is, we never got around to converting it.

Her bedding is a mix and match set custom made by Red Plum Linen. The bedskirt is a classic pink and white stripe and I made the window valance from the same fabric. The bumper is a small floral on one side and a large scale floral on the other, and is trimmed with a pleated ruffle from the striped fabric. I have a couple of sheets - one is a pink and white large check, and the other is the same small floral as the bumper.

Above the cot are a collection of Flower Fairies plates. This pic is a close up of two of them, but you can see the collection better in the first pic with the cot. I loved the Flower Fairies when I was little, so this was a nostalgic touch for me. I've also collected some other Flower Fairies bits and pieces for when Irini is older. My favourite is a darling china tea set - knowing my luck, by the time she is old enough to play with it, she will have no interest in it at all!

Next to her cot is a large wardrobe from Ikea. I use to store Irini's extra sheets and blankets, books I am collecting for her when she is older (mostly old editions of Enid Blyton novels) and various keepsakes.

These beaded flower tassels just add a cute, feminine touch, don't you think?

As you move around the room back towards the door, I have Irini's chest of drawers, topped with all sorts of pretty, fun things that even at 3 years old, Irini has managed to collect!

The mini armoire has some more Flower Fairies items, and the jewellery box next to it is keeping her growing jewellery collection safe. The carousel horse, fairy snow dome and Disney Fairies mirror are favourite birthday presents, and I often find her quietly playing with them in her room. She is very careful with all of them and really treats them like treasures.

These little flower pots were decorations saved from her Christening. I made them from mini enamel buckets and silk flowers and I love that not only do they add a pretty touch to her room, they are also a memory of a very special day.

The rose prints are from an rose calendar I picked up on clearance a few years ago for no other reason than the roses looked so gorgeous. I trimmed them to fit some bargain frames I got at Ikea and then painted gloss white. This was a very quick and easy way to really finish off Irini's room. And when she doesn't like them any more, they will definitely be finding a spot in my (future) craft room!

On the other other side of the door, near Irini's closet, is her change table (no longer used as such!) which I use for clothes storage. Above the table is a memo board covered in the large scale floral that's on the cot bumper.

At the moment I use the board to hold her hair clips, but when she gets older, Irini will be able to use it for notes, photos, homework etc.

Next to the change table is a bedside table that I have had for over a decade. On it are her collection of favourite stuffed toys, including the rag doll I made for her a couple of Christmas' ago. I picked up the lamp a while ago as well, at a local craft fair. It is absolutely gorgeous, full of beading and silk and velvet flowers.

Finally, on the outside of her door is her initial. This matches her name that is above her bed, and is white wood on a pink gingham background. I ordered these from a Canadian boutique that is no longer around, but I have seen different versions around. I also think they would be quite easy to make yourself, as well.

So there you have Irini's nursery. I really don't think it will stay this way for long, as I am planning to get her a "big girl" bed in the near future, and I will probably take that opportunity to redo her room, at least a little!

Natural Hayfever Remedies

2011-09-22T20:48:00.000+08:00

I don't know what is going on this year, but for the last two months I have been suffering from the worst hayfever and sinus issues for as long as I can remember. I have just started following a three-pronged approach to try and solve my issues with some natural hayfever remedies.

Firstly, I am taking a tablespoon of raw, local honey daily. The idea behind this is that the local honey will contain small amounts of pollen found in my local area, and this will help to desensitise my immune system. It is really important that the honey is a) local, and b) raw and unfiltered.

Secondly, I am finally starting to use a neti pot to wash out my sinuses. My doctor has been recommending using one for a long time, but the thought of it just grossed me out. Basically, you pour salted water into one nostril, it runs through your sinuses, and exits out the other nostril. Gross, right? But, oh my goodness, it works! It is meant to help rehydrate the mucous membranes, and rinse out any pollen or allergens that you have breathed in. I use 1 teaspoon of salt in about half a litre of water.

Lastly, I made up a batch of hayfever tea, and am drinking a cup a day throughout the hayfever season, up to 3 cups a day if my symptoms are particularly bad. This tea will keep for quite a while, especially if kept in a dark place. To make it up, I used equal parts of the following dried herbs:

Elderflower - noted for soothing both inflammation and the respiratory tract.
Yarrow (flowers) - also used for its anti-inflammatory effects
Nettle (leaves) - used for treating allergies
Chamomile (flowers) - a great all-rounder, used this time for its anti-inflammatory and immune boosting effects

Peppermint (leaves) - it's a great decongestant, and breathing in the steam from the tea takes advantage of its essential oils which are great for sinusitis.
Lemon Balm (leaves) - I mostly used this as a flavouring herb, but also for its cooling properties.

Use 1-2 tsps in a mug of near-boiling water, and steep for 10 minutes before drinking.

Disclaimer: Content on this site is for information only. You should not use this site as a substitute for professional medical advice. For serious ailments, or if symptoms persist, you must see a medical professional.

Summer Holiday Capsule Wardrobe

2011-09-19T00:06:00.000+08:00

I've just come back from a lovely holiday to Phuket, Thailand, and again, I used my capsule wardrobe strategy. While I would love to travel like days of yore, with steamer trunks full of divine fashion, given that it is me and my husband carting our luggage around, and not some unfortunate porter or servant, travelling light is definitely the way to go!

Phuket is basically a tropical island, so the plan was to take lightweight clothes that are cool in high humidity. While you could probably get away with fewer clothes than I took, I am not a fan of humidity and like to change at least twice a day, especially if we've been sightseeing and are hot and sweaty. I also handwashed some of my items while we were away and everything I took was able to be handwashed and airdryed without needing an iron after.

The first step when creating a capsule wardrobe, whether for holidays or everyday life, is to decide on a colour palette. It is pretty essential to limit each capsule to 2-3 main colours, so that all your pieces mix and match, and I personally prefer to limit prints to just one or two pieces; this is not strictly necessary, if you select your prints carefully. For this holiday, I chose a palette of black and white, with accents of wood and gold. While black and white is not traditionally associated with a tropical island holiday, I decided on those colours since black is flattering to my (currently) larger size, and the white, wood and gold helps to lighten it up somewhat.

Summer Holiday Capsule Wardrobe by chicmummy featuring a black tank

This is a mix of the actual garments, and some representations for the pics I couldn't find on polyvore. The pants (both from Flower) are both made from a fabric called cupro, a man-made from natural materials fibre that looks and feels like washed silk, but doesn't really crush and is super breathable. Even the long pants were very comfortable to wear in the heat and humidity. The two dresses from TS14+ are layered over a sleeveless tank dress (shown underneath). The black and white dress is a satiny material that also doesn't crush, while the solid black crushes easily but looks even better crushed. The underdress is made from a great breathable fabric so feels lovely and cool and (TMI alert!) wicks away the sweat. The last basics were three light vests, one in a very loose weave knit in a greyish natural colour, and two mesh-type fabrics, one white, one black. I love that Eileen Fisher-style layering, and have been doing that a lot lately. I find it so flattering, and the vests are almost an accessory on their own. These three are so light weight that they don't feel like you are wearing an extra layer. The one other item above is the black long-sleeved tee which I wore on the plane there and back, since I always seem to feel chilly up in the air.

Accessories for Summer Holiday Capsule by chicmummy featuring boho jewelry

These are the accessories (or similar) that I brought along with me. I mostly wore the horn and the wood bangles during the day, while the gold cuff added a glam but not over-the-top element to evening outfits. I also brought along my favourite House of Harlow cocktail ring, made from black leather and gold. I can honestly say that every man in my life hates this ring, but I love it! t would probably fit in well on The Man Repeller! The black sandals are the comfiest sandals I have ever owned, and these were worn every single day of the trip, from walks on the beach, to hanging around the resort, to riding on elephants! The beaded sandals (mine were from Talbots last season, and the leather was a metallic champagne colour) were great for evening - like the cuff, I think they add a touch of casual sophistication, especially when worn with the dresses or the cropped pants. I interchanged between the scarf and the wooden beaded necklace. The scarf was a very light cotton voile so didn't feel too hot in the heat. For the bags, I bought my trusty Marc by Marc Jacobs nylon tote as it is very light weight, but fits heaps and heaps in it. I reminds me a lot of Mary Poppins carpetbag - I can just keep pulling things out, which is always a good thing when travelling with young children! The last thing I brought with me was a black and natural coloured clutch. Mine was a bit more structured than the one above and also had a long chain strap. I found this clutch so useful around the resort - it fit my phone, some makeup and our room key and was much more convenient than my larger bag when I didn't need all our "stuff".

So there you have my summer holiday capsule wardrobe. This was a great capsule and worked really, really well while we were away, so it will definitely be in regular rotation once the warmer weather hits here in Oz.

Laundry Room Makeover

2011-09-15T16:18:00.007+08:00

I am ashamed to say that this WAS the state of my laundry room, and, if I'm perfectly honest, the state of most of my house. This is a symptom of why I haven't been blogging lately; I really just lost motivation to do much of anything at all, whether it was blogging, housework, cooking, even looking after myself! Finally, though, I kinda snapped out of it and the first step on my agenda was a laundry room makeover. Because, let's be real; I spend an awful lot of time in there, so it may as well be a pleasant place to be!

