Our Daily Grind

I'm not sure what went wrong with this post, but I wrote it about a fortnight ago so will republish it:

A lot of people ask me 'what do you do all day?' and I always seem to stumble over my answer.

Since her wake times have been cut to two hours since Masada (I'm going to do a follow up post on Masada sooner than later) I often feel like I am house bound.

We wake up and Nelly has her milk feed and then we wait 40 minutes until her solids feed and then by the time that is all over and done with, it's time to wind down and get ready for her next nap.

Since the weather has taken a turn for the better, we tend to go for a walk to the park and shops after her milk feed and I give her the solids feed in her pram at the park. The Joolz tips right up so that she is completely upright which is perfect for eating.

Half a second after I snapped this shot of Nelly loving life on the swing, she started to arch forward and came out under the bar and was making for the ground. I caught her just in time, it was as if I was watching slow motion via the lens of my camera - whoops.

I gave a cursory look around to make sure that the other group of mums playing on the play equipment didn't see me. After all, I was that mum looking at my phone instead of my child.

Well, I was looking at her through the lens while taking a photo but still.

Since Nelly no longer uses a dummy I have found genius ways to use her straps, such as a harness for Sophie.

You have probably noticed the new Uber Kate banner to the right of this post.

Well, I was lucky enough to receive a necklace from them and they will be advertising on this blog for a little bit.

When I sent this photo to The Husband we got into a tiff about why I would have Nelly put on a necklace instead of her first name. I really didn't understand why he cared so much, seriously, what was it to him? Was he going to be wearing it? Nope. 

We went back and forth about it until I discovered that he thought this was a necklace for Nelly, not for me to wear which is why he thought it should say her real name.

Took about 20 messages of me being so confused before I worked it out.

This outfit is a bit frillier than usual but damn it was cute.

I asked a random lady at the park to take a photo of us and Nelly looked on with suspicion.

This dress is awesome. It's $19 from Mix Apparel (AKA Coles) you can find it here  and it would be perfect for maternity wear. Which may or may not have been the main reason I purchased it, for future use.

I wear it all the time, I need to get more as they are so comfortable for around the house and running around. 

Now as you can see, Nelly and I are two peas in a pod when it comes to two things, one being our outfits and the other being our preferences for closing our eyes in photos.

Speaking of maternity wear, I looked after Thomas and Henry a week or so back and took them for a stroll with Nelly strapped to me and they were so, so good.

They kept turning around and singing to her and giggling when she giggled, they are thick as thieves when they are together. It's so nice that Nelly has Thomas, Henry and Ashleigh-Rose around her so often. I can't wait for her to meet Sophia and Rory. 

It makes me positive that I want three children one day. One day.
What age gap do you think is best between children? Do you have siblings that are far or close in age?

RAW DECOR.

If you follow me on Instagram you may have noticed a few shots of cotton socks' new store, amongst the photos of artfully arranged breakfast and OOTD shots that litter Instagram.

Raw Decor, that is the store.
I'm a poet and I didn't even know it.

You can find Raw Decor at 93 Victoria Avenue, Albert Park.

I used to work a few doors up, if only I still worked there so I could spend my lunch breaks gossiping with cotton socks instead of whatever crap I used to do.

Nelly gives these childrens chairs a massive tick of approval, as you can see.

I honestly want everything in here.

I need a money tree.

I would really love a bedhead like this, in a vibrant colour for a guest bedroom. 

Keeping in mind that we don't have a guest bedroom...

cotton socks is happy to take phone orders should you be interstate.

Make sure you like her Facebook and Instagram Pages to keep up to date on the awesome stock that she has her well manicured hands on.

It looks like blithely unaware was on a ladder when she took this at Jocks Ice Cream. 

I couldn't resist this pineapple christmas tree deco, and it was only $9 - bargain.

Are you in Melbourne? Will you pop in? Do you like what you see?

Lust Have It & F.a.B Box!

I recently received an exciting parcel in the mail, well actually a courier dropped it off and banged on the door scaring the crap out of me while breastfeeding but that's not really relevant is it..

Lust Have It! are a subscription based company who make that walk to the mailbox worthwhile.

Each of their boxes are jam packed with sample and travel size beauty and hair products.

I think that they are a great way to sample new products which you may not have purchased otherwise, and the sample sizes are just right so that you can decide whether or not the product is a good fit for your cosmetics cupboard.

Here are the contents of the Beauty Box...

The beauty boxes are $19.95 per month and for me, just the Benefit they're real mascara & Davroe hair treatment are well worth that. 

What was in the box?

Aveda Botanical Kinetics Cleanser (RRP $54.95) & Green Science Firming Face Creme (RRP $129.95)

Davroe Wellbeing Treatment Replenish (RRP $11.95)

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Gentle Exfoliating Facial Scrub (RRP $9.99)

Benefit They're Real Mascara (RRP $23)

Mary Kay Thinking Of You Eau De Parfum (RRP $30)

Mary Kay Pedicure Set (RRP $38)

Lonvitalite 24K Active Gold Yulan Eye Mask (RRP $9.95)

Lust Have It Precision Pencil Brush (RRP $15)

The box is particularly pretty, if I do say so myself.

This 'LOVE Bangle' is a highlight of the F.a.B Box, retailing at $19.95.

Now, on to the Fashion and Beauty Box which costs a little more than the beauty box, at $35 per month. 

Look closely at the Mineral Glow and you can see me! Hi.

I am definitely going to get good use out of this mascara, saves me a walk to the chemist for a new one since mine is a clumpy mess. 

