Archive for Real Mums Review
A Wee bit of Protection
Posted by: | CommentsWe still (sadly, and I know I shouldn’t be concerned or feel icky, but I am and I do) have a bed wetter.
Occasional. Just enough to require protecting the bed from his big wets.
Which, I might add, he inevitably times with wild, stormy Melbourne weather where it can rain intermittently for 3 days straight, and with the subsequent PILE UP of unable to be washed clothes.
*sigh*
Anyhoo, I have had the pleasure, recently, of utilising these Sheet Protectors from Protect-a-Bed.
Bed-wetting kid is a really. really wriggly sleeper, so he has the under sheet matress protector and one that sits on top of the sheet, under his piddly bits. Without fail, he will kick, wriggle and manage to scrunch the protector up into a useless ball that ultimately remains dry.
This one, however, covers the width of the bed and tucks in at the sides and reduces his ability to perform ball-scrunchy-things with mattress protectors in his sleep. And it is short, so it’s easy to put onto the bed, over the sheet (or under, I guess, if you could be arsed washing the sheet as well) and you don’t have to do that thing where you get your bum wedged in between the bed and the wall when trying to put a fitted sheet or mattress protector on, and get stuck there.
Grrr.
Aside from being easy to secure to the bed, and limited opportunity for it to be kicked around and moved out of the protection zone, it also does a pretty good job of protecting the mattress and is easy to wash and hang an the line. It’s size means you don’t have to fight with to hang it. Also, it can be tumble dried. Yay!
My only problem with mattress protectors of any sort in combination with boys, is they don’t account for the sticky-outy (or uppy) penis bits, so whilst the mattress is covered, the doona (and anything else covering his body) isn’t. Girl wee, generally, trickles down. Boy wee - where it goes is anyone’s guess.
And I have been kept guessing. And amazed some mornings at what has ended up wet.
Still, the sheet/mattress protector has saved many a morning of complete bed stripping and 406 loads of washing. As far as mattress protectors go, I realy do like this one.
Available from:
www.protectabed.com.au
www.facebook.com.au/protectabedaus
www.twitter.com/protectabed_aus
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This is not a paid or sponsored review / post, although I was sent the product in question at no cost to me, in order review it.
Real Mums Review: The best parenting books in the world
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A few years back, my now 9 year old (then 7ish) was introduced to the “Just” books, written by Andy Griffiths, and illustrated by Terry Denton.
Although aimed at boys (and girls, although they are a bit gross and about the life of a pre-teen boy) aged approximately 12-sih, I allowed him to read them, because books for 7 year olds were a bit too “easy” for him and I wanted to challenge him.
He giggled and chuckled away as he read, often coming into our room when he technically should have been alseep, reading hilarious bits out and snorting milk out his nose.
One day, having read all my Marian Keyes several times, the Harry Potter series several times and Bridget Jones several times, and bored with the lot of them, and too lazy to go the the library, and not being able to decide what I felt like reading, just like those times you stand in front of the fridge for ages with the door open and can’t decide what you want to eat, I finally releneted to Monkey Boy’s “You should read these books!” and picked one up for a read.
Moments after having completed the first one, I went to my bookshelf and removed all books by Dr Christopher Green and Pinky McKay and Stephen Biddolf and whichever other “expert” I had in there and had a ceremonail inceneration of them. I then read the entire series of “Just” books and was glad that I had.
If I were a ten year old boy, I’d find them hilarious. Actually, as the incredibly mature way-past-my-twenties, sensible, articulate, entrepreneurial woman that I am, I, too, found them hilarious.
As a mother, I found them to be the best parenting books around.
The way Andy’s parents parent is inspirational and empowering. That it is similar to my own beliefs and values, of course, does help, but I have learned a few new tricks and ways to manage particular behaviours.
Despite the minor setback in the story Are we there yet? (from Just Annoying), where they do actually make him get out of the car, it is more tham made up for in Go To Bed and Shut Up (Just Disgusting), where Andy did, in fact, go to bed without argument (after some standard refusing-to-go-to-bed behaviour) and he and his sister did, in fact, shut up. Wise advice contained within these pages.
