Who doesn’t love a dress up?
Posted on February 21, 2012
When I was a girl I couldn’t get enough of the dress up box. I was forever donning a costume to transport me to the awesome land of super hero’s or I’d chuck on one of Mum’s ‘going out’ dresses and immediately be transformed into the most glamourous movie star.
It wasn’t just me who liked dressing up. Every little kid loved it.
As I got older the dress ups became more normal – a blue light disco, a special birthday party, or a family dinner at a restaurant. Gone were the outlandish, impractical, ill fitting alter egos. Gone were the visits to other worlds, times and places. Why did they go? Why did I stop dressing up? I’ve got no idea. Is it maturity? Or child development? Do other toys or trends command our attention leaving the dress up box neglected and ripe for the clutter cull that all Mum’s inevitably insist on?
What I do know is that it comes back. The urge to dress up, often the more outrageously the better, returns………with a vengeance. Fancy dress parties, costume gala’s, work and school free dress days, the cricket, all arranged to cater for our need to be someone or something different. We can’t get enough of it. Costume and fancy dress shops are doing a roaring trade.
It’s just a guess but I think we’re playing. I think the Little Doer inside us is screaming so hard to be let out now and again that we have to reach for our fairy dress or Light sabre and go and save the world. May the Force be with you.
This gorgeous girl came to the studio and got into the spirit of dress ups without any hesitation. She channelled the spirit and energy of a beautiful screen goddess from yesteryear. An absolute pleasure to photograph.
Huey, Dewey and Louie……xxx
Posted on November 7, 2011
What do you get when you cross a smooth, brooding thinker with a gorgeous, energetic go-getter and then throw in a carer with uncompromising integrity and a wicked sense of humour? Answer: A beautiful family creating beautiful pictures.
Doer of the Day
Posted on September 1, 2011
Today’s Little Doer is my tea-cup. I haven’t used it for a while, preferring instead the convenience of the humongous coffee mugs in the cupboard above the kettle. My tea-cup was in my special cupboard along with the cheese board my Dad made me and the silverware for entertaining. Special cupboard is code for love, but never use cupboard. I’m glad I dug it out.
Using my tea-cup makes me feel special. It’s a celebration every time I boil the kettle. I love the shape of the handle, and it’s limited capacity – forcing me to savour every sip. I love that I can only fit two fingers in the handle and my pinky sticks up in the air making me feel a tiny bit posh. The thing I love most about my tea-cup is that it makes me slow down, if only in my head. The special event that is having a cup of tea in my tea-cup takes me to a sunny spot with a comfy arm chair and a magazine, while in reality I might be making dinner, loading the washing machine and mediating between two feuding children. I wonder where I’d escape to if I had a POT of tea. 
Lisa’s Little Doers List
Posted on August 29, 2011
The saying goes a happy wife equals a happy life, and while I have no intention of debunking its merit, I’m more inclined to subscribe to my mantra – Kids happy playing, Mummy isn’t slaying! My husband has the patience of a Saint but I must confess I have a very low pain threshold for my argumentative, antagonistic, screaming, fighting, beautiful Little Doers.
To ease my pain I employ a number of strategic manoeuvres . My ‘go to’ move is GET THEM OUT! Fresh air, lot and lots of space and a Tonka truck or two. These trucks have saved my sanity on more occasions than I can remember. Smash up derby’s, running races, sand castle mayhem, playground excavation, busy bees, and the list goes on. When the trucks are in play it’s not out of the realms of possibility for me to indulge in a magazine or two. The humble Tonka truck has a very special place in my heart and is positioned very high on Lisa’s little Doer List.
Happy Birthday Daddy!
Posted on August 23, 2011
They say the bond between Father and Daughter can be a strong one. As a mother now, I am closer than ever to my mother, but my Dad is my hero. There’s nothing he doesn’t know or can’t fix or won’t achieve. Not in a slimy know it all kind of way but in a “he’s my Dad and I’m all gooey and proud” kind of way. His word is gospel, his ideas; pure genius, and his hugs warm my heart.
