Mothers day gift ideas that are fabulous (& not wrapped in plastic)

By now all school aged kids have shopped for their mothers/grandma/nanna at the school mothers day stall & topped up on stuff wrapped in plastic. I cant fault the school as all money raised goes back into the school & educating our little ones. I also didnt want to deny Kobe a chance to pick something for me at the stall although I did try to sway him that mummy didnt need anything but he was determined to get me something (& even asked for more money to spend next year?!? So I will let him choose a small gift for his grandma & nano next year & not me).
Kudos to the head co-ordinator though who advertised that kids can bring their own gift bag (therefore saving on plastic being given out & also supplied some brown paper bags, hence Im hoarding everyones gift bags from birthdays to give to the fathers day stall later in the year).

Anyhow back to some plastic free options for gift giving for mother days,
1. Why not make mum breakfast in bed? Like these banoffee waffles, pictured as blog header (that I ate delightfully at Gabriels chocolate). Or bake up a treat?

2. Ofcourse I was always going to mention a cloth bag because they help reduce people buying stuff in plastic. Kobe personalised one for his grandma last year & will be doing one for his nano this year.

3. Little Dylan was meant to craft me a nature wreath at community playgroup this week but being way too little I got to admire every other childs artwork. Suitable for kids 3+. I found a tutorial here. I was mega excited that Kobes class got to paint a pot & gift us mothers a flower.

4. I really want this foodie magazine, it comes out quarterly & is made by a creative mum who also supports many family businesses. The recipes & stylings are merry & bright & it makes me want to get in the kitchen to cook (which I usually hate lol).

5. When in doubt, chocolate is a failsafe gift. Support local & purchase these beauties, Bahen & co chocolate which the cacao beans are roasted, winnowed, grinded & tempered in Margaret river.

6. All mums work hard caring for their lil ones (& big ones). Any sort of pamper relaxing session would be greatly appreciated, my friend recommends here if your a Fremantle local. Or there are so many diy beauty recipes online if your on a smaller budget, this sugar scrub looks amazing!

I would love to hear what you got your mum/grandma/nanna.

Happy Friday!
Grace

Wasteless Christmas gifts

So many gifts end up donated (with limited need for them, if they can't sell its just clutter in an opshop) or in landfill after Christmas that I try to give thoughtful wasteless gifts that won't hurt the earths resources or the fun won't tire out minutes after opening them. Here is my list of what we are gifting this year.

1. Diy bon bons; I finally found a creative solution for those odd small ends of wrapping paper, fill up an empty toilet roll with an activity sheet or sweet, a paper crown & a handwritten joke/fun fact by Kobe (the joke made no sense but hey that's 5 year olds for you lol) then wrap paper around it & tie with wool/string. I'm making these for family & neighbours as it was so easy!
2. Strapped for cash, offer a coupon for babysitting or cooking dinner or any chore. Who doesn't want a hand?
3. Vouchers or tickets are always a winner. Instead of stuff, offer an experience. We gave Kobes swim teacher some homemade (bakeswap) fudge & a voucher for Gelare ice cream. She was so shocked & grateful. She did such a wonderful job of getting a scared Kobe to put his head under water this term. I'm also going in with a handful of parents to give a joint kindy voucher for the teachers. Teachers get gifted with so much boxed chocolate, shower gel or trinkets (which I heard gets mostly donated or regifted thus letting them choose what they actually want/need).
4. Who gives a crap toilet paper. Toilet paper is an essential, plus this brand (sadly isn't easy to find/buy in a shop for me) comes wrapped in pretty paper which can be used for craft & the empty toilet rolls for Christmas bon bons. A portion of profits help build toilets in developing countries.
5. I have had my keepcup for years. It's a must have to take to movies or fairs/festivals to get my coffee fix. Disposable cardboard coffee cups are the second most littered item after plastic bottles & as they are lined with plastic they hang around for a long time. I have been caught out a few times & wanted my coffee fix so I kept the cup, cleaned out & used to plant seedlings & the disposable coffee cup is still going strong 6 months later. They have released a Star Wars range perfect for kidlets/fans. Another idea is stainless steel straws or lunchbox tiffin tins.
6. Homemade treats are my favourite. I received some yummy cookies from my neighbour & it made my day. Luke's family give out bulk box chocolate to adult family members so we are making some gingerbread men, coconut balls, diy cookie jars & lamington to gift out instead. I started hoarding glass jars months ago to gift them in.
7. For the person who has everything; why not gift a goodie box like Jodie did of deodorant, sanitary products, soap, skincare products to the less fortunate. The Kmart wishing tree is a charity we support every year with multiple gifts & we will be including a few gifts for teenage girls (teenagers & the elderly get the less gifts) this Christmas. I asked a couple friends & sister to buy some sanitary products to add to a gift which they were happy to do. Kobe & Dylan did their gifts to children.
8. Lush hair soap. Shampoo without the plastic bottle, hooray! It smells good & cleanses. Win win.

