From the Patch

We're experiencing a glorious warm day here in Brisbane today so with the weather just right the girls and I spent plenty of time enjoying the outdoors this morning.

Miss M saw mud pies being made on Playschool earlier this week. This seemed to inspire her so off she went to get herself a pie tin from the recycling box and a spade from me before she headed straight for the veggie patch. She made herself a gooey mud pie but it wasn't long before another idea started. In the spot where my basil plant once was, she made a little flower garden by putting nasturtium flowers from around the yard into the soil.

Miss H enjoyed picking the cherry tomatoes, unfortunately some before they were ready. I am trying to teach her to pick the red ones instead of the green ones. Hopefully she'll get the hang of it soon. She seemed happy with her little harvest and carried them around for most of the morning. Mmm...squishy squashy tomatoes!

Counting her harvest

We've been so excited by the food we've been getting from our veggie patch. You may recall us constructing it and planting back in March/early April. The tomato plants have been very kind, giving us a continual flow of tomatoes both big and small. I enjoy putting them with breakfast or lunch and we really loved adding them to our soft taco dinner. My favourite lunch meal is making a sandwich with the rocket. It is added to cooked chicken and mayo - yum! Just talking about it makes me want one.

We have also enjoyed adding the tasty herbs to lots of our dishes, especially the dill to our scrambled eggs and the basil to our spaghetti. I was not much of a green thumb before having this garden so it has proved to me that there is lots to learn. It was a bit scary picking the corn, not knowing if it would be ready but it turned out to be absolutely delicious!! We're so excited about our small corn crop that we'd like to plant some more now.

One of our cobs of corn

Look who else we found having a nibble on our tomatoes. Obviously we're not the only ones enjoying our garden. He was a very happy catapillar after eating the centre out of the tomato. Well maybe not that happy after being held captive 'till daddy came home but we returned him to another part of the garden so he could nibble elsewhere.

"Cheeky Mr Caterpillar" taking a nibble

After just a few months we've really started to see the difference it makes to grow our own veggies so I'm super keen to construct another patch and then hopefully another. Could I be turning into a green thumb mum?

Do you keep a veggie patch? If so, what have you been growing and eating?

* * * * *

Tickle the earth with a hoe, it will grow a harvest.

Roly Poly Marble Painting

This activity is a favourite for me because in theory it should be fairly clean so it's great when you don't feel like cleaning up a painty mess. The whole activity is done in a box or box lid.

Do you have a fruit box lid, cereal box or tray lying around?

Do you have acrylic paint?

Do you have marbles?

What about paper?

If you have all these items then you have everything you need to do this fun activity.

Marble Painting

You will need...

Box lid/ cereal box or tray - cut the side out of a cereal box and strengthen the sides with masking tape

Acrylic paint - use colours that mix well together

Marbles - these can be picked up at a cheap shop for around $2 a bag

Paper - use paper to suit the size of your box

1 Put a sheet of paper in the bottom of the box lid.

2 Spoon in a few dobs of paint with teaspoons.

3 Add the marbles.

4 Move the box lid all about allowing the marbles to roll freely from side to side.

The marbles will take the paint with them and make wonderful designs.

When your painting is done you can leave it in the box lid to dry or hang it up and start a new print. My girls will do this activity again and again and again, trying all different colours of paint and making all kinds of patterns. Yesterday we did our marble painting on easel paper in the bigger sized fruit box lid but if you think our marble paintings are big you should see the super-size paintings done by the kids at Let the Children Play.

Try rolling high bouncy balls, bigger marbles, tennis balls or golf balls for more fun and different designs.

We've Gone a Little Loopy!

We're on to week two of Miss M being sick (notice the red nose) and now that she's just starting to get over it, daddy is also sick and Miss H is starting to come down with it too. Time to put the thinking cap on for some extra indoor activities to shoo away any signs of boredom. Sometimes it's just good to fall back on a golden oldie. I imagine that many of you who read Busy Brissy Mum may already know this activity but it's still good to put it out there for those that don't.

Fruit Loop Threading

You will need...

