Festive crafts

Im always itching for a creative project. Here are a few we have done lately. These photo props (above) are perfect for New Years Eve.

 

We never got around to making Christmas cards this year so I asked Kobe to pick 6 people (who live in our area) that he can write a new years card to & attach a homemade birdfeeder.

 

 

 

Inspired by this delightful Christmas tree outfit, I sewed this Christmas tree hat for Kobe.

 

 

Cant go past a paper plate craft project when you have kids.

 

And a couple projects from last years Christmas.

 

 

"Cardboard" gingerbread house.

 

 

Decorating tree & snowflake cookies.

 

 

Im looking forward to being more organized for more creative projects in 2016.

Happy Wednesday friends!

Grace

12 days of kindness

Wanting to do something different than an advent calender for Kobe. I remembered The 14 acts of kindness list I made for Kobe a few months back & thought we could continue the good deeds theme. Then my good friend Haelee past on this article about kindness elves that I thought yes Im going to have a kindness elf drop off notes for 12 days of December that Kobe can carry out to spread the Christmas cheer. I tried to even out the deeds between charitable deeds, some that benefited me (you can easily guess those ones hee hee:)) & some crafty ones to keep it fun for him.

Good deeds.
* Prepare & donate a Christmas cheer box.
* Give a gift to a disadvantaged child (via the Kmart wishing tree, we do this every year:)).
* Make with love some Christmas cards to give to friends.
* Spell mummy & draw a picture of mummy.
* Be courteous & don't disturb your brother while he is eating & sleeping.
* Support a local business (we are going to choose a real (but small) Christmas tree from a Christmas tree farm).
* Donate a bag of toys.
* Bake treats to share with friends (It shall be gingerbread cookies ofcourse).
* Collect toiletries to give to the homeless.
* Do something kind for the environment.
* Say thank you to your teachers for all they do.
* Make cookies for Santa's reindeers to say thank you for helping Santa deliver toys.

I wrote the notes on tiny pieces of paper & placed them in numbered wooden boxes which Kobe opens daily. He is obsessed with letters & spelling at the moment so he is loving this activity. Im going to make it an annual tradition & get Dylan involved too when he is old enough.

 

 

Happy Saturday friends!

Grace

November Review

Wondering why we have toys in the house when Kobe prefers boxes & recycling? And yes we made a rubbish truck out of boxes:)
Feeling inspired to create Christmas gifts.
Relieved Dylan is now immunised so can start taking him out without worrying of whooping cough & mumps.
Happy Kobe has embraced Harry Potter.
Overindulging in McFrappes. Oh how I have missed you so!
Wishing that Kobe would stop poking/prodding Dylan while he ate/slept.
Excited Sooty is back on tv.
Over processed food.
Craving these Turkish coffee creams.
Thinking this is the prettiest Christmas themed window display ever!!!
Laughing because this quote is so me.
Isn't this bag just delightful?
Reading the lastest Peppermint magazine.

Happy Tuesday friends!
Grace

Maker's Giftguide

Christmas is fast approaching & although I want to make most of the gifts I will be gifting family members this year, I think its equally important to support the makers. Those super talented creatives who spend many hours lovingly creating by hand.

1. Mum Sophie from Netherlands makes the sweetest Studio-escargot toys which kidlets are bound to love for many many years.
2. Local artisans sell their wares at these Kalamunda village markets on the 1st Saturday of each month. The light up Leederville carnival & Fremantle Bazaar markets are both coming up & worth checking out.
3. Clean slate skincare (located in Fremantle's Many6160 creative hub) is vegan & free of animal cruelty. I want the mandarin, lime & ylang ylang perfume!
4. Mum Sarah sews the sweetest kids harem pants & makes ceramics for her label sshannah.
5. I look forward to the Turban chopsticks Indian gourmet food stall by local Perth foodies Suresh & Mei-sann at most of the markets I frequent. They are also stocked in various gourmet grocers. The royal festival biryani is my favourite!

