EASTSIDE
mamaMAG Jun/Jul 2017
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Jimmy Giggle Lah Lah’s Big Live Band Frank Woodley Trolls - Paw Patrol
Captain Festus McBoyle’s Travellin’ Variety Show Melbourne City Ballet - Josh Earl The Adventures of Broer & Zus and many more...
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terrific three’s Happy 3rd birthday to MamaMag, and also to my little threenager - my number one Eastside mag fan! Thank goodness for me though the magazine isn’t quite as emotionally-charged or as prone to boundary testing. Since recently returning to the role of full-time stay at home mum, it’s actually my little oasis, my ‘me time’ where I get to connect with other mamas on the team and out in the local community. I couldn’t ask for a better job, so it’s with great pleasure that I wish this fantastic little magazine a happy and healthy future, and many more birthdays ahead. I hope you all had a wonderful Mother’s Day, and were cherished for being the amazing human that you are. Before I had a baby, I didn’t think that I would want to celebrate the day. To me it felt so commercial and forced (like Valentine’s Day. Quite the cynic, I know). Enter motherhood, and I expect a song and dance. Well, at least breakfast in bed and a homemade card. In other words, I want my small family to mother me for a change. This year, I ended up staying in bed until 10am, which was heavenly, and then sharing a decadent afternoon tea at a local French café with the two loves of my life. It’s the simple pleasures these days. This fantastic issue is all about celebrating. It’s our parties and play edition, where you’ll find plenty of ideas and inspiration for your kids’ birthday parties in Melbourne. At three years, my child is still at the age where the parties are about the adults, where wine is served, and often the parents outnumber the kids. The day will come soon enough – I’m assuming kindergarten – when we’ll be researching venues, entertainers, catering, and party games. If your kids are at that stage, then you should find everything you need here. Good luck! Keep warm mamas, winter is coming!
@localmamamag
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Contents Basically it’s a party Birthday party basics
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Parklife 8 The new Booran Reserve Glen Huntly Get in the theme Party theme ideas
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Turn the page This month’s picks from Story Mama
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Party people Local birthday party ideas and venues
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We love a mother Patricia Feehan from Pyewear
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Lovely locals We explore Westfield Doncaster
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Winter woofers Don’t forget your dog in Winter
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Mama can cook Raw cakes from Dani Venn
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Hey there Georgie girl A mother’s birth story
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Glow this Winter Winter skin care
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Holiday heroes Kitchen fun for kids these holidays
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Fresh air fun Get your kids off the couch
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A musical headstart in life Learning new skills
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Colour to WIN WIN a family pass to the Big Freeze Festival in July
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MamaMag June/July 2017
R54 Compact Round with tgoma and Delivery
Entries are open to Victorian residents only. Competition starts June 1st 12.01am and closes July 31st 2017 at 11.59pm. Entries and prizes are not transferrable or redeemable for cash. Visit www.mamamag.com.au for full terms and conditions.
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MamaMag is published bi-monthly for the mums of Melbourne’s East by Grizzle Design Pty Ltd ABN: 26 042 138 550. PO Box 8018 Brighton East 3187 Phone: 1300 771 446 Email: info@mamamag.com.au www.mamamag.com.au www.grizzledesign.com.au
10,000 copies per issue in Melbourne’s East inc. Stonnington, Boroondara, Yarra and Melbourne. Editor in Chief: Sarah Cavalier: sarah@mamamag.com.au Eastside Editor: Kara Wilson Eastside Advertising: Georgia Place: georgia@mamamag.com.au National Key Account Manager: Justine Whatmore: justine@mamamag.com.au Like to contribute an article submission? submissions@mamamag.com.au For advertising enquiries: download our media kit from www.mamamag.com.au or email info@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.
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Basically it’s a Getting back to basics with your party planning Planning and organisation As I have just become a new mum organisation is the key and I would suggest handing out your invites 6 weeks before the party. Request RSVP’s for two weeks before the party to allow time to prepare. It’s very important to give your child a voice and involve them as much as possible in the planning of the party. Get them to make their own invites. Cut out shapes (Stars and heart) from watercolour paper, paint and decorate with feathers, sequences, stickers and glitter. Make every invite unique and personal. Write on the information on the back.
Theme Discus the party theme with your little one, decide this early and lock it in. As ARTea is an art studio I hand draw and paint our decorations so any theme is possible. Get your little one to draw and colour images relating to the theme. Enlarge, colour photocopy and cut out. You can make bunting out of them as well as larger wall and hanging decorations. This will impress your guests and give your child a sense of pride, as they will want to show off their creations!!
Party activities and games Set up an arts and craft table with age appropriate activities. For younger guests – animal masks, jewellery boxes, festival hats, for older guests t-shirt designing, jewellery making, photo frame decorating. Have on hand extra activities to give to guests, to engage them for longer. A little tip is not to place all materials out at once, give guests a little at a time. Also place on a wall or a chalkboard stand a large piece of
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paper and encourage guests to write and draw messages to the birthday person. This large birthday card is a treasured keepsake. I would suggest 45-60mins of craft. If you don’t feel comfortable in running the activities yourself enlist some help, an older sibling or relation. We can also come out and run them for you.
Party food time! Keep it simple!! Homemade little pizzas, star shaped sandwiches, popcorn in decorative pots, fresh fruit and marshmallows on a stick and rice crispy cakes. A simple and popular birthday cake is cup cakes arranged on a high-tea stand. Always check guest dietary requirements and offer a nut free menu. If possible set up table and chairs and invite guests to sit down and bring the food out to them; this limits mess and gives them time to enjoy their party food. Allow 20 mins for food. While the little guests are seated gather all the other guests and bring the birthday cake out and sing ‘Happy Birthday’. Don’t forget to get family photos with the cake.
Party games!! Finish the party on a high with party games. Pass the parcel – A trick that we do is to fill a decorative box with prizes and when the music stops the guests get to open the box and select a prize. That way each child gets to choose what they want. This saves paper and time on wrapping. Children love Musical Statues; have prizes for best dance moves; who freezes first etc. this will encourage all guests to participate. Get them to dance like their favourite animal and freeze on one leg. For older children, have a simple disco; place coloured rope lights around the room, make glow jewellery and play prepared play list. Be ready for requests.
party! End the party A nice way to finish the party is to get the little guests to sit down and finish by playing musical bumps (sit down when the music stops). Get the birthday person to invite each guest individually to come forward and receive their ‘Thank you bag” , which can be hand decorated by the birthday person and filled with art materials. Big cuddles and kisses and a great photo opportunity. The main thing to remember is that it’s not about how clean your house is or how much you have spent on the party it’s about celebrating your little one and that they are having fun with family and friends. By Helen Pollard, ARTea Art School. ARTea host parties in their Port Melbourne studio. They also run after school art programs for 5-12yos at Elwood Primary. www.artea.com.au
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Parklife BOORAN RESERVE- CNR BOORAN & GLENHUNTLY RD, Glen Huntly We’ve been watching the construction of this beauty for sometime now and are beyond excited it is finally time to play! Glen Eira’s newest park opened in the April school holidays. The $10.8 million reserve is being billed as the best playground in Melbourne and we have to agree! Built on the site of an old reservoir, the park celebrates its unique history with parts of the reservoir wall retained to accommodate a climbing wall, sports hit-up wall and ball sports area. The play space areas provide stimulating and challenging environments for all ages and abilities, and includes an excellent water play area (maybe not so great at this time of year) that reflects the former use of the site.
