THIS SATURDAY I'M GRATEFUL...

...for 'big girls' who decide all on their very own that they will absolutely NOT be wearing nappies any more!

Even though her mother was not at all sure that she was ready - neither the child or the mother who was feeling quite frankly that she just didn't need this right now! But the child was adamant and to her parents utter surprise, it's worked! A few accidents, but that's OK.

I feel like giving her a great big kiss each time she goes just in sheer gratitude and relief of making this so easy!

After so many many exasperating months with the others in this area, I was determined to wait until she was ready in her own time. I just didn't expect it so soon and just like that, we are out of nappies! Thank you little one - I'm so very grateful as your Mum really needed that right now.

What are you grateful for today?

* Apart from a few days setback when camping when she refused to go behind a tree or in a hole, precious child that she is! We had to bring out the "pink princess pull-ups" & bribe with a few choccie eggs to avoid any more accidents that are just not fun while in the middle of nowhere!

THE ROYAL WEDDING...last minute printables...

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A few last minute impromptu royal wedding watching parties have popped up on our agenda this evening. One for Goose & one for me, so this afternoon we've had a little fun with my printer & scissors and these fun last minute and free royal wedding printables! If you are after something to make your royal wedding watching evening a little more fun, then head over here & here & here...

How can I manage to fit something so frivilous into my day you ask? Quite simply by leaving a huge pile of dishes on the sink and a floor with barely a clear path to walk through the toys on the floor.... but I'm OK with that!

I heard on the radio today that 35% of the world's population will be tuning in to this wedding! Where will you be watching this big event?

A CAMPING PARTY!

I know, I know, I just can't help myself...

but it was Mr FGB's birthday and we were camping...

Party bags contained:

- box of sultanas

- muesli bar

- marshmallows on a bamboo skewer

- words to a few 'campfire songs'

- camping coloring page

- camping themed activity sheet

- small box of crayons

- coloured bandaid

Fire on top of chocolate mudcake made from mini chocolate flake bars & cellophane.

If you happened to be interested in throwing your own camping themed party, then head over here for some ideas.

If you have blogged about a party, why not head over here and join our DIY party linky!

Later Addition - Check out these camping themed ideas for 7+ age group over here.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Otherwise entitled... 'Easter Camping - My Favourite Shots'

More Wordless Wednesdays here.

P.S. If you are interested in knowing more about those plaster of paris nature creations, head over here for an explanation.

A JAPANESE EASTER

We are off tomorrow on a 5 day camping trip with my Mum, sisters and our families, but before we head off I'll leave you with a little photo of my Japanese Easter Egg.

A little while ago Jacqueline of Zippy Zippy challenged me in my comments to find a way to bring our love of all things Japanese to Easter...well Jacqueline, I found this on Martha Stewart and gave it a go!

I also came across this cute origami chick and bunny to fold.

I'll be back after the Easter break with photos of that rainbow party as well as a gorgeous pirate party we went to the next day! They were both so well done, I'm quite excited about sharing them with you! It's also Mr FGB's birthday tomorrow and the kids & I have a little camping themed party planned.

Wishing you all a wonderful Easter full of chocolate and love!

KIDS EASTER ACTIVITY - CHOCOLATE NESTS

In looking through my photo archives recently I came across some photos of these cute and delicious chocolate nests that Granny and I made with the kids a couple of Easters ago.

The recipe is based on that for Chocolate Spiders on the back of a packet of Chang's Oriental Fried Noodles. (the same place as you'll find this yummy & easy salad) I adapted this recipe for my Easter nests.

CHOCOLATE EASTER NESTS

1 pkt Chang's Oriental Fried Noodles

2 tbsp peanut butter

200g chocolate

1 pkt of Jelly Belly Beans*

Melt chocolate & peanut butter together in microwave or stove top. Mix well into a smooth paste. Add noodles and coat the noodles well. Spoon the mixture onto grease-proof paper or into cupcake wrappers. Place a few jelly beans on top of each nest. Place in fridge until set. When they are set, keep in an airtight container.

*I used Jelly Belly Beans as I think they look slightly more like eggs than the usual jelly beans - particularly those speckled ones. I have seen these made with mini easter eggs also. 


 Head over here for a more advanced tutorial with more classy looking nests :)

Head over here to Childhood 101 for some more inspiration for how to entertain the kids these school holidays!

Or, if you are after holiday activity inspiration for children who are 7 years or up - Goose and I are seriously, seriously impressed with this little booklet! Only $5 and you print it out yourself. Seriously good - did I say that already?

For more kids activity ideas you might like to head over here.


Addition 4/4/12: for a closer look at these Easter nests, check out this year's post.

EASY PEASY SALAD WINNER

A well overdue easy peasy dinner winner...

This recipe was given to me by my good friend Bec a couple of years ago. I have named it for her.

I tend to have phases with salads. This is the current fave. This salad has remained the fave for much longer than others because it is just so good! This salad has also become my Mum's current fave also -which is saying a lot because she eats salad as her whole meal almost every night!

Perfect with some fish on Good Friday for those of you who follow that particular Easter tradition.

BEC'S 'BEST EVER' SALAD

700g roasted pumpkin, cubed

some roasted baby beetroot, halved

1 avocado, sliced

punnet of baby tomatoes, halved

1 red onion, sliced

lots of baby spinach leaves*

Dressing

Mix the following ingredients together in a jar with a lid:

1 tbsp fresh coriander, finely chopped

1 tbspn fresh mint, finely chopped

2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce

2 tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 tbsp brown sugar

2 tbsp olive oil

salt & pepper

*If you are looking particularly close at the photo you'll note that on this particular occasion I mixed the baby spinach with some rocket for something different.

