Rasberry

our inspiring angels

Today I went to the Parish at my daughters school where the young prep's [how far they have come - almost in grade 1] participated in the Advent prayer celebration with readings and christmas song.  They were all dressed as angels & shepards...and ANGELS they were.  With confidence and flare they participated with angelic enthusiasm. 

So I thought a blog post was in order acknowledging these angels in our lives - that inspire us on a day - to - day basis...here's mine!

Sarah Groen - a very talented member of our team sent me these gorgeous christmas decorations that she made about the angels in her life - her inspiration..... 
  here's what Sarah wrote about her project....

Hi Sheena I spent a happy weekend transforming one of your gorgeous star chipboard albums into an Xmas star for each of my children to hang on our tree. I started with my baby, Benjis as it will be his first xmas and I wanted to make something special to commemorate it. I used all Rasberry products except for the Kaiser swirls and Prima flowers. I have to say that the Rasberry products mix and match so well with other products in my stash. They are a delight to use. Hope that you like them. After Chrismas i will bind them all together with a book ring and make a mini album to remember exactly how my kids looked at Christmas 2009. :)Sarah

 

enjoy Sheena
 

i love these journals....

i love journals...and notebooks...and sketch books....I was perusing ETSY and look what I came across ....really cute handmade journal ...it has a variety of pages...lined, textured, recycled...nice!!

http://evalicious.etsy.com

and i also found this "SKETCH" book ...it has 72 pages of blank, white, 140 lb watercolor paper...beautiful...this would make a perfect gift ...don't you think!  you can find this book on spacedogstudios.etsy.com

  

 if you want to make your own journal - grab a plain journal such as this one and cover it with your own paper designs....

here's one that I made....

 
 
 

enjoy Sheena
 

 

true beauty

Today i decided to take my daughter out for breakfast before school.  An opportunity to spend some time with her - catch up - i don't have to list it but there are numerous benefits that arise from my mere $20 investment in food and priceless investment in time...whist sipping latte I decided to have a peruse through the papers and so starts the reflection for my blog today......

 Filippa Hamilton a model who has worked with Ralph Lauren since she was 15 [she is now 24] has been dropped by the clothing label for being "too porky" -

She recently featured in a fashion photograph for Polo Ralph Lauren, which was doctored to make her look abnormally thin - photo on the right -

I was perplexed at the image on the right - someone, somewhere  decided that this image was appealing to the rest of us - that somehow we would be influenced, impacted in someway by this visual.  Not only is the image unappealing - it is a LIE and yet it appears in a magazine where its objective is to ultimately influence us [women, girls..].  Why?  Because it can?! ? Beause it does?!? Does it?!? Maybe it doesn't quite so much anymore because we are old enough to discern, to see the UNTRUTH - the false - and maybe the stupidity!

BUT then I stop to think that our girls [my girls], their friends, my nieces, .. are not old enough to see the LIE in it all.  So I guess it comes down to us - to me - your everyday kinda porky mum to reveal the TRUTH of real beauty, to define what if means to be beautiful that encourages a love for ones-self and ones true worth .  DOVE did a survey that found 83% female teens aged 15-17 agree their mother has positively influenced their feelings about themselves and their beauty and that 95% of  female teens aged 15-17 agree it is important to actively encourage young girls to have a realistic and healthy body image.

 

When all is said and done - the statistics and supporting video have been pondered upon I go back to the basics - my girls and the amazing blessing they are to me.  I reflect on their love for life, their zest for all things fun and their uncontrollable loud laughter.  I can only pray that one day they grow up to write a blog just like this....

Sheena....
 

ice cream, sunrises, sand-play ...

I am back ...feeling much brighter [minus that head cold of course].  We spent the last couple of weeks in QLD attempting to warm up and of course relax a little. We have all definitely grown a little chubbier from the daily ice-cream consumption but most definitely happier from the fun, laughter and relaxation of holidays.

Woke everyday to scenes such as this....

 

Cannot complain about our daily dose of sand-play....

 

we met a few animals [you just can't help it if you are visiting Australia Zoo AND Sea World]

  

and we enjoyed a few latte moments...