A Collection of Thoughts

Free printable - Christmas wish list

via www.thegreengal.co.uk

Super cute and colourful - and free :) Click the link.

Love that

A Christmas printable

Hello, it's Mel here again.

I'm just popping in to share this cute printable that I found this morning.  I thought Tamar's lovely readers might enjoy it and with Christmas just around the corner (gasp!) I think we all need to put our skates on and get organised.

via allsorts.typepad.com

It's cute, right?  Just click on the link below the photo if you would like to print out a few for yourself or little people.  I think these would be super for gift writing lists and also fun for nice ideas to do in the holidays. 

Print and enjoy,

Mini Moo Cards

I love the quality of Moo cards -  I have bought them a number of times now for business cards and blog cards. I buy from the US store.

Last night I saw on my klout perks list that mini moo was offering a free set of 100 cards.

 YAY - I need little cute cards for gifts for christmas- Hello- there are like 60 kids in the girls two classes alone.

So I came up with the idea of making mini moos for gift tags. I just used the pre set designs that they had and did a search for christmas.

So many good ones came up.

then I just added For You the back.

I'm guessing we can just punch a hole add a ribbon and even a bead and we will have super cute cards for our gifts - whatever they are to be this year. I chose 12 different ones.

These two were my favourite for on gifts from me  and I even got a couple of cupcakes ones too - for non christmas.

Go here to make your own - and use this code -- 7X6FT8 for my US readers that means shipping will be $6 and the cards are free - for AUS shipping was $14 and cards were free :)

 

###Edited to add - I have heard now from someone that they couldnt get the code to work - try this link and see if that gets a discount :)

http://klout.com/perk/Moo/Moo?passalong=MTM

Happy Moo Making day :)

DIY Mother's Day Gift

We have made this lovely gift for many of the men in our lives for their birthdays along with Father's day - the girls love doing it - thinking about what the recipients favourite treats are and sticking the labels.

via alphamom.com

and so today both the girls have come to me quietly and asked vague questions about where the stickers are they can print on the computer and how do they turn them pink   LOL

At aged 8 they wouldn't make great secret keepers but you have to love them for trying.

So I have had a quick google and found some lovely Mumma style printables which I have now quietly printed and handed over to Richard to execute. No It's not a super surprise for me but the girls don't know I had a hand in it and they are absolutely tickled that Daddy has managed to find some cool crafty thing to put together for Mummy.

Just in case you may like to do something similar in your home here are the results of my  searching.

via www.marthastewart.com

This newspaper printout from Martha - I love that they can fill in what they think.

via www.homemade-gifts-made-easy.com

A series of coupons and they how to make them into a little matchbook set (simple instructions I printed those too)

I actually found another set of coupons here - these are Mother's day ones.

via www.bystephanielynn.com

I'd love this and it's easy to make so I'm hoping they will make some - we already have all the bits.

via www.twigandthistle.com

and of course a quiet door hanger :)  I'm hoping to put it up on regular intervals.

I'm excited to see what they come up with.

Family Meeting Update and a Freebie

 

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments -I'm not so sure if its good to know there are lots of other Mummas out their having similar conversations cause it sure is frustrating and i don't like ot think of other Mummas going through my struggles.

We are now in day two of the new schedule and this is what I have learnt.

It works for us.

The girls like having their own separate responsibilities and clear instructions - not just tidy up. The only problem I am having is that they take everything literally- like tonight I couldn't  dissuade Sof from sweeping the floor- cause its on the list Mumma!

The best thing however that I have on the list is help in the kitchen- and its just one child - so if we have a recipe to do or need help with dinner- its just that one for the night - so its totally eliminating the what can I do what can I do factor thta I have with the both of them wanting to help cook all the time.

We have talked about if theres nothing to do that night its ok chances are next time its your turn there will be.

 The house is super tidy. I love it .

Mind you I still haven't got my craft room sorted but the rest of the house is out of control neat and by 8.30 too so my night stretches out before me .

Mornings have been a breeze.

 I know its early days but I'm feeling confident.

In light of that I have made a little freebie for you to print for your fridge - just in case you are having similar issues in your house :0 You can clip it to a new job chart the way I have and pop it on your fridge.

