This awesome doll house from Megan of Mousehouse NZ has been doing the blogosphere and twitter rounds all week. How could I not get on board with this one? I've been a fan of Megan's gorgeous work for a while but this recent project of hers…..WOW! What started as a 'renovators dream' that Megan purchased second-hand has evolved into one of the most stunning doll houses I've ever seen. Megan has filled this stylish space with miniature versions of pieces she has in her own home including artworks, paint colours, textiles – all lovingly put together for her 3 year old daughter. AMAZING.
Last weekend I decided to 'love bomb' Poppy. What on earth? I hear you ask. Well, 'love Bombing' is all about giving your child your undivided attention, including all the affection and treats they want with the aim that they regress to a state of emotional security and re-set their minds, so they shake off their anxieties for good. (You can read more about it over at Essential Baby). Put simply, it was a day for focusing solely on her – no schedules, no rules and no stress. We had had a fairly bad week, what with the relentless Sydney rain and that TEMPER of hers. So, when I read about the idea of 'love bombing' I thought it would be a positive way to end our very long week. And it was one of the BEST days we've had together. There was cinnamon toast and chocolate coated liquorice bullets for breakfast, hours of fun at a local play centre, burgers for lunch, TV, iPhone games, snacks on the lounge, an afternoon visit to her cousin's, more iPhone games and finally, pillows, blankets and lollies on the living room floor together with a few kiddy shows and a movie. She stayed up way past her bedtime and was allowed to sleep in my bed. Which was nice. Apart from the fact that her elbows were in my face all night. And, in the two days since the 'love bomb' I've definitely noticed a change in her mood. More calm, more patient, more…happy! If for no other reason than it was an incredible day of fun (for both of us – and I mean that), we'll definitely be doing this again soon. Very soon.
This awesome new on-line magazine for kids sure packs a huge punch. Action Pack Mini-Mag contains over 20 pages of craft and science projects, recipes and outdoor activities as well as art and printables – all rolled up in a downloadable magazine aimed specifically at kids. Each issue is only US$5, a small price to pay considering the hours of entertainment and learning experiences to be had. Written in kid-friendly language with easy-to-follow diagrams this is a fabulous resource for kids who like to do stuff. And there's definitely plenty of stuff to do.
I love ending the week with a 'Mum Must-Have' post. Especially when the mum in question is all about PARTIES. Renee from The Inspired Occasion creates and styles divine celebrations, from baby showers and birthday parties through to corporate events. Here's her list of daily essentials…
△ Nikon DSLR - while certainly not a professional photographer, I love my photography and since buying my first DSLR earlier this year I have been in photo heaven. My poor daughter gets it shoved in her face way too much.
△ Country Road flats – being on my feet all day (especially on event days) definitely calls for comfortable and stylish flats. I can't go past these and have them in 5 different colours at the moment!
△ MacBook – I think it has my whole life on it. Photos of my family, my writing, designs and of course, access to blogs, facebook and twitter.
△ Icecream… I know it's the wrong time of year, but I love it and will choose it over anything else on a dessert menu.
△ Diet coke – Alex (my business partner and I) are as bad as each other with our Diet Coke consumption. We often ask each other – is it too early for a Diet Coke? (It never is!).
Finally. A store that caters to the tween set with a mix of stylish threads, cool accessories and offbeat bits & pieces. Le Tween has just launched and store owner Renee, an award-winning fashion designer, has stocked it full of awesome brands including Little Mouse Brown, Atsuyo et Akiko, Mini and Maximus and Popupshop.net. I'm loving the funky graphic tees, those mask messenger bags and don't even get me started on the Mousys vintage dress (seen here on mini must have earlier this year). This new kid on the block totally rocks!
Gotta love a tailor-made leather backpack, especially when it's lined with the same adorable fabric as your pillow! This little cutie, courtesy of Fungus Workshop, instantly captured my attention over the weekend. Add this to my list of 'make in my size please'.
via Veronica Loves Archie
Roadtested: Mor-Stor Canvas Storage Cubes
Tested by: Me. And, of course, Poppy and Oscar
Verdict: I'm probably one of the last people to get on board with the Ikea Expedit. After recently buying the unit I needed some storage options to go with it and decided on the canvas cubes over the usual cane baskets or plastic boxes. Not only do the canvas cubes look great but they were definitely the safer choice for my house, given that Oscar is still just a little guy. The cube is made from nylon canvas, has a strong, easy-grip handle and is definitely kid-friendly – lightweight, durable, safe. No sharp corners or edges for little ones to hurt themselves on. We've used ours for the kids' lego as well as those bits n bobs that most of you would be familiar with (you know the kind of toys I'm talking about). The Mor-Stor Canvas Cubes are sold in packs of two (I picked mine up from Little Indigo) and come in a great range of colours. Definitely worth considering if you've got an Ikea Expedit in your home (and I know you do).