So back to the laundry...not only was the mess extremely off-putting (I mean, come on, laundry is bad enough without having to look at that mess the whole time), but it made my job so much harder. I was always tripping over things, I couldn't find things, and getting to things in the cupboards was nigh on impossible. So the first (obvious) step was decluttering. I started by taking literally everything that could be moved out of the laundry. Every piece of clothing, every bottle, jar and box, every small appliance and every bit of junk (and there was a lot of junk!) came out of the laundry and into my dining room. As I was pulling things out, I put things that didn't belong back to where they did belong, and started three piles - things to go back in, things to give away, and things to be binned. Can you guess which was the largest pile?

I then cleaned every single surface, including behind the washer and dryer. I wish I had thought to take some pictures of that, because let me tell you, the amount of dust and lint behind there was scary. Talk about a fire waiting to happen. If I can give you one bit of advice, it would be to check behind your washer and dryer!

Once everything came out, and the laundry room was clean, it was time to start putting the things that should be in the laundry back in. One great thing about going green in the laundry is that the amount of products going back into my laundry is tiny. It was literally one container of soapnuts, a small basket of wool dryer balls, a container of non-chlorine bleach and some stain remover, placed into a small fabric lined basket and stored in the cupboard under the sink. I still had a lot of old products left over, like regular detergent, fabric softener etc, so these went to my MIL who hasn't jumped (and probably never will) onto the eco-bandwagon.

The linen closet has never been used as a linen closet since I prefer to store my linens in their room of eventual use. That is, sheets/pillowcases in the bedroom, towels in the bathroom etc. I just find that system so much easier than one central location. This is especially true for the kids' linens, because as all you mothers know, you always need to change sheets quickly in the middle night, whether due to illness or "accidents", so having direct access is wonderful. Since I'm not using it for linen, I decided to use it for my less-used small appliances like the ice-cream maker, waffle maker and deep fryer, as well as for my growing collection of vases and seasonal home decor. I also put my collection of baking trays and tins here since I don't have a lot of storage for these in my kitchen. Lastly, I'm temporarily storing my sewing machine and serger here as well, until I fully set up a craft room (long term project). If you look closely at the pic above, you'll see I placed them on an old scooter board of the kids. This makes it so easy to pull out from the bottom of the cupboard, saving my back.

Next, I rejigged the layout of the room. The giant laundry basket (from Elfa, and one of the best things I have ever bought) used to jut out into the middle of the room and a) made it look really cramped, and b) was always in my way. After realising that I will hardly ever open both of the linen closet doors I moved the basket in front of one of the doors. I can still open the other door for regular access (this is the side I put the baking tins), and the basket is on wheels so it's easy to move if I need to open both doors. Before the move, I could not have imagined what I difference it would make. My laundry room honestly looked double the size.

I used to store my large indoor drying rack (another great buy, especially since the mass of green passionfruit vine you can see in the above pic is actually on top of my outdoor washing line!) in the space next to the washer and dryer, but that made it really hard to keep that area clean, and the rack picked up all the lint that comes out of the dryer. I stuck some of my favourite 3M Command stick-on hooks behind the laundry door, and the rack is now hanging nice and securely and out-of-the-way. My trusty steam mop also moved from the space next to the dryer (for the same reasons as the rack) and now has its own spot where the laundry basket used to be. I then added a white wicker basket on top of the laundry basket to gather the lonely lost socks that always seem to appear, until they can be paired up again.

Finally, the fun part - it was time to prettify the room! Above my bench and sink was an expanse of wall crying out for some artwork. I found these delightful vintage style prints from Mandy Lynne at her Etsy store and custom framed them myself using the amazing Frameshop.com.au. Here are some close ups of these great prints - it truly makes me happy just looking at them! And I apologise for the atrocious iPhone photos...

So there you have my laundry room makeover. It's not quite finished yet - I plan to make a cloth cover for the laundry basket so all our dirty laundry (and there always seems to be some!) is under wraps - but for now, it looks so much better and is so much more functional.

Natural remedies for coughs & colds: Elderberry Syrup

2011-07-22T11:13:00.002+08:00

Winter is here with a vengeance and that brings on coughs and colds so today I am sharing a natural treatment to help boost your immune system, Homemade Elderberry Syrup. The last few weeks have felt incredibly long as first Stephen and then Irini came down with terrible colds followed by ear infections. However, while the weeks were long, they also left me feeling incredibly proud as it is their first illness that I felt comfortable treating holistically and by myself, rather than running down to our family doctor and asking for antibiotics. Before you call child services, I was closely monitoring them, and I would have taken them to the doctor if I thought things were becoming more serious than a bad cold. But since it seemed like nothing more than a cold, even if it was a bad one, I felt confident that I could treat it without relying on strong medicines that could further upset their young immune systems.

To treat their colds, I relied on a combination of homeopathic remedies to treat the individual symptoms (such as fever and ear ache) and herbal treatments to boost the immune system so the kids' bodies could fight off the infections themselves. I've already given the recipes for my homemade Vick's Vapor Rub and cough lollies (make sure you supervise children with these carefully) and later in the week I will post the recipe for the ear oil I used to treat the ear infection, but today I'm going to share the elderberry syrup I used. I made this syrup a couple of months ago in preparation for cold and flu season, but this is the first chance I have had to use it. I find it quite tasty, but surprisingly, the kids did not. However, it disappeared quite easily into a berry based juice which they happily drank.

Homemade Elderberry Syrup

This recipe is loosely based on Rosemary Gladstar's from her book Family Herbal.

1/2 cup dried black elderberries

1/4 cup dried rosehips

2 tablespoons dried echinacea

1 cinnamon stick

3 cups filtered water

1 cup local honey

Combine the elderberries, rosehips, echinacea, cinnamon and water in a medium saucepan; bring to the boil, and then simmer for 30 minutes.
Strain and combine liquid with the honey.
Bottle in sterilised canning bottles (the ones with the rubber gaskets) leaving half inch of headspace and process in a Vacola hot water bath for 1 hour. Store in a cool, dark place for up to a year.
Alternatively, bottle in sterilised bottles and store in fridge for up to 2 months.
During a cold, take 2 teaspoons 3 times a day for children 3-12, and a tablespoon 3 times a day for adults. You can also take 1 teaspoon (child)/2 teaspoons (adult) daily for general immune boosting.

For my next batch, I won't process it, and will use raw honey instead to get the extra benefits from that.

Disclaimer: remember that I am not a trained medical practitioner, and this is given as information only, so please seek professional advice in the case of illness.

Product Review: ResVitale Keratin Enhance

2011-07-19T07:34:00.000+08:00

Last year I reviewed ResVitale's Resveratrol supplement, and I am still taking it since it seems to work so well, so I jumped at the chance when they offered me the chance to try their latest product, ResVitale Keratin Enhance. This product is aimed at improving the health and strength of your hair, skin and nails, via a patented form of keratin, combined with biotin and ResVitale's core product Resveratrol, the antioxidant from grapes.

Within a couple of weeks, I noticed that my nails were breaking less. This was especially true for my right middle finger nail which has constantly broken once it grows just past the nail bed ever since I slammed it in a door in high school! However, the real reason I really wanted to try this was the promise (backed by a clinical study) that within 90 days hair loss from washing would be reduced by 30%. Ever since I had my kids, my hair just will not stop falling out; I know you normally lose about 100 hairs a day, but I'm telling you, I lose a lot more than that. I need to vacuum the bathroom floor everyday (I am definitely getting dark floor tiles in my next house!) and I am constantly pulling clumps of hair out of the shower drain.

After I finished the first bottle (30 days) I have to say that I couldn't see much of a difference in my hair. However, since it was working on my nails, I decided to buy another couple of bottles, and see how the second and third months went. After two months, my hair looked a lot shinier (at the new growth part) and I could see some improvement in hair loss, but it honestly took almost the full three months for my hair to achieve a significant reduction in hair loss. I am not sure whether this is to do with the hair growth cycle or for some other reason, but regardless of why, I am just happy my hair has stopped falling out at such a dramatic rate. I am now on to my fourth bottle, and the amount of hair I am losing seems to have stabilised at my pre-pregnancy, "normal" rate.

Usually, I like to get my "supplements" through my diet as whole foods, rather than individual supplements, but in this case, I am happy to keep using Keratin Enhance since I don't eat a large amount of animal protein or bone broth (both good natural sources of keratin precursors). And while I can wholeheartedly say that it works, it is not a quick fix. You absolutely need to take it for at least two to three months to see the effects.

ResVitale Keratin Enhance is available from here on sale for $29.99 (usually $39.99) for one month's supply.

Disclaimer: I received no compensation for this post. I was sent an initial bottle to try, and then purchased the next two bottles myself. All opinions are my own.

Green Beauty Part 3 - Makeup

2011-07-15T20:02:00.008+08:00

This is the final chapter in my Green Beauty series, (check out here and here for the first two parts if you missed them) and today I'll be talking about the makeup products I have switched to. Everyday, there are more and more makeup products coming on the market, many of which have "green" or "natural" or "eco-friendly" labels attached to them. While a good percentage of these labels are nothing more than greenwashing (in my opinion, anyway) it's good to see that many of them that are indeed mostly, if not entirely, natural products produced with the environment in mind. As with my skincare products, I now read all the ingredients labels, and where possible, see how the product rates on the EWG Skin Deep Database.

