GRINCH KABOBS, SANTA PANCAKES ...

May I introduce you to some utterly adorable and healthy holiday snack ideas which I have found on Pinterest …..

The Grinch Kabobs

The Reindeer Sandwiches

 Santa Strawberries

Chocolate Marshmallow Reindeer

Njoy your holiday!

TOON TELLEGEN

Toon Tellegen (born 1941) has won many prizes for his children books. Besides poems, prose for adults and theater plays, he writes philosophical and absurdist animal stories about Squirrel, Ant, Mole, Hedgehog and other animals, who are carefully trying to find their way in an incomprehensible world. Here is an example of a story called The Elephant and the snail:

   

Things are seldom ordinary in Tellegen’s world. Like in Wat dansen we heerlijk (What a Delightful Dance): 

The bear dances with the honey cake, whispering sweet nothings as he gobbles down every last crumb of his dance partner, while the hedgehog only wants to dance with the squirrel if they can both do it in their own homes. “The way I dance is not a pretty sight,” he confesses to the squirrel.

It is no surprise that he has won both the Theo Thijssen Prize (an oeuvre award for writers of books for children and young adults) and the Constantijn Huygens Prize for his entire oeuvre.

It is sooo much fun to read, and the stories of Toon bring valuable lessons for kids as well, just between the lines.  

WHAT ABOUT?

Once in a while we have a little chat with someone with a special job, an inspiring life, a remarkable character or an out of the box vision. 

This time we spoke with Annika Jansen, mother of 3.

What about her?

Name: Annika Jansen

Age: 35

Kids: Pelle (7), Mare (6) en Borr (2).

Business: Founder and Owner of Orange Mayonnaise and Freelance Fashion Designer



What’s keeping your head up during Momma-Hood?
3 happy kids and their unconditional love for us, life and each other.



What’s made you (almost) crazy?

My own impatience...

What / who brings the fun?

All 3 in their own way ;

Pelle is a very sportive and energetic little fellow, who loves to explore and try out everything. Like new food for example; love doing that together with him.

Mare is creative and a natural entertainer, just starts singing her own made up songs or doing a silly dance; smiles guaranteed.

Borr is a mummy's boy, love's to cuddle and just be with me. Hope he will do that for the rest of his life; it is so addictive.

What’s the story your baby should not hear when he/she is a teenager?

The story about my teenage years in general and leaving 'home' at the age of 16.

What advice do you wish you had ignored?

Dyeing my hair orange / red once..... I looked like a clown !

What advice do you wish to pass on? 

Enjoy life and don't forget to dream.

And when the time is right and you work hard, you will be able to make your dreams into reality.

Any advise for mums starting up their own businesses?

Believe in your self and in your own ideas, without getting distracted or stressed by your people around you and in your own business.

DIY ADVENT CALENDARS

If you're also a creative type (or even if you're not!), I bet you're going to love some of these Advent calendars. I have collected my top 10 diy Advent Calendars. From very simple to black&white, to...well have a look, here are my favorites from around the web. Enjoy - and go get creative before December 1st rolls around!

 You might already have the clothespins, bakers twine, and envelopes by hand to make this adorable Silhouette advent calendar.

Keep it super simple yet beautiful with this Envelope Advent Calendar.

Advent Calendar by Mama Kram 

Advent Calendar by Fellow Fellow

 Advent Calendar by Lydia Ekeroth

Advent Calendar by La Maison Lou Lou .

 Who could resist a cute robot advent calendar? It’s available as a free printable by Nicola from Next to Nicx. If you don’t have the time to make them from scratch then she even has a few pre-cut and pre-scored version for sale.

We also love this clever Toilet Paper Roll House advent calendar. 

OWL LOVERS ALERT

2014 is on its way, so time to start looking for a new calendar!

We have blogged about the calendar of My Owl Barn before, but now Shivana - the author of My Owl Barn - has surpassed all expectations. This true piece of art would be a very special gift for Christmas, or even just for yourself..

The third Owl Lover calendar is filled with gorgeous artwork by well-known artists like Jo James, Wee Gallery, Donna McKenzie, Juliette Crane and Nathan Jurevicius to name a few. 

The calendar is completely customizable; you can select the images for all the months you want to print and create your own free calendar. Or you can simply download the pre-made version. 

LE TRAIN FANTÔME

Little ozzie rabbit was the very first creature to enter Le Train Fantôme's world. 

He is made from organic cotton and he inspired Fanja Ralison to continue creating other characters, such as:

She even made postcards and posters based on these  - you would almost think they would be human  - beings: 

You can order them via Fanja's webshop, though allow some time for delivery, since it is all made by hand. 

WELCOME TO DINOVEMBER

This weekend a message on friend/blogger Joachim Baans Facebook caught my eye. What a brilliant idea to trigger your kids their imagination. I can also imagine how much fun it must be to sneek around with your partner at night to set up a new scenery for the next morning... Thanks Refe Tuma, for sharing…

A month-long imagination invasion.

