Saturday is Caption Day!

Take it easy Saturdays with 'Saturday is Caption Day'!

Can you think of a caption for this photo of an adorable but less than impressed bub? 

Then you may like to pop on over to Mammasaurus.co.uk and join in with her weekend fun!

Melanie

Artist - Polyvore Challenge

It is Thursday! So it is time to try my hand at being a bit creative and participate in the Polly Dolly Polyvore Challenge from the lovely Danielle at http://www.danimezza.com/.




This weeks challenge is 'Artist'. It is so much fun and I always end up spending too much time here. Well I can dream... 

Artist by taveren37 featuring slouch pants

Peter Jensen boatneck top, $220
Slouch pants, $216
Leather booties, £75
Michael kors tote bag, £795
Munnu bangles jewelry, $58,500
EFFY COLLECTION gold jewelry, $200
Chain jewelry, $36






Are you feeling creative today?




Melanie

Chocolate!

Today my Pinterest theme is Chocolate!


I apologise to all the people on diets. But my name is Melanie and I am a Chocoholic. I assure you that looking at this post will not make you gain a single gram. Honest!


Then go and have a look at Tinagray.me/ and see what other things people are pinning this week.

Please go and check out some of my other Pinterest boards! Enjoy your Sunday!




Melanie

World Teachers' Day on 28th October

This Friday, the 28th October, is World Teachers' Day. So I thought I would search out a few ideas that kids can make and create to show a special teacher that they care about and appreciate them.

I found this quote from a teacher in Canada which made a great deal of sense.

As a teacher I have received so many gifts over the years. Most of which were candles, bath sets, and other knick-knacks that I just didn't know what to do with or where to put them.  Here are some suggestions for meaningful and useful teacher gifts:
Gift certificates for a local coffee shop.
Gift cards for a local restaurant or movie theatre. (Some teachers especially need encouragement to get out and have some fun.)
Let your child pick out the gift. It's much more meaningful, for the teacher and your child, if the gift is really from the student.
Let your child make a gift. Also means a lot more.
Hand-made cards are more special as well. Make sure you write something, too.
Another thing to keep in mind: You don't need to spend lots of money . It's actually a little embarrassing and uncomfortable when parents spend too much on a gift.
Just remember, teachers like any expression of appreciation. They want to know that you support them and stand behind them. 

Although I am sure that teachers appreciate any gifts and kindness that are given to them, even the soaps and candles. I can understand that too many could be a bit much.

I have put together a few hand made options that kids could try out themselves.

I love the idea of a hand decorated pot. These are quite cute and something that can be used for years to come.

A nice plant in a hand decorated pot would be great. Or just a personalised message stuck into the soil, would be very easy, but make sure you laminate it.

I haven't met a teacher yet who didn't like a nice cuppa. Maybe a hand painted mug or cup, and then painted with a safe glaze over the top.

A selection of boiled lollies in a jar with a ribbon or biscuits in a pretty painted box would be very special.

Children could paint a jewellery box, a tray or a keyring, making it personal and lovely.

Parents could put some hand soap or lotion into a clear bottle and children could paint it or put some pretty stickers on it. These are just gorgeous.

A wall plaque with some paint or decoupage like this very cute one.

Some other ideas that a teacher might like.

Does anyone else have any crafty ideas? What have you given your child's teacher as a gift in the past? 

Melanie

Ooh, that's Pinterest...ing! Fancy Tea Cups

Today my Pinterest theme is Fancy Tea Cups!


I just love having a nice, hot cup of tea out of a beautiful cup. It is so very special. It reminds me of bygone eras, where I can close my eyes and be transported back to a gentle, former time when life was less rushed. When afternoon tea was an occasion that people dressed up for.




So please enjoy my dream collection of Fancy Tea Cups and go and have a look at Tinagray.me/ and see what other interesting pins have taken people's fancy this week.

Melanie

Some Savings Just Aren't Worth It!

Ok 'fessing up time... On Thursday I removed three of the seats from my car so that I could 'save some money' and get my new computer desk home from the shop myself and not pay the $60 delivery fee. 


I might add that these seats are super heavy, probably about 20kg per seat or maybe more. In the process I grazed my hands, gave myself blisters, and pinched my finger, giving myself a blood blister.


