The Day of the Mamma

The Sunday that just passed was undoubtedly my best Mother's Day ever.

Nothing beats being showered in love and cuddles and the constant parade of lovingly handmade cards and gifts.

The twins had a Mother's Day fundraising stall at school where they purchased me $4 gifts.

Twin A bought me silverplated dessert spoons with tiny seashells on the end. She couldn't wait till Sunday to present them to me, so she ripped open the packet and promptly christened a tub of chocolate yoghurt with one of the lucky spoons.

Twin B surprised me with a boxed set of makeup. The turquoise eyeshadow and hot pink lip gloss will come in handy when I dress up as a Fairy Queen this weekend for Katrushki's birthday.

Katrushki made me a lovely artwork with her handprint and more gold glitter than a Lady Gaga concert.

Darling Mr WhoaMamma surprised me with a beautiful bunch of flowers that beautify my kitchen as well as my soul.

We took my mother, grandmother, aunt and cousins for a family lunch at a favourite Greek restaurant.

Red wine + seafood = One Very Happy Whoa Mamma!

It was great not to worry about washing, cleaning and cooking for a day.

My real joy came from just BEING with my loved ones. No other distractions or duties.

They had my total attention, and I had theirs.

The next day, it was back to reality.

But the strength to carry on came from this beautiful card from Twin B:

"Dear Mummy,

I love you because I love you,

and that is why I love you."

Love doesn't need a reason.

The One About Elvis's Side-Burns

It was 1987.
I had just turned 11.
It was Saturday night and my siblings and I were eager to watch a kid's movie.
But not tonight.
Dad had dibs on the television.
He grabbed a blank video cassette (remember them?), unwrapped it from its plastic and excitedly fed it into the mouth of the VCR.
He was like an excited little boy.

"But Da-ad, we really want to watch the movie!" moaned my sister. But it was of no use.
We were no match for Elvis.

It was the 10th anniversary of Elvis's death and all the TV channels were in Elvis over-drive.
There was no escaping it.

I knew who Elvis was. My father was a big fan and had a large Elvis music and book collection.
I'd seen a few of his cheesy films that played on the weekend tv matinees. He could sing. He could dance. Women would throw him their underpants.

"Oooo.. it's starting!" exclaimed my excited father.

Click. Record.

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Elvis: The 1968 Comeback Special.

Oh, my.

Have you seen it?

Forget about the 1950's coiffed pretty-boy Elvis,

or the1970's puffy, bloated rhinestoned-bedazzled caped jumpsuited Elvis.

The Elvis that shakes my pelvis is the 1968 model with tight black leather suit, leather cuff, jet black hair and slick sideburns you just want to run your fingers over.

The voice. Swoon.

The moves. Swoon.

The curled-lip smile. Swoon heaven!

Hello? Black leather?

Life changed for me that day.
Hormones kicked in and that was the beginning of me changing from an innocent girl into the black-leather-loving woman I am today.

Have you lived the Elvis '68 Comeback Special experience?
Do you like Elvis?


I'm linking up with the fabulous Jess from Diary of a SAHM for 'I Blog On Tuesdays!'

My Best and Worst Mothering Moments: brought to you by Facebook

The Year: 2008

I walked into the room and saw my little sister tapping away at her laptop.
"What are you doing? We're going to be late!" I screeched. We were heading out for a shopping day. Hubby was going to look after the babies. I was desperate for a latte and I had the Urge to Splurge.
"Just a minute. I'm writing on Nat's wall and we'll go."
"Her 'wall'? What? Are you demented? What is that?"
"It's called Facebook. We write each other messages".
"What messages? Didn't you just get off the phone with her? Why don't you just speak like normal people? What a load of sh........."

Fastward 1 year later.

The Year: 2009

Mamma with a new laptop.
Apple MacBook. Swoon.
Little sister in Barcelona. Husband's family all in Greece.
Husband at work all day. Mamma home alone with three energetic toddlers.
Cut off from civilization.
Lonely.
Need an escape.
Open Facebook account.
My justification is it's a means to communicate with my sister and I could upload and share lots photos of the kidlets for all relatives overseas to delight in.

And so, it begins...

Farmville, Vampire Wars, cyber cocktails, waking up at 6am to harvest cyber cornfields, slaying virtual vampires, winning tokens, reconnecting with primary school/high school/university/work friends (and strangers).

Facebook.
You had me at 'Log In'.

I was hooked. The babies would crawl about my feet, sucking on toys, shoes, remote controls and I'd be tap, tap, tapping. Click, click, clicking. Scroll, scroll, scrolling. Hours of 'refresh feed'. The Wiggles dvd's would be on repeat to entertain my babies. 'Hot Potato' and 'Toot-Toot-Chugga-Chugga Big Red Car' were the soundtrack to my cyber-addiction.

Before my husband would return home late at night, I'd delete the history on my laptop. I didn't want him to see just how much time I was spending on the computer. The fact that the house was always in disarray wasn't a giveaway?