Happy Wednesday friends!
Grace

5 year old's christmas wishlist

 

 

Its that time of year where I sneakily ask Kobe what he wants for Christmas this year. I like to keep it simple & small & be organized by first week of December.

1. No surprises that Wheres Wally was on the list. I managed to find the Santa Spectacular version in Big W.

2.Walker books/Gamebook; Hornpipes hunt for pirate gold. I was lucky to find some of these at the markets. Skill level 1 is perfect for him. I will be putting aside an hour (per book) to read with him the clues to solve the puzzle adventure. I also love the Usborne range with Puzzle castle & Puzzle dungeon. Again I found these at the markets.

3.We try to have a family games night once a week & Cluedo junior where you try to work out who ate the cake is perfect for it. My lovely sister also found him a vintage game of Wheels of fortune.

4. Kobe is a mad fan of Kids spring baking championship on channel 33. These Drommar cookie cutters (that snail is crazy fun!) & Idealish flour sifter will help him bake in the kitchen all those recipes he writes down he wants to make.

5. Last of all, I had to include a toy that he wants. I cant help but cringe but its the Shopkins chef range where all the characters are food. I hope its a short phrase. He has already demanded the grandparents buy him this...if he behaves ofcourse.



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

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

Childrens bookweek recommendations

Sadly Kobe no longer willingly wants me to read to him. Instead I have to force "storytime" on him daily. I try to take him to the local library every fortnight so he can pick out a couple books & dvds to encourage reading what he wants to. To celebrate the end of children's bookweek, here are a few books that I cant recommend more, that don't bring out a tantrum when I mention "storytime".

1. The Mr Men range. I loved these as a child too. Kobe's favourite is Mr Bump. He would be Mr Destructive if was a character lol.
2. Bugs Galore by Peter Stein. Lots of illustrations of bugs & creepy crawlies that every boy is bound to love. Plus the words are rhyming. We stumbled across this book at the library. I don't want to return it...
The following books I found at opshops...
3. When Im big by Dick Bruna. Every page shows a person doing an activity like dancing, gardening, collecting stamps.
4. Mr Bear's apple tree. A brilliant book that children can count the apples on Mr Bear's apple tree which slowly disappear one by one as the hungry bee's eat them. The words are rhyming & it helps teaches Kobe to count.
5. Munch Bunch book series by Giles Reed about fruit & vegetable people. We have "learn the alphabet", "learn to count" & "learn the days of the weeks-months-seasons". Im slowly collecting any I find at the opshops/markets/ebay. I had these books when I was little & I wish I kept them. The only problem I had was the "learn the season", the pictures don't match Australian seasons but other than that, they are great!
6. Helping kids help themselves book range by Joy Berry. I have the original prints but they are still available to buy via her website. She covers topics like "lets talk about being greedy", "lets talk about being wasteful" & "lets talk about being destructive" amongst others. I find its handy to pull out whatever topic I need to discuss with Kobe & he has a better understanding by me reading it to him in a book than me lecturing him off in general. Seriously every kindergarten & preschool should have a copy of these books!

