Last week I read this post by Lana, and thought it was time that I did my own little brain dump here. Here are the thoughts in my head.
1. I can’t get the story of Baby Gammy out of my head. I just can’t imagine leaving your own baby behind. I just can’t. I know there are two sides to every story, but I can’t understand how anything the couple would say would make it OK. It’s so sad.
2. I watched Searching for Sugarman over the weekend. It’s a documentary worth watching if you’re into that sort of thing.
3. Have you seen the Google graphic today? It’s so very cool. It’s celebrating John Venn’s 180th birthday {man, he’s old :P!}.
4. Speaking of old, little Luella turns one in a couple of weeks. I’m so not coping. Part of me wishes I wasn’t such an emotional, nostalgic fool, and the other part likes that I feel all the feelings. I have a post brewing {but am too emotional to write it} about knowing whether your family is complete or not.
5. I have officially decided that 11 months is the cutest age a baby can possibly be. I love Luella so so so so so so so much. She’s such a happy, sweet baby. This is her in the bath last night. She’s such a goofball.
6. A week after Luella turns one I’m speaking at ProBlogger. For a whole 50 minutes. BY MYSELF. I get asked to do these things and say yes, because I love to grow… but then the time rolls around and I wonder ‘WHAT ON EARTH WERE YOU THINKING LADY?’ I have written the speech and prepared for some fun things to happen. I hope I don’t freeze on stage.
7. I wrote a while back that we were thinking about getting a cleaner to help us get on top of things. We got one. It has meant saving money in other areas to make it affordable, but it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made. It means I don’t spend my weekends cranky cleaning {I’m always cranky when I’m cleaning for some reason}.
8. I am obsessed with The Collective magazine. I got the first few issues and thought it was crazy that someone was taking a chance on magazines when the climate was so risky {apparently people just aren’t buying magazines anymore}, but it’s such a good magazine. Especially relevant if you’re a small business owner, or wanting to follow your dreams. The latest issue is out today, and you bet your bottom dollar I’ll be at the newsagents at some point buying it.
9. My mum is moving in with us for a few months while she builds a house. Well, not builds it with her bare hands but you know what I mean. She’ll be taking over the office, so that means I’m down an office space. I’m looking forward to having an extra set of hands around, especially when Shane is on night shift.
10. I’ve been exercising every day, and eating well… and I forgot how good that feels. I used to get so frustrated because it was hard to walk with Luella {who does like the pram}, the dog {who is 10 kinds of crazy and can’t walk straight} and then a 6 year-old who has a habit of complaining 10 minutes into a walk. I’ve learnt you’ve got to keep it simple, and sometimes leave the kids at home {with Hubby, of course!}.
11. Thank you for your kind words/emails/comments on this post. Thank you.
12. I shared on Facebook, but I thought I should share here too. My girlfriend Rowe and I are launching blogging eCourses with a dash of photography too. We’ve been working on them for four years {on and off – babies and big relocations got in the way}, but The Clever Cookie School of Blog should launch this week. The website is nearly done. I’m putting together the welcome packs that I’ll mail out to each student {so exciting!} today. Everything is coming together. Spaces will be limited though, so if you want to be the first to hear about it you can check out the site and sign-up to our newsletter here.
13. I’m taking Lacey to her first concert in November. We’re going to see Katy Perry. My first concert was Tina Arena. Do you remember yours?
14. Back to the point of Luella turning one. Because it’s always in the forefront of my thoughts! I want to celebrate Lulu turning one, but I don’t really think she’d like a party and she doesn’t really need any gifts {I bought her some animals and a Noah’s Ark toy}. I was thinking low-key was good. She’ll honestly be happy pottering around the house and eating strawberries. I also need to find a recipe for her first cake. She doesn’t do dairy, so I was thinking this… but she may never sleep again after eating it! Let me know if you know a good first birthday cake recipe.
15. If you have anything Apple {computer, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Apple TV etc} you have to check out their radio station. The soundtrack to my week is their unwind station. It’s free to listen to, and the songs change up every so often… but the songs on the unwind station are so chilled and easy to listen to. Try it? I found this song by listening to it, and it’s my new {oldish} favourite.
16. If you live near the Gold Coast, you might like to try the Palm Beach Farmer’s Markets on Saturday mornings. They have great juices, good produce and I’ve just discovered that lady that sells pastas, sauces and gelato… also sells amazing pizzas. The mushroom and bacon is so good. The base is really thin and it only takes 5 minutes to cook.
17. I was clicking about on Instagram last week, when I saw a #getskinny hashtag. I clicked on it, wondering if the feed would be filled with healthy examples or worrying ones {it’s the mother in me, I can’t help it!}. And this happened.
Just clicked on a #getskinny hashtag on Instgram and this popped up. Impressed @instagram pic.twitter.com/AxFOsG6bjN
— Chantelle Ellem (@FatMumSlim) July 30, 2014
I know it’s probably ironic after showing a picture of the massive pizza, but so nice to see accountability online.
