Yummy Mummies & Mini Me

sharing a story {my story} in cosmo pregnancy

2012-02-15T10:46:00.008+10:00

every mum-to-be has a tale to tell of her nine-month journey. in the newest issue of cosmo pregnancy, autumn 2012, i share some of the emotions i experienced while having a low-lying placenta during my second pregnancy.

i was excited and nervous about sharing my little pregnancy story with the world. pregnancy and motherhood can be very touchy subjects, and some of us have very strong opinions on certain issues and procedures. and so we should. i like to share. i like to help. if someone wants my thoughts on a subject, i love talking about my own experiences, and on the flipside of that, i love listening to other parents and parents-to-be tell me their own experiences - the good, the fabulous, the not-so-good, and the really crappy parts - it all helps me grow into the person and mother that i am.

so a big thanks to the girls at cosmo for sharing my story with their readers. and big love photo credits to our favourite photographer, naomi v photography for our maternity photo's used in the article x

iphone italk : country road

2012-02-13T14:53:00.004+10:00

i may need to put a shoppers warning on this post, so be warned retail junkies! the country road iphone app has thought of some great app features. apart from viewing the newest collections with extreme ease, you can enter in your card/member number and receive notifictaions of your benefits, like your spend and save offers, and you can also see your year to date spendage. you can use the store locator to find your nearest store, with opening hours, maps and contact details.

a very cool app that's worth the free download. just search country road.

review this : weil baby training cup

2012-02-09T11:18:00.001+10:00

sitting in my review box has been the weil baby drinking cup. at the time, neither of my mini me's were at the right age to complete the review, so this time the review was done by tiny tester lulu. lulu's mum is wrapped with the weil baby cup, and 5 months on, the cup is still in mint condition with no leakages and the teat still in perfect shape. here is what trina shared with us :

“Having 2 little girls, I have tried so many sippy cups etc in the past, but the weil cup by far has been the best! I love the little handles on the side for an easy grip, and also how it doesn’t leak when thrown on the floor etc, like most of them do. I would certainly recommend it, definitely no complaints here!”

unfortunately production has now stopped for this range, but you can still find the odd cup or bottle around on a few websites at discounted prices. we found a few pieces at avidiva and gifts 4 kids, starting around the $10 mark. big thanks to trina and lulu for testing out this product!

wearing : the belted scarf

2012-02-06T07:48:00.011+10:00

have you tried belting your scarf? it's such an easy and effective fashion trend that can just pop that every day outfit and give it a bit of jous. there are endless options on how to belt a scarf, from silky leight weight scarves in the summer, to thick lucious woolen ones in winter. you can wear it basic and long like i have here, you can loop it once or twice around the neck to bring the height up and give you more neck coverage, skinny belts, thick belts, you get the drift!

i particulary find this look useful while i'm a breast feeding mumma. here i wear the lilly b nursing tank in white, so i have instant access to my feeding aparatus. i actually unclip my belt and my scarf is wide enough to cover my baby and discreetly feed her. i drape my scarf around my neck for this reason, and also because this gives me an elongated look {aka - makes me look taller when really i'm not}.

it still looks great from the back, the belt doesn't look too out of place. i'm digging this look. do you wear it? will you try it this year? i wear :

top : yummy mummies & mini me

scarf : one red hen

belt : op shop

necklace : yummy mummies & mini me

jeans : country road

swimwear sale : now on

2012-02-02T13:52:00.008+10:00

it may be the last month of summer, but it's definately not time to hang up that beach or pool towel yet. we've reduced baby and girls swimwear on our site to 25% and 50% off.

swimming lessons are back into swing now, so grab a bargain and have your little style queen strutting poolside in some fabulous designs. the red polka dot one piece from bobbi sunshine swimwear is a classic piece that will never grow old, and reduced to $37.45. the sizing of the bobbi sunshine swimwear is pretty spot on to age.

rashies are a year round must-have if you're a beach goer and our bobbi sunshine short sleeve pink paisley rashie is such a pretty piece and reduced to $35.95. pair this up with a mix match of prints, with the floral bikini for $22.45.

our li'l ludy frill one piece and baby swim pants are now at 50% off. check out our swimwear sale online here {http://www.yummymummies.com.au/shop.php?cat=2&subcat=20}, and add a few sale goodies to that 2012 present drawer!

yummy mummies has checked in to : her blog

2012-02-01T14:08:00.006+10:00

yep, at long last, i am feeling "back into it". back into business and back into the blog. i've been all caught up in our new baby bubble here, i've hardly had a spare minute to even look at my blog, let alone log into it! but you don't need me to tell you how busy life is, cause you've got your own going on too.

children are the absolute best and most fun time wasters there are. i love it. i love being the mum. i may whinge about being tired, it's true. i may be off in tired fairy land, that's true too. even this morning, i paid for my "quick shop" at coles, and headed off with both girls sitting in the trolley, but forgot to collect my 4 grocery bags. i'm tired, it's true. but i still love it. i love being the mum of my two little people. the boss. the mum.

i've got so many idea's and stories i want to share with you this year. i've got loads of product reviews coming up, some fashion tips and how-to-wear idea's, new winter stock to tell you about, and some changes happening to our shopping site also.

i might be a month late, but here's to twenty twelve. i hope YOUR twenty twelve is filled with awesomeness. check you back here soon x

love it or hate it. it's monday.

2011-10-31T07:40:00.002+10:00

love it or hate it. it's monday.

2011-10-17T09:30:00.003+10:00

loving : bardot junior crochet short

2011-09-28T09:23:00.004+10:00

{ https://www.bardot.com.au/Crochet-Short.aspx?p374417&cr=091844 }

loving : binny pinky & pocket tshirt dress

2011-09-13T13:47:00.004+10:00

and if you're a leopard lover, have a squiz at the curlewis street maxi. leopard print at it's gorgeousness!

{ http://www.shopbinny.com/shop/index.php }

loving : this cute cover of rolling in the deep

2011-09-13T12:48:00.002+10:00

love it or hate it. it's monday.

2011-09-12T09:58:00.002+10:00

cheap eats : mocha cookies

2011-09-09T07:20:00.004+10:00

every 3 or 4 weeks i miss a shop and try and 'get by' on what we have in the cupboards. not only to save a couple of pennies, but also to use up those stray meal base packets hanging around at the back of the shelf, and to even try and get creative with what ingredients we do have. look, i'll be honest with you, it normally ends in a phone call to nan asking what i can make with such and such. but if i'm not calling nan, i normally dig out the cheap eats recipe book {women's weekly}.

this recipe is from that book. be warned, it's not the healthiest of foods and probably not something you would pack in your child's lunch box. but if you're a coffee and biscuit lover, you'll probably love it!

150g butter, softened
3/4 cup {165g} firmly packed brown sugar
1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
1 tablespoon hot water
1 1/2 cups {225g} plain flour
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
20 dark chocolate melts

{1} preheat oven to 180/160c fan-forced. grease and line two oven trays with baking paper.

{2} beat butter, sugar, egg yolk and combined coffee and water in small bowl with electric mixer until smooth. transfer mixture to large bowl; stir in sifted flour and cocoa, in two batches. knead dough on floured surface until smooth.

{3} roll level tablespoons of mixture into balls; place 5cm apart on trays, flatten slightly. press 1 chocolate melt into centre of each cookie; bake about 12 minutes. cool cookies on trays.

next time i will use milk chocolate instead of dark chocolate melts, the dark was too much for me. and my oven isn't the best, so my cookies were in there for about 20 minutes.

do you have a favourite 'cheap' meal you like to cook? or a recipe book you use often? does anyone use the 4 ingredients book? i see there is a kids version of that out now too.

review this : myrtle & tuppence night night sleep tight + crusty coconut

2011-09-07T08:52:00.008+10:00

do you have a couple of items for your baby that you couldn't imagine living without? the ones that you suggest to other mum's when talking about your babies? well get ready to add 2 more awesome products to that list! if you haven't already discovered myrtle & tuppence, do read on...

i'll start first with the night night sleep tight lotion. i'm a firm believer in a night time routine. i used a night time oil on my first baby and she was always an excellent sleeper, sure she woke up during the night for breast feeds, but was always happy to go straight back down in the cot and settled herself well. i believe the oil i was using back then played a vital role in her sleep. the first couple of months with my second baby were quite full on, with lots of wind issues and what i thought was going to be a cat napper. 6 weeks in and still trying to find our new family groove, which now included a toddler, i realised i wasn't following a night time routine. i'll tell you right now, i was finding it hard to find the time to cook dinner let alone have that beautiful spare hour of bath and massage time for the baby like i did with my first {poor second child right?!}. once i realised i wasn't doing the same things that seemed to worked for my first {night time cream and music playing sweetly as she lay down to rest}, i was straight onto the internet to see what new products were about. and that's where i found the myrtle & tuppence website.

the night night sleep tight is as it suggests, a lotion for restless babies. ingredients are chamomile, mandarin and lavender essential oils in a plant derived base lotion, citricidal. i definately smell the lavender scent firstly, and then the mandarin and chamomile hit your nose and give the lotion a slightly fresh scent. it's really quite nice. you don't need a lot of cream, which means the bottle will last a while, i pump out 3 squirts {as below}, rub together on both hands and use one hand to massage onto the chest and the other hand for the back. the cream, along with a couple of other practices put into place {that music cd i was talking about and the love to swaddle up wrap}, have made our bedtime routine for frankie hassle free and pleasant. coincidence or not, the first time i used the cream i got a 7 hour sleep from frankie. that might not sound much to some, but for us, it was heaven. i've also been known to pin my toddler down and smother her in the cream aswell! worked a treat the first couple of times i caught her, but she's onto me now and runs away when she see's me rubbing frankie with it!

now the other product is the crusty coconut. this oil is fantastic and if your child has cradle cap that you are trying to get rid of, seriously grab yourself a bottle of this magic lotion. both of my kids have had cradle cap, frankie much worse than summer's. the baby oil wasn't seeming to work too well on frankie's, i felt it was drying her head out too much. so i saw this on the myrtle & tuppence site and didn't even hesitate to grab a bottle to try. glad i did, it has worked a treat! i tried to take some before and after shots but they didn't turn out too clearly, so you'll just have to take my word for this one! ingredients are coconut oil and rosewood essential oil, citricidal. the rosewood is quite a strong pleasant smell and that's what i smell straight up with this. you rub the lotion onto baby's head and leave it for half an hour and then wash off as normal. i done this every second night, for 5 sessions and the cradle cap was mostly gone. she just has one small section of cradle cap left on her soft spot, which obviously i am very gentle around, but i don't participate it being there after the next couple of doses. fantastic product, i'm extremely happy with the results we got for frankie and definately recommend it to my mum friends!

i think the main thing with baby products is to not be skeptical and give a product a go. it may just change your routine around for the better! the night night sleep tight cream is $9.50 for 100ml and the crusty coconut {clean my coconut} is $9.00 for 100ml. postage is $5 and to order you enter your details through their website and the girls will call or email you to arrange payment.

myrtle & tuppence

{website} http://www.myrtleandtuppence.com.au

{facebook} http://www.facebook.com/myrtleandtuppence

iphone italk : play-doh

2011-09-06T13:55:00.008+10:00

art and craft really isn't one of my strongest mum assets. i'm that mum that draws stick figure people and the two stroke mcdonalds symbol birds on the chalk board. and i'm totally ok with that! when it's play-doh time at our house, it's normally sausages and rissoles that get made by me. but i've stepped it up a knotch thanks to the play-doh iphone app!

sometimes you need to make a morning out of an activity. when i downloaded the play-doh iphone app {free app - search "play-doh"}, i decided we should make some play-doh from scratch, you know, just for fun...

