FROM SPAIN TO AUSTRALIA

Whenever we talk of emigration, we think of students, expats or perhaps work contract in the destination country. In my case things are different…

The main reason why we chose 

                                                        The Parks are WONDERFUL

Australia is because I was born here; I have always been proud to be Australian and Spanish. 

Then there are other life circumstance which make you think about things…

                 

                             We came to Australia and we were so naive, it was a dream

In 2006 the fifth of our children passed away when he was only six months old. This was a very hard period of our lives. Though we have always accepted the will of God, it was from then on that I felt the need to leave Spain. This was not for any reason in particular: we were happy and much supported by our family and friends but then… something had changed us, our concept of family was not different.

We then decided to come on an adventure with our seven children; I now tell you how life has changed and is changing us here. 

Upon arrival we were like a dream or a different holiday, we came with blind illusion and that's what made us have the strength make so many changes to our lives. Thank God that my sister-in-law is here and when we arrived we had a beautiful home, with a full fridge, pantry and even a car.  

Everything was fine until our Nanny how had been with us for 4 years returned to Spain.

My life as a housewife started! Now here are the challenges I first encountered! 

                                              I feel identify, I don't know where to begin.

•     Things are no longer arranged for you and NOBODY is going to arrange them for you. 
•  You have to give food to your children and husband who goes to work 
•  Children are only yours when you are with them they take priority; If you're in a park you find it hard to talk to anyone because your child may walk off! 
•  I found the house at that time: huge! And I wanted to have it perfect every day! I was exhausted! 

Little by little I realized that the happy mother who was disappearing, was not getting me to achieve my goals.

At first the problem was the language: Australian English is a particular language! My English was getting there but my husband Manolo who is from Sevilla (Imagine the accent!) needed time.

Then every day was something new: going to a supermarket, going to school, maintaining a conversation with people… 

We missed a lot our family back at in Spain; We realized that we were alone here but that took time. Then within three months of being here I fell pregnant. This meant I needed to re-organize my life so that the family was okay.

                                    Part of my family in Spain, is a great family!

Now we have been here for almost four years and the changes I can see in my family life are incredible:

• The children now clean their rooms, their clothes arready the day before (not all the kids are ready but then… some things never change)
• Each kid has a daily task: vacuuming or cleaning the bathroom, setting the table… etc. This was previously impossible!
• I have learned how to cook and making a weekly menu has made my life much easier.
• I clean the house but now I do not overwhelmed if it is not perfect,
• I have leant to be much more open with people: here in Australia our friends are now also my family
•  I have learnt to appreciate and love people differently: people who are very different to me and my family.

I never thought that you can actually do so many things in a single day, but if you do not worry then life is taken with more realism.

We've all changed and I guess to better appreciate other things such as our family, and above all to enjoy the kids!

Celebrating my birthday a very special occasion for the whole family! Not a Picnic!

Regarding quality of life, (for now, although long-term will be better): it's worse, but we appreciate everything so much more: a romantic dinner, an excursion, an anything little is now enjoyed much more, as they are usually exceptions.

So after four years, the   weighing of the scale is positive despite the effort invested. I am now expecting my number 11 which is the fourth girl (a true miracle). The best thing has been the people we have met: Australians or no Australian we have met fantastic people and I 'm sure we'll be friends forever: Lebanese, Asian…

                       Great friends and my only family here, my sister

The children are bilingual, and the whole family has grown as people. We have all fought a lot (each our own battles) and I think that for this alone it has been and it is worthwhile being here. 

This Country is noteworthy for its children-friendly environment: aid to families, parks and outdoor activities for children, the order of things, job opportunities, etc. Otherwise explain to me how a family of 11 can go forward starting from 0 in a different language! Unbelievable!

               More friends! are great support here!, I have a lot to give thanks for that!

From Spain, we of us miss the tapas, beer from Spain, etc. To me this is not important, what is really miss is: 

Some things don't change! Eating habits!

The thing that I truly miss is the people: long-life friends and family of course!

                                 Family coming to see us! 

Another thing the fruit and Vegetables,  here is amazing! I love the Passion Fruit!!!

                                            Family we could visit them!

I will be delighted to welcome people to come and visit us!.

I hope you liked it! keep writing more about moving!

CHEERS, XOX ELE

THE HAPPINESS

THE WAY TO HAPPINESS

I love writing about happiness! In writing this post I also dusted off some philosophers like Aristotle, Platon .. even Nietzsche jaja??, And most famous figures of our time, as Dalai Lama, Gandhi or Blessed Teresa of Calcutta .. which I love and happiness concept is quite what we consider today away.

For example, I love when asked the Dalai Lama what surprised him most of humanity, he answered "The Man." Because you lose your health to earn money, then lose their money to restore their health and by thinking anxiously about the future, enjoy the present. So do not live neither the present nor the future. And live as if they had never die .... And die as if they had never lived.

