Really Exciting News

This is my husband.

His name is Matt.
Sometimes known as PottyMouthPapa.
By day he's a father and a picture framer and about to become a secondary art teacher.
By night he's an artist.

And the super good news is that he's a Dobell Prize for Drawing finalist.

So super duper proud. And excited. And proud. And excited.

Workshop Reopens in Christchurch

How good it is to see the City of Christchurch renewing, reemerging and regenerating after the Year From Hell. Great to also see the fashion community bouncing back by reopening stores, albeit often in different locations. Nom*D recently reopened in Merrivale and tomorrow Workshop, who have been trading in the city for more than 25 years, reopen in Cashel Mall. The new store is touted as "the complete Workshop experience" showcasing Helen Cherry, Workshop Denim Summer 11 collection (above), exclusive international designer brands and a mix of art, furniture and decorative objects - something Workshop's Chris Cherry has long been passionate about. Proud to be a part of Christchurch's Re:Start project, the company is celebrating the reopening with a limited edition t-shirt from long time artistic partner Martin Popplewell. The message will undoubtedly ring strong and true with locals and many others around the country: "Good To Be Back." Good to see you back Workshop!

This Is Me. Just Another Mother Blogger.

This is me.
Lexi.
PottyMouthMama.
Worker bee by day.
Mama and wife by night.

I was thinking about mummy bloggers and thinking how that tag does not fit me. Well I don't think so anyway. That tag makes me really uncomfortable. I get kind of itchy. I am no expert parent. And sometimes - a lot lately - I am sad how little time I have to spend with my children, that is quality time. I get home, I am tired. Sometimes snappy. I hate that. I feel so distant sometimes. There's a disconnect between work life and family life. I struggle with it. Battle with it daily. I don't find the work-family juggle very easy and it can sometimes make me feel immensely sad. Right to my bones. 

But we gots to live.

And someone once went to town on me in the comments section, saying that I chose this and that it's my own fault. Well. I guess she didn't read my blog very carefully. I work four days, and when I am home, Matt works. We have that one day together, and Sydney sucks you dry. To your very marrow.

But back to my blog. Life is this imperfect thing, and so is my parenting. But, I am a mama, but I am also so much more. And my blog is more than parenting and sometimes not so much about parenting. And since I've returned to the paid workforce, I feel distant from the mummy blogger tag. Actually I think I've always been distant from the mummy blogger tag (EEK!). I could go 'round and 'round in circles with this discussion by myself. I won't. But I could.

I think Anna sums it up well here.

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This is me wearing a necklace my friend Pip gave me, a few years ago. I love wearing it. It makes me think of her and all the awesome sauce she spreads throughout the world.

I have other things that have been gifted to me that remind me of special people in my life. My Mum gave me one of her vintage kaftans. I wore it throughout my first pregnancy, with the Doctor in my belly. I love that kaftan, though it's getting a bit threadbare, it's so loved and makes me think of my Mum.

I love wearing things that remind me of people. It puts me in a good mood and makes me think they're kind of looking after me that day. In a weird way. That might sound kooky. Apologies. I might be a little kooky.

End of rambling post.
At ease soldiers.

Whitecliffes Fashion Show 2011

Rhianon leading out Jessica Grubisa

Saturday night saw the annual Whitecliffes fashion show held at the sheds on the soon-to-be-constructed Rhubarb Lane site on Wellesley Street. Second, third and graduating fourth-year students pulled together their ranges, their models, their sponsorship partners and as many cheering and clapping friends and family in the audience as they could. Jessica Grubisa, Yun Do, Madeleine Harman, Stephanie Au Duong and Creina Brunton stood out for us in the fourth-year graduating group - a very strong year for Whitecliffes fashion designers - whilst Trish Peng and Kido Den impressed us from years two and three. Showroom 22's Murray Bevan also impressed and should he ever consider moving on from fashion PR has a big future behind a mic somewhere! All images by Yasmine Ganley.

Madeleine Harman

Creina Brunton

Dasha in Trish Peng

Stephanie Au Duong

Jessica Grubisa

Stephanie Au Duong

Creina Brunton

Madeleine Harman

Wunderkammer Garage Sale, this Saturday!

We always love a Wunderkammer garage sale and this Saturday, from 10am at Wunderkammer Showroom, 62 Ponsonsby Road, Ponsonby, it's all on. Half price, or less, off everything on sale, including Wunderkammer Jewellery. This sale will likely be very busy so get in early to the Cabinet of Curiosities...

What Is This Called?

This is Tiny.

This is Tiny running ridiculously late for preschool.

This is Tiny after staying up half the night, sleeping in 'til 8:20am, being hurried through breakfast, wearing all purple and veto-ing any other footwear other than her trusty yellow gumboots - yes they will be the best choice of footwear on a sweltering summer day.

