Friday On My Mind

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Pizza

Today is one of THOSE days. Archie is sick so is clinging to me like I am a sinking ship. Where's Leonardo when you need him? After refusing food all morning he finally decided at midday he was starving. The sort of starving that causes a shrieking, desperate sound coming from him in a repetitive fashion...oh for about 15 minutes. In that time I decided to make him a pita pizza with tomato paste and some cheese. Of course the smell emanating from the oven was enough to make me starving as well so I made myself one with a few herbs added for flavour. Gosh I forgot just how damn good a margarita pizza can be! So in honour of my crap day with a sick, whiny toddler I have tracked down some pizza toppings to make your mouth water...mmmmmmmm.


Classic margharita

polenta pizza with pancetta and spinach

Thai chicken pizza with spicy peanut sauce

String cheese pizza with stuffed crust

grilled pizza with salami and mozarella

Monday, August 2, 2010

Dear Archie

Now you are one. Where did the last year go? It only feels like yesterday that we were sharing those intimate moments in the darkness when you had woken for a feed and fallen back asleep in my arms. Sometimes even though it was 3am I didn't rush back to bed. I sat there staring at you, memorising every idyllic feature of your perfect face. I kissed your eyes, your nose, your lips and your cheeks that are so adorable sometimes I just want to gobble them up. I breathed in your delicious scent that was so addictive it should be bottled, but if someone asked me what it smelt like I could not tell them. It is just you. Everything is perfect when you are asleep in my arms. What could possibly be wrong in the world? Nothing else matters outside that blissful cocoon of motherly love that is sometimes so overwhelming it takes your breath away and makes your heart beat really really fast.

And then you are awake. You are attached to my leg. Crying, whinging and sooking, yet I do not know what you want. What will make you happy? I try food and a bottle, I wipe your nose, change your nappy, I even stick your dummy in your mouth to encourage the sound of silence. I give in and pick you up. I stop what I am doing and give you my undivided attention. It is all that you wanted. You are smiling again. You take hold of my hands and put them together in a clapping motion for it makes you laugh. I forget that the house is a mess, that the emails are unread and that dinner is not yet thought of, but none of that matters. I am caught up in your curious world where every object offers an unrivaled fascination. I watch you take delight at the most innocent of things...a piece of fluff, a ball, a picture book. Your thoughts are so pure. Time passes and nothing has been achieved other than keeping you quite, still, happy. But it is all that I needed in that moment. You feel safe and every once in a while you will stop your exploring, wrap your arms around me and bury your face in my neck. Surely there is no better feeling?

It is time to sleep again. As is our routine, we lay down on the big bed for a nap. You do not fight me anymore. You lay your arm down on the pillow ready to wrap around the nook of my neck so you can play with my hair. You lie facing me, only centimeters away from my face. I close my eyes to encourage you to do the same, and after 3 verses of "Hush Little Baby" you are breathing deeply and your lashes are closed shut against those precious cheeks. Your fingers continue to twirl my hair. I open my eyes to watch you sleep. I stare at the features I know so well, never tiring of their shape or the blemishes that only a mother could love. There are things to be done on the other side of the door containing this blissful state of slumber and I know I must unravel myself without waking you to get my jobs done. But for a little while longer I do not move. I continue to stare at your perfect face and wonder with amazement how I created such a thing. How did I know love before this? I continue to lie there. Just for a little while longer...

Thursday, July 29, 2010

It's Party Time

Archie turns one on Sunday. As much as we were not going to make a fuss and keep things small, somehow the party grew to 35!! Now I am freaking out at hosting a party in our teeny tiny town house with the weather forecast less than ideal. This time last year I was waddling around with my ginormous belly approaching 42 weeks and fast becoming an expert on natural induction techniques. In the end intervention was the only way my precious 10pnd 7oz not so small bundle was going to make an entry into the world. This weekend will be simple. A celebration of our gorgeous boy turning one and also for me and our family making it through the first year of parenthood...in one piece!

When Archie is older I will attempt to become a little more creative with his birthday bashes...but in the meantime I will leave you with some yummy party inspirations that will hopefully inspire me in years to come.

Scissors Paper Cake

The City Cradle

Bella Grace Designs

Amy Atlas

Scissors Paper Cake

Alannah Rose

Aesthetic Nest Blog

Amy Atlas

Bubble & Sweet

Kitchen Travels Blog

Monday, July 26, 2010

Tour Lag

Last night was the final stage of the 2010 Tour de France. This means it is also officially the end of Tour-lag. Hello sleep!! My husband and I live for 3 weeks in July every year. We pick a few select stages we think will be worth watching live, go to bed at a reasonable hour and set our alarms for a less reasonable hour! The dulcet tones of Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwin of the SBS commentary team often accompany our sleep during those 3 weeks...as do midnight picnics! We hope to attend the 100th running of the TDF in 3 years time with the kids (is that crazy talk??). We hope our kids grow up to love cycling as much as we do. Archie has a trike for his first birthday next weekend (no pressure kiddo!!) ;)

To celebrate the end of the Tour for another year and the launch of my new business (watch this space), below are some delightful bike-related finds I have come across:

Cushion by zenthreads on Etsy

Wall art decal by WowWall on Etsy

Handcrafted journal by inblue on Etsy

Messenger bag by ikabags on Etsy

Cute bookmarks by girllovescrafts on Etsy

Retro hoodie by cloverthreads on Etsy

Wall art by Uncommon on Etsy

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Wedding Round Up

Well it's only been like 4 months since I last posted! Tut tut! The wedding completely consumed any spare minute I had which is not much running around after a 9 month old! But I am back and have lots of wedding pics to share. It was a stunning day in every way. The sun shone, guests ate, drank and danced the night away and well, quite frankly it was the best damn day of my life. It was so special having our kids there to share it with us and made it a real family occasion. What a celebration! Below is a sneak peak at the pro shots I will be posting shortly. Enjoy!