Monthly Archives: September 2012

family bucket list

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Here is a fab way to curb those “I’m bored” complaints from the kids and also to keep your own wishlist fresh in your mind.

Have everyone in your family list their wishes and dreams of places they’d like to go, things they’d like to do.

Pop each card into a jar or box and then randomly select.

You might want two jars – one with big picture dreams like “Visit Disneyland” and one with more readily achievable day to day goals like “Go to the Zoo” or “Eat Yum Cha”.

Another option is to have a jar for each family member and kids can select one of their cards as a reward for good behaviour.

image courtesy of tatertotsandjello.com

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meet a mama – beth from babymac

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If, like me, you live in the city you may have wished at one time or another that you could just chuck it all in for a better life in the country.  Where the kids breath fresh air (all the time), have space to roam (all the time) and finding a parking spot doesnt take half an hour. Well, this week’s mama did just that.  Yep.  She just chucked in the city life and ‘got a life’ in greener pastures.  Now she writes about it on her fabulous blog.  Meet Beth (just Beth).

Tell us a bit about you, fabulous you!
My name is Beth, just Beth and I live down in a beautiful, but teeny tiny village in the Southern Highlands of NSW. I’m married to a dirty big spunk called Rob, and have two girls Daisy aged 5 and Harper 2. We have a Guinea Pig who is pretty neglected called Rosie and two goldfish – Princess and Bruce who are even more so and yet still alive after almost 4(!) years.

Who inspires you?
I’m inspired by all sorts of creative amazing people out there in the interwebs writing and sharing on blogs and websites, hard working people and friends running businesses online and in the real world and of course my fabulous friends and family. Each and every day I will see something online, or in my real life that inspires me. It could be as simple as a great article, or well made coffee, or conversation.

What can’t you live without?
Pork. Champagne. Butter. Not necessarily in that order.

Do you have a favourite blog/s?
Where shall I begin? I love the style of Faux Fuschia, One Claire Day, Down that Little Lane, Little Green Shed, A Beach Cottage,  Absolutely Beautiful Things, Heather Nette King and The Beetle Shack. The writing of All Consuming, Raising Master Max and Edenland. The comedy of Woogsworld, BigwordsBlog. The tips from Styling You. The food from Gourmet Girlfriend and Green Been Food, the craftiness of Meet me at Mikes and RetroMummy. I could go on…but I better stop.

How do you like to spend your spare time?
Entertaining friends and family with long meals and plenty of wine.

Best time saving or sanity saving idea/tip for mamas?
Don’t give your kids the lolly bags at the end of the party – keep them for yourself. It’s like payment.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
I would love to be doing what I do now, making a living from it full time and perhaps even working on a book or homewares range? A girl can dream right!

What is your favourite quote?
To thine ownself be true.

Where can we find you?
Usually at my kitchen table on the internet!
My website
My facebook page
My twitter
Instagram – BabyMacBeth

craft express – handy painting

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Kids want to get their hands into some paint?  Here are some fab hand painting ideas that dont take too long.  All you’ll need is some little hands, paint and an artline pen.  If you want to get really fancy, you’ll also need a little bit of ribbon and some pebbles or sand.  Enjoy!

image courtesy of txgranolamom.blogspot.com

image courtesy of pinreach.com

image source unknown

 

cardboard city

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This project is fun to make and will get hours and hours of use no matter the weather.  Kids can let their imaginations run wild and include whatever they like in their own special town.

image courtesy of theimaginationtree.com

All you need is a BIG cardboard box, or a couple of smaller boxes secured together.

As an added bonus, it keeps really little ones contained whilst they happily play.  Everyone’s a winner!

Love this idea? You might love these too …

hello cherry blossom

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Here is another terribly simple, yet terribly gorgeous, craft idea.

1. Paint the trunk of the tree on paper using a brush (or texta, crayon or pencil)
2. Dip the bottom of a soda or water bottle into pink paint
3. Stamp away
4. Stand back and admire

If you love all things floral, check out these beautiful make your own tissue paper flower kits by French brand Djeco. The package becomes the vase once the flowers are complete!