Bear in mind that there are a lot of great products out there; the ones I am listing are the ones that I have tried and have made it into my regular makeup routine. Make sure you go out there and try a whole lot more, especially since the green pickings here in Oz seems to be much smaller than that available overseas.

Anyway, let's start with the base. I used to be a (powder) mineral makeup fan, but a couple of years ago I decided to switch to a liquid foundation since as my skin is getting older, I really think it is a much nicer, more sophisticated look. Since I liked the concept of mineral makeup, but wanted a liquid, the Jane Iredale Liquid Minerals foundation was a natural (no pun intended!!) choice. Its rating is 2 on the Database which is great, and reading the ingredients for myself, I can't see any nasties - no parabens, etc. The foundation is quite sheer, and while it is buildable, I wouldn't recommend it for someone who wants full coverage. For me, though, the sheer coverage is perfect. I also really love the gel texture - it is lovely and light on my combination/oily skin but I think it would be great on a drier skin as well.

About 6 months ago, I bought the Jane Iredale Circle/Delete Undereye Concealer and this is truly a hero product. I purchased the Peach colour and it is honestly the only product that covers up my dark circles. It is nice and creamy so blends easily but doesn't settle into the fine lines that are starting to appear under my eyes. I also love that the company seems truly invested in being eco-friendly, supporting numerous environmental and animal rights charities financially, as well as working to make their production and packaging as sustainable as possible.

For my eye and cheek makeup, I have fallen in love with the Inika range, an Australian brand that is either 100% organic (and vegan) or 100% mineral, depending on the product. Their products are rated incredibly highly by the Skindeep Database (that is, their product ratings are all between 1 & 3). Their list of what they don't include in their products (such as petrochemical derived products, parabens etc) is much longer than the ingredients that they are willing to use! And from an environmental point of view, this brand really can't be beat. All of their packaging is made from recycled material (and is of course, recyclable) and their products are all 100% cruelty free. But as well as all of this, I truly think their products are a comparable match a luxury brand.

The blush I am using right now is their mineral blush in Rosy Glow, a soft pinky mauve. In summer, I like to switch to Blushing Nude, a pinky bronze. Be warned - it is incredibly concentrated, so unlike most other loose powder blushes I have tried, you only need a tiny bit.

For daytime, I am using their mineral eyeshadow in Whisper, a shimmery light taupe colour that brightens my whole face, topped with their 100% organic eyeliner in Coco, a rich chocolate brown. The eyeliner is lovely and creamy so doesn't drag on the skin and it really lasts. For nighttime, I love doing a smoky eye with Cocoa Motion and Copper Crush, with their eyeliner in Black Caviar.

I haven't tried their mascara yet, but when my stash of freebie mini mascaras runs out, it will definitely be on my shopping list.

For lipstick, I'll go from sheerest to highest coverage. My everyday, kicking around the house, lipstick is Burt's Bees' Tinted Lip Balm. I was sceptical trying this, as I saw it being reviewed in literally EVERY SINGLE magazine and almost every single blog I was reading. And usually when I see it everywhere, my beauty executive past says "great PR team" rather than "great product". But, I was wrong, this is a great product. This is not a lipstick, it is truly a tinted lip balm; that is, it is a balm with just a hint of colour. My go-to colour is rose, and gives my lips a hint of rose pink, like I have just been kissed. It is predominately made with fruit and vegetable oils (like coconut, olive and castor seed) and natural waxes (mostly flower waxes) together with minerals for colour, and rosemary leaf extract and tocopherol (Vitamin E) as natural preservatives. It does have lanolin in it, which may be a concern for some people who are allergic. It is naturally flavoured, and it is a very "soft" fruity flavour that disappears pretty quickly. It is rated 5 on the Database, because it (may) contain alumina (rated 5), and it contains lanolin and fragrance. However, the rest of the ingredients are rated 0 or 1, so since it is natural flavour, and I am not allergic to lanolin, I am very happy using this.

If I am going out of the house, but still want a soft, natural look, then I move onto Burt's Bees' Lip Shimmer in either Raisin (a sheer red colour) or Rhubarb (exactly like it sounds!). Burt's Bees say these are medium to full coverage, but I find they are more like sheer to medium , with a hint of shimmer. These are rated 3, with the only ingredient of concern being lanolin, but again, since I am not allergic, and the rest of the ingredients are rated between 0 and 1, I think this is a really good choice. This definitely has more coverage and colour than the tinted balm, which is most likely due to the lip shimmer containing more waxes than oils compared with the balm. I would probably wear these 2- 3 times a week.

I love Burt's Bees products! I love that they state on the packaging how natural their products are (over half their products are 100% natural, including my two lip choices, and they are working on getting all of them to that level) and that their packaging is from mostly recycled material. I also like that they work on sustainability both within their own company, and out in the wider community.

For times when I want a full coverage lipstick, I am currently using Origins Flower Fusion lipstick. I am not convinced that this is a truly "natural" product since there are a few ingredients in there that I don't know and certainly can't pronounce, and I would prefer to buy from a smaller company, but this could be my bias against huge multi-national companies, rather than it being based on any facts. As a company, they certainly appear to be doing the right things for the environment with regards to sustainability, recycling and the use of renewable resources. As for the lipsticks themselves, I have to say that I love them! I have tried a number of organic lipsticks, but none have measured up to how these feel. They are lovely and silky on the lips, and don't dry them out at all, living up to their promise of hydrating lip colour. And they last. For hours! The colours I have tried are definitely full coverage. My favourite colour at the moment is Hyacinth, a deep pink, which is a great antidote to the winter gloom. I also love Calla Lily, a cool red. Last summer, I was wearing Primrose, a mauvy, bronzy, pink with some shimmer that looked great against my slightly darker summer skin.

So there you have it, my choices for greening my beauty routine. I would love to hear the green beauty products you are using!

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Green Beauty Part 2 - skin and body care

2011-06-18T19:14:00.014+08:00

Sorry about the delay, but finally, here is part two of my Green Beauty series! In my previous post I talked about what strategies I used to gradually change my beauty routine from a regular one, to a more green, eco-friendly one. Today I will talk about the actual products I switched to, and why I chose those particular ones.

I believe the very first stop when looking at "green" and "natural" products is the Skin Deep Cosmetic Database published by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). They have thousands of cosmetic and personal care products listed, give them a number from 1 (very good) to 10 (very bad), and then list each ingredient and how it contributed to the overall ranking. This is the part I like the best, since I don't always agree with all of their findings. For instance, a number of natural essential oils (especially citrus oils) have quite high numbers because they can be irritants. Since they are not irritants for me and my family, I discount these ingredients being rated "poor". On the other hand, a number of ingredients they flag as being poor are a real concern for me, so I really pay attention to avoid products that have these listed.

The EWG has a list of 10 ingredients that they think are of particular concern:

PEGs and other ethoxylated surfactants
These include polyethylene, polyethylene glycol and polyoxyethylene and are used as foaming agents, emulsifiers and humectants. The major concern is that carcinogens (cancer-forming chemicals) are formed during the manufacturing process.
Sodium Lauryl (and Laureth) Sulphates (SLS)
These are cleansing agents that can be very irritating to the skin.
Diethanolamine (DEA)
These are used as foaming agents and emulsifiers and the US National Toxicology Program found clear evidence of carcinogenicity in mice exposed to DEA (but did not link it to cancer in humans). Still, if it clearly caused cancer in mice, then I would prefer to be on the safe side!
Triethanolamine (TEA)
Similar to DEA for its uses, and also has evidence of carcinogenic activity in mice.
Propylene glycol
A solvent that is easily absorbed through the skin, and frequent exposure can irritate the skin.
Formaldehyde
A skin irritant that also causes respiratory issues, headaches and dizziness, it is classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer
Parabens
These are the most widely used preservatives in cosmetics and act similarly to estrogen. These have been linked (though not conclusively) to breast cancer.
Triclosan and triclocarbon
These deodorant and preservative ingredients have been associated with endocrine disruption and developmental and reproductive toxicity.
Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)
This is used in some lipsticks and is anticipated to be a human carcinogen due to the evidence of carcinogenicity in animals.
Toluene
A solvent used in some nail polishes that can cause dizziness. Long-term exposure at even low levels can affect the kidneys.

The very first personal care item I changed over was our toothpaste. I chose Toms of Maine's Anti-plaque, Whitening, fluoride-free toothpaste because it was the most like regular toothpaste (a lot of natural options I tried had a gritty texture, or an unpleasantly salty taste). It was fluoride free (obviously!) which was important to me, and was rated 1 (Low Hazard) on the Skindeep Database.

Next came the body wash for the whole family. My husband has very sensitive skin, as does my daughter, so this was a really important change, and made a huge difference to their skin. We switched to DermaVeen Soap Free Wash Sensitive, an Australian brand that features colloidal oatmeal as a soothing ingredient. Since it is Australian it is not on the Skindeep Database, but looking at the ingredients, I don't think it would rate as even mildly hazardous, since it does not have parabens, SLS's or even fragrances in it.

