Mister Maker comes to town!

I was lucky enough to win a family pass to Mister Maker thanks to Spark, and it was even luckier that it fell on my son's fourth birthday!

For those of you who don't know, Mister Maker is a TV show aimed at getting kids creative- paper, paint and glue are staples of a Mister Maker show!

We had a fun start to the afternoon at a pre-concert event held by the people at Spark.



In true Mister Maker spirit, there were lots of art and craft activities to keep the little ones entertained.



There was also a very talented face painter there, who made my sons into Ironman and The Hulk.



Then it was off to the concert, where we found our seats and waited patiently for the show to start.



Mister Maker's dancing helpers were there and started off the show by hunting down Mister Maker and The Shapes via satellite and the big screen.



Once Mister Maker's hair was perfect, he arrived on stage to chat to everyone about how fun it is to be artistic. The mix of songs, demonstrations, audience participation and arty parties kept my two paying attention throughout the entire show.



Parts of the TV show were converted into live audience games and there were a few children (and parents) called up on stage to help out with songs and creating.



It wouldn't be a Mister Maker show without The Shapes, who danced along to their classic song and also surprised us with a few new songs and an eloquent speech from Rectangle!



Even more surprising was Mister Maker's awesome dance moves and rapping skills! This show kept me entertained as well as the littlies.



Adam was even lucky enough to get a personal birthday message from Mister Maker on the back of his VIP pass- we left the show with two very happy boys, two entertained parents and big smiles!

Five Years- we remember

Five years ago it hit. 

The shaking. The confusion. The panic.

The 6.3 magnitude shake claimed 185 lives on 22 February 2011. The earthquake rattled Christchurch, tearing families apart and collapsing buildings. 

I vividly remember running to a door frame with my 14 month old son in my arms. My first thought after the shaking had ended was that it couldn't be too bad as we still had power, whereas we had lost power in the September earthquake.

I then turned on the TV and realised how devastated the central city was- right where my husband was working on Colombo Street.

Colombo Street- photo credit unkown

Panic ensued as I frantically tried to get hold of him. I was alone with my son, and for ten minutes the tears flowed as I waited for a text, a call, a message that he was OK. He finally answered my call, and told me that his building was not in great shape. Luckily, he had biked to work that day and he was able to get his bike out from amidst the rubble and cycle home.

My other family members and friends checked in, apart from my mum. I knew she had been at a job interview in town and I had no idea where. I finally heard from her at 7pm- she was OK but it took her nearly three hours to get home due to the traffic, blocked city streets and people everywhere.

The days that followed were harrowing as we heard of friends, workmates and loved ones that hadn't made it. The papers were full of horrible images, and the death toll rose. The whole city was in limbo and people were left without jobs, houses or families. 

I know that I was one of the lucky ones as we were all safe with a roof over our heads, and Malcolm could continue working from another location. Time went past and things slowly went back to a sense of normality, although aftershocks continued to rattle us and keep everyone on edge.

I feel sad that my children won't know the Christchurch I grew up with- but they will know a more resilient Christchurch, a safer city and a beautiful place to live. Christchurch still has a long way to go, but we soldier on and take it all in our stride. My heart goes out to those still battling insurance claims, waiting for a house to be built or demolished, and trying to continue with life through anxiety and fear.

Kia Kaha Christchurch. 

Jennian Homes Mother's Day Fun Run Recap

Last Sunday was Mother's Day, but I forfeited breakfast in bed so that I could do the Jennian Homes Mother's Day Fun Run/Walk.

Heart health is something I feel strongly about as I used to work in a cardiology department as a medical secretary and so even though I have no medical background, I saw so many families effected by heart disease. I want to look after my body and be a good active role model for my two boys, and so when Jennian Homes paired up with the Heart Foundation to organise this event I knew it would be a great run for me to participate in.

We arrived bright and early at the event, and went through a warm-up. It was a great morning to exercise, and the majority of faces I saw looked excited!

image via Jennian Homes Facebook page

I was in the first running group, and set off hoping to get a good pace early on. The run felt fantastic and took us through the beautiful scenic paths of Hagley Park. I think we bewildered a few people out for a morning stroll, all of these women racing along in their red tops- but it definitely got the message out there and everyone I encountered, whether a fellow participant or not, was smiling and cheering me on.

I finished up in between groups and ended up running by myself for the last kilometre or so- I wasn't fast enough to catch up with all of the runners out in front but I still felt like my pace was good. I usually run with a buggy so having the extra mobility helped to keep my split paces ahead of average.

Not too sure how accurate this is but it makes my run look pretty good!



I finished the race in high spirits as I saw my boys waiting at the finish line- the look on my face says it all.



I got a bit distracted so I veered off course and didn't run through the cones art the end- whoops- but I still got a goodie bag with some yummy recipes and a few snacks, which my boys promptly ate.



Of course, I then had to do the obligatory post-run selfie.



Doing fun runs helps me to keep active but also enjoy it, and it also sets a good example for my family. I had a natural high for the rest of the day, and enjoyed the rest of my Mother's Day with my extended family.



