Ever since I can remember I have been ripping out of magazines. In the 80's, at boarding school, it was Chanel ads (and oh do I wish I still had them - coversealed and fading on the wall above my bed).
By the 90's I had started to hone in on interiors and travel shots. I have a stack of scrapbooks with these pasted into, a labour of love in front of telly, pj's on, scissors in hand and gluestick at the ready.

Nowadays, I'm still ripping out interior pics I love, but I've moved onto recipes (the pages lie in a box patiently waiting for their time of glory - the great pasting which happens but twice yearly in these busy times).



Here's a page from an old book I use all the time.
I have several recipe scrapbooks - a couple of everything books, a dessert, and a kids scrapbook. I'd like to say there's order and index, but unfortunately that's not how I work.
And if I notice a recipe I haven't tried, and probably won't, then I just paste another right over the top.



I started my kid's recipe book last year when I realised Griffin and Coco were surviving on spag bol, fish and home made pizza. They eat at an earlier time to Scott and I so I tend to think quick and easy with them. I have been building up a book of interesting options for them to eat and me to make. And those two are Fussy (yep, with a capital F).





Donna Hay kids is great for inspiration. The latest is out, or possibly has been out for a while judging by the one sorry looking copy left on the newsagents stand I bought.
This month they have an article on lunches. Yay. This year I decided not to put anything processed into the lunchboxes. What was I thinking - my day is full enough without adding baking. But actually, it's not that hard. There's an easy recipe for ham and cheese pinwheels I'm going to be ripping and pasting.
Pikelets are a fav, and there's great healthy baking over at babybites. I make the snack bars most weeks.





These are on the menu for the next playdate....super cute!

Meg x

The sun is shining on the start of another week. And I am beginning Monday quietly, coffee in the sun, the paper...
Last week was one of those 'nothing going to plan' weeks. Firstly I broke my thumb and yes, that was enough to stop most things tracking well. But then I also got sick.
And then Coco got sick, and while I write she is sleeping beside me still not well.

But let's not dwell on sickness at our house. A boring subject.

Yesterday Tea Pea was at All About Kid's Expo in Wellington and what a fabulous day. My broken thumb and I were manning the stand and had a great time meeting all the lovely parents who visited us. So many buggies, babies, and bumps! Face painting, dancing, balloons and more for the kids. It was fantastically organised - I was very impressed. Happy kids everywhere!

Right, time for another coffee. Oh, and just wanted to say, we have very exciting products arriving soon to Tea Pea. Joy!

Meg x

The next three weeks are busy ones for us - a fair or expo every weekend. On the 3rd September we are in Hawkes Bay at the Havelock North Mary's Market. The following Saturday, the 10th, we will be part of the Khandallah Creche fundraising evening.

And this Sunday we are exhibiting at the All About Kids Expo at the Wellington Town Hall. We will have a few expo specials and would love to see you if you're in town.

Here's all the information.

If you'd like to go in the draw to win one of five double passes to the Expo, order before Wednesday the 24th and mention 'tickets' in the comments field at checkout.

in our backyard! And what a delight it has been, for all of us.
Down South it's a given, and I know can be annoying.
But here in Wellington, we have been acting like we've won lotto - excitedly chattering and giggling about our snowman efforts and taking photos and footage like tourists.

It's been rather sidetracking - I'm not getting any work done!

But today the sun is streaming in and the backyard is quickly becoming green again.
It's been a lovely few days...