Letter writing kits for children

When I first started blog reading in 2009, this lovely blog inspired me to start my own blog.

Recently Mel shared a post about making letter writing kits.

My girls have made friends with two very special girls in Australia and want to keep in touch via good old fashioned snail mail. We decided to use the tutorial and make some letter writing kits to gift their special friends.

In their favourite colours of course..

We stamped some blank envelopes and paper with some cute stamps we bought at Typo

We added a pen and there's a little pocket for postage stamps.

 I really love encouraging the idea of writing letters and I hope I will be more encouraged to do so too.
There is something quite special about opening up the mail box to a REAL letter!!!!

Joining in with the creative peeps over here....

Review: Nature Fresh’s Simply Fibre

My younger two children LOVE sandwiches and they especially love nice soft white bread!

We were asked to review a new Nature Fresh bread called Simply Fibre.

It was afternoon tea, the troops were hungry from school, swimming lessons and shopping for soccer gear.

It called for a HAPPY SAMMIE!!

The kids loved this new bread and Mummy is happy because of the extra fibre!

where to start?

So much has been happening in our lives that I really don't know where to start with a blog post. I feel so far behind and haven't even blogged about our trip to the USA yet (was it really five months ago?) or the Blogger's conference in Christchurch.

I haven't told you about the house we bought!!! (unless you follow me on Instagram or Pinterest...major pinning overload for house ideas).

Or the IKEA 'catalogue' I made with these lovelies.

Kristy, Anya and Weza

Or the week I went back to Aussie and saw some special friends and was honoured to be invited to a dear friends wedding.

I haven't told you about my awesome Mum and Dad who had our children while I was away.

Yes one is wearing the Christening gown and the other has a tongue that always pops out for photos.

Or the amazing toadstools my Dad made me for my birthday.

But, I'll blow off the cobwebs and be back to share. 

Promise 

x

Birthday Loving

Last Saturday was my birthday. You're only as old as you feel ...right??

Because I was going to Christchurch my family took me out for dinner the weekend before

they REALLY liked the menu ;)

On the actual day, I was very lucky and spent it with around 60 Bloggers and two of my birthday week bloggy buddies (try saying that fast), Jacksta and Meghan.

There was a party, in a restaurant, with fairy lights... with a special meal for me...
what??? that wasn't MY party??? ...hehe

My lovely bloggy friends spoiled me with gifts..

Cat made me THE most beautiful hot water bottle cover ever!!!

Simone bought me this cool as necklace!

There was cake and chocolate and a lovely card, a yummy breakfast (thanks Gail!) and sparkling pink grapefruit (Kristy!). And a yummy cupcake candle from Widge.

I may or may not have purchased myself some gifts from the Make Cafe.

It was a great day, with lots of messages of love.

When I got home my kids showered me with love and a banner and handmade cards.

My son made me one of a sardine. Because he loves sardines.
I love my son.

and a big parcel was waiting for me from Australia....
As soon as I saw the return address I knew (in my extra tired state) I was going to cry!

My very dear and lovely friend Jennie had conspired with my eldest daughter to make this BEAUTIFUL doll!!!!

EEK!!! She's so gorgeous! My very own A little Vintage Doll!!!

And... her name is....

Thanks Jennie I LOVE her!!

Thank you to everyone for making my day week so special!!!!

Joining in with 

Oh how I love thee Pinterest

I'm such a pinterest junkie. I LOVE that site. All of the pretties, the inspiration, the tutorials!!!
You can follow me and my 4000 something pins here!

A little while ago I stumbled across this gorgeous cross stitch canvas.

Which led me to this beautiful blog...Solgrim  and the instructions to make it.

It immediately made me think of my beautiful friend Cat with it's Cath Kidston style flowers.

I painted the canvas with some left over paint from my daughters bed (Dulux Laguna Teal because I know you are going to ask) and with some graph paper and some coloured pencils made my pattern (using the one in the tutorial).

I then taped it to the canvas with masking tape and punched holes in all the squares with a needle.

Stitching was quite hard work pushing it through the canvas (and paint) but I love how it turned out.

Of course I gifted it to the lovely lady who inspired me to make it, Cat.

Linking in with Leonie at Show and Tell


and My Creative Space

What will I wear? Can I be comfortable in my own skin?

This is a keeping it real post for me. And the title does NOT mean I am coming to the conference in my birthday suit! (although it is my birthday on the weekend!)

As the Around the Table Bloggers conference approaches in a few days, my anxiety levels are rising and panic attacks are bubbling around the surface making me think it would be easier to pull out than to put myself in a social situation where I may feel out of place...or worse still, invisible *gasp*.

Don't get me wrong, I am in awe of those Christchurch girls. I have utter admiration for them. They are so amazing with what they have pulled together. Utterly amazing.

And there are so many bloggers I want to meet in real life. So many.

I just feel my blogging has been a little... um... absent. My connecting through commenting has been, um... absent. My blog reading -- in the same category.

So much has been happening for us ... the international move was so intense, trying so hard to get on top of a bowel infection, living out of a suitcase (again) at my in laws, testing me to all my limits.

A couple of weeks ago I was worried about what I was going to wear and then I got over that and decided to just wear what I'm comfortable in. But now it's about being comfortable in my own skin.

The reality is we are all coming from our different REAL lives with our REAL selves on show. It's a little painful to reveal those things we can hide on our blogs...

Like my little toes have no toe nails? yes, really.

I know from experience that I LOVE bloggers, especially those I meet in real life, so please come and say hello on the weekend. I'm pretty good at covering up my insecurities most of the time, with loudness and inappropriate laughter, but just know I will be a quivering mess underneath it all.

I'm not naturally a huggy person but I have learnt to hug (thanks boob-squishing huggy American host family!) and if you say something kind I am likely to cry. Just warning you.

Return to sender

So... here we are.. HOME!!!

As my blog says, I am such a Kiwi at heart and last Thursday we arrived in our homeland.

a first glimpse of NZ

The peace I feel about this move home is enough to know this is exactly where we are supposed to be.

The lead up to the move was kind of insane.
Moving is insane... international moving - notches things up by 100 fold I think. There were movers, suitcases to pack, a cat to organise to travel, a bond clean on the rental, plus good byes to friends and comforting our children who were both excited and sad at the same time.

Cat bombing the photo

On our return from our amazing trip to the USA, visiting my host family from my student exchange, hubby and I both agreed it was time to go home. We need our families in our lives on a regular basis. Hubby applied for jobs, went for interviews and a great job landed in his lap.

Ever since then things seem to be falling into place. On arriving home his Dad had found him a great (cheap) car and things are happening for us, almost effortlessly.

As the plane touched down I started to cry, tears of joy. Two and a half years of living in limbo wondering where we were supposed to be and we were finally home. As the Customs Officer processed our passports I started to cry again (sook!). The emotions were overwhelming... my preteen was overwhelmed with shame...*snigger*

Our kitty cat arrived the day after us... what a rigmarole! But she's totally worth it. She was so miserable when we collected her after going back and forward between about 15 different buildings!

Yesterday we drove up to my Mum and Dad's in Northland and it was a very emotional welcome. Mum and Dad haven't seen their grandchildren for almost 19 months.

Miss 11 is almost as tall as Nana

We have a crazy busy few (six) weeks ahead of us with exciting times catching up with family and friends, the BLOGGERS conference! and another little trip back to Oz for hubby and I for a dear friends wedding.

So here we are. Hopefully my blogging will gain some momentum and I will FINALLY blog about our trip to the USA, all the crafting that's been going on in the background, etc.

With love
The KIWI at heart AT home
xx