What they don't tell you about pregnancy

I know I've been a total slacker in terms of blogging, but my excuse is that I'm pregnant and I took early maternity leave. Very early. I've been a slacker in many aspects, but now that I'm well and truly in the second trimester (past 5 months now) I'm feeling heaps better and more up to all the things I was avoiding before... like work. Fortunately for me, I work at home at my own pace, and even more fortunately, I have an understanding hubby who makes most of the money so I can relax and watch The Golden Girls at 4pm every afternoon with a clear conscience.

Anyway, I thought before I forget, I should write a list of all the things I had to discover for myself about pregnancy. Everyone talks about how wonderful it is and all the stuff about glowing and blah blah blah, but they don't tell you about the flatulence and discomfort. So this is my review on pregnancy for my own records.

First of all, it's an unending list of annoying discomforts. Especially early on (in the first trimester), there's a lot of uncontrollable flatulence. One time I was in a supermarket and in the middle of a sentence I let one out accidentally... okay it wasn't that much of an accident but I thought it would be silent and it wasn't. Anyway, I thought I'd just keep talking and noone would notice, but would hubby take my lead? No way. He says to me, 'uh, excuse me?' and laughs. Thank you very much.

Also in the first trimester is the general feeling of being unwell ALL THE BLOODY TIME. I just never felt quite right, quite myself, because all those hormones that are developing your baby are also totally messing with your body.

One thing that wasn't too bad for me though was throwing up. I've always been proud of my throw up history (only once in 1984 then again in 2004), but each occasion was just awful and I dreaded the possibility of throwing up during pregnancy. I did throw up a handful of times between weeks 12-14, but I found that it was a completely different experience: this time, it wasn't accompanied by hours of nausea followed by a day of illness. Each throw up was clean and efficient - just heave, heave, blow her out, then I felt fine afterwards.

Something that I'm so glad is over now is taste bud sensitivity. It wasn't so much with food, but I couldn't stand the taste of my own mouth, so I had to constantly chew gum or suck a mint or lolly. Brushing and Listerine only helped so much, and actually, most of the throwing up I did was thanks to the taste of my own morning breath.

A lesson learnt in the last month or so was that I can't eat to the same extent as I used to in a single sitting, because eating too much now causes reflux and it's so disgusting it ruins a perfectly delicious meal. I thought I could be clever and eat as much as I want then just take Gaviscon to avoid the reflux, but the cure is almost worse than the sickness. Yuck! So now I'm exercising self control to eat smaller portions but more regularly.

Thankfully, most of the worst discomforts disappeared by week 18, and I'm told many women suffer far worse than I did so I'm grateful really. But what happened to the glow I'm supposed to have right now? What I have instead of a glow is pimples all down my back (never happened before so I'm blaming it on the pregnancy) and tiredness. But I guess what I'll get in the end - a hopefully healthy and happy baby boy (we found out, couldn't resist) - will be worth it in the end. At least that's what they tell you, right? :)

Chalkboard table: my weekend project

Yay I finished my chalkboard table! I said I'd do it and finally I put aside a weekend and did it. Make sure you give yourself enough time for the paint to dry between layers, and open the windows because the paint fumes are pretty strong.

Start with a table and and a can of chalkboard paint. I used a 500mL can for my 8-seater table and it was plenty for 2 coats. If the surface of the table is smooth, it's recommended that you prime the surface first. Personally, I skipped the primer but it seems to have worked fine. 

Precautions first. Before you start painting, lay newspaper on the ground along the edges of the table to catch the drips. Also, place masking tape on any parts of the table you don't want painted over. 

This is the fun bit. Grab a paintbrush and paint on the first layer. Afterwards, wrap the brush in plastic wrap and tie it securely inside a plastic bag. This way, you won't have to clean it between painting layers. I used a pretty cheap brush deliberately so I could throw it out afterwards, rather than trying to clean it out later. Not only is it hard work trying to clean paint out of brushes, but all the excess paint goes into the waterways and is damaging to the environment. Pollution = bad.

Looks pretty good, eh? Once you've completed the second layer and the surface is dry to the touch, remove the protective masking tape and enjoy your handiwork.

Start writing. Use chalk or liquid chalk pen (dust-free) to write on the surface. It's the perfect surface for drawing kids' pictures, writing out difficult equations or making diabolical plans to take over the world. Or, of course, the more mundane things like writing memos to family members or drawing out place settings for dinner.

With your leftover chalkboard paint, you can turn old picture frames into framed chalkboards, an old baking tray into a magnetic drawing surface for youngsters, or paint chalkboard labels on the canisters in your kitchen. The ideas are endless and it's heaps of fun.

Also, liquid-chalk pens come in a variety of colours and they're perfect not only for chalkboards, but I love using them to write my monthly goals on the mirrored doors of our wardrobe. Easy to write, easy to wipe off. Grab one and go nuts!

The write surface

I am utterly in love with chalkboard paint right now. Actually have been for several months, but I hadn't found the right surface to test this new love of mine, until I found this link.


We're currently using a big desk as a dining table that I bought for $10 at a second-hand office furniture sellout with my friend Jenny. Transporting this big table in the back of her small car was no mean feat, and now I can't seem to let it go, so it follows me wherever I move. Now it's about to get a makeover - BIG TIME. It's going to become my very own chalkboard table!! I can't wait! But I have to :( because I won't have enough chalkboard paint for the whole desk until I make another Bunnings trip.

Just imagine - writing ideas and sketching directly onto the table. Drawing place markers for guests at dinnertime. Writing up shopping lists. So much fun! I'd love to turn everything into a chalkboard now - the cupboard doors, random parts of the wall, food containers... the possibilities are endless.

To take things one step further, check this out:


They look like ordinary white walls... but wait! It's actually whiteboard paint!! How awesome is that. But it's quite expensive at the moment, so one thing at a time.

Chalkboard and whiteboard paint are great ways to get creative around the home, and you can mix up and change the artwork with the wipe of a rag and start all over again.