Have you participated in any fun runs lately? I would love to hear about them!

Did you also know that Bankers Healthcare Group is supporting National Physical Fitness and Sports Month? I can totally relate to the reasons listed in this chart, as being outdoors and keeping active for my family are important to me. There are some great tips and tricks listed below, and I love how this reached out to active mums and fitness bloggers as well as experienced professionals.

Checking Out the Zoo

My family and I were lucky enough to spend a day at Orana Wildlife Park a couple of weekends ago to celebrate my nephew's birthday. I haven't been for over a year- my sister had her wedding here but my boys have only seem brief glimpses of the park.

First stop was the new playground and flying fox!



Feeding the giraffes was a real close up experience, as you can tell! I love that this is included in your park entry, although be sure to line up early. It is hard to get a good photo due to the amount of people on the platform, but my giraffe was happy to see me with leaves in my hand.



I love to see the zebras, and I even colour coordinated with them.



The meerkats were cute, and took turns keeping guard high up on a rock. The boys thought they would be bigger in real life, but still said they were cool.



We got right up the front to see the tiger feeding, and the zookeeper was a fantastic spokesperson for how these animals are treated in the wild. It really was an informative speech and we all learnt a few new things about tigers. I remember taking photos with this tiger at my sister's wedding, so it was nice to see that it still likes getting in the water and is so photogenic, even when waiting for the meat to be thrown into the enclosure!



Of course, the zoo is a big day for the littlies, and so someone was tired out at the end of the day!



If you are in Christchurch as a visitor, or live in Christchurch and haven't been to Orana Wildlife Park recently, it is well worth a visit- especially as they have a new baby rhino!

Hidden Gems for Families in Christchurch

With school holidays upon us here in Christchurch, the search is on for activities to do as a family, in order to keep the little ones entertained. Some of these are based in town, others require a little bit of travelling time, but all are activities or destinations that I regard as hidden gems in the Canterbury area. I have also included some activities for the adults, who may need some time to themselves!

With the cityscape constantly changing after the earthquakes, new and exciting places are popping up everywhere. There are also some tried and true places to visit that will keep both adults and children happy. Whether you live in Christchurch or are just visiting, I hope you find something that appeals to you.

Although a lot of these activities suggested are out of the immediate city, few are further than an hour's drive away and all are very well signposted. If you are a visitor to Christchurch, you can take advantage of a rental car and still see the sights that my city has to offer.  Public transport is also available, and many of my hidden gems feature walkways where you can also take buggies, bikes and scooters.

As I mentioned, Christchurch is undergoing massive changes, and so a definite area to check out is the Re:Start mall. This container shopping mall was brought about after the Christchurch earthquakes, and currently features over 50 businesses. Head there on the weekend and you may also find buskers, market stalls and coffee craftsmen.

image © RE:START CONTAINER MALL, CASHEL ST, CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND, 2014

If you are a resident of Christchurch or the greater Canterbury area, you can get into the Antarctic Centre for half price until the end of October. Even if you are visiting, this is an amazing experience for young and old, with the opportunity to meet penguins, ride a Hagglund or explore Antarctic history.

My two boys love pirates, and the Pirate's Island Aventure Golf is an amazing course. 18 holes of pirate themed mini golf awesomeness including pirate ships, waterfalls, treasure laden caves and even sharks! This golf course is amazingly well put together and well worth checking out.

During the school holidays, Tothills Mazes has a special Kiwiana Hunt and also discounted school holiday prices, 2 adults and up to 3 children $49 or 1 adult and up to 3 children $35. This wooden maze is fun for adults, challenging for kids, and a really good activity to get some active movement into your day. There is also a labyrinth to explore while the adults have a cup of coffee, and sports equipment is left out for anyone to enjoy. Weekends are generally a lot busier, so try and visit during the week if possible.

If you are wanting a day trip one weekend, the Art In A Garden showcase is on from October 30 to November 2nd. This event takes place in Hawarden, an hour's drive from Christchurch. This is a beautiful display, well suited for a walk around with children or as a day trip for a couple into gardening and art.

Blackbird Preening by Lorraine Polglase

If you are feeling peckish, why not call in for a High Tea at The Tea House? They have amazing food and a fantastic play area outside for the kids. They also have delicious dinners for a romantic night out, or just call in for a cup of their fancy teas.

© The Tea House 2014. 

If you are wanting to take in the scenery and explore the outdoors, a visit to McLeans Island is always fun. You can walk around the numerous tracks and explore the area, or even hire a bike and ride around the tracks.

Lastly, for those wanting a full day food and wine experience, I can highly recommend the wonderful North Canterbury Food and Wine trail. You can rent a car or take your own,  and explore the wine region of Waipara as well as Rangiora, Oxford and Hanmer Springs. If wine is your thing, this is a must do! I particularly recommend stopping in for a wine tasting at Pegasus Bay, as well as lunch at Pukeko Junction and a trip in to see Seagars at Oxford. Jo Seagar runs this wonderful cooking school and shop, and you might be lucky enough to run into her! I have featured her many times on my blog, as she is one of my foodie icons.

