Where Am I?

Where oh where has PottyMouth gone?

I've been busy. Reading an incredible and life changing book that was recommended to me by Onya Magazine's Editor-in-chief, Sandi.

I must admit, it's been a very long time between books for me. I don't even remember the last book I read because I start them, and then leave them. If I'm not in, I'm not in.

But this book. I am in. Wholeheartedly. And it's life-changing. But I'll write more about it later because it deserves a post of its own.

What's keeping you busy of late? What are you reading? Spill.

Tiny Book Club

The other day Tiny asked me to read her a book. I agreed. Then she brought this out to me. 

Fairies. And The Like.

A few million years ago, when I worked doing PR for a big department store, I had a friend in one of the book buyers. She used to gift me books that she didn't want. It was a happy relationship. I love books, and I loved chatting with her.


Let's fast-forward a few years, to two nights ago, when Tiny asked me if she could look at my fairy book. I didn't remember telling her I had any fairy books, but I remembered, way back in my brain's archives that that book buyer had gifted me this awesome fairy book many years before. I went trawling through our bookshelves and found it. I'd never actually read it - except to know it was about fairies. 


Tiny was in fairy heaven. 


But not only that, it's a book about fairies AND fashion. Tiny's two giant passions. 


To illustrate this even further, just prior to Easter, Tiny was walking around the house saying something like: "I'm a fashionista for Easter". I have no idea where this came from. But she'd been brainwashed by something or someone and was living Karl's dream. 


Last night Tiny - after about 76 tantrums, finally crawled into bed with Matt, to be calmed into a sweet four year old bliss reading Fairie-ality. 


And then she finally went to sleep. She's so beautiful when she's sleeping. 

Tonight I Banned Talking About Poo

Living with a six (almost seven) year old and a four year old, I hear a lot of poo talk. 


All. Flipping. Day. Long.


And you know, it can really wear a girl out. 


I am sick of poo talk.


Poo jokes? I am sick of them too.

Tiny thinks anything with a punchline of poo poo is going to elicit giggles. It might from her, but I'm not laughing. 


Tonight they were reading a book together, and every second word was poo. And you know, I just put a blanket ban on poo talk. 


I do not want to discuss poo. With you, or without you. Poo is poo is poo. It's what we do. I do not need to talk about it, thank you.


If you have a poo frenzy on your hands (well not literally I hope), you should get this book. We have the pop-up poo version. It is very funny. Well it was until Tiny tore out all the pop-up bits. 

What Do You Do All Day?

Richard Scarry. One of my all-time favourite children's author/illustrators. 

Our Onegirl fleur. It is so loved. And a lot of love comes from me.

My knitting. Which is going nowhere fast. Mum, I need you to fix it. 

I don't have much of any value to share with you. 

So tell me, what do you do all day? 

Reading + Running

The Doctor is turning into a bit of a bookworm. Which is rad in my books (excuse the pun) - because I was a total bookworm, and from there, my love of the written word formed.

There's so much to be gained from reading a good book. Losing yourself in a story, learning more about language. It's rich and can transport you elsewhere.

On the weekend I bought him Andy Griffiths' book 'The 13-Storey Treehouse'. I thought it would last him a little while. It's a graphic novel, plenty to keep small boys entertained and captive. He read it in one afternoon.

I mean amazeballs. But yikes! This mama better get her game on baby!

Today I went looking for a new book for him. I asked at my favourite children's book store after scouring the shelves by myself. The lady gave me a couple of recommendations, and I wound up with a Horrid Henry book.  

And he read it this afternoon.

So mamas, have you got some book recommendations for my 6.5 year old, book-loving boy? I'm a mama on the prowl looking for new words to share with my little-big boy. I am literally running to keep up with his voracious booky appetite.

Holy House Envy!

Have you seen this book? Aye carumba. I have house envy to the max.

I thought The Selby was top of the pops. Well he is, let's face it. But Design Sponge has me salivating. I may even throw some of my stuff out. Some may call it junk. I call it stuff. It's feasible that it could be stuff. It's stuff from other people's bins.

But whatever you want to call it, get your filthy doggone mitts on this book. You will not regret it. Mark my words homegirls!

PS - Check out this Neon Wedding. Be still my boom-ba-da boom-ba-da heart. I might have to get married all over again. (To you Matt, of course.)

Feeling Crafty (And Quiet)

Excuse my absence, but I'm under the weather, bored silly by myself, at home, literally bored with myself. Folding origami cranes, folding origami dogs. Folding washing. Folding my brain into a cube and waiting until this illness decides I am no longer good company.

For the record: I AM NO LONGER GOOD COMPANY.

This is a great book for smalls. Papercraft: Kathreen Ricketson. Thanks Lisa for the introduction to such a great resource.

Reading.

I know I've written about this book before, but I'm going there again because it is one of my all-time favourite reads. It's beautifully written, moving, and I marvel at it on each read. Given tomorrow marks 10 years since 9/11 it seems quite fitting to re-read it right now.
-------------------------
I can still remember exactly where I was when I found out about 9/11. My Mum and Dad rang me really early to tell me to turn the TV on. I did, and couldn't fathom what I was seeing. Why was this plane flying into the building? The reality didn't register for me.

I then had to go to work, and spent the loneliest, greyest, longest day waiting for news. I worked in a store, by myself, and kept going to the cafe next door for updates. I remember that day, and can instantly recall that sick pit in my stomach. I can barely believe it's been 10 years already, watching those two buildings crumble, and the days afterward hearing and reading about too many people's last day.

There's a really good special report over at NY Times if you're interested.

Last Night An Audio Book Saved My Life

Actually, it was tonight.

Tonight an audio book saved me.

You see friends, you'll have to listen up real close because I've got something to tell you.

I've lost my voice.

Yeah. Great. Works a treat when talking with the Doctor. He's got blocked ears and can't hear. I've got no voice and can't talk. Match made in heaven. I have to clap my hands to get his attention.

Tonight Matt went out to catch up with some friends leaving desperate and voiceless at home. No bed time bookie wookies for the littlies.

Or were there?

I madly went through the CD cupboard and hauled out 'The Gruffalo's Child' on CD. Ker-ching!

They were happy. I remained silent. And all was well. Hoorah for audio books. End of story.

You're Booked!

I found this super cute book the other day by Emma Dodd called "You". I mean, just look at it, it's got cute written all over it. I can't wait to give it to Tiny because I think she's going to love it long time - it has gold foil on every page, so. darn. cute.



The Doctor was home today sick as a dog, woke up with a raging 3am fever, and conjunctivitis. But I didn't realise it was conjunctivitis until a friend at preschool looked at him this afternoon and said "Oh you've got conjunctivitis" - and I went "BINGO!" - and then as an aside to myself "Der, why didn't I see that before?! Of course it's conjunctivitis". Poor little dude. Conjunctivitis is the pits, isn't it? So we stayed at home and I read him Cressida Cowell's "How To Be A Pirate".

What books are your big and smalls reading? And you? I have a big stockpile next to my bed, but none of them calling me right now. Any recommendations?