Getting ready for school can be a drag, so I came up with something to help speed things along. Introducing the Hairstyle File! A collection of hairstyles in a little laminated booklet for your child to choose in the morning. Simply print out the PDF, cut into A5, laminate the pages back to back, pop in a hole punch then tie with some twine or ribbon. Presto!

This is untested territory, but so far my daughter is very excited about having her favourite hairstyles in one place. This will hopefully help change up the boring daily ponytail and also alleviate the pressure of picking a style. I am hoping this gives my child more responsibility and also ownership on how she wants to present herself and be perceived. I think it is important that we allow our children self expression freedoms.

I have included the little booklet I put together, however, it would not be tricky to put one together with hairstyles you are happy with. If my school allowed us to use hair products, I would love to put one together for my son, but I could imagine there are quite a number of hairstyles that would be suitable for children with shorter hair too! There are many possibilities to be had!
(I would have loved to have photos of my daughter with all these styles instead of web pics. Maybe that could be a project for the future?)

I have also shared a picture of our hairstyle station, I have had this set up for 3 years now and works a charm! The wooden drawers were from Ikea (I don't think they make them anymore), and I just gave them a lick of paint. Looking a bit shabby now, might need to repaint in the near future! The labels are new this year though, as I am pushing more independence on my children, so I have made colourful labels with pictures. Pictures work really well for my children!

So here is the link to the Hairstyle File -https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwpD2B0zKGN_NGRTLUdneVpnZHc/view?usp=sharing

What does your hairstyle station look like? Share a photo or comment below!

One of my favourite little tools I found in Japan was the pocket sandwich maker. I love this thing so very much, so keep an eye out for it in the future! What does it do? Removes the crust AND seals the edges to make this cool little pocket. It is easy, quick and makes filling sandwiches so much easier! For example, in Japan I purchased a Yakisoba pocket sandwich. Yakisoba is soba noodles stir fried. So in Aussie terms you could put spaghetti in this sandwich, and it will hold all the contents and be super delicious!

In Miss A's sandwich I put a little avocado and mayo concoction. Her kindy lunches are refrigerated so be careful with mayo in an uninsulated lunch box.

One thing I think we forget is bento isn't just for out and about, we can make fun lunches at home too! At home lunches are more fun, because you have more time to make it (well I find I do, rather than the 20 mins I have in the mornings). So for the school holidays I have tried to make lunches similar to those they take to school. Master D loves his cars so I made them both car themed lunches today. Did you know girls like cars too? Mine does ^__^

So here is what I put together.

Pink milk, car shaped sandwiches, beans, snowpeas, rice cracker, mini marshmallow, carrot, grapes and kiwi fruit. A very colorful and healthy lunch!


Need some more inspiration? How about this wonderful lunch?

For more see: http://www.funkylunch.com/gallery.htm

I'm sorry I have been very quiet recently. Life has been a whirlwind since we got back from Japan. I got sick on the airplane home, then my son split his head open (don't even ask about that!) and picked up a lovely virus from the hospital. It's now gone through everyone except me, and I am not looking forward to it. So I am sorry things have been slow. I am hoping to start putting up my previous lunches to catch up and also to share the new lunches I will make for term 3. I also have some bento goodies to sell soon! If you would like anything in particular let me know!

Lots of love to all my wonderful readers! I appreciate the time you take to read my little part of the web.

x Neko Mama

Apple pie would have to be the one thing I crave the most. I'm not a chocolate girl, I prefer juicy apples wrapped in pastry. Oh! And don't forget about the cinnamon! (sorry about the picture, we demolished half of it before remembering we needed to take a picture!)