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Through blogging and Instagramming, I’ve been introduced to an amazing Virtual Sisterhood of Creative Ladies.
The Oh Creative Lady series is your chance to meet these incredible, kind-hearted, inspiring <insert ALL the happy, positive adjectives HERE> women.
I knew that Amy was my-kinda-chick when her intense love for emojis shone through in a hilarious Instagram message chain at the start of our e-friendship. Things progressed quickly and we moved our relationship onto emails. We essentially solved all the world’s problems from our phones and desktops. Amy is authentic. Passionate. Creative. And funny. I wish she lived around the corner instead of across the country. Her life in the Outback fascinates me and how she does it all with 4 little people…. mind-boggling. Meet Amy.
I am… Amy. Thirty something. Aussie. Wife to a Big Man (203cm!). Mum to four little blondies 5 and under: 2 boys (5 and 4) and two girls (2.5 and 8 months). As of the beginning of 2016, we live in the Red Dirt in Australia’s North West. I’m absolutely LOVING being ‘just mum’ this year, making mess and playing with my kids, enjoying the slower pace of life up here. Oh, and Instagraming my little heart out of course!
I find inspiration… When I am learning. I will always be studying something… at the moment I spend my ‘free time’ <insert laughy face> reading about language/literacy (phonemic awareness in particular), child development, play or parenting. There is something about a brand new text, a highlighter and post it notes that sends my motivation levels into overdrive.
Again with the gooshy…but my hubby inspires me. Daily. He is such an incredible role model to our four little people. He works with Indigenous Australian teenagers, and is quite literally making our pocket of the world a better place. He has found what he was born to do – very few people could do what he does with such compassion, resilience and strength. The man is a keeper and is incredibly inspirational.
I’m excited about… Developing Literacy skills playfully. (I really do need to get out more!)
Early Learning 101! At the end of May, Nichole (@youclevermonkey) and I started an Instagram page called Early Learning 101, where we provide weekly themes and encourage awesome educators to share their ideas using the hashtag #earlylearning101. We took inspiration from the incredible Kids Crafts 101, except our page was created and dedicated solely to inspirational educational ideas for little people. We’ve had almost 18000 people jump on board since we launched and over 6500 photos have been shared in that short time! It takes a village to raise resilient, caring and self-motivated little people and I’m excited to help nurture that village in any way I can.
There’s always a few other cogs turning behind the scenes in my co. that I’ll keep to myself for now – but watch this space!
When I’m in a creative slump I… unplug.
Reconnect with my people.
Cuddle, tickle, wrestle and read to my kids.
Call friends and laugh until my belly hurts.
Flick through old pictures and make photobooks.
Have a beer with my husband (yes, a beer – preferably a Corona with lime) and solve the world’s problems.
And if I’m still feeling uninspired, I grab some earphones, crank some Daft Punk/daggy early 90s dance remixes and go for a run. (Actually who am I kidding?! A walk with 150 metres of jogging in there somewhere…)
I’m really proud of… had you asked me this pre-kids, I would’ve said my achievements around teaching. I’m an Education Award Winner (one of them was an Australia wide) and prided myself on innovation, dedication and leadership.
After having my own children though, I realise that those things have happened, but they don’t define me. My kids on the other hand… well, they do. I am so proud of the awesome little humans they are! Again, it sounds cliché, but I became who I was always supposed to be the moment they entered my life.
I won’t yabber on again about my spunky husband… but seriously the man makes me beam with pride. And loveheart eyes… (don’t even get me started about his footy shorts!!) But I’m getting off topic again…
Someone once told me… “The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.” The little things are actually the big things!
My advice to you is…
Live now.
Love fiercely.
Be happy.
Take risks.
Surround yourself with awesome people.
Be proud of who you are – rock the good and own the bad.
As the delightful Dr Seuss once said: ‘Yes you are you! This is truer than true. There is no one on Earth more you-er than you!’ Being ‘you’ is the greatest gift you could give to yourself and to others.
You can find me…
On instagram:
…posting my little heart out over at @playfullittlelearners
…sharing awesome themed ideas over at @earlylearning101
And as a contributor over at Baby Hints and Tips
And I’ll have a blog one day. I just haven’t found a coffee big enough or more than five minutes to myself to collect my thoughts…
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