Bayside MamaMag June 2015 by MamaMag

BAYSIDE

June 2015

WIN tickets to Disney on Ice

with a chance to meet one of the stars Homework help MamaMag turns 1 School readiness Tales from the clown Anxiety in children Local party people Feed kids right Let them eat cake Investing in education Party etiquette

free Local fun for the Bayside mum 1

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happy birthday! And just like that, a year has passed and MamaMag is turning one. They say time flies when you are having fun and that’s no understatement. This has been one of the most exciting years in my life. For me MamaMag is an important part of my life’s journey which stated three years ago when I moved back to Melbourne with myself and the kids. But I wont go into that now. My gorgeous Port Phillip Editor get’s all the low down on page 24, where she features yours truly as this months Mama of the Month (AKA the MamaMag story). So happy birthday MamaMag. My little baby is growing up so fast! Of course we just had to throw a “Party Issue” to celebrate this month, which gave us the opportunity to meet many new awesome people along the way. Local cake makers, party shops, venues, I tell you what, birthday parties are big business! We’ve got the low down on everything local and hope you keep this issue of MamaMag as a bit of a party go-to guide for future celebrations in your house!

Mother’ s Day at

kinder

Parties aside, it’s been a very busy month at Casa MamaMag. I’ve just moved back to my old house, after a year renting with my boyfriend to see how that worked. Considering I’ve just moved back to my old house, I’m guessing you know the answer to that already! But that’s ok. I’ve got my two gorgeous children to entertain me and we’ve welcomed a new man into the house instead. His name is Roger and he has big floppy ears and eats lettuce! The kids adore him, but the cat is not so sure! We hope you enjoy our party issue as much as we did creating it. Next month, as winter knocks on the door, we’ll bring you a big foodie packed special. There’s no better warmth than a full and happy belly! Until then, keep loving local!

! Roger

Mama c

an bake

XX @localmamamag

Cover image by Enhance Studios www.enhancestudios.com.au

WIN

Contents Styling tips for a perfect party Big impact on a small budget

The magic party clown Tales from a local dad

Get in the theme Party theme ideas

Party people Local birthday party ideas and venues

tIckets to DIsney On Ice Dare to Dream There are 4 chances to win 4 tickets each to the 2nd July 2.30pm performance PLUS one lucky winner will also get to meet a star from the show.

endota spa Brighton

Parklife 14 We visit Pennydale Park Cheltenham Perfect party etiquette Tips from an expert

Lovely locals We explore the lovely Mentone

The reluctant party guest A local mum’s story

Turn the page This months picks from Kidna Books

Mama of the month MamaMag founder Sarah Cavalier

Let them eat cake We’ve got local cake makers covered

MamaMag is published monthly for the mums of the Bayside area by Grizzle Design Pty Ltd.

Kids in sport The importance of active kids

ABN: 26 042 138 550. PO Box 8018 Brighton East VIC 3187 Phone: 1300 771 446 Email: info@mamamag.com.au www.mamamag.com.au

Creating a successful mothers group 32 The path to success A safe home 36 Bringing children and parents together Mama can cook Party pizzas and after school snacks

Fun for the kids Kid’s crafts and our colouring comp WIN one of 3 Globber Scooters!

MamaMag June 2015

Visit our Facebook page to enter

www.facebook.com/localmamamag Entries open to Victorian residents only. Competition starts June 1st 12.01am and closes June 20st 2015 at 11.59pm. 16 tickets in total. Tickets valid for the 2nd July 2.30pm performance only. For further details and full terms and conditions visit www.mamamag.com.au. ©Disney. All Rights Reserved. www.disneyonice.com.au

5,000 copies are distributed monthly. Editor in Chief: Sarah Cavalier Design and layout: Grizzle Design Distribution: Lara Schendzielorz Like to contribute an article or products for review or giveaway? submissions@mamamag.com.au Like to advertise in our next month’s issue? info@mamamag.com.au or download our media kit from www.mamamag.com.au The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the publishing staff. Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without permission of the publishers. Health related articles are designed to be informative and educational. They are not intended to provide specific medical advice or replace one-on-one advice from your health practitioner.

top 5 styling tips for These days’ parties are pinned all over social media and can make you feel like you have big shoes to fill. I hear you asking, what happened to a homemade cake from the Women’s Weekly Cake book? (Still one of the best cake books after all these years.) Don’t get me wrong, I love a low cost, low effort party, but even with a small budget you can still make a big impact, and give your special person a day they won’t forget. For some people, arranging a party can be a daunting and scary experience, especially if you have not done it before. I have listed my top 5 tips to style the perfect party to help you on your way.

1. Think about who the party is for A kid’s party should be fun for the kids. Whilst it is easy to become swept up into a frenzy of theming and perfectionism, at the end of the day I would be surprised if any of kids notice the difference.

2. The season If you have a July baby, chances are a picnic in the park isn’t going to work for you. If you don’t want to have it at your house (or can’t for space reasons) there are so many amazing play centres, party centres and halls to choose from. All of these can be “styled” really easily using these simple ideas.

a perfect party

on any budget

3. Theme A theme is such a simple way to create the wow factor. This can be as simple as using a pattern, like chevron, or a consistent colour palate, like baby pink and white. You can go all out with tried and tested themes like Batman, Pirate or Fairy – or try a modern alternative to these such as Woodlands, Moustache, Vintage transport or Milk and Cookies parties. Why not ask your guest of honour what they dream of…. you might be surprised at the answer. Pinterest is your friend. Start a board for your upcoming party to gather inspiration.

4. Invitations and decorations Your invitation is the first element of your party and introduces guests to your theme. There are great sites like etsy.com that create custom listings, and you can save some money if you go with a theme that has been done before. Alternatively, there are some free templates on Google. Next, start to source decorations from your house (and your family and friends too), finding anything that you can use. These days you don’t need a table with a plastic cloth – you can use anything from baby change tables, to suitcases to storage units. Hiring key items such as kid’s chairs and tables, cake stands etc. is a cheaper alternative to purchasing them and ensures you are on trend for minimal cost. Once you have your “table”, head to the $2 shops for plain coloured plates, napkins etc. This is much cheaper than using a “Disney” or the themed variety, and you can stick in your colour theme for half the cost. If you want to, add a couple of more expensive key themed items, but keep your cost down with everything else. Don’t forget the finishing touches. Thank you cards, lolly bags and a big smile on the day!

