patchwork

The girls and I got invited to this lovely children's production at the Baxter last weekend. 

We've long been fans of Pedro The Music Man, and the promise of 45 minutes in darkened aircon during this radical heatwave was deliciously inviting.

The girls sat up front with hosts of other smalls - including 3 sets of twins! - on comfy cushions, right at eye-level to the action.

Such a simple stage - the 3 players dressed in comfy white, a scattering of cushions (some of which talk!), a wee bed, a fresh cotton sheet flapped and waved most gracefully (I felt my head nodding at the thought of curling up under it), a wonderfully imaginative and animated dressing gown, and all accompanied by Pedro's signature so simple, but so effective, musical sounds.

The play is very much geared at 1 - 4 yr olds. My entranced nearly-7 yo loved it too. No one doubts the value of kids being exposed to theatre, live performance, but when they're seated so close they can really read expression, feel emotion and see the performer's hands at work ... there's a magic in that they just won't get anywhere else.

Let's support children's theatre! 4 days left to see Patchwork!

faithful to nature

Two words: blog swag.

The good people at Faithful to Nature ('your online organic store') sent us a Suncoat Children's Make-Up kit - an incongruous concept to me in some ways, but the fact is my youngest LOVES painted toenails (those'll be my genes) and what's not to love about a product that isn't shockingly bad for her AND is mess-free enough for her to use herself?

Check her technique!

She's a natural. And using all natural products too!

Later the big girls tried the make-up. 'Do we look like fashion ladies Mum?'

Thanks Faithful to Nature, we had great fun playing with the kit - go check out their fab au naturel Christmas gift ideas!

twinkle star photography

Much earlier this year I won a family photo shoot with Twinkle Star Photography by answering the question: why do you think you should win this shoot?
I answered that we should win because Friday was losing teeth at a rate of knots and we should get some pics before she became a gap-toothed monster, and I won!

Months later I finally got it together to free up an afternoon and the lovely Sam arrived to take our pictures. We settled down for tea and chat to get the girls (and me!) at ease, whereupon Friday promptly popped a tooth! We did laugh!

Sam quickly had us all feeling very comfortable, and the girls and I pottered around as we would on a normal afternoon.

I'd had my reservations about the shoot - I'm not a formal portrait person and definitely didn't want it to be too cheesy ... but Sam was super, she totally got where I was coming from and in our pre-shoot chats quickly recommended a more documentary style, lifestyle photography it's called.

Basically, photos of our lives.

With Sam cleverly catching snippets of our home and other quirky details (love those sneakers!) in between. I think this gives so much more depth to the collection of pics she's given us, and I've a feeling I'll treasure this memory, tying a little girl's shoe, as much as the shots of us together.

Later we headed outside into the wild wind for the great afternoon light, and some horse-play.

Thank you Sam for a wonderfully relaxed and fun afternoon, and for capturing such lovely moments in the lives of my crazy little ones and I. 

I just know the glow of these pictures will become more golden and magical as these little girls grow up, up and away.

the bird man

Hold your jumping castles, magicians, Cinderellas and face-painters. Cancel the pony, the balloon-shaper and the puppet show.
There's a new kiddie party guy in town and he is ... odd.
Martin Odd, aka The Bird Man.

Because what 6 year old doesn't want a Rock Kestrel sitting on his head at his birthday party?

And who doesn't want their friends to experience the magic ...

... the wonder ...

... and the mind-boggling privilege of an African White Backed Vulture pooping visiting in your living room?

Martin and his team of feathered friends (Macaw Parrot, Hadeda, Owls, Crow and more) do an amazing hour long show, full of facts and information, entertainment and education, guaranteed to leave all the guests (young and old) with lots to think about and remember about the magnificent birds which live amongst us.

Martin shows an affection and respect for his birds which we commonly associate with furry mammals, and speaks candidly of his early days as a budding ornithologist, seeking out nests as a boy around his home in the suburbs.
How wonderful to expose our children to an adult so passionate about what he does. Someone who has followed his childhood dream and now does the work he loves everyday.
Valuable lessons indeed.

And so entertaining!

Rounded off with a chance to hang out with a White Faced Scops Owl. A very special birthday party experience indeed.

More information on Martin's shows (he can also be found at Ratanga Junction in season) and his contact details can be found here, or on his facebook page Birds of Africa Show.

rocking the daisies

For once, I have no words.

It was bigger, and muddier, and louder, and fuller, and younger, and colder than I'd expected. But, as expected, it was a complete jol.
Best friends, free Jack Daniels, no kids, total freedom and a radical change of scenery.

