I can't decide on the photo for today. You choose.
Friday, July 4, 2014
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
182/365 The Next Nick Kyrgios?
So, that was pretty cool!
Timing in nicely for us - 19 year old Australian Nick Kyrgios just beat world number one Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon this week - and Kingsley Tiger was at Tennis Camp!
And while I'm not sure that KT will ever meet those illustrious heights in his own tennis career I love that little moments like this; moments full of excitement and inspiration, might spark something - something unknown and invisible to us - in their tender hearts. Possibly setting them on their own life's mission.
And my mind leads me to think of Maria Montessori's words:
"The child is an enigma...
he has the highest potentialities,
but we do not know what he will be".
The concept being that we must never presume that what our children need is a replica of our own knowledge and experience. That we can not know the child's potential - for it is grander than our minds will ever imagine.
But...
In reality, I often find myself doing just the opposite. Expecting my boys to do things the way I do them, expecting them to have the same priorities and needs, to listen to me even when I am completely aware that I am flawed in many ways - I may be a perfectionist but there is certainly no perfection to be seen!! Lol. I feel like I am constantly torn between saving their potential and saving my own sanity! { No playing football in the house / Violin practice tonight no questions / Eat your vegetables / Blah blah blah ;) }. Oh God.
So I take a deep breath and remind myself that everything is going to be okay. Allow yourself to make mistakes and forgive them - and yourself - when things fall short of your own ideals. Give them love, responsibility and opportunity but try not to stifle them with expectation or demands. Show them respect so that they can learn to respect themselves and others, and give them freedom - with limits.
I wrote about the positive aspects to the challenges that parenting - and life in general! - throw at us yesterday too { My Firstborn Son } so I guess it's playing on my mind! It's not a surprise really seeing that it's the school holidays is it? Hahaha. We're all getting used to being with each other 24/7 again after our huge shift from home-school to school-life in the past few months.
Tennis camp is over and the wimbeldon-excitement is already fading from conversation. Today was all about handball, M.I. High, exploring the creek, eating lamingtons, playing with friends and highlights from the World Cup. Who knows what will steal their energy and minds tomorrow?!... but yeah, I'm looking forward to it :)
What is exciting and inspiring you and your family today?
Amber. XO
The Creative Business Women's High Tea
Sunday morning was a super-sweet one.
Not only because I woke up next to my cute husband in a hushed house { okay, in theory that should have been perfect - thank you Nanni and Poppa! - but it is actually weird to not be woken by my tangle of two. Weird AND sweet all at the same time... in a wow-we-actually-went-on-a-date-like-real-humans / who-are-we?! kind of way ;) If you’re a parent you get me. I know. } but also because I had plans to make the tea-and-cake-loving girl in me smile: high tea!
But not just any ol’ pretty high tea. Breathe. This was a Creative Business Women’s High Tea - eeeek! - part of my new being-brave itinerary :)
Brought to life by Zanni Louise from My Little Sunshine House and Janine Emerson from Love In A Cake the North Coast Creative Women’s High Tea was designed to be part community-building, part inspiration, part cake-eat-fest, part fundraising :) All proceeds going to Rafiki Mwema { I can’t even begin to explain how important this charity is - please follow the link to learn more and help if you possibly can }.
On the morning's agenda:
+ Starting a creative business from scratch
+ Developing your online community and public profile and maintaining your creative identity
+ Food writing and photography
+ Being your own authentic self
+ Theatre and education
+ Integrating charity and business
Okay! I'm a creative! I work for myself! And I obviously eat cake!! ;) I am also looking to expand my community: online and in-person. All.good.things.
Obviously I took photos. I'll add a few notes to introduce you to everyone { my apologies to anyone I missed! } but mostly I'll let the images do the talking. So here we go!
Obviously I took photos. I'll add a few notes to introduce you to everyone { my apologies to anyone I missed! } but mostly I'll let the images do the talking. So here we go!
Ellie Beck from petalplum and Juniper from The Unexpected Guest { remember their Freestyle Granüesli? Yum }.
Tea from the Byron Bay T Company was served in the best array of teacosied teapots and mix and match vintage tea-sets. Be still my beating heart! I heart me some pretty.
Cara from Modern Love Ceremonies.
Did I mention CAKE?
Time to move outside where each seat was dressed with a Rafiki Mwema fabric bag.
Beverly { my new bracelet-sister }.