Fruit Loops (The cheaper version or Cheerios will also work)

Pipe cleaners or string/ wool

If using string or wool you will also need some bodkins. They are big blunt threading needles. You can get these at art or craft stores such as Spotlight or Speedy Art Supplies if you live in Brisbane.

It doesn't get any easier than this. Thread the Fruit Loops on to the pipe cleaner. If you've used string instead, remember to use a Fruit Loop knotted at one end to stop the other Fruit Loops from falling off as you thread.

When you've finished threading, link the two ends of the pipe cleaner together to form a bracelet. For a string bracelet, just tie a knot. Now you're ready to eat...um...wear your beautiful bracelet. And, if you enjoyed the activity you can make a matching string necklace.

Using a pipe cleaner means that this activity is one that even the littlest of hands can try, along with some help. That is of course if any actually make it on to the pipe cleaner without heading to the mouth first! It is a bit of a munchy, crunchy, loopy kind of activity!

We Play - Round and Round

You may think that we haven't been around this past week due to the lack of blog posts (sorry) but we have, it's just been a tricky week juggling one sick little girl. It's a crazy thing when they are sick but still happy enough to play. You just get caught at home so the sick germs aren't escaping to others. We were still able to squeeze some fun into the week and if you don't mind, I'm also going to squeeze into the last two days of Childhood 101's We Play for this week. The girls and I are playing along....with a few coughs and sniffles.

Friday was a beautiful day to be outdoors so armed with a box of tissues we headed downstairs for some gentle fun (at least for Miss M who was the sick one). I set up a stack of different things for the girls to enjoy. We hung the parachute from the clothesline, something I have been meaning to do for a long time and turned the underneath area into a little house with a tea party set up. We also had chalk drawing on the besser bricks, bike play, sand play, ball play and easel painting. Miss H and I had the most fun though playing our very own family game in the trampoline.

I can't claim this one as a game I made up. Daddy is pretty great when it comes to making up little songs, stories or games. I can still remember his best song, the one he made as we drove to Turtle Sands in "The Dub", our blue Kombi Van, on our honeymoon - so funny! Just for the sake of this post I will call this particular game of daddy's "Round and Round".

In our family, the trampoline is definitely not just for the kids so when daddy or I climb in, it's game time. Round and Round in the trampoline has a little song that is sung along with it and it goes like this....

Round and round mummy (or daddy).

(music - gg e a g e)

Round and round you go.

(music - gg e a g)

When will mummy catch you?

(music - gg e a g e)

No one really knows.

(music - gg e a g)

The idea is that mummy or daddy sit in the middle of the trampoline and the kids go round and around them until they get caught. You just keep singing until you feel like catching the kids. If they do get caught it's an opportunity for a cuddle or kisses or tickles. This game is a lot of fun and can be played over and over and not just in the trampoline. In fact it didn't start in our trampoline. Daddy started Round and Round when Miss M was little and he used have her run round and round him in our old house - such beautiful memories.

I couldn't tell you how many times we've played this game but every time we do it always ends in smiles and giggles and that's the kind of family fun I like to see.

Come and play at the Childhood 101 We Play ink up.

We Love Pre-loved!

This week has almost been like show and tell here at Busy Brissy Mum. To finish off the week I must show you my latest treasures found. It has been a long time since I've shared with you what the girls and I have discovered. More to come next week!

Tuesday was a special morning out with my girl friends and their sweet girlies. To end the time together we ventured to Cradles2Crayons to see if there were some bargains begging to be purchased. This store is a gem! It has a large selection of pre-loved children's clothing and a rack of maternity wear. I needed a few little bits of pieces for Miss M who has recently grown out of her clothes and being the middle of Winter it was great to find some things second hand but in brilliant condition. If you live in Brissy, especially on the north side, Cradles2Crayons is worth visiting.

You''ll find Cradles2Crayons at Shop 3/290 Dawson Parade, Arana Hills.

Here's what we found.

Casual jacket (great for park play), casual shirt, pinafore dress (to wear over pants), flower print top

Our Art Space

What does our art space look like? Jean from The Artful Parent would like to know. Her beautiful blog is one that I visit regularly to find creative ideas to use with my girls.