5. Entertainment This really depends on your budget. There is nothing wrong with pass the parcel wrapped in newspaper and musical chairs, but if you have some extra money to spend, there are so many options for entertainers in theme – e.g. Queen Elsa, a magician, jumping castles and so much more. A party doesn’t have to be stressful; and there are plenty of experts out there to help you if you would like to outsource your next party. Don’t forget to check out sprinklewithstyle.com.au for all your hire and styling needs. Good luck and happy planning By Pip Hunt - Owner of Sprinkle With Style www.sprinklewithstyle.com.au

the Magic Party Clown A true story. It was a suburban household birthday party for a five year old boy as I recall. There I was as I arrived through the front door... and it hit me! The sea of colour across the specially decorated Birthday Table set centre stage in the middle of the living room. Red lollies. Yellow biscuits. Green party hats. Blue balloons. And a big rainbow coloured birthday cake. Wonderful! It was psychedelics in real 3D! Terrific for Birthday Boy and the kids. Anyhow -- there I am in attendance and I take step number two into the house and--I sense the party is about to crank up a notch or two. In fact I know for sure it is. I’ll tell you why. It’s somewhat personal! I’m at this party because I’m the hired entertainment! Hey, not just any entertainment, I’m there as Muddles the Magic Party Clown.

Yep - I used to be a real-life, genuine, ‘‘can-I-get-yourautograph-please-Muddles’ magic clown. For how long? Oh, about ten years or so.

Now get a picture in your mind. Muddles is entering said Birthday Party House. The excited Birthday Boy, at first sight of Muddles, triggers his family, friends, the dog (and I’m sure I heard a lyre-bird) to a sudden, hair-raising shrill of “Yaaaaaaaayyyyyy. The clown! The clown’s here!!”. Yes--Muddles was making his grand entrance.

Show Time People Of course, like all good party clowns, I had to feign a stumble over an imaginary something within the first few steps didn’t I? Muddles does the old reliable ‘bang the toes of the back foot into the heel of the front foot and stumble forward’ routine. He half turns to look at the floor. Squats. Looks closer and scratches his 100 percent genuine synthetic nylon red clown hair and says to the party group... “Hmmm, Boys, Girls, Mums, Dads and BaldHeaded Babies...wait just one minute!” “(pointing) What was that I just tripped over?” and Muddles would then swish the floor from side-to-side with his white-gloved hand as if clearing the ‘object’ away. “Now, lets try that entrance again shall we?!” he says.

Well, you’re probably ahead of me with this part of the story (especially if you were ever in the audience of a Muddles show) because you might know what happens next... Yes, correct. Muddles re-enters. He stops to face the party group and holds his gloved hand open behind his cocked clown ear and prompts to hear the “Yaaaaaaaayyyyyy” greeting once more. Birthday Boy and party guests respond on cue. Straight away Muddles takes his second and third confident stride of an entrance and says, looking around the room, “Where’s our Birthday Boy?!”

But just then... oh no! He trips AGAIN over that same imaginary object.

you--wave them under your nose-- and tempt you to ‘pick a card--any card’. Quite tragic.

Was I really that bad at magic. Yes! Believe it or not Ripley. Not once did I succeed at making an elephant appear in the fridge. Saw a lot of the inside of people’s fridges though. And juggling bowling balls, half-eaten apples and roaring chain saws? Don’t even ask! I’ve gotta tell you though--I loved playing Muddles and especially when entertaining children. Mike Searles is a Bayside freelance writer available for hire at MikeSearles.com

Well... it’s giggles all ‘round for Muddles and the birthday party entertainment is under way. I’d love to go through the entire 45 minute Muddles the Magic Party Clown routine. Some other time maybe. Why did I name my character Muddles? Because he would ‘muddle’ almost everything he did. But truly. That was how I escaped from getting any REAL magic to work. I kid you not. I mean I was (and still am) the world’s worst magician. Which hurts because I’ve loved magic since I was a boy. Don’t EVER pull out a deck of playing cards in front of me ‘cause I’m likely to swipe ‘em off 9

get in the theme So itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s party time, your little one is getting excited about getting bigger and they have been telling everyone that their birthday party is coming up, but what type of party will it be? Often young children have a favourite movie or character that they like for that moment so the party theme is chosen to reflect what your child is into at the time. Whether it be superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Wizard of Oz or Frozen there are so many ways you can throw a party using these themes without them looking completely commercial. Pick elements of the theme and use three of them, for example if you are going with the Ninja Turtle theme you could use garbage cans, slime and pizza. Take your colours from these three elements; silver, green, red and beige and think mini garbage cans to house desserts, hold the cutlery or the shape of the cake. The slime could be represented in food like jelly, mousse or drinks and pizza could have the kids making their own, pizza boxes could be used as invitations or cookies could be made in the shape of pizzas.

Frozen has been a massive hit with both boys and girls, and with the amount of Frozen props out there you can easily put together a great party. But if you wanted to hand make things rather than buying from the shops you could make some great snowflake cutouts, get the kids to paint them and cover them with glitter. Marshmallow pops dipped in blue sugar would make for an easy sweet and why not have the little guests make papermache Olafs. It will give the kids a fun activity to do and take home. Other party themes that are big for kids are boho or tribal parties incorporating feathers, teepees, face painting and doily bunting. Ice-cream parties tend to be a favourite for little girls with large balloons and confetti dots for pretty dĂŠcor, ice-cream stands and cakes with upside down icecream cones on them. Automobile parties like cars, planes or trains can be a great theme to go with for little boys and can be vintage or contemporary styles. Colours of sky blue, red, charcoal grey and white are a great base to start with.

Just remember if you going to go with a theme, make that clear with your invitations, especially if there is a dressing up option involved. Then carry this through the party from the games played to the food served. With plenty of party inspiration available in magazines and Pinterest your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next party can be themed to perfection. For more party ideas grab your copy of Confetti Fair Junior in all good newsagencies June 8th.

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Party people Mama has got local birthday party fun covered! Brons Art Arty Parties Does your child just LOVE ART? At Brons Art studio in Sandringham you get to design your own Arty Party. Whether you are crazy about dinosaurs, love just drawing stuff or you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait to get your hands messy with clay, Bron caters for all... FUN guaranteed! Unit 6, 231 Bay Road, Sandringham www.brons-art.com

Little Woodworkers Little Woodworker offer exciting, fun and educational hands-on woodwork programs and are now branching out into parties. Let your children make their own wooden toys and create positive and lasting memories. Be one of the first to host your own Woodworking party. They supply all materials and safety equipment. www.littlewoodworkers.com.au

Brighton Rec Gymnastics Brighton Rec runs popular gymnastics based birthday parties for primary school aged boys and girls on Sunday afternoons. These funfilled parties run for two hours and are led by trained gymnastics coaches and involve a range of equipment, such as beam, vault, mini tramp, rope and floor games. No previous gymnastic experience is required. 93 Outer Crescent, Brighton www.brightonrec.com.au

Gourmet Kids Cooking parties are a fun way to have an original and action-packed birthday party. Parties include a cooking session, party food, and hosted games. Children love to dress up in our chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hats and aprons to create a delicious recipe under instruction from our kitchen crew. They get their own individual set of equipment and are given as much or as little assistance as they need. Hampton location, 9824 5979 www.gourmetkids.com.au 12

