Farewell to Summer!! :)

Farewell to beautiful long hot days!  To bbq's and picnics, to beaches and lakes, swimming and sprinklers, sitting in the shade of a big tree just relaxing with a giant bit of watermelon. 

Farewell to kids in just their nappies (if those even stayed on) running around the back yard, digging in the sandpit, picking the fresh strawberries, fighting the birds for the plums and raspberries, watering the garden and any kid that got in the way.

Farewell to cold spaghetti and colder ice blocks, dinner on the porch, evening walks through clouds of midgies, ice creams melting over little hands before they can be eaten, singlets, shorts and jandals!

Farewell too, to sweltering nights that make sleep impossible, and humid days that make relaxing impossible, and flies and mosquitoes, sunburn and peeling noses!!

While summer has been lovely (not so much for farmers) i'm more than ready for some cooler nights, and warm winter layers.  Ready for fort building in the lounge (i'll even let the boys join me if they're lucky) and cuddling on the couch watching movies! 

Nice hot casseroles for dinner and pancakes and french toast for breakfast!  Wrapping up in blankets with a green tea and a good book, or early morning cartoons!

Autumn and Winter??  Bring it On!!!

Renee  :)

'Not all who wander are lost'

21 months old!! :)

Once again i find myself about to update my growing baby toddler.  And i have to say, time finally seems to be slowing down a smidgen for us....Possibly because the terrible twos are approaching and Lachy senses this, and has commenced tanty training??
I don't know, but i'm thankful that he still (for the moment anyway) is a fairly easy going little chap!! (Did i just jinx myself??)

Anywho! 
My boy is an acrobat, jumping on furniture, toys, the folded washing pile and any person that sits still for too long!  He has also found the bonus of the foot stool, and carries it around with him in case he sees something he 'needs' that's out of his reach....clever, but flippen' annoying!!

He's become a master at finding and removing all the vege's from his dinners, and although i'm slowly mastering the 'hidden vege' approach, it's not all that successful!  I swear this kid has a sensor on his tongue for all vegetables, that repels as soon as it senses one!

I was gunna write about his vocabulary development (he's getting so good with his animal sounds now, but his favorite word 'Truck' has taken over his brain for now and that's all we hear! (Sometimes it's 'go-go-go truck' and sometimes 'choo-choo truck)

Imitation is the name of the game now, with mini-me copying everything, from rocking his 'baby' (aka - anything small enough for him to pick up) to putting things in the rubbish (yay!)!!  Trying so hard to be careful in all we say and do now!

This wee chap loves his brother, and gives lotsa kisses and choke holds hugs!!  He's also started sharing his toys with Olly (or Olly's his new hiding place so no one takes the toys off him, take it as you will)  When Olly cries, Lachy's usually the first one to get to him and he'll often try to put his dummy back in for him (mostly up his nose) or rock the bouncer til we get there.  On the odd scary day he'll try to pick him up when we're not paying attention, thank goodness Olly's too heavy!!

And last but not least, due to constant rashes from cloth diapers in the heat (and possibly all the sand he eats), monkeys now in a low-grade attempt at potty training.  I made him some training knickers out of some teeny lil undies and some chopped up inners from our cloth naps and he runs around in those for most the day!!  He loves it!!  The knickers absorb exactly one wee, after which Lachy comes to me to show me his wet knickers!  He's still not too keen on the toilet and he hasn't actually gone on it yet, but he knows when he's wet, 9 times out of 10 he 'tell's' me he's done poos, and he'll happily go to the toilet to wipe his bottom and change his knickers!(Yay!)

So that's my boy!!  Hopefully the tanty training stays at just that...training, cause i'm not ready for the full force that could be my sweet child!!

Love you Monkey bum!!

Toodles!!  :)

'Live for a Life without Regret'

The ACV Experiment!

