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Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Pocket full of l♥ves

Hello Darling,

Here are my pocketful of l♥ves for the week:

♥ Gorgeous Ivy and Bouganvilia lined walkways

♥ Whimsical roadtrips

♥ Ukeleles

♥ Guitars

♥ Old radios and mens shirts

♥ Self portraits

♥ Leaving my mark in random places

♥ Rainy days spent snuggled up inside

♥ Live Bluegrass Music

♥ Spending up large at Farmers Markets

♥ Colour me coral

♥ Candelebras

♥ Grape juice in honeymoon flutes

♥ Baking

♥ Romantic picnics at our lake on the farm

♥ 50's inspired photos

♥ Vintage dress love

♥ Flower confetti

♥ Romantic types of Chandeliers


♥ The awkward "I'm with a famous person" photo.

Well my sweets, I hope you make the most of this glorious weather.
I've got washing to hang, Miss Laurie to entertain and the ole Elephant in the room called exercise.
You have a beautiful day and make yourself a priority this week.
Air kisses and love letters always,
xo

♦ cause things are still beautiful 2nd time around ♦

Monday, June 28, 2010

Dear Miss Laurie - June 2010

Dear Miss Laurie,

At the time of writing this your Dad and I have celebrated our four year wedding anniversary.
If every year was worth a dollar we'd be at… what… four by now. You could buy half a Fishing News Magazine for that. By the time you read this though, you probably couldn’t even buy a fart for that amount of money… cause to fart you need food and in the future when you read this I’m assuming food wont even exist anymore. We’ll all be munching on pills like astronauts. I've always wanted to have a roast dinner by capsule.

Being pregnant turned me into a Dragon with OCD. Daily, I disinfected EVERYTHING with my partner in crime... Dettol Disinfectant. Hospital Grade. Kills 99.9% of germs.
The more pregnant I got, the more often strangers smiled at me.
I wonder why... maybe its cause I was fatter than they were.

The Summer passed by and it is the first summer I have never received a tan from the sun... I guess who needs one when you have a 42" Plasma TV.
The rays that thing gives can pretty much roast a chicken.

You were ten days late cause your hand was on your head.
After being violated by my midwife THREE TIMES (you're welcome), I was induced.
I can't quite put the experience into words... I will say this though, when my waters were being broken, I was briefly hooked up to the gas and became unresponsive for 30 seconds, my pupils were pinpoint and I tried to run out of the room with no pants on. Classy.

At 4.15pm, Tuesday the 16th of February 2010, without drugs or any other aid - you were in my arms. A 3 hr and 15 minute labour. SWEET. AND apparently I didn't scream or make much noise... yeeeah boy!! I did want to kick my assistant midwife in the head though.
Let me just say that I know why they call it crowning now - cause not only the crown but the entire throne makes its way out.

If only babies just grew in the garden...

So Miss Laurie, you're now 4 months old and you still can't say "Rhinoscerous" - if you are going to be the genius that pays for our retirement like we want you to be, then I suggest you take me seriously when I'm trying to teach you rather than just laugh, bubble and give me screams in ear piercing octaves.

You're getting closer to the age where you start playing 'lets go drink stuff from under the sink' and I've growled you once. I also accidently turned your bedroom light on at 2am one morning you decided not to sleep through and were chatting to yourself, so the light hit your brand new baby retinas like a bat in the face.
I swear I'm a good Mother though.

Days turn to weeks so quickly - and you now sit on my hip.
You still sleep through the night like you did at 4 days old and for some reason people think my job is so much easier *shakes fist*. If it looks easy, it's because I choose not to let you change every aspect of our lives, rather I let you find your place amongst ours.

I hate thinking that one day a bee might sting your foot, that you'll ever fall off a bike, that a friend might be mean to you, that one day you might nurse a broken heart.
Just remember, Mama can always get a karate book out from the library and give whatever it is, a dealing to... and that I will always be here to hug you - no matter what obstacle, no matter your age.

