Dot to Dot!

Hi Darlings

I love spots, dots and polka dots, you can find them in every avenue of life and they most certainly brighten your day!

Chocolate meringue Dots

Fly away Dots

Dots for a summer afternoon

Bright Dots

Freckles are Dots?

Cutting Edge Dots

Yummy Dots

The Cutest Dots

Those Dots will give you a headache!

Soft Dots

Three of the Best!

Hello again ladies

My three of the best this week are blogs i have found very interesting and thought provoking please read and see what you think, first you should read this article via Mamamia. Trends are most definitely becoming sadder and sadder.......

"Sometimes, I just want to say STOP IT. Stop. It. Stop making beautiful, meaningful, life-changing events into material THINGS. Things like jewellery and parties and…..wait, I’m getting ahead of myself. Two very famous and wealthy women have had babies recently........" read more

also check out these Fabulous Photos i thought this one was a fabulous header after the mamamia article....... what do you think??

and these softies and cuddlies to bring us back to earth a little!

Water Babies

Hi Ladies,

Swimming is such a gorgeous and fun summertime activity, but it is also an important safety skill that everyone should know, which is why many parents enroll their kids in lessons. My Children have recently started (ages 6 and 3). These days however, many companies and community centers are offering swimming lessons for babies as young as a few months old. But can young babies really learn to swim? How young is too young? And what are the pros and cons of enrolling your baby in swimming lessons.

Taking your baby to swimming lessons has several advantages. First, it's a fabulous bonding activity with your baby, as most programs put either Mom or Dad in the water with the little one. Although these lessons are enjoyable, safety is still the most important aspect.

You don't have any other distractions such as your mobile ringing every five seconds. It is 1/2 hour to an hour of uninterrupted fun.

Children's swimming starts as early as 6 months old, but at that age, swimming lessons are more about teaching the parents what to do with the baby in the water and basic water safety techniques than about the baby learning to swim independently. The main focus is on making the baby comfortable and happy in the water, which means practicing getting the face wet and going under (this is what my daughter has hated since day dot.) this is something you can start practicing with your baby in the bathtub, blowing bubbles with straws etc....

One big downside to taking your baby to swimming lessons is that he or she may still be too young, despite the age recommended by the swimming program. Some studies have shown that a child wont learn to swim until the age of four, but in saying that my daughter would probably be much more comfortable in the water if i had started he younger, as long as we realise its about getting used to the water and not Olympic swimming we will be OK!

As babies splishing and splashing around is not only great fun but could improve balance and movement,So summing all this up i suppose go with your instincts and remember safety first, but never feel peer pressured into anything because you feel you should. Society has a habit of making us feel like bad parents if we don't conform to what "everyone else does"

Nigellas Banana Muffins

"Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 oozingly, bulgingly heaping tablespoons clear honey
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large, very ripe bananas
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 heaping teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch of salt"

Mix all the dry ingredients into a bowl. Melt butter, honey and vanilla essence in a pan. Mush up over ripe bananas so chunky "ish". Combine all ingredients, stir just enough to combine. divide into muffin cases and bake for about 20-25 Min's in a moderate oven (180 degrees).

These are truly the easiest thing to cook in the world! Isn't Nigella Lawson the best? I promised these to Hayley, a while back My little ones will eat and eat them until they are gone. i always make mini muffins (bite sized). That way i can make many. These ingredients are supposed to make 10 (large) but i can easily get 25 into small muffin cases. I also like to overfill the cases so they are bigger!

The Magic of Silence and Stillness

Hello Ladies,

I have this terrible dilemma about play dates!

Since school has began this year it seems as though every day one child is having a play date at another childs. I have no problem with this but i am quite a protective(ridiculously so) mother, and i don't do the thing everyone else does and let other people pick my children up and take them home etc.

When we were young play dates meant "Coffee time" for parents too. We would all go over and have a play date rather than it be a glorified babysitting service which i fear it has become. Some of the mums are working and are pushing their kids from one to the next as a form of after school care.

I feel mean, but have put a ban on more that one play date a week (at the most). There is not enough time in the day for a start and also don't our children see their friends all day at school don't they?

Tomorrow we have a "date" and the Nana's face was priceless when i said i was coming along with Imie. My excuse was the car seat! i was horrified when she says she doesn't even use one (see my paranoia isn't unwarranted.)

After school we have homework, Imogen has Speech therapy as well, reading, bathing, dinner and what about general playtime?

This takes me back to what children need and that is not busy busy busy lives its The Magic of Silence and Stillness.

Aw Look At That!

Check out the finished tie dyed things by Odette. what a fabulous and colourful project!

planet you and the crew!

My Salon retails Dermalogica and if any of you gorgeous girls use it you would know that as well as being a fabulous product it is also involved in an amazing project called Fite.

Fite fund raises, so that women in under privileged countries can start their own businesses in the Health and Beauty industry.

6 year old Ailish and 14 yer old Asho are two of the most inspiring kids i have come across, together they founded Planet You where they raise funds for Orangutan conservation, mission Australia, Sea Shepard, Taronga zoological Gardens, Sydney Children's Hospital and much more.

These guys love the fite concept and have been busy selling baked goods at school for this worthy cause. Check out these incredible kids and be inspired.

Happy Monday!

Hello Ladies

I hope you all had a very enjoyable and relaxing weekend. We spent ours with friends relaxing in their back garden. It should be getting cold here but so far its still very mild.

Here's to a fabulous week ahead!

How pregnancy became a competitive sport

Hi Ladies

I found this article to be so intriguing, i wanted to share it with you all, and would love some feedback because I know this sooo true!

How pregnancy became a competitive sport

Have an Amazing Weekend!