THIS SATURDAY I'M GRATEFUL...

That Mr FGB made it home in time for work so that he could look after Goose who was not feeling well at all, so that the rest of us could go to the rainbow party for our 2 year old friend Eliza! Would have been a little bit stuck on my own...

Yes, I am more than OK with my little boy wearing pink (we raided Goose's old clothes - he even has pink and rainbow undies on as well as the socks which are hard to see in the photo). When you have two sisters you just can't get away from it. Note to self - don't pose your kids for photos using props from the garden just prior to leaving for a party as the dirt does come off on clothes (although nothing a bit of spit and polish couldn't fix!)

We're all packed with our rainbow chairs in the boot and our rainbow playdough for one of the party activities.

Goose even made a rainbow garland and rainbow necklace for the birthday girl and decorated the paper with Frog's help and how could we resist a little book on Noah's Ark. It was the very first rainbow after all!

I'll be back with more photos of the rainbow party later this week!

Speaking of parties, if you have posted about birthday parties on your blog - I'd love for you to link them up here and share them with us all!

If you are feeling grateful like me, then head on over here and share the love!

IN AN EMERGENCY...

As I've mentioned before, I organise a "craft" once a month for our MOPS* group. Last week at MOPS we made Anna's Emergency Cookies. It even comes with a free printable....and you know how I feel about those, as well as having a soft spot for things in jars!

As the school holidays were coming up I felt it the perfect item to have on the shelf when looking for an activity for the kids or if someone is coming over. Also a good gift for someone who has just had a baby. Of course we had to test it out...

& there were a couple of very willing helpers, especially when it came to licking the spoon.

It just so happens that we have had such emergencies more than once over the last couple of weeks. I have never been good at biscuits but these are the best biscuits that I've made in a long time! Nice and soft and chocolatey & by the fingers in the photo below you can see I'm not the only one that feels that way...

While we are on the topic of Anna... She passed on to me a lovely blog award a month ago now... thanks so much - I'm honored! Anna's blog Shiny Happy Art is one of my absolute favorites, for her honesty & sense of humour, her fantastic artwork and her shared love of birthday parties & simple meals.

As part of the Liebster blog award, I need to list three other blogs that I like which I feel are worth some "extra attention"...

Sarah from Oesch & Doots - for her beautiful photos & thoughtful thoughts on motherhood.

Brenda from Mira Narnie - whose been a friend right from the start of this blog and has great recipes & craft ideas!

Kate from Loose Change - although she hasn't blogged in a while (hint, hint) I really enjoy her intelligent and down-to-earth writing. I also feel privileged to have her as a friend in real life!

Lucy from the Kitchen Maid - for her creative writing and yummy recipes - someone else already gave her this award, so I thought I'd just give her an honorary mention!

* Mothers of Pre Schoolers. The other MOPS craft activities that we've done this year are here and here. All things that can be made quickly and very easily. The activities are for the Mums while the kids have their own program.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY...

More Wordless Wednesdays here.

I was so proud of how this little page boy went on Saturday.

FREE EASTER PRINTABLES

In continuing what has become a tradition on this blog, here is a collection of some of my favorite FREE printables that I've come across along the Easter theme...

This adorable paper doll comes with a few pages of clothing and accessories and can be downloaded and printed over here.

How fun & simple are these cupcakes with free printable bunny ears over here at one of my favorite party blogs, One Charming Party.

This free printable color-in easter box can be downloaded here.

Speaking of coloring, Sarah at Style Me Gorgeous has two gorgeous easter coloring pages among her collection here.

This fun easter party/gift collection here.

There's even a whole easter/spring party printable collection here.

My children need these printed up around the garden on Easter Sunday!

If vintage images are your thing, there's cute vintage printable easter card here, a whole stack of vintage easter images here & how cool would these vintage printable treat bags look printed on some brown paper bags (yes, you can put them through your printer!)

I think that is probably enough to keep you going for quite some time!

Happy printing!

...and stay tuned for an easter craft or two sometime later in the week...

IT'S TIME TO PARTY!

It has been a whole year since I first started this blog!

Regular readers will know that I am just a little obsessed with birthday parties...You can see some of my parties here, but to celebrate this bloggy birthday... I'd love to see your parties!

I love trawling through 'party blogs' looking for inspiration, however often these parties are super-styled with professional photographers and look like they must have cost an absolute fortune!

I'd love to get together a collection of 'real life' DIY parties put on by 'everyday' people.

I know lots of you have put on some gorgeous parties for your kids (& yourselves) and I'd love for you to share them here! So, join in and link up any party post you've ever done. Tell your friends. Link as many parties as you like and hopefully this will become a resource for other 'everyday' Mum's like me looking for some 'achievable' DIY party inspiration!

As has been requested by a few of you, feel free to grab the party linky button on the side bar over there and pop it on your blog.

P.S. Thanks Maxabella for the suggestion!

THIS SUNDAY I'M GRATEFUL...

- for that extra hour this morning...

(although somehow the kids didn't know to sleep for that extra hour...)

which means I can allow a small piece of time for a well overdue blogpost!

Maybe that illusion of extra time will give us time to do something with these quinces that I picked during the week.

What are you grateful for?

What would you do with a bucketful of quinces?