Everyday Everybody: Ronnie.

And lastly for today, we have Ronnie. Ronnie blogs over at Miss Simplicity's Simple Life. Thanks for playing along Ronnie.

What's your all-time favourite meal? Roast anything (lamb, beef, chicken, pork) with veggies including baked potatoes and cauliflower with cheese sauce, all covered in gravy, with a glass of red wine.. followed by a good coffee and something sweet.

Have you ever made an anonymous phone call? Yes, a place we moved into, the previous owner had some outstanding gas bills addressed to "the occupier". I didn't want to disclose who I was, in case they tried to get me to pay the bill - because I didn't use the gas! It worked out in the end. I just don't trust gas and electricity companies!

What's the largest amount of money you've held in your hands? $9000 - when we sold our car last year.. before we hightailed it to the bank to deposit it!

Who are your best male and female friends? My best male friend is my gorgeous hubby Phil - we've been friends since we were 18 where we met at uni..my best female friend is my sister Kerrie - we're not allowed on the same team when we play pictionary because we can almost read each other's minds and we always win!

What are your neighbours like? They're great! We've moved into a block of flats where we've bought our first home.. and the neighbors are fantastic.. we live in St Kilda and there's a real community vibe. Within the first week of buying the place we'd been invited over to a neighbors house for dinner.

When did you last hold a baby? Last week.. at work I got to hold a newborn, less than 1 day old! Her name was Lucy.. so cute!

What are you particularly good at? Putting people at ease.. it's come in particularly handy when I've been talking to patients as a student doctor. It's such a privilege to be able to be kind to someone when they're unwell and vulnerable and sometimes frightened.

Can you keep a secret? Yes.. but I have a great deal of trouble keeping surprises a surprise.. because when I have something (a present, or some good news for example) for someone I get so excited and want to tell them!! Hence, my mum is now in charge of kris kringle, not me.

Are you vain? Nope.. I'm a bit too lazy I think.. I'd rather sleep for a few more minutes than spend a lot of time getting ready. I admire girls who preen themselves immaculately, they look fantastic.. but I have my beauty routine down to a few minutes and like to feel polished and neat.. I've realised that concealer, blush and mascara, with a bit of lip gloss and some cute earrings go a long way. (I learnt about the concealer in Oprah's O Magazine on our honeymoon.. you just blend it in, and don't really need foundation - as it really brightens your complexion).

You win lottery - What's your first purchase? Ahh... to pay off our mortgage! We've worked so hard to get into our own place while I'm still at uni, and it'd be such a buzz to be able to completely pay it off and sit back and enjoy our achievements.

Everyday Everybody: Dorsey.

Say hello to Dorsey everyone!

What is the first thing you notice when you meet someone?

Usually their voice and then their eyes. Unless its a cute guy, then I always make sure to check out his derriere before parting ways. HA!

When was the last time you had to apologize?

Probably this past weekend, for not finishing cleaning the closet like I said I would before gallivanting off to my friend's house for the evening. I tend to over-apologize in general, but consider myself pleased that I haven't had to grovel for quite some time. hehe.

How was your skin as a teenager?

Flawless of course! Nah, I have a few blemishes here and there but for the most part it was pretty clear. I washed it all the time and drank LOTS of water.

When was the last time you stayed in bed all day?

I wish I could say today! Ugh! But the last time I did this was probably a couple months ago when I had a REALLY bad migraine for days and just couldn't will myself to get up for hardly anything!!

Which country would you most like to visit?

Australia, of course!! I hear they have EXCELLENT tour guides *wink*

What's the best thing that's happened today?

I let go of my need to "fix" other people's problems for them. I have committed to being a good friend and just providing an ear to listen with and a shoulder to cry on.

When did you last swim in the ocean?

Sadly its been more than a year since I felt the ocean waters. We don't make it down South that far as often as I'd like. But the hubby said if I keep our credit card spending in check I can plan a cruise for the whole family..so I'm doing my best to make that happen!!!

What's your favourite salad dressing?

Ranch, without a doubt..and not fat-free or low fat...the good creamy restaurant-style fattening stuff! I just try to use it sparingly.

What's under your bed?

