a birthday book for H

Over the last month I have been writing a book with my nephew- for his 6th birthday.

It's about a bear called Black Jack, how H met him and the adventures they find themselves having. Black Jack sleeps in a cave decorated with jewels, saves H from a vampire snake and teaches him to fish. H wants to swings with monkeys in trees and go in to deep space with Black Jack and his sausage dog called Zeus.

Here's some of my favourite illustrations, the story is his so don't feel like I should share it on here x

I used snapfish as they had a great special on hardcover books. The book arrived a few days ago and he and his family love it, which makes me very happy.

is macrame cool?

I'm not sure if you think macrame should've stayed in the 70s, but I like it. We have a horrible laundry area in the 'lean to' part at the back of our house. I'm really looking forward to renovating it one day. In the meantime I'm going to put hooks in the ceiling and have a but of fun with it.

I found this hanger at the Rangiora tip shop for $2. The glass bowl I bought for $10 on trade me. The top soil and plant we had already. I'm not sure what it it but it's SUPER easy to transplant. I just picked some bits off and poked them in the dirt- easy!

a you and me book

I borrowed this idea from Dee of Dee Construction a super clever lady and a lovely mum.

I've set up this one for M. T will get one too - next year when he's 6 and is more comfy with writing.

Dee's words...

i can't remember where i first heard/read about the 'You & Me' notebook (our name for it) idea but it is a totally ace way to develop deeper relationships with your children before they hit the tween/teen years.

 basically it's a notebook of short letters between a parent and child. (sometimes it's easier to ask awkward questions, express deep feelings, or discuss tricky school situations through writing isn't it?)

  I gave this notebook to Jada when she turned 7. i use it to encourage her, to thank her for positive behaviours i have observed, or simply to let her know how special she is, and then i put it beside her bed for her to find when she wakes. if she likes, she will reply and leave it on my pillow for me :)

Our book...

She is my darling girl.

supervised destruction

Some after school fun with a jar of screwdrivers and an old kettle and phone.

this is a funny thing to come out of a kettle mum!

watermelon slushies

A yummy treat on a hot day

blend:
ice
watermelon de seeded
honey/ natural sweetener/ sugar to taste
fancy vessel
straws
watermelon garnish if desired : )

100 biscuits

More lunch box ideas. I came across this recipe on my internet wanderings and though it would be perfect for busy parents.

Ingredients

• 500g butter
• ½ cup sugar
• 5 cups SR flour
• 1 can condensed milk

Instructions

1. Preheat oven at 180C
2. Cream sugar, butter and condensed milk
3. Add flour, slowly mix to combine
4. Divide into 4 portions
5. Add desired ingredients to each portion. Such as 100&1000′s choc chips, nuts, sultanas, white chocolate & coconut.
6. Freeze cookie dough logs to use another day
7. Roll tablespoon mixture into balls, flatten slightly
8. Bake for 10-12min, or until golden

I halved the mix and put one half in the freezer. I put a chocolate button on ours today and made them bigger so got 20 big biscuits.

I left them in the oven a little bit too long but they taste yum!

recent book scores

I took our family off to the Rangiora tip shop a month or so ago ( thanks again Max : ) ) I wouldn't normally travel that far but I won a bike on trade me so had to pick that up. I'm not sure how much these books were as I got a pile of things for $15.

I like this book of fun ideas, it's very thick so is bound to inspire more than once with its...

wooden plane ideas

stuffy lion instructions

 a cardboard ark and animals how to

and step by step guide to making a go cart!

 I also judged this book by its cover

T loves it

easy peasy banana bread

I'm not sure where I found this recipe but it's a good one- great for lunchboxes. I cut ours up and put it in the freezer. A piece put in the lunchbox that morning will be thawed my morning tea time : )

1 1/4 cup Self raising flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup mashed bananas
2 eggs
a splash of milk

Bake at 170 c for 45 minutes

I doubled the recipe as I had lots of brown bananas to use up, de- lish!

fridge fun

I love this idea. Painted ( and varnished) ice block sticks with magnets on the back. I borrowed and adapted this idea from his fantastic site http://artfulparent.com.  Go and have a look there's hundreds and hundreds of creative ideas.