A bunch of stuff that we believe is worth knowing
SuperPirates 2018 Resolutions
Another fantastic, busy, exciting and fun-filled year is over, and another is about to begin...
Reflection is a key part of development, so we must back look at what we have learned when planning our next steps. As a small company we are still able to study our progress closely and make improvements before we expand into new areas. As usual, we are excitedly anticipating what this new year will bring, so we have set ourselves three resolutions to help us stay focused.
SuperPirates New Year's Resolutions for 2018
1) Do less, but do it better.
We took on so many new projects in 2017, and had ideas for a million more; it was our busiest and most successful year yet! With over 150 events, from birthday parties, festival play areas to weddings and school parties, we learned a lot about what we needed to prioritise to make sure we keep standards high. We are fine tuning our systems this year to get the company running like clockwork so that we can take on exciting new projects!
2) Support local farmers
Bath has an incredible network of independent businesses who support each other, and we want to contribute more towards that. Being surrounded by gorgeous countryside means we are also lucky to live in a city supplied with amazing fresh produce. We're going to start sourcing our food from local suppliers (please let us know your recommendations!) In 2017 we stopped buying meat for our after school clubs and none of the children even noticed! We want to leave a healthier planet behind for our awesome kids, and building an ethical company will support that.
3) Make time for the team
We're all very busy people at SuperPirates. We have a huge range of interests, hobbies and commitments going on outside of our equally hectic work lives, so we don't find much time hang out! This year we are going to schedule in fun things to do outside of work and do some superhero style team building. Jason even said he would take us go Go Karting!
We wish you all a very happy and healthy new year, and a big thank you for supporting us in 2017.
Indie Christmas Wishlist
When you buy from an independent business you are boosting the local economy and helping to establish a unique community. To make your purchases more thoughtful and ethical try shopping somewhere closer to home this Christmas.
As a Bath based company, we are surrounded by amazing independent businesses whose passion for what they do shines through in the products they offer. The lovely thing about buying from an independent retailer is that you are supporting a real person, who has put time and energy into creating something they care about. So with Christmas closing in, here are the items you will find in our letter to Father Christmas...
1. Ziggy Stardust Hobby Horse by Laura Holden Studio. £42
We were absolutely star struck when we discovered this Bowie inspired hobby horse at Frome's Independent Market. Made with vintage cotton velvet and hand stitched felt, Ziggy Stardust will live on and inspire the imaginations of children. With all of the unicorn hype going on we thought this unique find was next level cool.
Handmade by Somerset textile artist, Laura Holden, from her flora and fauna inspired toys and homeware collection.
2. Maileg Guardian Hero Mouse from My Small World. £19.95
Admittedly we are suckers for anything to do with superheroes, but this little mouse is both cool and cute! Maileg (pronounced My’lye) are a brand of timeless Danish-designed toys that inspire storybook imaginations to run free. This little guy comes tucked in his own tin case, ready to pack with goodies for his next adventure!
3. Ping Pong Crossbow from Spotty Herberts. £18.95
We popped into Spotty Herberts to say hello to Kate one day and ended up staying for about 40 minutes playing with toys, as we do! While we were there we found this amazing crossbow which fires ping pong balls. Handmade from recycled wooden crates, this Daniel Bros toy is incredibly satisfying to play with - and great protection from evil villains, obviously.
4. Sequin Cape by Selfish Mother X Pearl Lowe, from The Fmly Store. £60
Perfect for the little superhero in your family, these beautiful limited edition capes are really saving lives! £10 from each sale goes towards TOMMY'S baby charity, to fund research into pregnancy loss.
5. Ziggy BOOM Cloud by Sparkle Child London. £38
This dazzling rainbow cloud mobile is possibly the coolest decoration we have EVER seen - and we don't think this gift should be just for children! Kristal, the real life sparkle fairy, handcrafts hair clips, fairy wands, crowns, mobiles, garlands and brooches, all beautifully packaged ready to give.
You should also check out her sparkly pirate eye patches on sale at Spotty Herberts!
Failing to succeed
Thinking big: Learning to unicycle and lessons in failure
By Jason
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the unicycle has its roots in another bizarre contraption: the Penny Farthing. Breaking too hard on a Penny Farthing could easily send a rider flying over its handlebars and a long way down to the ground. After many dusty top hats and a few broken bones, some individuals learnt to save themselves from falling by balancing on the front wheel alone - a trick was invented! Soon enough, just for laughs, the rear wheel was removed completely and the unicycle was born.
Truth be told, the unicycle is a pretty inefficient mode of transport. It's far harder on your legs and far slower in a sprint than the bike in your shed; no good for carrying your shopping. You learn to ride one because it looks funny and for the simple joy of learning to do something difficult.
During our recent Circus holiday club, for a bit of fun and in a bid to set a good example to our kids, I took to the saddle and filmed my progress for some amusement. As it happens, I had some thoughts I felt worth sharing.
Learning to unicycle was seemingly impossible to begin with. I tried and I failed. I failed again and again. And again. It was awkward and alien to my body and made very little sense to me. I didn't even know what it was supposed to feel like to get any better, there was no 'click' or 'eureka' moment. After a while I began to laugh at how difficult it was!
Do not confuse impossible with difficult.
Blink and you'll miss it. Here's the punchline: I had improved!. I'd moved the bar from impossible to laughably difficult. Success is not binary: it takes effort and time.
Patience, determination and confidence to overcome obstacles are skills that we must teach our children. These skills are fuel for success in later life, so fill your child's tank now. We must fail in order to succeed...
Making fun of healthy food!
Recipe: Easy to make and full of essential nutrients, these beetroot and red pepper crabs are a great way to get your children enjoying a healthy plate....
Easy to make and full of essential nutrients, these beetroot and red pepper crabs are a great way to get your children enjoying a healthy plate. Invented by Mili, SuperPirates' very own qualified nutritionist.
What makes them good for your child?
High levels of antioxidants make these little critters a superfood and great for the immune system. Rice and quinoa provide your child with slow release carbs, giving them a steady energy supply throughout their busy day. Quinoa is also rich in protein and a great source of minerals such as iron. To help your children make the most out of consuming iron from vegetables, it's helpful to get some vitamin C into the body too - the red peppers see to that!
Fun fact: historically beetroot was used medicinally for a range of ailments, including fevers and skin problems. In short, these crabs are a great catch!
Science aside, this is a fun activity to enjoy at home with your child. When children make food they take ownership of it, they take pride in it, and they understand more about what's on their plate. Get chopping!
Ingredients (making 10 crabs):
- 1 red onion
- 4 medium beetroots
- 1 tablespoon cream cheese
- 1/2 cup rice
- 1/2 cup quinoa
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 10 olives
- 3 red peppers
Method:
- Finely chop and fry the red onion
- Cook and peel the beetroot and then blend or cut into cubes
- Add 1 tbsp of cream cheese
- Add 1/2 cup of cooked rice + 1/2 cup of cooked quinoa
- Add 2 beaten eggs with 1/2 tsp of salt
- Mix all together in a bowl
- Mould the mixture into patties and place on an oiled baking tray
- Bake in the oven at 180 degrees or gas mark 6 for 15 minutes. Leave to cool for another 10 minutes.
- Cut the olives into halves and cut the red pepper into thin slices and crab claw shapes
- Assemble the ingredients and enjoy.