A small family...of dust bunnies...oh and my clothes (we have one of those beds with big drawers)

What did you eat for dinner last night?

Yumm..last night we had a wholesome meal prepared by my hubby of Shake N Bake Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes, Country gravy, green beans, and iced tea.

Thanks for a good laugh, as always, Dorsey. xx

Everyday Everybody: April.

Hello! It's time again to bring back the Everyday Everybody interview series. Today I will share three readers with you.


This morning you will be meeting April. April blogs over here. Pop over and check it out.



Do you believe in fate?
Yes and No. I believe we all make choices that control our destiny, but I don't believe our life path is set our for us when we are born. Least I hope its not, otherwise I want to have words with the big man!

What's the best hotel you've ever stayed in?
I am luckily enough to have a friend who works at the Langham in Melbourne, who secured a room for us when we attended a wedding last year. It was the most de-vine room, I never wanted to leave. The hotel was stunning on the inside, and the buffet breakfasts were amazing...it had a chocolate fountain as a breakfast item! Can't go wrong there!!!


Are you happy with your body?
In a word: NO! I was diagnosed with an illness a few years back that makes it hard to maintain a healthy weight, and puts me way behind the 8-ball to loose said weight I put on. Slowly I am getting there at loosing the weight though. I don't want to be skinny, but just a comfortable weight. We are making changes in our lives to accomplish this though.

What's your ideal occupation?
Does Stay at Home Mummy count? I would love to be a SAHM {stay-at-home-mum}, but I don't think it will happen, as the industry I work in is quite hard to get into, especially in the country. I have always dreamed of being an architect or interior designer though. Maybe, one day...


What do you cook for a romantic dinner?
My speciality is Roast Lamb with all the trimmings. I love vegetables (freak!) so will happily have 9 different veggies on my plate. Brian is a fan of my roasts, bless him! I love classic desserts, so will follow it with Deep Dish Apple Pie, with ice-cream and custard (sadly, not made by me, but my good mate Sara Lee).

What was your last argument about and who was it with?
It was with my husband, Brian, about the placement of a powerpoint in our renovations. I wanted it in the middle of the wall under the window, he wanted it to the sides. Oh the joy of renovating. Seems he won that round too :(


Tea or Coffee?
Tea out of those two preferences, but I much prefer Hot Chocolate. Not that I drink it very often these days.

Have you ever been on TV?
All the time! I regularly appear on our TV at home when the screen saver kicks in on our Apple TV, as it shows our wedding photos! As for commercial TV, a couple of times. I was on the news as a Girl Guide when I was younger in the ANZAC parade, I was on Deal or No Deal a few years back in the crowd, and my hand featured in a commercial which was filmed in the town I work in. If you blinked in all three occurrences you would have missed me!


Who did you last go to the cinema with?
Ummmmm, possibly my mum about this time last year! I really couldn't tell you, I am more likely to hire a movie from iTunes and watch it on our Apple TV.

Has anyone annoyed you today?
Not that I can think of, but its only 2pm, so there is still time!


Thanks for playing along April. xx

Can I Ask You A Personal Question?

What's the best present you've been given and who gave it to you?

Image: coco + kelley

Triple Treat.

Now it might seem incredibly wrong {and a bit mean} for me to post a recipe to Triple Treat Chocolate Muffins when we're all trying to be a bit healthy... but I am still going to do it anyway.


There isn't an ounce of anything healthy or lite in these muffins. There's not a 99.9% fat free. These are indulgent from start to finish.


I first made these muffins in high school when I was about 14. We all had to pick a recipe to make and then create them in class, with the teacher watching. I have been a chocoholic from the beginning of time so whilst others were creating lovely healthy, savoury dishes I was creating these chocolatey goodies.

Triple Treat Chocolate Muffins

90g butter, melted
2 1/2 cups self-raising flour
1/2 cup cocoa
3/4 cup caster sugar
1 egg
1 1/3 cups milk
3/4 cup chopped white chocolate
1/2 cup chopped milk chocolate

Grease 12 hole muffin pan. Combine all ingredients in large bowl, stir with metal spoon until just combined. Spoon mixture into prepared pan. Bake in moderately hot oven for about 25 minutes.

Enjoy. xx

Oh, The Temptation.

