Fun Things to do with Toddlers - Hammering Water Beads

Recently I have been trying to find more fun things to do with water beads, I think there is more potential out there than just picking them up out of a dish and scooping them, (as fun as that is).

 I had some water beads in the kitchen which were on the turn (read - going mouldy!) so I thought I would just let Boris destroy them, he always tries to anyway and I attempt to stop him from doing it because I feel its wasting them, but thought as he likes it so much I will give him permission to go mad with them!  So I gave him a wooden hammer and put the water beads on a reflective tray and let him go to town squishing and bashing them.

It was really good fun, I actually found it quite hilarious because of course it was nearly impossible to squash them because they kept shooting all over the place! We had water beads bouncing all over the patio, it kept Boris occupied for quite some time, he really concentrated hard on pressing the hammer onto each bead and positioning the beads ready to hammer.

Aren't the colours beautiful? Such a great tool for improving fine motor skills.

Have you any other ideas for uses of water beads?  I am thinking about freezing them, using them with water and sorting colours for starters.  I love these bouncy little thing!

Please excuse the slightly over exposed photographs, it was really hard photographing the reflective surface of the tin, the camera wanted to over compensate for the brightness so the photos were coming out really dark so had to use a bit of trial and error. 

Breastfeeding clothes that I wish I could buy!

Finding breastfeeding clothes can be a challenge at the best of times, finding breastfeeding clothes that aren't stripey can be even more of a challenge. (What is it with breastfeeding clothes and stripes?  Who decided that nursing mums love stripes?)  Finding breastfeeding clothes which are patterned with something other than stripes and are also ethical and/or organic is near impossible.  So with this in mind I decided to put together a little selection of clothes that break the mold a little bit by being pretty, practical and ethical.  Not all these clothes are strictly "breastfeeding" clothes but they all allow easy for access.  Obviously leggings aren't essential for breastfeeding but we need something to wear under our tunics right?

1. Sea Salt Cornwall tunic

2. Green Fibers Leggings

3. ASOS organic pyjamas

4. People Tree Tricia dress

5. Frugi summer breastfeeding tunic

Mindbomb Monday

In the 1970's the founders of Greenpeace came up with the idea of using electronic media to communicate revolutionary ideas, they came up with the tactic "mindbomb" whereby they would use simple images, delivered by the media, that would "explode in people's minds" and create a new understanding of the world.
On some Mondays I hope to share an image that might be considered a "mindbomb" that could get people thinking throughout the week ahead.  I won't include any words with the image as I hope the image alone will speak for itself.  Sometimes I will use images found online, other times it will be my own photographs and they will reflect something that has spoken to me from the past week.  It might be shocking, inspiring, confrontational or uplifting.
If you would like to join in please share your "mindbomb" in a comment.