With a single breath and a heart-focused intention

One week into Feb, 38 days into the new year... And it only now feels like my year is beginning.

We've sent a little one off to prep, a confident and eager miss seven into grade two and my little miss Ruby {now 21 months} is at home navigating our world with me by her side.

I haven't set a pace so far this year. And that's been unsettling for me. I've wanted a rhythm. But instead strived for a heart-centred hum to our days. We've done beautifully in carving out memories and moments this summer. And when all sense of balance has been thrown out, we've paused, breathed, banded together and started again.

Our first few weeks of January were slow and long in the best way. I found myself nourishing and nurturing my three together, but carving out time with each of my girls alone too. There's something about giving all your attention to them individually that sets my heart alight, as though I'm seeing them with new eyes, giving all my love to just one for a few moments. It's really quite hard to explain. 

But today it feels like only now my year is truly beginning, now that school is back, and I can schedule in some time for writing, some time for nurture, time to create and time to be alone. And it turns out that's what I've craved most so far this year. Time alone to write, to breathe, to just be. To reconnect with me.

And so, I've been dwelling on little rituals I can fold effortlessly into my day. Three rounds of salute to the sun in the morning. Ducking out the door for a short morning walk as the sun rises while the rest of the house sleeps. Stepping outside to look at the sky {looking up and giving thanks}. Writing down my blessings. Just writing, anything at all, but mostly for my heart. Reading a few pages of a new book before bed. Reminding myself to breathe, and then breathing and doing absolutely nothing else.  

And it seems this is where my rituals begin, with a single breath and a heart-focused intention. So here's to the start of a new year, and gratitude with each breath.

xx

How was your January? Do you carve any mindful or nurturing rituals into your mornings/day? I'd love to know. Elisa xx


~ Sending out three digital prints via my newsletter next month! Finally, they are ready!  Plus, some breath-centered mantras and affirmations for you. If you'd like me to send them your way, you can add your email here.

No matter the weather

No matter the weather this is where I want to be.

No matter if I'm admiring calm turquoise waters or witnessing a dark sea with rolling waves.

Whichever is the rhythm of the day, being here nourishes me.

Reminds me that every day brings change, and to embrace it.

Reminds me to breathe. And exhale fully. And to give thanks.

It reminds me to look for beauty in the ordinary. Because it's always there. And here.

xx


Do you look for beauty in your everyday? x

Beauty, gratitude and the everyday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

  

1. The sky first thing in the morning: Missing yesterday's sunshine, but loving the new tree leaves.

 

2. Sharing my bed ♡

 

3. Lemons: I go through at least one a day. Lucky we bought a second lemon tree...  

 

4. Finally added some girly colour to the sea of black that is my wardrobe.

 

5. Grounding: Stepping barefoot on to the grass for a minute to reconnect. 

 

6. Her favourite thing to do, my least favourite thing to clean up. Water containment lines (waterproof art smock + towels everywhere) worked a treat.

 

7. Sophie the giraffe - She comes everywhere with us, and is lost {then found} just about everywhere too.

8. I adore drawings by my big girl just as much as I love watching her draw ♡  

9. Admiring pink roses.

 

10. Words of inspiration sitting by my bed.

These images were my Ten on Ten :: an image taken every hour or so on the tenth of the month. A way of finding and capturing life and beauty in the ordinary things in our everyday. {Excuse the fact that I'm a day late in posting these...}
 
I've done this project once before, and what I love about it most is it encourages me to slow down further, to move mindfully and notice the seemingly ordinary moments which make my day and that I love.

With each moment and photograph comes a reminder of gratitude - for what I {we} have, for what I {we} have created, for what is possible, for what can be.

xx

~ Joining this month's Ten on Ten project, and the 52 Weeks of Grateful x
 

 



Unscripted

With sick lingering here for longer than I would have thought {much longer than I'm happy about}, there's been a whole lot of home time and pretty much no script to our days.

I wake up and wonder what the day will bring, and I throw up a couple of options out and see what the little misses like best.

Sometimes we do a whole lot of nothing. Lying on the ground reading books, and lying on the ground with them lying on me.

