#reverb12 Day 30: What can I celebrate NOW?

I can celebrate reaching the end of a very long year. A year full of the highest highs & the lowest lows I have had in a long time. I can celebrate raising my son to be the gorgeous little pocket-rocket of a toddler he is, supporting my husband through his last, oft tumultuous year of med school & managing to set aside valuable time amidst the chaos to indulge my creative self & learn new things.

♥ Dani

#reverb12 Day 29: Hearing my word...

My word for 2012, without a doubt, has been 'Banjo'. 

The word & the boy were my constant companions - the first thought in my head when I woke up, this precious being to love & hold & feed & change, to cuddle, play with & cherish; the focus of all my daily tasks & often the subject of my dreams too. I had this boy & his name on high rotation &, unlike the numerous songs we wrote for him & those featuring his name-sake instrument that filled our lives & our hearts along with him, I just couldn't get enough.

The loveliest thing is, in recent days he has been saying it himself - his own name! Although it sounds a lot more like 'Pit-chow, pit-chow' (he always repeats it twice)...just adorable. *sigh*

Here are some of the songs we wrote & sing to him:

Banjo, he's our little Newman boy

Banjo, he's our little son

Banjo, he's our little Newman boy

What's he gonna be when he grows up?

My name is Banjo

I feel emotions...all of the time.

[when he's having a melt-down]

Sleepy time, little Banjo.

Sleepy time, little Banjo.

[speaks for itself...I'm not ashamed to say there is often a mumbled 'fucking' in between the first & second lines!]

Banjo's going to child care
Two days a week.
[preparing him for life without Mummy & Daddy]

♥ Dani

#reverb12 Day 22: My most important gift...

The most important gift in 2012 is one that I gave.

A few months ago my husband's Buddhist teacher, the 9th incarnation of the Traleg tulku lineage, His Holiness Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche passed away. His death was quite sudden & thus came as a shock to all who knew and loved him. Traleg has played a very significant role in my husband's life over the past 10 years & I too came to be fond of him through our volunteer work, living in his monastery in Tibet & attending the annual Buddhist summer school he convened in Melbourne.

For Christmas, I decided to give my husband something to remember Traleg fondly. Forever in our hearts & now forever on our wall in a beautiful 80x50cm canvas of this picture:

Image courtesy of Evam Institute

The sweetest thing of all is when we ask Banjo (who is only just learning his first words) 'Where's Rinpoche?", he runs into the dining room & points up to the picture on the wall. Traleg Rinpoche has a very special place in Banjo's life too...but that story is for another day.

♥ Dani

#reverb12 Day 21: What's on the dream list?

My dream list for 2013 consists of very practical, achievable things. I am not a high maintenance gal. I live small & am most often delighted by the simplest of things.

1. I'd like a 2-1/2" scrapbooking hole punch.
2. I want little B to get a spot at the awesome day care centre near our house (waiting, waiting).
3. With my husband starting his intern year, I hope we can still manage to have our meaningful chats & time alone together.
4. I'd like to refresh my logo / blog design & get in the habit of posting regularly.
5. I hope to finish a crochet rug before winter is here.
6. I am desperate to find a cute old chest of drawers to upcycle for our bedroom (you're out there somewhere & I'll know you when I see you!)
7. To be able to say I have a little boy who eats all his vegetables (maybe a tad ambitious).
8. Complete a 12 week group training & helfi eating program.
9. Make more things for myself.
10. I want to be a mummy again (fingers crossed).

What's on your dream list this year?

♥ Dani

#reverb12 Day 19: How I've nourished myself...

I taught myself to crochet...

#reverb12 Day 18: The colour of me...

...is mint green. Pantone 14-6324 a.k.a Peapod or thereabouts...

Image Source: Fab

I am way behind on colour trends. I like what I like when I like it. Usually just as it is disappearing from the fashion & homewares stores, resulting in huge missions across town to find what I like or cruising online to catch the last remaining morsels of the fad of the day.

I just didn't get in to pastels. Mainly because I don't think they look good on me & they also don't suit the bright, colourful palette of my home. I did however recently acquire some pastel paints to upcycle 3 Ikea chairs I bought for $15 off Gumtree. The tangerine one is done with the pink & green yet to come. Also searching for a round wooden table if anyone in Brisbane is selling one cheap?

Here are some of my minty green faves for your viewing pleasure. Brew yourself a Mint Green Tea & enjoy!

Image source: Castles, Crowns, Cottages

That would be nice! Shall we take this cute little mint green bug?

Image source: Style Me Pretty

With shoes & nails to match!

Image Source: Ssense

Image Source: Cupcakes & Cashmere

Don't forget your camera...

Image Source: Urban Outfitters

And for the DIYer in all of us:

Ombre walls...

Image Source: PS. I Made This

A paper garland...

Image Source: Apple in My Heart

Painted mason jars...

Image Source: Kootut Murut

And the best kind of dresser upcycle: chevron!

Image Source: The New Home

What colour is inspiring your palette this summer?

♥ Dani

#reverb12 Day 15: What tingled my tastebuds...

I must say, this past year food has been a total non-event for me. I have basically shovelled whatever I had in my pantry or fridge (sometimes that which was barely passable as 'food') into my body whenever I had the chance. That's what being a Mum is all about. There is more important stuff to do. When I wasn't parenting, I was either cleaning (if you could call it that), washing or crafting. Stuff flavour...give me 6 dry biscuits with spreadable cheese (they balance nicely in a row on top of my sewing machine) & a packet of pepitas anyday.

I might just add that my loathing for cooking shows has grown in tandem with their popularity. Seriously, who has time to cook that shit?

♥ Dani