Port Phillip Mamamag Dec/Jan 2015 by MamaMag

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mamamag Dec/Jan 2015

WIN A romantic weekend at Misty woods Retreat in the danDenongs worth$95o Modern day mother St Kilda Mums Healthy xmas tips Photographing kids New year action plan

free Local fun for the Port Phillip mum 1

ho ,ho, ho! Well, November came and went in a flash. There has been so much happening we hardly had time to stop and breathe. The kids had several parties on and I’m pleased to say my little lady is finally becoming, well, a lady, wearing an Elsa costume to a Frozen party this time round (last party she dressed as Sven the reindeer!). There was the weird and wacky school disco, a trip to the amazing Santa’s Magical Kingdom (make sure you put it on the to-do list, it’s well worth it), and with the sun finally shining there have been several outings to our glorious beaches already with fish and chips on the sand. Oh how I love summer! It’s getting busier at Mamamag with both Port Phillip and Bayside running now and we are getting so many enquiries from local businesses and services wanting to get involved (which we love!). The lovely Kirsty, who runs Bayside distribution, has taken on more work and is now running much of the local content for me. She did an awesome job of the gift photoshoot (check it out on page 22!) and I’ve had her running all over Port Phillip the last couple of weeks!! We’ve also had heaps of other unreal mums and businesses get in contact lately wanting to contribute to the magazine. It’s so encouraging knowing people want to be a part of this little creation. We love your positive feedback and love hearing what you’d like to see in the magazine, so by all means get in touch if there is something you’d love to see featured in here. And make sure you tell us about any local events, as we love sharing them with our readers on the Facebook page. And so as the year draws to a close, I wish you all the most amazing Christmas and New Year. Thanks for being a part of the Mamamag journey. Enjoy your time with your families and I look forward to sharing more adventures with you in 2015! /localmamamag

Cover image by Justine Ilarda

@localmamamag

WIN

Contents The modern day mother Dealing with unwanted criticism

Messy Faces 5 tips for stress free mealtimes

Top tips for a healthy Christmas 4 ideas to keep you on track

Amazing mums We introduce you to St Kilda Mums

New Year action plan Time to get organised

Family Fun in Phuket A great family holiday destination

Mama of the month We meet Emma from Little Urban

Turn the page 20 This month’s top picks from Readings We’ve got it wrapped

a romantic weekend for 2 at misty woods RETREAT in the dandenongs worth $95o

Entries close December 31st 2014. Valid for a 2 night stay for 2 adults from Jan 1st - March 31st 2015. See mistywoods.com.au for available dates. For further details and terms & conditions visit www.mamamag.com.au

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Gift ideas from Port Phillip’s best Mama can cook We got Christmas lunch covered

Business ownership bliss Transition into your own business

It’s all lies A sleep deprived mums story

Lovely locals We explore Albert Park

Parklife 33 Plum Garland Memorial Playground Conception 34 Unlocking the key Get natural photo’s of your kids Nail your family photos this Summer

Healthy mama 4 simple exercises to do at home

Fun for the kids Kid’s crafts and our colouring comp

mamamag dec/jan 2015

Mamamag is published monthly for the mums of the Port Phillip area by Grizzle Design Pty Ltd. 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

5,000 copies are distributed monthly. 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. Mamamag is printed locally (of course) by Fishprint Brighton, using 100% Waterless Printing. Fishprint is a ISO 14024 ‘Whole of Life Cycle’ certified printer. fishprint.com.au

The modern day Dealing with unwanted criticism or lack of supportive comments

You look tired.”

“How come the house is always so messy?”

”Are you sure you’re coping?”

“Can’t you clean while he sleeps?”

These are some of the criticisms directed at new mothers from others in our Western world. They are criticisms that can leave postpartum mums with feelings of inadequacy and depression, suggesting she is failing as a responsible parent. When the subject of sleep arises, instead of support, it is criticism offered or “my way worked best”. Remember that it’s unnatural to have everything ‘all together’ if you want to parent in a gentle and natural way, enjoying your baby and allowing yourself to heal and make a transition as a new mother, easier. It’s really tough trying to gain confidence and certainty being the mother you want to be for your child when other people’s opinions get in the way. Most often, unwanted criticism will come at a time when you are extremely tired and you already have hormones flying around that make you extra emotional. It usually happens to first-time mothers and by the time you have your next child, people do tend to back off and give you space. It’s because by then, not only do they presume you know what you are doing, but you actually do know what you are doing. When someone suggests something they think will help you, it’s important to listen and then thank them for their concern. After all, they really do want to help you and are doing so the only way they know how. It’s the way they were 4

“Ohh, so your baby isn’t sleeping through the night yet…”

parented or parent. Everyone does things so differently but you may take what they say with a grain of salt and adapt it to suit you one day or you may find it really unhelpful and perhaps even hurtful. Please don’t ever take the criticism personally and maintain your confidence no matter how tired or hormonal you feel. Most of the time the suggestions are coming from their own personal experience. It may have worked for their child and that family, but it also makes the parent feel better about themselves if they prove their advice to be the best. Sometimes a mother can feel confused or challenged if she sees something you did that she wished she had the support or courage to do. It’s their ‘stuff’, not yours. The best way to handle these situations, especially if you care about that person, is to quote from a research article or knowledgeable person like your midwife or lactation specialist. The Australian Breastfeeding Association suggests that by quoting someone else like this means that nobody’s feelings get hurt. You can reply, “Thanks so much for that. I can see how much you care, but our lactation specialist suggested that we …” Or, “The research we’ve read about that, suggests … etc.”

mother Below are some common questions and comments and examples of how to respond and deal with them. Does your baby ‘sleep through’ now? Or …Why isn’t he getting enough sleep? My baby’s getting just the right amount of sleep he needs. We are not actually designed to sleep all through the night as babies only have two stages of sleep unlike an adult that has three. There are many healthy reasons that they need to wake for nervous system development. For example just to rock them helps them to develop the vestibular part of the brain. (If your baby does four-five hours in a row, this is good sleep) Yes, he’s doing wonderfully. (Every baby wakes at least once or twice for a refill and most mums don’t always tell you if theirs does.) How come your baby’s not ‘sleeping through’ yet? Research shows his brain is only fully developed at around five years of age and won’t have adult sleep patterns yet. We are so happy to follow our baby’s lead and wake to resettle if he wants to wake. We like to trust his instincts and do things naturally. Thank you for your concern though; it is tough sometimes but we feel the investment is already paying off as he is a confident and emotionally secure child. Why does your baby feed all night? Because breast milk isn’t just food and some babies use it to catch up on immunity or analgesic properties for teething. It’s natural for a breastfed baby and very common to feed several times during the night as the quality of milk a mother makes is better as she produces prolactin which puts baby into a deeper sleep and helps mum sleep too. Also, his stomach is only the size of a marble and needs to refill often as he is growing at a rapid rate. But you needn’t worry as you cannot overfeed a breastfed baby. They control exactly what type of calories they need with each feed.

