0 Comments
By far the best toy I ever bought my kids was a Lego Create bucket. With hundreds of pieces and a manual to guide them to make 50+ different vehicles - they played with it for hours and hours. Following the maps keeps kids focused and entertained and once one vehicle is made and proudly paraded around - they can break it down and make something new initially from the book but then creatively from their own imagination.
Sadly these buckets are not widely available now presumably because Lego's discovered that hooking the kids onto themed models - Lego City, Star Wars, Hobbit, etc is more profitable. Certainly these kits create the same enthusiasm for the build, and some are very complex, but once built the model tends to be put on display on a shelf. Instead of being creative (both architect and engineer) kids become builders and the passion for creativity became a passion to acquire the full series. It may be more profitable for Lego but its less enriching for the children. Seek out the Lego starter sets, "tubs" or "boxes" of Lego - they are so much better value for money and an investment in your children's education & imagination. The best Lego sets and games we've found are shown below - with some shipping from overseas - but they're worth it.
From Fishpond - shipping from the US or UK (allow for shipping time) Prices $60 -120 inc shipping as of today.
Encourage a healthy lifestyle by giving gifts and toys to your kids that get them moving, laughing and out in the fresh air. Here are 12 of my favourites - click images for more details and to buy.
Looking for a silly gift for Secret Santa or maybe low cost fun stuffing fillers? Here are a range of 30 crazy gifts available at Mighty Ape to crack a smile when they open them.
For adult family and friends bought gifts at Christmas can be a little awkward - and yet a homemade gift is always received with delight and can impress without spending much money at all. It doesn't all have to sweet and decadent either - preserves, pickles and homemade liqueurs are also great options. The books below are full of ideas and are available via a trusted NZ website. If you order now you'll be able to get inspiration for inexpensive gifts from the heart and the kitchen. A nice touch is to include the recipe with the gift.
Having bought a notebook or netbook for student use - now comes the issue of protection for the computer. There seem to be two main options for students that also need to carry sports gear, lunchboxes and other books - a backpack/satchel with built-in laptop protection or a protective sleeve so that it can fit into their existing backpack/bag.
Here are some interesting options that should appeal to teenagers and are quite affordable - some seem to be on a super special at present. There are some very stylish messenger bags available. Most of these come from the US, so allow for delivery time - but the designs and prices are worth the wait. Check out these fun calendars from the USA for 2013 before they sell-out. Cute and cheaper than many local options. There are dozens more 2013 wall calendars at Fishpond.
The Melissa & Doug toy range has at its heart high quality classic wooden toys many of which have been favourites for generations. Included in my favourite 25 are a selection of colourful wooden stacking toys, a cute wooden pull-along dog, a clever wooden fold-out castle, a wooden car parking building and toys that involve sorting, pounding, stacking and more. We especially love the two wooden magnetic dress-up sets - there is a massive range for both boys and girls. Also the car racing set where the car race from the top floor to the bottom, flipping as they go, has a wonderful colourful design that will keep little ones occupied for an age. Click on the images for more details and the lastest prices. To see the full range of Melissa & Doug toys or to compare prices between two of the top on-line suppliers type "Melissa and Doug" and the type of toy you're after into the search boxes below.
"Where the Wild Things Are" is a fantastic storybook by Maurice Sendak who died just recently. It is one of the most beloved storybooks of all time and the movie of "Where the Wild Things Are" in 2009 created a new legion of fans - see the trailer below for a glimpse into this magical world. The story is now available in a range of books, puzzles, puppets, DVDs and toys that celebrate the imagination, fantasy and mischievious nature of both Max and his creator Maurice Sendak. If there's a little "Wild Thing" in your life, perhaps one of these books, movies or puppets will make a great gift and calm the little monster inside. Norah Jones' new CD is out! Well it's out in the US at least, I'm not sure how widely available it is in New Zealand yet but you can buy it on-line from Fishpond by clicking on the image below. It's around $21 with free shipping.
Norah's debut album, "Come Away with Me", in 2003 was phenomenal success and is a big favourite of mine. She has released some other CDs since that haven't enjoyed quite the same popularity but are much loved by big Norah fans. On the new album I love the "Happy Pills" song which is a feel-good number with a bouncy tune.
As we become increasingly conscious of where our food comes from and its nutritional value, there is a noticeable swing to the way things were. This is evidenced in the resurgence of appliances like slow cookers and pressure cookers as well as a new slew of cookbooks with a decidedly retro approach to cooking.
The Retro Cookbook has only just been published and is a beautiful 320 page hard covered book. It is full of classic recipes of yesterday sourced from the Australian Womens Weekly's extensive archive. The book is decorated with gorgeous colour illustrations of old advertisements as well as wonderful modern photography of the recipes. A delightful almost coffee-table quality book. A Good Harvest is a huge 264 page book packed with 300 tried & true recipes compiled by Rural Women New Zealand Members". The recipes include a lot of chutneys, pickles and ideas for seasonal produce as well as baking and more. Jamie's Comfort Food takes us to nostalgic recipes that remind us of our childhood and times when we felt safe and secure with a hearty meal in front of us. Mama's in the Kitchen includes both stories and recipes from 1900 - 1950. It takes both a serious view of the challenges of the times (depression & war) as well as a humourous look at a "Mad Men" world.
Master Chef is back on our screens and dominating the viewing for Tuesday and Saturday nights. It appears that Master Chef brings out the ingenuity of home chefs around the world and, whether it's from the local show or overseas franchises, you can be sure that Master Chef cookbooks bring together an ecclectic mix of inspired cookery. If you just can't get enough of Master Chef or you want to get your hands on some Master Chef tips and recipes then check out the great selection of the best Master Chef cookbooks below. My favouite is the one I can't get my hands on yet - Nadia's Kitchen. Pre-order "Nadia's Kitchen" Now Nadia Lim was the winner of Master Chef New Zealand in 2011. Her relative youth, she's 25, combined with her Kiwi/Malaysian heritage means her cooking style is deliciously modern. Some of the recipes inher new book include: Mint & Caper Lamb, Lime Coconut Bombes with Raspberry Sauce (yum!), Chocolate Panna Cotta with Plum Sorbet, Cranberry Coconut Cake and so much more for you to enjoy. Jax Cooks: She's fronting some Countdown TV ads at the moment but her cookbook gives you 90 of her favourite recipes that represent her story told in food. Sub-titled "Great Food for Family & Friends", the recipes have Jax's simplicity and great flavours. Master Chef New Zealand Vol 2 This is the book of the 2011 series and includes extra information from the Master Classes. The best recipes from the Top 12 contestants and the three judges Simon Gault, Ray McVinnie and Josh Emmett are included with spectacular colour photography to whet your appetitie. The MasterChef Kitchen Bible from the UK is as focused on kitchen skills as it is on classic recipes that should be in any Master Chef's repertoir. The Junior Master Chef Cookbook from the Australian series is perfect for budding Master Chefs who want to extend their skills or even for adults who were embarasses at how great the kid-chefs were on that show.
Jamie Oliver Kitchen ProductsFavourite Jamie Oliver BooksJamie Oliver has published an enormous number of books. Many of the early ones were establishing his chef-credentials, but many subsequent books are accessible to every-day home cooks. Here are some of my favourites. Jamie Oliver Videos
|
This blog may contain affiliate links to My Favourite things. This means I may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase by using my links.
Categories
All
|