Hi There,

Isn't this the most amazing thing? nature can be so fascinating at times but so harsh at others.

What are you up to this weekend? I will be at Ballet this morning, but I think this afternoon calls for a chocolaty treat at San Churro at Sorrento Quay. Their churros and warm chocolate dipping sauce is calling me (oh and of course Glenn Imogen and Samuel!

Also I might look at an activity or two!

Try some Asparagus Pizza it is yummy!

What about Beanies

Tie Die a scarf or something!

Charlie and Lola

Hi Lovely Ladies

It never ceases to amaze me how many different types of children's TV programmes there are. Mind you, i can give or take most of them.

Glenn and i were talking the other day and came upon the realisation that kids just don't need us in there lives ha ha, especially after "the little princess" retorted that we don't have to tell her anything because she learns everything on TV.

OH NO! are the watching too much??

With sooo many different shows aimed at our little ones, its hard to know what to let them watch.

Well i found Charlie and Lola! when you first set eyes on them they are the oddest looking characters, but they are so adorable and real. Based on the acclaimed books buy Lauren Child (appropriate name) the series follows seven year old charlie and four year old Lola through the obstacles of daily life as a young child, it is totally educational with buckets full of humor and imagination thrown in, oh and don't forget pink milk!

I love it and more importantly so do my kids!

i Mania

Hi My Gorgeous Girls,

I have just come back from the city (the Ballet) and have to share with you my amazement when i walked past the Apple Store this evening. I have never seen a shop so busy in my life.

The funny thing was we were just trying to find an open cafe in which to eat(which we didn't, we do live in Perth you know) but instead found this Apple store busting at the doors and windows with people of all ages....... iPhone, iMac, iPad, iPod and iWhatever else they have to sell. And it was 7pm!

Apple has apparently taken over everything as the worlds leading Brand!

I was recently reading an article and read that more young children know how to operate a Smart phone than know how to tie their shoelaces! This probably doesn't come as a surprise to you, as we all ashamedly know that an i phone is an invaluable tool or should i say toy when in a waiting room, supermarket queue or busy cafe.

There are many educational and fun kids games to choose from as apps,the sad thing was, we had the iPhone and the apps just no busy Cafe!

The wonder of a Newbie!

I just thought I would share this because it is so beautiful, there is nothing like a newborn xxxx

The Mommy Diaries

Magic Martha

I heard this story today about a woman who lives around the corner from me who has a nanny, I started thinking "why on earth would you need a nanny??" but really I think I was secretly jealous.......

It turns out she was planning on daycare for her two precious munchkins but when she worked out the cost it was going to be the same as having a nanny with the "no extra running around" thrown in.

Anyway she found this girl to nanny for 2 days a week, until suddenly this girl needed full time work, the lady and her husband discussed the options and decided that she was SO FABULOUS that they did NOT want to lose her. So now they are paying her for a 40 hour week, and don't even really "need" her.
"Magic Martha" is what they call her, need i say more....

The Great Outdoors!

We have been playing bandits/cowboys and Indians/pirates and who knows what else all morning, the house looks like a disaster so we ventured outdoors to some peacefulness, its coming into winter here though you would never believe it!

Three of the best!

Hi Beautiful people

Here are three of the best things i found for you to browse through today..... enjoy while having your morning coffee or tea xxx

Beautiful String lights

Handmade Gifts

Vote for Cathie she is fabulous and deserves a spot x

Documentaries

Hi Everyone,

I just thought i would share with you Wishful Drinking, the "live Biography by Carrie Fisher.


This was one of the most clever, funny, endearing, brutally honest and ever so slightly disturbing documentaries i have sen, but i must say i enjoyed it thoroughly.


I found it amazing that Carrie Fisher with so many addictions, family problems and mental issues was still so appealing and incredibly clever, it was truly unbelievable that she could come through the other end of this with a fabulous sense of humour

Commom sense and a bit of luck.......

Hi Ladies

It seems an obvious concept doesn't it?

We all want our children to Resilient, self confident, safe and happy.Raising a happy child seems a fabulous way to minimise stress in a child's life, keeping them as innocent and carefree for as long as possible, believing in Santa, the tooth fairy, the Easter bunny is the magic of childhood. But on the other hand we still have to remember that this could mean our children could grow up ill prepared for the real world and for the different people and circumstances (The Road) they will come across in life.

So my philosophy is "Common sense and a bit of Luck".

We tend to rely heavily on memories of how things were done when we were young. If they were done well then great, we try to mirror our perfect childhood with theirs. If on the other hand things wern't done too well, we want to break the mould and seek new and better ways to relate to or kids.

It is so important for our children to feel secure and able to express their feelings of sadness and anger as well as imagination and love. Being the parent of a child born with a cleft palate this is always a major concern for me. Positive energy, positive feelings, empathy and sympathy, preparing her for the world outside, without exposing her to too many of the "nasties" around.

To sum it up....... If children know they are loved surely they can cope with what life throws at them, my only aim is for my home to be a happy and safe place for my family to live.

Maggie Dent has some fabulous articles to read relating to children in todays society, they are well worth a read!

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday Lovely Ladies

How was your Mothers Day? I hope you had the most enjoyable day wherever you were. I had a busy but wonderful day! We spent the day at both mums for morning tea and lunch.

The Sound of Music has always been my mums favourite movie, the thing is it was also mine growing up, but we always had to wait until it came on TV once a year to watch. Today's technology enables us to have satellite TV or DVDs at our fingertips so as the generations move on it is now my six year olds favourite movie of the moment.

Yesterday was one of the those times I will always remember when she asked Granny if we could watch it, so all three of us sat down for the afternoon and enjoyed a timeless classic together on Mothers Day.

Have a Beautiful Weekend

Happy Mothers Day!