Get Smart STARTIES!Last night I attended an information night at one of the local school's.
Sue Dengate, author of Fed Up, Fed Up with Asthma, Fed Up with Children's Behaviour and the Failsafe cookbook was there to teach us and open our eyes to what we really are feeding our kids.

Amelia is not a bad kid - she really is very good. After a run of her not settling of a night time about 12 months ago and being advised by my health clinic nurse to remove food colour 102 from her diet and see how her sleeping changed, I was alarmed when I worked out that I was giving this tiny little 15 month old girl so many products with 102 (let alone everything else that is in our everyday food). So I removed it (I do not go over board with it though - If we go out and she is offered a bag of twisties or similar we let her have it as a treat - we just know that she is not going to sleep well for the next few nights!)

Did you know that 'Smarties' contain 5 of the 6 worse colours in one packet of 'smarties?
So my plug for you today is to go to the Nestle website. Let them know that you would like to see these colours replaced with natural colours. Apparently they have not yet had enough complaints - hopefully one day the rules will be changed in Australia
The colours are Sunset yellow (E110), Quinoline yellow (E104), Carmoisine (E122), Allura red (E129), Tartrazine (E102) and Ponceau 4R (E124) and have been on the Food Intolerance Network’s list of nasties for 15 years.
(this has already been done in the UK and they are now selling more 'smarties' than before!)

While I am on my little soap box I should send a letter to the grocery and department stores - Man they do not make parenting easy having the chocolates and lollies down low for little eyes to see!

For more information on Sue Dengate and the Failsafe eating go to her website "Fed Up with Food Additives"

Work in Progress Wednesday!Well it seems like an eternity since I had something to show off on a Wednesday!

I have started this little cardi to go with the dress for a friends newborn. It has a lace pattern in it, which means Kylie must use her brains and not get distracted during each row.

So things that I are making it easier to do it:

1. Kids are in bed - check
2. DH is busy creating his own something in the workshop - check
3. Row counter on the needles - check
4. Lace pattern re written on one line - check
5. Coffee and Chocolate cake on hand - check

I really want to get it finished by the weekend and get it posted off. I would be so disappointed if I took to long to do it and it not fit her (I am however doing the three month size - but she was a big bub)

Vintage Tuesday!

I know another day behind - what can I say...

I have been inspired by Claire. She is putting a little package together as a Competition over at CraftyMama's. You have to create something from a vintage pattern or recycled item.

Friends of ours had a little girl (well not so little, she weighed in at 4.33kg) So I thought that I would make her a little outfit!

After going through the pile of patterns I have found this in a 6mth size and will make it with some cord that I have in my stash!

Knitted Beanies

As you all read last week - Amelia was the lovely recipient of some dress as part of a swap that Novy and I partook in!

My knitted little numbers have now arrived and Novy has taken some stunning photographs of her two in them (thanks for letting me use the images Novy!)

This one has also arrived in Tasmania to warm the head of a little spunkiness
If you would like a beanie like this or have something else in mind let me know - I really enjoyed doing these swaps (I will be doing up a few in the next few weeks to sell off - so keep your eyes peels - or contact me if you would like a commissioned warm head!)

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! Happy Mothers day to all of the Mum's, Mum to be, Grandma's, Nan's and all of the other loving women in our lives!

Hope that you all had a great day!

On turning thirty!
Well it is my birthday today - the BIG 30!

Silly really isn't it - I always looked at thirty as being old - but now that I am here it is not old at all and well 50 is looking younger everyday...

I have had a lovely day. Brunch at the Coffee Club followed by some 'chocohot cake' (this is how Amelia is saying Chocolate at the moment) A little shopping and dinner out.

Wow what a day and covered in kisses and hugs all day by my little miss.

I was meant to do my homework and find out what NEW machine I would like for my birthday - but with two kiddlets I just have not gotten around to having a play.

So I need your help out there in blogland. Please tell me what you have and why you love it. Currently I have a Janome My Style 24 - it is almost 10 years old and is my husbands (yes you have read correctly) It was originally purchased by him to sew on badges etc on his uniform and has since sewn everything from packs and webbing to a ball gown! I don't know if I want something that can embroider - it would be good to maybe have the option or a few cute stitches and things (is there a machine that can do that and sew normally as well?) I do not think that I do enough patchwork to warrant a special machine for that.

Thanks in advance.

And I will leave you with some macro shots of the bunch of flowers that Mum and Dad sent me!

This is...LATE LATE LATE

Yes fasionably late AGAIN - I never seem to run on time these days do I - Oh well

So this is my this is from Sunday (almost around to the next one - I really should go and see what it will be and get cracking on it!)

This is the pair of shoes that I would sleep in if I could! (like my husband would let me! he is the sock police when it comes to going to bed in socks LOL)

They are the most comfortable and would you believe that I have had them since Feb 2003! They are like wearing a slipper - but unfortunately they are not very water proof and I get wet socks just walking through dewy grass!