Each week I am now going to feature one super speedy creative idea for you to share with your kids. And since everyone loves a pom pom, let’s start here …
pom poms pronto
3
Monthly Archives: August 2012
for the love of letters
I love letters. Typography is one of my ‘things’. I have letters dotted around our house, including the kids initials on their bedroom walls, just like we had growing up.
There are so many fabulous options available to buy now – industrial, acrylic, fabric, or metal – you name it.
How about this cute DIY project made from some good ole sticks and paint. Especially fab for those with ‘straight’ letters in their name (like lucky little ANNA!)
(photo source unknown)
Do any of you share my obsession with all things alphabet?
Share this:
meet a mama – tamara from jellystone designs
We have loved Tamara and the gorgeous Jellystone Design silicone jewellery and teethers since she and her business partner launched 12 months ago. We are preeeetty sure you will love her story and her goodies too. But don’t say we didnt warn you … you might just want it all!
Tell us about you, fabulous you!
I live in Port Macquarie, on the Mid North Coast of NSW, with my husband and 2 children, Master 7 and Little Miss 5. Life is very busy. Both my husband and I run our own businesses, mine being Jellystone Designs (silicone jewellery for all ages and stages) which I run with my business partner Natalie.
Natalie and I first met when we gave birth to our kids 8 hours apart – my first and Nat’s third child – and shared a hospital room together. After 5 days of rooming together, and getting along famously, our first business “Forwalls – removable wall decals”, was born. The business was very successful but the pressures of young families saw us sell up to focus on our children.
Years later after the kids become a little more independent Natalie got itchy feet and developed Jellystone Designs. After a cuppa together one day we become business partners again. We launched Jellystone Designs together in August 2011 at Kids In Style trade show and now 12 months on we distribute to 6 countries and have over 100 stockists in Australia.
We work 5-6 days a week, but we absolutely love it! You know what they say… if you love what you do you never really have to work a day in your life!
Who inspires you?
My mother. She is the most amazing woman I know, and I’m proud to say she is also my best friend! She is a very happy, energetic & enthusiastic woman, who always puts others first.
She is nearly 60, just became a qualified naturopath and has recently opened her own clinic. Nothing can stop her achieving her dreams. If I turn out to be half the person she is I will be one happy woman!
What can’t you live without?
Besides my family and friends, I would have to say technology. Having the technology we do today is amazing. It allows us to do international business at the press of a few buttons. I would be lost without the internet and especially Skype (I am on Skype at least 15 hours a week speaking with our manufacturer and distributors around the globe)
Do you have a favourite blog/s?
I get to read lots of great blogs with my business, and we have so many great bloggers writing about our products.
I don’t necessarily follow certain blogs, but I am a huge fan of pinterest! You can always be sure to find some inspiring ideas there.
How do you like to spend your spare time?
What spare time?? Being a full time mother of 2 with my own company is a sure sign of minimal spare time! But when I do manage to find a little I love to socialise and throw dinner parties with my friends.
But my favourite thing of all would be getting lost in my own world as I redecorate rooms and rearrange things throughout my house!
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I would love to say living in China, managing our company from a central hub! But I am happy to be managing it from anywhere if it is going that well in 5yrs time!
What is your favourite quote?
Everything happens for a reason! (I live by this quote)
Where can we find you?
Sitting in front of my laptop at Jellystone Head Quarters 5-6 days a week or with a vino in hand on my deck! Oh, and also on our website.
Want to see more of Tamara’s fabulous creations?
Share this:
plastic is fantastic (well, it can be)
We don’t go much for plastic toys around here but LOVE these ideas to incorporate them into storage and decor pieces.
To make these storage jars, just glue a selection of plastic animals onto the lids then spray paint the lot. Love ’em.
courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com
These book ends are a little bit kitsch and a whole lot fabulous! Grab your favourite animals, glue them to a wooden block and paint. Great shade of blue.
courtesy of blog.houseoffifty.com
These little gems have come straight from the op-shop into the paint shop and onto the hallway shelf. LOVE!
courtesy of blog.craftzine.com
Share this:
car parking in boxes
AND, I am loving these shelves. Think I could do a whole wall of them.
courtesy of blogsbabble.com
If you like things a little fancier, you’ll love these boxed vintage cars – not so great for playing but a beautiful way to display a special few.
Right then. I’m off to clear a path through the car park that is my lounge room floor, and maybe whip up one of these creations.
PS: If your little one is car crazy, then you’ll probably like some of this stuff from our little store …
Share this:
eye candy – for the love of pink
I was born into a family of three girls. As fate would have it, I am now a mama to three boys.
