Frockin' up - girls dinner

My apologies for the lack of 'frockin' up' posts since we moved but our house hasn't had a full length mirror. I finally purchased a mirror, picking the plainer one because it made me look skinner, but then it took me a little longer to install. But it is installed now & Wednesday night we had a girls dinner at Casa Nostra. This is what I wore... 

Jacket - Anthropologie
Dress - Talulah
Tights - Razamatazz
Shoes - Aldo

This dress was a birthday gift from my mother-in-law, she has a fabulous eye for picking great clothes that fit, and while not a maternity dress, I did wear this dress at my baby shower while I was in labour! I love a versatile dress. You can read our birth story here.

We're heading to Adelaide today for two weeks. I will endeavour to keep posting, but it may be a little more sporadic than usual.

New music & some link love

As well as clean while Lulu was at childcare, I also popped into town & picked up a coffee & the new Yen magazine which comes with a free cd. New music. We love music in our house so new music is always welcome. My favourite track on the cd is Home by the Falls. 


Speaking of things I like, here are links to some things around the net I have been enjoying this week...


Romance was Born Willy Wonka inspired collection - The Vine announced 'Romance was Born make work wear for the chocolate factory'. The psychedelic prints are something else.


A brick wall & staircase made out of Lego - imagine your parents building you a loft out of lego. Awesome.


A critique of the TV show girls - a comedy, not quite the voice of a generation.


Two simple ways to save your relationship - I like the notebook idea the best for the simplicity of discussing issues at the end of the day, but I'm not sure about having a 'book of grievances'

Mum guilt & a clean house

I felt a little, well more than a little 'mum guilt' dropping Lulu at childcare yesterday. I didn't have to work but to keep the place we have to pay for the childcare. Since we were paying for the day anyway, a chance to have Lulu looked after while I got some uninterrupted cleaning done was too good to pass up. We haven't had time to do housework since we moved into this house nearly a month ago. Between unpacking boxes, finishing up at the old house & work there just hasn't been the time. So off to childcare she went. I got a tone done. A few loads of washing, clean sheets, vacuumed floor, cleaned the dried spew of the leather couches, etc, etc. All the fun stuff. 

And do you know what? When I went to collect Lulu from childcare (just after lunch) she really wasn't bothered. She'd had a play, some food, a nap and was back to play. Going home with mum was way more boring than playing with the cool toys at childcare. But I still felt a little guilty, to be honest, more from the fact that I liked the chance to get some things done, than from actually leaving her.   

Have you experienced 'mum guilt' lately?

Pj Day

Sometimes you just need a Pj day. Lulu & I had one yesterday. We both were still getting over our colds and it was so cold outside that we snuggled on the couch for most of the day. She had so much to tell me. Chattering away. I wish I knew what she was saying. She stares intently at you and chatters & chatters. And giggles. She's just started to giggle. It is the cutest thing. 

Lulu's top is Bonds, a hand me down from my boss's son & my Pj pants are from Sussan. 

Chilly Old Weekend

It was a chilly old weekend here in Alice Springs. Minus 3 each night, with it only reaching 0 at 9am Saturday morning. This baby, the gas heater below, got a fair workout. We unpacked many boxes. Set up the lounge room, I found a place for my jewllery & found my lipsticks & scarfs I'd 'lost' in the sea of boxes. I purchased some lovely hoop earings at this jewllery sale.  

We started the weekend with many cups of coffee 

and ended with oysters and champagne. Not too shabby. 

And while I did exercise Friday morning, the weekend was a lost cause. Onto next week!

Mad Men Season 5

Remember my Gilmore Girls obsession while I was pregnant?(reading back on this post I downplayed the obsession A LOT)
Well, guess who made it to Mad Men? Rory Gilmore. She appears in the last few episodes of season 5 as the wife of Pete's train friend who he ends up having a steamy affair with (I promise I'm not giving anything away here!) and more gossip to follow... They are seeing each other in real life! Cute! 


I know I'm a little late on this one, but I do have a small baby. Though doesn't that mean I should be spending more time cruising the internet for gossip & watching TV?


Photo from here

black jewls

How cute is this skull ring? I have been oogling it for a while now. I love how tiny it is. My very talented friend Jewls makes stirling silver jewellery under her label black jewls and this Saturday morning she's having a sale! Come by 3 McKay St between 9:30 & 11:30 & pick up something fabulous. 

Check out more of her jewellery here and for those not where we are you can purchase her jewllery here

PS this is the last chance to purchase black jewls in Alice Springs!!

Crack of dawn

Sunrise as view through our back door

I did it! I made it out of bed this morning & did a session of the 30 day shred - Gillian kicked my butt. Almost didn't make it up, but as I lay in bed I checked my email & received this comment on yesterday's post from Briana & I knew I had to get up. I'm so glad I did, I feel so much better. 

Last night I did the shred which combines strength, cardio & abs and I did mountain beginner yoga from this app. I swear the yoga was more punishing than the shred! 

I am loving this new routine. I love routines, am so glad we have started a routine. They aren't just for babies. Do you love routine? 

Shifting the bulk aka losing the baby weight

To be fair, I have lost 8kg in the four months since the birth of my baby, BUT 7 of those were within the first month, so it doesn’t really seem like I’ve lost any weight. I still can’t fit into my old jeans and to compensate I must admit I’ve bought bigger ones. I’m not feeling the best about myself right now & all I can say is that thank goodness it isn’t summer. It’s much easier to hide unwelcome bulk in the winter!