Super Zu SuperZu is brand new and looks amazing. It offers a play experience unmatched by any indoor play centre in Australia. With a floor area of 2270m2, they have an unprecedented range of equipment and attractions, all contained within a fully themed “zoo” environment. 4 different safari parties to choose from or a glamour party in the princess or frozen room! 362-364 Boundary Road, Dingley www.superzu.com.au

Club Tiny Tots Come and enjoy puppets, music, singing, games, play equipment, bubble time and much more led by their experienced staff. Perfect for preschool parties, you get exclusive use of their club for a 1.5 hour party. And their friendly staff will prepare and serve your food in their kitchen, so you don’t have to do a thing! 76-78 Wells Rd Beaumaris www.clubtinytots.com.au

All Fired Up For a party with a difference, why not visit All Fired Up for a 1.5hr ceramics party with complete painting instruction and supervision. All paints, brushes, fun writers and stamps provided plus a personalised dinner plate for the birthday child. At the end of the birthday party, each piece will be glazed and fired and will be ready for collection in 5 – 6 days. 568 Hampton Street, Hampton www.afu.com.au

Camelot Traffic School The Camelot Traffic School is set up with mini roads, complete with roundabouts, road signs, a rail crossing and traffic lights providing a fun environment to ride your own bikes and scooter while learning road rules and having fun. Available for private party hire, bring your own food and refreshment. Ph 1300 736 621 70F East Boundary Road, Bentleigh East

Soccer Time Kids and Football Star Academy

Soccer fans at home? Choose your location and a qualified coach will come in and deliver an action packed soccer class tailored to your child’s ability. Soccer Time Kids for pre-schoolers and for the budding Ronaldo, school kids should check out Football Star Academy. www.soccertimekids.com.au 1300 476 223 www.footballstaracademy.com.au 1300 372 300 13

Parklife

MamaMag park of the month!

pennydale park Olympic Avenue, Cheltenham (off Park Road) I’ve been admiring this park for months, everytime I’ve dropped MamaMags off the the kindergarten next door. And this month I was lucky enough to visit on a gorgeous sunny day, albeit childless as the kids were at Dad’s! There is nothing groundbreaking about it, it’s just nice! Lots of open space for the kids to kick a soccer ball, a basketball hoop to keep the teens amused. Equipment wise it’s got everything you could need with two very nice structures for different aged kids. The high structure has a high fast tunnel slide, spiral slide, high chain ladder, hanging ladder, high scrambling wall, climber, balance beam, flying fox and monkey bars. This structure is high and requires some climbing skill to reach the slides as there is no standard steps up. The smaller structure has two slides including a very fast wave slide, tunnel, walkway, spiral and hanging ladder, shop front and steering wheel. There is also a see-saw, bike springer and swings. The park has a shelter with two tables, some shaded seats underneath the gorggeous autumn trees, water tap, basketball court and a good grassy area. Part of the lower structure is under shade sails. This playground has something for all ages.

(VALID UNTIL 31.07.15) NOT IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANY OTHER OFFER.

perfect party Etiquette Does the thought of thirty-five sugared-up, hyperactive children running laps around your lounge room fill you with dread? Never fear! Simone Norris, owner of online gift & party boutique www.inviteme.com.au has been in the party game for 10 years. Here she shares some pearls of wisdom to help make your next party run smoothly.

What’s an appropriate number of children for a party? Firstly, it’s as many kids as your venue will hold or as many as you can handle, but a good rule of thumb is invite as many kids as is the age of the child. Eg. a six year old inviting six friends. Big parties can be overwhelming for the best of us, let alone small children and let’s not even get into the pressure it puts on the adults hosting the party! That said, the ‘all-inclusive’ approach can also work as well. Invite the entire grade and your child is almost guaranteed a return invite from their classmates. The best part about this is that no one is left-out.

Invitation etiquette There are some key things you can do to make the invitation process easier: • Sometimes it’s not possible to invite everyone from the class – so listen up, this one’s important – DO NOT HAND OUT INVITATIONS AT KINDER OR SCHOOL IN FRONT OF CHILDREN WHO AREN’T INVITED! While it’s often unintentional, try explaining to a five year old why everyone got invited except them. It is heart-breaking. Be discreet! Hand invitations out quietly to parents at classrooms or ask kids to pop sealed envelopes in their bags. There are even some teachers who will hand out invites privately during class time. • Note on your invitation whether it’s a ‘drop-off’ party or not. As a general rule, parties of children aged five are not dropped off but people won’t know how you want to handle that unless they’re instructed. 16

• Ask for RSVP’s by text. This means you will have their number in case of an emergency. • If entertaining at home, keep parties short and sharp. A two-hour timeframe is about right. By the time you factor in your guests arriving, two or three games, eating, playing and then blowing out the cake, you’re up to your two hours. • Can you leave your other child at the party as well? Unless invited by the host, the answer is probably not. These days, most hosts have pre-organised games and prizes around a set number of kids and have just enough take home bags for their guests, so throwing in an unannounced child into the mix can also throw a spanner in the works.

What’s an appropriate budget for kid’s birthday gifts? My experience behind my counter has led me to this conclusion: • An invitation from a classmate that your child doesn’t know well. $15-25 • Close little friends and besties: $25-40 • Close family friends and relatives $40-65 Yes, throwing parties can be stressful but there are a few simple planning principles to follow that will help. At the end of the day, you cannot lose sight of why you’re having the party in the first place – which is to celebrate that special little person in your life by letting them know they are loved by those around them. By Simone Norris from Inviteme Shop online at www.inviteme.com.au Follow her on Instagram: @invitemeshop

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1. New hot spot for lunch - The Grazery New in town, The Grazery is committed to serving fresh, preservative free, healthy food in under 4 minutes. Select one protein, one staple and a healthy serving of fresh salad and they do the rest. Plus they also offer a meal delivery service online for the time poor mum! 144 Balcombe Road www.thegrazery.com 2. Homewares and gifts - Mynd Interiors This stunning store is known for stocking colourful local designers and interesting wares from all around the globe! From Cushions to Candles, Furniture to French Soaps, Artwork to Accessories - they have it all... including a fab new kids section that will have you wanting to redecorate bub’s room in a flash! 84 Balcombe Road www.myndinteriors.com.au