My all time favourites, and the best parenting tips would, in my opinion, have to be from Just Annoying‘s Imaginary Friends, which provided some extremely useful and practical information on how to manage the issue of imaginary friends that some children are afflicted by, and Playing Dead, from Just Tricking. The handling of Andy’s behaviour by his parents in this particular story is well worth reading by every parent.
Of course, the useful information is not limited to these particular chapters, and can be found in almost every story in the Just series.
Although some of the behaviours displayed by Andy are normal behaviours, you may, as a parent, not have experienced them. Yet. And you may never have to deal with these particular deeds. However, thought the management of the behaviour pertains specifically to a particular situation, the actions of the parents can easily and readily be applied to all behaviours in all children.
It is my belief that these books should be handed out to all parents, either as they give birth, or, at the very latest, when the child starts pre-school, and all parents would do well to read the advice contained within the pages; and apply it!
Andy Griffiths’ books can be found at Seek Books and are around the $9-$15 mark each. Well worth the money, and definitley keepers, not borrow from library-ers”.
(The other great thing about them is their ability to make your surley tween actually laugh and keep them locked in their room and out of your way. Double bonus!)
Real Mums Review: Mums’ Night Out! 2010
Posted by: | CommentsYeah, yeah, probably incredibly impartial because, well, Mums’ Night Out! is my ‘baby’, conceived by me, stressed over by me and, yes, it to has sent me into the foetal position, sobbing my little heart out in the middle of the night, much like all my other babies have.
Or, you could view it that I know the damned event inside out, so can give you a more descript view of it. Or both 
Anyhoo, it’s now, what, the 7th one of these I’ve done (I took a year off one year), the first being in 2003. I have to say, despite the fact the chick I communicated with at the venue being a rude bitch and not having the ability to crack a smile, this would have to have been the Best. One. Yet.
I do put some of this down to the people I had helping me … dragged in kicking and screaming, and probably feeling manipulated into it by my odd tantrum. But truly, Kirsty and Jacinta were (and still are) a godsend – especially given I was out of action for a week leading up to the event.
Mostly, I put it down to the awesome sponsors we had supporting the night, our fabulous DJ for the night, Arnie from Arnold’s Disco, and the gorouges Deb from Day 2 Day PA, who acted as the MC for the event … and bloody good acting she did, too. She really is just fabulous.
The Real Mum of the Year was announced, the illustrious title going to Jodi Gibson of Melbourne, who was tiara’d, robed and sashed, courtesy of Clever Streak, Pink Apple and Bella Sashes, and won some prizes from Chef’s Toolbox. Of course, she was also presented with a trophy, courtesy of Engraving Plus and a chocolte bouquet from Better than Flowers.
Prizes were aplenty; bling from Glitzee, adornments and accessories from Baubles, Bubbles & Bags and Accessory IDheas, gifts from Real Mums, What Can I Eat, Mother’s Toolkit, Sunny Mummy, La Toriana, and … soooo many more …
They had to work for them though; Jacinta managing to get her washing (well, socks specifically) sorted, paired and folded, the person matching the most pairs chose their prize. We also knew how to fill a dance floor – literally everyone up – for a game of musical statues to win the much coveted two night stay at Front Beach Torquay!
Guests were treated to a fashion parade by some very real mums, courtesy of Argyro Gavalas, who also dressed me for the evening (well, I dressed myself, I am capable of doing that – even after all the wine’s I’d had pre-event – they just provided the outfit). Oh, how everyone laughed and laughed and wolf-whilstled and drank some more.
We had some deliciously scrumptious cupcakes from Cupcakes of Kensington to indulge in, and had soooo much fun with the incredibly awesome Chocolate Shots courtesy of Chocolatier, who are doubly awesome because they came to our rescue with only two days notice after a previous sponsor had a crisis and has to pull out. So, we do love Chocolatier quite a lot right at this point in time.