{play dough recipe} combine 2 cups of plain flour, 1 cup of salt, 4 tbs of cream of tartar, 2 tbs of cooking oil and 2 cups of boiling water in a bowl and mix well. add more flour if it's sticky, which i did. section out your dough and colour as your heart desires.

note : when it comes time for the food colouring - wear gloves!

so how the app works is it gives you idea's and instructions on what to make with play-doh, you can take photo's of your creations and share them via email and facebook, you can make your own designs and load and share them, and you can browse play-doh products.

we decided we would make the backpack creation already loaded. it gave me step by step instructions by both pictures and words, and before we knew it, mum was suddenly a play-doh pro. we snapped a photo of it with the iphone {as per below} and we saved it into our play-doh app and we emailed it off to grandma.

i cannot tell you how impressed summer was to see our backpack creation. so impressed that when dad walked in the door, it was THE very first thing she rushed to tell him about. go mum.

loving : witchery kids long stripe tube dress

2011-08-31T09:03:00.001+10:00

review this + {giveaway} : marquise fundies

2011-08-24T13:12:00.005+10:00

fun•dies {pl.n. informal.} a new, fun and super comfy pair of underwear, made especially for boys or girls, by aussie children’s fashion brand marquise.

we've teamed up with the wonderful girls over at marquise and together we would love to hand out some of their brand new range of fundies! so if you have kids who are wearing undies, on their bums or on their heads, then please read on...

the lowdown : made from 100% natural cotton with bright colours and playful patterns, the marquise fundies have a fantastic fit and greater cover for comfort and warmth. they are breathable and help remove moisture away from the skin, keeping your little person feeling comfortable. the quality waistband is softer on the skin, the label has been sewn down for maximum comfort and there are no annoying over-locking seams. for the boys, marquise undies feature a double front for greater comfort while the girl’s knickers provide a double gusset for utmost comfort. available for both boys and girls in sizes 2-3yrs, 3-4yrs, 4-6yrs and 6-8yrs.

my take on the fundies : if you're a long time follower of this blog, you may remember i reviewed the first range of fundies quite some time ago. at the time my daughter was toilet training and not only i, but she was clearly impressed with this range as she always asked for her 'yellow' undies. i am again impressed with the new range, the designs for starters are on trend and cute and the quality in these fundies speak for themselves. i love that tag is sewn down, please tell me my daughter isn't the only one who carries on something shocking if heaven forbid there is a tag annoying her on her undies, or her t-shirt, or anything really! i've found the marquise fundies stand the time and wash after wash after wash, they still look and feel like they are brand new! if you are yet to try this range, then please jot your name down. bet you'll love them as much as i do!

what you win and how : a 3 pack of fundies. you get to choose the gender and the size. the first 10 people to leave me a comment under this post gets a 3 pack each. you don't have to jump through hoops, or even be a follower of our blog. but if you are on facebook, why not check out marquise's page {http://www.facebook.com/pages/marquise/109109505797041}. please leave your email address below, if you feel comfortable with that, or email it to me, so if you are one of the first 10 i can contact you to get your postal details. the girls at marquise will be posting your goodies directly out to you. and you cannot enter by email, it must be a comment.

all make sense? sounds easy? good luck!

loving : we are handsome

2011-08-22T14:41:00.005+10:00

images from we are handsome facebook page

i'm totally smitten with the protector series from we are handsome's the memoirs 2011 collection. it's undeniably hot. it's not for me, nope not for this mumma, but i'm still loving it!

review this : eco child natursutten natural pacifier

2011-08-19T08:46:00.024+10:00

when i was pregnant last summer, i noticed these natursutten dummies from eco child in the shop 4 kids eco news. shop 4 kids labelled the dummy as being a huge hit with mum's in europe and that they are growing a cult following in australia. and i can see why.

i think you're either a dummy mum or you're not. i am. i wasn't at first, with my first, but my mother threw a dummy in my daughter's mouth at about 3 weeks old to help settle her down one day, and well, i went with it and haven't looked back. so when my second baby arrived, i was a lot more relaxed and knew that more than likely i would have a dummy for her.

we all worry about what's going into our baby's mouth, some things can't be helped, but a dummy can be. the natursutten soothers are made from all natural pure rubber. they are non-toxic, bpa free, phthalate free, have no allergy causing substances, no artificial colours, aswell as also being completely biodegradable and non harmful to the environment. they have no cracks, crevices or joints where bacteria can hide, so they are very hygienic. they definately tick all the right boxes.

pictured above is the orthodontic in size small {0-6 months}. it also comes in sizes medium {6-12 months} and large {12+ months}. the round pictured is in size medium {6-12 months}, it's also available in sizes small and large. what's the difference between the two and which one is right for you?

orthodontic : is better for their teeth - providing it is placed in the right position. if they are placed in your baby's mouth upside down, they can actually do more harm than good.

round : cannot be placed in wrong and are a popular choice recommended by midwives and clinic nurses, especially before baby has teeth. this shape also tends to work better for breast fed babies as their tongue is positioned under the teat as it is during breast feeding and this helps prevent nipple confusion.

the dummy will gradually change to a darker colour during use. this is normal and is your signal that it needs to be replaced. you should generally replace your child's dummy between 6-8 weeks of use.

i've had frankie on the natursutten dummy for two weeks now and i highly recommend them. if your baby has a dummy and it's time to replace it, don't head to big w, jump online and give these ones a try. you can purchase them from eco child {http://www.ecochild.com.au} for $9.96 each.

loving : witchery kids cool chic oversized tee

2011-08-10T07:26:00.004+10:00

love it or hate it. it's monday.

2011-08-08T10:08:00.003+10:00

loving : native shoes

2011-08-05T11:28:00.003+10:00

a shoe addiction? who me? who us? we're loving the natives right now. so comfy. so the summer connies!

the mini me wears : pink jefferson natives from http://www.littlepinwheel.com.au
the yummy mummy wears : grey jefferson natives from http://www.ladypinwheel.com.au

kindy kat

2011-08-04T13:09:00.002+10:00

that's right, there's no abc kids playing in the background at our house today. my biggest little girl started kindy for her first time. today is going to be the start of a whole new chapter. i am so proud right now.

loving : bugaboo bee in black

2011-07-27T07:08:00.002+10:00

one word. hot.

iphone italk : monkey preschool lunchbox

2011-07-26T08:02:00.003+10:00

one of the mum's from swimming got me onto this app. i'm normally really tight when it comes to spending money on app's. i'll only purchase one if i know it's still going to get used after a week! if you have preschool aged children, for 99 cents, monkey preschool lunchbox is a great app to buy.

the idea is to help the monkeys pack lunch through 6 different learning games. there's a jigsaw puzzle, find the fruit starting with the letter, touch the fruit in the colour, matching cards and counting. a great educational game and the monkey's pretty cute to watch! we love it.

love it or hate it. it's monday.

2011-07-25T08:03:00.002+10:00

loving : zoya matte velvet dovima nail polish

2011-06-28T07:57:00.002+10:00

love it or hate it. it's monday.

2011-06-27T10:22:00.002+10:00

loving : honey & beau slouchy cap

2011-06-22T09:00:00.002+10:00

love it or hate it. it's monday.

2011-06-20T10:27:00.002+10:00

i want my daughter's get up!

2011-06-01T12:34:00.005+10:00

hair : flirty bird

tunic : princesse rock n roll

stockings : pumpkin patch

boots : gap

my mother's day gift

2011-05-24T21:25:00.016+10:00

frankie mae {14 days new}

it started at 11.30pm on a saturday night when i was tucked up in bed trying to get to sleep. i was 39 weeks and 2 days pregnant. i had been struggling with my sleep for quite a few weeks by this stage, i just could not get comfortable, i couldn't fall asleep, and if i did i would wake up after an hour with a massive pain right up under my ribs. yes, little feet were tucked up in there, stretching as long and straight as they possibly could! i was up and down for the past hour going back and forth to the toilet, more than a normal night, and each time i wondered if this is when my waters were going break. laying back in bed, i heard a pop and within a split second they had broken. finally, it was game on!

i didn't have any pains, no contractions yet. i rang the hospital. i rang my mum. my mum lives an hour away and the plan was for mum to come to our house and stay there with our 3 year old while i was in labour. so by the time i had made the phone calls and started getting organised, the pains and contractions had come to say hello. big hurty hello's! there wasn't going to be any time to wait for my mum to arrive and watch our daughter! "scott... pack the car and get summer up... we need to go to the hospital now!"

so off we go. it was about midnight by this stage, the 3 of us are in the car. contractions in the car don't make for a nice car trip do they?! my daughter was saying to me "don't worry mummy, we'll be at hopstable soon". god love her little soul. a contraction starts, i look at the clock and it's 12.18am. i breathe big and slow. i work through the pain and the contraction stops. next contraction starts, i look at the clock and it's 12.21am. farout, they're only 3 minutes apart and we are still driving to the hopstable. we finally pull up out the front and work our way through the emergency section to get into the hospital. i stop for another contraction and as i look around i see some pretty rare sights sitting in the outpatients room. considering the fact that i look like i have just wet myself and am holding on to the wall for support, i look rather normal in comparison to what's around me {don't forget, it's a saturday night}!

we make our way to the lift and up to the delivery suite. the ladies show me my room and i tell them i desparately need to go to the toilet. except it was no toilet visit i needed. it was my baby, ready to rock and roll it's way into this world. i struggle to make it to the bed, but i get there. the midwife gives me a check over and officially announces that the baby is almost here. seems we made it to the hospital in the knick of time! my mum was still on the road, the change of plans ment she would need to meet us at the hospital. one of the student nurses takes our daughter up to the tea room for a cup of milk and a biscuit while they wait for my mum to arrive. back in the delivery room, it was push time! i had only 2 midwives and my partner in the room with me. the midwives were amazing. so calm, so helpful. within the next half an hour they helped me deliver my baby with no drugs and no tears. dare i say it, i had a wonderful and almost enjoyable birth. don't get me wrong, it bloody hurt, and scott had a few pinch marks on him afterwards, but i was focused and somewhat in control of what was happening. it was all in the breathing.

at 1.04am we were blessed with a 7 pound 10 beautiful baby girl who we named frankie mae. a little sister for summer leonie. a daughter for scott and i. it was now mother's day and my mum comes in with summer and we all look at and admire our newest family member. summer is absolutely smitten with the new baby. she just watches the baby's every breath and move. i take a few minutes to look around me. scott was smiling at me. my mum and summer were smiling at the new baby. and i lay there and let a few tears of happiness roll down my face. i feel like the luckiest woman there is.

and just like that, my pregnancy is over and within an hour and a half after laying in bed on that saturday night, i give birth to my precious frankie mae. i am now a mum of 2 beautiful little girls!

loving : peter alexander family onesies

2011-04-15T14:49:00.022+10:00

i can't help it. i love them! i love them for my daughter, i love them for me and i love them for my partner {who is absolutely refusing to even try the mens one on for me! i think he's scared i'll snap a quick phone pic of him in it!}.

either way, this is what i'm loving this week!

{note : the above designs are in store but they don't seem to be online}

love it or hate it. it's monday.

2011-03-28T07:53:00.008+10:00

and i seem to have officially lost my feet. if memory serves me correct, which it may not, last time i looked they had red toenails. if you see them, be sure to let me know!

i want my daughter's get-up!

2011-03-17T13:17:00.004+10:00

hair : flirty bird

top : mini metalicus

skirt : minti

shoes : noon

loving : beaneasy {dream hug hide}

2011-02-02T07:57:00.005+10:00

today i am thinking about...

