I pack two lunchboxes everymorning….one for Master 6 and Miss 2.  They are vastly different due to all of Miss 2′s allergies and anaphylaxis.  So sometimes in my half slumber state, I stare blankly at the pantry wondering what an earth I put into the four containers in each of their lunchboxes.

How about a lunchbox with loads of little spaces.  Over at Easy Peasy Organic, I spotted this idea and think will try this next week.  I ended up purchasing a ‘fishing tackle‘ box as that’s as close to these with all the little spaces…clever huh.  Hopefully it will make it easier as I can spread all sorts of goodies into them and not just think ‘inside the box’.  Let me know how you get on.

If you are currently looking for that perfect lightshade for your daughters room, then take a look at these bright flower options. The popular Unikko print by Marimekko is available in seven colours and costs NZ$75.50 from Design Denmark in Ponsonby.

Origami is everywhere in our local bookstore right now, and I have a client with a glass bowl full of colourful cranes at her entrance that looks fantastic – so that is why this book is apt for today’s post.

Girligami by Cindy Ng gives you instructions on fun origami designs like making paper pumps (high heels) and paper hearts, just perfect to do at a young girls birthday party, or even just a craft afternoon to keep them occupied.   If you want a sneak peak of what’s in the book and how easy it is, then click here to view her folding high-heels.  Get the book here for NZ$14 plus shipping.

I discovered this image today that inspired todays post.  At one stage I was fancying the famous LC6, but the elliptical black steel frame was just too sterile and bold looking for my taste.  If I had spotted this version in a beautiful pale blue, then it could be sitting in my dining room today. You can get this colour overseas, but should you like one in your own bespoke colour, the people at Homage here in Auckland can get it done for you.

Just looking at this tap makes me wish I had a house to renovate!  At last a mixer that is bright and cheery for the kitchen and one that saves on some shining time.

Designed by Verner Overgaard and Arne Jacobsen for Vola, it also has matching tapware for the bathroom.  The range comes in 18 different colours and starts at about NZ$1700.00.  It’s quite a lot isn’t it, but if you’re building a whole new house, that amount looks small to the total amount huh?  Well, that’s my way of justifying it!  De De Ce in Syndey stocks Vola products and should be able to order this for you.

Christmas will be here soon and if you have some folks in your family that are hard to buy for, then how about a set of these?  You can purchase some lovely paper, the PDF file from one of the great Etsy stores below, and you’re good to go.  They are in NZ$ left to right as follows:

2011 Calendar of Polish Art – Bialakura – $7.50

2011 Childrens Calendar Safari Fun – Pearenthetical Press – $9.50

2011 Italy Photos – Bubbo – $6.20

2011 Blank Make Your Own Calendar – A Little Huts Shop – $5.20

2011 Microbacteria Calendar – The Rasilisk – $6.20

2011 Calendar Write On With Stickers – The Art Of Joy – $8.80

Roche Bobois sells the Mah-Jong Sofa designed by Hans Hopfer and it’s my dream second-living-room suite.  However, at about US$700-$1000 per sectional, (about US$12,000 for a decent size  unit) this is never going to happen.

Anyway, I squealed with delight the other day looking through our Ezibuy catalogue, only to find cushions that you could DIY into something similar for your sons or daughters room……or for, yes, the game room….perfect for Mah-Jong.  Get it here while you can, they are on sale for a very reasonable NZ$19.95. They are of course much smaller so that’s why it would be great in the corner of your kids room – an ode to the real thing would suffice I think.

If you are an obsessive organiser like myself (not that I always succeed at it),  Verbatim’s Store ‘n’ Go Clip-it drives are light and small and oh-so-groovy.  The paper-clip drives are a clever way to keep that soft copy with the hardcopy without a clear file or ziploc system.  Plus all those lovely colours for more organising of photos (green), business documents (blue),  movies of family (yellow)….and so on.  Oh how much do I want a set!  Verbatim UK say the seven colours are now available in 2GB and 4GB versions, so hopefully they should be arriving down-under soon.

Ok, so this is not pavlova!  It’s a vanilla cake with frosting….but it could be couldn’t it.  If you were to buy (or make) a lovely high pavlova and then pretty it up with handmade edible flowers, it could look this good I think…even for a wedding instead of real cake.  It would make for a perfect end to a New Zealand or Australian wedding given the pav’s tradition.  I really want to try this for some occasion though I can guarantee my flowers would not look that fantastic!  Thanks to Cakehero who has so many awesome cakes on her website.

via [Oh Joy]

It’s school holiday’s at present and so I needed something to do with girls, while the boys are off at the skate park.  I love this idea from The Long Thread of decorating jars with colourful ribbons, grosgrain and even ric rac.   They could store all sorts, from plants, to pencils, to hair accessories….the list goes on.   Here are my instructions below as there is no sewing required in my version….will let you know how it turns out.

1.  Collect some jars from friends or your cupboard, making sure they are not tapered

2.  Lay out all your ribbons, a glue gun or PVA glue, scissors

3.  Measure your ribbon around the jar and allow an extra 1.5cm for overlap.  You could cut it on the diagonal or even a ‘v’ cut like the end of the ribbon.

4.  Squeeze glue onto the back of the ribbon then begin at the top of your jar and slowly press it all the way round.  Continue with different ribbon until you reach the bottom.  If you have a small area at the bottom of the jar, find a narrower piece or simply fold it under and iron it flat so it lays flat and fits the space.

