Categories
Creative

Make a White Knight and Bear & Sparrow Easter Hat

Easter will soon be here and so will the Easter Hat parade at your local school.

If this is shocking, then I might have freaked you out. Breathe it is okay!

I will hand you a lovely cup of virtual coffee or tea depending on your preference, and you can have a little quiet time. This will allow you to process that it will soon be school holidays or the fact that kids will be hyperactive and high on chocolate due to the gifts from The Easter Bunny and a well-meaning family.

White Knight and Bear and Sparrow sent my girls some lovely Easter Hat kits. It was so much fun creating them and they look so good. Much better than I would have done on my own.
White Knight and Bear and Sparrow sent my girls some lovely Easter Hat kits. It was so much fun creating them and they look so good. Much better than I would have done on my own.

If you are like me, you failed badly at creating an Easter Hat for your kids. I ran out of time and purchased an oversized beach hat for each child. They were pink so I thought they would love them. However, as soon as decorations were added to these hats they immediately fell off and due to the size of the hat and the fact it had a very floppy rim the kids could not see very well while the hat was on. If you really must analyse how it went, it might be termed a complete disaster.

Hopefully, you are now feeling rested and relaxed after the virtual cuppa I gave you.

Now for my solution to make it all better for Easter, or the very least making the Easter Hat Parade stress free this year! Yes, it can be easier and your child will have one amazing rockstar of a hat.

White Knight Paints and Bear & Sparrow have teamed up to create to help parents take all the stress out of creating the Easter Hat.

“White Knight Paints has been a leading force in the specialty paint market for many years. When painting bathroom tiles, kitchen cabinets, metal fencing, your front porch or just indulging in a fun upcycling project, White Knight has an easy-to-use product for just about every DIY project, to help our consumers always achieve a professional result” says Brand Manager Dilani Fernando.

Bear and Sparrow is a registered Australian owned, boutique children’s decor business. They are based in Brisbane and have some lovely handmade wooden pieces.

The Easter Hats use White Knight Squirt Spray Paints. They come in 43 different colours and the new formulation has a primer and topcoat all in one. This paint dries quickly and is touch dry in just 10 minutes. This is good for craft projects with kids, you know how keen they are to start using their creations.

All the components for making this fabulous Easter Hat can be purchased at the hardware store and craft store, all for under $40.

It should take about 1 hour to make, so that is not long at all. Check out the video and download the Easter Hat Instructions here.

After your kids use their new groovy Easter Hats in the school parade you can also re-use it as a table decoration for family meals during Easter.

Check out www.whiteknightpaints.com or the White Knight Paints Australia Facebook page

Make sure you tag your bunny project with #wkxbearsparrow, #wksquirts and #whiteknightpaints #mummytotwinsplusonecraft 

Here are the girls finished hats. They look great don't they.
Here are the girls finished hats. They look great, don’t they?
Lillian loves her new Easter Hat.
Lillian loves her new Easter Hat.
Julia being cheeky with her stylish Easter Hat.
Julia being cheeky with her stylish Easter Hat.
The girls think their new hats will impress at the local school and also the Easter Bunny.
The girls think their new hats will impress at the local school and also the Easter Bunny.
Check out the bunny tail on the back of the hat. Very cheeky indeed.
Check out the bunny tail on the back of the hat. Very cheeky indeed.

C’mon and hop off and create your own amazing Easter Hat as we did. You can download the Easter Hat Instructions hereand make sure to watch the video above if you get stuck.

I hope you have fun and enjoy this project as much as we did.

A HUGE  thank you to White Knight Paints and Bear & Sparrow for sending both my kids a kit each.

Oh, and the hat boxes are so nice and great for storing your finished hat in too. This will ensure that your stylish creation is not damaged.

Julia's hat is all safe in the hat box.
Julia’s hat is all safe in the hat box.
You can add paper to make sure the hat does not move around.
You can add paper to make sure the hat does not move around.