Lacking willpower? You're not alone.

Here we have 2 hidden cameras. A bunch of kids. One marshmallow each.

Oh, The Temptation from Steve V on Vimeo.

Check Up, + Checking In.

Good afternoon.

Just popping in quickly to see how everyone is doing with Operation: Fat Mum Slim.

I weighed in and have lost another kilogram. I am happy with that. I didn't exercise all week, but I'll get back into it this week.

So my goals are:

♥ exercise 3 times
♥ keep on the diet {as I have been}
♥ lose at least one kilogram

How did you go this week? What are your goals for this week?

Good Morning, Sunshine.

Hello!



I have no new photos to share with you from the weekend, for many reasons. I'd love to say that our weekend was so chocker block full of fun that I was too busy swinging from the chandeliers to take photos... but that would be a lie. Instead, my hands were constantly covered in white paint and there was nothing exciting to be taking photos of. So I am sharing a photo from last weekend instead. Forgive me? Thanks. I knew you would.

I've had this grand plan for renovating our bed into something new and fresh for a while now. I wasn't sure if it would work, but I hoped it would. And it did. We cut off the bottom bedhead and painted the old wood white. It looks pretty good. The finish isn't as schmick as I expected it to be, but then I have to remember that I painted it. And I'm impatient. Within a matter of hours I'd done a pathetic attempt at sanding, and painted three coats.... and then put it all back together {chipping it in the process, tutt tutt}.

We also got rid of so much CLUTTER. I started reading the book: It's All Too Much by Peter Walsh and it's good. It made me realise I was hanging on to far too much ... stuff. And it's just ... stuff.

Anyways... moving on.

I am happy to announce that the winner of the Lulu Frou Frou giveaway is Jessica. Congratulations.

I'd love to hear how your weekend was. What did you get up to?

I'll be back later to weigh in for Operation: Fat Mum Slim. Don't forget to come back later and let me know how you are doing. xx

Floral Friday.

Happy Friday to you all. I hope you have a lovely break from the working week. We're busy as bees this weekend.

What are your plans?

Image: Yvette Inufio

Happy + Lucky.

As I've been driving around the aftermath of the dust storm is still very evident. Cars are covered in red dust. Mine really copped it. It was in an exposed spot the night of the storm, and it's a midnight blue colour so the red dust really stood out.

I don't know if there are car cleaning angels out, or what happened, but my car got cleaned by someone. And not just hosed over. It got washed and wiped down. I know it wasn't Hubby because he was at work.

My car is like a diamond in the rough at the moment. It's super shiny whilst most others are dusty and dirty.

So, I assume that the car cleaning angel doesn't read my blog, but I just wanted to say a huge thank you anyway. What a treat it was. Thank you. x

Image: JBrundish

Question Time.

Who is the last person you hugged?

Dear Universe.

Dear Universe,

I've read {in O magazine and in books found in the self-help
section} that if you want something you have to put it out there. You
have to tell the Universe. Since the White Pages doesn't have a listing for the
Universe, I am writing to you here instead.

On the weekend we're doing up our bedroom. We're pulling
things apart, putting them back together, painting, sorting and more. I found a
picture for inspiration that I found on Viv's
blog. I love her ideas.

So Universe, this is where you come in. You see that
picture up at the start of the post? That beautiful blue paper is designed
by Catherine Martin. Now, I don't need 10 metres as they sell it in stores. I
only need 2 metres. So if you find some off cuts somewhere, like in the Universe
Trading Post please let me know. I'll snap it right up.

Thank you Universe. I owe you one,

Chantelle. x

Don't Cry Over Spilt Coffee.

Do you remember renting your first ever place? Remember the cranky Body Corporate? I never knew who they were. All I knew was that they had a special plaque on the letterbox where all their mail went and they made silly rules. Rules like no parties, no loud music and no talking in the hallways. How silly.

They were somewhat mysterious. I never saw them but I felt them. I felt them watching us through their windows. I felt them listening through the floorboards. I waited, with baited breathe, for the knock on the door to tell me to turn my music down. They didn't knock, but left a note in the letterbox instead.

Now I'm like the cranky Body Corporate. I don't know how it happened. But it happened.