For my skincare, I have now almost completely switched over to REN Skincare, a British brand that believes in "Clean Bioactive Skincare". I love that all of their products are free from parabens, petrochemicals and synthetic dyes, and rate from 1-6 (low to moderate hazard) on the Database so they are great for the environment and for me. Their packaging is all recyclable (but like most other cosmetics, still somewhat excessive). The specific products that I use are:

REN Mayblossom and Blue Cypress Cleansing Gel (rating - 4) This is rated 4 mostly for its allergy potential, but the rest of the non-allergenic ingredients seem pretty harmless. None are on the top 10 list, which means no SLS. Because of this, it doesn't seem to foam as much as a regular gel cleanser, but I still love it. The fragrance is best described as a fresh pine forest, which is great in the morning. I also love that it doesn't leave my skin tight at all.
REN Matte Balancing Fluid (rating - 3) I am in love with this daytime moisturiser! It seems to perfectly balance my skin, keeping my drier areas hydrated, but not leaving my oilier T-zone shiny. It has a very mild lavender fragrance. Like the cleanser, its rating is mostly from allergenic ingredients, with none on the top 10 list.
REN Frakincense Revitalising Night Cream (rating - 4) This is a case where I don't 100% agree with the Database rating. One ingredient lifts its rating up, which is limonene, found naturally in the oil from citrus peels (eg lemon essential oil). I have no issue with this one because I know that lemon oil has been used safely for centuries for people not sensitive to it (some people on the other hand find it very irritating for their skin). This night cream feels both rich and light at the same time if that is possible! It goes on feeling rich, but does not feel heavy on the skin at all. Initially, you smell a bit like a church (frankincense is one of the main components of church incense) but I still like it and it fades really quickly for those who don't.

At night, I clean my face with either a homemade cleansing balm or homemade cleansing oil and I will post recipes for those soon.

The one skin care product that I haven't been able to give up is my Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Peels. It is rated 4 on the database, but includes retinol that the database rates an 8! But I just haven't been able to find a more natural, safer product that has the anti-aging abilities of these. In this case, I have to confess that my vanity won out!

As The Closet Therapist said in the comments of my previous post, finding a natural, but good, shampoo has been my hardest challenge. For the kids, I have switched them back to the baby shampoo we used to use, Gaia Natural Baby hair and Body Wash. It is free of SLSs, parabens and petrochemical derived ingredients, and includes a large amount of organic ingredients. Most importantly, it leaves their hair silky smooth.

For me, I haven't had as much luck. Plenty of the ones I have tried have gone straight into my laundry cupboard to use for cleaning after just a few uses. Straw might be natural, but I certainly don't want my hair to feel like it! At the moment, I have just finished David Babaii for Wildaid's Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner. This is rated 8 (!) on the database; when I looked into it, Fragrance and Vitamin A seem to be the two ingredients of concern, while the rest of the ingredients rate between 0 and 6, with most at the lower end. I do like that they are free of SLSs, parabens and petrochemicals and I love the fragrance (almost like a tropical pina colada!) but straight after shampooing, my hair feels terrible and knotty, and I have to use a lot of the conditioner to make it nice again. I have just started using their ColourMaxx range (no rating yet, but I assume it is similar) and it seems to be treating my hair better. I will keep you updated!

For my body moisturiser, I am now using plain old organic coconut oil. I keep it in the shower during winter so I can put it under the hot running water to melt it; in summer our bathroom is hot enough to keep it liquid!

So that pretty much covers what I use for skin and body care. Stay tuned for part 3 where I will go through the Green Cosmetics that I have switched to.

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Yesterday

2011-05-13T00:19:00.000+08:00

Yesterday afternoon, I had to watch as doctors put Irini to sleep for surgery. I had to stand by helpless as her eyes registered a look of shock and betrayal and pain as they put the IV into her tiny little hand, and then as they fluttered off into that deep and dreamless sleep that is being under anaesthetic. I then had to walk away, knowing that there was nothing I could do to protect her, or help her, or even be there for her. As I walked down the hall, alone, I didn't think that I could feel any worse (but how wrong I was).

Irini has had surgery before, but this time it seemed so much worse. There is just something about eye surgery that taps into our fears and makes it seem so much worse than a lot of other surgeries. Her surgeon is one of the best in the state, and her surgery was relatively simple. In fact, there were three more little children that went in for the same operation before her. But the 2 hour wait in the waiting room seemed interminable. I think I read about 6 magazines, but I honestly could not tell one single thing I read. I don't remember anything I talked about with my husband. It was a long, numb blur.

And then, they were calling me in to recovery, and there she was, hooked up to machines, her eyes swollen shut, and sobbing uncontrollably. This went on for about half an hour, before they called the anaesthetist back to see if she needed some more pain relief. They didn't think she did since she had been given plenty in theatre, but since she was crying so much, they thought it would be best to give her a top up dose just in case. With promises of it kicking in in 10 - 15 minutes, they moved up to a glider chair, so I could cuddle and rock her to try and soothe her. 30 minutes later, she was still sobbing, but had now come out of her anaesthetic haze enough that she could start talking. This is when we discovered that she wasn't in pain, she was terrified since she couldn't see. If I felt terrible when I left her on the operating table, there are truly no words to describe how I felt when she was crying out "Mummy, I can't see you, I can't see Baba" and there was nothing I could do to help her feel better. This went on for a while longer before I think she finally exhausted herself, and this together with all of the drugs led her to finally start drifting off to a sleepy daze punctuated with little sobs. There was only one light moment when she asked "Mummy, how am I going to watch cartoons? See Dora and Boots?" Trust my daughter to think of cartoons! It wasn't until we were settling her into her car seat that her little swollen eyelids started to open; straight away she calmed down. I can only imagine what Irini was feeling when she thought that she couldn't see, how scared she must have been. She is usually so tough and so independent and so in control all of the time, that to feel so out of control must have been absolutely terrifying for her.

Now, a day later, she is fine and apart from a lovely pair of "vampire eyes" (she looks exactly like the evil vampires from the Twilight Saga!) as we are calling them, it is like nothing happened. She is running around and we are spending most of our time trying to get her to relax and rest and make sure that she doesn't knock her head or eyes. Apart from a few minutes four times a day when we have to put drops in her eyes and her fears come back of not being able to see, it is like all my worry has vanished into the night.

This experience, while one I never want to go through again, really made me reflect on motherhood. While I like to believe that I can always be there for my babies, that I can always protect them, that is simply not true. It reminded me of the quote "children don't belong to mums, they are a loan from God." I can do my best to raise them well, to protect them, to hold them, but ultimately, there is only so much I can control. I realised that I need to cherish every moment I have with them. I need to spend more time intentionally parenting, rather than fitting in parenting around all of the other things I "think" I need to do. I need to cuddle more and read together more, and just "be" together more. So again, while I hope that this is the last surgery Irini has to go through, I am grateful that it gave me the wakeup call I think I needed.

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T21:41:00.003+08:00

To all my Chic Mummies out there, I hope you had a lovely and relxaing Mother's Day with your families!

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Green Beauty Part 1

2011-05-06T22:35:00.005+08:00

I have written a lot in the past about greening our homes, but it is only in the last few months that I started thinking about my personal care routine and how un-green it is. Not only are a lot of the products and their packaging incredibly detrimental to the environment, but I am also starting to believe that they are possibly detrimental to my health as well. When you think about the fact that your skin is your biggest organ (and medicines are often absorbed via a dermal patch), and that the average women ingests between half a kilo to a kilo of lipstick over their lifetime, then it becomes even more important to think what you are putting on your body and whether it is green and healthy.

It's all well and good to decide your beauty and personal care routine needs to be greener, but where do you start? While it would be great if I could have dumped the contents of my bathroom in the rubbish and start from scratch, that was not an economically feasible option for me. Instead, I decided to prioritise what and how I would replace my products.

Focus on products with the biggest impact

Every week I would put money aside in my grocery budget to replace a product with a better one. My priority was on replacing the products that had the potential to be the most harmful. So, toothpaste was a big one for me and my family. My three years of med school left me with the knowledge of how quickly drugs could be absorbed through the oral mucosa (think heart pills tucked under the tongue, or even cocaine rubbed on the gums) and my recent self-education in natural therapies made me concerned about fluoride and other nasties in regular toothpaste, so this was the very first thing I replaced, even before I had finished our tubes of toothpaste. The next items on my list were the kid's body wash, followed by my skin care items, lipsticks and body creams.
Replace products as they finished

This step is the most obvious and the easiest to do without feeling guilty since you're not tossing out half-full or nearly full bottles! As a product ran out, I would replace it with an organic/natural/eco-friendly alternative. Shampoo is an example of this, and was the first thing I replaced since I was right at the bottom of my bottles when I decided to make this change.
Purchase the rest as budget allows

As the above items were purchased, and money freed up in my budget, I moved on to the items that were not a huge priority healthwise and would take a while to use up. This included most of my makeup; things like eyeshadow and blush were unlikely to be absorbed into the skin so I was content to wait until I had replaced the more important items.