Happy Sunday friends!
Grace

Minimizing waste

Originally I was going to do plastic free November which is pretty much plastic free July but thought why am I putting in extra effort for one month only, why not make more changes to reduce waste (then what I already do) & continue on from that.

*Investment pieces which help me tread lighter on this planet by reducing my wastage.
*Drawstring bags to take to the grocery shops to store mushrooms in (so I stop using the brown paper bags).
*Keepcup (or Thermos), to store coffee on the go or if I want to grab a takeaway coffee.
*Bee eco wraps (the blog header photo features a wrap covering the homemade bread); these wraps are an alternative to using gladwrap on sliced fruit/veg, sandwiches, cheese. (They aren't recommended to cover spicy greasy food thou).
*I made cloth bowl covers. Handy to cover leftovers.
*Camelbak drink bottles have a lifetime warranty although I do have to replace a straw because Kobe bit it?!? Still testy over one bottle being lost at prekindy so now I just use them on trips out or at home.
*If I shop at a butchers/bakery, to take a container so my meat doesn't come home wrapped in plastic & paper. I do tend to buy my meat at grocery shops so it comes home in gladwrap:(
**On my wishlist to buy is stainless steel straws. Bit nervous about Kobe chipping his tooth on the straws. But never realised how many straws we sent to landfill a month:( Im a sucker for McDonalds Frappes...

I started documenting what was thrown out in October so I knew what areas I had to work on.

Plastic wastage
*Bandaids- 11.
*Straws- 14
*Grocery plastic bags (used as bin liners)- 14
*Toothbrush- 2
*Gladwrap (single uses on meat & cut fruit bought at the shops)- 9
*Yoghurt soft plastic tops- 9
*Tea foil packets- 3 (I usually don't drink tea but I had the flu & I was desperate)
*Chocolate wrappers (goodies eaten from Royal show & Halloween trick or treating)- 15
*Plastic gloves- 2
*Toilet brush- 1
*Medicine foil wrappers- 6 (from my pain medication after having a C-section)

**The following plastics I recycle at Coles; packaging from bread/pasta/fruit & veg. I save about half a grocery bag of plastic going to landfill a week:)

I know I can always do better.
Anyone have an alternative to bandaids?

Some websites that can help reduce, renew, recycle.
*Eco warrior princess
*Biome
*Ohdeardrea
*Planet Ark

Happy Saturday friends!
Grace

Core values

Something to grow

Something borrowed

Something handmade

Something preloved
Something to share

 

Other than trying to nurture my kidlets in being people who are kind, honest & mindful. I try to live my life incorporating these core values too.

 

Something to grow; Kobe & I are growing a number of herbs & vegetables in our garden bed & we are about to add pumpkin, cucumber & marigolds. I get Kobe to help plant the seeds then tend to them by watering & then picking.
Something borrowed; I like to make fortnightly trips to the library & borrow anything decent. Currently skimming the pages of The honest life. Kobe borrows out a couple items per trip as well, it teaches him we don't need to buy every book/dvd & to look after things that aren't ours.
Something handmade; I love nothing more than throwing myself into a creative project like these calico bags to store bought mushrooms in (& to save me putting them into brown paper bags at the shop).
Something preloved; Kobe loves repeating the mantra "reduce, renew, recycle" so it if we can rescue anything of use (like these toy dinosaurs which are perfect for outdoor play) we will. I also instilled in him how important it is to donate anything of quality we don't need to charity shops & why.
Something to share;  It must be love when I share anything sweet. I made this dirt dessert (caramel yoghurt, biscuit bits, sprinkles of ovaltine, topped with nasturtiums & a carrot top from the garden) for my grubby child.

What are your core values & how do you incorporate them into your life?

Happy Thursday friends!

