Thank You Card Printables

These thank you card printables by DIY invitations found via How About Orange are lovely and they are available for free in six different designs.

Chocolate Earthquake Cookies

Today we made cookies.

  They were so good. 

 Only 4 left.  

When Space is Tight

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When you're short on space, sometimes bunks are not practical - this bed would be the perfect alternative for children sharing rooms in  a tight space.

On the Needles

I have Caelum on the needles for Toby, just have to finish the bottom band and do the sleeves.

Little tomatoes on self sewn bushes.  Its looking promising for a small winter crop.

Healthy Eating for Kids

I think we all want our children to grow up eating a healthy diet and to be adventurous with food.  When I had my first child I was determined that he would eat well and like most foods - and he did,  that is until he hit 2.   Pride certainly comes before a fall!   Since then it has been a constant battle to get him to try most vegetables.  I must say that he does eat well and has a variety of fruits and salad foods - he is just not fond of trying vegetables and vegetable based dishes.

I have a really great book on eating for children - More Peas Please, written by a dietitian and a specialist in feeding and swallowing.  They give some great tips for encouraging fussy eaters.

One of the things I learn't from this book was that my expectations of the quantities of Fruit and Veggies that my child needed were in excess of what he really needs.

The recommended serves of food groups required per day are as follows:-

Age 1-3 Years

• 5 glasses of fluid
• 1 serve fruit + 1 serve vegetables or salad
• 1/2 serve meat, fish, chicken
• 2 serves full cream milk, cheese or yoghurt

Age 4-8 Years

• 6 Glases of fluid
• 1 serve of fruit + 2 serves vegetables or sald
• 1/2 serve meat, chicken, or fish
• 2 serves reduced fat milk, yoghurt or cheese

Examples of 1 serve:

Fruit - 1 medium sized fruit (apple, banana, orange), 2 small fruit (apricot, plum, kiwi fruit), 20 grapes, 1 cup canned fruit, dried fruit - 4 apricots, 1 1/2 tablespoons sultanas

Vegetables/salad - 1 medium potato, 1/2 cup cooked veges, 1 cup lettuce salad

Meat/chicken/fish/egg - 65-100g cooked meat, chicken, 80-120g cooked fish, 2 small eggs, 1/3 cup cooked legumes (dried peas, beans, lentils)

Milk/Yoghurt/Cheese - 1 cup milk (250ml), 40g cheese (2 slices), 200g yoghurt

Cereals/Breads - 2 slices bread, 1 cup cooked porridge, 1 medium bread roll, 1 cup cooked pasta or rice

Source:  NHMRC Dietary Guidelines of Children and Adolescents via More Peas Please 

Menu Planning on Sunday

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Sunday is usually my day to plan the weekly menu and get the grocery shopping done.  I thought that I might start posting my menu here to keep a better record of it over time.

Breakfasts - Our Breakfasts are usually quite simple, consist of 3 options, and if anyone is still hungry they will eat fruit.  Our Breakfast menu rarely changes from the following.


Porridge
milk
honey
or
Weet-bix
Milk
Honey
or 
Eggs on Toast (Saturday morning)

Morning Tea
Fruit and water

Lunch - consists of one of the following followed by fruit

1. Mondays is preschool for the boys and they usually have sandwich, vegetable sticks, hommus 
2. Salad Sandwich
3. Baked Beans on toast
4. Cheese, or peanut butter or vegemite etc sandwiches 
5. Egg sandwiches 

Dinner

Sunday:  Spinach Dahl and rice

Monday:  Baked Vegetables with Lasagne

Tuesday: Tomato Risotto 

Wednesday:  Vegetable quiche with salad

Thursday:  Homemade Pizza

Friday:  Dinner with the family

Saturday:  Toasted sandwiches or baked beans on toast

Australian Artist: Miranda Scoczek

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I recently discovered Australian artist Miranda Scoczek through an article in Adore Magazine.  Checkout the gallery on her site for further images of her art.  I love the combination of colour, graphics and silhouettes.

Art for the Boys

These retro robotic pictures from etsy would look fabulous framed on the wall in the boys room

Composting

I am liking the look of this compost station over at renest.  Plans for a similar one can be found here.  Take a look it is a more attractive option to the 'ugly' plastic ones.

