Jikana Damaru: 06/13/11

Just a 'pretty' face?

So, I'm at the post office.

I've got a letter, 4 parcels, 2 packages, my purse, a set of keys and Elliott in my arms. You know, standard luggage.

I get to the counter.

"awwww, isn't she pretty!" the lady next to the lady serving me exclaims. I turn around to see the beautiful baby she speaks of. There's nobody there.

I turn back around. The lady is staring at ME!

Pardon? I ask, just to make sure.

"Your baby!", she says, "she has such a pretty face!"

And I realise. She's talking about Elliott.

He's wearing grey stretchy-pants, a green long sleeve tee and a big toothy smile.

"Um, he's actually a boy" I say to her.

"oh really?" she says, in a tone of disbelief "well, he has a very pretty face!"

riiiiiight.

Cute? yes.

Cheeky? Most definitely.

Handsome? It is my job to think so.

But pretty?

You decide...

Childhood Memories

Today I posted some pictures to my Sweet Style facebook page and had a lovely comment that this photo was a reminder of little lunch in primary school - "yes" I thought - the little bottles of milk that were delivered to school each day.

I seem to have been reminded of a few lovely childhood memories in the past few days - it started with the 30 day photography challenge I am participating in - Day 11 A Childhood Memory - it got me thinking, talking and searching. While searching through the toy box for my "childhood memory" items Sienna who is 6 and a half found an old mobile phone in the bottom of the box - "mummy was this yours when you were a little girl" - "When I was a little girl all the phones were attached to the wall and you couldn't go walking around with them" was my response - she laughed - "were you born in the olden days!"

Boy how each generations childhood memories are different - and how in the blink of an eye I appear to now be from the "olden days" - do you have a fond childhood memory to share? I would love to hear about it.

the view from here

I took these from a hotel room in the city.
lots of grey.
with pops of colour.
an interesting change.
from the sand & sea.

what is your favourite place to sit & look at the view?

26 Weeks

26 weeks &
I'm loving...

good morning nudges and kicks as I wake up

finally beginning to look pregnant to the outside world

the waitress at Mexico who asked if I was "hiding something under there"

preparing the nursery and our home

belly pats and rubs from family and friends
her hiccups <3
that I will be able to see her again on Friday

hearing her sweet name.

Some preggo friends at a baby shower!
Jessi-32 weeks GIRL, Kaley-26 weeks BOY, Me-26 weeks GIRL, Kelly-19 weeks BOY!

Please & Thank you...
little somethings blog chose my photo for the top 11 this week and I would love if you could take a quick second and vote for it. It is photo number TWO. Click here!

I'd make an excuse, but...

I've been thinking a lot about excuses lately. All the reasons why we can't do something; all the reasons why we won't. This week I've heard reams of excuses from parents who can't / won't help out at the school. From colleagues who can't / won't meet a deadline. From the Tsunamis who can't / won't do their homework, have a bath, eat their dinner, forgodsakegotobed. But mostly excuses uttered by myself for one reason or another. I even make excuses for why I'm making excuses.

The more I think about it, the more I'm thinking only one thing about excuses any more.

Excuses suck.

I was particularly interested in the list of excuses that followed my friend's recent statement: "I want to be happy, but..." I want to be happy, but. Have you ever heard a more poignant statement?

After a long and involved conversation, all the reasons why she can't / won't be happy came down to these:

1. I don't have time (to be happy)
2. My children are too needy (for me to be happy)
3. I'm too fat (to be happy)
4. I'm addicted to TV so I can't spend as much time doing the things I love (so I can't be happy)*

We both agreed: excuses really suck. You might have also met their close cousin 'If Only'. Both are just self-delusion in a pointless disguise. A way to disown responsibility because if you think you don't have control over something then it's not your fault if you fail.

I'm challenging myself to own my actions and stop making excuses. Rather than palming things off with a 'because' or an 'if only,' I'm going to dig deeper and find out the real reasons why I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing. I want to be in the position where instead of making excuses, I'm making statements.

Do you find yourself making too many excuses?

Do you know why you do it?

What sorts of things are you trying to avoid?

* My personal favourite.

[Image via weheartit]

Pretty Hangers

Today in my series of posts "Inspirational Pins", I bring you some pretty hangers from my Laundry Room Ideas Pinterest board. Tomorrow I will be sharing with you some hangers I have been decorating for my laundry room.

Have a sweet day!