Playground finder

If you have an iPhone, live in Australia and have children then you need this app - "the playground finder app".

Today I had to attend an event to do with a fundraiser for my kinder, and it was not in my neighborhood. So instead of dragging the kids there, boring them (and probably myself) half to death, then dragging them home again, I thought we could make a day of it and visit a park. So naturally I visited www.playgroundfinder.com, one of the most helpful websites I have EVER come across. So imagine my feeling of absolute delight when I saw they'd made it into an app.

Basically it is s catalogue of parks around Australia that have been ranked and reviewed by families who have visited them. It tells you if there's toilets, seats , bbq's, shade, bike paths etc. it also shows you on a map where it is and you can read reviews from other parents. SO good. And if you're really keen, you can even add parks that you have found.

So there you go if you haven't already, then go and check it out.

Here are some pics of the app and where we went today. Fantastic.

Ps. If you have any favorite apps helpful to parenting little ones, I'd love to hear from you.

"Calm Down Dinosaur"

Something has happened to my boy. My boy who last year i would have described as 'quiet' and 'gentle', a boy that was not fussy, did not back chat and was overall, pretty much a sweet heart. My little boy has turned... 4 years old (dramatic music... ba ba buuuuuuum). Someone told me the other day that little boys have a surge of testosterone at about the age of 4 and i just googled it and found this...

"Hormones play a large part in that much loved phase in the life of so many four year olds boys when activity levels surge, and vigorous physical play, and a fascination with super heroes becomes the main stay of the boy's play. Around the age of four, boys' testosterone levels in the blood, suddenly double and that little boy changes quite suddenly and dramatically into a strong active child with limitless energy and a fascination with rough and tumble and very boisterous play. Mercifully for the boys and parents, this hormone level drops around the age of five to normal levels." (source: The PreSchool Directory).

OMgosh... there is no mercy in being told this will last a whole year. This is exactly what has happened.

This week I have seen tantrums like i have never seen before, objects be hurled across the room, stamping of feet, flapping around the floor like a human blowfly. I have had all  my buttons pushed and at time watch my boy stomp and shout and pout and thought 'you know what, i'd really like to do that now too'.

So last night I turned to the place that all cyber saavy mum's turn to for creative wisdom and inspiration... Pinterest. I remembered that i had seen two 'pins' that just may hold the answer: 1. "21 creative consequences for disobedient children- Some of these are AWESOME and some are just plain HILARIOUS - but probably effective" and 2. "Teach your kids to work! 43 chores young children can (AND SHOULD) do (18 months to 7 years old)" both pinned by Modern Parents with Messy Kids (click on the links to see any of these articles or visit MPMK's blog - it's great).

After my son's first session of whinging about not being allowed to have cake for breakfast this morning, followed by the stamping of feet, throwing of a board game and then a brief smack from me (yes, I smack occassionally, and no I don't want to hear you're opinion on it - unless of course you do to) I was standing at the sink, composing myself when inspiration hit ... I have devised a plan, whether it works is not the point, the point is that we are going to try something new.

Enter the "Calm Down Dinosaur" jar...

So the theory is that as my son starts to fall into a fit of doubled testosterone, 4 year old paroxysm, I will say "Calm Down Dinosaur" and he will get his jar, shake the <beep> out of it, then watch the glitter settle (consequently settling himself).

So, what do you reckon? Do you need one?

Simple, here's what you'll require:

•  A jar with lid
• a prop to stick in the jar a.k.a. a dinosaur
• glitter
• water
• & a whole lotta hot glue

(The rock was to slightly elevate the dinosaur & the sticks were for extra dramatic affect).

1. wash your props so the glue sticks well (esp. if they're sticks/rocks)

2. glue all props to the inside of the lid of your jar

(FYI: the rock was too heavy so we ended up using a piece of wood and once it and the dinosaur were stuck to the lid there was no room for the sticks so we glued the stick to the side of the jar).

3. let your glue dry (admittedly, i did not wait long).

4. fill your jar with water and add glitter.

5. hot glue around the rim of the jar and screw the lid on)

Done.

So, here's hoping. I was somewhat pleased to hear my son tell Daddy that he had made a "dinosaur calm down jar". Only time will tell. Good luck peeps.

But seriously, look at this kid, at the end of the day he'll always be my sweetheart.

 

#FEBphotoaday - day 6 7 & 8

Day 6 - dinner

Day 7 - button - I love my draw of buttons

Day 8 - sun - my son & a sun.

The Shanny-poo Doorstop

Ok, I'm back to brag... I have been looking for an excuse to sew with hessian and finally I found one when my girlfriend told me that she needed some doorstops because 3 of her doors keep slamming shut and scaring the bejesus out of her little dog (who then sulks for the rest of the night). It also happened to be her birthday the following week (now that i write this, I am wondering if she orchestrated the whole thing... hmmmm, sneaky).