Every year, my wife and I devote the month of November to convincing our children that, while they sleep, their plastic dinosaur figures come to life.

It began modestly enough. The kids woke up to discover that the dinosaurs had gotten into a box of cereal and made a mess on the kitchen table.

  The next morning, the dinos had climbed onto the kitchen counter to raid the fruit bowl.

The morning after that, they had managed to breach the refrigerator and help themselves to a carton of eggs. “Uh-oh,” we heard our girls whisper. “Mom and Dad are not going to like this.”

Things quickly escalated from there. More often than not, the dinos’ antics were less than tidy. They are dinosaurs, after all.

 

To be fair, they did clean up after themselves from time to time.

Usually, though, the dinosaurs are just like anybody else—looking to have a good time.

Why do we do this? Because in the age of iPads and Netflix, we don’t want our kids to lose their sense of wonder and imagination. In a time when the answers to all the world’s questions are a web-search away, we want our kids to experience a little mystery. All it takes is some time and energy, creativity, and a few plastic dinosaurs.

Childhood is fleeting, so let’s make sure it’s fun while it lasts.

If you’d like to follow along with Dinovember 2013, join their Facebook Page.

TETRA | SUSTAINABLE BABY BEDDING

This is news for the real fans of Eco Friendly! Tetra is a truly unique brand that produces what is widely regarded as the most sustainable baby bedding in the world.

Their Mattresses, Pillows and Snuggle Beds are filled with 100% natural and chemical-free Tea Tree Flakes that are grown outdoors on Australia’s North East Coast...
They are naturally breathable, anti-bacterial, anti-allergy and thermally regulated (cool in summer and warm in winter).

So, I was a total organic lover already...now my kids sleep (very comfy!) on natural products as well. How about yours?

WHAT ABOUT?

Once in a while we have a little chat with someone with a special job, an inspiring life, a remarkable character or an out of the box vision. 

This time we spoke with Mandy Meuwese, mother of Loui-Lee. 

What about her?

Name: Mandy Meuwese 

Age: 36

Child: Loui-Lee 

Age: 1,5 

Business: Co-owner of Ganbaroo PR in Amsterdam

(foto by Paul Bellaart)

What’s keeping your head up during Momma-Hood?

The unconditional love and purity of my son Loui.

What’s made you (almost) crazy?

Before he went through the nights definitely the sleep deprivation and my time management: dividing my time between work, friends and family.

What / who brings the fun?

Loui brings all the fun, he's a real social animal and loves to surround himself with good people.

What’s the story your baby should not hear when he/she is a teenager?

That I  secretly left the house to go out all night without my parents knowing….

What advice do you wish you had ignored?

It's not really a specific advise but more the fact that when you need medical advise don't go on the internet! There you'll find the most stupid advises of ignorant people.

What advice do you wish to pass on?

Stay close to yourself and your gut feeling, you know best what your child needs and don't listen too much to all these different advises of other mums.

Any advise for mums starting up their own businesses?

Follow your dream and try to enjoy the freedom which comes with your own business.

ARTIST IN LA LA LAND

Los Angeles based illustrator Melissa Kojima is the master mind behind the online store 'Artist in LA LA Land'. Her shop has a large selection of vintage inspired articulated paper dolls and fun cards, some of which are pop up, moveable cards.

The artist behind the shop believes in play - she believes play helps us let go of fear, express ourselves and communicate our feelings - so she has sought out fun ways to spark imagination with DIY paper play goods.

All you'll need is heavy card stock paper, glue, fasteners and scissors and you can print and play till you drop!

LA DE DAH | NURSERY DECORS & TOYS

Sometimes, all the childrens' room needs is a couple of unique pieces that give that "finished" look. Things as simple as a special toy on a shelf or a rug, can change the atmosphere completely.

Australia's La De Dah Kids shares this vision. Their range consists of an amazing range of ethically handmades. Actually, we think La De Dah Kids is pretty much the centre of the universe when it comes to finding such finishing touches. Go and find a little treasure on their website..

BOOOOOOO.... IT'S HALLOWEEN!

In need of some more Halloween inspiration? We found some funny and original things to create, use, look at or taste. All to experience the full Halloween atmosphere at home!

Printable Halloween Party Pack comes with options for garlands, cup cake toppers, soda bottle covers and my favourite the batty invite! 

by Mermag 

Ghost Milk Bottles (including a few pacman-inspired ones :-)) 

by Mini-eco

(including a few pac-man inspired ones)

(including a few pac-man inspired ones)

Scaaaary Shadow Puppets

by Mini-eco

 Pacman Halloween Garland

by Mini-eco

 Use these decorative bags to transform your homemade treats into spooky gifts or party favors

by Martha Stewart

Bat Origami 

by Repiny

              

 

Adorable black cat cookies

by Gesmack

Charmingly cute Mummy Candle

by Allfreekidscrafts

Wish you all the fun on Halloween!