Can't Stop

No time to stop and chat tonight......unfortunately it has nothing to do with the photo and all to do with a new pair of joggers and a mammoth pile of paper at my front door....oh and wanting to teach Meg some valuable life lessons.
But oh I wish it was because I was frolicking on the beach somewhere.

Shapes Galore

I first saw this fantastic puzzle game here and knew that I would love to get this for Fraser for his birthday.
I was finally able to track one down from here . It is called The Shapemaker, a Miller Goodman product.
It is such a well made toy that I knew would challenge him ( all of us). It is made from wood of the rubber trees and printed with non-toxic paint. There are 25 blocks that can be used to create thousands of patterns and pictures.
Here are a few of the ones we have done....

This is the type of toy I would love to see my grandchildren playing with one day.

War and Peace

It has been like war and peace around here today...having 4 nephews come to play always requires a referee. They have such good game plans but the execution of them can sometimes come unstuck resulting in war then they get back on to the plan and we have peace.
It continued with just my two into the afternoon long after the boys had gone....there was a flurry of toys and blankets as the cubbies were made then taken down then moved to another location.
Are you exhausted yet? Because I sure am !

In between all the refereeing I did today I was able to finish off a batch of Treasure Bags...I still have hopes of making a market some time this year.

Something Old Something new

We have been waiting for the rain to visit us for awhile and it appears that it is here at last. What that then makes us realise is that we have no or very little warm clothes. This was especially the case for one 5 year old who has quite the growth spurt over the summer.
So what better fun than start searching on eBay for some bargains...these arrived today and they were a hit. Sometimes it is hard work to score any kind of bargain but other times it comes easy and we are rewarded with some great buys.....Fraser actually couldn't care less where they came from ....I think he is just pleased that he hasn't traipsed around a dozen stores looking and trying on.

Organised??

I long to be organised and live life much more simpler....I just don't seem to be able to carry it through as far as I would dream for.

I read these interesting articles that I thought maybe you too would find some inspiration from them.

Allowing a new world to emerge


Setting goals for yourself as a home manager


5 reasons we love living small.

Choices

The purple or the pink?
We had an invitation to a 50th birthday for last night and had the dilemma at what was to wear....not ones to go out anywhere semi formal very often my wardrobe was looking very under-suitable. So a mad dash to my favourite and always good for a quick rescue dress store, I found a choice of two tops both on the heavily reduced rack (even better of a rescue job)
Then to decide which to wear...I went with the purple although my first choice would have been black but that wasn't in the final equation.

My next dilemma flat or heels...I so don't do heels at all very well so I decided I would arrive in heels and then quietly change into my flats. But I did surprise myself and managed to stay in my heels all evening and successfully dance with my handsome husband on a very slippery floor!

As for the pink top we managed to have another free night to dine on our own thanks to very generous grandparents and so I had my opportunity to wear my other pleasing bargain!

Snippet of time

A full day at work today, half of that spent in the city on a mission to restock the bookshop, from there making sure Meg was at an extra dance class on time...Her regular dance teacher was back in town for the holidays-she is currently in Melbourne at Jason Coleman's School of Dance. So it was a real treat for Meg to have this lesson.

It also gave me a small snippet of time to sit in the quiet and read a book I am enjoying at the moment....

It is actually a series that belongs to Meg and I thought I would read a little to see what it was that she was reading...turns out it is quite good and certainly appeals to my treasure hunting bent....

Meg hasn't actually had a chance to read book two because she needs to wait for me to finish it first!
So one more snippet of quiet time and I should be able to pass it on to her!

No lazy day

No lazing in the hammock today...

• 1/2 day in the office
• winter clothes shopping for the kids
• treasure to find
• never ending amount of chores at home

• dinner to prepare

ahhhh finally some time to sit and contemplate...or watch "So you think you can dance"

Bye Bunny

This little guy has taken flight for another year and now we are left to enjoy two weeks of school holidays.....

His and Hers

I have been making some essential accessories for the family.
Meg has saved and bought a MP3 player and so a pouch was in order for carrying it and the headphones and protecting it in her bag .
For Fraser it was a different need ..something to put his spare clothes in to carry to school and back...a simple pouch to sit in the bottom of his school bag.
The best kind of sewing is that with a purpose.

Baskets

Another gift made...this time I repurposed an old embroidered tablecloth into a fabric basket. I very loosely used this tutorial.
Next to make myself one to store an amount of goodies in.

Cry Out

This is such a powerful song that speaks loudly to me right now...

A wandering we go..

Out and about with some friends in search once again for the "treasure"..

and a picnic afternoon tea to be had along the way.

Where did I see those Eggs?

There is no waiting till Sunday in this house...it was on for big and little...and as usual there was plenty to go around.

Easter

Happy Easter Weekend to you...Hope you are visited by the Easter Bunny where ever you are.