Janine and Zanni leading events!
I hadn't read Christie's blog before listening to her speak - but I was drawn to her instantly - and am already compiling my shopping list to make her Nourishing Overnight Oats for breakfast this week! Consider me signed up.
Christie talked food-blogging - her speciality - but she also introduced us to the idea of the One Minute Meditation { take one minute to completely clear your mind at the end of each shower } which I loved and will totally be trying { and possibly actually achieving. Realistic goals people!! }.
Sarah Rosborg from Castle Design and Rafiki Mwema.
Sarah brought tears to our eyes with her emotional story. Following a horrific near-death experience she threw herself into charity work, as a way to deal with her own pain. Along the way, she taught herself graphic design and coding and a new career emerged. Today, her company, Castle Design, covers the admin costs of Rafiki Mwema - the charity and sponsorship program Sarah recently set up to raise money for a girls home in Kenya that cares for young victims of sexual assault.
I can't even begin to imagine the depth of the trauma that Sarah has faced but I know we were all moved by her spirit. What an amazing human being doing important good work you are Sarah!
Sahar from Organic Miracles. Loving her white crochet dress.
Chantelle Ellem from Fat Mum Slim.
I was really looking forward to seeing Chantelle speak. I've been following her blog and the #fmsphotoaday challenge for the past few years - and was pleasantly surprised when I discovered she lived in the area!
Not only is she one of Australia's best-known Mama-bloggers she's also currently #1 in the Australian App Store. Her Little Moments photo app, only released on 5pm last Friday instantly jumped to the top of the charts both here - and in America { Little Moments was #9 in the US App Store on Sunday! Serious amazeballs } - credentials much?!
Chantelle was gorgeous and approachable and when I asked to take her photo - insisted that we get a photo together first. Hahaha okay! Thanks to Emily from Have A Laugh On Me for doing the honours :)
Zanni Louise from My Little Sunshine House.
Zanni has such beautiful energy. She chaired the panel with an easy grace and a calm beyond her years. She's a mama, blogger and writer { her first book for children is due out next year } AND she was co-creator of the event - it was a real pleasure to meet you Zanni!
And, finally, hair-goddess Janine from Love In A Cake.
The other half of the team behind the high tea, Janine not only helped bring us all together but she fed us all too! Oh - and then sent us home with killer chocolate truffles. I kid you not. I blogged about them earlier today :)
I'm so pleased I took the deep breath to sign myself up and come along. I left with a happy-heart, feeling excited about the journey and the possibilities ahead of me.
Building community is so important. For everybody. But I think it's especially important for mothers and creatives and MOST especially creative mothers who work from home! Us! I love that I made new connections and hopefully started some new friendships.
Have you found your creative tribe? How do you find meaningful connection? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Amber. XO
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
181/365 My Firstborn Son.
My sweet boy. My firstborn son.
Not yet a man-child... but heading that way. You are such a funny animated kid. But when I capture you like this, all brown eyes and earnestness, my heart leans in just a little.
I love you.
You will never stop challenging me I know that much by now! But I also know that that is what parenting is all about - being challenged.
At first the challenge is how to keep the precious little bundle of venerable sweetness you find in your arms warm and fed and happy and alive! And then the challenge morphs and it's all about keeping cups of tea away table-edges and dog water-bowls out of reach. Then it becomes the challenge of choosing an education with your own unique personalities in mind.
And on life moves...
We are always reaching and stretching to accommodate the new challenges that we find in our paths. And the challenges are not just yours my darling boy. They are mine too. And daddy's. And every.single.person's.
They are life's challenges. Because that is what being alive is all about. Reaching. Growing. Changing.
So, I'm just sitting here with a stream of Winter sunshine burning the back of my neck and saying some quiet words of gratitude to you. You brought me to life. Just as I brought you to life and I am slowly, ever-so-slowly, becoming a better person because of you. Thank you Buster.
--
How have life's challenges changed you for the better? What brought you to life? Please share your stories. Amber. XO
Love In A Cake Truffle Snuffling :)
I'm putting my post together from Sunday's North Coast Creative Business Women's High Tea today - and look what I found at the bottom of my pretty Rafiki Mwema bag?! A chocolate truffle! Seriously it's like someone knew we all LOVED chocolate { imagine that } - thank you Love In A Cake!
Such a sweet take-home gift.
Hashtag yum.
:)
What was in the last grown-up party bag you received? XO
