Fan Girl Friday #12

Hello Bright Ones, 

So it’s been a little while since I last blogged, for many various reasons, most of which are pretty boring & not worth explaining here so let’s just say I’ve been busy with “life.” Maybe I’ll do a monthly recap post or maybe I won’t, but I figured the easiest way to get back on the “blogging bike” so to speak, is to jump back into my Fan Girl Friday post.

So let’s dive on in shall we, with 2 bloggers I love & follow across multiple social media platforms 🙂 

Kirstin & Co

I love the way Kirstin writes her blog. When reading it, it’s like you’ve just sat down and are having a chat with a friend. Her sense of humor is what keeps me coming back for more & I always have a laugh whilst reading or a smile on my face after finishing one of her posts.

Her blog is a bit of an eclectic mix of lifestyle, fashion, food & fun and one of my favorite things she does is her video segments “cooking with Kirstin”

She is my kinda “cook” with simple, tasty recipes that everyone/anyone can make & not a one features even a hint of kale 🙂 as she herself tells you, she’s #kalefree & this Tim Tam salad proves it. Besides, anyone who also has to eat a few choc chips when opening a bag, for quality control purposes of course, will always win me over.

Some posts of hers I’ve enjoyed are: 

How to quit kale 

Twenty Things I’ve Learned in my 40’s

Five ways to lose weight fast 

But there are sooo many others, it’s best if you just pop over to her blog & start reading & discovering her humor for yourselves 🙂 

Pinch Me Beautiful 

Bec is a fellow coastie & a close friend of my sister in law which is how I was first introduced to her blog which is a lovely mix of devine recipes, cute crafts & stunning photos of her & her families life including the cutest little cat ever!

Some of my favorite posts of hers include:

 This beautiful photographic recap of her & her daughters day out at  Norah Head 

This recipe for Mint Chocolate Brownies – ummm yum! 

This Cute craft idea- Pom Pom Cupcake  

She is also extremely talented, making & selling the most amazingly beautiful wall hanging weaves I have ever seen. She takes custom orders & also runs workshops or one on one classes so you can learn to make your very own too. This is definitely something that is on my “to do/wish/bucket” list.  You can see all of her marvelous creations over on her Instagram account & her hashtag #pmbweaves 

Here’s a small sample of some of my favorites she’s created so far.

Seriously talented right! To see more & be kept in the loop of all of her crafty/creative genius & goodness, follow Bec’s blog, you won’t be disappointed.

As I love these blogs & the ladies behind them, I follow them both on Instagram & Facebook too! Fan Girl much? 😉 

Who are you fan girl crushing on right now? Which blogs are you loving or who should I be following? Share & give your favorites a shout out in the comments below.

And as always you can come say hi to me over at Messy Rainbows on Facebook or Instagram too. I love hearing from you.

Fan Girl Friday #11

Hello Bright Ones, 

Hope you’ve all had a super week!  Any exciting plans for the weekend?

We are suppose to be catching up with some friends but after a couple weeks of Pumpkin being sick on & off, now that he’s FINALLY on the mend, Peanut has of course come down with a cough & cold! I swear it’s a never ending sickness cycle here sometimes & I always say the easiest way to guarantee your kids will get sick is to make plans! Aargh it’s soooo frustrating & I’m a little bit over it.

But enough of my little pity party & on with this fortnights installment of Fan Girl Friday. 

This week I’m highlighting two creative ladies over on Instagram.

TheBeeCreative

Bee is a talented artist who loves to faff around with leaves, flowers & sometimes food to make some truly amazing creations. 

  

She also does dot paintings on rocks, wood & canvas & sells some of these beautiful pieces on her etsy page Creationz by Bee. I’ve purchased a few items of hers but my favorite is my purple painted rock necklace that I always get compliments on. 

Seriously do yourself a favor & check out her page & you will fall in love with her magical images & artwork too. 

  

Wildflowerseasoul

Michelle’s gallery is just dreamy. I was drawn to it because of her beautiful  beachy photos, but I love all of her images, they are so pretty & soothing to look at. 

