tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51730775069344455572024-03-14T12:55:36.236+02:00...Joyful Mama's Place...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-27961189031779945542012-02-17T15:42:00.000+02:002012-02-17T15:42:50.828+02:00Time to say goodbye.<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"To everything there is a season..."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ecclesiastes 3:1</i> </div><br />
After much thinking and praying - and yes, agonizing - I have decided to bid blogging goodbye and this is, sadly, my last post here on Joyful Mama's Place. Writing here these past two years has been such a lovely experience and a very fun hobby. But being an 'all or nothing kind of girl', the blog has just been taking up too much of my time and energy, and even when I wasn't posting much, I'm afraid I had gotten into the habit of looking at too much of my life as potential blog posts! I would much rather spend that time and energy on things with more eternal value.<br />
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Thank you so much for every one of you who read my ramblings these past two years, and especially to everyone who took the time to comment and told me that you enjoyed my posts - your comments were always a treat!<br />
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I will not be deleting the blog, so feel free to return to the archives if you ever need some inspiration! And who knows, maybe in a year or so I may even try to take up the reigns again...<br />
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I continue to have fun with my sweet children daily and I delight in their development and beautiful personalities. Hopefully leaving the blog - and cutting down on computer time in general - will free up even more time to spend with them and with my darling husband!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">"<span style="font-size: large;">The Lord bless and keep you;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Lord make His face shine upon you</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and be gracious to you;</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Lord lift up His countenance upon you</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and give you peace."</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Numbers 6:25-26</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yours joyfully,</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>A Joyful Mama</i></span></div> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-14934909807201116542012-02-15T06:16:00.000+02:002012-02-15T06:16:31.144+02:00Pinterest Inspired Projects Day 6: Dragon Tails<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> Did I ever tell you about the day the doctor told me that our second child was a boy?? I was 16 weeks pregnant, and <i>convinced</i> it was another little girl, because....<br />
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1.) that's what the doctor said it looked like at my 12 week visit, and<br />
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2.) why on earth would God ever entrust <i>ME </i>with a boy?!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> I am the eldest of four GIRLS. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">In a family of 15 cousins, there were only 4 boys, and I never really took too much notice of them, but oh, all of us GIRLS were so close! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And my firstborn was a GIRL, and it was<i> wonderful</i>. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div> So when the doctor went a little pale and admitted that he had made a mistake on the previous scan, I broke down and bawled, sobbing: "But I can't even catch a ball! What is going to become of him????"<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFuqhU7yhr0VJJt2RPmpGu4GOgdt4ksZAGP7n48GtPv-WvjCWSHHiMIBMXJPE3ougNQkXWnkC_jZhgbnw0Z2SVbhz3tmlcyajBFNkU8ezGmkTsLM9OvQqw-oIll1d94QaMEMjWQmFN3o/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFuqhU7yhr0VJJt2RPmpGu4GOgdt4ksZAGP7n48GtPv-WvjCWSHHiMIBMXJPE3ougNQkXWnkC_jZhgbnw0Z2SVbhz3tmlcyajBFNkU8ezGmkTsLM9OvQqw-oIll1d94QaMEMjWQmFN3o/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #073763;">In love with my little guy, 7 weeks old</span></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I am happy to say that when the shock eventually wore off, I became quite taken with the idea of having a son, and oh, then they placed that little guy in my arms..<i><b>.and I was smitten</b></i>!! And I am not in the least bit shy about the fact he has me firmly wrapped around his little finger!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">BUT....</div><br />
That doesn't mean the boy-thing always comes naturally to me, and this has become quite evident in matters surrounding our dress-up box! My construction-loving, tough-as-nails little Big Man would all too often emerge from his sister's room decked out in a tutu, handbag over the shoulder, and his fireman hat! It had just never occurred to me that boys also need dress-up clothes! *blush*<br />
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Pinterest to the rescue! I've just recently started a<a href="http://pinterest.com/grietjiet/dress-up/" target="_blank"> Dress-up board</a> and I'm glad to say that it contains roughly equal numbers of girl AND boy outfits that I hope to make for my team! And the first one I tried my hand at?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">DRAGON TAILS!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK5OiTNXNU0upbKQ00iHtmkzvtwM-scxlahlIv5z_jR14rn4Bf4kr0KPxy4LCUpN0N6ag-wnA898V5WhDcvbg0uuj_pYpsAeFzyEd2daL1jgjWDYkcaB9F81crYEvziRDeHaIyUu_4NY/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpK5OiTNXNU0upbKQ00iHtmkzvtwM-scxlahlIv5z_jR14rn4Bf4kr0KPxy4LCUpN0N6ag-wnA898V5WhDcvbg0uuj_pYpsAeFzyEd2daL1jgjWDYkcaB9F81crYEvziRDeHaIyUu_4NY/s320/041.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"> There is a fantastic step-by-step tutorial for these on <a href="http://tatertotsandjello.com/2011/03/guest-project-dragon-tails-sewing.html" target="_blank">Tatertots and Jello</a>. The directions were clear and very simple to sew - I think the whole thing took me just under an hour from cutting the fabric to tying it around Arrow's hips. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>(For you local ladies, I've found it really worthwhile buying a measuring tape with inches on one side and centimeters on the other - it's very handy when doing projects like this one by American bloggers. I don't even try to convert, but just simply follow their directions using inches.)</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: left;">Arrow just recently discovered dinosaurs, so we called this a dinosaur tail, and he had great fun chasing his sister around the garden making deep, <span style="font-size: large;">growly</span>, <span style="font-size: x-large;">super-scary </span>dinosaur sounds!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRe8l3pHQHgKAZuvvbKqjPkdiQPP7mw8Wo4O0Ueyq4_eshLb7qP7uqE5UCmD1xvavjQ9ifQjudzDgdkQLWVuBJzo8SLH9MbhiM7K-dMzaLcEC16EUhYCNQaedZRr1I0qkUzsAcBWxwnY/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRe8l3pHQHgKAZuvvbKqjPkdiQPP7mw8Wo4O0Ueyq4_eshLb7qP7uqE5UCmD1xvavjQ9ifQjudzDgdkQLWVuBJzo8SLH9MbhiM7K-dMzaLcEC16EUhYCNQaedZRr1I0qkUzsAcBWxwnY/s320/039.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oPdy65_bAe_k4FCh2GKQ9N22XsT4V2ANygDd1FhKqOfS3OVG2RdB0EouutmHJUrw9AhU3lkexCAl5h_bMYP3GrrfGCeqLODpID62IsmXCA0l4FMDyGMY1hmht0HDbplAPLOA0R8B52E/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oPdy65_bAe_k4FCh2GKQ9N22XsT4V2ANygDd1FhKqOfS3OVG2RdB0EouutmHJUrw9AhU3lkexCAl5h_bMYP3GrrfGCeqLODpID62IsmXCA0l4FMDyGMY1hmht0HDbplAPLOA0R8B52E/s320/047.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-42584123383280525312012-02-12T19:37:00.001+02:002012-02-13T08:15:55.140+02:00Pinterest Inspired Projects Day 5 :DIY Cloth Nappies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpT1sR5jOnT3alhFyC-W_8STjFI1jKN6OrPARy4lAviBVjMPM80N-GHqm8UquW8-AmbmPh1p3oBOSZy5T4o4AG8XN89U4pp5DvHLW14Lc6uMQz8oErAt4MW_7Johw0FB9SZFEpbk_CJo/s1600/Lapdoek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpT1sR5jOnT3alhFyC-W_8STjFI1jKN6OrPARy4lAviBVjMPM80N-GHqm8UquW8-AmbmPh1p3oBOSZy5T4o4AG8XN89U4pp5DvHLW14Lc6uMQz8oErAt4MW_7Johw0FB9SZFEpbk_CJo/s400/Lapdoek.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If I told you that I recently had the joy of meeting an old friend again online, you might think I was talking about someone I found on Facebook maybe? Well, no. The 'friend' in question was actually a tutorial for making cloth nappies that I used almost four years ago when I sewed my first batch of cloth nappies for my then three month-old baby Sweetpea!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I remember really liking the idea of soft, 100% cotton nappies on that sweet little baby bum, as opposed to the paper-and-plastic variety filled with all kinds of chemicals. So one Saturday afternoon I googled '<i>cloth diaper tutorials</i>', found a few, and, using <span style="font-size: large;">an old bed sheet and and old towel</span>, made three nappies using different tutorials. One was too narrow between the legs, and the other one had a removable soaker pad, which was just too much trouble.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> But the third was <i>just right</i>!! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sweetpea wore those cloth nappies until she was toilet trained. And then ArrowBoy arrived and he wore them, and they would have even seen little Baby Rosebud through, if it hadn't had been that I met a lady who had fallen on hard times and needed them more than we did.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjKo82Pxan3w99SwnFp0JV-tm5iTFYGqvYFp9sGdNAYLoKQ8wmiMiW5Mj1ZiVKDWQhP-fsbSwtMV_JsuKu2olI938ZgUki1hvCAn7eDkppJhfbCrx7Nnqy21W7dsMXvs8lQLHgapvTMo/s1600/Lapdoeke2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjKo82Pxan3w99SwnFp0JV-tm5iTFYGqvYFp9sGdNAYLoKQ8wmiMiW5Mj1ZiVKDWQhP-fsbSwtMV_JsuKu2olI938ZgUki1hvCAn7eDkppJhfbCrx7Nnqy21W7dsMXvs8lQLHgapvTMo/s320/Lapdoeke2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But then one day just after Rosebud's birth,<a href="http://www.diapersewing.com/fitted_with_velcro.htm" target="_blank"> that same tutorial</a> found its way onto my <a href="http://pinterest.com/grietjiet/" target="_blank">Pinterest page</a>, and we were happily reunited!! The result was <span style="font-size: large;">a fresh batch of cotton nappies</span> for our sweet baby girl!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To make these I use<span style="font-size: large;"> flannel</span> for the outside and a <span style="font-size: large;">stretch knit</span> for the inside (what we call 'tracksuiting' here in SA!) I buy my fabric at shops that sell large off-cuts by weight. For the<span style="font-size: large;"> soaker pads</span> that are sewn inside, I use either<span style="font-size: large;"> old towels</span> or old toweling nappies (ask a few friends to keep their old towels for you when they clear out their linen cupboards!) The soaker pads are basically 3 layers of towelling which I sew together using my overlocker/serger, and which then get sewn onto the inside of the nappy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGE5JBMu87ryv06COU0ROh9UjFClyIODMiMq66onYgZQiXBQ8REcFheVhfn1j5brrE53OQVDncCrbAzDoFTiNfK2qQj0Zq-z4fR4R77gXKoWSp_IKYlK7PJvv5TzxS6GWDHZ3yVM0xe8/s1600/205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGE5JBMu87ryv06COU0ROh9UjFClyIODMiMq66onYgZQiXBQ8REcFheVhfn1j5brrE53OQVDncCrbAzDoFTiNfK2qQj0Zq-z4fR4R77gXKoWSp_IKYlK7PJvv5TzxS6GWDHZ3yVM0xe8/s320/205.