Mastering your Mean Girl

I confess I'm a girl who has a nasty Mean Girl inside ready to tell me things I don't want to hear like, "You're not good enough, you're a slack Mum, you're not a good enough friend, wife" etc. You know the kind of inner talk that's not at all helpful.

I watched Melissa Ambrosini being interviewed by Jules Sebastian (Guy Sebastian's wife) about her new book on Tea with Jules and was intrigued.

What I learnt

To think about every decision, in every day, to be based on love not fear. For example, going to the gym because of love - how it makes my body feel strong and flexible, not because of fear - because I'll get fat and flabby. Basically it's about having a different mindset and making decisions based on positive factors rather than focusing on doing things out of fear.

I also learnt about saying no, letting go of things (often from the past) that I still get hung up over. I learnt to surround myself only with people that make me feel good and stop wasting time on those that don't.

Another frustration is expectations - expecting others to do things to the standard that I expect. We are all working on a different operating system and by dropping my expectations I will be more satisfied with interactions with others.

I try to spend at least a small part of every day things about the things in my life for which I am grateful (normally on my morning bus commute). There are lots of things to be grateful for - health, family, love, food, job, safety, living in beautiful Brisbane and the choice to live my life the way I want to.

I'm also realising that I need to believe that I'm worth it before others will think the same thing.

It got me thinking about who my top 5 friends are and why I love them so much - love you Mr P, Anita, Susannah, Angela and Amy (you know who you are)!

And finally I started thinking about what legacy I want to leave behind. I think for me to be considered a good Mum by my kids would be the ultimate compliment. Oh and of course to be a loving wife would be great too. I also want to be known as a good friend, good employee and someone that's always trying to do their best and keep on improving. What's your legacy? Maybe one this blog will be mine.

If you want a read that can help you think about how life is a rollercoaster that we can all take control of, this might be the book for you. There's lots of exercises at the end of each section to help you cement and practise your new learnings. The book also covers meditation and mindfulness (both of which I was already a massive fan of).

Melissa's book is available on iBooks or at any good bookstore.

Until next time xx 

White lace dress

I picked up this dress last season from Portmans. I first wore it out to dinner with Mr P. Miss P took some great photos and I uploaded them to Instagram.

Portmans saw the post and re-posted the look on their Instagram page - how cool. Miss P, you did a great job!!

I decided to wear it again, this time to work on Melbourne Cup Day. Any excuse to dress up I say.

I paired it with my trusty white Novo heels and got lots of comments. It really is a stunning dress.

Portmans does seem to be the shop that's been ticking lots of boxes for me.

I kept my accessories to a minimum because the dress has a lot going on. I pulled my hair back in what can only be described as a very low maintenance.

Until next time xx

Spaghetti with bacon, zucchini and rocket

Here's a light, healthy meal for a warm spring/summer night when you don't feel like anything too heavy. It took Miss P and I just 25 minutes to go from start to wow.

Ingredients

500g spaghetti

Olive oil cooking spray

4 short-cut bacon rashes, sliced

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 teaspoon lemon zest

6 green shallots, white part only thinly sliced

2 zucchini, grated

1/3 cup of Philly Cream for Cooking

100g baby rocket leaves

Method

Cook spaghetti according to packet instructions.

Meanwhile, spray frying pan with oil and place over medium-high heat. Cook bacon stirring occasionally for 3-4 minutes until golden. Add garlic, lemon zest and shallots.

Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add zucchini and cook for 2-3 minutes, until zucchini is tender.

Add Cream for Cooking and stir to combine.

Add bacon mixture to hot pasta with 3/4 of the rocket and toss to combine. 

Season with black pepper.

Divide pasta between serving bowls and top with remaining rocket to serve.

Rocket can be replaced with spinach or watercress leaves.

Serves 4.

Another meal from the Family Cookbook.

Until next time xx

Valleygirl blue and white blouse with bow

I have never purchased anything from Valleygirl let alone walked into the store but the other day I decided to give it a go. I always thought the shop was geared to a younger audience. I found gold.

