Giveaway - Suck pads for slings!

In honour of finishing my year of a craft project a week, I am having a giveaway!  You may remember me making these suck pads at the start of last year.  I made quite a few, both to sell and as gifts. I seem to have made an extra set so I would like to pass them on to somebody who needs them.

These suck pads are made with a cotton layer, a layer of bamboo and backed with PUL (to stop the dribble soaking through). They have three snaps to hold them together.  Each suck pad measures approximately 15x23cms.  These ones are made with cute 'Cat in the Hat' fabric.

Please comment on this post and leave your email to enter.  Competition closes on the 31st of January at midnight.  Winner will be chosen at random.

Feel free to share this post!  

First Haircuts!

We have started off the year with first haircuts for both Gideon and Esme.  They were well overdue for haircuts with Gideon's hair constantly falling in his hairs and Esme's hair getting hard to manage with the amount of knots it was getting.  Both of them were really good for the cuts - Gideon almost fell asleep he was so relaxed! 

Before: I love this photo of Gideon - it's like he's saying 'help, get this hair out of my eyes!'

After: no longer looking like my 'little' boy.

Before: Esme's hair was really long!!

After: much easier to manage!

The problem with being skinny

Huh?  I can hear you thinking already.  What's the problem with being skinny?

Well, quite a bit if you're me.  I've always been a bit on the slimmer side but since having kids and being either pregnant or breastfeeding (or both) for the past 6 and a half years I seem to have lost a bit of weight.  Technically I am only on the borderline of being 'underweight' according to the BMI calculator but physically I know I am not healthy. I always feel exhausted, I often feel sick or emotionally low, and I often catch viruses that are going around.

It's not that I'm eating unhealthy.  We actually eat pretty healthily around here.  It's just that after attending to all the kids' needs I often can't be bothered making something for myself.  I also don't like that feeling of being overfull so will usually graze across the day which probably doesn't equate to a decent meal!  And then there's the problem that I get sick of the same old thing day after day (and I'm too lazy to think of something different to eat) so often just won't eat.  I know I need to focus more on myself and my needs instead of the kids (something I'm going to work on this year!!)

It's interesting to see how being thin is perceived in the community though.  Other people will often look at me and comment positively about how skinny I am.  Depending on who it is, I will usually just accept the compliment and not bother explaining that being 'this' skinny is not necessarily a good thing! Lots of people just don't 'get it'. 

It always bewilders me how people can view being skinny as healthy yet those that are a little 'larger' are unhealthy.  I guess it's just the images we are hit with in the media that makes skinny seem more attractive.  And I guess I can't blame people for being indoctrinated into these beliefs.

I think it's about time that we change our perceptions though.  Skinny does not always equal healthy.  And being large does not always equal unhealthy.  Let's refrain from making judgements about people based on their body size.  Meanwhile, I'm going to focus on looking after me and making sure I eat well so that I can be a healthier person! 

Craft Project a week: That's all folks!

I am so excited that I've actually followed through on the craft project a week challenge that I began at the start of the year.  It's been hard at times to get something made each week, especially when myself or the kids have been sick or there's been lots of other stuff going on.  There's also been times when I haven't really felt like pulling out the sewing machine yet again, but I've done it regardless.  And really, sewing does make me feel better when I get into it - it's just the getting started bit that's the hardest! 

So this is what I have made this year...

For Esme
2 shirred dresses
Shorts and top set
3 pinafores
2 pairs of flared pants
Patchwork skirt and top
Sundress
1 pair of pyjama pants

For Jacob
1 pair of pants with cuffs
Applique t-shirt
Slippers
Reversible sun hat
1 pair shorts with cuffs
1 pair of pyjama pants

For Gideon
2 pairs of pants with cuffs
1 pair of big butt pants
1 pair of up-cycled pants
3 appliqued tops
Reversible sun hat

For me
Patchwork skirt
1 pair of pyjama pants

Toys
Felt fishing set
2 felt farmhouse bag and animals
Owl finger puppets

Gifts
Cross stitched dress
6 appliqued tops
Patchwork skirt and top
Shirred dress
1 pair pants with cuffs
3 pinafores
Slippers
Kids' apron
4 appliqued wheatbags
4 wheatbags
Seatbelt covers

Other
11 sets of sling suck pads
Sleeping set
Glasses case
Up-cycled apron
Granny squares
5 fairy skirts
Fairy wings
Christmas gift bags

Quite an impressive list when I look back on it.  I'm amazed and proud at what I've managed to achieve this year - even with our velcro baby who prefers to sleep in our arms rather than a bed!  It does help to have a supportive husband - I don't think I could have done it without him. 

So...what project to set myself next year??






Nah, I think I might actually have a year off!! 

Week 52 of Craft Project a week: The Very Hungry Little Caterpillar

I've had these Very Hungry Little Caterpillar fabrics sitting in my cupboard for nearly a year now.  I knew I would use them one day but wanted to make sure it was for something special.  When a friend of mine posted some photos of pants she'd made using this big butt pants pattern and some Very Hungry Little Caterpillar fabric I knew exactly what I wanted to do.  A matching top was easy to make too.  I just cut out a circle of fabric with the caterpillar on and then appliqued it on to the t-shirt. 

The front of the pants - with all the fruit lined up

The back of the pants - the Very Hungry Caterpillar

And I can't possibly finish this post without a photo of that big butt in question. The pants are still a little long but he'll grow into them.  It's great to have a pair of pants that fit nicely over a cloth nappy!

Cashew nut cream

Dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, sugar-free

Cashew nut cream is an all round favourite in our house.  We use it as a sweet dip for fruit and as a replacement for yoghurt and cream seeing Jacob can't have dairy.  It's amazing how yum it is with just a few simple ingredients.   

Cashew Nut Cream 

Ingredients
115g raw cashew nuts
125ml coconut milk
1 tablespoon maple syrup, or to taste
1/2-1tsp natural vanilla extract, or to taste

Method
Soak the nuts and 1/2tsp of salt in a bowl of water overnight at room temperature.
Strain the nuts and rinse well.  Add the remaining ingredients and process until very smooth (the thermomix is great for getting it really smooth!) Adjust the sweetness with maple syrup and vanilla, as desired.  The cashew nut cream will keep for a week in the fridge.

Recipe originally from Jude Blereau's 'Wholefood for children'. 

Apricot balls

Dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, sugar-free

Apricot Balls

Ingredients
2 cups cashews
1/4 cup coconut
1 tsp vanilla extract
200g dried apricots
1 tbsp coconut oil
extra coconut for dusting

Method
Place cashews, coconut, vanilla and apricots into thermomix.  Blend until finely ground (about 1 minute on speed 6) 
Add the coconut oil and mix until it comes together.
Roll into small balls and dust with coconut