Introducing my next experiment!!  I Love Experiments!!  (Especially if there's a potential for a close up pic...*huge.amount.of.sarcasm*)

Unpasteurized DYC Apple Cider Vinegar

 

Acne, acid reflux, dandruff, obesity, high blood pressure, chronic fatigue syndrome, sunburn, yeast infections, pneumonia, allergies, warts, fleas, dirty toilets.
This is just a small list of ailments, that have reportedly been cured, for centuries, by Apple Cider Vinegar!(ACV) (sounds like the beginnings of a bad high school essay!)

Anywho!!  Looks like a challenge to me...

Challenge accepted!!

I'm going to pick 4 things that are doable options for me, and i'm going to trial them for a maximum of 1 month! So i don't bore anyone with constant close ups of me or the kitchen sink every week, il just do small updates each week with before and after pics at the end of the 4th week, and i'l introduce a new one each week!

Week 1 - The Toner

Love this little bottle!

Yup, i'm sure we've all noticed by now that i have a real complex about my skin! Now that i have the cleansing and moisturizing under control, it's time to move on to the Toner!!

With it's awesome antiseptic and antibacterial properties, unpasteurized ACV also has the perfect pH to balance your skin, therefore making it an ideal toner....Reeeeeaaallly....

After reading a few reports about the stinging/burning/redness/hideous odor, i started to think that maybe this wasn't the best challenge to start with (and my loo really could use a heavy duty clean), but then i remembered that i'm s'posed to be this hard core experimentee, and off i went to the kitchen cupboard!

*I'd like to stop here with a word of warning to anyone keen to follow in my footsteps. Don't open the bottle and take a good whiff with the expectation of being pleasantly surprised. You wont be. No one likes this smell. No one*

I mixed up a ratio of about 1 part ACV to 3 parts water, just because i've got pretty hardy skin, and after washing the Evoo off this morning, i slathered on the ACV Toner before moisturizing.
I'm not really sure about whether i'm doing this right. Some folk say wash it off after applying, some say wash it off after an hour. I decided to join the 'don't-care-if-i-smell' crew and just left it on there to keep my moisturizer company! I'm pleased to report that my face is still intact, with no burns or even mild redness anywhere to be seen. What i have noticed is that my skin felt nice and fresh and smooth, and only stunk for about an hour (that i noticed, anyway).

So that's all i have to report for this one! Next week, i'l introduce the second challenge and do a quick update on this one too, so stay tuned.....



Renee  :)

'Not all who wander are lost'

7/52

My Handsome Lil' Lads :)
LOVE these faces beyond belief!!


Lovin' the summer fruit!! Watermelon's just the tastiest thing ever round these parts!!

Lachy

Tummy time!!  The trick is to get a pic before the drool starts hanging....although i think that probably adds character...it adds something anyway!

Olly

 "A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2013"

Linkin' up with Jodi @ Che and Fidel



Renee  :)

'Not all who wander are lost'

Experiment 626 - The End!

Yup, it is done!!  

I have completed 1 whole month of slathering my face in oil with the hopes of achieving a smooth, soft, clear, oil-free complexion!!  Did i achieve these things???

Smooth skin?? CHECK!  

Soft skin??  CHECK!

Clear skin??  Kinda CHECK!

Oil-free Complexion??  Enormous CHECK!!!

Pimples??  Barely a one!!  The one that i did get cleared up in about 2 days!!

Reduction of lines??  Well, not that i noticed :(  

Overall, does my skin look better?? YUP!!  Definitely!  It's never been healthier and nicer looking (well, since i was about 1 anyway!) and i do notice a wee 'glow'!!  Aside from working the kinks out and getting my potion right (3 parts Evoo to 1 part CO to cleanse, and straight Evoo to moisturize overnight) my skin has taken to this experiment like a donut to my thighs!!

The Downsides??

Lets start this with the obvious terror i felt about an imminent outbreak of spots....Unfounded (Yaaay!).  I had a few pimples coming up before i started, but they were gone in about 2 days! I think i got 1 pimple the whole experiment, and it cleared in a couple of days!

Mess factor??  Well, its not as simple as lathering in the shower, but it's not much harder.  Just slather it on, massage it in (in the shower if you so wish) steam it with a flannel, then wipe off! Easy!  Unless you drop it, that makes things considerably messier...i only did this once the odd time though!