My two girls are 3.9 and 20 months old so on one hand I have a "big girl" who likes to create "by herself". She draws and draws and draws while Miss H on the other hand also likes to draw but would draw on things other than paper or cardboard if given the chance. Because of this, our art supplies are stored in various places but mainly up on top of the toy shelves, in stacked large containers in a hidden spot or in the kitchen. Miss M can ask for her art equipment at any time and knows that it has to go back once she is finished. Miss H can also ask to use the art equipment but it is mostly used with mine or daddy's supervision. We usually do messy art activities at the blue table, on the easel or even in the yard together.

I dream of the day when I can have an art trolley or shelving at kids height. It would be filled with equipment for all kinds of art and made available for them and their friends to use all day long. I don't think I'm too far away from that.

Our art space changes as it is part of the play room. I like to display the girls artwork on the walls. We move the easel and table around to follow the sun or space and we add new things to create with every now and again.

So here it is!


Our art space, ready for some arty fun to happen when the girls wake up from their day nap. I wonder what they will create!

Inspired Play Makes for a Great Day

There has been a buzz of excitement in some of our play recently because we've tried new activities I came across online. We have....

...had a lovely tea party with Lemongrass Tea,

thanks to an idea I found from Jenny at Let the Children Play.

This was a a great way to use the lemongrass from our veggie patch.

...put pasta in our water trough (without water) and had fun pouring and mixing and making and baking. This has been thanks to Christie sharing her We Play idea over at Childhood 101.

....had an absolute blast making salad spinner art on these paper plates.

You have to give this art idea a go. We couldn't stop once we started!

It really is the most fun EVER!

I found this amazing idea over at Irresistible Ideas for Play Based Learning.

Blog inspired play is a wonderful way to have a great day! Which blog sites do you find inspiring and what activities have you tried because of them?

Playing Along - Where's Our Little Friend Piglet?

Miss M and I are playing along with everyone over at Childhood 101 We Play this week.

We've been playing a wonderful game that's continued right throughout the holidays. It has involved Miss M, myself and our tiny little friend Piglet. Piglet has cheekily been hiding all over the house for Miss M to find. Once she finds Piglet the game starts all over again. Where, oh where, oh where is Piglet?

Piglet has hidden in many different places such as....

....here....

....here....

...here....

....and here.

The inside of our house has lots of interesting spots for Piglet to be and I think he would also be happy hiding outside, in the car or under the house. We will keep this game going for as long as Miss M's face lights up when she spots her little friend. It doesn't matter if she finds Piglet the same day he is hidden or days (and days) later. It's been fun to play together, just the two of us....er I mean the three of us. (Sorry Piglet!)

Of course this game can be played with anything but the smaller the better for maximum trickiness and maximum fun. Now, where to hide Piglet next? Hmmm... I think the fridge. Shhhh....don't tell Miss M! I've stuck Piglet in a big blob of play dough on the top shelf.

"Pooh!" squeaked the voice.
"It's Piglet!" cried Pooh eagerly. "Where are you?"
"Underneath," said Piglet in an underneath sort of way.
"Underneath what?"
"You," squeaked Piglet. "Get up!"

Come and play at the Childhood 101 We Play Link Up.

Finding the Holiday Fun

Holiday activities at the Ipswich Art Gallery last year

My school holidays as a child were spent on outings with my Mum and siblings while Dad was off at work. My Mum didn't drive so we went everywhere by bus, which I guess made most outings more of an adventure. My Mum spent time before the holidays doing her homework, looking through the newspaper, local and Brisbane wide and through flyers to see what was on around town which would be fun and cheap to do with kids. She kept a scrapbook which contained ads, articles and flyers and then copied the details into her diary.

The holidays were filled with outings to libraries for great craft times, seeing short kids films and borrowing books. We went to free exciting shows at the local shopping centres and saw exhibits at special places. She hardly spent a cent yet there was always fun to be had. These are some of my best childhood memories!