There were also the gorgeous girls from Adorn Mineral Cosmetics who made us all look more gorgeous, and were run off their feet the entire night, providing mini-makoevers and touch ups (of the makeup on our face! It wasn’t that sort of night, thank you very much!), and the very fabulous Emma from Hand Print Massage who treated all of us (except me, I never got one *pout*) to a bit of a back rub, while the talented Sarah Louise wandered around pointing a camera in our faces and catching the action.
Everyone went home happy, tired and more than a wee bit pissed, with a goody bag from The Spotty Napkin, who also provided the lolly bags – yes, lolly bags! – filled with vouchers and samples from everyone above, and more; Your Kids Ed contributed, as did Suz’s Space, Ahava Dead Sea, Curves, 52 Hair Co, some much needed Wine Wipes and even more bling courtsey of Dot Info Enterprises (who, I also need to add, are our BIGGEST supporter, we wouldn’t have the night if not for them, and they also have the most amazing and the classiest woman in the world working for them!)
All in all, it was a fabulous night, with some great goodies to take home. The best bit, for me, was how everyone just relaxed and had FUN! A LOT of fun. No doubt the mental health break many needed.
It’s not just me, either, quite a few have commented that this was the “best Mums’ Night Out! yet” … so that’s nice!
Can’t wait for the next one. I just love catching up with a bunch of amazing, fun and supportive women, dancing, and doing a heap of laughing! Love it!
Here are some (very few, actually!) hightlights of the night
Product Review – Easy Cheesey!
Posted by: | CommentsOk, so I’m one of these cynical, food snobbery type people who doesn’t like packaged foods.
And, I must admit, when I heard about Mainland Cracker Cuts … whereby you get a packet of 20 mini slices of cheese, perfectly sized for a standard cracker – I did think “What has the world come to?! Have we become so lazy that we are incapable of slicing cheese for ourselves?!”
I take it all back.
I do love a bit of good cheese on a cracker, and my kids love cheese in general. My life over the last few weeks has become increasingly crazy and busy and I’m spending a lot more time racing around like an idiot from after school activities to seminars, from swim lessons to TV interviews, from day care drop offs to trying to find the first asylum that will have me.
These Cracker Cuts arrived on my doorstep (thank you Coles Online!), in a number of flavours (Mild, Light, Tasty and Extra Tasty – my personal favourite). I was pondering when and for what purpose I was going to use them, and suprised myself with how I did. Ok, we get that they’re easy, pre-cut and you whack them on a cracker, they’re very portable, great for snacks on the go, etc.
And, did you know, also:
~ very handy for when you haven’t been shopping for ages and your kids’ lunch boxes are lacking something (ie food!) and you go into panic and “argh!”. The “argh” is also because you’re running late and panicking, so you grab a pack of these and add them to the lunchbox with some crackers. Our school has a “nude food” policy, so the packs are out, but when you’re in that rushed, before-school state, they’re easy to open, grab a handful of slices, toss them in the luncbox and throw it at the kids.
~ incredibly useful when you’re trying to prepare the evening meal and the toddler is sitting at your feet, screaming, trying to climb your legs and having a good go at the floor sweepings to satisfy his hunger because he’s incapable of waiting till dinner is cooked. Whip open a pack of Cracker Cuts, and shove a handful in his mouth. Peace and quiet. And uninterrupted Preparing-Evening-Meal time. Twenty slices buys you quite a bit of time.
~ satisfyingly delicious when you eventually get the kids to bed, pop yourself in front of a good DVD with a glass of wine and think “gee, I’d love some cheese and crackers about now, but really can’t be arsed getting up and slicing some cheese”. The cheese goes really nicely with wine, too.
And that was just the uses I found for them in one day. Imagine what you could use them for over a week!
How have you used your Mainland Cracker Cuts?
Mainland Cracker Cuts are available at Coles and Woolworths/Safeway in the fridge cheesey section.
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Who am I? What am I doing?
Posted by: | CommentsHa ha – we always go on about how mums keep “losing their identity” and all the rest of it when they have kids.
