This post lists 7 of my favourite products for new Mothers; my list of gold. Click on the name of the product to take you to a link for more information.

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1. BOON BATH FROG

The Boon Bath Frog is seriously, the BEST thing I have ever purchased for the bathroom ($35).
Features:
* Stores and organises bath accessories
* Scoop bath toys out of the bath simply and after each use
* Reduces mould and mildew
* Holds bottles and loofahs in addition to toys
* Includes adhesive strips for mounting
* When mounted with suction cups Frog Pod can hold up to 2.25kg
* When mounted with adhesive strips Frog Pod can hold up to 4.5kg
* When mounted with screws the Frog Pod will hold up to 9kg

My Note: I’ve had mine up with suctions caps for 6 months and it has not fallen off. Gone are the days of fishing out furry toys from of a mildew mesh bag.

I give it ***** (5) stars

Don’t hesitate….. JUST BUY IT!

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2. BOON SQUIRT FOOD DISPENSER

The Boon Squirt Food Dispenser is a novel product that actually works ($15).

Features:
* Dispense baby food one bite at a time
* Convenient one-handed feeding
* Large easy-to-clean bulb holds up to 90 ml of baby food
* Protective cover keeps spoon clean between feedings
* Dishwasher-safe
* BPA-free
* Phthalate-free
* PVC-free

My Note: When my baby boy was little, I used this spoon when I went out. I did not need to pack a separate spoon and everything was ready to go. I could hold him with one arm and feed him with the other. BEAUTY!
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I give it **** (4) stars
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3. BABY BJORN CARRIER

The Baby Bjorn Carrier is a great product for busy Mothers ($120).
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Features:
* Excellent support for your baby’s back
* Legs and arms are in a physiologically correct position
* From newborn (at least 3.5 kg and 53 cm) up to 10 kgs
* Machine washable
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My Note: I loved using a carrier with my children for many reasons, but I will list two. Firstly, it gave me the opportunity to carry on with my everyday activities hands free (indoor and out). Secondly, to have your child close to you can be a beautiful bonding experience. I have used many carriers with my various children, however, I found the Baby Bjorn carrier the best.
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I give it **** (4) stars.
The only reason I did not give it five stars is it is quite expensive.
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4. SLEEP EASY MAT

A mother will use the Sleep Easy Mat from Lorianne Lee Linen from the time their child is born till they go to school ($39.95).

Features:

* Super-absorbent overlay
* Place directly on top of the bottom sheet
* Nappy Free time for newborns
* Nappy change on the go
* Use as a picnic mat
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My Note: I find this mat does not move around while the child sleeps. Wash and dry with ease.
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I give it **** (4) stars
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5. WHO LOVES BABY?

The Who Loves Baby? Photo book by Sassy is a wonderful personalised product ($15 Target).

Features:

* 4-Page family photo album
* Holds 4in.x6in. photos
* Ages 6 months to 2 years
* Vinyl sleeves protect photos
* Develops Interaction and Feeling
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My Note: I purchased this book when my fourth child was born. I filled the pages with pictures of the faces in our family. It has become a family favourite and I love watching my older children flick through the pages with Master 2.
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I give it **** (4) stars
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6. BUBBA MAT

The BubbaMat is a practical, functional, and versatile baby and children’s play mat ($100-$400).

Features:

* use for mealtime, playtime, exercise-time, parent time, nappy-free time, change time, drawing time
* available in various sizes
* available in PVC (Polyvinalchloride) and PE (Polyethylene)
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My Note: While spending over $100 on a play mat might seem like a lot of money, I guarantee a family will use this mat to it’s full potential.
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I give it ***** (5) stars
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7. SASSY SOFT TOY BOX

The Sassy Toy Box combines intuitive and functional design (approx $80).

Features:
* Protect children from bumps and bruises while playing
* Front panel of the toy organizer opens to reveal a colorful activity mat for toddlers
* Side mesh pockets offer more storage space for small toys and books
My Note: Keep this in a cupboard and pull it out for a fun activity for your child/ren or take it with you on holidays.

I give it **** (4) stars
Cradle Fables Publishing is a new, independent publisher of children’s picture books. Their focus is imaginative picture books especially for children under 5 years of age. They have a current competition for craft inspired by a favourite book.

Girly Sleepover are fun and so tonight I thought, as we have  a friend over, we could do a craft after we read a book.  See what we came up with.