Grace

 

D.I.Y. Spider Costume

 

I had planned to do a few crafty Halloween activities with Kobe like last year but time got the best of me with the addition of newborn Dylan, we did manage to make eyeball cookies (only 4 as Kobe broke the rest of the cookie pack when I turned my back for a minute... so we ate those cookies plain lol). I didn't want Kobe to feel left out now he has to share my time so I promised to take him trick or treating for Halloween & make him a costume of his choice which was a spider (but not spiderman).

 

 

1.I used an old skivvy, some goggle eyes, felt, cushion insert, elastic, white wool, black fabric and red ribbon.

 

 

2. I used a dinner plate as a template to cut out a spider body then sewed on scrap red ribbon for the red back spider line.

3/4. For the legs, I measured 30cms length & 12cms width with a stitch length of 1.5cms. Kobe helped me stuff them with cushion insert. I sewed them onto the spider body then onto the skivvy.

5. For the spider webs, I roughly measured white wool along the back of the legs & hand sewed them in place.

 

 

6. The mask was the easiest bit, I cut out 2 bits of felt, measured elastic to go around Kobe's head then glued on the goggle eyes.

 

 

Halloween is clearly a winner with Kobe. Knocking on people's door & being given delicious candy to eat. We are quite lucky a good friend of mine's street goes all out for Halloween, we went early to beat the crowd. Everyone went all out for costumes, I even saw a Mr Potato head! I was a bit slack & went as a cat (which was basically cat ears, some face painted whiskers/nose & wore all black). I think next year I will be a hamburger hee hee.

 

 

Happy Sunday friends!
Grace

October review

*Welcoming Dylan to the family. He is the sweetest thing & completes this family of mine.
*Exhausted by Kobe playing up with the arrival of baby brother. He is so lovely to Dylan but a real pain to his parents:(
*Trying to channel patience & mostly failing.
*Grateful to my twin sister Annie who has been amazing helping out with Kobe.
*Watching Bachelotte. #Team Sasha!!! Although I did shamefully cry when Richie left.
*Making last minute Halloween costumes. I hope I finish!!!
*Farewelling Luke's nana GG.
*Honoured my new niece has my name as her middle name, (FYI she isn't named after me as my sister in law has a sister named Grace too).
*Frightened about this scary fact about baby talc powder. I wasn't going to use it on Dylan but was going to scatter it around the house to deter ants but NOT anymore.
*Surprised by my older sister deciding not to get her whooping cough injection therefore forgoing meeting Dylan until he is immunised as she cant afford it. She instead chose to spend money on getting her hair done & going to see Robbie Williams in concert. #Disappointed.
*Organizing a seed/seedling swap picnic catch up between friends.
*Growing corn, beans, tomatoes for seedling swap picnic.
*Estatic I found this Hershel backpack at the markets for $5. Perfect to pack all the kids stuff for an outing & Luke isn't embarrassed to lug it on his back (unlike the black studded girly bag I carried before).
*Drowning in laundry. Its never ending.
*The child in me is wanting ALL these monster lego figurines...

Happy Wednesday friends!
Grace

Hair Envy

 

After a testing week of farewelling a family member, struggling with hayfever (which I never get?!?) & developing the unbearably itchy condition PUPPP I have decided I need a fresh look as a pick me up. Im loving these hair styles which I plan to choose one & book myself into a salon for a well deserved pamper session once bambino 2# arrives. In the meanwhile Im practising patience so I don't do a Hannah off Girls tv series & cut my own hair in a middle of a nervous breakdown.

 

1. Im loving Lara Bingle (or should I say Mrs Worthington's) bob & natural makeup here in the lastest issue of Harpers Bazaar. What Im worried about is outgrowing the bob.

 

2. My girl crush, raven haired beauty Lily Collins sporting this cropped do. I have had a short do before. Its a gutsy move & requires some effort to style it.

 

3. Eleanor Pendleton always has divine hair. She is the beauty editor of Gritty Pretty afterall. Those sunkissed caramel hues work well against an olive complexion.

