Category: Sneaky Peek

I have spoken about my ethical dilemma with screen time before here, but I still find I succumb to the television for those moments of the day when I need to get dinner cooked etc.

Poppy’s favourite show at the moment is Peppa Pig – she goes nuts when the little jingle starts, yelling “Peppa! Peppa!” at the top of her voice. Truth be known, I also am a little bit obsessed with Peppa too. That little pink snorter is quite entertaining.

When we offer alternatives for her viewing pleasure such as Shaun the Sheep, we are met with an insistent: ‘Peppa!, Peppa!’ Oh Ok then!

Peppa is a loveable, cheeky little piggy who lives with her little brother George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig.

Peppa’s favourite things include playing games, dressing up, days out and jumping in muddy puddles. Her adventures always end happily with loud snorts of laughter.

Wednesday, 27 February 2013 1 Comment Short URLPeppa PigSneaky Peek

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Sneaky Peek : No 2

I have a little baby growing in my belly! So, Nick and I are expecting another little bubba on the 10th of August this year, which is very exciting.

I have been really well during the first 4 months of pregnancy, but just ridiculously tired. I go about my daily tasks and think: “Man I am feeling sleepy, oh that’s right, I’m pregnant”. When I am at home with Poppy I have an afternoon sleep when she has hers. I do love my ‘Nanna naps’!

Poppy loves patting my tummy and saying “BABY“! She is obsessed with all things ‘baby’ at the moment: baby shells, baby giraffe, baby, baby, baby. We shall see how long that lasts in August!

On another note, I went to see Julia Stone perform last night at St. David’s Cathedral as part of her Heavenly Sounds Tour with my good friend Depha. It was superb!

JStone

Wednesday, 20 February 2013 0 Comments Short URLSneaky Peek

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Sneaky Peek : Pizza

Last night after work we jumped on the boat with my sister and her friend Susan. We grabbed a couple of Da Angelo’s pizzas and anchored off Sandy Bay Beach.

We were home by 7 pm to tuck our little Poppy into bed! Lovely.

Wednesday, 16 January 2013 0 Comments Short URLDa Angelo's PizzaSneaky Peek

Sneaky Peek : MoneySmart

One of my goals for 2013 is to be more MoneySmart and I have just downloaded the Australian Securities and Investments Commission’s App – Track My Spend to keep me on target. I am a sucker for beautiful things which often results in impulse spending and rationalising the many reasons for the purchase in my head.

Wednesday, 9 January 2013 3 Comments Short URLMoneySneaky Peek

Sneaky Peek : The Wrap Off

Each year my sisters – Rob, Cath and Janelle, and sister-in-law – Sarah have a very competitive “Wrap Off” with our Christmas presents. Great lengths are taken to ensure the most appropriate choice of ribbons, paper and tags are made – and to present the most ‘pleasing to the eye‘ colour combination. Cheeky text messages

Wednesday, 19 December 2012 1 Comment Short URLGift WrapSneaky Peek

Sneaky Peek : Why Do We Do It?

I wrote this poem when I was guiding for Tasmanian Expeditions. I was sitting on the banks of the Picton River waiting for my guests to finish their rafting trip … when I had a little moment: Why do we guide? Do we do it to scrape our backs on the trailers? Or do we

Wednesday, 12 December 2012 1 Comment Short URLPoemSneaky Peek

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Sneaky Peak : LiFEHOUSES

I stayed with my gorgeous sister Rob, on Thursday night in Castlemaine. Rob and her husband Paul own Lifehouse Design and have just moved into their new home.

They have recently designed a ‘modular’ product called LiFEHOUSES. Here is an excerpt from their website:

An affordable sustainable designer home

The LiFEHOUSE is our answer to building a home that addresses your needs, is beautiful, comfortable and highly efficient to run.

Designed for your environment

The LiFEHOUSE is a new concept that allows you to personalise the design in a number of ways to suit the orientation of your land, number of rooms required, external finishes, outdoor living spaces and interior joinery preferences.

Designed for efficiency

We designed the LiFEHOUSE to produce less waste during the construction process.