  

She also gets her creative on from time to time & comes up with some fab pics such as these below

  

Her Instagram feed is a bit of an eclectic mix, but each & every image is lovely & just makes me want to see more. So go on, click the link with her name above & go show her some page some love. 

Next time on Fan Girl Friday I’ll be highlighting two blogs I think you’ll like. Til then, stay colourful & bright. 

                            LOZZIE X 

Are you on Instagram? What’s your profile name, leave it in a comment below so I can come & say hello. 

You can also pop over & say hello to me on my Instagram page here or on Facebook I love hearing from you 

Fan Girl Friday #10

Hello Bright Ones, 

Can you believe another fortnight has rolled around already… & it’s almost March! 

I love March because it’s my birthday month but also because it’s Autumn & that’s my favorite season. 

Haven’t had a lot happening this week. We did the usual preschool run twice & I went to my dads earlier in the week to visit my step sister who is out visiting from Canada again for a few weeks. I’ve got some friends coming round for lunch tomorrow but apart from that it’s all been pretty ho hum, housework & wrangling the boys most days. I don’t mind the quieter weeks though. 

Right-o, so this week I’m highlighting two Instagram accounts that are just the bomb! 

1) Kellysnapshappy

Kelly’s feed is just so beautiful to look at & her photos are magic. 

However it’s her two hashtags that I really love & just had to share them with you 

#Kellyplayswithflowers 

  A lovely collection of words & images made using flowers that are both clever & lovely. 

& #conesbykelly

A selection of candy, flowers, food or anything else you can think of tumbling out of ice cream cones & it just works! 

  

I love her creativity & the execution of her ideas. Each one is so unique & beautiful. 

I promise her feed is worth a follow, so go & check it out. 

Secondly we have another aesthetically pleasing account by yet another creative soul,

Runnerkimhall

Her gallery is so pretty.  It is so calming & stunning. Her photos are amazing, as is her talent but it’s the captions she uses for each snap that just completes it. 

 

Trying to choose just a few images to convey & capture the beauty that is her feed is almost impossible as I love them all. But if you like what you see here, click on the above link to her page & you’ll find much more to love & lose yourself in her pastel dreamland. 
   
                                    Lozzie x 

What is it that draws you to follow an Instagram account? Do you like to get creative with your photos & props? Who are you fan girl crushing on right now? 

I love hearing your thoughts & comments so please share them here or over on Facebook or Instagram 

Fan Girl Friday #9

Hello Bright Ones, 

Phew, another week down. Time just flies on by doesn’t it. We’ve had a good but busy week here again. We took a scenic drive on Sunday to explore a bit more of our area & had lunch overlooking a dam. It was so pretty & picturesque out there. 

Monday we had a lovely play date with friends. Took a walk to the local cafe &  enjoyed some yummy treats before we walked through the gardens & fed the ducks.

It’s the second week of getting into the routine of the preschool run here & even though it’s going well, I’m exhausted. Maybe it doesn’t help that I’ve been up most nights with a sick little bub this week too though. 

So I’m looking forward to a quiet weekend. It’s meant to be quite hot here so happy to just lay low.

Now getting onto Fan girl Friday & since its been awhile I’m highlighting two blogs this week. 

  

First up we have 

The Annoyed Thyroid 

Sam is such a sweetheart & her blog is full of fun, inspiration & waaay too many yummy treats that are dangerous for my waistline! 

As her bio says, she’s “living & loving life after cancer & looking on the bright side” & that, she certainly is. 

She loves running & has participated in many fun runs & half marathons in some awesome places around the globe. My favorite was when she was in Disneyland & even wore a mini mouse skirt as part of her running ensemble & the lucky lady is headed back there later this year to do it again! 

Sam co-hosts a weekly link up “Down the Rabbit Hole” every Saturday along with some other lovely ladies, where they share some awesome link lists & invite you to to do the same or just share a favorite post from the week. It’s a great way to discover some other awesome blogs & interact with the blogging community. I love how she always includes the “national day of…” in her lists too.

