Welcome to #mamamondays. Here I try to include anything that is making us happy – and hopefully you too – even though it’s a Monday. And, I have to say it really is making me try to make the most of this often ‘depressing’ day
It has been anything from what we’re doing or planning to what we’re eating, watching or reading. I’ve even included items I’m lusting after or buying and anything else that has been inspiring me to make Mondays – and the rest of the week if need be – just a little more bearable.
I really hope that #mamamondays is inspiring you to make the most of this fresh start we get every week…
DISCOVERING
Have you heard of Itty Bittys? I hadn’t until this little lot arrived for Miss Marnie. Basically, Itty Bittys by Hallmark are mini plush toys of popular characters from TV and film that are so super-cute you’ll seriously want to collect them all.
Our collection has been kicked off with the classic stars from The Wizard of Oz. At first I thought I should have gone for a Disney Princess, a Peanuts character or even a superhero as I wondered if Miss M would like Dorothy, The Tin-man, Cowardly Lion, The Scarecrow and the witches – Gilda the Good Witch and The Wicked Witch of the West (which are both Limited Editions).
I needn’t of worried though as she was instantly won over by these soft and lovable toys – I think she likes that they are tinny-tiny and I took it as an opportunity to introduce her to the classic movie The Wizard of Oz from 1939. Again, I wondered if at four years old she may be too young for some parts of the movie (the black and white beginning, the green witch, the monkeys, oh yes the monkeys…) again she loved it.
This just shows the absolute timeless appeal of the movie – and the songs. We slowly introduced her by watching a few clips on good old You Tube before the movie arrived in the post – and of course with these Itty Bittys. By the time we got the DVD working she was already singing ‘follow the yellow brick road’.
If you’re looking for a small stocking filler I think these Itty Bittys totally fit the bill – check out the collection on the newly launched UK Hallmark site here.
CRAFTING
As much as I want to be good at crafts and do them with Miss M the truth is we don’t do them that often at home. We will take part if we’re at an event or playgroup class and everything is already set up.
When Buttonbag (a fab company that has breathed new life into timeless craft products with its unique pre-packed kits) asked if we wanted to try one of its sets at home – I figured this may be our chance to works crafts into our home routine. We chose the Buttonbag Advent Calendar and set to work.
With 24 pre-cut felt squares to sew onto a cotton panel (which is already marked up so you know where to place the pockets without any measuring) and a template sheet of numbers and letters to cut from the special sticky backed felt (to personalise and number the calendar) all packed into a cute suitcase with needles and coloured thread.
Really, how hard could it be?
Other than the sewing and cutting Miss M has done most of it herself – meaning I’ve done the hard work. Which to be honest has not been hard – more time-consuming. But, I say this in a good way as rather than a make-it-and-its-over-in-minutes as its been one we have spent little and often doing in the lead up to December.
We have done a bit, packed it all safely away in the mini case and then picked up where we left off another day. This has meant Miss M’s attention levels have stayed high each time and she looks forward to it. We still have a little bit to finish before Dec 1st – and of course she can’t wait to fill the pockets up!
** If you fancy a go at this or anything else from the Buttonbag – like a crochet your own sausage dog, knit your own scarf or even the mini cross-stitch Christmas decorations then you can use this special code VIB20 to get 20% off (valid until 12th December 2016) **
WORKING
If you caught last weeks post where I talked about what I have been up to lately with work – and showed you my most recent freelance editorial pages. I thought I would show you another few things I have been working on.
This time its been for a London magazine called City Kids – a free editorial and directory mag for those living in West London. It comes out seasonally 4-times a year offering fashion, things to do and the go-to events and classes in the city. I’m a big fan of this relatively new mag as it has a really cool, contemporary look and feel.
I complied my favourite type of pages ever…Christmas Gift Guides. These gift guides – one on stocking fillers under £10 and one on London themed gifts – are my first for the title and I hope not my last.
Watch this space.