2011-02-01T11:09:00.005+10:00

pink diamonds : cyclone yasi : new stock due to arrive on the website {shabby chic aprons, hair clips, winter clothing} : exciting things that are happening for a few of my girlfriends : if something is triggering my heartburn : mum's 50th : making a vintage mobile for the nursery : magazines & advertising : taking up the 2 dresses sitting on my dining table : finding a new hairdresser : what to cook for dinner

image : yesterday summer received her new head band in the mail from tippie toes. i think it is just divine and even had a little wear myself. but tell me, please, how do i get summer to keep a head band on her head?! the record thus far is 3 minutes!

loving : valentine's day paper goodies

2011-01-18T10:24:00.006+10:00

valentine's day makes me feel all lovey, sweet, generous and calm. or is that the second trimester hormones kicking in?! either way, it's all making me feel nice today. i'm really loving this belle & boo card for valentine's day.

i'm also adoring the love is peachy valentine printables that sarah at style me gorgeous has made. it was only last week that i was saying to my partner how clever i think my graphic designer is, and then bam, she comes out with my fave of her collection thus far!

yesterday i ordered some pink and red pom pom's from the awesome daneve at ah-tissue for a little birthday gathering i'm having on the weekend. today i'm thinking i could use the pom pom's again for valentine's day, along with these other goodies, and spoil my valentine with a yummy home cooked meal and dessert and have a quiet romantic night in. just need to find myself a babysitter...

love it or hate it. it's monday.

2011-01-17T07:39:00.004+10:00

pregnancy diary :: 2 lines

2011-01-05T09:35:00.012+10:00

june last year we decided to try for a second baby. must be something about the month of june, as this was the same month, 3 years ago, that we decided we'd start trying for our first. we were lucky enough to fall on the third month with our first, and wouldn't you know it, we again fell on the third month trying for our second. so it seems we will be having a little crew of two may babies. yep, mumma bear is up the duff!

i can't help but compare both of the pregnancies i have experienced, after all it's only natural to do this! my pregnancy with summer was somewhat of a breeze; i had about 2-3 weeks of light morning sickness and the usual tiredness in the first trimester. back then i was working my full time office job and only had myself to look after. i covered my nausea by eating. i craved fresh and cold raw vegies {i'm very much a raw vegies lover}; celery sticks, cherry tomatoes and v8 vegetable juice. i ate salt & vinegar chips and a can of soft drink for morning tea most mornings. before i knew it, it was over and done with and i was loving the fact i had my first little baby inside my tummy. it amazed and awed me every single day. i was proud and loving it.

this pregnancy, however, started off ever so differently... 7 weeks pregnant and oh my goodness i got hit by the nausea truck big time. what the hell. i felt sick {no, no, you're not hearing me, i felt really really really sick}, every day, all day. i'm not a spewer, have never been one to easily vomit, even after drinking, but brushing my teeth every morning brought me undone. i started wearing travel bands to ease the nausea, they worked well, until i lost one of them in dj's one day. one band just didn't cut it. i drank dry ginger ale, i ate dry toast and crackers at 4 in the morning and i exercised {which was actually a great distraction, but only while in the midst of a workout}.

12 weeks in and i was still feeling crappy, the house is out of order, my daughter has started wetting her pants again because of the lack of attention she was getting from me and i've got a back log of emails and website work to catch up on. i wanted to cry, in fact, i did cry, quite a few times. i wanted to move the 1300 odd km's back home so i had family around me, family who could take summer off my hands for a few hours while i layed on the couch and felt sorry for myself. but this wasn't going to happen, so i sucked it up and did what i could. i had a house that looked like a bomb hit it for a few months, clothes were getting washed but left in a massive pile that you had to get a pitch fork out to dig through to find something to wear, but whatever.

it wasn't like it was going to be like this for the whole 9 months. or was it...?

love it or hate it. it's monday.

2011-01-03T08:02:00.003+10:00

loving : diesel kid white graffiti ankle trainers

2010-11-24T08:39:00.003+10:00

love it or hate it. it's monday.

2010-11-22T11:30:00.004+10:00

i'm a winner : n is for nanette

2010-11-18T08:57:00.003+10:00

i had to share these two adorable headbands i won through n is for nanette's facebook page. i'm not clever enough to photograph them on my own head, so out came the bribes and miss moo became my little model. her bribe was the blue and pink headband, although she really wanted them both, i just couldn't give up the rose vintage headband. it is absolutely stunning and went straight into mummy's bathroom, out of reach of little hands.

i'm so happy with my suprise win, the work put into these headbands is impeccable. nanette is currently doing another giveaway on her page, where you send her a picture of your favourite dress and the winner gets a customised headband to match their dress. off i go to check my wardrobe...

hello saturday

2010-11-06T08:00:00.005+10:00

iphone italk : little crew

2010-11-04T11:07:00.013+10:00

you may have seen this cute little bird flapping his wings around the place lately. he is the mascot for a cute iphone app called little crew. i don't know about you, but i am a sucker for anything that looks gorgeous, is fun, and has anything to do with kid's shopping. if you're the same, you're going to love little crew. at the moment the app is free, so grab out your phone and look it up, or click on the image above and grab it from itunes.

peta is a mum of 3 and the woman behind little crew. she has created an app that is "the luxe guide to children's shopping", and that it is. there are 5 categories in the app : clothes, travel, toys, accessories and featured. each product that is reviewed has been road tested personally by peta and her children.

a while ago, peta road tested our new kids tea's : the tea party and superhero juice by she-tea {and he-tea}. you can find peta's article on our tea's here.

if you're on facebook, the little crew app also has a facebook page which gives us snippets of bits and pieces that have been featured on the app. the app and page are both worth a download and a like. we recommend.

iphone italk : stella mccartney kids fashion and fun

2010-11-04T05:55:00.006+10:00

with all the hype of the stella mccartney kids launch this week, i was pleasantly suprised to see that there is a free iphone app to go with the package.

the app easily lets you browse the lookbook and see the whole collection {babies, girls and boys, 0-12}, you can view and select items and keep them in your favourites, and then when you're ready to purchase you can drop them in your shopping basket and purchase. oh my, purchasing from your iphone. how easy. how dangerous!

there's also a play section which i found a bit fun {see image above}. i also noticed there is a playground on the website aswell. i love this extra feature, it's nice to keep it real and make it fun, for the kids and the mum's! if you're into kids fashion, this free app won't dissappoint you. go grab it now!

smell me yummy

2010-11-03T09:14:00.009+10:00

do you have a signature scent, or do you like to have several scents? i used to have 2 or 3 bottles of perfumes going at the one time; one for work, one for weekends and one for going out. these days, i don't go to work as such and i rarely 'go out', and that disposable income i used to have, no longer seems to exist! so i've been a one bottle mummy for a while now.

i have just finished my bottle of fendi palazzo, and oh my i loved it. but i'm the type who likes to move on and try something different. the image above represents my 4 favourite smells; fendi palazzo, jean paul gaultier classique, chanel coco madamoiselle and calvin klein euphoria. i am considering going back to either euphoria or coco madamoiselle, as it's been a while since i've had them. i remember the days when in my lunch break i would pop into myers and try a new perfume on each arm, let them sit, then decide if they were me or not. nowadays, i don't really get to the malls that often, not when most of my shopping is done online.

i saw over on good mum hunting a few suggestions, and i had lots of lovely suggestions on our facebook page too - like gucci guilty, chloe love, marc jacobs daisy - all of which i made a special little trip to the myer perfume counter and tried on, but just wasn't totally grabbed by any, if you know what i mean? i did try jil sanders jil, it was ok, again though, didn't grab me.

what do you currently wear? what would you suggest i try next?

hot spot : little kickers gold coast

2010-11-02T13:23:00.019+10:00

i like to take summer to the occassional activity lesson. i don't like to fill her week with activities, there's plenty of time for a social life once she gets a tad older, i'm sure! she currently goes to swimming lessons, and more recently she has joined little kickers.

what's little kickers? play not push - a fun and imaginative introduction to soccer for children aged 2 years to 5 years. devised in the uk in 2002, little kickers has arrived down under to benefit our little aussies.

it's so much more than kicking around a ball. the idea is to use soccer as a fun medium to help the kids learn social skills like listening, sharing, taking turns and teamwork; practice learning skills like colours and numbers; and fine-tuning their basic balance, agility and co-ordination skills.

it's heaps of fun, and although it's not just all about kicking soccer balls and scoring goals, this does happen and let me tell you, there are some champion goal scorers in our group! i have to tell you about one of the little kickers... in one of our first sessions, he was scoring goals and then doing the whole lift his shirt over his head and running off with his arms in the air thing. seeing a 2 year old do this had me in stitches, what a legend!

we sit in circles at the beginning and end of the lessons and say hello and goodbye to each and every player. we pass the ball around the circle, putting all of those above mentioned social skills into play yet again.

and... they even get stickers and stamps to go home with! can't get much better than that!

the coaches are awesome. our coaches at southport are coach amanda and coach dane. coach abbey {in the middle with summer} and hubby coach brad are the ones who have brought little kickers to the gold coast.

sound cool? sound like something you'd like to take your mini me along to and check out? well your first session is a free trial session, so why not! for us gold coasters, there are currently sessions on saturday mornings in southport and pac pines. classes are at 8am, 9am, 10am and 11am in both locations. you will need to contact abbey on 07 5574 9027, 0457 602 219 or goldcoast@littlekickers.com.au to reserve your free trial spot and to find out more information. little kickers gold coast have also recently started up a facebook page, so if you're on facebook pop over and like their page to keep in the loop and up to date with classes and little kickers goss.

check the little kickers website for other locations accross the nations. i noticed there are loads of nsw locations to choose from.

loving : peter alexander maternity slinky nightie

2010-10-29T08:13:00.004+10:00

guest post : heidi from miss fit's baby boot camp

2010-10-28T11:59:00.012+10:00

last friday i finished my 6 week course with miss fit's baby boot camp. man it was good, i actually enjoyed every session i had. our trainers, heidi and tara, were very informative, helpful and fun. the mum's i met were lovely and so friendly. i never once tried to think up an excuse not to go {i used to do this when i had gym memberships}, maybe it was because it was set at the beach, maybe it was because my head was in the right frame of thinking, maybe it was because summer asked me every day if we were going to exercises today. she loved it too!

i have asked heidi to guest write for me today. i think very highly of heidi and her advice and supervision to me during the course has been vital. thanks heidi xx

Hello my name is Heidi of Wholly Fit Personal Training and as I live and breath health and fitness and have no difficulties with motivating myself to exercise and eat healthy, my purpose it seems is to share my motivation, energy, knowledge and experience with those that struggle.

I have recently moved to beautiful Burleigh Heads to live my dreams and be by the beach. I still run a successful business up in Brisbane but I am also starting my business down on the Gold Coast.

So that you know a little bit about me, I come from a long competitive sporting background with my biggest sporting achievement being an Australian Title in Body Sculpting. I am not telling you this to brag, but to let you know that you are in the hands of one that has tried and tested and studied and sacrificed and therefore know first hand what it takes to have the body of your dreams which is what I can share with you.

In knowing how hard an industry it is here on the Gold Coast I thought the best way to get noticed was to bring the very successful and ever growing Baby Boot Camps down from Brisbane. I have teamed up with my good friend Kate Beeley, owner of Miss Fit PT and Baby Boot Camps in Brisbane.

The Baby Boot Camps are for those Mums that are a minimum of 6 weeks Post Baby and need help in getting their bodies back to where they want them to be. We go over and beyond any other Boot Camp in that not only do we specialize and focus on Mums and Bubs but we make you accountable to us, by keeping a journal of your experience. You are given written dietary advice and guidance from a nutritionist specifically designed for you as a Mum. There are, before and after strength and fitness tests, girth measurements recorded, and you are encouraged to stay focused and healthy through your goals, journals and an accumulative point based reward system. Giving you not only the rewards of your goals but a prize at the end!

The best part of it all is that you don’t have to worry about baby sitters and not having quality time with your little ones. Nor do you have any more excuses to find time to exercise, as you bring your babies with you and exercise with and around them.

We are slowly getting Baby Boot Camps off the ground and are now in our second 6 week intake. This is where I met the lovely Bec Watts of Yummy Mummies and her beautiful little mini me “Summer”.

