beach and the blues.

what a great year it has been so far. you know... all five days of it.

yesterday we had a wee trip to himatangi beach with my parents (the mama and the papa), and hung out with one BILLION blue bottles.
(managed to find a wee space that hadn't been invaded for some good sand castle diggin'.)

Daisy is in love with the beach...and had a huge sleep in the salt air. bless her.

and then today we ventured out pohangina valley to Kim's, a friend from my former life's house. (back before kids when i worked in a restaurant)

it was an awesome morning, i was going to take the kiddos out by myself, but Lars decided he wanted to tag along which added to the sweetness.

we visited the the pick-your-own blueberries and have a wicked stash in our freezer...hello antioxidants! 

the girls were great wee foragers! 

 a bit of a selfie for ya'll...to show off my new sunnies. i picked them up at the checkout of the super market and they are the comfiest sunnies EVER. i love surprise wins.

and the cost 20 buckeroos. yes.

Kim also has some friendly animals (apart from old grumpy cat ;) that live at her place.

one was this cow. who's tongue wrapped right around my arm when i attempted to feed her an apple.

Indie was far braver than i! 

oh this year is going to be a goodun'

i can feel it in my nuggets...:)

word up!

a whole 365 days of possibility lies ahead...well 364 because i spent the 1st January eating cheese and crackers.
the year just past i look back and feel as though i accomplished...well...not so much. but really it was a year of survival, and i feel okay letting myself have that. i needed to put everything i had into my family. and honestly it was hard, and very tiring and overwhelming. looking back it was totally worth it.
my word for last year i chose was possibility. but i think the universe had a different word for me. 'family' 'survival' ...or possibly 'hermit'. ha.

this year however.
my word shall be BRAVE.

not in a Bear Grylls kind of way.
bravery in a feeling the fear of finding 'myself' after having kids kind of way. sounds all very fluffy i know but there is a comforting blanket of being a mother. i guess because the focus is not really on me...it's on children. (look at the pretty pretty children!)
where as stepping out (particularly in a arty/business sense) it's all me. and that makes me feel vulnerable.
so i need my warpaint on.
be brave.

three bed-headed excited wee gals.

(Honor's face still cracks me up...Indie woke her up to see the pressies, Honor sooo doesn't do mornings.)

Wishing you all an amazing, fulfilling new year.

do you have word to guide you through?

*insert Homer Simpson drool here*

i made doughnuts...or donuts...how are we supposed to spell it ?
whatever.
i made them...baked doughnuts. deep-fryer-free doughnuts.
so proud.
i myself am not a fan of the nut of dough...but my kids are obsessed. everytime i head to the supermarket there is a request for them. and at 4-5 bucks a pop for 13 itty-bitty things i wasn't so keen.
seriously. scrooge mum came into play.

i have had this tray hanging around for a while now in my baking cupboard and decided to give it a whirl.
so i'm not too sure where you buy them...but i'd say they would be easy to find.

this is what the tin in question looks like...i don't trust non-stick things so i greased it up real good!

this wee gem was brushed with butter and then sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar...

and then devoured by this wee gem..

ha!

the recipe for baked doughnuts

makes about 12 of these bad-boys.

2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
3/4 cup of milk
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 tbsp melted butter

mix all together in a bowl...and i found it easier to spoon into a plastic bag and 'pipe' into the doughnut molds.

oven pre-heated to 200 bake.
8-10 mins

and voila!

and the possibilities are endless for toppings...

the oldest noise-maker and I made choccy iced ones today (she was home from school recovering from a nasty bug...and chocolate aids in this process apparently)

(i can't stand melted chocolate...i can only eat it when it's hard...strange the things you find out about yourself as you grow up )

oh. and there were sprinkles.

so glad you are on the mend little Larsen. we missed your cheeky face.

martha eat ya heart out!

it's craft of the week tiiiiime...
who am i kidding...more like craft of the year at the rate i can go.
i have to say i always feel pretty chuffed with myself when i finish something creative. especially when it's not on deadline for somebody else...deadlines stress me.
pretty sure my brain is 99% right brain...with the 1% left being my ability to guess ETA's on road trips. its a skill.

i digress.

my project.

i had this choice lamp base...with a respectable off-white shade. that then found it's home in a 3 year old with a pack of crayons room.
delightful.
needless to say the shade was now every shade of the rainbow. on one side.

it sat dormant for a year or two...until i had a sudden rush of craftism yesterday.

i had some gorgeous fabric i brought before little D was born.  (obviously i forgot how much time babies take up...)

so with some scissors and amazing knot tying ability i created this beauty.

the peachy fabric gives a lovely soft glow.
just peachy.

and  LOOK...Daisy's chair finally made it into her room. it is perfect for those midnight cuddles.

and while i have my crafty pants on...

i also created this wee wall display. planning on adding to it but have no idea what just yet.

the little bird was $1 from the second shop and the frame is one from an old canvas i ripped apart. i though about painting it but i quite like the raw wood. 

so that's my creative buzz from the weekend. long may it stick around.

the big Fuzz. big ups to all you mamas.