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A big highlight, and certainly what grabs your attention first is Australia’s first double-dome climbing net with a fabulous slide. There is also a two-tier sand pit, soft-fall climbing walls, outdoor gallery space, in-ground trampolines, urban forest corridor and double flying fox. There are active sports areas as well as passive spots for relaxation, picnic shelters and BBQs. Expanses of lawn area to play on and even a human hampster wheel! Limited car parking is available off Alamar Avenue, and additional all-day car parking is available at nearby Glen Huntly Park (250 metres). Please remember to check the signs as parking restrictions apply in local streets.
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making a difference Kid’s health and wellbeing:
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We hear about it constantly but it doesn’t solve the problem… our nation is becoming more inactive and suffering weight challenges more than ever before. Australian Government statistics suggest that 2-in-3 adults and 1-in-4 children are overweight or even obese. Why is this happening and what can we do about it before it starts causing lifelong health issues like cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes, not to mention mental health issues?
This change is serious; the effects of modern technology are creating a genuine health risk to the most important generation of our country – our kids! How do we do something about it before the children of our future become indoor screen addicts? Technology has and will continue to change our world, no doubt for the better, however, we must actively instill device control with our kids before they forget how to be kids and have fun!
When reflecting on the good old days of our country’s older generation’s childhood, my how the times have changed. We were active, out and about in the great outdoors whenever we could, until Mum called us in for dinner and even then it was a tough choice - more play time or food!? We would be running, throwing, catching, chasing or climbing anything that looked fun, we were fearless and always active.
It is recommended children aged from 5-18 years spend around 45 minutes each day being active, away from screens and the sofa. Being active daily is guaranteed to elevate their heart rate, give them cute little rosy cheeks and get a sweat up but more importantly, help them understand how great your body and mind feel when you exercise daily, plus how much fun being physically active is!
Parents are the key here; we all know how easy it is to pop a screen in front of the little ones to keep them from misbehaving (or to give us some peace and quiet!), however we hope parents will start to understand the extensive benefits their kids will find from using their creativity and being more active instead of letting the screen babysit. Children must learn from a young age and understand the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle. Without intervention, our children will become stuck in a cycle where being active is a ‘chore’. The time is now - let’s get children more active and make sure they have lots of fun doing it! Being active and engaging in physical activities each day will not only put a smile on their faces and sparkle in their eye, it will be the highlight of their day plus have many advantageous health and wellbeing benefits – they will sleep better, be more positive, have more energy and be happier! Sport and fitness develops a child’s confidence and self-esteem that is critical for their development. Without this, a child can potentially suffer various mental health issues if they don’t feel they are capable of being active, part of a team or have fun with other kids.
It is vital that parents explore different options in an effort to make physical activity for children fun again and not too competitive, challenging or even boring. Try a few different sports or fitness based activities to figure out together what they enjoy most or excel at. Most importantly, get them moving, please parents help us fight the stats and change the future for our kids to be healthier and happier! There are plenty of exciting and physically challenging, fun kids activities to try around your local community. If you are looking for a noncompetitive activity that is different every week, where your child will learn new sports, make fitness exciting and is guaranteed serious fun then get in touch with your local Gecko Sports Coach to attend a FREE TRIAL CLASS at one of our after-school sports and fitness programs. Templestowe Gecko Sports: Call Ying on 0430 622 375 or email ying@geckosports.com.au Knox/Wantirna Gecko Sports: all Andrew on 0422 196 609 or email andrew@geckosports.com.au Get fit. Get Gecko fit! By Kim O’Donnell Managing Director, Gecko Sports. www.geckosports.com.au
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turn the page Billie B Brown The Birthday Mix-up by Sally Rippin Billie’s party is going to be the best ever. She has lots of fun things planned! Now she just has to wait for her friends to turn up. This is a great series by Sally Rippin for beginning readers. It contains 4 chapters with big print and plenty of black and white illustration for kids moving on from picture books. Billie asks her parents all the time “how many sleeps until my party?” When the big day arrives her friends seem to be very late and Billie thinks that nobody is coming. Eventually Billie realises she had written down the wrong time. She is relieved to solve the mystery. We highly recommend it for ages 5-8.
Fancy Nancy and the Butterfly Birthday by Jane O’Connor and Robin Priess Glasser Nancy thinks butterflies are simply exquisite. And that is why she can’t wait to go to her friend Bree’s Butterfly Birthday! But when Nancy finds out she can’t go because her grandparents’ 50th anniversary party is the same day, she is furious! How will she overcome this disappointment? In a glorious twist everybody’s favourite fancy girl gets a sparkling lesson in fancy from her own grandparents. Maybe being fancy runs in the family after all! If you have a child into glitter, butterflies, and sparkly things they will love Fancy Nancy. Great fun for ages 3-6.
Wombat’s Birthday Surprise by Lachlan Creagh “Today is Wombat’s Birthday! Roo’s planning a treat: A surprise party full of games and lots of things to eat”. Who doesn’t love a party? But will his friends be able to wake up sleepy Wombat in time? This book contains fairy bread, party pies and pavlova. A very Aussie party. It is full of super cute birthday fun and Australian animals. A great gift for any child about to have or go to a birthday party. Little kids will love calling out “Happy Birthday!” to wake the sleepy wombat. This paperback even includes some cute birthday wrapping covered in balloons. We recommend it for ages 3-6.
Bring a Duck by Lesley Gibbes and Sue deGennaro Birthday party at my place! Bring your own duck. Bear has never been to a duck party before. Whatever happens it’s sure to be fantastic, fabulous, feather-tickling fun. This is a fun read aloud about a birthday party with a difference. All the characters bring a different type of duck to Pig’s birthday party and the duck’s antics are heaps of fun. They row, fly, dress up, play party games and even have a best duck parade. This book may inspire unusual birthday party requests. Guaranteed to make parents and children smile. Highly recommended for ages 4-7.
Debbie Hatswell is a Melbourne mum and the founder of Story Mama. Story Mama is an online children’s bookstore featuring a huge range of carefully curated, parent recommended, high quality books for children ages 0-9. You can shop online by age, by interest, by award winners or even by milestone. Buy these titles online or find out more at www.storymama.com.au 12 12
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Young Australian Broadway Chorus presents
Fun for the whole family in the school holidays!
12-15 July, 2017 Union Theatre, Parkville
www.shrek-jr.com.au
Based on the DreamWorks Animation Motion Picture and the Book by William Steig BROADWAY JUNIOR COLLECTION®
Book and Lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Originally produced on Broadway by DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions Original Production Directed by Jason Moore and Rob Ashford “I’m a Believer” by Neil Diamond Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia). All performance materials supplied by Hal Leonard Australia.
Get more from mama - www.mamamag.com.au | Get social with mama - @localmamamag
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Party People! Mama has got local birthday party fun covered!
MSAC
Albert Park www.melbournesportshub.com.au MSAC fully supervised parties are jam-packed with fun and adventure! There are 4 party themes to pick from: Wet & Wild Birthday Parties 6-14yrs, Cave & Castle Birthday Parties 4-7yrs, Super Sport Parties: 6-16yrs or FlowRider Birthday Parties (height restrictions apply). There are four great food menus to pick from and parties run for 2hrs from 11am and 7pm every Saturday and Sunday.
