...your new ipod ear plugs are just too big. Easy fixed by placing a stretchy headband over said earplugs & finished with a Made by Miffy Mummy no- sew hairclip attached at a jaunty angle.
For ergonomic ipod shuffle attachment, I choose a layered ruffle tank top. See how it works.
Too easy! These ipod fashion tips brought to you by Darcy.
She's a machine. The volume of craft this girl produces...mindblowing. And then the dilemma - what to do with it all? Surely I am not expected to keep every creation? We would have a veritable cardboard fire hazard. So, I am to share them with you all dear blog readers. This week's output includes...
The Tickler.
She mass produced these! One for everyone. "How does it work Darc?" "Well Mummy, you slip it over your wrist, with the feather pointing out. Then you sneak up on people, very quietly, then you get them behind the neck or wherever they are ticklish, and you go TICKLE, TICKLE TICKLE!!!"
Well on Friday night, after a few post rugby training wines with the Hickey's, we were all using our Ticklers! They work! Everyone laughed. Perhaps a new section in the Etsy store?
Next, I present to you,the Time Machine.
Now where on earth did she come up wtih this concept - we don't watch Dr Who. Anyhoo, a time machine is what she made at kindy. "So Darc, how does it work?" "Well, Daddy, you just hold onto these handles, and you press this button and you then close your eyes and think of a time you want to go to and the machine will take you there." So Daddy requested that he go to a time in the future, about 20 years, when he is old and feeble and Darcy has to make him cups of tea and look after him. Well, did she get upset. Truly! Yelling at Dad, "Well it only works to take you to backwards time". "But Darcy, I see in the future you looking after me when I am old." "Well that doesn't happen Dad - I'm not going to." Honestly - she was close to tears at the thought of what her future may hold - wiping up Daddy's dribbles, etc is not what Darcy wants to do - apparently! Good that we know this now! She was well cranky about the whole thing. Took her time machine and marched off. I keep telling you, this kid has attitude in buckets!
And finally, we have The Shopping Machine
And yes, it does have a bit of Madonna conical chest action going on. Not sure why. Anyway, this machine has been well used and the mobile phone that was inside is missing. This is how it works... "Well you just take it to the shops with you mum and it will help you shop. (Didn't think I needed help - but wait for it...) The phone mummy is for ringing Dad if you run out of money. So he can send the machine more money for you to spend."
You have to like the way my 4 year old thinks!
So, we are gladly taking orders for Ticklers, Time Machines and Shopping Machines. Just ring my Shopping Machine mobile phone for your orders!
This weekend has presented a new parenting challenge. What to do when the 4 year old wants to cook? Now this is a good thing isn't it? Well, if it involved getting the weet bix from the cupboard, adding milk and eating breakfast, that could be good. Not Darcy, you see she has never been much of an eater. But she loves food. And now that everyone is telling her how grownup she is with her new hairstyle - well she is channelling her inner Martha! I was awoken yesterday morning to this...
"Mummy, I made you a Banana Sandwich for breakfast." "Ohhhh Bless", I hear you think. Well, I wander downstairs to see her with big knife in hand cutting more banana. To mix with her easter egg and some apple she had already cut of course... It gets better.... this was all to be placed in the microwave oven - which she knows how to use, apparently. So - I helped her cook her banana and easter egg and apple. All the while providing the 'this isn't to be done without an adult' lecture. Here is the finished dish.
Appetising?! So this morning, more cooking occured whilst I was sleeping. No knives today - just eggs. Easter ones + the real thing! Here is her cake.... See how many íngredients you can see... It is an 'interesting' mix.
I spotted bread, eggs, cracker biscuits, banana and a chocolate easter egg, how 'bout you?! So, some real cooking ensued. Fairy biscuit wants!
Darcy decided to loan me her Little Tikes Mixer. First though,
it needs batteries...
Now - ready to go Mum...
This kid wears me out!
Okay, I know it is only this arvo that I posted about my regrets regarding Darcy's haircut. Well, I know that those of you out there who await the next installment from downtown Brisbane with bated breath - or itchy mousefinger - will be excited about the trip to the Hair Salon. So without further adieu, a photo essay of the new style.
So, we arrive and wait on the brown leather lounge. Different to the park benches & some soft porn mags at the barber eh?? Fashion TV playing silently on the big Plasma, groovy hairdressery musak in the background. 
Wait a minute Darcy, did your Mum make that gorgeous Queen of Hearts skirt for you? Why yes - thankyou for asking....!!! Jack of course has to do some weird superhero pose for the lens.
