Love, bubs and life on our little farm

Two of my beautiful babies

My gorgeous new young horse hates my float. Not good for a competition horse that needs to be floated most weekends. In my previous life, I would have had this sorted out by now. But finding the time to do the groundwork and repetition on my overplanned and over filled weekends, just isn't happening.

So for the first time ever, I have given my horse to someone else to train. I dropped him off today - all of about four properties up the road away (that whole not being able to float him kind of restricted my choices!). I am excited to see how he responds to some "proper" natural horsemanship training (as opposed to my self learnt efforts). I get to be involved on my days off work.

I am missing him - he is so young and sweet. But my other horse is missing him worse, poor fella.

But it will all be worth it.

Just an update on life in my world.

My injured finger has finally been freed from nearly 3 months in a brace. It is still sore and hard to bend but apparently this will improve with time. Such an amazing amount of pain and rehabilitation for such a small aea of injury! I am impatiently waiting to see if the swelling will go down in the middle joint (supposedly a result of being splinted and immobilised for so long) as I cannot fit any of my beautiful rings on it :( including my eternity ring. I am missing not being able to wear them and am worried the joint may never reduce in size so they fit. Still I have use of the finger and can still horseride which was my biggest fear when I realised how severe my injury really was.
I have nearly finished with hospital appointments and have high hopes that I might not be subjected to any more x-rays for a long long time.
Extra incentive to keep my bum firmly in the saddle when showjumping from now on!

Otherwise, I have just returned from a work trip to Sydney. I don't travel as much as my dear husband but I do enough work trips that the shine has most definitely worn off them. Nothing glamorous about airports, taxis, delays and getting home at nearly midnight.
But the trip did really reinforce just how much I have achieved in the last year of being back at work and in charge of my laboratory. I now have a four member team plus research students, where once it was just me and I have not only expanded our capabilities and brought in a lot of grant funding but also built us a strong name as a research laboratory. I am tired thinking of all that still need to achieve but then I remind myself how far we have come. I love my job and I am damn proud that I can be a good mummy with happy healthy confident kids and have a great career. Sure I sacrifice sleep and I don't know what it is like to sit on my own lounge and watch tv but its all so worth it.

My biggest tip for mums with careers? Don't buy into mother guilt. So many mums talk about it - they perpetuate it. Don't let it exist. Live your life to your own priorities, don't apologise for them. Remind yourself that your kids are hugged, kissed, free of pain and abuse, clothed, spoiled, played with and know exactly where you are when you aren't with them and that you are coming back to pick them up.As long as you live your life true to what it important to you and what makes you happy then all is perfect.

And for god sakes, don't put your life priorities onto another mother. I NEVER judge - we are all different. Life would be so boring if we were all working mothers or all stay at home mums. I love the variety - it takes all types.

ahem rant over.

And because this is my post - I will leave you with a pic of my new Nine West shoes. I just bought a lovely burnt orange and black patterned dress that will be perfect with these. LOVE autumn dressing (and yes there is even a chill in the air in qld! Although its still like 30 degrees in the middle of the day so I am sure a few people are laughing at me right now!)

Ever since we decorated our new master bedroom, we have had a lot of empty spaces due to a spacious layout requiring more furniture than our old master bedroom did.

Jase and I have both really wanted a lovely padded chair - something decadent and comfy for not only looking at but putting our shoes on etc on the way out from the walk in robe.

Well shopping yesterday for Bronte's big girl bed (will post that too soon!) we discovered the perfect chair at the perfect price. Most chairs we have liked have been well over $600, which was a bit steep for a little luxury piece with no real need.

But this one ticked all the boxes. I smile everytime I walk into the room and see it. Now to get a lovely artwork to hang above it... (it never ends does it!)

This story actually starts last year when my romantic of a husband informed me that he had booked us a surprise holiday away for our wedding anniversary - right down to having already organised babysitting for the girls so we were free to eat, drink and remind ourselves what relaxing feels like.

 He had chosen 3 days on a beautiful island in the Great Barrier Reef at a boutique resort as well as a few nights to chill out in Cairns in a five star hotel. Nicely played. I have been looking forward to it for what felt like FOREVER!