Inflatable World Doncaster Doncaster East www.inflatableworldoz.com.au
They run fantastic sports combo parties here with 1 hour on the inflatables and over 30 minutes on their Inflatable Beach Court with an instructor running games like Beach Soccer, Beach Volleyball, Beach Dodgeball, Tug of War, and fun warm up games! Food, drinks and lolly bags for all the guests are served in your private party room with this all-inclusive party package. Stress free partying!
Carnival for Kids Ashwood www.carnivalforkids.com.au
Cat knows how to throw a party! Inside her gorgeous party venue you will find a carnival inspired interior, photo booth, popcorn cart, dress up face paint room and a dining hall to complete the carnival themed space. Characters from Frozen, Cinderella and many of the classics can be hired as well. Plus they can also bring their parties and characters to your home or chosen venue. 14 14
Clip n Climb/Up Unlimited Richmond www.clipnclimbmelbourne.com.au
Clip n Climb in Richmond was the first of its kind in Australia and brings indoor climbing to a new level. There’s colourful challenges and climbs that look like nothing you’ve seen before. Parties include a 15 minute safety briefing, 1 hour climbing session, harnesses, free Vertical Drop Slide and Leap of Faith for the party child, private party room and food.
Bounce
Glen Iris and Blackburn North www.bounceinc.com.au An action-packed trampoline adventure. Dodgeball, slam dunks, wall-jumping, taking a leap into the big bag for a cushy landing. All party packages include 60 minutes of free jumping mayhem followed by 30 minutes access to your own party room, a dedicated party host to guide you through the action, delicious food options to feed the crew and official BOUNCE grip socks for everyone.
Fizz Kidz
East Malvern. www.fizzkidz.com.au Fizz Kidz offers unique and creative kids birthday parties, where children make their very own natural creations to take home! Kids get creative making fizzy bath bombs, slime, rainbow salts, lip balm and much more! Their bright and colourful party venue will provide an exciting birthday for each birthday boy or girl!
Wild Action
Comes to you www.wildaction.com.au Another party that comes to you – and by that we mean snakes, a crocodile, gecko, lizard, frog, turtle, owl, kangaroo and a possum come to you. If you’re not keen on snakes just make sure you stay behind the camera! Zoologist Chris Humfrey runs a private zoo in the Macedon Ranges and really knows his stuff.
Lollypops Playland Forest Hill Forest Hill www.foresthillchase.lollipopsplayland.com.au
If your kids want the time of their lives, Lollipops Playland Forest Hill are ready to deliver. They take care of everything: colourful invitations, hats and balloons, fun food, lolly bags, party host, Lollipops birthday certificates and of course…a delicious birthday cake! 15 15
Enchanted Adventure Garden Arthurs Seat www.enchantedmaze.com.au
Not quite local, but well worth the trip to these amazing gardens and mazes. Explore the bordered hedge mazes, climb the bush scramble obstacle courses, ride the thrilling tube slides and explore the indoor 3D spooky maze. All packages include a party table within the pavilion, hot or cold party platter plus an Enchanted Adventure souvenir drink bottle and 100g lolly bag per person.
Billy Lids
Hawthorn www.billylids.com Billy Lids indoor children’s play centre parties give kids access to the centre for the entire day and exclusive use of either the stage or party room for 1.5 hours. Their party options are simple and easy and their food is the best you will find in a play centre. For the bigger kids there is the Flix Disco option upstairs, with coloured hairspray and glowsticks, perfect for children aged between 6 and 12 years!
The Art Factory
Malvern & Balwyn North www.theartfactory.com.au The Art Factory is a vibrant art studio where you will find a fantastic range of activities to inspire boys and girls from 4 years of age through to some sophisticated crafts for teens. The kids will all have fun creating a masterpiece that they will be thrilled to take home at the end of the party.
Latitude
Heidelberg www.latitudeair.com Bounce, climb and fly! Latitude’s has everything! Rock climbing, trampolines and an obstacle course high in the sky. They offer General Parties for children 5 years and older, or the Kids Zone Party for children aged 18 months - 5 years with a three storey adventure playground and mini tramps. Choose either the obstacle course and 2 tramp activities, rock climbing and 2 tramp activities or 3 tramp activities.
The Zen Den
Surrey Hills thezenden.net.au Set in a beautiful Balinese hut, kids will have the best pamper party ever! Pink lemonade, party snacks, glitter hair spray, rose petal foot spa, nail polish, foot massages, pink robes, avocado face masks and spritzers, funky temporary tattoos, cool music, mirror balls and mags, plus play in the gorgeous fairy garden. Complimentary gift bags for all guests and printable invitations supplied. 16 16
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s od option stomised fo u c st * e ho yon ated party s for ever om * Dedic grip sock e party ro rotation l BOUNCE at y ia iv rt ic Pr pa ff a O as * ties * available red activi ve x-park * Tailo venues ha e c n u rents bo ted ffees for pa * Selec + 5 free co
2 weir st, glen iris 22-26 joseph st, blackburn north *bookings must be for a minimum of 10 people. All guests must be over 125cm to access X-Park.
For more info call 1300 000 540 bounceinc.com.au
we love a mother In this issue, I had the pleasure of chatting to the inspirational Eastside entrepreneur, Patricia Feehan. As a mum to three very active kids, Patricia was frustrated with a lack of availability of good quality, affordable sunglasses. Passionate about protecting children’s eyes, she spent 18 months researching and testing different products and eventually the pye (protect your eyes) range of sunglasses was born. Please tell us a little about your children, and what you love doing as a family? I have three very active boys, Thomas 13 and identical twins, Jacob and Alex 11. We are a family that loves to be outdoors and active and the boys do a lot of sport outside of school, so I’m always ferrying around someone to something.
What were you doing prior to launching your kids’ sunglasses label, Pyewear, and what was the turning point for you to start the business? My career before children was in marketing with global and local Australian brands and my passion was always in new product development. I went back to work after my first child was born, but just before my twins were born the company that I worked for moved their head office to Sydney, so I took a redundancy and we made a family decision that I would be a stay at home mum for a few years. This was the best thing I did in hindsight as the time with them was incredible and I was able to dedicate my emotional and physical self to them. Once all the boys were in school, I started to think about going back to work, but found it was really hard to find anything in my previous field that was flexible enough for me to strike a good work life balance.
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I had a “lightbulb” moment when I was driving home from an unsuccessful shopping expedition trying to find my children some good quality sports sunglasses that they could wear when they played tennis. I distinctly remember ringing my husband straight away and said, “I think I’m going to start my own line of kids sport sunglasses”. He was extremely supportive and I went home to start my research that day and two years later, Pyewear was born.
How would you describe Pyewear, and how do you differentiate from other glasses on the market? Pye sunglasses are made for 6-12 years olds and there are two styles in my range: one which has a flexible frame, pyeFLEX, suited to the rough and tumble of school play and has adjustable arm tips for different head shapes and sizes and one which has a more sports style, pyeSPORT. I made a big effort to develop something that was different to what was on the market today focusing on three key elements: performance, comfort and fashion. From the materials used, to the design, it was important that each of these elements were satisfied every time. A big difference of pye sunglasses is they all have good quality polarised lenses for maximum sun glare reduction and improved vision quality, increasing comfort and reducing squinting and eye fatigue. Another major difference to other sunglasses available
today is that the lenses are all made from polycarbonate, a strong material similar to that used for aircraft windshields. Polycarbonate lenses are lightweight and impact-resistant making them perfect for sport or the rough and tumble of everyday living as a kid.
