Thursday, September 29, 2011

karrraaaatttte CHOP!

Pin It Life is full of those little "heart break" moments. Today I am having a moment.So just bare with me on this one.

I remember back when I was a teenager and I so desperately wanted this particular item of clothing that hung in the window of a shop I walked past every.single.day on my way to TAFE - it taunted me with its come hither looks and its "I'm new and you can't have me" smell.  Oh I CAN have you - and I WILL! I saved all my babysitting money and it was mine. At least I thought it was. That top that had teased me for three weeks was gone. Somebody else had bought it. Heartbroken.

When my first ever "real" boyfriend broke it off with me. ( thats the nice way of saying I got ditched) Heartbroken.

When my hair just wouldn't do what it was supposed to. Heartbroken.

Now? Four kids latter, I sit here thinking about my "babies" (one of whom is 8 now, they will ALWAYS be my babies) and think wow, I wish I was only ever "someone else bought that top I wanted" heartbroken. Not I would move mountains to stop this happening to you heartbroken. Who would have ever thought with a "job"" that could be so damn awesome would come so many tears.

I have these moments about ALL of my children. I love each and every one of them more than I ever thought was humanly possible.These particular tears however are for my baby baby. Little Maximus Owl who was born 8 weeks early fighting for life but doing just that - fighting. His little gladiator name suited him to a tee as he fought against the odds, screwed his little button nose up at the doctors and said "pfft - I don't need your help breathing, didn't you catch my name? I can do it myself!"

Now my little baby is two and facing his second bilateral eye operation for a squint. He is beautiful. I know I know EVERYONE says their kids are beautiful. Mine REALLY TRULY RULY are beautiful ( totally no bias at all of course) and the fact that there is anyone else out there that looks at my littlest big man and sees anything but what I see breaks my heart.

On the odd occasion we go shopping, well we do this alot (ALOT) and we often get comments or looks or those innocent children with the "MUM mum mum MUUUUM look, whats wrong with his eyes?" . I want to crash tackle them ALL and tell them how when I cuddle him he likes to play with that little soft bit on my ear lobe, or how he is the most ticklish right underneath his bum - that little spot just before his nappy. Or how he has just learnt not 1, not 2 but THREE new words. He isn't all about the eyes - he is so so so much more and I love him so much that my heart literally feels like it could explode and if I could, for one second - for the rest of his lifetime - take away all the comments, all the operations and all the pain I would in a heartbeat. I would undergo a million katrillion eye operations if I could just save him from this one.

Once whilst shopping we took our goods up to the counter to pay and the lady looked at Max and smiled, then she turned to the three ladies behind the counter and called them over "Girls, ( I cant remember the names she was calling) come over here, you have GOT to see this little boy - he is SO cute - look! he is going cross eyed at me!!" she said as she tried to return the favor by going cross eyed at him.
I gripped my fingers ever so tightly around the handle of the trolley. I would not ninja roll the counter and beat her with my purse. I would not! I politely told her he had a squint and therefor no choice, gripped the handle a little tighter and.calmly.walked.away. Put the kids in the car, my head on the steering wheel and sobbed. My heart broke. I saw Max's little life floating in front of my eyes. The cruel comments from the other kids at school. The first rejection from that girl he likes ( that I have of course hand picked and preapproved because this is my vision and thats how ALL my kids life partners are chosen) and then I saw myself, commando roll through my own little dream and take them ALL out with one ninja kick WHHHHHAAAACHHHAAAAAA ( that's the noise I would make) HE IS BEAUTIFUL.

I know that life will throw so many hurdles at him, squinty eye or not. There will be times he comes to me for advice, for a bandaid, for a hug and in a selfish way I look forward to every single one of them. Its the times I can do nothing about, nothing but sit back and watch that break my wee little heart. Yes I know I know, thats life and life happens and things happen and these experiences will shape him to be the man he is going to be and it will be awesome and he will be great and and and and YES I have heard them all and somewhere deep down inside I know its all true -but today, the day before he screams whilst they put him to sleep. The day before he screams when he wakes in that room full of nurses that he doesnt know desperately looking for me because all he wants to do is rub that soft spot on my ear lobe, today - the day before he screams because it hurts. Today I am just going to cry a little and pray that this time it will work and it will all be ok and wish above everything else in this world that I could take it all away.

That and ninja chop anyone who stands in our way. He is Beautiful and he is my baby. Perfect in every.single.way.