The kids are super cute and young here, the reason is that this post was created on March 22, 2017. Still a great post and activity.

Categories
News

We are 10 years old – Win Every month to Celebrate!

This year the blog is turning ten.

What a major milestone it is to be blogging for 10 years!

Happy Birthday to us, Happy birthday to the blog, Happy Birthday.... we are turning 10 this year!
Happy Birthday to us, Happy birthday to the blog, Happy Birthday…. we are turning 10 this year!

It really doesn’t feel like it has been ten years.  Maybe it is all the things that kept me busy in the nearly ten years since having my first children (I did think that I would always say first child but in my case its first children).

The blog was started just after the twins were born and the girls are soon to be ten in September. The twins are super excited to be double digits soon.

To celebrate this amazing milestone I am giving away prizes to a valued and cherished reader each month.

I value all of you that have helped create such an awesome community and for following the blog for all these years.

Make sure to follow the blog, subscribe to the newsletter on the link below (I email my readers about giveaways, promotions and interesting news), and of course, follow us on our social media sites to not miss out on these amazing competitions and much more!

Sign up to my newsletter

Stay current with all the things that are happening on Mummy to Twins Plus One? Don’t miss a thing by signing up to my newsletter. This newsletter will list all giveaways and fabulous things that are happening.

 

 

Soon there will be the first giveaway to enter and trust me the giveaways will be amazing. You will not want to miss the opportunity to win.

A HUGE thanks to all that have followed the blog and for helping make it such a great place to be.

2018 is going to be awesome and there are so many wonderful things in store.

Categories
Family

Nestlé Healthy Active Kids, Plus Win a Kitchen Kart for Your School

As a mum, I try my best to get the kids to eat well.

I make fresh food with vegetables and all sorts of healthy things. However this sometimes ends with kids who don’t want to try new things, and this leads to an annoyed mummy.

Although I am fighting the issue of very fussy kids I have found that if they help out with cooking the food, they are more likely to try the food. While cooking I have noticed that the girls like to eat some of the ingredients and therefore get a taste for the new foods.

Nestlé through their Healthy Active Kids Program is giving away a great prize to the school of your choice and a gift card for you. Read on to see how you can enter.

My lovely veggie hamper from Aussie Farmers Direct and a gift card from Naked Wines Australia. This will come in very handy when cooking some healthy meals for the family. Thanks guys it was amazing to get it on the weekend as well. Brilliant service!
My lovely veggie hamper from Aussie Farmers Direct and a gift card from Naked Wines Australia. This will come in very handy when cooking some healthy meals for the family. Thanks guys it was amazing to get it on the weekend as well. Brilliant service!

Nestlé Healthy Active Kids have great resources for families and teachers:

Did you know?

Research has found that less than one in 10 children and adolescents are meeting the Australian Dietary Guidelines recommended serves for vegetables per day. One of the best ways to get children to eat vegetables and try new foods is through involving them in cooking.”

Cook an oat slice today with the kids. My girls are now into oat slices and this will be a perfect addition to their school lunches or just for an afternoon snack.
Cook an oat slice today with the kids. Click on image for link to recipe. My girls are now into oat slices and this will be a perfect addition to their school lunches or just for an afternoon snack.

What is the Kitchen Kart?

The Kitchen Kart is a mobile teaching kitchen that comes complete with oven, stovetop and even a kitchen sink.

The Kitchen Kart makes it easy for teachers to deliver cooking classes anywhere – in a hall, covered area, classroom – even wheeled out to cook near the school garden.

Cooking education has curriculum links to health and nutrition, literacy, science and getting kids active!

 

WIN A Kitchen Kart for your school plus a VISA Card just for you!

Nestlé Australia is giving you a chance to win a Kitchen Kart valued at $25,000 for your nominated school and a $1,000 VISA load & Go card towards keeping your family healthy and active.

All you need to do is to register your details and in 50 words or less: “Tell Nestlé how your nominated school can encourage a healthier generation of kids”

The competition ends on the 1st of September so get your entries in to be in with a chance to win this amazing prize from Nestlé.