Bec has invited me to write on her Blog giving you some expert advice when it comes to exercise and nutrition, so stay posted for the next installment “The Good and Bad Exercises 6 weeks post baby” due soon. In the meantime why not log onto http://www.missfitpt.com.au/ and grab a spot for the next up and coming Baby Boot Camp (which starts this Monday).

baby got back

2010-10-26T13:49:00.004+10:00

{yeah baby}

i've been neglecting my online profile for the past month or so. but all for good reason. home life has needed me all to itself and i am one who doesn't hesitate to log off for a while. i actually find it quite refreshing to have a break from all of the social networking, and return with a fresh attitude and idea's.

i'd like to say i've been out at the beach, eating mr whippy ice-creams, shopping and meeting girlfriends for lunch by the pier. but no, sadly i have been a little off colour and have either been on the lounge feeling sorry for myself, or having daytime naps with my little one {this is normally the time where i hook in and get some work done}. i did, however, manage to do a little bit of baking with the mentioned little one and have convinced her my new name is mummy darling. everything needs to be please mummy darling, it makes me feel better!

i have a whole bunch of blog posts to catch up on, and today i start my quest. wish me luck!

the cheeky receptionist

2010-10-14T13:03:00.004+10:00

if you are calling us, you may very well be greeted by our cheeky little receptionist. our apprentice has really started to get the hang of her mini me role lately. while i sit at the computer catching up on emails or paperwork, miss apprentice scurries off to get the calculator, sits on the step and starts punching away at the number pad. if the phone rings, she has started chasing me a little bit to try and get to the phone before i can. and when we wrap up parcels to get sent out, she sings happy birthday. oh yes, your parcel is wrapped with loads of love and cuteness, mixed with a whole lot of cheekiness!

loving : milk from a thistle forest maxi

2010-09-24T11:45:00.005+10:00

style file : lilly b

2010-09-23T09:11:00.011+10:00

colourful maxi's; that's what i'm seeing and loving this spring/summer in maternity fashion. recognised for their gorgeous maxi dresses, the lilly b label will have you looking and feeling fabulous while pregnant, in any of their delightful designs. the calypso dress as shown above has to be one of my favourites. i am a colour person, i love how wearing a colour can lift your mood for the day, no matter how hormonal it may start out as!

the calypso is a super maxi, meaning it is extra long in length. however, it would be no problem to slice a little from the hemline if you feel it is too long for your height. us shorties will no doubt need to slice some off, but for the taller, this dress will indeed cover your ankles. available in sizes small, medium, large and extra large, this maxi is really quite generous, so if you're on the smaller size of your sizing, then definately go down a size. priced at $199.95, you can see the calypso dress here.

my next favourite is the flora multi tiered maxi in aqua. this dress was extremely popular last year and was featured throughout every pregnancy magazine and worn by some of our aussie celebrities. it was remanufactured so many times to keep up with the demand, but this season see's the popular colourway in aqua, as shown, phasing out. which is such a shame as the colours used are so sweet and soft. the only sizes available now are a small and large. this dress is also $199.95 and is a standard sizing, so stick to your regular size for this maxi.

and one more of my fave's is the drawstring print maxi. this dress is featured in the latest copy of cosmo pregnancy and although this image above looks fab, it doesn't do it enough justice. this dress is divine! it is made from polyester and spandex, so it has a bit of a shimmery look to it {perfect for a wedding or special occassion} and is also quite long in length. available in sizes small, medium and large and is again $199.95. you can find this dress here.

note that all of the dresses i have picked out are bra-wearable. i have a lot of customers who prefer to wear a normal bra wherever possible, so these dresses all have awesome boob coverage! any of the maxi's on the site are generally over $150, so this gives you free postage with your purchase.

congratulations to all of our readers who are expecting, we hope you're enjoying it xx

let's get physical {physical}

2010-09-13T12:31:00.019+10:00

do you ever look at your child and think, wow, you used to be in my belly and now look at you! it's been over 2 years since this little moo has been in my tummy and only now have i decided to get into a bit of exercise and start paying some attention to my body. better late than never, right? in my defence, my god that 2 years has gone so quickly! the first 6 six months of summer being born just flew by, gooing and gaaing and filling in the baby book after every new trick she had done, emailing monthly photo's to our family down south. then i brought yummy mummies and the next 18 months of starting a new business mixed with the learning curves of parenting, has also just flashed before my eyes! life is busy, there's no doubt about that.

i started my baby boot camp this morning with missfit pt. it was great. it was a really relaxed atmosphere, there was none of that out of place feeling like you get when you go to the gym. i don't think i'm completely alone when i say that gym's are intimidating! instead, our location was down at my local, the gorgeous burleigh beach. we all done a fitness analysis as our first session, jotted down some measurements, took some before photo's and asked questions. next session will be all systems a go and straight into the serious training. and we thought we were buggered after today's session!

so what is baby boot camp? it is a pram based health and fitness program for new mothers. it is run over 6 weeks and includes 2 or 3 group training sessions a week, depending on what package you decide to go with. they take everything into consideration and in class today we touched base on things like breastfeeding and exercising, the importance of drinking water especially when you are exercising and breastfeeding, and nutritional plans. within 8 weeks of having your baby you can sign up to baby boot camp. you get trained by local female personal trainers who have done it before and are successfully teaching others how to do it. i look at it like a mother's group where you get fit!

today marks the start of the next gold coast course, however if you're really keen to join in from our next session, i'm sure it won't be too late to slot into the group, just give kate an email on kate@missfitpt.com.au. this is only the second 6 week course that has been held on the gold coast, missfit have been successful in brisbane for a while now, and have finally decided to come down and share the love with us gold coast mum's! for any brissie readers, the next course there starts on the 4th of october.

if you think baby boot camp might be fun, yes it is! i've got links all through this post to direct you to the missfit pt website and you can click on the banner above or email or phone kate directly. there is also the missfit facebook page too. grab your mum friends and sign up together. and always remember, it is never selfish to do something for yourself. you will find it easier to meet the challenges of motherhood when you are fit and healthy. when mummy is happy, the whole family benefits!

jelly slice

2010-09-10T11:07:00.009+10:00

i'm not a big fan of cooking. there i said it. i do wish i had urges to cook up something beautiful for the family every day, or at least once a week, but the reality of it is that i just have little love for cooking and for the kitchen. maybe one day that will change forever. i hope it does.

so when my partner saw me dig out some of mum's old recipes and proudly place the jelly slice recipe on the bench, he laughed. i laughed too. it was kinda funny. but i did it, i made the slice, and it was yummo, so i thought i would share my jelly slice with you too!

what you will need :

2 jellies (3 cups of water) + 1/2 tsp gelatine

1 1/2 packets of milk coffee biscuits

270g butter

1 tbsp gelatine

1/2 cup of boiling water

2 tins condensed milk

1/4 cup lemon juice

make the jelly {i used port wine, yum} with 2 cups of boiling water, stirring until the jelly crystals are dissolved. dissolve gelatine in a further 200ml of boiling water then add to the jelly. stir in together and place in fridge and let set slightly.

crumb the biscuits. i done it the old skool way and put my biscuits in a few layers of freezer bags and smashed the bejeezes out them. found it great for a bit of stress relief. they don't have to be crumbed to minute pieces, but if there are chunky bits, the butter wont stick it together. then add melted butter to the crumbed biscuits. combine well then press into base of a tin {lamington size}. place in fridge to set {i cheated and put mine in the freezer for about 15 minutes}.

combine gelatine with boiling water, stirring until dissolved. add to condensed milk and stir until well combined then add the lemon juice.

once the base is set, pour milk mixture over and let set together {about 30 minutes in the fridge}.

pour jelly on top to make the top layer {keep an eye on your jelly and don't let it set before this stage}, then leave in the fridge until set.

and that's that. jelly slice done. did your mum ever make jelly slice? do you make it now?

review this + giveaway : marquise fundies

2010-09-09T13:18:00.014+10:00

toilet training started in our house a few weeks ago. it was unexpected and unplanned, and as many a mum tells me, it will happen when it happens. there is not a truer sentence said in the world of parenting. is anyone else toilet training their mini me's?

we're quite big on nappy off time here. from my own personal experience, i find it's a fast way to help clear up nappy rash. so when miss 2's back teeth were giving her grief and her nappy rash started, it was off with the nappy for a couple of solid days at home. we got one of those toilet training step ladders, with the mini toilet seat attached to it, a while ago from toys 'r' us and have been suggesting to summer that she could go to the big toilet on her special seat whenever she would like to. and whilst she was having nappy off time from her rash, what'd'ya know, she wanted to hop up on her seat and do wee's in the toilet. i couldn't believe it. seems she was paying real attention to all that suggesting, and right there and then, it was obviously time to take it forward and start this toilet training bizo!

it's was all very very cute, and we were all of a sudden in the market for tiny teeny little undies. no sooner later, we got a gorgeous announcement on our emails that marquise has a brand new line of undies called fundies. so i got some in for summer, and let me tell you, they're are the cutest little things ever! they are avialable in a 2 pack for $12.95 and come in sizes 2-3, 3-4, 4-6 and 6-8. i particulary like that the label has been sewn down in these undies so it doesn't annoy the kids while they're wearing them. we did duck off to big w and picked up a pack to get us started, but they have a big tag at the back {which i thought was actually ridiculously too big in general, let alone for kids undies} and summer keeps putting her hand around, grabbing it, saying "what's that mummy, what's that". so i am loving the flat labels on the marquise fundies.

they're made from 100% combed cotton and they are fantastic quality with a great firm stretch, they're definately undies that are going to last the wash after wash they get. they're also breathable and help remove moisture away from the skin, keeping them comfy and happy to have them on. there are quite a few different designs and you can pick some up from myers or dj's.

marquise have sent me an extra 2 x 2 packs of their new fundies to giveaway to 2 of you lovely readers. i have a girls 2 pack and a boys 2 pack, and both are sizes 3-4. the girls pack are the pink and white butterfly fundies, and the boys pack are the robot and striped fundies. the robot is very cool, i like this design! if you would like to go in the draw to win a pack, you just need to leave a comment here with your name and your email address {so i can contact you if you're a winner} and state if you'd like the girls or the boys pack. good luck! i'll draw a winner out next thursday.

and please, if you have a toilet training story you'd like to share, please feel free to do so. i love hearing other mum's advice. i found that we got off to an excellent start with it all, and after a week or 2 of home training, i ventured out into leaving the house with undies on summer instead of a nappy. i think it's more scary for me than it is her! it's a long, full on process and we've taken a couple of steps backwards, but it's all perseverance, i'm sure! xx

review this : stuck on you lunchbox & name labels

2010-08-31T15:03:00.008+10:00

do your children have any of the stuck on you products? summer has quite a few things from the stuck on you range that she has acquired over her gorgeous little lifespan. and it's hard to say we have a favourite, because we literally use everything she has in our every day travels, but recently the latest trends lunchbox has been coming everywhere with us!

it comes to swimming lessons with all of our yummy treats and water packed inside it. it comes along with us to do the groceries, filled with all of those very important 2 year old necessities, like a squishy caterpillar toy she won at timezone and her purple beaded necklace! and just on the weekend it came along with us to afternoon tea in the yard with our narna and biccies and cups and saucers for our tea.

i'm really not sure how we survived without this handy sized lunchbox before now! i highly recommend it to you. the size is perfect, it's 23 x 20 cm, so it's not too small, it fits in a drink bottle gorgeously, and it's not too big to cart around either. it has a handy carry handle at the top, summer carries it herself, an easy to open zip around the edge, a mesh compartment on the top inside lid and it's all easy to wipe clean. you can choose a sweet design to have on the front with your childs name printed on the design, we of course chose the owl design {totally loving owls}. and... the price is only $29.95. love that.

the other little goody we got were the latest trends name labels. we got these ones in the caterpillar design, because i can't have absolutely everything in owls now can i! you get 50 stickers for $29.95. if you've never used the stuck on you stickers, then you are in for a treat. just like their slogan says, labels that stay stuck, and that they do! name labels are always handy to have in the drawer, i love them and i stick them everywhere. i think it's just a really cute touch to put a little name label on a lunch bag. i really want to buy some in my partner's name and pack him off to work with name labels all over his lunch. hehe!

there is an art to pouring the perfect cup of tea. and i think my daughter just about has it down pat at the age of 2; tongue and little finger all in correct positions!

loving : witchery kids cut flower t

2010-08-29T21:09:00.006+10:00

this would be one of those tee's that will go with any outfit and look; jeans and connies, skirt and slip on's, shorts and havi's. i have it in my cart, don't think i can wait til i can go instore and grab one. and it's a reasonable $35. not only loving this tee, but quite a few other key looks on the new witchery kids site. also loving their prices.

love it or hate it. it's monday.

