All class

We have really lucked out in the preschool department. I feel really blessed to have one part of this parenting malarkey fall into place. Lil-lil started preschool earlier this year at a local community preschool. She goes three days a week, from 9am -3pm. There are18 other four-years-olds, two young teachers and a teacher's aide.

Little Lil-lil bounds off to preschool with excitement, each and every time. Not one tear has fallen about a drop-off, the only she gets upset is if I'm early to pick her up. We're now on school holidays and she's asked if we can go and visit preschool "just for a couple of hours".

I recently accompanied the class on an excursion to the local fire station and it was a lovely insight to how the kids interact. Most of all, it was reassuring to see how much the teachers enjoy what they do, how enthusiastic they are about teaching the kids, how proud they are of their charges and how they genuinely care for them. Yesterday, being the last day of term there were big cuddles and promises of bringing in lots of holidays tales.

I hated preschool, dreaded going each morning. Cried, performed and generally watched the door until home time. So, it's a huge relief that Lil-lil is having such a positive, happy experience and one that she'll carry with her.

Her dad and I are just amazed at what's she's learning too. The little nuggets of information she brings home, the incredible drawings she's doing and seeing the whole world open up for her is just fantastic.

The pinnacle for me was last week she was sitting at her little table at home, drawing away. She came up with a picture of mum, dad and herself. Everyone looked as they should and our names were written underneath, I didn't even know she would write mum and dad unassisted. My heart filled with a pride I never knew existed.

I just hope her schooling life continues in the same way!

It's all in the jeans

I'm not one for buying maternity-specific clothing. It's always a bit naff and expensive. I've tended to get by wearing clothes a few sizes bigger, longer or stretchier.

At the moment, I'm still wearing my normal jeans, despite my enormous belly. I just do the button up below my gut and away we go. It's starting to get a little uncomfortable though and after a wash it does take a bit of an effort to do up, with Skip laughing at me as I struggle. Being a stay-at-home mum and being winter, jeans are pretty much my uniform. So, I've decided to bite the bullet and buy a decent pair of maternity jeans (yeah, yeah I should have done this a couple of pregnancies ago). I realised that I'm completely clueless and going into a shop or online and just buying a pair of jeans is not that easy.

After doing some research, I found some fab information on the Queen Bee online store. I'm going to share it with you as you might be as clueless as me.... (This post was not sponsored, just me doing some research and asking the experts)

First things first, you must pick your pre-pregnancy size or else you'll be hitching your jeans up all day.
There are three main types of maternity jeans and the difference is how they accommodate your growing belly.

Underbelly waistband: These jeans either have a front-only supportive stretch waistband OR an all round elastic waistband. the waistband sits underbelly as you get bigger. These type of jeans are super comfy and good for post-partum wear too.


Stretch side panels: As the name suggests, these jeans have side stretch panels that expand with your tummy – from the back they look just like your regular jeans.  This type of jeans is the most 'normal' style of jeans and can be worn when you're not pregnant.


No panel styling: These jeans have no panels but sit underbelly with plenty of stretch in the denim to support you to nine months.


Now this information is good, but is it going to make me look like the style kitten I really am? (ha, ha, ha) I asked the owner of Queen Bee, Sharon Chim, what she recommended for this winter.


Her top pick was: James Jean Twiggy. Apparently this is a fave with all the celebs. "They are designed by a woman so they are cut to make your legs look longer, leaner and thinner and your bottom sexier than ever," Sharon tells me. Awesome! They come in black and blue (Black Cat or China Doll)

James Jean Twiggy

Her second pick was: Maternal America Skinny Jeans. Sharon told me they are a great everyday, everywhere jeans. "The quality of the denim is superior and they will last you many pregnancies – I’m still wearing mine as the tummy band gives shape underneath my clothes!" Sharon revealed. They come in classic wash, dark vintage wash, stone wash or black.

Maternal America Skinny

So, I now feel like I'm a little more informed, now I have to pick a pair! Which pair do you think??
To make things easier, the nice people Queen Bee have offered myself and my readers $15 off any full-priced pair of jeans from their online store. Just enter the promotion code: blogDENIM15 to receive the discount at the check out. 

TERMS + CONDITIONS:
1. Excludes delivery charges.
2. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.
3. Applies only to all full priced denim, excludes accessories
4. Offer valid to midnight 31.7.11
5. Returns/exchanges welcome within 14 days
6. You must enter the correct promo code at checkout to receive your discount - sorry, no exceptions. we cannot manually adjust orders

Disclosure: This post was not sponsored. Queen Bee made the discount offer after I requested permission to use information from their site.

My place in the blogging world

The blogging world is a funny place at the moment. There is much talk of 'branding', 'PR relationships', 'sponsorships', 'functions', etc. It's fast-moving and intense.

