The Joy of Journaling I have always kept journals from a young age. They haven’t always been used for the purpose of writing “Dear Diary today I…….” but as a place to keep my thoughts, pictures and ideas in one place. In my early 20’s I had an emotional moment and threw out all of the journals I had written as a teenager. I regret it now because I think they would be funny to read and I think my daughters would have a good laugh. My Journals were covered in bubble writing (remember puff paints?), smelly stickers and pictures cut out of smash hits and dolly magazines. I remember cringing when I read about my drama’s with friends and boyfriends at the time and the immaturity of my thinking made me discard all of them. Journaling and mental health Now I am an adult I still keep journals. Journaling, I think is very good for your mental health. Writing your thoughts down can help you work through emotions. Just like saying something out loud can be liberating after thinking something through. Writing can become a commitment to yourself once you have thought your thoughts through on paper. My writing […]
I’ve been quiet on here. It started about a month ago, the worry began to set in and the fear grow. Usually my son has an MRI every 6 months to a year. Our Neurosurgeon gave us a reprieve and it has been two years since his last MRI, but gosh that two years went fast! (If you are new here, you can catch up on a previous post here – https://www.countingstars.com.au/2018/06/the-day-i-became-a-carer/ ) Really, I have remained very positive and getting on with my days. However the effects of the last few weeks have become apparent because my subconscious brain has been on high alert and working overtime. Consciously I can make myself slip into a mindful mode, getting on with everything day to day, hour by hour, minute by minute, but subconsciously after a period of time its like my conscious brain catches up to what is going on in the back ground. I’m not sure if I’m making sense or if this is technically right but that is how I feel, and I feel exhausted. This time my amazing husband took my son into the MRI which gave me a mental break from the flash backs……… Flashbacks […]
A Dressing Room for any Budget You can create a dressing room on any budget. Many women dream of a luxurious walk in wardrobe similar to Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the city. It’s ok to dream, but why not make the space you do have beautiful and practical. A space just for you. Having storage for your shoes, handbags, makeup and clothes in a space that feels like a miniature boutique makes you feel ready to dress for the day and take time out for you. Some of the most important things to consider when designing a dressing room are: Room for a full length mirror Having a full length mirror is important in a dressing room. There is nothing worse than heading out in public and a stranger pointing out that your tag is hanging out of your pants, or your gorgeous dress actually is see through in certain lights. You could have the wrong bra on, or there may be a ladder in your stockings from behind. Lighting/ power source The lighting needs to be bright, especially if you are applying make up in the space as well. A warm light or a natural light […]
A visit to the Bribie Island Butterfly house is a must if you visit the Northside of Brisbane. Situated on Bribie Island, it is a lovely day out, and combining your visit with a walk along the beach and lunch will fill in your morning or afternoon beautifully. Butterfly house has now been in operation for just over a year and on a sunny day you can expect to see up to 100,000 butterfly’s taking flight. A community project aimed at increasing the butterfly population on Bribie Island, their goal is to bring people together with a love and interest of butterflies to this not for profit tourist destination, with all profits given to charity. We have had the privilege to visit the butterfly house at Coffs Harbour as well, and although the Bribie Island house is not as big, it is just as beautiful. An ideal place to learn all about the different species as well as see the lifecycle of butterflies in action. An hour to an hour and a half is all you need to visit the butterfly house, it is lovely just to sit and watch quietly. It is also an ideal spot to get magical […]
It’s the first day back at school today and I made up a batch of my kids favourite cookies for afternoon tea and treats for the week. My husband and son love jam drops and my two daughters love chocolate chip. This cookie recipe is so delicious. It is such a great starter base and you can add anything you like such as chocolate chips, jam, chocolate drops, freckles and any other combination you can imagine. They are quick to whip up and are a sure hit. I really don’t like buying cookies, I tried many different recipes until I found one I was happy with. Making my own I know exactly what is in them, and this recipe can be modified to a healthier version using wholegrain flour or omitting the sugar for honey and they still work just as well they are just a softer biscuit. The recipe even makes a fantastic edible cookie dough if you take out the raw egg. Ingredients: 150 grams of softened butter ½ a cup of caster sugar ½ a cup of brown sugar 1tsp of vanilla extract 1 egg 1 ¾ plain flour Jam, chocolate drops, chocolate melts or freckles Method: […]
At night when the sky is clear I love to look at the stars, I remember doing this as a child and thinking how big the world was. I now look at the stars and feel gratitude for my life and family. By the time my third child was born I thought I had a pretty good handle on what being a mother was all about. That changed one Sunday morning when I found my third child at 11 months of age in his cot. He was laying on his back, breathing heavily and his little body was convulsing like he was having a terrible nightmare. I just could not get him to wake up. This was the moment that my life as a mother changed forever.
The paramedics working on your son on the lounge room floor while you watch in a state of shock, the questions that you are unable to answer, “Did he swallow something?” “Did he have a fall and hit his head?” and the ambulance ride was a blur. The emergency room was full of medical staff all trying to get him to rouse. Asking me as mom to speak to him to get him to wake, but I was in a such a state of shock, I was unable to speak.