 

Help win this fab Kitchen Kart for your school today. Enter now to be in the running.
Help win this fab Kitchen Kart for your school today. Enter now to be in the running.

Sign up to my newsletter

Stay current with all the things that are happening on Mummy to Twins Plus One? Don’t miss a thing by signing up to my newsletter. This newsletter will list all giveaways and fabulous things that are happening.

Categories
Family

Christmas Day Fun and Tastes

Our Christmas Day was rather relaxing. Normally we go to my families house for lunch and then in the late afternoon we go to hubby’s side for dinner. My family decided to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve so that meant we could be at one place on Christmas Day. It was very nice for a change. Also trying to fit two lunches, and a dinner in on one day is not wise and hard to do. I did like the fact that I could just eat one meal and not have to do it again at another house.

The kids and especially the baby were spoilt with gifts this year and as it was Alexander’s first Christmas this was I suppose appropriate. I did find that I was unwrapping all of the babies presents and I found that there were more boxes that were not opened. I checked the name and thought maybe they were for me… no they were for the baby. Oh well.

Before we did go to the relatives house the kids, hubby and I opened our presents. I was very lucky to get a Macbook Air laptop from hubby and the kids. I also got a coffee plunger and coffee. One of the girls decorated a plate for me and it even comes with a stand so that I can display it.

Plate decorated by Lillian. It is also sitting on my new laptop and case. What lovely presents I got this year.
Plate decorated by Lillian. It is also sitting on my new laptop and case. What lovely presents I got this year.

The kids got some LEGO, games, clothes, shoes and some other fun things. Hubby got some replacement Guinness glasses (I smashed the last one by accident. We purchased them when we were in Dublin on our honeymoon), I made sure hubby had Guinness that was cold so he could try out his new pint glasses, he also got some tea cups, and a lovely Santa shirt to celebrate Christmas Day with.

We were very lucky with our lovely presents and Santa also gave some thoughtful gifts. Santa gave me a notepad to help with my blogging in 2017. Thanks so much Santa.

Since I was so lucky to get a laptop I did not mind unwrapping multiple presents for my little boy.

Persian Fetta, Ham, Smoked Salmon and Mango were some of the things that our little boy liked to eat on Christmas Day. Of course our boy likes the expensive items.

Categories
Family

The Wooden Toy Box Makes Learning Fun

Do you like to buy sturdy and long lasting toys for your kids? I know I do. Some toys are costly to only break soon after your child plays with them. With quality wood toys feel great and are also sturdy enough to last many children playing with them and can be passed down from generation to generation.

My kids are extremely active and into everything and have loved constructing magical empires and fairy homes with wooden blocks and much more.

My lovely friend from The Wooden Toy Box has some fabulous wooden toy products that would be a perfect addition for Christmas or in fact any time of year, birthdays or just because presents.

The Toddle-Truck from The Wooden Toybox
The Toddle-Truck from The Wooden Toybox

More about The Wooden Toy Box

Hello I’m Adrienne Smith a mum to three rambunctious boys aged two, four and six, and if there is one thing I am passionate about its providing every opportunity to learn while they play. Buying the best toys for these learning experiences can be a challenge which is why I created The Wooden Toybox where we aim to create lasting fun for little imaginations in a safe and environmentally friendly way.

All our toys are designed and made in from Australian timbers. They are hand finished and polished using homemade organic beeswax and Linseed oil which is extremely safe for little ones to chew on. All wooden toys are quality control tested by my little family and follow AUST/NZ safety standards.

All The Wooden Toybox toys are well made and built to last. The Toddle-Truck is ideal for little people trying to walk and for storing much loved toys in when they are on the move.
All The Wooden Toybox toys are well made and built to last. The Toddle-Truck is ideal for little people trying to walk and for storing much loved toys in when they are on the move.

What’s inside The Wooden Toybox?