The only other down side i can think of is if your going away over night.  It's not the easiest to cart round with you (i like to pack excessively light), and you've gotta warn your hosts that the swamp monster heading to the loo over night is harmless!

So, that's about it!  Now what??

Well, i'm so in love with this cleanse that i've given away/thrown out my collection of washes and scrubs and toners etc.  I will be continuing with my Oil Cleanse as a part of my daily routine from now on!! (I think i was sold after week 2 to be honest!!)

To anyone else wanting to try this, DO IT!!  It's just fantastic!! (although i have to add that i have pretty hardy skin, and no idea how sensitive skin might react to it! Maybe a spot test to start if your worried though!)

And now that this is done, tomorrow begins my next experiment....

Experiment ACV!!

See ya tomorrow!!

Renee  :)

'Not all who wander are lost'

Ta-Daaaa!!!

Welcome to my New Fit!!  Hope ya's love it as much as i do!!  Still the odd tweak here and there to make, and i'm still working on (Bahahahaha, who am i kidding, Hubby's working on) some of the pages but essentially, this is me!!

Welcome to my Wonderland!!

Renee  :)

'Not all who wander are lost'

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes...

Yup, my blog will be changing Again over the next couple of days!!  Hopefully it all goes smoothly and i don't break anything, but let's face it, Hubby will probably be doing most of it anyway, with me being a self appointed supervisor! (My most coveted job!)

The reason for the change??  I found the 'Shoes that Fit', and i want my blog to reflect that!  So bare with me as i nip and tuck away at things, and in a day or so All Shall be Revealed!! (Dum dum duuuuuum!!!)

Thanks for hanging in there with me :)


Toodles!!  :)

'Live for a Life without Regret'

Experiment 626 - week 3

Week 3 and i'm still going strong!!  To be honest though, my skin doesn't look any different from last week that i can tell!  I still think it's looking the best it has in years though!

To touch, my skin is soooo much softer, and this week after the introduction of a scrub...Oh My Gosh!!
I'm not sure how two of the worst foods in the kitchen can do it, but when applied topically, oil and sugar....AMAZING SOFTNESS FACTOR!!!

I'm serious!  I was so shocked i may have shed a wee tear of happiness (yeah, i was home alone and sleep deprived, but hey!)  I've only used it twice this week, but i can 100% assure you that i will be continuing to use it twice a week!!

Any who, as for the oil cleanse bits, i'm still using 3 parts Evoo and 1 part CO, and for the over night soak i'm down to using straight Evoo, as my skin was still dry in the mornings!(Such a novelty having dry skin for the moment!)

Pic time!

So as you can see, aside from light differences in the pics themselves, not a lot's happening, but that's ok, 'cause it's not deteriorating at all either!!
  I'll be continuing on with the same potions for the final week, and looking forward to comparing a before and finished photo!! 

'Til Friday!!


Toodles!!  :)

'Live for a Life without Regret'

Baking with Mum!!

I'm just loving how interested monkeys getting in everything we do!! He wants to help with everything (dishes included - for now anyway) and is always walking around with his foot stool or table (yes, he carries his table around) to see if he can reach and help with whatever we're doing!!

When i decided to make a cake (Shock, i know!) the table came out and monkey decided to help!!

He's just such a good helper!!  Now i actually want to bake just so Lachy will come and help me!!


Toodles!!  :)

'Live for a Life without Regret'

6/52

So i'm pretty late starting this but that's ok, Better out than in I always say!.....Or something like that anyway!

Poor boy obviously inherited his mothers dress sense, and sense of humor...Totally rocking those fairy wings!!

My boys beautiful lil' smile, melts my heart!!
 

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week in 2013"


Thanks Jodi for an Awesome Link up!!


Toodles!!  :)

'Live for a Life without Regret'

Sponsor & Swap!!

Yay!!  Thanks to Hubsters crafty computer skills i now have a sponsor page!!! 
I'm not big on numbers, i like blogs big and small.  So if you have 1 follower or 10,000,  and you think your blog will fit in, your welcome on my little section of the interwebby! :)

And just cause this is new to my blog enter the Promo code SHOES to get your spot FREE!!!