Thought of the moment:

While we try to teach our children all about life,
Our children teach us what life is all about.
~Angela Schwindt

WOHOOOO!!!

Pin It Perth upmarket this weekend people!!!! We are so far beyond excitement that just for this little while, just for a bit, just for a blink and you will miss it period of time over at our website we are offering not 5, not 10, but 20% off ALL our beautiful everyone asks about it sells like hot cakes shabby chic, revamped, restored, recycled, reloved  furniture!!! Handcrafted with lots of love ( and patience!) and waiting for new homes....








Simply head over to our website choose your favourite piece ( or pieces!!) and enter the code IHEARTFURNITURE at the checkout.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy!!!

Thought of the moment:

WOHOOOOOO!!!!

Monday, September 26, 2011

World's most dangerous jobs

Pin It  According to google the top 10 most dangerous jobs list goes a little like this:

1) commercial fisherman
2) Logger
3) aircraft pilot
4) farmer/rancher
5 ) roofer
6) steel worker
7) refuse collector
8) industrial machinary worker
9) truck driver
10) construction worker

Now, not to make light of the serious dangerous nature of some of the jobs out there I would like to add one.

11) handcrafter.



I have already lost most of my fingerprints to the hot glue gun so I suppose I didn't REALLY need feeling in the tip of my thumb, right? All stitched back up but never to feel the same *sigh* 

Why did these kind of things never happen when I was a kid and trying my darndest to get out of school work? Why do they happen now when I have stuff to do... like serious online shopping requiring the use of both thumbs for fast typing?

On top of all this? Mrs Elephant is not here to console *cough*laugh*cough* at me. I think I need a hug.


On the plus side I did manage to almost complete a large number of handcrafted nappy wipes cases before my injury in preparation for Perth Upmarket THIS SUNDAY!!! We can't wait to mingle with some of the best handcrafters in Perth including Tickety boo - kids with their unique collection of childrens clothing and retro artworks, inuk designs because if you don't know what a snood is you TOTALLY should, Tex & Joe and their amazing collection of organic goodess that has even been featured in Masterchef magazine and Happy as Larry who has a felt floor rug with my name on it! ( well not literally but I would really really really like one for Master 2's room re-do!) just to name a few! If you are in Perth this weekend you would be crazy to miss it! and if you are lucky enough to make it be sure to hunt us down and come say hi! Look at these beauties will you?




Thought of the moment:

Do what you can, With what you have, Where you are.
Theodore Roosevelt

Friday, September 23, 2011

Alllllll by myself......... don't wanna be... alll by myself

Pin It



 Me. Its just me. All alone, no one to talk to, no one to sip tea with, no one to love. *sigh*



Ok well that isnt ENTIRELY true. I Just don't have an Elephant. Mrs Elephant has flown the coop ( or whatever it is Elephant's do when they leave. Im sure Owl's fly the coop. Anyone? ok now Im just babbling, it happens when I'm sad *sigh*)

Mrs Elephant has gone on a much deserved holiday with her hubby ( I would say better half but I kinda like to think that maybe that's me! hahahaha ahhh) and has left me to "hold the fort" for the week. What kind of trouble could I possibly get up to.... I have promised faithfully not to touch her "baby" the website ( well maybe just incy wincy little tweaks) and I'm pretty sure I can manage to do the posting on my own. Its just, well, it won't be the same and I ,well, I miss her!!! The tea just doesn't taste the same...............

Annnnyway.... Im going to pick myself up, brush myself off, put on my sunday best and get busy!!



Why? I hear you ask ( or at least I pretend I can hear you all asking) Well its because the weekend of my precious Natephants return marks a very exciting occasion!!  Perth Upmarket!
We have a few Perth Markets coming up but we just love love love Upmarket and all the luffly stalls we get to mingle with! We really really truly ruly hope you get a chance to come past and say hi!

Oh oh oh and I can't believe I almost forgot to mention ( almost) We have been published!

well maybe not in the book of awesome ( though Im pretty sure if there was one we would be in it, right next to cups of tea, chocolate, tim tams, that feeling you get when you laugh so hard no noise comes out and you just end up clapping heaps and looking like a seal and all of you)  but online! Check out our interview here : AWESOME  and let us know what you think!



Thought of the moment: ( thanks pinterest! )

Monday, September 19, 2011

Today we love.....

Pin It  Posters that answer the important questions.....


Elephants swimming...



Owls that wear glasses....



And awesome blogs with catchy names.......