So, every now and then I just NEED to indulge my inner girly-ness and covet pretty little girls’ rooms, spaces and stuff!
Check out my latest finds;
Clockwise from top left:
Pretty as a lolly pink picture – loving the painted wardrobe and iron bed (courtesy canadian family)
Girly with a touch of bohemian and retro – that’s what I call eclectic! (courtesy of the boo and the boy)
Hola! I love, love, love the mexican throw with embroidered pink bunnies and, gasp, all that storage (courtesy of heather wilson)
Dotty – you may have already noticed, but I love a spot, a circle, a polka dot … so had to include this fab chair! (courtesy of chic cheap nursery)
Now, I know not every girl’s room has to be pink. But this is a start. I’ll be back again with some not-so-pink options later!
x
Share this:
you know how we love loo rolls?
Check out these little gems made from two loo rolls and some ribbon. Imagine the adventures, both indoor and outdoor, your little one will have with these?
courtesy of cupcakesforclara.com
Share this:
getting the chores done
We had a family meeting recently as we felt we needed to update the boys’ chore lists. And when I say update I mean GIVE them a chore list.
Of course, we have always asked them to do basic jobs around the house but were pretty ‘flexible’ and, more often than not, I would end up doing the job to save time, my voice and my sanity! Clearly this approach is not going to win me Mother or Disciplinarian of the Year, but there you have it.
So we sat the two biggest boys down at the table with this list.
We asked them to choose the jobs they wanted to do from their appropriate age group. The theory is that because they have chosen the chores rather than been handed them they will take more ownership. Stay tuned for those results!
We have also reintroduced reward charts (yes, we really did have them before) linked to their chosen chores. We are only a couple of weeks into the new regime but it seems to be working. Yay again!
We also love these cute ideas to help keep the little ones on track.
These Chore Chips will stick to your fridge to remind the little ones of the chores they need to complete. As each family is different, these chips are customisable and come with either a picture or a monetary value.
Or you could adapt them for use this way …
courtesy of thebaezablog.blogspot.com
Chore Sticks … move from one jar to the other once the chore is complete. Kids love the visual aid.
courtesy of toddlerapproved.com
And how about this for a clever idea?
image courtesy of saving-makes-sense.com
Do your kids do chores? How do you manage the whole crazy process?
Share this:
meet a mama – jenny
I think it was Oprah who once declared that being a stay-at-home mum is the hardest job on the planet. Having attempted to do it full time for about 18 months myself, I would have to agree! So I take my hat off to all you clever stay at home mamas out there, including this gorgeous one, Jenny …
Tell us a bit about you, fabulous you!
I’m Jenny – wife to Robert for almost six years and (stay-at-home) mum to Oscar for three-and-a-half years. I’m 30. I have a wonderful family. I love laughing, travelling, eating (!), music, DVDs, walking, adventures, and proof-reading (yes, I’m serious!).
Before motherhood I was a youth worker and office manager. Nowadays, besides running around after a three year old and all his activities, I help run a little fair trade stall with Robert at a couple of local monthly markets, selling fair trade coffee, tea, chocolate and handicrafts.
I’m not much of a housewife and I’m a terrible, unmotivated cook. But on the plus side, I’ve recently started learning to crochet and am attempting to grow a green thumb!
Who inspires you?
I’m inspired by people who have strong values and are set on making a positive difference in the world. Especially those who are passionate about social justice and poverty, the environment, fair trade and eco-friendliness.
What cant you live without?
My family – I have such an incredible support network with my parents, my sister and brother-in-law, my inlaws, and extended family.
Do you have a favourite blog/s?
I love many different blogs, too many to mention. I’ve been blogging myself for almost nine years, and love my friends’ blogs. My absolute favourite is my husband’s, The Howie, although he is a bit of a slacker in regular posting at the moment. I also really enjoy 1000 Homes of Happiness, Foxs Lane and Little Eco Footprints. And of course, a new favourite is this one!
How do you like to spend your spare time?
Reading, watching old TV shows I love on DVD, crocheting, pottering around, napping!
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
To be honest, I have no idea! Hopefully we will have found a way to buy our own home and work hard at making it “ours”. Our son will be at school and I hope to be able to volunteer there as well as elsewhere. Maybe we’ll be a little more “well-travelled” too.
What is your favourite quote?
One I stumbled across recently and is still ringing in my ears is from Albert Einstein – “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.”
Where can we find you?
On my own blog – Just Plodding Along
Share this:
more love ..
Following on from my last post about easy lovin’ crafty ideas, I just had to share this one with you.
You could cut out the hearts by hand or use a punch to save time. This would look gorgeous in a nursery, or as seen here above a little one’s bed.
rudy and the dodo 