3. Toys and birthday present ideas - Tiny Polkadots Filled with fabulous brands, educational toys and gorgeous gifts - be greeted by knowledgeable and helpful staff. Tiny Pokadots is a great spot to look for that elusive gift when you have no clue where to begin! 132 Balcombe Road www.tinypolkadots.com.au 4. Healthy produce and organics - Sciclunas Real Food Merchants Run by the Scicluna Family, they offer the finest and freshest fruits and vegetables, gourmet essential ingredients, gourmet groceries, deli items, meats and artisan breads sourced from local suppliers and growers wherever possible. They also have an online store. 2-4 Como Parade West sciclunas.com.au 5. Coffee, cakes and more - Como Parade Cafe A mum’s must stop for amazing coffee from Clarke Street Roasters in Richmond, delicious cakes and fresh food made in-house from locally sourced produce. 38 Como Parade West facebook.com/ComoParadeCafe 6. Bagel goodness - Huff Bagelry One need to only look at the crowds to know they are onto a good thing here. Choose from 10 different bagel types then add your filling to create the yummiest lunch ever! 13 Como Parade West www.huffbagelry.com 7. Sugar hit - Bayside Sweets and Treats The one stop destination for all our kid’s party needs, Joe stocks a huge selection of sweets, chocolates and novelty candy items. 147 Mentone Parade. 18

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The Reluctant Part When I was a child I loved parties! It was such an honour to be invited and then there were games and lollies and treats and of course the cake. What’s not to like? Then eventually I had my own child, a very adventurous little boy. For this story, let’s call him Liam. As a toddler I would have to say that he loved parties a little too much. While all the other children were playing nicely together he would manage to find some broken glass that needed tasting, some power switches that needed investigating or even a small dog whose head needed biting. (And this was just one party.) Needless to say I did not have any time to socialise like the other mothers. Once Liam grew up a bit and I could take Sunshine Hospital emergency department off speed dial, we went to a party where his behaviour really stunned me. It was for a four-year-old girl from playgroup and he bizarrely refused to enter the house at all. I asked him sweetly, I demanded that he enter, I encouraged him nicely and used every other trick I could think of but he wouldn’t budge and we were stuck on the front veranda. “You are being silly, you know that there is watermelon in there Liam?” Liam loved watermelon and he pleaded with me to bring him some. I remembered that as a young adult I also found parties difficult and I forced myself to attend them. Eventually I came to enjoy parties and therefore I decided that that was the path that Liam should follow too, so I stuck to my guns. No I would not go in and get him some watermelon, he would have to go in himself. We were there for over half an hour with me encouraging and him refusing.

Eventually we found a compromise and we walked down the side of the house. He found some things to amuse himself with in the backyard and he got his watermelon. He did not join in any games and did not even want to see the candles being blown out. What was wrong with him? Why was just MY son the one who could not enjoy the party? He was later diagnosed with being on the Autism Spectrum with Asperger’s Syndrome. I’ve since learnt that he is not me. Just because I enjoyed parties as a child does not mean that he has to do so. My method of overcoming my adult shyness of parties has nothing to do with this little boy. He is his own person and has his own feelings. He did get to enjoy parties once he was able to approach them on his own terms. We went to a party of a girl in prep and he sat in the cargo bike in the front yard the whole time. His friends knew that he was there and brought him out cake and things to eat. Once all the other guests had gone home he did venture inside. He was invited to two parties in grade one but because he didn’t want to attend he gave the invitations straight back. Opps! I had to talk to him about how to politely decline. One of the children’s mothers kindly tracked me down and diplomatically said, “I think Liam lost his invitation, here is another one.” It was for a party at a swimming pool and Liam loved pools! I explained to the other mother about Asperger‘s and how Liam would not want to join in the organised pool games and she said that that was fine. We went and had a great time. He had a swim by himself when the organised pool games were on and then did actually sit down and join in the

ty Guest food part as well. He once went to a bowling party and did not bowl but did have the food. At a couple of play centres he hid around the corner with a plate of food but still had fun on the play equipment. At the next-door neighbours child’s party he spent the whole time literally on the side fence. At another next door neighbour’s party he put on a formal suit and played his cello for the pass-the-parcel and then went home again. I just take each one as it comes and now parties are a lot easier. I accept that some parties (most actually) he will not attend, some parties he will attend at a distance and some he will leave early. That is okay. Now that I have stopped fretting about it and talk openly with other parents life is a lot easier. He is not me. He is not Tommy down the street. He is himself and should not be compared with other people. I stop myself from thinking that he “should” be having more fun. I would be lying though if I did not admit that a part of me always feels sad when he is unable to be with the group. I suppose that that is my problem and not his. A great place to go for more information about autism spectrum disorder is Amaze at www.amaze.org.au or phone 1300 308 699

turn the page My Presents, Rod Campbell, $15.99 It’s my birthday! I’m having a party. All my friends have brought presents... shall we open them? Lift the flaps and find out what’s inside all the presents. Then open the very last one and look inside the basket to find the best present of all! This lift-the-flap story from the creator of preschool classic DEAR ZOO is sure to delight young children -- and would make the perfect birthday gift.

The Crocodile Under the Bed, Judith Kerr, $14.99 Once there was a little boy called Matty, and he was very sad…From the creator of the picture books The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Mog the Forgetful Cat, comes a brand new story about joy, parties… and crocodiles! Matty is sick, and very sad because he’s too sick to go to the Queen’s birthday party! But when he gets an unexpected visitor, it seems that Matty might not miss out after all…

Pearlie & Great Aunt Garnet, Wendy Harmer, $9.99 It’s Opal’s birthday and Pearlie is planning a surprise party. There’s so much to do! Pearlie must buy presents, sweet treats, prizes for games and the best birthday cake EVER. There’s only one place to go - Great Aunt Garnet’s famous fairy shop in the old clock tower. When Scrag and Mr Flea find out they’re not invited to join the fun, they plan a party of their own. A terrible mix-up of magical cakes threatens to ruin everyone’s expectations. Will Pearlie’s favourite Great Aunt Garnet save the day?

Happy Birthday, Madame Chapeau, Andrea Beaty, $19.99 On her birthday, Madame Chapeau wears the perfect bonnet made by her late husband. But on the way to her birthday dinner, a crow snatches her hat and flies away with it, leaving Mme. Chapeau sans bonnet. As she chases the crow, everyone around her begins to follow her, offering their own hats for her to wear. None of them are quite right for Madame Chapeau, though, until one special little girl offers her a hat “knitted with love and [her] best birthday wish.” What appears “rather odd” to Mme Chapeau at first is actually the perfect gift for her. A delightful story about love, community, and friendship, with some fancy hats and a birthday thrown in for good measure.

This month’s kid’s books are brought to you by our friends at Kidna Books At Kidna Books they want to encourage everyone’s passion for reading, and have an extensive range of titles for all ages. They invite families to come along to their preschool story time on Thursday’s at 10.30am where they introduce children to new stories, revisit loved ones and have fun. Kidna Books: 422 Hampton Street, Hampton - Ph: 9521 8272 Live 22 Local - Shop Local - and don’t forget to mention MamaMag!

