FANCY PANTS [THE COLOUR BLOCKING SPECIAL]

Remember a week or so ago when I said that I couldn't put together more than two bold colours?

EAT: VANILLA, COCONUT, BANANA + CHAI SMOOTHIE

SERVES 2 | PREP 5 MINS | MIX 2 MINS | VEGAN, VEGETARIAN, GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE

If you know me, and my love for soy chai lattes, you know that I would love anything chai flavoured. In fact, there are a whole range of yummy new recipes out there that are chai flavoured, like a choc chai slice (instead of the classic choc caramel slice), and smoothie ideas like this.

Hmmm, do you think I could make a batch of this and turn it into chai icecream? Hmmm, I might!

EAT: LOLLY GOBBLE BLISS BOMBS

SERVES 6 | PREP 5 MINS | COOKING 35 MINS | VEGETARIAN, GLUTEN FREE

A bubble bath might seem decadent to you, but these are the perfect accompaniment when watching a movie with the lads. Think Saturday night on the couch under a rug with popcorn. This popcorn!

FANCY PANTS [SEEING MORE RED]

After a week of red jeans, you could be mistaken for thinking that I'm totally sick of them But I'm not.

I even went and shopped my wardrobe some more and came up with even more new outfits using my red skinnies. So much fun!

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [RED JEANS]

It's a fact: I don't do colour blocking because it's fashionable. I do it because I'm not big into patterns. And I can't do more than two bright colours. And if I'm adding a third, it has to be a neutral. It's how I roll.

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [RED JEANS]

I can't tell you how snug as a rug I am in this outfit. I've layered a whole bunch today, and nothing can make me cold. Funnily, I don't mind a three-quarter sleeved top in winter. It's not wear I feel cold, and frees up my hands to do dishes, take care of children's needs, grab the items at the supermarket. You know, the mum stuff.

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [RED JEANS]

Love a casual day where I'm not working in the office, and I can run around like a mummy who helps out at school, feeds her sick (that's me today), and tends to the Groundhog Day-ness of housework. I love even more a day where I can just hang with my kids.

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [RED JEANS]

So we all know that red and animal print goes awesome, yes?

5 DAYS 5 WAYS [RED JEANS]

So, here we are on Day One of the Five Day Five Way challenge for... red jeans!

I bought these jeans on a whim. They were cheap and I had already succumbed to the idea of hardly ever wearing them. Mostly, because they were Fire Engine Red. But then I thought, why not wear them to death? Get my $39 dollars' worth? Especially seeing they will most likely be around for only a few seasons.

FANCY PANTS [MY LITTLE PHOTOGRAPHER}

Your eyes are getting blurry from staring at the screen of your computer...

No, really. It's okay. You don't have to head to the optometrist just yet. The photos are actually blurry because I have two photographers who are just six and three years old.

THIS SATURDAY I'M GRATEFUL FOR... MORE TIME WITH HIM.

Now that Madison is at school, I'm hanging out with three year old Noah so much more.

It's one-on-one time at the pool, playing and baking together, walking from school, and talking about what's going on around us while we hold hands.

I feel like this guy is getting the attention he so needs. He can be demanding at times, and thoroughly curious to the point of exasperation (not to mention the ridiculous amounts of mess he makes in his 'discoveries').

But I love him so. Those big brown eyes, his intense little nature, those cuddly fingers.

And spending time with him is just the best.

(It's the little things that makes us sit up and notice, isn't it?)

What are you grateful for?

BUY NOTHING NEW... THE UPDATE.

It's been six months since I took on the Buy Nothing New (BNN) challenge. It's been great. It's been something that I think about on a regular basis. It's been something that I'm so glad I did.

It does mean sacrifices though.

A DAY OF NOTHING PLANNED.

 

My husband asked me late last night, "Anything planned for tomorrow?"

"Nothing planned..."

Up at six for some meditative reading and exercise, wake up the kids, unpack the dishwasher, make porridge, argue over the goodness of the porridge, make alternative breakfast as well. Pack lunch. Brush kids' teeth, brush kids' hair, dress toddler, walk to school, walk home minus one child, back to school because we forgot the library book and show and tell, back home after second school run. Clean the bathroom, get myself clean, do three loads of washing, clean up the breakfast dishes. Finish advertisement for magazine, read director's manual for school holiday program, book kids swimming intensive program for the holidays, hug toddler, play with toddler, make banana cake, drop off friend's pram, pay bills, ice cake, clean out a cupboard, house evaluation. Pick up child from school, take kids to podiatrist, come home, fold washing, put it away, help with homework, make dinner, put kids in bath, set table, finish dinner preparations, take kids out of bath and oversee dressing. Serve dinner, eat, clean up. Read to kids, share the highlights and lowlights of the day, pray with them, kiss them goodnight. Spend time with husband, talk, plan, share. Brush teeth, clean face, put on pyjamas, unwind, read a book, go to sleep.

"... just the usual," I replied.

What do you do on a day when nothing is 'planned'?