18. Now my brain is empty of all the thoughts. Aaah. Can you hear that silence? Ha.
Great post and a great concept for a post! Number 17 particularly thought-provoking: my exercise instructor told me this morning I was looking skinny! I said, “Ooh, thanks” (rather gleefully, it has to be said), then considered how it’s not always intended as a compliment and it’s not necessarily a good thing. Had she said “You’re looking healthy”, I think I’d have been over the moon, whereas that used to be a euphemism for plump! I chose to take it as a compliment anyway; I’m completely sure that is how she meant it, but your post just reiterated the ambiguity around “skinny”. Love your maternal concern too đŸ™‚
A great concept for a post indeed. I love the brain dump idea – I might have to nick it. I’m so pleased I’m not the only one with a busy brain. I wish I was going to Problogger. Your speech will no doubt rock the room! And Luella’s almost a year – I don’t know where the time went – but enjoy this special time, one is fun!
Chantelle I got a cleaner two weeks ago & although I’m still struggling to justify it I love knowing someone us coming on Wednesday to do my bathroom & floors.
I signed up to hear about you e-course as soon as I seen it on FB. I’m almost finished doing Pip’s course & it’s been an absolute joy! Can’t wait to see what you’ve cooked up x
Plenty of things are on my mind, like how I’m going to handle having 3 kids under the age off 4, Unpacking the remaining boxes from when we moved house (there’s still quite a few off those) and wondering when baby no.3 will pop (I’m due in about 6 1/2 weeks and I was told today to make sure I have my hospital bag packed, haven’t done it yet.)
So that sums up what’s on my mind. I also love reading your blog đŸ™‚
I knew you’d love the cleaner, best thing I ever did. I was just cranky THINKING about housework! Those markets sound great, might have to meet you there for coffee one day! As for wondering if your family is ever complete, it’s a tough one. Even with my 3 there are moments when I toy with the idea of another, but hubby would NEVER NEVER NEVER agree. Maybe I’ll always feel like this because I’m a bit of a sentimental gal as well! BTW I signed up ages ago to get your posts in my email and I don’t get them? Maybe I’ve done something wrong?? I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed. Happy Monday lovely x
Love the brain dump post. I need to do that just to free up some space. Can’t wait to catch up at Problogger xx
You’ll wonder how you ever lived without your cleaner. We got one at the end of my pregnancy, as I couldn’t even put on my shoes anymore and we were so lucky to have a kind, experienced woman who helped is out a lot (not only cleaning, but when she had some time, she did the dishes, rearranged messy cabinets, changed sheets… she really had an eye for it and I loved her to pieces) Sadly, she had the opportunity to work a full day with a family she knew for twelve years already, so we got another one. Not nearly as good, but still… at least once in a week things got mostly done. I thought I could put it on hold for the summer, as I am home (boy, was I wrong, cleaning with a Little Boy is NOT something I would recommend) and our cleaner decided to stop and go back to school. Good for her, but this Thursday we’ll be meeting a new lady. I hope we’ll get along well and she’ll stay. My parents had one too (still have), and I remember to us she was kind of part of the family. Still is, because when I have to go there for sad occasions (like a funeral), she’s happy to babysit and Little Boy loves her, even if he has only seen her twice.
And I like the brain dump idea. And all the links you provided. Thanks!
There are so many things on my mind at the moment, some I am worried about, some are just thoughts! I mentioned one of them to hubby yesterday, just to test the water, he went into panic mode, so I take it we won’t be moving anytime soon lol! Great post though, can certainly identify with some of the points above!
What a great idea. A brain dump. Sometimes I feel like I have way too much in my head and I couldn’t possibly fit any more in. Brain dump is fabulous. I’m going to try this very very soon
Love this post. Might file this idea away for when I can’t think of anything to blog about. Can’t wait for your blog school! I have signed up for the newsletter and I am so very excited.
I need you to write that post on knowing when you are ‘done’. My son is 1 and I internally debate this every. day.
I don’t feel done but one for us just makes so much sense. Looking forward to reading it. Babies turning one is just the most bittersweet time.
My youngest turns one in September. They are awfully cute at this age! We tried an au pair which was a dismal failure (apparently spending $850 on an agency doesn’t actually mean they are going to screen for anything like their website claims) so a cleaner is next on my list. Can’t wait!
My youngest turned one last week. I cried – a lot. I’m very undecided whether my family is complete & it’s something I’m really struggling with. I want to concentrate on my career (which has been on hold whilst we had our 2 boys) but I can’t imagine never being pregnant again. I have a post in drafts but I keep crying when I write it! Would love to read yours. I need a brain dump post. I haven’t blogged in 5 months & I’m at the stage where I have so much in my head that I’m blocked & can’t concentrate on one topic! Good luck with Luella’s birthday. I hope you are ok & she has a lovely day. đŸ™‚
Loved this post Chantelle – and Searching for Sugarman. How good is his music?
Inspired by this! I’m going to try and write one of my own x