You’re going to spoil your child and they’ll become a spoilt brat if you attend to them every time they cry. Research shows it’s the exact opposite. By attending to my child’s cries for help, I’m helping him to feel secure in his attachment to me, because his brain is still developing. Eventually, when he is old enough, he will have a brain that’s developed enough to understand how to deal with stress better. I feel happy knowing that I’m helping him to cope with his feelings more. They are valid feelings too. Why are you still breastfeeding after 12 months? Hasn’t he got teeth? While there are a myriad of things you could reply with, like “It’s completely natural to give my baby my milk,” or “I’m sorry you can’t see the beauty in it. It’s a personal choice.” The best way to address this one is to refer to research and say things like. “The World Health Organization says that you should breastfeed until around the age of two to four.” Another good fact is that, “Lactation specialists say that after the age of 12 months, the antibodies in my milk double.” This helps people to understand that breastfeeding is not just food and the enormous necessary immunity they need from extended breastfeeding, not to mention attachment issues and how unique every case is, especially in other cultures that do not question extended breastfeeding. Taken from ‘The modern day mother - Babies and sleep from womb to one’ written by local mum and author Andi Lew. Find out more at www.andilew.com

messy faces! 5 tips for stress-free mealtimes End the dinner battles and win the food war! Follow these five simple tips and you could find mealtimes become a lot less stressful and a lot more fun!

1. Be a good influence How often have you let a naughty word slip out when you thought the kids weren’t in earshot only to have it repeated back at the most embarrassingly inappropriate time, i.e. in front of the mother in law or during quiet story time? You are the biggest influence on your kids, so let them see you eat a wide variety of food, try new things with them, involve them in planning what to cook for dinner and make time for when they can cook for you. Make food exciting and enticing for everyone in the family and hopefully it’ll rub off on the fussiest of eaters.

2. Eat together It’s a scientifically proven fact that family mealtimes can have a massive beneficial impact on your kids; improving social skills and speech, lowering risks of obesity and eating disorders, and helping them do better academically. But if you are like every other Australian family, getting everyone together at the table every night is nigh on impossible. Don’t give up; there is no magic number of how many meals we should eat as a family, so if weekday family dinners are impossible, make a family ritual out of Saturday pancake breakfast, Sunday roast lunch or the classic Friday night takeaway.

3. Be prepared Unless you are lucky enough have a full time cleaner, nanny and PA, there will be those nights when you don’t have the time to spend cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Keep a stock of quick, simple healthy meals in the fridge and freezer and you will always have something wholesome to feed them.

4. Let them get messy Cooking with kids doesn’t have to be laborious or time consuming. Give them an empty bowl and a spoon and get them to make their own dinner by choosing and adding ingredients. Start with a base of pasta or rice (or a wrap), and then get them to add ingredients like cooked peas or broccoli, ham, cheese, and olives. Make a simple cheese sauce to go over the top and you can even sneak a few blended or mashed veg in there - who knew spinach could be so tasty? Keep this fun, and you might find most of the meal has been eaten before you’ve finished cooking!

5. Keep calm and breathe! You can’t make every meal a fun, exciting experience, and sometimes kids are going to be tired, full or just plain annoying. As frustrating as it can be to have your lovingly made, wholesome meal treated as if it were poisoned, making the dinner table a battle ground will do more harm in the long run, than a couple of plates of food going in the bin. Don’t give up!

By Victoria Mackey and Emma Keating www.messyfaces.com.au Messy Faces delivers healthy and delicious home cooked frozen meals for kids. Keep them in your freezer for those nights when you’ve simply run out of time to cook.

CHRISTMAS T

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Santa, Facepainting and Crumpette the Clown Friday 19th December 12-4pm Saturday 20th December 12-4pm Relax with live music Sunday 21st December 12-4pm

Donations go to Sacred Heart Mission

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Top Tips for a Healthy Christmas By Holistic Nutritionist and Accredited Practising Dietitian, Sarah Leung. It’s hard to say no to your favourite foods during the festive season. The Christmas and New Year period is fast approaching and your calendar is no doubt filling up with work parties and social and family commitments. With all the celebration and excitement, it’s easy to forget about all your hard work throughout the year (and gain a few extra kilos!).

Healthy Energy Founding Nutritionist and Accredited Practising Dietitian, Sarah Leung shares some top tips for avoiding Christmas weight gain below:

Don’t drink your calories Alcohol is notorious for providing ‘empty calories’ and zero nutrition, apart from being a source of energy. One gram of alcohol provides 29 kilojoules, compared to one gram of carbohydrate which gives only 17 kilojoules. For example, there are less kilojoules in a light beer than a low-carb full-strength beer, because the alcohol content is lower (428kJ compared to 469kJ per 375mL). Two lowkilojoule alcohol choices are dry red/white/ sparkling wine or brut champagne or spirits such as vodka or gin with soda water or diet soft drink. Try to limit yourself to one or two drinks only, as a glass of white wine in a restaurant (150mL) contains around 14g of alcohol and 426kJ (101cals). This means 3 or 4 glasses of wine are equivalent in energy to a meal. Also, make sure you stay hydrated by matching each glass of alcohol with a glass of water.

Don’t go to a party hungry

Enjoy sweets but wisely

Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties often serve canapés or small bites to eat. But, while canapés are small, kilojoules can add up very quickly. For example, just one small Indian samosa contains around 420kJ (100cals). Try to eat small and frequent meals during the day rather than turning up to a party hungry and binge eating on everything in sight as soon as you arrive.

Christmas is one time of year. There is no need to punish yourself and there is still room to eat small portions of your favourite foods. Don’t replace binge eating with starvation dieting. Choose healthier options at parties if possible. For example, cakes and other sweet treats are usually high in refined carbohydrates (white flour and sugar) and saturated fats (butter and cream), so why not opt for fresh fruits instead?

Plan ahead Plan ahead for your next Christmas party. Offer to host the party at your house so you have more control in healthy food choices. If you aren’t hosting, why not bring a healthy plate? Sometimes just knowing that there will be food you can eat at a party can help you to stay on track with eating well. Some suggestions for a ‘healthy plate’ include homemade Vietnamese rice paper rolls, a large platter of raw vegetables (carrot, cucumber, capsicum, cauliflower, green beans) and reduced fat dip such as hummus, air-popped popcorn or wholegrain crackers and dips.

Don’t be discouraged if your weight loss plateaus over the Christmas period. Remember to be kind to yourself and make maintaining your weight your new goal until all the social-eating commitments subside. Merry Christmas!

amazing mums

So your little one is growing up fast. He is in a ‘big bed’ now and that high chair, well it’s gathering dust in the corner of the kitchen isn’t it? And how quickly does he grow out of these clothes, they are practically still new. Sound a bit like your house? Whilst many mums have friends to rehome quality baby goods to or head to eBay to earn a few bucks, many people hang on to un-used baby goods far too long, not really sure what to do with them. And surely there is someone out there that could use these goods more than you?

