Parties and Presents (parties)

We were lucky enough to have 2 parties while we were home.
The first was a baby party. A super cute opportunity for A to meet some kiwi baby friends.
In my usual style I began making extravagant plans in my head. I was inspired by the hungry caterpillar party on Babyology. I was going to make natural safe to eat paints, (why make them when you can buy them here, but I only just discovered that).
Needless to say none of the above happened. But what did happen was very cute. Imagine picnic blankets spread out in the garden, mums drinking out of proper tea cups, lots of yummy treats including this yummy egg, dairy and sugar (I omitted the honey altogether so it was suitable for my then 8mnth old) free spelt banana bread.

We made this play dough for the big ( aged 2+) kids (found on facebook sorry let me know if you know the original source), and the others just rolled about and enjoyed themselves.  I think. I know the mums did, and despite having 9 bub's ranging from 7 months to 3 years we only had tears once (when one wee one did not want to share a tractor - boys!! ;)).
Good fun for all.

I hope A has lots more memories with her little gang of new buddy's

Wishing you all a lovely weekend of new friendships ( and parties!)

Quoted from Willy Wagtail Blog:
"Such a sad story of the recently collapsed clothing manufacture’s building in Bangladesh. 8 stories high, full of thousands of workers. They were getting paid approx $37 dollars a month, for 6 days a week of work, at 10 hours a day. There were many well known clothing brands being made in this factory.
If you ever feel unsure about buying baby and kids clothes, because you don't know where, how or who has made it, then buy Australian Made kids clothes. Its as simple as that."

Couldn't have said it better...
Buy local, ethical or hand made!
Its not always easy and I still have slips, but if we all try the market will respond to the consumer and we can all make the world a slightly better place.

*K*

PS. Willy Wagtail is having a sale, a great time to snap up Australian merino clothes for your little people

Parties and Presents (Presents)

So we were in New Zealand 3 weeks ago.
How time flies.
We were there for 2 reasons my mum, and my sister and I all hit birthdays that end in a big fat 0 so we celebrated, and because we were all celebrating scary birthdays my wayward brother was also home before jetting off once again.  (This time to South America). So we all managed to spend 2 weeks of quality time with him.
Because of this there were parties and there were presents.
I'll get to the parties later...
So presents...
For my Mum we got together and organized a photo sitting by the amazing Cat Brown. I love casual but beautiful looking photos.  Photos that capture true memories with a real eye for light and the moment.

For my sister I found Jac and Hugo on etsy.  I ordered this ring with the inscription "home is where one starts from, T S Eliot" and the GPS co-ordinates of our parents farm. 
My Mum always said when she returned to the place she grew up it always feels like coming home.  And its true. 
Even though I'm settled (for now) in Melbourne, and I have a beautiful home here with two great louts of dogs, a bonny baby and a hardworking, incredible husband , whenever I fly into Gisbourne I always feel a real sense of home coming.  Even more so when we turn into the drive way and 'come home'. 
I love the idea that wherever she ends up (and who knows were that will be) she will always have home right there, inscribed on her finger. I wonder if she will think to get the same for me next birthday?

Hope your week brings you special gifts of some sort (flowers, a smile from a stranger, a sunny winter day)
*K*