6.30.2012

guestpost // 5 kids’ movies every millennium child should see

I’m going to say it: they don’t make kids movies like they used to. Sure, the technology is getting better and the graphics are more impressive… but is it just me or is the heart and story missing from most of them? Just me? Probably. But don’t tell me you don’t think the movies we knew as kids (or our parents knew) weren’t just that much better.

Case in point: these are the top 5 kids movies I would make sure any child who ever enters my life (whether as a niece or nephew, or simply the children of friends) sees before I ever sit them down in front of Cars 2.

The Sandlot

Ok, yeah, not the most critically-acclaimed movie. But those horror stories of the monster dog next door, and the adventures of this boy’s baseball team had me hooked. I still get goosebumps every time I hear “for.ev.er. for.ev.er.”

Bedknobs and Broomsticks

This is mainly on my list because my mom really loved watching this with me. It’s a fun little story about a witch played by Angela Lansbury (Murder She Wrote, anyone?) who hopes to stop a Nazi invasion of Britain, while also taking care of 3 kids. What more do you need than magic, animated characters and a flying bed?!

The Nightmare before Christmas

Tim Burtons at his best! Amiright?! Sure, it’s scary at times, and really creepy at others, but it has a great message behind it. And what other film could be both a Halloween and Christmas classic?

A Little Princess

Such a sweet story about a free-spirited little girl orphaned at a girl’s boarding school when her father dies in the war. I cried the first time I watched it. And then I decided I needed to be Sara Crewe when I grew up. Also, it has the best breakfast scene ever (until it’s ruined, that is).

Toy Story

How could I not include this? I’d dare say it’s one of the best movies ever made, for kids or adults!


What are the top kids’ movies you would want any child born today to see?


thanks yael!! be sure to stop by her blog and say hi!

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6.29.2012

pretty things









one // two // three // four // five // six // seven

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storenvy store of the day

just a quick hi to say that i was lucky enough to be the storenvy store of the day yesterday!! it's means so much! thanks for all of your support xx


i'll be back later with some pretty things for you :)

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6.28.2012

banana//butterscotch flapjack



last week lola and i were making flapjack, spied some butterscotch chips in the cupboard and decided to throw them in, added a couple overripe bananas and out came the most delicious tasting flapjack! the first batch went down a treat at home and at my knitting group. this week when i was baking some cakes, more of this flapjack was demanded and several people asked for the recipe on twitter. so here it is!

note: these weights are approximate - i don't tend to weigh things out when making flapjack, i just go on how it looks.

you'll need:
250g rolled oats
150g butter
75g golden syrup
75g dark brown sugar
75g butterscotch chips
2 largeish ripe bananas, mashed

melt the butter, sugar and syrup together, then mash in the bananas. stir in the rolled oats, and lastly the butterscotch chips. put the mixture into a greased cake tin, and bake at 175 °C (Gas Mark 4) for 25/30 mins.

turn out, allow to cool and cut into squares. enjoy!!



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happiness is....

 'happiness is...' -  each week we'll meet two lovely ladies to find out what happiness is to them.... if you'd like to take part please drop me an email :)

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what makes you happiest? Falling into bed with my little boy at the end of the day, watching his chest rise and fall as he dreams himself in to a deeper sleep, desperately wanting to stroke his hair as I marvel at how incredible he is. Or when my favourite cup is clean for my morning coffee ;)

do you have a ‘happy place’?
I have this special walk I go on near where I live when I need some clarity and peace. It's surrounded by the most beautiful nature and whenever I'm there I'm able to appreciate and remember how mind blowingly remarkable life and earth is. I'm always able to live in the moment there and come away feeling refreshed and calm.

do you have a favourite happy song?
I find reggae in general makes me so happy, I can't help but get up and dance to the rhythmical beat, shaking off any stresses and in general pull off some awesome Dad dance moves! I also love Curtis Mayfield "Move on up" for a musical high and Lionel Richie "Easy like a Sunday morning" Just for the sheer happiness it brings me to air guitar during the epic guitar solo.

what gets you past a bad day?
Hearing my sons contagious hearty chuckle without a doubt.

