Mascara

I forget sometimes that the kids watch what we do and remember it! Owen found my mascara and tried to put it on. This was the result :)

Guitar Strap

One day, Owen had his guitar and was asking for a "boit seat" which frustrated me to no-end as I has no ideas what he was on about. I soon learnt in the car that "boit seat" meant seat belt but he kept saying it when he has his guitar.

I finally worked out that what he wanted was a guitar strap- a seat belt for his guitar!

anyway, I got some elastic from my sewing stuff, taped to the one end and tied it around the neck and he was happy :)

Aaliya reading books :)

Aaliya quite enjoys books. She lies with Stu and Owen as they read their bedtime story. She like turning pages and pointing at pictures.

The photos below she is looking at a touch and feel book and in some pics she is feeling the textured pics.

She's so clever :)

Aaliya is 9 months old!

Here are some pictures of Aaliya on the day she turned 9 months old.

The stair climber

Aaliya's new thing is climbing stairs. She loves it. I let her do it in the hope that some day soon she will get sick of it.

Owen is a great policeman, always letting me know when Aaliya is heading for the stairs and/or climbing up them.

Owen clever number revelation

Owen has foam numbers that he plays with in the bath. He knows all his numbers 1-9 but last night we were impressed when he picked up the 6 and said "this way 6, this way 9". Not only were we impressed by the fact that he had the concept, but also his use of language to tell us so :)

Where's Aaliya - there she is!

Aaliya has been doing this for a couple of months now she hold something on front of her face, waits till we say "where's Aaliya", then bring the cloth down with a big smile on her face. This time we caught the action in some photo's (It just happened to be the same day as the food colouring) :)

Updated Upholstery samples skirt

A-line skirt, made from upholstery samples plus arm-band - Updated

A little while back I wrote about a skirt that I made from upholstery samples. Well now I've added to it. This time I'll write about it in a little more detail.

I went Reverse Garbage where I found upholstery samples. I found 3 of the same set for $1 each. This is what I started with.


When I got home I overlocked them and washed them. Then I overlocked them together and used that as though it were a piece of fabric. I got one of my fav skirts and used it to cut out the skirt and then sewed it up and sewed in elastic. This is what I got (front and back).

Then last week as I was cleaning out my fabric stash, I found the scraps. I thought I would make some embellishments. I set the sewing machine to small zig zag stitch with a stitch length less than 1. I then sewed a shape of a flower (which I had already drawn and just followed) then cut the out and sewed onto the skirt. Thet will fray up to the point of the stitching. I also sewed some onto an armband that I made with a velcro fastener. Here's what I have now.

Owen the spunk!


Owen borrowed his Aunty Mindi's glasses - he's so cool :)

Why I love CLOTH NAPPIES

I LOVE my cloth nappies. I have trouble understanding why people immediately dismiss cloth nappies as being too hard or other reasons.

Cloth nappies have changed. They are no longer confined to terry towelling squares with PVC plicher covers (though some people still do it this way and don't have any problems). Now, putting on a cloth nappy is just as easy as a disposable, but you just don't throw it out when you've finished with it.

Why I love cloth nappies:

1. SOOOO much cheaper - buying disposable is so expensive. The initial cost of buying cloth may seem expensive but it only takes a month or two to pay themselves off when compared to buying disposables. Even cheaper if you make them yourself (like I do). Some people argue that they are time intensive because of washing and drying, but if 30 mins of my time a week (hanging and folding) is going to save me in excess of $30 per week, that is a choice I am happy to make

2. More environmentally friendly - Some people say that studies have shown that disposables use just as much energy and water as cloth nappies due to the water and energy used to wash this. This is a cop-out excuse to make themselves feel better and is SO LAME.

• This website is great for outlining the differences between energy/water in cloth and disposable - disposable vs cloth

• Cloth nappies significantly less to landfill (well duh - you don't have be a rocket scientist to work that one out)

• It seems that cloth nappies, when considering washing, are more energy efficient (and less greenhouse gases result), but seem to use more water. While water is a precious resource, at least it is renewable (as our state government is just about to prove with the introduction of recycled water).

3. My cloth nappies LOOK so much better than yucky digustables (I mean disposables). They are pocket nappies (a cover with a pocket in it where half a nappy goes for absorbancy) and are so easy to use and look awesome. The pattern was devised by my friend, and on her website has put together an easy to follow lesson and pattern to show how to make them - nappy tutorial.
I have been using this nappy for nearly two years on Owen and haven't looked back :)

Here are some photos of my cuties in their clothies :)
more photos to come

Here is another new skirt that I made for Aaliya. I love these tiered skirts because they are so easy to make.

I made it out of the remnants from a pouch sling that I made. I had long strips of fabric that I needed used and this the result.

Ain't she cute :)

Happy Birthday Stu :)

Stu's birthday was in this past week. He turned 29 this year - next year being the big 30!

It was just a quiet one - a few pressies, dinner at his parents house with a few family and friends. A Jaffa mud cake made by Kara.

Here are a few photos....

Happy Birthday Stu :)

2007 - The Year of "WAKE UP PEOPLE, YOUR KILLING THE PLANET".

There seems to be a real wake up call in the last few months about the environment - well duh people! Climate Change, calls for reduction in greenhouse gases and energy consumption are all over the media.....

It seems that Al Gore has made a great impact on people with his documentary "An Inconvenient Truth". Great job Al, you deserve a MASSIVE pat on the back. Glad you have thrust these issues into the spotlight. Makes me feel a little better too, cause now it seems to be quite fashionable to be environmentally aware - YAY - my ramblings are cool and I'm not being paranoid :).

Our aim, as a family, is to try and live as green as we can, without completely compromising our lifestyle - to be modern day greenies. Keep in mind that we have a young family - so convenience to some degree is still important or else I would lose my sanity.

It's easy. Things we have done (a while ago) to start was change our lights from incandescence's to fluro's. We have tried to buy energy and water efficient appliances. I try feed my family fresh foods in order to minimize the energy spent on creating packaging, not to mention reduce landfill. I am becoming quite conscious about how much packaging some foods come in and try to make appropriate choices.

Today we are getting a heat pump hot water system, which was recommended as the most energy efficient system for our house (over a roof mounted solar hot water system).

What are you doing? I need this planet healthy for my kids.....