Saturday Surfing: Advent calendars

We've not done much Advent activities yet, but we've started reading some books on Christmas. Right now, we're just concentrating on beating the sniffles, but I thought I'd just share some lovely Advent calendars that I've seen on the Internet. I would love to try making one of these next year!

For those who want something simple:

:: Use envelopes: 

Photo Source: A Few Things from My Life

:: Or recycle those toilet paper rolls!

Photo Source: Maya*made

:: How about a DIY scratch and reveal version, that you can bring along anywhere?

Photo Source: Gift Wrapsody

Or if you want something colourful and more 3-dimensional, try these two versions, which come all ready with free printable templates! (Click on the link below the photos to get the templates.)

Photo Source: MiniEco

Photo Source: Mr Printables

Whatever the case, this is my favourite of all, and I think it can be made using toilet rolls and construction paper. Do check out the link, since the post contains more pretty Advent calendars!

Photo Source: Snug Studio

Did you make an Advent calendar this year? Do share yours if you have! Blessed weekend!

Saturday Surfing: Smart storage (and a giveaway!)

After seeing all those Trofast and Toyogo boxes in our "Small Spaces" posts, I thought I'd share three storage ideas that I've seen floating around in cyberspace for your kid's craft materials:

:: Paint cans to store art supplies that can be taken down when required:

Photo source: Chasing Cheerios

:: Spice containers to store all the little bits and bobs (this post also has many storage ideas for paper crafters and scrapbookers!):

Photo source: Creating Keepsakes Blog

:: A box and toilet rolls to keep pens and markers organized:

Photo source: Aunt Peaches

And speaking of storage, how about a storage box giveaway? JED Packs! is generously giving away one Tyrrell Katz storage box to one blog reader!

These sturdy storage boxes come in a variety of designs that would appeal to both boys and girls (I think Junior J would be ecstatic if he ever received the dinosaur one!). The front snaps shut and is held there magnetically, so there are no clasps that might catch on little fingers. 

These boxes measure 33 x 22 x 14 cm. Just the size for keeping all sorts of stuff, from ballet accessories to being a train shed!

To enter in this giveaway, you would have to carry out ALL the following steps:

1. Like the JED Packs! Facebook page.

2. Like the Mum in the Making Facebook page, if you have not already done so.

3. View the designs available and "like" the design that you would choose if you win.

4. Leave a comment on this post to share which design you chose, and why!

This giveaway is open only to those residing in Singapore, and the winner would need to self-collect the box at a location in Holland Village (as its too heavy for postage!). The giveaway will end on the 12th of Dec, Wed, at 12 midnight Singapore time.

In addition to this giveaway, JED Packs! would be giving a 5% discount to all readers if you purchase any of these boxes. Just drop an email to orders@jedpacks.com with your order and quote this blog! 

Happy shopping and all the best for the giveaway! (Oh, and don't forget to enter in our other giveaway, for vouchers to online bookstore Flip for Joy. Its the last day for this giveaway, so hurry, go enter!)

Updated: Congrats Claire T! You've won yourself a nifty storage box... do drop me an email at john(dot)jus(at)gmail(dot)com with your details!

[Disclaimer: I did not receive any compensation for this post. Photographs of the boxes courtesy of JED Packs!]

Saturday Surfing: Inspiration for children spaces

I love looking at homes and how people decorate them, and years ago, I used to borrow old copies of "Home & Decor" from the library, and even saved up my pocket money to buy interior design magazines. However, many of these feature lovely rooms with renovations that have five-figure sums, and designer furniture that I could never afford. So imagine my delight, when I found a whole treasure trove of design blogs that were bursting with photos of lovely spaces, which I could enjoy for free with just an internet connection. An added bonus was that many of these sites included DIY projects, which do not cost an arm or leg to do!

Since we're on the topic of children's spaces, I thought I'd share those that I regularly read for inspiration on children's spaces. Some may be familiar to you, and if you do have other favourite design sites, do share by leaving a comment!

Photo source: Apartment Therapy

:: Apartment Therapy used to have a site dedicated to kids named Ohdeedoh, but that has now been integrated into the main site under the Family section. I love looking at the children's rooms and seeing all that love and tiny details that go into each space!

Photo source: Design Mom

:: Design Mom has a "Living with Kids" series that showcases family homes. It's nice reading about these spaces, which come from all over the globe. And these house tours are proof that kids and their messes can coexist with lovely living spaces!

Photo Source: Young House Love

:: I like the house tours over at Young House Love as well. Like this really neat storage solution (I think I see Harry Potter!) for books and toys!

