Monday 31 December 2012

Pantene Beautiful Lengths



Pantene Beautiful Lengths

Paris with her 20cm pony tail for Pantene Beautiful Lengths

Paris with her very summer hair do!

Paris with her beautiful strawberry blond hair before the cut

I just wanted to share this fantastic charity (not sure if that is the right word "Charity")

Paris my 11 year old daughter thought this was a charity she could be involved with so she has just had her hair cut and donated 20cm to Pantene Australia & New Zealand Beautiful lengths.

They provide free real-hair wigs to women who have lost their locks through treatment. Together with Look Good...Feel Better, we’re asking women to skip their next salon trim, grow their hair a little longer and stronger and pledge their ponytails to the Beautiful Lengths programme.

With your help they can help these remarkable women feel like themselves again by giving them free real-hair wigs. Many women with cancer say that putting on a wig helps them feel like themselves again, but real-hair wigs are a luxury that few can afford.

So if you are thinking about a trim and can spare 20cm here is the link with all the details. http://beautifullengths.com.au/    for Australia
http://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/  for the UK
http://www.locksoflove.org/donate.html  for the US

Thank you Ereni for doing Paris' cut!

Tuesday 25 December 2012

The Old Bus Depot Canberra 23/12/12

The 23rd of December we had a stall at The Old Bus Depot which turned out to be a very very hot day we were just outside the main entrance and were lucky enough to have a breeze every now and then through the day.  Inside was stifling hot with no breeze while we had to hang onto our gazebo from time to time I was glad to be outside.

I really enjoy the markets at The Old Bus Depot the management choose the stalls carefully and that makes the all the stalls interesting.  A large majority of the stalls have items that are made by the stall holder and you can see the time and care taken in making each piece. I managed to go for a quick walk before the market opened and ran into Penny from Rustic Treasures, who was my neighbour once before at this market.  All jewellery made by Penny is designed and hand-crafted by her. Penny specialises in mixed-metals and often combines silver, copper and brass in a single design. She also makes individual pieces from each of these base metals. Her signature pieces are dome beads manufactured from Sterling silver, brass and copper. Each piece is designed and crafted individually, and each side of the bead is a different design providing two necklaces in one. She was flat out the week before this market as she had sold out of most of her lines with the exception of three pieces I asked her how her fingers were because stocking up means making a stack of pieces, she said her fingers were slowing recovering from the rush.  Her stock looked fantastic so check out her website.



Penny from Rustic Treasures

Some of Penny's amazing work and all made the previous week as she had sold out.

My stand was right next door to Melanie from Nixy Made who makes the most beautiful cards and paper products including the most amazing paper Christmas Trees and little badges with owl motifs on them one of her customers placed her badge on her babies pram to keep the cotton fly
"throw" from flying of the pram so cute.  The Christmas trees made from festive coloured paper came in two sizes the larger ones sold out soon after the market opened and the smaller ones by the end of the day.  They were bought by people who were using them as table centre pieces on Christmas day and others purchased them as the decoration on the top of a stack of presents. You can order Melanie's cards via her facebook page by messaging her.


Melanie from Nixy Made, with her little Christmas Trees, badges and cards before they all sold out.


This couple make the most beautiful wooden toys my youngest son has one of their spinning tops.

This stall holder has uniquely crafted iron products.



Tuesday 18 December 2012

Kiama Markets 16th December 2012

Sunday was a beautiful day and spent at one of my favourite markets Kiama. Our stall had the most amazing views around the bay and out to sea. There were plenty of beautiful stalls teaming with fantastic hand made items everything from jewellery to leather, clothes to fruit.

Gametag at the Kiama Markets what a view
Santa came to visit and handed out lollies to the kids and of course the adults, he was escorted on a bright yellow bike and was a welcome sight I guess he was giving the deers a break ready for the big night.  Lions club had the Mayor visit to pull the winning ticket for their Christmas trailor I was not the winner :(

Gametag with Santa at Kiama Markets

Gametag at Redwater Markets held in Redfern Park

Gametag spent Saturday at the Redwater Markets held in the Redfern Park it's a community market with about fifty stalls that lined the pathways through the park.  We were right next door to JulieandJakie again and there was fun to have let me tell you....


Gametag at the Redwater Markets held in Redfern Park 

JulieandJakie at the Redwater Markets held in Redfern Park


One of the stalls not far from us was a community project called The Great Buckingham Street Project where specially printed postcards were distributed to residents of Great Buckingham Street, the residents were to write on the card something about the street. They could choose from a memory of the street or a change in the street, really anything they wanted and in whatever language they choose some even drew pictures. The cards will be digitally archived and uploaded to their the Great Buckingham St blog as well as form part of a book that will be distributed to community groups.  You can purchase a copy of the book for $15 + postage via email tammiecastles@gmail.com


The Buckingham Street Project


Sunday 16 December 2012

A Current Affair - The Great Mum Debate




Prior to Gametag (I was lucky enough to have stayed home for 12 years straight before inventing Gametag) I cut back on spending to stay at home I remember it being difficult financially but we all enjoyed the fact that I was home I think our lives were definitely calmer.

If I had of known how much work my little invention would be and the time it has taken me away from my kids, I probably would not have gone ahead with it opting to be a full time stay home mum.

I think the federal Government should allow couples to income share which would enable more families to make a choice that is right for all of them without financial pressure.

I do believe dads make equally great stay home parents and acknowledge how hard it must be for single parents because they are actually working 2 jobs.

Would you like to be a full time stay home mum or do you prefer to be a working mum, is it a choice you would have made differently if you didn't have the financial influence on your decision?

http://www.aca.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8579753