#14 Shel Silverstein

'Where the Sidewalk Ends' has always, & will always, be one of my most favourite books in the whole world.

The 2 books that my mother owned ' Where the Sidewalk Ends' & ' Falling Up'

had a photo in the cover of each that I'll admit, I did stare at a lot!

In my infinite less than 10 year old wisdom, I thought he had the loveliest, most kind eyes I had ever seen.

He was also on my 'if you could invite 3 people to dinner who would they be' list.

Unfortunately he passed away in 1999. I was absolutely devastated.

I had no idea how, but I had felt so sure I would meet him one day...

It's quite impossible to choose a favourite of his poems, but if I had to it would probably be this one, which I would LOVE to have on Master C's wall...

"Listen to the mustn'ts, child.

Listen to the don'ts.

Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts.

Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me...

Anything can happen, child. Anything can be."

Cx

#13 But Your's Makes Me The Maddest - & That's When I Feel The Gladdest...

This post is especially dedicated, along with a gigantic hug, to the lovely Miss Susan. R who is apparently having an Oscar kind of day...

This Video captures the moment I fell in LOVE.

Now 22 odd years later I still love it (& my James) just as much & it's a firm favourite of Master C's... Gosh my boy has good taste ;)

He likes to play the air guitar... & air piano... & air bass... & air whistle... & air drums... & to DANCE around like a crazy thing.

Lucky I don't have a problem with listening to it on a loop all day!

Did you have a favourite song as a child that you remember?

Cx

#12 Natural Beauty

About a year ago I was shopping with a friend of mine who was pregnant & we came across this beautiful monkey rattle. My son had already far outgrown rattles & therefore I admit that I perhaps helped to twist her rubber arm into buying it for her little bundle so that I could live vicariously through her...

Not that it stopped me from wondering whether it would be too weird to buy it just in case... you know, future babies?

The head wobbles from side to side & makes a little click clacking sound - unusual & very sweet.

The raw beauty of it took my breath away. No stain, no paints, no varnishes -the different coloured woods are simply different varieties of trees in their unaltered colours.

Just Pure.Natural.Beauty.

It even smells nice!

But I think my favourite thing of all about this little rattle, is that feel of it.

The smoothness, the 'warmth' of it... Words just can't describe.

Even now when I visit my friend (No I didn't buy myself one in the end... um, sad face?) I feel absolutely drawn to it. I turn it over and over in my hands & now & then, I give it a little shake...

I think this is one rattle you could never get too old for?!

Fast forward to a couple of months ago & in a local toy store I come across these little people...

The same natural beauty & blissfully, the same heavenly feel...

Quick find the packaging! Find a name! Who is creating these exquisitely sensory toy experiences???

The answer : SOOPSORI.

My new love.

How adorable are these little guys?

Unlike the usual 'cutting cake' this little treat uses not velcro but cleverly concealed magnets. Nifty.

I want to hear this music in my house, don't you?

LOVING this little Dr's set! And since my Master C is apparently a Chef in the making...

This little Robot has elastic cords in his limbs allowing him to be positioned in many ways, & this ridiculously cute fishing set has a winding action reel as well as again having the concealed magnets.

I want them all...

These toys, in my humble opinion, are genuine family heirlooms in the making.

Sublime.

As if the deal needed any more sweetening, they are made from combinations of 20 different timbers, handcrafted at the last stage to take away any sharp edges & given a finishing touch of flaxseed oil. Nothing more.

Both the packaging - & in fact the toys themselves - are 100% recyclable.

AND a percentage of profit goes toward planting trees in third world countries.

What's not to love really?

Cx

#11 The Red Tree

I love picture books. I mean LOVE.

I was collecting my favourites long before Master C came along!

The Red Tree - Written & Illustrated by Shaun Tan, is in short, breathtaking.

A little dark, but I believe that can certainly be a very good thing for children to be allowed to access - most particularly with a resolution such as this...

Available online via Borders.

I highly recommend you read this, even if it's just to yourself.

Admittedly, my copy is up high where Master C can't reach it.

Only because I don't want to share...

What a selfish Mumma I am!

I haven't read all of Shaun Tan's books yet but have thoroughly enjoyed those that I have.

All have had the added bonus of being stunningly illustrated as well as thought provoking...

Do you/Did you have a favorite picture book?

x

#10 Who's for Sushi?

Master C's new bath toys - A school of brightly coloured fish. Quite the hit!

For those who don't recognize these little fellas...

One of Master C's most favourite foods is Sushi, which is usually sold accompanied by little fish shaped containers full of soy sauce...

It was mighty hard work, but here's what we did :

Step 1: Enjoyed our delicious Sushi :)

Step 2: Washed the remaining soy sauce out.

Step 3: Filled them with diluted food colouring.

Hey presto all done!

I recommend diluting the food dye so that if little ones do manage to get the lids off, it won't stain their skin or the tub.

At the rate Master C goes through Sushi though, very soon there may not be any room left for him in the bath...

x