Your Dad is apparently your favourite thing in the world. But you know, don't you worry about me... all I did was carry you in my stomach and give up food for nine months. Lets not even go there with what I had to go through to get you out... no I've changed my mind, lets go there... I squeezed you out of my Vagina... there I said it.
I suppose I wouldn't care as much if he changed nearly as much of your "biohazard" nappies as I do... you know, the ones that had come out of the sides of your pants and drip on the floor.
He wakes you up in the mornings and you are so excited to see him that you sound like a feral cat being attacked my a pack of gangly wolves. Totally adorable.

Never in my life would I have expected myself to be a 24 year old going to bed with "The Wiggles" songs in my head - I didn't know that there were more words to "Hot Potato Hot Potato" than just "Hot Potato Hot Potato".... apparently cold Spaghetti and squashed Banana get a mention too. So profound. No wonder those guys are rich.

You're not that much of a crier really - unless it comes to you spitting your dummy, someone blocking your vision to the TV or your Dad not checking the bottle temperature properly and giving you a piping hot swig of milk where he practically almost has to wear oven mits to give it to you cause it burns so bad.... but my word... the calm before the storm. You get this look in your eye and all of a sudden youre purple and we all get to see your stomach through your mouth. And dont you play it up. Like it is the worst thing in the world. Then you nuzzle in to my arms and you let out a huge sigh like, "I know that what just happened was a tragedy for all of us, but I've decided I can move on."

Miss Laurie, if I could ever have known that loving you feels like this, your arrival would have been earlier.
One day you will grow up and find your place in the World. You will have views, you will have passions, you will have insecurities. Just know you don't have to be the prettiest, the most popular girl in the room. Beauty is fleeting. You don't have to fill the silence with noise to be noticed. Just know who you are in God. Know who you are inside. Know your own worth.
Love who you are. Accept your qualities and nurture them. Don't hang your head in shame, allow who you truely are to shine through. No-one likes a wet blanket or a moody Mary so be the person that is genuinely nice. The friend that we all want. The person that encourages others in their success. Accept who you are and get on with life. It isn't about feeling sorry for yourself. Honour God. He will honour you and your desires. People are attracted to those that choose to shine on no matter the circumstance. Be that person my baby. You are so valuable.

Anyway, I think I've covered what I've wanted to say so let me just end on something I've already mentioned...

I squeezed you out of my Vagina.

Love Mama,

xo.

♦ cause things are still beautiful 2nd time around ♦

Dear Miss Laurie - November / December 2009

You mean I'm not supposed to be eating raw chicken?

(November 2009)

Dear Miss Laurie,

In two days we will begin the T-minus 10 week count down. This week you get eyelashes.. the very things that will oneday make you regret using mascara from all the stray ones that get swallowed up by your eye socket and make permanent home behind your eyeball.

I'm now breathing like a ten pack-a-day smoker since you now favour pushing all my innards into my mouth and what feels like you punching your little pillow into shape under my ribs.. I'd see the funny side if everytime you kicked my ribs they would make xylophone sounds like it does in cartoons. But they don't. So I'm not laughing. Only wincing in pain and secretly wanting your Dad to run to my side with every creak and moan I have... only he doesn't... he apparently doesn't read minds.

You are now extending your little limbs and leaving them hanging out in mid air.
The last letter I wrote you, your Dad only felt you kick once... he has since had you kick him in the face and viciously boot 20 times in a row when he was running his hand over you... its okay... we tell eachother that you're just being "playful". We've agreed though that you don't like your Midwife. Your kicks seem more deliberate for her.

You're only a third of the body weight you're apparently going to be and I already am wondering if they have seat belt extenders for cars. If this is any indication we're going to give birth to the female Hulk Hogan, then I can't wait for you to go on wrestling tour and pay for our retirement. We could live with you on your wrestling tour bus and drink a couple non alchy beers after each show. WHO SAYS YOUR MAMA CAN'T HANG?

(December 2009)

Dear Miss Laurie,

It's officially December now, and man I wish you were a year old already, I'd totally be decking out the Christmas tree and wrapping up wrapping paper for you since that seems to be all babies are interested in when it comes to presents. Don't worry though Miss Laurie, your Yia Yia is already putting away Christmas presents for you next year... she just expects to have first dibs on your name cause naming her own children and your uncles children apparently wasn't enough.