They are sooo pretty. Hmmmm, I wonder if I can convince my boys to make some with me…

not your average home makeover

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When I was little, my sisters and I would create all kinds of teeny tiny dolly furniture from cotton reels and matchboxes.  If only we’d had one of these fab book shelf conversions to house them all in!


image courtesy of diaperstylememoirs.com

This one comes complete with carefully chosen wallpaper, wooden train track garden path and stacked books for stairs.  These home owners have also added a roof line and chimney using thumb tacks and string.  Oh the possibilities!

If you are thinking about taking on this project, check out the free printables and step-by-step guide on how to wallpaper a dollhouse by our friends at Ferm Living.

Here is another “house” project that could be added to whenever little ones feel creative.  Start saving your cardboard boxes now!

image courtesy of nessadeeart.blogspot.ca

 

 

collage a la zebra

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Want to spend some time with the art and craft box this weekend?  For this gorgeous zebra masterpiece, the kids need some brightly coloured cardboard and paper, scraps of wool, and a couple of split pins for the eyes (you could also use stick on google eyes).

image courtesy of artsonia.com

 

fun stuff – crochet playground

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I can’t crochet.  I can’t knit, and I can’t really sew unless we count the turtle cushion I made in Year 8 Home Economics class (yes, I am that old).

If I could crochet, this would totally (like, totally) be my next project.  A crochet playground!  How amazing is it?

images courtesy of playscapes.com

Terribly talented Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam is the artist behind this incredible Rainbow Net playground at the Hakone Sculpture Park, Japan. The idea for the crochet playscape happened by accident, after Toshiko observed two little kids interacting with a crochet art installation she had on exhibit.

For the moment, I might just try a crochet square coaster … or maybe a scarf …

 

ideas express – storage jars

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This fab idea can be done in no time but creates maximum impact.  Simply paint jar lids with white enamel paint spots to create a magical woodlands storage idea.

(image source unknown – sorry!)

A couple of tips – white nail polish works well as does a cotton bud rather than a paint brush for application.

These are great for storing all those annoying little bits and pieces like hair accessories or lego!

meet a mama – penny from alphabet street

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For many of us, the school holidays are just around the corner, so this is the perfect time to shine the light on Penny and her fabulous website Alphabet Street.   Alphabet Street lists what’s on and available for kids in your city.  You can use it all year round and it also has great ideas for littler (pre-school age) kids.  Meet Penny here (that’s her pretty picture below), then go and check out the site.  You can thank me later.

Tell us a bit about you, fabulous you!
Hmmmnn… A mum to three fabulous children (Thomas, Isobel and Matilda) who created Alphabet Street to keep the cogs churning in the brain while raising little ones. Prior to motherhood I was a Media Strategist in the advertising industry in Sydney. We now live in sunny Newcastle enjoying the beach lifestyle and loving being an hour from the Hunter Valley vineyards and Port Stephens crystal clear waters. 

Who inspires you?
Any woman that works and has a balanced lifestyle. I think sometimes us working mums forget to have equal portions of family, work, sleep and me time. Something that I struggle with.

What cant you live without?
For me it would have to be my Ked Wedges. The most comfortable shoes giving a shortie a little bit more in the height area. For my children it would have to be our Steam Vaporizers …we have three running all winter to help the little ones breath each night and help us all get a little bit of sleep.

Do you have a favourite blog/s?
I have to say I don’t read too many but am loving the Rudy and The Dodo Blog. 😉
I also like Babyccino Kids and for a touch of creativity I love the Townmouse Blog.

How do you like to spend your spare time?
Spare time? As I am guilty of a non-balanced life I seem to have misplaced my spare time!  If I did I would like to finish a magazine from front to back in the sun on the deck with a cuppa in hand.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
We have some great plans for Alphabet Street, I would like to see them come to fruition in the next five years. I would have also like to have a bit more me time.

What is your favourite quote?
I can really connect with ‘There is no stronger love than a mother’s love’. My mum used to say to me when I was younger.  I wouldn’t understand it until I was a mother and boy oh boy…I would give all my organs for my children if they asked. I also remember my mum saying being a mother is a thankless task and sometimes this rings true too. 😉

Where can we find you?
On our website or facebook pages.

Giddy Up! Just one of many activities available for little ones!