Orange Tiger Nursery

Are you someone who likes surprises? While I am all for the exciting, hidden birthday party, fabulous present or romantic pack-a-bag-and-meet-me-at-the-airport (Ha! when did that last happen with 4 children?) kind of surprise, when it came to 'finding out' the sex of our babies, it was one surprise I didn't want to wait for. 

I wanted to know... immediately. 

Knowing your baby's sex helps immensely...you can throw away one half of the naming book, book your wee one into ballet or rugby pre-birth and you know immediately which pair of socks to pick up and hold against your ever-growing bump... the pink or the blue? On the other hand, surprises are awesome and I can't imagine anyone getting to the end of their 9 months and saying 'oh, we should have found out...." I think not. 

Whatever you decided (or don't decide) to do, one of the biggest jobs of the pre-baby period is decorating the nursery. A milestone moment in every couples pregnancy journey, it is also an issue that can be fraught with danger (seriously, ikea flat packing has a lot to answer for... raging hormones, screw drivers and self assemble furniture just do not mix) and not knowing what colour to paint the walls can only add to the growing tension!

One way around this dilemma is to look for inspiration outside the norm. Just take a look at this fabulous nursery by designer Johann who created this space for his soon to be born baby. As a designer, Johann wanted something fresh, unique and fun so using the Chinese calendar and the year of his babys' impending birth, he created this tiger inspired space for his nursery. Unsurprisingly, his choice of colour and original style has created a fantastic space; the bright orange is fabulous! Gender neutral, yes but boring definitely not!! 

Love,  love the framed print...every nursery needs one, Don't you think?

I am in love with the mirror..beautiful but not girly.

The alphabet photo frame is stunning... might need to do that for my boys!

Congratulations to Johann for the creation of this stunning space and of course on the birth of his son/daughter!!

Have a lovely weekend

marri

Snap Happy....

Well, another week down and what a week it has been! I had the pleasure of working with the very talented Mel from Meloo Photography on Wednesday for my very first photo shoot...

Going way above the normal call of duty, Mel travelled to our family farm, located just outside the country town of Boonah, two  hours west of Brisbane, to take the photos for my new range.

Always the complete professional, Mel dealt with lighting issues (it was sunny, then not, overcast, then not...raining..then not), curious cows and a novice stylist (ahem...that would be me..) with both poise, professionalism and grace. Her approach and advice for styling the shots was invaluable and the photos looked magnificent.  While Mel was there she snapped off some quick, unplanned, shots of my boys who were crawling in and out of the room. Wow.

 All I can say is that if this is the quality of her work when she is isn't working...I cannot wait to see what the final result of my shoot will be... stay tuned for sneak peaks!
marri x

The problem with windy days....

Alright then. I am giving an advanced warning for this post. It contains poo and nudity. In that order. So if you are at all squeamish, now would be a good time to turn away.
Still here?
Alight then, but don't say I didn't warn you...
Yesterday was a windy day in Brisbane. A beautiful,windy,sunny,spring day. I just love spring in Queensland. Summer isn't quite my cup of tea.. its just to darn hot and humid. Everything wilts, dries out and takes on a permanent brown, crispy colour. People included.
But spring...Oh I love spring. The sky is blue, the grass is green, and with a lovely breeze blowing its not to hot to play outside... Which brings me (albeit in a round about way) to the problem of windy days.

It was such lovely warm, windy day that after the boys nap and lunch, i decided that a dose of 'nappy free' time was in order. Now, nappy free time is always a trifle dangerous, even for a single baby. Add two boy babies, who are now both mobile and enjoy nothing more than standing up and cruising along the nice cream, freedom lounge suites and you have a situation rife with potential disaster. Yet I didn't enter into nappy free time without thought. I had a plan... strip the boys in the living room and head straight outside the front door into our new deluxe sandpit (thats for another post..) where they could soak up some spring sunshine and any little 'leaks' wouldn't be an issue. After stripping off both boys and opening the front door I realised that their peaches and creamy skin would need some sort of protectant - to the bathroom cupboard for the sunscreen I went. After rummaging around in the depths of the bathroom cupboard (must get around to sorting that out one day) I walked back up the hall way to be confronted with the most hideous smell....and sight.

One of the boys, (I have yet to determine which one, although I am leaning towards Master Bear) had obviously felt the need 'to go' and I am not talking about number 'ones'.... Needless to say, the image (and odour) is one that I am still trying to get out of my head...and my cream couch....and my wool carpet.

Scooping both boys up, while dry retching, I jumped into the shower. There, under the streaming water, I proceeded to engage in what could only be described as a scrubbing and soaping frenzy. 10 minutes and 2 bottles of Curash baby bath later, all three of us emerged - naked, dripping wet but odourless. Hearing the phone ringing, I wrapped myself in a towel and raced up the corridor, my squeaky clean offspring crawling happily behind me.

The phone call was from a friend and after quickly giving her the details of my morning so far, I turned around to check on the boys to see them both disappearing out the front door, which in my haste to rid myself of unwanted smells, I had left open. Gripping my towel closed in one hand, still talking on the phone with my other, I headed out the front door to catch my boys... and this is where the problem with windy days becomes apparent. No sooner had I taken more than 6 steps out my front door, into that beautiful warm, windy day, then the front door closed behind me...locking me out of my house. Naked. Nude. Without a shred of clothing.

Oh the horror. Oh the sinking realisation when I heard the door start to swing shut. The split second just before it closed when I realised exactly what was going to occur.

Needless to say, I am proud of the fact that I did not just sit down on my front lawn and sob hysterically. No... I did not crumble. I did not cave into the overwhelming urge to shriek at the sky and I did what any mother/women/person who had any shred of dignity and sense left would do.

I fled.

Clutching at my towel and the phone, I grabbed both boys by the closest arm and possibly a leg and dove into the back yard..... a teary and slightly shrill phone call to my bemused partner followed by a sudden detour in his schedule later... I was back inside.

So there you have it. The problem with windy days.... Hope you enjoyed reading it much more than I actually enjoyed living it.... but I am off to Bunnings..have to go and buy a door stop.
Marrianne x