MamaMag Birthday Special: Helium Filled Balloons

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your local place to relax in style Parties and Celebrations at Sierra Tango - Book your next celebration with us! Sierra Tango offers great options for parties, celebrations and social groups. Menus are designed to suit individual needs. We are open Tuesday - Sunday, lunch 11.30am - 3pm, drinks and dinner from 5pm - late, weekend brunch from 10am.

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MAMA of the month What better time than our one year anniversary to turn the tables and go behind these printed pages to find out a bit more about Sarah Cavalier, the owner, publisher, creative director and all round multi-tasking single mama behind MamaMag. Kirsty Chick, Port Phillip editor, get’s the behind the scenes story...

Happy Birthday to your baby MamaMag!! One year down, how on earth did this crazy and wonderful adventure get started and what were you doing before MamaMag? My background is Graphic Design (that’s why MamaMag looks so good!!) and I have run my own design business, Grizzle Design, for over 13 years. Before kids I was based in an awesome shared studio in Richmond. Once Lachie was born, almost 7 years ago, I moved my business home to the Macedon Ranges, where I lived, and worked on the business part time. Two years later Milla came along and business went on as usual. (No such thing as maternity leave for me.) I worked, tried to play happy housewife and juggled two children who never slept. But I never really felt happy. Some would say country life should have been idyllic, part time work fun, but I was tired and lonely and finally when my marriage unraveled I left the country with my two kids in tow back to the big smoke. We shacked up with Grandma in Brighton for 2 months before moving into our own place where I got back to rebuilding my business and my life. It’s a scary thought to suddenly need a full time wage again after 5 years part time and a hubby to cover the rest. I couldn’t just go out and get a job. I hadn’t worked for anyone since 2003! So I picked up some freelance design work to top up my Grizzle stuff and found a new studio to share in South Yarra. I was just making enough to pay the bills, but something was still missing. Corporate design and marketing just wasn’t exciting me anymore and I knew, as I rebuilt my life, it was time to build something new business wise as well.

You launched MamaMag and ran it completely solo for the first few months, only to call out for a small hand when you couldn’t physically distribute two publications at once. How hectic where those early days? I’m still not sure how I even got that first June issue off the ground. I pounded the streets for a month with a colour laser printout of my Media Kit and a few printouts of proposed articles for the first issue. It was so amateur! But I believed in my product and so did everyone else apparently because I sold enough ads to make a small profit and MamaMag was off and racing. I was selling ads, coordinating content, designing the magazine, designing ads, handling the accounts and distributing all 5,000 mags all by myself (plus still managing my Grizzle Design work) and for some reason 4 months later I decided it was a good idea to launch a second publication in Port Phillip! Bayside had been such a hit from the getgo and Port Phillip is like my second home, having lived in St Kilda before and Milla going to kinder in Elwood. So it was always going to be next. But suddenly I had almost doubled my workload only handballing the distribution of Bayside over to Kirsty when it became apparent I couldn’t deliver two publications at once! Kirsty was always going to do more with the mag, but at the time I couldn’t afford to pay her! Some people seem to think MamaMag is some big business. But it’s just a crazy single mum with a dream and a few other awesome mums now helping coordinate the content in the other two areas. Westside is managed by my sister who lives in Footscray and Port Phillip is looked after by the wonderful Kirsty who stepped up as Port editor when it all got too much for me to do by myself.

What was your initial vision for MamaMag and how has that evolved? Initially I just wanted to create something fun and local for mums to read whilst giving local businesses a new place to get great local exposure to a really targeted audience. I thought it would be a fun and exciting project to run that would complement my existing design business. But it’s become so much more. MamaMag has allowed me to meet so many amazing mums and locals in business and I love having a platform to be able to help showcase their ideas. I introduced the Mama of the Month article off the back of this, wanting to share all these fabulous mum’s stories with the readers in the hope they might inspire other mums to try something new after having kids. Whenever a business contacts me for advertising I always look at their business and say “Hey, we would love you to advertise (after all the ads are the only place the magazine gets funding and I need to feed my kids!), but where else can we get you involved so you get the best exposure to our local mums.” If it’s a toy shop I get items to use as prizes in our colouring comp and pop their details in there, if it’s a café I encourage them to submit a recipe to share with our readers. I work with local bookshops publishing book reviews, and of course I love local businesses writing articles as it gives the mag great content and it gives them another outlet to get their name out there as well. How do you manage to keep MamaMag on track, meet deadlines, keep the kids nourished and have time for hobbies? Are there even enough hours in the day? In a few words, I wing it! And no, there are not nearly enough hours in the day. Publication wise everything is often down to the wire as I’m still doing far too many jobs at once. As I type this it’s Thursday. Tomorrow is advertising deadline, yet I still have 10 ads to design and get approved and I’ve only half done the Bayside layout and not started the other two. We go to print Tuesday! I did move house this week though, so I’m a bit thrown off from that. I will be working all weekend, that’s a given and happens at least twice a month, but thankfully the kids are at their Dad’s a lot of weekends! Week life is a juggle as a single mum with two kids. Milla does two days sessional kinder and three days long day care at her wonderful Elwood kinder whilst Lachie is in Grade 1. Mondays and Wednesdays are normal pick up, Tuesdays are after school care, 25

Soccer on Thursday. I had a little office but now I’ve moved the business back home to make working at night easier and allowing the kids to get home a bit earlier. Nourishment... luckily for me the kids love eating healthy. If we are home after 6, sometimes it’s just brown rice, tuna and peas. Total cooking time 1.30min! But you do what you have to do. Proudest MamaMag moment to date... There have been many. When I distributed the very first mag last June I was in a kindergarten in Black Rock. It was my first stop in Black Rock so I knew no one down there would have seen it yet. As I explained to the teacher what MamaMag was and handed over her new display box, a cute little 4 year old boy looked up at me and said “MamaMag, my mum’s already got one of them”. Brilliant, we’re famous already!! Then when I distributed Port Phillip for the first time, within half an hour of dropping it in Bay Street Port Melbourne the president of the Port Melbourne Traders Association called to congratulate me on such an outstanding publication for the community. I’ve had so many lovely messages from readers on Facebook as well. It always makes me smile and feel so proud that I am creating something mums love and doing something great for the community at the same time. Some say the first year is the toughest in business startups - yet you’ve launched three mags in that time - what has kept you strong and motivated? I love what I do. There is never a day that I don’t want to work on MamaMag. I wish I had more days in the week to make time to make this magazine even better. Some of publications financially are working better than others, but the amazing feedback we get from our readers makes me so happy that as long as I’m not making a loss, I’m ok with that. I’m not here to make lots of money, just as long as I can support my beautiful kids (and pay that nasty tax bill!). My children keep me strong. They have become an integral part of MamaMag and my biggest fans. Poor Lachie can’t work out why he never wins the colouring comp though!! Now everytime we go somewhere, Milla always says “Mummy, take a photo and put it in the magazine”. She loves her 5 minutes of fame! 26