We went for our first swim of the summer over the weekend. I envisioned refreshing romantic weightlessness on my back being carried along top fluffy pillows of waves. But it was brief. Not so much romantic. And more on the freezing side of refreshing. I had a second of weightlessness lying on my back as I didn't count for the fact that I now carry a keg of liquid, guts, goop and extra human on my front so I bobbed over like a head heavy cork and was too scared to touch the ground cause of the seaweed. So I almost drowned in a metre of water.
They would've sent out the rubber duckie and I could've got on Piha Rescue if I were at Piha. Then someone would've made up shirts of my pregnant silhouette, tummy down in a metre of water screaming for help and sold them at the Sunday carboot markets in the carpark under the Whangarei Cinemas.
They would've sold out to an overwhelming demand that they would then turn it into a business. Then they would start up a dot.com and sell internationally. One of those countries would be a country well call the U, S and A.
They'd then get an appearance on the Nickelodeon red carpet by someone famous, like Rob Pattinson and get a mention when Guiliana Rancic asks "Who are you wearing?".
Then all Americas tweens would beg their parents to get the same shirts for them for Christmas. One of those young kids would be Corby... Gails daughter.
Gails bestfriend Oprah would hear about what Gail got Corby for Christmas and think it would be a good idea to find out more about this shirt as it sounds like another possible fad that has hit the planet, like "Skip It's" and "Pet Rocks", "Koosh Balls" and "Mood Rings" and feature it as a possible upcoming fad that we shouldn't all buy into on her next show.
After some investigation by her people, they would come to the conclusion that these shirts don't fall into the "Fad" category. But it would be more practical to feature the company itself on her show in the "Rags to Riches" feature scheduled for next Month as Wikipedia details that this company obviously had their fair share of rags beginning in a carboot under a Cinema Complex. The company would then feature on Oprah and become so big the internet would blow up.
And all because of you and me.

But it didn't happen like that cause the seaweed floated past so I was brave enough to stand up.... and I wasn't at Piha.
Speaking of your Dad, (I know we weren't actually speaking of him in the previous paragraph but I wanted to bring him into conversation, so the first thing in my mind for beginning this new paragraph was "Speaking of your Dad" thus the "Speaking of your Dad" part at the beginning of this paragraph) he's already practicing walking your pram up and down the hallway.
He's totally cool.
Guess what he did?
since you and I didn't make it to Church on Sunday (did you know that? I'm sorry, I know how much you like the Drums and Bass and clapping and people poking and prodding you - but I was sore and swollen and tired so we couched the morning away) your Dad went in and played Bass.
Not expecting him to come home with anything more than the Milk we needed to get us through till our usual grocery day he walks in with lunch and a MANGO and a MILKSHAKE MIX!! and an amazingly dreamy COT!!! and a fancy CHANGING TABLE SLASH BATH SLASH STORAGE THING ON WHEELS!!!! What a man.
(Did you notice how I built it up with the use of Capslock, exclamation marks, the bold feature, Italics and a splash of colour? that's called education. Stay in school.)

As far as Husbands go, your Dad is totally boss. He is the cheese to my macaroni.
No doubt there will be times when you leave the house in frustration or anger, it doesn't matter what reason, don't ever leave without telling him you love him. Ever. Appreciate him.
Tell him how awesome the gardens and lawns look.
How perfect his steak cooking abilities are.
How much of a hard worker he is.
Laugh at his jokes and make him cups of coffee without being asked.
One day he won't be there anymore so don't leave room for regrets and "should'ves".
It's the relationship with your Dad that will give you best indication of your level of worth.
Listen to him.
The things he says and the things he doesn't.
He's your hero.
If you go by his example of what to expect in a man, you'll find a good thing.

I totally looked down just now and saw the remnants of what used to be recognisable as human feet. They've apparently been replaced with those of an Elephant. Just for that you can't wear makeup till your wedding day. I so can't wait to give you your first taste of lemon.