Well despite being torn between excitement for lots of couple time and the ability to sleep in and do absolutely nothing and sadness at not bringing my beautiful girls along with me, I had the best time.

 Hard not to when you are literally swimming with green turtles, snorkling in amazing coral and fish, eating yourself stupid, reacquainting yourself with napping and reading during daylight hours, complimentary sunset drinks every evening, taking night nature walks and even being able to hold your husbands hand as neither of you have full hands of kids/bags etc etc. We had the most amazing couples massage and I had a giggle at the shock of the masseuse at feeling the extent of the tension knots in my shoulders. She probably wouldn't have been quite so surprised if she knew what my life was like!

After leaving our peaceful island, we settled into the Hilton in Cairns, where they managed to mess up the romantic gift requests Jase had made to surprise me for our wedding anniversary. Combined with the fact that he is a gold card holder and we were booked into the executive floor, well they were mortified. We were showered with free things including champagne, white wine, red wine, ca nape plates, cheese platters, sparkling water and extra gifts. It became a little overwhelming but was pretty funny.

 I ate so much beautiful food, drank way too much and slept more than I needed - bliss. In fact it was so decadent, it wore me out and I was ready to come home to some reality!

Arriving at the gorgeous island - only one tiny resort and a whole lot of rainforest

Whiling away a lazy morning by the resort pool

These photos don't do the huge room justice, it was beautiful

One of our many snorkling trips - just the two of us exploring the coral and we got to swim with a turtle we lucked upon

Feeding some of the bigger fish off the glass bottomed boat

Just one of the many gorgeous spots we swam at

Our top level room in Cairns enjoying some of our freebies

My wedding anniversary tropical flowers from my hubby

Cocktails by the pool - it was tough really!

but check out these great looks from Victoria Beckham's 2012 Autumn/Winter collection at New York fashion week.

I am ready to step out of my kaftans and into some of these cute dresses and boots - love it! (and yes my last post was on her too - makes me look like I am more of a big follower of her of then I actually am!)

All photo credit to Getty Images.

I want that double black belt for this winter!!

So wearable and makes me crave cold weather. What a great collection!

Too tired to write what I was planning - have a killer headache from work - trying to jam a weeks work into three days before we head on our holiday is so draining.

But this made my night - I love Victoria Beckham's fashion line and I actually quite like her. And now I like her even more.

Cheers to all the mums with careers tonight, give yourselves a break, no one else will  xo

Oh my gosh I love my little girls so much and they make my heart melt. They are just so cute at the moment - almost 4 and almost 2 is a very sweet little combination.

But far out I am so looking forward to rewarding and nourishing myself and my relationship with my husband! In less than 3 days, we jet off for 5 days alone - 3 days on a little island in the Great Barrier Reef and two days in an executive room at the Hilton in Cairns. This is all in order to celebrate our wedding anniversary  - our seventh. I am aching for the chance to sleep-in, drink a cocktail beside a pool, eat food in a posh restaurant, walk aimlessly, chatting uninterrupted, snorkle and swim without a barnacle child attached to me and nap or watch tv during the day. Bliss.

So yes I will miss my gorgeous girls but oh I will be so recharged and refreshed when I get back to them!

Hubby has gone all out with this trip - we will want for nothing with his airport lounge memberships, executive club access at the hotel, breakfasts every day, a couples massage already booked at a beautiful day spa and room upgrades thanks to his status cards. I have a feeling I will be a couple of kilos heavier by the time I return!

I am so stressed at work at the moment - I would kill for a work day where I didn't spend the day in a state of panic over how much I have to do and how many staff I have to supervise, assist and guide. But instead I just have to make sure I leave it all behind me so I can make the most of these five days.

My mum bought me a gorgeous new handmade evening bag and I can't wait to take it out to a lovely restaurant to celebrate our anniversary.

Oh happy days!

I am starting to get inspired for the Autumn-Winter 2012 trends. Loving the new Myer shots, like above.
I am sure that the Great Gatsby inspiration will be strong. Have you seen the gorgeous shots from the Baz movie set? I bought T -bar style heels today - a modern twist but still a T-bar silhouette.

Some of the other trends I am getting ready for:

Peter Pan Collars. So cute. I have tried a few dresses on with this neckline and liked them but yet to find one I love.