The answer to this problem is St Kilda Mums. St Kilda Mums was established in February 2009 by a group of five local Mums who were surprised that most opportunity shops refused to accept their donations of cots and prams and other nursery gear. “These items were only a few years old and in good condition but we had no one to pass them onto” said Jessica Macpherson, one of the original five. Unwilling to accept that the local tip was the only solution, we tried to track down a local women’s shelter. We discovered that no service existed to match the needs of families suffering hardship with families who had nursery equipment to donate. St Kilda Mums was created to fill this need. St Kilda Mums is run by a group of mothers who volunteer their time to collect and sort donations of baby and preschool children’s clothing, toys and nursery equipment. These items are assembled into beautiful packs and distributed to mums, who due to limited income, fleeing domestic violence or drug issues are unable to provide these essentials for their babies. The presentation of the items to be rehomed was very important – Jess and the other mums wanted to be respectful of the dignity of the recipients, and wanted them to feel these items were from loving homes. Originally the items were given to a local Enhanced Care Nurse to pass on to families in need in the local area. Word was put out to other caseworkers from local social service agencies and demand began to grow.

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Today St Kilda Mums provide goods to around 200 different social service agencies throughout Victoria. In the beginning Jess and Peta, two of the original mums, started receiving donations at their homes through word of mouth referrals. Local mums loved the idea of passing on their baby’s items for others to use. A few years in and supply and demand had grown exponentially and in early 2013 a Rent Appeal secured the funds to move to a bigger space. In June 2013 St Kilda Mums moved into a 300 square metre warehouse in St Kilda. Throughout its growth, St Kilda Mums has always been 100% volunteer run. Volunteers have worked during whatever free time they have, often from their own homes, and often juggling paid work and their own family commitments. From the grandmas who knit to the dad that designs the website, St Kilda Mums is a community-driven organisation. The key to their growth and service quality is their on-going correspondence with caseworkers from the agencies they support. They have been able to identify the greatest areas of need and continuously improve their service because of their professional advice, support and counsel. In the last year alone St Kilda Mums rehomed over 1500 bags of clothes, 850 bags of toys, 489 prams & strollers, 139 cots, 283 car seats, 107 high chairs, 57 safety gates and much more to around 200 community organisations.

How you can help: Donate baby things If you have nursery equipment, clothes or toys that you no longer use, we can get it to someone who really needs it. Here’s what you need to do: Step 1. Please visit www.stkildamums.org to see if we rehome what you have to donate. Step 2. If the items you have match what we can rehome, please email a list of what you are wishing to donate to: donate@stkildamums.org. We will reply with a list of planned collection times and dates. Step 3 If you have a cot, car seat, pram or stroller, highchair, change table or porta-cot, these items have mandatory safety standards. We can only rehome them if they pass our safety standards. Please take a few minutes to read the standards.

Donate your time St Kilda Mums is run by volunteers and all contributions of time are valuable. We need help with all sorts of tasks big and small. We all have family and other responsibilities that come before our volunteer work so we have evolved a model of doing things that maximises flexibility. We sort, clean, pack and label in our homes, at our own pace, with kids and babies in tow, and we do what we can when we can. Every small job that is done saves another item ending up in landfill and helps another family out. If you are interested in volunteering please email volunteer@stkildamums.org.

Donate money Cheques or money orders, made payable to “St Kilda Mums Inc.” may be sent to: St Kilda Mums, PO Box 356, Balaclava, 3183.

If you have a safety gate to donate, please remember to include the adjuster screws and bolts, suction cups for mounting on the wall, any extension bolts etc with it, in a clear plastic zip lock bag, taped to the gate. What we do not rehome We do not rehome any maternity or adult clothing, nor electrical items such as monitors. Please review the list on the website for what we can and cannot home and if in doubt please email us at donate@stkildamums.org

We believe that by reusing and recycling much loved babies’ and children’s gear, we not only share the joy of motherhood with each other, but we save the earth’s precious resources too.

W stkildamums.org

@stkildamums 27 13

New year action plan The end of the year is upon us…. Did you know that one of the top three New Year resolutions is “to get organised”?

4) Take your top three priorities and set up a Plan of Action. Treat each of your tasks as it’s own project

I am sure we can all relate to that. I know personally every December I make a list of the things I want to get sorted in my home while on my break.

• Give your project a deadline ( try and make it in the beginning of your break so it is over and done with). Remember, projects all have a beginning, middle and end so you need to finish.

This is a great start, however the list is long and the break always seems too short.

• Setup a manila folder with your project name eg. Garage clean up

This year I have set up an action plan which I thought I would share with you. If, like me, you are having a “staycation” this year, or you have some time available before or after a holiday, guilt can tend to get the better of you.

• Write down your plan of action by using a project planning sheet template. (email info@paperclippo.com.au and I will send one to you)

When we are doing our organising projects we end up feeling guilty for not taking the time out to just relax and vice versa. What then is the answer? Set out an action plan! 1) Write a list of things you would LIKE to get done over the break 2) Prioritise the list 3)

Make a decision on how many of the tasks you feel you can take on and finish by the end of your break, eg. your top three priorities.

• Break the task down into bite sized pieces. Work on sections at a time to prevent the feeling of being overwhelmed which then ultimately causes procrastination! 5) Remember to take BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS for your satisfaction guarantee! There you go… now you have prioritised your tasks and completed your top 3. It is time to enjoy the rest of your break – guilt free! Enjoy the Festive Season and wishing you a 2015 filled with all you wish for!

Allow yourself to leave the rest for another time but, do make sure you allocate a time in the future to complete the list.

sser By Sue Gla Specialist, g in is Organ per Flow Certified Pa s Home ep St 8 and in nsultant. co g Organisin o.com.au paperclipp 14 14

Summer sleeping bags Organic range Wraps Hooded towels Hamper packs Perfect for Baby Gifts Special Discount Offer to Mamamag Readers: Enter Code: MAMAMAG during check out and receive a 15% discount (valid till 31 December 2014) Live Local - Shop Local - and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to mention Mamamag!

family fun in phuket! Phuket has been a favourite holiday destination for Australian families for many years. So why do families fall in love with this unique Thai destination & return year after year? Top 10 Reasons Why Phuket is a Fantastic Destination for Families -

5. Hanuman Zipling in Phuket was rated top Rainforest Experience in South East Asia. Imagine zipping through the ancient Phuket rainforest from tree to tree. This is a must for any adventurous family. 6. Take a boat trip for the day at the famous Phi Phi Island. If you are looking for a laid back way to spend time together on the beach, snorkelling and generally enjoying each others company, then this is a day trip to lock in,

1. Phuket has a fascinating history & culture to introduce your children to. Take a day trip to Old Phuket town and wander through the streets that are a combination of Colonial and Chinese architecture. Introduce your children to bartering. There is always a bargain to be found in the shopping strips of Phuket and a great way to mix with the locals.

7. Explore the Phuket rainforests on an elephant. Elephant trekking is a popular tourist attraction and can be easily organised by Siam Safari.

2. Buddhism is the prevailing religion of Thailand. Phuket has 29 Buddhists temples of which the best known is Wat Chalong. This temple is where the locals come to practice their faith and the tourists come to immerse themselves in this peaceful religion. Take a tuk tuk from your hotel up to the Big Buddha. This massive monument is 45 meters high and sites atop the Nakkerd Hills and can be seen from many beaches of Phuket. 3. Phuket has some wonderful restaurants. There is no need to dine at the hotel every night. With local and freshly caught seafood itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the local cuisine.