 

4. Blogger Jessie Khoo rocking red tresses. If only I can find a salon that doesn't use harsh chemicals to receive the same colouring?

 

 

Whats your favourite look? 1,2,3 or 4?

 

Happy Sunday friends!

Grace

 

 

Waste not, want not

The other month, our area had a verge collection. There was masses of junk (with some decent things) peppering everyone's lawns. I happily watched as my mum's old tv cabinet was scavenged but horrified when I saw our old washing machine being crushed into a bazillion pieces to fit inside the rubbish truck. The bowerbird in me loves a sneak peek at other peoples junk at verge collection, we even picked up some shelves (Kobe my sweet boy carried a shelf home when he saw me struggling to carry the 3 home) & a toy bin (that had a crack in its side) but Kobe loves nonetheless.

Which brings me to, what do you do with excess clutter? It seems like its builds up in the blink of the eye around here. Donate, sell, swap, gift to family/friends?

My sister & I past things back & forth which the other could use. Me its usually magazines (to be read then recycled) & her its herbs & lemons (to which I have been gifting around the neighbourhood). My lovely mummy friend Kaysey has given me a couple comfy pairs of pants & craft lace amongst other things & I have gifted some springrolls & a preloved wooden train set amongst other things in return.

I hate things going to waste so I decided to be pro-active & have a pantry clean out & incorporate into my monthly catch up with my old dear friends from school a waste not want not picnic. The idea being to bring anything (food related that you weren't going to use) that was tin/packaged/fresh to share it with someone who could use it.

And now I plan to organize these waste not want not picnics monthly/6 weekly to start the movement of everyone "taking what you need & sharing what you have". Its such a nice sentiment to look out for eachother. I plan to start off with a small group of friends, then hopefully they will invite friends & fingers crossed it will grow in leaps & bounds from there.

Happy Friday friends!
Grace

September Review

 

 



Enjoying watching Kobe tending to his micro herbs (above). How cute are these vintage Noddy egg cups?
Smiling over Kate (from Lunch lady blog) doing a good deed to help out a family in need.
Over the damn housework. Where is the cleaning fairy when I need her?!?
Craving chai lattes.
Seriously thinking about doing plastic free October. I missed the memo for plastic free July.
Wondering how a family's waste for a year can fit inside this small jar? What do they do with bandaids & broken things?
Blog crushing on Local milk blog.
Loving Kobes attention to kicks inside my belly from baby brother. Finally acknowledging that he is going to be a big brother.
Playing the waiting game. Surely any day now... Hoping I don't give birth the same day as my sister in law.
Horrified that when visiting Lukes grandma, Kobe complained (within earshot) about the friendly aged care worker, "Poo. Her breath smells. She needs to brush her teeth". She did have smokers breath thou but still horrified nonetheless. He also likes telling everyone they smell like onion?
Watched Maze Runner; The scotch trials.
Happy my nanny sister is back from travelling. I have a half day of me time planned whilst Kobe is looked after. Yippee!!!
Looking forward to visiting some open gardens.
Dreaming about a holiday. Yes my timing is super bad but I can always start planning the itinery & budgeting.
Decluttering magazines. Off to be recycled they go. Sure my clothes need a desperate cull but its a start.

Happy Tuesday friends!
Grace

New mama care package

With less than a month to go. Im seriously craving all the foods on the banned list of foods you shouldn't eat whilst pregnant (due to they may contain listeria). So I done up a love letter (this blog post) to my partner Luke & sister Annie on what to bring me whilst in hospital. I intend to binge on them all like crazy. Forget flowers & jewellery, I want food glorious food!

1. The vegan box; produce full of natural vegan goodness.
2. Sushi; particularly teriyaki chicken with the sesame seeds & shallots sprinkled on top & also the smoked salmon one. I really should learn how to roll it myself.
3. McDonalds coffee frappe. Mama needs her coffee fix. Here is a mocha frappe recipe if you wanted to make it yourself.
4. Tasting plate full of cold meats & assorted cheeses. Thankfully I can eat these just intime for all the Spring & Summer picnics.
5. Red velvet cupcakes topped with cream cheese icing. My friend Louie makes the best ones (hint hint Louie hee hee).