Standard materials dimensions are incorporated into the design

Efficient space planning ensures minimal use of materials

Materials and finishes that require minimal or no coating or finishing are used, saving on resources and maintenance

Flexibility

One, two, three, four bedrooms, add a study, minus a verandah, you choose which modules to include….

Pitched or skillion roof to suit different sites and preferences

Corrugated iron, shiplap timber boards, fibre cement or Ecoply sheet cladding

Concrete slab on ground or timber floor

Timber or aluminium framed windows and doors

Flexible joinery options

I always love staying with Rob and Paul as they have exquisite taste in furniture, art, music and food! I feel like I am on a little retreat when I visit.

Wednesday, 5 December 2012 1 Comment Short URLDesign, LiFEHOUSESSneaky Peek

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Sneaky Peek : Adventures in New Zealand

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I love New Zealand (NZ) and have enjoyed many trips there over the past several years. I have had quite a few good friends live there (Penny, Nic, Phil, Luke and Elise) and so it was wonderful to visit them and share many adventures.

I spent the whole summer of 2006 in New Zealand ‘tramping’ (walking) the Mt Philistine Traverse, The Routeburn Track, Milford Sound, Mt Owen and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in the North Island. I was very fit at the end of that trip!

I love going on skiing/boarding holidays with a group of friends or family. There is nothing better than staying in a fabulous lodge with a roaring fire, eating fantastic food and getting up early to catch the ‘freshies’. It makes me so happy.

Looking back through these photos has made me feel rather nostalgic – I feel so blessed to have had all these experiences with my friends and my husband, and I look forward to sharing more days like this with our little family in the future.

Finally – I am very faithful to Tasmania but oh my, New Zealand, you sure are one good-looking country!

Wednesday, 21 November 2012 2 Comments Short URLNew ZealandSneaky Peek

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Sneaky Peek : Shoes l Bags l Hats

It is a well-known fact that I LOVE shoes, bags and hats! They all make an outfit complete and there are so many adorable pieces out there! Today’s post is a sneaky peek into my walk-in-robe!

Shoes

I have slowly accumulated a range of shoes over the years in all styles, colours and heel heights. I love my high heels for special occasions, but do find them quite uncomfortable (maybe I am getting old?)

My everyday staples include ‘Birkies’ (Birkenstock Gizeh in Khaki) and my new favourite – Acne Pistol Boots which I bought in London. I have lived in these boots and find them extremely comfortable, but still with a bit of a heel.

My other favourites include espadrilles, flats and any Camper shoes.

Hats & Bags

My mother was a Milliner and has all these amazing old hat boxes and a hat iron. She also used to model her creations in the local newspaper – The Examiner.

I used to wish that I grew up in the era when hats and gloves were part of your outfit as it looks so classy. I do have a few hats, but unfortunately don’t wear them as much as I would like.

I think Poppy has inherited my love of shoes – here is a new pair of Walnut Mary Jane’s for her growing little feet:

Wednesday, 14 November 2012 5 Comments Short URLShoesSneaky Peek

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Sneaky Peek : Rafting

Today is a sneaky peek into my pre-Poppy work. In 2010, we took our Certificate IV Tourism (Guiding) students on a two-day rafting trip down the Picton and Huon Rivers in Southern Tasmania. I am no Rafting Guide and had called in the experts (Heather & Matt), but I went along and we had a fabulous time.

I’ve been fortunate and have rafted a few amazing rivers over the years. In 2006 I rafted the Franklin River in South West Tasmania with work and remains my all time favourite. In 1996 I was in Nepal for a couple of months and rafted the Kali Gandaki River, with Ultimate Descents which was also amazing.

There is something so visually appealing to me about rafting. Apart from the journey and adventure, I love the contrast of the bright rafts and gear against the deep colours of nature. I also love the medium of floating down a river, pulling into a beautiful campsite and sleeping under the stars with the sounds of the river nearby. Such a simple pleasure.

I was actually 2 months pregnant at the time of this trip and since then, have found out that rafting is not recommended when pregnant. Oops.