For a 200 x 200 spot (Runs for 60 days from purchase date)  -  Free!!! (for a limited time)

150 x 150 spot (Runs for 30 days from purchase date)  -  Free!!!

Looking forward to seeing you here!! :)

Toodles!!  :)

'Live for a Life without Regret'

Experiment 626 - week 2!!

The end of week two!!  Still feeling pretty good about how this experiment is going, although i think my skin has slowed it's journey towards....well, whatever it was going towards really!  (Waiting for Hubby to finish work so he can take my Extreme close up!)

In the mean time, i've changed the ratio of my potion to one part CO and 3 parts Evoo, and i think maybe my skins not as dry as it has been.  It's still dry though, so i'm still moisturizing in the mornings with my new Neutrogena 70+ sunscreen (thanks Melasma)

Oh look, here it is!! (I think i was about to give Hubby the stink eye)

Again, completely different lighting and such sorry!  On close inspection not much has changed since last week except...dum dum duuum...I'm getting a PIMPLE!! Oh well! (i think it has more to do with the sunscreen than the oil)

My skin still feels really smooth and still looks nice and bright/clear though!...Maybe that's the 'glow' everyone talks about??

I never got round to making the face scrub, to be honest i've been putting it off, worrying (again)  that it might make me break out!  At the end of the day though, i was breaking out in spots on my chin on a regular basis before i started this experiment, so it wouldn't be that big a deal!

You know what, i'l do it tonight!!  Fingers crossed for a happy result!!
See ya back here next week!

Toodles!!  :)

'Live for a Life without Regret'

2 Months old!! :)

Yup, my little fatty (compared to his big brother at least) is 2 months old!!  Where the heck is the time going!!???

Mastering his 'look' for the ladies!

#  This little piglet is settling into life pretty darn well if you ask me!!  Feeding every 2-3 hours (he tries for every hour sometimes but i aint buying it!)  The reflux is under control with a regular dose of Omeprazole - bonus!!

#  Smiles and coos like he was born to do it!!  Oh wait, he was, but it's still ridiculously gorgeous!! (He has his brothers smile with a couple of dimples thrown in)

#  Sleep...Yeah.  What can i say, he's not a fan, preferring instead to gaze upon his adoring family with a cheeky little grin....even when it's 3am.

#  Cloth diapering is going ok, except that the fit of the nappies isn't completely spot on and all his poops exit out the leg holes.  We use disposables overnight and if we're going out somewhere...or if i'm lazy!   Chubby cheddar grew out of all his cute '000' a while a go.  '00' are filling his drawers now, and i'm so stoked we have all Lachys hand-me-downs cause i don't think the '00' are going to last that long either :(

#  The car and car seat aren't very popular places for munchkin to hang out.  He will scream his distaste at not being able to see anything.  Loudly.  Sometimes people stare....i think we need a sign that says 'It's ok, we're not torturing him!'

#  Speaking of torture, how did i end up with a child that has such an intense dislike for water??!! And heaven forbid i try to wash his hair!!

 He's the final part of our complete set, and fits into the family like a glove!!  He's the bee's knees and the ducks nuts really, and i can't wait to watch him continue to grow!! (Even as i complain about it happening too fast!!!)


Toodles!!  :)

'Live for a Life without Regret'

I have learnt....

Some of the things i'm slowly learning about life with a toddler and a baby!!

Feeling the Love...

#  Having both children sleeping simultaneously is a rarity.  Pays to just get used to it and enjoy the one-on-one time you'll get to have with each kid!

#  What they will synchronize is their bowel habits so that your always guaranteed a double shit-storm at any given time. 

#  Caffeine is your friend. 

#Both children will always need their mum at the same time.  (Please note that a toddlers idea of 'needing mum' is usually very different to your own!)(and no daddy wont do!!)

#  You wont be going to the toilet on your own again for quite some time.  When you do you'll probably miss the company.

#  Your oldest child wont always hate your youngest, and when he changes his mind you'll seriously wish he hadn't.  Bear hugs and kisses from a toddler are often more dangerous than a jealous tantrum!