What are your children's favourite books or your favourite book as a child?

Happy Sunday friends!
Grace

Winter Warmers wishlist

I spent a big chunk of last week fighting off the cold (with Kobe too, Luke managed to dodge it) but felt better come weekend & now it seems the cold wasn't done with me. Round 2... As a believer of buying well but buying less (hence not buying crap) here is my round up of things that would certainly keep me sane & warm during this chilly weather.

1. Its seems one of my pyjama pants has a giant hole in the back (which ofcourse I noticed once I no doubt flashed the neighbourhood when taking Kobe out early morning to see the rubbish truck on bin day, ehhh). The Good Society makes pyjamas pants (amongst other products) with organic cotton & are dyed with water based inks. A perfect replacement me thinks.

2. My kind friend Haelee gifted me with some of this delightful hot chocolate & Im now convinced baby 2# may come out dripping in chocolate. Its the best & I cant get enough!!!

3. I cant not include the sweetest handmade bear blanket I spotted on instagram. Lucky baby wrapped up warm in this! The elephant & lion blankies are just as sweet!!!

4. If I get some free time for sewing, I would love to sew this 60's style cape.

5. Renewed Vintage ebay shop has a lovely selection of preloved clothes. I practically live in denim so Im naturally lusting after this chambray shirt.

6. Whats not to like about a raincoat upcycled from preloved fabric which is then laminated to make it waterproof. Due to this each raincoat is a one off individual piece.

7. I happily scored a wheat pack in a waste not want not gathering I held between a few friends a few months back & it has been a saviour of sorts for aches & pains. The talented Sarah makes these cute moustache themed wheatpacks.
#Double checking that everyone knows wheat packs are not suitable bed warmers as the risk of fire is high if overheated. Stick to hot water bottles for bed warmers.

8. This handknitted Super Mario hotwater bottle has long been sold off Etsy but why not give new life into any old knits or moth chewed knits by making them into hotwater bottle covers. Even handy for the pets during the freezing nights.

Well I hope everyone is well & germ free.
Happy Wednesday friends!
Grace

Baby shower wishlist

 

I have had a few friends ask me in the past year what are some really cute but super handy baby gifts to buy when attending a baby shower if the mama to be doesn't put out a gift registry/wishlist. Definitely AVOID gifting baby blankets & baby skincare products. I received far too many of either, & although it was a kind gesture they just weren't used enough. I would also be wary with toys are some parents can be touchy with licensed or educational toys. So I prepared a roundup of some winning baby gift ideas (according to me:)).

 

1. There are so many ugly nappy bags out there that when I had Kobe I opted out of a traditional nappy bag & instead chose a Country Road tote bag. It is quite large & only has 2 compartments (which worked well for me) & I still use it as a sleepover bag if Kobe has a sleepover at one of his grandparents homes.

2. Bibs (or flannels). These bibs are handmade in Australia by a trio of mamas. I was first introduced to their brand at a handmade market in Leederville late last year. There is a big selection of gorgeous prints to choose from. The hardest decision is not to buy them all.

3. Fitted fabric nappies. Not for every parent but I happily did half & half with Kobe (& will be doing the same with baby 2#) to help cut down on my carbon footprint. I recommend Bambooty or Bumgenius. Plus Bambooty have some handy nappy change mats also.

4. Storytime books. Classics like The Gruffalo. I also love Spot, Maisy or the touch feel books for under 2's. There were days when Kobe was little that he would be grabbing book after book for me to read to him all day long. A worth while buy.

5. Lunchboxes. So convenient when out & about to put all the lil ones snacks in. Bento boxes (with all the little compartments) are the best lunchbox you could ever invest in!!! I bought the Fuel bento lunchbox for Kobe but this store has the largest range of Bento boxes to choose from. The animal & superhero bento lunchboxes are cute but definitely make sure the container is BPA free.

