Tuesday 29 July 2014

DIY: Cowboy & Indian themed party

 
A few weeks back we held a cowboy & indian themed party to celebrate Kobe's 3rd birthday. We hired out a community centre for a few hours & invited his lil mates to come dressed up as either a cowboy or indian. I got crafty & made the decorations out of objects I already had.
 
 
1.I painted some cardboard with green paint. (You can also make your own non toxic kids paint using this recipe). Once dried, I wrapped some cooking twine around some to form the lines of the cactus. I used liquid paper to make the cactus spikes. Then popped them into some baskets (ok one is a lampshade but you cant tell hee hee) I had lying around the house which I tied some coloured ribbon around. The pink flowers are folded out of crepe paper.
 
 
2. Loot lolly bags for the kidlets. I had some calico in my fabric stash which I cut up & stuck some sheriff badges onto. I originally was going to embroider the dollar sign on but then opted for permanent marker as it was more time friendly. I stuffed them with a chocolate wagon wheel, a stamp, a hamburger lolly & a whistle.
 
 
 
3. Arrows made out of sticks (from my front magnolia tree). I glue gunned some feathers (from Kobe's craft box) & wrapped some coloured ribbon around them. The arrow point is made from cardboard.
 
 
 
 

I would love to say that this little cowboy was Kobe but its one of his little friends ready to lasoo some bandits no doubt. Kobe wore a little poncho (refused the head feather) which he lasted about an hour in. He shyly clung to his poppy's leg until he warmed up out of his shell at cake time (& then it was goodbyes all round to his mates). I really liked the way the decorations turned out but next year we may go along with his favourite theme, rubbish...

Happy Tuesday friends!
Grace

#Sidenote; the dreamcatcher in the first photo was made with an embroidery hoop, some cooking twine & ribbon out of my craft stash.

Wednesday 16 July 2014

28/52

 
28/52
 

"A portrait of my child once a week, every week in 2014".
 
Kobe you are now 3. I hope this year brings you more contentment with going to daycare which you just started. Its not going well but we shall preserveer & hope there will be less tears (from either of us) as time goes on.
 
 
Happy Wednesday friends!
Grace

Friday 11 July 2014

Changing my mindset



I have been trying to change my mindset on wanting everything to wanting to live a more simpler greener lifestyle while trying to stretch our dollar further. Its freaking hard is an understatement!!! Feeling slightly overwhelmed by trying to make the right choice for this little family of ours. During my research around the net I have found some amazing inspirational sources.

For those dreaming of throwing in the city life for a country life, these people make you want to do just that;
The shady baker, every time I try to bake my own bread I hope it turns out like Janes, sadly it never does. Ah practice (or lots of it in my case) makes perfect!
Whole larder love, Rohan makes me want to go out & forage for food to make a hearty meal.
Gourmet farmer, I could happily morph into my couch watching back to back episodes on former food critic come farmer Matthew. Hurry up please season 4:)

For the money pinchers;
Free our kids, the toddler & me & our year for free is an interesting read.

Inspirational people;
Inked in colour; Sasha is a single mum with the greatest ethics. Her nothing new project is inspiring! Her strength to not purchase anything new for a year is hardcore. I plan to use her recipe for chalkboard paint & natural wood finish on some preloved furniture (once I sand it).
Ben Law; Ben has lived & worked in the woods for over 10 years & built a cosy cottage from scratch?!? Simply amazing!

Magazine love;
Peppermint; focusing on sustainable issues, craft & fashion. Bonus is they have free downloadable sewing patterns off their website!!!
Green lifestyle; I stumbled across this magazine at the local library & cant enough of devouring old issues with tips on green living. Im obsessed!!!

My daydreams about baking all our own bread, making all our clothes (FYI Luke will never wear anything I make & Im not sure how fashion savvy I can sew hee hee), growing all our veggies, using less chemicals & plastics, wasting less food, driving a hybrid car are a long while off. But they are in our 5 year plans. I have a start on cutting down on food wastage, plus I stopped using floor cleaner a while back & instead use eucalyptus oil, a room spray is a mix of lavender oil & water, the only thing growing in my veggie garden seems to be piddly lettuce, capsicum, some barren tomato plants & some edible nasturtium & unflowered calendula flowers. But whenever I feel overwhelmed by feeling that Im not making enough progress, I just constantly remind myself that I will never be a sustainable living advocate, I can only do what I can & what works for me (& family) right now.

Happy Friday friends!
Grace

Tuesday 8 July 2014

27/52

27/52
 
 
"A portrait of my child once a week, every week in 2014".
 
I seemed to have missed a few weekly portraits so I shall skip what I missed & join in with where everyone at The 52 project are.
 
Kobe, I begged you to semi pose so I could capture you in your kitshy apple sunnies. You weren't impressed having to sit still (of more than 2 seconds) so I ended up with a tonne of photos like the following below...
 
 
 
 
Happy Tuesday friends!
 
Grace