Animal Print. I have always avoided animal print - probably something about growing up near the Gold Coast and seeing many a bronzed sixty year old wearing it with white pants and gold shoes. But I have finally thrown that association and can see the fashion in it. I have just bought a great dip dyed zebra print scarf that I am looking forward to wearing as it cools. And my latest favourite work outfit is a grey leopard print fitted box top tucked into a high waisted black tulip skirt. Don't mock it till you have tried it, I have learnt! Do it in a ballet flat if you don't dare to anywhere else!



Maxi Skirts. I have held out so far but they are set to still be on trend this winter. I think a pair of heels is essential to stop you looking dumpy. They do have drama. I think I may just have to buy one...




Prints. Still all about clashing and mixing your prints. Add add texture - crochet is big, or knitted jumpers. I am pleased with this as I have a great crochet vest I bought last winter and wanted to get some wear with it!

Getty Images

Now to pretend it isn't sweltering hot outside still!

that this cute hat from Mimco I just ordered turns up before our tropical holiday... we leave next Thursday (early), I am not confident! But hey a girl can hope. It would be perfect for all the cocktail drinking, beach walks and lazing around the pool sessions I have planned :)

Loving all the shopping rewards, my fave shops have been sending me for my birthday! I scored $20 from Pure Indulgence, $20 from Witchery and $30 from Mimco.

It is my birthday today. I didn't unwrap a single present this morning. Pre-kids and responsibilities I used to have lots of presents and cards with gift vouchers to tear open first thing in the morning.

Instead I am getting my horse arena extended - at some point, when it gets organised and so on.

But instead I just felt so lucky and loved thank to the beautiful card from my husband and the excitement of my girls. Totally enough. And I am not just saying that.

I think I have reached that age - call it maturity, contentment, whatever, but when you "get" life. When you really know what matters. I like it. And that is what I am concentrating on - rather than commiserating about leaving my 20's well and truly behind.

Elka made me this card all by herself with no help from anyone and it made my happier than nearly any gift I have ever received. She wrote my name, her name and drew our family, right down to Jase wearing glasses.
I worked a 10 hour day of complete and utter craziness - between my two Masters students starting, two grant applications, an overseas travel funding application to write, five conference abstracts to edit, a publication proof to correct, new staff and a million disease outbreak investigations to juggle, I didn't have time to eat today let alone remember that it was my birthday. But when I came out of an exhausting 90 min teleconference, I found a note asking me to go down to the security desk... and I found a gorgeous box of flowers from my lovely hubby delivered for me. Perfect timing to remind me that in the middle of the craziness someone was still thinking of my birthday and trying to make it special. I love that man. And for some reason he seems to love me too!

 Not to mention the three course meal and sparkling wine that was waiting for me when I got home.

Don't stare too hard at my desk! In my defence that is my disorganised corner, where my project folders that are pulled out umpteen times a day build up... and yes I think I am the only person left who uses a paper-based diary!

This weekend my family are traveling up to the Gold Coast to meet us so we can take the girls to my brothers resort apartment pool for a day in the sun to celebrate my birthday belatedly with our favourite fish and chips.

 I am a big believer in being grateful for what you have and I am glowing with gratitude for all that I have and that I am celebrating another year.

I decided to be all non-materialistic for Valentines Day since we are spoiling ourselves rotten with a tropical island getaway next week (Excited much?!).

So I thought I would be all wifey and cook my husband a pie ;) a lemon meringue pie for his dessert. Of course, I worked an 11 hour day first so had no prep time and was whipping it up (literally) with tired cranky kids attached to my legs and a million jobs to do.

But that said, I don;t think I have a valid excuse for why it turned out like this.

Mmmm lemon soup in burnt crust - nothing else says I Love You (or that I need a housekeeper/chef/nanny) quite as well..

Fortunately, my lovely hubby thought it was funny. And of course I looked extra bad because he bought me a gorgeous couples massage at a day spa for our holiday that I had been drooling over. Oh well there is always next year...

