THE JOYS OF RENOVATING: COULD YOU LIVE WITHOUT A TOILET, BATHROOM + LAUNDRY?

Having no toilet, bathroom or laundry is such joy when there is a household of sick people. When we knocked down the old lean-to attached to the beach cottage, we really didn't have a choice. It's where the extension goes. In fact, it wasn't how our renovation was going to go at all. But when a building permit doesn't come through as you planned (and oh how we planned!), everything has to be done differently. Instead of extending first and then moving into the extension, we renovated the original cottage while living in it until the building permit came through. This means living without basic amenities for around six weeks (we are two weeks into it, so far).

Last night my sweet friend Kellie was imagining how embarrassing it is to visit the public toilet when you're sick...

JULY: MY FAVOURITE BITS.

July was such an great month! Some of my favourite bits included:

We moved back to Port Fairy from Melbourne to continue the renovation/extension of our little beach cottage. We revealed the finished fireplace, wished doors could talk, while our backyard is currently a mud pit. The next part of the cottage will be revealed each Wednesday in August too.

I've realised that time with Noah is going to be cut short soon, so I've started lad dates with my favourite four year old... I'm treasuring these times because Noah starts kinder at the beginning of next year. This month we visited The Pantry Door at Basalt, and will be visiting some more new places next month!

This month, there was plenty of Fancy Pants style including, jewelled tops, wrap dresses 70s style, and vintage striped denim. Things got less fancy when I shared how things look the other six days a week. (It's good to put things in perspective, right?)

Another four portraits of the lads were taken this month as part of the 52 series with Che and Fidel including some in fields of gold, out of the front of my new favourite wall, dancing in the lounge room, sneaky shots and my favourite three photos for the first six months.

I'm enjoying taking more and more photos with my new Canon 60D. The conditions have been amazing, and I've snapped away - even with my iPhone. I've talked about the learning process, and how much I'm looking forward to learning even more as I take more photos. I've also loved pondering on the birth of the new future king, his name, and our own naming process (and taking photos for that too).

I can't wait to see what August brings!

How was your July?

31/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013.

Madison: Pulling nunchaku (bamboo sticks) out of his turtoise shell

(a seat cushion tied around the neck). This is life as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.
(We use our imagination around here.)

Noah: Wednesday, it was Mum's bikini, Thursday, it was her shoes.

But today we found the swimming pool bag with the nana-piece

(in my defense, it's chlorine-proof). We also like to cut our own hair. Often.

Linking in with Jodi @ Che and Fidel

EAT: BEST EVER [AND EASIEST] CHOC CHIP BISCUITS

MAKES 24 | PREP 10 MINS | COOKING 12 MINS | VEGETARIAN

These choc chip biscuits are the best ones I've ever tasted. They are crispy on the outside and gooey in the middle, with the right amount of chocolate chips. I have stopped using white flour, and prefer atta flour, a combinationn of wholewheat flour and wheat bran. It isn't too glumpy and doesn't compromise the flavour or texture. Also, snacks like these are more substantial and filling than those snacks containing white flour!

OUR LIFE IN PICTURES.

The last three weeks back in Port Fairy have been so eventful. We have had family and friends visit and help (thanks Mum and Dad, Alli and Mitchell!), we finished most of the renovations to our little beach cottage (see the first in the Reveal Series here), and knocked down the old extension containing the bathroom, toilet, and laundry.

Madison changed schools again (this boy is getting more and more resilient!), while Noah started playgroup on Wednesdays. They are both so happy to see their new 'old' friends again. The back yard has now been excavated, and trenched. The plumbing pipes have been laid, and we have finalised more details for the extension.

The weather has been kind, then stormy and windy. It's definitely muddy in our yard. But alas, the cement will be down soon.

What have you been up to the past few weeks?