25 November 2013

Kindy orientation and runny noses

Poor Popette has been unwell with this past week with a runny nose and dry cough. We originally thought it was just sinus, but now not quite sure. So off to the doctor's today, even though there's probably nothing they can do. We have tried over the counter cold syrups, baby vicks and the vaporiser, but nothing seems to help so I hope the doctor can advise us of something.

Poor little Cherub has caught her big sister's runny nose, and has been snuffly in bed. I'm hoping she doesn't get any worse.

We didn't think Popette would be able to attend Kindy orientation last week as she was feeling miserable, and broke out in a little rash (which we decided was just a sweat rash). Thankfully she was fine on Thursday, and was excited walking us through the gates of the "big school".

Hubby & I were excited for her (and a little upset), we can't believe our little premmie is going to big school next year! Where has that time gone?

Popette was a little shy when we arrived, clinging to us and not wanting to talk to the kids that she knew or be introduced to kids I knew through a friend. After a little cry, she settled down and enjoyed her time in the classroom.

After her visit, she received a nice wide brim hat, and tried on her school uniform...which only upset Hubby & I more. She looks so grown up!

I'm not looking forward to her first day of school, I think there's going to be some serious tears!

Popette loves her new school hat

18 November 2013

Craft: Recycled Christmas card tree

This is a little different to the normal craft activities I publish on the blog. Normally I like to share a craft activity I've made with Popette, this time however it's something Popette has helped me make :)

The other day when I was going through my drawer, I found a bunch of old christmas cards. I thought rather than throwing them away, it would be great to make a craft out of them. My original idea was to make a wreath for the door (like this one on here), but I didn't have enough cards.

I then had another look at the holly leafs I already had cut out, and decided to make a christmas tree as a decorative piece.

 

All you need is:a bunch of old Christmas cards
Scissors
Pencil
Pins, tacks or hot glue gun
Foam board
Piece of material to cover board
Shiny beads

To make the holly leaf shape:
I drew a leaf about 13cm long and 5cm wide on a piece of card, which I cut out and used as a stencil so all the leafs were the same size. You can make your tree however big or small you want, it all depends on the amount of cards you cut out and the size of your board. My board is the size of an A3 piece of paper.

Using my stencil to cut out some holly leaf shapes
I didn't want to use glue for this craft, so I used some small pins to hold the fabric and cards to the board instead. This is handy if you want to play around with the colours.

To make the tree:

Starting at the bottom of the tree I started by overlapping 3 leafs across the board to form the first branch and shape of a christmas tree, once I got towards the top I only overlapped two cards then made room for a star. For our star I used some shiny embellishments I had in my sewing basket. But you could cut out a star shape out of card and place that on top.

Other ideas: You could pin some ribbon on the tree to make it look like tinsel, cut out some small circle card shapes to make baubels for the tree. Its all up to you and your imagination!

Popette helping me pick the cards
While this activity is a little old for toddlers and preschoolers, Popette still helped me by choosing what "leaf" to go next and handed me them along with a pin. This could be a fun activity for the older school aged kids to make or you could make it yourself :)

15 November 2013

Grateful for being me

Saying no isn't something I'm always good at. There were times back when I was working, that I would take on so much work and became so snowed under that it was hard to get everything completed by its deadline. I managed it all, but I put a lot of pressure on myself, all because I didn't know how to say no to my boss or fellow colleagues.

I have never been very good at being assertive or telling somebody what I think, even if it was a decision I didn't agree with. I guess it was fear of me being wrong, or being laughed at or starting a confrontation with someone. I hate confrontations! I guess I should be better at speaking my mind, but I'm a big chicken!


Image source: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/430656783088132514/
I worked with a woman once, who thought she was superior to everyone (mostly people younger than herself). I think she felt threatened by me, since I knew a little more than she did on certain subjects and had skills she didn't possess. This resulted in more than one confrontation with her. On one occasion I ended up in tears (the big ugly ones) right in front of our boss! Not my greatest moment. Thankfully I wasn't the only one that had issues with her.

From that moment I realised I needed to be more assertive.
 
For the past few weeks I've been having discussions with an agency about some potential paid work. At first it was exciting, but then I realised what they wanted was different to what I wanted, and in the end it didn't feel right to me so I didn't go ahead with the work.

I’m not a professional blogger. I blog for myself, and the little community that follows me here and here. Its taken some time, but I have managed to build a little blog that I am proud of. Its my little world, it stores my thoughts, my feelings, carries my voice, and is a place where I can dream. Over 3 years I have ever so slowly built a reputation for my blog and as a blogger. My blog means a lot to me.

So this week I am grateful for being me, while I am a big chicken when it comes to confrontations, I'm grateful to be able to make decisions, speak up, not give up on an idea or something that's worth fighting for.

What are you grateful for?

I am linking up with Octavia and Vicky for 52 weeks of grateful.

08 November 2013

Being grateful: Making memories



Last weekend we took a long weekend away to Canberra, we had a great time. The girls loved the Dinosaur museum, and playing at Questacon. They loved running around our 2 bedroom apartment, and watching TV on our bed...a bit of a novelty.

One day Popette enjoyed a swim in the pool with Daddy, while I flicked through a house magazine while Cherub slept, which made me very happy.

I really enjoyed being away from home, but mostly seeing the girls have fun and enjoy themselves.

So this week I am grateful for making memories. Memories of not just holidays, but of fun and special times spent together, which my hubby & I can look back on and retell to the girls, and talk about how much fun we had during that moment.

What are you grateful for?

I am linking up with Octavia and Vicky for 52 weeks of grateful.

05 November 2013

Craft: Homemade button board

Today I have a craft activity for the parents to make. It's a homemade button board. I came across one on Pinterest, the button board is a great way to teach your toddler or preschooler how to fasten their buttons.



Popette is starting "big school" next year, so I thought it would be great practice for her. The board is also a good way to teach your toddler the difference between big and small (using different size buttons), how to tye a ribbon or shoelace, and identifying shapes.



To make the button board I used an old piece of flannelette material which I cut into a large rectangle. I sewed five buttons, and a piece of ribbon on to the material, which I stuck onto an old piece of cardboard using sticky tape.

Then using scrap pieces of felt I cut out five shapes with a small button hole for fastening to the board.

Popette doing up her buttons
All you need is:

An assortment of buttons (I found different sizes worked best)
Felt or thick material (i.e. an piece of an old flannelette sheet)
Needle & thread
Pencil
Sticky tape
Piece of thick cardboard

Note: I have sewn my buttons on to a piece of fabric, but if you have little ones who still put things in their mouths you might want to fasten the buttons using a hot glue gun or use large buttons.

Suitable age group: Mum or Dad (Kids can help select the buttons & pieces of material)
Estimated time: 15-30 mins (Depends how handy you are with a needle & thread :))
Messiness factor: low