Our signature product is the Toddle-truck – a baby walker/pusher which helps babies and toddlers to stand and take their first steps. Made from Queensland Hoop Pine it provides a beautiful sensory experience and is very strong and sturdy. A handcrafted piece, the Toddle-truck can be handed down from generation to generation.

We have also created wooden blocks and wooden lacing shapes and continue to expand our product range. If you have any requests or like to see any classic wooden toys brought back to life – we’d love to hear from you.

Giveaway to Win a Toddle-Truck

The great news is for Christmas we have a special Facebook promotion open to all Mummy to Twins Plus One readers. We are giving away a beautiful, handcrafted Toddle-truck to one lucky family.

Entering is the easy part! Go to https://www.facebook.com/thewoodentoyboxaustralia and like the page.

Please feel free to leave a comment. Terms and conditions can be found on the Wooden Toybox’s Australia Facebook page.

Entries close 11pm AEST Friday 25th November.

All Mummy to Twins Plus One readers have the chance to win this wonderful Toddle-Truck. Just go to The Wooden Toybox Facebook page to enter.
All Mummy to Twins Plus One readers have the chance to win this wonderful Toddle-Truck. Just go to The Wooden Toybox Facebook page to enter.

As a mum to curious and active little people I like Adrienne from The Wooden Toy Box love to make sure that my kids are learning while playing.

Wooden Lacing Shapes helps children with the following:

  • Spatial relationships – helps with understanding
  • Develops Visual tracking – helps children read left to right and not skip lines.
  • Strengthens wrist and finger muscles – this is helpful for using scissors and holding pencils/pens.
  • Develops hand eye coordination – helpful for buttoning and unzipping of clothes.

Wooden Lacing Shapes from The Wooden Toy Box
Wooden Lacing Shapes from The Wooden Toy Box

Did you know construction toys, such as toy blocks can help children develop the following skills:

  • Social skills/Cooperative Play – While they are building their fortress or town they need to communicate to the other kids
  • Language skills – Explaining their creation to mum/dad or their siblings.
  • Capacity for Creative/Divergent thinking – Creating their own construction without rules allows the child to think for themselves, and solve their own problems.
  • Spatial Skills – Children “who showed more interest in construction– and built more sophisticated structures–performed better on a standardized test of spatial intelligence (Caldera et al 1999).” http://www.parentingscience.com/toy-blocks.html
  • Math Skills – More play with blocks has been tied to higher mathematical achievement in high school.

Wooden Blocks from The Wooden Toy Box
Wooden Blocks from The Wooden Toy Box

As you can see there are many benefits of wooden toy blocks and the wooden lacing shapes for kids. I was so taken with the quality of these wooden toys I wanted to share it with my lovely readers. I hope you find them as great as I do.

With the lead up to Christmas it might be a great gift for a little someone.  Make sure you enter The Wooden Toy Box’s great giveaway to win a Toddle-Truck. You might be the lucky winner and have one present sorted for Christmas.

Thanks so much to The Wooden Toy Box for showcasing their lovely products and sharing their latest giveaway with my readers.

Categories
Features of the blog

Happy 8 Years of Blogging

This year is the eighth year of my blog. Yes I have been blogging for eight years. It sometimes does not feel like it has been that long at all.
happy-birthday-to-the-blog

To celebrate I have a really amazing giveaway. This giveaway will give you a present as well as something for your little baby or if you don’t have a baby it could be a lovely gift for someone.

The next few months is going to be exciting in regards to giveaways. I have something for the Christmas and New Year holidays, some surprises in the lead up to Christmas and of course this giveaway that will help celebrate the blog’s eighth birthday. All will be revealed soon.  Make sure you follow the blog and all our social media sites so you don’t miss out on any announcements.

I would like to take the time to thank all my lovely readers for following the blog, the comments and emails of support that I have had over the last eight years. It has been greatly apprecaitted.

Bigger and greater things are in store, my aim is to make the next eight years great too.

Thanks again,
Suzanne