So it’s the Birthday Issue. Do you make Lachie & Milla’s cake each year? I’ve made Lachie’s every year, although Milla has had the Woolworths Peppa Pig cake for the last 2 years in a row. Too easy! Lachie wanted a giraffe for his third birthday which worked out quite well, until I let him help do the spots. He ended up with pink and purple patches instead of brown but he thought it was fabulous. You’ve exposed many Mama’s guilty pleasures on these very pages, time to share yours... My guilty pleasure is candy. I have a serious issue with Skittles and will easily knock back a family pack if not intervened! What’s a life lesson you would tell your younger self and a value you would most like to instill in your children? To not be afraid to try something new, no matter how hard it seems. A little saying I love is “Stop focussing on how stressed you are and remember how blessed you are.” What makes your heart burst? Every time I pick my kids up from their Dad’s, or from an afternoon at Grandma’s, they always run up and hug me with so much excitement like they haven’t seen me in weeks, yet it’s only been days or even hours. To see the love in their eyes and to know I’m making them happy gives me so much joy.

Photos by Kelly Jord an Photog www.kelly raphy jordanphot ography.c om.au

LOOKING FOR A SPORT PARTY? InSportz Sandringham is the perfect place to celebrate!

Our 2 hour parties include your own instructor who will guide the children in games on the Sand Courts then Soccer, Cricket, Tag Footy, Relay Races and more on the Sports Courts. Plus your own dedicated party room for food and cake. • Invitations supplied! • Party instructor supplied! • Birthday trophy supplied! • Cater yourself or let us do it all for you, just bring the cake!

247 Bay Road, Sandringham Ages 6+ Ph: 9532 2226 www.insportzsandringham.com.au The Safe & Fun Play Centre for PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN ONLY! Great coffee for Mums and Dads!

High Quality Equipment so kids are visible at all times Why not have your next party at Playdays?

The fun includes Jumping Castles, Home Play Items, Soft Play Obstacle Course, Soft Play Climbing Tower, Ball Play Area, Slides, Cars, 2 Large Ball Ponds, Swings, Roller Coaster Track, Crawlers Soft Play Ring, and much more... April to September - 9:30am to 4:00pm - 7days October to March - 9:30am to 3:30pm - 7days Join Club Playdays for great member benefits!

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Kids in sport

With all the technology temptations of modern life, it’s more important than ever to engage our children in active, balanced lifestyles. When a passion for sport is ignited in children early on, it is likely to stay with them for life.

confronting for parents. It’s a great way to involve your child in a fun, social and healthy activity that also allows you to spend quality time together away from the television!

We want our kids to be healthy, active, happy children. Instead of excessive screen time, we want to encourage them to get outside, to run around with their friends and to enjoy the sunshine, but motivating your children to be active in these modern technological times can be a challenge.

· Promoting a fit and healthy lifestyle

One of the best ways to engage children in physical, outdoor activities is to involve them in sport early on.

· Improving communication

For some parents, the idea of sport can be intimidating. Perhaps they were not athletic growing up and have no real interest in sport themselves. However sport shouldn’t be

· Helping provide structure and discipline

The benefits of children in sport are almost endless. Some of them include: · Building confidence and self esteem · Reducing stress - for parents and kids! · Improving balance and coordination · Providing a sense of belonging · Developing social skills · Building relationships with peers, mentors and teachers · Encouraging teamwork, cooperation and leadership · Teaching the benefits of goal setting

And above all, sport makes kids happy! They love running around with their friends and sharing a common interest.

their favourite drink bottle ready with their favourite snack for after the class. All of this helps to build excitement for the session.

It’s natural for kids to be a little apprehensive about trying something new for the first time. Once they get there, they will, of course, love it, but getting them out the door can sometimes also throw parents a curveball.

Having to sit down and take instructions from a coach before playing can be a new experience for children of a young age. Parents need to emphasise that the child needs to listen to the coach, and reinforce directions given. It will really help develop a child’s ability to be attentive.

Here are a few tips for preparing your children for a new sports program: Prepare your child for the class by speaking about it during the days leading up to their first session. Build excitement so they are looking forward to it. This also helps to overcome the nerves of entering into a new environment. Explain to your child that they are going to be part of a team and will meet new friends before arriving at the session. This helps by letting them know to expect to see lots of new faces. Sometimes kids are full of excitement at home, and then when you arrive to their first session, they curl up into a ball. That’s perfectly understandable. Your child doesn’t know anyone in a strange environment, so helping them ease into their first sports session is an important step for parent and child. When you arrive at the venue, try to dive straight into playing with whatever equipment is out…and don’t be shy, join in with them! We find this really helps to settle them into the new environment.

Don’t apply pressure! Sport is about enjoyment, especially at a young age. As long as your little one is smiling and laughing the rest will come. Your child may not pick it all up in one session, but with constant support and encouragement to try again if they don’t succeed, they will eventually reach their goal.

If at first you don’t succeed, what do we do? We TRY AGAIN! Parents MUST reinforce this. Even failing should be fun. If you would like to get your child involved in sport then why not check out Soccer Time Kids (1 - 5 year olds) and Football Star Academy (5 - 16+ year olds). We run terrific sports programs for kids that will provide hours of happy and healthy fun for your children. And we also run fun active kids parties! By Elliot Capel - Soccer Time Kids, Head of Coaching & Operations Manager Ph 1300 476 223 www.soccertimekids.com.au

Children of a young age feed off the energy that is around them. Put your phone away and fully submerse yourself into the session, and you will find your child follows suit. Of course, it may take some time for your child to start to really get comfortable with the sports program they are involved with. Parents need to walk a fine line of persistence versus pressure. We want to keep encouraging children to be involved but understand that sport is only a game and that ultimately it’s all about having fun. Here are a few thoughts to help keep your child excited about sport. Children love routine, so get them into one on the day of their sports session. Get the uniform out in the morning, and ask the child to get 31

Creating a successful mothers group Are you about to join a mothers group and want to ensure it works? Or are you already part of one that is starting to fizzle? A mothers group, like all relationships in life, takes effort for it to thrive. Whilst it will take time for your group to get to know each other there are a number of things you can proactively do to help put your mothers group on the path for success:

Communication is key: Make it easy for your group to keep in touch. Share each other’s contact details and create a private Facebook page for your group so that you can easily communicate the details of your catch ups, ask each other questions, share photos etc.

Keep it simple: Given you’ll all have baby brain, keep it simple and aim to have a regular weekly meeting (same time, day and location) as this will reduce the administration burden, avoid confusion and allow you to schedule other appointments around it.