My Worst Mothering Moment.


I was toilet training the twins. They were watching The Wiggles (again) and I was having a 'Gwyneth-Paltrow-in-Sliding-Doors' moment, stalking looking at Facebook photos of an ex-paramour and his new family,and pondering what life may have been like if Fate had taken me in a different direction. (By the way, Fate & Instinct could not have been kinder to me, so grateful for the life and precious family that I have).
"Mummy", called out Twin A, "mummy, wee-wee coming".
"Ok, sweetie. Mummy's coming". Tap, tap. Click, click.
"Mummy. Toilet mummy. Wee-wee".
"Yes, darling. Just a minute. Mummy's coming". Click, scroll, refresh.
"Muuuuuuummmmmmmmyyyyyyy!!!!!"
"YES!!!! I'M COOOOOOOOMINGGGGG!!!" Click. Click.
I enter the lounge room and find little Twin A watching The Wiggles and standing in a giant puddle of wee.
"Sorry, Mummy. Wee-wee came".
I had never felt so sick or repulsed in all my life. Bad Mother. Worst Mother in the World. Selfish, deluded Mother.
I picked her up and squeezed her.
"Mummy's sorry. Mummy's so very sorry, for everything."
I cleaned her up and scooped up the rest of the girls. I spent the rest of the day hugging and kissing them, reading to them, playing with them, singing to them, inhaling their scent, tickling them just so that I could hear their joyous laugh.

I had hit rock bottom as a mamma but it was the wake up call I needed.

What was the allure of Facebook?

A sense of connection? A sense of friendship and camaraderie? A sense of belonging? Feeling that I hadn't been forgotten? I was so caught up in sharing moments in other people's lives, I was forgetting to create my own.


Best Mothering Moments


Believe it or not, Facebook has helped me become a better mother.
Through blogging and Facebook I have discovered so many wonderful, supportive groups and communities  that have connected me with other fabulous mothers who tread the tricky, yet terrific, yellowbrick road of Motherhood. These life-enhancing sites include Kidspot, Mums Lounge, JustB, Circle of Moms, MamaBake, Mums Helping Mums Network, Lovely Living, The Imperfect Mum, The Organised Housewife, Stay At Home Mum and Planning With Kids, just to name a fabulous few.

And don't get me started on all the fabulous Mamma's who blog.
Saved. My. Sanity.

Motherhood can be hard. It can be lonely. Many of us constantly question if we are doing the right things by our kids. Many of us feel isolated. Many of us need help but don't feel comfortable asking for it. These pages and forums are a great way to connect, share, find information and ask questions.

Two ladies that have phenomenally impacted my life as a woman and mother (more than they'll ever know) are Kirri White from Happy Mums at Home and Nathalie Brown from Easy Peasy Kids. Their consistently positive messages have made me a happier woman and a more vibrant, engaging, joyous mother to my kids. I guarantee they have the means of turning your darkest day into sparkling, shimmering brightness.

Although I'm still engaging with social media (blogging/Facebook/Pinterest/Twitter/Instagram anyone?), I look for experiences that enhance my life in a positive way through inspiration, motivation (and a little humour!) ;)

And when my kids call out to me and say "Mummy, you know, we're more important than the computer", they're absolutely right. Time to switch off and turn the Mamma Lovin' up high.

Are you a social media addict? Has the internet impacted your role as a Mother?

And the Winner is.....

Thank you so much to everyone that entered my Whoa, Mamma! 'Happy 1st Bloggy Birthday Giveaway'. It was so heartwarming to read all your beautiful entries about 'What Gives You That Lovin' Feeling'.

Cuddles, kisses, smelling your children's hair, feeling your baby grow in your tummy, seeing your kids play with their father, hearing their first words, singing on stage, random love notes, hearing the words 'I Love You', all these things and more fill up our love tanks.

To celebrate my first year blogging at Whoa, Mamma! I had a special 'Love' necklace to give away.
The names of the entrants were put in a fairy jewellery box, blessed by my Little Katrushki's fairy wand, shaken about then one name was picked out by Little Miss A.

Without further a-do, the winner is....

Congratulations, Carmel!

Thanks again to all you beautiful souls who entered!

♥ Jess

Giving My 'Love' Away!: {Whoa, Mamma's Bloggy Birthday Giveaway}

I believe in Love and I try and emulate it in every aspect of my life.
Love makes me Happy.
I love the man I've been married to for 8 years.
I love the 3 cheeky human beings we created.
I love my friends, my family, my home.
I love life.
I love just Being.

There was a time, a year ago, when I wasn't so happy.
My happiness blossomed when I had an epiphany.
I was loving everyone else, but not myself.
As soon as I started listening to all the wishes deep within my heart that
I had buried for so long, especially since becoming a wife and mother,
I felt more joy.