How do you juggle running your own business with motherhood? I try to sit down at my desk at the same time every day once I get the kids off to school and I plan to have one day a week where I catch up on “home” stuff like paying bills, reading school newsletters or signing excursion forms. It’s difficult sometimes to be that disciplined and I’ve had to learn to treat my business like I was walking out the door to go to an office. Whilst its been a scary leap of faith to invest my time, energy and money into starting my business, I have loved getting the kids involved in what I am doing. They were very instrumental in the product testing, in choosing colours for the frames and helping with the branding from the name to the logo.
You can check out Patricia’s range at www.pyewear.com.au
What other advice would you give mums who are considering starting a business? Do what you love and just get started. Do your research and have a plan. Think about what financial resources you are going to need and how you are going to go about raising those funds. Also, set small goals along the way and enjoy achieving each one of those.
What inspires you and what has motherhood taught you? Other people’s success stories inspire me, because in every success story, there is a story of perseverance, resilience and personal growth. Motherhood has taught me that life isn’t perfect and that you can’t plan for all eventualities, so you need to give yourself a break sometimes and adapt. When my husband and I found out we were having twins, we could barely speak for two weeks as we thought, “this wasn’t in our plan, this doesn’t happen to people like us”. But it’s been amazing. We had to adapt and we are creating new plans all the time, because sometimes old plans fall through and that’s ok.
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lovely locals 1.
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2. Fit and fabulous - 2XU Founded and based here in Melbourne, it’s fast becoming the most technical sports brand in the world. Designed and tested in consultation with industry experts, all garments employ intelligent physiological design, cutting edge performance fabrics and construction. 2XU has graced the skin of multiple World Champion athletes, but you’ll find something for the whole family for every sport. Level 1.
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3. Fun for the kids - Kids Playworld Kids and big shopping centres don’t often go together. Let the little ones burn off some energy before traipsing around the shops at Kids Playworld. It’s a colourful soft padded play space catering to children from around 2 to 6 years. Entry is free however children must be supervised at all times. Level 1.
4. Personal styling - Westfield team Let the Westfield team of professional stylists inspire you and help you put together the perfect wardrobe. You might have a special event coming up, be heading back into the workforce after having a baby, or it might just be time for a refresh. Whatever the occasion, their stylists can help you put together the perfect wardrobe. Their styling sessions also make the perfect gift for someone special, or get some friends together and go for a group styling session. Check the website or phone (03) 9091 5594 for prices (includes valet parking and light refreshments).
5. Pregnant and proud - Ripe maternity Ripe is an Australian owned maternity fashion brand, designing contemporary, stylish, and most of all comfortable maternity and nursing clothing and accessories. Established by two friends, and staffed by Aussie mums, you’ll find stylish outfits for evenings out before your baby arrives, or maternity wear to see you through those busy days ahead. If you’re looking for maternity work wear made with flair, fashion, passion and affordability, Ripe is your one-stop-shop for nursing wear. Level 1.
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winter woofers Grooming doesn’t stop in winter! During the chilly months, it’s even more important to take care of your dog’s coat. The cold weather stimulates hair growth which can result in matting and skin problems. Follow our simple tips to keep your dog’s coat healthy during winter and best of all, they can become a great activity for the whole family!
Brush It Out To keep your dog’s coat long and beautiful, regular brushing is vital and it will maintain skin and coat health. This is something that you and your children can do together – all you need is a couple of minutes a day and it is a great way to bond with your pooch. A dog’s winter coat can also hide skin nasties, such as lumps, sores or rashes - which is another reason to brush regularly. There are specific dog brushes available for different coat types. Slicker brushes work best for removing knots and for breeds with medium-long or curly fur, while bristle brushes are ideal for short-haired dogs. Brushing throughout winter and maintaining regular wash and tidies at your local groomer will help avoid the dreaded short shave. No one likes a nude pup however if you must get your pup clipped short don’t forget that there are protective raincoats and natural fiber jumpers available to keep your dog warm and stylish!
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Rub-A-Dub-Dub Get Your Dog In The Tub Just like humans, dogs can suffer from the bane of winter - dry skin and hair! Cold weather, wind and heaters within the home all contribute to dryness. The best solution is prevention! Use a moisturising shampoo and conditioner during winter to keep the skin and fur healthy and luscious, and it will also make brushing a breeze. Ask your kids to collect their dog’s favourite toys & treats to turn bath time into a game - how many times will your pup shake it out in the tub (and all over yourselves)? If you bath your dog at home, ensure they are completely dry before letting them outside because a wet, cold dog is not a happy dog!
Clip Those Nails As the weather gets cooler we tend to go outside less, and our dogs aren’t playing or walking on concrete as much as they usually would. This means that their nails aren’t wearing down naturally and they need to be checked regularly. If you can hear “tap tap tap” on your floors as they walk, then it’s time for a trim. Keep those paws in tip-top shape and tell your kids to listen out for that delightful sound!
Take Care Of Cracked Paws Like their skin, dogs’ paws can become quite dry when outside in winter. If severe enough, the pads can become cracked and in some cases infected. Use a moisturising balm on their pads to help prevent cracking from occurring. Another quick and easy solution is to wipe your dog’s paws with a dry towel after each outing. Keep a towel at the front door and make it a fun routine that your kids can help with – it might help your kids remember to wipe their feet after playing in puddles too! All of these simple tips really do make a difference to your dog’s health and happiness, so make it a fun part of your family’s routine. By DOGUE Brighton. 156 Martin Street dogue.com.au
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mama can Cook! Dani Venn’s raw carrot cake Prep time: 20 minutes
Method:
Ingredients:
Line a 20cm pan with baking paper on the base and sides.
500g carrots, finely grated
It’s really easy to do all your prep like chopping walnuts, making your own oat flour (simply blitz rolled oats) and grating carrots in your food processor. Then blitz dates until a mushy, smooth consistency is formed and add back in carrots, oat flour, spices and walnuts and pulse until mixture is well combined.
1 cup medjool dates, seeds removed 1½ cups oat flour or almond meal 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped Icing 200g raw cashews, soaked overnight ½ cup thickened coconut cream 1 tbs raw coconut oil
Place mixture into cake pan and smooth out and leave it in the fridge to set for an hour or so. Or if you would like two layers of cake (pictured), add only half of the mixture, then add icing, wait for it to set for an hour or so then repeat . I’ve also served this dessert in small jars because everything looks cute in a jar.
1 tbs raw sweetener like maple or honey To make icing, place cashews, coconut cream and oil, sweetener and lemon juice into food processor and blend ½ lemon, juice only on high until smooth consistency is achieved, scraping down Extra walnuts, pumpkin and sunflower the sides as needed. Remove cake from pan, smooth over seeds, for garnish icing and garnish with nuts and seeds. Yummo!
