Cushion Love on Friday - 11

Considering the week I have had....yep you know the type when one thing happens after another, don't they call it the domino effect????

Anyway all I have to do right now is put one foot in front of the other &

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Have a wonderful Friday & weekend.

This was my long weekend....

Before you know it the long weekend is over.

I had quite a busy 4 days which started with a Tupperware party Friday night...Yes I am a fan of plastic fantastic!!

Saturday I had to work but that was OK I had friends over for dinner. A casual night with lots of laughing. I cooked for everyone which is always scary!!!

The highlight of my weekend was a late afternoon visit to the Diamond valley trains in Eltham. I haven't been there since I was pregnant with Charlotte. This time it was a twilight session where the trains operated until 11pm.

I called my friend Kim & she came along as well with her hubby & adorable little pixie Allie.

Here we all are, yes including Charlotte who is in front of me & behind Hudson. The downfalls of being the smallest is not getting your head in the shot :(

After the trains it was off to the ponies. When we came here last time, as mentioned I was pregnant with Charlotte & Hudson about 20 months old & wouldn't go near them at all. Now look at him.

Hudson & Allie...Aren't they the cutest....they are such good little mates.

My babydoll!! Look at her....soooooooooo cute. As soon as she saw the ponies she was pointing at them, & couldn't get to them fast enough. As soon as she saw her big brother Hudson on them, she was pointing at the helmet to get it on.

Night time trains

The three of them laughing & having a ball.

It was such a great afternoon & so special to have family time. I cant wait to do it again.

Cushion Love on Friday - 10

Happy Friday everyone.

It's a gorgeous day in Melbourne today, the sun is out & the birds are singing.

Although most of the birds near my house are magpies & cockies, which are quite squwarky, it's lovely to hear nature chattering away.

Have a look at these gorgeous bird cushions, I am loving every sing one of them.

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I love this design purely for the design and colours within it. It feels so fresh & very spring summery.

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I love how bust this design is although the crane is the main feature all the floral busyness around it looks really lovely.

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I adore this, the colour palette is perfect for me, & the design so simple yet detailed. I love panels & like how this one blends perfectly with the next.

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These designs are just FUN!! So bright & funky, I think they are very cool. They are not something I would buy personally for my house, but I could definitely see them in a house with a bit of retro cheekiness.

Have a wonderful long weekend.

Making the change

I am making the big move this weekend, it's so scary yet so exciting.

I am going from Windows to Mac!

I have been wanting to do it secretly for a while, but as my computers are leased, through hubby's business I had to wait until the lease was finished. Now it has & I am ready all guns blazing. I haven't used a Mac in years, last time I touched one of these beautiful apples was when I was employed full time, actually not long after I was married. I remember how great it was then, so heaven knows how amazing it's going to be now.

My main reason for the change, besides the fact we all have ipods, iphones, & they are incredibly stylish, is that they are wonderful for graphics & illustration. Which as you know is what I LOVE!!! Oh and is basically what I do for a living. First thing hubby said to me, knowing what I would say, even though I think he was hoping I would change my mind was, black or white.

WHITE of course, there is nothing nicer.

Good timing also as I want an ipad as well & number 3 is about to hit our shores on March 16th!! I'll have to wait for that but thats such a small thing knowing how wonderful it will be.

Again I have been dying for one of these but wanted everything syncing with everything else. Not only will I now have time to do some work on the couch & at least see hubby of a night, I might get a chance to relax & read some online mags I've bought. I am sure the rest of the family will reap the rewards to LOL!! Another important reason this will be fabulous for me is when I do parties of a night for Quirky and Quaint as I will be able to computerise my whole ordering system, instead of handwriting & calculating everything. Heaven!

Oh it just so exciting.

If you have switched recently what have been you biggest hurdle or 'brilliant' moments!

The Pro'sCons & Struggles of a work at home mum

I haven't blogged for a week or so I just needed a break.....Yep that's the truth in a nutshell. I have even had a bit of a break from my Facebook page.

I look at myself as very fortunate woman that I get to stay at home with my kids, as I have built my little business up slowly. There is definitely a down side however, actually I should rephrase that there are challenges of being a work at home mum.

I am still amazed by the amount of women who oooh & ahhh when they find out that I work from home. Generally I hear,

I could go on but I won't, but I am guessing you get the general idea of where I am going?

I write this post with pure honesty, letting others know it's OK to admit to being a little overwhelmed. I have also learnt that there are other mums who have the same battles as me, but feel ashamed in fear of not being perfectly perfect!!

