20 March 2012

Letter to a Meanie-pants


Dear Ms. Meanie-pants,
I got your comment on my Indian Headdress post today and after I had banished it to the [SPAM] folder, I got to thinking...

Firstly I wondered how much free time you must have, and why you'd waste valuable minutes going round spreading meanness about other people's work.

Secondly I wondered what kind of small-spirited person would want to be so nasty to someone they've never even met (who wasn't even posting about something controversial, just a humble glue-gun  project).

Thirdly I wondered what kind of day you were having? My guess is probably a bad one if my poor little post offended you so much you felt it necessary to leave such a scathing comment...


I see that your screen name is "Serenity Quest".
I clicked on your profile to get a clue about what kind of person would leave such a comment, and saw your by-line "My search for serenity amongst 4 very individual kids, constant remodeling, and homesteading adventures"
That's kind of ironic, really.

You're seeking serenity but going around spreading nastiness.
Honey, let me tell you, if you want inner peace, you've got to spread kindness not meanness.
Meanness will only leave a bitter taste in your mouth.
And nobody wants to be friends with a mean person.

I also see that your blog is completely empty. Not one post.
Is this because you are such a perfectionist, endlessly educating yourself before you attempt to produce something? Is it because if you can't make something perfect, you won't make it at all?


Or do you think if you post something there will be a whole lot of meanies who will come along and criticise your efforts? Maybe you expect the rest of the blogging world to be as mean and judemental as you.

Man, that is sad. I feel sorry for you.

Hey, my photos may not be the prettiest in the world, but at least I'm sharing my ideas and doing something. My feather headdresses might not be perfect, but they'll do the job nicely for what they're needed for.

Even though I may not be the world's best photographer or crafter, my bloggy friends appreciate my efforts. They see my heart and they encourage me. Friends are nice like that.
I made all those friends by being kind, by encouraging others, by looking for good and commenting on that. 



Listen Ms. Mean, there's enough meanness in the world. You might make some friends if you try kindness for a change.

But if kindness is a bit of a stretch, I was always taught, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."
You might like to try that sometime.

By the way, I forgive you for leaving me a mean comment. I figure you're probably having a bad day/week/year and were just taking out your frustrations on a random stranger.
All the best with the blogging and the "being kind"...


Yours Sincerely from





P.S. As you can see I have removed the photo which offended you so much. I admit I did look pretty haggard in it, but it had been a long day.

As for the rest, well, I admit it would have been better if my small model had cooperated and given me a proper smile... but sometimes kids just don't want to perform like seals, ya know?

So yeah, not the most brilliant piece of photographic work I've ever done, but certainly not worthy of being called "the most appalling on the internet".

I mean, really! there's far worse than that out there in cyberspace. But I won't pick on any, because guess what? That would be mean.



.....................

This was the first time anyone's left me a really mean comment. I could have ignored it, but I felt like I needed to "stand up" to this mean bully, for the sake of my confidence.

Have you ever had a mean comment left on a post? What did you do?
19 March 2012

Best in Blog - Monday Linky

{Source}

Somehow Mondays are just a little bit easier with this linky to look forward to...
Firstly I don't have to think up something to post (I just have to find a cool "best" picture, which is fun).
Secondly I get to check out the best of YOU and be inspired with everything from inspiring words and gorgeous photography to delicious recipes.

There was a lot to love on last weeks' linky, and I promised to feature my favourites.
It was a tough choice. I couldn't choose just one.
Three posts made my list, all for different reasons.

My favourites from Last Week's linky...
Meghan from MNM's wowed me with her amazing photos of a Wind Farm. I was gobsmacked with the size and scale of those things (I had no idea they were so big) and entranced with her poetic words to match.

Ange from Tall Short and Tiny inspired me with her not-so-boring meatloaf recipe. I made it for dinner that night and it was as delicious as she promised it would be. I now have a new easy meal to add to my dinner menu arsenal.

Brigitte from Stay at Home Mama touched me with the beautiful photos of her baby asleep in his daddy's arm, and the moving words which accompanied them.

