colouring books for grown ups

so the other night after a crazy-busy day, i finally sat down and felt, strangely, like colouring in.  yeah, i thought, why not.  colouring must be a bit meditative, good for calming the mind and relaxing the body…it must be good for the soul.  man, i thought, they should make colouring books for grown ups.  ones with pretty pictures and maybe ones you could fit in your handbag  (or desk drawer….or nappy bag…).

guess what? it is good for you and there are some beautiful coloring books for big people out there……

from pezimystic available here

monthly collabrative coloring books showcasing etsy artists, available here

heaps of mandalas, like this one from TheMandalaLady

and this, this is my fav’.  Pokiespout’s  Incredible Facts about Dragons, an educational coloring book.

 i’m off to sharpen my pencils

 

i see pretty things

my mojo is still misplaced, but these kids know right where theirs is….beautiful things from new zealand…


mounted felt deerhead, felt cuckoo clock, felt gingerbread house all by Cuckoonest. Lilu No.13 – 2 Raven by minu; topographic alphabet by sweetwilliam; thread drawing by swirl

all via felt (of course!)

Craft projects for gangstas

Craft projects for gangstas :: Crafty, The Music Video

This is the music video for the hit song,”Crafty” — the world’s first Gangsta Arts and Crafts Song. In his song “CRAFTY”, artist J-Krafty chonicles the sordid underworld of the semi- and sub-urban…  

so good, thank you for showing me this treasure  felt

leeks + sun + rain + holiday

i think it has been warm, sunny and just a bit rainy here while we were away…our leeks look like something i used to have nightmares about

liitle eco footprints seems to have the same kind of holiday-crazy garden, although her’s looks like it is about to sneak over the fence and begin its quest to green-up the neighbourhood.

as always i find plenty of tidying the garden inspiration here, here and here

our first pigtails, and sunshine

blue skies, puffy clouds, open spaces and baby pig-tails. what more could a family want for summer?

well, maybe it doesn’t hurt  being walking distance from the bennetts of mangawhai chocolate factory with a big glass window into the place where the magic happens (melted chocolate and giant marble benchs…..). actually i wonder how many little puddles of drool they clean up at the end of each day…. 

 

enjoy

happy holidays everyone…this is our chrissie break… mangawhai heads estuary

baby hair

oh yeah, how i love first-thing-in -the-morning baby hair……

i thought of this hilarious bit from my Rookie Mom friends, and wondered if nearlyMabel had snuck a curler into bed….

more last minute christmas gifting

Christmas gifts in old Agee preserving jars 

Gluten Free Chocolate Pudding Mix
2 1/2 Cup milk powder
2 ½ Cocoa
5 Cup sugar
3 Cup cornstarch
1 tsp salt
Mix before filling jar.  Instructions “add 2/3 cup to 2 cup milk, stir til boiling.  pour into dishes and cool” 

Hot Chocolate Mix
4 Cup milk powder
2 Cup sugar
½ tsp salt
1 tsp instant coffee
Mix before filling jar.  Instructions “add 1/4 cup to a cup of boiling water,  stir and enjoyl” 

Chocolate Chip Bikkies
Layer into jar
1 ¼ cup sugar
1 ½ cup chocolate chips
2 cup Flour + ½ tsp baking powder + ½ tsp baking soda
Instructions: “empty your bikkie mix into a bowl, add ½ cup butter, 1 egg and a splash of vanilla.  Finish mixing with your hands, and roll into balls and place on greased tray.  Flatten with a fork, and bake for 12-15 minutes at 180˚C” 

  

Cowgirl Cookies

image: bakerella

 i wish i could say mine look this good, but these are from the beautiful kitchen of bakerella.  bakerella has yummy treats to leave out for santa’s reindeer too

more cute things to do with your jars at Meet Me At Mikes