6. I cant go past vintage without cooing. My friend Racheal's friend has started her own business called Archers lane where she hand makes vintage inspired boys clothes. But if your mama to be friend is a bit more traditional, stick to onesies.

7. And because Im such a fan of this Etsy store, all those animal felt coats like this racoon coat make me swoon with delight. We bought Kobe a lion coat for his 1st birthday & it still fits:)

 

 

Happy Tuesday friends!

 

Grace

 

 

 

A kids christmas wishlist (minus the crap)

I have been more mindful on what comes into our house inconcern to the little one. So I prepared a kid friendly gift guide minus the crap stuff which may help other parents dealing with the same issues or any auntys or grandparents who might need a little help. This list is based on what will be used lovingly & not thrown out days/months later in our home.

1. For the outdoor grubby child who loves getting dirt in his finger nails (& drag it thru the house too). Im loving the Seedling kid friendly garden range which goes splendid with Dirtgirl seeds. Nothing like encouraging your child to be involved in the garden.

2. Instead of a product gift why not gift an experience? Zoo passes, aquarium passes, reptile park passes, or even playcentre passes would be super handy to any family.

3. For the kid that wants everything why not teach them the gift of caring for others? We have a tradition to take Kobe to the Kmart wishing tree every year to drop off a couple presents. I tell him "we are helping Santa with gifts for the children he might not have time to get to as he has a very big job delivering presents & we don't want any child to miss out".

4. Im quite proud of my mini-me recycler (except when he makes us check every freaking smelly bin when we are out in public) so this list cant be complete without Recycle books aimed for young children. Peppa pig "recycling fun", Charlie Lola "we are very good recyclers" & Don't throw it away are on the grandparents please buy Kobe gift wishlist.

5. Childrens music; I have just started catching glimpses of Kobe's impromptu dance routines to music:) Justine Clarke I like to sing he asks for daily, I secretly sing along also to Yo Gabba Gabba & anything Playschool related is sure to be a winner. Plus its so handy to drown out toddler tantrums with chirpy music on car trips...

6. Practical & functional you cant go past a pair of Birkenstocks. You can even get them upsized up to 2 sizes bigger (for an extra cost) when they outgrow them the following year.

7. You cant go wrong with craft stuff. We love the Crayola craft range in our house. The dry erase number cards are Kobe favourite drawing activity at present. The Seedling craft kits are pretty cute too.

8. And because I have to include one toy on the list it has to be the Trashpack range. Finally a freaking toy that my child will sit & play with for over 10 minutes. Hallelujah!!! I was organized enough to jump on Ebay earlier this month to buy mint condition preloved Trashpack stuff for a bargain.

Happy Tuesday friends!
Grace

The gift of giving back

With Christmas fast approaching (can you believe its less than a month now, crazy!!!) its easy to get caught up in the hoopla that is the circus surrounding it. That's why we like to take a step back & put some focus on helping those going thru a hard time. Every financial year Luke & I choose a couple charitys to sponsor; last year it was Oxfam, Salvation Army, Ovarian cancer research & Red Cross.

I thought I would highlight a few more charities (we are also personally helping this financial year) who could use a very welcome helping hand; Kmart wishing tree (we do this every year with Kobe, I just have to make sure he doesn't sneakily open the gifts before we donate them), Brain foundation, Motor neurone disease, Princess Margaret hospital & Foodbank (I shall be collecting packaged & tin food soon so if your Perthbound & would like to help feel free to reach out & get in contact:))

Every $ is vital. No amount too small. If you aren't in a position to donate $, volunteers are always in shortage or try holding a fundraiser/food drive to show your support:)

Happy Friday friends!
Grace

Spring Inspiration

 

 

 

Images 1. Backpack/ Sportsgirl 2. Vintage floral dress/ MOKASvintagemelange on Etsy

3. My little French kitchen cookbook by Rachel Khoo/ Book depository 4. Vintage floral pussybow blouse/ Asecondhandlife on Ebay 5. Plant party favours/ A party boutique on Instagram.