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Dear Tooth Fairy by Alan Durant

A beautiful book every little girl will love. Inside the covers of the book Holly writes letters to the Tooth Fairy. Will she give up her tooth or will she keep it for herself? An interactive book with envelopes to open inside. A favourite at our girl dominant house.
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Can you guess what we made?

If you and your child would like to make a pretty fairy like we did, below is a list of items you need. I purchased them from Bargain City.

  • Wooden pegs
  • Butterfly wings
  • Rosettes
  • Pipe Cleaners
  • Card making dress
  • Craft Glue

This little fairy enjoyed the experience :)


Thanks Cradle Fables and SquiggleMum for the great idea!

NOTE: The craft cost about $3 AUD (per Fairy)

07.23.2009

Mummy Makeup

I love make up, I love dressing up and I LOVE SHOES! In a world where physical beauty is a priority, it can be hard to find the balance between inner beauty and outer beauty. I love this verse from the bible:

Charm can be deceiving,
and beauty fades away,
but a woman
who honors the LORD
deserves to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30 CEV

I think it is important to take care of how you look without it becoming your main focus. Below I have 2 Mummy Makeup ideas that are quick and simple to do. One for day outings and one for going out at night. This make up is designed by a Mother, for a Mother. The emphasis is making it quick, easy and effective.

NOTE: You will have to forgive my narration in the videos, it is pretty hopeless… hehe, but I think you will get the drift.

Before

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Mummy Outing Make Up

Stylish and Natural Eyes

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Mummy Evening Make-up

The Eyes Have It

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List of Make-up used

Outing Make-up

Face – YoungBlood Natural Mineral Foundation
Eye Lid – Youngblood Pressed Mineral Eyeshadow Quad YB – Cashmere
Eye Crease – Youngblood Pressed Mineral Eyeshadow Quad YB – Golden Beryl
Eye – Estee Lauder Eye Liner – Black
Eye – Avon Shock Mascara
Cheek – YoungBlood Splendor Mineral Radiance
Eyebrow – Coral Colours Clear Mascara
Lips – Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick – Ginger Rose
Lips – Revlon Lip Liner – Pinks/Roses

Evening Make-up

Face – YoungBlood Natural Mineral Foundation
Lid – Covergirl Quad Stormy Lites – Cloudburst
Over Liner – Covergirl Quad Stormy Lites – Night Sky
Eye Crease – Covergirl Quad Stormy Lites – Sterling Blue
Under Eyebrow – Covergirl Quad Stromy Lites – Lightning
Eye – Estee Lauder Eye Liner – Black
Eye – Avon Shock Mascara
Cheek – YoungBlood Splendor Mineral Radiance
Eyebrow – Coral Colours Clear Mascara
Lips – Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick – Ginger Rose
Lips – Revlon Lip Liner – Pinks/Roses

My Best Beauty Tips for Busy Mums

  • Get a tinted moisturiser with SPF
  • Buy a good foundation – trust me it will last 3 times as long so you end up paying the same in the long run
  • ALWAYS have lip gloss in your hand bag and nappy bag
  • Drink lots of water
  • Eat Well
  • I’m not going to say get plenty of sleep…. cause, that ain’t going to happen :)

Great Links

  • If you are not sure of what colour lipstick suits you best, Revlon has this great tool for you to use. CLICK HERE and HERE
  • Thinking of changing your hairstyle? Upload your picture and try the virtual HairStlyer HERE
  • Try make up colour combinations on your photo HERE

This is an example of me using the tool to see what I would look like with super blue eyes and red hair. Ah, I don’t think so….

Happy Hour (sarcastically) at my place tends to creep in around 4.00pm and lasts until I finally manage to get all the children in bed around 7:30pm.
Typical Happy Hour at our house – Master 2 is bawling and hanging on Mum’s leg, Miss 8 and Miss 6 are drawing while Miss 3 is trying to take the pencils off Miss 8 and Miss 6. In the meantime, Mum is trying to make dinner, bathing and generally holding everything together. And if you were wondering, Husband is rarely home until the children are in bed.
So…. I invented the activity affectionately called ‘Cot Time’. It involves a child, a Cot (or bed) and books. At about 5.00pm, after bathing, Master 2 and Miss 3 have learned to enjoy ‘Cot Time’. This gives Mum a chance to get dinner on the table and Miss 8 and Miss 6 have a quiet moment to draw. Works wonders for me.

Cot Time Guidelines

  • When it is time I say in a happy voice “It is time for Cot Time!”. I place my children in their beds with a range of interesting age appropriate books (but toys can be used instead).