Are you pregnant? Anything your craving badly?

Happy Thursday friends!
Grace

Flower Power

Hello Spring, how I heart you so! The sun is back shining bright, the days are less chilly & the flowers are a wonderful kaleidoscope of colours. Which brings me to one of my favourite style options; florals. Or in this case florals on florals on florals.

Lets talk about this hat/beanie/turban. Im crazy mad about its originality. It reminds me of a 50's style swimming cap.

The floral skirt was originally an outdated nana style dress that I hacked up to make an elasticated skirt. Teamed with the old faithful white blouse complete with lovely embroidery & scallop collar. It feels good to get out of my usual last trimester uniform of baggy stretchy tops & leggings.

Have you heard of the slow clothing movement? I read this article the other day about Jane Milburn's "Sew it again" project where for all of 2014, instead of buying new clothes she reimagined (upcycled) clothes she had bought at op shops. Im no stranger to altering opshop clothes to make them more fitted/fashionable so it's great that she inspired a legion of people to choose upcyling over disposable fast fashion.
I embrace slow fashion in my own way of purchasing a handful (per year, I started this at the beginning of 2014) of preloved clothes mainly from op shops/markets & try to get the most wear out of them. Although I have had a few slip ups on new purchases on shoes, these Harriet slides last year & I then chose these Wittner wraparound sandals for my last birthday gift from Luke (yes we choose our own gifts, lol).
I have been really good thru this pregnancy & only bought 3 preloved stretchy oversized tops that I can still wear comfortably once I give birth. I cant wait to fit back into my pants/jeans (how I miss you so!)
Have you embraced slow fashion or upcycle preloved clothes too?

 

Happy Wednesday friends!

Grace

Sustainable practices anyone can incorporate into their own spaces

 

On the weekend my lovely gal pal Haelee came with me to check out a couple of sustainable houses in Hilton as part of Sustainable open house day. I feel like the residents of Hilton are advocates of sustainable living. Im always on the hunt for fresh ideas on ways to cut down on my carbon footprint/energy bills whilst also having a productive garden (which I don't have unless you count nasturtium flowers).
The first house we visited was nicknamed "Sustainaburbia" & rightly so. It was bursting with inspirational ideas & lots of upcycling of old junk into productive pieces. The salvaged bathtub (above) was turned into a garden wicking bed. If only I found an old bath tub at verge collection time before I bought my garden bed.

A broken fridge was cleverly turned into a worm farm.

Old mattress springs were even used to make climbing trellises for the plants. A frame & planter box were built around it.

 

 

The chicken coop was next to the compost. The gate was an old security door. And one of the sides was old mattress springs.

 

 

Sustainaburbia has the highest veggie patch bursting with produce. I was amazed with how much they fit into the garden. Every space had a purpose & was used. The owners make their own compost which is a mix of wet ingredients; lawn clippings, vegetable scraps, garden waste. Dry ingredients; straw, dry leaves, shredded paper, egg cartons, sawdust. Activators (in small amounts); manure, mature compost, old chook straw, comfrey, nettles, worm castings & blood/bone fertilizer. There was a talk about DIY compost & fruit fly control but we missed it.

 

I just love how the owners fully embrace salvaging a piece of junk destined for the rubbish tip & turning it into something practical & striking. So many possibilities of turning trash into treasure!!!

 

 

The second house we visited was Ferreira house. Owner Chris has opened his house for "Sustainable open house day" since 2011. It was quite busy when we arrived & there was tonnes of information & long talks about how to live more sustainable. Having a short attention span, I like to get my inspiration visually as I tend to zone out with long speeches (not to mention feeling claustrophobic in crowds).