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The tutorial I used, and most others you can find on the Internet, shows you how to sew on <span style="font-size: large;">velcro</span> to fasten the nappies with. <b><i>But </i></b>because we had used our nappies so much, I found that the velcro eventually got so worn that I had to replace it - a real pain!. So this time around <span style="font-size: large;">I adjusted the pattern </span>a bit and used<span style="font-size: large;"> toweling patches </span>that I sewed onto the outside of the nappy, so that I could use a Snappy fastener to keep it all together! I just cut the patches from a piece of toweling, overlocked the edges, and then sewed them onto the flannel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaLO8onPy9qnHNFCs0sihz1d3GWM53Sqm_87KnBk4mYEV91geF6k3UQQxAagC9O5oD2K2PpcJCz4Z1-tIDsOiW1NibOvH2pGey8fP23ANIGAiq3qotjIpGufrD767ovd4QWvvTaTQDMk/s1600/202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaLO8onPy9qnHNFCs0sihz1d3GWM53Sqm_87KnBk4mYEV91geF6k3UQQxAagC9O5oD2K2PpcJCz4Z1-tIDsOiW1NibOvH2pGey8fP23ANIGAiq3qotjIpGufrD767ovd4QWvvTaTQDMk/s320/202.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGH3NvRxCv1ztNFtSES1Z2kQnflcMCHgENEnHEN54Jr7hAh9fODRdLNhmnPj25m0OqdPZuo-Pg3t7s0t1i1-jbVec4XB9gCgt31pH471KlctUeN-EBZtSJL_gozM2dsA96D1nc_NoTdc/s1600/Lapdoeke2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGH3NvRxCv1ztNFtSES1Z2kQnflcMCHgENEnHEN54Jr7hAh9fODRdLNhmnPj25m0OqdPZuo-Pg3t7s0t1i1-jbVec4XB9gCgt31pH471KlctUeN-EBZtSJL_gozM2dsA96D1nc_NoTdc/s320/Lapdoeke2.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A nice, snug fit!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">* I find that 24 nappies is a good number to have</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">* I buy thin, inexpensive nappy liners that I put in the nappy before putting on baby. This reduces soiling, and they can be flushed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">* Waterproof pants fit nicely over the nappy to keep baby's clothes dry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">* I have a large plastic bin with a flip-up lid next to the changing table. Soiled and wet nappies go in there until they are ready to be washed. I soak dirty nappies in hot water with a scoop of SterriNappi, and then launder as usual. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPerA1uJp2ajLFoUuO3mqETJIV_XWZvcbbrUa4qFSif8dokJ0n8USdqIW9tCrqcRRQarX5RFMY19qY-FXPbsTWYHKLox8nJ-OPZoaueTW5UQnhpHrxUZ3UHIb5pVkDMBgul-_KtnYThSU/s1600/200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPerA1uJp2ajLFoUuO3mqETJIV_XWZvcbbrUa4qFSif8dokJ0n8USdqIW9tCrqcRRQarX5RFMY19qY-FXPbsTWYHKLox8nJ-OPZoaueTW5UQnhpHrxUZ3UHIb5pVkDMBgul-_KtnYThSU/s320/200.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The tutorial I use can be found<a href="http://www.diapersewing.com/fitted_with_velcro.htm" target="_blank"> here</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is featured on a website called Diaper Sewing.com - click <a href="http://www.diapersewing.com/" target="_blank">here</a> to visit this site, which has many, many FREE tutorials for just about any style of nappy you can imagine, including cloth menstrual pads. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is a brilliant post called <a href="http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/2010/10/october-18-diaper-sewing-101-little-sapling-toys-giveaway/" target="_blank">Diaper Sewing 101 on Sew, Mama, Sew</a>. If you consider using cloth nappies at all, this will be a good place to start reading!</div><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-89782762939396619272012-02-07T22:03:00.002+02:002012-02-09T18:14:08.257+02:00Pinterest Inspired Projects Day 4 : A rainbow of hearts! One of my favourite pictures on my <a href="http://pinterest.com/grietjiet/valentines-day/" target="_blank">Pinterest Valentine's Day board</a>, is one of a 'forest' of felt hearts-on-sticks. You can see the original post<a href="http://revlie.weblog.nl/etsy_revolution/my-felt-forest-of-hearts/" target="_blank"> here</a> - this crafty lady sewed up a bunch of brightly coloured felt hearts, stuffed them with a little polyfill, and used a glue gun to attach then to wooden dowels. I didn't like the idea of gluing them to the sticks, as this would give them a distinct front and back. But my sweet friend Georgia from<a href="http://www.allthingschildren.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> Love and Lollipops</a> recently made<a href="http://www.allthingschildren.blogspot.com/2012/01/heart-pencil-toppers-and-finger-puppets.html" target="_blank"> heart pencil toppers</a> where she left a little opening at the bottom of the heart to push the pencil into. So I combined the two ideas and now have a pretty rainbow of hearts brightening our dining room!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlKrfiE9lhXdLiiSQEDcvxGyesvlw2ry8mfxGrSixMoiqBOAKtqH6zyUM0eugw-yB8HOdGvtW1q9JuMR7oTfRRWNGAdu20sHO-QPaVyymWbGPNIeMWqPO99y-czy14AbtVrF_HkCW-oY/s1600/felt+hearts5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlKrfiE9lhXdLiiSQEDcvxGyesvlw2ry8mfxGrSixMoiqBOAKtqH6zyUM0eugw-yB8HOdGvtW1q9JuMR7oTfRRWNGAdu20sHO-QPaVyymWbGPNIeMWqPO99y-czy14AbtVrF_HkCW-oY/s320/felt+hearts5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why not whip up a batch of these to brighten your rooms during this month of love?!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZB5TYT-tJ7nfm6_5seuJwbXp319umr8DUq2GGte2Dh11AnA3nGjEQI0lmCbBvIn7_BDHPRo4aoRmzmDJjP51L1Ts94wPEtkl5_m4fV9tMflDGhIHfUJNd8f6rpqew6ioE2oR0Zvr4gU/s1600/Felt+hearts1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZB5TYT-tJ7nfm6_5seuJwbXp319umr8DUq2GGte2Dh11AnA3nGjEQI0lmCbBvIn7_BDHPRo4aoRmzmDJjP51L1Ts94wPEtkl5_m4fV9tMflDGhIHfUJNd8f6rpqew6ioE2oR0Zvr4gU/s320/Felt+hearts1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<u>You will need:</u><br />
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Scraps of felt in any colours you like<br />
Needle and embroidery thread<br />
Wooden skewers (I used kebab sticks)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAz6SHcjKJjQG4DOkVOtwC0f5Tb_FhA4id3px6TnkAEQhFvDoKsMjRbJOlgXKFGfXkMohJ36tCxCBlCP2YLG15VgxyrXFss4CJWq16tSPXnNABapyoiwTvfDU-E-_6BbChB3OSXkrvWE/s1600/felt+hearts+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAAz6SHcjKJjQG4DOkVOtwC0f5Tb_FhA4id3px6TnkAEQhFvDoKsMjRbJOlgXKFGfXkMohJ36tCxCBlCP2YLG15VgxyrXFss4CJWq16tSPXnNABapyoiwTvfDU-E-_6BbChB3OSXkrvWE/s320/felt+hearts+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
1. Cut a heart shape out of card.<br />
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2. Using the pattern, cut two felt hearts of every colour you are using.<br />
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3. Starting just a little above the bottom of the heart, sew the two pieces together using blanket stitch. Do not work all the way around, but stop just a few millimeters before the bottom, thus leaving an opening for your skewer to fit through.<br />
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4. Pop onto the skewers.<br />
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5. Collect a few empty glass jars and arrange your hearts inside. You may now decide to trim some of your skewers to make them shorter, or keep them all the same length. Have fun arranging them on your windowsill...or kitchen table...or surprise your children with a bouquet of hearts on their bedside tables!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITrbFYMBOsR24GKnzv8aI-zPSa_xHasixdiAgoj6rvpNrijkod2_mC2riBxi1A8DA9FB5rdWZQNiPUJvW0tXbZd8YndCQYz22-YpoEElwvATMKsx0YxziJwkRXxC4bcV8BtUMUQakR0Q/s1600/felt+hearts4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiITrbFYMBOsR24GKnzv8aI-zPSa_xHasixdiAgoj6rvpNrijkod2_mC2riBxi1A8DA9FB5rdWZQNiPUJvW0tXbZd8YndCQYz22-YpoEElwvATMKsx0YxziJwkRXxC4bcV8BtUMUQakR0Q/s320/felt+hearts4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I had such a LOVE-ly time making these hearts! It was a lazy Friday afternoon, and we worked on the living room floor where Baby Rosebud could watch us sew all the pretty colours. The older two wanted to join in, so I gave them a needle and thread and cut them a set of their own hearts to sew. They did so well!! Here is Sweetpea's version - she used an overhand stitch!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIJr4CRiERaUbX_zkQQCAWV9-Vi9GebeMJ6nVPb6wZeF3qsqQctJRlF3sjEBR6rGwQfAYoMMzHjIkG7umpEFjhyphenhyphenxYHyaZmiEN42xOT4ISsclKH6sabPU7jMvMoFa9gCEBPVsJ7thgqz8/s1600/felt+hearts+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIJr4CRiERaUbX_zkQQCAWV9-Vi9GebeMJ6nVPb6wZeF3qsqQctJRlF3sjEBR6rGwQfAYoMMzHjIkG7umpEFjhyphenhyphenxYHyaZmiEN42xOT4ISsclKH6sabPU7jMvMoFa9gCEBPVsJ7thgqz8/s320/felt+hearts+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
While we worked, we told stories and laughed and I delighted in their questions and comments. And every time I look at these felt hearts, I cherish the memories of the time spent making them with my sweet, precious children. Truly a heartFELT project!! :-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3efAwfVS0bLUfxr5DEX7idBFqkn_WepdK84oJyHkweA1ARzL4AY8sj00RqaxcVLwuPh0X4i3ROI7iqYSBpGiQb0gy22IEYBhLdP07g5qgXTyGEeXQ5U1PRBJFL50dj-MFW4w9MZgg-c/s1600/Pinterest+(106).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB3efAwfVS0bLUfxr5DEX7idBFqkn_WepdK84oJyHkweA1ARzL4AY8sj00RqaxcVLwuPh0X4i3ROI7iqYSBpGiQb0gy22IEYBhLdP07g5qgXTyGEeXQ5U1PRBJFL50dj-MFW4w9MZgg-c/s320/Pinterest+(106).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Linking this to</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.abcand123learning.com/2012/02/show-tell-87.html" target="_blank">ABC and 123's Show and </a>Tell</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theimaginationtree.com/2012/02/its-playtime-valentines-activities.html" target="_blank">It's Playtime on The Imagination Tree</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-83736487072460583572012-02-05T21:21:00.003+02:002012-02-09T18:16:38.122+02:00Pinterest Inspired Projects Day 3: Chair Envelopes<div style="text-align: center;">One of the most delicious joys in life for me is receiving a letter or a parcel in the mail.</div><div style="text-align: center;">And with<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Valentine's Day </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">just around the corner,</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I thought it the perfect opportunity to share this joy with my children.</div><div style="text-align: center;"> But instead of letters in the mailbox, they'll be receiving little </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">love notes from their Mama</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">in cute<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">felt envelopes</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">tied to the backs of their chairs at the breakfast table! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGpcDYBxj5O4XFTMeYcK9Gve4XdbJWIhT9mVAzMwDmTArFVh7pK1FgIyNOpiT1Ux6e5ZQ2BFrdISSjyW6WyisnZxLXMB4ExoNTCQzyPFD0VjPMH4UIrXrVNwkJ3C9NGQ1g2BsZ6rayUd8/s1600/env2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGpcDYBxj5O4XFTMeYcK9Gve4XdbJWIhT9mVAzMwDmTArFVh7pK1FgIyNOpiT1Ux6e5ZQ2BFrdISSjyW6WyisnZxLXMB4ExoNTCQzyPFD0VjPMH4UIrXrVNwkJ3C9NGQ1g2BsZ6rayUd8/s320/env2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrloHSej_tVV7S8_z8jcmSbw30vv24d662xqlTyZgX1QQAIJZ65uX7gPkcgDzevyELGsuSQJGlg80IaFjqphnrcYOWaTTZD9YxALt2DbuiZboKORxuAGAj8pjfR0JY1BBZW0tOKLYIck/s1600/env1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrloHSej_tVV7S8_z8jcmSbw30vv24d662xqlTyZgX1QQAIJZ65uX7gPkcgDzevyELGsuSQJGlg80IaFjqphnrcYOWaTTZD9YxALt2DbuiZboKORxuAGAj8pjfR0JY1BBZW0tOKLYIck/s320/env1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was smitten with this idea from the moment I spotted it on <a href="http://pinterest.com/grietjiet/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>. From the picture I had seen I thought the pin might be for instructions on how to make your own, but it turned out that the one I saw was a store-bought one. It was featured on <a href="http://blonde-designs.squarespace.com/blonde-designs-blog/2010/2/1/i-love-valentines.html" target="_blank">Blonde Designs Blog</a> where Angie Gubler, a mother of two gorgeous little girls wrote: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>A few years ago, Pottery Barn Kids sold the most darling oversized felt envelopes that are meant to be affixed to a child's chair and filled with goodies on Valentine's Day. It seemed a waste to let the envelopes sit with nothing in them until February 14th.</i></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hence, my husband and I decided last year, beginning on February 1st, to write little notes for our girls at night, leaving them in each of their envelopes</i></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, 'Lucida Grande', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 19px;">.</span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Isn't that just the sweetest idea?? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Anyway, you KNOW how I love felt, and this really didn't look too complicated, so here's a special treat for you: I came up with a tutorial for making your own.</span><br />