  • 30-40 minutes duration (you may need to break the child into this routine by doing 10 min a day until you are up to about 30 min). My children enjoy this time now. So does Mum ;)

  • Don’t OVER use ‘Cot Time’ – it will backfire on you.

  • When Cot Time is over (usually when I have dinner ready on the table) I say “YAY! Cot time is finished…. time for dinner!”.
If your evening sounds like mine you may want to make ‘Cot Time’ a routine at your place. For me, it helps me get dinner on the table and is a positive experience for the entire family.

For the last couple of years I have run a small book business with Total Learning, selling educational books to parents in a personal way. The main reason I do this is to provide my children with a home library our family can enjoy. Reading not only teaches children about pattens in language and word/letter recognition but is a loving way to interact with them.

This morning I enjoyed talking children books with a great bunch of Mothers. I always get excited when I talk to Mums about books; it is something I am passionate about.

Some interesting facts:

o In Reading Magic, Mem Fox assert children need to hear at least 1000 stories before they become readers themselves. Read 1-3 books a day.

o New Brain Development Research: A Wonderful Window of Opportunity to Build Public Support for Early Childhood Education is a brilliant article every parent should read. The first 3 years of life are very important because the brain is able to make the most connections. I love this quote from the articleParticularly in the first three years of life, brain connections develop quickly in response to outside stimulation. Thus, when we snuggle a baby or talk to him in a singsong, undulating rhythm, we are contributing to the growth of his brain”. Reading a favourite book to your child is a great way to achieve this.

o According to the 2000 University of Michigan study How American Children Spend Their Time, children under the age of 13 spend most of their waking hours (about 80%) with their parents, not their teachers, so parents must assume most of the responsibility for their children’s learning, including helping them learn to read.

o SquiggleMum’s Blog Post Book-Loving Boys has some great tips on reading to your child.

If you are just starting a home library here is a list of some of my top books to get you started.

Age 0-3 years

DK Peekaboo Series

DK Baby and Toddler’s Big Book of Everything

DK Noisy Peekaboo Beep Beep

First Focus Cot Book

What does baby say?

Age 3-6 years

Are you My Mother? by PD Eastman

Because You’re You! by Sarah East (Aussie Author)

Dig Dig Digging by Margaret Mayo

Peepo! by Janet and Allan Ahlberg

Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox

Age 6-9 years

Are we There Yet? by Alison Lester (Aussie Author)

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems

Down the Back of the Chair by Margaret Mahy (NZ Author)

The Story about Ping by Marjorie Flack

What Do People Do All Day? by Richard Scarry

Age 9+ years

Mandie Series by Lois Gladys Leppard

The BFG by Roald Dahl

The Famous Five Series by Enid Blighton

The Power of One: Young Readers Edition byBryce Courtenay

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate Dicamillo

Reference

E. Encyclopedia

DK My First BODY Book

DK A Life Like Mine

DK Illustrated Family Encyclopedia

DK Compact Atlas of the World

Reading to your children from birth is important. It’s an act of love that sets them up for success.

Love books and your child will love them too!

07.16.2009

Emergency Dinner

Has it come to 5 O’clock and you realise you haven’t organised anything for dinner? The fear of ravenous children is enough to scare any Mum to take away. I’ll share with you my life saver meal.
Every recipe has a story. My bridesmaid, cousin and friend Cherie is a fantastic cook. She is one of those Mums who have a garden, is self sufficient and cooks delicous homey food (and the best scones you will ever eat). She and her husband live on a small farm with their three girls. When I visit her beautiful farm I am always inspired by her cooking. This is her recipe.

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Cherie’s Family Chicken Curry

2 tablespoons butter
1 BBQ chicken
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup frozen peas
4 cups of milk
2 teaspoons chicken stock powder
4 tablespoons plain flour
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon salt
Parsley (optional)

Cook diced onion in butter until translucent. Break up BBQ chicken into strips and add to onion. Add corn and peas and stir for 3 minutes. In a bowl, add curry powder, flour, salt and chicken stock powder and mix with a little water to make a paste. Pour milk over chicken mixture and allow to boil. Add paste and stir until thick. Sprinkle parsley on top. Serve with rice, pasta or noodles.

How easy is that? All you need to do it pick up a BBQ chicken and the rest you should have in the pantry and freezer. This meal freezes well so make a big batch and stick it in the freezer for rainy day.

