In my last post I talked about keeping Christmas simple. It’s easy to get caught up in the consumerism surrounding the festive season, but this year I’m focusing on keeping it minimal and meaningful. Embracing minimalism and simple living doesn’t mean missing out on the most exciting parts of Christmas, though. Some of my fondest childhood memories are waking up ridiculously early on Christmas morning and creeping downstairs to marvel at the twinkling…
Archives for 2016
Keeping Christmas Simple
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. And Christmas these days is the season for coveting, envy and desire. We’re inundated with images of the “perfect” holiday season. The twinkling outdoor lights, and the perfectly decorated 10 foot tree. The festive cushions, and the perfectly displayed tablescape. It’s easy to fall for the magic of the holiday season, to step into the fantasy of being able to buy the perfect Christmas. Whereas once…
A Rustic Floral Themed 1st Birthday
Our darling Everly Rose is now one! Her big day was celebrated a couple of weekends ago with a rustic floral themed party. I’m loving boho vibes at the moment so I couldn’t resist incorporating elements into her special day. It was a happy day (although Henry struggled with understanding why the presents weren’t for him and there were tears – nobody warned me about that!) where Everly delighted in opening her presents…
Autumn in Virginia
Can you believe how quickly being on the cusp of autumn has turned into the anticipation of winter? As the last of the leaves flutter down and the promise of Christmas beckons with its magic, I can’t help but feel wistful about the unexpected pleasure of a season that I had been apprehensive about. I recently wrote about trauma anniversary reaction, and how autumn holds a sense of melancholy for me. Part…
Thoughts on Turning 30
There is just one month left before I leave my 20s behind. Birthdays are always a time of reflection, and even more so on the precipice of a new decade. Your 20s are the first decade of adulthood, so in many ways it’s a time for finding yourself, discovering who you are and what you want to be. It’s a major transitional period and I love that I can look back at the last…
Loving Your Postpartum Body
A woman’s relationship with her postpartum body is a complex one. It is a body which has given life to another human; a precious new soul, through nourishment and safety. It has endured the intensity of birth. It is truly miraculous and awe inspiring. Then there’s the inevitable changes to a woman’s body that come hand-in-hand with pregnancy and birth, which can be difficult to accept. The weight gain. The stretch marks. The loss…
Coping with Trauma Anniversary Reaction
These days, I know to expect it. As the end of August nears, the panic rises, the night sweats begin. I wake up in the darkness to the cries of my daughter, and discover I am soaked, my chest slick with sweat. The days bring a heavy melancholy, a sadness I can’t quite place, and the tears, always on the precipice, come easily. As September arrives and the promise of…
Making Memories & Messes
What kind of home do you have? What kind of environment do you hope to create? For me, I want to be the kind of mother who makes my children laugh, who says yes to adventures, running barefoot in the garden and indoor picnics. Who gets up and dances with them, builds forts and plays with water indoors, jumps on beds and makes messes with them. I want to be a mother who creates a…
My Candid Reality
This is my reality. These maternity pants, with their elasticited waistband, soft fabric and perfect amount of stretch, which allow me to move freely and uninhibited. When I’m crawling beside my daughter, kneeling and playing cars with my son. Bending, stretching, reaching. Constantly, throughout the day as I tend to the never-ending demands and needs of a toddler and a baby. These pants which are highly unflattering but oh-so convenient, with their softly…
Documenting Family Life
When Henry was born, I did what any new parent does – I took thousands of photographs. I wanted to capture every detail, every marvellous curve and feature of this miraculous little being that Matt and I had created. I was enthralled by him, mesmerised by his miniature perfection. Before I knew it, I had thousands upon thousands of photographs of the most precious person in my life. It didn’t…
A Fresh Start in a Familiar Place
It is a delight to be writing here again, after so many months without my creative outlet. My new site is finally ready, and I can once again return to the place that has evolved as I documented my journey over the years. What once started as a beauty blog many years ago has now grown into a journal of motherhood. I have changed a lot since I first began…
Our Baby Bedtime Routine
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #EveryoneSleeps #CollectiveBias Every parent lives in hope for the moment their baby sleeps through the night. With Henry, sleep was a battle when he suffered with silent reflux, but once it was under control at 12 weeks, he was a dream baby and slept for a solid 12 hours. Then Everly came along,…