This is Tiny who somehow, despite running late, manages to somehow negotiate a fresh pain au chocolat from the French boulangerie, sitting on bench with her mama, sucking in a few extra moments before heading off to preschool.

This is Tiny.

Are You There Friends? It's Me. Lexi.

Right now, for all I know, I could be the only one here. I'm banging out this written word, and it might just be me reading it in a quick edit before hitting publish. It's oh so quiet.

Are you there reader? Because all I can hear is an echo.

I'm madly putting together lists of gift ideas - but do you like them? Do you care? What is art? What is normal? Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

I'm not asking for a marching band, or a ticker tape parade every time I post - but girl, gimme a little sign.

Do you hate that I turned off the anonymous commenting? Well I did it because I was sick of Simone and other fabulous nobodies opening cans of whoop ass on me. I got tired of it actually. As soon as I turned it off, life got better!

But dudes. You gotta throw a girl a bone. It's boring being just being all by myself all the time.

BTW - do you think my small girl-child will like this book? Totes unrelated. But you get that on the big jobs.

Christmas Gift Guide: For the Men!

Men are the single most difficult creatures in the known cosmos to buy for. Men, many a-time have had me stumped. But they're not going to stop me this Christmas. And nor are they going to stop you. Gather 'round friends, here's 13 ideas to treat the beloved men in your life. Steely creatures that they are.

Toms mens canvas sneaks - Hype DC $80

The best classic striped tee. Ever. - Genki $79 

Moroccan Neroli Post-Shave Lotion - Aesop $51

Who wears short shorts? Not anyone you know in these - Volcom $TBC

Fair Trade Organic Blend Coffee 1kg - Palms $37.90 

Go analog with this speaker trumpet - Third Drawer Down $29

Make sure he's always on time for date night - WeWood watch $119

A good book. The Faith of Graffiti by Norman Mailer - Readings $28

You can't go past an Aerobie frisbee - Rebel Sport $30

Some killer sunglasses - Ksubi $300

What man doesn't love a fresh pair of socks? Bless their cotton socks - Happy Socks from Kaeho $17

Everyone wants to feel kneaded. Traditional artisan bread making classes - Brasserie Bread $POA

Loves surfing? Will love this new book - 'These are (mostly) pictures you've never seen before' by John Witzig $35

Or why not give the man poo?

Let's Play It Again

Matt and I have been playing this beautiful song over and over again. And is if the song wasn't amazeballs enough, Lana del Rey is pretty darn easy on the eye. Aye aye aye.

Loving those curls and the flower hair pieces. Divine.

Christmas Gift Guide: Home Lovers

It's time for me to pull out another gift guide for you, this one is for those friends and family you know who love their home.

French iron herb dryer. So Frenchy, so chic - Heaven in Earth $30

Limited Edition Threadneedle armchair in Royal Silver - it's bound to be the best seat in the house - Freedom $999

Wooden serving spoons - Father Rabbit $39

Sea mobile - rainbow colours - Puka Puka Design $65

Travel in the comfort of your couch - Nomad by Sibella Court from Berkelouw $50

Check out this fab Trim telephone in turquoise - Lark $149

Hand blocked polka dot tablecloth - Sally Campbell $150

Marimekko 'In Good Company' bowl - Funkis $27

Vintage European map cushion in organic cotton - My Bearded Pigeon $55

Voluspa White Currant Quince 100 hour candle - Saison $55

Et voila. 10 ideas for the home lovers in your life.

Christmas Gift Guide: Kids!

I love compiling gift guides. Use them as you will, over the coming weeks I'm going to be putting together some more ideas to share with one and all and to trouble shoot tricky Christmas gifts for you, me and everyone else. So today, the smalls. They can be tricky. I often think the simpler the gift, the better. Get those imaginations a-cranking.

Acrylic prisms with coloured optical filters - Third Drawer Down - $27

For the coolest, funniest t-shirts that are Australian-made - check out Well Spotted $35

A beautiful book of craft activities by Todd Oldham - Ecobabe $34.95

Hand made doll with proceeds to benefit Royal Children's Hospital - Big by Fiona Scanlan $39.95

MMMG Drawing Book - Ver. 05 - Flying - Notemaker $19.95

A beautiful butterfly kite - Leading Edge Kites $35

LEGO. LEGO. LEGO. You just can't go wrong. Alien Conquest is hot in our house LEGO $7.99

Too cute toy kitchen made from sturdy cardboard - Lark $39.95

Super cool limited edition burger melamine plate - Dawn Tan (genius) $25

Be the coolest cat at kindy with the Minti Sneaky Eyes backpack - Little Pinwheel $49.95

Ten cool ideas for those kidlets in your life!