I keep losing my keys, but this product doesn’t help with that. It does, however, stop you from being “Sebastian’s Mum” and prevents repetitive strain injury having to scribble your name and phone number on the back of an important business card in your good eyeliner or spare crayon for other mums or dads when you hand your kid over to them. Or when you’re tying to set up that promised play date with an equally distracted parent. Or you just really have forgotten who you are and can’t remember your phone number.
Mums Card have a gorgeous range of cards – like business cards, but for Mums and Dads – which has your actual name on it! And who your kids are, in little writing, under your name! So people remember who you belong to, and you can’t pretend that your kids aren’t actually yours. Aside from that, it makes a very nice change from people saying “Hi Xavier’s Mum” or just mumbling something at you. Or feeling terribly embarrassed that you’ve been going to the same school for two years and they have no idea what your name is.
It also makes for a very quick exchanging of details when you do hand your kid over to them for a sleepover, or they hand their’s over to you, and is less likely to be indecipherable or tossed out as being just antoher bit of scrap paper.
They do have some lovely designs, are really good quality, and you can still write on them if you need. You can add as much detail as you like; phone numbers, addresses, emails, additional contact and who they are (grandparents, nannies, husbands etc)
We like them because they’re quick and easy and make you look like you’re organised and know what you’re doing.
They’re available from MumsCard.com.au (www.mumscard.com.au) and start at $19.95
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Book Review: Mama Mia
Posted by: | CommentsA memoir of mistakes, magazines and motherhood … an quite a nice little read, too.
There’s not much we like more than a secret – or not so secret – delve into the world of someone who isn’t us.
Particularly when that someone is honest about her experiences, and gives us a taste of the goings on behind the scenes in the magazine industry. What goes on behind that which goes on behind the fashion and celebrity world! Exciting.
Mama Mia; a memoir of mistakes, magazines and motherhood by writer and magazine editor, Mia Freedman gives us all of this and more. Mia shares her motherhood experiences with candour, and an honesty that many will find refreshing and thankful for.
Ardent home birthers and advocates for mums to stay at home may struggle a little with her truthfulness, however Mia does take responsibility for her thoughts, feelings and experiences. She owns them, in such a way that doesn’t project onto, or judge others for their thoughts, feelings and beliefs.
(Except, perhaps for her Smug List and Crap Lists. Possibly because some of the stuff on her Crap List, I do too, and don’t see myself as being a Crap Mum … I like to call it “reality” (or “reality parenting” if you prefer) as opposed to “crap” or “bad”. But, hey, that’s just me )
Her journey through the world of magazines Cleo and Cosmo are, without a doubt, eye opening, intriguing and, at times, a little bit scary as to what really goes on! I, personally, am in admiration of her stand for body image and all the issues that go along with it – and again, more eye openers there.
The sometimes clash / sometimes mesh of motherhood and career, complete, of course, with mistakes, provide some lighthearted relief, a fair amount of “oh, thank goodness it’s not just me’s” and couple of laugh out loud and tearful moments.
Mia has clearly written from the heart. Overall, an easy read, relateable to many mothers and a fascinating delve into the (not so glamorous) magazine world.
Mama Mia; a memoir of mistakes, magazines and motherhood is available from Seek Books.
(A worthwhile request as a Christmas pressie, too 
)
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You won’t be able to lose them, even if you try
Posted by: | CommentsIt was some weeks back that I got distracted, err, umm, was working very hard, grabbing a few minutes where I could, and lost a naked baby in the house.
It was during that time that I realised the baby was missing that I entered a competion to win some Identitats from Tat Your Tot - and I won!
Got a nice little set for boys, with the ability to write your own telephone number (or someone else’s) on the temporary tattoo.
Had an incident tonight … again involving a missing, just bathed baby.
Anyhoo, I tested them out, and these things really are a great idea. They go on really easily (except on the bottoms of 1 year old boys, who won’t sit still long enough) and are apparently appealing, as I spent most of the rest of the evening repeatedly saying to my 6 year old “No, you can’t have one now, you can have one when you need one!” and making me more determined to write someone else’s number on it.