Now fill with anything you like!  A few in a row on a dresser would look beautiful.

We have been looking at buying a home for a while since our return from Australia, and so the hunting continues.  While clicking my way through quite a few pics, I saw this beauty in Devonport on the North Shore in Auckland.  It is sooo me.  The colour, the furniture, the kitchen, all of it.  It’s for sale if you like it and to view more images click here.  The current owner and renovater is an interior designer, so it’s no wonder the place rocks! It’s also been in a couple of home magazines, so enjoy.

UK company Purlfrost has a large selection of window film for many applications; Decorative, Stained, Reflective and even a kids range.  My favourite would have to be their Stained Glass range that can be applied anywhere.  When the sun shines on it, it would show the best colour onto the wall and ground. Great for a yoga room.

You can apply it easily yourself and they have an installation guide online.  Purlfrost will happily ship worldwide, just contact them first and advise what you are intending to order.

For those folks out there who are lucky enough to own the iPhone 4 – even if there’s a bit of a glitch, here’s the fix for it.  Antenn-aid sells cool looking bandaids that attach to the edge of the phone to stop it dropping your call.  Get them right here at Etsy  - a multi-colored 6pk for only US$4.99 plus shipping, or you can buy a bulk lot and umm, sell them to your mates!  Or get the software update apparently, but that’s not fun looking!

via [Not-Cot]

Today’s adventure wasn’t mine….I went for a bikeride with the family instead.  But Design Is Mine discovered this great poster, called Origami Love Poster.  It costs US$15 + $5 postage (NZ$27) – take a look over at Amy’s Etsy store Field Trip for more great posters.  I want to actually give this a try at folding as origami is something I really enjoy…until I can’t do it!

This picture inspired my post this afternoon.  I stumbled into Bloesem kids and found delightful wallpaper on the back of the closet. Usually the very beautiful wallpapers cost loads, so this is a brilliant way to use a little bit and not go bankrupt.  Stores often have left over rolls or off-cuts and sell them cheaply, so it’s worth checking.   The wallpaper on the back of this Ikea shelf is by Boras Tapeter in Sweden, called Linne 3308.  Sim Wallcoverings in Auckland may stock it, or they could order it in for you. Go get your DIY gloves on and get papering – it makes such a difference to a dull area.

In a few weeks it’s Master neary 6′s birthday and I have been thinking about a rainbow cake.  They look cool, and kids seem to get a kick out of seeing the inside when it comes time to ‘cut the cake’.  These pics I used from Omnomicon because they rule!

TO BEGIN:

Make your own plain cake mixture (not chocolate – or just leave out the cocoa in a choc cake recipe)

Then split up the mixture evenly into cups, for as many colours as you have.  The better and healthier gel colours, get here or here, though a generous amount of food colouring works well too.  (And if you don’t like the food colouring, then this cake’s not for you.)  Mix colour in well.

With your cake tin ready and greased, pour the mixture from one cup straight into the middle on the cake pan (don’t smear it around or flatten it out.

Continue pouring the contents of each cup on top of each colour.

Now bake it – at whatever your cake recipe says to.

Once done, ice how you like, though all over icing works best so the kids don’t know how cool the cake is!

If you prefer cupcakes, do the same into the cup-cake pan.  Otherwise, below are a couple of other places for recipes:

Omnomicon

Tastespotting

AT posted a while back about designing and printing on different mediums, and it’s not all that expensive. Often I have wanted to take a great image and put in on a plate, or a handtowel, but never got around to investigating further.  Below is a list of places where you can make it happen…..so what are you waiting for!

1. Spoonflower – design your own fabric
2. Teeny Tile – custom print tiles
3. The Wallpaper Maker – print your own designs on wallpaper
4. Ponoko – laser cut materials like felt, plastic and wood
5. Absorbent, Ink – screen printing onto glasses, coasters and handtowels plus more

If there is something that frustrates me in the morning when I am running out the door, is a flat mobile phone battery. Either I forgot to plug it in, or Miss 9 mths flicked the switch off at the wall.

This solar charger would be perfect and would live in my car or be charging my phone while on the top of the stroller. The P-Flip, by Dexim can be flipped vertically or horizontally for hands-free use and can extend your talk time up to eight hours, 15 hours for video or gaming and 60 hours of music.  The best part is you can buy it very soon and will be priced at about US$80.

[via]

This stuff rocks!  All those things around the house that need fixing and you can’t find stuff to fix it.  Well, SUGRU is silicone clay that you whip out of the packet, roll it in your hand to soften, mould into or onto what your ‘fixin’, then it starts to cure within 30 minutes, leaving it overnight to fully cure (or about 24hrs).  Click here for their website, to buy and to watch the video.

PS – this stuff is so popular it sold out…you may have to keep checking back for the next shipment.

‘Chop Stick’ is a clothes hanger designed by Andreas Saxer.  Inspired by the traditional methods of Japanese wood joinery, and of course, chop sticks.  Only four wooden sticks are loosely joined with a sleek aluminum pole and apparently this loose system becomes very stable with heavy clothing.  I like the idea that you can move it around your home, and if you are a flatter, then it’s the easiest thing to move with you.

Can’t seem to find it anywhere to purchase, but if you are handy with a skill-saw and sander, you may like to try your hand at making a set.