Pump It

I'm on a bit of a health kick at the moment - oh, who am I kidding, I'm always on some kind of health kick! I think this is essentially due to a combination of a genuine love of food, lack of willpower and struggle with vanity. I love to eat, I frequently overindulge and counteract this with mini health-kicks so I can still look somewhat the way I want to!

Further to this I'm seeing a Chinese herbalist, who has recommended I steer clear of dairy, protein and sugar. So basically everything I love eating. YAY!

I'm so NOT extreme about anything in life and you can very easily twist my arm on just about any issue, which is actually a quality I like about myself - I'm pretty easygoing. That said, I've been impressed with my ability to steer clear of most contraband most of the time these past few weeks.(Friday pizza nights not withstanding)

Further to nourishing my body food-wise, I've started exercising again! I have a complex relationship with exercise. I actually genuinely enjoy it but am inherently lazy ("easygoing"?) and tend not to make time for it as often as I should.

To counteract this, I decided to join a Mums and Bubs fitness group. This means I can take H, who can sometimes be difficult to entertain at home anyway, and meet other Mums while getting all the physical and mental benefits of a good work out. I'm also motivated to get up and go because I'm held accountable.

I've only been going for two weeks but I LOVE it!! I feel naturally energised, more confident and proud of myself for going. If you're interested, simply type "Mums and Bubs Group Fitness" into Google and you'll get a TON of results, or alternatively this link recommends some good class options.

Whenever I'm feeling uninspired, all I need to do is get some quick inspiration by looking at the Mayo Clinic's Seven Benefits of Exercise:

1: Exercise controls weight

2: Exercise combats health conditions and diseases

3: Exercise improves mood

4: Exercise boosts energy

5: Exercise promotes better sleep

6: Exercise puts the spark back into your sex life

7: Exercise can be fun

Yeah! Another excellent motivator is all the amazing exercise clothing out there at the moment. Hello, Lululemon, Lorna Jane and Nike! Here is some inspiration to get you started. 

 

Nike AirMax Shoes, $180

Lorna Jane Tights, $100

Lululemon Run Swiftly Top, $89

Happy excercising!

Z x

M.I.A

I've completely neglected this blog of late, focusing my attention on another project I'm hoping to get off the ground and generally just working and playing hard. I'm well and truly the mother of a toddler now, with my little girl turning two in September, and that brings with it some very unique rewards and challenges.

Still, I stumbled upon my blog today and had a read from a fresh perspective. It's funny (and often embarrassing!) to catch a glimpse of yourself from an outsider's point of view, but one thing I did realise was how cathartic it was for me to have a personal blog to vent on, and how much my writing has improved over time. I'm learning, gradually, to express myself with LESS words, a lesson that's long overdue!

On both the family front and the career front, we're embarking on a new phase. We're looking to expand our family - something we never even had to think about the first time around. This time, there's planning required, there are some physical and practical issues to consider. A whole new ball game. So I think there are some insights to be found there.

Meanwhile, I'm throwing myself back into the things I'm passionate about. I've realised that life is short - too short to spend not living it to the fullest! So there are a few little projects and adventures in the works.

Stay tuned - hopefully I can breathe fresh life and new possibilities into my little blog.

Z xx

I Wanna Be A Biker Chic

My basic fashion rule of thumb is that if these following three women are wearing it, I should be wearing it:

The ever-stylish Kate Bosworth

Model Mum Miranda Kerr

Fashion queen, Diane Kruger

I'm talking biker. It's been around for a few seasons now but this year it's all about brooding in black boots, leather jackets and lots of black, grey and my absolute favourite, maroon. You can not go wrong this winter with all black, all season, topped with a cute maroon beanie or scarf.

Anyway, in my quest for the ultimate biker chic look I set out yesterday in search of some flat biker boots (I have a healed, studded pair from ZARA). The winners, currently enjoying their first outing, are the below pair from Country Road:

Hello, lover. $249.

 I think I may wear these every day until this trend is over. I'm just that obsessed. If you're loaded, how about this pair from the iconic Mr Choo?

I KNOW RIGHT???

For those who don't want to invest in a $200+ pair, you can go past these puppies from The Iconic. Great for just one season.

The Iconic always has the goods

Alright, guys, I'm off to be hardcore.

Z xx

Profanities

In our house of late we've discussed introducing a family swear jar. The German and I swear more than your average inner-western Sydney couple and while we've discussed our language before it's never been quite so pertinent an issue as now, being that our daughter has turned into a parrot. Cue her dropping bombs left, right and centre. 

I'd have to say the worst thing about the whole baby-swearing thing is that H actually uses the words in context - which says loads for her intelligence but not much for my mothering skills. Playing with her toys she CONSTANTLY says "Oh God! Oh God! Ohhhhh gawwwwd!" which gives me great insight into what my own favourite phrase must be. The blocks fall down - "Oh God!" Bunny falls out of his bed - "Oh God!" She can't get the right shape into the right hole? Ohhhhhhh gawwwwwd!