So I’m stepping it up. The exercise that is. It’s time to introduce more cardio into my day, everyday. We’ve worked out a share system where Nick will take Lulu for an hour or so after work Mondays and Wednesdays so I can exercise & I’ll take her Tuesdays and Thursdays so he can exercise. This gets me guaranteed cardio on these days. The other days I’m going to have to bite the bullet & get up at 6 so I can exercise before Lulu & Nick wake up. Cardio in the early morning then running with Lulu mid-morning will hopefully shift some of this bulk. I’ve made the promise to you so I can’t back out now…

Sick

Lulu & I are both sick this weekend. I have a cold & a horrible rash which covers most of my body. It appears to be an allergic reaction to something unknown according to the surgeon & his second consult I saw at the ER this morning (there is no after hours clinic in Alice Springs & I wanted to make sure it wasn't something infectious). Lulu has an upper respiratory infection which the hospital wants to monitor closely so it doesn't turn into bronchitis. We have a follow up appointment for her at the peads clinic tomorrow. 

Poor mite had her 4 month needles on Thursday then came down with a cold Friday & is still unwell. It's hard listening to her all blocked up & snotty. Does anyone have any tricks for getting snot out of a baby's nose? We've been using FESS saline spray & a tissue & running the vapouriser with vicks 24/7, but she's still really blocked up.

No exercise stats this week as between work, doctors appointments, unpacking & cleaning the old place there has been no time at all to exercise.

Teardrop Trailer

Last week Pip wrote this post on Just B about adorable teardrop trailers and it reminded me that this time last summer we were camping in Nick's mum's teardrop trailer, in CANADA. So cozy. So many burgers. So much ice-hockey (Yes, ice-hockey in summer, go Canucks!).

See the trailer here and our camping adventures here & here. 

Exercise stats - Week 4

Photo of Annie Meyer Hill taken on Tuesday's run

I'm a little late with the exercise stats this week, so here goes...


Sunday - 2km - Can I really count our walk into town for brunch as exercise? 

Monday - 3.8km walking 


Tuesday - 2.9km Week 4 C25K running, 3.33km walking


Wednesday - Day 7 30 day shred.


Thursday -  Fist half day back at work


Friday - First full day back at work


Saturday - 3.63km Week 4 C25K running


Total kms - 12.33km

Great day at the Track

Lulu with her Grandpa

Over the long weekend Lulu attended her first Finke Desert Race. The race is held each year, with cars and dirtbikes making the 250km journey to the Finke township where they camp for the night and then race back to Alice Springs. We all were up early the first day to see the cars leave for Finke at 7:30am. Boyed by good company, coffee and fresh hot donuts, we stayed out at the track to see the bikes leave as well. Lulu slept so much while we were there we just had to return to the track the next day to see if she would repeat her epic sleeptime, but alas, it wasn't meant to be. She had much fun playing on her travel change mat and running her fingers and feet through the dirt.

See my previous posts about Finke here, here, here and if you're really keen here.

PS no one was injured in the crash below

First day at Childcare

Today was Lulu's first day at Childcare, well her first half day. Childcare in Alice Springs is so hard to find. The waiting lists are closed at most centres. At one centre they closed the list in July 2011 and they haven't had a place open up for the people on the list yet. Crazy.

We were just lucky that a new, small, centre opened about a month ago, a few streets away from our new house. I called at just the right time, when they still had a few places left and Lulu made it in. Lulu will be able to go one day a week and then spend the other day with her grandma. Perfect. 

This morning I packed her little backpack with her spare clothes & bottles (completely unorganised, nothing labelled) and dropped her off. She was so taken by all the activity of a new space, her eyes wide following the action. I left quickly, knowing that she was in good hands. Mid-morning I received an txt photo from the centre with a picture of her fast asleep. So cute. Lulu only stayed for a half day for her first day, my parents picked her up and looked after her for the afternoon. I arrived home from work to a happy, cuddly baby. 

PS. This article titled 'Daycare is my choice not a necessity' by Brandee is fantastic. Sums up my feelings on childcare exactly.

The old and the new

What a week.... we moved, I started back at work, I started this internet course, Lulu had bad teeth trouble, my parents arrive to stay with us & Nick's now left to film the Finke Desert Race. If you need me, I'll be unpacking.

Frockin' up - Mother's Group

My friend & I started our own mother's group. We each invited a few friends who all have babies within one or two month's age of our babies and we meet each Thursday for coffee. The first week 10 mums & babies showed up! Amazing. It's great to be able to chat about the babies & how we're all coping. A few of the mums have older kids, which is great, as they have a lot more advice to give. If you have just had a baby I really encourage you to seek out any chance to connect with other mums & if the new mums programs in your area suck, just ask a few of the mums to have a coffee with you. You never know, they just might come. 


This is what Lulu & I wore:

On me: Top - Bluenotes, Jeans - Cotton On, Shoes - Toms.
On Lulu: - Top Kmart, Leggings - Kmart, Socks - Bonds

Exercise Stats - Week 3

The Kmart carpark as seen on one of our walks around town

Sunday - rest day

Monday - Day 6 30 Day Shred plus 2.58km walking

Tuesday - Week 4 C25Km 2.78km plus 6.71km walking

Wednesday - 1.61km walking - Is it cheating to record the kms just walking around town? 

Thursday - 8.42km walking


Friday - 5.07km walking


Saturday - Moving Day!


Total - 24.34kms


Did well with keeping active, but more aerobic fitness is needed next week.

Saturday Street Art

Brown Street, Alice Springs

New House

In other news, we bought a new house. I can't believe how quickly this all has happened. We went to a open inspection the weekend before we went to Adelaide and now, a month later, the place is ours. Incredible. We move this weekend. I barely have time to put out a load of washing and we have to pack up a whole house and move in one weekend?