Things Happen Sometimes

Today I was halfway through making a short film with some friends when I realised I had my dress on backwards.....

thing is, it had to stay that way for continuity.....

yeah.... I am so cool

but I had a little walk to deliver a little stealthy ninja love in the afternoon and that worked out okay.

Failure and success in the same day seems about normal to me.

Love you more than a flawless performance xxxx

Make My Week - In Which I am Mother-of-the-Year

Being a crafter (even a bad one) is a very handy skill as a parent.

Last minute costume required, school uniform need hemming, outfit for sports day - all do-able.

This term Flip is learning the recorder as part of the class, (oh that poor teacher with her aching ears! Although clearly not my wee Mozart - he will be wonderful of course!) and we found a recorder at Ma n Pop's but it had no case.

So, not only did I whip up a case, making some serious rooky mistakes - that side seam? not intended - I let Flip choose the fabric, use my fabric markers to make a label and I lined it in polar fleece. I know, need I do any more parenting this year? I think not.

He likes it very much. Today on the way in to school he said to a boy in his class,
 "my recorder has a special case."
Reply - "so does mine"
Flip - "but my mum made my one."

See - low standards and child participation all it takes to be parent-of-the-year!

Check out some other ones here:

Love you more than the feeling of smugness xxx (which never lasts for long anyway!)

People I Admire

This Saturday a group of very talented professional artists (musical artists) are giving their time freely to support The Family Help Trust.

Family Help Trust are a group committed to the children of NZ who are at high risk.

On Saturday afternoon you have the opportunity to hear these people and support F.H.T. at the same time.

CONCERT DETAILS

Saturday, 19th October, 2013 at 1pm

Venue - CPSA, 60 Madras St, Christchurch

Admission fees: $20

You can purchase tickets here.

(booking fee applies)

   

Door sales cash only

I so admire people who give of themselves generously. As I see it - we all have something to offer that can make the world a better place but some of us never do because:

a - we think our offering can't make change (we think change makers are rich or have powerful positions)
b - we are too busy (we don't take time to think about how, or worse, we are self-absorbed)
c - we don't know how (where do I start? what can I do with my talent for Words? Kindness? Time?)

All around me I observe people, 'ordinary' people offering their gift to the world in great-small ways.

Maybe this Saturday afternoon your gift to the world might be going to an amazing concert.
Maybe it might be ordering a CD.
Maybe it might be letting a harassed person have that car park you both spotted, even though you really want it.
Maybe it might be baking for a friend
or reading stories at kindy
or really praying for someone when you said you would.....

Today I am grateful for people - like my sister and brother-in-law - who don't just wish the world was a better place, they are offering what they have to make change. I'm grateful for people who do the good stuff of life and inspire me to do it too.

Love you more than a song that inspires xxx

We Recommend - The Feel Good Factor - for the mama's

Sometimes the mama's get it tough when it comes to Christmas - if they don't buy their own gift the might not have one under the tree! So this week I'm recommending traditional with a twist! Chocolate and underwear??  The chocolate and underwear feel good factor?

Sure lovely lingerie is...well...uncomfortable lovely. But really the kind of underwear I'm looking for under the tree is about the feel-good-all-day factor :o)

So this week I'm saying I think decent undies are awesome. For me, should I lose my summer dress to a gust of wind in front of the dairy at 3.30pm with a group of preteens standing behind me (sadly for them a true story!), these are the kind of undies I want to be wearing.

Pretty much Thunderpants are the kind of undies I'd like to get.

Good coverage - check
Funky fabric to counteract grandma style coverage - check
Made in NZ of organic cotton - check
Comfortable for the whole day - check

Even though I know Santa has a whole dedicated section of his workshop producing underwear that is none of the above, I'd kind of like him to slip past thunderpants on the way and get me some of these instead. Are you hearing me? And I know next time my dress blows up these are what you'd prefer to see too!!

Whilst I have my comfy, cover all, stretchy undies on, ahem, let's talk chocolate. It's a widely acknowledged fact that child labour is used in the chocolate industry. Um hi??? Not the kind of Christmas cheer I'd like to be spreading!! Christmas is so about children for me; the gift of that history-changing baby and there is no way I can enjoy my Christmas chocolate on the back of child labour.