Cherie’s Chicken Curry Recipe Sheet (click for PDF)

After exuberant hugs and kisses, “What’s for Afternoon Tea?” is the first thing I hear when I collect my children from school. Sometimes, producing food seems to be my full-time job! I like to keep things fun and interesting but I am also conscious of my childrens health. Crackers and cheese, cut up fruit, pop corn and homemade biscuits are favourites at our house. If you want to mix it up a bit, I discovered this easy idea for afternoon tea……. and kids LOVE IT!

What you need

Milk

Instant Pudding – chocolate, strawberry or vanilla

small serving bowls

I would recommend investing in some sweet plastic bowls. I bought the pictured bowls from Coles for about $4 (for a set of 4). Choosing a bowl makes eating even more fun for children. You can also use the bowls for Jelly.

Instant Pudding is a fun yummy afternoon tea that’s a great source of calcium.

HINT: Add banana or strawberries on top to increase the nutritional value :) – great idea Karen

Click here for Nutritional Information.
Take a little holiday everyday is something my Mum taught me. She died 3 years ago so I treasure every little thing she said. I am a busy Mum of four children aged two, three, five and seven. With a husband working 12 hours a day and many weekends I am left to most of the hard yakka myself. People often ask me how I cope without much of a break. One of my secrets is taking little holidays everyday.

A ‘little holiday’ is a short break in the day that takes 5-10 minutes. The secret for me is finding something that I enjoy that does not consume my time. Let me elaborate, I love reading, but if I am engrossed in a book I don’t like to be interrupted and I tend to get lost in that world. Reading a novel is great when I am by myself but reading for me is not a ‘little holiday’. On the other hand, stopping for a cup of tea or flicking through the latest junk mail catalogue helps me to regroup myself without taking me away from my children. Also, I find that reading a short devotional from the Bible is a wonderful way to be refreshed. At the moment I am reading Mothers of the Bible by Dena Dyer. It is very encouraging to read a page a day about Mothers in the Bible (and it was only $2.95 BONUS). For you a ‘little holiday’ may be taking a nanna nap, reading a magazine, surfing the web or doing a little jig. A little holiday is doing an activity that does not become all consuming, multiple times everyday to regroup yourself.

Every Mum should take little holidays everyday. If you are like me and say “I’M TOO BUSY TO STOP” take heart…. I have found I am more productive if I make myself take a ‘little holiday’ everyday.

So you want another idea to keep your kids happy for a few hours? You might like to try this activity.

All you need is:

  • a bathroom sink
  • bubble bath (if you have some)
  • animal figurines
  • toy boat

Then just let the kids stand at the sink filled with water and play an elaborate game. Trust me, they will have a ball.

NOTE: Kids tend to get wet down the front of their clothes.



I have three beautiful girls. The little one is the definition of princess. The older one is an active girl who loves running around outside. The middle one is a bit of both; a bit princess and a bit active. They have one thing in common…. they LOVE craft.

I think most girls enjoy craft. Some parents may be reluctant to do craft with their children because they think it takes too much time to organise and tends to be messy. It does not have to be so and I will tell you how.

I have all three of my girls home for school holidays at the moment. I always have the ‘craft box’ stocked up especially around this time. Here are some ideas on how to make craft time a happy time for all.

Establish some rules:

  • Children must ask before using the craft box – I am pretty flexible about this and let them use the box often as long as I am not just about to go out or right before dinner.
  • If the child uses the craft box they will pack up when finished – if the child does not do this then they can’t use the craft box- it’s as simple as that. The child misses out for a while until they can show they are responsible.
  • Once a craft item is made, older crafts get thrown out or recycled -unless it is an extra special item.

NOTE: Don’t be afraid to enforce the rules, children learn really quickly if you are consistent and they KNOW they will miss out if they chose not to follow them.

Craft Box Ideas:

Don’t spend a fortune on craft items. Most discount stores like Crazy Clarks, Two Dollar Shop and Ebay have a huge range of cheap craft items you can buy:

List:

  • Stamp pads and foam stamps
  • Craft glue
  • Glitter glue
  • Paper
  • Recycled boxes
  • Gel pens (you will be surprised how much fun girls can have with a variety of gel pens)
  • Highlighters
  • Pencils
  • Wooden pegs
  • Small wood cubes
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Cotton wool balls
  • Straws
  • Toilet rolls

Children aged 5+ do not need to be directly supervised as long as you have fixed rules in place. They will spend hours creating and enjoying the ‘craft box’.

Beats TV!

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