2010-08-16T07:52:00.003+10:00

style file : bella b wear

2010-08-13T11:01:00.017+10:00

new bella b wear pieces are now available through our shopping site. whites, blacks, cobalts, tea rose pinks and stripes are dominating the new collection looks. this label is great for layering and one of the most versatile fashion labels for women. i'm going to tell you why here, and show you some images so you can see for yourself.

turn your 'normal' clothes into maternity clothes, and then back again into normal. while most of us are keeping an eye on our spending habbits, it's clothing labels like bella b wear that you need to start experimenting with, especially if you are expecting or hoping to. the label is known to have breathable and functional fashion offering unparalled comfort, durability and even a bit of sexiness {sexy is good when you feel like your wardrobe is giving you nothing but a 'daggy ol' mum' feel}. the garments are seam free so it gives you the freedom to move and also gives you support where you need it. heavens knows when you're a mum, you need clothing like this when you're doing more things like getting on all fours and crawling with the bubba, or playing cars with the little dude. the main characteristic of this label is it's unique stretch micro fibre; it is incredibly soft against the skin and just feels so divine to wear.

the latest collection reflects the demands of the modern-day woman, who wants more from her fashion; the mum who wants stylish no-nonsense fashion that reflects a fashionable edge without paying designer prices. a woman should expect her clothing to be comfortable, easy to wear, but be durable and, of course, affordable.

the bella b wear label has classic basics that lend themselves to layering. here are a few tips on how to layer {because layering just doesn't come naturally to some of us} :

: start with a fitted slip dress or tank dress as it gives a nice streamlined foundation for layering

: add some colour, it will not only lift your outfit but may lift your mood also

: push yourself out of your comfort zone, you will be suprised at the compliments you will receive for looking a little out of 'your' ordinary

: don't over think it and don't be scared to mix and match patterns {hell, it just might work}, and try some old with the new

: use pieces like a summer jacket or a knit vest, over your smock dress that's over your half sleeve tee shirt, and accessorise with boots and long chunky necklaces and scarves

: grab your sunnies and don't look back, bring some fun to your look and your day

dad's day out : win a $650 photo session

2010-08-11T12:29:00.006+10:00

if you're not a subscriber of our newsletter, you may not know that we have a fab competition happening with our new resident photographer, naomi v photography. with father's day just around the corner, we thought it would be nice to focus on and pay appreciation to the dad's, grand dad's and great grand dad's out there. so to celebrate the joining of forces between yummy mummies and naomi v, we are giving you the opportunity to win a dad's day out photography session with naomi, valued at $650! the ultimate father's day gift, don't you think?!

the winner will receive a free photo session sitting, along with a 16 x 24" art mount print, plus 5, 5 x 7" prints! holy dooly, i know!! so to clarify, you are winning a prize for you and your dad. or if you are a dad, for you and your child/ren. if you're a mum, feel free to enter for your hubby and kids, if not for yourself and your dad. as long as there is a dad in the winning photo, this is what we're aiming for!

how to enter : find the only male 'grown up' product we have available on our shopping site {i'll give you a clue : it's in the maternity section}. you then need to email the name of the item along with telling us why you would like to win a photo shoot, to naomi using the contact us page on her blogsite. you've got until the end of august to get your entries in, and you can only enter the once.

the fine print : each entrant will be assigned a number as their email is received. you will receive notification that your entry has been noted. a winner will be selected using an online random number generator on 1/9/10 and will be notified by email. the winning photo session must take place between brisbane city and the gold coast, and must be used on a tuesday, wednesday or thursday afternoon. the session can be at your home or out on location, you decide, and must have a dad in the photo! please only enter this competition if you can make it to the gold coast/brisbane area for the photo session. if you are not local but are planning a holiday over this way soon, then do feel free to enter, we can arrange a time for you to use it. this prize is not transferable for cash and cannot be exchanged for other products or services. only one entry per person will be counted and entries must be received by midnight 31/8/10. the prize must be used within 3 months of the date the winner is drawn.

if you want further clarification, please email or phone either naomi or myself. you can find our contact details on our webistes. goodluck!!

love it or hate it. it's monday.

2010-08-09T09:16:00.005+10:00

loving : seed ice cream van tee

2010-08-06T12:18:00.005+10:00

it's a glorious day on the gold coast today. summer and i shared a soft serve cone at the mall this morning. when i say sharing, i meant i only got to lick up the icrecream that was melting down the cone. "it's mine" i was told!

thinking i will make a trip to marina mirage to pick up this gorgeous tee for little miss. i can see her wearing it a lot!

new resident photographer : naomi v photography

2010-08-03T14:24:00.023+10:00

in our crazy july we were working hard with a few of my favourite ladies, to bring you some lovely eye candy on our shopping site. i've been busting at the seems to share this with you, and today i can! we have joined forces with the gorgeous and talented woman behind naomi v photography. naomi is our new resident photographer, and let me tell you, this lady knows how to work a camera! we have updated our home page images and filled the gallery with naomi's gorgeous work. go on, go over and have a look at our shopping site, and then come back here and let me know what you think!

so... a little more about naomi v, for those who don't know her... naomi is based in brisbane and specialises in wedding photography and portrait photography for babies, children and families. she is a mum of 3 and has such a fun and fresh personality, which is what you want from the person who is capturing your precious moments. naomi has a gorgeous blogsite, so please do visit it and have a look at her work. i'm sure she'd love for you to leave a comment on her blog posts if you like them.

i like to keep an image of my mini me, miss summer, on my home page. as you do. so my super lovely friend, candice from momie et enfant, helped to style a little photo shoot for the children home page image. summer is wearing a momie et enfant dress and bloomers, lots of pearl necklaces and bracelets, and mummy's most prettiest shoes (although mummy doesn't get to wear them much these days). i was hoping to use the image that's in my new blog header for the home page of the site, but it didn't sit in right, and it looks fab on the blog now anyway!

i cannot thank naomi and candice enough for all of your help with this. you girls are wonderful women and i am blessed to have crossed paths with you both and to now be able to call you both friends (thank you). here are a few images from our morning together.

i also want to say a massive thanks to 3 lovely photographers who have let me display their images prior to this mini makeover. kathy and grant from ashford studio, skye from skye rocket studio, and the lovely bree from breeze designs. you guys are the bomb!

loving : seed frill layered bather

2010-07-18T19:40:00.003+10:00

are these too fancy for swimming lessons? hehe. this is what my mini me will be wearing this summer. to the beach, to the pool, and under the sprinkler. i love them!

{destination} but where?

2010-07-09T13:46:00.006+10:00

do you ever feel that you've lost direction? do you sometimes gaze into thin air and find yourself wondering where life is taking you? or where it's not taking you? does life need to be taking you somewhere? do you need a plan and a routine? do you need that something to aim for to keep you motivated and on the go? whether it be a holiday, planning for a new baby or saving for that perfect home? do we even need a life plan or do you just take day by day and week by week as it comes?

i would really like to hear your thoughts on that...

i see my friends and family all planning exciting trips away, and i am wondering if i will get to that stage again. will i travel again? will it be when my kids are older? will it be with the kids? and anyway, why do i have the travel bug back? i am envious of my friends and family who are about to go travelling, and i am also so excited for them. new destinations, new food, new cultures, it's all so exciting to be in the midst of a new place. don't you think?

iphone italk :: p tracker

2010-06-17T11:22:00.006+10:00

while getting lost in app world, as you sometimes do, i came accross some fertility and pregnancy apps that i found kinda fun. there are a heap of free ones (i don't like to spend money on iphone apps), and this one took my fancy the most.

the period tracker lite is a very simple and very cute little app that lets you view your current and future period dates, your ovulation and your fertile days on a monthly calendar. it firstly uses a default setting of a 'normal' menstrual cycle to determine the dates of your next period and fertile days, but you can go into the settings and change the default around to set your period length and ovulation date. after you have logged in your info for 3 cycles, that's when the app will calculate an average and take it from there. you can also add moods and notes and really get into it.

the home screen for this app is of a whimsical tree with a little butterfly, and what i find the cutest is that when your fertile days are on, the tree starts flowering. a fun app to remind you of your fertile days if you are trying for a baby! did you map or take note of your ovulation when you were trying for a baby?

hot spot :: creative craft centre

2010-06-16T13:04:00.010+10:00

last week we met up with some friends for a morning of craft with the little ones. you remember my super star friend, keeley from savvy mama, well she finds the best places around town to meet up. i always have my mini me with me as she doesn't go to daycare, so meeting up at child friendly places is a blessing.

the creative craft centre in west burleigh is the coolest place, and done hardly any damage to my wallet. what it is, is a walk in sit down craft centre. so you literally can walk in any time during the day, no pre arrangements needed, and sit down and get crafty. we were there nice and early, when the centre opened at 9am, and let the 3 little crafterina's stimulate their minds and imagination. around the walls of the room are over 200 craft activities to choose from, so you pick your activity and take it back to the tables and start decorating.

it was heaps of fun, we were there for about an hour and a half and the whole morning only cost me $6. summer picked out a hanging board that has 2 pegs on it so we can hang up her future artwork (and other very important 2 year old stuff), then we sat down and started painting it. we don't normally get paints out at home, i find summer just a smidgeon too little yet to actually want to do paintings. we draw with pencils, play play-doh and do other craft things, so it was good for her to get down and dirty with the paints and it made our visit that extra bit special because we don't do much of it at home.

after we had finished with the paint, we sat them down in front of the fan to help them dry out, then we decorated it with all sorts of lovely bits and pieces; shells, silver and gold stars, fluffy pom pom thingy's, glitter... you name it. when i sent a picture of the finished product to summer's grandma later on that night, the reply was "what the hell is it?". hehe.

fun was had and we highly recommend the creative craft centre if you are gold coast based. for the little ones, for the scrap bookers, for the mum's and dad's, for everyone. an excellent spot to take your kids to over the school holidays too!

can you tell which one summer's is...?!

feel good tunes :: back and forth

2010-06-15T12:09:00.006+10:00

do you have one of those songs that when you hear it, you cannot help but sing it, really loud? this is that song for me. it normally comes on while i'm in the car with my daughter. i sing and we both dance in our seats, with lots of shoulder moves! i love starting the days off with a good song!

i'm a winner :: art by jaz

2010-06-10T13:12:00.006+10:00

do you like to enter competitions? do you ever win anything? i used to be the competition queen. pre mummy. pre time poor. i even won a 0.28 carat diamond through a napisan competition quite a few years ago, that was the second chance prize, the first prize was a 1 carat! when i got the letter from napisan saying i had won... the 0.28 carat... i almost shat my pants. i thought i had won the 1 carat! but was still very happy with winning a diamond fullstop.

i've been entering and joining in again on competition and giveaway fun. and look at my latest winning, gorgeous or what! this is the work from art by jaz. i found jaz through her blog and won these through her facebook page. ahh the online world and the people and work you find, i love it. i love jaz's work, and not just because i won something either! this image below is my favourite, lurve that peacock feather. now that i have these divine prints, i don't know what i should do with them. frame and mount them perhaps? i'm trying to start on a display wall in summer's room, perhaps one can go up in that? how do you suggest i display them?

