I always love how you can imagine places to be before you arrive there. Snippets from stories, movies, books and a little imagination thrown in to create a kind of understanding of place before you've even arrived. For me, Tuscany was like this. From operas and Stealing Beauty and reading Under a … [Read more...]
Lazy villa days
September 21, 2015 by 18 Comments
Well time has well and truly slowed down and we are in the hot, summery daze of life in the villa. And boy is it good. La Dolce vita... … [Read more...]
Dash & Albert rug winner
September 21, 2015 by 2 Comments
Thanks so much to everyone that entered the wonderful Dash & Albert giveaway - there were so many great comments so it was very hard indeed to choose. We sat around the table this morning to choose our winner and we have one at last... The lucky winner is Karen with this comment: "I would … [Read more...]
Florence to Lucca
September 20, 2015 by 10 Comments
We spent the last of our time in Florence soaking up some shopping, more walking and people watching, some fun for the girls and eating at a lovely little restaurant. I haven't been able to take many food shots at this stage - I'm usually juggling kids (trying to spill drinks) and a baby and then … [Read more...]
Beautiful Florence
September 18, 2015 by 15 Comments
There really is no place like Florence. Simply stunning. Every street you turn down makes me gasp. It's old. And dirty. And fancy. And decaying. And grand. All rolled into one. We didn't really have anything much planned to see when we were here - some quiet time after the pace of Rome and … [Read more...]
A room with a view
September 18, 2015 by 17 Comments
I've been using AirBnB for booking accommodation overseas for the past 3 years. I used it with Mrs Woog in NY and ever since we found it the perfect way to stay in some pretty amazing places at seriously affordable rates. Hotels are expensive - especially when families are involved. And they are … [Read more...]
Roma: Day three
September 17, 2015 by 18 Comments
My Dad moved to Rome after School and college, a small town country kid from Branxton NSW who packed a tin trunk (now sitting in my bedroom of all places) filled with all his belongings, hopped on a ship and went to Rome to study to be a Priest. Huh. My Mum moved to Rome at the same time as a … [Read more...]
Maggie is 4 months old!
September 16, 2015 by 13 Comments
4! You read right. FOUR. I can't quite believe it either. I've resigned myself to the fact that those first few weeks or months even where we were getting long stretches of sleep in the night are a thing of the past. The "weeks" of sleep regression or whatever it is that I thought would pass, … [Read more...]
Roma: Day two
September 16, 2015 by 21 Comments
We came. We saw. We tantrumed. Australia is a really long way away from the rest of the world. I know this, because we are all off our faces on jet lag. Body clocks thrown completely upside down as we try and encourage the kids to walk for kilometres at a time in the heat when they would usually … [Read more...]
Roma: Day one
September 15, 2015 by 37 Comments
It's just ticked over 24 hours since we arrived in Rome. Phew. We made it. The trip over really went very well, Maggie being a super star and sleeping in the bassinet and smiling at whoever stopped to say hello to her happy little face. Of course she lost her shit at times, who doesn't in economy on … [Read more...]
Win a {hot, superior quality} Dash & Albert rug worth $1400!
September 11, 2015 by 132 Comments
You guys may remember a few weeks ago when I showed you the VERY best baby gift that Maggie received...THE most glorious rug from Sarah at Winton House. Dead set, it's one of the most beautiful things in this house now. Each and every time I walk over it's superior quality woollen deliciousness, I … [Read more...]
Miscellaneous 77
September 10, 2015 by 27 Comments
Whilst I haven't been doing thew Neutron Dance, I have certainly been burning, busy as EVER getting ready for the weekend when we head off. Who knew there was so much to organise for 5 people travelling for 3 weeks? Please forgive the tardiness of my post/s. Here, this will make it … [Read more...]
We met online
September 8, 2015 by 27 Comments
This morning I hightailed it up to the big smoke for the chance to have a quick dumpling lunch with Mrs Woog and Mama Marmalade with the chance of catching up with All Consuming on the side if she could squeeze us in. My idea of heaven! Mags and I made good time and were at Chatswood scoffing down a … [Read more...]
Weekend moments
September 7, 2015 by 13 Comments
My goodness a weekend goes by quickly. I swear something happens to time that makes it speed up Saturday and Sunday and then slow right back down at the start of the week. We had a lovely one: a morning tea in the village hall with Rob and his RFS crew, then a trip to Sydney for Mags and I for my 20 … [Read more...]
Hood t-shirt winners!
September 7, 2015 by 8 Comments
Thanks so much to everyone for getting on board with this giveaway - there were some great comments - so much so that the girls from The Hood couldn't choose just one, they chose two! The winners are: Sarah With this comment: "Sleeping through the night is not a milestone in my books! As nice … [Read more...]
Monday meal ideas: Pasta
September 7, 2015 by 6 Comments
It occurred to me as I was stripping a bed this morning and hanging out the second load of washing for the day that this time next week we will be waking up in Trastevere in Rome! SHIT! I have got a very busy week ahead of me getting us packed and organised and just generally stressing about things … [Read more...]
Things I like {The 4th September 2015 edition}
September 4, 2015 by 47 Comments
It's Friday for a start, what's not to like about that? My beautiful friend Eden ate a custard tart for me this morning too. Yes, we send videos to each other like this. You should too! I got new hair too. Fresh and white as a granny. Just the way I like it. Apparently my rat brown hair … [Read more...]
Tea with Mrs C
September 3, 2015 by 60 Comments
Last week I had the pleasure of taking Maggie to her first ever tea with my friend Mrs C, or as I affectionately call her, Boofy. Mrs C is one of my all time favourite people, a wicked sense of humour, as classy as they come and one of the kindest hearts. She adores my girls and Rob and stood in as … [Read more...]
The Baby Files #2
September 2, 2015 by 71 Comments
You know what's not helpful when you have a young baby? Comparing said young baby to other babies or thinking about what they "should" be doing. I'm getting to be an old hand at this mothering business, what with Mags being my third and all, so there's a few things I might know from doing my time in … [Read more...]
The 1st of September
September 1, 2015 by 45 Comments
I think it was on the first of September last year that I found out I was pregnant. Huh. I remember calling my friend Eden, so she wouldn't have to remember the 1st of September as being the day of the last time she saw her brother, and now she remembers this day as the day she found out about … [Read more...]