Find more fabulous recipes from Dani Venn at thewholeheartedcook.com 24
Dani Venn’s raw rainbow icecream cake Ingredients: Base 20 Medjool dates, pitted 2 cups almonds Pinch of sea salt 8 cups raw cashews, soaked overnight or for at least 4 hours 3/4 cup lemon juice 2 ½ cups melted coconut oil 1 ½ cups coconut cream, thickened part only – from chilled coconut cans
Layer One 2 cups frozen raspberries Layer Two 10g matcha (green tea) powder OR 2 ripe avocadoes, pit removed, flesh scooped out Layer Three 2 cups frozen blueberries Layer Four 2 teaspoons saffron threads (soaked in ½ cup extra coconut milk) or saffron powder
1 cup pure maple syrup 2 teaspoons vanilla powder or 2 vanilla beans, seeds scraped 25
Dani Venn’s raw rainbow icecream cake cont. Method: To make the cake base, using a high-powered food processor blitz almonds into almond meal, remove and set aside. Then blitz dates until sticky and smooth, add back in the almond meal and pinch of salt and pulse until the mixture comes together and you could roll into a smooth ball. Add extra dates if too dry or nuts if the mix is too wet. Press firmly into the base of your cake pan and store in the fridge. I like to make one big batch of creamy cashew and coconut mixture then divide the mix into four batches, which I then spike with various colours and flavours. So to make the cake, ensure that your cashews have been soaking for at least 4 but ideally 8 hours or overnight, drain them and add to your food processor.. depending on the size of your food processor you might have to do this in two batches. Add lemon juice, coconut oil, coconut cream, maple syrup, vanilla bean and a pinch of salt to the processor and blitz on high until smooth and creamy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl if needed. Divide this mixture into four batches. For the first raspberry layer, return your creamy cashew mix back to the food processor, add in your frozen raspberries and blitz till smooth and pink. You can choose to add more raspberries if you’d like a more vibrant colour. Pour the mix into your prepared cake tin and set in the freezer. To make the second layer, repeat the above process but use matcha powder or avocadoes. Once the raspberry layer is firm, you can add the second layer.
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To make the third layer, repeat the above process but use frozen blueberries. Once the green layer is firm, you can add the third layer. To make the fourth layer, you will need to steep the saffron threads (if using) into warm coconut milk – just use the excess you will have after scooping the thickened part of the coconut cream out of the can. Allow to steep for 15 minutes before adding to the cashew mixture. Alternatively you could use saffron powder. Repeat the same process as above and once the blueberry layer is firm you can add the last layer. Vanilla Bliss Balls to decorate: 1 cup almonds 1 cup fresh medjool dates 1 teaspoon vanilla powder or 1 vanilla bean, seeds scraped 2 cups desiccated coconut For the world’s simplest bliss balls (you can trick them up with other things if you’d like but they still taste great!) blitz together dates, almond meal, vanilla and salt, roll into balls and then roll into desiccated coconut. Keep in the fridge until you are ready to decorate your cake.
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654 27
hey there Georgie girl When you chose to have an elective caesarean, one would expect a fast and trouble free birth. After a short stay in recovery you’re back to your room and you begin your journey as mum and bub, with all the help you could ever need on hand in the hospital. But even the simplest of plans can quickly change. We recently chatted with new mama Kat who in mid-January this year was admitted to Jessie McPherson Private Hospital at 38 weeks, ready to meet her little girl. This was Kat’s first child and the thought of finally bringing into this world the small life that had been growing inside her, had both her and her partner excited but anxious about how their lives were about to change now they would become parents. Kat had chosen an elective caesarean on the advice of her obstetrician; based on her age and history—she’d had three heartbreaking miscarriages and didn’t want the possibility of anything going wrong. “We found ourselves admitted during one of the busiest days and periods this year for both births and caesareans. The nurses said we were one of around 11 couples having caesareans on this one day. The procedure went well and there was my new little girl, healthy and well. As I lay in recovery the amazing nurses took my husband down to our room and helped him settle with Georgie, who looked just like a perfect baby. How blessed we were. On day two one of the gorgeous nurses was helping me with Georgie when she noticed some blue in her lips. Something was wrong and it was something big. She rushed her out to the nursery and within minutes a team of 10 were on hand. It was a code blue. She was having trouble breathing. She was quickly diagnosed as a TGA baby. Transposition of the Great Arteries— in simple words, the arteries that ran from the heart and lungs were in reverse. My panic began naturally and soon I was in hysterics. The Cardio team (never dreamed we’d need one of them) explained they needed to put a balloon in her heart to keep the flow going and keep her alive. She was immediately 28
taken next door to the Monash Medical Centre (thank goodness we had that so close), operated on and spent a week in their ICU while they waited for a bed in the Royal Children’s Hospital where she spent a further three weeks. Luckily for me I was still admitted in Jessie McPherson next door so I could easily spend time with her whilst I recovered from my caesar, but once she was transferred to Parkville it became more of a challenge. If it had happened today she would have gone straight into the new Monash Children’s Hospital next door, and a five-minute drive from my house. How simple that would have been. Jessie Mc are so lucky to have such amazing facilities right on their doorstep, and without them I would not have my Georgie girl with me today. The staff were amazing and were always there to chat and comfort me through the difficult time we were facing. Even after I was discharged and several months later, I am still getting calls from the ward to see how our daughter is going and how I am coping with motherhood. Helen, Robyn and the nursing team were fantastic.” Almost five months on and Georgie is doing well. Her regular 2 month checkups will soon be moved out to 6 months and the whole family are settling well into life as a family of three. We wish them all the best. xx
EXPERIENCE JESSIE MCPHERSON PRIVATE HOSPITAL
Jessie McPherson Private Hospital has been delivering babies for over 80 years. We manage both low risk and high risk pregnancies and have a long and proud history of caring for mothers and babies, being co-located with Monash Medical Centre and now the new Monash Children’s Hospital. If you choose our hospital you can be comforted by knowing we provide specialised, high levels of care to both mothers and babies, 24 hours a day. When you choose to have your baby with us, you will have access to: • Ante-natal and post-natal care • Specialist obstetricians and paediatricians • 24 hour on-call theatre and anaesthetics • Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Monash Children’s Hospital • Special care nursery (SCN) at Jessie McPherson Private Hospital • Breastfeeding support To find out more about giving birth at Jessie McPherson Private Hospital, visit jessiemcpherson.org or email enquiries.jmph@monashhealth.org
246 Clayton Road, Clayton. Phone 9594 2776.
Glow this Winter! There are so many things to love about winter. From matching beanies and scarves, to hot chocolates with marshmallows, it’s the perfect season for curling up with a good book and forgetting about the outside world. But as the temperatures drop and the layers go on, there is one thing everyone needs to remember: skin care! We sat down with Australian Skin Clinics National Training Manager Darlene O’Gara to uncover the treatments that will keep your skin happy and healthy this winter.
CONCERN: Visible capillaries There’s nothing better than coming in from the cold and jumping in a long, hot shower. Unfortunately, this winter warmer can wreak havoc on your skin. Sudden changes in temperature can cause the capillaries in the face to contract and expand rapidly, leading to broken veins and skin redness. Darlene O’Gara, Australian Skin Clinics National Training Manager says the most commonly affected areas are the nose, forehead and cheeks. “Laser for general redness and laser for facial veins are two popular treatments that can effectively reduce the appearance of visible blood vessels, capillaries and general redness,” Ms O’Gara said. “For the treatment of general redness you will generally need six treatments at two weekly intervals. For the treatment of facial veins, the recommendation is usually one to three treatments at six weekly intervals. Speak to your laser technician who will advise a treatment plan according to your skin type.”