Those were my favourites from the best of you last week.

{A Movie Night at Casa Team G}

The Best of Me
As for the best of me? Well, since I've become more of a playful mama, I am trying to be very good and only blog when my kids are not around which means there's been more "quality" than "quantity" lately.

I think maybe from last week the post I put the most work into was "Wisdom from Hollywood"... about kids movies and how they are the parables of today.

At the same time I updated my "Family Movie Reviews"... so you can head over there for our rating of a whole bunch of family movies.


(But just quietly, the post I enjoyed making the most was the Hot Cross buns one. So delicious!)


How to join in with my "Best in Blog" linky.

The "Best in Blog" Linky opens at 7am every Monday (NZ time*) and closes midnight Friday.
You don't have to write a special post, or take a photo on a theme or anything that requires extra work...
All you have to do is pick your favourite post from the past week (the one you are most proud of) and share it with us. I will feature my favourites on next week's Best in Blog.

Just one thing you need to do before you link up... Can you please dress your post with this pretty button I've made so your readers can find our linky too?



Best in Blog
Thankyou kindly!

(Oh, and please leave us a comment telling us why you picked this one... even if it was because it was your only one, hahaha!)

*For some of you US readers, that will be sometime on Sunday!


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17 March 2012

Make an Easy Feather Headdress


A month out from Scrag's Peter Pan party, production is in full swing.
For one of the party games, we'll be having an "Indian War dance" version of "Statues" around the fake campfire, in front of the teepee we will make.*

I envisage this War Dance* being led by some adult willing to make a fool of themselves lead the fun (probably my husband). So I looked online to find out about hiring an Indian War Bonnet*. Damn, those things are expensive to hire! I reckoned I could make a decent enough job of one myself, with my trusty glue gun - and I was right.

It took me all of ten minutes, and cost next-to-nothing. I'm also making a single-feather version for each of the "braves" - which they can then take home with them.


Here's how to do it, just in case you ever want a Wild West or Peter Pan party...

What You Need:
glue gun and plenty of extra glue sticks
a length of webbing, preferably stretchy*
a packet of longish feathers, any colour
a packet of multi-coloured feathers from a craft shop
Two extra-long white feathers for the sidebars

* I got mine from Geoff's Emproium for .50c a metre - and it was even stretchy!

  1. Determine the size by wrapping the webbing around your head; allow some overlap for gluing. Apply hot glue along one side of the overlapped webbing and quickly press together.
  2. Once glue is cooled and set, attach the feathers with hot glue to the inside of the band as shown.
  3. Make sure the tallest feathers are at the front. Multi-coloured feathers make for a more impressive headdress!
  4. Attach the two white feathers hanging down, on either side of where the wearer's face will be.
That's it! 




Now for the little Braves' feather headbands...


Use the same type of webbing; measure the length by wrapping it around your child's head. Create the basic headband as shown above. Hot-glue a tall feather onto the inside of the band.

If your child insists on putting the feather at the front (when you meant for it to be at the back) that's OK. Let the kids wear them however they want.


In fact, instead of making them all the same (like you intended to) you can individualise them by sticking a tuft of different coloured feathers on to the front of the tall feather. Now there should be no mix-ups about which belongs to who.



Easy huh?

Now I just need to go back and get some more of that awesome stretchy brown webbing from Geoffs; I've run out and I'm only half done. Luckily these headbands take only a few minutes to make or I would be there all week... {man I ♥ my glue gun}


*Disclaimer: In no way is this headdress or my planned party games meant to be culturally insulting to Native Americans and their traditions or costumes. This is meant for a "Peter Pan" Birthday Party for three and four year olds. "Indians" feature in the classic story by JM Barrie, and both the Disney cartoon film and the 2003 live action version. I have no idea whether my humble little feather headband might be stepping on somebody's culturally sensitive toes, but if I am, I sincerely apologise. No insult or slight was intended. I am from New Zealand. I have no idea whether I am being accidentally politically incorrect! Just saying.
16 March 2012

A Whole Lotta Lovin'


See this ball of happiness?
Just a bit of cuteness from school Cross Country races today.