8. Thai cooking classes for the whole family. Learn the art of Thai cookery from the experts. Begin at the local market place where you can learn about the ingredients before cooking and then enjoying the fruits of your labour for lunch. 9. If water adventure is for your family then look no further than Splash Jungle Water Park. This uncrowded water themed park is perfect fun for kids of all ages. 10. Day and overnight ski canoe tours in Phang Nga Bay. This activity involves exploring the beautiful natural architecture of this limestone Bay. Many areas of eroded caves and caverns are only accessible by canoe or kayak. This is a great activity for the eco tourist.

4. Zorbing at Rollerball over looking Kalim Beach is great fun for the whole family. Climb into your 3 meter ball and race each other on one of the longest tracks in the world.

Live Local - Shop Local - and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to mention Mamamag!

A place of laughter and discovery, our living classroom weaves planet friendly practice into creative parties and playtime. Apples & Jam believes the first step in caring for our world is to help children understand what makes it so special.

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MAMA of the month This month we met with Emma Treasure, one of the mums behind the fabulous online and Port Melbourne retail store Little Urban. Little Urban’s concept was born to encourage children to get experience with fashion. They bring the latest trends to their little customers, from brands that have never been seen to the brands everyone loves - so they can create their own individual style! What were you doing before the idea for Little Urban was created? I grew up on the Gold Coast and had my own beauty business for 5 years before I became a mother. I have always been obsessed with fashion & beauty and always spent way too much money on my wardrobe…things became worse after I discovered the baby/children’s fashion industry when I became pregnant with Julian, but it wasn’t until after he was born and started growing and I kept finding more and more amazing brands, I realized that I had found an entire mini fashion world that had been waiting for me. I was a stay at home mum with Julian up until 3 months ago when we started Little Urban, I’m so lucky that I had the opportunity to be at home with him, but I’m so excited about the next chapter of my life, I can have the best of both worlds, I can be a mother and wife and also do something for myself, the world is my oyster. You started Little Urban with your friend Meegan. How did the two of you meet? Meegan and I met at mother’s group, I had just moved to Melbourne from the Gold Coast and she had moved from Adelaide. We both joined to meet new friends and once we met we we’re instant friends. We just chatted in our own little world the whole time and came to realize very quickly just how much we had in common. We’ve both had very similar childhoods, both our husbands worked in the building industry and most importantly, as we sat there chatting, we both looked down at our babies to see that both Indiana and Julian were both dressed head to toe in the latest and coolest brands, and it was set, friends for life.

You started off as an online store. What made you decide to take the leap into a full blown retail shop? We actually intended to open our shop all along, but just launched our online store first while we we’re getting organized buying stock and doing the shop fit out etc, which now, if we knew what we were in for, may have waited until after our store was open before launching online, there was a LOT of work involved and the rush of online orders that started coming in while going onsite working with the tradies during the fit out was full on and quite stressful. I must say though, the following that Little Urban has accumulated in such a short period of time is so overwhelming and flattering, we are so blessed and appreciate the instant support we have received. There are lots of online kid’s fashions stores these days. What makes you stand out from the rest? The thing that makes Little Urban stand out from the rest is this, we have literally searched day and night hunting for the most unique, fashion forward and quality babies and children’s clothing, home wares and toys. We have bought these items and personally tested them on our own children to make sure the brands are of the highest standards for our customers. Right from the beginning both Meegan and I have lived by this motto before placing orders, “If we wouldn’t buy this for our children, we are not going to order it”.

You stock brands from all over the world. How do you find and source them? Both Meegan and I are huge Instagramers. We have found many of our brands on Instagram and generally by googling and searching the internet for hours on end. However we also have our favourite brands that we have dressed our own children in right from the start, for example, I’ll never forget when Meegan called me and told me that we had become an approved Sooki Baby stockist, this meant so much to both of us, as this was our favourite brand to dress our babies in when we first met, so that was very special. What are the best and worst things about running Little Urban? Best things about running Little Urban: I’m living my dream, creating something that makes me feel happy, creative and makes me excited to go to work every day. When I see Julian brag to his kinder friends about having his own toy shop. The worst things: Having a messy house all the time because I’m so busy. (My house used to be immaculate before LU haha). Also accepting that I need to get a cleaner. Any advice for mums thinking about starting their own business? My advice is this, if you have an undying passion for something, then you must do it. Just because you are a busy mum, doesn’t mean that you cannot do it. We are woman, we are wives, we are mothers, we are tough and we CAN have it all. What is your funniest parenting story so far? So, we went out for dinner at a pretty fancy restaurant for my sister’s birthday. We always come overly prepared when we take Julian out to dinner. We bring the colouring in book, pencils, sticker book, iPad and emergency snacks etc.… but on this particular night he was pretty bored and restless still. My husband and I took turns trying to amuse him, but next minute we look over he had completely stripped down naked and was running around singing “everything is awesome” at the top of his lungs… I almost died but couldn’t stop laughing at the same time. Lucky everyone else in the restaurant thought it was just as funny as we did, needless to say, I’ve never dressed him so quickly in all his life. Finally where can our lovely readers find you? Visit us at 81 Bay Street, Port Melbourne. www.littleurban.com.au Facebook: little urban Instagram: littleurban 19

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Monthly book reviews from our friends at:

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole - Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen Sam and Dave are on a mission. They are digging a hole in search of something spectacular and will keep digging until they find it! However they have quite bad luck and keep digging past the various amazing things that surround them. With an open ending that just begs to be debated and discussed, young children will laugh out loud at Sam and Dave’s antics. Beautifully written and illustrated by the team behind the fabulous Extra Yarn, their latest collaboration is witty, entertaining and effortlessly engaging. Suitable for ages three and up. I am the Wolf... And Here I Come - Benedicte Guettier This small yet pleasingly chunky square board book is simple yet delightful. The book follows the Big Bad Wolf getting ready to chase the reader, but first he has to get himself properly dressed! The illustrations are bright and bold and retain an energetic feel whilst holding the tension. The physical format of the book has a nice heavily tactile shape that’s perfect for young children to hold on to. This book is a great way to teach young children different types of clothes, with the added bonus of a bit of a fright and giggle at the end when the Wolf is finally ready! Suitable for babies and toddlers. Lonely Planet’s Amazing World Atlas It’s never too early to get the kids started with geography and Lonely Planet have released a beautiful new atlas to set things off. The pages are clearly laid out and beautifully illustrated, tackling groups of countries at a time to give each place a physical context. The information is solid but not overwhelming. There are a lot of well laid out factoids about each country that would work well as a talking point with any child. The bright colours and jaunty design really do a great job at making geography and travel exciting. Suitable for ages five and up. Frank! - Connah Brecon Local author Connah Brecon has brought us a delightful character in the form of Frank, a bear who is always late because he just can’t seem to stop helping people. When he starts school, his teacher is not sympathetic, and seems to think that his reasons are just lame excuses. Frank! is a cheerful and very sweet story that talks about the importance of working together without being preachy. The illustrations are very detailed and add a second, funnier layer to the story. This is altogether a lovely picture book. Suitable for ages two and up.

Our monthly children’s books are brought to you by our friends at Readings. Readings is an independent retailer of books, music and film, with five shops operating in Melbourne at St Kilda, Malvern, Carlton, Hawthorn and State Library of Victoria. Drop in for story time at Readings St Kilda, every Saturday, from 10.30am to 11.00am. For children aged 2 – 5 years old. Free event, no need to book. To find out more please call (03) 9525 3852. Sign up to their enews at readings.com.au to keep in the loop of their children’s events and story time. Readings St Kilda: 112 Acland St, St Kilda. 20

20% off all fullpriced children’s books for half an hour after every Story Time!