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what makes you happiest?
Laying in the grass on a blanket and just breathing. I allow myself to drop out of my head and into stillness and simplicity and every single time I experience such a sense of peace and gratitude for every single person and every single thing in my life, even the ones I struggle with otherwise.

do you have a ‘happy place’?
It used to be as we drove down the road, but that has recently turned into a working place instead. ;) I'd say my happy place is surrounded by my mama friends, whether we're eating or just talking, whether it's in person or over the phone. It's the moments where we can just breathe together and talk and laugh at the absurdity of it all, get deep and personal and silly all at once.

do you have a favourite happy song?
I have a list of happy songs! My favorite is probably "On Top of The World" by Imagine Dragons; it just makes me move and dance.

what gets you past a bad day?
Letting it all go. I drop everything, and "do nothing", which usually looks like a movie night with my guys or eating coconut milk ice cream from the carton. I just surrender to the mood, stop trying to fight it off (because THAT works!) and just give myself a break. If I really can't drop everything (for instance, I have sessions and I need to feel grounded) I take a walk, call a friend, or enlist my husband's help - he's great at helping me breathe and recenter. Then as soon as possibly, I allow myself to let it all go. If I don't give myself those moments of total surrender to the yuck I end up bottling it up until it explodes. But when I allow myself the space to just be in a funk I release it faster and easier and get back to feeling grounding and in Trust for the process of Life again (being in a funk is totally part of that process!).



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6.27.2012

photo an hour

9am coffee and breakfast on the deck

10am morning reading

11am swimming!

12pm lunch time

1pm homeschool time

2pm work for mama, while the kiddos play in the bath!


3pm baking and some sweet tunes


4pm sleepy kitty {cuddling an oatcake}

5pm thrifty finds

6pm time for dinner

7pm movie

8pm popcorn

9pm relaxing in the garden

10pm super and bed


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6.26.2012

life.... updated


it's been a while since i've done a 'life update' post! the past few weeks seem to have been extra hectic and i've been rushing from one thing to the next and havent' had time to sit down and write much. asides from the decidedly unsummery weather we've been having, life has been pretty sweet lately.

we've been busy getting the garden ready for chickens coming. it's now wired all around and nice and secure - in doing so we decided to let our rabbits have the free run of the woods where the chickens will be too. i hate animals cooped up, and while we'd given them a bigger than normal run, they still looked so sad sat in it - they couldn't bop about or do very much of whatever it is rabbits may do. so we let them out and they look so happy! they chase each other around the woods, nibbling on the leafs and looking like they're having a ball! every morning when i go down to feed them then come running across to see me - best decision we ever made!

the chicken house is almost done - the mr is busy putting it all together, so hopefully by the end of  the week or the start of next i'll have my chickens! the kiddos are excited  - miss baya has already named her chicken 'eddie'{she's a huge iron maiden fan right now!!} i'm looking forward to lovely fresh eggs - and knowing that they come from well looked after chickens too.

asides from that, we've been busy with home school groups, brownies, rainbows, drama groups, art workshops, swimming, sleepovers - the kiddos seem to have an amazing social life! i've fitted in a couple of evenings at knitting group - it's lovely to get an evening out and catch up with some friends.

i'm thrilled with the response i had to my shop reopening last week! i've been busy packing up orders all week, and making even more goods to keep the shop filled up! i've just started listing more items yesterday and today - so check them out if you haven't already!

things are so perfect right now, life seems to be treating me extremely well right now. i'm the happiest i've been for a long time, so happy with this little family of mine :) here's a few pictures from the past few days!

 

 

 chicken house building
cutie pie baya
crochet learning
free range rabbits
scooting
photo from the photoshoot i did last week


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