Later in the week, I will discuss what some of my replacement products are, and how I came to choose those particular ones, so stay tuned!

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Has feminism failed mothers?

2011-04-07T21:31:00.004+08:00

I was always under the impression that feminism was about creating choices for women and giving women the opportunity to be anything or do anything they wanted; at least, that is how it was sold to me when i was a young woman. However, two separate statements by prominent Australian female politicians in the last fortnight have me seriously asking whether feminism has failed mothers.

The first was the response from Pru Goward, NSW Families Minister, towards radio announcer Jackie O's much publicised bottle feeding of her baby while crossing a street. She started by comparing Jackie O's feeding to Michael Jackson dangling his baby out of a window, saying "We all were horrified when Michael Jackson dangled his baby out the window and this woman is crossing the road not just holding a baby but feeding a baby and I think it was unnecessarily cavalier". She then went on to say "There would be no mother, no parent probably, or even a hardened feminist, in the country who would think that was a good way of feeding a baby, particularly a little tiny baby," and "There is such a thing as coming back to work too soon and that is what the whole paid maternity campaign was and is about." This is despite the fact that Jackie O's husband is the stay at home Dad. What I found most ironic is that Pru Goward used to be the Executive Director of the Office of the Status of Women as well the Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner.

While all of this has been swirling around the media, the fuss made over Jackie O returning to work "early" contrasted sharply with Julia Gillard's comments yesterday about the upcoming budget in May. Apparently the Federal Government is looking at overhauling the family welfare system to encourage more women between the ages of 24 and 55 back to work. Treasury Department has concerns that Family Tax Benefit A & B (most often available to families with a SAHM) encourages women to stay out of the workforce, which was followed up by Prime Minister Julia Gillard stating that it was important for those who were fit for work to be gainfully employed.

I'm sorry, but while I may not be in paid employment, I certainly believe that I am "gainfully employed." Is raising our next generation not important or necessary? Now, I don't want to turn this into a debate on whether a mother should work outside of the home or not. I think there are numerous variables that will affect the decision that a mother (and indeed, the family as a whole) will make about whether they should return to work.

I know that I often feel attacked by women who criticise my choice to stay home and raise my children. And if they don't criticise me for staying home with my young children, then they almost certainly do when they ask me when (not if, mind you!) I am planning to return to work. The looks I have received in the past when i have said that I have no plans to go back mean that mostly I now make some vague, non-committal reply. Similarly, I know working mothers who receive the exact same treatment for choosing to go back to work. I know the "mommy wars" are alive and well; I just never expected to see them played out on the public political stage, and by female politicians, no less.

Surely feminism is about giving us choices and then respecting us regardless of whether we agree with those choices. How can we expect our daughters to grow up and believe in feminism when we have one public female government minister criticising a mother's choice to return to work too soon, and then our female Prime Minister basically equating those mothers who choose to stay home as being unemployed.

So what do you think? Has feminism failed mothers?

Decorating for Easter without a mantle!

2011-03-28T21:59:00.009+08:00

Although we are (heatwave notwithstanding!) now into autumn, I just love the spring pastel colours of Easter decorations. Now that Easter is less than a month away, I felt I could give into my urge to set up some Easter decorations. One of the only things I wish I could change about this house is that I don't have any sort of mantle. When we built this house, the plans originally had a fireplace, but since it rarely gets super cold here, we decided to remove it and turn the space to a built in cabinet instead. Can you guess that I regret that decision over and over again? I love decorated mantles and I love seasonal decor, and a mantle just seems to perfect to display bits and pieces to their best advantage. But, since I don't have one, I have created two tables in the entry way to satisfy my needs!

The first table is tucked into a little corner between our entry way and our lounge room, so anyone coming into my house will walk right past this.

For this table I wanted something fun and whimsical and I think I really achieved that. The table started with the three potted plants I already had on this table. I have started buying my indoor plants at Ikea. They are surprisingly good quality - the leafy plants have been going strong now for over 4 months, and when I say I have a black thumb I am not kidding. Also, I love fresh flowers in the house, but cut flowers rapidly add up since they have to be replaced at least weekly. These orchids at Ikea are around $20, and if you pick carefully and make sure they have lots of buds, they will last a few months as well before they stop flowering. I literally have them all over the house, in almost every room!

I created this "Easter Tree" with a painted wood tree I had stored away, and a mix of painted and glittered eggs. I bought a packet of painted eggs ready-made from Bed Bath n Table, and then shamelessly copied them using techniques I gleaned from watching Martha. The little chicken egg cup and the cute spring bunnies I picked up at a little gift store a few years ago.

The bunny candy dish was from the same gift store, and the bunny picture was a bargain window decal I found the other day at the dollar store and applied to the glass in the frame. The little sachets were quickly whipped up from some fabric in my scrap stash, and tied with some ribbon.

My second table is tucked into a niche in our entry way. For this table I was going for a more sophisticated vibe. It's not quite where I want it yet, but it will do for this year. The candles, vase and lotus vase are usually on this table and I added the little potted faux plant since I felt it needed a little bit of greenery.

The white porcelain tealight holder (filled with eggs) and the bird were a Christmas present last year from DH, and can usually be found in the dining room. The little ceramic bunnies were from my collection, and I bought the larger bunny just the other day from Bed Bath n Table. The speckled eggs were also from Bed Bath n Table. They were just gorgeous and came in pink, yellow and neutral. It's such a shame they didn't come in robin's egg blue (my favourite colour), because then they would've been even more perfect!

I also found this adorable little bird and nest. This pic doesn't do it any justice at all; the bird is just too, too cute.

Slowly, slowly, I am planning to build up my collection of seasonal decor. I have my Christmas pieces pretty much sorted, and I'm going to keep my eye out after Easter for the sales and see if I can add some more pieces for the "sophisticated" table, in particular.

Huge Simplify Your Family Life eBook sale

2011-03-22T19:59:00.004+08:00

For four days only, two wonderful bloggers, Corey at Simple Marriage and Mandi at Life...Your Way have brought together 30 wonderful ebooks into one collection at an absolutely amazing price. These 30 books, from various authors and bloggers, is normally valued at $450 and covers the full range of issues affecting family life, from real food and cooking, achieving a minimalist family life, organising, parenting and much more. For the full list of included books, and to purchase this great collection for just $47, head on over to The Keeper of the Home. Even if you already have some of these books (like I did!), the collection is such great value that it is still worth it! Don't wait, though, this sale ends at 2pm March 24th.

PS: I am not an affiliate, nor am I receiving anything for this post - I just thought it was such great value, I had to share!!

Meal Planning for Dummies

2011-02-09T21:28:00.006+08:00

If you read a lot of Mommy Blogs, then you know that meal planning is everywhere. Mum's everywhere extol the virtues of meal planning, share their weeks' menus, and point you in the right direction of meal planning websites that can make your life easier. And I get it, I really do. In theory, anyway! I am still struggling with being able to consistently plan out my meals and stick with it. Yes, meal planning is saving me money (a lot of money!) and it is generally saving me from the dreaded "what should I cook for dinner?" at 5 o'clock, but it is not helping me with the "it's 6 o'clock, and I have the ingredients, and I just can't be bothered to cook right now" scenario. Sometimes, like a lot of other things regarding homemaking, I just have to suck it up and get on with it.

When I first started meal planning, it was taking me hours to plan out my menus and write up my grocery list as I poured over recipe books. A couple of years ago I happened to catch a show on cable called Fixing Dinner which is all about meal planning for busy planners. At the time, I thought, "that looks so easy" then promptly forgot about it until this year, when I finally decided I had to get the meal planning thing to work for me.

After some searching on the web, I found the matching cookbooks, bought some, and haven't looked back. These books really are Meal Planning For Dummies - all the work is done for you. Each week has five meals planned out for you, together with a matching grocery list (which you can also print out for free on Sandi Richard's website). I have tried two of her books - her latest, Eating Forward, and an older one, The Healthy Family, and the recipes have generally been a real hit with the family.

What I love most about these books are that the meals are categorized into four time and effort categories: dinners on the table in less than 30 mins with either 15 or 20 mins prep time, or dinners on the table in less than an hour with either 15 or 20 mins prep time. It means I can fit the various meals around our schedule. I also love that most weeks have a slow cooker meal, which is perfect for Thursdays when we are at swimming lessons until 5. In the past, that would have meant take out; instead, we walk in the door to the delish smells of a freshly cooked meal. I do make some modifications to the recipes, since they rely a lot on processed foods like canned cream soups and stock, but I make up my own stock and cream soup substitution in bulk and freeze them, so this is an easy switch.

Now don't get me wrong; things are still not perfect here. Today, we resorted to McDonald's for dinner after DH and I both decided to have a nap at 2.30 after we put the kids to bed for rest time, and then didn't wake up until 7pm! I honestly couldn't believe it - firstly that I slept for so long, and secondly, that a toddler and a preschooler would leave both of us alone for so long and nothing went wrong or got destroyed. They had even gone into the fridge and got their own yoghurt and juice at some stage, with only minimal spilling of the juice! I can definitely put up with some spilled juice given I got an unheard of 4.5 hour nap. But overall, the meal planning is definitely starting to work, and I think that once I really get the hang of it with Sandi Richard's books, I will be right to go it alone.

