Vintage Mum Modern Child: October 2011

Last week I stumbled across a local Kiwi site selling fresh fruit & veg online with free delivery. Being car-less for a couple of months means buying groceries can be a bit of a chore, calling one of my sisters or Mum to take us to the supermarket. Not wanting them to then take us to a separate fruit store (on the other side of Albany) I was getting the staple fruit & veg from the supermarket. Expensive. Not fresh. Didn't last. The fruit shop a five minute walk from us has the occasional fresh bit of produce but I mainly buy coriander and ginger from there. So....

I decided on a trial run of this service - Produce Pronto (link will open in a new window)

I ordered my produce late on Wednesday night and it was booked in for delivery on Friday that same week.

The box arrived as promised - via courier between 10am and 5pm on the stated delivery date

Also, as promised, it was packaged in 100% recyclable paper and cardboard (although the cardboard box is pretty sturdy - I might need that to store some of my ~~junk~~ fabric scraps).

Look! Nothing was damaged in transit. A good thing because I think we're about as far north as they deliver. What I liked best was the ability to order per piece of fruit/veg - good when I know how many apples Elijah eats in a week. Everything was a lot fresher than in the supermarket especially the apples. I had been put off apples after eating the powdery, stored in the fridge for months apples they sell you. These were crisp, tasty (a little bit sour just how I like them) and cheap.

The verdict: (told you this was going to be a quick review)

Would I recommend these guys to my best friends? Absolutely. Especially those with kids. Instead of ferrying them around the supermarket, butcher and fruit shop, you can knock one visit off your list.

PLUS if you order through my referral you will recieve 20% off your first order. With prices already low this should be an extra incentive to give it a go. They deliver all around Auckland from Papakura to Torbay, Howick to Titirangi but do check your delivery address before placing an order.

Disclaimer: These views are purely my own. I was neither requested nor paid to write a review, however if you order through my referral I will receive a credit on my account.

Things I'm Loving

Warmer weather is on the way! Proof of that is the garden I planted three or so weeks ago, it's really starting to grow now.

I only bought seedlings of the veges I love and would use on a daily basis: lettuce, spring onions and coriander - loads of coriander (10 or so plants) along with calendula, apple mint and pineapple sage (sound yummy don't they?) so there will be lots of refreshing drinks this Summer. Our strawberries are on to their third flowering season - I have them in an old bbq so they are easy to move around.

Elijah and I have been slowly working on the back garden/patio. When we moved in it was covered in onion weed - blerk! I tried my best to kill it but to no avail so we've decided to cover the whole lot in weed mat and cover it with some sort of stone - we're expecting the landlord to drop something off in the next couple of weeks.

Since this is my first 'Things I'm Loving' in hmmm.... forever! I've decided to take inspiration from the host PasileyJade and give Elijah a moustache

Linking up with:

Blogger Stats

I never really noticed the Stats area of blogger and it wasn't until someone mentioned it on their blog that I went looking. I know I don't have a large readership but I was surprised to see yesterday I had five times the page views of the previous two weeks. My readers come mainly from KMB (Kiwi Mummy Blogs), Networked Blogs (I don't really understand this but it seems to tweet and facebook my posts so I must have done something right) and We Love To Sew (an online directory of sewing-based blogs) but I noticed there was also traffic generated from my friends' blogs - Chocolate Fishies, The Mummy Chronicles (this girl was the one who got me into blogging in the first place!) and Life is a Highway.

BUT look at what people are googling before they arrive at my blog

*gasp in horror*

I should tell you that this 'bad attitude' comes sporadically (thankfully) and that generally he is a polite, well-behaved wee boy. But he is getting to the age where things must be done his way.

Have you looked at your stats lately? Let me know what people search before they arrive at your blog

Homemade Yoghurt (without having to use Easiyo!)