What are you loving today?


Thought of the moment.....

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

R U OK?

Pin It Soooooo most of the time I am without a doubt heart smileish happy. I mean come on I have not one, not two, not three but FOUR yes FOUR gorgeous children who make me laugh every day, a loving husband who thinks I look gorgeous in my underwear despite the bakery that hangs over the top of my granny knickers and a handful of the bestest friends a gal could ever ask for (you know who you are!) but sometimes when my eyes peek open in the morning to the sounds of "muuummmmm I think you need to come look at this" or I  open the letterbox to see the phone bill poking out instead of my latest online purchases, or have an argument over something stoopid with someone I love, or realise that this weeks paycheck will not buy me even half an african elephant (ok, it never will but you know, just sayin) it is hard to smile...

So when I think back to the days when a smile was the last thing I could muster up, when the idea of getting up, doing my hair and pretending to care about...well...anything I become incredibly grateful for the little things in my life, the phone bills, the jar of vegemite smeared up the kitchen wall, the silly arguments which always end with a hug and the people who thought to ask me way back when "R U OK?" and who gave me the courage to say ... yeah you know what? No.




The 15th of September is National  R U OK day. A day which aims to encourage Australians to reach out to someone they care about and ask the question are you ok and listening to the answer behind the words. We get so busy in our day to day lives it becomes so easy to ask the question without actually hearing the response. Tomorrow is your chance to listen, to help someone muster up that smile and know that their is someone who cares.

Who are you going to ask?






Thought of the moment:

Friends remind you that by their very steadfastness, that truth, beauty and goodness exist in that world, and that no matter what, there are and always will be people loving people through thick and thin.
anon

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

What do Nat & Josie talk about?

Pin It Here at The Owl and the Elephant we pride ourselves on our great work ethic -

 A typical TOATE internet "business" meeting goes a little like this:


Nat says
i feel a massive urge to chuck stuff out!

Josie h says
LOL what are you going to chuck?

Nat says
vases, twiggy stick thingys, i dunno...whatever else i find! clothes, stuff

Josie h says
LOL im going to do the playroom... again! but not today. Alex bella and annalise are currently trashing it

Nat says
glasses, want to get rid of that glass cabinet in the corner near the back door i think

Josie h says
oh really? i think it looks good

Nat says
i think i just want to start my house again!

Josie h says
LOL yeah that will be easy! 

Nat says
where should i nest next?? my phone area or the work room?
i've done 3 areas 

Josie h says
phone area
you do the work room alll the time lol

Nat says
i might get that memo board off the wall.....hmmmmm
don't knw what to do there

Josie h says
oh gees you are going to do yourself an injury!

Nat says
i think i need a silver ikea cupboard with the pull down roller door
i already tried to pull the white lounge apart and just about broke my back!

Josie h says
oh you dag. YOU'RE PREGNANT! stop doing stoopid stuff!
I printed out pics of the kids and decorated my fridge
you will hate it

Nat says
decorated the fridge? what does THAT mean?? lol
i am going to undecorate my fridge, you inspired me!!! hahahahha

Josie h says
I know you like a clean fridge! mine is now covered with pics LOL

Nat says
i might need a pinterest break for inspiration on organising my phone area and making a kids artwork display in the toy room. hmmmm...maybe like this



Josie h says
just stick them around the house!
 
Nat says
ew
pinterest is down,  i could cry

Nat says
ahh...i have vacuumed, washed cushion covers, sorted my wardrobe, sorted my front lounge and dusted everything and taken stuff out, sorted my craft supplies in toy room wardrobe and chucked stuff out...feels good but now my back hurts

Josie h says
possibly becuase you SHOULDNT DO ALL THAT STUFF lol

Nat says
nah, its because i have no abs
anymore
i USED to have a 4 pack

Josie h says
you just need to pretend to be me for a day - washing? meh it will still be there later, vaccuming - meh it will still be there latter, tidying? - meh 4 kids whats the point. chocolate and tea - yes please!

Nat says
nah i did that yesterday!

Josie h says
I have a six pack, I just hide it under all the extra layers of loveableness

Nat says
going to sort lunch out, got a major crafting session planned with evie after lunch!!

Josie h says
is that just so you can hang pics on the wall?

Nat says
no!!

Josie h says
uhuh


You can see why we get so much done! We are like a well oiled machine. Lucky enough to love what we do and who we do it with!

Thought of the moment:

The dishes will still be there later. Go hug someone

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