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Winner: Little Billies Routine Chart

2011-02-03T14:21:00.002+08:00

The winner of the Little Billies Routine Chart is comment #4 - Anne. Congratulations!! For everyone else, stay tuned, because I have some more giveaways planned for the next couple of months!

CSN Stores

2011-01-28T09:05:00.001+08:00

CSN Stores have generously given me the opportunity to review a product from their amazing group of web stores. Whether you are in the market for modern dining room furniture, sports equipment or luxury clothing, CSN has a store to suit. I haven't decided yet what I am going to try, but I will probably pick something that I can add to the kids' back to school routine and calendar area.

Which reminds me...don't forget that the fantastic review for the Little Billies routine chart ends tomorrow. Its open to readers worldwide and is such a great product!

Disclaimer: CSN Stores will provide me with a product to review free of charge.

Australian Healthy Weight Week

2011-01-27T09:23:00.000+08:00

This week is Healthy Weight Week in Australia, but its goals of raising awareness of the importance of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight and a healthy lifestyle is important wherever you live. While I don't agree with everything that the Dietitian's Association of Australia (the organisation behind it) support, (for instance, I don't believe that saturated fat is the menace that conventional wisdom says it is) the Healthy Weight Week website has a ton of information that could benefit anyone who believes that their weight and health could do with some improvement.

One of their tools that I think is fantastic is their 10 week challenge. By following these ten easy steps over ten weeks, you will make a vast difference to your health. Some of these ideas I have already started through my Weight Watchers program, but I am planning on introducing one new idea each week. These totally fit in with my New Year, New Me goals.

Week 1:

Start a food diary. This will help you see what you're eating and drinking, and where any problem areas are. Order the AHWW food and exercise diary from the 'Resources' page to help you get started.

Week 2:

Eat breakfast every day. Breakfast eaters are more likely to be a healthy weight and less likely to re-gain lost weight. And breakfast improves alertness, concentration, mental performance and memory.

Week 3:

Choose lower fat versions of three foods you regularly eat. This will lower your kilojoule (calorie) intake enough to shed some kilos. Look at the nutrition labels of two similar products and choose the one with the lowest fat content. See the Take 10 swaps fact sheet for some suggestions.

Week 4:

Take the stairs at work instead of the lift, or walk to your local shops. Work up to being active for at least 30 to 60 minutes each day.

Week 5:

Switch to healthier drinks. Swap soft drinks, cordials and juice for diet versions - or better still choose water and reduced fat milk. Swapping a soft drink for water will save 700kJ. Have a glass, bottle or jug of water close by at all times.

Week 6:

Add one more piece of fruit and one more serve of vegetables to your day. Build up to the recommended two pieces of fruit and five serves of vegetables (around three cups) every day.

Week 7:

If buying treats, choose smaller serve sizes and have these in the house less often. Plan when you will have treats (e.g once a week) and keep a close eye on the portion size.

Week 8:

Shrink your portion sizes. Doing this at every meal is a sure-fire way to lower your energy (kilojoule) intake. Try using smaller plates and bowls or order the entree size if you're eating out.

Week 9:

If you drink alcohol, reduce your intake and aim for at least two alcohol free days each week. Try a wine spritzer (wine diluted with plain mineral water) instead of a glass of wine and use a smaller glass. Choose light beers over standard 'heavy' beers.

Week 10:

Get the right support - explore the Australia's Healthy Weight Week website for more healthy eating tips and hints to keep you going on your way to a healthier, happier you. Seek the advice of an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) who can provide you with individualised advice to help achieve your goals. Visit the 'Find an APD' section of this website to find your local APD.

Download a copy of the AHWW Ten week challenge.

So make sure you check out the Healthy Weight Week website for even more great ideas!

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Guest Post: Going Green Made Easy - Tips & Ideas for Green Living

2011-01-25T09:27:00.003+08:00

Today I have a wonderful guest post by Cindy Sha from Steam Mop Reviews. She has some great tips and ideas on going green, which is perfect timing for those of you who have planned to go green as a New Year Resolution. Enjoy!!

Going Green Made Easy - Tips & Ideas for Green Living

Going green is becoming widely popular. This is one of the few things that I would encourage popularity, simply because of its ability to drastically change our environment and help the world.

The state of the earth is in poor shape- rampant pollution, high carbon emissions, toxic wastes, dying plants and animals and huge weather changes are just a few results.

This is happening because of us and we can fix it. How? By changing a few of our daily habits, it can eventually add up and have a huge impact.

You don’t have to suddenly make huge lifestyle changes, well at least not until you are ready to. If you follow a few of these tips, they will go a long way in our green agenda.

A few easy changes you can make include:

Change your bulbs: Replace all your bulbs with CFL bulbs. These bulbs are initially more expensive, but they will more than pay back for themselves. They can last up to 10,000 hours, use less electricity and emit less heat. The result: a lower electricity bill and extra savings while reducing your overall energy consumption.
Use homemade cleaners: Chemical cleaners have many negative effects on the environment. The chemicals within your detergents and cleaning solutions contain toxins that are reintroduced to the environment through our waterways or air. The result of this is air pollution and water pollution. Instead, you can use homemade ingredients like vinegar, baking soda and lime juice which can be used to clean stains, grout, toilets and various surfaces in your home.
Reduce your consumption of copy paper: Instead of printing on one side of a page, make sure to print on both sides. This will instantly halve the overall number of pages you use. If you can implement this in your home or office, you will be making a huge difference in our paper consumption. This means an overall less demand for paper which decreases the number of trees that are cut down.
Buy green cleaners: If you don’t want to use homemade cleaners, then you can simply purchase cleaners that are green and eco friendly. Instead of buying a mop which spreads chemicals around you floors, you can opt for a steam mop. It only uses steam to clean, but is very powerful and will disinfect your floors. There are also many certified green cleaning solutions to choose from which include the Oxy gen2 cleaning solution, Simple Green, Greenworks, Method etc.
Carpool: You can share a car with your co-workers and even organize one for your kids and their friends. This will save on gas money while reducing the number of cars on the road. This means less traffic and less carbon emissions. It can even help you improve your social skills which are a great additional benefit.
Turn off and unplug those electronics: This includes shutting down your desktop or laptop every night and unplugging all of your appliances. Once they are plugged in, they are consuming energy. By simply unplugging them, you will be drastically reducing your energy consumption.
Green pest control: If you have a problem with pests and insects around your home, don’t turn to those toxic chemicals to get rid of them. Instead, you can try a few green or homemade solutions. If you have a lot of mosquitoes in your home, simply remove any stagnant water from around your house. Then, spray a solution of water and ammonia (lemon scented) in the affected areas. Need to repel insects from your plants? Simply mix a solution of 2 garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, 1 onion and a quart of water. Allow the mixture to steep for a few hours and strain. After you’ve strained the solution, add a tablespoon of liquid soap and mix thoroughly. You can now use this solution to spray on your plants to prevent insects from damaging them. The solution is good for up to a week and then you should make another batch.

The above are a few simple ideas to get you started on a more conscious and green way of living. If we can all do one or a few of these, then we would definitely be on the road to change and environmental preservation.

Cindy Sha is a writer who simply loves reviewing steam products. She writes steam cleaner reviews, steam mop reviews and sauna reviews to help educate folks on the amazing capabilities of steam.

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Back to School Routine Charts & Giveaway!!

2011-01-22T13:29:00.011+08:00

For those of us Down Under, "Back to School" preparations are well under way, with less than two weeks to go until school is back in session after a long summer holiday. The sheer length of the holidays means that many routines that are regularly in place during the year have well and truly fallen by the way side by the time school is ready to go back.

I have written before about how Stephen thrives on a regular routine, and have found using a picture routine chart really helps to give him structure to his day. Over the holidays we stopped using it as we succumbed to lazy days, but now that school is soon to be on us, it's time for a rejig. For the new year, I have moved his routine chart to the playroom, underneath our daily calendar, and included a new chart for Irini now that she is nearly 3 and about to start pre-kindy. The new set up is in the pic at the top. I also included some frames around the boards to showcase some of their art (there are two larger frames just out of the shot). The great thing about a picture routine chart is that they are suitable for pre-readers and readers alike.

The plan for the charts is to have a calendar session each morning after breakfast, where we will go through the days of the week, the date, and what each of the kids has on their chart for the day. This will hopefully give them some rhythm to the week, and help them to start understanding the concept of calendars and dates.

If you want to start a picture routine for your child now that school is going back, then make sure you enter this fantastic giveaway courtesy of Little Billies, the company that I bought my routine charts from. Little Billies offers a full range of personalised routine charts and reward charts for both toddlers and school age children in a range of fun designs available from their website, as well as a range of non-personalised charts available from a range of stockists nationally.

Little Billies has offered one lucky winner this fantastic Morning & Evening Routine Chart.

This chart is perfect for establishing a morning and nightly routine for a toddler, reinforcing an established routine for a pre-schooler, and helping a school age child take responsibility for packing their own bag in the morning based on what activities have been placed on the chart. The chart includes the magnetic activity tiles with a clear picture and the written description of the activity, which is wonderful for helping those children who are developing their reading skills. What I really love about this chart is the ability for child to slide the completed tasks from the to-do section of the chart to the tasks completed section. This is a wonderful way to instill a sense of accomplishment in your child.

If you would like to win this amazing routine chart, then enter now!

To enter:

Visit Little Billies and let me know your favourite routine chart design

You can gain extra entries by doing any (or all) of the following (please leave a comment for each one you do!). If you already do any of the below, make sure to leave a comment, since that counts too!

Leave a comment describing how you instill routines with your children
Subscribe to Chic Mummy by email or by RSS
Follow my blog publicly on Google Friends Connect
Blog about this giveaway and link to this post - leave your link in the comment
Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to copy this tweet:

RT @chic_mummy Enter to win a Little Billies Routine Chart! http://bit.ly/dZgaJU #giveaway

Giveaway ends January 29th.

Disclaimer: Giveaway prize has been provided by Little Billies.

New Year, New Me...or is it really, New Year, Old Me?

2011-01-10T20:27:00.003+08:00

First of all, Happy New Year to all of my readers! I hope the holiday season was full of joy and happiness for all of you! Obviously, I have been missing in action not only for the last month, but for a good part of the last year as well. I have tossing and turning over whether to share with you the reason why, and finally decided that the New Year, a time of resolutions and renewal, was a good as time as any to take the leap and spill.

2010 was really not a good year for me. In fact, I would go so far as to say that 2010 was probably the toughest year I have ever faced. Over the course of the year, I spiralled down into clinical depression, put on over 12 kg (26.5 lbs), and lost motivation to do much of anything. I stopped exercising, blogged less and less, stopped writing articles for Blissfully Domestic, pretty much stopped doing everything except the bare minimum to keep my head above water. Finally, towards the end of the year, I decided I couldn't keep going the way I was going, and sought some medical help. After a couple of months of anti-depressants and some therapy (which I have now been able to stop), I was starting to feel more like myself. And so, that brings me to now, and the title of my blog post. In 2009, I did a series of posts tagged Best Year, and I really did have a great year, so this year, I hope you will join me as I strive to get myself back to the state I was in over the course of that year. I am really seeing this New Year as a time of renewal and a chance to reclaim my self, my true self, the new, old me!

So, what are my five goals for 2011?

Get myself down to a healthy weight. Last year, I breached I weight I never thought I would ever be (92 kg/202 lbs) and I was well and truly in the obese category. Putting on so much weight was both a side effect and a contributor to my depression, and the excess weight just generally affected how I felt - I was constantly tired and achy. My goal weight is 75kg/154 lbs and I expect that this will take me the full year to reach. To help me achieve this goal I've started the new Weight Watchers ProPoints/PointsPlus program. This is probably my most important goal for 2011.
Exercise for half an hour a day, at least 5 days a week. When I exercise, I simply feel better all round. I start a weekly Pilates reformer class next week, I have dusted off the Elliptical which has been a wonderful clothes hanger for the last year, and I will start going to a deep water aqua class once a week once both school goes back in a couple of weeks.
Do at least one yoga/meditation session a week. I find that this one hour decompress each week not only relaxes and refreshes me, but actually re-energises me, and I have really been missing it over the last year. I will most likely do this at home using a DVD, but will also try to get out to a class every now and then to keep my technique up to scratch.
Start dressing well again and put on some makeup everyday. This is really embarrassing to admit, given the name of my blog, but over the past year, I have really things slide. Not so much that I was doing the school run in pyjamas, but enough that my husband's aunt (who, I must admit, does not have the best relationship with my husband's family) made a snide comment to my MIL that I was starting to dress like an 80 year old woman (and if that wasn't an incentive to change, I don't know what is!).
Look after my spiritual needs. My relationship with a higher power is something else that I have really neglected over the past year. Whatever religion/philosophy you follow, I think it is so important to have a spiritual life, and this is something I will really be working on.

So, hopefully my first post for 2011 hasn't bored the pants off you, or disillusioned you, and I really hope you will join me over the next year!

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Book review: Double Delicious

2010-12-09T22:00:00.005+08:00

Jessica Seinfeld's books Deceptively Delicious and her new offering Double Delicious are incredibly controversial due to their basic premise of sneaking fruit and veg into various meals and desserts. I have her first book and use it fairly often, so when I saw the second one on sale, I quickly went out and ordered it. Before I review the book itself, I want to state from the outset that I do not believe in sneaking in fruit and veggies into my children's food as the only way they will consume fresh produce. However, I have no problem with boosting the nutrient content of what they do eat, while also serving them plenty of whole fruit and veg throughout the day (which they may or may not eat!). Now onto the review:

The core concept of Double Delicious is similar to her first book - keep a freezer stash of veggie and fruit purees that you can then incorporate into various meals. A lot of other reviewers have had a problem with this, and in a way, they are right. Having to have this stock of purees, and then remember to thaw them prior to dinner prep, does mean that the majority of recipes are not really "good, simple food for busy, complicated lives" as the tagline for the book states. However, if you pre-plan and have built up the stash of purees like I have (or can quickly zap some up in the microwave), then the recipes are pretty straight forward. You could also sub in pureed baby food if you are really short of time.

I have to say that the recipes in this book are not as good as in her first. All the recipes I tried in Deceptively Delicious were a hit both with the adults and the kids. Most of the recipes we have tried in Double Delicious have been great but for some of the dishes the texture and/or taste was not quite right. Another difference is that this book only includes vegetable purees, and not fruit. What I did love about this book over the first is the index organised by type of puree. This means you can search for recipes either based on what you want to use up (eg some leftover roasted squash from a previous meal) or what you feel you child might be missing out on.

So which recipes did we love?

The Cinnamon-Maple Quinoa was a real hit with both the kids and me. I love porridge in the morning, and it was nice to try something similar and yet different. I also find that recipes like this are a good way to extend my kids tastes since it is not too far from their comfort zone. This recipe had just the right balance of sweetness and spice, and the sweet potato puree paired really well.

Jerry's Cinnamon Buns were great, WITHOUT the glaze. The buns themselves were very yummy - light, moist and just the way cinnamon buns should be. The glaze, on the other hand, did not even make it out of the bowl and onto the buns. I was dubious reading the glaze recipe, made with cauliflower puree, and should have trusted my instincts. However, the buns topped with my regular cream cheese glaze were divine.

Scrambled Egg Muffins were an easy sell for the kids since they love eggs. I made these with whole eggs rather than the 3 whites and 1 whole egg the recipe calls for since I don't believe egg yolks are bad for you, and I used regular pork bacon rather than turkey. These were super quick and easy, and were also great cold in the lunchbox.

Chicken and Rice Soup was another hit - the carrot and cauliflower purees add a hint of sweetness as well as a vibrant orange colour that the kids loved. I made it in my Thermomix, using diced chicken breasts rather than whole ones, and it was so easy.

The Butternut Tomato Soup was one of the few recipes that did not use purees, and it was another soup hit from this book. Leave out the weird tofu topping, though.

Chicken and Biscuits was really yummy and the kids loved it, but it also highlighted the flaws so many have raised about sneaking in veggies instead of incorporating non-pureed versions instead. The pureed pumpkin is a great addition, and I will be including it next time, but I will also add a couple of cups of fresh or frozen veggies (like diced carrot, peas and corn) to the stew as well. Even if the kids pick some of them out, it normalises the place of vegetables in a meal.

The Chicken Enchiladas will definitely become part of our Mexican Monday nights, they were that good. They were creamy and cheesy and just perfect. Served with a side of rice, corn and beans and we had a seemingly sinful, yet completely healthy meal.

Pasta with Pea Pesto was another recipe minus a puree. This was really yummy and if you subbed some diced ham or bacon for the chicken would make a quick and easy pantry meal for those nights you are tempted to get take-out.

The recipe for Gnocchi is amazing. There is no other word for it. In less than hour I had homemade, from scratch, light and fluffy gnocchi. The kids loved this plain with a touch of butter.

So, overall, it depends what you are looking for in a cookbook for your family. If you want very quick and easy recipes, this one is probably not for you. If you are prepared to spend a couple of hours initially to build up the stock of purees, and want to add some extra nutrition into meals that the whole family will like, and especially if you liked Deceptively Delicious, then I can highly recommend this book. While I don't agree with her focus on low-fat (and in particular, low saturated fat), this is easily remedied with some substitutions. I don't think I will use all of these recipes regularly (especially the desserts/snacks), but quite a number of them will make it into our regular rotation.

Gifted Magazine

2010-11-14T11:19:00.000+08:00

I have just found Gifted Magazine, an amazing resource (via Angry Chicken which, by the way, is worth a visit in itself) which is full of wonderful homemade ideas for the holiday season. While I am not going all handmade this Christmas like I did last year I still plan to make a lot of things and this mag is full of great projects and inspiration. It includes inspiring articles, a ton of photos and little tips, projects and recipes, and even printables. And for the Chic Mummy in all of us, there are even some adorable fashion spreads and an incredibly elegant gift guide. Did I mention that it is FREE?! So head on over and get inspired!

Mother Madness Rant

2010-11-11T22:15:00.004+08:00

On the weekend I came across an essay at the WSJ that really made my blood boil. Mother Madness, by Erica Jong, is all about how she feels modern motherhood, and attachment parenting in particular, are society constructs that are "imprisoning" and "victimising" women. It's not often that I read something and get so riled up! As regular readers would realise, I am a big proponent of attachment parenting. I breastfed one of my children, I co-sleep (still!), I made the majority of our own baby food, and while I believe in a flexible routine, I don't (and didn't) follow anything you would call a schedule. According to Jong, all of these things are "a prison for mothers" and it "represents [...] a backlash against women's freedom."

What made me laugh out loud however, was her own inconsistencies. In the early part of her essay, she criticises the Sear's (proponents of Attachment Parenting) for assuming that parents are rich enough to have one parent at home to Attachment Parent. And yet, later, she is reminiscing about how her daughter was raised by nannies while she was off on her lecture tours. I don't know about your family, but even if I was still working, I certainly wouldn't be able to afford to have a team of nannies at beck and call!

I am insulted to be told that I am "giving up my life" for my child's and I resent the implication that I am creating a child that cannot be an independent adult. In fact, there is copious research out there that demonstrates that children reared with attachment parenting principles are more secure and capable teens and adults that those who are not. And this is where I think Jong missed the most vital points of attachment parenting. You do not have to be a SAHM to follow attachment parenting; I know parents who both work, but co-sleep with their child, and then carefully selected caregivers who follow the principles of responding to the child's needs when they are not there. You do not have to "give up your life"; next month, DH and I are going to the U2 concert, and one of the sets of grandparents will look after the kids. We still go out for dinner at nice restaurants (sometimes with the kids, sometimes without) and we still carve out moments for ourselves.

What irked me the most, though, is her assertion that those of us who choose to stay home are blindly following societal propaganda, removing ourselves from the political process and further, are "overworked and exhausted" and as such, "how can we have the time to question and change the world that you and and your children inhabit." I could not disagree with her more! I believe that it is the attachment parenting mother (and not forgetting the mothers who follow different parenting paths) that fights to have BPA removed from our environment, who boycotts Nestle for their formula practices in the Third World, who pushes for healthier school lunches for our children. Yes, these are child-centric issues, but does that make them any less important than minimising carbon emissions or fighting for equal pay for women (which, by the way, I am also passionate about)? Just because I am not lecturing in universities or writing a best selling novel (like Jong) does not mean that I am not an aware and active citizen.

Do I believe that everyone should follow attachment parenting principles? Absolutely not. I know parents who followed Enzo's Babywise (the antithesis of attachment parenting) and have raised beautiful, wonderful children, and I think that across the full spectrum of parenting "philosophies" all parents want is what is best for our children given our particular set of circumstances. It just really riles me up when someone like Jong can state that we women should "just do the best you can. There are no rules." (hey, there is one line in the whole essay I agree with!) despite having basically spent an entire essay denigrating my parenting choice.

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Putting up! My foray into preserving.

2010-11-02T10:37:00.000+08:00

I have always loved the idea of canning food and drinks; putting fresh produce away when they are plentiful and easily available, for times when they are not. In this modern age, when pretty much anything is available all year round (even if you have to pay more for it), canning and preserving has become a bit of lost art, but judging by the blogosphere, it is definitely coming back into fashion.

I started with a couple of recipes, and found it surprisingly easy. The first recipe I tried was apple butter. I have fond memories of eating apple butter when I was a child, but have never seen it since, so when a recipe came into my feed reader from Simple Bites, I thought I would give it a go. I cooked mine in my slow cooker rather than the stovetop, which saved a heap of stirring and worrying it would stick, but I still managed to overcook it a bit - I like to think the slightly burnt flavour adds some "dimension"!

My second experiment was some lemon cordial from the wonderful book River Cottage Preserves Handbook. There were so many recipes in this book I wanted to try, but this one looked like the easiest, and I had a glut of lemons, so it seemed perfect. It came out absolutely perfect! It was just the right balance of sweet and sour, just the way homemade lemon cordial should be. I can't wait until I try my next recipe!

Sorry, no photos, since I have temporarily misplaced my camera in my massive reorganisation of my craft/schoolroom!

Disclaimer: the book link is an Amazon affiliate link

Kids Konserve Lunch Kits 40% 0ff

2010-10-30T20:58:00.005+08:00

I have spoken about making kids lunches waste free before and recently I have added some Kids Konserve stainless steel drink bottles to my collection to replace the kids' tupperware ones (as part of my getting rid of plastics). So I was super excited to see that Biome Ecostores have their range of Kids Konserve lunch kits on sale for 40% off. I've just taken advantage of this, and bought a caterpiller set for Stephen and a butterfly set for Irini, so I'll be all set for next year when both of the kids are at kindy. I still love my Laptop Lunchboxes, but sometimes it is just too big, especially if Stephen wants a sandwich for lunch since it a sandwich on its own is too small for the large inner container, and ends up coming apart as it gets tumbled around in his bag. I love the idea of a sandwich wrap to contain the sandwich, and I can see myself pairing the wrap with his Laptop Lunchbox as well as using it with its original kit.
PS: I have had some emails querying my affiliation with some of my posts that promote or mention products. If there is ever any affiliation, I will always disclose it. Posts like this are simply me trying to pass on products that I love!

Getting Rid of Plastic

2010-10-15T20:52:00.004+08:00

I've spoken about greening my kitchen before, and while I've certainly come a long way from where I was, such as going paperless and making my kid's lunches waste-free, I felt that there was one more step that I needed to take, which was to get rid of plastic. Volumes have been written about the risks of BPA (and other nasties) which are found in a lot of plastics, and are of particular concern when food is warmed up in it. Given that pretty much my entire stock of food storage containers are relatively expensive, BPA containing Tupperware, I was both concerned about the health risk AND faced a dilemma!

The more and more I read, and the more I thought about it, the more I realised that I could not ignore the health concerns, particularly when it came to containers that were used for heating up food, or storing foods high in fat, the two situations that seemed to pose the biggest risk. So my plan was to start saving money to replace these containers with glass, and re purpose the Tupperware containers for storing other things, such as my dry bulk storage of rice, beans, pasta, cereal etc. Every week I would put money aside for my "non-plastic" fund, and waited for the items I wanted to go on sale. Eventually, 2 wonderful Pyrex sets with BPA-free lids came up on huge discount, and just like that, I had taken one more step to a greener and healthier kitchen. One set I bought contained rectangular containers of various sizes, and the other round, but in hindsight I would definitely have bought only rectangles, as they store so much more efficiently in the cupboard and the fridge.

As well as the containers, I also replaced all the plastic that the kids use with either melamine, ceramic or glass. Following the Montessori principle of allowing children to take responsibility for their items, I bought child sized (but relatively heavy weight) glasses for their drinks, and ceramic or Corelle bowls and plates for their meals. I then purchased some melamine sets for when other children are visiting, as melamine is considered a safe and environmentally friendly option. The only plastic we are now using with the kids are their straws and their BPA-free lunchboxes.

Eventually, I plan to replace all my plastic containers with glass or metal, but for the moment, I am happy with the compromise I have made.

I'm Studying Herbalism!

2010-10-07T23:35:00.001+08:00

Over the last decade or so I have become more and more interested in natural medicine as a first port of call for both preventative health and acute care. And while I have dabbled in mild remedies, for coughs and colds and the like (most of which I have posted here), I finally took the leap and have decided to study it in a more formal, in-depth way. What I was looking for was an introductory course that could be studied by correspondence but I just couldn't find one that seemed right. And then I came across The Vintage Remedies Family Herbalist course, and I knew it was perfect.

I found the course in a round-about way and I have to say, these moments of serendipity usually work out well for me! Keeper of the Home had written a book review of The Handbook of Vintage Remedies a while ago and I had bookmarked it with the view to buying it down the track. A few days ago I was madly searching for the review (I really need to organise my bookmarks!) and came across the website for Vintage Remedies School of Natural Health, the herbalism school founded by the author. I was just casually browsing, and then I came the outline of the Family Herbalist course. It is an 18 month course that covers your whole family from pregnancy, childhood and beyond. I can't wait to get started!

If you are interested in natural health but are not interested in formal study, than make sure you tune in to Keeper of the Home's blog over the month of October. For the whole of October Stephanie is running a Natural Home Remedies and Illness Prevention month. This post, in particular, has some great links to some wonderful home made remedies to get you started!

Winners!

2010-10-06T23:15:00.002+08:00

Obviously I have been a real blogging slacker, but these school holidays I have either been madly inspired to spring clean my house top to bottom, or the weather has been so nice that I have torn myself away from the manic cleaning to take the kids out and about. So while I have been badly neglecting my readers, rest assured that my house has never looked better and my kids have had some wonderful times at the zoo and various parks and playgrounds!

But now to the winners of the giveaways! And if you weren't lucky enough to win a prize this month, I will be running some more giveaways over the next few months in the lead up to Christmas. So without further ado, here they are:

The Life.Doc Organising Binder: Juliana (please email me as I cannot access your profile)

Milkshake Sugar Frosting: Kalee

Spring Clean Year Round: The Long & Winding Bobbin

So congratulations to the winners, and now back to out regular programming!