ST KILDA KIDS STORY TIME Every Saturday 10.30am - 11am* Each week, Readings’ staff will read their favourite picture books (new or classic) for pre-school children (0 - 6 years old). Story time is free and there’s no need to book. Please note: all children must be accompanied by an adult as this is not a child-minding service.

Readings St Kilda, 112 Acland St, St Kilda | 9525 3852 *Story Time will not be running on Saturday 27 December.

Don’t miss the next big thing.

Sign up to our enews for the latest new releases and events. readings.com.au/sign-up CARLTON • HAWTHORN • MALVERN • ST KILDA • STATE LIBRARY readings.com.au | Free delivery Australia-wide on all orders $19.95 and over.

we’ve got it wrapped We’ve explored Port Phillip’s fantastic shops (lucky us!) to bring you these fun kids gift ideas!

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1. Uimi Cot Blanket $169 Tiny Pokadots, Port Melbourne 2. Museum Made Confetti Bouncy Ball $9.95, Naughts & Crosses, Elwood 3. Inaluxe print $45 unframed $95 framed Miriam Bereson, Ripponlea. 4. Ladedah Ava Unicorn $68 Naughts & Crosses, Elwood. 5. EverEarth Noahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ark $55 Little Sparrow, Balaclava. 6. Little Sparrow Felt Playmat Large $48 Duck $3 Boat $14.95 Bunny $10 Little Sparrow, Balaclava. 7. Mes Amoues Frame $69.95 Little Urban. 8. Tiger Tribe Vintage Tea Set $35 Cookie Kids, Middle Park. 9. Marble run $110 Miriam Bereson, Ripponlea. 10. Metal Speedster $150 Tiny Pokadots, Port Melbourne. 11. Kiddi Moto Helmets $59.95 Junior Republic, Port Melbourne. 12. Scooter $125 Mud Puddle, St Kilda. 13. Under the sea rashie $44.95 alphabet-soup. 14. Seedling Finger Puppets $19.95 Junior Republic, Port Melbourne. 15. Jawsome Rashie. $44.95 alphabet-soup.com.au 16. Animal head hook $39.95 each Mister White, Port Melbourne. 17. Kukkia gg Oekaki House $85 Little Lulu, Balaclava. 18. Blue Racoon baby hat $32 Body Freedom Urban Spa Retreat, South Melbourne. 19. Bear beanbag $295 The Grumpy Swimmer, Elwood. 20. Milk & Soda Princess Headband $16.95 Little Urban, Port Melbourne. 21. Janod Confetti Guitar $65.50 MudPuddle, St Kilda.

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mama can Cook! Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got Christmas day (in fact the whole of Summer) covered, thanks to some awesome recipes from local businesses and Mums.

Prawn, mango and avocado salad

Serves: 4 | Prep Time: 10min

Ingredients:

Method:

4 handfuls of mixed salad leaves 2 mangoes cut into cubes 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced 20 cooked prawns, peeled and deveined 2 avocados, cut into cubes 1 handful of coriander, chopped 1 long red chilli, chopped (optional)

In a large bowl or on a platter, arrange salad leaves, mango, onion, prawns and avocado.

Dressing: 1/2 tablespoon of wholegrain mustard 2 tablespoons of white balsamic vinegar 6 tablespoons of olive oil 1 tablespoon of honey

From the fabulous new Summer TABLE cookbook. In this new cookbook every recipe has a QR code. A quick scan generates a shopping list for that recipe on your phone in the free Hello Table app!

To make dressing, shake ingredients in a jar until combined. Taste and adjust to your liking. Pour over salad and sprinkle with coriander leaves and chilli.

Keep an eye out on the Mamamag Facebook page for your chance to win a copy!

Summer TABLE is written by local mum of two, Jodie Blight. Find out more at www.hellotable.com.au

This rolled chicken is a Xmas family tradition from our Bayside friends at “Two Locals”. It was just too good not to share with you all!

Christmas rolled chicken Beer Chasseur

Serves: 10-12 | Prep Time: 20min | Cook 4 | Prep Time: 15min | Cook time:time: 1hr 1hr

Ingredients:

Method:

1 boned chicken, size 20 or larger (ask your butcher to bone it for you and keep the skin intact)

Lay chicken out flat and patch any thin areas or gaps in flesh with slices of chicken breast.

2 extra chicken breasts (to patch up chicken where the meat is too thin) 3 cups of dried apricots (soak overnight in water) 1 packet of Tandaco stuffing mix (available at Coles and Woolies) 1 cup of pine nuts 3 packets of frozen spinach 1 roll of cooking twine Garlic butter to taste (for basting Chicken)

Cover with spinach then sprinkle with pine nuts. Down the centre third spread the stuffing mix. Place soaked apricots slightly overlapped over the stuffing mixture. When layers are complete, chill in the fridge to allow chicken meat to stiffen. Remove from fridge; roll up sideways and secure with wooden skewers. Tie up with string, tucking in the ends. Baste with garlic butter. Bake for 30 mins at 220°C, turn, then another 30min at 180°C. In the last 5 min baste again. Remove, rest, slice and serve! 25

These Xmas delights are from Andi Lew, local mum and author of 5 health books. Visit andilew.com for details!

Amazeballs Perfect for the Christmas table or as gifts for teachers or friends! Ingredients: 2 cups quinoa oat flakes, Forage porridge (gluten free options), or rolled oats 1 cup pitted dates, roughly chopped ½ cup of shredded coconut ½ cup of sultanas ½ cup of almonds 2 tbs organic peanut butter 1 tbs cocoa powder 2 tbs honey 3/4 tbs water 1 tsp vanilla extract

Makes: 12-15 balls | Prep Time: 10min Method: Put all ingredients apart from the water into a food processor and blend until it has the consistency of breadcrumbs. Add the water and continue to process until it becomes sticky enough to roll into balls. Use a tablespoon to measure the mixture and roll into firm balls. Roll into desiccated coconut to make the outside look pretty and store in an airtight container in the fridge. Note: If your guests are anaphylactic and cannot consume peanuts, you may like to use a different type of nut butter or cold-pressed organic coconut oil instead.

‘Junior Republic is a dream toy store for children of all ages and the young at heart. A beautiful store packed full of great gift ideas. You will always find the perfect toy here’ 51 Bay Street Port Melbourne | 9646 1135 juniorrepublic.com.au

Shop . Play . Eat . Relax . Party 27

how to have business ownership bliss How I (and other women) made the transition into business ownership bliss. If you are a currently in paid employment and thinking of launching a business then you may be wondering what is the best approach? How do you transition to self-employment and what is a typical transition? Do you resign immediately and let this baby fly? How will you know what is the right decision? As a working mum, I struggled to balance raising children with my corporate life. I recently took a huge leap of faith and made the decision to start my own business. The journey to self-employment can be tough, but I benefited from great support. So I decided to share my experience to help others. Actually, I decided to take a step further and ran a survey of other women who have taken that great leap. I wanted to find out why women make the transition to starting their own business and typically, how long it can take.