So yeah...this little pickle is 7 months old today. 

Her squidgy frown lines have popped out. she smiles and giggles and knows how to squeal with the best of them. 
Her favourite food so far is sour apples and her first word was Dad.
She sits up by herself...but seems to be taking after her biggest blister and isn't too fussed about moving anywhere by herself anytime soon.
She smiles as everyone and kisses you back.
She waves and says ta-ta.
She hasn't said Mum yet...although i know she wants to ;)


Today got me thinking. i still haven't moved out of the 'fuzz' yet. you know, that fuzz you live in for the first wee while of motherhood. the tired, forgetful, clumsy(er), emotional, everything is an effort fuzz.
the other two i was well back up an running by 3 months. not necessarily my 'old' self. but a new improved self.
that still hasn't happened after having Daisy.
i still have no energy. and everything is heavy. 


i am happy...don't get me wrong. 
i just don't feel as though my tank is full enough to do everything in a day.


the school run, then the kindy run, then nap times for Daisy.
the washing, the housework, the making dinner, the making sure everyone has everything they need, the finding time for myself (which generally means staying up late staring into space with a cup of tea) the doing it all by myself a lot of nights as Lars has band practice or is at the gym (which i know he needs to do...but sometimes can't help by feel resentful about at times)


i went into having number three with so much energy..with the words from sooo many mothers that going from having 2-3 kiddos was a walk in the park. i felt as though i knew what i was in for...but as much as i obviously wouldn't change it for the world, it has kicked me is the arse.


this is not about sympathy...as i have made these choices and i do love most of my life. but the truth is it's hard. really hard.
and i'm not even 30 yet! 


i just wanted to be honest about it all. and to say to you mothers of 1,2,3 or more and expecting mothers you are awesome and i recognise all that you do in a day. all the behind the scenes jazz that is expected of you. you rock. 
and i will never judge your messy house, or your piles of washing, or your toast for dinner...because we all need a break.


so with that out...i am going to have a quiet think about things i can do to get my energy back in force. if you have any ideas or something that works for you feel mighty free to share! 
and the next time you have someone over don't freak about the pile of washing or the dishes in the sink...if anything it will make them feel more 'normal'...


i shall leave you with a picture of Honor at 11am still in her Pj's...being a Queen talking to one of her royal subjects i presume. because in her words "Queens are allowed to wear jarmies all day"....remember that.

peace out ya'll x

Daisy's growing like a weed.

Can you believe this wee piece of pudding is 6 months already? i sure can't. kinda having a hard time with the thought of it actually. although i won't miss all these sleepless nights we are having still...i have loved having a baby in the house again. and the smell of baby. and baby laughs. and baby everything.

this weekend we made a conscious effort to stay close to home...we haven't for so long...we needed it.
and although yesterday was filled with visitors and the two big girls went for an afternoon gardening at mama and papa's house...it has been nice to be home and not have anywhere to be.

this wee sprocket had an impromptu photo shoot yesterday arvo. the many faces of Daisy Willip (that's Honor's name for her...also there has been Daisy Willy and Daisy Willis.)

my goodness i love those chins.

when life is nuts...you feel a bit nuts...eat some nuts.

still trying to find our groove over here with three little peeps. i have given myself permission to take my time on that front. there are days when i feel super hero...and days when i wonder how other people are doing it...then i remind myself that they are feeling the same way (...right!?? )

little Moo is now happy to sit with the fam-dam while we have breakfast. those big sisters of hers are an amazing source of entertainment for this lass...and for me too.

now for something almost as delicious...

spiced walnuts with garam masala.

love.
the soon-to-be brother in law brought a bag of walnuts over in the weekend.
he's a keeper!

i made these today.

and here is the recipe.

3 cups of nuts. i had walnuts you can use any nuts or seeds you wish.
pop these puppies in a bowl.

then add...

1 tsp sugar....but you could proberbly get away without this if you wanted.
2 tsp garam masala
2 TBSP honey
2 tsp olive oil
scatter one layer on baking paper lined tray. i do these in two batches.
roast at 150 C (bake....not fanny bake) for 30 minutes

give them a shake half way through.

as soon as you get them out scatter with sea salt.

your house will smell amazing. at least i thought so. Indie sat outside holding her nose yelling that it stinks.
each to their own.