Birthmarks

I just came across this and I had to share.

Like most mothers I'm forever complaining about that little pouch of leftover not so nice looking skin on my belly. My stretch marks aren't that bad as they've faded quite well over the years. But it's definitely the one part of my body that I'm more self conscious of, but at the same time I look at them as reminders of carrying my beautiful babies and just how amazing and special that experience was.


Do you loathe or love your sweet reminders that you carried a baby in your belly?

Off to the show!

I'm taking the boys off to the annual Mudgeeraba Show today. We've gone pretty much every year since Cooper was born and I used to go most years as a young girl myself. It's a great day and I think this year Blake will enjoy it and appreciate it even more as he's that little bit older.


The weather is perfect, unlike last year. The sun is shining and it's not going to be a mud pit like it is most years.

I'm sure as soon as the boys see the rides that's all they'll want to do but hopefully I can drag them away long enough to check out some of the shows in the arena plus they'll love the baby animals just like they did last year. Oh and of course the horses and tractors will also be a hit.

What are you doing on this glorious Sunday?

I think I'm going go indulge and get myself some of this-

Are you ready for the school holidays ?

It's the last week of Term 2 here for my little Prep boy. I still can't believe he's almost half way through his first year of formal school. Scary stuff. This year has flown. In fact the last couple of weeks have flown too and I've been a slack blogger and haven't posted much. The days are getting shorter and colder here so by the time I get the kids in to bed of a night time I've been in bed and snoozing shortly after. It's the one place I can get comfy with my back, all snuggled up with my wheat pack and cup of tea.

So as this week goes on I've been thinking about how I'm going to keep my 5 year old amused for 2 weeks during school holidays. I've already organised a few play dates and we'll definitely be making a trip to the movies to see Cars 2. I just hope the weather is nice and we can hopefully get a few trips to the park in and maybe even a few bike rides. Although we've got plenty of craft, new books, board games and Lego to occupy us if the weather is miserable.

What have you got planned for the holidays? Are you going away or staying home?

Check out my gorgeous cowboy and his school mates. They did a country line dance in front of junior assembly. It was so adorable.





Oh and of course I have to share a photo of Blake too so he doesn't miss out. This is Blake and Kai one of the younger brothers of Coopers friend from school. I've been lucky to make some really nice friends this year and Sonja is one of them. We took the younger boys for a babycino the other day after school drop off.


They are such gorgeous boys.

Have a great week everyone!!

Thought for Friday

Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

Reminiscing..... Blake's nursery

A few of my favourite bloggers have been displaying their kids nurseries and rooms lately and it got me thinking about my boys room. We are are only renting at this new place so it's been really hard to decorate their room and add my own style to the room because there isn't a lot I can do with it considering I have to work with the existing hangers in the walls and now that they're sharing a room well that brings an entirely new issue as well, space and the limited amount I have to work with. To make the transition a fun and exciting one for them I bought new beds and new linen to make it as special as possible for them. And it definitely worked as they love their new room, they love sharing the space. Now if only I could get them to sleep in there at the same time. Argghhh, that's an entirely different post for another day. So I still have a few final touches that I want to add to their room for it to be complete and I'll get some happy snaps and share it this week.

In the meantime I thought I'd share what Blake's nursery looked like when he was a tiny newborn. As soon as I found out I was having another blue bundle of joy I knew straight away that I wanted to decorate his room with a nautical theme. I love the ocean, sailing, shells, fish, birds ahh you get the drift. The sea has always had an amazing affect on me so I thought it would be great to play around with the idea for my new baby boys room. I had to make use of the dark timber cot and change table that I had originally used for Cooper's nursery so I kept the theme going with a new bookshelf in mahogany to match and added all the elements to give it a nautical theme.





























I was so in love with how it had turned out I remember laying on the floor in his room heavily pregnant dreaming of being in a sailboat somewhere out to sea or walking along a beach collecting shells with my little boys.