But not all was smiling and laughing.
There were plenty of tears today.
If you've been around for a while you might remember last year's cross country, where Miss Fab won her race in tremendous style.

This year we knew it would be a harder race. Three times as many runners, girls from Year Four as well as Year Three, twice the distance to run... We tried to prepare our little champion as best we could.


She seemed to have it sussed when she told me yesterday: "Don't worry mum, I know I won't come last, and all that matters is that I do my best and enjoy it."
Yeah, sweetie, that's the attitude!

The reality of keeping your head in the right space on Race Day though, is something altogether different. When you wake up to a tummy dancing with butterflies, its hard to keep calm.
Before we even left home she was begging not to run and complaining of a headache. She ran anyway.


When I saw her come down the field, I knew she was struggling. She was walking, obviously exhausted, but then dug deep and ran the rest of the way. She came in tenth in a field of over sixty girls -which is awesome - but Miss Fab was gutted by how she felt running.


"I couldn't find my breath, mummy!" she told me in tears, as she collapsed into my arms.
It's a big jump going from Year Two to Year Three.

As a non-runner, I admire my girl's courage and guts. She ran even when she didn't feel well. She couldn't find her rhythm and still managed to come tenth. I am so impressed.
And grateful to have such a gutsy girl for my daughter.


One of the coolest things though, was how Dash had got all his friends cheering for his sister. Miss Fab said that as she ran around the field she could hear them chanting all the way, "GO AB-BY! GO AB-BY!"

She went over after the race to thank her big brother for his support. It brought tears to my eyes, I tellya.
Loving the love that is growing between brother and sister lately. Grateful for every bit of love and kindness I see sprouting between them.

{"Tenth" is awesome... Dash came tenth as well!}
Dash was running too. He ran a good race, and managed to sprint at the end and pass some other runners, coming in tenth - one better than last year in a tougher field.

{Which made me grateful that my competitive son is showing strong signs of good sportsmanship - the ability to give his best and still smile if he doesn't come first.}
{Dash sprints and finishes strong, after giving 100%}


 Of course Dash had a very enthusiastic cheering section too...


If you can't beat em, join em, I say!


I can't help it if I get a bit carried away when my kids are involved!

We've been getting so much closer since I've been focusing on regular "play" with each of them, (which of course I LOVE and am hugely grateful for).


Fridays are mine and Scrag's special day together now that I've dropped Friday morning kindy. {This was a play session involving a family of giraffes and a rug-swimming race in my messy bedroom.}


Scrag loves it. And wants to bring the giraffe family on all kinds of field trips...


I just have to remember to put my camera where he can't reach it! Yep, these are SELF PORTRAITS that I never knew he took until I went to upload my photos... {grateful my camera survived}


And finally. Mum and dad have moved into their new house... and passed on a few treasures to me that they no longer have space for. Like this antique sewing machine table which now decorates the corner of my duck-egg blue living room. Love Love Love it. And you can bet I was grateful.

So grateful for this and all my other new treasures. Like the antique china lamp bases Mum gave me today. But you'll have to wait til next week for a glimpse of them, because I have rambled on for long enough now.



What? You're waiting to find out who won the Bakers Delight vouchers?
OK, here goes...

Hot Cross Bun Voucher Winners
(1) Jen
(2) KiwiMama
(3) Linda B

Congrats girls! Email me on greatfun4kids@live.com and let me know your address and I'll pop them in the post to you!

PLUS, some good news on the gluten free buns front - BakeWorks are bringing out their NEW Gluten Free hot cross buns in supermarkets from next week - so if you're in NZ and gluten free... look out for those!

{Will Miss Fab need to go incognito now that she's famous?}

Ooh just one more little thing...

Me and Miss Fab got blog-recognised in Countdown today!

It was after cross country and she was a bit under the weather so I signed her out of school and we went to visit Mum and dad, stopping to pick up some gluten free treats to take for morning tea.
We were in the bread aisle, when a smiley lady came up to me and said, "Are you Simone? I read your blog!"
She recognised Miss Fab from her photos, and told me that I had inspired her to start her own blog... isn't that great?
So *hi Claire!* You totally made our day, and Miss Fab was buzzing all day because she's "famous".
...................