Sleeping like a baby: The sleeping habits of your child will change over time and make it difficult for you to meet during the same hour each week so organise for your group to have at least a two hour meeting ‘window’ so you can come and go as you like during this time.

Location, location, location: Will you rotate hosting at each other’s homes or find a central location to meet? Cafés are one option (if you can find one that fits multiple prams) but are difficult once your baby starts to move. Parks are another option, however are weather dependant and therefore not a reliable regular venue given Melbourne’s variable weather. If you don’t want to have to worry about 32

cleaning your house and hosting a large group of mum’s and babies in your house/apartment then community halls and playhouses are the best option – they provide you with indoor and outdoor space that are suitable all year round and playhouses have the added benefit of providing you with all the toys, play equipment and utilities that you need so all you need to bring is your child and nappy bag!

Allow flexibility for working mums: One of the main reasons mothers groups fall apart these days is a result of the increasing trend for mums to return to part or full time work. To cater for this think about running two sessions a week (different days and times), mum’s night outs or weekend family activities to enable those who have returned to work to attend. If this still doesn’t work, then contact your local playhouses to see if you can join forces with another mothers group or join a new one. The effort you put in to establish a successful mothers group will be worth it – both you and your child will benefit from the social interaction and potentially lifelong friendships that are made.

To locate a playgroup near you visit www.playgroup.org.au. Written by Brighton South Playhouse. For more info visit www.brightonsouthplaygroup.com

Coco’s Early Learning Centre is a new family focused First Class kindergarten and long day care for children from 6 weeks to 5 years

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Children’s Birthday Parties Stylish party venue for children & parents OR invite Polkadot’s entertainers to your house with characters & themed parties from $220.

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Dancing, Games & Party Fun Awesome Songs & Music Glitter and Tattoos Prizes for all & Birthday Gift Theme & Character Options s, Princesse bows in a R & s ie Fair Dinosaurs Dancingroes Space Aliens! Super he Glamour & “Check out our cool Party Pamper, ove! Themes. There’s something ro G for everyone!”

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Children’s ceramic birthday party packages! Exclusive party room for 1.5 hours with your choice from our party range of ceramics. Includes personalised party plate, lolly bag and loyalty card. Sat 10.30am, 1.30pm or 3.30pm start - Sun 11am, 1pm or 3pm start.

10% discount if you book a weekend party two+ months in advance.

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Keepsakes Made With Love

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SINCE 2003

35 35

A safe home: Bringing children and parents together When parents separate or divorce local not for profit community service organisation Family Life offers a safe, secure place to bring children for visits or changeovers without conflict. For some couples who have separated, even facing each other for a few minutes when handing their children over for visits can be highly emotive, tense and at times almost impossible. Especially when there are any police charges or court orders in place - or if the couple simply aren’t on speaking terms. But the Bayside Children’s Contact Service, run by Family Life, offers a safe, neutral child-friendly venue for supervised visits and changeovers between children and parents. Suzie, Practice Leader, explains how the service is saving many parents from handing over children in the intimidating confines of a police station or in a busy McDonalds restaurant. “With our service, it’s a child-friendly homely environment complete with toys and trained staff - it’s very much focused on making the changeovers much more smooth, comfortable and happy for the children in particular. We are finding children are happier and parents are far less tense and anxious with our support.” While the service offers a good environment to hand over children, it’s also an ideal space for one or two hour long supervised visits by parents due to court orders. Suzie explains the story of how one couple, David* and Belinda*, were enduring a “very difficult” time in their separation when they began using the service on a regular basis. A court had ruled that David was allowed to have supervised time with the children, aged two and five, for a two hour period on a weekly basis. Initially, Suzie explains, David was quite resistant to using the service. *Names have been changed to ensure privacy

“At first, he didn’t make eye contact or engage in any conversation, but after taking a more gentle approach towards him, he soon softened and became more comfortable in the supervised visits.” The children were also initially unsure and hesitant around the workers, however they soon built a good rapport and really began to enjoy it. “David was very consistent, appropriate and child focussed for the 10 week period; overall, it was a very successful service for the family,” Suzie says. The family have now moved to selfmanagement through court proceedings in which the Bayside CCS provided a court report. Where families are not in a position to pay the fees for the Bayside service they are encouraged to contact Family Life’s Frankston Contact Service or other government funded services where fees are payable on a sliding scale, subject to income. Jo Cavanagh, the CEO says …”The waiting lists for our government funded services continue to grow and mean long gaps in children seeing their parents. We have this lovely home so decided to offer this additional service to help families move forward as quickly as possible. The setting and our team make timely change possible which is better for everyone.” “Results among families we work with are so pleasing to see - it shows what a difference this service can make to a whole family in one of the most diffi-cult chapters in their lives,” Suzie says.

The Service also encourages families to participate in Family Life’s Stand By Me Group, where parents learn new skills in communicating with the other parent on a more businesslike level - and most importantly to be child focused. Individual and family counselling is also available. For more information go to familylife.com.au/bayside-ccs-about-us/ Phone: 03 8599 5433

Separation and divorce can be hard enough in itself.

Luckily the Bayside Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Contact Service, run by Family Life, offers a safe, neutral child-friendly venue for supervised visits and changeovers between children and parents without conflict. www.familylife.com.au

Birthday Parties at the Brighton Rec Centre The Brighton Recreational Centre oﬀers fantastic Gymnastics Birthday Parties on Sundays for both boys and girls aged 6-12 years. You can also hire one of our rooms and run your own party or hire an entertainer to help you out. Bookings are essential. For further information or to place a booking please phone 9592 3033 or visit our website.

93 Outer Crescent, Brighton www.brightonrec.com.au

Cakes by Belinda Cakes for all occasions

Made from non-toxic crayons! Perfect for gifts and party favours. Sugar free treat alternative.

children’s birthdays christenings anniversaries weddings sporting / corporate events

Lots of shapes to choose from including animals, dinosaurs, lego, super heroes, robots, under the sea.

www.cakesbybelinda.net.au cakesbybelinda@yahoo.com.au 0408 200 829

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ARTY PARTIES Best Bayside Venue for your childʻs ARTY PARTY! • 2 Hours of Arty Crafty FUN • Sandringham studio all to yourself • $23 per head all inclusive, just bring food • Choose CLAY, PAINTING, DRAWING or CRAFT • Pick a theme OR design your own with Bron!

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mama can Cook! Mr Pizzas Serves: 8 | Prep: 5min | Cook: 5min

Method:

Ingredients: 8 English muffins

Toast the muffins and spread with either the tomato passata or green pesto.

Tomato passata

Divide the ham and cheese and layer on the muffins.

Green pesto

Then comes the fun bit, use the topping to create faces and then grill for a couple of minutes until the cheese is melted and is just turning brown.

