A cat among the oven roasted squab pigeons
I'm taking a quick departure from the roadmap this week, in fact I'm changing my mode of transport altogether and flying to sunny Queensland. This week will be all about how I try and make cooking easier, and hopefully happier and healthier too. I'm off to Noosa as one of 9 Australian finalists, and a few international ones too, for the Gourmet Garden Blog Off/Cook Off. It all started last year with me submitting a tongue in cheek post about how I cook a meal when I'm not really cooking. Because, I'm not actually much of a cook! But it was enough to get me through to a one on one cook off, which I won by default. And so here I am, pitting my lazy cooking skills against a bunch of people who actually look like they know what they're doing - oops! I hope the good folk at Gourmet Garden know they've got a cat among the pigeons - I'm definitely the wild card (with the emphasis on the wild and no expectations of stellar performance!). However, I'd like to think that I'm pretty … [Read More...]
Happier Relationships: A Dig Free night out + $1000 Date Night Giveaway
Sponsored post When's the last time you went on a date with your husband or partner? And was it an overnight one? As difficult as it is for us financially, we try and get away together for a night away from the kids at least once a year. This was after me going 1216 days without ever taking a night away from our children! We find it revitalises us, brings us closer together, and makes us realise how lucky we are and how cool our kids are. Just recently Berlei shouted CrashHubby and I out … [Read More...]
Are you a crap friend? I am.
I've tried writing about this topic a few times now, but shied away from it again and again. But a healthy, happy woman is nothing without friends, and I've let too many slip through my fingers. My life has been largely nomadic. I attended 5 different schools and as a result I'd be hard pressed to name all the kids in my class photos, let alone know where all those photos are. I haven't had any lifelong pals. I wasn't the bridesmaid to the girl I went to kindergarten with. Actually, I've … [Read More...]
A mum’s guide to survival mode
This post is part of my Roadmap to an easier, happier and healthier motherhood. This part of the trip is all about survival and taking care of yourself. Buckle up and join the ride! What do you think when you hear survival mode? Is it a 'man the life rafts!' kind of thing? (And yes I know that's not a life raft. It's a dinghy I photographed on Iona off the coast of Scotland's west coast!). For me Survival Mode is focusing on the bare minimum, the things that really matter that will get … [Read More...]
Easier Cleaning with Neato XV-21 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner + Giveaway
Features sponsored product Ask me the one thing that would make motherhood easier for me and I'll tell you "someone else to do the cleaning!" Well, recently my wish kind of came true when Erica (a lovely PR) emailed me and asked if I'd like to try a robotic vacuum AND give one away! Well, I consider that an important community service, so of course I said yes! The other reason I said yes, was because it was a great chance to crash test something that makes motherhood easier - big … [Read More...]
Roadmap: Turning the corner
This post is part of my Roadmap to an easier, happier and healthier motherhood. It traces some of my experiences as I moved out of adrenal fatigue and depression and towards crash testing things that make for an easier, happier and healthier life. Buckle up and join the ride! :: I really wanted to name this post "Man, this baby must corner like it's on rails" (you know, Pretty Woman?), but turning the corner out of depression, exhaustion or isolation is rarely that smooth. Let me … [Read More...]
Happy trails – back on track
Hey, did you miss me? I've inadvertently taken a bit of a bloggy break over the last couple of weeks. Turns out it was much needed as I needed some space to re-calibrate for my new working life and routine with the kids. I've also been doing an online course called "31 Days to Soul Wellness" by Melissa Horne (not sponsored or gifted by the way, just something I want and need to do). Spending so much time looking inwards has meant I've had limited capacity to share outwardly what I was … [Read More...]
Danger Zone: If you’re the ostrich, Facebook is sand.
You don't need to be exhausted or depressed to be in the Danger Zone. Maybe you're just a little bit lost. The roadmap through an easier, happier and healthier motherhood can help you too. Sometimes motherhood all gets a bit hard. Whilst having children is immensely rewarding, it's also bloody relentless. It can be easy to let your child's needs become all consuming. Sure, we love them, so why shouldn't they get our attention? But what happens when the kids and your role as 'Mum' … [Read More...]
Danger Zone: She’s not a black dog, she’s a seductress
This is the next stop on our roadmap. We're still exploring the Danger Zone. The last post was about exhaustion and fatigue. Today I explore depression in an attempt to help us all reveal it and start taking the next step, for ourselves or for our loved ones. Photo Credit: Fulla T via Compfight cc :: If a black dog started hanging around, I'd notice. It would be totally obvious. If she started getting aggressive with me and tried to dominate me, I'd fight back. I'd put a … [Read More...]