Anyway, clearly a cute hessian doorstop was needed. So I got to spotlight, bought the hessian that i had been perving on for months and go sewing.

I've listed some instructions below, for those interested.

1. The instructions are simple. Make yourself a square and triangle template out of cardboard (my square and triangles were 16cms high and wide). Click here to download a template.

2. Trace 1 x square and 4 x triangles, using your templates, onto your fabric with one of those disappearing-ink-pens and cut them out.

3. Sew two triangles together and then the other two triangles together. (One side of your triangle will be 16cms but the other two will be longer, keep this in mind when your sewing them, as you want the 16cm side free to sew to the square - obvious, but frustrating if you only realise after you've sewed them).

4. Sew your two sets of triangles together to make a pyramid.

5. Sew three sides of your square to the bottom of the pyramid, leaving one side open to fill.

6. Fill with something heavy (wheat, rice, beads, whatever...)

7. Slip stitch closed and embellish.

Yay. So I've made one, but she needs 3... I'm thinking she may need a hessian pear doorstop too, so that just might be my next post.

Hooroo and happy sewing. xo.

A photo a day for Febraury

A girlfriend posted on her Facebook that she was going to do fat mum slims photo a day (february). And as I have just discovered a new photography app for my iPhone, that I am in love with, I thought I'd join her. So all my photo's will be taken on my iPhone and edited using Photogene2.

Here is Fat Mum Slim's photo a day schedule:

If you look up #FEBphotoaday on twitter you will be able to see other peoples interpretations of these subjects to (these photo's are the first thing I've ever put on twitter, I must say, I don't really get it).

Day 1 - my view today

Day 2 - words - My Dad felt lead to say this at a leadership meeting on Thursday night. I love my Dad so much.

Day 3 - hands - I love little hands, so pudgy and cute.

Day 4 - a stranger

Day 5 - 10am (Well 1020am actually)

Pineapple Drink - For the frugalist of frugals.

So I've decided to extricate the phalanges (as my father-in-law would say) and write something on my blog. Mostly because i have just made something that i totally want to brag about (but i can't cos it's a birthday present, and with my luck this would be the one night that she (the recipient) would decide to look at the world's most neglected blog and all element of suprise would be lost). So instead, I thought i'd tell you about a lovely beverage that i have been making, that seems to impress those who i serve it to (although it really isn't all that flash, but the kids love it).

I think I'm using too many brackets... I'll stop now.

Anyway, my Mum gave me this scrappy looking, but rather ace book a while back...

It's full of really great recipes that are relatively simple. One of which was how to make a pineapple drink, from all the bits of the pineapple that you would usually throw out. How wonderfully frugal.

So here it is...

All you need is:

• The skin and core only of 1 large pineapple
• 8 cups of water
• 1/4 cup of lemon juice
• 1 cup of sugar
• and a big pot

Step 1. Put the skin and core of the pineapple in the pot with the 8 cups of water and simmer for 2 hours.
Step 2. Strain the liquid into another saucepan. Add juice and sugar. Boil 5 mins, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
Step 3. Cover and cool. Once cool, add ice and enjoy. If you're feeling a little bit fancy you can add a few mint leaves and strawberries to posh it up.

Easy Peeasy.

I would have put a few pics of my lovely jug of Pineapple Fruit drink, but honestly, we have already almost finished it and a photo of a quarter full jug is a little underwhelming. So instead, I will leave you with this beautiful vintage picture of some wintery looking birds posted by the Graphics Fairy, who's blog is beautiful and generous and well worth a look.



So hooroo. xo.

Who knows when i'll see you again (maybe i'll be back to brag about my creation).

Neglect

My mum asked me the other day how my blog is going... hmmmm.

Then she called me a 'half done mum', haha, gotta love family.

Well it's true, I have totally neglected this blog for the last few weeks. One of those weeks we were away on a holiday, that turned into a spew and poo convention (I think we all got Rota Virus - ick); and well the rest of that time, i think i've just been sulking about having gone on holidays and been so sick that it really wasn't restful or reviving at all.

Anyway, i'm over it now and I am getting all amped up about Christmas and my kiddies birthday party that is coming up. So You should be hearing more from me in the near future. But as i write this I can't help but look up and see the half sewn pillow, with it's stuffing overflowing, sitting on the couch across from me and think, we'll see.

Shall i admit to you how long this pillow has looked like this??? <clears throat and shamefully says> about 4 years. Not good.

Oh well. Chin up. Maybe it will get some love tomorrow - haha, but don't hold your breath.

x k.