Last week someone dropped a coffee {soy latte, 3 sugars - I know so because it was written on the cup} at the front door to our building. As I walked in it was still steaming so I assumed that the coffee-dropper would be back any moment to clean it up. They didn't.

Three hours later I walked past again and noticed it still there. I wasn't mad that it was spilt coffee. I was mad because it represented a whole lot of disrespect. It's a shared space. It should be respected. Right?

So I decided to do a Find The Coffee-Spiller Door Knock Appeal. That's right. I knocked on doors to find out who spilt the coffee {or latte}.

I heard lots of: I saw it, but it wasn't me. But no one owned up.

I know at this point I'm losing respect from you here. Heck, I've lost all respect for myself. I have two books titled: Don't Sweat The Small Stuff. And here I am sweating the VERY small stuff.

That coffee cup stayed there for almost 24 hours. Hubby decided we should leave it and see what happens. What happened was that the cleaner came and cleaned it up. That's what happened.

So the next day I'm at the local cafe {the same one the coffee was from} and I'm ordering some food. I run into a guy that owns an apartment in our building. We chat for a while. He asks what I think about where we live. I tell him: I really love it. It's perfect for our family. Sometimes people don't care enough, and that gets me down. But I get over it.

His eyes widened as if asking for more details. So I tell him about the spilt coffee. He gasps in disbelief.

My order is up so I grab the bag to go, and put Lacey on my hip. I can't help but overhear my friend order a coffee as I walk out the door. He gets a soy latte with 3 sugars to go. I can't help but laugh to myself. And I keep on walking. And I eventually get over it.

Image: Lee Jordan.

I See Red.

I woke this morning and thought our neighbours house must have been on fire. It was 5:30am and the sky was a bright orange, as the sun attempted to break through the thick skies.

I soon realised there was no fire. But what was it? I turned on the news and realised that it wasn't just Bondi experiencing the colour change but all of Sydney and some of the East Coast.

It's the effects of a dust storm. I've seen nothing like it before, nor experienced it. The air is thick. It makes it hard to breathe. I can feel it at the back of my throat. The dust coats everything, and gets into every nook and cranny. We'll be cleaning red dust for weeks to come. With rain not forecast for a few weeks it might be a while before the red is washed away.

And all this just days after I had my car washed. Hmmm. x

Image: Crafty Dogma

Secrets Of A Happy Marriage: Simone.

I think the most important thing is communication.


Always talking, laughing and loving is so important in making a marriage work. Sure there are good times and bad times, but as long as the laughter outweighs the rest. When there are little ones on the scene, it is important to have some time out with one another or on your own with friends. Never go to sleep without sorting things out after an argument. It doesn't help and it just makes things more difficult to sort out.

Doing little sweet things for one another when they are not expecting it is also nice and keeps things alive. Marriage is wonderful. I love my husband, I love spending time with him, loving, laughing together and we have started our own little family together. That alone is a wonderful thing.

Simone blogs over at Life As A Goff.

Secrets Of A Happy Marriage: Skye.

I asked my husband what the secret of our happy marriage is (assuming we still have one, and I’m not jinxing myself by writing this and next week we’re filing for divorce and fighting over custody of the cat and the free Christmas carol cd that came with the Sunday papers) and his answer was this:

“No unrealistic expectations.”

Which threw me for a minute, because I had some very unrealistic expectation that he’d say “A well-developed sense of the absurd” or “My vast and mighty love for you O goddess-like one.” And also because I thought he meant “Low expectations.” You know - don’t expect much and you won’t be disappointed, aim low and any scrap from the marriage table will seem like more than you deserve. Which doesn’t seem like the secret of a happy marriage so much as a recipe for dysfunction, low self-esteem and generalised misery, with a garnish of secret drinking and prescription drug abuse.