A few of my favorite posts of hers include:

101 things in 1001 days 

Choc chip honey cake

Thermomix Fudge 

Taking Stock -Feb 

I could honestly list a bunch more links to all her awesome recipes & words of wisdom posts along with down the rabbit hole links, but it’s best if you just head on over to her blog & check it all out for yourself. 

Next we have Toilets aren’t for Turtles

My brother in law actually got me onto this blog & I’m glad he did cause I love it. 

Tackling parenthood with honesty & humor, as it should be. I love Rachel’s posts & will often laugh out loud whilst reading them & also think to myself oh my gosh this is sooo true! 

She’s a mumma of two & shares the highs & lows of parenting & all it entails with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

A few favs include:

First child vs Second child– funny cause it’s true! 

Some days I just suck at parenting – this could be me on any given day! 

10 reasons living with toddlers is like being at the zoo

10 signs you’re a Fitbit freak – as I’ve just recently pulled mine out again I found this hilarious 

If you liked those, there’s sooo much more where that came from so pop on over to her blog & read more hilarious posts like an episode of Ben & Holly Reimagined or that time she bumped into Commando in a children’s change room. 

                                        Lozzie x 

How’s your week been? What are your plans for the weekend? Who are you fan girl crushing on right now?

Tell me everything by leaving a comment here, here or here. I love hearing from you 

Fan Girl Friday #8

Hello Bright Ones, 

Can you believe we are almost at the end of January already? Hope your year has been off to a cracking start so far. 

Things are about to change around here with my eldest heading off to preschool next week & so I’ve been busy preparing for that, making lots of food for the lunch box & shopping for all the essentials. 

I’m still not sure if I’m emotionally ready to let my baby go, but I know he is more than ready & I’m sure this will be a good thing for both of us. 

This week, I’m fan girl crushing on two ah-mazing Instagram accounts. 

Both share a love of macro & nature pics & their galleries are so pretty to look at. So without further ado let me introduce you to these very talented ladies.

First up we have the lovely Kimmy_1_

  

She loves a flower photo & takes some absolute beauties. The up close pics where she catches water droplets & sometimes the odd bee or lady bird are stunning. She has a love of red & white polka dots & animals & her Insta feed reflects that.

  
Next is the ever inspiring Riki_

  

Riki is the queen of minimalistic photos & her #stagedphotoonawhitebackground pics are always so beautiful. Simple, yet clever for the daily prompt from the photo challenges she plays along with. 

Her macro shots of natures miracles are beyond awesome & everyday she continues to blow me away with what she manages to capture. 

  
I suggest if you’re on Instagram & not already following these two, you should rectify that situation right now 🙂 

                                  LOZZIE X 

Are you fan girl crushing on anyone at the moment? Give them a shout out here so I can go & check them out & you never know,  you just might see them appear in an up & coming Fan Girl Friday post. 

As always feel free to come say hi over on my Facebook or Instagram pages too. I love hearing from you. 

Fan Girl Friday #7

How’s the weather where you are? Here on the coast it’s been crazy! Last week we had cold, wet & rainy days, that made me believe we were back in winter & this week we’ve been having a heat wave with temps 34+ followed by afternoon storms! Today it’s much cooler again & raining, as I said cray, cray! That’s the Aussie summer for you though. 

So in this fortnights installment of Fan Girl Friday I’m highlighting two Instagram accounts

First up is Melia_Kay

  

She a mum of two boys with another bub on the way. Her Instagram account is a realistic representation of motherhood & life with two rambunctious, cheeky little boys. 

I love her honesty & often find myself laughing, nodding along in agreement or feeling her pain with her captions & stories of her little ones antics. 

From pics of their tantrums, fighting, finding themselves in precarious positions, to the down right adorable moments where butter wouldn’t melt, I love them all & its’s sooo nice knowing I’m not alone with the daily struggles I face with my own two little monkeys.