I moved Joshua's seat to the side and Angus sat in his booster in the front seat. Not ideal but I thought, just to tootle back from the furniture shop would be ok. Within 2 minutes Joshua had opened up his door, as I had forgotten to put the child safety catch on. :P


Anyway, all good, they loaded up my car and I tootled home. Then the fun really began. I managed to get the super heavy 35kg and 47kg boxes out of the car onto the driveway. Moved one box, by much pushing and pulling, under the cover of the veranda. The other bigger box, I moved about 1 metre and gave up on. Putting it in the too hard pile and left it till later.


I went inside to put Josh to bed and get a drink. It was so humid and I was sweating profusely by this stage. When I had recovered sufficiently I decided to put the car seats back in the car, so that they were all ready to go when I picked up the girls from school. I put Joshua's middle seat back in, no trouble at all. But the two back seats proved to be very difficult and didn't want to play ball at all. I struggled with them for about 30 minutes, getting more and more frustrated, getting hotter and hotter, and more and more upset. I read the instructions again and it said put the front of the seat in first and lock it in and then push the back of the seat down until it clicks. Well I somehow managed to lock the back of the seat in first and then, of course they would not come out again. No matter how hard I tried.


I went inside sat on the floor and cried. While Angus sat next to me, looking at me with his big, beautiful eyes, so full of worry and concern, as children do when they see their parents getting emotional in front of them. That only made me cry more. 


Bethany sat on this wonky seat on the way home from school. Which I am very ashamed of. But I didn't now what else to do.


Of course, by this stage, we got hit by a beauty of a thunder storm, with torrential rain, which soaked my exposed box and turned it into paper mache mush.


The next morning we remembered we had a seat that we had taken out before to make more room, next to Joshua's middle seat. So Stuart, my husband, put this into the car, and I could safely drive the kids to school.


I then decided, to drive to the Kia dealership, about 15kms away. Fall upon their mercy, tell them what I had done and ask if they could fix it for me. Well they took it out back, came back about 5 minutes later and said that they couldn't do it and I would have to book it in to be fixed and they had no idea what the cost would be... Hmmm! Although, yes, I agree I was a right idiot getting these seats jammed in the first place. I couldn't help but think they took it out back, and just waited a while, before returning it to me. All because they didn't want me to get something without paying them a great deal of money for it. Maybe not, but then I am a cynic.


So, to save me a $60 delivery fee, I spent about $40 petrol, and who knows how much more to get my seats fixed. Not to mention all the actual blood, sweat and tears, I have shed lugging all these super heavy, stupid things around. Oh sometimes I am so clever it astounds me.


So my week has been rather frustrating to say the least. But, on a much nicer note, yesterday was our wedding anniversary. My husband and I have been together for 16 years now. Stuart bought a lovely bottle of dessert wine. It was very yummy. It went a long way to make everything better.


Ok, lesson learned. Sometimes saving a bit of money, just is not worth it!

My beautiful new desk!

Uncle Tobys Fruit Bars

Product Talk by Nuffnang
This is not a paid Sponsored Post and I have received an item in exchange for a review.


I really enjoy the great range of Uncle Tobys goodies. I think they have a great mixture of healthy food that actually taste good too. I had a quick look in my pantry and yes I have or have bought in the past, quite a few Uncle Tobys products. Yummy things like their fruit bars, Le Snaks, Muesli Bars. Breakfast cereals like their Cheerios, Plus, Shredded Wheat, and Fruity Bites as well as their very extensive range of healthy and tasty oats.

There are times when I am on the go, when I feel like a snack to get me through to the next meal. I might be rushing out the door to go to the shops or to school and I want to grab something quick. It is all too easy to grab a few biscuits. Which isn't the best choice I know, but it is quick and easy.

Now there are Uncle Tobys Simply Fruit bars, which come in two flavours. Sultanas, Dates, Apple and Cinnamon or you can try Sultanas, Apricot, Poppyseed and Orange. I have tried the Sultanas, Apricot, Poppyseed and Orange bars. They are delicious. There is +65% fruit in each bar. They are all natural and the combination of a few simple flavours go together to make a great tasting snack. I liked the poppy seeds and also the orange oil that are in these bars. It gives it a quite a refreshing taste.

I would definitely recommend these bars to others. They say that the unique textural experience and interesting flavour combinations suit a modern adult taste. That they do, but all my kids tried them and they range in age from 20 months to 8 and they loved them too. I can't wait to try the Sultanas, Dates, Apple and Cinnamon. I will keep an eye out for them in the shops.

Do you enjoy Uncle Tobys products? If so, which ones do you enjoy & what do you like about them?