I am loving this fluro fringed chain necklace. It's not something that I would usually buy however I really like so I guess that is the entire point of these boxes, to try out something new!

I had never heard of the Duri nail polish brand, it seems to apply in a similar fashion as essie polishes and the colour selected is gorgeous and perfect for summer. 

RARGH!

Leopard earrings!

I think that I prefer the F.a.B box as it contains more things that I am likely to buy myself but if I was a beauty buff then the standard Beauty Box would be a hit anyway.

So, for $19.95 per month or $220 annually you can receive the Beauty Box - to subscribe, click HERE.

Let's not forget the F.a.B box, that one is $35 per month.

They also have a Bridal Box and Eco Box (natural and organic products), which look really interesting.

Looking for a good excuse to try new products and get excited because you are receiving something other than bills and junk mail? Sign up and stalk that postie, ladies. 

Do you subscribe to Lust Have It? Is it something you might consider? Which box looks better to you?

The Farm

We headed up to the farm last week to celebrate my brothers 30th birthday.

I had to time my drive so that I set off 15 minutes before Nelly was due to sleep, hoping that she would fall asleep in the car and spend her entire two hour nap in dream land.

We weren't far off the farm when I realised I was running dangerously low on petrol and I am quite sure that it was my cursing that woke her up from her slumber but we made it so it could have been worse.

How do you keep the flies off a baby? Like this, clearly.

Or maybe not..

I thought that Nelly's eyes would have turned brown by now since The Husband and I both have brown eyes but I have a feeling they are destined to remain green/hazel - how does this work?

I thought there was some form of genetic rule that two brown eyed parents created a brown eyed child. I never was good at any form of science though.

There are animals everywhere you turn at the farm.

The cat, Tittles (named after our child hood cat Tiddles) gave birth to 4 kittens but then either died of sickness or was taken by a larger animal as these kittens were left inside the house under the watchful eye of Zena, the faithful labrador.

There are also 3 chooks who provide 3 eggs daily (I never knew that they only lay one egg each per day, I clearly did not grow up on a farm) and are definitely free range.

I wasn't kidding about them being free range. Here is one trying to get in the back door.

Who doesn't love a kitten?

Along with the sheep, spiders and kangaroos this cute fat echidna was also roaming around.

I need to get myself some decent gumboots and bindi resistant clothing, stat.

Casual White T-Shirt.

Does the perfect white Tee exist?

No. I think it is as mythical as the unicorn.

Seriously, have you found the perfect white tee? I want it to be fitted but not clingy, preferably not slub, not too sheer, washes well and long enough but not too long. Look, maybe even a V neck.

Until I find said non existent tee, I will continue to wear whatever I can get my often grubby hands on, such as this bargain Caroline Morgan top.

These shoes look cute but make my feet too hot and stretched far too much and I tend to fall out of them.

This old J Crew (possibly fake since it was from eBay) necklace is still going strong. 

What do you wear for running around, casual but not too much of a slob wear?

Love To INVENTA Sleep Bag - by Love To Dream {GIVE AWAY!}

If you have been reading since Nelly was born, you will know that when she was a baby we used the Love To Swaddle UP and swore by them. 

I have since bought them as gifts for others and sung their praises to all new mothers.

I did a review on them, if you have a newborn and would like to read it - click here.

Now, since 3 months old Nelly has slept in a sleeping bag like a big girl and I jumped at the opportunity to trial the Love To INVENTA Sleep Bag - by Love To Dream. 

I hate to sleep under 100% polyester sheets, so why would I put my child in a polyester sleeping bag?

This sleep bag has a 100% cotton outer and 100% bamboo lining, with just the mesh Genius Cooling System being polyester, that I can deal with. 

As you can see it is incredibly long (Nelly is wearing the 12-36 months 1 TOG sleep bag) but as Nelly is off the charts long, we thought this would be better and it has a Longa Shorta length system where you can use snap clips to change the length. 

The INVENTA Sleep Bag is $59.95 and you can buy it online here! 

There is also one INVENTA Sleep Bag to GIVEAWAY! YAY!
To enter, please leave a comment (if commenting as anonymous I will need you to leave your email address in your comment) and I will draw the winner on Monday 16 December.

One of the massive positives for me is the fact that not only does it have a back and front slot for putting a 5 point harness through, but that slot velcro shuts.

Nellys other main sleeping bag has the slots but they do not close so she is always getting her feet out the slots and getting stuck... that kid. 

Not anymore Nelly! I've got you all figured out.

This is the Genius Cooling System which zips open and shut on both the front and the back so that you can easily adjust your babies temperature should the room change temp whilst bub is deep in dream land. ZZzzzz.

This is the bag with the Genius Cooling System open on the front and the Longa Shorta feature in Shorta position.

As you can see, Nelly and bunny look pretty happy, as am I with the Sleep Bag.

It is fantastic and seems so comfortable to sleep in. 

Now, to the even better news - you can now watch demonstrations of all the features (which I am glad that I did as I actually didn't realise that it had a two way zip for easy nappy changes until I watched the video).

The baby in the videos is adorable, and so well behaved! Nelly wouldn't stop moving when I was taking her photos!

The videos range between one to two minutes in duration and include:

1.      A Swaddling and Self-Soothing Educational Animation

2.      Love To Swaddle UPT Demonstration Video

3.      Love To Swaddle UPT 50/50 Transition Demonstration Video

4.      Love To INVENTA Sleep Bag Demonstration Video

You can watch the videos on the Love To Dream YouTube channel (click here) or on their website (click here).