CONCERN: Dry, flakey skin The dry air and low humidity of winter can strip the skin of its natural layer of protective oil, leading to flakey, dry and dull-looking skin. Add central heating on top of that, and you’re in for a skin disaster! 30
While it might not seem as important during the cooler months, drinking enough water is the first step in the fight against dry skin. Not only does water keep your body functioning optimally, it also provides the skin with the hydration it needs to stay soft and supple. Another great way to combat the dehydrating effects of winter weather is with an active moisturiser for dry skin. Combined with antioxidants, natural moisturising factors and a sophisticated water delivery system, we recommend the Balense ReBalense Moisturiser for dry skin helps skin stay silky smooth and is available at Australian Skin Clinics across Australia.
CONCERN: Stretch Marks Stretch marks are every woman’s worst nightmare, however, they are a natural occurrence. Winter is the perfect time to prep for that summer body by reducing the visibility of stretch marks. “Australian Skin Clinics’ Fractional RF and dermal stamping can reduce the appearance of skin concerns such as stretch marks and loose skin. The Fractional RF treatment stimulates and re-energizes the skin promoting a reduction of scarring,” Ms O’Gara said. “Prior to receiving Fractional RF, stay out of the sun for a minimum of two weeks, luckily winter makes that easy! We recommend having three to six treatments every two weeks to prepare your winter body for summer.” Following the treatment, stay out of the sun for another 48 hours, and always follow the advice of your clinic professional. Always seek professional advice before adding new products or treatments to your skin care regime. For more winter treatment tips contact Australian Skin Clinics on 1300 303 014 or visit www.ozskin.com.
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Holiday Heroes Stuck inside the house these school holidays? Get the kids creative in the kitchen with these fun ideas from McKenzie’s Foods. For more ideas visit www.mckenziesfoods.com.au
Make your own lunch homemade pizza Ingredients: 375ml (1 1/2 cups) warm water 2 tsp (7g/1 sachet) dried yeast Pinch of caster sugar 600g (4 cups) plain flour 1 tsp McKenzie’s Australian Natural Sea Salt 60ml (1/4 cup) olive oil, plus extra for brushing Your choice of pizza toppings Method: Step 1: Combine the water, yeast and sugar in a small bowl. Set aside for 5 minutes or until foamy. Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl and make a well in the centre. Add the yeast mixture and oil. Use a round-bladed knife in a cutting motion to mix until the mixture is combined. Use your hands to bring the dough together in the bowl. Step 2: Brush a bowl lightly with oil. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Place in the prepared bowl and turn to coat in oil. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm, draught-free place to rise for 30 minutes or until dough doubles in size. Step 3: Divide dough into thirds. Flour the bench and roll out each into 25-30cm rounds. Place each base onto either a pizza stone or a baking tray lined with baking paper.
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Step 4: Top 2 bases with tomato puree and savoury toppings of choice including mozzarella cheese, ham, pineapple, capsicum, olives and mushrooms. Cook in a preheated oven (180°C) for 15 to 20 minutes or until base is golden. Step 5: For an extra special treat top the last pizza base with butter. Cook for 10 minutes, then top with Nutella spread and chocolate pieces. Top with McKenzie’s Shredded Coconut. Cook for a further 5-10 minutes until chocolate melts. Makes: 3 Pizza’s Preparation Time: 20 min Cooking Time: 15-20 Min
Create your own Puffy Paint Ingredients: 1 cup plain flour 3 tsp McKenzie’s Baking Powder 1 tsp McKenzie’s Australian Natural Sea Salt Water Method: Step 1: Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Add enough water to make the consistency of a pancake batter. Step 2: Divide mixture into four parts and place each into zip lock bags. Add a few drops of food colouring to each zip lock bag. “Squish” the mixture in the zip lock bag until desired colour is reached. Step 3: Rubber band the zip lock bag on one edge like you were icing a cake and snip off the very tip. Paint away. Best to use thick paper or cardboard to paint on. Step 4: Once painting is completed, place your son/daughter’s masterpiece in the microwave for 30-45 seconds and watch the puffy paint puff and grow!!! If paint is still wet, place in the microwave for additional 10-15 seconds. NB: Please note all microwave wattages are different so times may vary.
Baking gingerbread biscuits Ingredients: 125g unsalted butter, softened ½ cup brown sugar ½ cup golden syrup 1 egg yolk 2 ½ cups plain flour 1 tsp McKenzie’s Bi-Carb Soda 2 tsps McKenzie’s Ground Ginger 1 tsp McKenzie’s Ground Cinnamon ½ tsp ground cloves Royal Icing: 1 ½ cups pure icing sugar 1 tsp lemon juice 1 egg white Method: 1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line 2 oven trays with baking paper.
3. Add egg yolk and beat until just combined. Sift flour, Bi-Carb, ginger, cinnamon and cloves into mixture. Use a wooden spoon to combine. 4. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth. Roll out dough to approximately 5mm thick. Use cutters to cut out shapes. If hanging on string, with a skewer, create a hole in your preferred spot. Place on prepared trays. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden. 5. Remove from oven and cool. 6. TO MAKE ROYAL ICING: Sift icing sugar into a small bowl. Add lemon juice and egg white to form a firm paste. Place in a piping bag fitted with a 1mm nozzle. Pipe icing onto biscuits. Set aside for 1 hour to set. Makes: Approx. 20 Preparation Time: 30 minutes Cooking Time: 10 minutes
2. Beat butter, sugar and golden syrup in a bowl with electric mixer until pale and creamy. 33
Make an erupting volcano Remember to always supervise young children
MAKING THE ERUPTION:
Materials: Used empty drink bottle (plastic or glass) Newspapers PVA glue and water mixed together Water 4- 5 drops dishwashing liquid Red food colouring 2 tbsp McKenzie’s Bi-Carb Soda ¼ cup of Vinegar
Step 1: Fill the bottle almost full with water. Put four to five drops of dishwashing liquid into the water followed by two drops of red food colouring.
Method: MAKING THE VOLCANO SHELL Step 1: To make the basic shape of a volcano cut the middle of a plastic bottle out and then overlap the two ends together securing it with masking tape. Step 2: Now for the fun part: Apply paper mache to the volcano using small strips of newspaper dipped into a gluey water mixture. Allow to dry. Step 3: When the paper mache is dry, get the kids to paint the volcano.
Homemade Playdough Ingredients: 2 tbs cooking oil 4 tbs McKenzie’s Cream of Tartar 2 cups plain flour 1 cup salt Food colouring 2 cups water Method: Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan and stir over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, until the mixture congeals.
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Step 2: Add the Bi-Carb to the mix. Put the Volcano over the bottle so it is in place and ready to go. Step 3: Pour the vinegar into the Volcano bottle and watch it erupt.
• SAT 1 JULY •
Essendon
• SUN 2 JULY •
Malvern
• TUE 4 JULY •
Hoppers Crossing • THU 6 JULY •
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• FRI 7 JULY •
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• SUN 9 JULY •
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lah-lah.com/tickets 1300 788 028
Our parties are jam-packed with fun, excitement and adventure! With three fantastic party themes to choose from and delicious and nutritious catering available, MSAC is the perfect place for your next birthday party. Choose from….
Cave & Castle Party
Wet ‘n’ Wild Party
Super Sport Party
(ages 4 – 8)
(ages 6 – 14)
(ages 6 – 16)
For more information, phone 03 9926 1618 or email parties@ssct.com.au MSAC parties are available Friday evenings, Saturday and Sunday (subject to events and bookings), are fully supervised and start at a minimum number of 12 children (maximum 30).