Its designed to be printed out at 4 x 6

 

and the download  Download Dishes image

 Digital elements by Iara

 Tamar xx

Covering Books

Today was operation get organized for school . I had done the shopping yonks ago but the supplies have just sat in the girls wardrobes waiting for me to get motivated.

I went with the same plastic book covers I used last year - they are just too easy I love them and the  books stay in good condition all year.

 
We had A4 ones to do too.
 
I have found a more economical and faster way to cover the books with paper :)

We used scrapbook 12 x 12  again - this year the girls chose all their own combinations - The process was tiresome for me but they loved it

.. Do you like this with this oh what about this.. sigh ...

To cover one standard size exercise book you need two sheets but if you are clever you have enough to cover another - so you really only need one sheet.

It's important that you use the papers that have the white strips with the manufacturers details on - that little extra makes all the difference.

 Cut your two sheets to be just over 9 inches - use your exercise book to measure

You need one small strip and one large piece.

Then glue the small strip to the white strip

and trim back  

Fold it in half

 Place your book in and then just turn the  edges under ( no tops and bottoms ) just sides .

 
 Pop your label on

 and then place it inside the plastic sleeve and seal.

You can use the same process for the A4 books.Trim two sheets to be the length of your A4 book which is about  11 1/2 inches  - overlap them about 2- 3 inches and glue together to make a nice “spine” fold in half  and then have your  “spine” bit on top -so you see both coordinating papers.  Place your book in the middle
then just turn the edges under ( no tops and bottoms ) just sides . Pop your label on and then place it inside the plastic sleeve and seal.

Here is what ours look like - well half of them- Thsi is Tals stash - Sofis is decidedly more pink - 50 books eeeek took so long but grateful not to have battle contact  I can’t stand that stuff.

 And of course the book labels  - here is the original post with details and downloads

Hope your back to school prep is well underway - The girls go back tuesday :) I've been back since last thursday and ducked in for a few hours today too. I'll be posting some lunch box recipes over the next week or so - hit me up with requests :)

 Tamar xx

Documenting December

 ### warning eclectic random photos of my day ###

This morning when I woke up I was so excited to see the start of Dec - I sent texts to some of my friends who I knew would be up using this cool app from cartolina

via itunes.apple.com

 

I had set up the family room after the girls had gone to bed - and they had NO CLUE I was doing it.  I had secretly planned a new advent calendar idea I had seen somewhere last year. II don't remember where -  you wrap 24 christmas books and unwrap and read one each day. When I first heard about it I thought I'd love to do that so much but EEK too expensive.   However in the middle of the year  Jill, Ngai and I went to the lifeline bookfest and they helped me rummage through the piles to find some gorgeous books for only 50c and $1. SOOO good. I managed to get 20 that way.  So yesterday I ducked out to angus and robertson and picked up a couple of golden books to complete the stash.

 

 Here they are all wrapped - I used  these tags from Iara too

 here is the link

and I also set up our  Advent Calendar that I created last year -  Just little fabric bags with numbers and inside I place a scripture  and also an activity -My trick though is to leave the activity out and just pop it in before I go to bed so that I can plan the activity carefully. I also pop tiny gifts some days its just a  choc santa another day a cute pen or pencil etc which I collect up through the year.

Today's activity a special afternoon tea with Mummy after school- which I knew I could- I don't leave the activities to random it would be chaos and tears LOL.

 

If you would like to make your own or add the scriptures or activities to your dec festivities here are the downloads for you :)

Download ADVENT SCRIPTURES

Download ADVENT ACTIVITIES

The girls were so excited this morning - and totally surprised. We have made it a rule that we open the book in the night and read it before bed.

So if you follow me on twitter you'll know I have been undecided about documenting December - I love the idea of  Ali's December Daily and I have tried it two years in a row and have almost competed an empty mini book - I kid you not

 When I look back on my blog I see I documented  our activities through here but I really want more than that cause lots of days are missing. I was thinking of doing digi and using Ali's templates - then today I  received my Shimelles Journal your christmas email and wondered about that .. then I saw this on  Princess Lasertrons blog..

 I tell ya spoilt for choice.