You can order them with your own details, or get the write on tats, which are really easy to write on.
What I do like about these over other forms of ID for kids in crowded places is that they’re relatively discreet, you don’t have your phone number stuck to the front of a child for all to see, they’re harder to lose, unlike labels stuck or pinned on which can become unstuck and lost (usually in the toilet, a la “for a good time call my mum”), and can be hidden under a shirt sleeve. Or nappy.
And the kids love them. Easy peasy. Great idea.
Now you won’t be able to lose your kids, even if you try.
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A change in routine – thank goodness for Rainbow Week
Posted by: | CommentsUrgh. This final term of the school year, and we have some changes in routine.
An extra swimming lesson booked, soccer no longer in the diary, but replaced with basketball. On a different day at a different time. And Monkey Boy started back at guitar lessons, different teacher, different location, different day and time.
Not necessarily a good time of year to affect such change. They say it takes 21 days to form a habit. I’ve had three full school terms to get my head around it, and now … argh!
I do happen to have, however, a Rainbow Week ”calendar”, although I prefer to call it an Organiser. Unlike other magnetic organisers, this one has pretty, rainbow colours, one for each day of the week, and is pie shaped (mmmm, pie) with a spinning arrow to indicate which day you’re on.
Rainbow Week Calendar
There’s a pre-school version (Rainbow Week 3+), with picture magnets, or a school one (Rainbow Week 5+), with word magnets, all pertaining to various, relative weekly activities for kids.
It is designed for younger children (pre-school and just starting school) to aid them in getting into routines, learning days of the week and helping them to get organised each day by letting them know what they have on that particular day.
I have to say – Forget the kids! As a mum of three, I much prefer to take a quick glance in the direction of the fridge (usually when retrieving the skinny milk for my morning’s coffee) and nowing exactly what I need to yell at the kids about each particular morning, than trying to locate a name and a day and match it all up with outdate information because I haven’t had time to update the table-style organiser.
Of course, the colours and visuals help immensely in making it easy to work out what the hell I’m doing each day!
Gotta say, it is a great time saver, is easy to update (hey, how hard is it to stick a magnet on?!) and, when I truly get over repeating myself, I just point to the brightly coloured, largish magnet on the fridge and say “Work it out yourself!” And they can!
Starting at $39.95 from Tip Toe Educational Products (www.tiptoeep.com.au)
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Real Mums Reviews – Baby Wipe Warmers
Posted by: | CommentsThe cynic in me (or perhaps its the realist in me) has long believed that if you mention the word “wedding” or “baby” the price of stuff goes up. Add an extra “0″ to the price.
I also believe, particularly in relation to babies, there is a whole heap of crap “they” try to sell you that you don’t really need. I like to call it “Emotional Blackmail”.
Some of these things are downright ridiculous. Seriously, are we so intent on breeding an entire generation of kids who have zero concept that there is perhaps a little bit of discomfort in the world.
If this isn’t Extreme Overprotective Parenting (EOP) then I don’t know what is. Welcome to the Baby Wipe Warmer!
(My first thought when I saw these was “Are you fucking kidding me?!” And I don’t usually swear in reviews)
Let me be upfront, as that is the point of a good review. I don’t actually own one of these, because I’m not stupid enough to buy one myself, and even my friends who purchase me the most ironic of gifts would know they’d have it thrown back at their heads within moments of me unwrapping it.
Aside from neglecting your child from experiencing a bit of reality for a mere 3 seconds at a time (and if it didn’t poo so often, it wouldn’t experience this abuse on such a regular basis) and depriving yourself of the enjoyment of payback with a cold, moist cloth, you also get to pay for the privelege of owning one. At the expense of your Vodka habit, of course, which is also most suitable for aiding you with a baby who squirms when you wipe it’s bum.
Of course, oh evil mummy, if you don’t buy one, you’re child will undoubtably grow up with severe emotional and psychological issues, and quite possibly Post Traumatic Stress Disorder at the prolonged abuse you have inclflicted upon him or her for the first 2-3 years of it’s life. Like it will even remember how horrible you were to it.
