Inspirational Bits & Pieces

Life is a bit of a blur at the moment - I feel as though I am constantly trying to do six things at once - but the following two sources of inspiration are enough to get me back at this computer. 

The first is this speech that I stumbled across on TED (love TED!) by Sheryl Sandberg, "Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders." It is estimated that, when Facebook IPOs later this year (Sandberg is currently COO and therefore a large stock/option holder), her wealth will be close to US$2bn, making her the second wealthiest self made woman in the USA, pretty impressive stuff. What she has to say in this speech is fantastic and really struck a chord with me.  I especially loved her remarks about women and men who share the housework and childcare when both work full time - something to aspire to! Would definitely recommend listening to her speech - she's succinct, funny and passionate.

The second is a website that I recently discovered - The Glow.  Violet Gaynor and Kelly Stuart have interviewed and photographed beautifully NYC creative Mums and their children.  The photography is just stunning and the very real words from the families are heartfelt and honest.  The interiors aren't bad either!! My favourite series of photographs are those of Christine Lemieux, Cynthia Rowley and Laura Garcia and a few of my favourite images are below. Laura Garcia's home is a bit gorgeous and was recently featured also here in Vogue.  Word on the street is that Garcia's NYC apartment will also be featured in the upcoming March/April issue of Lonny, whose management BTW has announced it will thereafter be a monthly publication, hooray!  

Spring in the City

via This is Glamorous

Sydney Jacaranda

Spring in Sydney is the startling violet of jacarandas, the sweet smell of jasmine and peonies, warm sea breezes and those first trips to Bondi despite the freezing cold ocean, twilight racing on Sydney Harbour, pretty dresses and flip flops, tasting the first mangoes of the season, bustling cafes, polo in Centennial Park, the Spring Racing Carnival, troops of cyclists and the impending Christmas holidays. It is all that is good about the city emerging in anticipation of those famous hazy summer days. Spring is a "warm up" and it is magnificent. 

Bondi Beach

Dress by Zimmerman via Fashion By Me

Style Me Pretty via This is Glamorous

Life As We Know It...

All images in this post sourced from Lonny

...has changed. I do not intend to blog exclusively on the subject of becoming a mother but to let it pass without a mention would be strange given the ridiculously large impact that it is having on my life.  It has been nearly 10 weeks since Miss E arrived at 9.25am on 10 September 2011.  It seems like just a moment ago but she is already smiling and cooing at me as though we have known each other for years.  To say that she is a delight would be an understatement but it has not been all smooth sailing...any mother who says so would be lying. One of my dearest girlfriends explained this period where it all slowly starts to get easier as "the fog lifting", what an apt description! 

It is suffice to say that I am in love.  Every moment is precious and passes by too quickly. At the same time, I am insanely curious and impatient to see her grow and change.

In the meantime, the practicalities of motherhood have taken up a lot of my time...hence the lack of blogging. I will post some photos of Miss E's little nursery very soon. This is a room that I spend a lot of time in and so have a vested interest in how it looks and feels. As always, I look to Lonny for inspiration....these are some of my favourites.

A Little Ray of Sunshine....

She has arrived, little Miss E.  Nothing could have prepared me. Am coping....with a lot of help from darling husband and loving family. Will write again soon with more details. XX

The Waiting Game

Desire to Inspire via This is Glamorous

Sitting at home staring at the walls trying not to go mad.....well, not quite but am very much getting towards the end of what's left of my patience waiting for bubba to arrive!!  Have been reduced to testing out every last wive's tale remedy including acupuncture, hot curries for dinner, drinking raspberry leaf tea, lots of walking up hills, squats and yoga, and various others - all to no avail!! This baby, it seems, will arrive when it choses to arrive and not before!

Martha Martha Martha

Perfect nests of perfect white bowls

Nesting heightens your focus on the minutia - the things that didn't seem important two weeks ago (like matching tea towels and rearranging my husband's shoes!) are suddenly critical! I love Martha Stewart - the images in her magazines and on her websites are so often something to aspire to - although sometimes they are so overwhelmingly obsessive in their perfection that they freak me out.  These images to inspire "kitchen organisation" are just a tad over the top....even in my nesting panic I can see that I don't have the time and money to devote to such crazy detail! 

Trays, strainers, tea towels and perfect custom joinery

A place for everything....storage trays painted to match the joinery.

Wow. Cutlery perfectly arranged.

Label makers are perfect for OCD sufferers. This stationery drawer is without fault. 

Who owns this many rolling pins????

This drawer is amazing. Enough said. 

Blockaholics Disappointed

Josh & Jenna's Winning Kitchen (via ninemsn)

My husband and I would certainly qualify as Blockoholics in 2011 - we have not missed an episode thanks to Foxtel IQ and series linking! We were so disappointed, however, with last night's results at auction.  I so loved Josh & Jenna and Katrina & Amie - were were hoping for better outcomes for both of our favourite couples! I hate to say that Polly and Waz didn't deserve to win but, well....I really don't think that they did!  In tribute, here are just a few of my favourite images of the houses that were passed in on Saturday evening (so sad!).

Katrina & Amie's Industrial Open Plan Kitchen/Living/Dining Room

Josh and Jenna's Kitchen

Josh & Jenna's Kitchen

Katrina & Amie's Winning Living Room