Make My Week - The Valentines Edition

Lovely Kirsty over at The Make Cafe decided to have some fun and is running a hoopy-love challenge for Valentine's Day

So I decided to have some fun and practise my free-motion stitching. I used a variegated thread and I'm really pleased with writing I'm definitely getting more confident at it.

This is rather a little hoop just 6 inches - I was quite pleased with it actually. I'd actually quite like to do some more with other tacky foodie/love sayings....maybe I'll do a series.....

Joining in with other creative types at Show n Tell

Wardrobe Wednesday - Saying Goodbye

Hello Lovelies - Today I have some big news

This is my last Wardrobe Wednesday hosting post!
I know, perhaps a bit of a shock...

I have loved having the privilege of hosting this linky. I have so enjoyed finding such a lot of new blogs to read and I have mostly enjoyed the glimpses into your worlds, the creativity with which you approach your wardrobe and your lives.

I have thought a lot about this - I want to be a woman who lives intentionally. I want to always have my ear tuned in to the still small whispers. I want to live in the right season and although I'm not entirely sure of the whys or hows I feel like this is the season to release the hosting privilege of Wardrobe Wednesday....

I am always going to love clothes and dressing up and wearing things in a way others wouldn't, but in order to hold onto my own peace and be ready for the mysteries around the corner I am letting go (if I am honest it has taken a little while to pry my fingers off the edges!)

I love and will continue to love reading other people's posts about clothes and I love that so many of you have blogs dedicated to looking your best (and not some super models best - applauding loudly!!).

I know a number of you are followers who follow along because of Wardrobe Wednesday and I really want to you feel like I won't be hurt or offended if you want to stop following because the other stuff I blog about isn't really fashion stuff :o)....(I'll still be sewing clothes though and joining in with wardrobe weds now and again though)

So with great pleasure and confidence I am handing this linky over to another lovely kiwi who I know will make you right at home... Hello Kelly! (I'm sure she'll send you an email reminder so you will be able to find her and change your button code next week)

I am planning to play along in the future but I am encouraging Kelly to make it her own just as I have done. We all have worthwhile things to say and I know she will too. Please show her the same kindness and encouragement you've shown me. Thank you SO much for joining in the Wardrobe Wednesday adventure with me - I.Have.Loved.It (really, really, really)

PS - last week I told you I had 48 dresses before I leave I wanted to say in my defence I have 5 pairs of pants:
2 jeans (both hand me down)
1 pair of trackies made out of polar fleece (self-made - a girl needs something for her snow trips!!)
2 pairs of shorts (also both hand me down)
and 1 pair of dress pants

How many do you have????

and just for fun I've just given you a whole lot of past clothes posts - so you really can see I do wear all.those.dresses!

Do link up and thank you so much for your delicious company I'll still enjoy sneaking in on your wardrobe posts along the way.

To a future filled with colour, self acceptance and celebration of the real us however we dress it :o)

Miriam xxxx

Tasty Tuesday and Totally Terrific Things

Clearly I have a bit of an alliteration joy at this current moment :o)

This week I'm show casing a recipe from the Eye-Candy-Licious book Little and Friday
It's the Rich Chocolate Tart - as well as being rather easy to make it is also rather easy to enjoy. I didn't make my own pastry because I'm a bit lazy like that. My lovely 'Great' Uncle (not sure the actual relationship but something like that) told me it was the best chocolate tart he will ever eat.

Other foodie gorgeousness over at Ange's place

Terrific other things I wanted to shout about today are The Sisterhood's kindness day coming up. I'm planning a chocolate bar letter box drop along the street with my boys and some kind of something else lovely.

Have a look for more info and see how you can dump a surprise kindness load on someone this Saturday.

 Dee is doing a totally amazing raffle/giveaway thing on her blog in honour of her brother's life. It's a chance to win a loved up couple of dolls and to make a donation towards Heart Kids NZ.