This is Susie. Say hi to Susie everyone. Darcy - as soon as she is in the hot seat with the big cape has to start to pull faces. She stares at herself the entire time - making silly faces. So, gulp, ready....
Here we go...
I wish I looked that cute with a plastic black cape and my hair pulled up like that...
Oooops, whilst I was pining for my lost cuteness, I think the haircut began.
Put your tongue back in Darc...
And look at that happy face - Susie's I mean. Don't hairdressers get off on cutting big wads of dead hair???!!! Oh, Darc is pretty happy with her first view of the shortness... Finally - satisfied?
Seriously now... or is that Darcy's usual supermodel pout I see... Yep that is the look. Four years old with a Paris pout perfected.
Ta Da!!! She is jumping off her chair here. Lousy pic - great pose! She was a tad excited about it... And isn't it cute.
Susie's happy, Darcy's happy. Mum is resigned to her new found state of having to purchase cans of Harden Up* and just learn to accept what she cannot control....
* If you need any of this - I know someone who has an excess supply. James, the famous Christmas Elf has this stuff in buckets!!!
This was a crappy old pine chest of drawers that I have altered for Darcy's room. I wanted to fill it with inspiration for her. (Darc has a few health issues requiring loads of physio and some major surgeries down the track)
Each drawer front has an inspirational word.
This side has inspirational quotes from Dr Seuss & Christopher Robin.
"You have brains in your head you have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. You're the (girl) who'll decide where you go!" Dr Seuss.
and this from Christopher Robin...
Ïf ever there is ever a tomorrow when we are not together, there's something you must always remember."You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is if we are ever apart, I'll always be with you."
The other side quotes Oprah!
So we know whose chest this is... here is the top.
and a few more...
Darcy is rather blasé to her pretty drawers and uses them to stand on and secures notes with blu tak. Kids....
Ballet lessons are so very pink. Little pink ballerinas in the pinkest room you've ever seen! Photography is challenging - everything looks very lollypopish - which is fine by Darcy. If only the world was the same! 
Darcy really enjoys her lessons - especially tap. Thank goodness we have got over the 'wear the tap shoes everywhere' phase. As you can see - Darc plays with older boys - thus a high degree of "Here is my butt" whilst it is being wiggled at you. Check out the reaction from ballerinas to this display...
Such a lady...
This move is ... skip, stop, hands on hips, wiggle side to side. Cute yet disturbing at the very same time!
Darcy is workin' it, the other ballerinas are in awe...
A few more photos for the grandparents and those who love pink!
I could say "Shake your tail feather - but who really remembers the Blues Brothers anymore?
And so to finish on the skipping... not bad for the girl they feared would never walk! Go Darcy go!
Darcy wouldn't do any flips yesterday. Maybe it was the moon or her stars, but Ms Darcy Kate decided it was an unflippable day. Today however is an entirey different story...
Woooo Hoooo.....
And like a cat, a perfect 4 point landing!
This from the child who wears a spinal brace for 23.5 hours a day. Has a spine that looks like an S with its 2 x >47 degree curves... Super Cool Ms Darcy!
But Mum, what's all the fuss about?
Darcy has been doing 'Pilates' and an exercise program with Nadene Holm - our wonderful physio for about 4 months now. 
Those of you who know Darcy will know of her challenges. Those of you who don't - in a nutshell - Darcy has an undiagnosed (read - they don't know) Congenital Myopathy. She also has severe infantile scoliosis and wears a spinal brace (Stafforshire brace) 24/7. Anyway - I decided (about 4 months ago) that we should start to work on strengthening the muscles that she does have. Her progress is AMAZING! Have a look at the slide show to see this week's Physio and Pilates session. Nadene is doing a fantastic job of developing a range of exercises that develop both coordination and strength. She performs a range of exercises on an unstable surface. This means she has to think (maintain balance) whilst catching, throwing and jumping! Her neural pathways must be firing aplenty! Additionally Nadene is modifying exercises on the Trapeze Table and Reformer (Pilates machines) for Darcy. She LOVES these as you can see from the pictures! 6 months ago - Darcy couldn't swim (she can now do a Darcy breaststroke the whole length of our pool), didn't do Ballet or Tap (you should see her new tap routines - Achy Breaky Heart and Mambo No. 5!) couldn't jump or hop... She now does not wear her feet orthoses (SMOs) as her muscles develop and strengthen. We are so pleased! And she loves it!