Now the whole "God" thing doesn't really offend me, particularly given that I'm not religious and I'm not fifty, but it doesn't sound great coming from the mouth of someone who still wears a nappy. Still, I wasn't stressing over it until the latest milestone - "Oh shit!"

My darling daughter is clever enough to save this one for particularly frustrating moments, such as dropping her banana or falling over. "Oh SHIT!" she will cry. Which of course fills me with pride and gives me cause to pat myself on the back for the great job I'm doing raising her. 

So the words God, Shit, Bloody and of course the big one, F!@#, are banned in our house going forward. We're hoping she will "grow out of it," just as we're hoping she'll grow out of hitting and having so much energy. Time will tell.

Interestingly, today I quietly asked her if she had done a fart which caused her to giggle and scream "Fart! Fart! Fart!" Happily we were in public, hooray! We may have to adopt the term "Fluff" from here on in. You guys know where the party's at!

Z xx

The New Wiggles

Miss H and I have just returned home from an exceedingly fun morning singing and dancing to The Wiggles, live!!! This was the first show in the first tour of the new and improved Wiggles, with new members Lachy, Emma and Simon bringing the fun.

We went to see the final show of the original Wiggles back in December and, while it was fun and the end of an era, it was disappointing with a toddler. There was lots of talking and we were seated WAY back in the nosebleed section, struggling to see much at all. We ended up ducking out early, although I'm sure we would have stayed for an encore had we had older kids.

Today's show was at Revesby workers club (the drive being an experience in itself), and the set up was far better. There was plenty of floor space and it was a first come, first served scenario so parents and kids were packing into the open area and leaving the seats empty. When the Wiggles came on stage, it felt like they were close enough to touch, even though we were towards the back of the floor.

If you think you've seen something cuter than your toddler daughter dancing her heart out to The Wiggles, you haven't. It's just not possible.

Dorothy and Wags were as energetic as ever

As I love to judge and opine, I was very eager to get the low down on these "new" Wiggles. All in all, I was pretty impressed - Simon has a lovely baritone voice and friendly demeanor, Lachy falls asleep with the same finesse as Jeff and even more enthusiasm. I'm still not sold on Emma, the first female Wiggle, and not only for the fact that I feel very attached to the male-ness of the Wiggles - her voice isn't as strong as the male voices and she plays the sweet, cute girl role, which I wish she wouldn't. If we're going to give kids a female role model in the Wiggles, can she at least be brash and ballsy? But she might grow on me.

All in all we had a GREAT time, the highlight of which was when we realised Jeff and Murray Wiggle were IN THE AUDIENCE. I'm not going to lie, I shrieked "MURRAY!" It was amazing.

RECOMMENDED, guys.

Z xx

COVET

Today I met a little girl who was wearing the SWEETEST canvas shoes - in my all-time favourite print, leopard. I struck up a conversation with her Mum to find out where I could find these little kicks. Turns out they are by super cute Aussie label Jonah and the Girl.

Jonah and the Girl's "Bertie" Sneaker

Shoe-mad Mums like myself can pick these up on the brand's website here, or at the fabulous Billie Lou in Leichhardt. 

Meanwhile, my man is under strict instructions to purchase me my very own leopard-print sneakers (among other things) when he heads to the U.S. in April. Looking forward to matching mother-daughter dressing when these babies arrive...

You'll find a similar version at Polyvore.

Z xx

When Spending is Saving

As most people ("everyone") know I'm somewhat of a ("prolific") shopping addict. My shopping addiction peaks in late January/February and late August/September each year when all the best Northern Hemisphere sites are having their winter/summer sales. This is, of course, the best time to stock up for our upcoming Southern Hemisphere season change. 

Kids sales are even better because their clothes tend to be less fashion-y and thus less likely to be out of style by the time winter rolls around. Since becoming a Mum, NH Sales Season has become a time of year that is equally damaging to my credit card as it is my marriage. Luckily my husband knew all about my spending habits when he agreed to marry me so he tends to calm down quite quickly.

Anyway, I'm pretty excited about the lush winter goodies purchased at 40-70% off that are heading my way as I write. Here's a peek at my purchases, bought from petithood, Niddle Noddle and Orfeo design.

Little Duckling Cardigan

Album di famiglia Cardigan

Molly Dress with matching leggings

Soft gallery top

Kidscase chunky knit dress

Knitted alpaca vest

Jacquard Knit Dress

Bergstein Black Fleece Lined Wellies

This hoard set me back quite a bit (probably up around the $400 AUS mark) but these are high quality items that will be worn ALL winter - the only other things I'll buy will be some cheap leggings from Next and Kmart, and a WHOLE lotta socks. And when I think of how much I saved, well, it's like I didn't spend anything at all!

Any fave sites you'd like to let me in on?

Z x