Tautoko A Mama

Kia ora lovelies,

It's actually not long until December is upon us and Christmas thoughts are no longer just for the 'crazy ones' who've been celebrating since July.

I love Christmas and I must also confess to enjoy presents - both the buying for and the receiving of!

The other day I was thinking this way and I suddenly thought about some of the beautiful mamas doing it solo that I know. As a mama it's quite frequently the case that you know every present under the tree but I think maybe more so for the mamas flying solo (and the papas flying solo).

On Christmas morning (or another morning depending on custody) she's probably not even going to be unwrapping something.

So this Christmas I'm challenging us all - to tautoko a mama.

Tautoko is one of my favourite Maori words (I have the privilege of working in a bi-lingual environment, sadly I'm not bi-lingual though*), it means to uphold, support, advocate for...

By this I mean - think of a great flying solo mama in your word, buy her something, wrap it and deliver for her and tell her to unwrap it on Christmas morning.

Just think of that something under the tree for her, something she doesn't know the contents of, something that says - 'hey I think you're rad, I've noticed you doing a great job, I acknowledge, uplift and support the job you are doing', or even just 'you're a babe'.

It doesn't have to be big - a block of chocolate all to herself, or a beautiful handmade soap can still communicate your tautoko.

It could be something special you've made. A CD that inspires you, a great book, a packet cake mix (there are surely days a solo mama needs one of these).... the options, when wrapped and delivered with love, are endless.

Will you join me?

Please do. Comment below. Take it to your social media communities, your friendship groups, your life.

There are SO many amazing, precious, hard-working, inspiring, loving, totally-ace mamas flying solo out there who need something under their tree to remind them about that.

Let's make Christmas 2016 time to #tautokoamama

* I do speak some Te Reo just no where near as much as I'd love to be able to! :-)

love you more than making a list and checking it twice xxx

Weekending in South Australia

We were invited away to share a weekend with some school families to end the holidays.

Middleton sits on the coast and the place we stayed was right on the beach.

I'm sure there is a lot to do but with 7 children and views like this we didn't seem to need any scheduled activities.

laughter, good food, lovely company, a fireplace and views....blissful

It was such a beautiful way to spend the last couple of days of school holidays and The Atlas couldn't keep the shine out of his eyes as he looked at the beach, surfed and paddle boarded.

He's a beach boy at heart!

love you more than the simple things xxx

Week 20/ 52

It seems crazy to me that it's week 20 already!!

This little fellow with one of his favourite friends here.

They were going to a dress up party, he was happy with just the hat thank you mama!

This big boy had his party today.

With his cake

and a lovely little friend that was one of his guests

love you more than a party over and a Sunday night chilling out xxx

Things That Make Me Go Ahhhh....

This Friday I want to show you some of the things I loved most about last weekend.

It was such a joy to meet all of the bloggers who came but I was especially lucky to have 3 stay with me. And what amazing women they were. Both nights we got to talk until we turned into pumpkins. I love that more than once we needed the tissues as we shared time together... I love that even though we'd just met we felt that special connection immediately.

Here they are taking photos of each other. I'm hopeful I'll get some more pics of them because I didn't take any all weekend.

Stella

Talia (I stole this photo off her blog.... where are the photos of Talia??)

Jess

I loved every minute with you.

Swap partners - I luckily ended up with 3 of them. I didn't get to spend anywhere near enough time with them but they made the most amazing badges for me and my gifts were so perfect too!

Thanks so much Vanessa

Jackie

and Katrina

and I got some other little gifts from some special people too. The phone is mine and the cute pencil is from C1.

I got and amazing goodie bag and a wonderful hamper from lush too but I'll have to show you those another time.

Look at this amazing little stamp I bought from the shop at Addington Coffee Co-Op

Joining in with beautiful Meghan and other grateful people.

(photos stolen from Meghan, Kristy, Roz and probably other people too!)

A Valentines Dinner

The Atlas had surgery just before Valentines Day so I thought I'd postpone our Valentine's dinner for a month.

Last year we did our first one and this year I wanted to do something new.

Each couple was asked to submit (independently of each other) the following information

1. A song that reminds them of their partner (The Atlas used these to make a playlist for the evening)

2. A quote, saying, line.... that means something to them
3. The place they were when they realised they were in love with that person
4. A place they would like to take their partner

Over the course of the evening we played a few rounds where people had to match up the couples with the answers, people also had to do a place card for their partner with things they loved about them on one side (just for their partner to read) and the worst pick up line they could think of on the other side.

It was a really nice night and I enjoyed doing some simple decorating and prepping dessert (it was a planned potluck). It's amazing what some candles can do!

We're very blessed to have a good stack of couples in our lives to do this kind of stuff with.
Above you can also see my Tasty Tuesday creation from the Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook - Raspberry Cheesecake Brownie - mmmmmmm (see the photo under No.1) Oh. So. Right!

And the prize for the winning couple? 'Date Night in a Bag'....

Have you ever been to a Valentines Couple's Dinner - what did you do?

Joining in with Ange

Advent Openings

It's been a busy week - activities and expectations rise and suddenly I realise how mush there is still is to do that can't be done until just before....
DAY nine

But each morning we have had the delight of unwrapping. I love the concept of this swap the joy of being allowed to open something every day, of pausing to feel blessed that someone has thought of you. Of unwrapping a gift with genuinely no idea of what might be in it!!
DAY ten

I so appreciate the work Cat put in to pairing people up who suited each other
DAY eleven (the boys smelly markers had already been squirreled into bags for show and tell!)

and Leonie's thoughtful selections
DAY twelve

and her gorgeous hand-crafting
DAY thirteen (and more special characters for our magnetic nativity)

and her generosity to the boys (their gifts are disappearing into their room very quickly!)
DAY fourteen

Bounce got his crocheted bauble off the tree the other day just to show me again 'this is the one I got first Mama and it's still lasting.'
DAY fifteen (the lace is wrapped around a whole box of licorice - yum!)

10 days left until Christmas. I hope your weekend is filled with everything good.