Now, our house may have its share of chaos and madness and out-of-tune ukelele playing, but we don’t have any of that low expectation stuff. Not one bit. A bit of further investigation (aka hassling of the husband) subsequently revealed that unrealistic expectations include:

1. Large diamonds
2. Either of us being someone or something we’re not.

Fair enough, I thought, so what are realistic expectations then? Some meaty husband/wife style conversation resulted in a list a bit like this:

Respect
Trust
Commitment
Love
Communication
A mutual capacity and willingness to evolve and adapt as a couple

And all those Dr Phil-type truisms which seem so trite and obvious but actually encompass vast oceans of meaning. I know a Dr Phil-ism when I hear one because I must have absorbed several volumes worth during my first year of motherhood, otherwise known as The Year of Being Stuck in the House at Nap Time But Too Sleep Deprived To Do Anything Except Watch TV. Don’t ask me for advice, don’t even hint that you might need guidance on an emotional issue, because my eyelids will flutter, my eyes will roll back in my head, and before you know it I’ll be rolling out southern accented words of wisdom, picked up by osmosis while slumped on the sofa zombie-like, too tired to sleep.

So what’s the secret, why don’t we have the dreaded unrealistic expectations, how have a pair of contrarian reprobates like us kept this all-singing, all-dancing, occasionally yelling, show on the road for the last seven years through the vagaries of the film industry and kidlet and a creative life full of unknowns? There’s no real answer of course (apart from my general ambivalence toward diamonds of any size at all, and the fact that he does most of the cooking), but my personal theory - vigorously refuted by husband - is that it’s because we didn’t like each other at all when we first met. He was a cocky arrogant male chauvinist (he actually told me “Save your breath sweedhard, you’re too cute for me to take you seriously.”), I was a loud and bossy little beast with a bad case of my-way-or-the-highwayitis, and together we were disastrous. Well, we were very unprofessional when we should have been very professional, and had a big fight in front of people we were working with and were the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons.

We then got together in a pink cloud of romance which included mutual dislike, too much cheap red wine and some unsavoury acts in a back alley (“I hate you” sloppy pash “Me too” drunken grope, etc etc.) and a taxi (sorry driver, wherever you are, probably permanently traumatised), and then continued to knock along in a ramshackle haphazard fashion for ages before we worked out that we were utterly, thoroughly, gleefully meant for one another and nobody else. It was almost like we started our relationship in reverse, starting off at rock-bottom, but finding mutual respect and admiration and pure unadulterated fun as we went along, falling in love in the giddiest way only after we’d actually decided to get married. Knowing all our weaknesses but discovering our strengths and wonders together over time. Now I’m sounding like those people you see in Marie Claire articles and random Lifestyle Channel dating shows promoting arranged marriages as the most sensible way of building a strong relationship. Hmmm, where’s Dr Phil when you need him?

So there you have it:

Cheap red wine + mutual loathing + an arranged marriage = marital bliss!

PS. That photo up there was taken at about 2am at the end of our wedding reception, the orchids are wilted and many peach bellinis have been drunk and we are just about as warm and fuzzy as two humans can be. Awwww.

Skye blogs over at Skylark and Son.

Time For A Question.

How would you spend your last $100?

Image: lol-ita

{love}: tiny people.

all available at tiny people

Makes Me Smile.

I surround myself with things I love,

Here are a select few in the photo above.

They're special in their own little way,

They bring a little light to an ordinary day.

Most of the items speak for themselves,

The others are trinkets that sit on our shelves.

Some are things I've had for a while,

These are the things that make me smile. xx

This is part of the current Blog This challenge, which I set. I apologise for my pathetic poetry skills.

Operation: Fat Mum Slim.

I'm writing this on Saturday night. Hubby is at work. Lacey is asleep on the couch next to me. The people upstairs are partying like it's 1999. I'm watching trashy TV {High School Reunion, love it}.

I've been soooooo good all week {that's right, I rate my efforts - this week was worthy of a gold star, or two}. I ate well. Exercised a little. Kept on track. I weighed-in before breakfast and I had lost a grand sum of 4kg. That's huge. A great loss.

Part of me is so proud, but there is a little voice inside saying: you could have done better. Oh well, there will always be part of me that's a little unsatisfied.

I've not had chocolate all week and I was hanging out until Sunday to have a little slice of heaven. I thought that now was the perfect time. Trashy TV and chocolate cake goes perfectly together. So I warmed up a piece of cake I'd been saving and a spoonful of icecream. Completely indulgent.