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</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">CHAIR BACK VALENTINE ENVELOPES!!</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvGpawwrPFh-jOHN4yGSnDSsSWqUOiKSXySRXJB8hMehyphenhyphenykLelIiDsq0xhc6VJ1xyXIAGVgxj14GdoSHKZAi9NXJi_EyfmcL-zsMoEA87j3ECVbk4Spur-H8Hxig2MTJqmTMvibZc_sg/s1600/env1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvGpawwrPFh-jOHN4yGSnDSsSWqUOiKSXySRXJB8hMehyphenhyphenykLelIiDsq0xhc6VJ1xyXIAGVgxj14GdoSHKZAi9NXJi_EyfmcL-zsMoEA87j3ECVbk4Spur-H8Hxig2MTJqmTMvibZc_sg/s320/env1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: red; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><i>NOTE: Please do as I say, and not as I did - I took many of the pictures after the envelopes were nearly finished, so they are just a rough guide!</i></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">You will need:</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">* One piece of white felt (the size will depend on the size of the chair you use. See below.)</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">* A small scrap of red felt for the heart-shaped 'seal'</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">* Red embroidery thread</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">* A small piece of velcro</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">* Two pieces of red ribbon, each approximately 80cm long.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">* A fabric marker</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">How to:</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">1.<u> Measure your chair</u>: Using a tape measure, measure the width of the back of the chair that you will be tying the envelope to. I made mine just slightly narrower than this measurement.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">2. Now measure the height you want your envelope to be.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">3. <u>Draw he pattern</u>: Using these measurements, draw a pattern onto paper. The length of your pattern will be <b>twice the height</b> of the envelope, <b>plus</b> 3/4's of the height (for the flap, which will be just a little shorter than the height of the envelope. I really hope this makes sense to you? Hope the picture helps!) <span style="color: blue;"><i>Note: My completed envelope measures 19 x 32 cm, and the flap is 14 cm.</i></span></span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUUUAy2s5Cmqu36zhPQHe9oAl2N8tg1oRavukN-VYFgjteewpCgsjiLbRhfMOZ9wagsPbwnWG5GUlTdKRBVTYZiFqDQ-9Kh6R8CxMYhYeT2zgUS0qDC3QhvfwlrD3GEBZ3kC7sH9H6RE/s1600/123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUUUAy2s5Cmqu36zhPQHe9oAl2N8tg1oRavukN-VYFgjteewpCgsjiLbRhfMOZ9wagsPbwnWG5GUlTdKRBVTYZiFqDQ-9Kh6R8CxMYhYeT2zgUS0qDC3QhvfwlrD3GEBZ3kC7sH9H6RE/s320/123.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">4. Pin your pattern to the white felt and cut the envelope out.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ekulh1H1ynPAqkNFdoUT_JS7SZPU0puUFNfce1Ubd5bzipn84l2j-yfHfcmbylCRCf7BNrEjcXVPjDxQCXq6TSj0u_sUMtqzp6WKc80eXQpcZhtQspAtY63azIgf_VTT8FAfOAyko2I/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ekulh1H1ynPAqkNFdoUT_JS7SZPU0puUFNfce1Ubd5bzipn84l2j-yfHfcmbylCRCf7BNrEjcXVPjDxQCXq6TSj0u_sUMtqzp6WKc80eXQpcZhtQspAtY63azIgf_VTT8FAfOAyko2I/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">5.<u> Sew on the velcro</u>: Fold your envelope in the correct way and use a fabric marker to mark where your velcro needs to go. Now sew the rough part of the velcro to the<i><b> inside</b> of the<b> flap</b></i>, and the softer part to the <i><b>outside</b> of the <b>envelope</b></i>.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQJl6X4d3nBGzCeO8jLUNQV_tkBph7hejP5gKW4aVm8fN0G_jDohDVxifGKSvn_NdiH1LtptJR_25rt0yNfT7VCBbtx_uLVPmPJWIZPdKDj7mYq8_YCdYrQowNVLbzffOyV_uHAhiZiA/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQJl6X4d3nBGzCeO8jLUNQV_tkBph7hejP5gKW4aVm8fN0G_jDohDVxifGKSvn_NdiH1LtptJR_25rt0yNfT7VCBbtx_uLVPmPJWIZPdKDj7mYq8_YCdYrQowNVLbzffOyV_uHAhiZiA/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">6. <u>Add the decorative stitching</u>:. Using your fabric marker, draw a faint guide on the bottom part of the envelope and using red embroidery thread, sew the lines as shown. For the lines on the flap, measure in about 1 cm from the edge and draw a faint line with your fabric marker to guide you.</span><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">7. Attach the seal: Cut 2 red heart shapes out of red felt.Stitch together using blanket stitch. Sew the heart onto the outside of the flap. (I made a smiley face for ArrowBoy as a more boy-friendly alternative to the heart)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuU6NWeEq3F6KtPbHxmaA97fbcCcmou4dysrYYGDSQ9MgLGZW5Rj5LPXK2PMI00WHQY0Y1TXgK-cnEnUTlyqiVn_h8MOsq5LvG0ty1gweogrIIzU_SpHmGk8Gx3i1K2Qn8hEs6900_PNg/s1600/124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuU6NWeEq3F6KtPbHxmaA97fbcCcmou4dysrYYGDSQ9MgLGZW5Rj5LPXK2PMI00WHQY0Y1TXgK-cnEnUTlyqiVn_h8MOsq5LvG0ty1gweogrIIzU_SpHmGk8Gx3i1K2Qn8hEs6900_PNg/s320/124.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">8. Use your fabric marker to mark the place where the ribbons should go. Sew the ribbons in place on the back of the envelope. </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9j5kdl5HrGjbeFNk50RTYudogSmc9MxorzSDqaWhNcwh-lbhB7SaEYgFZz7nV0ElEhOJHkXNcUtlO2HKn9akYLoKGg_847Ql3TMcsNMGgXkrrxfmtt9mtUc8bbMDNESOmlq6xODjmv0/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ9j5kdl5HrGjbeFNk50RTYudogSmc9MxorzSDqaWhNcwh-lbhB7SaEYgFZz7nV0ElEhOJHkXNcUtlO2HKn9akYLoKGg_847Ql3TMcsNMGgXkrrxfmtt9mtUc8bbMDNESOmlq6xODjmv0/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzq9TAkeJWn2REywzpcyf_QZkwUngUaJPWIOZo3GqJTmOG0hIfb9vD-VMeP08vJMvxPEO4oJKcMcWL6nIuD00YRdY69_pVnROOPj7F1MpZ4X9-kAg2RpoPa6obhT-jqDlS8MLruPGdTE/s1600/129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzq9TAkeJWn2REywzpcyf_QZkwUngUaJPWIOZo3GqJTmOG0hIfb9vD-VMeP08vJMvxPEO4oJKcMcWL6nIuD00YRdY69_pVnROOPj7F1MpZ4X9-kAg2RpoPa6obhT-jqDlS8MLruPGdTE/s320/129.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">9. Stitch the sides of your envelope using either a straight stitch on your sewing machine, or a running stitch or even blanket stitch if you are choosing to stitch it by hand.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">10. I trimmed the side edges of my envelopes with a sharp scissors. (I really, <i>really </i>want a pinking shears for projects like these, but for R442 I can feed my family for three days!!)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuq9J3LrtfWGPtw4PzdRYiM769rVRcfW_VecHUUc1hZoZZeXhA7wPc-dihego7aS9pRneTYso0r0qPqTmkJBZtjNPGhwZpr8cZ0gV1QW3quw7d2muHNBWeRWjXz7kKBkXD2ThbMc7CblU/s1600/env4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuq9J3LrtfWGPtw4PzdRYiM769rVRcfW_VecHUUc1hZoZZeXhA7wPc-dihego7aS9pRneTYso0r0qPqTmkJBZtjNPGhwZpr8cZ0gV1QW3quw7d2muHNBWeRWjXz7kKBkXD2ThbMc7CblU/s320/env4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">Now tie to the chairs and fill with sweet valentines! <i>Voila! </i>What pretty way in which to bless your little ones with affirmative and tender words! </span><br />
<span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="line-height: 19px;">Linking this to <a href="http://www.abcand123learning.com/2012/02/show-tell-87.html" target="_blank">ABC and 123's Show and Tell</a></span><br />
and<br />
<a href="http://www.theimaginationtree.com/2012/02/its-playtime-valentines-activities.html" target="_blank">It's Playtime on The Imagination Tree</a></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-54529204076688581842012-02-02T06:26:00.000+02:002012-02-02T06:26:22.699+02:00Pinterest Inspired Projects Day 2: Kermit the Frog Apples<div style="text-align: center;">One of my favourite 'go-to' boards on <a href="http://pinterest.com/grietjiet/" target="_blank">Pinterest </a>is my <i><a href="http://pinterest.com/grietjiet/cute-food/" target="_blank">Cute Food</a></i> board - a quirky surprise at snack time is just the thing to make my little ones smile BIG!!<br />
<br />
So while the children went for a swim with their dad on a hot hot hot Sunday afternoon, I quickly whipped up two of these cuties as a fun little snack for when they got home!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGy222Q3cjiIcznREVxYolwPpcKsbyj5DKQiCVuu3SpNR93h1lZJqOti2pqykVRI6du2JBuQuMzNpJw_RGoBWbwKeOdtrGRnmz9nCB2t1bYiXwKdCaJOx4542fbI2EOAoH8yThktRsYc/s1600/138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGy222Q3cjiIcznREVxYolwPpcKsbyj5DKQiCVuu3SpNR93h1lZJqOti2pqykVRI6du2JBuQuMzNpJw_RGoBWbwKeOdtrGRnmz9nCB2t1bYiXwKdCaJOx4542fbI2EOAoH8yThktRsYc/s320/138.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Get the easy-to-follow instructions for</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"> Kermit's Green Apples with Peanut Butter Dip</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://family.go.com/food/recipe-1022462-kermits-green-apples-peanut-butter-dip-t/" target="_blank"> here</a> at <a href="http://family.go.com/food/recipe-1022462-kermits-green-apples-peanut-butter-dip-t/">DisneyFamily.com</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">and make snack-time a highlight for them today!!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfiN42YBxFury_XTZuUXOtTLQX6txDwh7rRaYu7-J8K4xmLxUQhyphenhyphen9YwbEM-nimn-f0gynyrtg8Nyc5lVqOg8sNKGya5hCvTsMeTmRtKJUUMjTSPt0zc7gMr9P7bAeW8grJPH_29ZDjoc/s1600/apple+boy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfiN42YBxFury_XTZuUXOtTLQX6txDwh7rRaYu7-J8K4xmLxUQhyphenhyphen9YwbEM-nimn-f0gynyrtg8Nyc5lVqOg8sNKGya5hCvTsMeTmRtKJUUMjTSPt0zc7gMr9P7bAeW8grJPH_29ZDjoc/s320/apple+boy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor little guy's eyes were irritated by the chlorine<br />
from the swimming pool, but he loved the surprise!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-74155375791688794932012-02-01T06:48:00.000+02:002012-02-01T06:48:00.113+02:00Pinterest Inspiration Day 1: Glitter Shoes fit for a princess!! I couldn't think of a nicer way to kick off this series of posts than by sharing a super fun little project featuring heaps of<span style="font-size: large;"> glue</span> and<span style="font-size: large;"> glitter</span> - two of<i> the</i> most loved craft materials in our home!!<br />