One of my greatest joys came from writing.
Ever since I was a little girl I would write in journals and diaries.
This stopped once I became a mother.
But it was like I was holding my breath for the last 6 years.
I had reached my last gasp.
Instead of drowning, I decided to come up for air.
And I began a blog.
I was writing for me.
And I could breathe again.
Life is flourishing.

I wanted to do a little giveaway to celebrate 1 year of 'Whoa, Mamma' fabulousness.

This is more symbolic than anything, a little gesture of love and gratitude from me to you.

It is you, sweet readers, that have made this blog so fabulous for me, and I want to thank you with all my heart for all your love and support.

I was in one of my favourite local swoonworthy stores yesterday (room 296), when my eyes fell on this little beauty. It was perfect for what I wanted to give back to you.

A little bit of Love.

'Love' amidst the pretty blooms from my garden x

So, up for grabs for 1 lucky reader is this sweet gold-toned 'LOVE' necklace.
It's 40 cm long and can be worn close to the neck, or wrapped around your wrist as a lovely bracelet.

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment at the end of this blogpost, answering this question:

"What gives you that Lovin' feeling?"

Entry is open to all followers of my 'Whoa, Mamma!' blog and/or likers of 'Whoa, Mamma!' on Facebook. Please include an email address so that I can contact you should you be the winner. Entries close Wednesday 25 April, 2012 at Wine o'clock (5pm Melbourne, Australia time) and will be drawn randomly by one of my cheeky chicas by pulling a name out of their Fairy Princess Pink Glittery Jewellery Box.

Good Luck!

For the Love of Instagram

   Today I am linking up with 5 Minutes for Mom's Ultimate Blog Party (Almost) Wordless Wednesday (phew! what a mouthful!).

   This (almost) Wordless Wednesday is dedicated to my new found obsession, Instagram, a fabulously funky photography application for mobile phones. 

   I've turned into a snap-happy mamma and I'm seeing my gorgeous girls in a new light, all the while creating, and conserving, some fabulous memories.

Are you on Instagram?

Do you love taking photographs?

Mamma tries to get all 'artsy'

Distracted by graffiti on our way to get milk

Twirly dancing in the kitchen

Her Daddy's eyes

Swinging the day away

Lazy day in the park

Waiting for dinner

Me and my little shadow

Holding Mamma's hand

Making bunny ears

Walking to kindergarten

Baking Greek Easter bread

Making Greek Easter cookies

Happy 1st Blogaversary to Me!

A momentous day.

One year exactly since I sat down at this laptop and published my first blog post here in Whoa, Mamma Land.  An anniversary I share with the sinking of the Titanic, which is quite fitting really.

One year ago today I was sinking. Happy on the outside but drowning, wallowing deep inside. Emotionally I'd hit rock bottom. I was a stay-at-home mamma, devoted to my 3 darling kids and my darling Mr WhoaMamma, full of love, but still empty inside.

I had forgotten to devote some of that awesome Mamma-lovin' to My Self.

But, one fabulous, sparkly, shimmery year on, this Mamma's certainly turned her Woes into Whoa's!

All because of this teeny weeny little blog and a community of Oh-So-Fabulous-and-Inspiring readers!

I'm still a stay at home mamma.
I'm still devoted to my spirited little girls.
I still swoon over the ravishing Mr Whoa Mamma.

But I'm no longer empty inside.

Today is the eve of Greek Orthodox Easter. Which is fitting, because it's all about Resurrection and Re-Birth. I'm typing this inbetween baking batches of cookies with my girls and preparing for our big family feast tomorrow. This Mamma feels like she has been resurrected and re-born. It's amazing what a little Self-Love can do.

This is my little piece of Heaven.
A wonderful world where I'm more than just a wife, mother, sister, daughter.
Casa de Whoa Mamma: my cosy little home where you're Welcome ALL the time!

So, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU with all my buxomy heart, for taking the time to visit my little world. It gives me the biggest thrill, YOU, Sweet One, that you are here, right now, reading this.

Thank You to all the fabulous bloggers out there who continue to inspire me, entertain me, enchant me, motivate me, share with me and basically make the day a Whole Lot More Luminous and Joyous.

And, if you are sitting here reading this and wondering if you should start a blog, do it! do it! DO IT!

Don't do it for anyone else, do it for YOU!

It changed my life, and it could change yours too!

Hip Hip Hooray!

P.S: Stay tuned next week for a super-special giveaway just for YOU!

        Yes, it's my Bloggy Birthday but you get the gifts!

         Yippee!!!!!

P.P.S: I'm celebrating by joining in the Ultimate Blog Party! Hip Hip Hooray!




P.P.P.S: If you really want to give this Mamma a thrill and an extra reason for celebrating, would you like to throw a lil vote 'Whoa, Mamma's!' way in the Sydney Writer's Centre 'Best Australian Blogs 2012 People's Choice Award'? You can vote with one easy-peasy click!
Just click on the link below and scroll down to 'Whoa, Mamma!'

Thank you!

Vote HERE!!!!