Buried Spoon

It's often the occasion that my children do things to shock me. Actually, I've grown quite numb over the years. Tons of toilet paper, random kitchen creations and spontaneous water fights have become the norm in this house. Today, I was vexed by my latest finding. A spoon buried in the back yard. I'm not going to even ask. I'm grabbing it, putting it in the dishwasher and moving on.

A buried spoon...really?

Morning Yoga

Here is a real life scene that repeats itself most every morning in our house. Used by adults and children alike, yoga is simply a part of our life. Namaste.

Real Conversations

Me: I thought you wanted your ice cream in a bowl not a cone?

Child: My brain is not really working and it's making my mind change.

Happy Mother's Day!

Lifestyle Tips For The Busy Moms

Enough cannot be said about the life of a busy mom. She can maintain the balance of her family with work, play, pets and love. Most moms glide easily through the day with the routine coming like clockwork. Others, like myself, need a bit of inspiratiom to get the day going. Meditation,  journaling, a good run and quiet time are just some of the ways we can take care of ourselves. As a member of the Busy Moms Elite, a spontaneous group I just conjured up to boost the morale of all busy mothers, I look for advice and ways to make my days better and my life more enjoyable. Vogue Australia has provided us with some great luxury lifestyle tips that are usable for all of us. It's like maintaining balance in style. Click here for the full story!

Christchurch City Libraries Book Sale

Book and sale are two of my favorite words so when the Christchurch City Libraries Annual Book Sale was announced, we were overwhelmed. Events are at Pioneer Recreation and Sport Centre. There are books for all of us moms, dads, kids and babies. The artist, hobbyist, techie, musician and dabbler will all find book prices to shop with the best of them. With children's books priced at $1 and that is just the start of it. 

Hours are as follows:
Friday March 21       9-7 (note the later hours tonight)
Saturday March 22  9-4

Ample parking but come early  to #shopsmart and though they provide bags, bring your own! It's good for the earth and there are a lot of books. We went this morning and are now off to shop for a bookshelf...or two.

Pay with cash and EFTPOS only.
Pool and coffee bar in the same facility. Check available hours.

Holiday Travel With Kids

We are fresh off an international flight. Three children and I traveled over twenty-two hours and though it was pretty long, it was also uneventful. Well except for my three year old's meltdown in the customs line. He ran off playing underneath the rope lines all within my view while ignoring my very demanding mommy voice. There are hardly ever any comforting looks or verbal trinkets of affection from strangers for any toddler. Not in any customs line we have ever been in. After flying for half a day, people are just done. Despite this mishap, we crossed the ocean with no problems. I give a lot of the success to Air New Zealand who makes flying internationally a supreme experience. Every need is met and special accommodations are made when necessary. A mom with three children? They have you covered giving us extra leg room, early boarding, and play packs for the kids are just some of the perks. 
We do pride ourselves on having expert travelers. All of our children, including the one sleeping while taxiing, are frequent flyers at this point having logged thousands of miles a piece but there is plenty of leg work that goes into creating a great tiny traveler. That starts with mom and dad so parents, here are our:

3 P's to Traveling with Kids

1. Patience
This is the key to having smooth ride. In the above described situation you have to stay cool. They are children and will exhaust after hours of travel. Dehydration, fatigue, Vertigo, plugged airways and hunger are just a few of the symptoms exhibited by kids before, during and after flying. Be prepared with snacks, water and activities for them to do when you feel your blood pressure rising. Breathing helps and remember that this is just a wrinkle in time before you reach your next destination.

2. Portable Devices
Whatever you have I would suggest bringing it. The apps and games available on IPods and IPads are endless these days so you can find educational options or fun games to keep them occupied. Bringing magazines and books will weigh you down especially through security lines. With today's carry-on weight limits, less is more and portable devices have you covered from Kindle to Krazy Kars.

3. Praise
This is for you and the children. Them: Let them know that you are proud of their behaviour and sticking with you while you navigate through a sea of strangers in the airport. If they sit down, buckle up and get an activity out then big kudos to them. For You: Have a drink for your success or grab that Cinnabon in between connecting flights. It is the little things that will get us through long flights and the stresses that go along with it. You are making the journey so support yourself and the children along the way with plenty of acknowledgment.

This tiny spoon is also from Air New Zealand which my children now fight over for their porridge. 

Safe travels this holiday season. Wherever you are going is sure to be special so take these tips and make flying with children a breeze this year.

Spring Clean is Donation Time

Bags of donated clothing, goods and housewares.

It is the changing of the seasons which tends to incite something within most of us. Not more trips to the allergist, though every season does bring upon a new set of irritants, but a sense to make a shift in our lives. We are transitioning into Spring down in the Southern Hemisphere where the international Spring Clean is in full affect. This habit is known all over the world to pop up with the dawning of a fresh spring. We, too, want our space to be clear and clutter free. We agree with many psychologists claims that clutter does affect your mood. Stress levels rise when clutter and mess fill a home. This affects mum, dad and then trickles down. 