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It all started with a bit of prideful embarrassment on my side, to be honest. See, a while ago Sweetpea received a pair of silver/grey ballet pumps from a sweet friend of mine. They were gently-worn hand-me-downs and a size too big, so I was going to pack them away for a future winter's wearing (<strike>or quietly give them away)</strike>, but my little girl fell in love with them on the spot and no amount of persuasion could tear them from her feet. I indulged her in the end and hoped that in a day or two she would tire of walking around in slightly-too-big-shoes. Mmmmm. Well. She didn't. And she insisted on wearing them <i>everywhere</i> we went. If it wasn't bad enough that they were too big, I also really do not like such dull colours on my girls. But she merrily went traipsing around in colourful dresses, with these drab little pumps that made me cringe at the very sight of them...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"> And then one evening I spotted a tutorial on<a href="http://pinterest.com/grietjiet/"> Pinterest</a> for making </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">glitter shoes</span>!</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Eureka!! </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> There are quite a few tutorials for doing these all over the Web, so I read two or three and then rummaged through my craft drawers to see what colour glitter I could find. (It was 2 days before Christmas and I was <i>not</i> going to risk being trampled to death by over-zealous shoppers in a mall just for a little bottle of glitter, so we had to make do with what was in the house.) And what was in the house was <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">P..P..P..P...PURPLE</span>!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div> I knew that if I ruined the grey pumps my daughter's heart would break, and being a little skeptical about this project (it just seemed<i> too</i> simple) I decided to try it on a pair of past-their-prime Mary Janes. And here, my friends, is the result:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKj3JGYRzlfgDzqFcuraqX7Sm2zex6_82c0HqwQB8ilVcg6nVJgd6o4NQf5pIrOG3yQ9kOXVMoMlMauy3Y_BTC3w6oMmTh1KTsg2yuNtHh2fB2Gs1FJj31LIHOK3zq5Ety6_1qdzWbwMs/s1600/December2011+301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKj3JGYRzlfgDzqFcuraqX7Sm2zex6_82c0HqwQB8ilVcg6nVJgd6o4NQf5pIrOG3yQ9kOXVMoMlMauy3Y_BTC3w6oMmTh1KTsg2yuNtHh2fB2Gs1FJj31LIHOK3zq5Ety6_1qdzWbwMs/s400/December2011+301.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> OK, so it's a really,<i> really</i> wild shade of purple, but oh boy, you cannot begin to imagine the squeals of delight from my four year-old when I presented her with these babies!! And if you want to win Mommy-of-the-Year too, here's how you go about it:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>Step 1</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Find a pair of <span style="font-size: large;">scuffed-but-loved</span> shoes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I gave mine a quick once-over with sandpaper to give it a slightly rougher surface for the glue to cling to.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGS42msygL5BYecEAyP4CTfxIHr4p1TzIKM0DNHDjcoH_X5VfeJ4vbiEquhihzkXi4XrsozvHnpPZrGDBK1QDXn3TCH3Je6RjrQ9aCA_fjsQUZrm-lzm4MsObuf7WRjGUXA5HazDE5f4/s1600/December2011+262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGS42msygL5BYecEAyP4CTfxIHr4p1TzIKM0DNHDjcoH_X5VfeJ4vbiEquhihzkXi4XrsozvHnpPZrGDBK1QDXn3TCH3Je6RjrQ9aCA_fjsQUZrm-lzm4MsObuf7WRjGUXA5HazDE5f4/s320/December2011+262.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>Step 2</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Gather your supplies:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">* Mod Podge / Deco Podge</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">* Glitter in a colour of your choice (you can also mix together few colours, like I did when I eventually painted the grey ballet pumps)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">* A bowl for mixing (I lined mine with foil for easy clean-up)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">* A paint brush</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrvCcp9gqw2Cn6z5togCDFCzGtSHHHMfe_PoOwNw5AVYGG9m_hMv_mopy0LCv4bD0QSuES2OAuUnCbpfEdsgiwE2_RuBtV1He1sLZFt8W3uL36weQwPZXhIFyCSnuJy276SzCht3omMk/s1600/December2011+264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrvCcp9gqw2Cn6z5togCDFCzGtSHHHMfe_PoOwNw5AVYGG9m_hMv_mopy0LCv4bD0QSuES2OAuUnCbpfEdsgiwE2_RuBtV1He1sLZFt8W3uL36weQwPZXhIFyCSnuJy276SzCht3omMk/s320/December2011+264.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>Step 3</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mix together the glitter and podge in the mixing bowl. I used about 3/4 of the bottle of glitter pictured above, and about 1/3 cup of podge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u>Step 4</u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Apply the glitter-and-glue mix in thin layers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The photo below shows Sweetpea's shoes after the first coat. I was still skeptical by this point, but after two more coats we were in Glitter Shoe Heaven, so just keep applying the glitter glue until you achieve the required effect. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGUTzp8Xg_bcrNO_yAW0BAwq8MYRdII5wrwS5bnInRS8CLai4OISPJ0B2-OJMSif_IFLulEunxLeATQ1DvO12ymkdra9004AUYJWUOZHsY_Az-Lb3vigUmQXR9isnQeo_LYxCVsyldBU/s1600/December2011+268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGUTzp8Xg_bcrNO_yAW0BAwq8MYRdII5wrwS5bnInRS8CLai4OISPJ0B2-OJMSif_IFLulEunxLeATQ1DvO12ymkdra9004AUYJWUOZHsY_Az-Lb3vigUmQXR9isnQeo_LYxCVsyldBU/s320/December2011+268.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVor5WurZv2EBOpDimBqcCdczZykQ0K-A8HNS0r9qH4SlvJ8V9PB2UIPK9RDfH-hDmqreQRK6boWLmoIRaX76zmIM6E3XHZohYmBcVsy4R9rZLzHnsSv0Ue61pXvoEQNwlfQm2oidrjoo/s1600/December2011+315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVor5WurZv2EBOpDimBqcCdczZykQ0K-A8HNS0r9qH4SlvJ8V9PB2UIPK9RDfH-hDmqreQRK6boWLmoIRaX76zmIM6E3XHZohYmBcVsy4R9rZLzHnsSv0Ue61pXvoEQNwlfQm2oidrjoo/s320/December2011+315.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And so how <i>DID</i> the once drab little ballet pumps turn out?? Glad you asked!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here they are after the final coat was applied:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTveLiotjS8bq-C2EwER6WZKJkfcAdjNziyCppkmkXX_-qF2vrDCItJD0Q9wUvETj4qkio0y1M6hCzeWOWpWL8CBQ8CFJMDgUS0Fh_cRR22Yj8_-HUtvnwRPsK6KJggmCP9li9N4NaYg/s1600/December2011+320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTveLiotjS8bq-C2EwER6WZKJkfcAdjNziyCppkmkXX_-qF2vrDCItJD0Q9wUvETj4qkio0y1M6hCzeWOWpWL8CBQ8CFJMDgUS0Fh_cRR22Yj8_-HUtvnwRPsK6KJggmCP9li9N4NaYg/s320/December2011+320.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sparkly, yes, but lacking a little pizzazz. So I added a bow and a button...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnEKceZ5H-XCKCLd_2yrXZgF4C0ybzJ2Qen-SgMBNhKf6WCxYr8REkwg-6DkDtelfVlTqA8eKPRxPIqhRsiJ6jMHUtDmXkDjB2EqlQd52s7moRtHIWJ4nOYassluOkaN18DoEguuxj4s/s1600/December2011+329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnEKceZ5H-XCKCLd_2yrXZgF4C0ybzJ2Qen-SgMBNhKf6WCxYr8REkwg-6DkDtelfVlTqA8eKPRxPIqhRsiJ6jMHUtDmXkDjB2EqlQd52s7moRtHIWJ4nOYassluOkaN18DoEguuxj4s/s320/December2011+329.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And methinks Cinderella might be green with envy!! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5XnIc9i6JfE-7J-Iigl4F00xb4pDelorwaBpRJyiJaw-WT5hx_LArjvhINwFtJ85eGPxrFeIWY91UkYX2hDxkCHrAbT3g2fk_s2VZbikwErumVk-xvw7j9IgZa8dHxrrVcb8zfXArKI/s1600/December2011+326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5XnIc9i6JfE-7J-Iigl4F00xb4pDelorwaBpRJyiJaw-WT5hx_LArjvhINwFtJ85eGPxrFeIWY91UkYX2hDxkCHrAbT3g2fk_s2VZbikwErumVk-xvw7j9IgZa8dHxrrVcb8zfXArKI/s320/December2011+326.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was most surprised by how <span style="font-size: large;">soft </span>and <span style="font-size: large;">flexible </span>the shoes remained! And no, we have<b><u> not </u></b>had a single piece of glitter on the carpet. She's worn these everyday for over a month now, and if it hadn't been for the fact that she also climbs trees and kicks rocks with them, they still would have looked just as lovely!! Now, I saw some pumps in my own size at Ackermans the other day for next to nothing. What do you think of <span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">ruby red</span><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"> </span>a la Dorothy</i>?!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-44962977545227644642012-01-29T21:38:00.000+02:002012-01-29T21:38:18.844+02:00Drum roll, please...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I have been working up a storm behind the scenes here at Joyful Mama's Place, and I am so excited to finally tell you that I have a <i>very</i> special treat to share with you during the month of February.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Oh, it has been so much </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">fun</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;">fun</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: x-large;">fun</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">to put together and I just know you are going to love it, too!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">So, without further ado,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I am thrilled to announce</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> ............<i>DRUM ROLL, PLEASE</i>...........</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHjuNVHFRI1irfVVs44JbMS_AyAQECOwwiC-x0B6WS305aXMgW_knjXgqRNk_-v65euS4yrZQ3HdDm-r8q53C-TJjCotv0CKVti1m1D7Y9z3ElJu-fUK449QsNq3b-vv8dRNIpfDjAUo/s1600/Pinterest+badge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHjuNVHFRI1irfVVs44JbMS_AyAQECOwwiC-x0B6WS305aXMgW_knjXgqRNk_-v65euS4yrZQ3HdDm-r8q53C-TJjCotv0CKVti1m1D7Y9z3ElJu-fUK449QsNq3b-vv8dRNIpfDjAUo/s400/Pinterest+badge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Yes, from 1 to 29 February I will be sharing a veritable feast of wonderfully fun little projects that were inspired by my collection of pins on <a href="http://pinterest.com/grietjiet/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>! There is absolutely no rhyme or reason behind my choices, other than they were all projects that tickled my fancy and made me smile, so expect the unexpected: from fun recipes to lovely craft ideas, homeschool inspirations to an experiment involving sleeping with one of my husband's socks on my head (I <i>know</i> I have your attention now, don't I???!!!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I will be posting two to three little projects a week and hope you will be popping in regularly! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">For those of you who have absolutely no idea what I am talking about, here's the scoop:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/grietjiet/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> is an online pin board that makes it delightfully easy and fun to collect ideas and inspiration from around the web in one easy-to-organise place. Once you've registered an account (it's free and you can login using your existing Facebook account), you can create unlimited pin boards to which you then virtually 'pin' any image from the web. Once pinned, you can just click on the image to take you back to the original source - so it's pretty much what we used to do with bookmarking 'favourites' - but a gazillion times better and tonnes more fun, because you can then start following the boards of other, like-minded people, and so expand the collection of ideas pinned to your boards. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">If you aren't on Pinterest already, I do hope that you are sufficiently curious by now! Here are three great links that you may find helpful if you'd like to join the craze:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.sheknows.com/living/articles/852875/pinterest-what-it-is-how-to-use-it-and-why-youll-be-addicted" target="_blank">Pinterest: What it is, how to use it, and why you'll be addicted</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://www.techtalkformoms.com/2012/social-media-tips/what-is-pinterest/" target="_blank">What is Pinterest?</a> by Tech Talk for Moms</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://typeaparent.com/pinterest-tips.html" target="_blank">5 Pinterest tips for beginners</a> by Type-a-Parent </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Happy Pinning!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-62372517784316040982012-01-23T17:10:00.000+02:002012-01-23T17:10:02.739+02:00Sweetpea's Fourth Birthday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Her big day in pictures:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnr3v6WR0SUXtt8IJwWcrLcT5fBPKtGSHmKsyP4t-mx70UyKrmP8zhuXHFq-p5YJUF86xaNxlEzBajtuSv6eyni-e_CcApfNyzH8vYZ5pea2OFQEdp2NCffcB0qh3j3c4jV3EsyGEIR8Y/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnr3v6WR0SUXtt8IJwWcrLcT5fBPKtGSHmKsyP4t-mx70UyKrmP8zhuXHFq-p5YJUF86xaNxlEzBajtuSv6eyni-e_CcApfNyzH8vYZ5pea2OFQEdp2NCffcB0qh3j3c4jV3EsyGEIR8Y/s320/033.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The birthday girl and her Daddy at the breakfast table.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJDAG9B0pqbwpmgC3sfeFunFolrntDJT8ZwrRA1DmXqG0N5ZhZk4Ob2YlvDSvQL11fAwRC539CHcMCtiOsfVqnA5qxkBPX14sOpNWHXK7ipF_9CRZUPsLrMHrjvfoDrEwA-iW_Qx49Ag/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJDAG9B0pqbwpmgC3sfeFunFolrntDJT8ZwrRA1DmXqG0N5ZhZk4Ob2YlvDSvQL11fAwRC539CHcMCtiOsfVqnA5qxkBPX14sOpNWHXK7ipF_9CRZUPsLrMHrjvfoDrEwA-iW_Qx49Ag/s320/036.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We gave her a spiffy new house for her Sylvanian Families. Here<br />