I use a lot of plain unsweetened yoghurt - about 1kg a week or sometimes more. While living out West I had easy access to Gopala products, but since moving to the Shore it's become a little harder to find especially since I'm without a car at the moment. I knew it was possible to make yoghurt at home - my Mum used to have a Easiyo maker but I hated the taste of that stuff. I also knew that a lot of Indian families make their own yoghurt from scratch. So a quick search (thanks Google) led me to a Youtube video and I'd like to share it with you (I'm all for saving you money)

Find the written recipe on Show Me The Curry

I actually used Lite Milk (I think it's 2% fat) and I left it in the oven overnight. It's a lot runnier than the one they make but since I only use it in curries and raita it worked just fine. My next job will be to attempt to make paneer or soft cheese, however I'm putting this off because we don't eat a lot of cheese. I would love to know if you've had success making your own cheese and/or yoghurt at home - I didn't think it could be so easy considering supermarket prices - I was paying almost $6 for a kilo of plain unsweetened yoghurt!

Felt... like listing some stuff!

That's right - I've started to list some items in my shop. Everything will be $10 - I love to craft but I'm not much of a salesperson. I would love for the softies to go to a home that will love them. I know they're probably not to everyone's liking but I wouldn't list anything in my shop that I wouldn't buy myself. Click the picture to see what I've listed - more to come. I use both new and vintage fabrics that have been thoroughly cleaned.

Easy Peasy Kids

The last couple of months have seen a major shift in Elijah's behaviour. He gets defiant, moody, even destructive at times and he just doesn't listen. Well maybe he listens but likes to do things in his own time. That makes it really hard when we need to be places, like kindy, at certain times. In his own words he 'fluffs about'.

I'm almost sure this kid will be an artist when he grows up - he will use any medium to make art (here he uses Hot Wheels cars)

I was reading a post that li'l magoolie wrote yesterday and a link led me to Easy Peasy Kids - the post was actually Blogging & Twitter Behaviour 101 (yes adults can act like children too) - and I saw that Nathalie had categories like Behaviour Management Strategies, Communicating with Children and Child Behaviour. I haven't had a thorough read but a quick scan of posts tells me there is some useful information there. Why not pop over and have a look here and while you're there join them on facebook - you could tell them I sent you ;)

PS - I'm sure I would be the girl in the Blogging & Twitter Behaviour post - I know KiwiMummy bloggers aren't like that but having been blessed with the shyness gene it is one of my biggest fears (btw the bloggers I have met have been lovely)

Xmas Stockings for the boys

And here's something for the boys. These are all fully lined ready to be filled with goodies for Xmas morning.

Xmas Stockings for the Girls

Didn't I say Xmas wasn't far away? Stay tuned for boys stockings

Stall tomorrow at Browns Bay Sunday Markets

4 lovely thoughts

Tomorrow my sister's and I will be holding our first ever market stall. We'd love you to come visit if you're in the area - mention you are a follower of my blog and all Vintage Mum Modern Child products will be yours half the marked price! That means you'll be able to pick up a number of items from just $1.

I have softies, rattles, pencil cases, toddler book bags and Xmas stockings...

coin purses, tag blankies, pin cushions, soothing eye masks for kids, wheat bags...

vintage games, vintage pictures and hanging plates, bibs, shorts, aprons...

I actually have a lot more than I thought and it would be nice for some of it to find a new home.

Find us at the Browns Bay Sunday Market tomorrow (23rd October 2011 from 6am - 12 noon). There are a number of food stalls there so skip breakfast at home and try something at the markets. Also bring your reusable bags and stock up on fresh fruit and veges, or better yet buy some of the seedlings.

Pet softies

Dog, Cat and Bunny softies - self explanatory really - but these were fun to make.

Pencil Cases

I went through a real phase of making pencil cases. I think I have something to suit everyone.

New clothes - inspired by KCWC

Finding Inspiration for Boy's Clothes

With all the pretty girl's clothes out there it can sometimes seem like there isn't alot for boys. But a closer look reveals there is plenty for boys that you can make at home by adapting patterns to suit. The Kids Clothes Week Challenge (KCWC) hosted by elsie marley is like a kick in the pants for me, with an hour each day solely dedicated to sewing children's clothes.

From KCWC you could be easily led to this flickr stream where you may find other sites running similar challenges and some dedicated solely to boys clothes. I love the look on Elijah's face when I finish a project - even if it's not very good he will love it and wear it straight away. All of the fabric used came from either my sister (she knows all the best factory shops!) or I've had it sitting in my stash a while.

