One of my very favourite blogs is A Beautiful Mess run by sisters Elsie and Emma. Their blog is gorgeous and inspires me all of the time. One of the best parts of their blog are the photos so you can imagine when I read that they had an app coming out I got it as soon as I could. The release worked out to be perfect timing actually as I was off ill at the end of last week. Gave me plenty of time to play with some of the filters.
You might remember when I said farewell to Instagram well this new app was a perfect replacement. Although I stand by that I do miss the random parts of life that I would capture and share. This app is a great replacement. I can keep the images all to myself or I can share through Twitter and Facebook.
The app is really easy to use. The only exception is that there are some extra filters, banners, phrases and fonts to download but I cannot figure out how to get them. I will keep trying.
Charlotte rocking her World’s Greatest Shave shirt
Just for transparency the ladies didn’t ask me to review the app, I would be so flattered if they even knew my little blog existed as they have been huge inspiration plus I’ve done a couple of their eCourses.
I discovered Darling Magazine through a blog I follow, Thoughts by Natalie, who is on the team there. I started following the blog first and loved the writing style so decided recently to subscribe.
Its slightly expensive because I am shipping it to Australia but it is worth it. Just to touch it is gorgeous. The stock is so lovely. Its larger in size than most magazines, which you can’t tell from the photo, so yuo feel like you are reading the fanciest broadsheet ever made.
The positive mission behind the magazine/blog is something I strongly identify with. My favourite part of the mission, “Darling leads women to practice the arts of virtue, wit, modesty and wisdom.” This mission carries into the writings and I was blown away by some of the pieces in my first issue. It is very much written for women and I will definitely consider what I discuss with Richard rather than my mum/sisters/girl friends.
One of my favourite parts is how they divide the magazine into segments. Not by food, or beauty or fashion but by different personality types. I connect most to the Intellectual.
I am patiently waiting for my next issue. If you want to get one for yourself subscribe here.
Just for clarity they didn’t ask me to write this piece but if they wanted to ask me to write something for them I would be delighted.
Today is Mothers Day, a day for celebrating the contribution our mothers make to our lives and to society as a whole. My Mum is one of my best friends and I am grateful to know her. Love you Mum!
It was pretty wonderful to share my wedding year with my Mum. This photo is one of my favourite wedding day moments, when my Mum put on my bracelets. It was a moment of quiet just after I had put on my dress. I was starting to stress and it was nice to have a quiet moment with her.
Happy Mothers day to all mothers, whether you became a mum today or have been one for a long time. We may never say it to you but thank you for all of the rubbish you put up with. We love you for it despite the words coming out of our mouths.
I have spent many happy hours playing Plants vs Zombies and have gotten a few friends hooked as well. So I was excited to see this video recently.
Off to Newcastle to see my sister for a low key (pregnant person) 30th birthday party. Will be nice to see the family. I also, for the first time in 7 years, get to see my Mum on mothers day. Very excited about that I can tell you. My mother-in-law is also back from her adventures in Ireland so hopefully we will get to see her for Sunday dinner.
May can be cold in Australia, but never fear Rory has a plan
A good cause: 24 May is Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea a fundraiser for Cancer Council and we are doing one at work. Any excuse really to have a cup of tea and a piece of cake but raising money for another cancer charity seems like one of the best one I’ve heard in a while. Check out their website and like on Facebook.
Watching: catching up on my New Girl. I love Zooey Deschanel and New Girl makes me insanely happy. I definitely let my inner kindergarten teacher loose when I watch it. Jess just cracks me up and I am constantly singing the jingle. Even my 4 year old niece sings it. I put a vote in for my sister if she has a girl to call her Jess just so we can all sing it (that’s sad right?). I am also watching The Living Room, which is where Richard is now working as an editor. Good show actually, like a younger persons Better Homes & Gardens.
Praying for: my pregnant sister to stop being sick. Both pregnancies have been hard on Ellen but she is a champion and just struggles through. I love her and I just wish these babies would be kinder to her. Though if Charlotte is the reward for being so sick I will happily take that challenge should we get pregnant.
Anticipating: May is birthday month. Richard, my sister Ellen, my mother in law Margaret and me all get to celebrate the anniversary of the day we were born. Should be a great month of celebrations.
I love my Mum and am incredibly blessed to have two wonderful grandmothers and a mother-in-law who I respect. Next weekend is Mothers Day, an organised opportunity for us to be kind to our Mum’s and take a moment to remind them how much they matter. I am excited that I will be able to see my Mum that weekend for the first time in ages, I tend to see my Mum around birthdays not this day for her.
This Etsy Treasury is just a few cool cards that I found that you could send your Mum.
Check out some of my other treasuries here, here, here and here.
Today is my darling sister Ellen’s 30th birthday. I couldn’t be happier that she came into my life all those years ago.
It is weird to think Ellen and I have known each other for so long. I have learnt a lot from her. Not just things I didn’t know but things about me. She reminds me of where I have come from and that I have gone a long way.
Ellen was always the cool one in my family. Incredibly smart and charming Ellen had that wonderful ability to be smarter than everyone, but she never intimidated you. Always up for a chat you always feel important when you have a conversation with her.
We didn’t always get along. When we were younger, I don’t remember how old, we had the most epic physical fight I have ever been in. I have no memory of what sparked the fight but it must have been big because we were at my Grandma’s and nearly gave my sweet Great Aunty Betty a heart attack with how strong our anger was. It’s not a pleasant memory but it was like we got all the years of anger out and our friendship was stronger for it.
Seeing Ellen as a mother has been one of the biggest blessings of our relationship. Ellen has that great mix of cool mum who is loads of fun but Charlotte doesn’t really mess with her. They have a great dynamic and Ellen takes it all in her stride though I doubt its as easy as she makes it look. And if it is that is fine by me, she was so so sick when pregnant so it seems only fair.
Oh and she won loads of points for not giving me too much grief when I missed her birthday that one time 7 years ago for a boy at uni. Well she did until I married him
I am so lucky to know you little sister and know that I am fortunate to share my life with you. Happy Birthday!
Seven years ago today Richard and I hooked up. I mentioned on my About Me page that I met Richard at uni and although we knew each other we weren’t the kind of uni friends that would be in each others lives after graduation. May 6th was when all that changed. It really was the best day of my life.
Our first holiday together in 2006
The photo above was one of our first photos together and every time I look at it I am reminded of where we started and how far we’ve come. Makes me extremely confident that our future together is going to go just fine.
Today is my darling husbands birthday. Birthday’s are a great reminder of how happy I am that Richard was born. Since I say all the sappy things to his face, this year I would like to thank his parents for bringing him into the world and raising him to be the man I fell in love with. You guys did a great job.
If you follow the blog you know that Richard shares his birthday with his mother. This year is a big birthday for her and she is celebrating in style, in a castle in Ireland. I got very, very lucky with my mother in law and I hope she is having a wonderful birthday, she surely deserves it. Happy Birthday Margaret!
