Thursday is my favourite day of the week. Every day has its own merits – Mondays to Wednesdays I have no kids, sometimes I’m working, often I catch up with friends and eat ice cream. So by all means, they’re good days. Fridays I have both kids (read: hectic) but we also have our regular FriYAY playdate so … Read More →
My peanut turned 18 months last week. And this one, this special brand of tough nut, took two needles for her immunisation and didn’t even flinch. It was literally like nothing happened at all. She was sitting on my lap facing away from me when she was injected, and there was silence. I thought it … Read More →
Happy Valentine’s Day! It was only a matter of time before I fell down the Yumbox bento rabbit hole. The cuteness level of some of these bentos? Honestly, I’m surprised I didn’t get sucked in sooner (but obviously I have now). Most mums get bentos for their kids to encourage them to eat a wider … Read More →
For us, Chinese New Year is not really a big deal these days. When I was little and my ah gong was still alive, it was the hugest deal. But now, it’s low key – we try and teach the kids what it means and drum up some level of excitement with ang pows, but … Read More →
I don’t know if it’s just me, but as a mum, I feel like I’m always waiting for things to get ‘easy’. I tell myself “it’ll be easier once he starts crawling”, “it’ll be easier once he turns one”, “it’ll be easier once she’s down to one nap”, “it’ll be easier when she’s on solids”… … Read More →
I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in saying that my life as a mother to young creatures feels like a never ending cycle of packing snacks, making lunches, cooking, cooking again, washing clothes, washing sheets, washing toys, washing butts, feeding, more feeding, cleaning hands, cleaning mouths, cleaning faces, cleaning entire bodies, playing, chasing, walking outside, … Read More →
Considering we live in Sydney, with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, we hit the beach waaaaaay less often than I’d like. Well. To be clear, before kids I used to get to the beach at least once every weekend throughout summer. Because back then what did I need? A towel? And these … Read More →
After slogging away in the corporate world for over 15 years (yes, I’m that old), life handed me an opportunity recently and without so much of a glance backwards (because bye late night conference calls!) I’m heading for a change of pace, a slower gear, more time to eat and stuff be a mum. I didn’t … Read More →
So this officially happened today. My teensy weensy little peanut turned one. Cliché cliché cliché when did she get so big where did the time go etc etc etc but really honestly you guys, WHEN DID SHE GET SO BIG? And where did the time go?? At 6.56am a year ago, my little eskimo appeared. And … Read More →
Guess who’s nine months old today? ARGHHHHHH. Impossible! I was meant to start back at work today. I’d only intended to take nine months off but I’ve extended it one more month because you guys… look at her face! How can I not want to spend every day (albeit unpaid, I’m broke, I eat plain … Read More →
A couple of weeks ago, this critter turned 2.5. What a ride it’s been – highs, lows, low lows, medium highs, super lows. I’ve had enough experience now to confidently say that every low does pass, and what comes after is usually a spectacularly bright silver lining. Like my last post for instance. Five torturous … Read More →
There’s this two year old who lives in my house. I’m not going to name names but if you’re real sleuthy, you might figure out who I’m talking about. But anyway, this two year old is driving me absolutely insane. For the past few weeks, he’s been waking up early. Insanely early, like before time … Read More →
No it hasn’t been six months. It can’t have been six months yet! Can it? REALLY?! God, time is flying. My peanut is no longer a peanut, she’s six months old today and turning into her own little person. She has a personality, she has likes and dislikes, she communicates (in her own way). She’s … Read More →
I haven’t blogged about eating out in a really really long time. Partially because I don’t really eat out that often any more, but mainly because: Two Kids. Actually, it’s all because: Two Kids. But y’all know how much I love a good burger, and with Jack’s Newtown around the corner from me, what else am … Read More →
My peanut is three months old today! Can you believe it? I don’t believe it and I’m also completely amazed that I’ve now squeezed in not one but two blog posts in three months. Remember with Sam? When I could hardly muster the energy to write a post after six whole months? Yeah, that. Things … Read More →
This kid. He’s two years old today and he LIGHTS UP MY LIFE. And I’m not saying it in that ‘having kids is so much fun’ kind of way, because trust me, I’m the first person to be sceptical when I hear anyone say that having kids is awesome fun because (a) it’s not and (b) … Read More →
I’ve been blogging now for six years here at thecattylife. Prior to this, I was on blogspot, and even dabbled in Xanga in the early 00’s. Wow, that makes me feel old. I’ve always blogged for myself – I say this truthfully, I don’t really write with an audience in mind, I don’t think about … Read More →
A couple of weeks ago, my mother-in-law loaded us up with lemons from her tree before she headed off on an overseas sojourn. I’m not really a lemon-buyer in general, I just don’t know what to do with them, but when I become a lemon-receiver, I (a) share the lemon love with friends and (b) … Read More →
Today, Sam is 18 months old. In 18 months, the tiny helpless screaming little blob that was thrust onto my chest and deep into my life has not only quadrupled in size, he’s evolved to become a little human being. Our days are now pretty routine, and I feel like I have less to say than … Read More →
po piah (fresh spring rolls with yambean, shredded omelette, tofu, cucumber, mince, crispy shallots and chilli paste) Lots of people have blogged about Hawker. I read, I drooled, my eyes fell out of my head. I could not wait to get my face into the apam balik, rojak, po piah and the supposedly amazeballs assam laksa. … Read More →
lamb rack and braised shoulder, spiced carrot puree, baby spinach, pine nuts, herb crust, asparagus I’ve never been this delayed in writing a post. It’s been 2.5 months since our Townsville trip and I’d all but forgotten about our dinner out at Seasoned, that is until I was scrolling through my camera roll and it’s like … Read More →
I can hardly believe it’s Christmas again! We spend all year longing for December, for the break, the festivities. Those of us in the southern hemisphere for the beach frenzy, our northern counterparts for the winter solstice so your days start getting longer once again. We all look forward to something at Christmas time, maybe … Read More →
Some days, it’s 8am and you’ve already contemplated going out and buying cake. Some days, it’s a reality. You go out and buy not one, but two portions of cake, with All The Intention In The World of sharing it with a friend. Turns out your friend isn’t having sugar right now – how convenient. So you … Read More →
It’s Friday, what’s not to be happy about? This week marked the first week of ‘real life’, as I’m coining it. Maternity leave wasn’t real life. Panu on paternity leave wasn’t real life (that was awesome life, actually) and even after Panu went back to work, having a nanny all week wasn’t really real life. … Read More →