For my American readers, may I suggest to you that you have fun exploring the hidden gems in your own hometown? It does not have to cost an arm and a leg- you can save nearly half of the standard rate by using a service such as Turo (formerly RelayRides) a peer-to-peer sharing rental car company. Car owners can also take part by simply and safely renting out their cars. You can help others and the environment while enjoying the convenience of renting cars where they’re needed: right in your own neighborhood, at the airport, and everywhere in between.

Life Lately

Wow, what a busy month August has been! I have had so much to do, and things are not getting any quieter. Can you believe I am having to plan Christmas already? Plus I have the Great New Zealand Craft Show this weekend, where I have a stand, and I am going to another clothes swap to bring you some more fabulous fashion finds and get rid of some of the clothes I am still hanging on to.

Lately, I have been taking pleasure in the little things.

Baking for Malcolm's 30th birthday- I made a giant lamington cake!



Reading is how I unwind every night, and currently Unlock Your Style (full review here) and lots of magazines donated by my mother are on my bedside table.



My craft table is rather messy as I am making lots of cards, demo items and scrapbook pages for the weekend. This flip stand is one of my upcoming classes for September and I love how it turned out!



I did manage to get away at the beginning of the month to a scrapbook retreat in Hanmer Springs. Even though I was working for these three days, I did have some time for wine and a massage.



I still make time to have "Family Fun Dates" with my husband and our two boys, and recently we went to the Yoghurt Story for the first time. The boys loved being able to choose their frozen yoghurt toppings, and I loved my Watermelon and Apple flavour combination!



These little things have helped me to keep grounded in light of such busy times, and I know that my family time and craft time are both so important to my wellbeing. I would love to hear what you like to do when things get hectic, as we all have our "me time" so differently!

My Colour Swap package

The beautiful Miriam organised a colour swap recently.

Participants had to do a colour scheme for their chosen partner, and include something to inspire them.

Unfortunately my original partner had to pull out of the swap, so Miriam was kind enough to organise a bunch of goodies for me, as well as taking on her original partner too.

I was so excited to see this in my mailbox this afternoon.



Look at all the goodies to unwrap!



I loved the little paint swatches with inspiring quotes- "a party without cake is just a meeting" is my favourite!



Miriam even made me this beautiful bookmark- she is so clever!



It was so fun unwrapping each item, and at the end I had a bounty of blue gifts.



I am IN LOVE with the duck washi tape- I collect poultry items so I am not sure if Miriam remembered this or it was just a fluke, but either way I am stoked. She even made an adorable blue pencil brooch and a funky necklace!



Of course, I had to try on the necklace straight away. It is awesome.



Miriam captured me perfectly- stationery is always so much fun and I am always searching for pens and notepaper to write my ideas down, so this was such a wonderful parcel to receive. Blue is one of my favourite colours to wear, and it is also a colour I rely on to chill me out, so Miriam did a wonderful job with that.

This turned up on a day when I was struggling with pain, feeling a bit sick and wondering how to fill in the afternoon. It definitely brightened up my day. Thank you so much Miriam!

I will share what I sent my swap partner when I know she has received it- I can't wait for her to get it and I hope she loves it as much as I loved my Little Bit of Wonderful parcel.

Insects Week-Long Study

I love doing weekly themes with my boys, and this week we focused on Insects.

I tend to break things up into different snippets- we take a theme and then focus on a different aspect of that theme for each session.

My themed lunches are always fun to make, and the boys enjoyed eating butterflies.



For our art and craft activity, we were inspired to make a Toilet Paper Bee Finger Puppet. Wrap a toilet paper roll in black paper and then wrap around smaller yellow strips, then add pipe cleaner antennae and wings.



I used a printable pack to focus on Maths, Reading and Writing. This website is seriously awesome for any theme you can think of, including Disney characters, letter themes and more general themes.

To work on Lucas' math, we graphed a dice roll count. Lucas was very good at recording each roll, and was rather excited when we got to the end!



He also practised finding some sight words within a story.

 

Both boys enjoyed colouring in a caterpillar. 



The last thing we did from the printable pack was practice writing. Lucas still needs to work on his pencil grip, any suggestions would be appreciated.




Off we went to explore outside and find some bugs at the nearby Nature Park. Unfortunately due to the weather here, we could only find worms, but the boys had fun looking at their reflections.



Our Friday Family Fun Night was fun as we had the grandparents in law over for an impromptu diner. Lucas wanted to make bugs in mud for dessert- so we got our ingredients together. Usually we go for sour worm lollies, but we saw these new squishy bug lollies and knew they would be perfect.



This was the end result- not too pretty but it sure was delicious!



Lucas also enjoyed his newest bug book from the library- and I must admit I had a lot of fun reading it too.

I would love to know about any themed ideas you have- it is always fun learning something new.