We bake our bread together. I plan nutritious immune-boosing meals for our days, and my girls make soup {to make us all feel better} in their play kitchen.

But often we make our way to the beach. Miss three requests visits to the water, almost as much as my heart does.

When it rains we watch the waves from the car. And when it's windy, we make our way to the lookout. If it's sunny, we'll run on the sand or watch the sun dancing on the water from afar.

On Wednesdays we keep heading to the market, and wander rugged up down the street.
We buy daffodils and jonquils, and I sip hot chocolate while the girls play at the park.

And every night {after reading their two favourite books} my angels fall asleep in my arms.

And then I find myself getting out of bed to finish work commitments, but not getting to write from {and for} my heart.

We haven't seen much of the people we love to see this past month, we haven't had the out-and-about rushed that comes with normal weeks and I haven't been afforded the time to hit the publish button when I do write.

But always before I fall asleep I notice how our unscripted days of late are filled with heart moments.

And while at times I feel like I haven't been able to catch my breath, I think in a way it's what I needed.

Because in the not-knowing and the lack of planning, I've been propelled to move further out of my comfort zone, be even more selective with my time, to trust and move further in the direction of my heart.

So many things have been thrown up in the air this month, but it's starting to feel like that only happened so things could land the right way up.

xx

How have your days been of late? Do you stop to notice all the heart moments collected throughout your week?

Little moments {that are big to my heart}

Little things are making me happy this week. It's always the little things, isn't it? Or maybe the little things are the big things. I say they're little because mostly they're just fleeting moments or thoughts, or just one minute of my whole day and sometimes everyday ordinary experiences... but to my heart, they feel big. And in my mind, I try to lock away that feeling and hold onto moments and memories in the hope they may forever feel new.

... A trip to the park with just the little girl. Her strength and determination to climb the ladder, and her excitement at going down the big slide on her own. Those big eyes shining even brighter and bigger, her cherub face bursting into that one-dimple smile.

... Stopping in my tracks to look down {when always I look up}. Feeling grounded, connected and happy with my place right now, right here in this world.

... Cloud watching in the morning, and spotting that same funny vertical cloud hours later in the afternoon. Being reminded that sometimes things change quickly before you get a chance to fully appreciate them. Giving thanks for opportunities and experiences that get to be witnessed, enjoyed and experienced a second time, and sometimes again and again.

... Miss three and I looking at ourselves cheek-to-cheek in the mirror. Laughing together. Holding hands. Brushing each other's hair. Consciously stepping back for a moment to really see her, to really listen and take her in.

... A shift in my mindset allowing new possibilities to enter my world. Then accepting new opportunities, and giving thanks.

... And after a day of tantrums came these words from miss three: "You're the goodest, bestest beautiful mummy I've ever heard."

xx

What little moments feel big to your heart right now?

 

These days {summer}

 

Waking up with no agenda {nowhere to be, nothing I have to do}.

Stretching in bed {and getting out slowly}.

Admiring the perfect lips, long eyelashes and sweet baby breath of my 15 month old little girl {asleep beside me}.

Asking my three year old what she would like for breakfast {when it's cheese toastie, every time}.

Then, pretending surprise when she says her answer {just to see her smile}.

Making my cereal, then playing with my girls {and eating it soggy ten minutes later}.

Putting blueberries {her favourite} in front of my baby girl.

Waiting and bursting a smile as she offers me {always} the first one {and says mmmm}.

Deciding on a long walk or stop at the park or fun in the backyard {and watching the sense of responsibility in the choosing for miss three}.

Peeling bananas, slicing watermelon and cutting apples {the right way, so the pips form a magic star}.

Forgetting the day of the week {and not minding at all}.

Sunshine that turns my cheeks pink {and buoys my mood}.

The bluest skies {dotted with white stretched clouds, and overpowered by the bright sun}.

Lying on my back in the grass {knowing a toddler is getting ready to pounce}.

Lemonade icy poles {that drip in the sun faster than you can lick}.

Running under the sprinklers {fully clothed}.

Sitting on the front lawn with my girls {waiting for our man to arrive home}.

