Healthy Kids

Our busy lifestyles and the convenience of prepackaged foods have made it easy to fill our kids up on some not so nice things which contain artificial additives and preservatives so with the New Year here and the beginning of a new school year fast approaching we thought it appropriate to share some healthy snack and lunch box ideas and do a bit of research into what really is in our food.

Slices of Fruit
Banana Slices Coated in Coconut
Dried Fruit (Apricots, Sultanas)
Fresh Dates
Frozen Fruit
Roasted Veges
Vege Sticks with Hummus/Cottage Cheese or Avocado
Raisin Toast
Pikelets with Ricotta and Honey
Rice Cakes with Vegemite
Weetbix and Honey
Jaffles filled with Baked Beans, Tuna,
Sandwiches – Egg and Lettuce, Ham and Salad, Peanut Butter (if no peanut allergy)
Mini Pizza on English Muffin
Cheese and Dried Fruit
Lavash Bread Roll Ups with Hummus, Grated Carrot, Cheese and Avocado
Frittatas or Vege Slices
Yoghurt with Extra Fresh Fruit
Baked Potatoes filled with Tuna, Creamed Corn or Baked Beans
Fruit Smoothies

Of course there are heaps more great things to put into our kids mouths so if anyone out there would like to add their suggestions then please feel free.

In terms of additives and preservatives if you are feeling confused then take a look at this site for some clarification http://www.fedup.com.au/ Here you can download some really useful information to help decipher what all those numbers mean on the food ingredient list and most importantly which ones to avoid.

Whilst visiting this site consider taking part in the Kids First Campaign which is a bid to demand Australia’s Food Standards Australia New Zealand follows the UK’s lead and puts consumers first by banning six additives in question from Australian Food. Additional information linked to this was recently featured on Sunrise and clearly outlines the colourings in question.

Also an Australian List of Foods which contain the nasty colourings in question can be found by following the below link:

http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/features/colours/colourfoods.htm

Please feel free to make commnet about this topic as i would to hear about some of your thoughts and experiences.

Merry Markets

Market Stall

What a great day the BrisStyle markets turned out to be and the setting was just lovely despite the opressive heat. The leafy courtyard where I was situated was such a quaint and intimate setting - perfect for this style of market. And I have to say that the quality of craft on offer was superb and rather impressive as were the lovely ladies that makeup the BrisStyle Group. We are definately looking forward to the next one that

is for sure. But for now we will leave you with some photos of our stall.

Orange Doggy Woggy and Lenci Ladybird Tees

BrisStyle Xmas Markets

Far Out!!!!!!! I don't know where this week has gone or the year for that matter. The BrisStyle Xmas Markets are literally here and when I wake in the morning I shall be jumping in the car and heading there to sell our wares. The car is loaded and I have double checked my list but no doubt there will be something I will have overlooked.

It is always a little nerve racking doing markets. You never know how the day will pan out and there is always those thoughts to contend with like "what if i don't sell anything?" or "what if the customers don't like my wares?" I am yet to meet the group of women who make up BrisStyle as I am new to the group but I am really looking forward to chatting with other like minded women.

As our regular customers and newsletter subscribers are aware, we will be showcasing a new collection of summer dresses at the BrisStyle Markets designed especially for for little girls. We have designed two collections. First up is our Annie Collection which features dresses created from bright and fresh fabrics that summer brings to us and secondly our Pinnie Collection which are appliqued with a variety of designs which are innocent and all about being a lady. Thre dressed will range in size from 0 - 2. You can check our a sneak peek below as modelled by our faceless mannequin named - wait for it - "Mannie"

Annie Collection - Green Tea

Babouska Pinnie

And this time tomorrow evening I hope to have my feet up reading my magazines subscriptions that haven't even been unwrapped yet.

Rudy and The Dodo Custom Design

RUDY AND THE DODO - CUSTOM DESIGN

" Rudy Robot"

I couldn't resist sharing our latest custom tees created especially for the gorgeous online store "Rudy and The Dodo" which stocks terribly fabulous stuff for little individuals.

Using the Rudy and the Dodo logo we worked to create something that fitted with the stores image and ever expanding range of both handpicked and handcrafted products, which have an individual and quirky edge.

Each design on offer (rudy robot, unisex dodo and girlie dodo) is appliqued onto our own high quality cotton elastomeric tees now available in 3 colours - white, marle grey and ballet pink. Tees are available from size 00 - 4 in white and 00 - 2 in colours for $29.95.