she is giving her dad directions on how to make the<br />
lights work.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKVXxAycooJgt6FifnbZkNsxqm4FKFyrGh0cJRtu51J5RoiR8UdlvBdn9KNDbu2G_ajNMLrIUdfErEh80WA1cIcdT-bkI-fN3Z8o9P9mDr1ZcBbzJJZ2vWEZGwx4EZFpMrqNHP5gedM0/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKVXxAycooJgt6FifnbZkNsxqm4FKFyrGh0cJRtu51J5RoiR8UdlvBdn9KNDbu2G_ajNMLrIUdfErEh80WA1cIcdT-bkI-fN3Z8o9P9mDr1ZcBbzJJZ2vWEZGwx4EZFpMrqNHP5gedM0/s320/037.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqcIxnetyybTrCfZOuGypNPQ94Upew1HYgZoRKspjFMFnGo72g7Wnj8s_fUNrn2Oj2T1tcRqXKDT4xdXo3OyZr_wmTMfZeHq5A_l1YWxEMQ8l03SDO-cmuYJA27YpzcFixvfpBXMhAsE/s1600/042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDqcIxnetyybTrCfZOuGypNPQ94Upew1HYgZoRKspjFMFnGo72g7Wnj8s_fUNrn2Oj2T1tcRqXKDT4xdXo3OyZr_wmTMfZeHq5A_l1YWxEMQ8l03SDO-cmuYJA27YpzcFixvfpBXMhAsE/s320/042.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We visited Scratch Patch and they LOVED it!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_E_m9oGHVGQGrcdsDCyWv68-t7Muui3ZKNdDBTwBoyBL9TRMdV-u-4OBxwDgFugu9t5v8GaczN5h8dGMZtWrbBAQuB62DFT0D104M6MvLXXK_iWirRf84DNrMOogN-nHv-KXRP8K5fo/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy_E_m9oGHVGQGrcdsDCyWv68-t7Muui3ZKNdDBTwBoyBL9TRMdV-u-4OBxwDgFugu9t5v8GaczN5h8dGMZtWrbBAQuB62DFT0D104M6MvLXXK_iWirRf84DNrMOogN-nHv-KXRP8K5fo/s320/054.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sH_zfeGcaCOw7fnU74550GoIs_AE6EYKoGEe1EDY4rrWb1TRXXPkuvapnPDxfmddfEQSWrWMwGyph3NHWetbykhVTXX-TZ7whvu9tKdpr6zO3PQzEwF7j11urkMd2d8JxKF9JSOvhiw/s1600/059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sH_zfeGcaCOw7fnU74550GoIs_AE6EYKoGEe1EDY4rrWb1TRXXPkuvapnPDxfmddfEQSWrWMwGyph3NHWetbykhVTXX-TZ7whvu9tKdpr6zO3PQzEwF7j11urkMd2d8JxKF9JSOvhiw/s320/059.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohgtcFyrLTkNbP1coXPyVnPsEhSeYFE9kRYgyWPaRIRivaEmjZdFHeiBAWqsqxFmgixthMApfY0UaaI_6aYYnGFuDt0JjNElY1BF8TjELz1QXL0oiXmnKQfJRkR0jBvaITJFvlk28p0Y/s1600/094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiohgtcFyrLTkNbP1coXPyVnPsEhSeYFE9kRYgyWPaRIRivaEmjZdFHeiBAWqsqxFmgixthMApfY0UaaI_6aYYnGFuDt0JjNElY1BF8TjELz1QXL0oiXmnKQfJRkR0jBvaITJFvlk28p0Y/s320/094.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I was planning to treat my flower-loving daughter to a beautiful garden-themed birthday party and have been pinning ideas like crazy (see my Garden Party board on Pinterest - click <a href="http://pinterest.com/grietjiet/garden-flower-party/" target="_blank">here</a>!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">BUT</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">when I sat her down to start planning and making a guest list, she firmly told me that she wanted a<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">tea party </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and that she wanted only to invite her two <span style="font-size: large;">aunts </span>and her <span style="font-size: large;">grandmother</span>. I was very surprised (and a little disappointed!), but then again, with such lovely, doting aunties and a grandmother who loves her to bits, it really made good sense to me! So I called them up (and snuck in an invitation for grandpa, too!), and we decided that everyone would be wearing a hat to the party. We got a little creative - and a tad silly - but I think our official party photo, taken by my husband, came out very nice indeed!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisG7599gFXEuMTzFJwhdHuLAf2ReR4raqBFhfK9wz2EDQ8m7JHZ41kq6YeCkKybagGjPJmw_yOM0yMLIVrP9tmmYWtKI28HiRR2sX3vhHLqMC8BWrEdLs75k_lQJ0yN7ryTPNewamjLMs/s1600/IMG_8796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisG7599gFXEuMTzFJwhdHuLAf2ReR4raqBFhfK9wz2EDQ8m7JHZ41kq6YeCkKybagGjPJmw_yOM0yMLIVrP9tmmYWtKI28HiRR2sX3vhHLqMC8BWrEdLs75k_lQJ0yN7ryTPNewamjLMs/s400/IMG_8796.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The birthday girl was in her element, wearing her favourite hat with a flower pin and the pink ballet outfit that was one of her gifts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpc6qM0L7ov8_la_-Mbxt3KGPWgSRAHrySCciFZjpqb4t8aWk5JphJhIGFj4AcxB1OlahqCWcbn7LDwpjK4Qk8SyYEVuRSz7p4wO6S7pfg-HvoEDAD1USjEr0G6dZGUFrFRv6I8jJz8s/s1600/IMG_8802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpc6qM0L7ov8_la_-Mbxt3KGPWgSRAHrySCciFZjpqb4t8aWk5JphJhIGFj4AcxB1OlahqCWcbn7LDwpjK4Qk8SyYEVuRSz7p4wO6S7pfg-HvoEDAD1USjEr0G6dZGUFrFRv6I8jJz8s/s400/IMG_8802.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now, you need to know that her birthday is the day after New Year's and that here in the Western Cape that's a public holiday, and that between Christmas and New Year's it is already nearly impossible to find anything decent in the supermarkets. So the tea-time treats were a limited but lovely array of nibbles we were able to make with what we had in the house.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On the menu:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A pretty pink cake with sprinkles galore,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSUTCUNzJvu64Xf0irEaBb5qzyJPrxEUFNxmQX8702wKOok7M0HGKMWdO3loeflub1yVPk2aFBuihqWoN6PXPxSwVXT7q811fXqMZiyy0hD242cKVHut3ORr5beJohUwwOSVELMCKerk/s1600/Cake1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifSUTCUNzJvu64Xf0irEaBb5qzyJPrxEUFNxmQX8702wKOok7M0HGKMWdO3loeflub1yVPk2aFBuihqWoN6PXPxSwVXT7q811fXqMZiyy0hD242cKVHut3ORr5beJohUwwOSVELMCKerk/s320/Cake1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">pearly marshmallows...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHestwURRpQy6stbuurdjhzaQ_Sm0uQmOViLZoXORrE0F6W60VvtJItVBJrQkOWjpXb1nulhWpDlnaymwxx1y1RzGmFCTIGUUg_62pZhflfJnTc-behtTBxsW6tp8ecV5ellmXUxsb370/s1600/114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHestwURRpQy6stbuurdjhzaQ_Sm0uQmOViLZoXORrE0F6W60VvtJItVBJrQkOWjpXb1nulhWpDlnaymwxx1y1RzGmFCTIGUUg_62pZhflfJnTc-behtTBxsW6tp8ecV5ellmXUxsb370/s320/114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and dainty sunflower sandwiches and pink sugar cookies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CqKWguh6akMVGls8CV_cwOGODszch_zndr5fqYU6lZmU7GipOC0cBmCMY3EZtIgGmXx9KZp7ahcYkTiD-_aMZ_MqXIpg50VLIMhZZxKUICI9_DLaLawx7kL7kDg76vHX6UbyvtJfyLY/s1600/115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CqKWguh6akMVGls8CV_cwOGODszch_zndr5fqYU6lZmU7GipOC0cBmCMY3EZtIgGmXx9KZp7ahcYkTiD-_aMZ_MqXIpg50VLIMhZZxKUICI9_DLaLawx7kL7kDg76vHX6UbyvtJfyLY/s400/115.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">And her favourite gift by far? A set of plastic princess accessories!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmloW5QwvYJM1RYwchSIqeXSYOV_NqXodoeDAK1Wx5QylDBPeajzd7aOT1mtzzNtrXnhTekF8AzEeG7xX1REoTGGfFTjfHy18KphCeUrh95vaWraS8jgzlEpOlD5ONxfK9lD2LyZsUGbg/s1600/IMG_8856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmloW5QwvYJM1RYwchSIqeXSYOV_NqXodoeDAK1Wx5QylDBPeajzd7aOT1mtzzNtrXnhTekF8AzEeG7xX1REoTGGfFTjfHy18KphCeUrh95vaWraS8jgzlEpOlD5ONxfK9lD2LyZsUGbg/s400/IMG_8856.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Please note, though, that she wasn't the only belle of the ball: Look at this little cutie pie admiring her grandmother's pretty 'Fresh-from-the-Garden' hat!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIA4oNxSAAAy5UG_dEO_-38FYb29DXXyhE7Glkw3tDssLn7LnNqgxWxGaH5-pK7vG5kEMXFgAUob_JcVBCMjayBGgmViTziiFgj8ac9-cNfoKGLu9_iIbaetlDdBeNtgtYHerP4bNyUDk/s1600/IMG_8882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIA4oNxSAAAy5UG_dEO_-38FYb29DXXyhE7Glkw3tDssLn7LnNqgxWxGaH5-pK7vG5kEMXFgAUob_JcVBCMjayBGgmViTziiFgj8ac9-cNfoKGLu9_iIbaetlDdBeNtgtYHerP4bNyUDk/s400/IMG_8882.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Happy birthday, Sweetpea!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-78742251385549613752012-01-22T15:53:00.001+02:002012-01-22T16:50:53.937+02:00Happy to be back!! Let's catch up... Hello dear friends!! Yes, if you are still following this blog after my very long absence, I do consider you a friend indeed!! It has been a crazy few months around here, since we moved to our new home at the beginning of December. But we are in and unpacked and rarely a day goes by in which my husband and I do not praise the Lord for the gift of this place! But I'll let the photos tell the story - here's what we got up to in the past month or so:<br />
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The very, very<b> bestest</b> part of the new house is the big garden! With little nooks to explore...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hBOeRXvqDhQwmgpzzi9hjLTsGP79U8ygyTgvSxOS2f5mIEpNqGIMDyYW3cDfe1Uumcdsriv-VP6ZZYXTDpq1hNukqxKT6qUB7zJ2FTgabCuSZ4_1hBAOIZpNhw2aQ2D6RFN_a_baTBk/s1600/December2011+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hBOeRXvqDhQwmgpzzi9hjLTsGP79U8ygyTgvSxOS2f5mIEpNqGIMDyYW3cDfe1Uumcdsriv-VP6ZZYXTDpq1hNukqxKT6qUB7zJ2FTgabCuSZ4_1hBAOIZpNhw2aQ2D6RFN_a_baTBk/s320/December2011+018.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and new little friends who decided this was a lovely spot for a home!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJTe7cg9JCwbFEFd36Nkit2nGNarGhwS__kNNkmK5ngMKG1wkR1tfhfelh-B4_YxzX4dPYc8JTQrmxXA88FjWgQQylZFzURqD55oQp9f8PSecgG7wL2F3rL6daDxn-CjVbXx7x7VGAnI/s1600/December2011+031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJTe7cg9JCwbFEFd36Nkit2nGNarGhwS__kNNkmK5ngMKG1wkR1tfhfelh-B4_YxzX4dPYc8JTQrmxXA88FjWgQQylZFzURqD55oQp9f8PSecgG7wL2F3rL6daDxn-CjVbXx7x7VGAnI/s320/December2011+031.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The bunny above just arrived here one morning, came and went through the garden gate for a few days, and then decided to stay. But he was very lonely, so off to the pet shop they went, and came home with two friends - my children's first pets!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZiMLQ4tA58S0CR3N72wr_2bGjKZ9VaUFxKzc0zZln20p5x8ZI4tUBQDh3JXtT1BcYXW_BlkFSD40V6MkZt_-96kPcK3xZqZZfqQJeDXXpvNLeyVq2deRx4aNKFdNLJSYhMRzzo50dmo/s1600/December2011+249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6ZiMLQ4tA58S0CR3N72wr_2bGjKZ9VaUFxKzc0zZln20p5x8ZI4tUBQDh3JXtT1BcYXW_BlkFSD40V6MkZt_-96kPcK3xZqZZfqQJeDXXpvNLeyVq2deRx4aNKFdNLJSYhMRzzo50dmo/s320/December2011+249.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtRUPC69zyCrTVaaqQbcuA5XrDbNfwY9kWK5Q9bmsyU_ghnCyUOq3K-FtWElSfT3h4-FHJe7s4epOtPzI0Nv2IlkIBersHs8JzV6ERmednOH1fXW7wiJ2OG7m9cYpOdsrIhjHs11i_-Y/s1600/December2011+260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtRUPC69zyCrTVaaqQbcuA5XrDbNfwY9kWK5Q9bmsyU_ghnCyUOq3K-FtWElSfT3h4-FHJe7s4epOtPzI0Nv2IlkIBersHs8JzV6ERmednOH1fXW7wiJ2OG7m9cYpOdsrIhjHs11i_-Y/s320/December2011+260.