Get more from mama - www.mamamag.com.au | Get social with mama - @localmamamag
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fresh air fun Ways to get your kids off the couch and into the great outdoors! Growing up these days isn’t what it used to be; we may have made mud pies and played backyard sports with our siblings, these days’ kids are more often than not being handed the latest technology to keep them busy. Playing outdoors is a form of natural exercise that promotes well-being and wholesome physical development which is why it’s so important to remember the benefits of getting children off the screens and interacting with the environment. Take it back to basics - go for a walk! Whether it’s grabbing the dog and pacing a few laps of the block, strolling on the beach or walking to or from school one day a week, it’s easy to mix it up. Walking is the easiest form of exercise and doesn’t cost a thing. Join a local sport club. No matter what your child is into, most local sporting clubs will have junior programs on offer to help encourage participation from kids of all ages. Football, netball, soccer, cricket and basketball are all sports that are usually readily available in local communities. If these options don’t take your child’s fancy, why not look into martial arts or dance? No matter what sport is the one for your child, you will find that they are making friends and enjoying being active in no time. Visit National parks, State parks and reserves. There are 2991 in Victoria, including 470 within 100kms of Melbourne so chances are there is one close to your house that you don’t even know about. Most of the parks have interactive information readily available on the Parks Victoria app – enjoying a new environment has never been so easy and accessible! Why not grab a picnic, pack up the car and make a day trip of it… Adventure in nature may be closer than you think.
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Visit an adventure park. This is a great way to put on a special day out for your kids. Pick a park that focuses on getting your kids climbing or swinging in trees – this is a great way to interact directly in the natural environment whilst improving confidence and agility. Why not get the crew together and celebrate the outdoors together; most adventure parks offer great birthday packages with something for everyone. Make it part of your routine, whether it’s daily, weekly or monthly, make time for you and your child to enjoy the outdoors. and most importantly… lead by example. Encourage participation; show that you like being outside. Remember that if you have a sense of adventure, then so will they. Written by Bridget de Lange. For more ideas to get the kids outdoors visit www.enchantedadventure.com.au
adventure awaits! MAZES • TREE SURFING • ZIP LINE • CANOPY WALK • TUBE SLIDES 3D SPOOKY MAZE • ENCHANTED SCULPTURE WALK
Immerse yourself in a wonderland of Hedge Mazes, Giant Puzzles, Bushland Obstacles, Sculpture and Gardens or test your nerve on one of the five fast and furious Tube Slides. Adventure seekers can enjoy Tree Surfing, this radical high ropes adventure will see you climb and surf through tree-tops on obstacles, bridges and zip-lines. Try the Big Zip, this 200m Zip-Line will get your heart thumping before taking the leap of faith that will send you flying. Pre-bookings essential for all climbing activities.
children’s parties
Let nature be your party venue with hours of fresh air fun! We have something for everyone with land based or Tree Surfing adventure parties available.
55 PURVES ROAD, ARTHURS SEAT PH 5981 8449 ENCHANTEDADVENTURE.COM.AU
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We're a family operated store, running for over 16 years, and a part of the local community. We’re best known for our friendly staff, great personalised recommendations, large children's section and 'hard to find' book search service. We also offer free gift wrapping!
Pre-Prep Programme Weekly 3 yr and 4 yr old sessions Fun and engaging way using phonics to learn to read, write and spell New classes available for Term 3 Email : info@think-smart.net.au Call 0411 298 187 or 0411 373 540
DYMOCKS CAMBERWELL
The Well Shopping Centre Shop 114, 793 Burke Road Camberwell (03) 9882 0032 or email camberwell@dymocks.com.au
THINK SMART LEARNING CENTRE 900 RIVERSDALE ROAD CAMBERWELL NEW - GLEN WAVERLEY AND HEIDELBERG
The Art Factory will be the highlight of your child’s week. Enrol now for Term 3. Art Parties for Kids 4-14 yrs
Kids love art parties! Each guest creates a masterpiece! Fully hosted by our wondeful party hosts.
Kiddy Art for Kids 2-5yrs
Explore a new theme each week and take home a masterpiece that your little artist can show off with pride!
After School Art for 5-12yrs A fun, expressive art enrichment program that your budding artist will love. Mon-Fri 4-5.30pm.
School Holiday Workshops
Brilliant workshops for kids 4-14 yrs. See our website for more details.
theartfactory.com.au
Balwyn Nth, Essendon & Malvern 9576 0135 Mention this ad for your free trial class! 38
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Thinking about joining a gym? Wonder what a Barre class is all about? Want the kids to learn Jiu-Jitsu? The Camberwell Shopping precinct has a huge range of health and fitness businesses as well as medical services and health support businesses that families need. Throughout June this category will be featured in articles and advice on our website and many are offering special incentives to encourage you start on your fitness path. On Saturday June 17, between 10am and 3pm you and the family could really have some fun at CamberWELL-BEING Day. Collect your ‘Passport to Fitness’ and head off on the Wellness Trail to visit local gyms and spas, fitness studios and yoga classes. Each business will offer something special on the day. It might be exclusive discounts, experiences or a chance to trial the equipment and speak with the staff. Collect a couple of stamps in your passport to be eligible to enter the major prize draw. There are heaps of prizes like gym memberships, private yoga classes, spa treatments and free classes, valued at over $3000.
DINNER WITH THE AUTHOR – Dymocks Camberwell invite you to meet international thriller author Jeffery Deaver over dinner at Kooyong Tennis Centre on June 30, details are on our website.
SHOP NEWS - Aldi have arrived in Camberwell, fashion boutique Ebony M you may know from Hawskburn are now at the Junction and Perth footwear label Paul Carroll opens this month. Don’t forget The Camberwell Fresh Food Market is now open Sundays.
Find out more about Camberwell shopping precinct, [Burke Road and the Junction] including shop news, store offers, community events and competitions at Camberwellshopping.com.au
a health makeover
A daily mantra can help you focus on your goals and deal with challenges that come your way. Tell us your daily mantra for the chance to win health and wellness prizes. More details at CamberwellShopping.com.au
*Terms & Conditions apply - see website for details. Entries close 30/06/2017.
A Musical Head Start in Life! What’s the quickest way for your child to learn new skills? Well, it starts with knowing what the quickest way is for them! Parents naturally think a group music class will teach children one skill: music. After more than ten years as a Suzuki music teacher, I could write a PhD thesis on all the things that children learn from music classes! For instance, I find fascinating the ways in which parent and child discover their child’s unique learning style. It is this awareness that sets the child up for lifelong learning. I teach Suzuki ECE (Early Childhood Education) group music classes for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers. Born in Japan in 1898, Dr Shinichi Suzuki was a philosopher - as well as a violinist and educator. He strove to teach the whole child through music, and to create happy, sensitive, high achieving people. Dr Suzuki observed how naturally children learn their first language, and developed an approach to learning music which follows the same principles. Through his observations he realised that every child learns how to speak their first language to a very high standard in their own time. There isn’t a sense that ‘maybe English isn’t for my child, perhaps we’ll focus on Japanese instead’. We accept that every child will get there when they are ready. Parents greet each attempt at speech with joy and encouragement, and lots of repetition! You naturally provide a rich language environment for your child, and they hear thousands of words before they can say any. Parents don’t introduce one word at a time, and insist on the baby mastering that world before introducing the next word. In the same way, classes provide a rich musical environment for your child by playing many beautiful musical instruments and singing many songs each class. A partnered music education experience, where parent and child both take an active part, is a powerful opportunity for the parent to observe their child in a relaxed but structured learning environment.