And if you are a Christchurch type don't miss out on some love for breakfast on Valentines Day
A hug or
A love song sung to you or
a love letter written for you

all for a gold coin donation - supporting  and raising awareness about World Violence Against Women Day
it's at Addington Coffee Co-Op 7.30am onwards - more info

B.M.W.B - Oral Traditions

We were given this (not entirely complete) puzzle a while ago. It's one of those lovely large ones and the other day Bounce got it out and wanted to do it.

When we finished they both picked different characters and I told them the stories. I love the idea of telling stories not just reading stories - but sometimes I can't think up a story so taking the shape of an established tale and adding our flavour to it works well.

Sometimes I forget that because we don't really really our children fairy tales they don't actually know some of the classics (and doing this puzzles there are rather a few I don't know either)

Do you make a habit of telling stories in your family?

Thanks so much for linking in your parenting journey :o) (Button code on the right if you'd like it)

Do enter my new giveaway if you'd like a fabulous new book to share with your family.

6/52 My Boys

A portrait of my boys every week capturing their year one photo at a time

Wee Bounce having a sleep on the couch with a sore throat, in his teddy costume

Flip reading with Daddy

The original idea isn't mine but the children are

 

February Giveaway - A Laugh Out Loud Read

First up congratulations to Jackie who was the winner of Mr Whistler.

Lovely Gecko last week asked if I would like another book to review (um.....quality books for the shelves...that would be a yes!)

and when I cheekily asked for an extra to give away they said yes.

So very early on Tuesday morning the courier knocked on the door with a copy of Anton and the Battle.

Without wishing to be sexist this is a book that boys 'get'. By half way in they were laughing out loud - on a first reading - no extra explaining needed. It taps into that 'I'm louder, faster, stronger...' thing that seems to be ingrained into the male psyche.

(and my boys are actually lovely, pleasant and not what you would describe as 'wilful' but oh that competitive drive to push harder, higher, further....)

I had to read the book twice before we left for school, 3 times after school and then The Atlas had to read it when he got home - he loved it.

It's not all about competition, it's actually sweet too but if you like quiet, demure books then this one might not appeal. If you're all for a bit of fun and a book that has totally delighted my boys (the illustrations have been compared to Peanuts) then I think this book will really hit a note. Warning you will find out just how loudly your four-year-old can say the word 'Louder!'.

If you want a copy leave me a comment and tell me about a book you think really 'gets' your kid/s.

****As an aside I do believe a well written book can be enjoyed by anyone of any gender but as a mother of boys I know they 'get' it more than me. Obviously I make my observations as a mother of only boys. I still think it's a marvellous, enjoyable, imaginative book. ***

Closes on 20th of Feb or thereabouts! :o)

Grateful For

Grateful for a teacher who had this beautiful wee gesture waiting on the students desk on the first day of school. With their name meaning attached to it.

For having fun in the pool with my little one today on one of our hanging out days. I have reduced his kindy days to 2 this year so we can make the most of the next 10 months before school starts.

Thankful for a very near miss with a car reversing out of a driveway and my littlest missing it by centimetres. We stood right there with our helmets on having a cuddle and thanking God for His protection.

Also given my current obsession with almonds I am super pleased with the almond butter I made tonight. Grandad recently gave me Grandma's food processor (these are my in laws I'm speaking of) and it's powerful enough to make actual peanut butter texture with nothing at all added - straight nuts. I'm going to make the boys a massive jar of peanut butter next.

Today I also take my hat off to a team of Christchurch bloggers who are working so hard and with such passion and dedication (the spreadsheets are a colour-coded thing of beauty) to bring Around the Table to life. I'm also in awe (and slightly terrified) that people have said yes to coming. 51 in fact - only 9 places left. I might be the 'mouth' for this but I am certainly not the brains and the hard, hard work..... Ladies I applaud you.

I'm also excited about another giveaway to do but you can read more about that tomorrow.

And I'm joining in with Meghan who always has such an interesting list I have to set aside proper time to appreciate it.