Knock knock...House Keeping!

"Dear reader."

No,that sounds like I'm simply presuming that somebody will read my blog.Like I already have an audience.

"To whom this may concern."

And that sounds like I'm writing a letter to the bank.

***Let's just skip this part for now***

So here it (finally) is.My own blog.I've always said,"I'm just a blog waiting to happen" and I wasn't lying.I consider this blog to be my own little soap-box.A platform where I get to say what's on my mind,and nobody really has to agree with me.Pretty cool if you ask me.

Before I really start this blog-thing,I just want to kind of  give it a proper introduction,a prologue of sorts.I know I spat out a big mouthful of words in my blog description,but wait,there's more...

Now,presuming that someone would actually read what I have to say on a regular basis (I was going to say "daily",but then I realised that that might be a bit over-zealous),I would like them to know what they're "signing up" for.In essence,I want to put this blog into a few boxes.I'm not saying that I'm ONLY ever going to blog about certain things,but in all probability you could expect my blogs to revolve around certain themes.So off the top of my head,here is a list of things that you will probably find in this blog:

- Posts about my family:Didn't see that one coming,did you.I'm a wife,I'm a mother,I'm a daughter,I'm a friend (and a sister,although I don't have any siblings).Of course I'm going to blog about my family.

- Posts about diet,exercise and nutritional information:I have always had a love-hate relationship with food and with my weight.And when I say always,I'm not over-exaggerating.There have been times where I have been thin (hmmm...the last "thin me" was seen about four years ago) and there have been times where I have been fat.Not big boned,not chubby,not curvy,just fat.Eight weeks ago,I had such an "AHAAAAA" moment in my life,that I decided to change my entire relationship with food,and my approach to diet and exercise.That's an entire post on its own,but just so everyone knows where I'm at.

- Posts about food & recipes:I am a real foodie.I love cooking and I love experimenting with new recipes (9/10 times I don't follow a recipe down to a tee - if you know the rules,you can break them).I always add herbs and different spices to my food,and my cooking really captures my mood on any given day.Yes,the standard of my cooking is directly linked to my state of mind.So if I hand you a plate of burnt food,say thank you,shut up,and eat.I'm keen to share a few of my tried and trusted recipes,or even just little tips on "how to" on this blog.

- Posts on Eli Hunter Willis:This could probably fall into the "family" category,but I feel my son deserves his own little sub.Eli is now 17 months old,and he has really changed me forever.I promise not to bore you with posts like,"My son just banged his head against the dining room table" (unless of course we have to rush him to casualty,which could make for an interesting post as Adam (my husband)  would probably faint at the sight of blood).Like any parent,I'll brag occasionally,tell a funny story,or quote Eli.It's impossible not to.

- Posts on parenting:I think this is maybe also an obvious one,but the title of my entire blog says it all,"Mom is a title,not an excuse".Even though we've managed to keep Eli alive for 17 months and 8 days,doesn't mean Adam and I have this parenting-thing sussed at all.Every day is different.Every day is a challenge.Every day is a joy.Every day is also scary,as I don't always know what to do.I am going to ask for advice,I am going to moan,and I am (sometimes) going to get very emotional because parenting is not for the faint of heart.And I have loved every second.

- Posts on music,books,art and movies.Self-explanatory I guess:I listen to music (a wide range,including stuff that makes my husband cringe).I read books (and everything I can get my hands on just about).I am a bit of an art addict - especially the permanent-on-the-skin type (yes,tattoos).And I have a massive movie collection ("Adam,stop giving Eli my DVDs to use as Frisbees").

- Posts on my dreams,passions,hobbies,ventures and callings:Let's leave it at that for now.

- Posts about Jesus,the Bible,and my passion for Christ:Awkward silence.Nah,just kidding.I'm not saying that this is going to be a theologically correct blog,or that I'm going to bombard the living daylights out of people by throwing scriptures into every blog.I'm just putting out there that I'm a follower of Jesus,and that it would be impossible to not write about my life as free,forgiven and totally favoured.

I'm sure I could add a few more "boxes",but I'm actually getting a bit tired now,and I know Eli will be up in a few hours,ready to play for the next 23.5 hours of his life.

I can't say that:

You'll always enjoy my blogs,agree with my point of views or find what I have to say remotely interesting.If that's the case,just come back in a few days.I can't say that I'll never make spelling mistakes,but please don't leave comments just to correct my errors.I can't say that I'm never going to swear,but I hope not to and if I do...I saw tons of bricks at Builders' Warehouse for that bridge you're busy building.

What I can say is that:

My sense of humour is left-off-centre.
My eyes sparkle and I am young at heart.
I'm probably going to have lots of wrinkles because I smile so much.
I am painfully straight-forward.
I love deeply and passionately.
My real hair colour is blonde.
I love all things green.
I own about 50 black shirts.
Writing makes me come alive.
I over-analyse just about everything.
You want me on your side.
Don't judge me.
No trolls.
Mwha.

Ok,I am going to bed now.

I'll be back soon(ish).