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And our little red wagon has been getting a regular workout down the hill!</div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My darling husband treated me with a dining room table the day after we moved in!! What an absolute blessing to have room to entertain!! Here are just some of the many table settings from the past month or so as we've been having precious friends over for meals.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lxFzNVlEnr7Te-05OsIuW7sHtaIsjS9yl2ssOZfb4S-3bx7DuZaYW9ksD1svnm2qnE2yKsbOhPRmE5clRqsoFnkOedBctL_bQa-guz4e_xR9EA0NRnA3X6C2oZAK9fiOID8oNj717Wg/s1600/December2011+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3lxFzNVlEnr7Te-05OsIuW7sHtaIsjS9yl2ssOZfb4S-3bx7DuZaYW9ksD1svnm2qnE2yKsbOhPRmE5clRqsoFnkOedBctL_bQa-guz4e_xR9EA0NRnA3X6C2oZAK9fiOID8oNj717Wg/s320/December2011+005.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>My mother and two of her sisters and 5 of my cousins with their children came for tea one morning - we were 18 people in total and never felt crowded!</i></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We've been on outings...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and there's been a birthday...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zZhyphenhyphenIrSk8Cn0Ssyic1oOyImK0lHXhadIiAKqZJjnFAP3bnfHaIEajLH1Ds4HTeAm6lbChGA3m39exCW-45GAbYDci7sZVa39g5tiOccSn7q6XJeUY5jHjUAIeYZoYM5hpgy1x4A2bs4/s1600/IMG_8801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zZhyphenhyphenIrSk8Cn0Ssyic1oOyImK0lHXhadIiAKqZJjnFAP3bnfHaIEajLH1Ds4HTeAm6lbChGA3m39exCW-45GAbYDci7sZVa39g5tiOccSn7q6XJeUY5jHjUAIeYZoYM5hpgy1x4A2bs4/s320/IMG_8801.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and a certain little pumpkin fritter turned three months old!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbxrqUeC8Ljhmdjx_E9efJJ0l1FKy60W45V1PMjv3qmJEgqNtflUFd0BOSA2OOpg83-pdcNA-5Swmw9SzmmVrrkPNxoRzkExpcMipRRmMiS_zIAdTqIP7mfHZXRU38hA6KGIzqstlgvM/s1600/December2011+155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbxrqUeC8Ljhmdjx_E9efJJ0l1FKy60W45V1PMjv3qmJEgqNtflUFd0BOSA2OOpg83-pdcNA-5Swmw9SzmmVrrkPNxoRzkExpcMipRRmMiS_zIAdTqIP7mfHZXRU38hA6KGIzqstlgvM/s320/December2011+155.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And I have many, many lovely photographs of the children enjoying the hot weather by jumping over the sprinkler and rolling in the mud, but I can't find a single one in which they are both decently covered up, so you'll just have to take my word for it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ahh, and Christmas too!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We made up some cookie bags for our garbage collectors the week before Christmas...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5fU4uGYIlW7YQRWXWyFQnjIDPQAatbKSAqhVp95jMJANqjKaFSyIPNy7kxQ5ajYp9GTRzKWAUnxykRecpPek3eL6sYZuLJw1hCjh4nu7gfR7fjKH5Q5ZGZNHI7dcCeHMaHwLkPcPQv4/s1600/December2011+214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5fU4uGYIlW7YQRWXWyFQnjIDPQAatbKSAqhVp95jMJANqjKaFSyIPNy7kxQ5ajYp9GTRzKWAUnxykRecpPek3eL6sYZuLJw1hCjh4nu7gfR7fjKH5Q5ZGZNHI7dcCeHMaHwLkPcPQv4/s320/December2011+214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">...and on a hot Monday morning they enjoyed their cookies and cold juice and stopped the garbage lorry long enough for a picture with the children.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Q2HCZxt-fvLL_1g5KMTRdrEyP-isiLI7NSG8PgSKraAjWVt2AftwZ93TW3Jionmy3r0gAV14e38uL-dtTSrCNXQFW1j4bXhd8uxYoPhL_8jWtOWC_cpNc659JXGf1LzDF0fUXrMWKKU/s1600/December2011+230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Q2HCZxt-fvLL_1g5KMTRdrEyP-isiLI7NSG8PgSKraAjWVt2AftwZ93TW3Jionmy3r0gAV14e38uL-dtTSrCNXQFW1j4bXhd8uxYoPhL_8jWtOWC_cpNc659JXGf1LzDF0fUXrMWKKU/s320/December2011+230.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxRp2n_lQYJNUdPaXMQAktqMwya7WDMYhq4z3CFkobABZixB2itv2hyphenhyphendnC3wxLBTXuV10v5MJl5CwJT8N4uRQtTdawz0xcRCbE7XAkFielu3uFuLxbPHzersKthp_ZhweHWgHN8IwKE0/s1600/December2011+340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxRp2n_lQYJNUdPaXMQAktqMwya7WDMYhq4z3CFkobABZixB2itv2hyphenhyphendnC3wxLBTXuV10v5MJl5CwJT8N4uRQtTdawz0xcRCbE7XAkFielu3uFuLxbPHzersKthp_ZhweHWgHN8IwKE0/s320/December2011+340.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">After church on Christmas morning we came home to put on a Birthday Party for Jesus!! I had baked a chocolate cake the night before and the children had SO much fun decorating a very special cake for our King!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSIYo3spdcFd2jekZ4hNRVAutZyHNdMdrZepi8pOuVkgblRUiGQAuFy3gf28SxE4Gq43J-zwB0G_s9CDqk9GvAMY-a9gbQEP6ddToUesPl_O0qGvPx7mHLjRw-o4VYZ1dsHe5pmhdB5k/s1600/December2011+374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSIYo3spdcFd2jekZ4hNRVAutZyHNdMdrZepi8pOuVkgblRUiGQAuFy3gf28SxE4Gq43J-zwB0G_s9CDqk9GvAMY-a9gbQEP6ddToUesPl_O0qGvPx7mHLjRw-o4VYZ1dsHe5pmhdB5k/s320/December2011+374.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7j0TpQxC2zjfXTsx5urGcpA67Q1-6o4pnGfR5akEk6i7EtCS92fKCgwUtqyfsTzg0T_GgHZGEEJGyNBv_bX2nLh-AIfTszX_B-W5lIbJWyleimycRpKqWvywISINqk5udaHSM5lOVwGs/s1600/December2011+376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7j0TpQxC2zjfXTsx5urGcpA67Q1-6o4pnGfR5akEk6i7EtCS92fKCgwUtqyfsTzg0T_GgHZGEEJGyNBv_bX2nLh-AIfTszX_B-W5lIbJWyleimycRpKqWvywISINqk5udaHSM5lOVwGs/s320/December2011+376.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Yummy!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VMzpb4RYm2YACFDiUFcxodDdzdzT86FVof7k9zPAGjJRsggh5MFuLCiZLpItx5H8mOjiUXVwYRfhdOFII0_1qM4Ygoe-bKhw6JfuwILh2Nx-qV0zxU5eeTSValfpijjxRfqfvAxcuT4/s1600/December2011+379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VMzpb4RYm2YACFDiUFcxodDdzdzT86FVof7k9zPAGjJRsggh5MFuLCiZLpItx5H8mOjiUXVwYRfhdOFII0_1qM4Ygoe-bKhw6JfuwILh2Nx-qV0zxU5eeTSValfpijjxRfqfvAxcuT4/s320/December2011+379.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We sang <i>Happy Birthday, Dear Jesus</i> and then enjoyed some lovely family time and delicious cake as we told the story of Jesus's birth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9Hu-i6ZD0affqGMUAq8VTr5rjQhlv6MLPjmk0e6uEKYYKKI3u3BfbW-xdzGIE-njlFsDgEoJ7N75rXLCYWbGJoyK3jsEjw25TtsQmhctK9c8EDT2I4YyPm9YHTkKoOWEpynHCEkpk-o/s1600/December2011+397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH9Hu-i6ZD0affqGMUAq8VTr5rjQhlv6MLPjmk0e6uEKYYKKI3u3BfbW-xdzGIE-njlFsDgEoJ7N75rXLCYWbGJoyK3jsEjw25TtsQmhctK9c8EDT2I4YyPm9YHTkKoOWEpynHCEkpk-o/s320/December2011+397.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It feels so good to be writing here again and I am using some stolen moments here and there to work on a few more posts, so stay tuned!</div><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-47051882587161517212011-11-22T11:29:00.000+02:002011-11-22T11:29:22.124+02:00Two Months Old<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEbgSCsy1DXvVQBFxzIAgokKS3VSN7rtGnpfCjTRb-4yanmU5Bzmr6VrDPtjdMazh2Fx7koqAjemeCtRGOLCTqQfRU41XqMRPMmaxw0ajIpb6DzAIdv_T6fXdeXi3vjIe1pJJEYwW9ys/s1600/Two+months+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPEbgSCsy1DXvVQBFxzIAgokKS3VSN7rtGnpfCjTRb-4yanmU5Bzmr6VrDPtjdMazh2Fx7koqAjemeCtRGOLCTqQfRU41XqMRPMmaxw0ajIpb6DzAIdv_T6fXdeXi3vjIe1pJJEYwW9ys/s640/Two+months+%25283%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-42837941123590343072011-11-12T14:51:00.000+02:002011-11-12T14:51:19.670+02:00Just for fun!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rEZDW6wLK-t-umT_rTssFcAEXCOsUJ-CU2eSHfDSxRV74KKDP53PlqOsnW15g4n3LihnbSJuEZsNO_RGTZbQlxz9N2a-jQtUG5f4Zfy9tDflfyRTg6HWyr1Um-eH3ZFWUg73N2STaqc/s1600/003+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2rEZDW6wLK-t-umT_rTssFcAEXCOsUJ-CU2eSHfDSxRV74KKDP53PlqOsnW15g4n3LihnbSJuEZsNO_RGTZbQlxz9N2a-jQtUG5f4Zfy9tDflfyRTg6HWyr1Um-eH3ZFWUg73N2STaqc/s320/003+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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We do our weekly grocery shopping on Saturdays, and it is also the only day in the week we eat store-bought bread. (My darling husband loves to bake and he blesses us with a freshly-baked loaf on all the other days of the week!)<br />
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When I passed by the bakery section in the supermarket this morning, the sight of fresh, wholewheat hotdog rolls reminded me of something I spotted on Pinterest this week, and I decided to treat the family to some fun and yummy <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Banana Dogs</span> for lunch!! Lashings of peanut butter, a peeled banana and strawberry jam!<br />
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(I really just did this on the spur of the moment, so no great photos, but mmmmmmmmm, they were delicious!!)<br />
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This totally cute idea is from <a href="http://thevillagecook.com/banana-dogs/">The Villiage Cook</a>. I think her <a href="http://thevillagecook.com/spiderweb-pizzas-6/">Spider Web Pizzas</a> are next on my list of fun lunches for the bambinos!!<br />
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Also, my dear friend Linnie's lovely daughter, Heidi-Mari, runs a <a href="http://heidiscrafts.blogspot.com/2011/11/fortnightly-baking-fun-challenge-8-is.html">fortnightly baking challenge</a> on her blog, <a href="http://heidiscrafts.blogspot.com/2011/11/fortnightly-baking-fun-challenge-8-is.html">Heidi's Crafts</a>. This week's theme is <i>Something for a Child</i>, and I thought Banana Dogs fit that description perfectly, so I'm linking up!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-59905886526110148702011-10-30T17:22:00.002+02:002011-11-01T14:58:07.362+02:00Cardboard Tree House <br />
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When I first saw the instructions for making a cardboard tree house in the October 2011 edition of<i> Family Fun Magazine</i>, I just knew my little ones would love it. So while they were having afternoon naps last Monday, I quickly printed the templates (you can download them<a href="http://disneyfamilyfun.buysub.com/free-printables/october-2011.html"> here</a>) and constructed our tree house in about 45 minutes. The original had three stories, but I had enough cardboard for only two AND I was just not up for adding the paper towel chutes. I think ours came out pretty cute all the same!<br />
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The following afternoon, while the bambinos were napping, I set it up on a piece of green felt and added Sweetpea's Sylvanian Families. They woke up to find some sweet, real-life friends visiting us, and around here friends are always better than any toy, so they didn't pay too much attention at first. But when we were on our own again, some serious playing got underway!!<br />
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Sweetpea gave the whole set-up one look and declared that the tree house was on a farm and that the Sylvanian Families daddies are all farmers. I was asked to fetch the plastic farm animals from the toy closet while she went off to her brother's room for play planks, which were immediately turned into corrals and paddocks for the animals (who were neatly arranged according to breed!) She added a bridge, and one of ArrowBoy's cars became the preferred mode of transport for the Sylvanians.<br />
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Arrow waited until his sister was done playing and had packed away her 'props' before he moved his wild animals into the tree house!<br />