And since I have eaten chocolate in what feels like forever I struggled to eat my cake. But I still ate it. I didn't even enjoy it.

Isn't it funny how much of it is in your head? I thought about that cake all week. Knowing I would 'reward' myself with it on the weekend. Pfft, cake. You're not worthy.

How was your week? Are you proud of your efforts? What's that little voice inside saying to you?

Image: EyeTwist

Buttons + Polka Dots. Oh My.

Happy Monday to you. I hope you all kept well over the weekend. I'm certain that you all behaved yourselves.

I have nothing ridiculously exciting to report from our end. I did do a spot of shopping. I got the biggest bargain of the century. More on that later this week though. I'm just in negotiations with the Guiness Book of Records* regarding this record setting bargain shopping, so I have to keep hush hush until that's finalised.

As promised on Friday I have some little goodies for you to start off your week. A little giveaway. Is there a better way to start the week?

Linda from LuluFrouFrou has sent some lovely, girly goodies our way. There are six lovely hair accessories for you or the little girl in your life.

Lacey and I were very lucky to be spoilt ourselves. I got a lovely decorative hair elastic that I am wearing as I type. If my hair wasn't look so shocking I'd share a photo. Lacey got more than is shown in the stash below. She's already squirelled them away, as she does with all her little things.

And here are the goodies that could be yours. All you have to do is leave a comment telling me what made you happy today. Easy. Just the way it should be.

You can find Linda's goodies here and here. Get shopping.

{Boring Bits}: Competition closes on Sunday around nap time - which is noon for those who aren't up with Lacey's sleep schedule and will be annouced on Monday.

*Guiness Book of Records statement may be a complete lie.

What's New Pussycat?

Hello. To you. And you. And you {over there}.



It's Friday and the weekend is just around the corner. I can feel it already.

The weekend forecast here is hot and sunny. I'm actually looking forward to it. I have a few things planned. I want to overhaul my wardrobe, take photos of my blueberry guzzling little girl, get my head around my photo wall and spend time with friends and loved ones.

Oh and I want to buy one of these prints here:

What's on the cards for your weekend, my friend?

I'll see you all on Monday, when I may just have a sweet giveaway for you. See you then. xx

Top Image: The Song.

I Heart Thursday.

i ♥ alexa chung. so much style in one little person.

i ♥ the new prince cd. car karaoke. all. the. way.

i ♥ maxi dresses through spring, + eventually summer. so comfortable + a little bit girly.

i ♥ new diary shopping. never fails to excite me.

i ♥ little people cuddles, with little sound effects included.

i ♥ people who are super talented. so inspiring.

i ♥ shifting the baby fat + the potential of utilising my wardrobe better.

i ♥ wearing lots + lots of bracelets. fashion is fun.

i ♥ the kindness of strangers.

i ♥ the way sunshine makes me feel.

i ♥ when spring rolls around + the price of flowers drops a lot. perfection.

Secrets To A Happy Marriage: Steph Anne.

Tyler and I are not only married and soul mates but we're also best friends. There is no perfect marriage, we admit we bicker and fight sometimes. The funny thing is we never stay mad at each other, it's like getting mad at your brother/sister and forgetting you were mad the next second. We learn from all of our fights and it actually makes us stronger as a couple.

Making time for each other is important for us. We both love doing nothing with each other. We have a nightly routine where we talk to each other in bed before dozing off to dreamland. This is our favorite part of the day -- there are no distractions and it is just quiet. I love the fact that we just went through a long day and here we are again closing off the day and preparing for the next day together.

We balance each other very well. I often times don't have the patience and he does. When we are talking with a large group of hearing people {note: Steph Anne is deaf} and I can't understand. He will make sure I understand and am involved by interpreting for me. He doesn't find it a duty as a husband. It just comes naturally to him to do it.

We have been together since high school and gone through lows and highs of our relationship. Long distance in high school then going cross the country together to college, and living together with roommates, and then with my parents before getting married. We have gone through a lot in the 7 years of dating and finally the right time after graduation to get married and be together for the rest of our lives.


Steph Anne blogs over at Luxe Chandelir.

Secrets Of A Happy Marriage: Chantelle.