I surveyed women from across Australia and the globe to see what they did and hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what they told me. It was not surprising that more than 70% of women who responded started their own business for the flexibility and the freedom that it offers. What the survey did detail was a strong component of women who started their own business due to a health or life changing experience that compelled them to become the master of their own destiny.

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So how long is the right amount of time to spend in transition? Will I ever be ready? For the most part, over 90% of women I surveyed, had spent time transitioning into their business. In fact over 50% of women were working full-time and 30% working part-time during their new business development phase. Women who quit their job to build the next â&#x20AC;&#x153;big thingâ&#x20AC;? were very much in the minority. The time spent developing their business typically took as long as a year for a large group of women. There was a recurring theme of a lack of finance inhibiting a quick move to starting their business. Others also mentioned they had under-estimated the amount of planning needed to start. Of those who noted they had taken longer to start their business, the benefit of less stress on them and their family by not setting unrealistic expectations was identified. There was also the added benefit of additional product and service refinement, market testing and development. Many managed the process gradually by cutting down from paid full-time hours to part-time hours as they worked on their business.

Your employer may be open to a change in hours

“It’s not a race, I took my time, enjoyed the process with little stress”

If the logistics of working full-time and setting up your business sounds challenging, you can do what I did. When I realised I wanted to start my own business, I had an open and honest conversation with my employer about my project and that I looked to create a transition that worked for both of us. I was fortunate that they were accommodating as I reduced my hours and invested more time in my business plan.

This was a common quote from my respondees. Don’t put pressure on yourself and your family by setting unrealistic expectations about how long it takes to launch. The more time spent transitioning, the less financial pressure experienced and the greater planning is afforded to you.

I wasn’t sure if he would agree with the reduced hours, but without asking I would have missed out on the perfect solution. Nothing ventured nothing gained! We agreed that I would work 2 days a week on my business and 2 days with my employer leaving me one day with my son.

By Johannah Barton - Confetti Design.

Your working freedom awaits, you just need to start – actually I mean plan to start.

The purpose of Confetti Design is to help other woman realise their dreams by simplifying their website needs and demystifying their online presence. www.confettidesign.com.au

By approaching things this way, it kept me stress free, allowed for lots of research and preparation before launching. Once the doors were open ‘so-to-speak’ it gave me the time to build confidence and more importantly, build customers.

Build a support network to help you in the process Starting a new venture, even a one person business, has many challenges: marketing you and your business, becoming the bookkeeper and office manager, you very quickly become a jack of all trades. One of the greatest problems I faced was the isolation of working on my own. I could no longer just chat with a colleague or ask for feedback. To address the loneliness of working on my own, I make sure that I attend networking events, many of which are held during the day, and make sure I connect or have a coffee with a client, former colleague or business acquaintance. But for all the challenges, the benefits are obvious. It was satisfying to see a large number of women who started their own business now working full-time in their business, nearly one-third. Great evidence that a new career is achievable!

It’s all lies! One sleep-deprived mum’s story! My kids are being lied to. And I am not talking about the good old white lie of Santa Claus and how we down a glass of warm milk and nibble on an old carrot for the sake of pre-Christmas excitement. No – I am talking lies that would shatter their LIFE. I find myself feeling more and more uncomfortable with it, so I feel the need to talk to some adults and receive absolution. Here is the story. My son has been a terrible sleeper since he was born. So – in need of ideas and to keep my sanity sort of intact (it went at some other stage, I am sure), I did something unthinkable for a first-time mum. I placed a comforter in his cot. To be honest, at this stage I would have placed my newborn face down on a sheepskin if that’s what it took to get an hour of sleep. So despite all the warnings of SIDS, advice from the maternal health nurse and even my own husband, whom I like to call the nursery police, I gave my son a small little zebra with a cuddly little body and some whispy hair in hope he would find it during one of his restless nights, snuggle his little face into it and damn it – go to sleep without needing me to hold his hand. And it worked. He completely and utterly fell in love with “Bombo” (that’s his name!). Anyway, Bombo became part of the family. He went everywhere with us and Oskar (that’s my son!) wouldn’t and still doesn’t fall asleep without Bombo, the little suffocation hazard in his cot. So one day, Oskar, Bombo and I went to do some errands. We came home, dinner, bathtime, bedtime – the usual shebang with tantrums and a little bit of bribery with the hallucinating show “In the Nightgarden”. When I put Oskar to bed, Bombo wasn’t there. It was 7pm and my only chance of a goodnight sleep ever again was missing. The problem with Bombo is, that he wasn’t purchased in Australia. We bought him in Germany. In a store that closed down. Bombo was actually on sale. (Yes, another kick in the guts, so I will make sure Oskar will never find out about that one either). Panic set in and I

passed the child on to my competent and usually quite level headed husband. I set out to find Bombo, to retrace our steps of the afternoon. He had to be found or else our life as a family would end right there. I raced from store to store. Searched every curb and every street corner of our suburb until I went into the last shop I had been to – the local bottle shop (well, of course!). And indeed – here was Bombo, having a jolly good time at the counter of the shop between a bottle of Jack Daniels and a case of cheap Pinot Grigio. My heart leaped when I folded Bombo into my arms, close to kissing the shop keeper (a pimply young man who didn’t understand my excitement about a 20cm zebra). I skipped home and brought Bombo back to our son, who by then had managed to even scare his dad. That was the day when I decided that something had to be done. We needed a Doppelgaenger. A twin zebra. Something, that – if worst came to worst – could take over as Bombo II without Oskar ever noticing. I searched the internet and after some time was lucky to find another one exactly the same. He was promptly ordered and has been in a rotation with the real Bombo ever since. We do the odd swap-a-roo so both zebras have the same stink, but so far so good. No one knows except me. Being an intelligent human being, I bought two of the same cuddly dolls for my daughter a few years later. One doll is rostered on for a while, then has a wash while doll No. 2 takes over. No questions asked, no tears lost. I instigated this particular doll to be her one and only soft toy she now NEEDS to sleep. I feel a bit like a drug dealer – but mostly I feel pretty good about myself and those Doppelganger toys sitting in my underwear drawer ready for their shift to start! By Dörte Horn, local mum and author of children’s book ‘Sleep tight, Digger Dan!’.

MOTHERS Group $20 lunch special at the exchange hotel Every Wednesday 12 till 4pm Lunch includes a glass of house wine, sparkling or soft drink

39 Bay Street Port Melbourne theexchangehotel.net.au

PORT MELBOURNE

Live Local - Shop Local - and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to mention Mamamag!