I do love you though, you truely are the heartbeat of life. I've decided to ignore all the horrid stories I've been told about birth. They'll only rob me of the joy of these last weeks. Besides someone elses horror story doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be the blueprint of my experience. I trust that my body knows what to do. That you are perfectly and wonderfully made. For that I thank God. I'm just sorry that on your birthday your Koro and your Poppa wont be there to hold you close, but believe every word when I say that you would be the very love of their lives. Your Yia Yia keeps saying that your Koro would make the trip out to our place everyday after work just to give you a chocolate fish. I tend to believe that. Thats the type of man he was. You may never have met him but you can be proud that you are part of his line.
His moko.

Since my eggo is indeed preggo and am for shizz up the spout, I was recently given a Magazine on healthy and active pregnancy and was pretty disappointed when I read that I'm actually supposed to be exercising.. but not as disappointed as I am that the mammoth act of getting out of bed and clothing myself doesn't count. I think if the person that wrote that article actually witnessed the contortions, the self body boosting and experienced a bit of the pain and the sweat it takes me just to get out of bed, then they'd voluntarily throw their internet PHD's out the window and go get slapped by their Mama's. I found it pretty interesting the article was written by dude too. There's just something about the presence of a pregnant woman that suddenly makes everyone in the room an expert on the health of unborn children. Bless em.

You haven't even been born yet and I'm already getting on the "my baby will be at school soon" crazy-train. Then you will have your own Caleb Smith that sits on your lunch box and tries to lure you into the boys toilets with orange wedges. Just make sure you scream loudly and tell him your Daddy has a gun... just like your Mama did when she was 5.
And when you're 8, don't go marrying those Jason Rooke's on the field at School... it'll only follow you around for the rest of your life and even find it's way into a speech by your Head Bridesmaid on your REAL Wedding day.
But ALWAYS wear undies or one of those Kohatu Harris's will down trail you when you take a sip of water at the drinking fountain and then when you get into an arguement with him later on he'll pull out the "At least I wear undies" line. Complete burn.

Well baby girl, this is the last day of 2009. Thank you for holding out like a good girl and not making your trip down the creek without a paddle too early. Only 5 weeks until the day of Waitangi, Bob Marleys birthday and your approximate expulsion date and then its Prison Tatts, Ciggies and Moonshine here I come! Hahaha no, no... but I will be all over Sushi, Red Bull, painting my toenails, chasing the dog when he eats the rubbish, sleeping on my tummy and eating swine flu pork and raw chicken just like a rash! Woo!

But most of all, I can't wait to meet you and to see your Dads reaction to your meconium.

Love, Mama.
xo

♦ cause things are still beautiful 2nd time around ♦

Dear Miss Laurie - September 2009

Tuesday, September 29, 2009


Dear Miss Laurie,

Four days ago, it was your 21st week of swimming in a big liquid pool anniversary.
One day it will be your 21st birthday! *clutches heart in anxiety* and I will be...... *gulp* 44.
44! that is only two years away from my "old" age. It is 46 that I plan to have already come to terms with the fact I can't laugh without needing to pee, that I can't hide the two "Pitman" wrinkles passed down to me from your Koro and that you are already pleading with me to dye my hair to hide the stainless steel silvers.
I'm not freaking out over getting older mind you, I can't wait for each crevice in my hand to have its own story... to reveal the experiences, the loves, the hurts, the wisdom and the goodness of life. The goodness of God.

We had a huge trip to Auckland yesterday as you know, you always know when were going to Auckland cause you get so excited that you try to kick and headbutt your way out of the womb. (The only reason it doesn't work is cause you are not Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris uses Tabasco Sauce for eye drops so I don't blame or judge you for not being up to par with his abilities).
The thing I didn't tell you though is that it wasn't a "shopping" expedition.
Sorry to disappoint you. (One day I'm also going to point up into the sky and say "LOOK AT THE PLANE NOT-CHARLOTTE !" pointing up out over the opposite side of the car as your Father sneaks us past "Rainbows End").

One thing you are unaware of right now is you we're going to be a little Sister.
Yesterday we had an adoption meeting but realised your "could've been sister"
(who is actually your third cousin) is going to be better off with her other family.
As much as we would have loved to raise her, we had to put her needs before our own.
So you my baby are going to have to put up with being the firstborn.
I can't wait to teach you how to do laundry.