I guess it's my turn now to share my little secret. I don't think we're the perfect couple, but I think we're perfect for each other. I don't even know if we have any secrets, I'll just keep typing and see what comes up.

I was watching a TV show a while back and they had a segment about relationships. I can't remember what show, or what they even really said but one thing stood out to me. They said that you should treat your partner like he/she's the most important guest that has ever been in your house. We do that. Sure we burp and pass wind in front of each other {have I over shared again?}, which we wouldn't in front of an uber important guest, but we really care about each other. I can't remember the last time we raised our voices at each other, or if we have at all, unless I'm calling out to Shane and can't find him somewhere.

We laugh, a lot. At funny things, at non-funny things. We put each other first. We respect each other. We love being together. We make each other a priority.

I guess that's all just pretty normal marriage stuff. No lovey dovey notes left in lunchboxes. Or bunches of flowers. Just true love. I know I'm lucky to have met my match, and I just want to nurture our love forever, and that's what I plan on doing. xx

Secrets Of A Happy Marriage: Liss.

We have had a roller coaster life since we got married really



The following weekend after our wedding we found out we were expecting our first child.
By our first anniversary we had a 3 month old baby
By our second anniversary we had a 15 month old baby and were 5 months' pregnant with twins
By our third anniversary we had a 2 year old and two 9 month olds.

We are approaching our 6 year anniversary next weekend and I can in all honestly say we've squeezed in a lot, and at times our relationship has been under an incredible amount of strain ... but we are stronger than ever...

These aren't secrets, but they are the strong foundations to our relationship that we've learned along the way-

Laugh - we are best friends first and foremost... we share a similar sense of humour and wit, and humour can get you through the worst of times.
Love - obvious but verbalising it is very important, and although it didn't come naturally to hubby at first when we were dating, he's a natural now!
Appreciate - We're both doing the best we can and I think hearing it from each other makes it worthwhile... paying each other little compliments here and there does wonders.
Listen - this at times is hard as simple as it seems - but with three girls talking over the top of us most of the time!! But we do listen, and we often strategise - particularly when it comes to parenting just to make sure we're on the same page, how to approach different developmental stages.
Respect - most important. We respect each other as intelligent human beings, lovers and as parents... we may not agree all the time but we respect each others' opinion and position.
Encourage - we are a 'team' and are supportive. When times are tough we are each others' biggest supporters. Having three children within 18 month age-gap it is required! It goes hand in and with all the other things.

Liss blogs over at Frills In The Hills.

Secrets Of A Happy Marriage: Lorraine.

Jo from A Cup of Jo has been asking friends what their secrets to a happy marriage/relationship are. I think it's the absolute sweetest idea. It made me think about my fellow bloggers {and non-bloggers} and what their secrets may be. So today I going to take a break from the Everyday Everybody series and take a peak into the love lives of a few friends.


Lorraine has a beautiful food blog that always leaves my tummy rumbling called Not Quite Nigella. It's one of the {if not THE} top blogs in Australia so I am feeling very blessed that she took the time to write a little piece for us. Here is what Lorraine had to say:

I guess we'd both say compromise and having time to pursue our own hobbies, knowing that we have the full support of each other is wonderful. For example, Mr NQN loves sailing and I find it rather dull as a spectator but I know he loves it so during the Summer I lose him every Sunday afternoon but I know it makes him happy so I don't mind. Conversely, he doesn't really enjoy food anywhere near as much as I do but comes along to my eating adventures and takes copious photos and makes lots of suggestions. Also we try and look at things from each other's perspective and respect each other. Plus it doesn't hurt that he subscribes to the theory "Happy Wife, Happy Life!"

I know it's nothing earth shattering, I wish I had something revelatory but somehow we really work together despite the fact that no-one would have never set us up on a date together as on paper, we have nothing in common. One thing is that we share the same values and ethics so we never argue about major things like that.

Where Do Babies Come From?

This arrived in my inbox and I just had to share. I will just warn you now. If you have small people around you may just have a lot of explaining to do afterwards. And if you're not ready to give the birds and the bees talk... perhaps come back and read this post later. Or you could just show them this German book: Where do babies come from? It can do all the work for you. xx

I can't help but laugh at the doctors facial expression and that he seems to be holding a hammer. x