Pause | Engage
I’m tired, head-achy, sore and mostly just plain old tired. Dave ran off a list of things this afternoon trying to put his finger on why I’m feeling this way and the answer is I just don’t know. Dave said I need carbs, Mum said …
Month: March 2012
PLAY | Get on your bike and go somewhere!
Some of my bestest childhood memories are of hazy summer nights cruising around on the street in front of my house perfecting elaborate ballets on wheels that my neighbour and I called “Bike Routines”. We would practice each routine endlessly and when our synchronised cycling …
From Paisley Jade | Things I’m Loving
I love Paisley Jade’s Blog. It’s pretty, all about family and she is always cooking or DIYing something awesome. This weekly reminder to be thankful for all the little things around us is hosted by her – so visit!
I’m craving LOVING calamari at the moment. Almost obsessively – I can’t get enough. Luckily we live smack bang in between two awesome local eateries who both make some knock out salt and pepper squid. Check out The Riverhead or Hallertau if you are out and about in Nor-West Auckland. I also have some squid tubes in the freezer so will give it a go this week and whip up a home made version!
I’m loving our local library (and the fact that I remembered to go there!). E was tired, teary and grumpy after school on Friday so we stopped in for some quiet time after school. Just what the doctor ordered! We lay down, took our time, read shark books and found some perfect chapter books to take home. A great start to a busy weekend.
An unexpected bonus job gave us some extra cash and we SPLURGED. I am LOVING my new camera, a Canon 550d (which I saved $500 on by purchasing the Japanese model!!), always check for parallel import alternatives, in this case the only difference is the product name.
I justify this purchase easily; our old DSLR has been thrashed, we take GIGS of pics each year, plus I think 5+ years from a digital camera without a service or even a battery replacement is a pretty good innings. Canon, we LOVE you x
I am loving Christmas gifts that get opened for the first time in March. Grandaddy Jack sent Ethan the Totally Gross board game from America and we have been having loads of fun learning gross {and interesting} facts. Raiding the top shelf in the wardrobe is definitely recommended on a rainy Sunday!
I am loving Gift with Purchase! I didn’t actually buy any Revlon products but the gift I should have received was snaffled up by a previous shopper so I got this pack instead. Racy, red nails are much easier to perfect with the Top Speed polish which dries super-quick. Love.
Sweet Little Notes & Deciduous Teeth
Sometimes it’s too easy to look at my son and marvel at how he has grown into such a big boy {mostly because he is massive!}, how he is so independent and capable and smart but then out of the blue he surprises us with …
My Little Minder
Ethan is quite convinced that I am unable to make my way through the world without his assistance. Lord knows how he thinks I manage at work, where I have keys to the building and have to drive a company car and TALK TO STRANGERS …
What E’s Reading | The 13-Story Treehouse
The 13-Story Treehouse – By Andy Griffiths
Ethan received this book for Christmas from his wonderful Nana – or from Santa who went to Nana’s by mistake, I’m not quite sure – anyway he will finish it tomorrow night and we will be sad.
This book is so much fun, it’s fast paced, full of repetitive boy humour, wildly imaginative and quite simply has captivated Ethan’s attention. I have read the last two chapters with him at night as I was dying to get a feel for what was causing him to chuckle so during his reading time.
All the ingredients are here; a giant treehouse complete with every fantastical addition you can imagine {think shark tank, soda fountain, flying cats etc}, simple but engaging illustrations which help to lighten the text-load for reluctant readers and cool easy to relate to characters Terry and Andy who are themselves writing a book!
Ethan is 7yrs 4mths and last Nov was assessed at reading about 12-18mths ahead so I would recommend this book for kids ages 7-10 as both a story book or an independent reader.
[rating=5]
On sale here at The Warehouse for $13.99
The Sound of a New Shutter
Excuse me while I post gratuitous sunrise pics with my new camera. Glorious!
Foiled again
Running and I have a long and sordid history, mostly in my head as opposed to on the track, road or treadmill, but let us not digress. When I was a young thing I always wanted to be an athletics star. I would join the …
2012 | It’s time to PLAY!
Though it may seem that 2012 has it’s campaign of the year all tied up with this Kony thing {yes I’ve watched the video, yes I’ve shared it on FB, yes I’m now a political activist just like you}, there is actually another movement worthy of your attention that launched today.
Over the next 10 months I will be joining forces with the fab team behind the Milo Play Movement and three additional Mummy Bloggers based in Australia to elevate both the status and the dialogue around that simple little word; play.
To be honest, until I was invited to participate in the Play Movement, I hadn’t conscientiously given much thought to the qualitative characteristics of Ethan’s playtime. Active play and activity {both structured and unstructured} is the most prevalent form of play in our household for ALL three of us. It was news to me that this is not the norm anymore and that some children – nearly HALF – do not play every day! Dang is right, WTF may also be highly appropriate!
The short {2.18 min} video below outlines the State of Play Report commissioned by Milo and why this issue deserves our attention;
I have added a permanent Milo Play page which will be home to any resources I come across, this page also has links to the many varied and FUN ways you can get involved in helping kiwi kids play.
This is going to be a great campaign, so I hope you silent visitors will speak up and get involved as there will be some great lessons, tips and ideas that are generated from all of our mummy/daddy/caregiver brains joining forces!
- Watch the State of Play video above (or here on YouTube)
- Get tweeting to the team @MILOausnz on Twitter
- Like the Facebook page and get chatting with other Mums/Dads & caregivers here
- Check out pics of the Play Movement here on Flickr
- Read the New Zealand Herald article here
- Visit the other bloggers involved with this awesomeness;
- Kelly at Be A Fun Mum
- Cath at Squiggle Mum
- Karen at Miscellaneous Mum
- I am participating in the Milo Play Movement as a Blogger Ambassador and any compensation received is for advice provided directly to the MILO Play Movement team on the social media engagement plan.
- All communications I share regarding the MILO Play Movement are my honest opinion.
From Paisley Jade | Things I’m Loving
I love Paisley Jade’s Blog. It’s pretty, all about family and she is always cooking or DIYing something awesome. This weekly reminder to be thankful for all the little things around us is hosted by her – so visit! I am LOVING …