Lately I have been absolutely stuck on the whole organisational side of life. I need to start getting more out of my day, stop procrastinating with some jobs & utilising tome more wisely. Even if that means no social media time until everything else important is completed.

Most of you know I have 2 kids, Hudson is nearly 4yrs & Charlotte nearly 2yrs. The are my world & want them to have everything like all mums a great home life, education & every opportunity that comes their way. BUT I also need to work, like the majority of us. Lately it's been quite hard as fortunately I have been getting busier, especially with my Quirky and Quaint business. The busier I get the harder the whole routine thing is.

For the last week I have been trying to simplify my world a little more, not by eliminating anything currently going on, but instead organising myself, & utilising my time much more efficiently. Almost with military style precision. I have actually become a little obsessed with finding ways of running the house with two energetic & demanding kids & a small business. The changes I have made are truly are not rocket science but small changes that have made a HUGE difference with the functions within my own world. I desperately need to make these changes as I am needing to work more & more around the kids. Lately it seems so difficult trying to balance the home, the kids & lastly the business. Even over whelming, sometimes I feel like I am spinning hehe & it's not for fun!!

The kids are priority of course, I love a clean house, but I also need to earn an income. All of them have an equal priority but are so different. My challenge going forward is to attempt some serious time management so I can try to achieve it all. I know its going to be trial & error, but need to do so in the most simple ways.

Here is my first of many changes I am going to share & make.

The first change - Efficiency while breakfast is on.

My mornings begin, in my case about 6.00-6.30am, Charlotte is not one to sleep in unfortunately. So normally we would hop up together, sit & cuddle on the couch, she would have a drink of milk, I would have my coffee. By then Huds

on would eventually get up then we would sit & have a cuddle & he would have juice. Sometimes the group cuddles would definitely go on for a little longer than planned. I was fine with that as I LOVE them, then I'd make breakfast & we'd all sit together. Then I would see the time & be chasing my tail until we had to leave for whatever activities where on for the day. I would generally not get everything done before I left & hated knowing it was at home w

aiting for me. I just couldn't help it I love those smoochy cuddles, as I know one day I wont get them....So I have been told.

My day still starts at the same time so nothing has really changed there. I still have a coffee & sit with Charlotte for a quick cuddle. In stead of sitting there for a good 45mins waiting for Hudson to wake & watching the Today Show, I hop up after my coffee, change the TV to ABC Kids for Charlotte & I start unpacking the dishwasher from the night before, make any lunches or snacks the kids need for the day, throw on a load of washing & do a very fast 'general' tidy up. If I can I usually eat my breakfast to. It's almost like speed cleaning! When Hudson wakes I still have a big cuddle with him & get his morning juice, but have just shortened the cuddle time. Then it's breakie for my babies, while they snack on their toast & fruit I jump in the shower & get ready for the day. generally they have finished when I come out so time to clean up their dishes & wipe down benches. After that time for them to be dressed, face washed & teeth brushed, then bags packed for whatever we're doing.

Oh another thing that has helped, no turning on the computer!!!

DONE!! For some that disciplined routine is normal, for me not so. Beside needing a bit of time to wake up, I just loved cuddling with the kids, but it was kind of making me crazy all the racing around & constant calling out to them both to get things done. No once all that is done I look around for other jobs to complete or turn my computer on & read some emails I received over night.

I have implemented some other 'new' routines which I will be happy to share soon. However I would love to know how else my morning an be improved, or if you know of some fab books to read about time management.

Something for Hudson

I think it's typical at times to be so busy making product for customers, you sometimes forget to create for those who mean the most to you.

This was a very special order for my very special little man.

HUDSON

He LOVES, & I emphasise the LOVES Lightning McQueen.

He literally eats, breathes & sleeps the whole 'Cars' franchise.

It's pretty clear that he loves it, I just adore how something so simple lights up his eyes.

Pure pleasure xx

Shopping at Mathilda's Market

Today I visited Mathilda's market in Melbourne as a shopper, instead of a stall holder. It was great being able to look around properly, as opposed to having a quick glance when crowds die down. Beside the heat outside & in the hall it was lovely to snap up some lovely goodies for the kids.

A gorgeous summer time bubble dress from Daisy & Moose for Miss C, in the most desirable voile, I know it's going to also make a perfect autumn winter piece teamed with long sleeve tees underneath, tights & boots.

I couldn't resist these pants. Also in voile the waist & leg opening is shirred with many rows of elastic. A little reminder of something I already own.

For my little man, master H a very cool Hoodie from the fabulous brand Furious Kingston.

As much as I love shopping for the kids, mamma here would have liked a purchase for herself. Oh well maybe next time.