hot spot :: gov's espresso

2010-06-09T08:42:00.019+10:00

last week we met up with local super star, keeley from savvy mama. we tried out the newest hot spot on the gold coast, gov's espresso, for a cuppa and a chat, little ones in tow. i always love hanging with keeley, not only is she all over what's happening around town, but she is an absolute crack up, always making me laugh.

gov's is a big ol' house that's been converted into a meeting spot that oozes in vintage style. you can relax inside with a game of chess or sit and read your current novel. sit in the rustic courtyard at the front by the fountain. book the studio room for a baby shower or the private room for your business meeting. or how about organising your next mother's group in the back sunroom or yard! we sat out in the backyard in the morning sun so miss addi and miss summer could draw on the big chalk boards or play in the cool boat in the sand pit (even though they preffered to play grown ups and sit with us and sip babycinos). my favourite was the old bed frame in the yard to lounge on (the vintage day bed, love it). there are also lots of collectables available for purchase in the front collectables room.

with loads more additions being added, including a new big chalk board along the back fence and story time for the kids aged 2-5 on mondays, gov's is a great place to meet with friends, no matter what the occassion. they are open every day from 7am - 3pm and are located in mermaid beach at 2457 gold coast highway. i recommend!

review this + giveaway :: chooks in stilettos

2010-06-08T12:50:00.012+10:00

with a title like chooks in stilettos, i knew this book was going to have a few chuckles in it! carolyn donovan (aussie model, mother and observer of everyday life) has written a book that gives an honest look at the glamorous side of life. this is one funny read and not only did carolyn send myself a copy of her book, but she popped in an extra one too, so i'm giving the extra one away to one of you!

the book is a crack up, there were multiple paragraphs that made me giggle, like this one ::

"my mummy uses those to bath us with," my pre-schooler daughter announced to the man brandishing a pair of barbecue tongs in each hand as he turned sausages at the school fete's burger grill stand. a quick glance either side of me reveals that i am the only adult she could possibly be referring to. my mouth opens and closes a few times. a long pause hangs heavily in the air. "once!" i stammer in defence. "... and only because i was covered in fake tan!"

it's a funny take on the life dealings of carolyn's modelling career, family life and everything else in between. carolyn not only entertains us with the words of an industry insider, and shares with us some clever tips, but links us together with the many-sided scenarios of being women! she writes amazingly well and any woman will enjoy reading her book, i know i did.

if you would like to win a copy, just leave a comment below and your email address (if you prefer to not leave your email address public, just send it to me in an email info@yummymummies.com.au, just so if you win it i can contact you). i'll draw someone out from a hat this friday. if you don't want to bother about trying to win one, you can pop over to carolyn's website and grab yourself a copy.

wanted :: shoe booth

2010-06-07T12:02:00.012+10:00

like loads of other women, this weekend i put on my heels and went and watched sex and the city 2. i don't know what was more exciting, having some adult time without the mini me, the actual movie or meeting the babooshoe booth! i didn't actually notice the shoe booth first, my partner did, bless his soul. sitting right alongside the coffee van was this gorgeous black glossy cupboard with one gorgeous pair of hot pink heels in it. instant love. oh how i want one of these!

since moving to queensland and becoming a mum, i have to admit that my heels ever so quickly got ditched for the havaianas. i just felt really out of place wearing my heels to the beach, hehe. and then being mum is much more easier in thongs and flats. but 2 years on, and after watching satc2, i'm feeling an urge to find the old me, an urge to reinvent myself. i looked around at my shoes sitting on open racks at the bottom of my cupboard, dust settled upon most of them, crying for attention! i decided i definately need one of these glamourous shoe booths. not just for me, but for my shoes. they deserve better.

i think i am leaning towards the black. looks so sleek. the smaller shoe booth is named the carrie and it holds 25 pairs plus bags and boots. the taller booth is the imelda, which holds 55 pairs plus bags and boots. which one would you need?

the booths are designed by an australian woman, they have tinted glass, lights, remote, thick rods, angled shelves, movable shelves and sliding doors. check them out for yourself!

love it or hate it. it's monday.

2010-05-31T13:35:00.003+10:00

style file + giveaway :: she-tea

2010-05-27T20:32:00.021+10:00

say hello to she-tea. come on over, lets meet the family...

motherhood :: a delicate blend of green tea, white tea, rooibos and peppermint in honour of laughter, tears, love and inspiration.

love :: a blend of white tea and berries created especially for you.

warrior :: an energising citrus black tea blend for when you need to go forth and conquer.

b*tch is back :: a deliciously decadent blend of caramel, vanilla and black tea to assist you in the retraction of claws.

booze hound :: when you wake up declaring "never again"... but you know you will.

scorned :: a nurturing herbal blend, lovingly combined to give you strength to tear out his beating heart.

virgin :: the perfect blend of white tea, apple and cinnamon to assist you in your endless quest for purity.

top bloke :: a good strong cuppa for a bloody great bloke.

we are really happy about the she-tea family joining our shopping site. there's nothing like a nice blend of uplifting tea to calm and give us strength to carry on. laughter in some cases is the best medicine, and with that in mind, the clever women creator's, jodie and vanessa, of she-tea have combined quirky humour with the health benefits of tea for our consuming pleasure. all of the tea canisters are adorned with prints of jodie's art work, aren't they just brilliant, they have definately brightened up my pantry cupboard!

i love the smart and funny naming so much. would anyone like a cup of the b*itch is back? hehe. they will all make for some fabulous gifts, a tin of motherhood along with a tin of top bloke would be a great pressie for new parents, and each tin is only $19.95, so doesn't break the budget.

to launch the wonderful new tea products into the world of yummy mummies (and delicious daddies), we're going to giveaway a set of 6 tins of tea. the 6 tea's will consist of; warrior, b*tch is back, booze hound, scorned, virgin and dirty hippy. to be in the running to win the set, you just need to leave a lovely comment on this post (feel free to share which tea makes you giggle or want a cup of), along with your email address. my lovely apprentice will help me draw a winner on monday. have fun giggling xx

summer leonie :: you make me proud

2010-05-27T10:05:00.012+10:00

being able to stay at home with my first child and watch her grow into a little girl has been an amazing experience. i had summer when i was 30. i always wanted to be a mum since i knew what being a mum was. i am the eldest of 20 cousins, our ages now ranging from 12 months to 32 years, so i have been around babies all of my life. i used to help out whenever i had the chance; changing nappies, feeding the bottles, walking the pram and just playing the mum. it's funny how life pans out, i thought i would be a mum a lot earlier than age 30, 30 seemed such an old age back in my youth days (hehe)! i of course wouldn't have my life any other way, i loved spending my 20's travelling and partying, and i now love being in my 30's raising a daughter and hopefully a couple more children to come.

i sit here this morning, watching the moo (aka froggy, summer bumm and moo moo) riding her pink and purple 3 wheeler plastic bike around the house with dolly and wot wot in the back of the trailer that's attached to the bike, and i smile. this is what i've waited 32 years for!

i have completely gone off the track as to what i was actually going to blog about today, but that's ok. it feels as if since summer turned 2 this month, that she woke up one morning and could all of a sudden talk new words and recognise new things. this week she has blown me away with recognising the colour yellow. we really haven't spent loads of time going through our colours yet, we have colour books here that we occassionally grab out, but we haven't for a while. for a girl that is nearly always dressed in some shade of pink, i was pleasantly suprised that the colour yellow strikes a chord with her. either the colour or the word! as we were driving yesterday, she promptly told me that the car in front of us was yellow. yes, it was, what a clever girl. i almost pulled the car over and gave her the biggest hug and kiss. instead i gave her the biggest compliment which she thought was funny and then started showing off, pointing out a yellow bus, and later on that day, a yellow snake. i love when she learns new things!

iphone italk :: lego photo

2010-05-26T13:11:00.004+10:00

keeping in with my lego obsession this week, i recently downloaded the lego photo app. it's a bit cool. you take a new photo or choose an existing one from file and the app transforms the photo into a lego mosaic. touch the screen once you've got your photo up and it will go through different colour combo's. you have to get a nice close up photo for it to work well and so you can recognise what the photo is of, but it would be a load of fun for the kids to play around with. it's a free app too, which is always cool.

style file :: byog (bring your own gown)

2010-05-25T15:48:00.010+10:00

say hello to the exquisite hospital gowns by byog (bring your own gown). having a baby just got even more glamourous! ok, ok, i know what you're thinking, how can labour be glamourous? well these gorgeous gowns may not help with the pain, and might even get thrown accross the room at some stage during that miraculous thing we call labour, but i tell you what, they are about to make life as a new mum (no matter how many times round) that extra bit easier. and have you feeling and looking gorgeous in all of those first photo's!

we have these fab gowns available in 3 prints (as pictured above) and in 2 sizes (s/m and l/xl). each gown comes packaged in it's own reusable bag and has a removable ribbon tie. not only are the gowns stylish and fashionable, but they're also very practical! made from 100% soft cotton, they have snaps all the way down the back for full coverage and down the arms to enable easy access for breast feeding.

but think outside the square here, these are not just for pregnant mummies, they will brighten up any lady's spirits that has to have a hospital stay.

the gowns have made it big overseas with celebrities such as gwen stefani, jessica alba, sarah michelle gellar and tori spelling all doning one.

and then we also have these super funny push out socks, which i think would make an excellent little something to give to your girlfriend when the baby news is announced!

lego :: cooler than ever

2010-05-24T13:24:00.027+10:00

recently my brother was reunited with his old lego he had as a kid. he was given a box, a massive box, of lego and instructions and even some of the technics stuff he collected too. as i sat there and watched my brother and his son open up the box of lego, the smiles on their faces were infectious, we all sat down in the middle of the loungeroom and fluffed around pushing pieces of lego around and reminised about what we used to build. i always built a house and would have a car. so very typical female of me, i know! i loved lego as much as my brother did, and still to this day, if i can infuse a bit of lego into my daughter's life, then i will.

when it was time to move on from the nappy bag and into a backpack, i already positively knew which backpack miss summer would be getting. a pink lego one. of course. i love carrying this around and even better (and even though it's pink), so does the dad!

i also had my eye on the cutlery set when i saw it in shop 4 kids and i completely forgot to purchase it for miss summer as part of her birthday presents. i'm thinking i will still get it for her as she actually doesn't have a matching cutlery set yet! am also thinking i might try and grab a cake/jelly/ice mould. how fun would that be? although not sure how icing a lego cake would go! did you play lego? does your child/ren play lego?

iphone italk :: hipstamatic

2010-05-21T12:40:00.016+10:00

i thought i would share some fun iphone apps with you as i find them. you may have heard of them and even have them yourself, but hopefully i can bring something new to someone's ilife with my finds! first one off the rank is hipstamatic. it is one seriously cool app, so if it's cool you're after, pull out $1.99 and get yourself this!

so what is a hipstamatic exactly? it was a plastic analog camera from the 80's that had the ability to swap lenses and take multiple film formats. apparently only 200 of these cameras were produced. whether it was a flop back then or not, i have no idea, but good on the iphone for bringing it back!

the mobile phone comes with us everywhere and i'm pretty sure more than half of us whip it out when our mini me's doing something that is just too adorable to not capture in a photo right then and there. getting tricky with your images is so easy with hipstamatic, it does all the creativeness for you. the basic pack gives you 3 lenses and films and 2 flashes to mix and match together. there's lots of vignettes, blurring, saturation and discolourisation when you mix the films and lenses. my favourite combo is the john s lens with the ina's 1969 film. gives me that 'old photo that's been in nan's old photo album for a hundred years' feel, i love it. what do you think?

review this + giveaway :: bugalug

2010-05-17T19:35:00.012+10:00

i love it when i open up my mailbox and get greeted with divine products, products like these gorgeous hair accessories from a canadian company called bugalug. as you can see in the above photo, my mini me doesn't have a whole lotta hair happenin just yet, so i was delighted to find that the gorgeous bugalug clips don't slide off her fine hair. and because they don't slide off, means that miss mini me doesn't realise they're in her hair and alas stay in for most of the day! that's one point for mummy with that sneaky trick!