This Valleygirl blouse is paired with white slim-fit jeans from Zara. This is a look that I like to wear on a Friday because it can take me from work to play. But if a mid-week wine was on offer I would wear it then. The bow detail on the back of the neck is perfection and the floaty fit can hide a myriad of sins.

I included a pop of colour with my red Sandler wedges and teamed it with a smokey eye so I could go easily head out after work.

And to top things off the blouse only cost $19.95. A real bargain. I've decided that popping into Valleygirl is always a good idea now.

Until next time xx

My Ratatouille Recipe

If you're looking for a wonderful accompaniment to meat or fish, then look no further than this Ratatouille recipe. Also referred to as Caponata in Italian cooking. It's quick, easy and super delicious.

Ingredients

50ml olive oil

1/2 red onion, 2cm dice

2 cloves garlic, sliced

1 thin eggplant, 2cm dice

1 zucchini, 2cm dice

1 yellow capsicum, 2cm dice

1 tomato, deseeded and the flesh diced

1 tin of diced tomatoes

1/2 bunch of fresh basil, chopped

1/2 bunch of continental parsley, chopped

Method

Chop up all ingredients.

Heat a large heavy-based frypan to a medium heat and add the oil and sauté the onion for 2 minutes.

Add the garlic and sauté for 1 minute.

Add capsicum and cook for another 2 minutes.

Add eggplant and cook for another 2 minutes.

Add zucchini and cook for a final 2 minutes.

Add the two types of tomatoes and stir through.

Turn off the heat, add the chopped basil and parsley and season well.

Serves 4-6 people and takes around 30 minutes to prepare. Another recipe from the family recipe book.

Until next time xx

Embracing fluted sleeves and ruffles

I'm really enjoying the fluted sleeves and ruffles that are so on trend at the moment. It brings a cute and feminine look to my wardrobe. And these tops are pretty much featured in almost every shop at the moment.

I don't normally follow trends but this is irresistable.

This top was sourced from Zara's Trafaluc range (of which I like to think of as Zara only more affordable). I picked it up a few weeks ago and ever since Miss P has been eyeing it off.

I have styled it here for work, though I really bought it for play, but I can't help myself when I've got something new in the wardrobe.

I've teamed it with a black Review pencil skirt and orange Zara blazer. I've added my leopard-print Novo heels.

It would also look cute with tailored shorts, skinny jeans or pencil pants. I think I'll get a lot of outfit variations out of it.

To accessorise I've paired it will my new necklace from Tiffany & Co (a present from Mr P to celebrate our going-out 30th anniversary). It's versatile and can be worn long or wrapped around the neck twice for a shorter look. How clever.

Until next time xx

My girl turns 21

In the blink of an eye my baby girl is now an adult. Where did the years go?

Being a mum has been without a doubt the greatest experience of my life. There have been lots of challenging times but the opportunity to shape another life is not lost on me.

With her cousin Master F in Stanthorpe

Miss P is intelligent, selfless, funny and beautiful - I could go on for a week. What I treasure most is the relationship we have which is very close and loving, yet we also criticise and push one another. Sometimes I wonder who is parenting who.

Miss P's 21st was very low key - much like Miss P (she's very low maintenance). Instead of one big party, which she was not keen on at all, she instead had five smaller get-togethers.

Her proviso was she wanted smaller, intimate events so she could get around to everyone and she especially wanted all of her cousins to be there. She can't drink at the moment, so she didn't want alcohol to be an issue either.

Miss P has recently been diagnosed with epilepsy and whilst that's a condition our family is well aware of (her brother has too been diagnosed), it was still a massive shock for her. It triggered an anxiety disorder which she is working hard to take control of. The idea of a big birthday celebration was too much to handle.

She celebrated her 21st with a lunch, with my side of the family, followed by an evening of drag racing and the following weekend she had another lunch with her Dad's side of the family - a lovely big Italian lunch!!

The cakes were made by a friend who is super talented and award winning.

Photo courtesy of Master P

I'm so proud of the woman my beautiful daughter has become. She is close to finishing her double degree, has a fantastic job and a terrific bunch of friends. She brings so much joy to our household and we look forward to watching her continue to develop and reach her potential.

Love you to the moon and back Miss P.

Until next time xx