This was actually a very mixed-bag week, with some awfulness and some awesomeness. In this post I have focused on my highs, because as PaisleyJade says:

I wholeheartedly believe that no matter what is happening in your life, there is always something that you can be thankful for... no matter how simple it is. 









14 March 2012

Wisdom from Hollywood



I find myself quoting Yoda quite often these days.
“Fear and anger are the path to the dark side…”
Dash is a Star Wars nut and you'd be surprised how many deep conversations have occurred as a result. Obi Wan, Anakin and co have much to teach us - which is very useful when you're talking about life with your kid.

“Son, you need to let that go and forgive that person…”
“But mum it’s too hard.”
“Don’t you remember that fear and anger are the path to the dark side…?”
“Huh?”
“Remember how Anakin was scared of losing Padme after he had those bad dreams…?  {nodding} …so he listened to Palpatine’s lies?”
“Oh yeah and when the sand people killed his mother he got really angry and killed them all, aye?”
“That was the start of it… and look what he lost! His family, his friends…”
“Yeah, he ended up really ugly with his face burnt off in the lava…”

Thanks Anakin. Your mistakes are a great signpost for my kid. He can relate.

{Pointless or pathetic kids movies we wish hadn't spent money on}

That’s what I love about movies.
They are rich with meaning and snippets of wisdom we can steal (as well as being a whole lot of fun).
Not all movies of course. Some are a complete waste of time and have no hidden meaning or deeper message at all (Open Season - why?)

But the best ones. There’s always a little kernel of deeper truth we can use in our parental lectures.

“I want one! I want one right now!”
“Er, what’s that Varuca Salt??”
“I’m not Varuca Salt!”
“Well you sound just like her. Sorry I thought for a minute that was Varuca talking…”


Varuca Salt is the nasty spoilt brat from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”.
Whether its the cheesy seventies flick or the slightly weird Johnny Depp version - Varuca has life lessons for all. 
“Stop being a Varuca!” is often heard quoted around our place.

Actually we can learn a lot from Willie Wonka’s whole gang.
Greedy Augustus Gloop who got his "just desserts"; Violet Beauregard who just wouldn’t listen. Mike TeeVee who thought he knew everything… Charlie Bucket who had nothing but stayed honest and gained everything… The Chocolate Factory is truly rich material!


There is plenty of wisdom to be found in kids movies, if you know where to look. Take the original Cars movie where Lightning McQueen learns about the value of friendship, fair play and what it takes to be a real winner.

Discussing this story with my ultra-competitive sports-mad son really made him stop and think.
Is winning at all costs worth it?
Does helping and caring for others actually make you feel like a winner even if you don’t get the trophy?
If you have to cheat to cross the line first, does that count as a win?
Thanks Lightning McQueen, you’re a winner in my book.

{Starring Taylor Lautner as SharkBoy in his pre-Vampire days}

Another one of my favourites is “The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl.”
It’s a movie about having a dream, and discovering who you are.

“Everything that is or was began with a dream.” – Lava Girl
“So Dream a better Dream and then work to make it real…” –Max

There were some great conversations after watching that movie.


Alvin and the Chipmunks” looks like pure silliness at first glance. But even this movie can be quoted to kids who won’t go to bed and want to eat sweets til their teeth rot out of their heads! The movie shows that too much of a good thing can be a bad thing! And people who care about you will give you limits, and make you go to bed at a reasonable hour, not feed you sweeties all day. You’ve got to love that.

In every culture there are stories, fables and parables which have been used to teach lessons about life, what’s true and what’s important.


In New Zealand we have Maori legends like Maui and the Sun (resourcefulness); Bible stories and parables like the Good Samaritan (kindness); Aesop’s Fables from Ancient Greece like the hare and the Tortoise (perseverance)… Stories are the way human beings have always passed on wisdom.