The reason I started writing this letter is because I wanted to talk to you about boys.
One day your "Boys are gross" filter will unfortunately dissolve into oblivion and you will begin to take notice of their smelly ways.
Your Dad wants you to get married at 77, but you might have to remind him that he married a TEENAGER! ewww.

One thing your Yia Yia taught me is that there are boys that want the girl with the short skirts and small shirts. The one you want is the one that loves you for your purity and your love for God. You don't have to dress less for male attention. You don't want the one that gives attention to you for that.

At this moment in time, it is ridiculously easy to "fall" in the way of purity. It was hard for me. It could even be harder for you. If you do fall, if you do make mistakes, have the courage to admit it.
Get back up.
Deal with the consequences.
Ask for forgiveness.
Learn from it.
Take responsibility.
Always remember, if you do make mistakes, no matter how much pain and regret your decisions may cause, I'm always here to hug you, to understand you, to cry with you, to speak the truth to you. Learn from my mistakes. Learn from others mistakes. Read your Bible. No, actually.

Keeping yourself for your Husband is almost unheard of today.
God wasn't being a killjoy when he put pen to paper about that. But before I get too carried away I will save the more indepth "sex" talk until you start asking me to buy you razors (for your legs, hopefully not your face).

Just incase I haven't put you off completely, here's a list that just might:
  • Just because a boy is a Christian, doesn't mean he doesn't have hormones.
  • Don't underestimate the "being yourself" approach. It's when you can be yourself in a relationship that you will be happiest. It is what attracted me to your Father.
  • Let a boy buy you dinner. Buy him dinner too.
  • Don't waste a single Saturday night waiting for "him" to call. It will only hurt you if he doesn't.
  • Listen to your head. Don't always rely on your heart.
  • Don't always trust your emotions.
  • Don't play with his emotions.
  • Be honest about your intentions and values. Expect honesty back.
  • Don't neglect your friends to keep spending time with him. Have a blooming garden of friends, not just a weed ridden bunch.
  • Never force love to be. It will happen if it is supposed to.
  • Ask God about His opinion.

Our futures are defined by our choices, not the chances we may take along the way. If you wake up oneday wondering how you got there... you made your bed and lied in it too, so follow your faith, your beliefs, your heart, your passions.

Look at me! being all Motherly with advice and all.

June 10th 2009 was when we saw those two pink lines on that pee stick, your Dad and I got so excited that we almost had to change each other's nappies. It took one failed strip and two positives to convince us to go to the Doctor though... both your Dadand I are Olympic Procrastinators, and regardless of our example, you're going to fight a genetic urge to put things off until they are almost past due. Kapeesh?

September the 5th 2009, I felt your first kick. You obviously knew we were away at your Aunty Lyns beach house having the time of our lives so you wanted to join the action too (Aunty Lyn is actually your third cousin too, she will insist on you just calling her Lynda... but she sooo secretly likes being called Aunty). I didn't feel your next movements until three days later... you let me know you had arrived by booting my poor overly used bladder a couple times. As for now?

GO TO SLEEP!

You have a pattern where you kick three times and stop, so we'll be relaxing on the couch when your Dad is all of a sudden ripped over to my side by the arm as I force his hand to my belly after your first kick. He has only felt you kick once... and he wasn't even sure if it was a kick or if his hand just twitched... it could have been his hand twitching (he IS older than dirt and I'm starting to think he'd like me to start pureeing his steak so he doesn't have to chew it) but we promise not to hold that against you, at least not until you come home with piercings in your face and then WE WILL TOTALLY HOLD IT AGAINST YOU.

Love, Mama.
xo



♦ cause things are still beautiful 2nd time around ♦

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Snack food Sunday

Happy Sunday my sweet!

Todays snack food Sunday consists of:
Rocket, Feta and Pumpkin Frittata
Ham, fried tomato with herbs, egg and sprinkled bacon pieces on a piece of wholemeal toast.
(I know it looks like a turd on bread, just believe me when I say it is really how babies are made. That's some sensual eating honey!)
Fruit, cheese and cracker platter and a glass of thee ole el cheapo vino.

By golly what a beautiful day.