I have to say that I follow in Mum's footsteps when it comes to filling up the holidays for my kids but since her days with littlies, things have changed a lot. I have the opportunity to look in newspapers and flyers too but I mostly go online to see what's on for kids. Here are a number of places I look to find holiday fun in Brisbane for my girls.

• Brisbane Child Magazine - I {heart} this magazine. It usually has a detailed list or ads of exciting things happening and it's free. Pick up a copy at libraries, play centres, cafes etc


• Brisbane City Council Library 'What's On' Brochures - these come out at the start of each month and detail each of the libraries activities. There's always great stuff happening in the holidays! You can grab a copy at any Brisbane City Council Library.


• Aussie Kids Magazine - I love this magazine too! You'll find all the information of shows and exhibitions taking place over the holidays. This time around there was a whole page ad for most of the shopping centres. It too can be found in libraries, cafes and play centres.


• Kidspot - Just take a look. There's heaps of fun to be had!


• Bim Bam Boom - A toy shop with a holiday program for kids. Each weekday of the holidays there is something happening. Kids can enjoy all kinds of crafty fun.


• Indooroopilly Shopping Centre


• Garden City Shopping Centre


• Toombul Shopping Centre


• Redbank Plaza


• Carindale Shopping Centre


• Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre


• Chermside Shopping Centre


• Queen Street Mall


• Ipswich Art Gallery - Great fun all year round but the holidays are even better. There's amazing things to see and do.


• Queensland Museum


• Queensland Art Gallery


• Queensland State Library

You could also check out the local newspapers and publications such as Brisbane News . And, don't forget to see the fun at Flying Fox Studios.

Brisbane is a great place to live so there's really no excuse for kids being bored in the holidays, especially when most of the above places run events for free or at a low cost. Be sure to check them out if you live in Brisbane.

So far these Winter holidays we...

• iced cupcakes at the Shingle Inn at Garden City Shopping Centre (YUM!) and visited the library to borrow some books. (It's always nice to go to a different library to our local one)
• went to the New MacDonald's Farm show at Toombul Shopping Centre
• went to the David Hamilton's Puppet show (always a favourite with my Miss M) and the 96.5 Romeo the Radio Dog Live Show at Aspley Hypermarket

We also plan to...

• visit the Ipswich Art Gallery exhibition

These holidays are nearly over but now can be a good time to start thinking about preparation for the next holidays. Don't miss the holiday fun!

Do you live outside of Brisbane? What's happening for kids in your part of the world? I'd love to hear about it!

Contact Collage

It feels like we're in quarantine here at the moment. It's the school holidays and there is so much frugal fun for kids out and about but due to sickness we've had to enjoy the indoors. It has however made me appreciate the space we live in more and think creatively about how we use it. The hallway door makes a wonderful puppet show area when the couch is put against it. The hall itself is a great bowling alley and the sunny spot in the playroom is just lovely for art activities so we've been doing lots of creating.

Have you tried collage on contact? It can be done lots of different ways but this is the way we did it this time around.

Contact Collage

You will need...

• Clear contact
• Various collage items - eg. cotton wool, confetti, patty pans, coloured paper, tissue paper etc
• Masking tape

The first step is to stick the contact to the table top. We did ours in one long piece but it can be cut into smaller squares or any shape at all. I wanted my girls to work on this art project together so the bigger the contact space the better. All you do to stick the contact down is place the contact sticky side up and begin to peel away a small part of the back. Fold the end's edge back on itself and stick it to the table. To make sure it is secure run some masking tape along where the contact meets the table. Continue to peel back the backing to reveal the sticky side. Do the same as before when you get to the length of contact you want, of course cutting it first. Your contact should now be ready for the fun part.

Put the collage items out and let the kids go wild creating a masterpiece on the sticky side of the contact.

You can display your contact collage on a window or wall or simply fold it up and put it in the bin. (when the kids are not looking) Ours has made it on to our front windows for the time being.

Sticking without glue makes this activity a breeze to clean up! You'll have it tidied up in no time with the help of your little artists. Well I'm off to plan some more fun. Hopefully we can get out and about tomorrow.