Good for the soul.

free range art

We've been decidedly non-crafty around here for a while. The girls both make and do so much at school that I think that satisfies their creative bent for the most part, and our lovely 'art room' is pretty cold and dark during the winter months - we tend to gravitate to the sunny north-facing lounge in the afternoons.

Having said that, there's been a fair bit of spontaneous, free range art happening and I have to say I love it. Some of it is even collaborative - on Sunday's request Friday drew her a tree to adorn with leaves, apparently this piece is called a 'celebration of Spring'.

Sometimes I'm asked for specific materials, and sometimes I've just left water colours (least messy paint available), glue and silly sticky things out to be 'discovered'.

There's also still lots of colouring happening. How coy is this mermaid? Friday's been stretching her eyeballs practising the look.

And a bit of art imitating life. We've been finding lots of crabs in the garage and front garden lately, we think they must be following an internal GPS, desperately trying to get through the house to the lake out front.
I wasn't that surprised when I found this little sketch on Friday's table the other day.

But I'm keen for a project again, and have my eye on this one from the sweet new Cape Town blog Tuesdays with Megan. I'll let you know how it works out ...

FEAT. socks

So ... I bought husband some socks for his birthday last month. Amongst other things okay? Sheez.

I bought him some fancy-pants socks from Feat. sock co. - a wee bamboo/cotton blend nod to hipsterville and all that he ain't.
His birthday was in mid-July, and last week I noticed one of the socks had a hole in the toe.

So I thought what the heck, and sent them a mail kindly inquiring whether they'd send someone round to darn it?
That was on Friday.
On Monday replacements were hand-delivered to our front door.

Considering he wears biker boots all day they gently suggested he try some from their more rugged cotton/nylon blend range. Probably not a bad plan.

I like this kind of service. I like supporting local brands who take this kind of pride in their reputation. I even like their little sock movie (how cute are those scallop-edged socks for girls?).

And I thought seeing as I have a modest public platform here, I'd thank them publicly. Thanks Feat!

cute coffee stop

Driving down Constantia Main Rd the other day (which incidentally, and appropriately, as to be the most la-di-da Main Rd in Cape Town, not at all what we expect from a Main Rd really) - in fact, I didn't even know it was called that until recently - you know, the road which goes from Constantia Village all the way up to Constantia Nek?

Okay, wait. Driving down Constantia Main Rd the other day I came upon this, near the High Constantia Shopping Centre:

How cute?!

Not the cheapest coffee in town but it was delicious, and total props for style ...

... and you get a loyalty card that only needs 5 stamps to get a freebie! I like.

An inspired initiative by a Hout Bay coffee lover (who also serves tea). Go support him!

dinosaur party

And so, despite it being touch and go there some days, she made it to 3 and specifically requested a Dinosaur Party.
I was happy to oblige.

Dinosaur party hats. Fruit & doughnut skewers. Carrot (cup)cakes. Nikki Werner's (super easy and delicious!) Cheesecake from here.

Cardboard Dinosuits for the win.

Rwoar.

Le Cake!

My first ever 'proper' party packs. I've arrived.

Contemplating new ways to torture her mother ...

It was a great morning, she was immaculately behaved, her friends were lovely, my friends were even lovelier. 

We're one step closer to 4.

And in years to come I'll look back at this last photo and nostalgically mourn the loss of my soft cheeked babachoo.

lovely people making lovely things

It's that time of year and as I'm lucky enough to know lots of lovely people who make and do lovely things, I thought I'd share some links here ... you know, for Christmas present purposes.

Blossom Creations ~
Lots of simply gorgeous products for babies and mums, Jan's selection of fabrics is heavenly.

I have one of the very lovely cellphone wallets - perfect for your phone, Driver's Licence, debit card and an emergency R20 note when you're just popping to the shop or gym etc.

Make. Believe ~
Beautifully folded origami beauties ... these strings of birds,

... and Wendy's now famous exquisitely balanced and delicate mobiles, as featured in the latest House and Leisure magazine.

Lemon & Lilac ~
Specialising in paint techniques, reinventing old furniture and some gorgeous home decor, Lisa has a shop in Chenoweth St, Durbanville, an exquisite home in Observatory, a talented eye for spotting a treasure and lots and lots of energy!

Little Fire Company ~
Sponsor of my recent giveaway, the Little Fire Company has oodles of goodness for the babies and kidlets in your life, all of which can be purchased online.

Go shopping!

*All photos shamelessly lifted from their respective websites and facebook pages!*