How much time is lost searching for things only to find them days later in an odd spot where it has no purpose being?

Before you call on an organizational specialist or a full brigade of maids, consider simplifying your life by getting rid of all the things that you don't need. Are there old boxes that are unmarked? Are you stepping on broken toys? Can anyone really even ride that size bike? Here are our bags of donations for inspiration. Over 12 bags with plenty of properly fitting clothing at home. Seem like a lot? Well, we are a growing family of 5 so out with the old and very happily in no need for the new. The house felt much lighter and happier with more room to organize the important things. It is as if missing toys took on a new light and actually got played with after all the clutter was taken away. The children were part of the process helping to fill at least one bag with a combination of toys and clothes. The children were also there when we dropped it off so hopefully a life lesson was learned here as they went through the process of being charitable. I want them to think that it is cool to #giveback. 

Check your local donation centers for hours of operation and most are quite keen to accept donations at anytime. Most shops run on low donations during the warmer months so don't forget to #giveback whenever possible.


Tattered & Torn: Top 3 Signs You Need to Donate It

1. If it has not been worn for an entire year, it never will be. If it made it through 4 seasons without a bit of movement, it's time to move it out of your closets.

2. Anything irreparable  Disjointed socks, moth-eaten frocks and such are now trash. Recycle usable pieces for projects or get rid of it.

3. If no one in your house wears the size, or never will again, get rid of it. This is to all you Mamas out there: make a selection of very choice baby clothes to keep and then get donate the rest. You can guarantee someone will love their little one in it just like you did all those years ago.

Other options: 
1. Have a garage sale to earn a few bucks from your old clothes.
2. Consign clothing at a resale store. You will hardly see a fraction of what you paid for it but it is something.
3. Have a Clothing Swap. Description: all the ladies bring the clothes that they don't want and you bring yours where you trade in a friendly, slightly intoxicated and gossipy environment  Not your thing? Consider options 1 and 2.

Spotted this sign as hope that this too will inspire you to #giveback

I saw this sign at a very luxe coffee shop when grabbing coffees for my husband and I thought it needed to be posted as a reminder for us all. The world is definitely aware that it is cool to give back.

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#giveback

Celebs Are Moms, Too

I recently had one of those days as a mother that just cannot end quickly enough. It all came to a head when we were at the market. Buying local produce is great but isn't usually accompanied by those large aisles and copious space characteristic of the supermarket. Small space + 3 children does not work well. I did my mommy pre-shopping prep talk before we went in. You know, don't touch this, we can only buy that. We all agreed to a quick in and out with no grabby hands but wouldn't you believe that within 2 min of entering the market I had a pack of organic blueberries and a bag of carrots in my face? Do they not listen? Did we not just have what I thought was a very motivational and convincing chat outside the shop door? Apparently their fruiterian ways took over but it drove me to the edge. Every body part becomes tense but you are in public and must keep your cool. I did keep it all together but when I came home and my better half walked through the door, I retreated for a bit. 

I could have popped in my trusty copy of Mommie Dearest to calm my nerves and reassure myself that I am  good mother. (Joan Crawford, screaming: "Does this look clean to you, Christina?" Child Christina, sobbing: "Yes, mommy. It does") Instead, I turned to celebrity blogs (with wine in hand) to deal with the stress of the day and just unwind. Sans children. As I pointed and clicked in an effort to get all the gossip in, I began to wonder, do these glossy and glamorous mothers ever have one of those days? Do they ever feel stressful pangs of what am I doing with these little people? I am sure that they do. So here are a few photos of mothers doing their thing with the children. Sad faces, happy faces and many faces are the life of a mother even if you are a superstar. 

Note: You will notice that there are other baby staffers in some of the photos. I am not jealous and you should not be either. In order to be the celebrities that we love, they need to take the edge off somehow.

Pink is truly rocking it here. Baby, yoga mat and shopping bag with fingers clasped. Now that's a mom!

Look at chic Kourtney Kardashian. She is so cool with the children and Scott. Color coordinated fam & pram. Love it.

Heidi, how do you stay so fashionable with the kids in tow?

Oh my goodness, Angelina! Is that a free hand? How is that possible with 6 children?

Aahh! Pobrecita, why are you crying sweet Suri? Katie's face is classic.

That is a LOT of children and why is Kate Gosselin the only one of the entire bunch smiling? Mama looks good, too.

And this modest little lamb...This future mum has no idea. But her uber mom & sister Kourtney will help out mom & the Kimbryo. (Update: Baby North is gorgeous and Kim is definitely a mum now!)

Alright, this is all in jest of course, especially since all of these celebrities moms came to my rescue when I was having one of those days. I forgot photos of the Duchess who is also a mom to be. Trivia: Did you know that if the unborn ruler is a girl, The Queen of England has proclaimed she will be a Princess? 
 My children are lovely and sleeping now. We all have our moments and this is just real life with children. Suri crying is my favorite photo. I have had that moment, made that face Katie Holmes is making and it's good to know that other mothers, even famous ones, have to deal with mini-meltdowns, too.