This week I'm grateful for.... you

This week I'm grateful for you. My readers. The lovely support, comments, advice and for just being you. The blogging world has opened up my eyes to so much beauty and beautiful people which in today's world is so rare. There is such a family feel to this blogging world and I'm so happy and grateful to be a part of it. I first started this blog as a little place for me, an outlet for all the happenings and going ons in my life and it's become so much more than that. Plus it's cheaper than therapy haha!!

Oh and did you notice to the right...... 100 followers woohooo!!! I'm grateful for every single one of you.


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I'm linking up with Maxabella Loves this week for all things grateful.


Have a fantastic weekend everyone and thank for all of the support and encouragement it means a lot.

Are you 'fine' ?

I'm sure almost everyone can relate to this.


Do you find yourself always answering - How are you? With 'fine' when in reality you're far from it? I do this all the time. We lie a lot don't we. You know what some days I am just 'fine' but lately I'm the furtherest from 'fine' you can get. A good friend asked me yesterday how I was and I answered with my standard 'fine' and obviously my face told another story and this good friend knew I was far from 'fine' and asked me again and I literally broke down there and then in the carpark and let it all out. Gosh it felt good. Embarrassing but good because for once I wasn't lying to myself. I always put on such a good front and most people wouldn't have a clue that I'm going through the most challenging time in my entire life thus far. The last twelve months have broken me down on every level possible. Emotionally, spiritually, mentally, physically you name it I've been broken down and I feel stripped bare of all my armour and this wall that I normally put up to protect myself is no longer there. I want to scream from the top of the highest building 'someone help me' because I'm barely surviving and I don't know where to start to get back to the Beck that everyone knows and the Beck that I want to be. The mother that my children deserve.

Did you know that those who appear to be really strong..really are the most sensitive? Did you know that those who spend all their time protecting others...sometimes really need someone to protect them? Did you know that three of the hardest things to say are: I love you, I'm sorry & Help me.. ♥

Have you ever been so drained of everything and feel stripped bare?

How did you get your 'light' back?

Wordless Wednesday - Cutting the cake

Linking up with Faith Hope & a whole lotta Love

Sunday session down at Byron

One of my most favourite places in the world is just over an hour away from my place. Byron Bay!! I know, so lucky hey? I just love that place. I have so many fond memories of this place. In particular with an amazing guy I was once with. Byron Bay is just such a magical place.


So when my brothers girlfriend invited me down to spend the day with her, my brother and a small group of friends I jumped at the opportunity as I hadn't been down for a long while. She wanted to celebrate her birthday with her nearest and dearest. We had the morning at the markets. I got a few goodies including a scented candle to add to my collection as well as a funky handmade handbag which I scored for a bargain price of $15. And I couldn't resist an amazing silver ring which had to come home with me too.


Then we headed to an amazing cafe called 'Treehouse on Belongil' just down the road which had a menu straight from heaven. I had the most delicious tofu burger with a satay sauce that was very close to the one my Mum makes. Everyones food was super impressive, as was the service. This gorgeous cafe had such a nice feel to it. It felt like you were in another country. Hard to explain and unfortunately I didn't take any photos so you'll just have to take my word for it or check out their website above. Either that or if you're ever down that way, definitely pay Treehouse a visit.

The day was topped off with some ice cold beers in the sun and then a lovely drive home. Mum and Dad were kind enough to take my boys for the day so they'd had a blast themselves spending quality time with Nan and Pappy having sushi for lunch and going down to the beach for some kite flying. Seems we all had a lovely Sunday.

Back to reality today and with a massive thump for me. Sometimes having some 'time off' is harder than being amongst reality, don't you agree?

If only reality included a Sunday session down in Byron every weekend.

What's your favourite thing to do on a Sunday? With or without the cherubs in tow.

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I'm grateful for.....

I'm grateful for quite a lot this week.

