Yes it is true...I am addicted...to Anders Ruff!!

Anders Ruff

Ok, so it's not Back to School BUT.....

 I am an Anders Ruff addict.  
  I am astounded by their constant ability to reinvent the humble children's party.
 Forget the store bought invites, you can download and print your own custom invites from their massive range!  
They have the whole party covered with cupcake toppers, bottle wrappers, banners, EVERYTHING!!!!

When Jenna from Milkbottles mentioned she was thinking about a "train" theme for her sons birthday I just had to share!!!


Check out the Anders Ruff blog...
I just adore the inspiring real life parties from these incredibly talented mummies!
Maureen Anders and Adria Ruff, met at a Preschool open day
 (isn't it amazing who you meet through your children!)
After discovering their common interests they created Anders Ruff!
Starting in February last year they have now become one of Martha Stewarts
"Dreamers into Doers"!!!

February and March are the big birthday months in our house and the planning is already under way.... who doesn't love a good party....now off to send an email to Anders Ruff??!!!!

Make It Monday - Back to School - Teacher Gifts

PART THREE - TEACHER GIFTS

Teachers are open to bribes.  Well at least I am hoping my sons new kindy teacher will be!

What a better way to start the year, than with a simple but personal homemade gift.

Forget Apples....

The Three Things A Teacher REALLY Needs Are;

1. COFFEE  2. CHOCOLATE 3. HAND SANITIZER

Coffee...especially if you are teacher who is also a Mummy, like me...nothing like facing 25 over enthusiastic little ones after being up all night with a teething baby!

Chocolate...nothing sweetens the deal like chocolate..especially useful for moments when you feel the need to hide from the children in a store room, or to share with upset parents or to bribe other teachers to do your playground duty.

Hand sanitizer...did I mention over enthusiastic little ones..this also applies to their desire to share with you everything including coughs, sneezes, freshly pulled teeth or even better asking you to tie their shoelaces, after they have just walked through the toilets!

Or take a hint from these clever Mummy bloggers.....

Little Pumpkin Grace
These vases are just gorgeous and would make a great Teacher present any time of year!
This blog is also inspiring, with so many clever ideas!

testosterone times three
How have I never thought of this!!!  What a cheap and ingenious present!

Shauna - From my mix of six
You can never have enough pencils!  Or even better fill it with pens!
You could use simple stickers from a dollar store to decorate the jars.

Teacher Gift - Free Printable from Howdoesshe

Simply print and stick to any cute container/box you already have!

Owl Bookmarks - My Delightful Designs

A bookmark for the class!

Teacher NoteCards - Janna Wilson

Ok so I had to have one apple present in their!

But the winner for me is......

PERSONALISED HAND SANITISER!!!!

Just a Girl

With still two weeks until school/kindy goes back you have nothing to loose and everything to gain, including some brownie points (that may or may not come in handy after the teacher has had to tie your childs shoelaces...again!)

BACK TO SCHOOL - Thoughtful Thursday - Why didn't I think of that? Lunch Box Ideas

PART ONE - THE LUNCHBOX

The New Breed of Lunch Boxes

I am in mourning.  It appears, my worst fears have been confirmed.  I have officially witnessed, the death of the traditional school lunch.   A peanut butter sandwich, wrapped in cling wrap,  complimented with a packet of chips and a popper full of juice. (To be honest I have never liked peanut butter but anyhow..)  It was not a quick death but more a drawn out process of policies and protocols resulting in  a gradual alienation of the old favourites.  I am not sure where it started.  For the past few years, as a teacher, we have encouraged healthy lunches.    So I guess the "saturated fat in a bag" chips were the first to make their departure.  Then it was the allergies.  We became a "nut free" school.  At first this seemed like an impossible idea.  But now the reality is that 90% of childcare/kindergarten/schools are nut free.  So say goodbye to Peanut Butter (and nuttella, meusli bars and even tiny teddies!).  Now as our planet suffocates under a sea of discarded cling wrap and plastic straws even the humble cling wrapped sandwich has seen its last days. "Rubbish or Litter Free" lunch boxes are now the norm.

I have watched as this has happened, as a teacher, and been baffled by the ability of parents to continue to produce wonderful lunches under such limitations.  But now it's my turn and I am desperatley seeking a life raft!  Reading Master O's Kindy Handbook (again) I am pondering what on earth I am going to pack him for lunch.  It must be

"a healthy lunchbox"

"no youghrt, meusli bars, sweet biscuits, cakes, sweets"

"no packaged drinks"

"no peanut butter, nutella, mixed nuts, foods containing peanut oil"

and due to sustainable practices

"no packaging"!!!

So it is time for me to "keep calm and carry on"  bury my old ideas and resurrect a new style of lunch.

Of course armed with a cyberspace of information this process has not been as hard as I initially thought.

I started with a lunchbox, that would allow me to pack a "litter-free" lunch.

The best options I found are "Bento Style" lunch boxes.  A plastic lunch box that usually has three compartments inside.  As I am not the first Mother on this quest the suppliers were plenty.

Top to Bottom

Tupperware. www.tupperware.com.au- 
The Sandwich Keeper Plus (5). Retails for $28.95.  
Has a large compartment for a sandwich and two smaller compartments. Dishwasher Safe. Life time Guarantee

Nude Food Movers. www.nudefoodmovers.com -
Lunchbox,  with cool skin and Bottle Pack. $27.26

Large 3 Compartment Lunch box with 2 extra round containers.