 

 

I happily took home a water shower timer which Kobe is loving. You can get one free here (plus badges, posters, pamplets). There was lots of native plants & succulents which are waterwise incorporated into the garden.

 

 

 

A straw bale vegetable patch. I haven't seen one before but the benefits are you will have no weeds, the straw breaks down naturally into compost & is great at retaining moisture.

 

 

The highlight was this children's treehouse built on a gigantic tree. Loving the child size outdoor setting in the sandpit below it. My only concern was the open sides. Im all for outdoor play as opposed to tv time, Im quite lucky that I have many parks for Kobe to run wild in, all within walking distance from my house. there was also a pallet upcycled outdoor couch (which I didn't take a photo as people were sitting comfortably in it). 

 

Chris is mighty passionate about educating people on sustainability so its no surprises he is aligned with The forever project.

 

Well I hope you were inspired by what these eco-warriors are doing, I certainly was.

 

Happy Monday friends!

Grace

 

Brunch hot spots

Canadian style French toast

 

With fathers day tomorrow, I made it my mission not to buy anything gimmicky & materialistic. Do men really need another apron with some funny slogan on it or another pair of socks? Having said that Kobe did choose a box of chocolates (so he can "help" eat it no doubt) for his poppy & grandad. I decided to take Luke out to brunch instead (& save me some cooking, yay!). Here is a round up of my favourite brunch hot spots.

 

FLORA AND FAUNA

 

 Flora & Fauna cafe in Northbridge is a tiny café (like 7 tables) decked out in vintage chic. Every meal is masterfully decorated (almost too pretty to eat, almost!) & topped with edible flowers. A favourite for girly catch ups & if your dad/partner is vegetarian they will love this place. Meatlovers not so much.

 

Herb smashed avocado on Turkish bread with tofu

 

Goji superfood muesli

 

 

  And if you cant go past a sweet treat. Yum! The peanut butter slice was quite rich thou. Waiting times for meals can be up to 30 minutes as each plate is individually plated (I watched in awe as 4 staff worked in the smallest kitchen hammering out dish after dish) so a sweet treat, a fresh pressed juice or coffee is the perfect companion while waiting.

 

BIB AND TUCKER

 

Bib and Tucker in North Fremantle is a winner for every member of the family. Owned by Eamon Sullivan, Steve Hooker and Jamie Dwyer. The food is modern Australian & made with local produce. I hear he even has a beehive on the roof so he can make fresh honey. Plus the beach is right outside the door if you overindulge & need to walk/swim off your meal afterwards.

 

 

Poached egg with Manjimup truffle shavings

 

 

Huevos Rancheros minus the eggs

 

DUENDE

 

 

Duende tapas/ wine bar in Leederville is a funky little café/bar. Unfortunately they don't take bookings. The menu has slightly changed since I have last been. I still dream of their freshly pressed lemon & ginger juice (I have tried to replicate it but to no avail). I

must go back to try out the donut balls in condense milk & chocolate sauce.

 

 

Corn fritters

 

 

ROASTING WAREHOUSE

 

We ended up at Roasting Warehouse in South Fremantle to celebrate fathers day a few days earlier. I love the smell of coffee brewing (I can only have decaf until baby 2# is born so its my vice, sniffing the coffee infused air like a hungry dog sniffing for food). Their coffee is ethically sourced. I went here for the first time for brunch about a month ago with friend Louie & had the waffles, the mascarpone & the crumble was so delightfully sweet I had to drag Luke back for more. Plus I knew he would like the Pulled pork benedict. The only downer was I forgot to take home a honey cake & donut, boo! If you cant tell Im a sucker for sweet desserts (mainly cake).

 

Potato Rosti

 

Waffles with mascarpone & cinnamon crumble

 

 

 

Pulled pork benedict

 

I hope you like the cafes I selected. Perth seriously has so many great places to eat that I think we are on par with Melbourne.

 

And a happy fathers day to all the dad's, poppy's, grandad's & grandpa's out there.

 

Happy Saturday friends!

Grace