"My beautiful BIG world!"

The other day, for some creative indoor playtime I brainstormed with my nearly 2 year old what to play with.

It was way too hot outside  and the kids were in need of some down time.

After much consideration and a biscuit she declared that she wanted to play with horsies (horses).

My brother had given her a set of little plastic horses last year so out they came, we found bits and pieces from around the house to make them a nice home as shown in the photo above.

* blue felt sheet for the ocean

*yellow felt sheet for the sand

*green felt sheet for the grass

*3 very different shells for the sand (spiky, smooth and pointy, white, speckled and brown)

out of our bathroom.

*a small blue container lid for the horses drinking water

*some light brown wool for a hay bale

*2 wooden trays that I picked up from an opp shop last year that make great animal pens

(at 80c and 50c)

*horse set (12 horses, a tree, stables and the horse head lid of the horse container that soon became a horse land rock :P

 Both Declan and Thalia became very involved as the scene was created and both had a say in where things ought to go.

It wasn't long before Declan picked up a shell and asked "Mummy, can I hear the beach in this shell?"...too cute

It soon became a shell listening experience and remembering things about when we went to the beach and what it was like.

After the horses had a tour of the beach, the hay bale was shared around so all the horses had some lunch and each horse had their turn at the drinking water....some of the horses started falling down with all the little hands moving in their land.

Declan decided that "they must be tired Mummy, they need to sleep!".

Some horses got moved to the stables, some in the pens and some said they didn't need a nap at all.

Declan's latest prized possession, a plastic crocodile from Dream world that he named crunch and now sleeps with...soon made his way into the nice cool water.

Declan informed the horses that he was a friendly crocodile and would be nice.

Soon declan started thinking more about the beach and quickly went to the toy box to get some more creatures.

Out came the "deep  sea creatures". Sharks, whales, a crab, seals and land creatures too. Chickens, a goose, sheep, donkeys, a duck, a dog and so on.

We were soon singing Old McDonald's farm taking turns naming the animals in play. Thalia lost interest and went to draw with Daddy but Declan was amazed at this little world.

During play and animals chatting to each other, Declan proudly declared this world "my Big beautiful world!"

It was a great experience for all involved and well worth the little effort of finding a few odd and ends to start the kids imagination go wild! They soon completed their own beautiful world, learning all sorts of things in the process.....the process not the product was where the magic was.

Below is a photo of Declan proudly lying down next to his "beautiful BIG world" :D

I recently found a face book page that creates and sells imaginative play sets that inspire play and promote children's natural sense of wonder...using mostly recycled, re purposed and homemade.

If your interested check them out at Homemade rainbows

"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" Chocolate Cake

 For part of the school holidays we had my niece and nephew stay with us from nsw.
Amongst the drama of the floods (our house was not affected),Mum and I trying to update various Tuckie sites with flood and road information, trying to entertain two toddlers and two teenagers... I had a birthday cake to make.

My nephew was turning 15 and what better cake to make than a yummy Chocolate cake that isn't only quick and easy to make but it's also safe for my kids! not to mention it's one of the best chocolate cake recipes I've seen and eaten.


Thanks to a friend who passed on the recipe found here at HERSHEY'S PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" Chocolate cake

To make it allergy friendly you just need to twig a few ingredient's depending what allergies your catering for.

• Egg free: Simply use an egg re placer such as 'orgran no egg" instead of egg
• Nut free: Use Nestle's baking Co coa
• Dairy free: Use dairy alternative such as rice milk or 'darifree' from allergy friendly foods and use nuttlex instead of butter for the frosting.

I'm not sure how it would turn out with gluten free cake but it's worth a try, let me know if you have a go.

We all enjoyed this chocolate cake to the max, the texture of a gorgeous mud cake and the taste to match.
Share the love and get baking! :)

Here is a pic of my nephew and his cake,
it's not the most attractive attempt but it tasted like heaven.

Vintage doll cot bargin :)

Just before Christmas, I strolled through a local opp shop looking for any interesting things and was thrilled when I came across this beautiful old style wooden doll cot for all of $6!!!!

I love that my little girl will now be able to enjoy the experience of having her very own vintage doll cot for play, something you just don't see in the shops these days.

It's solid wood and obviously built by someone rather than being mass produced. When gently pushed it rocks to lull the doll to sleep :D
No batteries or plastic included :P SOLD!!

My little girl has not seen the cot just yet as I need to sand it back,give it a repaint to clean it up and give it a little face lift.
Seeing as her birthday is at the beginning of feb and she will be given a gorgeous new doll from a relative, it's the perfect timing to get it ready for the big reveal.

I can't wait to see the expression on her little pixie face when she sees this lovely treasure.

Tuna and Pasta mornay

Tuna and Pasta Mornay
(Nut free, egg free)

Before we started on the elimination diet I used to make a mean Tuna mornay that was so easy to make and became a fave for my little munchkins.
I have finally come up with a tuna mornay recipe that everyone in our little family is happy with, that suits the munchkins new diet. It's so quick and easy and freezes well too!!

Preparation time:10 min
Total cooking time: 10-15 min
Serves 4
Storage time: Sauce can be made a day ahead. Store, covered, in refrigerator. Cook pasta and reheat sauce just before serving.
Variations: Use Salmon instead of tuna (fresh or canned),
you could also add heated  corn kernels to the mix for a bit of a change.

• 400g of your choice of pasta (I use organic pasta)
• 30g butter ( I used nuttlex)
• 6 shallots, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 1 tablespoon of plain flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon Lemon juice (I make citric lemon juice: dissolve 1 tsp sugar in 4 tbsp warm water.Then add 3/4 tsp citric acid. Remember to only use 1 tbsp for the recipe! the rest can be refrigerated for later use)
• 425g can of tuna in brine, drained, flaked.
• 1/2 cup of chopped parsley
• salt to taste

1. Add pasta to a large pan of rapidly boiling water to cook until tender.(when tender, drain)
2. While pasta is cooking, melt butter in a medium pan; add shallots and garlic. Stir over a low heat for 3 min or until tender. Add flour and stir for 1 min.
3. Combine milk, sour cream and lemon juice in a jug. Add gradually to shallot mixture, stirring constantly. Stir over a medium heat for 3 min or until mixture boils and thickens.
4. Add tuna and parsley to pan; stir through for 1 min or until heated through. Turn hotplate off.
5. Add drained pasta to pan, stir until well combined. Season with salt before serving.

A Fairy Painting for my little Fairy :)

Thalia checking out what mummy painted up for her room! :D

 Back in May of last year I blogged about a project I was scheming for my little girl.
Click here if you want to read the post for some background.

I am very pleased to say that the first of three fairy painting's is finished!!!!!!
I didn't think it would take me this long at all... but when you factor in child wrangling, tafe study, volunteer work, allergy cooking, time for Daddy, me being a perfectionist and simply time...then the time frame seems a little more realistic and acceptable :P

Thalia loves her painting and is quite happy to have it hanging in her room very soon.

I have vague idea's for the next two paintings so I guess time will tell how they go and when they will be finished.

In the close up photo to the left you can't see the writing on the green book, as the camera didn't pick it up due to the paint glaze over the top.
The writing says 'Thalia - A Fairies Tale'

Thalia's little world is changing so much at the moment, we are currently making the normal party preparations for her 2nd birthday next month, her big bed arrives next month, undies have been brought and will be introduced soon....all after a busy Christmas, New years and Festive season!
Oh and not to mention 7 new bubba friends due to be born in the next 2 months.....excitement plus :D

* My Little Fairy *
photo taken May 2010