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Real Life Kid Style

In honor of fashion week, I have gathered up a few pictures of some of the most fashionable children I've seen recently. Ranging in ages from 18 months to 6 years, these little ones represent various styles that seem to have been developing within them since very early in their youthful years. Be it Crocs and socks or couture and cashmere, we all have our own style. As of late, the budding style of the little ones has come to my attention. They were just born this way I guess. Will they be future designers, stylists or buyers in the industry? Who knows but as for now, they are quite comfortable in the very fashionable skin that they are in. No runways or modeling required. This is Real Life Street Style for the Kiddos.

First up is a very fashionable market goer. Skinny jeans and a cardi. Love it. Could the hat be any cuter as an ensemble finisher?

Next we have a set of styling sisters who, according to their mum, choose their own clothes and dress themselves in direct expression of who they are. Pink, tutus, and bows are classic additions to every outfit. Whose to blame them? Look at these two. They are already so cool.

Next is the youngest in the line-up. At nearly 2, he wears his furry, gray "Barbaloot suit" just about every day. Strangers meet the fur-clad toddler with ooh's and ahh's followed by, I wish they made those in my size. Actually, they do and it's called a Snugli and I too, long to wear the adult onesie. 

Last is a lovely little girl who has found her signature style. A simple white dress. I have spoken with her and I can attest that she absolutely loves this classic choice and I figure she will wear it until it busts.

Let your children help choose what they want to wear, within reason. Nothing offensive or against your family, of course. But if your children, like mine, are in a school uniform for over 6 hours a day, they need to have a bit of guided self-expression on their days off.  There are many forms of communication and fashion is just one of them. They won't be little for long so in order to encourage a bit of style & self-expression in our children. And now the tips: 

1. Allow elaborate dress with crazy hair and multiple (un-matching) layers.
2. Encourage dress up play at all ages. Shop for costumes 2nd hand & wash well. New ones tend to be a bit pricey.
3. Dress-up or transform yourself into another person for a little bit. Play make believe with your children or freshen up your look. Don't be afraid to express yourself.
4. Involve your child in their outfit choice. It is after all, their personal style developing. Give them free reign to choose sometimes or layout some options they can create a look from for the day.

Does your little one have a personal style you want to share? Send us a photo to be featured on our Facebook page!

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Inspirations & Transformations

Photo: Ruven Afanador

In the August issue of O Magazine, Oprah Winfrey dons an all natural hair do that is a sight unseen to most. She always has her hair perfectly coiffed and why shouldn't she? She is the mega-mind behind an entire network at this point and Forbes has listed her at being worth a boggling $2.7 billion dollars. She definitely has the ability to keep up appearances but confesses that her natural do is her choice for weekends or when she is off duty. Even as a billionaire she still has to let her hair down. More importantly, Oprah is showing her awareness of the amazing impact of transformations on herself and in the lives of the people she touches. She is so great. She really has transformed lives and that is amazing. She does this by being real with people no matter what situation and that enlightens some people. Take a gander at her beautiful real hair (above).

Au natural, everyday me

 So in my own effort to be real, I will share a little transformation that I like to make sometimes. If you cannot tell by all my EcoLuxury stances and earth awareness rants, I enjoy most natural things in life. My hair is no stranger to nature. This is how I wear my hair most of the time (right). 

Straight straight.

However, sometimes I look like this (left). I love doing this. This is just for me and allows me to be fresh and new every once in a while. I am still me with just a new head o' hair.

After a hair cut, how do you feel? Amazing if you love it and perhaps upset if you hate it. But there is no big statement that I am making here. I love both of my looks neither being better than the other. I just enjoy change. (Obviously not too much change because if you will notice, the same nasty scarf I wear everyday is in both photos.) I feel free enough to transform myself every now and then and O has *inspired me to share my Dual Do's with you.  I speak with so many people who say they want a makeover. I say start at the top. It's such brave self-expression. I was told many years ago by my hair dresser, "Don't be afraid to play with it. It's hair. It'll always grow back". Sage advice.

Why am I not afraid to go from super curly to super straight at the blink of an eye? I credit an amazing line of women in my family who dared to play with their hair, my (precious!) flat iron, and loads of extensions. The latter seems to have taken over the style world as of late, but they are nothing new. Extensions have just been hiding out in the bags of just about every hair stylist in the industry all over the world for ages.

Mum with extensions.

I do have quite the hair obesession and even for Father's Day, my son drew a picture of me with long hair on his dad's gift. He proceeded to whisper to us, "Oh, that is Mommy with her extensions." Hilarious. Such a gentleman to keep it private.

*I am not Oprah, not in the public eye like she is and I don't think she wears extensions. Her hair revelations have just inspired me.