 

EcoEssentials - www.ecoessentials.com.au

Goodbyn Lunch Box $45 

Many compartments, including a space for a drink bottle. Dishwasher Safe. BPA Free, even comes with stickers to decorate/personalise the drink bottle!

Compartmentalized Lunch Boxes- www.easylunchboxes.com 

 Retail for a pack of 4 for $13.95.

 Dishwasher safe.  Add International Postage to cost of about $16. Which still means 4 containers for around $30.

Check out her blog!  I just love the lunch box ideas and photo gallery!

Now for what to put in them!  Once again a simple google of lunch box ideas gave me more ideas than I could imagine including photos!

From Another Lunch


Left to Right

Lunchbox 1 - homemade pizza pocket, two pieces of butterfly-shaped havarti cheese slices, organic yogurt covered raisins,Garden of Eatin' organic multigrain Popped Tortillas, blackberries in silicone cup with litte kitty mini-fork,pickles and two cherry tomatoes

Lunchbox 2 - A deconstructed Pasta Salad and Yummy Fruit the cut out shapes 

definitely makes fruit and vegies fun! - Love the way she uses silicone muffin cups to contain ingredients!

 

bentolunch.net

This is one clever Mum!!!  Okat so she has a few "tools" you may not have but the ideas are awe inspiring!

Left Lunchbox - Turkey bites (leftovers) you could use mini meatballs, pasta salad, fruit

Right Lunchbox - Under the pirate face is a muffin!  The face is made of cheese and cucumber! add some fruit and carrot and celery slices and there you have it!

This one is for both Master O and Mummy!
Chicken Drumsticks (leftovers), Yoghurt dip, grapes and sliced cucumber and carrot!
Goes beautifully with my high protein, low carb diet and sooo easy to make using last nights leftover chicken!!!
Easy LunchBoxes

and one last one for the Mums of teenage boys who refuse to eat healthy food.....

That is incredible!!!!

The ideas are endless!  You truly have to visit these sites to appreciate the amazing talent of these mummies!

I am now truly motivated to make some "nut, packaging, sugar free" creative lunches that will leave that peanut butter sandwich for dead! Stay tuned......

I'm dreaming of a Sharnel Dollar Christmas!

Sharnel Dollar Designs

Ok I know I have been dreaming of lots of kinds of Christmases this year!  But now that the Christmas labels have arrived, the kids matching outfits are here, the tree is up and the house is decorated, I need would love those finishing touches!


Sharnel Dollar is another Brisbane girl and is truly an inspiration!  Her parties and decor are to die for.  I am always inspired by other Mothers who have a great idea and can put it into practice.    If only I could do the same.....


Anyhow...she is having a great giveaway on her blog and I would love to win!


Check out the blackboard Christmas Trees (You can take the chalkboard away from the teacher, but can't take the teacher away from everything chalk board!)!  Or even the Red and Green smarties (Great for Kindy Teacher presents)!


Now off to alter the Christmas Outfits in time for O's Kindy Christmas Concert!  Photos to come!!


Did I mention I LOVE Christmas!

Forget the apples...World Teachers Day Gift

World Teacher's Day Presents!

This week, our childcare centre and many others are celebrating "Childcare Workers Week".

It also coincides with "World Teacher's Day" on the 29th of October, the last Friday in October.

The rest of the world celebrates this day earlier in October, but as Australians are generally on school holidays at this time the date in Australia has been moved to compensate.

As a teacher I know how hard it can be to take care of children day in and day out.  Even more so for our childcare workers who are paid substantially less, work longer hours and care for younger children who are VERY demanding (yes my child included)!!!  Every time I drop Master O  off I am so grateful for the wonderful staff at his centre.  He runs to hug them each morning, they are firm and fair, nurturing and friendly.

They are deserving of so much but we thought we would put together a little thought for each of them.

My inspiration for this idea came from the always inspiring 

Little Pumpkin Grace

(while you are there check out the  very clever Alphabet Vase! It is on my to do list!)

I loved the "smarties and sharpies" idea but I am afraid the Australian "smarties" would melt too quickly!  So after lolly hunting (any excuse) I came up with using Jelly Babies to resemble all the little people they care for every day and a candle for the way they encourage our little peoples lights to shine!

 You take one jar (I bought this one from a Dollar Shop)

 A candle with glass container

 A bag of Jelly Babies (there should be enough so that sneaky fingers can have a few!)

 Line the jar with "Jelly Babies"

Place the candle in the glass centre.

 I traced around the lid of jar and using some scrapbooking paper, covered the lid.  

I added the initial of each of Master O's Teachers.

I tied some ribbon around the outside.

and attached a card.....

"Thank you for nurturing our "baby" (the Jelly Babies)

You are so generous, caring and kind

But most of all we thank you

For letting his little light shine" (the candle)

One of the best Christmas presents I ever received as a teacher, 

was a handmade, scrapbooked, tin! (Full of chocolates of course!)

That tin has come in handy for so many things, year after year.

The candle will hopefully come in handy on a prayer table or even to take home.

I hope Master O's teachers will be able to use the jar for school supplies, nick naks or even beter as a sneaky lolly jar, we all need one of those, but teachers need them twice as much!

"We must view young people not as empty bottles to be filled, but as candles to be lit." 
Robert H. Shaffer