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My children can be quite unpredictable in what they like to play with and what not, but when Sweetpea thanked God for the lovely tree house during family devotions that evening, I was so happy to have taken the time to make it for them!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Linking this to <a href="http://www.abcand123learning.com/2011/11/show-and-tell-74.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AbcAnd123+%28ABC+and+123%29">ABC and 123's Show and Tell</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-57962075389560549952011-10-25T14:24:00.000+02:002011-10-25T14:24:49.702+02:00Drawing butterflies This morning Sweetpea wanted to make a gift for her daddy, and we decided to decorate a blank wooden key chain for his house keys. We talked about what she could draw on it, and she asked if I'd show her how to draw a butterfly. I did a simple drawing and handed her the pencil. She did a good job of the head, but when the oblong for the body came out square, she got really upset and wanted to throw in the towel straight away. (She's a bit of a perfectionist that way, and I often have to guide her gently towards taking her time and practicing something if she can't do it perfectly right from the start.)<br />
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So I showed her that I don't think a rectangular body is such a bad idea...and when she tried again, she actually did beautifully. This gave her the confidence boost she needed and she promptly flipped the paper over and began covering it in butterflies.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96kKaxOnzsssSvUjaT9e6gi5awcTBrU2zF4K9fP6qrdAgy6ozQRC2k-rblX2Pgav8ol2PVcbyh0JVnMosE-og21bg56yFT-pG2RZxHIc41Iw29fwrxhEhi9U9np1r6WXDxk-CEva7Gfg/s1600/trui1+%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi96kKaxOnzsssSvUjaT9e6gi5awcTBrU2zF4K9fP6qrdAgy6ozQRC2k-rblX2Pgav8ol2PVcbyh0JVnMosE-og21bg56yFT-pG2RZxHIc41Iw29fwrxhEhi9U9np1r6WXDxk-CEva7Gfg/s320/trui1+%25287%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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We chatted about how colourful butterflies are and I offered her the felt tip pens, again just gently guiding her towards using different colours for the different parts of the butterfly, as she generally tends to pick only one colour and do the whole drawing in that. She was so taken with her drawings, that the rest of the morning was spent drawing butterflies and flowers!<br />
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Here is the key chain she decorated: (the ink bled a little into the grain of the wood)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnrnvReCWdF_tNWXAbnG8zkxHiWc6GD3WK0wKGoxFns-A7P1s72ccF3YE28izyJmyDfdwfkPI-R-rAXNXMP9z3rBqLE58Eg-4e-31Ki__pWV6F9TKfeJSSaRWxfGleetmQ_EdX5LcKg4/s1600/trui1+%252810%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnrnvReCWdF_tNWXAbnG8zkxHiWc6GD3WK0wKGoxFns-A7P1s72ccF3YE28izyJmyDfdwfkPI-R-rAXNXMP9z3rBqLE58Eg-4e-31Ki__pWV6F9TKfeJSSaRWxfGleetmQ_EdX5LcKg4/s320/trui1+%252810%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>She was so proud of it, and her dad<i> loved</i> it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-57457625062335724402011-10-24T07:31:00.000+02:002011-10-24T07:31:05.792+02:00Masking tape roads on a stay-inside-day When a rather cool spring day kept us indoors for the most part, I remembered a photo I had seen on Pinterest last week of a very clever mommy who used masking tape to map out roads for her son's Hot Wheels on their living room carpet <i>and </i>furniture. (I could not find a blog/site to see where the idea originated, but you can click <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/236650155389045706/">here</a> to view the picture I am talking about).<br />
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Sooo.... out came the roll of masking tape, and here's how Sweetpea and ArrowBoy spent the morning!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you look closely at the photo above you can see the road going up and over the armrest of the couch!! It then turned right across the seat to connect again to one of the main roads on the carpet.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Cqh8CSRFaTs81cFrEO0CyrxuN-vbCx19HfCp6Oyxpro1UxKOPP6o2Thx3yIChDsifC4zx7v72z3lnsikVUaRQQ_isODfMxczYcdzToUqlISe3QPlz5uRZo1B2L8L5Pt9krumlCmhiHk/s1600/005+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Cqh8CSRFaTs81cFrEO0CyrxuN-vbCx19HfCp6Oyxpro1UxKOPP6o2Thx3yIChDsifC4zx7v72z3lnsikVUaRQQ_isODfMxczYcdzToUqlISe3QPlz5uRZo1B2L8L5Pt9krumlCmhiHk/s320/005+%25282%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">See the airport above in the bottom right hand corner? And opposite that is the site from where various (tiny) construction vehicles are dispatched to new building sites all over Carpet Town! And in case anyone is really studying the details of these pictures: Arrow is wearing a rather garishly shining nurse's outfit over his clothes - he found it in his sister's dress up box and when we were reading <i>Nurse Nancy </i>prior to 'building' our roads, he wanted to play the part! (<i>Really </i>need to order <i>Doctor Dan </i> for him a.s.a.p!!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-50210320192539038392011-10-21T16:02:00.001+02:002011-10-21T20:22:41.770+02:00One Month Old<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgLKnaasABLTJjoI2WDxaYhsBYrMJwy83Praa61cTSfpkIj42i9dDiQOpQ4sMkCb_ZQrruJQVr5ygXZZvWYQwrlhbneEhsxDG42TE3DhrZ9uBwrRwHH8EUfmzn_Xe8bDAKw4cDIbIPxM/s1600/027+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgLKnaasABLTJjoI2WDxaYhsBYrMJwy83Praa61cTSfpkIj42i9dDiQOpQ4sMkCb_ZQrruJQVr5ygXZZvWYQwrlhbneEhsxDG42TE3DhrZ9uBwrRwHH8EUfmzn_Xe8bDAKw4cDIbIPxM/s320/027+%25282%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-2845158278788592932011-10-07T07:47:00.000+02:002011-10-07T07:47:18.320+02:00She is Loved<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDGFsUILnFoA5MLlhwBUACMGLFAPXG0xLesCIRDbn7V57LZS0NkIT0YxUYlkDGNfH7YaVkFzgvp7qM5I2XoO1cA1NES87SBJVJ7VbtKJxmf4b6fkPR7j3-6TwNYTj3tNCWGIXf9VgWEE/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHDGFsUILnFoA5MLlhwBUACMGLFAPXG0xLesCIRDbn7V57LZS0NkIT0YxUYlkDGNfH7YaVkFzgvp7qM5I2XoO1cA1NES87SBJVJ7VbtKJxmf4b6fkPR7j3-6TwNYTj3tNCWGIXf9VgWEE/s320/019.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Is solace anywhere more comforting than in the arms of a sister? - </i>Alice Walker</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>There can be no situation in life in which the conversation of my dear sister will not administer some comfort to me. - </i>Mary Montagu</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost. - </i>Marion C. Garretty</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Children of the same family, the same blood, with the same first associations and habits, have some means of enjoyment in their power, which no subsequent connections can supply... - </i>Jane Austen, <i>Mansfield Park,</i> 1814</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other's hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time. - </i>Clara Ortega</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYo2jBn3tC2H0fn5MgP_stkenWLsyXwRvmzXkyqmv6bW2IV_02E_rmn25Yzi_GOof_DWbKGibpkW0sEOIkRn6d3N6twbmaQ8Kj7Y7DbciY4by3jnoiqRoxDPDtvNp_rpsAK9wAC66RUE/s1600/kyk%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMYo2jBn3tC2H0fn5MgP_stkenWLsyXwRvmzXkyqmv6bW2IV_02E_rmn25Yzi_GOof_DWbKGibpkW0sEOIkRn6d3N6twbmaQ8Kj7Y7DbciY4by3jnoiqRoxDPDtvNp_rpsAK9wAC66RUE/s320/kyk%2521.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet. - </i>Vietnamese proverb</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">{Photo above: A few weeks ago at his grandmother's house, my sweet boy tripped and skinned his knee...the first time ever..</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">.For days after that everyone he met had to look at the scab. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today I placed his baby sister on a blanket on the living room floor and he went and laid down right beside her. He kissed her cheek and gently stroked her head...and then he showed her the place where the hurt used to be...made this mama gulp at the big ol' lump in my throat as he so tenderly shared his 'treasure'.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> In a way it reminded me of "The Little Drummer Boy", bringing to the Baby Jesus not expensive gifts or anything tangible, but a song from his heart...}</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-9821115875309085072011-10-06T21:29:00.000+02:002012-08-21T20:55:34.479+02:00Milk RainbowsWe had SOOOO much fun making these <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Magic Milk Rainbows</span> after reading about it on <a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2010/09/kids-in-the-kitchen-glow-in-the-dark-food-magic-colors-and-giant-bubbles/">Our Best Bites</a>!! Quick, easy, and oh, so pretty!!<br />
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You will need:<br />
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<ul>
<li>milk</li>
<li>food colouring</li>
<li>a toothpick</li>
<li>dishwashing liquid</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOG4rT01_WTz_39bVuBESvpoXWBBbzE15dAa_AEWU6fTCTH3XsTEBCO30780z25Yt4_7tcn8fyIZHWMCytB0NiZ6Tw4sn3J2FyYjx7JZgaXRlNnNvDLiEo27VfCVX-vS9OUD9kA1eSVq4/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOG4rT01_WTz_39bVuBESvpoXWBBbzE15dAa_AEWU6fTCTH3XsTEBCO30780z25Yt4_7tcn8fyIZHWMCytB0NiZ6Tw4sn3J2FyYjx7JZgaXRlNnNvDLiEo27VfCVX-vS9OUD9kA1eSVq4/s320/026.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Pour some milk into a shallow bowl or dinner plate and add a few drops of food colouring in different colours.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1kl1t3j3Ml5T-u7czO70mIPjgmUgy1qXfwDQyjYvL_sJjR5pWijSseVtd4bqtxIRbUZLtp8iJa0ltDgcJU8LuMk-LXrhXa_XZaoT1cF_F2-wtcb17xC_mMT90eCbWUJN6TXZNxgx7g0/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM1kl1t3j3Ml5T-u7czO70mIPjgmUgy1qXfwDQyjYvL_sJjR5pWijSseVtd4bqtxIRbUZLtp8iJa0ltDgcJU8LuMk-LXrhXa_XZaoT1cF_F2-wtcb17xC_mMT90eCbWUJN6TXZNxgx7g0/s320/027.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Now dip the tip of your toothpick in the dishwashing liquid, and then into the milk. The soap will disrupt the surface tension of the milk, making the colours explode into lovely, bright kaleidoscope-like designs!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHYstj2AF_CRZ9ggBhdyae_4kPaSGGy4fXRNef72lPoTMCCaYiI1L_5rcJl-6QQy9HXxe5ErY0NAUdL1Xl3Fs_rdpIx7SqxOFxcusCHfDJJHhAg22B3cWaplNx5b-JYSH75gpK9AvsW0/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFHYstj2AF_CRZ9ggBhdyae_4kPaSGGy4fXRNef72lPoTMCCaYiI1L_5rcJl-6QQy9HXxe5ErY0NAUdL1Xl3Fs_rdpIx7SqxOFxcusCHfDJJHhAg22B3cWaplNx5b-JYSH75gpK9AvsW0/s320/028.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Pretty, pretty!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYsufN4TRCJYyLTRsujzM8Nv2FiOk_G3iVDbbnZIMogKCdWTF6NQJAJyAeMe4WFxzUgz5Z5f9GlebLqZA48gV2cMnmj2QvaD6n_Cz6SR7eO_57EJWrLVuI5jpkQi6uu8V5z4ysH0m5Mlw/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYsufN4TRCJYyLTRsujzM8Nv2FiOk_G3iVDbbnZIMogKCdWTF6NQJAJyAeMe4WFxzUgz5Z5f9GlebLqZA48gV2cMnmj2QvaD6n_Cz6SR7eO_57EJWrLVuI5jpkQi6uu8V5z4ysH0m5Mlw/s320/030.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-14550021188680971752011-09-24T14:24:00.000+02:002011-09-24T14:24:59.429+02:00Fresh from HeavenWe have a new little gift, fresh from heaven, as pink and as pretty as the most perfect rosebud that has ever been created.She is<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">loved</div><div style="text-align: center;">loved</div><div style="text-align: center;">loved</div>and is flourishing under the tender affections of her siblings. Oh, the <b>wonder</b> as sweet toddler hands gently unfurl the tiny, tiny fingers, faces awash with amazement at their perfection...gentle kisses on a downy head...standing on tiptoes for just more peek at her sweet, sleeping face.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTo40i2oS0tidTyllZENohugCtYgWIuxxjXcO0l14fIml5snw9GBjrJ-17YVDp-sL1iH4nLXpLm8qr2bF3cW_eyem4L92277EBJSdy8iSEnIOjUrxeoDD63zuum4C3WsXn9KOiocSnJE/s1600/Shalom%2527s+birth+054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTo40i2oS0tidTyllZENohugCtYgWIuxxjXcO0l14fIml5snw9GBjrJ-17YVDp-sL1iH4nLXpLm8qr2bF3cW_eyem4L92277EBJSdy8iSEnIOjUrxeoDD63zuum4C3WsXn9KOiocSnJE/s320/Shalom%2527s+birth+054.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
It reminds me of this story I read years ago:<br />