Movies are the parables and fables of our day. Movies speak our kids’ language.
They might not be able to relate so much to Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox (unless Pixar eventually makes a movie) but they can probably relate to Nemo and Simba. Gabriella and Troy. Lightning McQueen. Charlie Bucket. Anakin. Luke.


When we sit down for a family DVD night, I have my antennae up… is there a message I can use? Is there a story I can tuck away for some future heart-to-heart??

So, pop the popcorn, dim the lights... and discover the wealth of wisdom hidden in children’s entertainment.

.........................


What's your favourite "family movie"? Seen any good ones lately (or any duds?)

** This post is adapted from an article I wrote for Parenting Magazine last year 
12 March 2012

One-a-penny, two-a-penny... Hot Cross Buns!



One of the best things about this time of the year is that it's Hot Cross Bun season -- which totally sucks when you're supporting your daughter who is gluten-free.

Never mind. I will stick to my guns. Investigate a GF recipe. Resist temptation. Stay far away from the bakery aisle...

Then comes the email from Bakers Delight, offering me Buns for my Family to Taste Test.
Oh so tempting. But...do they do Gluten Free ones? No??? Bummer.

I am about to say, No thankyou very much, when I think of a cunning plan.
Playgroup. I can share the buns with the Playgroup I run at my house every Monday morning. 
Miss Fab will be at school. What she doesn't know won't hurt her.
And I can sneak just one or two can't I?

I accept the offer and let the girls know the good news...


The nice lady at Bakers Delight even arranges to have the buns delivered in time for playgroup Monday morning. No need for me to rush and juggle setting up train-tracks with battling morning traffic.


As the girls arrive, they are greeted by the cinnamony scent of Hot Cross Buns, warming in the oven.

Actually, no. The first to arrive have to let themselves in, as I race to finish eliminating the smoke from Mr G's "well-cooked" breakfast sausages. But soon the yeasty spicy smell of warming buns banishes the pong of burnt sausage and we can close the windows. Phew.

Let the Bun-Tasting begin.



From the start we are divided quite clearly into two* camps....


At one end of the table is "Team Traditional" - stoic fans of the original flavour, complete with cinnamon and currants...


At the other end are "Team Chocolate"- die-hard chocolate eaters who favour choc chips over raisins.

I myself am firmly rooted and grounded in "Team Traditional".
None of your new-fangled flavours for me. Don't offer me jam. Lovely REAL Hot Cross Buns don't require anything more than some butter. Or Olivani if you're dairy-free.

* We didn't get to taste-test the "mocha" flavoured buns as some bakeries are not making them yet. Bummer.


As the buns are devoured, the debate rages. Traditional vs. chocolate.
Trying to keep an open mind, we give the other kind a try.
Hmmmmmm. Not bad.


But still, we know what we like.


At the chocolate end of the table, it dawns on someone that her life-long aversion to Hot Cross Buns was because she detests raisins. Chocolate Hot Cross buns are life-changing. Hehe.

Scrag is definite in his devotion to "the white kind" (he means the ones with the white "cross"; the chocolate ones have a chocolate cross on them)...




All the kids have their own preference...


But are unanimous in their love of buns in general...




The result?
A bunch of very satisfied mummies and kids, united in their love of Bakers Delight Hot Cross Buns.
Between us we polished off twenty-four buns.
Not a scrap left.

(Except for the one Scrag found under the table when everyone had gone. Delighted that it was his favourite "white kind", he asked me to "keep it safe and put in his kindy lunch tomorrow please!")


Thankyou Bakers Delight for a lovely morning tea. We give your buns a huge thumbs up!


..........................

Get your hands on some buns...
I have three $10 vouchers from Bakers Delight to give away to one of you sweet bun-lovin' readers.

TO ENTER: Leave a comment telling me your favourite way to eat Hot Cross Buns ...oven-baked or microwaved cos you just can't wait? with jam or just butter? Are you a "traditional" or "chocolate" bun lover?

I will make the draw on Friday and announce the winners on my "Things I'm Loving" post.

THE FINE PRINT: You need to live in New Zealand (near a Bakers Delight!) to enter. Sorrreeeee.