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Music is a complicated, multi-faceted skill which requires all parts of the brain - all at once! Keeping the beat on a wood block whilst singing a rhyme is a complicated task for a little person. It’s quite remarkable to think how much is going into something we adults might consider straightforward! I know from experience that if we celebrate the journey, the skill will definitely be achieved. Confidence comes in many forms: to have the confidence to sing in front of the class is a wonderful thing, but for me it is just as important that I help the student to develop the confidence to try new skills. Weekly music classes provide a ‘drip-feed’ of new skills, which you are approaching step-by-step, as a team. Your child is learning that it’s ok to try and fall over, because we can try again. We place the importance on the fact that the child tried, rather than the outcome. The excitement created around trying gives them the courage to try again, and refine that skill. It is a privilege to be a part of this process. Knowing how your child learns gives them an amazing head start! Even before your child starts school, you are working successfully as a team to achieve new skills. This is helpful because there are limited opportunities in the school classroom to observe your child being presented with new skills, and see each step along the path to mastery. In music classes, you are there at each step, and are sharing in this magical journey of learning. Teachers should be trained to observe the student in order to support and assist the parent in their learning teamwork with their child. We see your relationship with your child as being of the utmost importance. A beautiful example of this was a conversation I had with the parent of a three-year-old. The parent was concerned that her daughter didn’t want to go to the teacher for a turn on the xylophone, and therefore
wasn’t learning. The parent was delighted to discover that I had observed the child mimic the motion of playing the xylophone with her hands in mid-air, and say the rhyme for each student’s turn in the class. In this way, her child had practiced that activity eight times, not once. The next week the child happily walked across the circle for a turn! She felt confident enough to try, rather than feeling pushed into something too soon. The parent saw her child as a success, and understood what her child needed to feel confident to try. When our children grow into young adults, the challenges they face will require them to be highly adaptable; to thrive in this world, they will need to have the ability to learn new skills quickly. In our lifetime we have seen remarkable jobs created that are worlds away from ‘doctor, lawyer, teacher’. Who knows what amazing jobs will be available to these children? By working together in music classes, parent and child are discovering what that child’s unique learning style is, and therefore setting them up for future success in any field. By Sophie Maxwell, Musical Adventures, www.musicaladventures.com.au
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The only Balinese Pamper Party Hut in Melbourne Pink Lemonade & Party Snacks Fluffy Pink Robes Rose Petal Foot Spa & Mini Foot Massage Nail Painting Music & Magazines Glitter Hair Spray
Avocado Face Masks Cucumber Eyes Face Spritzers & Hand Creams Temporary Tattoos Gift Bags included BYO Cake 5-12 Guests, 1.5 hrs Extra Catering Available
Kids $35
36 Bentley Street, Surrey Hills 0431 771 877 www.theZenDen.net.au
Your local play & party center Just for a Play, On-site Free Activities, Children Birthday Parties, Disco Parties, Private Functions, Xmas Functions and Adult Parties too. Open 7 days a week (except public holidays)
86 Lynch Street Hawthorn 9818 2225 www.billylids.com
LIZZY’S LIZZARDS Building better futures
for children with disabilities
Do you want to talk to a professional about your child’s development or behaviour?
For some REALLY INTERACTIVE fun, invite us to your next birthday party! We supply • Birthday present • Invitations • Plaster mould & paints
Noah’s Ark offers the following services for children with a disability or additional needs: ✓ Playing Together. ✓ Getting ready for Child Care, ✓ Supporting Positive Preschool or School. Behaviour. ✓ Supporting ✓ Coordination of Inclusion. Supports. ✓ Parent Connection and Support. ✓ Parent Education.
lizzyslizzards.com.au
✓ Speaking and Listening.
We’re here to help Call 1800 819 140 www.noahsarkinc.org.au
lizzyslizzards@gmail.com 42
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MAKE YOUR NEXT BIRTHDAY PARTY A FIZZ KIDZ PARTY MAKE YOUR VERY OWN NATURAL CREATIONS!
BATHBOMBS, SLIME, LIP BALM, SCENTED SOAPS AND MUCH MORE! BIRTHDAY PARTIES
MOBILE PARTIES
HOLIDAY PROGRAMS - BOOK NOW
Call Talia for any enquiries: 0431 379 953 e: info@fizzkidz.com.au www.fizzkidz.com.au Get more from mama - www.mamamag.com.au | Get social with mama - @localmamamag
Ages 4-14!
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FINALLY PEACE FOR PARENTS!
SILENT DISCO 4 KIDS PARTY Each child is provided a pair of high quality stereo headphones, allowing them to adjust their own volume and be entertained by our professional party facilitator running games and activities to the latest music. • • • • •
Party facilitator We turn your home/venue into a disco Kids fully engaged with interactive games Fun, cool experience to make your party/event special 100% FUN guaranteed! First 20 parents to mention this ad when booking will receive FREE lighting upgrade.
SNOWSPORTS SALE SWISS EX-RENTAL KIT PREMIUM BRANDS FULLY SERVICED EXPERIENCED FITTERS
337 High Street, Ashburton
Sign up for our monthly ‘MamaMail’ and be the first to know about amazing features and competitions! www.mamamag.com.au
29 June to 9 July
26 Highett Street, Mansfield 13 July to 16 July
For opening hours and more information see our website.
be social!
SNOWSPORTSSALE.COM.AU SnowsportsSale 44
Snowsports-Sale
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WIN
A Family Pass to The Big Freeze Festival VALUED AT UP T0
WIN 2 adult and 2 children tickets for the Tuesday July 4
session, 9am - 11:30am followed by a 1 hour stage show with Charlie SillyPants.
$100
Melbourne’s most exciting winter family festival with snow returns July 1-9 under the Big Top at Fountain Gate Shopping Centre. Your session at The Big Freeze also includes access to all festival zones and activities. Play in the snow pits, ride the snow slide or learn
See www.mamamag.com.au for terms and conditions. Parent’s email will be added to our monthly MamaMail. You can opt out at any time.
how to become a circus performer! Simply Colour for your chance to WIN!
Post your entry by June 30th to: MamaMag, PO Box 8018, North Road LPO, Brighton East 3187.
Child’s name:
Age:
Parent’s name: Mobile No: Email: 45 45
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Advertise in Eastside MamaMag™ or across our other publications to reach more of inner Melbourne!
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Niño Early Learning Adventures: from our family to yours. Our purpose for being is to encourage the children of our communities to be brave, creative, resilient and kind. This focused philosophy is reflected across every element of Niño ELA: from its purpose built, child centric architecture to its daily activities and rhythms, rich natural inspired environments and its nutritionist developed fresh seasonal menus.
Integrity • Respect • Care • Co-operation • Equality
Family and community involvement, participation and valued input is welcomed. We are committed in providing a collaborative partnership with our families to engage and empower decisions and goal making processes for their child. We understand the importance in establishing a trusting and genuine relationship and acknowledge the importance of children, families & educators as partners in a learning community that promotes the wellbeing, education and development of all children.
Niño ELA Blackburn North. 103-107 Koonung Road Blackburn North. (03) 8878 0800 ninoELA.com.au