The weather has been a little hit and miss this Summer. But we have finally had some hot humid weather.. and with it comes the afternoon storms. And we have been copping it - not like usual though, no wind, no rumbling thunder. Just heavy heavy rain. Buckets of rain following close on the tail of the floods we just had. The ground is so wet, the dams are too full and we can't use the water in the tanks fast enough, cue flash flooding. This is what we have been dealing with.
This is the driveway - recovering from having been under water..




And the side of the house where the tanks are. The laundry paved courtyard (just visible) came close to flooding into the house.

Love storms as they cool down the hot humid days but would prefer less rain and power losses and more gorgeous lightening and thunder!

I have commented before on just how much there is to be had in bargains with retail spending being down. Today was a pretty good example of that - I started the day with an email from Mimco telling me that they had just put $50 on my card, then got an email from Witchery telling me that they had put $30 on my Witchery card, then opened a Myer letter to find a Myer Card rewards gift card for $20 and finally when putting my new card into my wallet discovered I had a $55 Big W gift card already sitting in there ready to expire next week! How I love being rewarded for buying things by being giving money to buy more things. Hehe I probably just made about 20 buddhists cry with that statement! Anyways, to cheer myself up this evening after discovering that Jase was delayed at the airport on the way home from a work trip, I dived in and spent my Mimco voucher online.
This is one of the things I bought (yes I bought accessories as I am in love with my current Oroton handbag and feel no desire for any others - not sure how long my fidelity will last though!. I am keen for some slides to sweep back the front of my concave bob particularly as I am finally mastering curling with my GHD (curling short bobs is hard!). Now what to spend the others on... Anyone else doing well with the retail rewards at the moment?

I had a gorgeous weekend - watching an old dear friend get married in the most wonderful relaxed and fun filled ceremony and reception whilst enjoying a weekend away at the beach with my hubby and friends. I love weddings that are just filled with happiness, we all danced the night away and my cheeks were hurting from laughing so hard with some of the shenanigans on the dancefloor!


The whole weekend was peaceful and we made the most of having the girls babysat. Wine with a seafood lunch by the sparkling water, a swim without children attached to me, a lazy afternoon in the spa, a delicious long late breakfast with a restaurant full of wedding guests laughing at the memories of the night before.

The view from our balcony

And I got to get all frocked up - loving my Cue dress and the heels lived up to their beauty, proving to be comfortable for the 8 hours straight I wore them.

We scrub up OK!

And like all our kid free weekends away, the coming home to the girls is nearly the best bit. Though my two seemed to have barely missed me! Now back to the craziness that is our life - work trips, research grant applications due, two school drop offs/pick ups to co-ordinate, school events, speech pathology for Bronte, animal appointments, two new research students to supervise, house repairs (the hole in the ceiling!)and so on. But there is fun too - only a week until my birthday and then only a week after that until our wedding anniversary trip to Cairns/Great BArrier Reef - we are nearly all sorted, I should definitely do a post on it all :)

my daughters are able to love the amazing place I grew up.

I spent the first 18 years of my life living in paradise. And as you do when you have something from birth, you don't appreciate it. It was only after I left, I realised that it wasn't the norm to live in rambling tropical gardens, grown wild and barely tamed like something out of the Secret Garden, to live on a peaceful plateau balancing over a valley with views to mountain ranges and to lighthouses 30kms away.

And nothing has changed - in the 12 years since I left. The gardens are wilder, more perfect in their picturesqueness, just tweaked tiny bits by my mothers brilliant hands. Little lanterns hanging from the shady boughs of a tree over a little metal garden seat. Sculptures of fungus sitting in niches of gnarled tree trunks, little paths winding through thick ferns.


And the wooden handmade swing, hung by my father, still suspended from the straight low branch reaching from the giant tree grove. Everything has grown even bigger since I was a little girl, and Elka looks like a little fairy swinging amongst the thick leaves.

The girls race down the paths I loved skipping down and marvel at the little animals - bilbies, wallabies, giant tree frogs, that I thought everyone got to see everyday when I was young.

And they get to follow their beloved grandparents around doing the morning and afternoon routine of feeding the animals, that anyone who owns property knows is the backbone of your daily life. They even get to do something I didn't have when I was little - the newest additions to the beautiful gardens is a magical little fish pond.

Call it what you will -- the circle of life or such. But there is something that feels complete in my heart seeing my dear little girls experience everything that was magical in my childhood.