The four of us going for walks after dinner {going slow, loving big, finding joy}.

xx

{~ Grateful for summer days that lately are going like this. Linking with Maxabella & Kidspot's 52 Weeks of Grateful over here x}

What are you feeling grateful for this week?

 

Effortlessly

Gratitude has become more natural, rather than scheduled now. I like it this way. It's effortlessly part of my week.

I'm thinking gratitude most days, but always at the end of the week I'm counting my blessings and noticing all I have to be grateful for. And I love that there's always something {and normally so much}.

Last week I missed the 52 Weeks of Grateful link up. My littlest girl clung to me like a koala for almost four days, teething and miserable.

Reaching for my laptop was out of the question. Actually it was impossible. Even pouring soy milk on my cereal turned out to be a hard task. But despite being so needed and not getting to publish the posts I craved to write, gratitude kept popping up in my heart and on my mind.

Reflecting on gratitude is a little like meditation for me. It slows me down, grounds me and makes me more mindful of my power to choose my day and how the moments play out.

But what I love most is how gratitude has become a part of my days. Effortlessly.

It's got me thinking about all the other rituals {past and present} I want to be part of my every day.

Salutes to the sun in the morning. Meditation each evening. Time stopping to look up at the sky and to notice the trees' leaves. Journaling - pen and paper style. Walking after dinner. Reading fiction books - even just a couple of pages each day.

It's got me thinking about how what starts as a scheduled practise can become more of a ritual and then turn into something that feels natural so easily.

It's got me thinking how the smallest changes can make the biggest impacts on our days.

xx

Any rituals you want to introduce to your days? Do you practise gratitude? x

Ordinary days

Last week my husband told me we'd had a really great day {the best day}. Our little girls were tucked into bed and fast asleep. I was standing watching the kettle boil, my mind wandering. And I was immediately drawn to his words {the emotion in his voice}.

I understood what he meant because I had felt this day too. It has been great {all of it}. But we hadn't done anything {extra special}. It was a day of ordinary. I'm sure everyone has days just like this too.

We all had a sleep-in {til 7.30am}, ate breakfast together {while taking turns at feeding the baby}. A cardboard box was turned into a boat {salad servers became oars} and little miss almost-three was rapt. We picked up groceries and unpacked more boxes. We ate an early dinner. And spent the evening reading books to our girls before bed-time crept up.

What made this day great? I keep running that question around in my head.

I think mainly because the day was just us, just being. No big plans, no place we had to be, no schedule {just a loose routine of how the day best pans out for our girls}.

And I couldn't help but notice that holiday feeling {free, light, relaxed} was present. And that stress, work and a to-do list were absent. Without those holding on, the day made itself about us with ease, slow and gentle. And it's made me think that it's these ordinary days I long for the most.

xx

{Grateful for clarity, ordinary days and time spent together with no big plans and no place we have to be ~ Linking with gratitude to Maxabella and Kidspot's 52 Weeks of Grateful.}

Do you love ordinary days? What's made you feel grateful this week?

Days like this

With little miss almost-three by my side {and listening for the sounds of birds}, we walked.

The brightest blue sky danced above us.

My baby girl sat in the pram, big eyes wide and alert {taking in the day}.

A cool breeze caught us off guard {sweeping past our faces and through our hair}.

Little miss two giggled and demanded we stop walking {so we "really hear the birds"}.

The sun was the brightest it has been in days. {Warming our skin, touching my soul}.

I watched her big brown eyes search for blossom. And clouds {not a single one in sight}.

We laughed into the sun. And we walked.

I smiled at the two little smiles that light up my days.

And I wished he was here with us. Witnessing this very moment. {And I wondered if they wished this too}.

And I knew if I as the one working full-time, this is what I would miss.

Days when we {the three of us} make memories.

Days like this {when I catch myself living my dreams}.

Elisa x

{Grateful for this day, for these moments, for the sun and bright blue skies, for my man who comes home every night with a smile on his face and energy for his three girls. Forever grateful that thanks to him, days like this can be mine. And a little embarrassed that it's only just dawning on me how amazing a gift this really is xx}

{Linking with Maxabella for Kidspot's 52 Weeks of Grateful x}