i'm also a bit of a headband lover. i find it so easy to just chuck on a headband of any sort to take a bad hair day into a not so bad hair day. have a look at the cute bugalug headbands, i love them, they are fully adjustable with a clear plastic lock at the back of it and they fit any head, from infant to adult. i think that's another point for mummies!

i have teamed up with the lovely erica from bugalug and together we'd like to give away a little pack consisting of a headband and pony loop, as pictured above. if you would like to score this little pack, you just need to become a fan, or a liker, or whatever we're called these days, of the bugalug facebook page and leave your email address here on the blog, below in a comment. pretty easy stuff for a pretty neat prize! i will have my little apprentice draw a lucky winner out on friday. good luck xx

happy 2nd birthday summer leonie xx

2010-05-13T22:00:00.010+10:00

today my daughter turned 2. as we celebrated her birthday, i quietly looked upon her as she played with her new toys and i felt so proud of this beautiful little person i have created.

beware :: birth story following!

this time 2 years ago i gave birth. i remember it like it was only last week. i had planned on finishing work 3 weeks before my due date, i would finish on the last day of the working week at the end of april and i would have my baby around the 21st of may. i was happy with the plan, and i was ready and organised to be a mum! it was late april, the little nursery was finished, the hospital bag had been packed, equipped with everything i may possibly need during labour to help pass the time and pain. in my bag was an apple, a museli bar, massage oil, a back massage ball thingy, headband, coin purse, lip balm, relaxation cd, massive pads, new pj's, baby going home outfit, nappies, socks, singlets, white and lemon coloured onesies; all the necessities a first time mum in labour might need! i had high blood pressure and was seeing my doctor every few days to check on it, it wasn't getting lower but wasn't really drastically rising either. i was to finish work earlier than planned, to try and keep it as low as physically possible. it was so much harder than i thought it would be to sit on my lounge all day and literally do nothing. but that was the doctors orders! after about 3 weeks of keeping a check on the blood pressure, the doctor finally sent me to the hospital.

it was tuesday lunch time. i'd finished my appointment with my doctor, he had rang the hospital to let them know i was coming in. i drove home, heated up some home made soup for lunch, put my hospital bag in the car and done one last check over of the house and nursery. everything was ready. i had no idea of what was going to happen once i got to the hospital. i quickly went to the toilet before i left, except it wasn't so quick. i kept going and going. and going. ok, so i'm thinking my waters have broken. it wasn't the intense scenario i had been picturing, you know the one when you're at the supermarket and they announce a clean up to be done in isle 7...?! i was happy with how my waters broke, a little disappointed that there was no real drama about it maybe, but i dealt with it, padded up, toddled off to the car and headed for the hospital.

i had high blood pressure, my front waters (didn't know you had a front and back waters) had broken and i was asked if i was ok to be induced then and there. yep, bring it on, i'm here now anyway! in went the drip full of that lovely oxytocin. i rang my partner to let him know what was happening. the midwife told me we'd have at least 5 hours before the serious stuff would start, so my partner had enough time to get home and freshen up (he's a mechanic so needs to 'freshen up'). that was about 3pm. 3.30-ish i'm feeling pains, that's no so bad, i've had period pains worse than that. 4pm they're really warming up. no partner. i'm getting nervous now. 4.30 i have my partner and i have contractions. i can't get comfortable with these pains, earlier i could at least move my body around and it seemed to helped. now i want to cry and i tell my partner that i'm not sure i can have a baby. 5.30 and i'm in the midst of it all, all clothes are long gone, i really don't give a shit how i am looking and i haven't even had a chance to eat my apple. where's my mum? she was ment to be here already! i didn't expect labour to feel like this, i knew it was obviously going to hurt, but this hurt is a pain i cannot escape, it feels like i could possibly die. drugs. i want some gas, and i'm not sure if i want the gas because of the novelty of it or if i really do think i need some pain help. it doesn't matter because i am 10cm dilated and it's time to push. as in push out a baby. oh my god. i'm going to have a baby. no time for drugs. 6.30 and my mum flies though the door, looking a million dollars in her new yellow cue top and favourite heels. i have only one push left. the baby is posterior (left side) and when i push, the heartbeat drops. the midwife red lights for the doctor and in comes the most gorgeous doctor you have ever seen, i kid you not (afterwards my partner and i nickname him dr hollywood). the doctor asks if we can use the vacuum on my next push to help turn and pull our baby out. out into the real world. ok, yes, lets do that. one last push. puuuuuuuuuuush...

our baby was born. i'm a mum, my partner is a dad. my mum is a grandma. i cry, actually, i sob. our baby comes up onto my chest and i hug her like i have known her for a million years and it all feels so comfortable. i look at my partner and he has tears in his eyes and a big smile on his face. i look down at my baby and i cry and i smile too. the midwife asks if we want to know if it's a boy or a girl. oh, that's right, i remember i'm busting to know if it's going to be a pink or a blue baby. it's a girl. it's a GIRL. it's my little baby girl. summer leonie. summer was born at 6.54pm weighing 6 pound 6. and today she is 2!

style file :: willowblu

2010-04-28T13:42:00.013+10:00

it's in our style file, so that means it's also on our shopping site! we are so super excited by the new arrival of willowblu leather bags here at yummy mummies this week! what can we say, we are women and we love handbags and shoes!

you may have noticed that our nappy bag section has been blank since our relaunch. well, we have actually been waiting for the perfect nappy bag to rock our world and we have finally found it! this is ivy. isn't she cute? especially in that vanilla colour! i am love love loving vanilla right now.

like all of the willowblu bags, it is made from genuine top quality leather with a fully lined interior. it has two zipped pockets at the front, a zipped panel at the back and another zipped pocket in each of the (exterior) sides. it's pocket heaven! the interior also has 2 zipped pockets plus compartment spaces for everything; the iphone, the nappy cream, the teether ring, the emergency packet of fruit flakes and the dummy!

it's a little on the smaller side compared to some of the bigger nappy bags that can fit everything bar the kitchen sink in them. and i think these days it's quite popular to have a nappy bag that doesn't look like a nappy bag, so i am a big fan of the smaller sizing. means you take less, and lets face it, sometimes we do tend to over pack which in turn means lugging around a heavy bag! but stay stuned, i hear willowblu is working on a new bigger nappy bag none the less. we'll let you know about it as soon as we set our eyes on it!

pop on over to the site and check out all of the fabulous range from willowblu that we have available. there is only the one nappy bag that we carry, the other 7 designs are classed as handbags, but most of the messenger style bags are more than capable of being a nappy bag too. oh, and check out the cleo clutch while you're there, i am loving this to pieces - just need to line up a snazzy dinner date so i have a somewhere to take it out to!

shopping for a 2nd birthday

2010-04-07T08:52:00.017+10:00

so... i've been giving myself a bit of retail therapy of late, it's amazing how good a spot of shopping can make you feel and i have had the perfect reason to go shopping (because yes, apparently these days i actually need a reason to). our little froggy is turning 2 next month. having summer turning 2 reminds me of the feeling i had when i turned 30. it just sounds like a whole lotta old! i feel like on the day of her birthday she will no longer be my baby and she will be a big girl. just like that. overnight. you hear it from everyone all the time... they just grow up too quickly!

the first place i like to go shopping at is little pinwheel. two reasons why - one is that i have formed an amazing friendship with the owner, hayley, and two is because hayley stocks awesome brands and when summer isn't wearing something from our shop, it's more than likely going to be something from little pinwheel. the first 4 items above are from little pinwheel and they are 1. an awesome book 2. cocoon couture bean bag 3. chalk n cheese ploughman's blouse 4. polka mod pod dress. i am still humming and harring on whether to have a rainbow party to celebrate the event, and if i do decide on it, i think i'll definately be grabbing the nellystella candy stripe playsuit, i just love it!

today is little pinwheel's 1st birthday and celebrations are happening left right and centre for it, including a 15% discount at their online shop. all you have to do is enter 'LPWparty' in at their checkout to receive your discount. and... if you subscribe to little pinwheel's newsletter, you'll also find out how you can win a share of over $500 worth of products. hayley definately knows how to celebrate a birthday that's for sure!

the other things we decided summer needed was a trackie and a pair of comfy runners. i buy for fashion (i'll admit it), and my partner buys for comfort. so combining the two together, we came up with 5. minti trackie and 6. puma flipper high tops. i couldn't be more happier with this little get up! and then the other thing i have been pondering on is 7. oomoo kids balance bike. it says for ages 2-5, but i'm being very practical and thinking summer is just not going to be ready for this at age 2. what do you think? have you seen or got one of the balance bikes? i'd be really interested in some feedback on them. i'm thinking this bike might get pushed to the christmas wish list and we might just get her one of those $30 three wheeler bikes from toys 'r' us, you know the old skool plastic ones that we used to hoon around on? i used to have an orange and black one, these days they are pink and purple. either way, it's been loads of fun shopping for a 2nd birthday!

review this + giveaway :: invite with style

2010-04-06T12:07:00.037+10:00

i had the absolute pleasure over the weekend to review some gorgeous invites made by a gorgeous brisbane mum named anna. anna is the owner of invite with style and she has designed the cutest range of invites ever. anna and i have joined forces and we'll be giving three lovely readers a pack of invites each, so you can see for yourself how beautifully made these invites really are. and of course, use them for your upcoming event!

all of anna's invites are printed professionally on a digital press and are on a smooth matt finished card. a minimum order of 20 cards is required and they range in size and price, starting from a c6 size for $2.00 per card, and that includes peel and seal matching envelopes that has a small design printed on the front. you can add on extra's like adhesive magnets that can be placed on the back of the invite, and having all of your guest names printed on each individual card. these invites are truly gorgeous in person, the colours and print are perfect and they are awesome quality too.

i think these two boy and girl birthday cards are pretty cool. love the rocket theme and love how the girls invite is bright and colourful. below is a quick snapshot of more of anna's designs. baby shower, baby boy, baby girl, christening, birthdays, you name it, anna will make it! for those of us who aren't clever enough to whip up some invitations ourselves, it really can't get much easier than having your own personal graphic designer making your cards for you!

so back to the giveaway. it's pretty easy, all you have to do is be an invite with style facebook fan and leave a comment below on this post. there are 3 packs of invites up for grabs; baby shower (choose from either lucy or lisa design), boys birthday (jeremy or jayden design) and girls birthday (mia or bambi design). each winning pack will be a set design from anna's range and consist of 10 invites with their matching envelopes and adhesive magnets. in your comment, leave your name, email address and which invite you would love to score (you can do 3 separate entries for each design if you like). i will get my gorgeous trainee to help me draw the winners out on friday. goodluck xx

happy easter

2010-04-02T09:50:00.022+10:00

we'd like to wish you all a happy and safe easter. hopefully some of you are having a break away from the home duties and off doing something you enjoy. we're staying in this easter, hoping the weather is lovely so we can hit the beach, and i'd love to have a spare half an hour so i can paint my toenails and give myself a microdermabrasion, heavens knows the both are very long overdue! i'll also be catching up on some work, my pc has been on the blink for a couple of weeks, but got it back this week so i'll be catching up with some reviews for the blog, and i'm thinking i might even give the layout a bit of a makeover too.

we had the lovely sarah from style me gorgeous help us design a new newsletter template for our april edition. we sent it out yesterday but we unfortunately had 'technical difficulties' and i know it didn't reach some of our subscribers. not sure how many received it and how many didn't, but hopefully we'll work out what has happened and get this fixed for next month. i'm so dissappointed it didn't reach everyone as i am so happy with how it has turned out, but you can, however, click here to view the online version. enjoy xx

after a maternity bargain?