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<i>Soon after her brother was born, little Sachi began to ask her parents to leave her alone with the new baby. They worried that like most four-year-olds, she might feel jealous and want to hit or shake him, so they said no. But she showed no signs of jealousy. She treated the baby with kindness and her pleas to be left alone with him became more urgent. They decided to allow it.</i><br />
<i> Elated, she went into the baby's room and shut the door, but it opened a crack - enough for her curious parents to peek inside and listen. They saw little Sachi walk quietly up to her baby brother, put her face close to his and say quietly: "Baby, tell me what God feels like. I'm starting to forget."</i><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">Dan Millerman</div><div style="text-align: right;"><i>From: </i>Chicken Soup for the Soul</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-84249145444733490262011-09-20T18:11:00.000+02:002011-09-20T18:11:59.464+02:00Meet Little Rosebud...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgK6NF8utte3Y6g8IpZRzDtnW61wNqBdNUP5E9iLVj76LrOWIOXT6D1fDt5-Wws7zyeQ0ERBRD4R5FQMsAfqvwsesISE3ES2UBQSFpQvCoJlcdOL0AMGOdyxT2bRCiZLZANmKhcx15ZI/s1600/19092011145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgK6NF8utte3Y6g8IpZRzDtnW61wNqBdNUP5E9iLVj76LrOWIOXT6D1fDt5-Wws7zyeQ0ERBRD4R5FQMsAfqvwsesISE3ES2UBQSFpQvCoJlcdOL0AMGOdyxT2bRCiZLZANmKhcx15ZI/s320/19092011145.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It is my great privilege to visit Grietjie's blog and share with you the birth of her little Rosebud! The newest addition to her already beautiful family was born yesterday afternoon, she is a gorgeous, healthy, perfect little girl and we thank our Lord and Father for keeping both of them safe during the delivery.<br />
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Congratulations to both Grietjie and Mike, may God bless you and your beautiful little girl! Congrats Sweet Pea and ArrowBoy on a gorgeous new baby sister!<br />
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Loads of love<br />
Trudie {<a href="http://trudie-jollymommy.blogspot.com/">Fun with Little Mouse</a>}Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-73197091903224454402011-09-08T20:47:00.000+02:002011-09-08T20:47:46.773+02:00Using what we have: Junk mail 'I Spy' PicturesOur weekly community newspaper usually arrives stuffed with ads from the major supermarkets. These are my two-year old son's favourite reading matter!! He loves to 'read' the pages with me, excitedly identifying familiar products and asking me to name the ones he doesn't know yet.<br />
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Last week's offering included two supermarket pamphlets for toy and sweets specials. After we had raided them for pictures of Lightning McQueen for Sweetpea's mini book, ArrowBoy scanned the leftovers and discovered pictures of <i>his </i>favourite - Mickey Mouse (or, as he says it, Meee Nouse..!) He got really excited about a teeny, tiny Mickey on the packaging of some game or puzzle, and this gave my the idea of using these minute little pictures for a simple, inexpensive I Spy page.<br />
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This was our first page:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj53-GagvoaH9bLOzR8WJxPVi7gBA2j5ye9_wCFi-4nDSU6mo82p4fgnQ4Pk7v28FlWofAIZ1JZjO3tOpyD4stxQbasy6NGtsYt-KZJp_2btSiBPXjFXx54EMVxDMRfx-AulYzVZUn7_8/s1600/July+2011+058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj53-GagvoaH9bLOzR8WJxPVi7gBA2j5ye9_wCFi-4nDSU6mo82p4fgnQ4Pk7v28FlWofAIZ1JZjO3tOpyD4stxQbasy6NGtsYt-KZJp_2btSiBPXjFXx54EMVxDMRfx-AulYzVZUn7_8/s320/July+2011+058.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
The largest picture measures about 3cm x 2 1/2 cm, and the smallest is a mere 4 mm x 4mm!<br />
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I printed some clues for a few things to look for, laminated the sheet for durability and gave it to the children with a magnifying glass - it was a hit! So much so...<br />
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... that when I was clearing out some magazines this week, I held on to a catalog from a baby shop, and used it to create an even busier page!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8c4DPO8egeHmfi4-wJ8JJiSZBomcrQi2LNz0i2GY7T9ngDTklmTdvJYOEyBhl1QFBqeNVip14WpjoSpiG0_frTDGX5YIxJA2ANw9yRy6HmIf1R8pfRWfXuL0XVYNP_EGsbhQb6wXCs4/s1600/045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8c4DPO8egeHmfi4-wJ8JJiSZBomcrQi2LNz0i2GY7T9ngDTklmTdvJYOEyBhl1QFBqeNVip14WpjoSpiG0_frTDGX5YIxJA2ANw9yRy6HmIf1R8pfRWfXuL0XVYNP_EGsbhQb6wXCs4/s320/045.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-52233356918248510582011-09-08T20:46:00.000+02:002011-09-08T20:46:59.107+02:00Play and Learn with Mama: Trip to the Fire Station<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the mothers in a local online homeschooler's group I belong to, recently arranged a trip to our local fire station, and the Little Joyful's had a ton of fun there! Here are a few highlights from the very chilly, but super-exciting morning!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Q8VuEsMqGbbXg6uDYQ_1ig5u_-XOMBorRXe4VWfysf8XRQAtWOYHCSKpvhxomEAM1x3QzatENkjg9KAbnAB_42D0VvOg6pfNqBQwgUwiCOvy_hf0wGnhVPsxr-4AbrNR0GPfTGN1fy8/s1600/IMG_0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Q8VuEsMqGbbXg6uDYQ_1ig5u_-XOMBorRXe4VWfysf8XRQAtWOYHCSKpvhxomEAM1x3QzatENkjg9KAbnAB_42D0VvOg6pfNqBQwgUwiCOvy_hf0wGnhVPsxr-4AbrNR0GPfTGN1fy8/s320/IMG_0067.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He was <i>fascinated</i> by the friendly fireman demonstrating how the jaws of life work!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYciWVz4X-mtIaqCsiUf0elDMeEjhxEjViYX04tPkejCy8yhKNGUW3BH15LFAtaMdsRJEz0Feb9vuKbMuuQvHK8GHLKAbKHhccpuWT5vGgpUmhyphenhyphenQunj6bN9iX3T03DO9MMUN601tb12Ao/s1600/IMG_0076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYciWVz4X-mtIaqCsiUf0elDMeEjhxEjViYX04tPkejCy8yhKNGUW3BH15LFAtaMdsRJEz0Feb9vuKbMuuQvHK8GHLKAbKHhccpuWT5vGgpUmhyphenhyphenQunj6bN9iX3T03DO9MMUN601tb12Ao/s320/IMG_0076.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you've missed any of my previous posts, be sure to also check out the <a href="http://joyfulmamasplace.blogspot.com/2011/09/play-and-learn-with-mama-fire-fighter.html">Fire Fighter Lapbook</a> we made, and our fun<a href="http://joyfulmamasplace.blogspot.com/2011/09/play-and-learn-with-mama-fire-truck.html"> Fire Truck snack</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-31985240901725152722011-09-07T07:49:00.000+02:002011-09-07T07:49:17.720+02:00Play and Learn with Mama: Fire Truck SnackThis was such a simple, sweet little treat - way more sugar that they are ever allowed, but hence the word 'treat'!! This is our version of a Fire Engine snack I first saw<a href="http://www.twigglemagazine.com/September-activities/fire-truck-sandwich.html"> here</a>.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We used a lovely home-baked bread that my husband made the night before, as well as..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Strawberry Jam</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mini Shortbread cookies for the engine's window</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chocolate covered cookie rings for the wheels (the original used Oreos)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A glace cherry for the red light</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pretzel sticks for the ladder</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRh7qHJEwPPS3HCNVMe9lbN9FPkWQSHS1RuVrs6_csBcqPXRM703wiXz9VPXRkiKbbrjrTKi5I4NcgZwciWeEkAqAiGgORMLH2e1HJY1b62_pjvWgxthwBAIfBSQdRWzRe3NIcZ-RwiGA/s1600/012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRh7qHJEwPPS3HCNVMe9lbN9FPkWQSHS1RuVrs6_csBcqPXRM703wiXz9VPXRkiKbbrjrTKi5I4NcgZwciWeEkAqAiGgORMLH2e1HJY1b62_pjvWgxthwBAIfBSQdRWzRe3NIcZ-RwiGA/s320/012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">I had prepared an example beforehand, and placed all the little bits and pieces on individual plates for the Little Joyfuls to build their own engines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdIqjzBetlIqcSWULMpYipL5JX05TfrfKf41xx9h3psdVRfv4JFz8xkqIASMQB5H6XQdGxSkdc2cnAK2EPNRj0n4ibmPVgemg15L79HXgoBRlfwv_5RqrE6SKwLnLhj7plRcbEw2x118/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdIqjzBetlIqcSWULMpYipL5JX05TfrfKf41xx9h3psdVRfv4JFz8xkqIASMQB5H6XQdGxSkdc2cnAK2EPNRj0n4ibmPVgemg15L79HXgoBRlfwv_5RqrE6SKwLnLhj7plRcbEw2x118/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Delight!!</div><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5173077506934445557.post-32875443395661607202011-09-06T11:25:00.000+02:002011-09-06T11:25:48.994+02:00Play and Learn with Mama: Fire Fighter Lap Book I have been meaning to do a few weeks of <i>Play and Learn</i> activities with a<b> community helpers theme</b> for a while now, so when a mom in our local home schooler's group recently arranged a visit to the fire station, it was the perfect opportunity to jump right in with some fun activities!<br />
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We started with a very simple lap book:<br />
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For the cover I printed a paper doll and fire fighter outfit from <a href="http://www.makingfriends.com/friends/f+fire_fighter.htm">Making Friends</a>. I coloured and cut it out for Sweetpea the night before, and she then had fun 'dressing' her fire fighter in the correct sequence.<br />
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The next day we revised the order in which a fire fighter dresses for a fire emergency by discussing this picture I printed from<a href="http://www.springfieldmo.gov/fire/kids.html"> here .</a> I had made an extra copy, and Sweetpea then glued the pictures in the correct sequence into a mini book.<br />
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We also had lots of giggles as we practiced Stopping, Dropping and Rolling, after we had discussed this picture, also from the resource above. (Click <a href="http://www.springfieldmo.gov/fire/kids.html">here.</a>)<br />
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There are some amazing free fire fighter printables available online, but since most of them are English, I designed and laminated a few of my own. Carissa over at<a href="http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/"> 1+1+1=1</a> has a great post full of tips on how to create your own printables for lap books and tot packs. You can check it out<a href="http://1plus1plus1equals1.blogspot.com/2011/05/faq.html"> here</a>. Ours included:<br />
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Size Sorting:<br />
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Counting from 1 to 5:<br />
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Letter practice:<br />
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Pre-writing exercises and Matching pairs (and learning some interesting new words in the process!):<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">{<i>Note: I will gladly e-mail you these printables to you if you're interested - just leave me a comment.}</i></div><br />
I also laminated these pages I printed out from<a href="http://www.clubfirefacts.org/"> Club Fire Facts.</a><br />
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I cut off the top of a manila envelope and glued it to the back cover of our lap book to keep the laminated pages together.<br />
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A row of envelopes glued down on a strip of green cardboard 'grass' and decorated with foam stickers and oil pastels - so fun and cheerful!! We worked on this one together - I drew the road and most of the features on house number 3 - Sweetpea loves it when we do art<b><i> together</i></b>!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0