Plenty of room for prams! Bookings recommended. Phone: 9810 0058

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Albert Park Primary

1. Family friendly coffee and food - Dundas and Faussett With a fantastic large outdoor seating area, this cafe is perfect for prams and young ones at this time of year. The coffee is great and they make almost everything in-house. 111 Dundas Place. dundasandfaussett.com 2. Take home meals - The Albert Park Deli A feature of the Deli is the daily changing display of over 50 dishes that are on offer to eat-in or to take home customers. They make an easy dinner! Also an abundance of vegetarian & gluten free dishes are available daily alongside house baked sweets & cakes. 129 Dundas Place. albertparkdeli.com.au 3. Cafe, children’s retail, kid’s classes and parties - Habitots Beautifully selected kid’s products, homewares, toys and decor. Instore you will find a kid friendly cafe, indoor and outdoor play areas with cubby and sand pit and great coffee! The perfect place to play, enjoy and shop. And check out their kid’s ‘creative play’ and ‘yoga’ classes too! 146 Bridport Street. habitots.com.au 4. Children’s bedroom bliss - Lilly & Lolly Lilly & Lolly specialise in gorgeous Australian designed high quality linen and furniture for kids. Every detail has been created to appeal to parents and kids who want hip and happening bedrooms. 61 Cardigan Place. lillylolly.com.au 5. Books and more - The Avenue Bookstore At the heart of the store, up a couple of steps, lies their fabulous and highly regarded kid’s section with a wonderful collection of picture books, junior and young adult titles from around the world, as well as great children’s gift ideas. 127 Dundas Place. avenuebookstore.com.au 6. Date night - The Albert Park Hotel The Albert Park Hotel has well established herself as a Melbourne dining and drinking institution. More distinguished in her older years than ever before, the corner pub boasts a local and well-travelled wine list, refined cocktail offering, and seasonal produce-focused fare. Ditch the kids, grab your hubby and make a date! Cnr Montague Street and Dundas Place. thealbertpark.com.au Each month mamamag visit one of Port Phillip’s best shopping precincts to bring you new ideas for coffee, food, fashion, kid’s stuff and more. Drop us an email at submissions@mamamag.com.au if you’d like us to visit your favourite spot.

Parklife

mamamag park of the month!

Plum Garland Memorial Playground Beaconsfield Parade, Albert Park - Opposite Victoria Avenue After a recent facelift this beachy-park is now looking and functioning like a dream. On any given sunny weekend, families flock to the spacious beachfront park which features numerous sail shades, plenty of sections to suit a range of ages and lots of water fun. With the beachfront as its backdrop, Plum Garland is not just a pretty face, boasting a fully fenced playground that is laid out over a few sections, making it a functional space even in high demand periods. The different play ‘areas’ include a multi-level cubby-like structure in a large sandpit area where the kids will love to scoop up the sand and haul it up to the top level via a pulley system. Also at this end of the park you can find a set of swings, a digger in a sandpit, a waterloving play area to pump water into a big tank (it gets a bit messy) and a rope climbing frame with mini bouncy trampoline. As you follow the path through the middle of the park, the next ‘section’ caters well for the toddlers and babies featuring two low slides into a large sandpit area. Right next-door to this space is a dedicated baby swing which is very sturdy and in the perfect position if you also have a busy toddler to watch

over who may be making their way through the tunnels into the sandpit and climbing up and down the small double slide. This is definitely a shoes-off park, with more sand than land! For the older pre-schoolers bang in the middle of the park is some steps leading to a wooden boat structure that’s peak has a fast curved slide on one side and a lookout with a wooden ship wheel looking out to sea in the other direction. What we love about this park is how it integrates into its beachy locale, with lots of natural wood used in the structures and small benches dotted throughout, along with some beachy scrubs and lots of sand helping it mould into an extension of the beach that surrounds. The far end of the park offers a shaded table and chairs or grassy area to set up a picnic or share some fish n’ chips from across the road on Victoria Avenue. Toilets can be found within a 100mtr walk to the life saving club along with a kiosk for icecream! Our favourite feature would have to be the birds nest swing which is large enough to spread out on, where you can seemingly fly out into the sea. Great for the big-kid in all of us!

conception Unlocking the key through natural medicine. Experiencing difficulties conceiving a child is a common and most often stressful experience for couples. With the magnitude of medical information out there on the topic, comprehending the reasons why can be confusing, and more importantly, finding the right treatment to assist the process can be a challenge. It is true that society for the most part has viewed conception as the territory of the modern medical world, however through numerous studies and common experience, we are accepting more the role the mind/body connection plays in healing the body’s health imbalances – conception or otherwise. By nurturing the body’s own healing processes through natural therapies such as Acupuncture, Naturopathy or Psychology, we can identify the root cause affecting the ability to conceive, thus allowing the process to unlock, and ultimately result in pregnancy.

The fundamentals.

Imparting ancient wisdom

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the analysis of a structural or functional disorder will be based on the workings of the 5 major internal organs - heart, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and liver. This means that if one is working poorly or not adequately playing its “role” it can lead to imbalance, resulting in an unconducive environment for conception. As an example - the kidneys hold prime responsibility in Chinese medicine for their role in fertility. They are the source of all yin and yang, which in Western medicine would refer to the two crucial pregnancy hormones, oestrogen and progesterone. If kidney yang is deficient, the body will lack the vital heat and energy for the ovaries to perform, the blood to flow properly, and for there to be adequate warmth in the uterus to support the endometrium in growing the egg. Symptoms a woman may experience with this deficiency are exhaustion, menstrual cramps, lower back pain, knee soreness, as well as cold hands and feet. To treat such a deficiency and others, Traditional Chinese remedies will always focus on the core of the issue, correction, and on assisting the body back to its natural state of harmony.

The centuries old Acupuncture technique is gaining popularity in the modern day treatment of fertility due to its proven and effective method to assist conception. It is a technique, whereby a fine needle is inserted into particular parts of the body called “meridians” - a way of tapping into the channels associated with the fertility organs, thus allowing the energy to flow and function. TCM practitioner and Naturopath, Marc Senator, believes that along with acupuncture treatments lifestyle alterations such as diet and stress management also optimise the chances of conceiving through natural means.

“The main causes I see for infertility are imbalances due to Western living such as dietary issues, stress and cortisol levels, adrenal exhaustion – which is held in the kidney’s, along with age and genetics”. He notes that Acupuncture has a proven antiinflammatory affect on the body helping too lower cortisol levels, and increase endorphins “which is crucial in treating all disorders and imbalances”. He would also advise a wellness plan which would include Western nutritional supplements such as fish oils, magnesium and vitamin d which is vital for the quality of the egg. Acupuncture success rates are between 50-60%, can be used in conjunction with IVF, and one can expect to need a minimum of 3-month course of treatment.

Mind over matter Psychologist, Cath Cocoran, is aware like many of us that the mind and body are intrinsically linked, and she believes that when it comes to conception, we are not providing the mind the attention it deserves. Though she happily acknowledges the results the modern medical world has achieved when it comes to pregnancy, she believes that fertility and conception should be viewed as not only a biological reaction but also a physical action, which involves our “mind, thinking, and psychology”. She stresses that couples need to be aware of their power and be conscious of the impact they have on the process. In her sessions, Cath will ask couples to look at their own family history with conception, pregnancy, and important life events, their relationship with each other and reflect and investigate how this may be hindering the ability to conceive.