Sheesh.
The funniest thing, however – even more riduculous than there very fact that these products are out there and being purchased (dare I say, by moronic parents who have either been sucked in BIG TIME or have EOP Syndrome) – when I searched, over 104,000 links came up! WTF?!, and there are over thirty different sorts of baby wipe warmers you can purchase, including travel wipes warmers!
One even comes with a light! Because? You’re a moron with more money than sense, who finds it hard to see in the dark? I’m guessing.
It’s products like this that make me really wish I’d run with some of my freaking ridiculous ideas that sound fabulous at 2am, but in the harsh light of day are, well, freaking ridiculous. I might be closer to living the reality of a holiday in the Bahamas.
So, if you’ve been sucked in to purchasing one of these, go see your psych about dealing with your EOP, and your GP to see if they have any meds to help. And if you’ve nothing better to spend you’re money on, feel free to send some my way. I take cash, Visa and sauvignon blanc (preferably from Marlborough, NZ).
I’m still shaking my head in disbelief that products like this are actually selling … some people will sell anything to expectant parents. And it’s wrong, I tell you. Wrong!
Note: EOP or Extreme Overprotective Parenting is not a real disorder. Yet. It’s one that I made up just today. However, if you have purchased a baby wipe warmer and it wasn’t a sarcastic gift for someone else, I think it may be more real than we believe and should perhaps be listed in the DSM.
Real Mums Recommended – Prevale
Posted by: | CommentsI don’t usually like to do reviews of products, services or businesses that are restricted to an particular geographical location, as I know my readers are all over the place like a mad woman’s breakfast, but I just had to do this one.
Particularly after attending a nearly $50 per head function at another venue, which served up instant coffee, to which a friend and I walked out and went somewhere we could trust!
Prevale cafe | bar | restaurant is, admittedly, a local restaurant for me. It is one I frequent whenever I can, not least because it’s literally “just around the corner” at 236 Union Road, Ascot Vale (that’s just out of Melbourne, Vic)
Where do I start … the most important bit, the food is fabulous! There is such a wide range to choose from, from pasta and pizza, to steaks and seafood and game, and the desserts are do die for. The “selection of dips” is the highlight of the menu; a range of out of the ordinary, but not ostentatious or weird dips presented with a ‘volcano’ of mountain bread. The presentation is stunning, the taste devine.
They also offer some really great wines with their menu. Even the house wine is nice – not just drinkable, but scrumptious!
Another aspect I truly love is the child-friendliness of the place. Sure, they’re nice to the kids, they have colouring competions where the kids can win some really great stuff, but they also treat the kids pallets with respect. The Hawaii’an pizza isn’t a heated up frozen variety like everywhere else in the area, but a freshly made full sized pizza. And when I say “freshly made” I mean they roll the dough in front of the kids and whack the topping on there and then. No chicken nuggets or fish fingers, but crumbed fresh chicken breast and decent sized pieces of fish. And, no, they’re not expensive – exactly the same as the frozen pizza’d, chicken nuggets and fish fingers place up the road … $7
We’ve been there for nice, quiet, romantic dinners sans kids and it’s just as good.
They’re also great for a girl’s night out, mother’s group coffees and functions of any sort.
I know this is a “love it love it love it” review … but I sincerely do.
Even eight year old Monkey Boy did a review on it … and, although he sometimes eats his own snot, he is a bit of a food snob himself and loves the place. Six year old Godzilla regularly requests a meal there, and even Chippie had his first restaurant meal at Prevale – a bowl of freshly mashed apple at the age of 7 months.
If you’re ever out this way, drop into Prevale for a meal; lunch or dinner and breakfast on Saturday & Sunday.
Prevale – 236 Union Road Ascot Vale 3032
Definitely Real Mums Recommended on sooo many levels …. 5 crayons for kid friendly, 5 martinis for a girls night out, 5 lattes for a quick coffee and 5 stars for all round food and service!