Grated mozzarella cheese 100g sliced ham Red and green capsicum, sliced Black olives, sliced

Either prepare before the party, or get the kids to make their own as a super fun party activity.

Button mushrooms, sliced Pineapple cubes

These will be the hit of the party and full of yummy goodness! Thanks to the girls at messyfaces.com.au

40 40

Thanks to Hampton’s

No sugar, additives or preservatives. Almonds are full of good fats and vitamin E and raw cacao is full of anti oxidants and magnesium. A great afternoon choccy treat.

Choc almond milk and raw cacao protein balls! Serves: 4 glasses | Prep: 12hrs | Cook: 5min

Serves: 8-10 pieces | Prep: 5 min

Ingredients: Makes around 4 serves (1ltr) 1 cup raw biodynamic almonds, soaked overnight 5 medjool dates (pitted) ½ cup raw organic cacao powder ½ tsp Himalayan salt 1 tsp vanilla essence 900ml water Soak the almonds in filtered water overnight (at least 12 hours), drain and rinse thoroughly. Place all ingredients in a blender, blend on high for around 2 minutes. Once the mixture is thoroughly pulverised, pour through a nut bag (you can buy these at health food stores) or some muslin cloth into a jug, and squeeze all the nut milk through the nut bag until you are left with a dry meal in the bag, and a delicious nutty drink in your jug!

Ingredients: 1 cup almond pulp (from your almond milk) 12 pitted medjool dates 3 tbsp raw cacao powder ¼ cup goji berries ¼ cup raw cacao nibs 2 tbsp protein powder of your choice ¼ cup desiccated coconut 2 tbsp cold pressed coconut oil sprinkle of cinnamon pinch of Himalayan salt Place all dry ingredients in a food processor and blend until combined, then add the dates and coconut oil and continue to blend until well combined. Roll the mixture into little balls and set aside some desiccated coconut to coat the balls in. Enjoy with the delicious choc almond milk!

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No additives, preservatives or sugar. Low in salt and at least 2 serves of veg! Delivered frozen to your door for when you just run out of time to cook.

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Our professional and friendly nanny service provides you with the highest quality and best solution for your family’s needs. Authorised agency for government funding and rebates to eligible families. roganfamilycare.com.au Suite 504C, 198 Harbour Esplanade Docklands VIC 3008 9670 7686 office@roganfamilycare.com.au Proudly part of IntoWork Australia.

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ALL UNDER ONE ROOF!

50 Church St Brighton Live Local - Shop Local - and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to mention MamaMag!

T 9592 8587 43 43

Party Hats Its party time!!! Happy Birthday MamaMag, Its been a heap of fun writing the craft page for last year. And I love reading my mag each month. This month I have created a couple of DIY party hats to make that birthday extra special. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to like us on Faceboo k.com/lizzyannstudio

Dino Hat

You will need: pre bought hats, coloured paper, scissors, glue stick. To make; Using your coloured paper cut a zig zag line about 5cm in along one side of the paper. Measure your zig zag against the height of the hat. Cut to fit. Fold the edge of the zig zag down, run your glue stick over this edge. And glue into place.

Monster Hat

This is a fun one to let the kids do themselves at the party. You will need: pre bought hats, scissors, pom poms, white paper, black markers, glue, scrap paper. To make; Pre cut all different sized white circles for the eyes, pre cut different shaped teeth. Lay out all the paper eyes, teeth, pom poms, markers, and scrap paper. Let the kids make and create their own monster hat.

Sprinkle Hat

You will need: Pre bought hats, 100s and 1000s, PVA glue, paint brush, piece of paper. To make; Dip your brush into the PVA and paint the number on to the hat. Put the paper under the hat to catch all the 100 and 1000s. Shake the 100s and 1000s over the glue number.

Mini Crown Hat

You will need: Coloured paper or an old picture book. Scissors, PVA glue, paint brush, glitter, elastic, piece of paper, sticky tape. To make; cut a zig zag line up the long side of the paper about 10cm in. Dip your brush into PVA and paint the edge of the zig zag. Put the zig zag over the paper to catch the glitter. Shake glitter over the glue. Wait till dry. Roll into a circle and tape together. Tape the elastic on each side of the crown to hold on the head.

1 of 3 Globber My FREE scooters worth $120 each!

Then post your entry by June 30th to: MamaMag PO Box 8018 North Road LPO, Brighton East VIC 3187

Name: Address: Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like my scooter to be:

blue

red

orange

green

Age: Postcode: pink

purple

“Fashion changes, but style endures.” - Coco Chanel

WORKSHOP Hosted by Leiza Meredith from Style me Leiza

Champagne and canapés on arrival, complimentary gift bag, plus $30 of each ticket is redeemable for a personalised Style Me Leiza Styling Shopping Session. Leiza will share with you the insider tips on making the most of your body shape, the 10 essential items you need in your wardrobe that will take you through the seasons, the best jeans for every shape, how to start your wardrobe makeover and much more.

Date: Wednesday 8 July 2015 at 7.30pm Where: True South - 298 Beach Road, Black Rock Cost: $120 Bookings: http://www.trybooking.com/134573 For more information visit Stylemeleiza.com

Need HELP with the kids? No time to yourself? Family harmony suffering? Have Australia's leading Nanny, Angela Jacobsen, who nannies for the stars, help you and your family. Ozsupernanny also offers: ● Nannies/Au pairs/Babysitters ● Private Consulting - Supernanny style ● 101 Training certificate for Nannies and Carers ● Baby Love and Baby Food books 0404 212 450 ozsupernanny@gmail.com www.ozsupernanny.com

Photography Newborn and Maternity Port Melbourne based and mobile

0405 714 219

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Mel’s Soy Wax Products candle making workshops 4hr workshops in Sandringham - $150 For details call Mel on 0402 246 458

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Relish Mama Cooking Classes

Nutritious home-style cooked meals for toddlers, frozen for your convenience & delivered to your door. Get 2 FR EE MEALS w ith your first order

Teaching great home cooking using the freshest of ingredients in a loving, intimate and very social environment. Catering for individuals, private groups and corporate bookings.

ENTER COD

E MM615

For more information, or to make a booking phone: 03 9553 4846 or email: info@relishmama.com.au www.relishmama.com

Baby Hampers and Baby Gifts

Celebrate a new arrival with a beautiful Baby Hamper or Gift from Little Turtle Baby

Bring this coupon in for

10% OFF

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Travel beyond boundaries Family Holidays

Let Bayview Travel be your familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s travel concierge, with first hand specialised knowledge of destinations and family experiences world wide. Let us help you create the perfect holiday for you and your family. Embark on your holiday with peace of mind, knowing every detail is managed by your personal advisor.

Bayview House Suite 1, 232 Bay Street, Brighton, VIC, 3186 PH: 03 9596 7299 www.bayviewtravel.com.au