What I want to do most is document the litle things and take lots of photos but I don't want to commit to my big camera or a certain style on my iphone so I think I may have the perfect daily solution.

I found these tags sometime back and just remembered them tonight when I was downloading my photos.  One photo stood out of all the ones I took today and so I knew that was the one I wanted to document and it made me think if I just choose one photo a day that encapuslates some aspect of our dec thats a great start. So no more procrastinating

 I am using these tags from Katie Pertiet

and adding a photo and some text. I  think I will use Ali's templates too for some more detailed days.

and in otehr Dec 1st news - Emma Tabitha has a new desktop out  YAY just installed it

via tabithaemma.com

 and finally did you notice Tim's first tag is up too? I love watching those videos!

 

More soon :)

 Tamar xx

I {heart} chocolate! - a giveaway :)

Chocolate gets a fairly regular mention on my blog and in my recipes - so imagine my joy when I was contacted by NuffNang to see if I would be interested in testing the new Bar of Plenty blocks of chocolate from Cadbury. While I rarely have any a specific advertising I happened to already have a half eaten block of the Roast Hazelnut and Honey Roast Cashew in my fridge and they were promising to send me some more! Vanessa also asked if I'd like to host a sweet giveaway for my readers so I quickly agreed.

My package arrived last week and after already eating a block or two ( it's been a busy week! LOL ) I  wanted to try something different with the ones I was was given so the girls and I had a quick think tank about our favourite chocolate recipes and which ones we should try these out on.

For the record Cadbury have released two new flavours - Bar of Plenty Oven Roasted hazelnut and cashews gently flavoured with honey & Berry fruit and crunchy vanilla shortcake. The hazelnut one is my favourite  and the berry one is the girls favourite - but we really will eat both very happily roflol

So for our first recipe share we have a great dessert - decadent though soooo simple and never fail. Inexpensive too - under $5 in total. The Bar of Plenty chocolate is on special in my local woolies I noticed the other day. - even better right?  ( It's also available at Coles and IGA )

Bar Of Plenty Chocolate Mousse

Ingredients

• Roast Hazelnut and Honey Roast Cashew Cadbury Chocolate  ( 190gm block )
• 450mls pouring cream
• Strawberries for decoration ( optional )

Break the chocolate into pieces

Melt  -in the microwave - 2 minutes on 70 % heat

Whip the cream until soft peaks form

Fold the melted chocolate into the cream

Place in cups

Pop some strawberries on top. Refrigerate until required.

 

YUM YUM YUM

If you want to make it for 6 people I would recommend 600ml of cream and two of the Bars of Plenty.

I used the Hazelnut and Honey Roast Cashew chocolate for this recipe  but I think the Berry Fruit
and Crunchy Vanilla Shortcake one would make a wicked mousse as well and you could top it with raspberries!

For your chance to win a $50 worth of chocolate goodies from Cadbury all you need to do is answer the following question-

“Why are you in love with Chocolate”?

Blog or tweet the giveaway and pop back here and let me know and that will give you another chance to win :)

Entries will close on the 5pm EST on 20 September 2010 and I will draw a winner shortly after.

Make sure you check back as I'll be sharing our second recipe using the Berry fruit and crunchy vanilla shortcake chocolate when I announce the winner.

Happy chocolate eating  :)

PS Cadbury is running a promotion too and you can read up more about their new chocolate on their site. This  giveaway is sponsored by Nuffnang and Cadbury.

Please see the terms and conditions Download FINAL TCs

 

 

 

Awesome Find

Loving these free  psd files and series of actions available over at the Coffee Shop blog

this one in particular because its takes all the guess work and mucking around out of editing

I love smaller prints for projects but I don't like paying 80c for a print that costs me 15c usually. That's how much it cost me to get a wallet size print done and I can only have 4 of the same image unless i edit them myself

so with this freebie download I can quickly thow 4 pictures on a page with or without borders and get my 6 x 4 print done :)

Rita even has a whole series fo tutorials to help you pull something like this together if you don't already know how :)

I like this one too

there are heaps well worth a look

Lucky Winner is ...

Congratulations Vanessa!!! and thank you to all who entered tweeted and blogged.

This was very fun. I'll have to think of a new one to do again soon :)