So this Christmas instead of buying me a box of some lovely expensive chocolates please, please can you buy me some fair trade chocolate instead? It's probably cheaper and it tastes better too.

This year I have actively chosen not to buy chocolate that isn't fair trade. I know we can't all afford to go organic, free-range, fair trade everything but chocolate is a treat and not a need (even though it feels like a need some days!). It's something I don't have to buy so if I am going to buy it I want to be considered about it.

Enter Trade Aid (I know again right! I do bang on about them). Not only do they do amazing milk and dark chocolate bars (50g and 200g bars) - which can often be bought at New World as well as some cafes and their stores - they also do a new range of 100g bars. Even better it's now being made right here in NZ.  Check out the flavours:

• Dark Salt Toffee Crisp - perfect if you like toffee crunchy bits and a salty tang
• Dark Mint Crisp - my favourite, dark, minty happiness!
• Dark Sri Lankan Spice - ginger, chilli, cinnamon - grown up chocolate that is perfect for a refined palate.
• Dark Sweet Almond - perfect for the nut lover in your life.
• 70% Dark - Dark chocolate, pure and as it should be

I have kindly put myself on the line for you and tried several all of the flavours - all by myself - I don't share chocolate! At $3.99 a bar I think this is both meaningful and treat-y and makes a great gift all by itself or to accompany something else.

Please if you are buying me (or someone) chocolate as a gift this year make it a treat that doesn't oppress children. Let's make chocolate companies accountable by voting with our dollars.

Other chocolate that is fair trade (check for the logo - just because one of their bars is fair it doesn't mean their whole range is) Green & Blacks - all of their bars are fair trade and organic and very tasty! also Cadbury Milk Chocolate and Whittakers Milk and Dark Ghana.

Links provided for your shopping pleasure :o)

So what are you recommending this week?
What are you hoping Santa slips under the tree for you? or What have you wrapped ready to slip under the tree for yourself?

Love you more than a chocolate coma whilst watching the Biggest Loser. xxx

Wardrobe Tuesday

A friend gave me this dress last week - I think someone gave it to her and she didn't like it.

I did.

I wore it with my super special - made for me by someone lovely - underskirt and my $4 thanks very much high heels and a little red belt from Max and a wonderful red hair clip from  this clever lady here (I get so many comments on it).

I love it when and outfit makes you feel $1 million dollars and it's cost you about $20 including accessories.

Love you more than a fabulous hand-me-down. xxx

(Perhaps that should be hand-me-sideways when it comes to being an adult?)

Joining in with WW tomorrow.

B.M.W.B - Photo Scavenger Hunt

The last day of the holidays stretched out ahead of us and we (the boys) couldn't agree on what they wanted to do from the limited, non-screen options I offered them. I was feeling a bit pants and I could see the day descending into a big let down.... then inspiration struck.

I wrote them both a list, got them separate clipboards and tied pens to them (Bounce was very impressed with that!). Then I took out my camera and informed them we were going on a photo treasure hunt.

Flip's list was only words and Bounce's had pictures to help him out. I deliberately tried to make the lists different so Bounce didn't just copy Flip. (My little one spends his entire time trying to choose the same as what the big one will choose and the big one wants to pick something different than the little one?!?)

They absolutely loved it and we stopped to play at the park together at the other end.

Bounce's Photos

They haven't stopped talking about it since, to the point we've ordered a cord for my old small digital camera and it is going to be their very own camera to share.

Flip's Photos

This was so easy to put together and it turned what could have been an in-your-face morning to a really pleasant time together. We all got fresh air and enjoyed showing the pictures to The Atlas later.

We'll be doing more of these for sure.

Becoming the Mama I want to be is about taking time to enjoy the journey of parenting, to honour it's value and to hopefully inspire and encourage each other. 

Simple. Achievable. Intentional: becoming the mama I want to be

Button code on the right if you want it

Love you more than a tree full of cherry blossoms xxx

41/52

These boys make me smile every.single.day.

I love them.

Love you more than a holiday activity that exceeds expectations xxx