Besides spending her days chasing & wrangling these two, she somehow finds the time to sew up some of the cutest little creations too. Seriously they’re  adorable outfits, she’s one talented lady. 

  

Hats off to you mumma, I don’t know how you do it. Whilst I’m so excited to meet the newest addition to your family, I can’t help but think in just a few short weeks you are going to have your hands VERY full! 

Next up is the lovely Jess.andCo

Her account is visually stunning & like walking through a virtual flower garden.  I’m a sucker for a good flower photo & this account is like my crack, it’s just sooo good. 

  

Jess has just recently launched her own line of postcards & notecards featuring some of her most beautiful images too. If you want to get your hands on some just follow the link on her Instagram profile but stop to admire the beauty that is her feed while you’re there first. 

  
                                LOZZIE X 

Have you been having crazy weather where you are? Are you a sucker for a flower photo? Do you have cheeky kids & funny stories to share? 

I want to know it all, so share your thoughts here on the blog or over on Instagram or Facebook 

Fan Girl Friday #6

Hello & Happy New Year! 

2016! Wow. How did you see it in? Have you made any resolutions? Do you have a word to focus on for the year?

Being the party animal that I am these days, I was in bed long before midnight, but managed to catch the 9pm fireworks on tv before turning in. However thanks to a certain little person I had many wake up calls through the night too so I saw in the very early hours of the new year.

Hubby worked all day New Year’s Eve & was suppose to be back at work again early this morning (ahhh the joys of working in retail) so we were never going to be doing anything big to celebrate this new year’s anyway, besides the fact we have 2 little ones. However at the last minute they decided to cut some hours to save money, which means he’s actually home today (yay!) so hopefully we’ll get out to do something fun together and kick start the year off right.

For my 1st fan girl Friday post this year I’m highlighting a favorite blog & #hashtag.

1st up is the lovely Babs & her fun & creative online space over at Patchwork Cactus. 

 

In the interest of full disclosure I should mention she’s my sister in law (I know, I’m lucky right) but even if she wasn’t family, I’d follow her blog anyway because she’s super cool, takes beautiful pics of her little ones, has awesome free printables, radiates happiness & fun & does some awesome tutorials that anyone, (including the non crafty/creative types like me) can totally do. 

Her Montessori parenting style is inspiring & she often gives great examples of what you can do at home with your little ones to help encourage their independence. She also has some fab DIY projects & simple, yummy recipes, some of which I’ve been lucky enough to taste first hand. 

She also writes articles for some well known parenting sites, she’s working on an e-book all about spreading happiness & she’s just an all round awesome chick. TRUE!

Some of my favorite posts of hers are : 

 Spread yourself thick

Encouraging toddler independence at home 

20 Baking tips (from a blogger) 

Tea & coconut oil sugar scrub 

I also love her “taking stock” & “around here” posts that give you glimpses into her life & mind. 
You should definitely go & take a look around her blog as there is something for everyone & I guarantee you’ll leave inspired & happy.

 Whilst you’re there be sure to wish her a Happy Birthday too as today is her special day. Yes, she is a New Years baby! 

Next up is one of my all time favorite #hashtags on Instagram. 

#FMSPHOTOADAY created by the lovely Chantelle from Fatmumslim blog.

I’ve been playing along with the idea of “a photo a day” since 2009, when I recieved a new camera for Christmas & set myself the challenge of trying to take a snap with it everyday. My pictures were random & of whatever I came across in my day. This was before I discovered Instagram & Chantelle’s photo challenge that gives you a prompt for each day. 

In the seven years (7 years!) I’ve been doing this though, not ONCE have I managed to complete the full year. 

So, this year I’m setting myself the challenge to complete all 365 days. (Well 366 actually as its a leap year. I do hope this doesn’t mean I’ve already set myself up for failure 😉

I love having a prompt to work with as it really makes you stop & think & take in the little things around you each day. I also love the Instagram community & fellow #fmsphotoaday players. Seeing other peoples take on the prompt & their creative photos, inspires me & makes me want to work on my own photography skills & develop my own signature style. 