2010-03-26T08:26:00.015+10:00

the best thing about old season stock is that you can score yourself some great bargains! sure, they might not be the current look of the moment, but if you're clever enough you can mix old with new, go to town on the layering and create a unique look that spells out you. y. o. u.

some of us are reluctant to spend money on maternity clothing, especially a lot of first time mummy-to-be's, and hey, me included! you try and get away with what you can for as long as you can, and then when you really do need clothing that fits, you find yourself thinking, well i only have 7 weeks to go, there's really no point in buying anything now. but you're feeling uncomfortable in your clothing, you might be feeling like crap, your skin is breaking out and you're hormones are through the roof. the last thing you want to be is uncomfortable! maternity clothing is made to grow with your expanding tummy, so once you can't button the top of your favourite jeans up, then this is the time to grab some maternity pieces. you will thank yourself in the coming months. and if you can give yourself some retail therapy and grab some super bargains, then happy hormones will be coming your way!

a few of the pieces we have big discounts on are... ripe harley jeans $30, metalicus bodytight cami $10, ripe belted skirt $25, hotmilk undies $5, belly basic 3/4 sleeve tee's $5, soon melbourne cuffed dinner shorts $30. the list really does go on. we also have a couple of dresses that are half price, like the top picture of the lilly b dreamy duo twist dress which is now $64.95 and a gorgeous pink and orange floral ripe satin dress for $89.95. do pop on over to the site and check them out for yourself xx

free postage on minti orders at mia & ollie

2010-03-25T07:55:00.026+10:00

my little baby is turning 2 in may and i've been having loads of fun shopping for presents for her. while she's still young enough, and while i can still be the one who decides what she wears, i've decided to mainly buy her clothes. i timed it well to have her in may, right after all the new season winter fashion has arrived. i am loving this years winter. are you??

i'm also loving the big new world of the wonderful size 2! first on the pressi list was this super cool minti trackie. i have been eyeing this off for a while and was just patiently waiting for it to hit the stores. i just love it and i really do want this in my size! please?! now there's an idea... minti could call the collection, minti mum?!

one of the first stores i seen on facebook notifying us of the new minti winter arrivals were mia & ollie, who are a fairly new store, and a new stockist for the minti label. so i got chatting with the lovely owners, sonya and cath, and we decided to come together to offer you gorgeous people a little deal for the minti winter collection. and that being free postage. nice hey? so if you are keen for some free postage, you'll need to head to the mia & ollie facebook page, and in the photos section you'll see the minti 2010 album. to order, leave your name, email address and the size you are after under the image of what you want to order, and put in there referred by yummy mummies, so they know to post it for free. the girls will contact you straight away to confirm your order, grab your details and organise payment. easy. here's a little selection of what they have on offer for you. happy shopping!

style file :: rosie roo

2010-03-22T23:23:00.019+10:00

gumboots are the new black. didn't you know?! and with bright, bold, fun designs making their statement loud and clear, we thought it was only fit that yummy mummies jumped upon the gumboot train so we could offer our gorgeous customers more than just maternity and children's clothing. toot toot! we welcome onboard, rosie roo gumboots (or wellies, or rain boots, or whatever you like to call them)!

a local mum by the name of jacqui wallbank is the wonderful woman behind the label. she has made women's gumboots that are comfortable, affordable and even a bit daring for some of us. the classic knee length boot is handmade from the highest quality natural rubber, so you won't find cheap synthetic rubber in any rosie roo gumboots. they are screen printed and are cotton lined throughout to ensure comfort. they have a 2.5cm rubber lug sole with an adjustable buckle at the side to create a slim line look. and they are, of course, waterproof. we have 8 different styles in the women's range and you'll find them varying from sizes 4 - 12, for a reasonable $85. my fave? jazz (top picture) and abby (below). but do pop on over to the site and check out the other 6 designs.

however, it doesn't stop at women's gumboots. rosie roo kids wellies are a newer line from jacqui and they are just as comfortable and fun as the women's. they are made from the same high quality rubber and cotton lining and insoles, and come in 4 different designs, ranging from sizes 6 - 12, with a cool price tag of $35. these little rocket lace-up's are the cutest gumboots i have seen yet! you can see the other 3 here.

so, if the music festivals are your thing, then now's the time to get organised and glammed up in your boots, and if you're taking the kids too, then gear them up with a pair aswell! or it might be the muddy paddocks, or doing the gardening, walking along the beach, or just splashing around with your mini me's that's more your scene. whatever it is, make your statement with the kids this autumn/winter in rosie roo.

love it or hate it. it's monday.

2010-03-22T08:07:00.005+10:00

style file :: baybo

2010-03-16T13:52:00.042+10:00

street wear. i love it. now don't get me wrong, i love ruffles and lace and angels wings too, but there is something about a street wear look that creates total uniqueness. jeans are always a great starter for a street wear look and probably something we all have in the wardrobe. so from there is easy because it's all tee's and accessories!

baybo has designed a wicked range of tee's that will help complete the street wear look for your mini me, and i am happy to announce that baybo is now being stocked in our online store. i am personally loving the ami winter tee - japanese style infused into a long sleeve tee. this is going to be one of my daughter's winter wearables once the cooler weather works it's way up north.

of course, the baybo branding has a lot more than tee's. they have created hair snap clips, awesome girls leggings with a very cute bubble dress to wear with, a range of juice products which include shampoo, conditioner, hair styler and so yummy you'll want to eat it bubblebath, and even some pj's to keep it all happening in the evenings.

we have all of our baybo items online, so cruise on over and check them out for yourself.

what do your children read?

2010-03-15T08:30:00.005+10:00

i think i am one of the only mum's who doesn't have a massive book collection for their kids, and up until now, we really haven't had the need for a mass of books. summer has about 8 of the baby's first books and they have been really wonderful, she also has a couple of the touchy feely books too, which are pretty cool. over the last few weeks though, we have stepped it up a notch with our reading. we have a handful of 'big girl' books, which include a few from pamela allen. i love the old skool books as it reminds me of my story time and i like that we can infuse some of our childhood memories into our daughter's life. summer is obsessed with who sank the boat. she's at the age now where she actually wants to sit still and have me read her a book while she studies the images. i love it, and now i'm on the hunt to fill up her book shelf with some really lovely books. what books do your children read? i would love some suggestions!

our sydney weekend

2010-03-08T09:17:00.013+10:00

last weekend the family and i headed to sydney so that i could attend the kids in style trade show. this was my first kids/life in style viewing and i really enjoyed it. later on this week i will introduce a few new labels to you that we have picked up from the show.

we turned the weekend into a mini getaway and met up with my sister-in-law and her family and took the kids to taronga zoo. i love this age summer is at, where she can place the right word to the right object. i’m sure she was a bit overwhelmed by the zoo at the time, and when we got home and uploaded the photo’s she was right there smiling, pointing out and naming her favourite animals. these were the ‘raffe’ (giraffe), the ‘monking’ (monkey) and the ‘meow meow meow’ (mere cats). how hilarious are those mere cats, i could've stayed there for ages watching these funny animals!

it's been such a long time since i've been to sydney, i used to visit there a lot in my mid 20's, but now it just doesn't seem to be a place i pencil in to visit. i really enjoyed the city life for the weekend, even with a toddler! i love eating out for breakfast, that's my favourite part of getaway's, and we done just that. we also done a bit of people watching too. ok, we may have done a lot of that! i love seeing what people wear in the city, there are so many different looks, i love getting idea's from them! and the shoes. i love the shoes. i had promised myself i wouldn't make any purchases, and (much to my suprise) i refrained from buying the hot pink converse high tops and these funky pair of sock thong thingy's (thought they'd be kinda cool for gold coast winters). i love watching the buskers perform too, there is some serious talent on the streets and it's always nice to stop from all of the walking we do for a minute and watch these guys do their thing.

summer was really good considering she didn't get to have her daily nap each day. this was the first time we had flown with her. she hated coming down in the plane, her poor little ears must have been hurting because she cried both times. now that we've had a little weekend away, i'm already thinking about when i can do it again. i'm thinking maybe melbourne next time, perhaps for the kids in style show later in the year, or for a trip to the footy even!

review this :: penny scallan children wellies

2010-03-04T08:55:00.015+10:00

i love receiving beautiful packages in the mail. when summer's penny scallan gumboots (wellies, gumboots, whatever you call them) arrived last week i instantly fell in love. i think they are so cute and fun, i love the bright happy colours of this apple design pair. summer is loving them too, and i'm thinking they will be worn a lot this winter teamed up with her many pairs of huggalugs she has in her drawer - beach, mud, puddles or even to do the groceries. and they will also make for great photo's too!

the wellies are cotton lined with a rubber outer, so they are nice and comfy for the littlies feet. they also come in three other designs: simply daisy, navy star and skull. they're $29.95 and available in sizes 6-12. you can check them all out here.

i could hardly get summer to stand still for me while i was taking these photo's, up and down the sand hills, walking through the rocks, she was smitten with her new fun shoes, she kept looking down at them while she walking around. our beach was pretty yukky yesterday and it was so windy. not sure if it's from the tsunami warning? maybe. i did end up getting one quick photo of her standing still...

zzzoolights

2010-03-03T13:55:00.012+10:00

have you seen the new zzzoolight lamps? i got to check them out on the weekend while i was down in sydney for the kids in style trade show. these are so super cool and will really set a statement for any room, be it a nursery, the kids room or the play room. now i am not a cat lover, but ever since my daughter met one of our friends cats, it's all meow meow meow in our house! so while we were sitting here, deciding which photo to put up with the post, she pointed at the screen to the cat lamp and said (and it's said really fast with no breath) "meow meow meow meow meow". now how can i refuse that?!

but more about the lamps... my gorgeous sponsor, bubba bling, is a stockist for these funky animal lamps. they are made from polypropylene sheet (so they are pretty much unbreakable), they're low voltage and they don't get hot to the touch. plus, they look cool and the kids will love having their favourite animal with them for bed time! they are $129.95 and you can find out more about them here.

some more of my daughter's favourites are the 'raffe' (giraffe) and the 'foof foof' (the cow which she thought looked like a dog). she also like the 'monking' (monkey), however there was no monkey lamp on the screen...?!

who's space :: little pinwheel

2010-03-02T09:24:00.024+10:00

over the course of starting my blog and relaunching yummy mummies, i have met some really lovely ladies and hayley from little pinwheel is one of those ladies. i started following the little pinwheel world almost a year ago, and the blog address immediately worked it's way into my morning web checks, almost to the point that i was feeling like a stalker! well that stalking has now turned into a cherished friendship between hayley and myself, and today i want to share with you a little peak inside the world of little pinwheel.

i look at the little pinwheel work space, and then i look around at my yummy mummies work space. hmm... am thinking i should spruce mine up a little and give it some attention and love like hayley has for hers! i have a thing for chairs and i love love love hayley's funky harry bertoia chair. don't you think it really sets the statement for the little pinwheel work space? and how god damn cute are those animal shaped elastic bands, they are definately over the top but completely awesome!

hayley is a fantastic writer and has a wonderful blog that i invite you to check out and follow. she writes from the heart and isn't afraid to tell it like it is. she writes a 'people watching' column on wednesday's that i find so interesting. in fact, every day hayley always seems to find great things to write about, be it her online store, her life as a mum, her life as a woman, or the amazing photography that she captures and shares with us. if you aren't already following hayley's blog, do pop over and check it out, it will definately put a lovely spin on your day, just like it does mine!

love it or hate it. it's monday.

2010-02-22T07:40:00.005+10:00

ipurchase

2010-02-18T12:22:00.005+10:00

it's time to get with the times. apparently. my old lg phone conveniently died right on it's 2 year contract a couple of weeks ago and i was forced to get myself a new phone. there really wasn't any doubt in my mind that i would go for something else other than the iphone, not when i run a business and i hear so much great feedback from other business owners that just wouldn't be without their iphones. so i have now joined the cult. feel free to tell me about handy app's and all that. although it literally took me around half an hour to work out how to insert my sim card, i am sure i'll master this little beauty within a few weeks! =)