“We are all aware of goal setting and focused intention to achieve what we want. Conception and pregnancy is the same. We need to be conscious of our mindset, look at belief systems that may be holding us back and ensure we are working toward our goals in a helpful way. “Not self sabotaging or not looking at our emotional responsibility to how we are approaching what we aim for.” She also notes that research has proven that strategies which use the mind such as relaxation techniques and meditation, not only have a positive effect on calming the mind but also cascade through to a physical impact on the body, helping to correct hormone levels and nervous system functioning. Working with a natural therapies practitioner could be the key to facilitating a shift, ultimately getting your mind and body working toward the goal and dream you have of conceiving. Written by The Clarendon Clinic, an allied and complementary medicine clinic, providing quality natural therapy treatments. 376 Clarendon St, South Melbourne 35

5 tips on getting natural As a childrens photographer, the comment I get most is, “I love how natural they are” and “I can’t believe you got them to smile!” With the holiday season upon us, it’s time to get your cameras out and capture all the family fun. It doesn’t matter if you use your phone or have a great SLR, just follow these 5 tips on how to get great, natural pictures of your kids, without the cheesy smiles! 1. Make it fun Real smiles come from real fun. Get them engaged in an activity that they love! Kick a ball, get in the sandpit, go exploring somewhere new with lots of exciting things to see and do. Challenge them to do something that is going to make a great photograph, like climbing, picking you a beautiful flower or finding the most beautiful shell on the beach. As soon as they are bored, just follow them to the next activity or suggest something new to do that will keep the energy up and the fun coming.

2. Never say cheese A big complaint that comes from mums is that they always get a fake smile. As soon as the camera is pointed their way, your child stops what they are doing, looks directly at the camera and pull a big fake smile instead of the lovely natural expression that you are looking for. Not again! The good news here, is that your child is trying to be good and make you happy. Take the picture, but then carry on a conversation, still keeping the camera poised. It’s the ‘Big Brother’ theory, they eventually forget it’s there and stop posing. As soon as you want them to look your way again, ask them some questions about what they are doing and they will look your way and you’ll capture those natural expressions.

photos of your kids!

3. Become the child

5. Keep it short and sweet.

Get down to their level and get silly. I mean this literally, get physical - roll around on the ground, help build the sand-castle, join in with the cartwheels, or tea party. Have your turn, then pick up your camera again or have it handy. Your photos will have a higher level of intimacy as you catch them at eye level and you will be photographing the world as they see it. Be funny. Let them laugh at how silly you are. It’s as simple as a funny face that ‘gets stuck in the wind’, making a mistake - ‘the dog goes Moo!’, ‘losing’ a flower on your head, making a funny sound as you bend over - Hilarious! Big smiles.

Time your shoot so that your little one is well rested, well fed, calm and happy so energy levels are high, smiles are flowing and you have maximum time to get good photos. When do they usually eat, nap and play? Are they wearing something comfortable they can play in? You want to take photos for years to come so make sure this is a good time. As soon as your child has had enough, it’s time to change up the location, activity or finish your session so it’s something to look forward to next time.

4. Pose by stealth When you tell your child to go stand over there by that tree, you are either going to get defiance or a stiff, unnatural photo. Try orchestrating the pose with excitement. Figure out what will be a great photo and then let them get there by themselves - “I bet you can’t stand on that bench over there! I’ll race you to it!”, “Oh, my goodness, look how beautiful that flower is!”. Anticipate where they will go and get yourself into position for a great photo.

Happy shooting! By Cristal Cachia, local photographer from Otis and Sunday - www.otisandsunday.com

Have a screen-free holiday at Gasworks Arts Park!

Gasworks Summer Kids Holiday Program

Dramacraze! $90 | 13-14 Jan

Awesome fun for 4 to 14 year olds

Feature Show: Bubblewrap & Boxes Tickets $18 Thu 15 Jan

15 to 21 January 2015

Comedy Games $44 | 13 Jan Dance like Michael Jackson $25 | 16 Jan Hip Hop | $25 | 16 Jan

For bookings and more info, visit www.gasworks.org.au or phone 8606 4200. Gasworks Arts Park 21 Graham Street Albert Park VIC 3206

School of Magic $25 | 20 Jan Fencing $25 | 21 Jan Colour the Beach! $25 | 21 Jan Street Art $30 | 21 Jan

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HEALTHYMAMA Stuck at home? Stuck for time? Can’t make the gym? Burn fat and build muscle following these 3 key factors and 4 simple exercises, all in your own time! 1. Intensity:

Work to a high intensity. Breathless, sweating, heart rate up!

2. Technique:

Better technique will allow you to get all the benefits from the workout whilst reducing the chances of injury.

3. Limit rest breaks: Keep these to a minimum and you heart rate will stay high meaning you will burn more energy! This workout is designed to maximise your time, burn fat whilst also build lean muscle. This workout can be done anywhere which is a great for those who don’t have access to a gym or gym equipment. Don’t forget to warm up 5-10minutes before commencing (a light sweat is always a good indication). 1. Pushups with rotation: Perform a push up and then rotate the body so your hand is pointing at the sky, (forming a T shape), and then rotate back down to the ground and repeat starting with another push up and rotating to the other side. If you need to, do the pushup on your knees and then go up onto your toes to rotate. Repeat 20 repetitions. 2. Lunge Squat Jump: perform one lunge each leg followed by one squat jump. Add on one lunge each leg plus one squat jump after each round until you reach 10 lunges each leg and 10 squat jumps. 3. Single leg/double leg reverse crunches: Laying on a mat, have your feet at 90 degree off the ground and extend one leg until just

off the ground, then bring that leg into the chest using your abdominal muscles. Repeat on the other side. For a more advanced alternative allow both legs to extend and retract together. Repeat 15 times each side or 30 for double leg. 4. Cardiovascular exercise in 3 minutes: Choose running, skipping, spin bike, knee high jogging on the spot, mountain climbers, boxing etc. Make sure your intensity is up and you limit your rest before you start the next set of strength work. Repeat the entire sequence three times. Remember to follow the 3 keys factors to help get the maximum benefit from this workout.

This month’s HealthyMama is brought to you by Jack Geddes BAppSc (SportCoach) Sports Coach and Personal Trainer www.thelinkedstudio.com.au

fun for the kids Christmas Finger Prints Tis the Season!!! Love Love the Season, so much craft and only one month to do it in!!! These wonderful little finger print art works can be done with any age, from your one year old, toddler, big kids, parents and grandparents. They can be used for decoration, cards, gift tags or on present wrapping. Just have a go! Lizzy Ann Designs is taking part in my very first retail pop up shop, very exciting. Check out my facebook page for details. Facebook.com/lizzyanns tudio I hope everyone has a lovely holiday season filed with love, laughter and cuddles xxx Reindeer Brown paint, goggle eyes, tiny red pom pom, brown marker, glue and your thumb for the head. Snowman White and green paint, black pen, tiny piece of orange felt, glue, and your thumb for the body and pointer finger for the head.

Christmas Baubles

Gold paint, black pen, ruler and your pointer finger for the balls.

Christmas Tree

Green, red, yellow and brown paint. Your pointer finger for the tree, trunk and star. Your little finger for the red baubles. Christmas Lights Red, green, yellow, pink, blue and orange paint. A black marker and your pointer finger for the lights.

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KEUNE Salon St. Kilda Full Head & Tint - $180 Full Head extensions - $550 Men’s Style Cut - $35 Keune X’mas packs now available New customers - 20% off your first visit Simply mention this ad when booking and present in-store to redeem your reward Hair Room St. Kilda 112 Acland St St. Kilda Phone : (03) 9537 1175 / (03) 9534 1562

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