Also a more social level, we can find us and we must argue that in many ways, contentment, which can be defined as the state of being satisfied, is closely associated with the concept of happiness. In Positive Psychology social scientists study what contributes to living ‘the good life’, or what people need to do in order to having increased positive moods, pleasures, optimistic attitudes and outlook and overall satisfaction with their life.

So does overall satisfaction with your life mean that you are happy? I think this can give you a breath of happiness but not true happiness, it's like when you are very thirsty and you take a coke with ice, and what you usually say is "can be happier" then you probably are, but is not to be happy.. Is all right?  

They all come to the conclusion that happiness is in ourselves, Ok! Fine but how to achieve it? 

The Key is GIVING!.   The world is filled with people who have suffered from one misfortune or another. The only thing that sets one apart from the rest is the desire and the attempt to help others. People who reach out beyond their pain, out into the world in a trusting way – they are the ones who make a difference. Nietzsche said, ‘He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how.’

Happiness is not found with the acquisition of stuff. Nor is it found in the list of past achievements. Personally I have changed my life radically, initially lived in the past, remember that great life .. I believe that to be happy we must look forward. It is the now and what we do with the now that makes all the difference.

If you wish to maintain a flow of happiness in your life, then make it your number one priority to be a giver. A giver of Love. A giver of your time. A giver of your talent. A giver of smiles. A giver of the word thank you. A giver of respect. Why Not? A giver of Money.


At every opportunity turn it into a moment to give.

I think parents have advantages in this, we are donating 100%, everyone here is look within and honestly think if you can give more to your husband and your children, with gladness because we want to be happy!

Even in your times of pain, choose to give. Selfish people, who hold on to everything that they have, live and die as lonely and bitter people.
Don’t delay living as you await the dreams arrival. Grab each moment and live it to the max

People who live unhappy lives have at some point decided to be unhappy. Don’t let it be you. Pour your life out and into the lives of others and when you are empty you will find that by some miraculous event, you will have been filled again so that you can go and give once more.

When Beltran died, my son, six months, was a great loss, but I saw the generosity of people, the support, the love of many. Also could not allow loss as something useless, whether we enjoyed what we had to make sense of what we lost. It makes sense right?

The end result will be the happiness that each and every one of us desires and deserves to have..

I hope you have not seemed too thick, by the way the next time, less deep! 


Now to be happy!
Lovely, 

Xox Ele

WHY I HAVE SO MANY CHILDREN?

                                                      I am very proud of my family.


The quick answer would be that "I have no idea."

I never thought I would have so many children, of course, I'm married in love and so still that I was bringing a baby every year.

I had the children God has given me and I have never avoided. I know how to avoid it naturally, as some people have told me that if I don't know what is a contraceptive method….Ufffffff…

I don't think there is a prototype of mother of Big Family, in my case, I loved my job, I was in a Multinational, as Headhunter  in Human Resources during 12 years, I love dining out, meet with friends, fix me, travel, all are things that many children are very difficult to combine..By now I've made ​​it!! but it is becoming more difficult ..

But I think you can find balance and worth the doing, I am currently waiting for my number 11 and  Sometimes I think I'm losing strength and that I can't but suddenly,  there comes a smile of my baby Teresa or a picture of my daughter Elena, or they are worries about how are you and how they can to help me…

This makes me think, that large families also have some advantages: 

• They learn to share more easily , they are generous by nature.

• They are more independent and autonomous.

• They developed the spirit of service from small .

Each older brother is responsible for the babys. 

• They have a high sense of tolerance , because they must learn to live with more people.

• Are less whimsical , they know their parents can not concentrate only on them.

• Are more sensitive to the needs and welfare of others , which are independent of his family or not.

• They value family and care about each member.

• They are proactive children , instead of lamenting deal in action.

• Friendly relations between the brothers created.

• They have a high degree of responsibility because they have run from small household chores and taking care of their siblings.

• They are prone to mature faster , they must face challenges and difficulties since the early ages .

• They are aware of the efforts made by their parents give them material goods and therefore tend to a lesser extent, misuse of resources ( money, energy , water, supplies, food , etc. . )

• They are children who are always accompanied and grow in a home environment .

• They have a high tolerance for frustration .

• Due to economic conditions and other circumstances , these families tend to be close to God and strengthen each other spiritually.

We've only gone once to Luna Park and Taroonga Zoo still don't know, maybe one day,  no hurry.

All this is very nice and it's true, but what about the opinion of people who don't Know you and talks on the street, sometimes they don't understand, others are friendly, the most phrases common are:

Are They all yours? or Don't have TV at home ?,  Will be the last one?
Almost every day I hear them, or will have their hands full all day ...?

Normally feel Funny about this questions and  I answer with a smile, until you one day gets bad….