When I started blogging just a little under two years ago, my blog was just somewhere for me to jot down my thoughts, practice my writing, stop my brain from dissolving. I didn't expect anyone to read it, I didn't really expect to read anyone else's blog. Instead, what I discovered was a world of wonderful blogs. Everyday people writing about their lives. There were fantastic writers and storytellers. There were people who took  beautiful photographs. There were people who just shared their everyday mundane moments in their own unique way. I fell in love. I loved reading these wonderful spots on the internet. Little places that people made their own. It was almost like being invited into someone's home, someone's world. I loved sharing snippets from my world and sharing my take on the world.

About six months ago (maybe a little longer) the blogging world seem to take a big dose of steroids or something. These little worlds started taking different shapes. There were now websites and seminars and meetings about blogging. How to blog. How to make the most of blogging. Realising the potential of your blog. At the other end of the scale people wonder if working with PR and making money from your blog is selling out.

I haven't been immune to this ride. I have been swept up in the excitement. I have wondered if I could take my blog further. I've wondered if I have a 'brand'. Am I overselling myself? Underselling myself?

I've been approached by PR companies. I've had ads on here. And that's all good. It's been fun to have products land on my doorstep. It's been fun to be invited to things. It's been fun to meet other bloggers. It's been eye-opening to see how far some people are going. It was a great experience to be involved in the Top 50 bloggers (as well as a huge honour).

There has also been a lot of soul searching done (by myself and others) about where they fit in all this. For me, it's complicated, yet simple at the same time.

I have to admit being saddened when I hear people wondering if they should write about XYZ in fear of putting of potential PR experiences. I've been saddened when people changed their blogs to fit a certain mould. I've also been saddened when I hear about people trying to learn how to 'blog effectively'.

I don't have a problem with people trying to make a living out of their blogs or trying to create something big, if they do that's wonderful. I just hope that we don't lose the unique blogs. The everyday storytellers who weave their own certain magic. The bloggers who blog for love of blogging. I hope we don't see lots of cookie-cutter blogs, blogging a certain way because that's how they've been told they 'should' blog.

Most of all, I just hope we don't overthink the whole thing. Blog the way you want to. Write about what you want to write about. Take photos. Don't take photos. Write five times a day or write five times a year. Whatever. Just be you. Just enjoy it. That, to me, is successful blogging.

This little blog doesn't mark a huge mark on the blogging world and that's OK. It's my little place. It's a hobby which I adore and which brings happiness to my friends and family and, most of all, to me. I'm fortunate that I do get paid to write in other formats, so this blog can be just for me. From time to time if I get sent a product that I really like then I'll share it with you, in my own special way. If I get invited to something that sounds great I'll go. If there are experiences that my kids, husband and I can enjoy out of blogging, then you can be damn sure I'm going to jump on them. I may or may not have ads, I don't know.

Mostly, I'm just going to keep writing about the stuff that pops into my head. It won't be everyone's cup of tea. Some day I'll be drinking solo, I'm sure. Other days I may be rounding the whole bar. Whatever.

Welcome to my little place on the internet. For better or worse, this is what it is.

Ocean calm

This morning, after a lazy 7.45am sleep-in, Skip and I went to pick up our girls who were at a sleepover with their Grandma. We had a couple of 'dos' on last night, so they were happy to spend a Saturday with Grandma. After picking up some sustenance in the form of divine croissants from La Banette and some coffee we headed for the northern beaches.

The sky was a magnificent shade of blue and the sun was absolutely gleaming. Despite being June it was actually kind of warm. There was only one thing for this weather – the beach. I've said it here many times before, but our family is always at its happiest next to the ocean. Lil-lil runs around digging, splashing, Goosey follows her. Skip chases them. I soak in the sunshine and feel the sand between my toes. I don't know what it is about the sea but it completely energises me, washes away the cranks, makes me feel alive.

I love the bush, I love the countryside but I love the ocean oh so much more. I just can't be too far away from it for too long.

Do you have a place that makes you feel happy and content?

Sydney soother

I was cranky yesterday. In fact the past few days. Everything just seemed to push my buttons. I've been impatient. It feels like there's constantly someone (generally a little person) asking something of me. Every time I try and sit down, just for a moment, there's an "I want...." I just wanted to pull the doona over my head and shut out the noise of the world for a little while.

There's been lots of niggly, stupid things to deal with that I just don't want to deal with. You know those days when it feels like they're idiots everywhere (though the biggest idiot around was probably me).

Anyhoo, with a loooooong afternoon stretching out ahead of me and Skip due to take a work colleague out for dinner, I decided I needed to wear the kids out. Prevent the squabbles, keep moving and get through the rest of the day as quickly as possible. I decided to take them to the aquarium.