I'm grateful for beautiful winter days with crisp mornings that warm up to be glorious days here on the coast. I'm even grateful when it cools off in the evening and we get the most amazing sunsets ever here in Winter. Sunrises and sunsets are two of my all time favourite things. Even Blake appreciated them this week. We had a glorious sunset at about 4-30pm the other afternoon as a storm was rolling in and the sky grew darker yet this intense red and orange sunset appeared out from behind the darkness. It was truly gorgeous. Look Mum, take a photo of the bewdiful sky as he said on the way home from kindy. I think he might be a sky gazer like his Mummy. I used to spend hours as a young child staring at the sky, you know making shapes out of the clouds. And I love laying down and staring at a sky lit with stars on a clear night. I did manage to snap a few rather bad quality photos on my iPhone as Blake begged me to take a photo of the 'bewdiful sky'. You see he was in the car with me the other day when I took a photo of the rainbows. So I'm sure he thinks its just something that Mummy does now. Very naughty to even be taking photos whilst driving but I assure you I didn't take my eyes off the road. Hence the poor quality.








I'm also grateful for answers. See post below. I've battled with a bad back for yeas and years now as I had a fall on rocks when I was about 12/13 years old. But ever since I had my youngest it has gotten quite a lot worse and the last twelve months have been unbearable. It's been a LONG process to get here. I've tried everything. Acupuncture, Physiotherapy, Chiro, Hydrotherapy, all types of massage, yoga, meditation. You name it I've done it. Admit idly some things have definitely given me temporary relief but not for long. I've had x-rays, CT scans and two MRIs to finally discover that my herniated disc in L4/5 is unfortunately not going to get better and surgery is my only option. To cut a very long story short I've gone from specialist to specialist from November to now. Meanwhile going through a marriage separation, moving house, my oldest son starting school and in incredible amounts of pain with terrible sciatica and been dosed up on ridiculous amounts of pain killers I finally came to this Wednesday just gone. I met with the Neurosurgeon who'll be doing my operation - a micro discectomy. And finally I have answers. I'm now officially on the waiting list and I'll be having my operation within 4-10 weeks. So I'm very grateful to finally have an answer. Hallelujah!!


Joining in with Maxabella Loves to think and talk about gratefulness.

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The light at the end of the tunnel

Finally I have sone answers on my spinal surgery. I had the appointment with the Neurosurgeon on Wednesday at the hospital. So my rainbow pics for Wordless Wednesday were quite appropriate as I think I can finally see the rainbow appearing through the clouds and fog. The surgeon assessed me and agreed that surgery was necessary and fairly important that it happens sooner rather than later. I was so relieved as I really was thinking worse case scenario of having to wait 12 months longer. And I'm barely coping now so that kind of news would have really set me off. Anyway very long story short they've put me on the surgery list and the wait is only 4-10 weeks. Which is such fantastic news. I broke down and cried and actually hugged her. So it's actually going to be the head of neurosurgery at the Gold Coast Hospital who'll be doing my operation which is great because she really put my mind at ease as I'm very anxious about the actual operation and of course recovery time. I've never even had a stitch, well apart from in my hoo ha after giving birth so it's pretty big for me. I explained my hesitation about even having surgery but as she said the risks of not having it are higher than those of having it. So now I just have to prepare with my family and friends with organising the kids. And mentally prepare for being put 'under' arrgghhh!! I just keep looking towards the future now though and knowing I'll hopefully be pain free and it's time to start taking care of myself for once.

So Wednesday night the boys go to their Dads so I celebrated with a few friends who came over for dinner. It was such a nice night. I'm so lucky to have some great friends around me who truly care.

Then even better news I actually got a sleep in on Thursday morning. I crawled out of bed at about 9am to make a cup of tea and heat some banana bread and stayed in bed until about 10am. It was heaven.

Could you get a better looking bedside table after 9 hours of sleep. Bliss!


Don't worry the clock is wrong. It needs new batteries. Although it would have been nice if I was still in bed at 2-15pm. Huh I wish.

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Wordless Wednesday - double rainbow

Join in for Wordless Wednesday over at Faith Hope & a whole lotta Love

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad