Rainbow Cupcakes

I do try most of the time to ensure Master One eats super healthily, however, occasionally we like to break out and have  bit of junk fun!  This weekend I tried Rainbow Cupcakes.  They were delightful, messy fun! We had a ball making them, although Master One did need a bath when they were baking.  What's fun without some mess....right?

I basically made a Basic Vanilla Cupcake Recipe from Taste (my 'go to' website for quick, yummy recipes).

Then I separated the batter into 4 containers and coloured them using the instructions on the side of the food colouring bottles.  I was missing one crucial colour so my colours could have been better..  I then popped some cupcake casings into the muffin trays and carefully layered the colours, smoothing each layer out to the edge with the spatula.

Then a quick spurt of simple icing and a sprinkle of hundreds and thousands.

So gorgeous, a bit messy to make but well worth it once you see the looks on the kiddies faces when they bite into them :)

Vanilla Batter, ready for colour!

Coloured batter.

Voila!

Inside our Cupcakes...yummo!

Ideas and Sources of fun for the family.

I am always looking for fab ideas to play and do with the family.  I want to keep my little mans brain alive with adventure and fun.  I want to make sure that his Daddy and I are both 'invested' parents and not miss a thing.

Every day I try and think of a fun activity for us to do.  He loves drawing with crayons, playing on his pirate ship, licking the bowl when I cook and reading books (his favourite and mine as I get to snuggle up nice and tight).  But what about some more adventurous play?

I have recently become a huge fan of Pinterest, it's a website that allows you to find and 'pin' all your favourite ideas and categorise them anyway you like.  I spend most of the night after Master is in bed dreaming soundly on Pinterest ooohing and aaahing at the wonderful ideas some very imaginative parents have come up with.  I need other peoples ideas as I am not a very imaginative parent myself I fear...

I have included some of my favourites and am busting to try them out over the following weeks.

What are your best ideas?  What are the best home-based fun play ideas you have with your kids?

Bubble Bath Paint & Recipe to make it!  The joy, the joy of making a MESS!  Awesome blog too!

Gorgeous backyard bowling, so easy!

Home made Xylophone.  Master One loves to make noise, I'd love it to be more tuneful ;s

I think we have to add a 'Car Wall' to Master One's bedroom!!

Now to convince that incredibly handy hubby of mine to help me.  I have the ideas, he has the ability!!

If anyone would like an invite to Pinterest please leave a comment below.  Be warned though, once you get started you are HOOKED!

Have a great day everyone!

Project Life!

In my blogging travels I have discovered Project Life.

I'm not really into scrapbooking (to be honest I've never given it a go) but I do love the idea of documenting the important milestones in all our lives.

Looking at Becky Higgins Project life site I found that I DON'T NEED TO SCRAPBOOK!  I can do it all online and I love that!  For someone without the creative 'eye' this is music to my ears.  For all those super-crafty buggers out there though, she also has her handmade option.

So, my project this weekend is to sort and order the 10,000 digital photographs I have on the computer and get started!

Have a look at the site, it's really inspirational and I'm guessing, a bit addictive!!

One of the actual scrapbooking kits Becky Higgins can send you.  There are two designs available.

Or the electronic (cheaters!) version.  Love it!  You then have it printed, very professional.

Better get cracking!

Kid friendly

Some shopping centres just get it 'right' for parents and children.

We were delighted in Rockhampton to find their Stockland shopping centre had a fantastic indoor childrens play area.  After a good couple of hours shopping, little Jack was restless so we headed to the play area, I grabbed a coffee and watched him have fun!  It was terrific, broke up our shopping day and kept him in a better mood, longer.

The play area was spotlessly clean, the equipment was bright and great fun.  He was also able to see himself on television which kept him entertained.

Then to top off this fantastic family environment it was time to head to the parenting room.  Wow!  What a great space for parents and kids.

Firstly there is a big open space with another small play area, for toddlers.  Then a row of very clean, bright change tables with complimentary wipes (heated thank you!).  A variety of feeding rooms with lovely chairs in them with automated locking doors and toys for toddlers.  Large toilet facilities (big enough to take in your pram and all your shopping) with both toilets for big and little people :)

I know to the uninitiated a post on toilet facilities seems a little uninteresting, however, if you've ever been to the shops with an infant and pram alone and needed to 'go' you would understand the logistics can have you in tears ;)

I took a pic of the little play area but the rest of the room was full so I didn't get any others

Apologies for the quality of the pictures, they were taken with my phone :)

Subway Art

I am just loving Subway art at the moment.  Particularly anything inspirational.

I have printed out a couple of these and placed them around the house in frames.

This one I popped in Jack's room.  It displays all the fabulous things I want him to absorb.  There are various colours and the big bonus is you can download it free here at Mozzies Way of Life!

Thanks to my fave The Super Organiser Mum for the link :)

I have this one in the lounge room as an Easter decoration.

Available from Tammy Mitchell

See how gorgeous they can look!  Thanks Moms By Heart

I wonder how hard it would be to have a go at one of my own?

It's all getting a little Easter crazy in our house.  Lots of craft and decorations.  I'll post some of our own soon.

My favourite Easter ideas

With all the rain we've been having, I am always on the lookout for crafty ideas to keep Master Jack and I occupied.  I found a few beautiful ideas, I thought I'd share them :)

Yolk Folk!  Too cute!

.

You can purchase the template at Cradle Rock

Or a novel twist on giving an Easter Egg

The Eggling

What about some FAB Easter baskets?  I'm a bit intimidated about making these, but will give it a go!

Find the template at the wonderful Kiki Creates

Or something simpler, but adorable to do with the kids

The instructions can be found at the Speckled Freckle

I think Jack and I might stick with simple colouring in and painting.  I found these gorgeous colouring in templates.  They are free and easily printable.  By Style me gorgeous, they have a free template each month and also seasonal templates.

Now off to create!

Toddlers first wet season

Jack is 14 months old and this is his first wet season in the tropics.  The challenge for us has been coming up with indoor activities to keep us both busy.  He's too little for a lot of the toddler activity, but old enough to require entertaining!

Today we drew a few gorgeous pictures for his Aunties (under close supervision as he is a crayon nibbler), used sea sponges to paint a few more pictures and read lots and lots of books.  The advantage of using sea sponges is I then just pop them in a container and in the fridge, then they're ready for the next rainy day.  No clean up required!

More rain is forecast for tomorrow so I think we might start on some Easter activities.  Despite all this fun however, I'm pretty sure he can't wait to get back outside with the soccer ball and Tonka trucks!

When it rains

When it rains in the wet tropics, it pours!  Not just for a day, but sometimes weeks and weeks.  It's the price we pay for living in paradise I guess.  What to do with a 1 year old and a house that needs work?  Painting and gardening are impossible due to the humidity and rain so I guess the house gets a break today.  I find for Jack, we need an indoor plan of action!  Today we're going to make play-doh, sit on the floor and CREATE!  What fun!

My recipe for Play-doh
1/2 cup salt
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon cream of tartar
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup water
food coloring

What to do:

Combine ingredients in a saucepan.  Heat gently stirring all the time. When the dough has a good consistency take it off the heat and allow to cool.


Thank you to  Kinderplanet for the recipe :)