So you want to know the best places to find inspiration for boys clothes? This is a short list but I'm sure you'll find there is a number of blogs following on from these that may be of interest.

elsie marley - KCWC

sew mama sew - kid's clothes

verypurpleperson

dana made it - celebrate the boy

made by rae

sew a straight line

make it and love it

Well that's a start but there are literally hundreds of tutorials and ideas for boy's clothes - it just takes a little research.

Xmas is coming!

Xmas is coming round real fast this year so I thought I'd make a start. I'm in two minds whether to keep the little house for myself - would make a cute decoration don't you think? And the dogs (yes they are meant to be dogs) are rattles.

Toddler Book Bags

Ok I know anyone can make these things. They are really basic but they are oh so useful. Elijah carts cars around in his, they could be used as treasure hunt bags, use them to wrap Xmas presents in or take them to the library. These will also be on my market table.

Baby Rattles

4 lovely thoughts

My Winter nights were spent hand stitching and although I'm not very good at it I actually like the little imperfections on these linen and cotton rattles. I say rattles but it's a very subtle rattle - more of a tink. These, I am hoping, will sell at the markets when we get around to organising ourselves (my sister and I)

Croc softies

I love these two - made using linen, felt, cotton and a vintage tablecloth (the backing on one of them, the other has polkadots) would look real cute sitting on the bookshelf or the bed.

Babushka Softie

I had someone in mind specifically when I made this doll but it didn't turn out as I had wanted it to so I'm going to and fro as to whether to gift her or not. What do you think?

Weaving with paper

I'm not sure what made me google this project as at the time I had only just put out the recycling. I guess I just wanted to try something different. I remember weaving at school with strips of coloured paper or flax, and my Grandma teaching me to make baskets with cane but haven't done anything since. So I waited for the next copy of North Shore Times to arrive then got to work folding paper into strips. I probably could have done a better job but as always I was in a hurry to get it finished so I could see the finished product - one reason I don't enjoy sewing up quilts.
Anyway it's a good little afternoon project to do with the kids these holidays and any type of paper will work, even the pile of magazines Granny sent over.

elsie marley's kids clothes week challenge

Last year I was organised enough to participate in elsie marley's kids clothes week challenge - this year I coincidently managed it. By coincidently I mean I haven't had internet in about six months and only got to check the odd blog here and there at Mum's but in the last few weeks I have made Elijah a couple of pairs of shorts, a pair of cord pants and a couple of envelope tees. He loves it when I make him stuff and will opt to wear homemade over store bought. I'm going to take full advantage of this now because I know once he goes to school it won't last.

I use an old (possibly from the 60s?) pattern for the pants but I add the pockets to the outside rather than attempt to conceal them - I think they look cuter that way. I also adjusted the pattern to exclude the zip and have a flat band across the front - anyone else have a child that can't stand things around their waist? - and elastic at the back. This pattern seems to work well for Elijah as he is quite slim, the black and white check shorts have french seams which makes them a slimmer fit and I will probably opt to do them again if I make him more pants.

If you need inspiration for kids clothes I recommend taking a look through the KCWC posts and flickr pool - loads of ideas for boys and girls.

psst - can you keep a secret?

3 lovely thoughts

I said I wasn't going to thrift any more - I had promised myself no more op shops, garage sales and such like. But my family has led me astray *sigh* and of course I am so easily led. One garage sale .... I was very restrained just ask my lil sis whose idea it was to go.... one Sheridan bath mat in new condition for $1 and an enormouse bouncy ball for Elijah were all I bought. Then a few days later weekly coffee in Browns Bay - we park next to an op shop .... inquisitive nature says just one peek ... ok give in. I bought nothing, Elijah chose two small toys which Mum had to pay for. Driving home Mum suggests "Shall we have a quickl look in the Salvation Army store?" .... why not? .... just as well as I found a nice pile (eight) of Crown Lynn side plates for $4 as new. Just what I was looking for - very understated with just a rim of light green - matches perfectly with all the red in my kitchen. I have found the thrill of thrifting once more but I will be much more restrained this time - no more clutter is what I keep telling myself.

Veggie by Season