#   Your toddler is the worlds best imitator of the babies crying.  He will use it when he wants attention.

#  Bribery is a completely acceptable tool to get compliance from your toddler when your stuck with your baby!  In fact, you'll soon learn to keep a basket of bribes on hand at all times.  Raisins, lollies, new toys...whatever works to give you 5 minutes to deal with baby number 2.

#  Bribery can also make your toddler the Best handy helper ever!!

#  People with twins deserve medals.  Triplets - a Noble Peace Prize.  Any more than that...a stay in a Nut house.

#  You panicked when your first child put odd stuff in his mouth/up his nose/in his ears.  Now you get to panic when he puts them in your 2nd babies mouth/nose/ears! On the other hand, it didn't hurt your first kid, so number 2's probably good too.

#  Other mums will always look like they have it all together.  They don't. Nobody does.

#  Being related wont make your babies the same, so don't expect it.  Right from the word go, they have their own personalities and little foibles that are going to stump you and have you putting the medical center/parent center/NASA back on speed dial!!

#  There is absolutely no need to worry about your already full heart, your love will definitely double, and eventually you'll get the hang of those 2 kiddies and soon wonder why you ever thought it was difficult (at least until they're in their teens)



Toodles!!  :)

'Live for a Life without Regret'

Experiment 626 - Week 1 Complete!

So....  It would appear i developed a social life and didn't actually get round to posting this on Friday like i was sure i would!! Who knew!!

Any who!!

I was gunna make a long detailed post about how good things take time, and how i'm still tweaking the potion i'm using (it's a work in progress) and how i'm still gunna stick with it.  Then we took some week 1 pics, which again required a bit of a cringe on my part, and then i put one next to the start pic.  (Please note, i haven't chosen the best looking pic of myself to post, i've chosen the clearest)

Again, the only photo shopping is cropping :)

HOLY CRAP!!!

I spent the next little while trying to find the logic in the changes, like being in a different room, morning light as opposed to afternoon sun (We just tried to find the best light), or Hubby doing a bit of photo tweaking while i wasn't looking (I didn't actually leave the pics in his care, mind...not that he would anyway) 

Hubby thinks it's hilarious that i didn't notice the differences in my skin, i'm shocked!!  I knew my skin was softer but i've become so focused on the Melasma (that's a whole other post) that i didn't stop to think about the reality of it, which is this -  The melasma has become much more obvious as my complexion has become clearer and brighter.  Do i sound deluded?? Cause i feel it!!

Since i started this experiment i've had exactly 4 small pimples, 2 of which were already forming on my chin.  (I mention these because breaking out was my number 1 fear)  These pimples were gone within 4 days!  4 Days People!!!!

So, for week 1

#  Softer and Smoother skin   - Check!!
#  Brighter complexion   - Check!!
#  Reduction in pimples   - Well, i haven't had any since those first 4....we'll see how the next week goes!
#  One happy grease monkey??  - Check!!!

Although i can't really go by the title of 'Grease monkey' any more, cause my complexion is no longer oily!!!  That's right, in fact if anything it's a bit too dry!!  (I'd like to add that this time of year with the heat and humidity my skin is usually at it's worst with grease and pimples.  To have no oil slick and no pimples (just scarring on my chin, which i want to address in another post too!) is Freakin' Amazing!!  I have to put on moisturizer every morning to help with the dryness and that's it.  I'll be tweaking my recipe again tonight to 3 portions of Evoo and 1 CO and omitting the GO completely, as i think that could be whats making my skin so dry.

To be honest, changing the mix is no biggy, as the oils are so flippen cheap compared to all the other products i was buying! 

On a side note, after a bit more research i will be adding in a simple scrub of Evvo and Sugar maybe twice a week (if i remember) just to give my skin a bit of a rev up.  We'll see how that goes though.

Stay tuned for week 2 of Experiment 626!!

Also keep an eye out for Experiment ACV, which i'll be starting in the next week or so!! ;)



Toodles!!  :)

'Live for a Life without Regret'