It's just five minutes from home, but we drove around and couldn't find a car park. We then drove past a park I haven't taken the kids to for ages, the sun was shining down upon it like a little sign from heaven. It just seemed to glow.

I stopped the car and we all jumped out. It was sheltered and warm, so despite being a chilly winter's day the kids kicked off their shoes off and dug their toes in the sand pit. For almost two hours they played happily, they were queens and super kids. They were builders and shopkeepers. I sat soaking in the sun and their contentment.

As the sun began to set and the air began to chill, we jumped back in the car. It was decided that we'd have beans and eggs for dinner, as dad was going to be out. We got home and Skip arrived shortly after, his work dinner cancelled. So we strolled up the road to a Japanese restaurant, sure beats beans and eggs.

It's amazing that this city, my little patch in the world that often drives me to distraction can soothe the soul. If we do move the burbs, I will miss parks like this, strolls to dinner and cranky days that are made better by this place.

Home sweet what?

Life is pretty sweet at the moment. I have a great husband, who loves me and the kids and whom I adore. I have two wonderful daughters who really are the best. I have a son growing healthily inside me. I'm doing some freelance work which I'm really enjoying and finding rewarding. I have a bunch of really good friends. You know I really don't have anything to bitch about.

The only thing weighing me down is this bloody house. And even that swings. We put our beloved home on the market almost two months ago. We were full of confidence. Our agent was full of confidence. And then.... nothing. From the time we planned on selling until the time the sign went up the market quiet.

I haven't been overwhelmed with disappointment as I thought I might. We didn't have to sell. It is a mixture of feelings though. Why doesn't someone want our house? Our agent assures us it's not the house. Our friends and neighbours keep saying 'I can't believe you can't sell.' Then there's the two months of open houses, with two young kids. I'll say no more on that subject.

The whole thing is frustrating as I just want to know what we're going to do. Where we're going to live.
I mean it's not the end of the world. We still own a nice house in great part of Sydney, so it's not like we're in a bad situation. In reality, we'd love to stay where we are, but a family of five in a two bedroom semi? It's just not going to work, well not for long anyway.

So, what to do now? These are the decisions we're going to have to make in the coming weeks. As babies are born and kids go off to school. The old 'burbs versus inner-suburban life rears it's head again. All the decisions you thought you'd made go out the window. I think my main problem is the pregnancy nesting feelings start bubbling to the surface. Just wanting to be settled when the new bub is born, which doesn't make for great decision making. Biology is strong, no matter how you try and rationalise it.

At least there is blogging to let me vent and keep me sane.

Day trippin'

Poor little Goosey doesn't get a huge amount of one-on-one time doing fun stuff. Lil-lil got 20 months of dedicated time from mum and dad. Poor Goosey just gets visits to Coles or hanging out the washing while her sister's at preschool. Fun stuff. Skip and I recently worked out that Goose has only had her mum and dad together all to herself just the once, for a lovely picnic while her big sis went to the movies with her godmother.

On Wednesdays, my mum used to take Goose to a playgroup kindy thing, which she absolutely adored. Unfortunately it just closed down, so we're at a loose end on a Wednesday morning now. Today I decided that she deserved some fun time with mum, so we forgot about washing and cleaning and chores and headed for the train station. Filled with excitement we headed into town and watched the streets as we went in, pointing out other trains and billboards and buildings. We got off at Town Hall and Goose decided she was starving, we headed to Westfield and when she saw a pile of macarons decided that's what she must have. Pink, of course.

We then went up Sydney Tower. Thankfully I had an annual pass for the aquarium as it's costs $25 just to go up! What a rip-off, I'm sure it was just a buck or two when I was a kid. Up the top, the sun shone done across the city. Goose was bored of the view in about 1.5 minutes and was more amused by the koalas in the gift shop (thank god we didn't pay to go up). 

Unimpressed with Sydney Tower. 'There's no princess!'

She then decided she was starving again, so we stopped for lunch at the Westfield food court, which is more gourmet than your average suburban food court. We toyed with the idea of having a Charlie & Co burger, we watched them make dumplings at Din Tai Fung and we drooled over enchiladas at Guzman Y Gomez. Goose decided that we must have pies (healthy, I know). I had lasagna pie (imagine a slice of lasagna encased in pastry) which was amazing. We wandered around the shiny, black shopping shrine and then headed to the station. On the train home we discussed all the things important to an almost three year old. "Why was the person sleeping at the train station?" "Why does this train go fast and then go slow again?" "Why is that man reading a book?"

Lasagna pie. As good as it sounds.

Cuddles on the train home.

Home again, tired but happy. It's so nice to just spend time doing something fun, I really have to make the time to do it more often.