One day I was in ALDI (Economic Supermarket with good quality, but you have to get your stuff to 1000 per hour in the trolley, pay and leave the box… Running, Running ….) and I had six of my children, one was crying for her Dummy, another one threw chips and I kept everything, poking MY head to see if any of my children came of 9 and 10 years to save me..… and after spending the entire queue, sweating and looking …. with the face of disapproval..
Sometimes, stinks is that constantly being on the defensive means you're ready to pounce on the next person who dares to speak to you. I nearly bit the head off of a lovely woman who only meant to congratulate me. "How lucky you are!" she said, sharing with me her infertility challenges in the Whole Foods line, her only child buckled sweetly in a shopping cart cover that was fitted carefully in her cart. "It took me over four years just to have her!"

After we talked a while and thought, It's true. My hands are definitely full. And you know what? So is my heart.

But the real answer is: God said children are a blessing, and like everything he says, it is 100% true. I love these children, young and old, and cannot imagine life without them. Each day I feel blessed to be married to Manuel Pavia and to share these blessings with him. My children are wonderful, witty, intelligent, funny, and a delight.. Although not Always.. Yes for me!!!

See you Soon!!!

Xox Ele

I lOVE CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas!!! 

All we kept in our memory

Christmas memories of our childhood.

Sometimes we did not understand because it was so bright, so beautiful,

after we discovered that families

join and people are trying to be or, better these days,

it was a magical time;

was the coming of our dear Jesus,

reliving every year, hope and the desire to be better people.

Merry Christmas Eve  and think that we do not see

are also with us.

A even if it hard for us sometimes because we have lost some loved one, 

remember that we will see through that 25th of December was born Jesus!

Merry Christmas Everyone!! 

That you have a very special night!

Of all the Pavia family!!

xxELE

ADVENT SEASON

Advent begins today, are moments of hope, reflection and love ..

A very special and beautiful custom is to prepare a table centerpiece,  here are some examples.

             It seems very original addition to decorare a Christmas córner

                     

      Love it! Easy to make and also a touch Vintage..This is for my home

                     

                                   Nice and very typical ..           

                      
                           
                         Simple and orginal, I like less is more ..

Advent Calendars another nice tradition,  in my house each child makes a sacrifice on the day and at night tells us, and is a gift to Jesus at his birth, and we write it keeping in each pack, so until the 25th of December.

                         
  I love it, but not very useful in my case, the bottles of candle would last three living minutes ..

                            Easy and original, but maybe tweezers …

This is for Me….

So we getting ready for Christmas

That Jesus will be born, prepare your arrival, with more peace, love and generosity starting with our homes and extending what we can ..

Lovely, Ele Xox

THE BEST SHOES IN THE WORLD

We Talk today about the five most prestigious designers in the Fashion world.

5. Brian Atwood shoes on the red carpet to exhaustion.

And something is because of this designer shoes are bold American, sexies, have great style, simply beautiful.

4. Two words perfectly define the shoes of the late British designer, Alexander McQueen: extravagant and transgressive. In fact, he said the "rebel child" of fashion.

3. Want shoes with femininity, luxury and glamor? Then go for a few of Malay, Jimmy Choo, the designer of exquisite handmade shoes.

2. If you love fashion, especially shoes you're a fan, you probably know what "Manolos" so they are not in the fashion world to Manolo Blahnik shoes, perhaps the most prestigious women's footwear designers.

His creations are famous for the great design work behind them look like works of art, rather than shoe-use patterns and many colors, luxurious details and striking edge stilettos.

Los Manolos had a major role in Sex and the City, as the character Carrie Bradshaw, Sarah Jessica Parker, was a fan of theM... Who not?

1. How could it be otherwise! The French Christian Louboutin leads the ranking of the top designers of shoes.

And, in addition to beautiful, versatile and always original details. The native parisian designer has become an icon, his designs capturing the eye, and hearts, of women everywhere.

Louboutin designed shoes for Barbie's 50th birthday 

However, it wasn't until 1992 that Louboutin's dazzling designs incorporated the shiny, red-lacquered soles that have become his signature.  This happened by accident as he felt the shoes lacked energy so he applied an employees red nail varnish to the sole of the shoe.  It was such a success that it became a permanent fixture.

From delicate sandals and ballerinas up with a heel stilettos and platforms fine leather, with studs and animal prints, Christian Louboutin shoes are the dream of every woman.

Louboutin launched his own champagne in partnership with champagne house Piper Heidsieck.  To commemorate, they released a limited edition Le Rituel box set.  The ritual, dating back to the 1880's, is emblematic of Europe at it's peak ~ drinking from the shoe of a woman.  The crystal heel stiletto designed by Louboutin has the signature red sole. 

Le Rituel

Christian Louboutin offers a luxurious line of handbags as well

Just when you think it could not get any better, CL collaborated with Marchesa.  How divine are these? 

Which design has most captured your heart?

See you Soon, XOX Ele