Here’s this months list & you can find all the details you need to know to play along here.

  

So come & join me for the month of January, the whole year (if you’re up for the challenge) or just play whenever inspiration strikes. 

You can follow me & my 2016 #fmsphotoaday pics over here on Instagram & I’ll also aim to put up a monthly recap over on my Facebook page too. 

If you play along be sure to comment here so I can follow your year in pictures too.

                        LOZZIE X

Fan Girl Friday #5

Hello Bright Ones,

Wow only 1 more week til Christmas… I’m excited, although we already celebrated with one side of our family last weekend, complete with a visit from Santa to deliver presents to the kids. I love my big, crazy, “married” into family- complete with 5 brothers & sisters in law & 11 nieces & nephews. Hubbys mum & dad sure did create something special. It’s always chaotic when we all get together, but lots of fun! 

This week I’m highlighting two of my favorite Instagram accounts, both of which I’ve been following for quite a long time & one of them, is one of the first accounts I ever followed just after I joined Instagram back in 2011 & I’m still loving them as much now, as I did then.

First up we have Simone’s beautiful feed over at Honeyandfizz

  

I have serious house envy. Her home is just beautiful, it’s like it’s straight out of a magazine (& it has been featured in a few too 🙂 I just love all the clean lines, the white with pops of colour, her styling, EVERYTHING!  I know I will never have a home like this (for a start I have too much clutter & am too messy) so I get my fix from her feed, along with photos of her 3 boys, her awesome pinterest inspired snacks,(I pin them too, but she ACTUALLY MAKES them) light box love & a linen collection soo amazing, they both have their own hashtags! 🙂

#honeyandfizzlightbox

#honeyandfizzlinencollection

  

I love the simplicity, cleanliness & calmness of her photo’s & that’s what keeps me coming back for more. She also blogs & sells wall banners & prints on the side too. If you’re not already following her do yourself a favor & start, besides 24k followers can’t be wrong 😉 

 

Next up is the lovely Averil & her bright, happy, colourful feed at Sunshineinateacup

  

She’s a mummy to 4 beautiful kids, a runner & a writer, a lover of yellow & tea. She lives in what can only be described as a magical paradise. I love reading her captions as much as I adore her stunning pictures. She captures magic moments, with light & colours beautifully & anytime a photo of hers pops up on my feed I just feel happy…..
 

  
  

I mean just look at these perfect pics, what’s not to love? Life up in the tropics looks pretty sweet to me & her family have so much fun, you can’t help but want to be a part of it. I even asked her if she’d adopt me once 😉 

                         LOZZIE X

Do you have any Instagram feed crushes? Do you love lots of colour or prefer a crisp & clean palette for your home? 

Leave a comment here or come say hi over on Facebook or Instagram 

Fan Girl Friday #4

Hello Bright Ones, 

Hope you’re all well & have a had a wonderful week. What are you getting up to this weekend? Any exciting plans? A spot of Christmas shopping perhaps? 

If you read my last post, Gratitude & Gallstones you’ll see my week didn’t quite go according to plan & I’ve been resting up at home all week after my impromptu surgery but I’m hoping to get out on Sunday to the local Christmas markets & buy a few last minute gifts. 

If you also read my Flavor of the Month post earlier this week you’ll know I was highlighting all things Christmas & on Tuesday this week we had our very own Elf on the Shelf “Tinkerbell” as named by Mr 4,  come & join our family for the holiday season, so I thought for this fan girl Friday I’d keep it simple & highlight the Instagram hashtag 

#ELFONTHESHELF 

  Just some of the fun antics the elves can get up too.  

     Some of the MANY photos shared to the # on Instagram

So What is Elf on the Shelf?