This weekend has been our "poor weekend" (you know the ones where you either have major billage coming up or you've just paid major billage SO you do the 'responsible' thing by not spending a cent over the ENTIRE weekend) as next week were buying three sheep for the freezers and I don't even like lamb.
Our neighbour did have a lamb as a pet though and he was pretty cute, his name was Benny and he'd charge the sliding door trying to get in. Who knows what for, he probably recognised the woolen carpet as a long lost relative or something.
Actually he wasn't that cute, he was pretty rabid. That froth in the corners of his mouth and his bloodshot eyes were pretty freaky.
I heard he made it into a horror movie about sheep, but who knows that could have been major bunk.


Here's to snack food Sunday anyway lets chink chink our glasses and mugs, throw our worries to the wind and take time to appreciate another beautiful day on Gods green Earth.




Wearing:

Black corseted gypsy skirt - vintage
Grey pinstripe vest - vintage
Nana slippers - vintage
3/4 shirt - jeanswest
Flower headband - diva
Earrings - dotti

Loved you... but God is the one who made you and you my dear, are truely beautiful.


♦ cause things are still beautiful 2nd time around ♦

Saturday, June 26, 2010

The Saturday Salute

Happy Saturday!
Today was a bucketful of boring.
Little Miss Laurie (4 months) woke the house up with high pitched screaming and laughing at 6am as usual.
Mr Gadget and I watched the "Come dine with me" marathon in our delectable sock slippers - ohmygosh those things.... let me tell you they are so warm and just yummy on the toes that if they were food I'd eat them and regurgitate them then eat them and regurgitate them over and over again... AND! theyre vintage.
Heck yes son. Heck yes.

As Mr Gadget is working this weekend and we live out in "the sticks", my day planner was as empty as.... uh.... something empty. My highlight was taking the DVD's back. Such proactiveness. Oh! and I also bought an Onion and pretended to be Haley Williams in the car. I was pretty close. Come to think of it, you would have completely mistaken me for her.




Wearing:
Black and white trimmed blazer ~ vintage
Dark blue silk blouse ~ vintage
White cutoffs ~ lee
Red opaque stockings ~ farmers
Red heels ~ mollini

Sequinned diamante pocket clip ~ diva
Cameo ring ~ vintage
Silver studs ~ dotti

Oh this was a slice of interesting... heres what was on the menu for lunchies:

Bacon, cheese and onion wholemeal muffins. Proverbs 31 here I come...

Here's me deciding to "live a little" with a bit of lime in my Coke Zero and serving it up in one of my newly acquired beautiful vintage wine glasses to the EXTREME! - I put a regular wine glass next to it for comparison. I wonder how big of a wine someone like "Goliath" would need. I have a few Aunties that I'm sure would claw their way to the front of the line to get one in his size.


Anyway - that is my Saturday salute... hopefully Snack-food-Sunday might be a bit more than a creative fart.

Loved you and see you then.

♦ cause things are still beautiful 2nd time around ♦

Friday, June 25, 2010

The Jewellery Heist : Bracelet Edition

Morning!


Anyone that knows me well, know that I have a mac daddy surplus of costume jewellery and accessories, (they also know I will hold a fork to the neck if any of it goes missing) and because one of my main TORMENTS is clutter, it was time for a sort out.

Before:


After:




You can't really see but everything is organised and bound with ribbon according to its colour palate as I find that I usually select accessories by how it either pops or clashes with my outfit. The whole thing can now slide easily under my bed so I can finally free up my dressing table for all the amazing floral arrangements my romantic husband INSISTS on buying me. *coughcough*.


What I used:
♥ 1960's suitcase - vintage
♥ "Oust 2 in 1" to get the Granpa smell out of it - my own
♥ Pretty floral fabric to line the bottom - vintage
♥ A collection of small plates, saucers, platters to sit the bracelts on - my own
♥ Ribbon to bind the bracelets together - my own
♥ Pages from an old hymn book, various clippings, postcards, stamps and pictures to stick to the inner lid - my own

Total = $10
KA-CHING!

Time for a hootenanny.
xo

♦ cause things are still beautiful 2nd time around ♦