 

 

When I think of Spring I think of florals. Here is my round up of my favourite things that inspire me at the moment. If you are fond of the sunflower backpack its on sale. Doesn't the sweet vintage dress make you want to run thru a field of flowers? I recently borrowed out My little French kitchen cookbook from the library, I am making the goats cheese, strawberry (they are so cheap at the moment!) & cucumber millefeuilles tomorrow. Who doesn't like a sweet bow on a floaty blouse? Im adoring the new take on the party bags with plants inside each bag, genius!

What are you lusting after at the moment?

 

 

Happy Tuesday friends!

 

Grace



 



 

 

 

 

Black & white

 

Images 1. Scallop top/ Kelli Murray  2. Vintage clutch/ Adored Vintage 3. Flared skirt/ Hello Parry 4. Vintage white booties/ FlowerheadVintage 5. Brogues/ Asecondhandlife 6. Decjuba 50's style dress/ Asecondhandlife 7. Hexagon clutch/ Olga Berg 8.Faux fur coat/ Ebay.


Hmmm something strange is happening to me, I find myself drawn to dressing in black & white where I usually flock to colour. It may have something to do with the dreary chilly weather or the couple of sombre sick days I had at home this week. Here is my pick of some lovelies floating around the net.

Happy Friday friends!

Grace

Easter Inspiration

Images: 1. Free downloadable card here/ 2. Bunny frock/ 3. Etsy rabbit (sold)/ 4. Oxfam knitted bunnies/ 5. Peter Alexander chicken pajamas/ 6. Bunny ring (I actually bought this a few years back from here).


Well Easter is literally a hop, skip & a jump away & here I am last minute late night internet googling for inspiration. After much procrastination, I have decided to make an Easter bag, chicken mask & some Easter themed cookies for Kobe (post coming if anything eventuates:)). Until then enjoy these images.

Happy Tuesday friends!

Grace

Wishlist: Gold digger

(Images; 1. Vintage floral jacket/ here. 2. Chanel buttons/ Milly Reich Etsy shop . 3. Personalized bunny bracelet/ Sweet Auburn Studio Etsy shop . 4. Vintage heart jewellery box/ similar here . 5. Gold brogues/ similar here. 6. Vintage shift dress/ here).


Whilst Im certainly no gold digger, I think its more important to be with someone you care for then what they will buy you. I do however love all the gold accents & metallic's floating around the net at the moment. Here are a few things I heart.

Happy Tuesday!

Grace

A year of ethical fashion challenge 2014

In an effort to be more eco-conscious I will be joining in with Meet me at mikes year of ethical fashion challenge. Who will join me?

Happy Monday Friends!

Grace

Stocking filler wishlist

 

1. Christmas stocking & 2. Mittens, Cath Kidson. 3. YSL colouring book, Book Depository (ok this is more for me than Kobe lol). 4. Thrifted christmas themed Golden books. 5. Annabel Trends Kids gardening gloves, Mr Sparrow. 6.Vintage picture blocks (now closed Ebay listing). 7. Tin snowman wind up toy, Ebay.

 

Well I have been a bad mama this year & all I have got round to is putting up some christmas stockings. In my defence, there isnt much room in our tiny house plus having a tree laden with sparkly decorations will only tempt a cheeky Kobe to touch & break (as my poor plants in the courtyard have learnt). The stockings are torn down a gazillion times a day by Kobe who will only put them back up when I mention Santa wont have anywhere to put the chocolate on Christmas day if there isnt any stockings up. He still has not much concept of Christmas but things that boy will do for chocolate well thats another story. Anyhow I thought I would do a round up of glorious things (new & old) scoured across the net which are perfect stocking fillers for the kiddies. "Santa" already has the Golden books & mini gardening gloves (& chocolate) all set for Kobe bear & if I am a good gal I may just get that YSL colouring book ha ha.

 

 

Happy Saturday friends!

 

Grace