When Jax came to me wanting a photo of her girls to give to their Daddy, I knew the same bond was well and truly in place in their home too. What an incredibly thoughtful gift. Daddy’s love their Daughters too as Joseph Addison writes
“Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter. In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express.”
I like walks along the beach……………..
Posted on August 13, 2011
There are few places I’ve ever been where the sum total of all those visiting are having an enjoyable time. The beach ‘does it’ for everyone! Sure, you’ll see the occasional gloomy wanderer looking like they’re pondering the meaning of life, but they’ve chosen the beach as the place to ponder.
The beach, for me, is a refreshing and inspiring place to be. It’s cleansing. It takes me to my childhood and memories of games of beach cricket, burying my dad in the sand, boogie boards and greasy sunscreen.
This morning I took the boys to the beach. We hung out for 3 and a half hours. There’s no other place on the planet that holds their attention for that long. I love the beach, my boys love the beach and, the evidence suggests our four legged friends do too.
Have you never, when waves were breaking, watched children at sport on the beach,
with their little feet tempting the foam-fringe, till with stronger and further reach
than they dreamed of, a billow comes bursting, how they turn and scamper and screech!
ALFRED AUSTIN, \”A Woman\’s Apology\”
D’s Bowling Birthday Bash
Posted on August 10, 2011
In the spirit of being the biggest Little Doer in the universe, Koby made us leave the house for his party nearly an hour and a half before it’s due beginning. He was soooo excited to be sharing his big day with his buddies, he couldn’t sleep or eat or LISTEN to his Mum’s instructions. ;o)
He had a fantastic morning, and bowled very well. I think he was beaten by a Dad pretending to be a 7 year old!
I Love You Koby. xxx Happy Birthday.
Sunday morning walk
Posted on July 12, 2011
Being a Mum to 3 boys, 2 of them little doers under 7, I recognised quite early how much easier my life is if the boys are entertained. I can do some art and craft with them, a couple of games of snap, even indoor cubby house building will hold their attention for at least three and a half minutes, but nothing keeps my boys amused, entertained, and with a massive smile on their face better than a nature adventure. And nothing puts the icing on the cake quite like an outdoor adventure with their Dad. He’s the hero of the home.
This morning, after a relatively uneventful day yesterday resulting in a severe case of cabin fever, we took the boys up the hill to Lesmurdie Falls. It was freezing cold, the wind had a chill factor of ………a lot! All rugged up and armed with a keen imagination we found spots to catch massive sharks, we ate berries that turned us into super heroes, we camped along the river bank hiding from dangerous lions and tigers and we fought off attacks from alien invasions. What a morning. I’m knackered.
As I write I have one little doer to my right, snoring like there’s no tomorrow and one little doer on my left in the coma position watching Scooby Doo. Happy days! 
Denmark 2011
Posted on July 7, 2011
My parents live in Denmark in the south west of Western Australia. It’s insanely beautiful country, with friendly locals, scrumptious local produce and plenty of delicious wine to taste and enjoy. Each year we brave the 6 hour road trip with the young ones and spend some time in this beautiful paradise. Fishing, surfing, swimming, camp fires, etc. all contributed to a thoroughly enjoyable trip. Of course the camera is never far away and I think I managed a few ok shots. I tried to see from a structured picture shot rather than capture a memory shot. Does that make sense? I wanted to capture the beauty of what I saw, rather than take holiday snaps of the boys as momentos of our time away. Anyway, I kind of like the results……plenty of room for improvement though! :o)
Mothers Day 2011
Posted on July 6, 2011
For four years now I have been taking photographs of the boys on Mothers Day. Initially I get a bit of grief from them, especially the older one, but after a while they settle down and give me a couple of smiles. I love how each year the interaction between the boys is different. Each year their personalities have grown, their little self shines through. I completely love Mothers Day for this reason – for the little tradition we have created, the little indulgence I have to be able to capture the boys as I see them on my special day. This year I was able to convince the only other female member of our family – the gorgeous Claire – to be part of my little luxury. Thanks boys and thank you Claire. xxx
littledoersbylisaburgess 