"Girlie Dodo"

You can check them out online and I suggest that whilst there it is probably worthwhile taking a squiz at the full range of goodies on offer which includes toys, gifts, clothing, home wares, greeting cards and more from around the globe.

"Unisex Dodo"

In the Limelight - Nancy Bird

I was so rapped when my new Nancy Bird "Smith Bag" arrived the other day. Made from lucious Italian Sheep Leather this satchel style bag has lots of little detail like the little rainbow shaped design on the exterior of the bag and the coffee bean fabric underneath the flap which has been handprinted by local Melbourne makers. With a second baby on the way this bag is going to be perfectly stylish and roomy enough to hold all the little extras without going overboard. For further designs including wallets and coin purses jump onto the Nancy Bird site.

How To Take Great Photos

How To Take a Great Photo

Likened to wildlife photography you can never have too many tricks up your sleeve in order to get great shots of your precious ones. We do our own photography at Tees 2 Knees and are far from being professionals but we have learnt a few things along the way that have helped us get the shots that we need. Hope you find the following useful.

Let kids be kids: there is something magic about a child playing in their natural state so let them go for it and shoot them as they do.

Make Conversation: engage with your child in a brief conversation. Ask them about what they are doing or what they love about their favourite thing

Get Down To Their Level: try laying on the grass/ground and and focus on eye contact.

Quantity for Quality: when it comes to taking great shots Ithe secret is to getting one good shot is quantity.

Get up Close: Zoom in a little closer than you normally would and save yourself the time of cropping the image later.

Cut the Flash: if your camera has a manual setting try experimenting with the different settings. Try turning off the flash to avoid washed out faces and red eyes. Light is the key to beautiful snaps. Avoid harsh summer sun instead try mornings or afternoons for a warmer and less shadowy shot.

Don’t Pose – Compose don’t stress if your little one won’t look at you or smile. Some of the my favourite photos of kids are often when they aren’t looking at the camera.

Photo Editing: simple photo editing software seems to be standard with most cameras so don't be hesitant to have a play around. The other option of course is to elist the service of a professional photo editing service.

For further information it is worth popping over to the my new shiny shoes blog where you can get your free digital photography guide which I am certain will come in rather handy over the festive season

Fruit Platter

Well the Xmas celebrations have commenced and already I am starting to wish they were over. It has been so humid here in Queensland of late that the ability to consume food is a little off putting especially when you have to share you abdominal region with someone else. So today after a light lunch of chicken and salad we followed through with the good old fruit platter. Such a nice way to finish the meal and with no guilty conscience either.

Indie Art and Design Xmas Catalogue

Looking for some xmas present inspiration then go no further than the indie art and design xmas catalogue for 2008. There are so many lovely handcrafted wares on offer that will make fantastic and unqiue gifts for your loved ones. I can feel myself wishing and wanting as I type. Check it out for yourselfby simply going to www.indie.com.au

The World's Meanest Mother

With my second child on its way this newspaper clipping given to me by my mother will certainly come in handy. Taken from a newspaper dated 1982, my mother recalls sitting down and reading it before she went to bed in the evenings. I might just follow suit. I have retyped it for easy reading.

The World's Meanest Mother

As a child I had the meanest mother in the whole world. She was really mean; when other kids had lollies for breakfast, she made me eat cornflakes, eggs and toast. When others had soft drinks and lollies for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich.

My mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were on a chain gang! She had to know who our friends were, and what we were doing. She insisted that if we said we'd be gone for an hour, that we'd be gone for one hour or less! She was really mean.

I'm ashamed to admit it, but she actually had the nerve to break the child labour law. She made us work! We had to wash all the dishes....make all the beds....learn to cook, and all sorts of cruel things. I reckon she used to lie awake awake each night, thinking up mean things for us to do.

She always insisted on telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. By the time we were teenagers, she was much worse and our life became even more unbearable.

None of this tooting the horn of the car for us to go to meet friends. She embarrassed us immensley by making our dates and friends come to the door to get us. I forgot to tell you....while my friends were dating at the mature age of twelve and thirteen, my old-fashioned mother refused to let me date until I was sixteen.

My mother was a complete failure as a mother. None of us have even been arrested, or fired from a job or had our charater questioned.......and who do we have to blame for this terrible way we've turned out? You're right.... our mean mother!

Look at all the things we missed. We didn't even take part in a riotous demonstration, get chased by the police or do the million and one things that our friends did. She made us grow into God-fearing, educated, honest adults!

Using this as a yardstick, I am trying to raise my children so I stand a little taller and I am filled with pride when my children call me "mean". You see, I thank God he gave me the meanest mother in the whole world.

Author Unknown