Finally, I was quite intrigued by this book by photographer James Mollison. Entitled "Where Children Sleep", it contains stories of children around the world, told through pictures of their bedrooms. A picture does paint a thousand words, and you can view some of the photographs from the book here.

How about you? What sites do you visit to get inspiration for children's spaces?
       

Saturday Surfing: Parties and small spaces

Hooray for the weekend! Last weekend, we celebrated baby J turning one with a little rainforest party. And speaking of parties, I must say I've been bowled over recently by the parties planned by various mummies based in SG:

:: Evelyn planned an elegant stripes and spots combined party for her two kids, complete with a scanimation invitation, lovely paper decorations, and little paper dolls. Hop over here to view the pictures!

Photo source: The Bottomsup Blog.

:: Roar! This dinosaur-themed party by V for her 4 year old son has given me loads of great ideas for Junior J's 4th birthday. Click here for some inspiration, from DIY dino t-shirts and two-toned dino crayons, to fun party activities like dinosaur egg hunts!

Photo source: Life is in the Small Things

:: Jasmine had an army-themed birthday party for her two boys, which had guests decked out in DIY army t-shirts, plus army tank cake jars and a most interesting army goodie bag. March over here for loads of camouflaged goodness!

Photo source: Gift Wrapsody

Parties aside, I've been trying to pack our house, especially the play areas. It's amazing how quickly things turn into chaos when you have two toy tornadoes at home! I think parents do spend quite a fair bit of time designing and organizing their children's spaces, so I've invited some mums to share their kids' spaces, starting from next week... stay tuned, and have a blessed weekend!

Saturday Surfing: Books by colour

Hello! How is your weekend looking? I've been on a cleaning and packing frenzy, as the house has been a terrible state and we are expecting guests this weekend. Here's one of the only neat corners of the house right now, in Junior J's room. The top of the chest of drawers houses our globe, and Junior J's glyptodon fossil which he assembled from an excavation kit. He's been asked to keep it safe up there, since the fossil has lots of small parts which could be eaten by the baby!

The top also is home to our collection of books by M. Sasek, which I love. We don't read them very often since the books are a little advanced for Junior J (we bought them in the UK, and they were so much cheaper there!). I couldn't help but arrange them by colour. Which brings me to my question: how do you organize your books? Are they alphabetized by titles or authors? I thought arranging them by colour was a pretty nice idea, but I'm not sure whether I'd be able to do it with an entire home library of books. However, these two ladies have done it, and you can click here and here for two lovely examples!

Books aside, here's some interesting reads I've had for the week:

:: We've just concluded our "Day in a Life" series, and I loved looking into the lives of these mums, all 26 of them.

:: "10 great ways to be an unhappy mum" had me pondering for awhile, and I admit sometimes I'm guilty of some of these thoughts! What about you?

:: I love the idea of these fall foilage cards. Pretty aren't they?

:: These free paper hardware printables make my hands itch to get out some mod podge and dress up some furniture. I guess I'll just have to wait until next year when we are back in SG!

Have a blessed weekend!

Weekend Wonderings: Cabin fever

The mercury took a plunge over the past few days, and we had a weekend of sub-zero temperatures! It didn't snow though. Since the boys' both had coughs that got worse with the cold, we had to stay home most of the time. They have been getting rather restless though, and I can't wait for them to get better.

Just this morning, I was busy adjusting the laundry to ensure they got as much sun as possible, and hubby was busy clearing the breakfast things. Both of us thought the other was watching the baby. That baby quietly got his hands on some bits of crepe paper that were left lying about, thanks to his big brother's art projects, and ended up looking like he was prepared for trick or treating:

We wiped out his mouth a few times, but the green stains on his hands were pretty stubborn, so I guess it'll take a couple of days before they wash out. That aside, I guess you know how versatile crepe paper is for parties (some ideas here, plus hop over here for our under the sea wall), but apparently you can even use them to dye eggs!

And here are some random thoughts that have been bouncing through my head while we've been coped up at home:

:: We're missing home and its warm sultry weather. And I'm missing my carrot cake with loads of chilli. So I'm delighted to find "A Blogger's Guide to Singapore", with all its links to various SG-based blogs.

:: Art that involves the community fascinates me. Like this tent knitted over 3 months, and displayed as an art installation in Israel. Amazing, if you ask me!

:: Apples are plentiful right now, so I'm thinking of trying this recipe for apple raisin oatmeal... once I'm able to get out to the supermarket to buy those raisins!

:: Ever heard of the 5 second rule? A study seems to show that the germs are faster!

How was your weekend? And how do you keep the kids occupied at home when they are stuck home with colds?