Wonderful Workspaces

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 Working from home I am always on the lookout for decor inspiration for my work space. I am loving this simple room with the warmth of the floorboards, the display shelves and the table surrounded by good lighting.

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 The natural light along with the all white paint work and a pop of sunny yellow is perfect in this simple room.  

A Chicken Coup and a Bird Feeder

A gorgeous day spent outside with my husband finishing off the chicken coup he has been working on.

The kids also made a bird feeder with plenty of help from dad.

They used some left over timber from the coop, and also made this simple little bread holder by folding some left over chicken wire over pieces of timber and stapling it to attach.  The kids can just refresh the bread by popping a new piece in the top.   This could also be hung from a branch in a tree for a more simplified bird feeder, like this one here.

Fly Away

Perfect for the end of a week full of rain, these delightful mobiles and wall decor are from Gosh and Golly.

Fly away for today the sun is shining!

Chocolate Weet-Bix Slice

This morning the kids and I made some choc weet-bix slice, this is a favourite from my childhood.  My Mum used to make big batches of this slice when we were kids and keep it in the freezer - It  never lasted very long as we would eat it straight out of the freezer. 

• 3 wholewheat breakfast biscuits
• 1 cup desiccated coconut
• 1/2 cup  brown sugar
• 1 cup self-raising flour
• 2 tbs cocoa
• 150g butter, melted 
• 1 tsp vanilla essence
• 1 1/2 cups icing sugar mixture
• Extra 1 tbs cocoa
• 2 tbs hot water

1. Preheat oven to 180°C
2. Crumble the weet-bix into a large mixing bowl
3. Add dry ingredients and mix to combine.
4. Make a well in the centre and pour in the melted butter and vanilla.  Stir to combine.
5. Spoon mix into a greased lamington tin.  Press down firmly with the back of a spoon.
6. Bake in a preheated oven 180°C for 20 minutes.
7. Sift icing sugar and cocoa into a small bowl.  Add water and ice while still hot.  Sprinkle with extra coconut. 
8. Put in freezer to cool.

Whenever I make this I usually make a double batch as it doesn't last very long!

Homemade Bread

Homemade Rye Bread

I love making my own bread. Mixing. Kneading. Rising. Shaping.  Sometimes though, time is short and I have been looking for fast ways to have fresh bread.  This book is perfect for quick delicious bread.  It makes delicious homemade bread super easy.  Anyone can do it.  Throw all the ingredients into a bowl.  Mix. Refridgerate.  Use anytime in the next two weeks.  Fresh bread daily from your own kitchen is really possible!

More Boys Room Inspiration

Source: diyideas.com via Melissa on Pinterest

My boys bedroom is still imcomplete and I have been scouring the web for some more inspiration.  My eldest loves maps and I really like the way the blank frame is hung over the map on the wall, with the rolled maps and nautical elements on display displayed.

Source: minordetails.typepad.com via Melissa on Pinterest

Art supplies are readily available in this room for easy access when inspiration and creativty strike.

Source: tabletonic.blogspot.com via Melissa on Pinterest

I really like the artwork in this room,  actually I love all of it.

Source: iheartorganizing.blogspot.com via Melissa on Pinterest

A more traditional  boys space.

Source: isabellaandmaxrooms.blogspot.com via Melissa on Pinterest

I love the stenciled map of Australia and New Zealand on this wall.  Is that blackboard paint below?

Rainy Day Fun

A roll of masking tape and some vehicles provide hours of fun on a rainy morning.

Winter Decor

I adore these fun crocheted floor cushions available in many great colours on etsy

Organized

Via

I think I may just do this.

Winter

Via

Finished: Idlewood

It's finally finished, it took me a while to get to the sleeves, I don't love sleeves and these were so small....  But I love the outcome.  The yarn is deliciously squishy and soft and it fits her so well.  It was also my first attempt at modifying a knitting pattern.  I started out with an adult pattern and changing yarn and guage I was able to make it fit my 2 Year Old. 

Next on the needles is a sweater for Toby, the pattern is Caelem.  He has chosen the colour and is watching its progress closely.