It’s a family tradition where an elf sent by Santa comes to live with you & reports back to him your behavior during the lead up to Christmas. Your child must name your elf & then they can get to work. The elf is magic & will fly back to the North Pole each night while you sleep & take up a new hiding place or activity each day for you to discover when you wake. This is where the fun comes in & you are only limited by your imagination. The elf doll comes with a book that explains it all very well in a cute little rhyming story. On Christmas Eve they go back with Santa to live at the North Pole until they return to your home again the next year. 

 The hashtag is great to follow to get ideas & inspiration if you’re playing along at home with your own elf or it’s just fun to watch & see what elf antics others are getting up to & get into the holiday spirit.

 I know “Elf” can divide people as some see the doll itself as creepy & that you shouldn’t need a toy to help solve behavioral issues, blah blah blah….  But I’m totally on team FUN! It’s about creating memories & preserving that childhood magic & I’m not gunna lie, if a little toy elf makes the next 3 weeks of life here a little more peaceful then I don’t see that as a bad thing at all. You gotta do what you gotta do and besides who’s to say your Elf can’t help impart the messages you want to teach your children, like a little note telling them to be kind, to share a toy with a friend, bake cookies for a neighbor or reminding them to brush their teeth. 

Seeing the photos of all the other elves & their adventures brings a smile to my face & I’m loving watching Peanut search for Tinkerbell each morning to find out what she’s been up to. I’m looking forward to carrying on this tradition with my boys for many years to come.

Here’s some photos I shared to the #elfontheshelf hashtag of Tinkerbell’s arrival & the first two days she spent at our home. 

   
   

You can follow her daily adventures with us over on my Instagram account HERE

                     LOZZIE X

Do you have an elf visit your house at Christmas time? What’s the funniest or naughtiest thing your elf has done? If you have an elf, what’s their name? 

Tell me everything, here on the blog or Here or Here 

Fan Girl Friday #3

This week I’m highlighting two parenting blogs I’ve just recently discovered that are fast becoming my favorites. I think what I love most about them is that they say the stuff that most people are thinking (or at least I’m thinking) & want to say, but don’t. They’re both honest, hilarious & relateable & that’s why I love them.

1) The Notorious Mum

  
It was love at first sight/read of Lisa’s blog. Her “about” page just drew me right in & that was it, I was hooked! I love the way she writes-truthfully but with sarcasm & humor & I often find myself laughing & nodding along with all of her posts. 

I have a huge fangirl crush on her, I feel like she’s my spirit animal. I can relate so much to her stories, I feel like she is living my life, but she writes about it in a much funnier & more eloquent way (yes swearing & all) than I ever could.

Reading about her family & her life, it really feels like you’re sitting chatting with a friend. I’ve never met her or spoken to her but I can just hear her as I read. She has a distinct way of writing & you just get the tone & context & I love that!

But don’t take my word for it- go & check it out for yourself. Start with her “about” page (which for some reason I can’t seem to link to, sorry) & I guarantee you won’t be able to stop there. 

Some of my favourite posts of hers include : 

banana willies and buckets of sick

the day the swearing died

feeding time at the zoo

But honestly I could just list them all, so REALLY, go check out her blog!! 

2) The Unmumsy Mum

  

Following along the same kind of theme of real, relateable parenting, I discovered Sarah’s blog, The Unmumsy Mum.

She tells it like it is, is honest about her parenting style & days spent with the kids, but again brings humor into it when applicable. Because let’s face it, this parenting caper is pretty full on & if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry!

Some of my favourite blog posts of hers are

An alternative Peppa pig script 

lesson 53 its okay to lose your shit 

lesson 19 what youre not allowed to wish for 

Again I find myself agreeing with so much of what she says & writes about. Its refreshing to see someone being so open & honest about life as a mum. You can read so much more over on her blog & she also has a book coming out next year, which is definately going on my “to read” list! 

Can you relate to these mums? Do you find parenting to be the hardest job you’ve ever done? Do you wish more people would just tell it like it is? Who’s your blog crush?

                             LOZZIE X

Have you missed any of the previous Fan Girl Friday series? You can check them out below

Fan Girl Friday #1

Fan Girl Friday #2