I started blogging in 2008, hence there’s years of stories here. If you’re interested in my work, you can: Buy my first book, Practising Simplicity – small steps and brave choices for a life less distracted Pre-order my second book, The Complete Australian Guide to Pregnancy and Birth Subscribe to my newsletter PS: a little more than an afterthought which I aim to send weekly Follow me on instagram @practisingsimplicity The post welcome appeared first on Practising Simplicity ..read more

Oatlands is halfway between Hobart and Launceston in the picturesque Southern Midlands. It’s a heritage sandstone village surrounded by farmland and halfway along the main street sits Raffah House; formerly the maternity hospital and now a luxury airbnb. It’s a warm and cosy abode that welcomes you with soft linens, considered details and a lively hedge of rosemary that’s just right for your evening g+t. The owners are seventh-generation farmers in Oatlands so they know a thing or two about the town. And this intrinsic knowledge is what makes Raffah House so unforgettable; it’s imbued with a ..read more

Percy wears Emerson Sweater + Trooper Pants, Marigold wears Merino Essential Tee + Cord Overalls I wrote an Instagram post last week about the simultaneous grief and gratitude of watching your kids grow up. Marigold (or Maggie, as she’s mostly called) turns three in a few months’ time and I’m hyper aware of the fact that my baby is becoming a little girl. The growing of your youngest child tugs on your heart in an entirely new, and yet not all surprising, way. Of course she’s still my baby and always will be (I’ll introduce her as such when she’s in her twenties, no doubt). But still, the gro ..read more

Bruny Island is wild and windswept and bordered by fierce, intriguing seas. It’s a textural island decorated by gumtrees, sweeping plains and driftwood, piled high. The rocks lining the shore are laden with vivid sea lettuce and ocean creatures. It’s brimming with life; untouched and untainted. The long lineup for the ferry is testament to the islands popularity in recent years and it has subsequently become one of Tasmania’s most popular destinations. Yes, it’s a short 30minute drive from Hobart followed by a 20 minute ferry ride, but as soon as you start driving the windy roads you soon r ..read more

Early in 2019 we stopped overnight in Loch on our way back from Wilsons Prom. A few people had recommended we visit for its charm, boutiques and delightful cafes and they were right. This tiny town in Gippsland, only a short drive from the CBD, fast became one of our favourite places. When the opportunity arose to stay at Loch Paper Scissors, we jumped. Or rather, we organised a weekend with my parents who drove from NSW to visit us and together we settled into this spacious yet cosy airbnb on a wet weekend in spring. The weather could have been better but we had no complaints about Loch Pa ..read more

I thought twice about posting this today, in light of the fires burning in NSW and QLD. But then I realised; it’s the ideal time to talk about sustainable fashion and conscious consuming in this era of climate crisis.  National Geographic recently stated: “Climate change is a problem of personal consumption.” Whilst systematic change on a national and global level is imperative, it’s also essential that we put our hands up and admit that we’ve all contributed. So, how do we change? We commit to understanding our purchasing power and subsequently making sustainable and ethical purchases ..read more

The Fleurieu (Floo-ree-oh) Peninsula is about an hour south of Adelaide and is a series of quaint seaside towns with a distinct holiday vibe. Victor Harbor is the main town and it’s got everything you need in terms of shops and services as well as beautiful beaches and fresh, salty Southern Ocean air.  We spent two weeks during the school holidays in this little town and parked the van at NRMA Victor Harbor Beachfront Holiday Park. We tend to opt for family-friendly caravan parks in the school holidays because there’s so many activities on offer for the kids and an abundance of friends to m ..read more

I’m in the midst of editing spring family photoshoots; portraits of giggling siblings, sweet baby gazes and comforting embraces. I’m preparing for six more shoots over the next two weeks then a summer of photo-taking in Tasmania and I thought to myself: wouldn’t it be handy to send my clients a preparation guide so all their questions are answered in one place? I wholeheartedly understand the effort that goes into organising your family for a photoshoot. And I suppose the most important thing to keep in mind is that capturing beautiful moments and smiling faces is my job – you don’t need ..read more

Many moons ago, not long after we had started travelling, I received an email from two sisters – Sarah and Emma – who had been following my blog for years. “Hi,” they said. “We feel like we know you and we’d love to to stay in our holiday home, if you’d like. It’s a little cottage by the sea and there’s a hot shower and a warm bath, lovely linens on the beds and books and toys for the kids.” And so began a conversation that turned into a newfound friendship.  There’s been so many times over the past 11 or so years of blogging when I’ve questioned why I put so much time and effort into it ..read more

A few months ago, at the very heart of Australia, we celebrated one year on the road. What started as a tentative journey – a brave leap into the unknown – has become the best decision of our lives. We’re bolder, stronger and happier; tightly knit together with the sand, salt and dust that we’ve collected along the way. Vanlife is normal life for us now. We’re travelling indefinitely, wandering from one place to the next without any desire to tick things or places off the list. In fact, we don’t have a list. From the very beginning we chose to simply slow down and be together; a decision ma ..read more