Don't just face the music, dance to it.

A recent study says that telling the truth is good for you. The researchers asked half the participants to not tell lies and the other half were able to tell lies. When people had to tell the truth they reported better physical and mental health. The study also said that Americans tell on average 11 lies a week. That actually seems like a lot to me! How many lies do you tell a week? If adults are telling 11 lies, it doesn’t surprise me then that we catch our kids out on the odd lie.

I tried to count up 11 lies in the past week and I honestly couldn't think of one. Am I honest or have I just learnt to be more skillfull at telling a version of the truth, which is what the participants in the study reported they did.

 “The truth.” Dumbledore sighed. “it is a beautiful and terrible thing, and therefore should be treated with caution…”

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

I have always been one for fessing up if I get caught out on a lie. A very smart friend recently gave me some great advice,

                 Don't just face the music, Dance to it.

In the spirit on honesty, when I accidentaly used plain flour in this recipe today, I didn't say it was Banana Damper. I called it:

(Flat) Banana Bread
1 1/2 cups of self raising flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 free range eggs
1/2 cup milk
2 tbs melted butter
2 ripe banana's, mashed

Mix flour and sugar in a bowl. In another bowl, whisk eggs. Stir in mashed banana, milk and butter. Mix into the dry ingredients until just combined. Spoon into a lined loaf pan and bake @ 180 degrees, for around 40 minutes.

Holly Treechange XO

I love books

print available here

I wish I had more time to do this.

print available here

But since I seem to be doing this 5-6 days a week...

Well, not actually sitting on books 

but hours of book related library busy-ness:

My play time is much much less.

print available here

I am very happy. I love Y love my job.

But I think I need one of these fairy thingies... 
to do some housework and grocery shopping.

I am in children's literature mode. Probably why I was drawn to those whimsical images...

Next project is Book Week. Our theme - Champions: Royal and Rotten!

This will give us lots of scope to include lots of Princesses and Pirates. With dressing up included!

Y Cate

treading this way ...

This image is a a fairly apt representation of how I'm feeling about my life at the moment.
Not the smoothest path, nevertheless beautiful.
Can't quite see the end - and how I love to know what's going to happen! - but this period of my life is surrounded by beauty.


My life is filled with fabulous friends, vibrant colleagues, loving and supportive family, a terrific job - perhaps you remember I was particularly wanting that back here, and I'm feeling especially grateful. It seems to be panning out nicely. Now where's some wood to knock on?!

Y Cate

A beautiful collection of rubbish

Interests, collections, fads... Call them what you want, kids love it. They all have something they like to collect or become an expert in. We have been through Star Wars, Mighty Beanz and recently Trashies which was lightning fast phase, but loved no less passionately. Mr Treechange was particularly glad when Trashies passed, seeing no point at all in spending hard earned money literally on rubbish. I even suspect he helped the passing of that collection phase, bringing home Ninjago.

I love learning about what kids are into. Ask a child what they like to collect and their face lights up. A child who may be behind in spelling or not yet able to ride a bike forgets all those things when they are able to show you they are an expert in something. I use kids interests areas to my benefit all the time. I ask my son to tell me all about who his favorite footy player is while he unpacks the dishwasher. Or a while ago after a nasty fall from a tree Master Treechange had 7 stitches (yes, how retro a fall from a tree! Not an inury from the Wii) and I distracted him by talking all about the latest movie he had watched and was into.

Apart from distraction, interest areas can be great for helping children learn. I have previously blogged about using Tigger to help children learn about when is the right time to bounce for a child who may a little "bouncy" (see, isn't that better than saying hyperactive!). This works well with anything a child is interested in and can relate to. Boys love cars. Using the speed of a car as an analogy for when to calm down or when to do some alerting activities, can be really useful. Talking to a fan of Thomas the Tank Engine about what makes a Really Useful Engine can be a completely different conversation than if you were to lecture about hand washing. This works for teenagers too. It's very hard to get a teenager away from the mobile or lap top, but if they do make eye contact with you don't blow your chance with a lecture about getting ready for school in the morning. Talk to them about how it must be hard to feel like a vampire and be nocturnal, and what could they do to be more like a werewolf who can cope during the day (Twlight fans will get it).

Maybe if Aeriel's dad had taken an interest in her collection instead of banning her from talking to humans things would have gone a little differently. She was just a
                                                
                                  Bright young woman,
                                  Sick of swimming,
                                  Ready to stand tall....

What are your kids into at the moment? I'd love to hear how you have made your children's interests work for you.

to baby with love x

A craft book review YCate

To Baby with Love

35 gorgeous gifts to make for babies and toddlers

by Deborah Schneebeli-Morrell

One of the major perks of my job is the hundreds of beautiful books that pass through my hands. 

"To Baby with Love" is gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous.

I want to make nearly EVERYTHING from this book. Mostly though it's a toss up between the yo-yo nursery decoration, the plump wise owl door stop or the wash cloths bound with vintage fabric.

Hope your day is filled with some beauty therapy too x 

Y Cate

p.s. If you HAVE to have it - find it here.

Otherwise visit your local library Y