Link Love

We slowed things down a little this week, spending each night in reading books or magazines and watching the occasional TV show once Lulu went to sleep. I feel well rested and less frazzled than l was heading into last weekend. As for exercise this week? I kept things easy with a run on Wednesday afternoon and a run Thursday afternoon.

Speaking of reading, Jen Lancaster has released her summer reading list - I always love any book she recommends. Plus her books are a certain favourite.

I'm loving James tips on doing montessori pre-school at home! The book James recommended a few posts back has now arrived in my hot little hands so I can prepare for starting a few things with Lulu. Though she will be going to pre-school outside the home, the tasks in the book teach practical lessons that everyone should learn.

And do you have trouble finding the perfect card? This week Design Sponge brings you the best of the US Stationary Show. Emily McDowells cards would have to be my favourite, whats yours?

Frockin' up - Friday Chambray

Friday is me & Lulu day. Post morning nap/PlayFit we normally head into town for a spot of shopping. Usually I'm wearing workout clothes after PlayFit but last Friday I skipped PlayFit to let Lulu sleep and frocked up with this dress so I thought I'd continue the trend this week, let Lulu sleep and dress up a little. I even wore heels! This is a HUGE deal. I hardly ever wear heels, even if it's a nighttime frock up event. Plus it was cold so I was all set to wear the cozy cardigan below, but the sun came out just as we were leaving, so hello chambray shirt.

Cardigan - Sportsgirl, Scarf - Sportsgirl, Leggings - Big W, Shoes - Toni Bianco

Eggs, wine & working bees

1. Friday night magazine & wine while Nick put Lulu down to sleep
2. Sunday morning Mum & Daughter cooked breakfast
3. Daycare working bee

Somehow I didn't take end up taking any photos on Saturday. I had a work related workshop Saturday morning, a friend dropped by in the afternoon for chats and champagne, then Nick & I finally watched Skyfall in the evening. Most evenings we're too tired to watch anything more than a half hour TV show, but we managed to stay the distance! Do you have this problem?

Exercise Stats

My early morning Super Saturday workout set up. Excuse the dirty glass.

I eased back into things this week:

Monday - Up early to do the 12WBT set 'outdoor' workout indoors because it was too cold and dark to go outdoors

Tuesday - Rest day

Wednesday - Afternoon workout - Week 1 of Gillian Michaels 30 Day Shred

Thursday - Up early to do Michelle Bridges Project Extreme Cardio workout before heading to work. I hadn't done this workout in a while & when I finished my back started spasming, so I don't think I'll be doing it again. I think it is just too jarring for me. Luckily I had a scheduled physio appointment that day & could get it looked at straight away.

Friday - Supposed to do stretching while Lulu napped but I got frocked up for our trip into town instead.

Saturday - 12WBT set Super Saturday Workout. I'm a little ashamed to say that this is only the second time in two rounds of 12WBT that I have done the Super Saturday set workout. It nearly killed me.

Sunday - Rest day

Did you manage to fit in any workouts this week? I need to up my game next week with a few more workouts & less rest days. 

Link Love

Then came the rain. This week has been everything you would want winter to be. Grey, cool and rainy. Perfect for cozy knits, cuddling on the couch and winter warmer meals. My mother-in-law cooked us a lamb shank stew Wednesday night, it was so delicious.

This weeks links include:

6 tips for photographing your child on A Cup of Jo

I love the beautiful home photos on Hanna's Room Blog

The girls from A Beautiful Mess have released A Beautiful Mess Photo App. Great for adding cute sayings and doodles to your photo, just like the one above. This is an extremely cheap alternative to buying photoshop & then only using it for little things like adding text to photos. And to be honest, I am just blown away by someone who can create their own app - what cleaver chops those gals are.

And from the Girl in the Pjs archives, my recipe for Easy Chicken Soup - perfect for these grey, chilly days.

Hope you have a delightful weekend x

Frockin' up - Saturday night

Last Saturday night we had a farewell for friends of ours who are heading to Germany for a few months before their wedding, which will be over there. This is what I wore:
Dress - Sportsgirl
Necklace - Sportsgirl
Footless tights - Bonds
Shoes - Seed
I often end up wearing thongs (flipflops) all the time, so it was nice to crack out the fancy Seed slip on shoes.

Essentials for camping with a baby

The weekend before last we went camping with Lulu and friends of ours who also had small children. We'd never been camping before with Lulu but with a little preparation on Nick's behalf, we managed to be quite well set up. Here is our list of essentials:

- Our friends brought a kids camping chair (1.). Lulu could not fathom how to get out of it and stayed sitting in it for a really long time. Bring one. Kids like having something especially for them that looks exactly like what the adults are using.
- A tent (2. ). No longer can just a swag (3.) do for camping. Kids need to be contained at nighttime. Nick bought one that not only fit a double & single swag but also Lulu's pram!
- A camping light (4.). The number of times we have gone camping without one cannot be counted. A light is a must for late night feedings inside that tent.
- Extra sheets for when the baby vomits in her swag (5.). I did not bring any extra sheets so she ended up sleeping in our swag & then the pram for most of the night.

Do you have anything to add to the list?

Exhibitions, Climbing & Champagne

1. Lulu's first time at an exhibition opening Friday night. The exhibition was Wendy Sharpe 'Truth or Dare'. Very colourful paintings of voluptuous women.
2. Hiking Mt Gillen for my friends hens 'party' Saturday morning. This post has a photo of the whole mountain.
3. We made it!
4. Our picnic breakfast, with champagne, at the top of the mountain - The thought of this breakfast helped us get to the top.
5. Lulu & I on Mother's Day - I was spoiled with Aesop products and a cute vase. Lulu's personal shopper sure knows what I like. My mother-in-law & sister-in-law also spoiled me with a new clutch & my mum make me a beautiful card. Not to mention a lovely brunch & Nick cooking dinner.
6. Nick and Lulu working in the garden Sunday afternoon while it drizzled rain.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and a lovely Mother's Day x

And a big congratulations to Clare Bizley, winner of the postcard giveaway!!